After the game, the Timberwolves gathered at a local pub and cheered Tom for his outstanding performance and victory.

At this time, everyone in the Timberwolves probably didn't expect that Tom, who was called "the hero of the win" by Coach Philip Saunders, was already put on the shelf by the team's management at this moment.

And they are actively peddling this "big man" in order to get an excellent defensive number five to help the team continue to go in the league.

The NBA is such a place, this place where people may have favors, but when the interests outweigh the favors, the favors will become worthless.

Tom is a fantastic player and came to Minnesota when the Timberwolves needed him the most. But now Minnesota doesn't need his ball-handling ability.

The Timberwolves' management isn't a fool, and Coach Philip Sanders isn't an idiot.

They are all well aware of what kind of thunder is hidden in the current team of the Timberwolves, and the problem of ball possession is now only temporarily covered up by the winning streak, and this team only needs a few losses, and internal conflicts will soon erupt.

It's like the 23-year-old Galaxy Battleship Clipper.

If you want to solve this problem, you need someone to play as a substitute, but Tom and Martial Arts are not Wei Shao.

One is at the peak, it is the age of playing worth, and the other is new to the league, sharp, and eager to prove that he has a foothold in the league.

Neither of them is likely to go to the bench.

Takeshi is a tough first-year, and his physical stats, as well as his performances against "Mad Man" and "The Beast of New York" in the previous regular season games, have shown his worth to management.

An indiscriminate scorer is definitely the cornerstone of all teams, and more importantly, Wu Dao is only 18 years old, and he has just stepped into the league.

Admittedly, Tom is a forward player who has proven his value over time, but when the Timberwolves management can only choose between Takeshi and Tom, it is obvious how to choose.

Compared to Tom, Martial Arts is younger, sharper, and more able to attract fans when playing on the court.

Of course, the main thing is that Wu Dao is a rookie, and he is cheap

Martial arts have all kinds of merits, and he has far more potential and value than the 28-year-old Tom.

Tom's potential has been exhausted at a glance, and an average of 20+9+4 per game is probably his limit.

But martial arts are different, he is only 18 years old, and he still has a lot of time to cash in on his talent, not to mention the current martial arts in three consecutive 40+ games and one 20+ in the previous games.

There is only one way to solve the ball problem in the eyes of management, and Kevin McHale, who has already made his choice, has been made clear by owner Glenn Taylor that Tom must be sent away as soon as possible before the problem collapses.

The Timberwolves' plan is certainly good, to resolve this matter silently and relatively peacefully, and at the last minute, to reuse Tom's "surplus value".

But the plan, after all, can't catch up with the changes.

There was no time to make any adjustments, and the day after the game against the Warriors, the Timberwolves got on the plane back to Minnesota.

Their next game will be at home to the San Antonio Spurs.

11 November 1997.

At noon, Wu Dao, who had just eaten lunch, came to the stadium early, ready to do some simple adaptation training.

The team's assistant coaches and coaching staff hadn't started work at this point in time, and the only one who was accompanied by a physical trainer he hired for $60,000 a year, Alfonso Castro.

He is Hispanic and was introduced by Steve Smith, a high school coach for martial arts during his time at Oak Mountain.

Alfonso Castro, 26, was also a player, and he played for two years at Oak Hill High School during his high school years, when he was the main player of the team.

It's just that Alfonso Castro was only 180cm tall at the time, and although he was a defender, the physical gap between him and his opponent was still very big when he was playing.

In order to be able to perform better on the field, Alfonso Castro began to train himself like crazy.

Unfortunately, a lot of training didn't help him become a "better version of himself", but fatigue accumulated and he ruptured his ligaments in one of his games.

Although he underwent surgery in time, it was sadly reimbursed for his playing career.

However, Alfonso Castro still has a deep love for basketball, and after recovering, he focused on his studies, and then was admitted to Ohio State University with a major in sports medicine.

With his career as an athlete on the back burner, Alfonso Castro wants to make up for it elsewhere.

After graduating, Alfonso Castro did not choose to become a great doctor, but instead entered the university team and became a team doctor.

During his years as a team doctor, Alfonso Castro focused on the development of athletes' fitness, with a minor in nutrition.

Everything he does is just to be able to get closer to the basketball he loves. And he doesn't want young people to follow the same path as himself.

