NBA: I have 3, no D, and I can't dribble

Chapter 35 [35] Kassel returns to the team, the quarrel between the coach and the general manager!

After uttering these threatening remarks, McHale admitted that he was indeed a little too impatient, and wanted to finalize Lin Fei's new contract as soon as possible.

But the root cause of the problem is that in McHale's traditional basketball philosophy, players with Lin Fei's style don't get enough respect.

As the legendary power forward of the Celtics in the 80s, Kevin McHale was a low-post offensive master with gorgeous feet and an excellent defensive end.

The "refrigerator" with a height of 2.08 meters is rumored to have an astonishing wingspan of 2.44 meters. The terrifying wingspan and flexibility of the body allow McHale to defend from the 3rd position to the 5th position.

He has been selected to the league's best defensive team 6 times, and the iron-blooded spirit of the Green Army flows in his body.

After retiring and working in the Timberwolves, McHale single-handedly selected Kevin Garnett, who has a style similar to his own, and inspired him to create a Timberwolves with a tough style and both offense and defense.

This season, the Timberwolves went all the way to the Western Conference Finals. It can be said that McHale is very pleased. The team building concept he has insisted on for many years has finally succeeded.

If it weren't for the "alien" Sam Cassell's injury and retirement, the Timberwolves could have passed the Lakers F4 through tough play and style.

But God couldn't help it. Cassel's injury caused the Timberwolves to fall to the edge of a cliff. It was this accident that gave Lin Fei the chance to play on the field by mistake, and became famous with his three-pointer.

McHale was naturally grateful to Lin Fei for saving the team in two consecutive games, but he also knew that this was the result of Philip Sanders betting all the team's resources on Lin Fei.

Once Lin Fei's three-pointer fades away and returns to a normal level, who of the Timberwolves' main players will be willing to wipe his ass on the defensive end and actively cover the offensive end?

Of course, even though McHale was stubborn, he was not a foolish person. Threatening Lin Fei with tomorrow's tiebreaker was really irrelevant and impulsive.

Facing McHale's threat, Lin Fei had expected it a long time ago, raised his head calmly, looked directly into the eyes of the general manager, neither humble nor overbearing:
"Mr. McHale, I don't have to fight tomorrow's tiebreaker, but I will never accept anyone's threats!"

"If there is nothing else, I will go to training first!"

Lin Fei got up from the sofa, turned around and walked out.

McHale's expression was complicated. He didn't expect Lin Fei to have such a rigid attitude. Did he really think he could become a star in the future?
There are three side-by-side indoor basketball courts in the training field of the Target Center Arena, which is very convenient for the players' daily training.

Lin Fei returned to the court and continued his three-point shooting training.

McHale's threat did not affect his mood in the slightest. No matter whether he can play in tomorrow's tiebreaker or not, persistence in training is essential.

Obtaining more free attribute points and comprehensively improving strength is the kingly way.

Lin Fei had just finished shooting a group of 100 three-pointers under the feeding of the trainer. He walked to the sidelines to take a rest, and turned his head to see a familiar figure, accompanied by the team doctor, into the arena.

The atmosphere in the training hall immediately became active, and Wolf King, "Madman" and Szczerbiak all rushed up excitedly.

It was the "alien" Sam Cassell who came.

"Sam, how is your back? It's great to hear from the coach that you can play tomorrow!"

"Sam, with you here, we will definitely win the tiebreaker!"

Lin Fei's eyes flashed, and then he understood, no wonder McHale dared to use the playing time of the tiebreaker to threaten himself to sign a new contract.
It turns out that Sam Cassell will return in tomorrow's tiebreaker. For the Lakers who lack Malone, the Timberwolves have a greater chance of winning at home.

Putting aside the grievances with the general manager, Lin Fei quickly smiled and walked up to Kassel.

Kassel has always had a good relationship with the rookies in the team, and this veteran point guard also gave Lin Fei a lot of encouragement and guidance.

"Sam, welcome back!"

Needless to say, Sam Cassel really looks like an "alien", with a bald head, big ears, small eyes and a big mouth. In terms of being ugly, Cassel definitely ranks first among the three-headed monsters.

Seeing Lin Fei, Cassel's eyes lit up immediately, he smiled and hugged Lin Fei, patted him on the shoulder and said excitedly:

"Lin, thanks to you, otherwise the Timberwolves' journey this season might have ended long ago!"

In order not to offend the wolf king and the "madman" beside him, Cassel with high EQ added the word "possible", but the facts are in front of him, and everyone has a scale in their hearts.

As an All-Star point guard, Sam Cassell followed Olajuwon at his peak during his rookie period, and won two championship rings with the Rockets.

He joined the Bucks at his peak and formed three musketeers with Ray Allen and "Big Dog" Robinson. He was a perennial playoff team and reached the Eastern Conference Finals in the 00-01 season, but lost 3:4 to Iverson's 76ers.

During recovery in hospital,
Kassel watched the live broadcast of the Western Conference finals G5 and G6, and was amazed by Lin Fei's crazy performance of scoring 15 three-pointers in two consecutive games.

