NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 199 Tour starts from pre-season (daily chapter)

In the 2000-2001 season, the salary cap reached US$3550 million, and the mid-level exception was US$225 million.

For two consecutive years, some costs have been paid to retain Ben Wallace, Rashard Lewis, and Kurt Thomas. After signing Longley, the hard salary cap has made it impossible to sign players.

The Knicks' salary reached 7123 million US dollars. Before the start of the preseason, together with the Trail Blazers and Heat, the three teams with a total salary of more than 7000 million US dollars have become a hot topic among fans.

Paul Allen doesn't seem to care at all how much dollars he spends. The Trail Blazers' salary has reached 8700 million. They are rich and willful, and all the players have big contracts.

Compared with the stingy Clippers, the Trail Blazers' total salary is almost three times that of the opponent!
Pat Riley convinced the boss overnight. After the team's overhaul, his salary exceeded 7300 million.

"Money power" can indeed do whatever you want, and a beautiful sword sometimes represents strength!

Paul Allen's behavior of "burning" the championship makes people jealous. The NBA has officially announced that the new luxury tax policy will be officially implemented in the 02-03 season.

It's just that the luxury tax is not a problem at all for truly big ball markets. As long as you use the money to win a championship, this deal is still a good deal.

On October 10, the Knicks will face the 10ers at home that night, and New York fans can also see the new players appear.

At the Tarrytown Training Center, Jeff Van Gundy frowned as he watched the situation during training.

There is a reason why Billups was abandoned by head coach Pitino in the Celtics. As a point guard, he cannot freely switch the rhythm of the game.

Parallel importers almost couldn't find jobs during the offseason, and the managers and coaching staff of each team are not fools.

Billups' salary in the new season is only $220 million, which has dropped compared to his third year as a rookie.

There is certainly no shortage of market for excellent point guards, but unfortunately, Billups did not meet Jeff Van Gundy's expectations. In many cases, he was even incompatible with the Knicks.

Watching Billups move through half the court, failing to seize the half-conversion opportunity, and instead falling into a positional attack, Jeff Van Gundy did not hold back and shouted:

"Move, if you fall into a transition attack, you must also move!"

In the substitute lineup, the inside finishing ability was worrying, and they ran a lap according to the established tactics. Finally, Billups assisted Ben Wallace who came down the middle for a layup.

Assistant coach Thibodeau quickly stopped the game, and then took Billups to explain the offensive options.

Jeff Van Gundy, who has been idle for several years, only feels that the current lineup is getting slower and slower. In order to accommodate the big man, don't even think about running.
Ben Wallace also scratched his head after listening to the assistant coach's words. He still preferred to dunk when it ended at the basket.

Near noon, the training session ends, and everyone will go to Madison Square Garden in advance to warm up in the afternoon. Therefore, most of the morning training session will focus on tactical routines.

After half a month of training, Li You failed to achieve his expected goals, mainly because there was no pressure in the team's training sessions.

Billups was just a rookie at the No. 1 position at this time. Perhaps because he had experienced several teams, he was hesitant to play. Sometimes his offensive choices were terrible, and he failed to reflect his value on the defensive end.

In these few days of training sessions, Billups was beaten by Li You just like in the past regular seasons, and he was unable to fight back.
Different players have different pursuits. Kukic and Longley don't care about their own performance. For them, winning the championship and reaching the finals is a very complete career.

For Billups, the top priority is to stay in the league. He needs more playing time and decent data.

"Sorry, I haven't found my rhythm yet. In the past, coaches always had different requirements. In most games, I had almost no autonomy."

Billups, who had performed poorly, sighed softly after returning to the locker room. Li You could only smile and comfort him when he heard this:

"Don't pay attention to coach Van Gundy's criticism. He is actually very easy to talk to and likes to give players autonomy during the game. You will adapt to the Knicks' game."

Ewing didn't care about the rookie point guard. The two sides had played against each other several times in the past few years. Billups was just a soy saucer. He couldn't score or organize well.
"I have invited many friends for tonight's game. Although it is a preseason game, everyone must be serious."

In order to end his career with dignity, Ewing did not indulge himself during the offseason. Instead, he maintained a good body shape and even lost a little weight.

When the gorilla said this, everyone agreed wholeheartedly. It is not difficult to abuse vegetables!
Grant Hill moved his ankle but felt a little regretful. There is a high probability that he will only be able to wear a suit and watch the game on the sidelines this year.
On the night of the 10th, New York fans still entered the Madison Square Garden Arena early. Although it was only a preseason game, due to the "tour" bonus, many old fans also bought tickets to support.

Ewing's games are now being watched one less time. The old fans who used to stay in front of the TV are not stingy at this time. They spend money to buy tickets, go to the scene to support, and reminisce about their youth.

Having played basketball in New York for half his life, Gorilla has also accumulated a lot of connections. Regardless of other cities, at least in New York, the tour is still reliable.

Dinkins, the first African-American mayor of New York, appeared on the sidelines with a smile:
“Black people need to help black people!”

Before the game, Ewing laughed and hugged the former mayor, and chanting singers were also indispensable. This season, the ticket revenue alone made James Dolan grin from ear to ear.

Everyone knows that it will be difficult for Ewing to play a dominant performance again, but it does not affect everyone's buying tickets to watch the game.

At this time, it is no longer about the result of the game. A wonderful goal can remind many people of the past time of the Knicks.
In the MSG commentary box, the two looked at the celebrities in the front row and suddenly recalled the Knicks, who always lost in the past:
"It's unbelievable that we have achieved three consecutive championships. I can't wait. It is absolutely a wonderful thing to witness the fifth championship flag rising above the arena!"

