After the press conference, Xu Yong returned to the locker room. He wanted to chat with Rose for a while, but found that Rose was not in the locker room.
After asking, he learned from Hinrich that Rose went to the infirmary after the game.
He suddenly had a bad feeling and got up and went directly to the infirmary.
On the way there, he suddenly remembered that Rose performed so well tonight, and he should go to the press conference with him.
When he arrived at the locker room, he found that only Rose was sitting there alone, and the team doctor was nowhere to be found.
Xu Yong knocked on the door, and when Ross looked up, he asked, "Are you okay?"
Ross gave him a forced smile, which only made his bad feeling even stronger.
Just then the team doctor came back. It turned out that he had gone to get protective gear.
The team doctor fixed Rose's right knee, then called Xu Yong to come over and help get Rose into the wheelchair.
Then, after a brief exchange of words, Xu Yong watched the team doctor push Rose out of the infirmary.
Because the situation is still uncertain, they need to go to the hospital for further examination.
But if the situation is good, there is no need for protective gear and wheelchairs.
"Bang!"
I don't know how long it was before Xu Yong punched the door.
He now felt a nameless anger in his chest.
Rose had just gotten back into shape, he was doing fine in the game, and he thought things were getting better.
After a long time, he let out a long sigh.
He fully understood why Rose made those incomprehensible moves later.
Every time a player recovers from an injury, it is a process for him to rebuild his confidence, and every time he gets injured again, that confidence is destroyed.
Reshape, destroy, reshape, destroy...
This is not cultivation. No normal person can withstand such continuous torture.
When he thought of this, he suddenly remembered someone.
Maybe tomorrow, we can get good news?
The next day, Xu Yong learned about Ross's condition from Foreman in advance, and he drove directly to the hospital.
When he arrived, his brothers were sitting in the ward. Ross looked sick with dark circles under his eyes and seemed unusually depressed.
This was also within Xu Yong's expectations. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee in the season before last, and tore the meniscus of his right knee this season. If it were anyone else, they would think it was a punishment from God, or God in America.
Because Rose was going to have surgery in the afternoon, Xu Yong greeted his second brother Reggie first after entering.
"Can I talk to Derek alone?" he then requested.
Reggie turned his head to look at Ross, said "thank you", and then left the ward with the other Ross brothers.
Obviously, the second brother, who was the most perceptive, knew that Xu Yong was here to enlighten Ross.
"Do I look like a joke now?" After everyone else left, Ross tensed up and said to himself.
He was ruled out for less than half of the season for two consecutive years. He could have been very brilliant, but now, he doesn't even know if he can get back on the court.
"The youngest MVP, two championships, do you think LeBron will think he is the joke when he hears what you said?" Xu Yong did not answer directly, but asked back after sitting down.
Ross was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly.
Xu Yong's comforting words are so special.
Although what he said is not wrong, and his historical status would be higher than James if he retired right now, but... he only played four full seasons. Who can accept retiring right after his rookie season?
"Do you know who I thought of when I saw you leaving yesterday?" Xu Yong asked.
Ross looked at Xu Yong.
"Our teammate, Shaun Livingston."
When he heard Livingston's name, Ross paused and then thought about it.
"I don't know how Sean recovered, but I think what he went through was not easier than what you went through in the past two years. But he persevered. You are the same, right? You are Derrick Rose." Xu Yong said, looking at Rose.
These words of encouragement worked well. Ross let out a long breath, relaxed his body, nodded and said, "Thank you."
Seeing Ross's reaction, Xu Yong knew that his opening remarks had worked.
Of course, this was not what he came to Ross to say today.
Because this kind of comforting words is like giving people two Lianhua Qingwen pills. They feel good when they take them, but it is just a placebo and cannot really solve the problem.
And what he is going to say next is the real remedy that may hopefully solve the problem.
"Derrick, I have a question for you." Xu Yong looked at Ross.
Ross also looked at Xu Yong again.
“Do you want to continue your career?”
"Of course." Ross answered affirmatively.
“You have to change your play style.”
However, Xu Yong's next words made Ross silent.
"After going through so much, you should know that what I said back then was right." Xu Yong said calmly.
Ross remained silent, but his hands unconsciously clenched into fists.
"I know that's difficult because it would mean you might no longer be a superstar, but based on the answer you just gave, if you want to continue your career, this is the only way." Xu Yong's words were not euphemistic, because even if they were euphemistic, it would be the same for Rose now.
