10 November 2012

Hours had now elasped and eventually, Naruto woke up from his slumber, noticing he wasn't in his bedroom and the fact he seemed to be in an apartment. The blond looked to see the Jordan spokesperson from yesterday, knowing very well to not wake the woman up, he then heard his phone buzzing off the nightstand taking it the blond was told that practice was starting in 15 minutes! Due to this the blond simply slid to the edge of the bed as he stepped onto his feet, the floor creaked a bit as he went to take his pants and shoes. With his chest exposed the blond simply wrote a note of apology as he just walked barefoot out of the apartment.

Closing the door behind him the blond began to wear his shoes in the barren hallway, as he finished he quickly ran to an elevator that was open. Running out of the main lobby, Naruto rushed into the streets of LA. "Taxi!" the blond shouted out as he just stood on the sidewalk, but after a couple minutes of waiting Naruto could see that no one was going to show up so with no use. He had to run to practise.

Drenched with a lot of sweat and trying to get his strength back Naruto stood outside the locker room of the Lakers Training Facility as all his teammates already in their 'Lakers Basketball' training gear just passed him. "Hey, Naruto what's up with you?" Naruto was asked by Nick. Explaining his situation Nick just had a giddy look. "Oh, so last night you were busy, huh?"

"You could say that." Naruto replied as just then a new face that Naruto had never seen around the organisation walked out of the locker room in crutches. The man noticed the two and when he saw Naruto and Nick speaking the man made his introduction.

"Well isn't this interesting...while your teammates are busy going to practise, you two decided to gossip like some housewives." the man began. "Umm sorry who are you?" Naruto blurted out. "I'm new coach Mike D'Antoni and consider me not impressed." he stated as he slowly paced towards the court. "New coach? When did that happen?" Naruto turned to Nick. "A couple hours ago, there was a whole press conference and everything." Nick explained. "Anyway catch you on the court, man. Don't be late, since your not sure what kind of punishment the new coach might give out."

Changing into his training attire, Naruto headed to the court. Practise was different than he had used to but that's what happens when a new coach comes in. As practise was finished and everyone was busy getting dressed in the locker room. Naruto who was already dressed was then called by the coach to his office. "You wanted to see me coach?" Naruto asked as D'Antoni motioned for him to sit down. Sitting down Naruto watched as the man put his arms on the desk.

"I saw what you've been doing this season...consider me impressed." he began as Naruto just smiled at the compliment. "Why thank you coach, it's surely been a nice time for me in the league right now." the blond replied. "Well Naruto I called you in hear because there's a change in the rotation." he declared. "What am I loosing a couple minutes? If that's the case it really doesn't matter coach." Naruto stated.

"That's good but I didn't call you in just to change your minutes, I called you in because your losing your role as a starter with immediate effect." hearing this Naruto stayed quiet. "What?! Is this because I was late for practise?"

"It's really not about that little situation that you did there but you did remind me to fine you for being late for practise." he stated.

"What?! Oh come on Coach! It was a mistake, I apologised."

"Sorry kid but you're a long way from collage, when you make mistakes in this league you need to get punished. That's just the ways of the world. You'll get used to it. As for your role, I'm demoting you to a 8th man, Steve Nash will be taking your spot at the beginning of a game till I think otherwise."

"C-coach, come on now...8th man? I mean atleast make me 6th man." D'Antoni just huffed at the suggestion. "Sorry for you but you're a rookie that spot will remain as Nick Young's till I think otherwise, besides you're a rookie. You're lucky that you'll get decent minutes. Now if you'd excuse me I need to get to work." with nothing to say Naruto just got off the chair looking pissed as he was about to walk out the door D'Antoni spoke. "Oh and don't forget your fine." he added. "And close my door." hearing this the blond just had vein popping on his forehead due to the amount of annoyance and rage this new coach of his was giving. Doing what the coach wanted Naruto just closed the door.

'Man what the hell?! This guy just shows up and he takes my spot, my minutes and now my money?!' this day started off very bad for Naruto and he didn't like it one bit.

Seeing that he was angry for the fact he lost his role in the rotation just because he was late by mistake Naruto decided to watch his interview from the Los Angeles Times Youtube Channel.

"Well this year we're expected to win since this is not a project, we have a window that we need to try and get through. So again, I'm excited but it's going to take a little while to get everything in order. It's basketball and I've been able to coach Steve I know how much fun that is. I know how much fun I'm going to have. I've coached Kobe I know all the possibilities that we are going to have so it's pretty much endless. But the man I can't wait to work with is Pau since I can see him playing the 4 and 5 to try to open up the floor for him, so that we can find his natural position, since I know players are critisized a lot for not being tough and I just don't buy into it, since he's a very tough guy. A skilled man. I met Kobe in like Italy back when he was twelve. Before the second half would start he was already there on the court and we had to literally shooe him off the court since we needed to play a game, I never expected to see him grow up to be Kobe Bryant. Finally with the fans, if we win a championship, I'm going to throw a fit since winning takes care of a lot of stuff and we gotta win, and sure I made the joke that I had really dear Laker friends they never seemed disappointed that I got the job and they are good friends. I mean sure Phil didn't get the job but I just want to say I'm extremely fortunate that they went this direction and I'm gonna make it everything I can do to win."

Seeing as the interview ended Naruto just turned off his phone as he put it back in his pocket. 'Man this is the worst day ever...I mistt Coach Brown.' Naruto thought as he was back at Kobe's Park and the man said they should have another game from all the prying eyes of people.

Walking on the pavement Naruto could see that Kobe was already there as he was busy tying his shoelaces. "Hey, sensei!" Naruto greeted the man as he walked onto the court. "Sup, you ready for another beating?"

