NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 668: Collapse of reputation and champion mentality. (Daily chapter)
On Thursday, July 2009, 7, after the free market officially opened, Ariza, who had backstabbed Kobe, quickly signed a four-year contract with the Rockets!
Houston held a press conference for the new players, showing that Ariza is the core of the future. Sports media on the other side of the ocean also began to "target the championship."

From a role player to a core player, Ariza's career is inspirational, and the finals made him famous.

It’s not about how good his statistics and performance on the court are, but in terms of defending Li You, Ariza stood out with the help of Kobe and was recognized by many basketball critics.

What made Ariza even more valuable was the "Li You Recognition Award". After the finals, with the help of the sports media, Li You also praised this "defensive stalwart":
"Ariza has the potential to become a core player. In the Lakers, he has contributed on both offense and defense."

"."

Li You said it casually at the time, but some sports media took it seriously. With the help of his agency team, Ariza's popularity skyrocketed during the few days of the freeze period. After backstabbing Kobe, he became even more popular!
In order to welcome the core players, the local Houston team not only put up huge posters, but also even arranged No. 1 jerseys for the team. Ariza has transformed himself into McGrady's "successor".

The Toyota Center media room became lively in the morning. Local sports reporters such as the Houston Chronicle naturally did not miss it. Other mainstream media were also present. Everyone came to listen and have fun.

Accompanied by Rockets General Manager Mo Gou, Ariza, dressed in a gray suit, smiled brightly. Looking at the large number of reporters gathered in the audience, he felt his blood boiling for a moment.

When he was wandering in the lower leagues, Ariza didn't have such a presence, and the effect of backstabbing the boss was excellent!
When the Reuters reporter saw Ariza sitting down, he immediately asked a question that everyone was interested in:

"Ariza, after experiencing this year's finals, you have undergone a transformation. Is this related to the matchup with Lee? How do you feel during this process?"

Ariza looked like he was reminiscing about the past. He seemed a little excited when he talked about his "Lee Yoo Recognition Award" and spoke quickly:

"You know, it's an honor for me to play against the GOAT. Lee's recognition is very important to me!"

"I showed all my defensive skills, but I still couldn't stop Lee. In the process, I learned a lot. The Lakers' video lessons are all about Lee. His excellence is beyond words."

"."

The local reporters in Houston almost rolled their eyes after hearing the flattery. The core character is too low-class and looks more like a "dog licker".

The Yahoo Sports reporters listened with great interest. They didn't care about a second-rate team like the Rockets. Yao Ming's popularity had dropped a lot. Gossip news was the fans' favorite:
"We got the news that Kobe didn't attend your farewell party and he called you a 'idiot'! You know Kobe, from your perspective, what is the difference between him and Lee?"

There are no secrets in Los Angeles, just like in New York. This gossip came out from Khloe Kardashian. The big-butt girl attended the farewell party with her sisters in a high-profile manner.

In addition to revealing that she fell in love with Odom at first sight, Kardashian also said that she was shocked by the conversation between Kobe and her boyfriend.
"I don't care what Kobe said. He's a respectable player and I just said what I really felt."

Ariza shrugged his shoulders and did not refute this matter. Seeing that everyone looked at him, he talked about his "little essay" again:
"Matt brought the Knicks' championship experience to the locker room, which was a great help to me. It was also from that time that I realized the other meaning of 'loyalty'."

"Kobe is trying very hard to chase Lee, but all the players in the league know that the gap between them is getting bigger and bigger!"

"That is an all-round gap. There is a huge gap in the control of the game, personal skills, physical fitness, mentality and experience."

"Lee pioneered modern basketball, while Kobe is still immersed in the past. After joining the Rockets, I will fully learn Lee's control of the game. I am confident that I can lead the team to break through the first round."

"."

Every player who plays against Li You will praise him. Ariza is not the first, but he is the first to belittle Mamba so bluntly.

Most players in the league would make sarcastic remarks about Kobe, among which O'Neal is a representative. This time Ariza's "backstab" completely destroyed Kobe's reputation.

Ariza, who was crazy about traffic, was addicted to the false attention. The local sports reporters in Houston did not ask too many questions until the general manager Mo Gou gave away the jerseys, which allowed several reporters to ask questions enthusiastically.