"I want you to come back and we can win the championship together again. This was what I thought before I came here, and I think you feel the same way, right?" he continued.
Rose was obviously stunned when he said this, because when he was injured the season before last, he said to Xu Yong "wait for me to come back."
Finally, after a long breath, Ross nodded.
He was not completely convinced by Xu Yong's words, but after experiencing it for two consecutive seasons, he was defeated by reality.
People are like this. They won't give up until they reach the Yellow River, and they won't turn back until they hit the wall.
Now you have reached the Yellow River and hit the South Wall. If someone pulls your ear and tells you that it is time to turn back, then turn back.
"Have a good operation and take good care of your injuries. I'll wait for you to come back." Xu Yong stood up and comforted her.
After Ross nodded in response, he also stood up and left the ward.
After chatting with Reggie for a few words at the door, he left the hospital.
After sitting back in the car, he let out a long breath, then took out a cigar from the armrest box, lit one and started smoking.
What he said in the ward was indeed what he was thinking.
Rose is his partner. The two have won championships together, and more importantly, they have grown together.
The relationship between them was just like the Splash Brothers he knew.
He had no reason not to want Ross back.
But on a deeper level, or more realistically speaking, Rose has a super maximum salary. If he does not make changes and continues to lie on the roster next season, the Bulls' road to the championship will be extremely difficult.
Winning a championship requires teamwork, and teamwork requires sacrifice.
If you pursue personal interests blindly like Klay Thompson, things will not necessarily develop in a good direction.
But now Ross listens to advice and believes that everything will slowly get better.
…
Rose's injury came suddenly, and the Bulls' record also fluctuated accordingly.
Although Rose's overall performance was not good before, as long as a star, even a half-disabled star, can play, the team's offensive threat on the court will be different.
When McGrady was subject to the 7-minute limit, he was still able to control the situation on the court, not to mention that Rose is in a much better situation than him now.
Of course, the more important issue is that Teague cannot completely make up for the impact of Rose's absence.
The Bulls' draft picks have been pretty good over the years, but last season's selection of Teague was a complete misjudgment by Foreman.
Facts have also proved that it was not surprising that Leonard lost that pick despite his outstanding static talent.
Without the third eye, it is really difficult to judge whether a person who can't shoot can learn to shoot.
After a week of trouble, Thibodeau finally abandoned Teague completely.
And after that, his choice was to give Livingston a chance.
Although Foye's performance is good, his organizational ability makes it difficult for him to play the role of point guard.
Then, Livingston surprised everyone.
This wanderer in the league seemed to have been waiting for this opportunity. During his time on the court, he not only organized the offense very well, but also made a very beautiful low-post turnaround jump shot.
You know, although he played well in the Cavaliers last season, the Cavaliers were a real bottom-feeder after James left, and their statistics were very inflated.
Livingston's outstanding performance also stabilized the Bulls' record.
Time flies and it is already mid-December. The Bulls are ranked fourth in the Eastern Conference with 20 wins and 10 losses, behind the Pacers, Heat and Raptors.
On this day, Xu Yong practiced shooting alone for a while. After he finished practicing, he saw Thibodeau sitting on the sidelines.
Xu Yong walked over and sat down with a smile. It had been a while since the two of them had communicated like this.
"What do you think about putting Sean in the starting lineup?" After Xu Yong sat down, Thibodeau asked Xu Yong for his opinion.
Livingston's performance in this period is actually better than that of the starting player Hinrich. After all, he is young, and after getting rid of his injuries, he has stronger impact and better organizational skills.
Xu Yong thought for a while and shook his head.
"Is it because of his three-pointer?" Thibodeau asked when he saw this. This was also the reason why he was worried and wanted to seek Xu Yong's opinion.
The Bulls' ability to counterattack defensively is indeed not very good without Rose, which is another reason why he wants to use Livingston.
But in positional warfare, a point guard without a three-point shot is too easy to be targeted.
The Celtics' previous offensive constipation was largely due to Rondo's lack of shooting.
"Tom, Sean can't help us much." Xu Yong shook his head and replied in a helpless tone.
Livingston is indeed good, and his overall ability is even better than that of Hinrich now, but his help to the Bulls is still limited.
According to the Bulls' current lineup, even if he turns on the invincible mode like he did in the regular season last season, it will be difficult for the final record to be better than last season.
After all, last season they still had Yao Ming to wait for, but this season they have no one to wait for.
Not to mention the younger lineup, which will expose more problems in the playoffs.
Thibodeau fell silent after hearing this. He actually thought of what Xu Yong was thinking.