The solid performances of Wolf King, "Madman" and Szerbiak are the foundation, and Lin Fei's accurate three-pointers one after another are the key to reborn the Timberwolves from adversity and to a higher level.

Kassel has always admired the training attitude of Lin Fei, the team's undrafted pick, but he did not expect Lin Fei's outbreak to be so sudden.

Lin Fei responded modestly with a smile: "This is all thanks to the trust of the coach and teammates, who gave me more opportunities to perform, and God is on our side!"

"Sam, I look forward to fighting side by side with you!"

Sam Cassell appreciated Lin Fei's attitude of not being arrogant or rash after becoming famous in the first battle, and nodded encouragingly:

"Lin, I like you!"

"Tomorrow's tiebreaker, I will pass the ball to you, I believe you can hit more three-pointers!"

Lin Fei had no intention of disclosing the conversation with McHale. No matter whether he can play tomorrow's game or how much time he can play, he will actively prepare for the game with his teammates.

"Sam, I believe you can get more assists!"

Lin Fei's joke made the Timberwolves players burst into laughter, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

The temperament of self-confidence, hard work, perseverance, less talk and more action exuded from Lin Fei is infecting every teammate.

The wolf king clenched his fists and roared angrily: "Tomorrow's tiebreaker, we must at least have a 20+ victory. We must not let the game go to the end!"

In the fifth and sixth games of the Western Conference finals, although the Timberwolves passed through the danger, they were shocked by the wolf king's cold sweat.
In the end, it all relied on Lin Fei's accurate three-pointer, which saved him from a desperate situation and continued the suspense of the series.

But he, the Wolf King, is the core leader of this Timberwolves team after all, and he always has to rely on Lin Fei, a supporting role on the bench, to rescue him at critical moments of life and death.

In the next tiebreaker, the Lakers lost Malone and were weak on the inside, leaving only O'Neal.

The wolf king knew that his chance was coming again, he had to play a dominant performance,

Let the fans at home know that there is only one core leader of the Timberwolves, and that is him "Wolf King" Kevin Garnett.

After half an hour.

Inside the Timberwolves general manager's office.

Head coach Flip Saunders and general manager Kevin McHale had an inevitable spat.

"Kevin, are you crazy? You actually use the playing time of tomorrow's tiebreaker to threaten Lin to sign a new contract?"

"Is it important to sign Lin, or is it important for the Timberwolves to compete for the championship?"

Philip Sanders was very emotional and slapped the desk hard.

Kevin McHale looked confident and calm, leaning back on the sofa chair with reason:
"I was also impulsive, so I can't be so angry?"

"Besides, I feel that your tactical arrangement has overstretched Lin's role in the team!"

"G5 and G6 we both fought to the point of life and death. It was you who took the risk and allowed Lin's key three-pointer to save the team. There is no doubt about it!"

"But tomorrow's tiebreaker, regardless of whether Lin plays or not, we are sure to win!"

"Malone was suspended. There is no one available for the Lakers power forward position. There is only one O'Neal left on the inside. As long as we play the twin towers of Kevin and Olowokandi, we can occupy the penalty area on both offense and defense. Absolute advantage!"

"Plus Sam is coming back. Even if he is injured and unable to play, the morale of the team will increase!"

"In contrast to the Lakers, the conflict between O'Neal and Kobe has intensified. After losing two games in a row, the team's morale is low. The Lakers management is also very dissatisfied with Phil Jackson!"

"All in all, in tomorrow's tie-break, we have an absolute advantage at home!"

"As long as Kevin, Latrell and Wally play normally, and your tactics on both offense and defense are fully implemented, winning is not a problem, and it may even be a big victory!"

"Philip, don't forget what is our original intention to form this team together?"

"Even though Lin has saved the team twice, the three-pointer is always unreliable!"

"If you can win the game through a solid tactical system, who would bet on three-pointers?"

"I just want Lin to understand that he is only a small role in the Timberwolves. Without him, the Timberwolves can still win the championship this season!"

The analysis of McHale's remarks made sense, but he was overconfident, which meant that the Timberwolves would win the championship in the finals.

How much does this look down on the Detroit Pistons?

Philip Sanders frowned and retorted, and couldn't help but want to speak for Lin Fei:
"Kevin, without Lin's 3+1, it would be impossible to return to the Target Center in this round of the Western Conference Finals!"

"Just the [-] tickets for tomorrow's tiebreaker game will help the team earn more than tens of millions of dollars?"

"Lin has many shortcomings, and his three-pointers can't be accurate all the time!"

"But if that's the case, why are you so anxious to renew his contract? Are you afraid that he will be cut off by other teams?"

What Philip Sanders said made McHale speechless, his expression flickering.

"In short, I am the head coach of the Timberwolves. Tomorrow's tiebreaker, Lin will still be the most important role on the team's bench!"

"I and the players have only one goal now, and that is to reach the finals and win the first O'Brien Cup in team history!"

Seeing that Philip Sanders was about to get up and leave, McHale was finally persuaded, and quickly said:

"Philip, say sorry to Lin for me. I hope he can perform well in tomorrow's game!"

(End of this chapter)