no shortcuts in basketball

Chapter 101 The Impossible to Change Rose
After finishing the game against the Lakers, the Bulls went to Oklahoma the next day to play back-to-back games against the Thunder.

This was a contest between two young teams. After the final fierce battle, the Bulls defeated the Thunder 96-86, ushering in a two-game winning streak after four consecutive losses.

徐永和罗斯分别砍下22分和21分，邓14分4板，诺阿也有13分11板2助攻4抢断2盖帽的全能发挥。

For the Thunder, Durant scored 19 points on 7-of-28 shooting, and Jeff Green scored 19 points on 8-of-24 shooting. No one else scored in double figures, especially in the paint, who was blown away by the Bulls.

哈登只替补登场打了19分钟，7投3中拿到8分3板1助攻。

After the game, Xu Yong and Harden inevitably reminisced about old times, and the two even drank.

"I'm still struggling for playing time, and you're already aiming for the best rookie." When talking about the team's situation, Harden drank a glass of whiskey with the hand wearing a copper coin bracelet, and the bitter wine entered his throat and his heart ached. .jpg.

What he said is reality. Xu Yong's performance at the beginning of the season still had some ups and downs, but he has played 3 consecutive games with 20 points or more. As teammates who came from the Devils together, and the two were only one position apart in the draft, how could it be possible? Not envious.

Although their friends are not so clear-cut, but if you really think about it, he was the boss of the Devils team back then.

"James, believe in yourself, as long as you really try your best, everything will be fine." Xu Yong said something meaningful.

His appearance has disrupted the original draft, but it has not changed Harden's fate of going to the Thunder.

As for history that has not been changed, he knows that Harden is likely to be forced to leave the Thunder because of 600 million in the end, just like in history.

From a financial perspective, this is a good thing, but from a career perspective, this may not be a good thing.

Because without the 600 million to leave the Thunder, Harden has the opportunity to win both money and championships.

You must know that a new collective bargaining agreement will be reached within a few years.

And he also knows very well how high the ceiling of that Thunder team will be if it is not dismantled.

But the prerequisite for that is that Harden has to be much better than in history.

Because only by being strong enough can you make yourself more important, and when others make choices, you will not be the one abandoned by the choice.

Harden put down his wine glass, looked at Xu Yong for a long time, and then nodded vigorously.

As the No. [-] pick but not getting a chance, it was impossible for Harden not to complain. That was human nature, but Xu Yong's words reminded him.

Just like what I said to him when he was in the Devils, he can work harder, and he will definitely usher in changes like that at that time.

Harden then raised his glass to toast Xu Yong. The same whiskey, when he drank it again, was already intoxicating with Yulu nectar.

……

Ended the road trip, the Bulls returned to Chicago.

Xu Yong also went to Rose's home as previously agreed.

Rose originally lived in Inglewood, a poor neighborhood on the south side of Chicago.

But since he entered the NBA, he has rented another apartment in downtown Chicago.

Now he is just a rookie, and the sneaker contract endorsement fee he signed with Adidas is only 100 million a year, so he cannot afford to buy a house for the time being.

However, this house is very large, and a large family lives together. For Rose, who has just entered the NBA, this is quite good.

It was also in the living room that Xu Yong met Ross's three brothers, not four.

It seemed that there was a slight deviation from his memory.

But this kind of thing is too normal, the kind of details that only the author in the novel came out of Baidu.

And one of these three people he had met in the Bulls, because he didn't look much like Rose, he thought he was an assistant hired by Rose.

These three brothers, the eldest brother Dwayne, the second brother Reggie, and the third brother Alan, are indeed members of the gang, but the second brother Reggie, the one Xu Yong has seen, is the most special one, because he himself I also love basketball.

So he not only played the role of a bodyguard, but also played a role as Rose's basketball guide. He learned a lot of basketball tactics and terminology, and became an assistant coach at a local high school when Rose was ten years old. Later, he followed Rose from college to the NBA. .

So in terms of conversation, he is the most cultivated.

Moreover, Xu Yong also learned during the chat that his second brother Reggie took care of his affairs.

"I actually didn't do much to help. After the guy heard that it was yours, he went to get the stolen items back overnight. You know, Chicago is also a basketball city."

Xu Yong smiled and nodded. This should be true. Jordan's influence definitely left a basketball mark on the city of Chicago.