"So you think we need a deal?" he asked after a while.
This deal is not about trading Rose as Windhorst said, but about moving other people to get a better point guard. Players like Morris Jr., Anderson, and even Foye can be considered.
"I think it's time for Jimmy to take on more responsibilities." Xu Yong shook his head and expressed his thoughts directly.
His answer stunned Thibodeau.
After thinking for a while, Thibodeau shook his head: "We don't have that opportunity."
Because of their outstanding performance at the beginning of the season, the Bulls skipped the rebuilding process and their goal this season is still to compete for the championship.
If this is the premise, there are actually not many opportunities for young people to exercise.
This is different from Xu Yong's previous situation, because no matter how outstanding Butler is, it is difficult for him to achieve Xu Yong's speed of improvement.
You should know that when Xu Yong was in his sophomore year, he helped the team win the championship and got the FMVP.
In other words, letting Butler take on more responsibilities, that is, giving Butler training, will inevitably cause the team's record to fluctuate more.
"Tom, people always have to make choices. We need Jimmy to do more. We have to give him opportunities, learn to accept his mistakes, and wait for him to grow. Or, we can only wait for D. Rose." Xu Yong looked at Thibodeau without any beating around the bush.
If Rose doesn't get injured this season, they can wait for Butler to grow slowly, even if it's slower than in history.
But now, Rose's injury again has changed everything.
His words are not without reason. Just look at Leonard of the Mavericks next door. Last season, the absence of Nowitzki and Nash gave Leonard the opportunity to be forced to train. This season, Leonard's performance has undergone a qualitative change.
Moreover, the Warriors in history are a good negative example for Mudiay's growth.
Although Butler is very good, just like he couldn't teach Durant real organization during the offseason, because this is something that can only be learned through practice.
Thibodeau fell into deep thought.
This choice is not easy to make.
If the team's performance fluctuates greatly, it is not impossible that he, the head coach, will be fired.
But without practice, this season is likely to be just a repetition of last season.
"Do you think Jimmy can take on this responsibility?" After thinking for a while, Thibodeau looked at Xu Yong and asked.
"Tom, I think you know this question better than me." Xu Yong replied with a smile.
Thibodeau was stunned for a moment, then he also started laughing.
If you love someone, you will fuck him or her to death. Thibodeau's thoughts are obvious to everyone.
…
After the training session on the second day, Butler found Xu Yong and said excitedly, "Thank you, senior."
"Thank you? Thank me for what?" Xu Yong was a little confused. It couldn't be that Thibodeau relayed what he said to Butler. That wouldn't be right given Thibodeau's personality.
"Coach Thibodeau came to me today and told me to be prepared to organize more offenses in the next games. I know he won't do that without the consent of my seniors." Butler is still smart.
"Because of this? You thanked me too early." Xu Yong shook his head.
"Jimmy, this will be a huge challenge for you. To be honest, when Tom asked me if I thought you could take on more, I also had my doubts." Xu Yong looked worried (Thibodeau had a question mark face at this time).
"But I think, you're Jimmy, a guy who made it to the NBA from a technical college. If you can't do it, who else can do it?" When Xu Yong said this at the end, he couldn't help but reach out and pat Butler on the shoulder.
Butler felt indescribably moved at that moment, and of course, his confidence was further strengthened.
"Senior, I know I will encounter some difficulties, but believe me, I will definitely defeat him and become the person you expect me to be." Butler's tone was unusually firm.
"Of course, I believe you can do it, all the time." Xu Yong said with a smile.
…
The Bulls' next opponent is the Mavericks.
Rose was ruled out for the season after playing 11 games, but at least he played 11 games. Kobe has not returned yet.
The Lakers are now a Howard-led team and no longer have the competitiveness they once had in the Western Conference.
The current Western Conference is just like the second half of last season, with the Mavericks and the Thunder competing for supremacy.
The Thunder's strength was expected, but the Mavericks' performance was unexpected.
Because the core of the Mavericks, Nowitzki, is 35 years old this year, but he can still average 21.6 points and 6 rebounds per game with a hit rate of 49.7%, which is the best year since the 2011-2012 season, and his 39.8% three-point shooting percentage is even better than that season.
If you add in his 89.9% free throw shooting percentage, this is a performance close to the "180 Club".
This is the third spring of the old driver's career, which perfectly illustrates what it means to become more powerful with age.
Of course, the Mavericks' outstanding performance has a lot to do with Leonard's continued progress.
