The Way of the Center

The day before yesterday, in the same locker room, the atmosphere was still lively. An Jie also became the focus of the entire locker room and the object of everyone's praise.

Today, it is still here, but no one wants to speak. The only sound that can be heard in the entire locker room is the gasping of the players.

If you fail after trying your best like in the second game, there is nothing to blame yourself. But today, the Thunder players themselves know how shitty their performance is!

The Thunder are unstoppable when the Thunder's three young masters show their power across the board, but when the Thunder's three young masters misfire across the board, it is difficult for the Thunder to win.

The offense of Durant and Westbrook is simply a stain on their careers, while Anjie's defense, which has arrogance, is the worst ever.

An Jie, who was so persistent with Yao Ming and made O'Neill sweat profusely, seemed to have disappeared. Bynum and Gasol held their breath, and Anjie relaxed. These two guys wished to spread all the fire on Anjie.

Bynum has not forgotten the indifferent eyes of the reporters when he passed the home team's locker room after the loss the day before yesterday. Everyone is waiting for An Jie, waiting for the savior of that game. But as An Jie's opponent, he didn't get even the slightest bit of respect.

Today, Anjie was slack, but Bynum wanted Anjie to look good. Therefore, Gasol and Bynum will overwhelm the Thunder's proud interior, and even Kobe is willing to give up the ball.

After the Lakers Twin Towers were suppressed for 3 games, they finally found a chance to let out a sigh of relief. Anjie's arrogance combined with the emotional outbursts of Bynum and Gasol created this situation.

"Bang!" Van Gundy almost slammed the door. When he rushed into the locker room, no one dared to look up at him!

Kobe and James may not be afraid of any head coach, but for the Thunder's already successful youngsters, it is still a very scary thing for the head coach to get angry.

Van Gundy stood in front of the whiteboard with his hips thrust forward, biting his lip and spinning in circles. He wanted to find something to smash, but looked around, but couldn't find anything that could accomplish this task.

"Shit! What a fucking shit! Do you think you are very good? Can you believe the nonsense of the media? When they hurt you, you knew that the media was just a bunch of idiots. Now, when they praise you, Are you taking the media as an authority? They say we can advance, can we advance!? This is the playoffs gentlemen! This is the fucking playoffs! Any loss in any game may make us Pack your bags and get the hell out!" Van Gundy yelled, his head turned red and the veins were clearly visible on his bald head.

"Damn it..." Van Gundy, who was originally tough, suddenly softened,

Then fell to the ground. The Thunder's locker room remained silent, but in the next second, everyone panicked.

"Boss!? Boss!?" An Jie was the first to rush to Van Gundy's side. In the past, when he was injured, it was Van Gundy who called him anxiously. An Jie didn't expect that he would call Van Gundy one day.

Everyone surrounded their head coach. Naturally, this group of big bosses didn't know what to do. Livingston was the smartest, rushed out of the locker room and called the team doctor.

Although Van Gundy passed out, he was not completely unconscious. He was just weak all over, and his head was very dizzy and painful.

"Damn it, I forgot to take my medicine this afternoon..." Van Gundy tried to sit up, but Anjie and the others stopped him.

"You still don't move your head now, the team doctor will come soon." No one dared to think about what the Thunder would become after losing Van Gundy, even the players who had just been reprimanded by him did not dare to think. The Nuggets lost George Karl, is the best example. Player injuries will greatly reduce the strength of a team, and the absence of a head coach is likely to have the same consequences.

After a while, Livingston brought the team doctor to the locker room. After hearing the players describe Van Gundy's symptoms at the time, the team doctor made a decisive decision and said that Van Gundy's blood pressure was too high.

"The plot you often see when you watch TV is that so-and-so was so angry that he fainted. In fact, he was not fainted by anger, but because a hypertensive patient was too angry and his blood pressure soared, causing him to faint. Mr. Van Gundy is In this situation, you must not have taken antihypertensive medicine." The team doctor counted Van Gundy's pulse, looked at the condition of Van Gundy's pupils, and confirmed that he was fine, at least his life would not be in danger.

"I was busy with the game in the afternoon, so I forgot to eat." Van Gundy replied honestly. He was really angry just now, and his blood pressure was not controlled in time, which made him what he is now.

"Well, after taking this fast-acting antihypertensive drug, you should get better soon. But seriously, Mr. Van Gundy, you must rest well, and try not to be too emotional." The team doctor finished talking and looked around , I felt like I was talking nonsense.

"I know that in your line of work, it is not easy to meet the above requirements. But for the sake of your own health, I think you should listen to my advice. If you have no other questions, I will go out first. If you feel unwell, please call Me.” After speaking, the team doctor picked up the first aid kit and walked out of the locker room, knowing that Van Gundy needs to be alone with the players now.

"Hoo... help me up." Van Gundy took a deep breath to ensure that he would not faint again after exerting himself. In fact, Van Gundy didn't need to use any force at all. Anjie and Morris stood on the left and right side, and they easily stood up Van Gundy.

