Y13 [EN]: Chapter 53

“Ah! Now that I think about it, *Project Runway* was a shame.”

Unlike his appearance, Tyson Chandler was very interested in fashion programs. In fact, Chandler usually favored dark suits that suited his tall stature, or a neat black short-sleeved T-shirt with a stylish fedora. This was also likely because Chandler himself was naturally a locker room leader.

Youngjae and Chandler were both rookies that year, so they quickly developed a rapport and were said to be each other’s best friends in Dallas. Perhaps that’s why Chandler was interested in Youngjae’s affairs, and Youngjae was also interested in Chandler’s.

“You mean Melly? I was sad too.”

Because the game schedule was so tight, he couldn’t attend Melly’s fashion show finale, but he sent a wreath in the Korean style with a ribbon that read, ‘Go Melly, Keep Going!’ Melly, who overcame fierce competition but was unfortunately eliminated in the final three, was encouraged by Youngjae and signed a formal contract with Nike, immediately being hired as a sportswear designer. Afterward, Melly, during a phone call with Youngjae, complained that it was ‘a pain in the ass…’ but said she was happy because it was what she wanted to do. The meeting with David and his cousin was scheduled for December or January when there were no Dallas Mavericks games.

D.J. Gay and Kelvin Davis were also performing well as starters and sixth men in Spain and Greece, respectively. At Unicaja Malaga and Olympiacos, they were reportedly leading the league alongside Zoran Dragic (SG/Goran Dragic’s younger brother) and Kostas Papanikolaou (SF/joined Houston in 2014).

Kawhi Leonard, Brian Carwell, Chase Tapley, and Alec Williams of San Diego State University were training hard in preparation for non-conference games. However, with the departure of the players who had been hailed as the golden generation just a year prior, it seemed that while Carwell, a senior, was a solid presence as the main player, the team’s overall competitiveness had slightly decreased.

It seemed that D.J. Gay and Malcolm Thomas, who, unlike in their previous life, were attending their senior year and graduating before turning professional, had left a considerable void due to their advancement. Still, Leonard was stepping up more than before, and the other players had improved little by little, so things seemed okay.

Like that, everyone was working hard and moving forward in their respective positions, and Youngjae was also enjoying his life to the fullest with the Dallas Mavericks.

When they arrived in Memphis, Tennessee, the Dallas players took a bus to the hotel. The game against Memphis at FedEx Forum (Memphis Grizzlies’ home stadium) was on November 10th (US time). The Dallas players arrived on the morning of November 9th, and after a nutritious meal, they spent the morning briefly reviewing the game plan against Memphis.

“Team training before the game will start at 7 p.m. on the 10th. Until then, you have free time, but I hope you will take care of your condition.”

Coach Carlisle and the coaching staff gave the players these words, a mix of instruction and request, and left the conference room to prepare for the game. The players chatted with each other and scattered in groups of three or five.

“Hey, do you have any plans?”

As expected, Tyson Chandler was the first to speak. Youngjae didn’t have any particular plans, so he replied, ‘I don’t have any special plans.’ In fact, there was no need to go out to eat because the food in the hotel was delicious enough. Rather than wandering around the streets and getting tired, there was a gym in the hotel, and because it was a hotel where basketball players mainly stayed, there was a gym including a basketball court right next to the hotel, so there was no need to go downtown.

“You have a boring personality. You don’t seem to be able to drink well either. Are you like a monk in a movie?”

“Hey, I’m just having fun living like this right now. A monk, you say.”

Youngjae shook his head, saying it was ridiculous.

“Hmm. Certainly. You don’t seem to be interested in other things.”

Even Nowitzki, who had joined their conversation, agreed with Chandler, so Chandler laughed, making a joke that Youngjae might find embarrassing, saying, “Right?”

“Perhaps… are you not interested in women either? Are you a bachelor?”

“No, Chandler. I’m also a vigorous 20-year-old man.”

When Youngjae said, ‘If you’re so worried that I’ll become a bachelor, introduce me to a nice woman,’ Nowitzki just shrugged his shoulders, and Chandler simply replied, ‘You have to take care of your own woman.’

“Anyway, I’m going to go practice, so see you later.”

“See? I told you I was right?”

“Hmm. Certainly. At that level, he’s married to basketball.”

At Chandler and Nowitzki’s jokes, Youngjae wanted to retort, ‘Those practice bugs who were even more obsessive than me when they were young are really…’, but Youngjae also felt good while talking, so he just said yes and headed to the basketball court in the gym next to the hotel.

A deserted basketball court where no one was using it. Youngjae thought that there was no better condition than this to do his own training, which he had been neglecting since the regular season started due to his focus on team training. He took several balls from the storage room.

Tung-tung-

“Where…”

Youngjae fiddled with his smartphone for a while and then placed it on the bag he had brought.

– never made it as a wise man –

Shuk-

– I couldn’t cut it as a poor man stealing –

Shuk-

Youngjae listened to the song coming from his smartphone and practiced shooting. Among the smartphone apps, Youngjae used one that automatically played the ROCK genre, randomly selecting music of his desired genre for a monthly fee. Youngjae continued to shoot in the deserted court.

