NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 746 "The Big Five are also strong." (Daily Chapter)

On Wednesday, July 2010, 7, just a few days after the U.S. men's basketball team officially opened its camp, unfortunate David Lee injured his wrist during training.

Failed to make the 12-man roster, David Lee was injured and retired. Raptors fans sent their blessings on social media, and some even took the opportunity to scold Jermaine O'Neal:
"We've been cursed since Shaq joined the team, glad to see him go!"

Many Toronto fans felt the same way. When everyone was condemning the "sore center" and "soft-hearted Dragon King", Boston sports reporters and ESPN broke the news almost simultaneously:

"The Celtics officially signed free agent Jermaine O'Neal, and the Big Five descended on Boston!"

"."

Seeing the relevant news on Twitter, Raptors fans became more and more angry. Jermaine O'Neal did not play in Toronto to recuperate, just to form a team in the offseason?

What fans find most unacceptable is that the Celtics used the mid-level exception to sign this out-of-date All-Star center!
From 2300 million to 576 million, Jermaine O'Neal's move made many fans call him a "softie", and the Raptors have completely become a "big victim"
Boston fans were smiling happily. In everyone's eyes, O'Neal Jr. was a real tough guy who sacrificed his salary for the team. This choice won everyone's respect!

The New York sports media did not make fun of the neighbors for banding together again, but instead took this opportunity to criticize Doc Rivers:
"Coach Rivers has decided to renew his contract, and now he has no reason to refuse to continue coaching the Celtics."

The reason why everyone teases Rivers is mainly because of the standards that this outdated best coach set for himself a while ago:
"If Ray and Paul choose to leave the team, I will not continue to coach the team. It's dangerous and tiring."

These words sounded like I would leave the team if there were no outstanding players. New York sports reporters teased Rivers for being "soft", but in the end the former coach who won the trust of the players got what he wanted.

Paul Pierce chose to take a pay cut and renew his contract for 4 years and 5700 million. Ray Allen signed a 2-year, 2200 million contract after being persuaded by the entire team. The Celtics successfully maintained their "giant" lineup.

Championship guard Rajon Rondo also successfully renewed his contract for 5 million US dollars over 5500 years. The Celtics tried one last fight and fought hard in the new season.

Currently, the highest paid player in the Celtics is Kevin Garnett. Next season, his salary will exceed 1800 million US dollars. Although Harden and Garnett have joined forces, their salary remains decent.

After O'Neal joined the team, the Celtics' starting five all had "tens of millions of dollars in annual salary", and Boston's basketball critics were immediately excited, and many of them followed suit and tweeted:
"17 championships! We will continue to lead in the coming years!"

Well-known basketball commentator Bill Simmons even updated several dynamics in succession to praise the team's general manager Danny Ainge. He not only gave this trade an A+ rating, but also gave his own predictions:

"Jermaine O'Neal, who will soon be 32, will be the perfect piece for the Celtics' championship team!"

"The starting five have the ability to attack independently. If they stay healthy, we can use our rich experience to defeat the youngsters in the playoffs."

"."

This view does seem to make some sense. Although O'Neal Jr. often suffers from pain in Toronto, Boston fans firmly believe that this is because he "misses his hometown" too much.

After all, it is not easy to play basketball abroad, and there is no reason for Toronto fans to hold on to it. Fans from both sides even had a big fight on social media about this. In the end, the Celtics won with their absolute numerical advantage.

The "sore center" was instantly whitewashed, and O'Neal Jr. became the "hero" of the Celtics. He was not doing it for money but only for the championship. What a noble spirit!
In the afternoon, the Celtics held a grand press conference for the starting "Big Five". Doc Rivers, who had the support of the players, also appeared on the scene in high spirits.

Jermaine O'Neal, with a pigtailed hairstyle, was holding up a Celtics jersey in the press conference room with a big smile on his face, and seemed very satisfied with the hospitality.

Rondo, Ray Allen, Pierce and Garnett were also present. After everyone sat down at the long table, Rivers sat on the far left with a smile on his face, whispering to Danny Ainge from time to time.

The Yahoo Sports reporter got the chance to ask questions and immediately fanned the flames, looking at Ray Allen and asking quickly:

"Ray, we noticed that you accepted Lee's invitation to join Manchester United's recent tour. We all want to know why you changed your mind and stayed in Boston?"

In the new season, Manchester United changed its sponsor and Aon offered a 4-year contract worth 8000 million pounds. The new contract also allowed Manchester United to start its North American tour again after 04.

After attending the ESPY Awards ceremony, Li You flew to Chicago with his family. While greeting his business partners, he also invited many friends who were interested in sports to participate in the training camp.

Two years ago, Aon's Chicago branch acquired Melinda's reinsurance company. The Wall Street Journal believed that the two sides were working together behind the Spitzer issue, but the relevant reports were eventually suppressed.

When Spitzer was the Attorney General of New York State, he warned Ax Capital and sued Aon, forcing it to pay $1.9 million in settlement.

