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With the Spurs losing again, only one of the four games in the second round of the NBA playoffs against the Spurs and the Trail Blazers did not distinguish between the winners and losers, and finally played 2-2, while the other three Pacers eliminated the 76ers 4-0, the Timberwolves eliminated the Jazz 4-0, and the Knicks eliminated the Hawks 4-0, all of which were sweeps, which is rare in the history of the NBA.

The Timberwolves' training hall is still in full swing, and now because the division finals will not start until May 29, the Timberwolves' players seem to be very relaxed, without any sense of game tension, and even edge veterans like Anthony Peeler and Chris Kyle will even be lazy, after all, even if they train hard, they will not have any chance to perform, but in this casual atmosphere, there are two players in the Timberwolves who are very different, they are not as relaxed as others, The two men are still training extremely hard, even a little self-harming, and the two seem to be intent on competing.

The two Timberwolves are Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, and these two have long been together, competing in all aspects, including training. The other players of the Timberwolves also know this situation, and they were persuaded to take it easy, so as not to be injured before the game, but now the two don't listen at all, and the head coach doesn't care, so the two are rising more and more, and gradually these two have become a unique landscape in the Timberwolves.

The 21-year-old Pierce has been having some troubles lately, and everything has been calm. He is also very satisfied with the current situation of the team, originally as a rookie, a rookie who was abandoned by the parent team as soon as he entered the league, he did not expect to get such good results at the beginning of the NBA. This is something he never dreamed of, he is not an extremely ambitious person, this has something to do with his upbringing, he was not a basketball genius when he was a child, and he didn't even play the main team until he was a sophomore in high school, many NBA basketball geniuses are already talented when they were young, such as the big man on the team, Garnett, he has stood out from the crowd since he was a child. Look down on the crowd.

But even so, Pierce stuck to his dreams, and now he's an NBA star, recalling his former high school teammates who played before him. None of them are in the NBA now, no one has reached his level, which also makes him extremely satisfied, and if everything is going so well, why is he bothered?

Like any other Timberwolves young player. Pierce is full of respect for the team's head coach Zhuang Fei, which is a kind of admiration from the bottom of his heart, and it can be said that 80% of his achievements in the NBA should be attributed to Zhuang Fei's support, because no one in the NBA will use young people like him. This gives young people a chance, and Pierce can also feel that he has grown up very quickly under Zhuang Fei this year. It's even more than three years of college, which is simply incredible. If it weren't for Zhuang Fei's cultivation and letting go of him. He won't make such a big progress, so he respects Zhuang Fei, and he also hopes to be recognized by Zhuang Fei, but obviously, although the head coach has always valued him, he can feel the big man in the head coach's heart, the man named Kevin Garnett is the most important person in the coach's heart, the person he appreciates the most, and he Pierce is just an embellishment, this embellishment is almost negligible compared to the main course, Pierce is not convinced, very unconvinced, Why is his status in the coach's heart not as good as that big man, even the basketball god Jordan said that he is the best in the Timberwolves, but the coach just puts all his thoughts on Garnett, but ignores him.

If it weren't for Jordan's approval, Pierce wouldn't dare to compete with Garnett head-on, and Pierce wouldn't dare to challenge the head coach's authority, he knew very well what the consequences of challenging Garnett were, but he didn't care, he wanted to improve his status in Zhuang Fei's mind, and he didn't hesitate to do so.

"The same player on the league's second team this season, and also a top 10 player in the MVP rankings, why can he be the most important person in your heart, you must know that his playoff performance is much worse than mine" Pierce is full of resentment and unwillingness every time he thinks about this.

He doesn't ask for much, he just wants to be in the same position as Garnett, he doesn't think about being the boss, he just wants to be treated fairly.

"Paul, what's the fuss, pay attention to the ball" Mobley tossed the ball over and found that Pierce had no intention of catching the ball at all, and didn't know what he was thinking.

Mobley's reminder interrupted Pierce, who was thinking, and as he looked at the ball getting closer, Pierce reached for it, and then a sharp rise and a beautiful step-back jumper hit.

"Tsk, pretty, your step-back jumper is getting Jordan-like" Mobley picked up the ball under the basket and tossed it to Pierce again.

As if he hadn't heard Mobley's compliment, Pierce didn't say anything after receiving the ball, and then shot again, his face full of melancholy.

"It's really exactly the same as Jordan, and he won't appreciate half a point" As if to vent all the resentment in his heart, the power of the ball was extremely strong, and the smashed basket actually shook.

"That's true, I also think you have the ability to be the leader of the team, whether it's strength or otherwise, you are qualified enough, anyway, I support you, don't worry, the coach will realize this sooner or later" Mobley saw Pierce's melancholy and said with a smile and comfort. As a good friend, he knows Pierce's personality very well, and he also knows that Pierce is not a messy person, so he will support Pierce's competition, and he believes that Pierce will not harm the interests of the team.

"Let's hope so," Pierce said, shaking his head, and that was the real reason for his struggle, it didn't matter if the manager really didn't know or not, he would pick out the problem now and let the coach make the choice.

While Pierce and Mobley were chatting, the team's assistant coach, Stephen Green, came over.

"Paul. Coach looking for you"

Paul Pierce put down the ball in his hand, his face became calm, what should come is still coming, it's time for a showdown.

Look at the back of Paul Pierce leaving. Garnett's face on the other side of the training hall also changed

Zhuang Fei decided to settle the issue between Pierce and Garnett today, and after watching the game between the Spurs and the Trail Blazers last night, he deeply understood that it is impossible for the team to beat the Spurs or the Trail Blazers if they are not in one place. In fact, he is not opposed to the competition between players, in a sense, it can play a role in driving each other, but it is also possible to tear each other down, no matter which one it is, in such a situation, Zhuang Fei does not want to appear in his team.