When he received the invitation to martial arts, Alfonso Castro also received an invitation from Gaksei University, and after thinking about it for a while, Alfonso Castro chose to come to the martial arts side to help martial arts.

The reason is not because of the high salary on the martial arts side, but simply because he wants to see the NBA with his own eyes, the world's highest basketball hall.

It's just that after coming to the Timberwolves, Alfonso Castro was a little disappointed.

The Timberwolves' coaching staff is fairly mature in terms of on-court command, but it is not outstanding in terms of player training.

The Timberwolves are a team without a foundation, which is not only reflected in the management experience of the management, nor in the number of historical legends of the team, but in the fact that the team has not cultivated a "system" of young players.

And the Timberwolves management doesn't seem to have found their own problems, from the beginning of the team, the Wolves until the present in the 21st century, have not produced many excellent rookies.

If you want to talk about the team name that the team has cultivated itself. Garnett first, Lefour second?

Some of the training that Martial Arts conducts in the stadium today is planned by Martial Arts with the advanced knowledge of the 21st century, combined with the knowledge and experience of Alfonso Castro.

The team has provided little help in terms of his personal development.

In the arena in the center of the target, Martial Arts was close to the ground on all fours, mimicking the slow crawling of a lizard along the sideline, his movement speed was slow, and each advance was accompanied by exaggerated body movements.

It looked like a fairly simple action, but Martial Dao's face was oozing fine sweat.

After a few weeks of back and forth, Wu Dao slowly got up and began to do simple stretching exercises.

"Martial Dao, your training effect during this period is not bad."

"Based on your performance on the field, you can see that you're in good shape."

"With your height and weight, being able to maintain this level of flexibility and stretch speaks volumes about the role of this training."

"I don't think you need to make a big change to your training plan at this stage."

"Stay healthy, stay fit and you'll be the best player!"

On the side of the court, Alfonso Castro held a booklet in his hand, on which he recorded the training program and training intensity that Takedo had completed, and then said to Takedo with a smile.

It may sound like a compliment on the part of Alfonso Castro to his boss, but it is indeed Alfonso Castro's true words. He genuinely feels that Martial Arts can become one of the best players in the world.

"Well, I think so too."

"I've been in good shape during this time, and I don't think I need to make any big adjustments in terms of adaptation."

"I'm going to continue the ball practice and the shooting practice as well."

In the early stages of the regular season, Budo was comfortable in the ring, and he didn't think he needed to make any changes.

After a simple stretch, Wudo began to do some dribbling exercises, and then added some training on the board in addition to dribbling.

Tonight, the Timberwolves' opponent is the Spurs, and in the face of the Spurs' two-tower lineup, Takemichi feels that he needs to find a high-pitched layup in advance, which will be an important offensive means for him to avoid defense after breaking into the interior.

The martial arts adaptation training lasted just over an hour, and then he went back to his dormitory to sleep and recuperate.

At about four o'clock in the evening, Alfonso Castro woke up Martial Arts from bed, and after a brief meal together, the two went to the arena first.

The sun is setting.

There was also an influx of reporters in the target center arena, and the Spurs players had already arrived early and were familiarizing themselves with the court in the target center arena at this time.

Some of the Timberwolves players had already warmed up in the arena, and when Martial Arts came to the target center arena, it immediately attracted the attention of many people.

Some media who were setting up cameras saw that Wu Dao had come to the stadium, and immediately a reporter came up with a microphone.

Seeing this posture, Alfonso Castro subconsciously stretched out his hand to stop it, but Martial Arts patted Alfonso Castro on the shoulder and said very casually:

"Don't stop."

"It's fine."

Soon, several microphones were handed to Wu Dao's mouth, and several reporters scrambled to ask about the topic they desperately wanted to know:

"Wu Dao, your opponent this year is the Spurs, who do you think is the better one compared to Duncan?"

"Did you read the article that ESPN described you about before? What do you have to say? ”

"I've heard rumors that the Timberwolves are going to put you back on the bench, is that true?"

Wu Dao didn't know where the news came from in these media, and one by one he swore that he would be put back on the bench?

Not.

It seems that there are indeed signs of this, but those are all speculations in the media, right?

