Two Hundred and Thirty-Five: Turn Around

When the entire NBA league was boiling because of Pat Riley's going to Miami, public opinion in New York was turning against the sky.

Little Jack is quietly doing his special training in the training hall of Syracuse University.

He showed unprecedented composure.

Compared with his teammates who expressed concern, trepidation, and complacency in the media, he was like an ice cube melting in the water.

He knows that he can't solve anything, he can only follow the arrangement of fate.

"What I can control is to make myself stronger before the new season comes."

Fan Xi expressed his views on the current complicated situation in the previous call with Anthony Mason.

Delphine felt that Fan Xi was a bit confused in this incident. In her opinion, Fan Xi's concentration, endurance and intelligence were geniuses that were unique in a million.

After getting along for so long, she only found one shortcoming of Fan Xi: he was too passive in the relationship. He will not refuse a woman's invitation. Even if he is exhausted from training every day and a woman's voice comes on the phone, he will still rush over. Then, the next day, I returned to the training hall with the smell of a woman's perfume all over my body.

Delphine has a keen sense of smell, and she already knows that Jack has three regular partners.

Not too fussy.

If compared with Delfina's father.

In Delfina's mind, this is a safe value.

Of course, she has absolutely no intention of being the fourth.

Taking advantage of Fan Xi's rest on the sidelines, she walked over and handed over Fan Xi's data report.

Barefoot height 193.7 cm, arm span 211.8 cm, weight 86 kg, standing reach 260, jump height 80 cm in place, 84 kg bench press 3 times, round-trip running 11.86 seconds, three-quarter sprint 3.16 seconds, body fat rate 6.8 %.

Compared with last week, Fan Xi has made significant progress.

This made the trainers feel unbelievable, thinking that Fan Xi was a one-in-a-million training genius, and his body still had a lot of potential that had not been developed. After all, Fan Xi is only 18 years old now, and if counted according to his real birthday in the lunar calendar, he has just become an adult for less than 2 months.

For Fan Xi,

He knows the progress of these statistics better than anyone else, because he knows the exchange value of his talent.

What he cares more about now is the improvement in points.

In the new season, he hopes to improve his skills to a higher level.

Physical fitness is actually barely enough.

However, Delfina is more concerned about the selection of the head coach.

As we all know, the head coaching seat of the New York Knicks is a sweet potato.

It is located in a super big city, the boss pays a high salary, the players are well equipped, and they have a strong sense of tactics.

As long as it is not the kind of Pat Riley who wants to be a crazy person in management, they all want to get a share of the action.

This is not.

The famous coach Larry Brown has returned to New York. He is from Brooklyn himself, although he is still coaching in Indiana. But it seems that he is a bit like riding a donkey to find a horse.

Recently, it was reported that he had a private conversation with Patrick Ewing, and had a long chat with Charles Oakley at an event. Both parties expressed their appreciation for each other in interviews.

As an academic coach, Larry Brown is especially fond of the Knicks lineup.

In addition, Hawks head coach Lanny Wilkens has also been rumored to enter the Knicks club.

And Jeff Van Gundy, who is on the assistant bench, is also actively wooing players, hoping to get the full support of the team's veterans.

Fan Xi put himself out of the world.

Delphine was very anxious, she was a very smart woman, she quickly understood the rules of the basketball court, especially the part that was beneficial to Fan Xi.

She said that no matter who is the head coach of these people, it is not a good thing for you. They will only treat you as a fixed role player, and you are going to be a star.

"No one will treat you like Pat Riley."

Delphine's tone was a little sad.

This sentence pierced Fan Xi's heart, and only after losing it did he realize how precious the things he once had were.

Looking back, Vanhee's first season in his career was really fantastic.

Without Pat Riley, he would never have gotten so many opportunities, let alone the unprecedented Finals MVP.

"Improving strength is the most important thing."

Fan Xi regained his composure and said.

In the afternoon, Anthony Mason came over.

Mason has often come to Vanhey's training ground to practice in the past month. Mason is a player from a humble background and was only selected in the third round.

Before meeting Pat Riley, he had been wandering in various NBA teams.