"In the new season, Trevor Ariza will wear the No. 1 jersey!"

"No. 1? Has McGrady applied to change his number?"

"Does this mean McGrady will be traded soon?"

There was no relevant information before, and the local sports reporters started gossiping after hearing what Mo Gou said. The two people on the stage still had smiles on their faces. After receiving a signal from the general manager, Ariza responded with a smile:

"I talked to Tracy about this. You know, he has been troubled by injuries. Changing the number means a new beginning!"

"And I will inherit the No. 1 jersey and wear the same number as Lee. It's an honor for me."

Most sports media didn't care about this, and no one cared whether McGrady really gave up his number;

Only local reporters in Houston felt unhappy. Ariza looked like a bootlicker no matter how they looked at him. Judging from the press conference, he did not have the airs of a big star at all.

On Friday, July 7, people who follow sports gossip saw Ariza's comments on his former boss in major mainstream media. Lakers fans were angry, and the entertainment community was celebrating!
Compared with the past, Kobe has indeed matured. He did not make any excuses or respond. During his recovery period, he still insisted on training at 4 a.m., which moved many of his loyal fans.

Duncan is also a low-key leader. He did not respond when Ariza stabbed him in the back. The Lakers' reaction actually "confirmed" Ariza's point of view.

Every season, there are problems in the Lakers locker room. Kobe has proven that he has no leadership. A group of basketball commentators have begun to understand Buss's choice. Mamba is really not good enough.

The ESPN program had just finished gossiping about the hot news of the past two days in the morning, and soon, the trade between the Celtics and the Knicks attracted attention again.

New York reporters broke the news of the deal details immediately, and the league will approve it next Monday:

"The Celtics sent a 2011 first-round pick and two second-round picks to get a championship guard."

The transaction also involved some cash. The second round was in 2010 and 2011. Considering the performance, it was difficult to buy it on Taobao and it was ignored.

As for why he was not selected in the first round in 2010, New York's basketball critics believed that they were not optimistic about Kevin Garnett's physical condition and he might not be able to achieve the expected results next season.

New York and Boston are very close. After the trade information was announced, Rajon Rondo, who had already found a new home next door, immediately expressed his gratitude through his personal social media:

"Thank you Lee for your support and guidance! In the future I will lead this team and compete with him. It will be a wonderful process and I will never forget the experience in New York."

"." The crazy Marbury was abandoned by Danny Ainge. The son of New York was in a very bad physical condition and his knee injury made him lose his explosiveness. So far, the Celtics have not shown any intention to renew his contract.

Although some fans are a little confused about giving the championship defender to the opponent, the fans are already looking forward to the new season!
Bulls fans are madly complaining about this deal on Reddit. They were cheated out of their draft pick by champion guard Sprewell. The Celtics didn't learn from the lesson and even took the initiative to trade.
Every player who left the Knicks was happy, and Rondo was the same. He was not a free agent, so there was nothing wrong with being traded to Toronto and Memphis.

But Li You respects everyone's choice, and as long as the chips are acceptable, the Knicks will meet personal needs.

In the afternoon, witnessed by a group of media, Rondo, Pierce and Ray Allen appeared in the training hall. As usual, the new players had to experience the championship culture of the Green Army. The Celtics are a wealthy team!
The trophies in ancient times are somewhat different from modern ones. Accompanied by team staff, Rondo listened to that magnificent championship history with a smile on his face.

During the interview, Danny Ainge and the three were all wearing green T-shirts. When talking about the deal, the general manager smiled and gave his reasons:

"I always think that the current Celtics lack ball-dominant players. Ray is an excellent scorer, and so is Pau. He has a big heart!"

"Kevin is the MVP, and everyone knows his ability, but we have not been able to live up to his talent. Rajon's arrival will solve this problem."

"."

It sounds good, but in fact Rondo's contract next year is cheap. With the uncertainty of Garnett's knee injury, the Celtics chose to save money, and the championship guard can also give an explanation to the fans.

