Zhang Yang immersed himself in physical fitness training, and a dozen days passed in a flash. On July 17th, a new week had arrived.
In the last two physical fitness training sessions, he had fully adapted to the intensity. After yesterday’s low-intensity basic skills training session, Timothy Grove told him that they would adjust the training content today.
This morning, as usual, he woke up at 6 AM, and from 6:30 to 7:30 AM, he practiced physical fitness for an hour. By 9 AM, he was mentally prepared to proceed with more intensive physical fitness training... but that was not the case!
Grove said he was going to help him practice offensive fundamental movements. Hearing that, Zhang Yang was a bit puzzled, but after listening to Grove’s training plan and beginning the session, he felt the difference.
It was about practicing the fundamental movements of techniques, with slight differences from usual.
For example, the foundational movement of his Euro step crossover step training was adjusted to better suit his athletic abilities, strength habits, and playing habits, considering real-game applications right from the training phase!
Beyond the techniques themselves, Zhang Yang saw another benefit—reducing the risk of injuries.
By training with no confrontation and low urgency, his body adapted to difficult movements during real games, naturally reducing the risk of injury when executed in a match.
However, not all technique training sessions were . For his less commonly used triple-threat play, the basic movements training arranged by Grove was really basic... but this was actually correct. Grove did not assume he would use the triple-threat play extensively, so he didn’t adjust the training details counter-productively.
These days of continuously training physical fitness, shooting, and defensive footwork, Zhang Yang originally thought this summer’s training focus would be physical fitness, which he highly valued, yet he inevitably felt some disappointment. Now, he was utterly excited. Train, train, train!
On Monday, he practiced basic movements all morning and basic shooting and ball control in the afternoon. On Tuesday, he returned to the basic defensive footwork and shooting training, and on Wednesday, he continued practicing the basics...
By Wednesday afternoon at 4 PM, another day of training had ended.
The two trainers had left first, and Gerald Wallace was preparing to train a bit longer.
Zhang Yang and Felton sat beside the court, chatting.
Felton had been holding back for several days and finally couldn’t keep quiet today, complaining, "Jack, Timothy Grove doesn’t seem as impressive as the legends say. I feel it’s no different from training by myself, just at more set times. I do basic skills every day; it’s really boring... You’re even more boring, having trained physical fitness for over half a month, and now you’re just as boringly practicing basic skills."
Zhang Yang felt Big Fatty was starting to lose patience. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Big Fatty, if you weren’t resting tomorrow, how would you arrange your training schedule?"
Unlike Zhang Yang, who trained every day, Gerald Wallace and Felton took two days off per week, not training on Thursday and Sunday.
Upon hearing this, Felton replied, "Let me think... I’d wake up at 6:10 AM, start training at 6:30 AM till 7:30 AM, train from 9 AM to 11 AM, then from 2 PM to 4 PM... Yes!"
Zhang Yang said, "It seems, Big Fatty, that you and I have both developed the habit of what to do on a training day. This is one of Timothy’s goals..."
Before Zhang Yang could finish, Felton interrupted, "I want to learn techniques! Enhance my strength, develop a good training rhythm, have a more scientific schedule. He should just make a training timetable for me to follow; no need to spend so much time on these boring basics, which I could also practice with Chip. What do I need him for... I want to play basketball like Jordan!"
Zhang Yang was speechless for two seconds and then said, "Let’s not talk about playing basketball with the boss just yet. Big Fatty, Chip’s dunking training is indeed awesome, even Timothy admits he’s not as good as him, but in terms of refining techniques, well... why don’t you try doing a cover crossover turnaround jump shot?"
Why suddenly demonstrate a technique? Felton was puzzled but still picked up the ball and followed Zhang Yang to the top of the arc, dribbled around Zhang Yang, and suddenly took a step along the three-point line to a position a big step to the right of the top arc, turned, and jumped, shooting a three-pointer...
Felton felt something was off, unrelated to whether the ball went in or not, he just felt different!
"Jack, let’s try again!"
Felton practiced a few more times; he finally understood, his technique had become smoother! The exertion also felt more comfortable!
He tried the isolation step-back jump shot, close-range sudden stop catch-and-shoot...all felt somewhat obvious, some not so much.
He thought about it, the techniques that felt more comfortable to perform were all related to the basic skills he had been intensively practicing for the past three weeks!
Seeing Big Fatty had physically grasped the training effect, Zhang Yang said, "Timothy analyzed your playing style, and based on your techniques and habits, he specifically designed the training content for you. I don’t think he will teach you new techniques, he is probably not skilled in that, just like he isn’t as good at shooting training as Chip is, but he knows how to make your techniques better."
Felton nodded emphatically but then complained again, "Then he should have said it earlier! I wouldn’t have been so anxious for so long!"
"... He might have forgotten, considering he has to devise training plans for three different players, training three players with different styles, it’s pretty taxing; trainers of his caliber usually provide one-on-one coaching." Zhang Yang believed Grove probably had mentioned it, but Big Fatty might not have understood, and he didn’t have the heart to upset him.