After playing six games in the regular season, Youngjae felt the stark difference between practice and actual games, and between the regular season and preseason. He increasingly felt that he should not neglect practice.

It’s easy to mistakenly think that shooting isn’t related to physical factors, but when your stamina drops, your shots become shorter. A player who used to shoot accurately with a clean release often hits the front rim when his stamina wanes, and a player who mainly shoots bank shots often misses by hitting between the back rim and the backboard. Besides, how intense is the opponent’s defense? You have to move constantly, endure the opponent’s pressure, and then shoot.

Youngjae, who had been sweating to properly balance flexibility, quickness (agility), and power, and to increase stamina, felt the fatigue accumulating little by little in his whole body after only six games. He realized that stamina improvement and maintenance, and fatigue recovery, must continue until the end of the season.

“This is how, you remind me… of what i really am.”

Youngjae bounced the ball once with his back to the rim and turned around to shoot a turnaround fadeaway [a difficult shot where the player fades away while turning and shooting]. The ball, properly released from his fingertips, drew a beautiful arc and went straight into the rim.

When Nickelback’s *How You Remind Me* ended, Youngjae took a short breath before the song was played again.

– Of all the money that e’er I had, I’ve spent it in good company –

(Of all the money I had, I spent it with good people)

“Huh?”

Youngjae had clearly set it to the ROCK category, but suddenly a folk song-like tune came on, so he picked up his smartphone, wondering if the app was malfunctioning.

“*The Parting Glass*… isn’t this a folk song?”

*The Parting Glass*, a classic Irish and Scottish folk song. Youngjae was about to skip to the next song, thinking, ‘Hey, what is this?’, but the song was surprisingly listenable, and it was nice to listen to because it calmed his mind. In particular, the timbre of the voice, though he didn’t know who it was, was very beautiful, tickling his ears, and it was nice to listen to because it was gentle like a lullaby.

– And all the sweethearts that e’er I had, They are sorry for my going away –

(My lovers who I loved, they want me to stay a little longer)

Shuk-

– But since it falls unto my Lot –

(Since my share is up to here)

Shuk-

Youngjae was humming along to the melody and shooting. The form is the same, consistent. So that he can shoot in any situation.

– Good night and joy be with you all –

(Good night and have a good time, everyone)

Shuk-

Youngjae was so engrossed in shooting practice while listening to *The Parting Glass*. After finishing the shooting, Youngjae checked who sang *The Parting Glass*, which was set to repeat.

“E…K?”

Looking at the artist who had no full name and only EK written, Youngjae scratched his head, took a screenshot first, and then put his smartphone away.

FedEx Forum.

Youngjae could feel his body tingling slightly at the hostility he could sense in the away game. Because Memphis, which is in the same Southwest Conference, is relatively close, there were fans who came all the way to support Dallas, but most were fans supporting the home team, the Memphis Grizzlies.

[Hello, this is TNT broadcasting live the 2010-11 NBA regular season game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Dallas Mavericks. Mike Breen is on commentary, and Craig Sager is on the sideline. Breen? Nice to meet you.]

[Nice to meet you, Craig. Oh, I’m really glad to see you too. It’s been over 24 hours since we last saw each other.]

Mike Breen and Craig Sager exchanged banter like a comedy duo, and before they knew it, they began to analyze the game in depth.

[The Memphis Grizzlies are maintaining a 50% win rate with 4 wins and 4 losses, while the Dallas Mavericks are on a roll with 5 wins and 1 loss.]

[Haha, but it’s ironic. The only loss was to the Memphis Grizzlies.]

[The Dallas Mavericks lost to the Memphis Grizzlies, who came to their home court, by just 2 points. It must have been a really close game for Dallas. At the time, Rudy Gay, the MOM (Man Of the Match), scored a whopping 21 points, the most of both teams, leading Memphis to victory.]

As the pre-game shooting practice for both teams’ players came to an end, Craig Sager and Mike Breen skillfully announced the starting members of both teams.

[Here is the Memphis Grizzlies’ starting lineup: Mike Conley at point guard (number 1), O.J. Mayo at shooting guard (number 2), Rudy Gay at small forward (number 3), Zach Randolph at power forward (number 4), and Marc Gasol at center (number 5). Memphis still has no changes in the starting lineup. Everyone is tough.]

[As you said, Memphis is trying to exploit the relatively soft Dallas Mavericks’ interior defense by using the tough defense and high height of big men Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. They are trying to gain an advantage in the inside game. Also, it seems that they are planning to harass Dallas’ outside shooters again by putting in O.J. Mayo, who had a good game against them before.]

[Memphis still relies heavily on their starters. Despite signing Tony Allen from Boston and drafting Xavier Henry, all starters are averaging over 35 minutes. Of course, it is possible because the starters are generally young and have good stamina. However, the bench players need to step up.]

Craig Sager took the momentum and began to introduce the Dallas Mavericks’ starting lineup.

[Here is the Dallas Mavericks’ starting lineup, who came to the away game for revenge: Jason Kidd at point guard (number 1), Youngjae Yoon at shooting guard (number 2), Shawn Marion at small forward (number 3), Dirk Nowitzki at power forward (number 4), and Tyson Chandler at center (number 5). There have been some changes.]