The Way of the Center

Psychological pressure, physical burden. This is undoubtedly the biggest problem facing the Trailblazers.

Purple and Gold Army, Green Shirt Army. The two NBA's biggest giants are the Blazers' opponents in the next back-to-back schedule. Moreover, this is a continuous back-to-back away game spanning the east and west.

"Coach Ricard, do you think the NBA regular season schedule is really scientific and reasonable?" A day after defeating the Suns, in a daily post-training interview, a beautiful reporter from espn asked Ricard about this problem. Everyone knows that the Trail Blazers are about to face the devil's schedule, and this back-to-back is also a major threat to the Trail Blazers' winning streak.

"Scientific? Reasonable? When did the NBA schedule pay attention to these two things?" The reporters couldn't help but smile with Ricard's dazed expression. This guy mocked the league's skill, or So deep.

"First, the All-Stars, then the Suns. Just to give us a day of breathing time, we have to play two consecutive games across the east and west. Do you think this schedule is reasonable?" Ricard asked rhetorically. The reporters can't laugh. Indeed, Los Angeles and Boston, this is simply from the westernmost point of the United States to the easternmost part of the United States.

It is indeed too much to play back-to-back continuously under such circumstances.

Ricard finished complaining to the reporters and won the sympathy of everyone outside. But what is the use? Can the Trail Blazers still count on David Stern to help them revise the schedule?

The Blazers and Anjie can only bite the bullet.

Now that the Trail Blazers enter the playoffs is a certainty, and the first position in the Western Conference is pretty solid. The only thing that holds them down is the record that has accumulated to 26 consecutive victories. Less than ten games won, the Blazers have a chance to draw the longest winning streak in history.

Such a situation will definitely put a lot of pressure on the players. Especially now facing a group of extremely inhumane continuous back-to-backs, the players of the Trail Blazers don't even mention how tired they are.

"Lakers f4 guys, they're here again. Don’t forget, the Lakers are currently ranked eighth in the Western Conference. In other words, they are likely to be our opponents in the first round of the playoffs! I don’t want to. With countless honors, we smashed the sand in the first round, and in the next game, we strive to win. Before the playoffs start, we will defeat the other party’s confidence!” Ricard tried his best to encourage himself. Players, let them put down the burden as much as possible.

And Anjie? As a team leader, he always cares about his teammates in the locker room and training ground.

"Don't worry about Matthews, you let go and confront Kobe. With me watching behind you, don't be too nervous." Anjie comforted Matthews who was overly nervous because he was about to face Kobe.

"Damien! Don't practice like this, your stamina can't stand your tossing like this."

"J.j., you have to stare at Clark every step of the way. Although he is not as good as Gasol, he is also good at shooting."

If Ricard is a senior leader, then Anjie is more like a grassroots cadre. He was talking to his teammates one by one on the basketball court to ensure that their mentality was at their best.

However, the rush of time did not give An Jie and Ricard too much opportunity to adjust the team. When An Jie had not eased from the rhythm of the All-Star Game, others had parachuted to Los Angeles International Airport.

Although the Lakers f4 may be the most disappointing combination of the season, despite the injuries of Gasol and others, only eight people under D'Antoni can participate in the rotation. But considering the exhaustion and pressure of the Blazers players, it is not impossible for the Los Angeles Lakers to win.

In the last game against the penultimate Suns in the Western Conference, the Blazers were better than others without stars. But the Los Angeles Lakers, but there is an omnipotent Kobe waiting for Anjie.

Also participating in the All-Star Game, but Kobe today is the first regular season after the All-Star Game. And Anjie is already playing his second away game in a row.

Before the start of the game, Kobe, as always, hugged Anjie amicably. But Anjie knew that at a critical moment, this cold-blooded black mamba would not be soft on his old friends.

As soon as the game started, An Jie's guess became a reality. Now is the time to hit the playoffs, and the Lakers' eighth place in the West is shaky. For this situation, the person most worried about is Kobe.

Kobe failed to make the playoffs last time, or the 04-05 season. At that time, the entire Lakers team was only carried by Kobe, he lacked helpers, and the West was as strong as a forest.

Nowadays, with a luxurious f4 lineup, Kobe, who is coming for the championship, can't accept that he can't even pass the hurdle of the playoffs. So from the beginning, he launched a fierce attack. Once this guy turns on the scoring mode, it will be very difficult to stop.

Although Anjie had guided Matthews before the game, when Kobe scored a few unreasonable goals on Matthews in a row, the 2009 draft was still a mess.

Doesn't Matthews work hard? If he doesn't work hard, he can't go from a hopeless draft to become the No. 2 player of the Trail Blazers. But now, the huge gap in talent between the two still makes Matthews extremely painful. After all, Kobe before him is also a hardworking person.

An Jie said he would watch behind Matthews, and he did so. It's just that Kobe, who is smart, didn't go head-to-head with Anjie at all.

He always finishes scoring mid-range after getting rid of Matthews' defense, or simply scores against Matthews' defense.

Anjie worked hard, and the rest of the Trail Blazers did their best. But the score has been bitten by the explosive Kobe.

In the last quarter of the game, the scores of the two sides remained even. But at this time, the Lakers' disadvantage that only eight players can rotate has been infinitely magnified.

Although Kobe is great, he is 33 years old after all. And this guy is also scarred.

In the fourth quarter, Kobe eagerly needed a little time to rest. However, the Lakers' bench lineup prevented Kobe from getting a break.

This gritty man gritted his teeth and prepared to play the entire fourth quarter. Kobe's spirit of not giving up also affected An Jie, who was his opponent.

