The Basketball Court Swordsman

Speaking of the grievances between the Brooklyn Nets and the Indiana Pacers, we have to talk about it last season. Since Spike Lee and Henson triggered a war of words between the media in New York and Indianapolis, the relationship between the two teams has also deteriorated rapidly.

This summer, Kim Terry formed such a Big Five lineup. At that time, many media announced that they would become a new challenger to the Eastern Conference.

And this year's preseason, the Nets and Pacers have already had a match. At that time, the Pacers won by a big score, and the Nets general manager Kim Terry said, "In the preseason, everyone is still adjusting to the rhythm of the game. So the loss of this game cannot explain any problems."

At that time, Charles Barkley slammed the Nets from the front, "Kim Terry is defending his stupidity. He is still unwilling to admit that he was completely fooled by Danny Angie!"

Now, the regular season is here. And their opportunity to explain the problem has also come.

From last season to the preseason and now, this ordinary regular season is not ordinary for New York and Indianapolis fans. The two teams will settle their previous grievances at the Barclays Center, which has a cost of more than $1 billion!

Although this game has been given various special meanings by fans and the media, Henson was very relaxed in the face of this trip to New York. At least in front of outsiders, he was very relaxed.

The Pacers flew straight to New York after playing the Raptors. Although they arrived at New York's Kennedy Airport at 1:30 in the morning, there were still countless reporters waiting to interview Henson and the players for the first time.

"How do you look at this game? There is nothing to look at. Just a few hours ago, we just won six consecutive victories, and we haven't even tasted a defeat this season. Brooklyn Nets? As far as I know, their current record is just It was just 2 wins and 3 losses."

"I said, I never think the Nets are a Big Five team, so don't ask me related questions."

"The preseason record does not count? Yes, I admit that the Nets may not have done their best in the preseason. But have you forgotten that we were lacking Chris Paul in the preseason? We defeated the Nets under circumstances. At this time, our lineup is very healthy."

Henson faced a series of media remarks, all of which reflected a relaxed attitude. Comparing with the interviews with the Nets players, you can see the difference in mentality between the two sides.

"I know that the Pacers are powerful enough for me. When I was still playing in Boston, I learned how good they are. But this is not Boston, it's Brooklyn. Believe me, we won't let the defending champions Easy to pass." Garnett faced the camera and stretched out his fist.

"The Pacers are indeed strong, but they are not invincible. They also have many shortcomings. As long as we can unite as one, I think we are not without chance." Pierce is undoubtedly standing on a unified front with his good brother Kg.

"No need to say anything, I can't wait to see the team win at the Barclays Center. After all, we spent more than $80 million in luxury tax for this lineup! This is enough to prove our strength! "The Nets general manager Kim Terry made the most concise speech, but he was also the most disgusted by Henson.

When does the value of the lineup become a criterion for judging whether a team is strong?

The difference between the two teams' attitudes towards this game surprised Spike Lee. The New York side always treats the Pacers as a strong enemy, but the Pacers never put the Nets in their eyes...

"That guy, is it too arrogant? Although the Nets had a poor initial record, the hard configuration is here. Last season, the Nets ranked third in the Eastern Conference. This season, after adding Garnett and Pierce, the total It's impossible not to advance and retreat. In other words, the Nets are also a top three-level team in the East." Next to Spike Lee, a film and television team photographer felt that Henson was a bit arrogant.

Spike Lee curled his lips, "I will know tomorrow if I am too arrogant."

In the resentful eyes of the reporters, all the Pacers boarded the bus and headed for the hotel where they were staying.

Due to the need to shoot all the time, Spike Lee was also allowed to take the team bus with the players to shoot.

But generally speaking, this kind of back-to-back race schedule has nothing to photograph. Because the players get in the car so late, they must all fall asleep, including Spike Lee is no exception. But in the dim carriage, after Spike Lee opened his dim eyes, he saw a faint light from the front row.

"I thought you really didn't care about them." Spike Lee's voice frightened Henson. At this time, the Chinese coach was watching the Nets game video attentively.

"Are you silent when you walk? Spike."

"I said so indifferently in the face of the media, but did not let go of any time in the car to study the opponent. I have to say that this back-to-back trip has been a lot for me, Coach Henson. At least I saw it. The side that no one else can see." The black director immediately turned on the camera and took a picture of Henson working in the car.

"This is precisely the capital I can speak up in front of the media, Director Spike Lee. People say that I am arrogant, that is really baseless accusation. Because I usually only show it after I have been fully prepared. Your own self-confidence. However, you often interpret that as arrogance. Confidence and arrogance are two different things."

"Yeah, I now know why you always win. If you don't mind, can I go to your room to shoot today?"