Paul Pierce is not as averse to championship experience as Garnett. His partner is still in Los Angeles and he doesn't want to stand up for Rondo. At this time, he has to take on the responsibility of the locker room leader:
"It sounds strange, but Rajon is also a tough guy. We compete with each other and I know his strength."

"He has the ability to be a starter. You know, no one can compete with Lee on the Knicks. I believe Rajon will fully demonstrate his talent in the new season."

Ray Allen on the side also smiled, and wanted to take this opportunity to encourage him and show his attitude as a big brother, but Rondo showed a serious expression and took over the conversation immediately:

"Yes! There is no doubt that I can be the starting point guard for 29 teams in the league!"

"Coming to the Celtics, I will lead this team on the right path. It may take some time, but I will share my championship experience without reservation."

"In my opinion, the Celtics have been able to perform better in the past two years. I know this team and my arrival will activate everyone."

"."

Looking at the championship guard who was talking eloquently, although Pierce and Ray Allen still had smiles on their faces, they had a bad feeling in their hearts. Rondo really regarded himself as a leader.

Head coach Rivers followed the medical team to Los Angeles to take care of Garnett and is not here at this time.

The New York Times reporter naturally noticed this, and without even looking at the Celtics staff's expressions, he took the initiative to add fuel to the fire and asked:

"Rajon, I noticed that Kevin Garnett did not welcome it on social media, and coach Rivers did not seem to give his opinion on the deal. Will this affect your future performance?"

Rondo knew that Garnett did not welcome him, but the more the MVP resisted, the more he wanted to lead the other side and prove himself. When answering the question, he said bluntly:

"I like the competitive environment. When I was with the Knicks, I had to maintain a competitive mentality every moment. When I came to Boston, I will also bring this championship mentality here."

"I respect the coaching staff, but the core players sometimes also need to have their own ideas. Coach Lee and Coach D'Antoni complement each other, and I have learned a lot."

"Coach Rivers will agree with me that I know how to win a championship"

Pierce was silent, with a puzzled look on his dark face. Ray Allen felt that the atmosphere was becoming a little tense, so he quickly laughed and joked:
“We all like men’s competition, and as veterans, we know how to build a locker room culture.”

"Maybe you like to focus on conflicting issues, but it's easy to deal with them. A boxing match can solve everything. Let's move on, guys!"

"."

The staff and many reporters at the scene laughed at Ray Allen's joke. Only Pierce noticed the thoughtful look on Rondo's face. For a moment, he was powerless to complain:

"Is this kid serious?"

On Saturday, July 7, the free market quieted down and the league's staff also needed to enjoy the weekend life.

The hype about the championship guard coming to Boston is still rising, Garnett has not responded, and sports reporters in Los Angeles all want to find the MVP to talk about the new players.

Although Rondo did not directly say that the "Big Four" lacked a championship mentality, everyone could hear that the championship guards looked down on Garnett, the outdated MVP.

The "grouping" still affected the team's reputation, Garnett's reputation also had a tendency to collapse, and the performance of the "Big Four" was really unsatisfactory.

The summer league officially started yesterday, but Li You did not go to the scene. In addition to organizing a card game to help Michael Jordan acquire the Bobcats, he still has to continue working this weekend.

Musk, who was still at the Mandalay Bay Resort, saw Li You coming out of the gym and hurried to meet him again. Ever since the loan was stopped, he has been a little worried.

After almost going bankrupt due to a broken capital chain, he became a little sensitive about money. Seeing Li You sweating profusely, Musk, who was dressed in black casual clothes, almost slapped his thigh in anxiety.

"Lee, how long do we have to wait?"

In order to make himself look more mature, Li You had not shaved recently. He wiped his face casually with a towel, looked at the celebrity entrepreneur with dark circles under his eyes, and comforted him again:
"You should do as I did, play more and relax!"

“I invited Brian Bilbray, the Democratic member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Adam Schiff, the Democratic member of the House, who are both interested in the ATVM loan program.”

Seeing that Musk wanted to say something, Li You shook his head and briefly introduced his plan again:
"Tony Podesta, brother of the former White House chief of staff, top lobbyist in Washington, those car companies' lobbying will not affect us."

"Just enjoy your life man, everything will be alright!"

(End of this chapter)