Coach: Coaching the Grizzlies at the beginning, playing the bantam

The early morning sun shines through the huge glass windows of the Brooklyn Arena and onto the empty field, bringing a sense of tranquility to this usually bustling place.

After seeing off his girlfriend Hannah Murray, Lu Yong drove straight to the arena.

Last night's game was like a battlefield where the smoke had not yet dissipated, and the players' sweat and shouts seemed to still echo in this huge space.

But today, he gave all the players a rare rest day, allowing them to recuperate and prepare for the upcoming road trip to Los Angeles.

Walking into the stadium, Lu Yong felt an unprecedented sense of desolation.

Without the laughter of the players and the busy figures of the coaching team, this place seems a bit empty and lonely.

Only a few staff members were busy organizing equipment and preparing for the next competition.

In such a deserted environment, there were two people who were practicing seriously with the company of a trainer. One was Zhou Qi and the other was Ding Yanyuhang.

"Coach Lu, good morning!" Zhou Qi stopped what he was doing immediately when he saw Lu Yong walk in, and greeted him with a smile.

"Good morning, Zhou Qi, Xiao Ding. It seems that you are in good spirits today." Lu Yong walked to the sidelines, looked at the two men sweating profusely, and nodded with satisfaction.

"Yes, Coach Lu, we feel that we cannot waste every day, so we come here to practice." Ding Yanyuhang wiped the sweat off his face and said with a smile.

"Very good, I appreciate your attitude." Lu Yong looked at the two of them and felt relieved.

He knows that self-discipline and diligence are the most important qualities for a player.

"Zhou Qi, how do you feel about the training during this period? Can you adapt to the intensity?" Lu Yong asked with concern.

He knew that he had asked the trainer to give Zhou Qi NBA-level intensity, which was undoubtedly a huge challenge for a player who had just returned from the CBA.

"No problem, Coach Lu. Although I didn't spend a long time with the Rockets, I have undergone NBA-level training. I can fully accept the intensity here." Zhou Qi replied confidently.

His eyes revealed a firmness and determination, which was his love for basketball and his vision for the future.

"That's good. Xiao Ding, what about you? What do you think of Zhou Qi's training progress during this period?" Lu Yong turned and looked at Ding Yanyuhang.

"I think Zhou Qi has made great progress, Coach Lu. His physical fitness and basketball skills have improved significantly. Moreover, he takes training very seriously and always gives his all." Ding Yanyuhang praised without reservation.

"Yes, Coach Lu. I am really grateful to you, Xiao Ding, and the trainer. With you training with me, I feel that I am improving faster." Zhou Qi looked at Lu Yong and Ding Yanyuhang gratefully, with excitement flashing in his eyes.

"You're welcome, Zhou Qi. We are all a team, and we should help each other. Moreover, I also hope that you can adapt to the rhythm of the NBA as soon as possible and make greater contributions to the team." Lu Yong patted Zhou Qi on the shoulder and encouraged him.

"I will, Coach Lu. This summer, I will train harder and strive to perform better for the team next year." Zhou Qi said firmly. Although his voice was not loud, it was full of strength and determination.

"Okay, I feel relieved when you say that. Xiao Ding, you also need to keep working hard. Although you didn't play much in the finals, your experience and abilities are valuable assets to the team. I hope you two can make progress together and lay a solid foundation for the team's future." Lu Yong looked at Ding Yanyuhang and said earnestly.

"Don't worry, Coach Lu. I will." Ding Yanyuhang nodded, with a determined light in his eyes.

He knows that although he has played for the Nets for two seasons, there is still a lot of room for improvement.

Training with Zhou Qi is undoubtedly a good opportunity to improve myself.

Lu Yong looked at Zhou Qi and Ding Yanyuhang, and a stone in his heart finally fell to the ground.

During this period, Zhou Qi's training progress made him very satisfied. He knew that this young player had unlimited potential. As long as he was given enough time and opportunities, he would be able to shine on the court.

"You two have a bullfight, with a total score of 18 points, so that I can see the results of your recent training." Lu Yong's sudden words stunned Zhou Qi and Ding Yanyuhang.

