Vol 3 Chapter 447: Great and ordinary

Roberson's reimbursement cast a shadow over the road to defending the Thunder.
　　 After the three-game losing streak, those basketball players and media reporters who have long been uncomfortable with the Thunder jumped out at the fastest speed, mocking the performance of the Thunder players in these games, and gloating over misfortune.
　　Thunder was not affected much. Except for Grant who blamed himself for poor performance in the previous two games, the other players are nothing unusual. They are all people who have been in this league for many years, and have never seen any storms. As the boss of the team, Westbrook set a good example: you can say what you like, and I can do what I do. Do not affect each other! However, the Thunder do need a victory to change the direction of public opinion. It is always uncomfortable for someone to twitter.
　　 However, the next game is not easy.
　　 Thunder will fight the Raptors twice within three days. After the upgrade, the Raptors have been ups and downs for a while, but now it looks like they have completed their new lineup. However, the Thunder also need such a weighty opponent to hone. They don't want to become a pseudo-strong team that only scores points on weak teams. Although there seems to be no weak team in this league.
　　 The Raptors' thinking is similar to that of the Thunder. Their life is not so easy. This season they desperately traded Leonard, who is likely to have only one season to use the rights, is going for the championship, including their subsequent trade to Gasol Jr. The record at the beginning of the season did give everyone hope, but after that, the Bucks came from behind and they could only be second. Recently, the 76ers with the Big Four feel like they are coming from behind, which is very troublesome.
　　 In these two games, the Thunder and the Raptors are determined to win.
　　 On March 20, the battle for the focus of the league's attention began at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. But this night, it became warm because of a person.
　　Nick Collison, a little guy who doesn’t always follow the Thunder without knowing who this person is. After the Thunder won the championship last season, Collison retired. This season, the Thunder retired his No. 4 jersey.
　　 It is worth mentioning that this is the first jersey that the Thunder retired. What an honor this is! Even Durant may not have this qualification.
　　 Since being selected by the Sonics in 2003, Collison has never played for other teams. He played 910 games in the regular season, averaging 20.4 minutes, contributing 5.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1 assist. He has never been selected to the All-Star team in his professional career, and he has never been selected as an All-Star player. When he won the championship last year, he basically did not appear on the field. However, Collison is the Thunder's most respected player. He has always been the leader of the locker room, whether it's Durant or Westbrook. Diligent, low-key and humble, and never stingy to support and help junior players. In a sense, Durant, Westbrook and Harden cannot grow without Collison's help. Including Anluo after entering the Thunder, he has received a lot of help from Collison.
　　 It is worth mentioning that Durant also deliberately rushed to the Chesapeake Energy Arena. He, Collison and Westbrook were the only players who came to Oklahoma from Seattle. After Durant left the Thunder, every time he returned to this arena, only Collison had the same attitude towards him.
　　 Such a veteran does not have a vigorous career, but he interprets the story of one person, one city very beautifully. When the No. 4 jersey slowly lifted off, tears flickered in Collison’s eyes. He said to all the audience:
Everything here starts from scratch, but I didn’t think about any other places in the past. This is the best. Yes. Thanks to this city, this picture will be unforgettable for my life."
　　 The high-fluttering No. 4 jersey redefines the ordinary and the great. Collison has used his career to prove to all players and fans that as long as they work hard enough and are diligent enough, every ordinary player can be respected.
　　 There are quite a few such players in the league. In fact, the stars are always the smallest part. A large part of the NBA is made up of countless players like Collison. Collison is lucky, at least there are many people remember his name, the team also gave him the greatest respect. But more players are really unknown. But the more ordinary persistence, the greater the appearance.
　　The championship banner and the retired jersey, Chesapeake Energy Arena finally has its own legend. This is the bottom line! Although it cannot be compared with giants like the Lakers and Celtics, this represents the beginning of everything.
　　 Unfortunately, the warm atmosphere did not bring luck to the Thunder. That night, they defeated the Raptors after 53 minutes of battle.
　　The game started~EbookFREE.me~ The Thunder lined up Westbrook, Anlow, Paul George, Grant and Adams. With the encouragement and help of the big brothers, Grant regained his confidence. The Raptors' starting lineup is also completely new, with Van Fleet, Danny Green, Leonard, Siakam and Gasol Jr. Lowry missed due to injury.
　　 In this game, the Thunder's defense is no problem, but the offense is not smooth. Westbrook, who was suspended for a game before, has a strong offensive desire, but his efficiency is not high. This provides many opportunities for the Raptors. It wasn't until the last quarter that Westbrook, who had calmed down, finally played a decent game with the Thunder for a while. Westbrook himself also turned the tide at a critical moment. After Paul George left the field for six fouls, he first caused Siakam's offensive foul in the paint, then went inside with the ball, and forced the ball into the ball against Gasol and Leonard. It was this ball that helped the Thunder equalize the score and enter overtime.
　　 But in the overtime, the Thunder without Paul George, and the defense that was powerfully downshifted because of the lack of Robertson, there was a bigger problem. Leonard took the ball to the inside of the Thunder, and no one can limit it. Although Anluo's two three-pointers could barely help the Thunder bite the score, he did not become the savior of the Thunder. When Siakam flew into the basket and dunked, the Thunder lost hope of winning.
　　In the end, the Thunder can only watch the opponent take the victory away from the Chesapeake Energy Arena. On this night of extraordinary significance, regrets were left. What is even more annoying is that the Thunder have lost four straight now! This is An Luo's first four-game losing streak since joining the Thunder.