Time was pressing, so after a brief catch-up, they quickly moved into work mode.
The main topic of their discussion was the tactical system for the new season.
This was indeed the most pressing issue for the Cavaliers.
There are many basketball tactics, but broadly speaking, they can be divided into two types: one is to craft the tactics based on the team’s composition; the other is to build the team according to the tactical system.
The Grizzlies are a typical representative of the first type.
If you have the "Black and White Duo," your tactical system can only rely on positions; there’s no way you could play a run-and-gun style, and your tactics are bound to not include a lot of three-pointers because once there are more three-pointers, it becomes easy for the opponent to play defensive counterattacks, and your twin towers won’t be able to fall back in time.
Representatives of the other type include Antony, Phil Jackson, and Adelman, who immersed themselves in a set of tactical systems that could be applied to different teams. Jackson was very successful with both the Bulls and the Lakers, while Antony had a "Midas touch" effect on the team’s point guard.
In the strictest sense, the Cavaliers are the first type, because Malone has not been the head coach for long and does not yet have his own specific tactical system.
Therefore, the new season for the Cavaliers would inevitably revolve around Hansen and Irving, finding the most suitable tactical system for them.
However, this also needed to fully consider the possibility of signing players tomorrow, or more precisely, this summer.
This was by no means a simple task.
But not long after they sat down, Malone took out a notebook from his bag.
It was a preliminary tactical system he had come up with over the past two days, working overtime, even including on the flight here.
As Malone began to talk at length, Hansen’s eyes gradually widened.
Because that was clearly One Star and Four Shooters!
But you wouldn’t believe it, it really suited the current Cavaliers.
Whether Deng could stay was another matter, but keeping Hawes was relatively simple for the Cavaliers.
Hawes started shooting a large number of three-pointers last season, averaging 3.9 three-pointers per game with a shooting percentage of 41.6%, especially after he joined the Cavaliers, his frequency of outside shots remained unchanged, but his shooting percentage reached an astonishing 44.8%.
You have to know, he’s a 2.16-meter tall center.
The reason Hansen previously called him a counterfeit Jokic is that Hawes started as a point guard, besides shooting threes, his ball handling is also quite good, averaging 3 assists per game last season.
This type of inside player generally falls into the "soft" category in common perception, because teams usually need centers to storm inside, so he didn’t have much market.
But if playing One Star and Four Shooters, then he’s incredibly suitable.
In fact, his ability to protect the rim is also not bad, with his average blocks per game consistently above one.
Whether One Star and Four Shooters can win a championship, you’d have to ask Olajuwon.
The Rockets’ back-to-back championship play style was this system.
Only now, the ball handling has shifted from the inside to the outside.
And Malone’s One Star and Four Shooters is just a tactical system, not a fixed set of tactics like the early Rockets.
This One Star could be Hansen or Irving because both possess excellent three-point abilities, making them viable as off-ball shooters to spread the space.
It could even compensate for Irving’s weak organizational skills, after all, pass ball during a split is the least challenging. Fınd the newest release on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✶𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✶𝓷𝓮𝓽
Having a player with a breakthrough threat who also handles the ball a lot could easily aim to tally 10+ assists if they really wanted.
Of course, the current Cavaliers are not the former Cavaliers. Hansen’s personal abilities, whether in attack or passing, are much better than Irving’s, thus he’s the main attacker, and Irving plays a supporting attacker role.
"The only challenge is, your play style has to change a lot."
This play style required Hansen to shift from a "Scorer" role to become a "ball handler," and while Malone felt Hansen was up to the task, asking a player to significantly change his play style would be a challenge for anyone.
"Mike," Hansen couldn’t help but laugh.
With a puzzled look from Malone, he continued, "I thought I knew you well enough, but it seems I still underestimated you."
Because he’s a transmigrator, he remembered Malone becoming famous with the Nuggets for the pick-and-roll tactic, the pick-and-roll between Jamal Murray and Jokic.
He thought Malone would arrange a pick-and-roll tactic for him and Irving.
But now, it seems Malone really is a versatile chef, capable of cooking different dishes instead of just one.
And One Star and Four Shooters emphasizes space and three-point money, aligning well with the rising Warriors team, fitting the era.
Hearing Hansen say this, Malone also showed a smile.
Not because Hansen praised him, but because Hansen’s words meant he agreed with his tactical concept.
And as long as Hansen agreed, his tactical system could unfold smoothly in the Cavaliers.
After talking with Hansen, Malone went straight to find Griffin.
With the tactical system in place, next up was the operation of the free market.
Hansen didn’t go with them; having determined the team’s new season tactical system, what he needed to consider was how to improve himself.
Malone’s tactical system indeed placed new demands on him personally, focusing on two key points: threes and passing.
Yet, unfortunately, his talent in both aspects was still only Second Gear.