In the evening, the Lakers beat the Jazz 106-95 in Gasol's absence, ending their opponent's 19-game winning streak at home.

Bryant played 41 minutes and finished with 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists on 11-of-21 shooting. Odom contributed 21 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.

Salt Lake City has long been known as the home of the Devils, and the Jazz haven't suffered a defeat at home since losing to the Celtics at the Energy Resolution Center on Dec. 29, tying the franchise's all-time record with 19 straight wins. Carlos. Boozer had 23 points and 15 rebounds, Delon. Williams had 26 points and 12 assists, but the Lakers had six players in double figures. The Jazz's five starters also scored in double figures, and they lost to the Lakers 9-25 off the bench.

The game also proved the importance of bench depth, and with Boozer and Delon blocking alone, the Jazz couldn't go far in the playoffs.

The Lakers started with a strong offense, and the Jazz never took the lead. The Lakers missed just one of their first 10 shots, and at one point they led by 24 points in the second quarter. Home fans wanted to see the Jazz break their home winning streak, but until the final minutes of the final quarter, the Jazz couldn't close the deficit to under 10 points. Twenty-one seconds before the end, when Odom completed a dunk, a fan even threw a bottle of beer into the court to show his displeasure with the home team, but fortunately no one was hit.

The playoffs against the Eastern Conference are obvious, the Pistons, Cavaliers, and Celtics will fight for the Eastern Conference championship, and the Heat has gone downhill and is difficult to pose a threat to them, the Magic team Dwight. Howard also looked a little tenderer.

The Western Spurs are in a period of alternation between the old and the new, and it is difficult to defend the title. The Hornets are too young and inexperienced, the bench is not deep enough, the Suns and Mavericks have declined after the lineup adjustments, and it is difficult to make a difference in the playoffs...... The Lakers, who have successfully strengthened the roster, have the best chance of advancing to the Finals.

The rise of the Lakers has also attracted the attention of many fans, and not many people care about Zhou Xuan, a pawn who plays in the Development League. After losing to the 66ers, the Chinese media only mentioned him without pain. They are more concerned about the injuries of Yi Jianlian and Yao Ming, and what kind of results the Chinese men's basketball team led by four NBA players can achieve in the Beijing Olympics.

The next night, Mitchell. Butler said a way to help Zhou Xuan improve - read books! He brought back a few books, all about psychology and magic.

"Are you kidding? What does reading have to do with playing ball? Zhou Xuan didn't know where Mitchell found the Chinese books, and felt a big head, which was too child's play.

"I've been watching you. You have a big shortcoming, that is, the joy and sorrow are all expressed on the face. Normally there is nothing wrong with this, but on the pitch, it is easy to reveal your intentions. Mitchell said: "Let me ask you a question, who is the most consistent star in the NBA?" ”

"Tim. Duncan. Zhou Xuan opened his mouth and replied. This is recognized by the NBA, and Duncan's nickname is "Stone Buddha", which is to describe his stability.

"Do you know that Duncan graduated in psychology in 1997? His stability comes from psychology. Mitchell laughed.

Zhou Xuan was stunned for a moment, a little interested in reading.

Duncan, who has a master's degree in psychology from Wakeforestster University, once asked an American journalist why he studied psychology, and he replied, "It makes me quieter." ”

Duncan is frighteningly calm on the court, a trait that has nothing to do with his academic qualifications. As a Master of Psychology, Duncan's mental qualities are particularly outstanding, and he can respond calmly to no matter how big the game is and how much pressure he faces. He is good at grasping the every move of others and is good at grasping the rhythm of the game.

In his first season in the NBA, Duncan was extremely consistent, almost from the first game, he was the absolute core of the team, and in his second year in the league, he led the team to the Spurs' first NBA championship. Behind the success, the title of Master of Psychology should be credited.

Zhou Xuan asked, "What about the magic book?" Do I still have to learn magic? ”

Mitchell smiled: "As long as you look at it, you will find that magicians are also experts in playing with psychology, they are even better at grasping people's hearts than psychologists, and some magicians who can hypnotize, just like idealists, can know what the other party thinks by asking questions and observing words and colors." And Magic details how to attract attention when doing tricks, if you learn these to integrate into basketball skills...... Man, you might be invincible. ”

Zhou Xuan took a deep breath and asked, "Who came up with this method?" Has anyone done this before? Are there any successful people? ”

"I figured it out because I loved magic, but unfortunately I retired, so no one has ever done that, and you're the first." Mitchell looked at Zhou Xuan and said, "There's nothing wrong with being the first one." In 1950, Auerbach was the first NBA head coach to select a black player in the draft, and in 1963, for the first time in NBA history, he fielded an all-black starting lineup, which made him a cardinal! ”

"Interesting, then I'll give it a try." Zhou Xuan made a decision. Just reading a book, even if he doesn't succeed, he won't waste much time, and he happens to be very capable of learning now. The first person to eat crabs, without paying much, tasted the deliciousness. Maybe he'll be able to improve and become as stable as Duncan.

Next, his life became very regular, training or playing with the team, going home in the evening to cook a meal, both relaxing and cultivating his sentiments, and then reading until 11 o'clock to rest.

Zhou Xuan also took the time to watch the video of the star's game, and he felt that the game in the 90s was a little out of touch with modern basketball, and he couldn't get any inspiration. At that time, people played ball, and they didn't pass endlessly like they do now, and they kept blocking and dismantling empty cuts. They dribbled the ball through the half-court at a fast pace, launched an attack quickly, and pressed the off-ball man with a particularly ferocious force.