Riley gave him a lot of trust, allowing him to start from a blue-collar and gain a foothold in the NBA as a tough guy. Last season, he won the best sixth man and successfully entered the sequence of elite players.

Although Pat Riley didn't treat him as well as Fan Xi.

But his gratitude to Riley was beyond words.

After Riley left, he felt lost.

Then, he came to Vanhee's training camp.

Fan Xi's advice to him is to improve his mid-range shooting ability and to use high-post support techniques.

He hopes that Anthony Mason will develop in the direction of a modern forward who can defend, pass, eat cakes and jump shots. He has this potential.

With Fan Xi's help, Mason has made great progress.

Fan Xi sometimes even thinks, if the current Mason and the current me return to the finals, even without Patrick Ewing, I don't need to go to the halftime to perform the return of the king trick. We can directly defeat Olajuwon with pick-and-roll and running and bombing.

In addition to polishing his skills in the training hall, Mason spent the other half of his time defending Fan Xie. He stood under the basket and let Fan Xie hone his layup skills.

With the help of Mason, Fan Xi improved his finishing ability and enhanced his on-the-spot experience.

"If Jeff Van Gundy is coaching next season, I think you will have fewer opportunities."

After the training, Anthony Mason said worriedly: "He doesn't like you, and the whole locker room knows it. Now, he is wooing many veterans, hoping to get the position of head coach. The management does not want to change the existing tactics, Jim Dolan is happy with Jeff Van Gundy."

Fan Xi nodded.

This point, he knows.

Jeff Van Gundy may not be able to avenge his personal revenge publicly, but his stubborn and old-fashioned coaching style is destined to be unable to accept Fan Xi's agility and freehand brushwork.

However, Fanhee also has plans.

In the new season, he has decided to show himself more, and he wants to quickly fill up the points bank. As long as one's own strength is improved, it doesn't matter how the head coach changes or goes to other teams.

Moreover, it is still young, only 18 years old.

The worst result is nothing more than playing as a substitute for one year, and then changing jobs next summer, finding a weak team to upgrade hard. Maybe he can compete with Iverson and Marbury.

…

With training camp about to start the new season, the Knicks' unresolved head coaching issues must be resolved.

That night, Jim Dolan called team president Dougs and general manager Chertz to his home for a meeting. He aims to make the final decision.

They will choose one of several candidates.

First up is Larry Brown.

In terms of position, coaching experience, and quality in all aspects, Larry Brown is the best choice to succeed Pat Riley: Looking at the entire league, Larry Brown is one of the few who has the same position as Pat Riley One of the head coaches.

But, the problem with Larry Brown is.

He is still in the Pacers' contract, and he expressed his willingness to change jobs, and at the same time hopes that if there is a breach of contract fee, the Knicks will bear it.

Also, his contract asking price is relatively high. He is looking for a tie with an annual salary of no less than $3 million.

Then there's Lenny Wilkens.

Whether Wilkens is a player or a head coach, his record is remarkable.

He has the same problem as Pat Riley, who is also under contract. But he can jump out at any time without paying liquidated damages. Moreover, the contract he asked for was only 30% off Larry Brown.

However, Dave Chertz feels that Wilkens has been in the Eagles for so many years and has never made a breakthrough. In the last two seasons, the Eagles have continued to sink.

I am worried that his ability will not be able to lead the Knicks to defend the title, because the situation in the Eastern Conference next season will be more severe: the Pacers are fighting hard, the two young superstars in Orlando have grown up again, and the Chicago Bulls, Dennis Rodman is the rebounding leader after all, Once he has a chemical reaction, the biggest shortcoming of the Bulls last season will be wiped out.

So, don't take it lightly.

Afterwards, several head coaches who came over from the NCAA were discussed. They were ruled out for various reasons.

In the end, it seemed like there was only 1 name left.

Jeff Van Gundy.

Jeff Van Gundy is Pat Riley's favorite student and the Knicks' chief assistant last season. He is familiar with all Pat Riley's tactics, and maintains a very good relationship with most of the players on the team. Everyone says that he is a coach who loves soldiers like a son.

