Half time.
The atmosphere in the Timberwolves' locker room was very strange. The team's super core Zhao Feiyang and the new head coach Tom Thibodeau were not dealing with each other, and both showed a refusal to communicate with each other.
After the coaching staff's tactical analysis ended, there was a knock on the door of the locker room. The visitor was none other than Sam Mitchell, the general manager of the Timberwolves.
After Mitchell arrived, he waved to Coach Thibodeau and then called him outside away from the crowd.
When there was no one else around, Mitchell spoke to Thibodeau.
"Tom, what are you doing?"
"Why not let Zhao play?"
There was a hint of questioning in Mitchell's tone.
This made Thibodeau look a little unhappy. He responded with a cold expression, "Sam, do you remember what you promised when you invited me here? I asked no one in the management to interfere with my coaching. You personally promised it, now do you want to go back on it?"
Mitchell sighed helplessly.
"I don't intend to interfere with your coaching, but you can't put our super core on the bench! Aren't you always the most dependent on the main players? Don't you still look down on Zhao's ability?"
"His ability is not a problem, what I want is his attitude."
Thibodeau replied, "I said that if I coach the team, then everyone on the team must listen to me on tactics, and there can be no second voice... I am not Kobe Bryant. With Byron Scott next to Special, that kind of scene where I can watch the players’ faces and actions will never happen..."
As soon as Thibodeau said this, general manager Mitchell was almost stunned.
When the former was recruited, the former's attitude was quite mild. Unexpectedly, after joining the team, the other party's attitude was completely different from before.
What's more important is what he said.
Byron Scott once coached the Lakers. During that time, his team record was extremely poor, which can be said to have set a record in the history of the Lakers. During that time, he was also discussed by the outside world for "listening to Kobe's words". Of course, he ended up being dismissed from get out of class.
"Fine!"
"Now that you have said so... Tom, I still hope you can be more cautious. Zhao has a different meaning to the team, and there are still many people in the team who support him... ..I know you want Derek to grow into the core of the team and build a team that obeys your orders. This is not a problem, but the premise is that you must lead the team to win to be qualified to do this..."
After Mitchell finished speaking, he left.
The second half started quickly.
After the Timberwolves entered the field again, many fans thought that Zhao Feiyang would play in the third quarter. However, despite their expectations, Zhao Feiyang was still not replaced and was still sitting on the team's bench as before.
The game goes on.
The Timberwolves recovered after a short period of repair. Coach Thibodeau used Rose as the key offensive point to connect the team's internal and external attacks, allowing Ibaka and Rose to continuously cooperate with the cover.
This style of play is still useful. With internal and external cooperation, the Timberwolves quickly caught up with the score.
By the time the third quarter was about to end, the scores were tied.
call out.
The referee's whistle sounded and the third quarter came to an end.
83 to 83.
The Timberwolves and Suns are once again on the same starting line.
Before the last quarter, the fans at the scene were already very dissatisfied with Zhao Feiyang's delay in playing. In particular, many die-hard supporters of Zhao Feiyang stood up and shouted loudly in the stands.
"Zhao Feiyang!"
"Zhao Feiyang!"
"Come on!"
"Come on!"
Such a huge momentum surprised the Timberwolves players sitting on the sidelines. Perhaps feeling the pressure from the fans, Rose also sat next to Coach Thibodeau to advise him during the break.
"Coach Tom, I think it's better to let Zhao play! He is a great guy. If he joins, our offensive performance will definitely be stronger..."
Thibodeau was surprised that Rose took action in person. He looked at Rose in disbelief and quietly said to Rose in a voice that no one else could hear, "Derek, what are you doing?"
"Are you being stupid? There can only be one core between you and him. There is no harm in me doing this...don't you even understand this?"
After hearing this, Rose's expression was a little complicated.
"But...Coach Tom, this is Zhao's team! No matter what happened, at least Zhao did a better job than me in the position of team leader...For me, being able to follow It's also a great experience to play with guys like that..."
