Lin Qi looked at these key players and continued to explain to them in a calm tone.
"In the past, a game only had 88 possessions. You would play for a full 40 minutes, but you would actually spend more than 10 minutes walking around the court, waiting for the point guard to slowly dribble the ball across half-court, or huddling with the opponent in the low post to waste time. That kind of play might look like it lasted a long time, but most of your energy was wasted on ineffective entanglements. In the last five minutes of the game, it wasn't a contest of skill anymore, it was purely a contest of who had more stamina."
"This year we've picked up the pace, pushing the total number of possessions to over 100. More possessions mean more shot attempts. You're playing 35 minutes, and you're getting exactly the same number of shot attempts and rebounds as you were playing 40 minutes before. That's because we're capitalizing on transition mismatches and the open looks created by Boston Pick-and-Roll. Nobody's double-teaming you, so your shooting percentage is actually higher."
"Play efficiently for 35 minutes and get the same stats as before. Then, in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter, when the opponent's starters are exhausted and holding their knees, you can go in with plenty of energy and finish the game. There are 82 games in the regular season, and the team has enough room for error to allow you to play like this. Wouldn't it be better to save your energy for the NBA Finals next June?"
Gary Payton, standing nearby, sighed deeply and patted his right knee, " Kevin, listen to him. Back in Seattle, when I was 27 or 28, I thought I was invincible. I'd throw a towel if George Carl dared to take me out. But in the '96 NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls, my calves cramped every night towards the end. Playing a few less minutes in garbage time won't drop your stats by much, but it can extend your peak by three years."
Hearing that their shot attempts and scoring wouldn't drop, and that it would even improve their efficiency in the fourth quarter, Pierce and Ben Wallace's expressions completely relaxed. Garnett took a sip of water, and his furrowed brows slowly unfurrowed.
Lin Qi then turned his gaze to the four young players on the other side of the long table.
Tyson Chandler Chandler, Okur, Prince, and Gerald Wallace, who had been listening intently, suddenly straightened up when Lin Qi's gaze swept over them.
"The playing time that the starters make up for during the regular season is for the four of you."
Lin Qi tapped the table, his voice carrying clearly throughout the hall. "Your agents sent me a lot of faxes today, demanding that the club provide you with 20 minutes of rotation per game. But a game only lasts 240 minutes for all five positions combined. The coaching staff can't break up the time into five or six minutes per game. Running back and forth twice, barely touching the ball before being substituted—that kind of time won't help you improve at all."
Lin Qi directly stated the rotation plan that had been finalized that afternoon.
"In the new season, we will flexibly adjust our lineup according to our opponents' playing styles."
" Tyson Chandler, against teams that like to run pick-and-rolls and attack the paint, put you on the active roster. Utilize your speed and rim protection, set screens for the rolls and transition defense. Mehmet, against teams with deep interior defense and big men, put you on the active roster. Dribble out to the three-point line and shoot freely, use pop shots in Boston Pick-and-Roll -rolls to draw their big centers out of the paint."
"The same goes for the wings. Against teams that rely on screens and accurate shooting, Tayshaun should be on the active roster to block their passing lanes. Against teams that play aggressively and like physical play, Gerald should be on the active roster to overwhelm them with his explosiveness and offensive rebounding."
"Throughout the 82-game regular season, each of you will get around 40 games. In those 40 games, you'll be given a full 20+ minutes of playing time each game, with clearly defined roles. By the end of the season, your stats will still show you as near-starters, and it won't hinder you from negotiating your next contract."
The eyes of the young men across the table lit up immediately. They had thought that being a substitute would only mean getting some playing time, but the management had given them the treatment of being rotated into the starting lineup.
"However, there's something I must make clear to you beforehand."
Lin Qi's voice deepened, and his gaze swept across the faces of the four young men.
"This year, the league implemented a reform of affiliate teams, Boston has fully funded the formation of the 'Maine Celtics ' in Portland, Portland. Frank Vogel will go there as head coach and will bring Rick's current entire offensive and defensive strategy over there."
"In the new season, whenever you're resting or not on the Boston roster, you guys will have to take a two-hour bus ride to Maine to play games."
Upon hearing this, Tyson Chandler Chandler and Okur visibly froze, a hint of embarrassment flashing across their faces. In the prevailing league climate at the time, being demoted to the minor leagues often meant being abandoned by the team, which was a blow to the pride of these young players.
Lin Qi observed their reactions, his tone calm yet weighty.
"Put away that useless face-saving. Let me make it clear beforehand that sending you to Maine is not a punishment."
"If you don't make the active roster in Boston, you'll be sitting on the bench for two or three days in your suits, and your shooting touch and game rhythm will completely cool down. Sending you to Maine is to ensure you always have games to play."
"In the regular season, you must strictly adhere to tactical discipline, provide screens for the veterans, grab rebounds, and Rick Carlisle will immediately substitute you if you play irrationally. But in Maine, Frank Vogel will give you ample playing time every game, making you the absolute core of the team."
" Tyson Chandler practiced high-post playmaking and mid-range shooting in transition, Mehmet practiced low-post ball handling, and Tayshaun and Gerald practiced dribbling penetration and fast-break passing. The ability to make quick decisions in transition and Boston Pick-and-Roll situations can't be learned in the gym, nor can it be learned by watching from the sidelines; it can only be developed through real games."
" Boston's strength and conditioning coach and video engineer will be with you the whole time. Whenever someone on the first team is resting, a private car can pick you up in two hours and take you back to the New Garden for the games. Go ask around the entire league, which championship contender is willing to spend so much money to build a training ground specifically for young players?"
Gary Payton, chewing gum nearby, grinned and said, "You bunch of kids, don't take your good fortune for granted. If I had a place like this where I could take care of myself thirty times every night when I was twenty-two, I'd be so happy I couldn't sleep."
Chandler and Prince, who had initially been a little skeptical, completely understood after hearing this.
"Did you all understand?" Lin Qi asked, looking at them.
"Understood, boss!" Tyson Chandler Chandler was the first to straighten up and shout back.
"Understood!" Okur, Prince, and Gerald nodded in agreement.
Garnett sat down next to the head of the table, watching the eager young men, the initial reluctance in his eyes completely vanishing. He grabbed a napkin from the table and tossed it next to his plate, his gaze sweeping over them.
"I can give up my playing time, and I'll even wear a suit and sit in back-to-back games as instructed. But let me make this clear first: Tyson Chandler, Mehmet, and you two!"
The four young men immediately focused their attention on Garnett.
"If our starters build a lead of ten or more points, and you go on the court for just a few minutes and hesitate, letting the opponent catch up, or are slow to retreat on defense and get caught on a fast break... do you know what you'll face when you get back to the locker room? Do you understand?"
"Don't worry, Kevin!" Tyson Chandler Chandler patted his chest, his face beaming with excitement. "Leave the inside game to me and Mehmet, we won't let you down!"
"If anyone is missed on the outside, you can punish them however you want!" Gerald Wallace echoed loudly.
Seeing the young men's energetic demeanor, Pierce raised his glass and smiled as he clinked it against Garnett's.
Rick Carlisle sat down next to Lin Qi, watching the harmonious atmosphere at the dining table return, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Lin Qi picked up his wine glass, smiled, and stood up.
"Come on, this toast to the new season! This year, let's bring the championship trophy back home from Boston!"
To the champions!
A dozen or so glasses collided heavily above the long table.