The two of them did not play the same position, and bullfighting was different from actual combat, but when they saw Lu Yong’s determined eyes, they knew they could not avoid this bullfight.

Lu Yong stood nearby, his hands crossed over his chest, looking like he was watching the fun.

He didn't explain too much to the two, but simply stated the rules: a two-point shot counts as two points, a three-point shot counts as three points, and after scoring a goal, you can continue to attack until you miss.

Whoever gets 18 points first is the winner.

Ding Yanyuhang and Zhou Qi stood on the court, both looking a little nervous.

They knew that this bullfight was not just a simple competition, but also a test of their recent training results.

Ding Yanyuhang got the chance to attack first through free throws. He took a triple-threat stance, his eyes revealing a firmness and determination.

In the first attack, Ding Yanyuhang chose to break through at full speed.

He was very fast, running across the court like a bolt of lightning.

Although Zhou Qi is tall and has long arms, he still looks a little clumsy in the face of Ding Yanyuhang's fake moves.

He tried to block Ding Yanyuhang's shot, but was blocked by Ding Yanyuhang's clever fake move.

Ding Yanyuhang turned around and made a jump shot in the three-second zone, and the ball went into the net.

2:0, Ding Yanyuhang scored first.

Ding Yanyuhang's goal made Lu Yong nod his head. He knew that Ding Yanyuhang had become more mature and stable under the training of the Nets.

Zhou Qi needs more games and training to improve his experience and skills.

After scoring the goal, Ding Yanyuhang did not choose to stop attacking, he continued to maintain the offensive.

In the next round, he repeated the same trick, taking a tentative step and then dribbling behind his back to pass the opponent.

Zhou Qi was prepared this time, but his body center of gravity still shifted subconsciously.

Ding Yanyuhang took the opportunity to step back and jump shot in the three-second zone, and the ball fell steadily into the basket again.

4:0, Ding Yanyuhang's lead has been expanded.

He scored easily in both rounds, as if he had an absolute advantage in the contest with Zhou Qi.

Zhou Qi looked a little embarrassed, knowing that he needed to train harder to keep up with Ding Yanyuhang.

However, Zhou Qi did not give up.

He knew that the bullfight had just begun and he still had a chance to win back a point. He took a deep breath, adjusted his mentality, and prepared to face Ding Yanyuhang's next round of attack.

Ding Yanyuhang's offense remained sharp, and he constantly used his speed and explosive power to break through Zhou Qi's defense.

However, Zhou Qi is also gradually adapting to Ding Yanyuhang's rhythm and playing style.

He began to focus more on defense, trying to use his height and wingspan to block Ding Yanyuhang's shots.

As time went by, the score between the two continued to rise.

Ding Yanyuhang has maintained his leading advantage with his outstanding offensive ability and rich game experience, while Zhou Qi has gradually found his rhythm and feeling on the defensive end.

However, just as the game was about to come to an end, Zhou Qi suddenly exerted his strength.

He used his height advantage to score consecutively in the interior, but unfortunately, Zhou Qi's outbreak came a little too late.

When he narrowed the score to 6:16, Ding Yanyuhang only needed two more points to end the game.

In the next round, Ding Yanyuhang did not give Zhou Qi any chance and used a brilliant breakthrough layup to set the score at 18:6.

The game was over and Ding Yanyuhang won with an overwhelming advantage.

Zhou Qi walked back to the bench on the sidelines dejectedly, like a defeated soldier.

He grabbed a towel and put it on his head, then lowered his head and remained silent.

Lu Yong first reached out and patted Ding Yanyuhang on the shoulder, indicating that he had made great progress during this period, and then told him to go back and rest if he had nothing to do today.

Ding Yanyuhang nodded, but before leaving, he couldn't help but glance at Zhou Qi who was sitting on the sidelines.

He asked with some concern: "Coach, will Zhou Qi be okay?"

Lu Yong smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Don't worry, there will be no problem with me here."

After hearing this, Ding Yanyuhang felt a little relieved and walked out of the stadium with the trainer.

At this time, Lu Yong and Zhou Qi were the only ones left in the huge training hall.