Some sharp reporters found clues, but Spitzer had already been completely ruined. No one cared about the inside story. Instead, the crowd followed another World Cup report to discuss Manchester United star Neymar.

Ray Allen had a great time with his family. If the team hadn't called him up, he would have gone to Philadelphia tonight to watch the game between Manchester United and the Philadelphia Union.

Hearing the question, Ray Allen subconsciously looked at his teammates and found that the "old-school" Garnett and Pierce were smiling. He felt more relaxed and responded in a brisk tone:

"I want to work hard to fulfill my promise. Bringing the Celtics the 17th championship in team history has always been our goal!"

"Of course, the contract extension also depends on the support of my teammates. We have talked for a long time. We really shouldn't end this cooperation hastily. You know, the championship window is getting smaller and smaller. As veterans, we all want to make one last fight!"

“Paul and Kevin have given me great support, and I’m happy to continue chasing championships with these great brothers.”

He thought a reporter would ask about his condition, but after waiting for a while, O'Neal found helplessly that the reporters in the audience seemed more interested in Ray Allen.

The Boston Globe's question was a little sharp, directly pointing out Ray Allen's contract problem:
"Ray, you will have a player option next season. If you fail to win the championship, will you join the Knicks and team up with Lee?"

Garnett frowned slightly, feeling somewhat dissatisfied. The experienced "Big Five" were no worse than the young "Big Three". As long as they won the Eastern Conference championship, the O'Brien Cup would be within their grasp.

Without paying attention to Harden's emotions, Ray Allen shrugged his shoulders and responded very frankly:
"I just celebrated my 35th birthday yesterday and I discussed this with Lee at the time. As you can imagine, at the end of my career, I will join forces with my good brother."

"But I will be 36 years old by then. Michael Jordan has retired at this age. I just hope I can stay healthy."

"Of course I don't think we will fail in the new season. Jermaine is very good and our starting lineup has been upgraded. Everyone is looking forward to it."

Many reporters only realized the age issue at this time. The backcourt composed of 33-year-old Li You and 36-year-old Ray Allen can definitely be called "old man basketball", which does sound a bit old.
The frank answer also made Pierce's face turn black. Although Ray Allen had informed them long ago, in order to win the game, they still decided to be a "suck-up".

Finally, a reporter asked O'Neal a question. When he heard about the new season's expectations, the "sore center" seemed to have completely recovered his vitality and responded with confidence:

"I know a lot of people are questioning my physical condition, but I want to tell you that I feel like I have endless energy!"

"The championship has always been my pursuit. Playing with so many excellent players, there is no reason for us to lose. We have all the conditions to win the championship."

"."

With a big grin on his face, Pierce also took over the conversation to encourage the team, and imagined the future with a smile: "Think about our inside strength, Kevin, Jermaine, Kendrick, Big Baby! This will be a nightmare for the opponent!"

"Ray and I will take care of the perimeter offense, the Celtics will become a pentagonal team, and I can't wait to start training camp."

Garnett is also very satisfied with this signing, and Danny Ainge also promised to renew Tony Allen's contract. The bench depth is enough to support them through the long regular season:
"I want to thank the Celtics management for their efforts in the championship. You know, after the young people joined forces, no one was optimistic about us, but now the situation is completely different."

Harden started to blow his beard and glare in front of the reporters, showing his tough attitude. When talking about his expectations for the new season, he once again promised the fans:
"We will bring the Celtics their 17th championship in franchise history."

Since the championship window appeared, Celtics legends have become active, and many people are talking about the number of championships.

As a top team in NBA history, although the team has been in a slump for more than 10 years, fans still can't help but feel "proud" when talking about the championship. With 16 championships, their "ancestors were very wealthy."

However, after the Knicks' fierce pursuit, Boston's championship fans were a little overwhelmed. The "chest-puffing" New York fans went all out and mocked their surrounding opponents.

Especially when talking about Li You, New York fans will be more proud. After 8 consecutive championships, the voice of "we have GOAT" has been undisguised, and even Bill Russell has become a "parallel import" who eats bonuses.
Sports reporters in Boston don't like the basketball atmosphere in New York. They felt relieved after hearing Garnett's answer. Rondo's words gave them more confidence:

"My championship experience tells me that the Celtics have completed their transformation!"

"As a team leader, I know the importance of unity. In the new season, I will strictly demand everyone."

"After leaving the national team, my goal is to get my ankle back to health as soon as possible. The team will start training camp early and I will make everyone better."

Garnett's eyes twitched slightly when he heard Rondo's serious speech. Fortunately, Garnett was used to tough teammates and did not refute like he did in the past.

The Big Five's statement excited the Boston sports reporters. Doc Rivers, who was in control of the team again, became extremely confident. When talking about the championship, he passionately expressed his hoarse voice:

"No more excuses! I will no longer pursue the championship with a fluke mentality!"

