One Guard

The game is over, but Yi Yang is still reluctant to leave the court. Just a little bit, today's game, they were almost able to win. Yiyang once again successfully restrained Westbrook and caused the opponent to make 4 turnovers. But James Harden, who came out halfway, became the X factor of this game.

The young man with the beard didn't impress Yiyang too much, whether in the regular season or in the last game. Indeed, Harden's performance can only be regarded as mediocre in all the games where the Thunder and the Mavericks played against each other.

But today, Harden became a blockbuster and scored 24 points, which is the same number as Durant. And the price Durant paid for scoring 24 points was 23 shots. James Harden scored 24 points and only took 10 shots!

The name of James Harden, the sixth man of the Thunder, began to intrude into Yiyang's life. The match between the two in the last 34 seconds left a deep impression on the fans. Of course, Yiyang thought that would not be the last time he and Harden would fight.

As for Westbrook...Yiyang also set his sights on that No. 0. At this point, Westbrook was walking down the tunnel and didn't seem to intend to stay and celebrate with the others. Westbrook is an extremely competitive guy, but he was pushed on the bench by Brooks in the crucial fourth quarter. He must be very unwilling in his heart.

But it turns out that Brooks' decision was correct. Westbrook really messed up the Thunder's offense at critical moments. At least today when Westbrook left the field, the Thunder maintained a good offensive efficiency. And this also established the foundation for Harden's last two consecutive long shots to open the score.

Even Carlisle admired Brooks' courage. At the critical moment, he actually hid the team's point guard. Not everyone can do this kind of thing. If the coach is changed, even if Westbrook hits the iron continuously in the last quarter, he will definitely still have the right to continue to shoot. But under Brooks, there is no such argument.

"This is really a wonderful game." Out of respect for Brooks, Carlisle took the initiative to go forward after the game and shook hands with the "young" marshal in his early 40s.

"You also performed very well, but a little less luck." Brooks is not the kind of coach with a strong personality, so he didn't say anything harsh to Carlisle.

The hands of the two coaches were tightly held together, and they both had smiles on their faces. But at this moment, what the two of them were thinking about was how to defeat each other in the next match.

Sometimes people who play with their brains are actually scarier in their hearts than people like Yiyang and others who work hard on the court.

"The next game is going to Oklahoma." Carlisle let go of his hand,

But did not leave.

"That's right, it's our home court."

"Good luck, coach." Carlisle's half-smiley face gave Brooks the desire to challenge the other party.

"With your kind words, Mr. Carlyle."

One battle had just ended, but the smell of gunpowder from another battle had already begun to spread.

Carlisle watched Brooks leave the court, then turned around, also preparing to enter the player tunnel through another entrance. But the academic coach found that that boy Yiyang was still staring blankly at Harden and the others who were celebrating the victory.

"What's the matter?" Carlisle walked on the field and patted Yiyang on the shoulder.

"This is the first time we have lost at home since the start of the playoffs." Yiyang did not answer Carlisle's question, but said this calmly.

"That's right, today...fucking hell."

"Will you let me defend him in the next game?"

Carlisle knew that the "he" Yiyang mentioned was James Harden.

"I can't make a decision right now, too. But your defense of James Harden in the last 34 seconds, I saw it, did a great job."

"But we still lost. I think I didn't score enough points today. Maybe I should be more active." Yiyang said, looking at the big screen at the scene, 15 points, this statistic is not bad, but for As far as Yiyang is concerned, it is indeed not much.

"Hey, you have already performed very well. Also, losing is not the responsibility of one person. Why, do you feel very unwilling to lose at home?"

"Yeah." Yiyang nodded slightly.

"They win one here, go to Oklahoma and we'll win two! Don't worry, that Peja guy doesn't miss every shot."

Carlisle's joke made Yiyang's frown slightly loosen.

"Let's go, go back to the locker room. It's raining outside, don't keep your mother waiting."

After speaking, Carlisle and Yiyang walked side by side to the player tunnel and left the court. On the court, the young people of the Thunder were still laughing wantonly. But a more difficult game is already waiting for them in Oklahoma.

※※※

At the press conference after the game, Peja took all the responsibility for the loss to his own head. He claimed that the Mavericks wouldn't be where they are if it weren't for his missed three-pointer at the last minute.

Although Peja said so, but inside the Mavericks, no one would blame him for this. When everyone misses a shot, Peja dares to take on the heavy responsibility at the last moment, which is already worthy of people's respect.

After the press conference, Carlisle did not make any post-war conclusions, but told the players to go home and rest. They will leave for Oklahoma early tomorrow morning.

Carlisle did this because he didn't want to put too much pressure on the players, and he didn't want the players to take this loss too seriously. This academic coach believes that a good mentality is the key to keep the team going in the playoffs. Holding on to a failure is not a good idea.