With the team already winning the championship, changing course is not the best solution.

Xiao Gui and Cao Sui are more able to cover the bottom line.

Therefore, the talks quickly reached an agreement.

Until James Dolan ran down the stairs.

...

Fan Xi received a call from Jeff Van Gundy at night, and Van Gundy maintained enough politeness and courtesy on the phone.

He talked to Vanhee about Pat Riley for a long time, and then emphasized that he had no personal vendetta against Vanhee.

Van Gundy tries to mend the rift with Vanheede.

Fan Xi also showed friendliness.

The two seemed to be in harmony.

After finishing the call, Fan Xi received another call from another stranger.

The voice on the phone introduces itself: Hi, I'm Donny Nelson.

Donnie Nelson.

A thunderous name.

Donnie Nelson is an NBA head coach who turned from a professional player. Although he grew up in the Iron Curtain Celtics during his playing days, he is known for his aggressive style after coaching.

Last season, he encountered a career Waterloo.

He had a falling out with Chris Webber, the No. 1 pick he traded with himself. Webber couldn't accept his "tactical ambiguity" strategy, turned his face on the general, and forced the management to trade him to Washington. Subsequently, Nelson was also fired by the team for record reasons.

However, Nelson has always cared about the NBA.

He is not short of coaching opportunities, and many teams have even invited him to be the general manager: his long and successful career has given him a lot of contacts, and his draft vision has always been praised.

When Nelson heard that Pat Riley had chosen to go south, his chance came.

He has always remembered Fan Xie's performance in the finals last season. He believes that Fan Xi can implement his tactics to the extreme, just like he beat Olajuwon to the ground.

"Somebody said to me, he's 100 percent sure I'll be the Knicks head coach."

Donnie Nelson said straight to the point: "Because I promised him that if I become the head coach, you will be the core of the team's backcourt, and even the core of the whole court."

"My boldness touched another bolder."

"You're the first Knicks player I contacted," Nelson told VanSheede on the phone.

The twists and turns are unexpected.

Unexpectedly, Fan Xi froze for about five or six seconds in front of the phone call.

I?

Backcourt core?

The core of the audience?

Fan Xi was stunned for about 22 seconds, which was enough time for him to lead the team into three quick attacks. Then, he asked, "Is that man you're talking about James Dolan?"

"Yes." Donnie Nelson replied with a smile.

He then commented that James Dolan was stronger and more courageous than his father.

Fan Xi was not surprised at all.

His mood started to rise...for the first time since Pat Riley left, his mood showed positive feedback.

If James Dolan can really handle the team, how worth looking forward to the new season.

...

Just as Fan Xi was worried about.

The reasons put forward by James Dolan were refuted one by one by the management.

If we say that the Knicks did not win a championship last season, they did not even reach the Eastern Conference Finals. Pat Riley's departure will be considered a tactical failure, and it is feasible for the team to carry out an earth-shaking tactical transformation.

However, since they have already won the championship, why change it?

"You guys know better than me how championships come about. It's Jack! It's Jack who brings it with his fast offense. No one in the league understands the fast break better than Donnie Nelson."

James Dolan said plausibly.

But his words failed to convince the audience.

Dave Chertz even boldly questioned the small boss: Do you want to bypass Patrick and let Jack be the core of the team?

Jim Dolan agrees with Chertz's skepticism.

"Why not? Jack deserves it. He's the Finals MVP and the youngest ever!!"

James said hoarsely: "The honor proves his worth."

But Jim Dolan said: "Son, you should know how Jack's MVP came about. If Ewing hadn't been injured, if Starks hadn't had a scandal and shot a damn 3 in Game 6..."

"Then there's nothing to talk about."

James Dolan shook his head.

He took out a palm from his waist and slapped it on the table, staring at his father with burning eyes. "You promised me to make a decision during the offseason. Now, I'm going to implement this decision."

"Of course you can refuse me."

"It's a revolver. It has three bullets in it."

"I'll shoot three times in the forehead... If I don't die, then you win, God is on your side, God allows you to break your promise to your son..."

...