Sports Medicine Master System-Chapter 59: A Major Problem

"Huh? Are they starting a scrimmage?"

On the sidelines, when the crowd of reporters saw Hill walk onto the court, they all looked confused.

"Isn’t this too soon? He just returned to the team today."

"Normally, shouldn’t he take some time to adjust before even considering contact drills?"

"Are the Magic being too impatient? Their recent record has been decent."

"How is the Magic’s record decent? Given their current situation, they most likely won’t make the playoffs. But you’re right, jumping into a scrimmage this quickly could be a problem."

The reporters all murmured amongst themselves.

On the court, Armstrong held the ball and asked, "Grant, are you sure you’re okay?"

Tracy McGrady and the others also looked at Hill. This comeback timeline was just too fast.

Hill shook his head with a smile. "Don’t worry, I feel great right now."

As he spoke, he signaled Troy Hudson to inbound the ball, and he immediately started running, trying to shake Tracy McGrady.

Knowing this was to test Hill’s condition, Hudson immediately lobbed the ball over.

Hill caught the ball, turned to face Tracy McGrady, got into a triple-threat stance, and pulled up for a shot.

He even added a bit of a fadeaway to the shot. Tracy McGrady’s height and wingspan were not to be underestimated. The basketball traced a graceful arc through the air and swished precisely through the hoop.

On the sideline, Pleasance nodded silently. ’It seems Chen Yu was right. Hill really is fine.’

And it wasn’t just his offense, but his defense too.

Hill’s scoring ability wasn’t explosive, but his strength lay in his all-around game. He could organize the offense, grab rebounds, and play defense—he could do it all.

Aside from failing to keep up with Tracy McGrady’s pace at first, the moment McGrady caught the ball, Hill immediately dialed up the intensity.

Hill always played smart. He knew Tracy McGrady was skilled at driving to the basket, but his shooting and back-to-the-basket game weren’t as polished. So, he spread his arms wide to expand his defensive coverage, constantly pressuring the ball to squeeze McGrady’s space and prevent him from turning to face the basket.

Tracy McGrady was feeling the pressure. He forced a spin, using his upper body to push off Hill, and tried to muscle his way to the hoop with the ball.

THUD.

The moment he charged forward, Tracy McGrady regretted it. ’Hill just came back today! I can’t just go at him with high intensity right off the bat.’

He quickly pulled back, easing up on his drive.

But to Tracy McGrady’s surprise, Hill showed no discomfort from the contact. He just quickly shuffled his feet back and continued to lock him down defensively.

"Tracy’s offensive arsenal is still a bit limited," Johnny Davis murmured to Pleasance, who was standing beside him.

Right now, Tracy McGrady was really just playing on pure talent.

Unlike Hill, whose six-year professional career had already polished his skills to perfection.

More than who could guard whom, Pleasance was concerned with Hill’s condition. And he was very satisfied with the performance before him.

A player returning from injury should, by all rights, be most afraid of physical contact. Yet Hill showed no hesitation at all, defending just as he always had—and defending well, at that.

It showed that his body had truly, fully recovered and that his performance hadn’t declined despite the long layoff.

Pleasance couldn’t help but glance at Chen Yu, who was a few steps away, and marveled to himself. ’He’s incredible. Compared to Billings, he’s in a completely different league.’

As for Weisbrod, his mood was as bright and sunny as the day itself. He beamed at Chen Yu and said, "His recovery is just fantastic. I feel like he could play in a real game without any problem."

’Is that so?’

Chen Yu didn’t say a word. He just folded his arms and quietly watched Hill play.

From offense to defense, Hill wasn’t just focused on his own performance; he was also looking for opportunities to pass.

Under his leadership, Tracy McGrady’s side was actually losing.

A few minutes later, Pleasance called a stop to the scrimmage.

Monty and the others immediately started applauding.

Soon, everyone was clapping. Hill’s condition had exceeded all their expectations.

Only Chen Yu remained silent and motionless, his brow furrowed.

’There’s a big problem!’

On the surface, Hill seemed perfectly fine. He could run, jump, shoot, and defend.

Of course he could. His ankle was fully healed. Playing in a regular game wouldn’t be an issue, let alone a scrimmage like this.

But Chen Yu saw the biggest problem of all.

Hill had taken six shots in total, and all of them were jump shots.

That might not sound like a problem, but in Chen Yu’s eyes, it was a huge one.

Chen Yu hadn’t watched Hill play much, but he knew his outside shot wasn’t considered elite—far from the level of players like Jordan or Miller.

His strength was his ability to handle the ball, using his speed and physical advantages to attack the rim. Like Tracy McGrady, he made his living by driving to the basket.

Otherwise, how could he have earned the reputation for having the quickest first step in the league?

But in those six shots just now, Hill hadn’t used his sharpest weapon.

On one play in particular, Chen Yu saw it clearly: Hill had already created space with a move and could have driven straight to the basket for a layup. But instead, he chose to pull back, dribble, and take a jump shot.

Subconsciously, he was afraid to drive, because driving was how he’d gotten injured.

Chen Yu’s brow tightened. ’I thought you could adjust on your own, going out for those midnight runs. But it looks like nothing’s changed.’

’For the past two months, I’ve given you non-stop acupuncture and massages, adjusted your rehab plan day and night based on your body’s condition, and even used nearly twenty treatments on that ankle of yours.’

’And this is the result?’

’This isn’t just a lack of trust in your own body; it’s a lack of trust in my treatment.’ 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

’What was the point of starting you on ball drills early? It was so you could return to peak physical condition the moment you came back. But look at you, so timid. You might as well go back and rest for another month.’

He let out a soft sigh.

The problem had been identified. The key was how to solve it.

Hill’s problem right now was fear—the fear of getting injured again.

The crucial question was *why* he was afraid.

Chen Yu tried to analyze Hill’s situation using his limited knowledge of psychology.

Gradually, an idea began to form in Chen Yu’s mind.

Grant Hill was, as a person, too perfect.

He came from a wealthy family, was handsome, and succeeded at everything he did. Not only was his career a success, but he had also married a beautiful wife. He’d found fame at a young age, becoming a star and the top All-Star vote-getter in his very first year in the league.

After all, when he was drafted, even the President of the United States had called to congratulate him.

Of course, he was able to achieve all this because he was immensely talented. But Chen Yu felt that this was precisely the reason for Hill’s current problem.

Before, a supremely confident Hill could calmly solve any problem he faced.

But this injury was the first thing he couldn’t solve.

’An injury is an accident!’

You never know when an accident will happen.

Especially a series of recurring injuries.

This was the first time Hill had encountered something he couldn’t control, and so he developed a sense of fear.

From a psychological perspective, some people flee from problems, while others choose to face them head-on. In Chen Yu’s opinion, Hill was more inclined to be the latter.

But he needed someone to give him a push.

’So, how to give him that push?’

As Chen Yu pondered this, he suddenly turned his head and said, "John, there’s a game tomorrow, right? Have Grant travel with the team."

’It’s just like when we started the ball drills. The more Hill is afraid of something, the more you have to make him do it.’

’Just put him in a game, back on that court he knows so well. Don’t give him time to think about whether he’s scared or not. Let his desire to win take over, and he’ll just go for it.’

"Huh?"

Weisbrod, who had been on cloud nine, froze.

’He just came back to practice today, and you want him to travel with the team and play tomorrow? Are you kidding me?’