NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 88 "The Donkey of the Production Team"

The Gampel Pavilion, the training hall of the University of Connecticut, is located in Storrs, Mansfield Township on the main campus. In January 97, a roof collapse occurred.

Several days of continuous snowstorms led to heavy snow accumulation on the roof, coupled with the failure of the drainage system, and finally collapsed directly.
This also made the basketball team had to change to the Civic Center Arena in Hartford.

As a well-known alumnus, Li You has made a lot of money, so he naturally has to give back to his alma mater, donate a dollar, and the graduation will be assured!
Although he won the NCAA championship, compared with other famous basketball schools, Calhoun's head coach still failed to recruit talented players with outstanding talents.

Back to college training, Li You and Ray Allen attracted many new players, but after watching them for a few days, everyone was dumbfounded:
"Do you need to practice like this to play in the NBA?"

During the training time in the afternoon, Li You will fully warm up and exercise his body at the beginning, and then, the sound of sneakers rubbing against the floor and basketball hitting the net will continue to be heard in the arena.

With a resistance band tied around his waist, Li You started several sets of defensive slide training;
Thoroughly activating his body and continuing to wear the resistance band, Li You started a halftime sprint to blow up the ball and made an emergency stop jump shot, followed by a sprint dunk;

Untie the resistance band, shoot the ball vigorously after blasting the ball at 5 points outside the line;
Continue to slide, run back and forth across the court, sprint at half court, quickly bounce outside after completing a dunk, catch the ball from the outside and complete the shot;
Started to pant, continued to sprint all over the court, made an emergency stop outside the three-point line, and completed the shot;
Finally, continue to slide, run quickly, and complete the catch and shoot.

The number of training sessions for each group is not fixed, it mainly depends on Li You's physical condition that day.

The purpose of training is to improve the stability of shooting when the heart rate is increased. It is unreliable to increase muscle, but it is not difficult to tap the talent of [Allen Iverson's excellent physical fitness].

Ray Allen also practiced with Li You at the beginning, but he was lying down on the first day, and the training effect was also very poor.

However, after half a month of getting used to it, I practiced well.

The newcomers in Connecticut have become numb recently. This intensity is okay for occasional practice, but most of them cannot withstand the repetition day after day.

Coach Calhoun also showed the expression of "the donkey of the production team" on his face. Looking at the shirtless Li You panting heavily on his knees, he said cheerfully:
"Next season, strive to enter the best team, Li, you are now a big star in Connecticut, it seems that earlier exposure to high-level leagues is not a bad thing."

"It's not a good thing to enter the NBA too early. Most teams in the league don't know basic tactics, and rookies have to adapt to the team's style of play."

"The Knicks are in a special situation. If Larry Brown were to coach him, I probably wouldn't get many chances in the first year."

"Fortunately, the opponent went to the 76ers. Allen Iverson is very lucky!"

After adjusting his breathing, Li You began to gloat. He hadn't paid attention to it until Ray Allen told him that the 76ers had changed their coach. He didn't see the news.

At the end of April, Larry Brown resigned as the head coach of the Pacers. Within a few days, the famous coach accepted the invitation of the 4ers.

Then the Pacers also announced that Larry Bird will become the team's new coach!

NBA head coaching has always been a high-risk job. Maybe the superstar is not in a good mood, and the coach has to take the blame. After the 96-97 season ended, many teams changed their head coaches.

Jeff Van Gundy of the Knicks doesn't have to worry about his next contract. After getting the best coach in the league this season, his next contract is basically stable.

However, the two sides are still pulling the issue of the renewal period, but next season, Jeff Van Gundy will stay with the Knicks with a high probability.

Larry Johnson, who practices boxing every day, also sent a message to Li You in the past two days, "Auntie" hoped that the bald young marshal would leave get out of class early, so as not to have to circle around the gorilla every day.
"Next season, the 76ers should improve, but they traded the No. 2 pick to the Nets."

Ray Allen on the side also wiped his sweat. As a new player, he still wants to cooperate with famous coaches.

The head coach of the Bucks, Chris Ford, is also very prestigious. He has coached the Celtics in the past, but compared with Larry Brown, he is still almost interesting.

Li You suddenly thought of He Douan in the future, and wondered if Ray Allen's mentality had changed when he played under this famous coach
Reading books and newspapers, attending classes and training, Li You's life is very regular.

