As a Senior, How Could I Slack Off?

"Beeeep!" The final whistle blew, and the game was over.

91–75. The Boston Celtics had comfortably beaten the Chicago Bulls by 16 points, giving Doc Rivers two straight wins since taking over as head coach.

Paul Pierce had played comfortably throughout the game, especially after Goodwin came on and drew a lot of the Chicago Bulls' attention. He made 11 of 18 shots, including 2 of 5 three-pointers, and sank all 9 of his free throws, scoring a game-high 33 points along with 3 rebounds and 2 assists to lead his team to victory.

Goodwin played 25 minutes in this game, shooting 5 for 8 from the field and 3 for 6 from beyond the arc. He scored 13 points and grabbed 2 rebounds.

Doc Rivers was very pleased with Goodwin's performance.

Goodwin's contributions to the team after coming on weren't just something you could see in the stats.

During the postgame interview, a reporter asked Paul Pierce, "Paul, as the team's leader, you set screens for Goodwin several times in this game. What do you have to say about that?"

I knew the reporters would ask about this. Good thing I'd prepared an answer.

Paul Pierce replied calmly, "As long as it helps us win, I'll do whatever needs doing."

The moment he finished speaking, the reporters in the room burst into cheers. Most of them were from the Boston Celtics' local press.

"Beautifully said, Paul."

"Paul, you're a great leader."

"Keep it up, Pierce!"

Paul Pierce: o(*￣︶￣*)o

After the game, Goodwin spent a little time catching up with his senior, Hinrich, then hurried home to pack before heading to the arena to meet up with the team.

Their next game was on the road, against the hard-nosed Detroit Pistons.

So far this season, the Detroit Pistons had allowed an astonishingly low 84.3 points per game.

Against such a hard-nosed team, winning and making it three in a row would be no easy feat.

Even so, Doc Rivers wanted to give it a shot. He decided they'd fly to Detroit that very night after the game, giving the team a full day and a half to get ready.

A little after midnight, a chartered plane from Boston to Detroit slowly took off. After a flight of just over two hours, it reached its destination and began its descent.

Goodwin yawned repeatedly as he got off the plane. He was exhausted, especially after playing a game. Although he wasn't a starter, he'd covered plenty of ground—he might even have run more than anyone else on the team.

"You're tired already, Goodwin?" Vin Baker said, putting an arm around him from behind.

Goodwin nodded. "Yeah. When we get to the hotel, I'm going straight to bed."

"You never come to the clubs when I ask you. Go a few times and you'll get used to it." As Vin Baker saw it, if he could just get Goodwin into a club, all the beautiful women there would flock to him.

"Cut it out, Vin Baker. I'm only nineteen. If I go with you, I can't even drink. Am I supposed to have juice?" Goodwin replied helplessly. It wasn't that he didn't want to go; he couldn't. The law here—the National Minimum Drinking Age Act—required every state to set the minimum age for purchasing alcohol and possessing it in public at twenty-one.

Even the former president's children weren't exempt. The former president's daughters, Jenna and Barbara, had been charged after using someone else's ID to buy alcohol and drinking in public, in protest of the legal drinking age. Jenna had been ordered to attend a legal education program and perform eight hours of community service for using another person's ID to buy alcohol.

Goodwin was a public figure, after all. He didn't want to be stuck doing eight hours of community service, and it wasn't as if he needed to drink.

"It's fine..." Vin Baker was interrupted before he could finish. Paul Pierce pulled him away and said, "Baker, don't lead my junior astray."

"Paul, I'm not leading him astray. If he's there, all the girls at the club will come rushing over," Vin Baker quickly explained.

Girls at the club!

Paul Pierce couldn't help picturing a scene of ample curves.

Vin Baker seemed to have a point.

Just as Paul Pierce was about to share the idea with Goodwin, he realized Goodwin had disappeared.

Goodwin was already a good distance away from them.

Paul Pierce: "..."

Vin Baker: "..."

Goodwin, did you really think you could get away?

The two older players immediately caught up and cornered Goodwin between them. With "kind" smiles, they said, "Goodwin, your seniors want to talk something over with you."

"I don't have time," Goodwin quickly refused. What was there to discuss? He wasn't going, no way.

"I'm not going anywhere like that until I've won a championship," Goodwin added. He had to give them something, or he'd probably never get to sleep tonight.

A championship?

Paul Pierce and Vin Baker froze, both imagining the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.

Honestly, anyone who made it to the NBA dreamed of winning the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.

The two of them let go of Goodwin at the same time. Paul Pierce patted him on the shoulder and said, "Let's work for it together."

"Me too!" Vin Baker quickly added.

This was Vin Baker's eleventh year as a professional. He didn't know how much longer he could play, and he hoped he could win a Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy at some point in his career.

Goodwin nodded.

Damn, with a life like mine, wouldn't it be a waste not to reach the top?

After that, the Boston Celtics players boarded the team bus back to the hotel. Goodwin took his luggage and key card and went to his room.

As soon as he walked in, he tossed his luggage aside and went straight to bed.

After sleeping for who knew how long, Goodwin blearily opened his eyes. Once he'd come around a little, he immediately checked the time.

7:45!

Time to get up and train!

As long as life went on, training wouldn't stop.

The morning was the best time of day. If he didn't get his training in early, he might have to make up for it later.

He washed up, brushed his teeth, got dressed, and headed to the hotel gym.

Goodwin's usual morning workout was running.

Running was part of his daily training routine: ten kilometers every day.

About half an hour later, he heard a voice.

"I knew it. You're already training at this hour, Goodwin."

Goodwin turned his head. It was Paul Pierce.

"Morning, Senior Paul. Why are you up so early today? Couldn't you sleep in?" As far as Goodwin could remember, Paul Pierce never got up this early on road trips. He usually didn't wake up until the middle of the day.

Once, after finishing his morning workout and returning to his room, Goodwin happened to see a blonde woman leaving Paul Pierce's room. He'd understood right away why Paul Pierce always got up so late.

Still, he had to admire the fitness of NBA players. Even after partying all night, it didn't seem to affect their performance on the court.

"Didn't we agree to work hard together? How could I slack off when I'm your senior?"

At those words, Goodwin broke into a bright smile.

The two of them trained together.