One Guard

The drifting rain is washing down the streets of Salt Lake City, making the whole city very empty, and Liao is uninhabited. 【Full text reading】

Due to its proximity to the salt lake, the city has 6-8 Great Lakes effects every year. In addition to the heavy snowfall, the storm is also one of the "masterpieces" of the Great Lakes effect.

Under the storm, few people are willing to go out and wander. But at this time, an old man was standing in place holding a black umbrella. Although his windbreaker was mostly wet, the old man still had no intention of leaving.

The old man holding a black umbrella lowered his head, and in front of him was a tombstone in the shape of a cross. This tombstone seemed the same as the surrounding ones, but the person buried under the tombstone was extraordinary to the old white-haired man.

The old man took out a white rose from the inner bag of the windbreaker. He bent down with difficulty and gently placed the rose in front of the tombstone. As they get older, the elderly seem to experience their own physical deterioration.

"I'm old too, man, I'm old too... I think it's time for me to say goodbye to the basketball world. You know, the exciting place of the basketball court may really no longer belong to me. This old man." The old man said to himself at the tombstone, as if he was chatting with his old friend.

"The team is in good condition this season. We have just won a wave of seven consecutive victories. Although we lost Carlos, Millsap and Al have filled the gap left by his departure. But... Deron doesn’t seem to get along well with me, and your son Greg, he doesn’t love basketball as much as you do. I get less and less support in management, I feel, I'm leaving soon, buddy. I think I may not have much time left to command the team for you." The old man said, coughing dryly. In Salt Lake City in December, the temperature is not as comfortable as Dallas.

"Okay, let’s stop making a fuss. Today I just want to see you and have a chat with you. Hey, do you remember the young man I told you last time? Gordon Hayward, he’s a good guy. Boy, very talented and very hardworking. In the future, even if I am not in Salt Lake City, you can count on him to get the Jazz back on track. Okay, it's not too early, I should go back and watch the boys training. . Tomorrow’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, I hope you can bring us good luck.” The old man finished speaking, staring at the words on the tombstone for a few minutes. Then sighed, turned and left silently.

If it weren't for the man lying in the cemetery, the old man might have chosen to retire. But he just couldn't let go of the iron-blooded jazz created by himself and that person. After all, this team has spent more than 20 years of hard work.

Jerry Sloan and Larry Miller, these two guys who are extremely passionate about basketball, make the Salt Lake City Jazz a powerful force that cannot be ignored in the league.

The Houston Rockets, which Chinese fans love so much, have been rejected by the Jazz on several occasions and have been unable to break through the second round of the playoffs.

Larry Miller is a team owner who loves basketball extremely. For the team's performance, he can support Sloan unconditionally, and Sloan also has great rights. Even the team's personnel changes, the team general manager has to listen to Sloan's orders.

But when the elder Miller died of diabetes in 2009 and his son Greg Miller took office, everything changed.

Sloan no longer has rights, because Greg loves football and basketball doesn't have a passion for him, it's just business. Because of this, Greg would not value Sloan as much as his father did. The team management will no longer listen to Sloan's voice, the old man is now just a head coach, nothing more.

It is also true that Sloan has not had a happy life with the team in the past two years. After all, in the past so many years, Jerry Sloan was the biggest in the Jazz besides Miller. And now, even Deron dared to kick his nose with him. This huge sense of drop naturally made Sloan very uncomfortable with his temper.

These various reasons, coupled with his own physical discomfort, made Old Sloan plan to quit. He was hesitating in his heart. On the one hand, the working environment was getting worse and worse. On the other hand, he and his old friend Miller had worked hard to create a master of iron and blood. It was this kind of hesitation that made Sloan come to chat with Old Miller in the morning.

Although it was a chat, the deceased could not give Sloan an answer. All decisions are in the old man's heart.

Although he struggled very much inside, as long as he was still sitting in the position of head coach, Sloan would do his best to this team.

In the regular training of the team this morning, he was still the second to be there. Because Gordon Hayward is always earlier than everyone else.

"Good morning, coach!" Seeing Sloan stepping into the training ground, Hayward, with a childish face, greeted the gloomy old man.

