Chapter 1106: Chapter 352: Those Subtle Changes
Sure, here’s a translation for the text:
“`html
He is the pride of the fans, and he is also willing to fight for those who support him. He deeply feels that he belongs to that team.
A poor boy who once hung a milk basket with the bottom cut out on a clothesline as a hoop, received the Wooden Award and the Naismith Award amid cheers from all the fans at the University of Massachusetts, defeating the invincible Duncan known nationwide. That feeling of realizing self-worth made Marcus Camby miss it greatly.
Unfortunately, in Toronto and New York, he never regained that feeling.
And now, he has finally found that sense of belonging in Oakland.
Back then, Roger told him he would certainly let him win the ultimate prize.
Dikembe Mutombo said the ultimate prize is the championship.
Now, Marcus Camby has a new understanding of the ultimate prize.
The championship is only half; the other half is fans wearing your jersey shouting at you, people affectionately calling you a hero, children begging for your autograph after the game, and young people lifting their heads high because of your inspiration.
Those moments make Marcus Camby deeply feel that everything he does is full of value.
“Hey!” A loud voice interrupted Marcus Camby’s thoughts.
He came back to his senses, realizing someone was angrily knocking on his car window.
“Damn, it’s been a green light for a long time, are you fucking blind!? Wait…” The man outside the car was initially very angry, but upon seeing Camby in the car, he immediately changed his expression.
The man excitedly pointed, covering his mouth, then ran to the car behind and opened the rear car door: “Hey, Cant, Cant! Get out of the car! It’s Marcus, Marcus Camby!”
A child ran out of the car excitedly, and that admiring gaze made Marcus Camby unable to help but smile: “Sorry, I was just lost in thought.”
“No, no, no,” the child’s father hastily waved his hand, “I should apologize, I shouldn’t have been so rude. Marcus, could you sign for my child? He is your loyal fan!”
Camby jokingly asked: “Is there anyone in the Bay Area who isn’t a Roger fan?”
“There are already enough people who love Roger,” the child innocently replied, “The other players on the Warriors also deserve love, your defense against Karl was great.”
Camby contentedly signed his name for the child, then hurriedly drove away from the intersection.
The last game, due to wholeheartedly defending Karl Malone, Marcus Camby’s stats were not outstanding, averaging 7+8, just that.
What was the result? He received more love and respect.
The last game not only brought victory to the Warriors but also brought confidence to Spoelstra, recognition of self-worth to Marcus Camby.
And they will all contribute more wholeheartedly to the team.
These changes are something Popovich cannot see on paper.
Moreover, there are changes even Warriors players themselves haven’t noticed.
After arriving at the training ground, Marcus Camby began his basic training and then, as usual, engaged in one-on-one offense and defense practice with Amar’e Stoudemire.
Camby needed a competent offensive player to hone his defense, while Stoudemire needed a high-level defender to hone his offense.
The two were like a divorced housewife meeting a single young man, perfectly solving each other’s needs.
They had been practicing like this for a long time, but today, Camby felt Stoudemire’s training stance was somewhat off.
The young second-year high school rookie seemed to want to tear Camby apart on the training ground, playing extremely fiercely, as if moving playoff-level intensity to the training ground.
When Stoudemire once again made his way with an elbow to push Camby aside and completed a layup, Camby clutched his chest.
“Damn Amare, do you really have to do this? You just hurt me!”
Stoudemire apologetically smiled: “The thought of facing Tim excites me so much, it’s hard to control my strength, sorry Marcus.”
“Is that worth being excited about?” Camby shook his head; no inside player in the entire league gets excited facing Tim Duncan.
He was last season’s MVP, and is among the top three on this season’s MVP leaderboard.
Unlike Roger, Tim Duncan will always silently destroy you. But fundamentally, you will be destroyed.
Marcus Camby doesn’t fear challenges, but he would never feel excited facing a similar opponent.
But Amar’e Stoudemire seemed as happy as if he were about to face a harmless rookie: “Of course, I’ve waited an entire year for this!”
Indeed, he had waited an entire year; last postseason, Amar’e Stoudemire was completely defeated in the face-off against Duncan, eventually leading to the team’s loss.
For this, he practiced hard every day, just for the moment to bounce back.
This season, the coach trusted him and gave him a higher tactical status.
Roger trusts him, without hesitation when feeding him the ball, and even in some rounds, allows him to play solo.
Fans trust him, despite being only in his second year, he is already considered the second person on the Warriors.
He doesn’t want to let down this trust, especially Roger’s trust.
People say distance can create beauty. LeBron James originally idolized Michael Jordan, but when they truly started being teammates, they fell apart, going from fatherly bonding to mutual resentment.
But such a thing hasn’t happened between Stoudemire and Roger. After being teammates with Roger for two years, Stoudemire even admires Roger more.
That man never complains, never succumbs to fate. He leads the team, taking down one strong enemy after another.
He will appropriately give you some freedom, but when situations truly become difficult, you don’t need to clean up for the best player in the team or take the blame.
Beside such a leader, Stoudemire doesn’t allow himself to fall behind.
“Hold your head up, be confident, I believe you can establish yourself in the NBA, provided you practice your defense well. Merely scoring doesn’t make a great player, come on, you will succeed.”
Stoudemire decided to turn this statement into reality this year!
Amar’e Stoudemire is also changing; he is becoming stronger, filled with confidence.
He is no longer Tim Duncan’s exclusive toy.
Gregg Popovich arrogantly believes the Spurs can continue to dominate the West, but the changes in the Warriors far exceed his expectations.
However, he will eventually discover these changes.
The day before the Western Conference Finals started, Popovich led the entire Spurs team to Oakland.
The Admiral is as friendly as ever: “I will do my utmost to pursue my second career championship, but the Warriors are not easy to deal with, they are a respectable opponent.”
Tim Duncan, as always, told deadpan jokes with the most serious expression: “Facing the Warriors again, what’s different this year compared to last year? The difference is Tony Parker’s head is balder.”
And Gregg Popovich continued to love mockery as ever.
“Gregg, Erik Spoelstra is a bold young coach, have you studied his game?”
Facing the Warriors, the team favored by the entire world, Popovich, who took Roger off the throne last season, wanted to express his disdain.
“No,” he feigned seriousness, “I have never watched the Warriors’ game footage.”