Lu Yong walked to the bench with a bottle of drink, sat next to Zhou Qi and handed it to him.

Zhou Qi forced a smile and took the drink from Lu Yong, but then lowered his head again.

Lu Yong looked at Zhou Qi's frustrated expression and understood his mood at the moment. He asked softly, "How is it, how do you feel now after the bullfight with Xiao Ding?"

Zhou Qi was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "Xiao Ding has made great progress in the past two years. I am indeed not as good as him." His voice was full of helplessness and self-blame.

Lu Yong still smiled and asked, "What score did you set for yourself before the bullfight?"

Zhou Qi thought for a moment and said, "Probably 14:18. Anyway, we won't lose so badly." There was a hint of unwillingness and disappointment in his tone.

Lu Yong nodded and said, "Xiao Ding has been with me for two years. He has been receiving professional training from the Nets. In the eyes of many people, Xiao Ding is just a marginal player in the Nets and can't even play in the regular rotation. But with his current ability, he is definitely a top fighter in Asia."

He took a sip of water and continued, "I just want to tell you through this incident that you will definitely improve if you stay in the Nets. I can't guarantee how you will perform in the NBA in the future, but you will definitely be a top inside player if you return to Asia. You don't even have an advantage in a one-on-one match with Ding. If I let you play next season and really meet an All-Star inside player, do you think you will be beaten badly?"

When Zhou Qi heard this, his heart tightened.

He knew that Lu Yong was telling the truth and that his current strength was indeed not strong enough.

Without even thinking about it, he nodded and said, "I understand, coach. I will train hard this summer and live up to your expectations of me."

Lu Yong nodded with satisfaction, knowing that Zhou Qi had understood what he meant. "The future of the Chinese men's basketball team depends on you. I hope you and Xiao Ding can train well and become the backbone of the team in the future."

Zhou Qi looked up at Lu Yong, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Coach, don't worry, I will train hard. I know my responsibilities and mission, and I will not let down the future of the Chinese men's basketball team."

Lu Yong nodded with satisfaction, and continued: "The sweat and hard work now are the steps to success in the future. Never give up. Whether for yourself or the Chinese men's basketball team, you must go all out."

Zhou Qi took a deep breath. He felt Lu Yong's expectations and trust in him.

He knew that he could not let people down and had to prove his worth with his actual actions.

"Coach, I understand. I will remember your words. No matter what difficulties and challenges I encounter, I will persevere. I believe that as long as I train hard and constantly improve my skills and physical fitness, I will be able to contribute to the Chinese men's basketball team on the court."

Lu Yong looked at Zhou Qi's determined eyes and sweaty face, and his heart was filled with relief and pride.

He knew that the young player understood his responsibilities and mission, and he was ready to meet the challenge.

Before leaving, Lu Yong patted Zhou Qi on the shoulder and comforted and encouraged him: "Remember, basketball is a sport that requires constant effort and practice. Only by paying more sweat and effort than others can you gain a foothold on the court. I believe you have the potential. As long as you are willing to work hard, there will be a sky that belongs to you in the future."

After saying these words, Lu Yong left Zhou Qi alone in the training hall to train.

He walked out of the stadium, but he was still thinking about Zhou Qi's future.

He knew that this young player had unlimited potential and talent, and as long as he was given enough time and opportunities, he would be able to shine on the court.

Zhou Qi was training silently alone in the training hall.

His heart is full of fighting spirit and determination. He knows that he needs to work harder to catch up with Ding Yanyuhang and make greater contributions to the team in future games.

As time passed, Zhou Qi's training became more and more diligent.

His sweat covered the court, and every move he made was full of strength and determination.

He constantly challenges his limits and tries to break through his bottleneck.

Finally, after several hours of hard training, Zhou Qi stopped, sat down on the floor, and gasped for breath.

Zhou Qi, sitting in the center of the court, felt tired and sore in his body, grimacing in pain.

But his heart was filled with satisfaction and pride because he knew he had taken an important step.

He raised his head, looked at the bright light on the ceiling, and silently vowed in his heart: I must become stronger! For the Chinese men's basketball team, for the coach, and for myself! (End of this chapter)