The Whip of the God of Basketball

The Boston summer of 2002 was later than usual.

Dennis Rodman took off his green jersey and left the court shirtless. In his heart, he said to himself: My basketball career is over.

This is Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals in 2002. At the North Shore Garden Arena, the Celtics played against the New Jersey Nets at home. Before the game, they were 2:3 behind. This is a battle to go home or continue. The Walters tried their best, but still lost this life-and-death battle, and ended the season with regret.

This is the Celtics' return to the Eastern Conference Finals after 14 years since 1988. The long-lost feeling, long-lost passion, and long-lost hope were finally shattered, destroyed by the crazy defense and fast break of the New Jersey Nets.

Fox Leon sat on the bench and did not leave immediately, because there were also many fans at the scene who did not leave. They were applauding and cheering for the Celtic players, and they were proud of the impressive achievements of this group of young people.

"Hey, let's go, let's go back to the locker room to summarize." Dick Hart reminded Leon, and Leon stood up from the bench and walked slowly towards the player tunnel. In the past year, he would leave this channel at the end of every game, leave the hustle and bustle of the court, and return to the quiet locker room, which means that a happy or difficult night is over.

This time, the player channel seemed particularly long, and every step seemed particularly painful. Leon knew that he didn't want to leave.

This is his 291st day as the assistant coach of the Celtics. During these 291 days, he has paid a lot for the team and got a lot. When the All-Star Game ended, Leon and the Celtics went into the real battle together. A fast, swift and energetic Celtics showed up in front of everyone. Their strong backcourt firepower, ubiquitous offensive points, and in-form twin stars make the team almost invincible in the Eastern Conference.

In the playoffs, they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers and Detroit Pistons in a row, and finally met the New Jersey Nets in the Eastern Conference Finals, a mountain that has always been difficult to cross in the Eastern Conference during the regular season. Although the two sides scored 2:2 in the regular season, the style of play and restraint in the lineup made the Celtics finally lose in the cruel playoffs.

For the first time, Leon experienced the cruelty of the playoffs on the spot, the suffocating scene, the away game under great pressure, and the ecstasy after victory and the depression after failure. If the regular season is more like a game, then the playoffs are a war. In a real war, Leon was baptized again. And now, he needs to walk back to the locker room to heal the trauma of the battle.

"I want to tell everyone that my NBA career is over. In this season, I have experienced the last fun that basketball can bring me. Thank you for this city, thank you, you still have a greater journey and glory. But to For me, it's over, it's over." When Leon just walked into the locker room, Dennis Rodman announced to everyone that he would retire after this season and end himself in the Celtics. Legendary basketball career.

Rodman saw Leon walk into the locker room, threw the jersey he took off on Leon's head, and then laughed and said loudly: "It's over! I'm getting out of here! I won't gamble anymore. I'm going to the best whorehouse, to Atlantic City, for three days and three nights! I'm going to make movies, I'm going to travel the world, I'm going to be on a TV show... I don't want to get up early every day to train! I don't want to be fucked by you Urge to work hard on the court! Don't want to practice passing in the triangle offense...I'm leaving, Fox."

In the end, Rodman was a little choked up. During his two seasons in Boston, he received a lot of boos and criticisms, but he miraculously persisted here because he also received a lot of praise and love. . Many little fans fell in love with this colorful big guy. Some little fans often wrote to him, asking him why he dyed his hair green, why he had such and such tattoos on his body, and why he always liked to put his hair on the court. Throw yourself out of the field.

This Irish city full of racial discrimination is also full of love because of basketball, so Rodman rarely played two full seasons, but he is also 41 years old, reaching the limit of a professional player's age, no matter how old he is. Whether he likes basketball or Boston or likes to gamble, his career as an athlete should be over.

"I originally hoped to take you to the finals once, to experience that magical place, but I'm sorry kids, I don't think I can go there again." After speaking, Rodman's eyes had tears Light.

Leon took off the jersey covering his head, put it on his body, and then stepped forward to give Rodman a big hug. The magical basketball career of this magical player is over. And the Celtics' slightly miraculous trip to the Eastern Conference finals this season ended in this way. They are so close to the highest stage, but so far away.