As for EPSN's report describing martial arts, I'm sorry, he really hasn't seen it yet, and he hasn't been distracted by these things during this time.

None of these questions are what Martial Dao wants to answer, but.

There was a reporter's question that made Takemichi very interested.

"Who is the better one, me or Duncan?"

"I think I can answer that question."

"Even though we're in different positions, I think I'll be the better one."

"To say why."

"I'm only 18 years old!"

Hearing Wu Dao's answer, the reporters all became excited like carnivores that smelled blood.

However, at this time, some staff members of the Timberwolves team also noticed the abnormality here and came to Wu Dao's side to help drive away the reporters.

In principle, now is not media time, and Martial Arts should not have said these things in front of the media.

"I'm sorry, if there's anything you want to ask, come back to me after the game."

Seeing that a staff member came up to stop him, Wu Dao smiled and said sorry to the reporters, and then hurriedly squeezed through the crowd.

Went to the stadium.

In the middle of the court, Garnett, who was doing warm-up activities, saw Takemichi come to the court to warm up and came to Takemichi.

"Kevin, what's wrong?"

Wu Dao saw Garnett blocking the way, and looked at the other party with some confusion.

"In today's game, I'll help you deal with Duncan."

"You pass me more, I won't treat you badly!"

Hearing Garnett's brainless words, Wu Dao couldn't help but blink when he looked at Garnett.

In fact, compared to martial arts, Garnett, who is about the same age as Duncan and is still in the same position, hopes to prove himself in this game.

He and Duncan are in the same position.

The game with the Spurs also completely hooked Garnett's desire to win.

"Yes."

"As long as you're really better than Duncan, I score the same as you do."

"And you don't even need me to pass you the ball."

"I can't get the ball at all, can I?"

Wu Dao said with a smile.

Hearing Martial Dao's words, Garnett opened his mouth, but he didn't say anything. He seemed to know something, but he couldn't say it on such occasions.

"Let's have a meal together after today's game against Spurs."

"Just the two of us."

Garnett stretched out his fist towards Martial Arts and said.

Hearing this, Wu Dao glanced at Garnett with some surprise. Since Wu Dao entered the Timberwolves, he and Garnett have never dealt with each other, although the two should cooperate when they are on the court, but they basically don't speak in private.

It's the first time I've been invited to dinner by Garnett.

It seems that Garnett has come out of the shadow of "that" gift, intending to repair the relationship?

"I don't eat fried chicken."

Wu Dao said, reaching out and bumping fists with Garnett.

Hearing Wu Dao's words, Garnett was also speechless for a while.

Black people like to eat fried chicken, and this stereotype is more or less discriminatory, just like when someone says to you, "You all eat dog meat, right?" "Same.

Although this sense is not strong, the words of martial arts still make Garnett, who exudes kindness, feel as uncomfortable as if he had eaten a fly.

"I really don't eat fried chicken!"

Wu Dao saw that Garnett's face was a little bad, and emphasized.

"Shut up! You bastard! ”

"I see, fool! I'm not deaf, you don't have to stress it to me!"

"And I don't eat fried chicken either! Go TM Damn Fried Chicken! ”

Garnett returned to his original form, cursing angrily as he walked away briskly.

Not long after, Coach Philip arrived at the arena and began to gather the players before taking the players back to the break room.

In the lounge, Philip briefly emphasized that today's game should allow the players to defend on the inside, and then announced some starting lineups in advance.

In addition to Garnett and a few of them, Wu Dao was also re-promoted into the starting lineup.

During the pre-match interview, Philip took Tom out of the lounge.

Wu Dao carefully tied his feet, and began to recuperate after being fully prepared.

Not long after, a beaming Tom followed Philip back to the lounge, and after waiting for a short time, someone hurried into the lounge to inform the players of their entry.

The Timberwolves-Spurs game attracted many, many fans to watch the game.

The fame of martial arts has become somewhat well-known after the media fermentation during this time. And today's game was hyped by the media before the game to be a "showdown of the best rookie".

The local media in Minnesota is even more frenzied, and they start to boast before the game that they will definitely be able to lead the team to clear the "obstacles", and the Spurs have no players who can defend the "Minnesota Savior" at all.

With the blessing of the media, nearly 20,000 tickets were swept away by fanatical fans.

(End of chapter)