The Way of the Center

"A key substitution by Coach Van Gundy allowed the Thunder to regain control of the game. Wade worked hard, but he lacked helpers around him. People say that the Heat may be at the bottom of the Eastern Conference this season. Although it is a joke, but I I think if it wasn’t for Wade, there would be nothing wrong with this sentence.” Charles Barkley now has to admit that Van Gundy is also making progress with the young Thunder team.

"Pat Riley needs to find some helpers for Dwyane. After Van Gundy let Durant go to the fourth position in the first quarter, the entire Heat's offense became Wade's private business." Kenny Smith also Agree with Charles Barkley on this.

"I think we should focus on the game. In the second quarter, or after the game, how will the Heat deal with the Thunder's change and inside offense?" An unreliable guy was brought back.

"Michael Beasley." Barkley said the name without thinking.

"No matter how good Wade is, he is alone. Only when Michael Beasley plays at his level can the Heat have a chance of winning."

"Michael Beasley!" Van Gundy clapped his hands and shouted in the locker room. He and Barkley had surprisingly the same thoughts.

"Kevin, you continue to play against him in the second half. Not surprisingly, the Heat will bring up two insiders in the second half, and then put Beasley on the third position he likes. At that time, I hope you can continue the previous performance." Van Gundy looked at Durant confidently, the silent guy who rarely disappoints.

"If Spoelstra really puts Haslem and O'Neal on the court at the same time, your offense will not be as easy as the first half."

"I won't shoot the boss rashly." An Jie knew what Van Gundy was worried about, but he wouldn't be overwhelmed by consecutive goals.

"Okay, let's play! We have no reason to lose this game, let me get rid of the haze of losing streak!"

"Roar! Thunder!"

...................................

"Didididi..." The phone on Ricard's desk rang again, he wished he could throw the receiver at the wall, but he knew that he couldn't do that.

"Didididi..." The phone was still ringing, but Ricard didn't want to answer it at all.

"Didididi..." I can't escape, no matter how disturbed these things are, Ricard has to face them.

"Hello.

"

"Is it Coach George Ricard?" A middle-aged man's voice came from the other end of the phone.

"It's me." Ricard already roughly knew what was going on, and his tone was very calm.

"I'm Jae Crowder's father. I'm here to discuss with you about my son's transfer to Marquette University. You know, although my son will not participate in the draft this year, he is always working hard with the NBA as his goal. .Now the Cyclones... are really in a bad situation. I hope my son has a better development..."

"As long as the school agrees to release him, I have no objection." Before Jay Claude's father could finish speaking, Ricard replied impatiently. Yes, most of the Cyclones players this year just want to use Iowa State University as a springboard, and there are only a handful of people who once wanted to work hard for the team to achieve good results. What's the use of staying with such a person? Besides, even if Ricard had an opinion, he did not have the right to decide whether a student would stay or not.

Jae Crowder is the top scorer of the Cyclones this season, but now that the Cyclones have lost consecutively, he feels that the springboard of Iowa State University has lost its effect. Now, he just wants to leave.

"Okay, thank you coach. During this period of time, Jie didn't learn less from your hands. I wish you good luck in the future."

"Tap!" Ricard hung up the phone and held his forehead. Everything has changed. Or Iowa State, or the Cyclones. But Ricard's "third generation" whirlwind team is quite different from the previous two generations.

They have no passion in training and are not united enough on the field. The tricks that Ricard used in the past have no effect on this group of young players who pursue fame and fortune.

Didn't Michael Beasley have a bad record in college? Steve Curry has lost a lot in college. The results of it? They are now playing the main force in the NBA, with an annual salary of several million dollars a year. Mike Taylor is your captain under Ricard, right? He is not weak in terms of field ability or locker room leadership in college, right? What now? Struggling in the Development League and could lose his job at any moment.

That's the reality, and that's why the third-generation Cyclones players are more personal. Ricard can't change their utilitarian hearts, can't keep the Cyclone team together, can't win, can't enjoy work...

No, the team's top scorer "defected" because of the team's poor performance, looking for a bigger springboard, instead of looking for a way for the team to win like Anjie and Morris did.

"Damn it!" Thinking of this, Rickard smashed the mug on the table to pieces. Since I became the coach of the college basketball team, my temper has become worse and worse.

Putting on his coat and scarf, Ricard planned to go home. The Cyclones have another important game tomorrow, but now that the team has lost four games in a row and the team is panicking, Ricard feels that he is not worth paying for the current Cyclones.

But when I go home, I am alone. After Peggy gave birth to her baby, she returned to her natal family. Because Rickard was busy with work and had no time to take care of Peggy, Peggy had to go back to recuperate temporarily, and Rickard took time every week to see mother and child.

Alone, equally lonely and boring. At this time, Ricard thought of the Chinese restaurant that An Jie took him to. The owner there seems to like basketball very much, and he is also a die-hard Cyclones fan.

Maybe such a person is suitable for heart-to-heart talk...

...................................

The bearded man had a busy day. Due to the successful relationship between An Jie and Morris and others, his small restaurant was also sold out, and people often patronized him. As for the table that An Jie and the others used to eat back then, some people actually bought it, but the bearded man didn't sell it, and no guests were allowed to sit on it. He just left that table there, where it was.

His daughter went to New York, and this old man who has been single since his wife's death has nothing to talk to every day. Fortunately, there is still basketball to accompany him in this world.

"Damn it, Ann, you guys are so ruthless." The bearded man stared at the TV to check the score. It was 50 to 39, and the Thunder had already led by 11 points. And now, there are still 3 minutes left in the second quarter.