In his junior year, Leonard averaged 18.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game, with a shooting percentage of 50.2% and a three-point shooting percentage of 37.9%.
He has become the Mavericks' second-leading scorer and plays a crucial role on both offense and defense.
But in addition to this, there is the Mavericks' successful summer signings.
At the beginning of this season, Kidd, who was Nash's substitute, said that this was his last season. His performance this season was also average, and he basically degenerated into an assistant coach role, but West's joining made up for this well.
The addition of Tony Allen gave the Mavericks a death defense line consisting of Allen, Leonard and Chandler, and Nash's defensive problems were completely covered up.
In addition, they signed veteran inside player Samuel Dalembert with a mini-mid-level contract this summer to fill the final gap in the inside bench.
Take a look at the Mavericks roster.
Starting lineup: Nash, Tony Allen, Leonard, Nowitzki, Chandler;
Substitutes: West/Kidd, Carter, Marion, Yi Jianlian, Dalembert.
This lineup is not only balanced in strength, but also has unexpectedly healthy salaries. Apart from Nowitzki, who has a maximum salary, Chandler is the only one with over 15 million, while the others have contracts below 10 million, and most of them are below 5 million.
The game was played at the Bulls' home court and attracted a considerable number of fans.
The finals showdown between the two Bulls sounds far away, but it actually happened only two and a half years ago, and no one knows if something like that will happen again.
If so, the only two encounters this season were the perfect preview.
During the pre-match warm-up, shots of players from both sides were given, with Nash's warm-up taking up a lot of space.
The only hidden danger for the Mavericks this season is Nash's injury.
Nowitzki has basically gotten rid of the injury troubles of last season, but Nash's is even worse.
But judging by his performance tonight, he should be able to play.
After Xu Yong finished warming up, he sat on the sidelines to rest. At this time, several people came over to greet him.
Yi Jianlian, West, and Allen, all former Bulls players.
After saying hello, Xu Yong finally stood up and gave Yi Jianlian a hug and said some encouraging words.
Last season, Yi Jianlian averaged 9 points per game as a substitute, which was the best since he entered the NBA in terms of both statistics and efficiency.
But this season, due to the addition of Dalembert, his playing time and statistics have decreased.
This is the NBA, competition is everywhere and it changes every season.
After the warm-up, the opening ceremony will begin immediately.
Before the opening ceremony, Xu Yong patted Butler on the shoulder.
Butler has to face an opponent of this level in his first game after being entrusted with an important task, and he also has to encounter his "lifelong enemy", which is very stressful.
Butler was calm. It was obvious that after his previous communication with Xu Yong, he was really fearless.
After the opening ceremony, the starting lineups of both sides were announced one after another.
Mavericks: Nash, Allen, Leonard, Nowitzki, Chandler;
Bulls: Hinrich, Butler, Xu Yong, West, Brown.
As Chandler pushed the ball back to half court, the game officially began.
Nash came up with the ball and played pick-and-roll with Nowitzki. After the pick-and-roll, he made a fake move as if he was going to pass the ball to Nowitzki, and then secretly passed the ball to Leonard in the bottom corner from behind.
Leonard received the ball and shot directly from the outside for a three-pointer.
Xu Yong was making up for the defense at this time. After seeing Leonard make the shot, he couldn't help but admire Nash's passing ability.
Nash's passing is full of imagination, and what makes him even more amazing than "White Chocolate" Williams is that he can pass the ball without turnovers.
This is talent, the kind that ordinary people can’t develop even if they practice for their entire lives.
This is actually the reason why Leonard can grow so quickly in the Mavericks.
Nash + Kidd, this combination is much better than the Spurs' receiving environment in history.
In the Bulls' offense, Butler held the ball on the outside and called on Hinrich to set a pick-and-roll.
A true organization is definitely not like Draymond Green dealing cards at the top of the arc. That is not called an organization, but a tactical tool. If you leave the system, you will be exposed immediately.
When it comes to organization, the minimum requirement is to be able to pose an offensive threat and create opportunities for teammates.
Xu Yong using his personal offensive ability to break through and pass the ball is one way, and Nash using pick-and-roll to tear apart the defense is another way.
Butler does not have the personal offensive ability of Xu Yong, so like Nash, he uses pick-and-roll to find offensive breakthroughs.
Nash is the breakthrough point for the Mavericks on defense.
However, Allen's ability to go around screens is very strong, and Hinrich's pick-and-roll was not successful.
