"Oh you have to be kidding me, we've been shit this season! MIAMI BEAT US, TWICE!"

Rom's words were heard by all his teammates who agreed with the sentiment, Cromwell watched his team. It seemed like the tactics of the past would be a bit difficult implementing here. A lot of the league's team knew about their shots from outside, how much they relied on it, time to change that, at least in the eyes of their opposition, maybe he could find someone to help with that. 

"Brother, calm down-"

"CALM DOWN!? I need this win otherwise I ain't playing again!"

The fear that ran through all of their bodies alone at the prospect of their star, one of them, at the very least not playing was something that a lot of the franchise would feel. The CBC needed someone, anyone to come up and give them the life injection that they sorely needed. A boost of energy on the court, yet that's not what Rom was talking about. 

His debts to those in the underworld were getting larger, of course he had worked some of it to his benefit. He believed that he could have easily escaped those guys, he believed that he could have given them something and how about another game where he knew that he would have been winning!?

Yet with the way they were going, he was going to be lucky if they even made it to the Playoff. It seemed like whenever they tried nowadays, the team knew their play book, even the cocaine wasn't and for a moment, Rom wondered if Cromwell pissed off some of his suppliers. Maybe they had been given some bullshit grade, yet no, they were just losing due to the teams actually being good. 

"Oi! Calm down the fuck down, all of you, I'll get us someone and when I say that no one is going to be seeing this coming, they won't ever! For right now, I need you guys to continue practising and make sure you prepare for what I have in store for all of us."

Crom commanded the room as Rom looked around at his teammates, some were disgusted with him. It would seem like he was a glory hound to them, that he only came for the wins and from the ways the papers were continuing to give them trouble. Yet that was not it, otherwise, he would have left after that blowout they suffered at the hands of Miami!

No, he was trying not to be found in the back of a boot that would have been five days after this next game. He had been warned, surprisingly for the first time that he had better find a way to pay off his debt, he wished to god that Cromwell found someone. If he did, then this would have been better it could mean that the season was going to be different, that this was just the beginning of their new rise to the top. 

"Don't look so down, you still haven't listened to the music I gave you, eh?"

Rom looked over at Ron, the guy had been the one to train him in the form of his musical styling. He wondered if the steakhouse owner knew that he was going through a bit of a rough patch in terms of his career and life. The team had been there for him through it all, especially last season when he thought about running before the playoff game. They had helped him, and he had given them this hope that they would be back there again. 

"Of course not, it's shit. How do you listen to that kind of music!? The great steakhouse owner, Ron_Swanson has shit music taste…who would have thought?"

Ron raised a brow to him, giving Rom the once over, and he could see the classic signs for a moment. He sat down beside him, deciding to give him a moment to himself while making sure his friend knew he was there.

"You know, we had this same problem last season, we came out of it and you were still here. I have to say the same. We will come out of this, and we will win, you get that? Regardless of the outside game and how we play it there, all of us have come back and done what we love, that doesn't change Rommy, come on. Let's get you some more of that GOAT blend you love."

And so it happened, within moments, the game had changed for them due to one person, Cromwell had seemingly called in a favour from Detroit as the next thing he and his teammates knew, it was vGoddess. Now this is where all of his teammates looked at him, wondering if he was going to be talking to coach about this selection. Like fuck he was, he wished for something new, and they were getting it, and he was glad about the results. 

They worked differently, with a Detroit style of playing the game, of course Sync and Ryman_Branson were a bunch of work. Hey, after meeting Gimpanzee, Rom was just glad that this was going over so well and it seemed as if the new coach knew about their GOAT Blends, then she was even better in their book. 

"Alright, go inside Rom..."

He gave her a look, tilting his head, that was never part of his game, but he worked on it, and so he took a deep breath. Dribbling before driving into the paint, he could see that big ass centre that was Hagrid, the guy was a freaking giant and before he was sent careening to the floor, Rom passed it off to Ron...

And it went in, gladly enough, he knew that had been her target possibly. She wished to make sure he wasn't being greedy with the ball, at least that is what he thought saw. To be honest, Rom never knew how coaches worked and was more focused on trying to escape this hellhole of debt that he was in. He wanted to play ball and that wasn't going to be happening if he didn't pay off these pricks....

"And that is what we want to see, keep this up and I can tell you that the playoff game is in sight. From this little moment, you can become a truly great team, never forget what I am going to be teaching you here. Because they won't, there are more ways to play your game but this is the one that will work this season...don't forget that!"

And they were here, it was happening again, the games had piled up, and they came out of that slump. His debt had been going down due to such a payout on the part of playing the games and winning, he had been noticeably excited for another ring, this was it, the moment that might change their lives forever. One game to change it all, rule it all, and become legends in their own right. With a roll of his neck, he noticed his teammates were doing the same thing from last time...

Ron was leaning against his locker, Sync looked like he could be elsewhere and continued reading some papers. They had been surprisingly positive with what was coming soon now, their lives were moving up and maybe this was just the beginning, the papers predicted that they would be here again next year, he doubted that. 

"Alright, boys, gather. We've been here before and this time we're against those Delaware boy fucks, who the fuck does these guys think they are!? We are the ones that may have had a little slippery start, we became better, and we've reached this level once again. Miami, defeated. Delaware is next, we are not going for a simple few points win, we are looking to decimate them! I will not have people saying that we are winning by luck again. We've earned this! WHAT TEAM!?"

"CBC! GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME!"

And the roar that came from the locker room would be heard by all and it would be known at that moment, they were all ready, nothing was stopping them and with that smile on their lips, they were ready. If anything, Cromwell had given them that final rallying cry, they had needed it. They were not settling for a lucky shot, they were going for a great win, one that would be talked about for many years to come.

They were winning by fifteen points, there was a minute left in the game. This game at one point against Delaware had defined back and forth, if Ron or Rom shot a three, they would then do the same. It was as if fate wished to fuck with them. It became a game of threes for a time, Rom had been benched as he watched the game, Crom had decided that he had done enough. He had disagreed and knew he could do something more than that, with a small smile, he watched the game end...

Bowing his head, all he did was watch as it came to a close. He had done his best, and they had all played their role in the game, sure he didn't have as many points as he did last year but thanks to the Detroit coach, vGoddess, he found himself enjoying that he could be a team player, something that he knew was a big part of the game now.

"We did it, kid, just remember. It's not only you in the team, we have others and make sure you give them that time they need. There are other sharks who want a piece of the pie you've been carving out for yourself and only you. Is that fair?"

Rom shook his head, he knew it wasn't fair and a lot of things in life were never fair. How could he think that the team only relied on himself? He had seen the way they played without him, they were the same, and they had a flow that the team naturally had, it was beautiful all the same.

"No, I'll be sure to listen now Coach, yet, don't come at my neck because I want this team to win. Remember what you said, get your head in the game, my head is there. I'll be sure to give this team my goddamn best, all of it, regardless of outside interference."

At this, he gave his coach a pointed look before winking. Leaving his team to celebrate as he walked to the back, he didn't even realize that he had not celebrated. Rom didn't even think that he had won a second ring, all that mattered was that he was alive and enjoying it.....