"Two consecutive losses, I have to say goodbye." The bearded man stretched his waist. If the game continues in this state, it shouldn't be a problem for the Thunder to win the game. Poor Wade, there is only one person struggling to support him.

"Dong dong dong." At this moment, there was a knock on the door of the restaurant.

"It's already closed today." The bearded man didn't answer the door, and the game was exciting. Now Anjie is holding the ball, and the bearded man wants to see how he can break through the inside guarded by Haslem and O'Neal.

"Dong dong dong." The guest knocked on the door again without leaving.

"I said that we have already..." When the bearded man walked to the door and saw the face of the visitor, the bearded man swallowed half of what he said in an instant.

"Coach George Ricard?"

There used to be no decorations on the walls of this restaurant, but now, the walls are covered with various photos of the Cyclones that year. The pictures of them having dinner here, and the pictures of them fighting hard on the court. Ricard's roar on the sidelines and the smile of the Whirlwind Three Musketeers on the court are all vividly displayed here.

Ricard touched one of the photo frames with his hand, he missed these little ghosts.

"Why do you come to visit our store at night, coach." When the bearded man saw that he was the coach of the Cyclone team he respected, he became enthusiastic.

"The training was not satisfactory, and I wanted to find someone to chat with. I think, I have come to the right place." Ricard focused on the TV to avoid getting too caught up in memories.

Commercials have started to air on TV, but there are still scores between the two sides at the bottom of the screen. 45 to 55, the Thunder still have a very good advantage.

"Be proud. In this game, apart from Durant, the two boys who performed the best were Ann and Morris." The bearded man brought out two cans of beer and sat down with Ricard.

"I've always been proud of them." Ricard smiled knowingly, this was the first time he had smiled in recent days.

"The team... is in a bad situation recently." Taking advantage of the intermission, the bearded man also chatted with Ricard about the Cyclone team.

"Huh, those guys. They have no desire to win. They just want to get good data and get a big contract." The reputation of the Cyclones is much bigger than before, so people who join the team purely for playing will Fewer and fewer.

"Is there anything else you can't handle?"

"Stop talking, watch the game." The game started again, and Ricard and the bearded man also turned their attention to the TV.

"The Heat are dying. Although Beasley can score now, Durant's state and confidence have already been established. Oops! How did you prevent this ball, and Durant scored again." Barkley I was anxious to watch in the studio. It was true that Beasley could score, but he scored two points. Durant could return a three-pointer.

"I'm afraid Kevin will have to score another 30 points in this game, eh? Did the Heat play Joe Anthony? Poelstra, you really played everything."

Joe Anthony is even more blue-collar among blue-collar workers, with weight, height, and skills, neither do he have an advantage. An Jie's scoring was still easy, and the Heat's inside line collapsed.

Wade is still breaking through again and again, falling again and again. No way, the team needs him, needs him urgently.

Unfortunately, except for Wade and Beasley, other players haven't scored too much for a long time. O'Neal has scored 4 points so far, and Haslem has 3 points. As Barkley said, Anjie's defense made them have no chance to score at all.

And what about the Thunder? Under the fierce pursuit of Anjie and Durant, the Thunder played more and more smoothly. Even Ibaka and Livingston scored a lot of points. To say that the only flaw may be that Westbrook's offensive efficiency is still low.

Van Gundy looked at the court with relief, and his calls to talk to the office one by one really worked.

With five minutes left in the third quarter, the Thunder's third young master was relieved to end. After Durant went off the field, Beasley played more and more fiercely, but under the excellent performance of the Thunder's second team, his crazy scoring did not cause waves.

"No, the Thunder won." Ricard drank the beer in the can in one gulp. Although there was still a 12-minute quarter to play, Ricard knew that the game was over.

"So sure? You know that this season's late quarter reversals are often staged, and I think the Heat may launch a counterattack in the fourth quarter." The bearded man and Ricard disagreed.

"The Heat can't turn over, Wade is tired, he played too tired. Although he...didn't give up." Don't give up on yourself, Ricard seems to be reminding himself.

"I have to go, thank you for your hospitality. If the Thunder lose in the end, I will also lose you a hundred dollars." After finishing speaking, Ricard hurriedly turned around and left. The game cannot be given up, even if there is only one person, you have to fight hard . This also applies to coaches. If you lose, you have to lose like a man.

Sure enough, at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Wade's offensive momentum was very fierce. He continuously broke into the inside to create damage, and also hit two three-pointers from the outside,

With Wade's perseverance, the Heat seemed to have a momentum of resurgence. However, when the Thunder's three young men reappeared, they completely dragged down the "Flash".

Wade was overwhelmed, but the third young master was full of energy. Only six minutes into the fourth quarter, the Heat surrendered.

When Spoelstra gave up the game and replaced Wade, you could see how miserable this tough man was. His performance is no worse than that of a winner, and his spirit is stronger than that of a winner. However, he is not a winner.

In the end, Ricard didn't lose the hundred dollars. Beasley also failed to regain his face, and the Thunder's three juniors, under the careful training of Van Gundy, led the team out of the haze of losing streak.

80 to 98, even if the Heat are fifth in the East, even if they have "The Flash" Wade. But this night, they can only be the foil for the mighty Thunder.

What about Ricard? He's not willing to give up yet, even with the odds right now. If his disciples can come out well, then he, the master, should lead by example.

Only perseverance can climb to the top.

An Jie and Morris clapped their hands in celebration, and there was another corpse that fell under their hands. (To be continued.)