NBA: Starting with Jokic template

Chapter 62 I want to come back, but I can't fight

"I want to come back." Yi Jianlian said to everyone in the locker room.

"Comeback?"

Everyone was shocked to hear the news.

"Alian, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Zhu Fangyu stood up without even wiping the sweat off his face, walked quickly to Yi Jianlian, put his hand on his shoulder, and looked serious.

"Didn't the doctor say you're not well yet? Didn't the doctor say you can't play in this Olympics?"

"Yes, A-Lian, you are not feeling well. If you force yourself to play, won't that mean..."

Yi Jianlian shook his head and interrupted Wang Shipeng. His tone was resolute.
"It has come to this. If I don't play, with a depleted team, even if we lose, no one will be willing to accept it, not to mention the Chinese fans. I can't let everyone down."

"But we're facing the United States, the Dream Team. Even if you play, no one will thank you if we lose. You might even get scolded after the game, saying that you forced your way out and made us lose the game, Brother Lian."

"I've made up my mind."

Yi Jianlian said again in an unquestionable tone.

He stood up from his chair and took off his basketball practice clothes, revealing the jersey he had already changed into hidden underneath.

His arms were strong and sturdy, with some visible scratches and wounds.

On the back of the jersey, you can vaguely see the raised marks of the plaster.

He stood with his back straight, and the light shone from behind him. People couldn't see his face clearly, but they could see his firm posture.

"Coach, put me in the roster for the next game. I want to play."

Deng Huade fell silent.
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"I didn't expect the Chinese team to really beat the Argentine team."

In the Olympic Village, the members of the US team who were just about to take a break gathered together.

"We're going to play a game with them tomorrow, guys, don't go out and have fun today."

Kobe shook the room card in his hand and looked at Harden and others.

"Of course, I still know my priorities."

Harden made a gesture of surrender.

"I'm going to compete with my good brother Lin Chuan tomorrow, so I must give it 100% of my strength."

"But his performance today was amazing, 50+20+10. I can't believe his teammates couldn't help him at all to achieve such numbers. He is not a player who pursues numbers."

Westbrook twirled the bracelet on his wrist and questioned.

"Yes, most of their players are similar to the last time, and they are also missing Yao Ming. Last time, when we had Yao Ming but Lin Chuan was not there, they were beaten by us by more than 30 points in the group stage. How strong do you think they are?"

Durant spoke in a relaxed tone. If it weren't for Lin Chuan on the opposite side, he would have found this Olympic final extremely boring.

"Alright, you guys."

Old K came in with a tactical board and interrupted everyone.

"Since you're talking so much, why don't you discuss how to deal with them?"

He pulled out the whiteboard and drew a standing position for everyone.
"The center's high pick-and-roll creates space for the guard to play, or hands the ball to the center for a single play, passes to the weak side, and stands in the corner to assist the offense and wait for the second wave of offensive opportunities. These are some of their common play styles."

"In the final analysis, the tactical core of the Chinese team lies with the center, so we either limit him and let others play, or let him play to death. Our lineup is very strong, and we are not afraid of his passing and shooting game."

The small TV pushed in by a video analyst nearby was also broadcasting the Chinese team's game for everyone to analyze.

"Old K, are you showing us his personal highlights?" Durant pointed at the screen and asked with a doubtful tone.

"The broadcast has been showing Lin Chuan's individual goals for five minutes straight, and they're almost in the top 10."

"So I said, their team relies on him alone. Yi Jianlian, the only player who can carry the team, is injured and can't play. And even if he can play, we don't need to pay too much attention to him. He is not as strong as Serge Ibaka who played against Spain."

Old K explained.

Then he stopped writing and continued,

"We have to share the ball in this game. Don't just focus on playing by yourself, just like in the last game. The other team has also beaten the Spanish team. We have to treat them as a strong team. And we rely on the terrifying attacking power of the center. If we play blindly, we may be left behind by more than 10 or 20 points. It will be difficult to catch up then."

Then he glanced at James, who had become silent again, paused, and continued to tell everyone about tomorrow's tactics.

James stared at Old K who was explaining the tactics, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails almost dug into his palms.

He is a child of destiny!
Since his debut, he has only had one goal!
That’s the first in history!

He scored 20+5+5 in his first year in the league, and 27 points in his second year! This is not something that ordinary people can do!

Even during the off-season that year, everyone in the team only mocked his choice, and few people mocked his ability.

But after being defeated in the finals again, James's popularity in the United States has hit rock bottom, even lower than last year.

This also made him afraid to go out. He stayed at home during the offseason and didn't even dare to look at his mobile phone.

But even so, he has seen extreme fans burning jerseys outside his home several times. If it weren't for security, even his own personal safety might have been in jeopardy.

It was not until the Olympics began that he followed the US team to London.

I didn't play much yesterday. I was in a bad mood and even injured myself during a fast break.

After the game, he immediately found the team doctor.

While the doctor was examining him, he was so depressed that he wanted to open social media to check it out to relieve his emotions.

But once he opened it, the insults and taunts it contained would immediately pop out and hit him in the face.

"A bunch of useless people."

"Nothing folded."

The fans on the Internet cursed mercilessly, so James just took a look and decisively turned off the social media.

He was already unhappy about being eliminated in the finals for two consecutive years and being benched in the Olympics. After seeing the ridicule, he almost collapsed, but he still held it back.

To this day, no one has seen his emotions.

After all, the Olympic finals are coming up soon. The gold medal is the most important thing, and it is worth it even if I play with an injury.

And now, old K, Mike Krzyzewski, not only kept him on the bench for half a game, but even brought up the old matter a day after the game.

Fuck, he's had enough!
James also thought it through. He had a groin strain and he had won it once in 2008, so there was no need to play with the injury.

The US team has so many players, they don't need him. They can play the Olympic finals by themselves.

Thinking of this, James also stood up and walked towards Old K.

"Hey, coach, I'm injured and can't play in the next final."

As he spoke, he took out a fresh injury report.

(End of this chapter)