Butler didn't hesitate when he saw this. He signaled Hinrich to leave and then broke through Allen directly.
His breakthrough is very personal. He does not win by explosive power like Xu Yong, nor does he win by bulldozing like James. Instead, he uses his first step to gain position, then uses his physical advantage to suppress the defender behind him and get an offensive opportunity.
Allen was in a bit of a pickle at this time, because he was good at flexible cutting, but facing Butler's breakthrough method, he was always blocked on the off-ball side and had no chance to make a move.
At this time, Xu Yong took advantage of West's cover to get rid of Leonard.
Looking at the scene in front of him, he didn't find it strange.
For a person with average talent to become famous in the NBA, it cannot be explained by hard work or endurance. It involves a lot of on-court wisdom.
Leonard went over to assist in defense at this time, and Butler saw the opportunity and passed the ball to Xu Yong's side.
The timing of this ball was good, but at this moment, Xu Yong realized the danger, but it was too late to speak up and warn.
The moment Butler shot, Leonard used his super long wingspan and big hands, like a big net with a positioning device, to directly complete the steal.
Xu Yong was also trying to grab the ball, but it was too late. Leonard's wingspan and big hands made him too good at tracking the ball.
It didn't feel like a steal, it felt more like a robbery.
After completing the steal, Leonard's next choice was also correct. He directly passed the ball to Nash, then focused on fast break without the ball, and finally received Nash's pass to complete a fast break layup.
5 to 0.
The Mavericks gave the Bulls a warning at the start of the game, and the key point is that all these 5 points came from Leonard.
Butler looked up at the score and frowned. It was obvious that although he was mentally prepared, he still couldn't accept the fact that the ball was intercepted so suddenly at the very beginning, especially by Leonard.
Seeing this, Xu Yong walked over and reminded: "He has a wide range of steals, try to avoid passing the ball to his side."
Leonard's static talent and defensive awareness, coupled with his confrontational ability, make him one of the best perimeter defenders in NBA history, and it is not an exaggeration to say that he is the best.
Butler nodded. Although he was very competitive, he was not stubborn.
The Bulls continued their attack. This time Hinrich blocked Allen, and Butler used his body to push Nash inside.
Then, after attracting Leonard's defense again, he passed the ball to David West who cut in after breaking the ball.
The angle of this pass was not very good. Butler did not have targeted training in passing, so there is still a lot of room for improvement in this area.
But his choice this time was obviously better than the previous round, avoiding Leonard, whose defensive focus had always been on Xu Yong's side.
What’s more important is that he has a strong ability to read the game, and the timing of passing the ball is still on point.
West also showed his experience. After seeing that the pass angle was low, he bent down in advance to get the ball. Facing Chandler's quick defense, he did not attack the basket directly, but dribbled with a jump step to dodge, then jumped and slammed the ball directly into the basket, leaving no chance for Chandler to block it.
This ball instantly ignited the United Center.
It's not just West's beautiful dunk, but also the Bulls' cooperation in this round, which was like mercury pouring out of the ground!
Xu Yong also found Butler and high-fived him while retreating.
Butler's basketball IQ is really high and he understands things quickly. This is an invisible talent.
Of course, more importantly, he finally felt that he could put an end to the days of working like a slave for more than a year.
You have to know that he doesn't care about data as much as others. He really just wants to do what he loves on the court.
For example, dunks, defense, and key shots, it is really tiring to have to initiate every ball from your own hands.
This round also boosted the Bulls' defensive enthusiasm, with Xu Yong taking the lead in locking down Leonard.
Nash didn't have a good chance after two consecutive breakthroughs, so he could only dribble the ball back to the three-point line and pass the ball to Nowitzki for a one-on-one shot.
Butler reacted quickly at this time, giving up Allen and going over to double-team Nowitzki.
When the Mavericks are led by Nash, Allen's offensive weaknesses can be covered up, because Nash is the kind of person who is not afraid of double-teaming, and the more you double-team him, the happier he is.
But when the ball stops and becomes a one-on-one play, it is inevitable that Allen will be targeted.
However, Nowitzki reacted quickly. Before Butler could double-team him, he quickly turned around and shot towards the baseline.
“Swish!”
With the crisp sound of the ball entering the net, Nowitzki also made the shot steadily.
His touch is still extremely soft. The only difference from two years ago is that his control over his body balance after leaning back is not as good as before, and he almost fell.
7 to 2.
The Mavericks' offensive firepower is quite fierce.
With fierce offense and strong defense, Xu Yong also saw the championship potential in the Mavericks.