Seeing Kobe so desperate, Anjie was not to be outdone. He motioned Ricard not to replace himself, because Anjie was about to smash to the end with his idol and friend!

The final duel of this game made all fans have to respect the two men in awe. Whether it is Kobe or Anjie, they are all real men.

These two guys did not give up, Kobe's score is about to exceed 40, and Anjie's blocked shots have reached 5.

Unfortunately, in the end Kobe still lost his age. An Jie, in his early twenties, had the last laugh in this war of attrition.

In the last minute and a half of the game, Kobe repeatedly missed shots on the outside offense and broke through, which also took Anjie a big risk.

And Anjie, he still played effectively on Howard who was injured. Neither Jamison nor Earl Clarke can effectively double-team Anjie for the Lakers.

Kobe is still working hard, but he can no longer do every shot and score every breakthrough like before. Conversely, An Jie can do it.

Under the cheers of the entire Staples fans, Kobe still lost, with 40 points and 7 rebounds, fell to An Jie's hands.

An Jie scored 36 points, 14 rebounds and terrifying 6 blocked shots in this campaign. He was exhausted until the end. The Trail Blazers also won 111 to 107, a narrow victory again!

For the victory of this game, the main players of the Trail Blazers did not reserve the least. Especially Anjie, if he doesn't smash Kobe, the victory will belong to the Lakers. But after he and Kobe die, Anjie's physical condition will only become more tense. Although they defeated Kobe, they won their 27th straight game. But Ricard now has no idea what to do with the game against the Boston Celtics tomorrow.

Looking at the players panting in the locker room, Ricard really couldn't bear to say those words. But now, he had to urge his men to leave immediately after experiencing a bitter victory.

"Let's go guys, we... we should go to the airport..." A dull victory, probably this is the feeling...

The four-and-a-half-hour long-distance flight spans the east and west coasts of the United States. You can only fall asleep in the early morning, and you have to go to a game when you wake up...

All these unfavorable factors are now overwhelming the Blazers.

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

On February 22, 2013, the Lantern Festival. Boston, td North Shore Garden Arena, 10:30 in the evening. An Jie has no chance to reunite with his family, or even video chat. Since coming to the United States to become a professional player in the NBA, Chinese traditional festivals have never had much to do with Anjie. Let alone the Lantern Festival, Anjie spent the Spring Festival more than ten days ago in competitions and training.

But now, he doesn't have the heart to consider these sad things at all. He must resolve the immediate crisis, because the time left for the Trail Blazers is running out.

"The game is about to end with the last three minutes left, and the Trail Blazers are still eight points behind! Paul Pierce broke through after borrowing Brandon Bass's pick-and-roll! A two-point jumper hit a stop, audience friends, now The difference has become a tenth!"

Pierce raised his arms in excitement after the goal, and the shouts of the fans made this guy full of strength.

After the attack came, Anjie attracted double-teams again and successfully distributed the ball to the outside. Wesley Matthews took the ball and shot, but the basketball knocked out of the box. This is not an occasional one. Counting the missed goal, Matthews's three-pointer percentage today has also become 1 of 7.

Seeing this situation, Garnett immediately got on his feet. This small gesture made An Jie's step difficult. Therefore, this rebound was also firmly controlled by the Celtics.

Originally, An Jie's physical strength was almost overdrawn, and now he has to deal with Garnett, who has small movements all over his body, which intensifies An Jie's physical consumption.

After getting the rebound, Bradley immediately launched a counterattack, wanting to play a fast break. And An Jie, who was physically exhausted, was unable to stage a chasing show again. He could only watch the Celtics' zero guard make a layup and watch the point difference become 12.

"Too tired, if I were coach Ricard, I would immediately replace Ann and give up this game! After all, their results are good enough. If An Jie is injured due to fatigue, the Trail Blazers will lose more than the gain!" Mike Brin didn't want to see a rising star falling at the feet of a sickness.

As soon as he finished speaking, Ricard called a timeout.

"Ann! You rest!"

"Oh...Ah!?" An Jie hadn't reacted yet.

"You rest, stop playing, let's stop playing." The time is only two minutes, and the score difference is 12 points. In the poor condition of the Trail Blazers, Ricard intends to abandon the game.

"What are you kidding? We can't give up! We still have time!" Anjie yelled angrily. His fierce reaction shocked everyone on the bench, including Ricard himself.

This deafening roar naturally did not escape the ears of the reporters. They seem to have heard a big news!

"Impossible! We must be able to win!" An Jie angrily dropped the paper cup. After working hard for so long and winning streak for so long, how could he give up and give up.

"Smelly boy!" Ricard is also a violent temper. An Jie never dared to yell at himself. Did this guy have the courage of the leopard today? Ricard slammed back hard, and the others didn't even dare to make a sound.

"It's alright, Ann, obey the arrangement. This is also for the overall consideration." Divac is the only person who can act as a peacemaker. He pushed Anjie and Ricard away, but Anjie did not speak any more and accepted it. The fact that the game ended early~www.NovelMTL.com~ Ricard did not say a word with Anjie after that. He commanded the entire game. Of course, the Trail Blazers eventually fell to the North Shore Garden by nine points.

"Boston Celtics! They stopped the Trail Blazers' winning streak! God, the Rockets' 22-game winning streak that year was also cut off by the Celtics! This group of guys is simply the end of a veritable winning streak. By!"

The Trail Blazers' legendary winning streak stopped at the number of 27 consecutive victories.

After the game, the reporters rushed out. The quarrel between Anjie and Ricard, the end of the Trail Blazers' winning streak, and another beautiful blockade by the Celtics...

There was too much news in this game...

　　 Please remember the domain name of the book’s first publication:. Mobile version reading URL: