The Way of the Center

Charles Barkley came to the TV station early, and although today's show didn't start until the prime time at 8:00 pm, he still went to the studio three hours in advance to prepare. This may be the most important episode of this season. Not only do they want to make a summary of the just-concluded regular season, but they also want to make a preview for the upcoming playoffs.

"It's so early today?" Kenny Smith looked at the fat Barkley in disbelief. In his eyes, if his partner was not late, he would already be thankful.

"Today is a heavy task, Kenny. I think I have to take my work seriously." Buckley sat next to Smith with a playful smile, and read the manuscript.

"You guys, just know that the task is heavy. There are too many things to say this season, and all of them have to be finished in today's program." Smith breathed out, if Barkley Being able to recite manuscripts by heart will reduce his own pressure later on.

However, even if Charles Barkley could memorize all the scripts, he would definitely improvise after the show started. Because this is the style of Charles Barkley, he read the manuscript just to keep himself from going too far off topic later.

"The matchup in the West this year is still very good. From the first round, the playoffs in the West will be particularly exciting."

"That's right Kenny, the Los Angeles Lakers against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Black Mamba against the Yellow Mamba, in the first round, this wonderful competition will be presented to everyone, but to be honest, the Trail Blazers can finish The possibility of a black eight miracle is very small. Not to mention that Roy and Oden are two time bombs that can blow up or only blow up themselves. The hard power of the defending champion Lakers is actually much better than that of the Trail Blazers. Looking forward to the miracle of the black eight, we can look forward to the appearance of the black seven this season." Barkley said, and began to skew the theme.

"Black seven? It's black enough. This year's Spurs' regular season record is the worst since the 21st century. They only ranked seventh in the West. In fact, the Spurs' record is the same as that of the Trail Blazers. , just because the Spurs have won more games than the Trail Blazers, so they ranked seventh.” Kenny Smith immediately followed Barkley’s rhythm, skipping the Trail Blazers and the Lakers and talking about the Spurs, hoping Barkley isn't going to let the show get stuck.

"Who is the opponent of the Spurs? The regular season is surprisingly good, and this year they rushed to the second-ranked Mavericks in the Western Conference! The Warriors' black eight miracles were completed on the Mavericks. And the league also because of Nowitzki's The reason is that the awarding and announcement time of the regular season awards has been changed. The Spurs will face the Mavericks in the first round, and it will be a focused matchup." Barkley really found the point, and with the "help" of his skewed theme, this show The ratings never fell but rose.

The show went on for a long time. Barkley and Smith talked to each other, introducing the playoff matchup and the regular season situation of the two sides. However, there are two teams,

The two were left at the end.

"The last group is Charles. I believe you prefer to watch this group of confrontation than the Spurs and Mavericks." Oklahoma City Thunder, Kenny Smith knows that Barkley will definitely be in this young team Spend a lot of saliva on the body.

"That's right Kenny. If you want to say that the team that has improved the most in the NBA this season is undoubtedly the Oklahoma City Thunder, which was at the bottom last year, ranked ninth last year, and went straight to fifth in the Western Conference this year! Three years, one step a year, Since the selection of Durant, the Thunder has been quietly rising. Now that the rising KD and Anthony meet, there will be a huge spark! But..." Speaking of this word, Barkley paused .

"Although the Nuggets played inextricably against the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals last season, and although the main lineup of the Nuggets has hardly changed this season, their group of insiders with good athletic ability but no fine skills is likely to be placed. It will also be a big loss for the Nuggets. Although the Nuggets' assistant coach Adrian Dantley is The Jazz is famous, but compared to Jeff Van Gundy, Dantley is still not as good. You know, the playoffs are not only demanding on the players, but also on the coach of the team!" Barkley said The analysis is clear and logical, although this big mouth is usually not serious, but he actually knows everything.

"I don't think Coach George Karl's absence will affect the team. Even if he can't command on the spot, Coach Karl can operate off the court. It can be said that Dantley is just an acting executor established by Karl. He actually directs the game on the court. People, or George Karl." Kenny Smith didn't deliberately contradict Barkley, but thought so from the bottom of his heart.

"Look at Kenny, the coach's on-the-spot command is very important in the game. If Van Gundy was not because of his poor on-the-spot command, it is estimated that the Rockets would not have always won the first round. But this season, Jeff Van Gundy His on-the-spot command ability has improved, maybe he has been with the Thunder team for too long, and he has rejuvenated and started to grow for the second time." Barkley is very optimistic that the Thunder can beat the stronger diggers on paper. King, Anjie and Van Gundy are the key to the Thunder's counterattack.

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

On the morning of April 16, weak sunlight shone through the window into An Jie's small villa.

In mid-April, the weather has begun to warm up gradually, and this ray of sunshine naturally makes Anjie feel full of vitality.

He subconsciously blocked the light with his hands so as not to hurt his eyes. After that, he shook his head and sat down in front of the bed.

An Jie first looked at the time, it was 6:30 in the morning, and then he got up and looked at the calendar. On April 17th, a big red circle was drawn on it. On that day, the Thunder will play away against the Denver Nuggets , Anjie will also start the first game of his career playoff journey at the Pepsi Center!

He was not dreaming, not fantasizing. Yes, this season, Anjie did not have an early vacation, and he did not have to study with Durant, Westbrook and others where to travel. This season, they have really entered the playoffs, and tomorrow, the first game will start, and their journey has just begun!

"Morris! Let's go, let's go to training!" An Jie walked out of the room and shouted, but Morris woke up earlier than An Jie for the first time, and had already washed up in the bathroom.

"You got up late Ann, remember you owe me another two hundred dollars." Morris made a bet with Anjie after returning home last night, if Morris got up earlier than Anjie, Anjie would lose him two hundred dollars, otherwise The same is true.

"If it wasn't for these two hundred dollars, you wouldn't have woken up earlier than me." An Jie smiled, took out two green bills and put them on Morris's bedside.

Of course, what An Jie said was just a joke. Even if Morris hasn't experienced a regular season failure, even if his performance this season is satisfactory enough. But the playoffs are still a word that makes Morris unable to sleep peacefully.

"install."

"Huh?" An Jie turned his head to look, and Morris was ready to go.

"The playoffs are kind of like March Madness, right?"

"Should... that's what happened." Although An Jie had played professional basketball for one more year than Morris, An Jie was just as new to the playoffs as Morris.

"We didn't play March Madness together in college. We have to make a name for ourselves in the playoffs." After speaking, Morris stretched out his fist at Anjie.

"You have to make a name for yourself, brother, you have to." The fists of the two insiders collided. After Van Gundy let Morris start in the second half of the season, the two former twin towers of the Cyclone team shined brilliantly. Calder also has a bright face.

But in the playoffs, the strength that these two people will burst out will only be greater!

Two good brothers who don't know each other are heading for the Chesapeake Energy Arena, and the Thunder are also heading for the playoffs.

The regret of being only one step away from entering the playoffs last year, now, has finally been filled!

Anjie and the Thunder knew that kind of unwillingness and sadness better than anyone else. Now, this opportunity is hard to come by. Want the Thunder to pack their bags and go home in the first round? No way!

Stepping over the corpses of Nuggets and Anthony is the only option for the Thunder.

Ninth in the West, lost to the Suns, potential, dark horse... Sorry, that was us. Now, the Thunder are a real playoff-level team, and they are ready to make a big splash in the playoffs! (To be continued.)