preface:
Last offseason, 37-year-old PJ Tucker signed a two-year, $14.35 million contract with the Miami Heat, and after signing this contract, the Miami Heat's management was also criticized by some fans, because looking at the entire NBA, there are very few players who can sign such a high salary at the age of 37, except for James, almost no one has a contract of more than $5 million, but Tucker got a ten-million contract at the end of his career. It's not that the Miami Heat are stupid for money, but even 37-year-old PJ Tucker, his mailbox is still full.
The perfect championship puzzle
Although Tucker has only had one championship trophy so far in his career, it is not that he is incompetent, but because Tucker was not in time, in fact, most of his career has been spent in championship teams, he has played for the Toronto Raptors, he has played for the Houston Rockets, he has played for the Milwaukee Bucks, he has played for the Miami Heat, these teams are either the first team in the regular season division or the division finals, but it is because of Tucker's bad luck that his career ends here. There is only one championship trophy.
Tucker has definitely excelled in being a forward player, tucker has a very distinct characteristic, he started with defense, in addition to defense, he also has a certain level of three-point projection ability, which is the basis of his playing in the league. And Tucker's defense has always been known for being tough and clean, he is least afraid of physical confrontation, and this kind of player is often a player who does dirty work on the court, is a player who can make his fans feel happy, make the opponent's fans feel disgusted, last season's Nets and Bucks series, Tucker made Durant play very uncomfortable, the whole series he bears the burden of staring at Durant, if it is not Tucker doing a good job, the Bucks can not win the championship.
And this year Tucker is 37 years old, to the first game of the playoffs after the Heat, he faced the player is the young and crazy Trae Young, the two are almost an era apart, but in the Heat still use Tucker to take the initiative to stare at him, under Tucker's defense, Trae Young is also in no state, only one goal hit in the whole game only got eight points. Judging from this game, the Heat's signing of Tucker is really too much to be worth, and the impact he gives on the defensive end of the team is difficult to measure in money, at least the first game limits Trae Young to death. You know, Trae Young faced younger defenders, cut 30+ many times to lead the Eagles into the playoffs, but facing the 37-year-old Tucker he was dumbfounded, which is not luck, but the embodiment of Tucker's strength.
Attitude is everything
Of course, for PJ Tucker, he brought to the team not only defense, he brought a team more different things, that is, attitude, even though he is already a 37-year-old veteran. However, his passion on the court is even more enthusiastic than those of the young players, we can clearly feel it, he is on the floor and he is not on the court, the team he plays for is completely different, take last season's Bucks, Tucker on the court and Durant can be said to be a famous scene, even if Durant scores on his head continuously, he can not lose the confidence of defense, as he said, "Durant scored in front of his defense, he only felt strong, The next ball is to be put down with force and "won't think of anything else."
Tucker is a pure player in the true sense, he dedicates everything to the court, which the whole league may not be able to find another person to compare with him, and in a team like the Heat, Tucker is also perfectly adapted to the heat's tough culture, which is why they signed Tucker in the offseason with a lot of money, can fit with this team, then bring more help to this team, in addition to Tucker's appeal can not only drive the players, but also make the fans satisfied, Who can not love such passionate players?
As the saying goes, talent may be your stepping stone in the NBA, but attitude determines the height of your career. Attitude determines everything, even in the NBA is an immutable truth, and Tucker's attitude is the most distinct, the toughest, he regards the game as his life, he regards the victory and defeat of the game as more important than anything, of course, no one is a winning general, there is a win or lose, in Tucker's career, the number of games lost is far more than the number of wins, but he has never given up the motivation to pursue victory, which is why he has been playing for championship teams for many years, because a team wants to remain competitive There must be a player like Tucker.
This year's playoff first game, Tucker is also standing in the center of the stage as usual, since the beginning of the 2016-2017 season, he has never missed the playoffs, and the lowest also played the second round, I believe that the Miami Heat with Tucker will never stop chasing the championship early, this team is like Tucker himself, always maintain the desire for game victory, and such a team is exactly the team that can touch the championship.
epilogue:
Tucker this kind of player is undoubtedly a role model for many young players in the league today, some players may feel that they are young, it is likely that there will be slackness on the court, then I hope these players can look at the 37-year-old Tucker who is still standing in the center of the playoff stage, as a veteran who can still lead the way to lead the other side's arrow, such courage is worth learning for everyone, and Tucker on the Heat is also highly respected, this respect is not waiting, but playing by himself. The speed at which time passes is very fast, and in just a moment young people become old, so don't waste time!