After two consecutive victories, the Timberwolves continue to work hard and move towards the next goal.
However, just after the second victory, Kevin Martin and Maurice Williams began to have trouble.
The two people first asked for leave in the name of injury and missed the team's training games. Then they said they had to take half a month off because of personal matters.
This move may appear to the outside world as something serious, but from within the Timberwolves, anyone with a discerning eye knows that it is intentional.
The reason is also very simple, they just want to target Zhao Feiyang and don't want to contribute for his "glory", even though such glory actually has a part of them.
Head coach and general manager Phillip Saunders originally didn't plan to grant leave, but the two immediately lost contact after taking leave, which left him at a loss.
The team lost two scoring points at once, especially Kevin Martin, a player with strong scoring ability. This is undoubtedly a loss to the team's strength.
Seeing this situation, Zhao Feiyang also seized the opportunity to express his stance to head coach Phyllis Sanders.
"Coach, I think Zach and Ricky are performing well. They can definitely complement the team's starting lineup..."
"Of course it's a pity not to have them, but we can also take this time to try out a new lineup. There may be unexpected surprises..."
Zhao Feiyang's words were finally recognized by head coach Philip Sanders.
So, with the team entering a new lineup, the Timberwolves started a winning streak. No one expected this winning streak.
In the following five games, the Timberwolves performed well and played a very exciting team style. On this basis, Zhao Feiyang also shouldered the team's burden as the team's leading scorer, always performing various miracles to save the team at critical moments.
As soon as the seventh consecutive victory came out, the fans were the most excited, and the attendance rate of the Target Center Arena also increased. In the past, it might only be filled when super strong teams came to play away games, but now it is completely different. Almost every person in the arena can fill it up. Every game is packed.
Zhao Feiyang's popularity has also risen rapidly, and he has become the well-deserved leader and player of this team.
As soon as the team won, everyone was happy. Only Maurice Williams and Kevin Martin, who were on leave, were worried.
During the half-month truce between the two, they watched Zhao Feiyang lead the team to a winning streak, which completely frustrated their original plans.
"What are you doing? Why can this guy lead the team to five consecutive victories?"
"Damn... I thought this guy would definitely lose without us, but why is this happening? The team hasn't made any changes... Why is there a winning streak? I really want to not understand......."
"What should we do? Should we continue to wait?"
"No, who knows what will happen next... I have to return to the team..."
Maurice Williams and Kevin Martin panicked.
They returned to the team as soon as possible.
Head coach Philip Saunders did not blame them. Instead, he asked them during training whether they should continue to take leave.
This attitude also makes Maurice Williams and Kevin Martin even more worried.
Training day.
After seven consecutive victories, the Timberwolves have a completely new atmosphere. The morale of the team is high. Although some players have not changed much, most of them are full of energy.
"Today we continue to fight... Morris and Kevin are back... welcome them..."
"Let's do this! You two go to Group B. Zhao, you lead Group A..."
Philip Sanders' arrangement is very targeted.
Group A is the team’s current starting lineup, dominated by Zhao Feiyang, with Zach LaVine and Ricky Rubio filling the vacancies at the first and second positions. Especially once Zhao Feiyang needs a rest, Zach LaVine Wen Hui substituted at the second position, and Ricky Rubio went to the first position to hold the ball.
The forward positions are Thaddeus Young and Nikola Pekovic, and the center position is played by second-year rookie Gorgui Dieng.
In Group B, Maurice Williams plays the first position and controls the ball, while Kevin Martin continues to play his familiar second position, leaving the inside to Kevin Garnett.
There are also main lineup players in other positions.
In the past, the lineup of Group B was the team's starting lineup, but now after experiencing a winning streak, the team's starting lineup has changed drastically.
The competition begins soon.
Group B takes the lead in attacking.
Although Maurice Williams took a break for half a month, he was not idle at home during this period. He has been training his hand and physical fitness. Not to mention improvement, maintaining the original level is not a problem.
He dribbled the ball across half court, and as soon as he passed the midline, he was spotted by Zach LaVine.
He had faced off against Zach LaVine before, but at that time Zach LaVine's defense could only be said to be quite satisfactory, with basically no passion.
Maurice Williams thought Zach LaVine was the same as before, and didn't care about his marking at all at first, until Zach LaVine rushed up and reached out frantically to steal.
The fierce defensive posture immediately put huge pressure on Maurice Williams.
But instead of passing the ball, he planned to pass Zach LaVine.
People who could only serve as substitutes for him in the past now want to challenge him. This is of course something Maurice Williams cannot tolerate.
So he opened up his stance and went for a singles, planning to dodge Zach LaVine and break through to the inside.
The two met each other, and Maurice Williams was about to dazzle him. The next second, Zach LaVine suddenly reached out from the other side and slapped the basketball out of his hand.
Snapped.
The basketball rolled out.
Maurice Williams was shocked, and Zach LaVine didn't hesitate to grab it.
Zach LaVine, who successfully picked up the basketball, was just about to dribble the ball for a fast break when he realized that Zhao Feiyang had surpassed his body. Zach LaVine didn't hesitate at all and threw the ball directly with a quick pass.
Zhao Feiyang received the basketball and sprinted straight towards the half court.
Kevin Martin behind him did not expect that the situation would reverse so quickly, and tried to get in front of Zhao Feiyang to stop Zhao Feiyang's shot.
The two reached the basket one after another. Just when Kevin Martin was about to jump up and block Zhao Feiyang, Zhao Feiyang threw the ball with a high throw in the next second.
Kevin Martin looked surprised. Before he could react, Zach LaVine, who followed up to the basket, was already leaping high in the air.
"WTF?"
boom.
A dunk hit hard.
Zach LaVine caught the ball in mid-air and dunked directly onto Kevin Martin's head and smashed the ball into the basket.
The whole audience was shocked.
Even the assistant coaches on the sidelines couldn't help but applaud.
But the most shocked ones were Kevin Martin and Maurice Williams. They really couldn't understand how Zach LaVine, who didn't look very good in the past, seemed to have discovered all his potential overnight. generally!