After sending off the players, Carlisle himself did not leave. He walked into the office, collected all the videos related to James Harden, and then studied them seriously.

In today's game, Harden, a surprise player, really caught him off guard. But how far can the Thunder go with this guy?

"Come on, Brooks, let me see what your sixth man can do!"

※※※

As Carlisle said, when Yiyang and his mother Wenxue drove out of the arena, it was raining heavily outside. Many fans who didn't drive were stuck nearby, sheltering from the rain under eaves.

Vignali got a taxi as soon as she went out and went straight back to the hotel. In this way, Yiyang will not be worried.

The rain slapped on the roof of the car, and the sound of "tata" made Yiyang upset. The image of Harden scoring on the field always flashed in his mind, and he kept thinking, would the effect be better if the person defending him was replaced by himself?

The mother and son had nothing to say all the way, because Wen Xue could also see that her son had something on her mind. In the past, Wen Xue might have enlightened this child. But now, Yiyang is already a professional player. There are some things that only he can understand.

Not long after, Yiyang drove the car home. The tall boy got out of the car with the umbrella first, and after propping up the umbrella, he walked around to the other side and opened the door for Wen Xue.

After Wen Xue got out of the car, she held Yiyang's hand holding the umbrella, and pushed back a certain distance. It was only then that Yiyang realized that his back had already been soaked to a large extent.

"Silly boy, what are you thinking?"

"Uh...nothing...come in, it's raining heavily."

"Are you still brooding over the loss of this game?"

Yiyang glanced at Wenxue, the young mother knew that she was indeed right!

"It's just that I didn't expect...to lose in this way." Yiyang had previously thought that he would be beaten by Westbrook, Durant would explode, and even Ibaka would restrict Dirk to death. . But he didn't expect that Harden, who came out of the bench, would actually become a factor in deciding the outcome.

"Isn't that what basketball games are like? If everything is predicted, is basketball still attractive? Don't worry, Mr. Carlisle should be working on countermeasures now. Tomorrow, he will tell you what to do."

"Carlisle is studying countermeasures?" Yiyang looked at his mother curiously.

"Yes, when we left, his car was still parked in the parking lot. I think he should have stayed in the office."

After hearing what his mother said, Yiyang's eyes widened.

"Mom, grab your umbrella and get some rest when you get back!" Yiyang handed the umbrella to Wen Xue, and then ran around the front of the car into the cab of the car in the heavy rain.

"What are you doing!?"

"I'm going to find Coach Carlisle, I can't wait for tomorrow." After Yi Yang finished speaking, he started the car. Just as he was about to enter the road, he suddenly stopped and poked his head out of the car window. "Don't worry mom, I'll be home early!"

Wen Xue, who was standing at the door of the house, smiled slightly as she watched the taillights of the car gradually disappearing into the rain. The basketball blood in his husband's body really completely flowed into Yiyang's body.

※※※

Carlisle, who was wearing glasses, rubbed his dry eyes. He didn't know how long he had been staring at the screen. But one thing is certain, this guy has no intention of stopping.

James Harden, after watching the video of this kid, Carlisle was surprised to find that he and the league had been ignoring a monster, a monster that might grow into a superstar in the future.

Harden dribbles skillfully, shoots accurately, and has a relatively wide vision of passing. This kid is smart and knows how to use the rules and how to cause damage. Even Harden's biggest problem with defense is not physically, but mentally.

As long as this bearded man can straighten his mentality, his defense will definitely improve a lot. Most importantly, Harden is still very young, and he still has a lot of room for growth.

Although Carlisle gave Harden a lot of positive comments in his heart, it is not impossible to contain him. In fact, Carlisle already had a plan in mind. If it can be successfully executed, Harden will no longer be the savior of the Thunder.

While Carlisle was thinking, he heard a knock on the office door.

"Please come in." Carlisle replied habitually, but in the next second, Carlisle's expression changed from calm to surprise again. There should be no one else in the arena now, right?

The door was pushed open, and the lights in Carlisle's office were not turned on. The computer screen was the only light source in this space. He only saw the outline of the person who came, but he didn't know who it was. The person approached slowly, and the light gradually shone on his face.

It turned out that it was Yiyang.

"Did you leave anything in the locker room?" Carlisle asked jokingly.

"No, my victory is here. Mom is right, you are really studying the game video." After Yiyang finished speaking, he moved his head to the computer screen curiously.

"You kid, you are really indomitable." Carlisle really didn't know whether this kid Yiyang was too eager to win, or it was just because he was purely single-minded.

Butler Stevens, what did you teach this kid in college?

"Have you found a solution?" Yiyang ignored Carlisle's complaints, and his attention was immediately attracted by Harden on the screen.

"Actually... yes, I've got some ideas. Next game, I'll probably let you meet him in person."

Carlisle pushed his glasses and looked at Yiyang with a serious face. The struggle of the young defenders seems to be getting worse...