"Like I said, director. You are just a pair of eyes. You can shoot anything except going to the bathroom, bathing, and making love."

When we arrived at our hotel near the Barclays Center, it was two o'clock in the morning. Spike Lee and his photography team felt a little unbearable, but in fact, this is commonplace for players and coaches.

Two o'clock in the morning is considered early, after all, New York is not far from Indianapolis. Don't forget, the Thunder had a game last season, when they arrived in Indianapolis at four o'clock in the morning. However, at 8 o'clock that evening, they played a wonderful duel with the Pacers.

"The glamorous professional players work harder than I thought." A photographer complained, just a few hours before they were still fighting the Raptors. At this time, they are already based in Brooklyn.

"Everyone's life is harder than we thought, man. Let's go, our work tonight is not over yet."

Spike Lee deliberately lived in the same room with Henson today, and Henson really regarded Spike Lee as a pair of eyes free from everything. In addition to the necessary communication, Spike Lee is basically the air.

He put on his pajamas and took a shower. Then when the black director was already yawning, he made a cup of coffee, picked up his laptop, and continued to study the video of the game...

I don't know when, Spike Lee can't help but fall asleep. By the time he opened his eyes the next day, it was already past breakfast. And he was the only one left in the room.

"Damn it." Spike Lee rubbed his eyes. It has been a long time since he was as tired as yesterday. Just to experience this kind of back-to-back match, Spike Lee felt extremely desperate.

It's no wonder that the players are so resistant to the away game.

I looked at my watch and it was ten o'clock in the morning. This shows that he hasn't slept long, less than eight hours.

The camera was still standing in the room, aimed at the desk of the room. Spike Lee turned up the camera and found that Henson was still working until four in the morning! What surprised Spike Lee even more was that Henson had been lying on the table several times in the video. But it wasn't a nap, his frowning expression indicated that Henson seemed a little unwell.

Although Henson can return to normal with only a short rest each time, this still makes the black director sweat cold. I originally thought that only professional athletes are in danger of harming their health. Unexpectedly, the career of head coach is not safe at all.

At this moment, Henson walked into the door with a cup of coffee. After seeing Spike Lee, Henson smiled enthusiastically, "Wake up? I have to say, I don't like the weather in New York very much. Look, it's gloomy."

"Henson, what happened to you last night?"

"What's wrong?"

"I saw in the video, you seem to be a little... unwell?"

"It's okay, I'm not doing well. Don't worry, I can guarantee that there are not many coaches in the league that are completely free of problems. There are 82 regular season games in a season, and 41 games are away games. Adding to the above itinerary, long-distance travel through the United States, as long as you are not iron-struck, will be tired. The most typical example is the "Zen Master" Jackson in the late coaching career, in 2006 he was coaching with a cane due to hip and back injuries. , Some long-distance away games can’t even go with him. Although he finally got rid of the injury through treatment, he still resigned for physical factors in 2011 and has not returned. People always think that physical factors are a universal excuse for the head coach’s departure, but In fact, we really have a lot of injuries caused by physical factors."

Henson's tone was downplayed, and it seemed like it was a normal thing.

Hearing what Henson said, Spike Lee remembered a report he had seen earlier this year about the Bobcats coach Stephen Clifford.

It is said that one day Clifford was absent from team training, so reporters went to follow up the report. As a result, he was found in a local hospital in Charlotte. It was discovered that Clifford was suffering from chronic headaches due to excessive mental stress and lack of sleep. Therefore, he had to absent from training.

When interviewed by reporters, Clifford shook his head helplessly, “Taking medicine is just a stopgap measure. The doctor told me that medical support may help me through this season, but headaches will become even more trouble. But what do I have? What's the solution? There is still so much work to do, don't you have to grit your teeth and keep going?"

This report left a deep impression on Spike Lee. It is important to know that Clifford is still a new coach, and the working hours are not too long, and he has already suffered from physical discomfort due to the position of head coach. But he always thought that Clifford is just an example, not all coaches have physical problems like him.

But today, the black director found that the problems faced by the coaches of the team were more serious than he thought.

At this moment, the downstairs of the hotel became more and more noisy. Spike Lee stretched out his head and looked out the window, only to realize that a large number of reporters had arrived in advance to be contained.

"Damn it, face those stupid questions again."

Henson laughed and complained. No wonder, Henson hates those media so much. Obviously, he had just finished his work and had not rested yet, so he was about to be asked a bunch of sharp questions. No one likes this kind of thing on anyone.

Spike Lee washed his face earnestly, then picked up the camera. His requirements for this film have become higher and higher with Henson's various experiences!

There are too many misunderstandings about Henson, and what Spike Lee has to do is to let people know a real Henson Joe in a limited time!

This goal is as long and difficult as the Pacers’ three consecutive championship goals...