by Fresh8 on Sat Oct 23, 2010 11:02 pm
Chapter 13
Sit knew he needed The Answer in this series. The Warriors liked to run and gun and he would be stupid if he did not counter that with his own blazing gun on his bench. He called Iverson over and gave him his instructions.
“It’s your time man,” Sit said.
Iverson didn’t like him much so he ignored him.
“Come on,” Sit laughed, “I’m getting you into the ball game. Come on now.”
Iverson reluctantly gave Sit a high five before strolling over to the scorers’ table to check into the game for Jason Kidd. The crowd saw Iverson at midcourt and began to cheer louder; he was a fan favourite. When Iverson stepped onto the court, he gave Kidd a high five before giving a thumbs up to the camera crew. The image of him beamed up onto the jumbotron screen. The arena was filled with cheers for the veteran. Iverson felt good and he would finish the game with a team high 24 points. The Stealth would finish with the win.
The series with the Warriors came and went. It was a quick sweep and it was over before anyone knew it. Coach Sit faced the press after the Game 4 victory in which Jason Kidd added more to his legacy as he posted a triple double.
“How about Jason tonight?” Sit smiled as he addressed those in the room, “Bloody ripper.”
“How important is it for you to have Jason on your team? We know that we ask all the time but we want to know how important he is to you. Do you plan to talk to him about staying on after this season?”
Sit scratched his head before answering, “I can’t say enough times how important he is for us. Jason Kidd proved tonight that he still has it in him to keep playing. As long as he stays with me, I will keep him as my starting point guard no matter how much you guys hate it.”
“What did you think about your role players stepping up in this series? Reshawn Tyson and Allen Iverson played very well. And especially Iverson – what was the difference in this series compared to the Blazers series?”
“It’s always a luxury to have everyone playing well. Our bigs weren’t great but I was expecting that. It was just a result of the way Golden State plays. They still play as if Don Nelson was coaching them. Allen really fits into that kind of open court play. He played well and I am confident to give him good minutes from now on. He has earned the right to play for me,” Sit stated, “Reshawn picked it up too. He’s playing confidently out there on the floor which is nice to see. I am pleased with how the guys are going. I just need Andrew and David to really pick it up in the next series. Both Sacramento and Dallas have strong frontcourts.”
Someone from the back of the room shouted out, “Who do you prefer to play in the next round?”
Sit laughed, “No comment.”
Another person from the back of the room yelled, “Is Kevin Durant in a shooting slump? He didn’t have the same effect as he did in the first round.”
Sit answered, “I had a talk with Kevin before the second round began. We discussed that he can’t burn himself out in the first two rounds. I wanted him to trust in his teammates and really share the load. We have a deep squad and I want him to be at his best in the later stages of play. He’s not in a slump, he was being a good team mate.”
Sit was instructed to end the podium interview session so that Kevin Durant could face the media as well. Two hours later, the Stealth were headed back on a flight to Seattle from Golden State. Sit sought out Iverson and Kidd.
“Allen, you’ve played great this series. I want to congratulate you on that,” Sit said.
Iverson snorted, “Whatever man. You know, I don’t have nothing good to talk to you about.”
Kidd interjected, “Come on, don’t be stubborn man.”
Sit continued, “I want to reassure you that you are a part of this team’s plans. I wanted you to see how well you could play and how much more you could help us by picking your shots better. I want to make you a champion man and this team needs you.”
Iverson didn’t say anything and Sit held his silence as an acceptance to settle their past differences aside.
Kidd broke the awkwardness, “We’re in this together. It’s time to win that ring.”
Ty didn’t talk to Durant much. They hardly congratulated each other, let alone acknowledge each other. Sit knew that the team was pretty much split into two small camps. Durant was flanked by Bogut, Iverson and Ariza. Ty didn’t have any supporters except for Rocky. Everyone else appeared to stay as neutral as possible. Ty lay in his bed trying to fall asleep. The excitement of being back in the Western Conference Finals kept him awake. He couldn’t sleep so he hopped onto the computer instead. Ty had made it a habit to check out the net and look at all the rumours and stories about him.
“Funny,” Ty laughed as he read a rumour that he was interested in playing for Memphis, “No way in hell that will be happening.”
The following afternoon, Ty arrived at the training facility to lift weights prior to the Stealth’s scrimmage. Most of the team were there. After he had finished his sets of bench presses, Coach Sit had come over to pull him aside.
“Ty, this team is not only about Kevin,” Sit whispered to him, “I want you to try and take over sometimes. We need you to do that. If a game is going down to the wire, the ball is coming to you kid. You got that?”
Ty was confused with what mind games Sit was playing at but nodded in agreement.
“I want you to be the star of this team. Don’t forget that,” Sit said before patting him on the back and leaving the weights room.
Sheed was lazing around on the sideline during practice. He was wearing shades and a cap.
“Take them off Sheed!” Sit instructed him in a strict tone.
Sheed whipped off the shades, “The cap ain’t coming off.”
Sit shouted back, “Man, we all know you got a bald spot!”
Sheed still refused to take the cap off and Sit called out, “Make yourself useful and get me a drink. I don’t pay you to do nothing.”
Sheed bolted off in the opposite direction as Sit and Coach Karl gathered the team around.
“Ok everybody, we’ve got a tough series ahead of us. We all remember what happened last season,” Sit briefed the Stealth, “We have to stop playing soft. We have to play with some heart and a shit load more toughness. Good session today! Before we finish though, Jason has something to say.”