The scale of the league's blowing penalty has also changed a lot. There was a game that year, Barkley threw Ranbier to the ground with a "heaven and earth reversal", if someone hadn't pulled him, and then "Arashi Mountain" Ranbier's life might have been over. In such a fierce battle, he was only banned for two games, which shows that the referees at that time were all people who entered the field without a whistle to enforce the law.

Zhou Xuan devoted his main mind to studying psychology, and also discussed with Mitchell, and gradually became interested. This knowledge can't be integrated into the basketball court, but it makes him very observant, a bit like a magic stick.

The development league game continued, and the defenders won an unprecedented wave of three consecutive wins, Zhou Xuan maintained more than 10 assists per game, and averaged 11 points, 2 rebounds, 13 assists and 1 steal per game to win a Player of the Week. The fundamental reason for their good results is that Payne has played less minutes and the quality of his defense has improved dramatically.

Payne is also single, doesn't he need me? I'm not going to spend it here with you, I'm leaving! Just take one month less salary. The coaching staff was very disappointed in him, if Payne said that he would work hard and behave positively, they would still be happy to use him and Zhou Xuan to block and dismantle, after all, he has the ability to shoot, but this person is putting on a posture of "Lao Tzu just doesn't defend", such a person can go.

Payne is away from the defenders, and with luxury statistics, he may be able to find an NBDL team that makes the playoffs to continue playing, and it is unknown whether that team will give him a chance, and whether it will use a player with his attitude.

Within two days of Payne's departure, a 213CM undrafted rookie who had played in Europe came named Rod. Barnes, who took the position of center forward, saw the freedom of the development league.

At the beginning of April, the NBDL regular season came to an end, and the defenders who were too far behind in the early stage failed to make the NBDL playoffs, only won a few more games and ended up in 12th place in the league.

Zhou Xuan played a total of 17 games for the team, averaging 37 per game. 2 minutes to get 10. 6 points 2. 1 rebound 14. 1 assist, 2. 3 steals. The number of assists is down from the previous period, but 14. One has also set a record for assists per game in the NBDL. 45。 An 8% shooting percentage is also good, the only regret is 4. 3 mistakes a little more. The ball basically has to go through his hands to organize the attack, and it is inevitable that there will be many mistakes with high possession.

Under Mitchell's arrangement, Zhou Xuan submitted a draft statement and signed up for the 2008 NBA Draft, and everything went smoothly.

Zhou Xuan paid his salary, which was more than $7,000 after taxes. Being the first pot of gold in his life is enough to excite him. As soon as the season ended, Zhou Xuan immediately called home.

Martha answered the phone and said with a smile: "Why are you calling here?" ”

Zhou Xuan would make a phone call every once in a while to report his situation to reassure his family, he usually called in the morning Beijing time, and the family had just gotten up, and this time they received the call in the evening.

"I'm on vacation, the regular season of the NBDL just ended yesterday, and there are no games to play for the time being." Zhou Xuan said with a smile: "Mom, I have paid my salary, and I will pay more than 7,000 US dollars after tax." ”

"Okay, there are tens of thousands of yuan in RMB, which is great. Even if you don't play in the NBA, it's better to be in the developing league all the time than at home. "Martha, like Zhou Gaozhuo, doesn't have high requirements for children, just be healthy and live, just eat and drink well.

"I signed up for the NBA draft, and I should be selected, but unfortunately you can't come to see my draft." Zhou Xuan smiled bitterly.

Marks and Spa's blacklist is on the U.S. government's blacklist and cannot enter the country temporarily, and Zhou Gaozhuo doesn't even have a passport to go abroad, let alone go. Many rookies are accompanied by their families, celebrate with their families when they are selected, and have someone to comfort them in case they are not selected. It was a pity that he had to go with Mitchell.

"Your dad and I were watching TV at home. Since you have nothing to do on vacation, have you recently returned to China? ”

"I think I'd better stay in the U.S. during the holidays, save money on round-trip airfare, and find a place to practice here, and I should have to go to the draft camp next month. Work hard for a summer vacation and play in the NBA next year to have more opportunities. "Zhou Xuan already has a plan.

"As long as you decide, your father and I will support you, don't be too bitter."

"It's not bitter. As long as I sign a big contract and make millions of dollars, I will bring you to the United States, and we can open a restaurant like Yao Ming's family, and we will definitely make money. ”

"Thinking too far, you kid ......" Martha was very excited when she heard this, and she wanted to cry sadly. The happiest and proudest thing for her is to have a good child who is capable and filial. If you can really be like Yao Ming's parents, watch him play in the stands and be interviewed by reporters, this life will be worth it.

"I'll tell him." Zhou Gaozhuo saw his wife holding the phone in a daze, snatched the phone, and said loudly: "Child, take care of yourself over there, your body is the capital of the revolution, don't tire yourself out to save money." When you have money, buy more delicious food, give some gifts to the agent, and let him help you. ”

"Dad, how do you know that I hired an agent?"

"It's all said on the news, I heard that he still has a relationship with Yi Jianlian's agent, you must get along with him." Zhou Gaozhuo has been working as a grassroots employee for too long, and he feels that the agents are all bosses, but in fact, Zhou Xuan is the boss who wants to pay Mitchell's salary.

"Don't worry, we have a good relationship and are good buddies. Actually, he is my roommate, and we live together, but I don't know how to explain the agent's matter, and I am afraid that you will think too much and have not said it. Zhou Xuan said with a smile.

"Okay, hang up the phone if you don't have anything to do, international calls are too expensive." Zhou Gaozhuo began to worry about the phone bill again.

"Yes, I'm hanging." Zhou Xuan reluctantly hung up the phone.

When he was in middle school and didn't leave home, he always felt that his parents were nagging and annoying. When I arrived in a foreign country, I realized how happy it was to have someone to care about. In order for the family to live a good life as soon as possible, he can't be idle during the holidays!