So, the Celtics' summer came like this.

…………………

"I don't think I can go any further. It would be better for me to be an assistant coach or a consultant." Three days later, at the Boston Club Golf Course in Singham, Massachusetts, Celtics head coach John Johnson was on vacation. -Carroll offered to resign to team president Danny Ainge.

"You've done a good job, Carroll. If a coach leads a team to the conference finals and has to be dismissed, then no one in this league can be called a coach." Angie seemed to have to do something to keep him, but Luo Er was unmoved, he smiled, and used the golf ball in his hand to pestle the soft turf and said: "Everyone knows who is the real head coach candidate for this team. The most valuable quality of a person One of them is self-knowledge, and I think leading a team to the Eastern Conference Finals is a beautiful, great memory in my life. Honestly, I don’t want to spoil it.”

Angie also smiled and said nothing. He took Carol to the golf cart and went to the next hitting point. Yesterday Angie invited Carol to Singham to play Orff. A small gathering of the Celtics front office after a more successful season. What Carroll said was exactly what Angie wanted to hear. It seems that Auerbach's choice last year was not wrong. Carroll is indeed an honest and self-aware transitional coach. His gentle personality allows youngsters to thrive in the team, while giving true successors a chance to flex their muscles.

Since the All-Star Game, Fox Leon has really controlled the team's dominance, the team's style of play, training arrangements, personnel rotation, everything is arranged by him. What Carroll does is just on-the-spot command, Giving some guidance to the youngsters and cheering the players on before games. Of course, in the playoffs, Carroll still made several important substitutions and tactical adjustments as the head coach. key ball.

"Thank you, Carroll, thank you for your dedication and contribution to the Celtics over the past half of the season. After a while, I will prepare a press conference to announce your decision to resign as head coach, Boston Your fans will thank you." Angie said the speech he had prepared a long time ago, and then he stepped on the accelerator and led Carroll towards the next hitting point.

…………………

Leon has been living with Khomeinis at Tingtao Villa in Rhode Island for a week, which is a well-known resort for the wealthy in the United States. During the All-Star Game, the two met here for vacation, but because Leon temporarily served as the assistant coach of the Eastern Stars, it fell through. After that, Leon was busy with team work until the Celtics' season was completely over and they started vacationing. Only then came to this luxurious manor on the cape with Khomeinis.

This former mansion of the American railway tycoon Vanderbilt, this building full of European Renaissance atmosphere, was built on the coast. At night, the owner here can listen to the sound of the sea hitting the coast and fall asleep soundly, hence the name Listen to Tao Villa.

Because it is now a National Historic Site of the United States, it is impossible for Leon and Khomeinis to live in the villa, but in a nearby hotel. Every day near dusk, the two of them would go for a walk along the coast of Tingtao Villa and listen to the sound of the waves.

A season of intense and hasty life made Leon feel exhausted physically and mentally. Dennis Rodman announced his retirement in Boston more than a week ago, and then the Celtics held another press conference. Luo Er decided to resign, and all the pressure came to Leon in an instant. Although the Celtics have not announced the candidate for the new head coach next season, everyone knows that this candidate can only be Fox Leon, even he himself understands.

Isn't he just waiting for this day? Starting from an unknown scout, with the help of Auerbach's strength, his own intelligence, and diligence, it took two years to complete a road that others could not complete in ten years. Now what we have reached is not the end, but a new beginning.

Walking side by side with Khomeinis on the white-capped coast, Leon looked at the endless sea and blue sky, and felt that his future was like them, vast but endless. The sea breeze blowing towards the night in summer already made people shiver. After walking for a while, Leon put his arms around Khomeinis and prepared to take him away.

That's when his phone rang. It was a New York number, Wojnarowski.

"Tell me what happened, Andre." Leon knew that Wojnarowski had always been in the Three Treasures Hall for nothing, and the call at this time could only be because of the big news in the basketball world occur.

"Don't you know? You Celtics have changed again! Chris Wallace resigned! He is going to the Grizzlies as a player development consultant! The position of general manager was directly revoked, and the president Danny Ainge Will be fully responsible for management affairs."

The summer has just begun, and the Celtics have already left three people.

The Celtics' new season came earlier than usual.