Kidd shuffled from the back to the front of the group so that he could face his team mates.
“I want to thank all of you for this season,” Kidd said, “I want you guys to know that this is my last season. I’m hanging up the jersey because I’m old and I can’t run anymore. I get burnt too much and it’s getting embarrassing.”
Everyone laughed as Kidd continued, “I’m grateful that I get to play with this team. It’s probably the best one I have played with during my whole career. We can go really far this year. Let’s not screw it up.”
Everyone started to applaud as Kidd gave high fives and hugs to those close to him. The cheers and laughter came to an abrupt end as Sit bellowed.
“SHEED!”
Sheed was doubled over and laughing and pointing at Sit.
Sit looked up at everyone, his face was screwed up as he stuck his tongue, “What the hell did you put in my drink bottle?”
Sheed was shaking his head and grinning widely, “You don’t want to know coach. You don’t want to know.”
* * *
Moses Chara took a third step and flipped the ball through the hoop. The ref saw the travel but seemed to have swallowed up his whistle. It was Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals in Sacramento and the home team was barely ahead. Durant was furious and cussed at the ref.
“What’s that?” Durant ran past him.
This time, the ref blew his whistle, “Technical!”
Durant raised his arms in the air, “You kidding me!”
He walked right up to the ref and Jason Kidd immediately ran over to pull him away. Chara had the basketball and dribbled past Durant and Kidd as the ref was trying to indicate to the scorers’ table the call he was making. Chara laughed at Durant.
“You should shut up,” Chara taunted, “This is my house.”
Durant snorted, “Fuck off.”
Chara rolled the ball towards the ref calling for it and turned around to face Durant.
He pointed his index finger at Durant, “Watch your mouth. You don’t want to piss me off.”
Durant took a step forward and used the back of his right hand to push Chara’s arm out of the way, “Oh yeah? What you going to do?”
Kidd was pulling Durant away from Chara and the second game official was blowing his whistle to break Durant and Chara up. Kevin Martin and Michael Redd had come over to stand in between the pair.
“You going to keep crying about losing that MVP award? You going to keep crying about that you pussy?” Durant was yelling.
Chara stayed composed and turned around to go to the charity stripe to take his technical free throws. He sunk the freebie and the Kings got the ball back at midcourt. Chara passed the ball in to Russell Westbrook, a former Seattle player, and Westbrook passed the rock to Martin. Martin waited for Chara to get good position in the post. Chara called for the ball and Martin lobed in to him. Durant was trying to guard him in the paint. Chara smiled and faked to his left by twisting his torso and then violently and quickly twisted back the other way. He made sure his right elbow was lifted high and hit Durant in the jaw as hard as he could. Durant fell back and hit the court hard. Kidd and Bogut quickly ran over to Durant as the refs were blowing their whistles in frenzy. Chara dropped the ball and smiled; he had done his job. Durant was rubbing his jaw where he was hit. Chara laughed as the flagrant foul was called on him.
“You don’t do that shit to my teammates!” someone shouted.
It was Reshawn Tyson, who started running full pelt at Chara and tried to wrestle him to the ground. Chara was able to overpower Ty and punched him in the gut. Ty was left winded on the ground as Chara quickly got up with his teammates pulling him away.
“Dumbass!” Chara was shouting.
Sit was looking on from the bench and shouted at his reserves, “Stay off the court! I don’t want any suspensions!”
Sheed wanted to help his teammates, “Let me get that cocky son of a bitch!”
Sit warned him, “Don’t you dare.”
Sheed turned to Ariza, “I could take them. Ben Wallace taught me a thing or two.”
Chara had wriggled free from his teammates’ hold and ran back to stand over the fallen Ty, “You were no good in College and you’re no good here!”
Suddenly Durant was back on his feet and pushed Chara to the side. The Kings pulled Chara back to their bench. Durant looked down at Ty and offered him his hand. Ty looked up and grabbed a hold of it so that Durant could help him up. Durant nodded and turned to join the Stealth on the bench. Ty was stopped by the ref who ejected him for attacking Chara. Ty was escorted off the court and towards the locker room as Sit sent Ariza onto the court as his replacement. The Kings went on to win the game and were headed to the NBA Finals. After the game, Chara waited outside the visiting team locker room for Ty. Ty spotted him and Chara began to taunt him. The Kings’ security made sure that the two players wouldn’t get to each other; they knew that the pair had a heated rivalry during their UNC-Duke days. But they didn’t tell Chara to back off; they enjoyed the spectacle.
“Why don’t you come in here and show me what you got?” Ty was being pulled back by David Lee and Sheed.
Chara loved it, “Don’t be mad! Don’t be mad that we’re in the Finals!”
Lee and Sheed led Ty away before Chara got bored and left to prepare for his podium interview.
* * *
Coach Sit was facing the media again. It was the eve of the Western Conference Finals.
“Coach, what do you think of your next opponents?”
“We’ve played them before. That loss still hurts and I am happy that we have a shot at getting revenge,” Sit answered, “The goal is to make the NBA Finals. Let’s not forget that but please also remember that beating these guys to make the finals will be even more motivating. I hope that my guys are ready for what should be a very tough battle.”
Meanwhile in Sacramento, NBA MVP Moses Chara was answering the exact same question, “They’re just another team. We’ve shown that we are tough to beat and even better in adversity. Seattle don’t know what’s coming.”