The Way of the Center

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"Friends in the audience! There is still one minute, and we will be promoted in one minute! Cheer to your heart's content! When An Jie and Mike Taylor left, everyone was worried about the future of the Cyclones this season. But now, We are only one minute away from the top 16!" Paul Philips did not expect that Ricard's Tornado team could break through the top 32 for two consecutive years and tie the best score in team history for two consecutive years.

Although compared with last year, the Cyclones' opponents in the first two rounds of this season are not particularly strong. However, it is really not easy to not capsize the gutter in a tournament that determines the outcome.

In addition to good luck, being able to control the hard power of the game is the biggest reason supporting them to the present. And Morris' strong dominance in the interior is the basis for Ricard's tactics.

Although not as good as Anjie in terms of technique and offensive ability, Morris, who is 2 meters 08 and 120 kilograms, has excellent athletic ability and tough physical fitness, has become a well-deserved cornerstone of the Cyclone team.

His fierce defense and daring style of play made him a nightmare for countless people. Against Oklahoma, Morris even had a hard time guarding Blake Griffin. You must know that Blake Griffin, known as the "White Warcraft", is this year's No. 1 candidate!

However, the guys on the Cyclones seem to have a "tradition" of forming a relationship with the No. 1 candidate. Didn't Angie and Michael Beasley last year often become the center of the topic.

In the last minute of the game, the Davis Academy led by Stephen Curry had fallen behind by 15 points and almost lost hope of winning.

This point guard who is too thin although he shoots accurately is really unconvincing. He has to take 5 three-pointers and hit all of them in one minute, and the Cyclones can't score during this period, so Davis College has a chance Drag the game into overtime.

However, Stephen Curry's performance made Rickard break out in a cold sweat. He hit four consecutive three-pointers, and they all shot immediately after a pick-and-roll outside the three-point line. Such a terrifying range and accuracy made Rickard think that maybe this skinny guy, like An Jie, was underestimated because of his size!

Although Curry was eye-catching at the last moment, he was powerless. Morris used his strong body and great strength to directly penetrate the inside line of Davis College.

When the whistle blew for the end of the game, Morris fell to his knees on the floor. In the top 16 of the March Madness Championship, what Anjie did, Morris did the same!

"Ha... you kid..." An Jie was in the gym of his villa, holding dumbbells while listening to the voice from the TV.

"Come on,

Try to let the Cyclone team pass the hurdle of the top 16! "An Jie encouraged Morris in his heart.

"Play hard and try to get the Thunder team a ticket to the playoffs!" When Morris watched the Thunder team's game the night before, why didn't he pray for An Jie.

This pair of good brothers who can't see each other often have actually been paying attention to each other. They are lifelong rivals, and they are also lifelong friends. If possible, Morris and Angie even hope to be teammates again.

"Look behind me!" When An Jie needed to raise his defense, he would always say this to Morris with confidence.

"I'll help you entangle others, and you break through the penalty area!" When Morris couldn't complete the offense alone, he would always trust Anjie's ability to score inside.

These two guys, actually enjoyed the good time when they partnered with each other inside...

"Oh! Damn it!" Thinking about it, An Jie accidentally let one side of the dumbbell fall, and the bar hit his nose. If it weren't for the support, An Jie's nose would probably be gone.

"Damn, it's bleeding." An Jie touched his nose, and sure enough, it was smashed by the crossbar.

"You have to be serious." An Jie pulled a piece of paper to block his nostrils, turned off the TV, and started his strength training seriously.

Morris and the Cyclones won today, and they can't lose against the Jazz tomorrow!

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

On the team bus, the Jazz players didn't say a word. Because their head coach Jerry Sloan was sitting at the front with a serious face, watching the old man's frown, none of the players below dared to make a sound. For other teams, maybe the players are the masters of a city. But in the Jazz, the symbol of Salt Lake City will always be Jerry Sloan. No player's status can be higher than Jerry Sloan.

