CHAPTER 1272: CHAPTER 403: WE BELIEVE

Gary Payton is probably the most frustrated person in the entire league right now.

He seems to have a natural talent for staying away from the championship.

Whether in San Antonio or New York, no matter how promising the team seemed before the season started, they ultimately always fell short of the championship.

And it seems this curse has now descended upon the Golden State Warriors.

Amar’e Stoudemire has become the key to overturning the dynasty, and the entire league sees this as an opportunity to snatch the crown from Roger’s head.

Even Gary Payton himself thinks so.

After all, he once lost his role as a second-in-command and has been in decline ever since.

The Seattle SuperSonics lost the Reign Man Kemp due to foolish decisions, and since then, Gary Payton seemed dead.

He still played in Seattle, but the entire city lost its competitiveness, as if disappearing from the league, with Gary Payton seemingly vanishing, having no exposure at all.

When Gary Payton reappeared in the public eye, it was during the season he decided to join the Spurs at a low price, and the world was shocked to realize that this top-three point guard from the ’90s had become an old guy clinging to the strong to maintain his last chance of fulfilling his dream.

In fact, Gary Payton’s most glamorous personal stats came during the years without the Reign Man.

But he does not take pride in that; every real basketball player knows that stats don’t represent greatness, victories do.

Just like most media wouldn’t rank Wilt Chamberlain above Bill Russell, even though the former’s stats are inhumanly frightening.

No matter how brilliant Gloves’ personal stats were, they couldn’t cover the destructive impact losing the team’s second person had on the SuperSonics.

Gary Payton still remembers those days of striving to change the status quo, yet unable to change anything—those were the most painful times of his career.

Can Roger change the status quo?

Before this, Roger never lacked excellent second-in-commands.

In Orlando, there was Shaq; during Atlanta’s first championship, you could say Scottie Pippen’s peak had passed, relying on electric shock in the finals to keep his back straight, but he was still a decent second-in-command. During Atlanta’s threepeat, Roger had Paul Pierce as his sidekick.

In the past two seasons, the world witnessed how outstanding of a second star Amar’e Stoudemire was.

When the Warriors chose him with the third overall pick, most thought it was a mistake. Even after his rookie season, many still believed that a power forward without any defensive skills was destined not to be great. But all those voices disappeared with the back-to-back championships, and people acknowledged Amar’e’s greatness.

And now? Who does Roger have by his side?

Marcus Camby? Tayshaun Prince? Jason Richardson? None of them are quite there as second-in-command level players for a championship team.

Remember, this is an era when even Michael Reed, who averaged 23+4, is seen as the ’culprit for LeBron’s inability to make the playoffs,’ and in a few years, even players of Dwyane Wade’s caliber won’t be fit to be LBJ’s second.

Gary Payton doesn’t know if the Golden State Warriors can get through this difficult phase, or if Roger can change the status quo, but he truly sees something different in the Warriors.

After another day of training, Gary Payton walked out of the locker room to see Boris Diaw practicing his long-range shooting — already his seventh consecutive day of extra practice.

The most ridiculous thing about this is that Boris Diaw is a laid-back Frenchman.

Not too long ago, when Boris Diaw entered the training gym, people thought Charles Barkley was dropping by the camp for an interview for TNT — he was that out of shape.

Even at Old Cat Mobley’s farewell party, Boris Diaw wasn’t as big, so who knows how he turned into a round ball?

Boris Diaw shared lively tales of his holiday with everyone — traveling, adventures, writing, photography, parties. Of course, there were also wine, gourmet food, and coffee.

But basketball was notably absent.

He honestly told Erik Spoelstra, who was shocked by his weight gain: "Coach, I didn’t touch a basketball all offseason."

Such a person, one who considers basketball just a small part of life, was now throwing himself into long-range shooting practice every day after Amar’e Stoudemire was declared out for the season.

His enthusiasm for practicing three-point shots is now equal to his passion for coffee and wine.

In the first two days, Gary Payton didn’t think much of it; it’s normal for a player to suddenly decide to practice more for a couple of days. Even Shawn Kemp, who never liked training, would occasionally choose to stay on the court than in a woman’s bed.

But a whole week of extra practice? That proves Boris Diaw isn’t doing this on a whim.

If even Boris Diaw is doing this, what more of the other Warriors?

Marcus Camby practices his free throws every day; Jason Richardson strives to improve his mid-range shots and ball-handling offense; Tayshaun Prince diligently sculpts his body for stronger on-court encounters.

When the Seattle SuperSonics lost their second-in-command back then, everyone outwardly acted like nothing happened, encouraging one another with slogans about returning to the finals and winning the championship.