"Hell no this time I'm going to win and then we'll be 1-1." Naruto stated with fire in his eyes. "Alright like the confidence, wear your shirt and let's start." going to the box that was sitting on the blechers. Taking out the black shirt Naruto wore it as he went to the court. "First to 21?" Naruto asked

"First to 21." Kobe replied as Naruto was in the key as since he lost he needed to serve up. Serving Kobe up, he used this element of surprise to pounce for the rim but Naruto quickly switched himself into a defensive stance as he stood infront of Kobe. Holding up his right hand to make sure that the man didn't just dash past him, Naruto watched as Kobe tried to bounce the ball of the backboard but the ball just hit the front rim as fell down only for Naruto to rebound the ball. "You can't be always forcing a shot, there sensei." Naruto told Kobe as he walked outside the three point line.

Kobe rushing at him, Naruto used this chance to run to the left side of the court as he was 19' feet away. Shooting for the first point the ball just hit the side of the rim only for Kobe to take it down. Quickly running out of the 3 point line, Kobe quickly turned as Naruto was on him, with a quick step he zoomed past Naruto as he just did a one step that gave him enough elevation to do a cradle dunk as Naruto who tried to hit the ball out of the man's hands only missed, as Kobe hung of the rim. "Come Ringer, you can do better than that." Kobe told Naruto with a smirk as he served Naruto.

Knowing that his pride was on the line Naruto knew he needed to score so driving in to the paint, with Kobe heavily on him, Naruto cradled the ball with his left hand as he made it hit the front of the rim only to roll into the basket. Saying nothing Naruto served Kobe up. The Mamba literally didn't waste time as he began to bully Naruto towards the basket, but Naruto made sure he wasn't going to be bullied so easily so with no options Kobe went for his fadeaway, turning a 360 he jumped into the air but since Naruto expected it, when Kobe shot the ball, Naruto's fingertips blocked the ball as it went high up in the air. "Fadeaway?! I think not!" Naruto called out as he jumped for the freeball but Kobe only beated him to it as the moment they both hit the ground was left freely to hit an easy layup. Returning back outside the court to wait for Kobe who just served him quickly putting his right foot forward to make Kobe give him space Naruto quickly dashed for the paint as Kobe was on it, forcing a floater over Kobe the ball hit the backboard as it went into the basket.

Score already being 2-2. Kobe got the ball as he rushed to the right side of the court, quickly luring Naruto out of the paint, he ran for the basket as Naruto was on him with a quick pump fake Naruto was in the air as Kobe quickly did a 360 fadeaway. With luck by Naruto's side the ball hit the far rim as it was brought down by Naruto but out of surprise Kobe just swatted the ball out of his hands as he just layed it into the basket.

"Damn!" Naruto cursed as he went outside the 3 point line, getting the ball Naruto tried to break down Kobe so that he could get some space doing a quick spin he ran to the right side of the court and quickly changed the ball to his left hand as Naruto dashed past Kobe doing a quick two step Naruto sadly hit the back of the rim, though he was able to get his rebound, trying to hit the backboard he sadly missed as Kobe got the rebound.

Quickly running out of the mid-range Kobe shot a three as Naruto rushed to stop him but when he heard the ball hit the rim Naruto was ready to get the rebound but Kobe with dashing speed he just got the rebound as he did a one hand dunk.

"Are you kidding me?!" Naruto muttered as Kobe got off the rim. Serving Naruto the ball the blond quickly popped up for three.

Swish

The score now being 4-4, Naruto and Kobe began to get a few droplets of sweat beginning to form on their foreheads, Naruto quickly whipped the sweat off his face as he served Kobe. Who tried to also answer back with his own three but the ball just hit the rim as Naruto caught the rebound. Getting the ball out of the 3 point line. Naruto was guarded close, deciding to drive for the paint with Kobe on him Naruto tried to lay the ball in but to his dissapoinment he missed. Lobe getting the rebound quickly changed directions as he was able to get the space needed to score a 2 point jumper.

Kobe giving Naruto the ball, he quickly shot for three as the ball just swished into the basket once more. Now leading the score by 6-5 Naruto gave Kobe the ball who just ran to the right side of the court as with an off balance shot he scored a jumper as now the score was 6-6.

The pair went back and forth trying to beat each other but when Naruto scored his 7th point it was his last in the whole match as instead of Kobe shutting him down, Naruto would miss profusely. In the end he lost 7-22.

"Man were you looking off today." Kobe told Naruto who was drinking some gatorade. "I just have a lot on my mind that's all." Naruto replied. "You already having a midlife crisis as a kid?"

"No it's not that, the new coach he took me out of the starting five." Naruto told Kobe. "So what you're angry about it?"

"Hell yeah I am...I played well with all those minutes I don't know why he took away the role in the first place and now I'm demoted as the 8th man." Naruto stated. "I mean sure it doesn't seem fair but you should remember it could have been worse."

"Worse how?"

"I mean you could have been made a bench warmer, you could have been even not given any kind of minutes. Take it from me, I've had experience with Coach D he's a good guy, I'm sure he did that since he wants you to be part of his ideal playstyle." Kobe replied. "Man I hope so, since the last thing I need is to be demoted out of the rotation. Wait did I even tell you he fined me today."

"He did? What did you do."

"I was late for practise."

"if you were late for practise how are you surprised?"

"No because it was a mistake I overslept."

"Ah huh, well it sounds to me you're making excuses, you need to remeber Naruto you're no longer in college in this league you make your bed and you'll have to lay in it. So just pay the fine and not be late for practise again." Kobe told Naruto. "But-"

"No buts just take the consequences of your actions like the rest of us."