From player to coach, Sloan's fiery temper has never changed. It is also because of this character that he made the Jazz into an iron-blooded team.

In the matchup before the season, the Thunder also had the experience of beating the Jazz. But one thing in common is that the Jazz they defeated before had incomplete lineups.

Today, the old coach Sloan stepped into Oklahoma City with all his troops, not for tourism.

As soon as the Jazz team's bus arrived at the stop, a large group of reporters flocked to it. Their goal is not Deron. Williams, not Carlos. Boozer. There was only one person they wanted to interview, Jerry Sloan.

"Coach! I heard that you reprimanded J. Miles loudly in yesterday's training, and he seemed a little unconvinced afterwards. Is this true!?" An obese reporter relied on his size advantage Squeeze to the front.

"Since my first day as a coach, I have always had conflicts with my players." Jerry Sloan didn't even look at the reporter. He answered as he walked, and he didn't shy away from sensitive issues. .

"A week ago, the team's crazy 12-game winning streak was ended. Do you think today, you can start again in Oklahoma City?"

"The reason we were winning all the time wasn't because we played well, but because the opponents were playing against us in dresses. Obviously, the Thunder who rushed to the ninth place in the West would not be right. We are polite." Tough, cold, and humorous, this is Jerry Sloan's style of answering questions.

When Sloan said this, he was also reminding the group of guys under him. In this game, the three thunderbolts will not be soft, they must also do their best!

Van Gundy, as always, took the players into the game early to warm up. High-quality warm-ups are an essential part of avoiding injuries.

An Jie held a basketball in each of his left and right hands under the basket, and he kept alternating his hands to complete the hook. Before the game, An Jie always liked to use this method to maintain the feel of his hook.

"Listen, you know the style of the Jazz! You are all smart people, you must protect yourself, I don't want to send you to Dr. Sammiel again." Van Gundy was on the sidelines during the warm-up of the Thunder players He reminded his men for the third time.

"Play hard and you won't die! That Anjie, you ask him, will he let you easily score in the three-second zone? No! That yellow-skinned guy will only show you with vicious blocks! Go on the field Go, fight the Thunder to the death!" Jerry Sloan's reminder was the exact opposite of Jeff Van Gundy.

Completely different personalities, distinctive teams. The Jazz wants to stop the Thunder with their own hands, and the Thunder also hopes to drag the Jazz down with their own hands.

Everyone in Ames City is talking about the re-popularization of the Cyclones, but Catherine, her heart is up and down with the picture of the Chesapeake Energy Arena on TV.

She almost never missed any of An Jie's matches. As long as there is a chance to see her lover, she will seize it.

impact......

"Starting point guard! From UCLA, Russell~~~Westbrook!" In order to cheer up the Thunder, the on-site DJ also started this passionate player introduction ceremony again

aggressive...

"No. 35! Small forward, Kevin~~~Durant!" Chesapeake Energy Arena cheers have reached.

dominance...

"Height 2.19 meters, Oriental Tower from a distant land, No. 16! The Thunder's starting center, An~~~Jie!" As soon as the DJ finished speaking, the lights of the audience were turned on again. An Jie stood in the middle, and everyone in the Thunder team gathered towards him. The people on the outside put their shoulders on each other, forming a circle to enclose An Jie in the innermost part. An Jie said some words of encouragement to the team in the middle, and everyone closed their eyes, feeling every trace of power flowing through their blood.

"We're the Thunder, we're going to the playoffs! Roar!"

"Roar!"

Everyone roared and dispersed. The faces of this group of guys wearing white home jerseys instantly became murderous!

Jerry Sloan knew long ago that he was here to fight a tough battle.

"Come on, Ann." Although An Jie couldn't hear it, Catherine would say this silently in front of the TV every time, as if it was a private whisper between her and An Jie.

"Friends in the audience, the fierce competition in the West is still going on!" (To be continued.)