May 5, local time in the United States, Houston, Space City.
In the Toyota Center, in the voice of disappointment among the fans, the timer on the sidelines still showed the number of "0:00".
This is the seventh game of the first round of the NBA playoffs. The Utah Jazz challenged the Houston Rockets away. Although even with Yao Ming's 29 points, they still couldn't stop Boozer's 35 points. The Houston Rockets lost to the Utah Jazz 99:103 at home, ending their playoffs this season.
Zhang Guan, who was watching the game, looked at the disappointed Yao on the court. At this time, Yao was still encouraging his teammates, as if telling them that they would come back next year, but Zhang Guan knew that Yao would miss the prime time in his career next year, he will be plagued by uninterrupted injuries until he finally retires.
"It's a pity!" Zhang Guan shook his head. Although he already knew the result, he still felt very sorry after the game.
After the Rockets lost the ball, Yao's mood was naturally a bit frustrating, but since Zhang Guan came to Houston specifically, Yao still had to do his best for his friends, so Zhang Guan and Sharapova were feasting at the Yao restaurant the next day.
"Taste this roast duck, the authentic Beijing roast duck." Yao pointed to the roast duck on the table and then said, "There was a Quanjude in Houston before, and then it was closed. I invited the roast duck master from there."
"It's not easy to be able to eat Peking Duck in the United States!" Zhang Guan sighed and said, "Do you think the Rockets now lack a good offensive organizer."
"Offensive organizer? Alstom is not a star point guard, but he is considered qualified. The Rockets' offense should be pretty good now. McGrady averaged 24 points per game this season, 25 points for me, and the two of us added to 50 points. The inside center is strong but the outside line is weak, but the Rockets have always had this tradition." Yao smiled, then said, "Coach Van Gundy is also a coach who emphasizes defense, and now sports experts can always say that the Rockets lack a good bench inside to share my pressure."
"Yes, you and McGrady's offenses are indeed unsolvable. When both of you are on fire, other NBA teams can't stop you guys. Does anyone of them feel bad? Or is one of them injured? At that time, as long as the other person is restricted, your offense will not be smooth. You are all very good attackers, but you guys have no offensive organizer." Zhang Guan continued, "Also, I think the Rockets should introduce another all-star player or a giant star player!"
"Introduce another star? How is this possible! You don't know that the Rocket boss is the most stingy in the NBA! We are not the Lakers or the Knicks." Yao said with a smile.
"I think the "Big Three" model is a trend in the next few years. Imagine if LeBron, Wade, and Bosh are on the same team!" Zhang Guan said.
"How is this possible! All three of them should be NBA superstars, and they are all in different teams, how can there be a team of three superstars? Even if the three of them are willing, the NBA team's salary cap is also limited. Yao continued, "But I don't have to worry about that anyway. I'm not the team owner anyway, nor should I be talking about it."
"Buy a team in the future and be your boss, but don't forget, just be like Jordan!" Zhang Guan laughed.
"Don't ridicule me, the NBA team is so expensive, I can't afford it! But if I save money for the future, I can buy a CBA team." Yao remarked, then said, "Speaking of playing basketball, you suddenly switched from track and field, why didn't you play basketball?"
"Playing basketball? I didn't think about it at the time." Zhang Guan said.
"You should switch to basketball!" Yao looked at Zhang Guan while saying, "More than one meter and nine meters tall, your physical talent is stronger than black people, the key is fast enough. Your explosion and your speed once soared up, who can keep up with the ball breakthrough! If you play basketball, I will pull you into the national team. When we are playing with the Europeans, I will walk out of the three-second zone and bring out their center. You then make a breakthrough and directly break away your opponent's defense."
"It's that simple to play basketball? Haha, I'm a little student. Don't lie to me." Zhang Guan didn't pay attention to Yao's confusion.
Yao smiled awkwardly, and Zhang Guan continued, "Playing basketball is more troublesome than playing tennis. At least I can't enter the NBA. Do I have to play from the domestic low-level league? Playing tennis is not the same. A sponsor wild card took me to the Australian Open and I won a Grand Slam title. It's no problem for me to participate in any tennis matches in the future."
"It's the not same thing. Playing basketball takes too much time." Yao nodded, then said, "I saw a tennis master's game in Miami two days ago, you didn't seem to participate!"
"I didn't go. I've been doing special training during this time." Zhang Guan said vaguely, "After a few days, you will see the news of me on the website, you will know!"
"Okay, I wish you the French Open championship in advance!" Yao raised his glass while smiling.
...
A few days later, Zhang Guan left the United States and flew to Europe to prepare for the French Open.
The biggest feature of the French Open is the clay court. In tennis, the clay court is second only to hard courts, especially in continental Europe, there are many clay courts, not only in France, but many countries in Western Europe are all covered with clay fields. And like the Tennis Masters Rome Station, Hamburg Station, Tennis Tour Portugal Station, Sweden Station, Netherlands Station, Croatia Station, Gold Tournament Germany Station, Austria Station, etc. all used clay courts, it is precisely because of this, Na Dahl, a player who is good at playing clay, can score second place in the world. As long as he can win a French Open and a few clay court championships every year, he can brush the ATP world ranking to more than 4,000 points.
Zhang Guan did not go directly to Paris, France, where the French Open was held, but went to Germany first. One reason is that Sharapova's old injuries require a series of medical treatments in Germany, and the other is that the training conditions in Germany are better than in France.
In Germany, Zhang Guan hired a clay court for training.
"Clayfield!" Zhang Guan stomped on with his foot, and then could not help bending down and touching the ground. Although the ground is paved with red clay, it is very strong.
"It's quite strong!" Zhang Guan said involuntarily.
"Nonsense, this is red clay, you think it's sand!" Coach Zhang smiled, and then said, "My red clay field was not so strong at that time, but new technology is used now, the red clay field is also harder than before. It's much stronger. Don't underestimate this clay field, it's more troublesome to lay than hard ground. At the bottom of this clay field is the drainage system, and then a layer of large gravel and then a layer of small gravel, rolling, the diameter of the surface gravel after rolling should not be greater than 5 mm, then lay clay and sand, and finally, they lay red clay. This red clay is not natural red clay, it is red clay treated with an anti-slip agent, and the diameter should not be larger than 0.3 mm. Such a thin red clay, even if an athlete falls, he will not be injured by the ground."
"It sounds more troublesome than laying a plastic field, and then adding an anti-slip agent, so you don't have to worry about being slipped." Zhang Guan tested the ground with his foot.
"Although some anti-slip agents are added, it doesn't necessarily mean that you can't move. I always think that if you use sliding on the clay court, the effect is still very good." Coach Zhang continued, "Come to the venue and I will teach you some special sliding techniques on clay courts."
"Special sliding skills?" Zhang Guan's eyes lit up. He suddenly remembered that Coach Zhang won the French Open championship at the age of 17. The red clay court is also the best venue for Coach Zhang. He must have many unique skills on the clay court.