Westbrook immediately brought a small bench over, and everyone stared at Van Gundy, for fear that his coach would have any problems.

"Don't look, I don't like being stared at by a group of big men." Van Gundy waved his hand, but no one dispersed.

"You played really well today..."

"We know the boss, our performance is really bad. It's as bad as shit on the streets of the slums. It's completely unbearable." Before Van Gundy finished speaking, Anjie took his words. He didn't want Van Gundy to swear and get agitated and faint again.

"It turns out that you also know that you did a good job in the last game, but the victory is over. You defeated the Lakers in the last game, and you may not be able to beat them in this game. Look at your attitude on the court, KD, Is this how the youngest scoring champion in the league plays? Don’t get rid of it, and shoot directly against the defense. This is the secret to becoming a scoring champion? Russell, your breakthrough is fast and tough, and it is a sharp weapon that all teams fear. But today Well, limp, casual breakthroughs are useless at all except mistakes and iron strikes. The reason why Ann, O'Neill and Yao are impressed with you is not because of your offense, but because of your toughness that never gives up Defense, because you made these two incomprehensible guys feel exhausted! But today? The Lakers' Twin Towers lost to you in a row, so you can relax your vigilance? Don't forget how you beat them , You won the Twin Towers with your own sweat and hard work!" Van Gundy said a lot in one breath, and felt that his head seemed to be aching again.

"I don't want to say too much. Others, you all have your own problems. I think you know it yourself. Alton, I will ask you to attend the press conference later." Van Gundy held his forehead However, the players were so frightened that they were sweating, for fear that something might happen to Van Gundy.

"Okay, that's it for today, disband. Tomorrow we will train as usual, and the day after tomorrow we will go to Los Angeles. I, I will rest in the locker room for a while." Van Gundy leaned back on the chair after finishing speaking. The team doctor said that he should pay attention to rest, yes, it has been a long time since he had a good sleep. Don't talk about rest, even things like taking antihypertensive drugs will be too busy to forget.

The players felt very guilty, and everyone saw Van Gundy's efforts. The Thunder team is indeed amazingly talented, but Van Gundy has only taken over the team for two years, and the Thunder team has made a qualitative leap.

While they were out having fun, Van Gundy was at work. When they slept in their mansion at night, Van Gundy was at work.

The team lost, Van Gundy never blamed them. When the team wins, Van Gundy will never steal the limelight from the players. He always praises his players in front of the media, but rarely mentions himself in front of the media. When it comes to the Lakers, apart from Kobe, the second thing people think of is not Gasol, but Zen Master. But when it comes to the Thunder, Van Gundy is rarely thought of.

Van Gundy was as unremarkable as his battered Toyota sedan. But don't forget that if this old Toyota wants to run as fast as other cars, it must run harder than other cars. Once this dilapidated Toyota is missing, Oklahoma City will be less irreplaceable.

Thinking of the two years from the bottom of the league to the semifinals of the Western Conference, the guilt in the hearts of the players is even stronger. Van Gundy's desperate efforts were wasted by their arrogance and relaxation. They can be irresponsible to themselves, but they must not spoil the efforts of others for themselves.

"Boss, come later tomorrow. We...we will train well by ourselves." After changing his clothes, An Jie squatted in front of Van Gundy.

"Yes, without you, I would take the initiative to find a trainer to practice breakthroughs, and I will never be lazy." Westbrook also came to echo.

"I went to the weight room by myself to increase the amount of training."

"I'll take care of the 50 switchbacks I'm owed on my own."

"I...I will help you teach this kid An a tough lesson!" Finally, Morris gave a different answer.

Van Gundy almost couldn't hold back his laughter, but in order to make the group of boys reflect deeply, he suppressed his laughter and continued to put on a straight face.

"Go, I'm too lazy to talk to you now." Van Gundy waved his hand, signaling the players to go home quickly.

Tonight, the Los Angeles Lakers finally feel proud in Oklahoma City.

Tonight, Bynum and Gasol finally succeeded in clearing their names.

Tonight, the reporters attending the press conference were eager to figure out why Van Gundy was absent.

Tonight, the total score of the Western Conference semifinals was evened again.

Too many things happened tonight, but what happened in the small home locker room made Van Gundy feel the most comforted.

They were just a bunch of kids in their early twenties, and even though Van Gundy called them "gentlemen," they were still just kids. As long as they haven't fallen and are full of desire for victory, that's enough.

Van Gundy is not afraid of losing, he is afraid of the Thunder losing through depravity and complacency.

Van Gundy knew that the players were not joking just now. They will really go early tomorrow and will really complete the training in their absence. With this attitude, a loss in a game can be regarded as rewarded.

As he himself said, a game that ended has become history, and the history of another game will be written now.

When Van Gundy came home, his wife and children were stunned. Van Gundy rarely comes back this early, not even a few times a season. But after that, what greeted Van Gundy was the warm smile of his wife and children.

Maybe it's time for this hard-working coach to take a rest...