Three and Seventeen

For the first time since taking the job, he wondered whether everyone was right. Maybe data looked clean because it did not have to miss shots with twenty thousand people laughing. Maybe courage was just inexperience before consequences arrived. Maybe the league had not missed Marcus, Luka, Tyrese, and Jamal. Maybe Daniel had invented value where only desperation existed. At 1:17 a.m., his phone rang. It was Marcus Reed. "Sorry," Marcus said. "I know it's late." "Are you okay?" "No. But I'm in the gym. Luka's here. Tyrese too. Jamal's doing pool work. Coach said you had clips of every turnover where I missed the weakside slot. Can you send them?" Daniel sat up. "You want turnover clips at one in the morning?" "I want to stop losing."