If the Heat and the Mavericks meet in the finals, it will definitely be a clash of Mars and the Earth.
Of course, if they can beat these two teams in a row, the value of the championship will be unprecedented.
In the Mavericks' offense, Butler continued to hold the ball and organize the offense. This time, after breaking through the defense and switching to Leonard's defense, he did not rush to pass the ball. Instead, he brought Leonard to the far end and passed the ball back to Hinrich. Hinrich then turned from the strong side to the weak side and passed the ball to Xu Yong in the high position for a single play.
Facing Allen's defense, Xu Yong turned his back and made a steady shot.
After scoring the goal, Xu Yong pointed at Butler.
Honestly speaking, with Leonard's defensive ability, his efficiency in singles won't be very high, but he will be much more confident when playing against Allen.
And this opportunity was created by Butler.
The Mavericks' attack failed, and Butler continued to break through with the ball. This time, without Leonard's help defense, he chose to attack the basket directly and successfully caused Chandler to commit a defensive foul.
Although he made a mistake at the beginning and his passing skills need to be improved, every choice he made afterwards was correct.
"Jimmy Butler's ceiling is at least an All-Star." The layman watches the excitement, while the expert sees the details. Barkley gave a professional evaluation after watching this round.
"Chicago has Xu, and now Xu has his Pippen." Kenny Smith on the side echoed.
Although it was only a few rounds, Butler has won the recognition of TNT giants with his performance.
"Derrick Rose, Xu Yong, Jimmy Butler, you have to say that Chicago's draft picks in recent years have been very successful." O'Neal couldn't help but sigh.
"The successful cases like the Bulls and Thunder tell us that a team's ability to maintain long-term competitiveness comes from drafting and training, rather than forming a super team." Of course, he did not forget to add.
Butler made both free throws, 7 to 6, and the Bulls gradually caught up with the score.
Carlisle was already standing on the sidelines at this time.
He had never expected Butler to be able to organize the game with the ball, and the key was that he could organize it so well, which completely caught him off guard.
And the key is that Butler's personal offensive threat has increased a lot this season, and Allen can't even hold him down well.
This also became a problem that the Mavericks were unable to solve well tonight.
This in turn has a ripple effect, because Xu Yong does not have to hold the ball for every attack, he can make more and more effective contributions on both offense and defense.
At the end of the game, the Mavericks lost to the Bulls 106 to 112.
According to the post-match statistics, Nowitzki of the Mavericks scored 30 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists, and played very well.
Leonard performed well on the defensive end, but on the offensive end, apart from the 5 points he scored at the beginning, he was basically locked down by Xu Yong.
With Butler diluting the ball possession, Xu Yong is still terrifying after giving his all on the defensive end.
And compared to defense, Leonard still has a lot to improve on the offensive end.
As for Xu Yong, he contributed 28 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. He didn't play much on the offensive end, but he had the strongest presence of the season on the defensive end.
Of course, the biggest surprise tonight was Butler, who scored 21 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 5 turnovers.
Although the number of turnovers was a bit too high, especially in the second half when he was targeted by Carlisle and made consecutive turnovers, the merits outweigh the flaws. The fact that he could perform like this against a strong team like the Mavericks shows that he is fully capable of organizing as a forward.
Xu Yong and Butler attended the post-match press conference together.
"Like the coach, I am happy with Jimmy's performance. I have always believed that he can do it. He is our MVP tonight."
When Xu Yong was asked about Butler's performance, he also praised him without blinking.
My junior fellow student put in such a performance, defeated the Mavericks, and even made me play a real "easy ball". He deserves any praise.
"During the game, Kenny Smith described you as Pippen, Xu's Pippen. What do you think of this?" The reporter then turned the question to Butler himself. When he said "Xu's Pippen", he caused laughter from the audience, because this was equivalent to comparing Xu Yong to Jordan.
"The first half tonight was a very good start for me. It proved that I can help Xu share the ball, but I know that has a lot to do with the Mavericks' lack of preparation. The situation I encountered in the second half also shows this. I should also encounter greater targeting in the following games, so that (becoming Pippen) is still a little far away for me, but I believe I will do better than that in the future."
Butler smiled at first, then answered seriously.
His answer turned the laughter from the audience into applause.
Neither arrogant nor humble, these four words are the most appropriate to describe this answer.
Xu Yong couldn't help but turn his head and look at Butler.
It’s no surprise that Butler can become a superstar with this mentality after such an outstanding performance.