Zhuang Fei still remembers the first time he met Pierce at the Timberwolves, and Pierce was still in a low mood at that time. He was confused about his prospects, but under his vigorous training, Pierce soon integrated into the Timberwolves at a speed that could be seen. And it has been recognized by everyone, including himself, who can't believe the growth rate of Pierce, and Pierce has contributed a lot to the Timberwolves' ability to achieve such a result this season.

"Coach, you're looking for me" Pierce walked into Zhuang Fei's office and saw Zhuang Fei holding a newspaper in a daze. Then he asked in a whisper.

Zhuang Fei looked at Pierce in front of him, motioned for him to sit down, and then smiled and said: "Congratulations on entering the first team of this season's rookie best team, and the best rookie list is also ranked second" The league sent a fax just now. The final award of the season was also presented, with Carter winning Rookie of the Year. Pierce was second and Szzerbiak was third. With the addition of Jamison, Mobley was named to the first team, while Jackson, another player from the Timberwolves, was selected to the second team, and Lewis was left out. These three were selected for the rookie lineup and added a total of 700 dynasty points to Zhuang Fei, 300 for one formation and 100 for the second formation.

Pierce nodded slightly, not saying too much, it was obvious that this was what he expected, so there was nothing to be excited about.

Zhuang Fei looked at the unusually calm Pierce and was stunned, what does this mean? Zhuang Fei's mood also sank.

"Paul, you performed very well in the last round, and won the best player in four consecutive games in the playoffs, which is also the first time in the history of the Timberwolves, even in the history of the NBA, although the next round of games has not started yet, but I hope you can keep this state, but I also know about you and Kevin recently, I want to hear your opinion, now everyone on the team should put all their strength in one place, our next opponent is strong, so I hope you can understand what I mean" Zhuang Fei tried his best to calm his tone, but the jǐng meaning contained in his tone was already very strong, Zhuang Fei didn't want to drag it out any longer, and this matter had to stop here.

But what surprised Zhuang Fei was that Pierce got up from his seat after listening to his words, and then looked at him quietly, Zhuang Fei saw a lot of things in Pierce's eyes, disappointed, unwilling, and a little determined.

"Coach, I will not quit the competition, I will do what I want in my way, I will prove that I am better than Kevin, if you think I have ruined the team's chemistry, you can remove me, I have no complaints, but there is only one winner in the duel between me and Kevin, I will not choose to compromise again, if you want to order me to give up, I can't do it, I will stick to the end" Pierce said this excitedly and then bowed to Zhuang Fei, and then left Zhuang Fei's office, which made Zhuang Fei very disappointed. This is definitely the worst-case scenario. It is estimated that in Pierce's heart, he never wanted to reconcile with Garnett normally.

"What, the results are disappointing?" D'Antoni walked into the office and saw Pierce leaving with a heavy heart, and saw Zhuang Fei frowning in his office, and the result was already obvious.

"Yes, Paul is determined to compete with Kevin, if it is in normal times, forget it, now it is this juncture" Zhuang Fei shook his head and said helplessly.

"Honestly, if I were Pierce, I'd do the same," D'Antoni said with a laugh.

"Why," Zhuang Fei asked puzzled.

Looking at Zhuang Fei's puzzled look, D'Antoni said with a wry smile: "Zhuang, haven't you noticed, Garnett has always been very special in your heart, when the game is over, you will be the first to go up and hug Garnett, you will be the first to go up and comfort Garnett when Garnett is not good, and you will be the first to bless when you are doing well, and even when you usually train, you are most concerned about Garnett, and to Pierce, you seem a little cold, no matter whether Pierce is good or bad, you rarely say anything"

"Zhuang, in my opinion, there is nothing wrong with Paul's appeal, it is human nature"

"Do you think Paul and Kevin are players at the same level?" Zhuang Fei asked unwillingly.

"Isn't it?"

Zhuang Fei was silent, it is true that as D'Antoni asked rhetorically, at least it is difficult to distinguish the advantages and disadvantages in the performance of the two, but Zhuang Fei has something different from ordinary people, the dynasty system, he is very clear about the gap between Pierce and Garnett, Pierce is an A-level player, Garnett is an A+ player, the two are different in talent, it can be said that if the Timberwolves want to become a championship team, they must have an A+ player who can grow to compete with Duncan and O'Neal, which is why Zhuang Fei pays special attention to Garnett. For Pierce, they can only treat Jackson like they do, because in Zhuang Fei's heart, this Timberwolves only have Garnett as an irreplaceable player.

"The dynasty system is harmful" Zhuang Fei secretly shook his head and smiled bitterly, he made a mistake again, he once again forgot that this is not an NBALIVE game, but a real NBA, people always have feelings, to a certain extent, his disregard for Anthony Peeler and others is the same as his disregard for Pierce

Pierce was very angry after leaving Zhuang Fei's office, and the head coach still didn't face up to this problem, and he still didn't look at him in the coach's heart.

"What's wrong? Is the coach still like that? Mobley asked, looking at a bored Pierce.

"Yes, this time he just called me to talk and didn't call Kevin, obviously in his heart I was wrong, I should obey his arrangement, I should be Kevin's little brother, I shouldn't jump out and fight with Kevin for anything, Kevin must be better than me" Pierce became more and more angry the more he spoke, and he almost shouted out.

"Calm down, Paul, it's still team training time" Mobley looked at Pierce, who was almost out of control, and then pulled him, signaling him to calm down.

"Hmph, I'm not going to compromise, I want the coach to know who is the strongest person in the Timberwolves, definitely not Kevin Garnett as he thinks, but me Paul Pierce" Pierce calmed down a little after listening to Mobley's words, but he was still a little indignant.