"We still have a lot of work to do in the offseason, but I believe no difficulty can stop us. It's hard work, and everyone will be in the best physical condition to welcome the new season."

At the end of the press conference, the Celtics' starting five took a group photo. Rivers was in such a good mood that his mouth almost stretched to the back of his head when taking the photo!
Since it was confirmed that David Stern had "persuaded" the Knicks to quit, Rivers almost threw a party to celebrate. He even felt that the league should have acted earlier.
This is not a "fixed match", it is for the healthy development of the league. Other teams should have tasted the sweetness of the championship long ago!
At the end of the press conference, Rivers did not forget to hold Pierce, who had made sacrifices for the team. In order to encourage the original leader, the outdated best coach directly painted a big pie:

"Pau, all the fans who support the Celtics will thank you. Believe me, we have a chance to win more championships!"

"Stay in good shape, the locker room needs your leadership."

Pierce felt a little better after being comforted. In order to keep Ray Allen, he has been showing goodwill recently. It would be painful to think about not winning the championship in the new season.

After all, he has no chance to join the Knicks. All the players in the league are aware of Li You's attitude towards "Old Deng".

"Coach, I'll be ready. We're all in Boston recently, and we want to talk about the tactical system for the new season."

Rivers was a little confused when he heard Pierce's proposal. He had never thought about the tactical system. He relied on Garnett for defense and Rondo for tactics. He was used to "hanging up".

"No problem, we can just throw a welcome party for Jermaine."

Showing a confident smile, Rivers put his arm around Pierce's shoulders and continued to act cool in front of reporters. Without the Knicks, he firmly believed that the Big Five could win the championship.

At 19 p.m. that evening, the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia next door was filled with more than 6 fans. Manchester United's tour was still very popular. Although it was a commercial game, sports fans were enthusiastic in supporting it.

In this year's World Cup, the US team performed mediocrely, England was disappointing as usual, Brazil lost the lead, and the gamblers were all defeated.

Before the World Cup started, Brazilian fans petitioned for Neymar, who performed well in the final round of the Premier League. As a result, head coach Dunga still excluded the 18-year-old from the 23-man roster.

After Brazil was defeated by the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, many famous players questioned the team. As we all know, the poor performance must be the fault of the coach. Dunga was forced to resign.
New coach Mano Menezes is said to be recruiting more young people, but Neymar has not responded positively recently and is instead touring with the team.

After being promoted to the first team, the competition within Manchester United is still very fierce. Nani was in poor form last season and was almost sent away by Ferguson.

Rooney's injury gave Neymar a chance, but the young man frequently "dived" in the first few games and was almost laughed out of the mouth by the British media.

Fortunately, Nani performed well later and broke out, so Neymar got rid of the "diving" label. The Brazilian boy no longer showed his talent in a flashy way and almost helped the team complete a comeback at the end of the season.

At this time, amid the cheers of more than 6 people, Neymar, who was warming up before the game, couldn't help but want to show off again, but when he saw the boss on the other side showing off his "footwork", the young man could only put his hands on his hips and cooperate.

Li You received the long pass and turned his back and crossed his feet to pass the ball amid cheers. When the ball touched his right foot, it stopped obediently on the grass.

Not far away, the newly signed player Javier Hernandez stared with his eyes wide open. Although it was not the first time the Mexican had seen it, he still couldn't help but exclaimed.

Chris Smalling, who also just joined the team, was also stunned. He was deeply impressed by Li You's "fried meatballs" during the training camp activities not long ago.

With his strong body, he is extremely flexible in changing directions. Although he has to let go when playing with his boss, Smalling seriously doubts whether Li Youzhen has the ability to play as a center forward.

Ferguson on the sidelines also twitched his eyes slightly. During this North American tour, Manchester United fans have witnessed Li You's football skills. The boss knows football very well and can even show off his skills on the field.

The cheers made the young Neymar smile. After finishing the warm-up, Li You rubbed the young man with a shaved head and continued to encourage him:

"I will talk to Sir Alex Ferguson about your hairstyle. Outstanding young people really should be treated preferentially!"

"Thank you, Boss! Don't tell the coach that this is my request."

Noticing the old man's gaze, Neymar covered his mouth and lowered his head to explain in Spanish that Manchester United is full of big brothers. He was almost kicked down by Rooney during team training. The old guys are all Ferguson's spies.

Li You smiled and nodded. There were Ferguson informants in every bar in Manchester, and Neymar, who had just been promoted to the first team, was scared of the hype.

After the game started at 19:30, Li You, who was sitting in the coaching booth, talked to Ferguson about the team's re-listing. When the old man heard about the Champions League final, he couldn't help but shook his head and refuted:
"Lee, it's good to have confidence, but football is not as simple as you think."

Li You was very confident. He looked at the active Neymar and explained with a smile:
"The future belongs to the young. Even if there is no Champions League final, we should seize the opportunity to ring the bell again after winning the league championship."

(End of this chapter)