"I don't think there can only be one relationship between me and him. Maybe... the two of us can get along very harmoniously and help the team achieve a 1+1 effect..."
Ross said.
Coach Thibodeau's face became more and more indifferent as he looked at his former disciple, especially when he saw that the latter was not on his side. Thibodeau no longer had the patience to continue explaining.
"Go down! I have my own arrangements for when to let him play!"
"Derek, remember, you are just a player, how to coach the team is not something you can interfere with...you just need to play well!"
Thibodeau said coldly.
Ross didn't reply, just nodded helplessly.
The game continued, and as time passed, both sides came to the final time of the game.
Uh-huh.
After Booker scored a three-pointer on the Suns' side, the score between the two teams became 107 to 110. The Timberwolves trailed the Suns by 3 points, and there were only the last 47 seconds left on the court.
It was the Timberwolves' turn to attack.
Rose crossed half court with the ball. As soon as he rushed over, he was double-teamed by the opponent. At this time, he was severely exhausted, and his physical fitness was not as good as when he first entered the league, so his speed and condition had obviously declined.
Being double-teamed, he couldn't choose to play alone and could only transfer the ball.
Snapped.
The basketball was given to Zach LaVine. LaVine dribbled the ball from the left side and was about to enter the basket. As a result, the Suns' inside line suddenly came up and LaVine had to transfer the ball.
The basketball eventually returned to Rose.
Rose forcibly threw the ball under the opponent's guard, but the basketball failed to score.
boom.
The basketball bounced out of the basket.
There are 27 seconds left.
Suns offense.
After Booker got the ball, the rest of the Suns quickly covered for him. Seeing Booker dribbling the ball across half court, the Timberwolves became anxious. Andrew Wiggins on the wing rushed to cover up the defense. Unexpectedly, Booker suddenly gave the ball to Brandon Knight.
The latter was rushing towards the basket at this time, and after catching the Timberwolves' loophole, he caught the ball and threw it towards the basket. Fortunately, at the critical moment, Howard caught up from behind and slapped Knight in the hand, causing a foul.
call out.
The referee whistle sounded.
The Timberwolves sent Knight to the free throw line.
Before the official free throw, the Suns called a timeout.
Players from both sides return to their respective team benches.
The game reached such a critical moment, Rose was physically exhausted, and no one else had the ability to end the game. In this case, the Timberwolves really need someone to stand up and carry the team.
This person is undoubtedly Zhao Feiyang.
Everyone in the Timberwolves looked at him, even head coach Thibodeau set his sights on Zhao Feiyang.
After hesitating for a few seconds, Thibodeau personally walked to Zhao Feiyang and persuaded him, "Zhao, I need you! If you are willing to play now, how about canceling our previous grudges?"
Zhao Feiyang, who had had enough for a long time, saw Thibodeau looking like this and responded unceremoniously to the latter, "Coach Thibodeau, you finally think of me?"
"Sorry! You have no right to tell me what to do! Respect is mutual, but I don't see your respect for me in you..."
After saying these words, Zhao Feiyang stood up and left with a cold face under the gaze of all the fans.
Such a scene immediately caused the fans in the audience to scream.
Many fans were dumbfounded and didn't know what was going on! However, judging from the close-ups of Thibodeau and Zhao Feiyang on the scene, many fans still saw some clues.
"It looks like Zhao and Thibodeau had a falling out?"
"Oh! What on earth is this guy Thibodeau doing? Why didn't Zhao appear before? Did he let Zhao come up to wipe his butt at the last moment? Man! You really think too much. Although Zhao has a good temper, he will never I will use it as toilet paper to wipe people’s butts!”
"Bad command! If nothing else, I'm afraid the team will have various injuries again this season... I think the most suitable position for Thibodeau is the head coach of the American men's basketball team. He is not the favorite. The main player? There are endless main players for him to use..."