In the evening, when I returned to the new home I just bought in the West End of Hartford, Milinda, who was decorating the room, suddenly suggested:
"Actually, it's not bad to live in the south. There are country clubs and golf courses there, so it's convenient for socializing!"

Li You knew that this was a suggestion for him to enter the upper class. Although the new house was close to Elizabeth Park, it was outdated.

Just like this elegant Victorian villa, the old money has also shifted positions. America, which is equal and free, has a clear hierarchy. If you want to enter the upper class, you must not only have money, but also taste.
Hugging this thoughtful Dabo girl, Li You jokingly said:
"In fact, it doesn't matter where I live. For example, if I apply to join the Metropolitan Club, the other party may greet me with a smile!"

"Very good! Young man, do you want to join the Metropolitan Club?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Tell me briefly, where are you from?"

"Sir, I'm from New Mexico!"

"Oh, I see."

Seeing Li You vividly imitating the jokes of previous years, Milinda collapsed into her arms with laughter.

He hugged Li You and said with a smile:

"The situation is different. Now there is no level map, the traffic is more convenient, and Albuquerque is also very good!"

Li You focused on controlling the ball, then tilted his head and asked in a muffled voice:
"Want to visit Albuquerque? It's much more free than Hartford!"

Milinda thought for a while, rearranged her coat again, and didn't answer the question, she leaned into her ear and whispered:

"There is no Saturday night show, let's go to bed early!"

"."

On July 7th, Li You finally saw his friend Aiwen who let himself go. At this time, this person was single again, and his ex-student girlfriend did not break the record, and they broke up in less than three months.
After visiting Li You's new house, Ai Wen turned around, but couldn't find any wine, so he couldn't help but raise his volume and complain loudly:

"You bought Apple stock? Why don't you donate all your dollars!"

In Chicago before, when Mark Bartelstein heard about Li You's plan, he also reacted the same way as his friend in front of him, showing the expression "Are you crazy".

"Didn't Jobs come back in February? I watch the news every day!"

Li You shared his news with a smile, but Ai Wen plucked out his long hair, and said helplessly:
"Then you should also see that in the financial report for the second quarter in April, they lost $4 million, a record high!"

"In May, 5 people were laid off, and many projects and departments were closed. Even if the loss in the third quarter is less, the stock price will not rise significantly."

Li You shrugged. The stock price plummeted from US$18.87 at the beginning of the year. He thought it was an opportunity to buy the bottom, but everyone thought Apple was doomed:

"I bought everything, and it's too late to regret it. I think this deal will definitely pay off in the end!"

Aiwen shook his head, and then he didn't bother with these issues anymore, Yin smiled and suggested:

"The summer class is coming to an end. I haven't been to the Atlanta Club yet, so it's time to see it!"

Li You pointed to the mirror, asked his friend to look at his dark circles, and then joked:

"Be careful lying there and not coming back, young people have to be restrained!"

"."

At the beginning of August, Li You received a text message from Mengxin Walter McCarty:

"Lee, I may be leaving the team, it's nice to have a friend like you in the Knicks."

Within two days, Li You received another text message from Mengxin John Wallace:

"Lee, I don't want to leave New York, I don't want to leave the Knicks, I don't want to play in Canada."

For these two messages, Li You could only simply reply and comfort her.

Charles Oakley had a good eye, and McCarty did not stay with the Knicks for two years.
On August 8, the Knicks finally took action, signing free agent Ben Wallace for two years and $8 million.

This news did not attract any attention at all. Maybe some players knew the inside story. Oakley dug up Ben Wallace, but this signing is believed to be paid by related households.
Soon, Li You received another text message from veteran Herb Williams.

The veteran who didn't play much this season will leave the team next season. Maybe it won't take long. Herb Williams will even retire directly.

The Knicks lost a rebound in the Eastern Conference finals, and the Knicks had to add energetic big men. As for the follow-up operations, Li You had no way of knowing, and the memory in his mind could not give an answer.

Li You, who continued to dig out his talents, counted secretly, and finally found that the Knicks lineup will not change much next season.

Jeff Van Gundy has a high probability of renewing his contract, and the gorilla is also there. Not only the Knicks did not make any moves, but most teams in the league did not make any moves. Everyone lay flat:
"Waiting for the Bulls to disintegrate?"

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(End of this chapter)