Walter Frazier subconsciously looked up at the sky above the arena, feeling happy for a moment. Mike Breen on the side also seemed to recall the past, and sighed in a low voice: "When I was a child, my biggest dream was to commentate on a Knicks game. the match of."

"The existence of the Bulls made me doubt that the Knicks would never be able to win the championship, but Pat's persistence worked, and in the end we waited until Lee."

"This is almost a miracle. You must know that we won the championship after beating the Bulls in 98!"

"History is really amazing. Michael Jordan defeated Magic Johnson for his first championship, and Lee defeated Michael Dunk."

The two were reminiscing about the past in the commentary box, and Li You also greeted Blomberg and others on the sidelines.

If the Knicks are rookies, then no one will come to support them. After all, everyone buying tickets to watch the game is not here to be upset!
Success for many years has laid a new fan base. Li You also followed Ewing's old path. The difference is that he started with three consecutive championships.
The atmosphere was lively, but the 76ers who were doing the final warm-up were listless.

Throughout the offseason, the team has not conducted transactions. How to build a team around Iverson has become a problem for the management.

Using the same "four guarantees and one" tactic, Li You is more efficient and can easily support the Knicks.

The smaller Iverson can support offensive production, but cannot guarantee efficiency.

Larry Brown looked at Jeff Van Gundy who was chatting and laughing on the other side and felt a lemon in his heart. He also wanted to coach a team in a big market.
In the first preseason game, Iverson wore a black casual suit and a gold chain and sat on the bench.

Most of the players have some minor injuries. The new season has begun and it is time to enter the recovery stage.

In the preseason, Iverson was not interested in being a background player anymore. He simply took a good rest to avoid repeating the injury at the start of last year.

Although Larry Johnson and Oakley are missing, New York fans feel that the game seems smoother just from the perspective of the game.
In the first round, a simple high pick-and-roll at the top of the arc, and watching Li You push the ball straight into the inside, cheers immediately started.

Eric Snow's defense was just a show-off, and the 76ers shrank instantly. When Lewis received the ball in the right corner, there was no one in front of him, and he made a solid three-pointer in the open.

The 76ers' frontcourt combination is still George Lynch, Croy Hill, and Theo Ratliff, and the three of them have lost their jobs.
Aaron McGee, who started the game, wanted to perform well, but in the first round, the left wing broke into the paint with the ball and was directly blocked by Ewing!
Seeing the gorilla controlling the ball, Madison Square Garden was boiling!
In the offensive round, Li You assisted Ewing in an alley-oop, and the cheers became louder and louder.

After the Knicks easily played a wave of 8:0, Larry Brown on the sidelines did not ask for a timeout. This is already the team's best lineup.
In the commentary box, Walter Frazier stopped paying attention to the score and began to talk about the future:
"Grant Hill is still unable to play, Ron is the starting three, and Rashad also got the starting position tonight. At present, our defense may have some problems."

"But judging from the current staffing, general manager Glenn Field has done an excellent job replacing the old with the new team."

Mike Breen was still thinking about the Bulls' first-round pick and noticed that the 76ers were still scoring zero points. At this time, he also smiled and gossiped:
"Actually, I'm paying more attention to the Bulls' performance this season. 2001 is a big draft year. If we can sign a young big man, he can just replace the retired Pat."

"What kind of inside player is Li more suitable for?"

Noticing that Rashad Lewis received Li You's breakthrough ball from the left corner and hit another three-pointer, Walter Fred subconsciously said:

"Like Pat, a big man who can shoot and protect the rim is more suitable for Lee."

The game lasted 8 minutes and 56 seconds, and Li You came off the court to rest. Soon Ewing was also replaced, and the Knicks began to rotate personnel.

Jeff Van Gundy was smiling on the surface, but he was secretly complaining about the intensity of the game. The 76ers seemed to be distracted, and Larry Hughes, who came off the bench, was throwing things around.
最终这场比赛成了尤因的表演赛，打了32分钟，8中6，砍下12分12篮板2助攻2盖帽1失误。

He didn't take many shots, and most of his goals were dunks. Ewing was very satisfied with his performance, and the New York fans at the scene felt comfortable with it. When it comes to bullying, the Knicks are indeed professionals!

86:106, the Knicks defeated the 76ers.

Everyone is happy, only Billups feels unwell. Among the substitutes, his performance is not as good as that of Kukic, and he is completely tool-like.
At the end of the game, Ewing exchanged greetings with the celebrities present on the sidelines. Li You, who was not even sweating, accepted the MSG interview with a smile.

In the Madison Square Garden Arena, old fans were still chanting Ewing's name. Seeing this, Walter Frazier relaxed in his heart:
"Li, the team has completed the transition from old to new, let's talk about our goals for this season!"

Realizing that this legendary star seemed to have no pursuit of achievements, Li You didn't care and responded confidently:
"We still have to challenge for the championship! In this process, I believe that young players will also grow."

Mike Breen didn't take Li You's words to heart. He could tell in just one game that many people in the Knicks had no motivation.

In the ensuing business exchanges, the two no longer mentioned the topic of the championship.

When Li You walked towards the tunnel, he smiled and waved to the fans on both sides again. A low-intensity preseason game gave him some small gains:

[Shaquille O'Neal's Extraordinary Power] just came to Bronze.

James Dolan high-fived the players one by one at the door of the locker room. When he saw Li You, he immediately stepped forward and patted his shoulder, encouraging him:
"Lee, this season, we just need to play a good offense!"

"."

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