Vol 3 Chapter 385: New goal

Although everyone in the West is optimistic about the Thunder and the Warriors, it has to be said that the situation in the new season is indeed much more severe for the Thunder than the previous season. In everyone's expectation, all the odds of victory for the Thunder are based on the Warriors' problems. But if there is no problem with the Warriors!
The fighting power erupted by the five-star warriors is indeed enough to make other teams in the entire league willing to bow down.
Of course, the outsiders only saw the gap in the lineup, and there was a more deadly factor, which was almost ignored. That is fighting spirit! Last season, the Thunder used their two talented young men as a bargaining chip to obtain the right to use Paul George for one year from the Indiana. Make up for the embarrassing situation of no striker after Durant left. But they are under tremendous pressure. Once the whole season has no results, they have no good way to keep Paul George.
Fortunately, they played well. As the season progressed, the Thunder gradually showed their kingly posture. But the better you perform, the higher your expectations. The expectations of his own people including the Thunder are also getting higher. Especially the team owner Bennett and head star Westbrook, they can't wait to win a championship trophy for the city right away. Especially the latter! After being abandoned by Durant, the angry Westbrook wanted to prove that he could bring the Thunder to the championship. To this end, he first reached a contract extension with the Thunder in advance, showing that he was willing to stay in Oklahoma City. After that, he tried his best to promote a deal with the Pacers and changed his usual playing style. He began to focus on organizing the team and began to pick up the defense he had lost.
All these changes are worthwhile. Westbrook brought back the championship for Oklahoma. He proved himself, proved that he was not the reason that prevented Durant from winning the championship, proved that he could win the championship in Oklahoma. He became the hero of this city. There is no doubt that Westbrook's historical status will be rapidly improved because of this championship. Coupled with Durant's departure and his persistence, it is extremely possible to surpass Durant.
But these have stayed in this summer. Westbrook had been holding his breath before, and he could do anything and do it well. But now the breath is relieved. After the biggest dream of a lifetime is fulfilled, you often lose your way. Just like those monarchs and country masters in the troubled times of ancient times, when they started, they looked like the sons of the gods. Once they ruled the world, they began to become very mediocre, even domineering. Without a goal, there is no motivation to move on. If you don't advance, you will retreat. It is an iron rule in any circle.
An Luo could clearly feel that everyone was a little lax. Although everyone has been training diligently in the offseason, although Westbrook will continue to think about the outstanding performance of the Thunder in the new season when Anlo continues to improve. However, An Luo could feel that the other party no longer had the "unsuccessful benevolence" momentum of last summer. Perhaps such a situation is the so-called "born in sorrow and dies in happiness"!
It is conceivable that the Warriors' current situation must be the opposite of that of the Thunder. Last season, as the defending champions, they were overthrown by the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. This is a very accepted thing. Even more difficult to accept is Durant. The Thunder won the championship under the leadership of Westbrook is his most unacceptable thing. After all, when he left Oklahoma, he said that he was chasing a championship. He always felt unable to win a championship in Oklahoma. But he watched the opponent standing on his body and holding the O'Brien Cup. Therefore, he quickly signed a contract extension with the Warriors. There are many dissatisfaction with him from within this team, and he is pressed in his heart. He must win the championship again, preferably by defeating the Thunder led by Westbrook.
Everything is like a copy of last summer. It's just that the protagonist has changed. Durant became the character who had to beat the Thunder to win the championship. For this, he can endure everything. Westbrook and his Thunder became the challenged party.
This problem was seen by Donovan at the beginning of the Thunder training camp. As a coach who can win two consecutive championships in ncaa, he has a deep understanding of the players' mentality. Therefore, on the third day of the training camp, he had a very sincere conversation with Westbrook, Paul George and Anlow.
"We have been a championship team, our lineup has been strengthened, our players are constantly improving. What are we going to do next?"
"Defensive!"
"We have this ability, so we can't waste this opportunity."
"The new season is a very big challenge for us. Our opponents have become stronger, and we have become the object that all winning teams want to defeat. We will face countless difficulties. However, none of these can be achieved. Prevent us from doing what we want to do."
"How many championship teams have successfully defended their titles in decades? Boston! Los Angeles! Chicago! Miami! Will there be Oklahoma after this season?"
"Russell, even if you retire now, your jersey will float over the Chesapeake Energy Arena. But ~EbookFREE.me~ don't you want to put a statue in front of the arena?"
"Paul, we have the ability to create a more brilliant future. LeBron is not the only thing that can do this."
"Ann, your future is still very long, and you have unlimited possibilities."
"Guys, what we have to do next is to make this city remember us firmly. So in the future, no matter which superstar the team will lead to win the championship again, everyone Everyone thinks of us. We have injected the gene of victory into this city, and we have given future generations a goal to strive for. Obviously, this is not something that can be achieved by winning a championship."
"We need more championships! We want to defend!"
...
Donovan is not a person who is particularly good at doing ideological work. But I have to say that he still hit the key to the problem. When there is no goal, someone must stand up, clear the fog for everyone, and show the way. For the Thunder, this is far more important than making some big moves in the transfer market. As a team that just won the championship, the Thunder's lineup and combat effectiveness are very strong, and it is important to continue that momentum.