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Chapter 324 - 157. The Precursor of Ailurophobia

Chapter 324: 157. The Precursor of Ailurophobia

At the home team’s training facility locker room, members of the Big Brother Group were sitting in front of the computer, opening one website, closing it, opening another, then closing, browsing forums, closing them... their expressions were something like this—

Today was the 15th, a rest day. Over the past four days, they had played three games. Although last night’s win was easy, Bickerstaff still didn’t schedule a practice, mainly to give Gerald Wallace more rest. He had been pushing himself too hard, and his risk of injury was the highest on the team.

However, after having lunch together, the Big Brother Group still came to the gym for extra practice in the afternoon.

Before practice started, Okafor mentioned that today’s news was interesting and asked Zhang Yang and Felton to take a look. The two went to check it out while the three younger fellows, Anderson, Matt Carroll, and Rondo, also joined in for the fun.

Under the advice of the senior, Muhammad, Rondo joined the Big Brother Group and started hanging out with Felton.

Muhammad wouldn’t join the Big Brother Group or any other faction. His role was that of the locker room leader, providing experience. Typically, with Felton and Gerald leading their respective groups, he didn’t need to do much—just mediate any conflicts among teammates.

Therefore, he generally spent his time with two veterans who were unlikely to get game time. He thought Rondo joining a group was better, as Rondo’s aloof nature could otherwise distance him from his teammates.

With the team’s four key players, Big Brother Group having three, he naturally suggested Rondo hang out with Felton.

Rondo was more interested in Zhang Yang than other team members and accepted the suggestion.

Out of the team’s 14 players, Big Brother Group had already recruited six. Felton was actively recruiting Herrmann in order to control "half of the kingdom"... but despite nearly two months of acquaintance, the progress bar hadn’t moved at all. In fact, it hadn’t even started; Herrmann spent his free time either curled up with a book or up on the rooftop waving his pen and writing, with only Okafor, who also had extensive literary knowledge, able to hold deep conversations with him.

Okafor was not willing to help Felton recruit members to the small group. Although considered a member of the Big Brother Group by his teammates, he didn’t actually recognize such small factions; he spent more time with Felton and Zhang Yang simply because they, along with Herrmann, were the only ones with undergraduate degrees on the team.

They browsed through the websites of the mainstream American sports media, checked forums, and followed ESPN’s lead where all fans were discussing the topic of "James carrying the dignity of the Class of ’03."

As fans discussed it extensively, and major media competed for traffic, they also reported on this topic...

Zhang Yang closed the laptop and said to Okafor, "Emeka, you’re taking revenge on society!"

Okafor turned his head aside, pretending not to understand.

Felton, not understanding, asked, "Jack, how is this related to taking revenge on society?"

Zhang Yang said, "He’s upset after reading these news articles. He feels uncomfortable alone and can’t bear it, wanting us to feel uncomfortable too. If everyone’s uncomfortable, he won’t feel as bad."

Felton said, "Emeka, that’s too much!"

Okafor said, "..."

At that moment, Okafor felt that having a smart teammate was quite a hassle, as his little schemes were so easily seen through.

He decisively changed the subject, "Do you guys think James can represent the Class of ’03?"

Felton immediately responded, "Wade just won the FMVP, why should James be the representative of the Class of ’03?"

Alan Anderson said, "Anthony has made it to the playoffs every year since joining the NBA, not missing a single time. James only made it to the playoffs for the first time last season and didn’t win a single playoff game."

Rondo, rarely interjecting, said, "Hinrich’s team leadership has been better than James’s, reaching the playoffs starting from his sophomore year."

Zhang Yang said, "James’s team is very good at seizing opportunities. Nuggets Team started collapsing just after losing to us. Over at Miami Heat, O’Neal got injured at the start, and Payton, Mourning, Walker, and ’White Chocolate’ had no motivation since winning the championship, performing significantly worse. Wade fought hard, and Miami Heat is just with four wins and four losses. We have a high chance of beating Miami Heat. These three competitors, only the third in the East, Knight, pose a major threat to us. They seized the opportunity to project the image that James represents the Class of ’03, quite clever."

Felton said, "It’s clever, but he really has thick skin!"

Zhang Yang said, "And they’re hyping ’New Bad Boys Legion’ again. If we lose tomorrow, then James truly will have ’saved the dignity of the Class of ’03.’ If we win, ESPN can continue to hype James’s ’tragic story,’ tying him further to the God of Basketball."

Felton said, "Then aren’t we always at a loss, whether we win or lose?"

Okafor said, "As long as we win, we won’t be at a loss, except that James will profit regardless."

Felton said, "I see... but I still feel we’re losing out! If we win, he continues to ride the coattails of the God of Basketball. Losing is not an option; we’ve won six straight and are about to break the team record..."

Okafor said, "..."

Oh dear, it looked like trouble was brewing as Felton’s mind seemed overloaded. How could he tell Felton not to worry about how much the opponents earn, but to focus on the game itself?

With Felton’s way of thinking, it really wasn’t easy to persuade...

That’s when Zhang Yang said, "If we win, we can lose less."

Felton’s thought process immediately cleared up, "Right, all loses considered, less loss is a gain... Let’s go, Jack. We’ll practice our coordination. Rajon, come help me."

Okafor, speechless, realized that simply going along with the conversation would work...