"How's Gordon doing?" Sloan didn't return to the office, but stood on the sidelines and chatted with Hayward.

"Hey, not bad." The white forward scratched his head embarrassedly.

"Continue to practice Gordon and don't stop before the formal training begins." Sloan is not a coach who likes to start rookies. This can be judged from Hayward's average of 13 minutes per game. So after a brief chat with Hayward, he planned to turn around and leave.

But today, when Sloan was about to walk towards his office, Hayward stopped him from behind.

"Boss!" Hayward's voice echoed in the empty training ground.

"Is there any problem Gordon?" Sloan slowly turned around.

"I...I recently..." Hayward knew that Sloan was a very fierce and stern coach, and he knew that Sloan was not a good temper after spending so much time with this old man. Old man. Therefore, the white forward was a little hesitant when talking.

"You have to go on like this, I can go." In fact, Sloan had guessed what Hayward wanted to say. Tomorrow, their opponent will be the Dallas Mavericks. In addition to the Germans, the most talkative player of the Dallas Mavericks is the Hayward teammate Yiyang.

Meeting his former teammates in the NBA arena, everyone wants to make a good result. And good results require more playing time support. Hayward's soy sauce-like playing time in each game is naturally unable to support his performance.

"I think I've been in good form recently, and I will meet my college teammates in the next game. So...so I hope you can give me more playing time, sir." Hayward bit his head. Speaking out of my heart, the big deal is to be scolded by this old man.

Sloan wanted to say no, and then used his roar to let the young man know who was in charge of playing time. But suddenly, Sloan swallowed his irritability. "Well, if you perform well in today's team training, I will increase your playing time tomorrow."

"Ah!?" Even Hayward himself didn't expect things to go so smoothly.

"Boy, you better be smart. I don't want to satisfy your wish, I just want to win. Players who are in better condition deserve the opportunity to play." Sloan finished speaking and turned to leave. Go to the office.

Why did he suddenly change his mind? Because even a stubborn old man like Sloan had to admit it. It's time for the NBA to change its dynasty. The era that belonged to him and the Iron-Blooded Sir has passed, let the young people make their mark in this league...

※※※

On December 3, the Salt Lake City Energy Program Arena. Outside the arena today, the fans lined up in a long line, facing the camera lens, they all screamed frantically. Every night with a home game is a passionate carnival for this group of fans.

Seven consecutive victories, 15 wins and 5 losses. The Jazz's record this season is as good as those top teams in the West. At home today, even in the face of the Mavericks, a powerful opponent who is advancing forward, the Jazz are looking forward to their continued winning streak.

For a team that has won seven games in a row, no opponent will scare them. In Salt Lake City, no one can easily pass.

Yiyang walked into the player channel, still carrying himself and Terry's bag in his hand. When he followed his teammates into the visiting team's locker room, a guy who had been waiting by the wall for a long time made Yiyang tremble with excitement.

"Pop!" The two bags fell to the ground at the same time, and Yiyang opened his arms and walked towards the white forward.

"Gordon!" Yiyang might not have thought that he would be killed. When he saw Hayward again, he would become so excited.

University, bulldogs, winning streaks, championships, sense of belonging...These things, no matter how long they are, are beautiful memories that Yiyang lingers in his mind. And these fond memories were created by the white guy in front of him and co-created with him.

"Haha, welcome to Salt Lake City, man!" Hayward yelled, and the two hugged tightly.

"Did you see the formation outside? Those guys, they all came to see us win." Hayward said of course the dense crowd of fans.

"Then I'm afraid your fans will be disappointed!" Yiyang is not to be outdone~www.novelmtl.com~ Hey, today the coach said that it will increase my playing time. At that time, I will not show mercy to your men! "

"Just let go, Butler's first scorer!"

Hayward looked at his watch with a smile, but his smile suddenly solidified. "I have to go back, or the coach should lose his temper again."

After speaking, Hayward turned and left. But after two steps, he suddenly stopped.

"also."

"Ok?"

"Come on."

"Ok."

Hayward's back disappeared at the corner of the player channel. From that moment on, Yiyang knew that today the Mavericks were about to usher in a troublesome opponent.

Let's keep fighting on the basketball court, man!