Others who are engaged in music can play basketball part-time. Isn’t it too much for this gangster to play basketball in his spare time?
So knowing that what he stole was the city hero who had just helped the Bulls beat the Cavaliers in an upset, he really surrendered overnight.

Xu Yong knew the whole story, and then gave them the Rolex watch as a gift prepared in advance.

I didn't prepare Rose at first, but because my brother counted one extra, I just gave the extra one to Rose.

Ross originally wanted to refuse, but Reggie had already accepted it all, then patted Xu Yong on the shoulder and said, "No one in Chicago will trouble you again."

See what value for money means.

Of course, what Reggie said was not because of these watches, but because of Xu Yong's help to Ross.

He followed Rose, how could he not see it.

After finishing their meal, Xu Yong and Ross went for a walk on the nearby road.

Maybe it's because he has more contacts, or maybe it's because he has regarded Xu Yong as a teammate, Ross is obviously much more talkative than before.

Among them, he talked about some past events between him and his brothers.

Why did Anthony lead the team to the playoffs as a rookie in the Western Conference, and lost the best rookie selection to James who did not make the playoffs when he was suppressed in scoring and rebounding?

Is it just because of the two or three fewer assists?

No, Anthony's gang background is the main reason. The NBA is very taboo in this regard.

Rose was almost rejected by the Bulls because of his gang background. At that time, in order not to affect Rose, Reggie called the Bulls management and said that they could cut off the relationship with Rose. After Rose learned the news, it was rare for him to get along with him. The Bulls contacted him and said that if the cost was to be separated from his brothers, then he would rather not be the No. [-] pick.

As a result, it was the relationship between them that made the Bulls feel that Rose was a responsible person.

"When God closes the door, he always carefully leaves a window for people." Xu Yong made an evaluation after listening to Ross's description.

Although Ross was born into a dark environment, at least he had his brothers to light the way for him.

Rose smiled and nodded.

It was at this time that Xu Yong felt that the atmosphere was almost here.

"Derek, has anyone ever talked to you about your breakthrough method? Your... change of direction without slowing down?" At this time, they happened to pass by a field field, and Xu Yong stopped and asked.

Ross also stopped and looked at Xu Yong. He didn't answer, but asked with a wry smile, "Are you also here to persuade me to change my style of play?"

Xu Yong was stunned when asked, "I'm here to learn skills from you!"
But before he could continue to speak, Rose went on to say to himself: "I know what you want to say. This style of play will hurt my knees and shorten my career. I know it all, but this is the way I survive. Dao, if you make me change my style of play, it will only make me lose myself."

Xu Yong heard that he looked at Ross for a long time.

Speaking of rebirth, just like persuading Yao Ming to lose weight, persuading Rose to change his playing style is also something that the protagonists of many basketball novels like to do.

But it seems that, just like McGrady, most people will not listen to persuasion.

Maybe one day in the future, after suffering a lot, they will regret choosing to do that when they were young, but if you really ask him to choose again, he will still choose that way.

The reason may be as Ross said.

To put it bluntly, such a high achievement can only be achieved in this way. Why do you suddenly ask him to give up and become a relatively mediocre person?
A career that might last longer based on what others say?You haven't seen it before, so why do you think I won't last long?
Even if you really saw it, why should I believe that you saw it?
As the only successful case of Xu Yong, Yao Ming is only because he made a choice between the NBA and the national team.

"No, I don't want to talk about that, I just want to learn from you how to change direction without slowing down. I appreciate that kind of breakthrough." Xu Yong smiled and shook his head.

This time it was Ross's turn to be surprised. He subconsciously looked down at Xu Yong's knees, as if asking Xu Yong: Can your knees withstand it?

"Don't worry, I have no problem, and this is my own choice." Xu Yong said with firm eyes.

"Okay." Rose said and raised his hand. He was wearing the Rolex that Xu Yonggang gave him. After looking at the time, he continued, "It's still early. Let's go to the training hall."

"You wait for me here, I'll go drive."

Xu Yongwen nodded. He originally wanted to operate on the field in front of him, but Rose was introverted, so it was normal to choose to go to the training hall.

And if you go to the training hall, you can just use the extra training time in the evening to practice, killing two birds with one stone.

(End of this chapter)