Champions Creed

Chapter 421 420: Don’t worry about how we won (please give me a monthly ticket!)
Roger "cut the throats" of Lakers fans twice in a row, allowing him to end all the noise in the arena.

The emergence of Monta Ellis fills the biggest gap of the Golden State Gang this season.

The really scary thing is that Monta Ellis is not a top ball handler, not even an elite starter.

You could say he was very good among rookies, but compared to a truly elite starter, he had too many shortcomings.

However, even such a rookie ball handler partnering with Roger can produce such a terrifying offensive effect.

It is hard to imagine how great Roger's achievements would be if Amar'e Stoudemire was still around and if he had an elite ball-handling assistant by his side.

In fact, throughout Roger's entire career, he has always lacked an elite outside ball handler around him most of the time.

When he was with the Bulls, his outside partner was Pippen, but when he was with the Magic, the outside ball handlers around him were only at the level of Sarunas Marciulionis.

It wasn't until his time with the Hawks that he and Paul Pierce teamed up to truly solve this problem.

The whole world saw how dominant the Atlanta Hawks were when Roger played with Paul Pierce.

The score difference was widened to 10 points, which became the watershed of the game.

After that, the Golden State Gang had a firm control over the situation, and the Lakers were unable to overtake the score until the end of the game.

In the end, the Golden State Warriors defeated the Western Conference No. 116 Lakers 108 to 43. Roger scored 8 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals and blocks, which was a typical Roger-style data, with full influence on both offense and defense.

Kobe had 36 points, 3 assists and 7 rebounds with a shooting percentage of 58%. This was the result after he decided to delegate power to Steve Nash, greatly improving efficiency without reducing production.

Nash also scored 17 points and 14 assists, and he did not let Kobe down.

But it was still not enough for the Lakers to win.

For the third consecutive round, the Warriors took a 1-0 lead at the start of the series.

This means that Eric Spoelstra is 100% prepared for all the Warriors' opponents. He does not need to rely on failure to test and adjust. Before the series begins, he fully analyzes the opponent, arranges the troops in advance, and considers all possibilities and coping strategies.

Under normal circumstances, the first three games of a series can be considered foreplay, giving both sides enough lubrication to prepare for the subsequent all-out sprint.

But the Warriors used their killing move right from the start without any hesitation.

Now Roger knew why that bastard was always popular with the cheerleaders.

Sporty girls like this kind of simple and direct man because they have done enough stretching and preparation.

Eric Spoelstra is an invisible core, and he is definitely not the kind of coach who "leash the dog to win". But after the game, he decided to leave the spotlight to the players.

"I just did what I could," Spoelstra replied. "If I didn't have such an outstanding team, I wouldn't be lucky enough to get to where I am today. This is the most fantastic team I've ever seen."

Eric Spoelstra sincerely believes that this is the most dreamy team in NBA history.

Yes, he served as an assistant coach for the Magic, a team known for having the "strongest duo in history." During the three consecutive championships, Roger and Shaq's dominance was unmatched.

But so what? The team still inevitably fell apart after achieving great success.

The truly terrifying thing about this Warriors team is that Spoelstra can't think of anything that could bring them down.

Typically, in modern basketball, a three-peat marks the end of a great team's life cycle.

The Chicago Bulls, the Orlando Magic, and the Atlanta Hawks cannot escape this curse either.

Yes, Roger set a record of four consecutive championships, but those four championships were not won with the same team, and he still failed to successfully extend the life cycle of a dynasty team.

This is the brilliant miracle Roger is about to create.

Although the outcome of this season has yet to be determined, even if the Warriors do win three consecutive championships, it will not be the end of this Golden State gang.

Spoelstra had a hunch that Roger would accomplish his goal - leaving an insurmountable shadow behind.

He will create a brilliant ending never seen before in modern basketball history.

Monta Ellis is another high-profile gang member. His stats of 10 points and 5 assists are not outstanding, but his appearance changed the course of the game.

This unruly guy wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes in front of the camera and pointed at his brother Antoine in the stands.

Then, he put on his rebellious smile again: "Now you can be proud of me, old man."

Gary Payton smiled and clapped his hands, saying to himself, "Congratulations on seizing your opportunity, kid."

The first game is over, and only the glory of the winners remains on the field.

Kobe?

He disappeared after the game and didn't stay on the court for even a second.

After returning to the locker room, Kobe didn't say anything and just sat in front of the locker in a daze.

But to be honest, Rudy Tomjanovich is not worried about Kobe.

People like Roger and Kobe, even if they are at their lowest point in the last second, they will hold their heads high and continue to fight in the next second.

Their souls will never be broken, and you will never see them completely lost in the face of great setbacks like LBJ did.

So, Rudy Tomjanovich is not worried about Kobe's condition.

But there is one thing he must admit, that is, the outcome of this round of series is completely out of control.

All season long, Rudy Tomjanovich had a sense of "winning the game."

No matter who his opponent is, he is the one who can control the overall situation. He plays with all opponents at will and controls everything in the game, just like playing a game of Texas Hold'em with open cards.

But facing the Warriors, Rudy Tomjanovich lost this sense of security that he was in control of the overall situation.

He knew the Lakers wouldn't necessarily lose, but he also didn't guarantee a win.

He felt like he was sailing in a boundless ocean, not knowing whether he would see the coast or hit a reef in the next second.

The day after the game, the league announced the results of the best team and best defensive team of the season.

Roger was once again selected to the All-NBA First Team, which is the most certain thing every year.

The first team players are Roger, Kobe, Nash, McGrady, KG and Duncan.

The first defense is Roger, Kobe, Bowen, Kirilenko, Artest and Big Ben.

Because of the same number of votes, this year's first team and first defense both have six players selected.

The second defense is Billups, Prince, KG, Dwight Howard, and Duncan.

The most surprising thing about Roger this year's All-NBA Team and All-Defensive Team was not that there were six players in both the first and second teams, but that two of them were from the Orlando Magic.

McGrady returned to the first team after three years, and Dwight Howard was selected to the All-Defensive Team two years ahead of schedule.

In the original timeline, McGrady never played again after his terrifying peak performance in 2003.

Dwight Howard didn't start to shine until the 07-08 season and was selected to the All-Defensive Team.

But when McGrady and Howard got together, everything changed.

In addition to a player's pure strength, the selection of the best team and the best defensive team also takes into account a player's attendance rate and record.

In the original timeline, McGrady played less than 50 games this season, which certainly wouldn't have earned him a spot in the All-NBA Team.

In the original timeline, the Magic only won 36 games this season, so Dwight Howard naturally had no chance of making the All-Defensive Team.

But now, McGrady is healthy, and Dwight Howard is among the winners alongside McGrady and Baron Davis.

This success allowed them to win honor for themselves.

In this timeline, the career heights of McGrady and Howard have been greatly improved.

Ever since they beat LBJ in the playoffs, their status has been completely different.

What’s even more terrifying is that in the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals that night, the Orlando Magic actually beat the New York Knicks, who had not lost a single game in the playoffs before!
Wade and KG both had poor touch in this game, only Yao Ming continued to eat, sleep and play Warcraft stably.

But McGrady and Baron Davis both started to feel their shooting touches worse, and in the fourth quarter they doused the Knicks with a torrential downpour of three-pointers, giving them a 1-0 lead in this round of the series that was not favored at all.

Nike feels helpless because McGrady and Howard are both Adidas stars, and it is well known that Adidas's poor marketing ability has always made McGrady and Howard tepid.

Few people know how strong Tracy McGrady was in 2003. He was no weaker than Kobe Bryant and infinitely close to Roger. However, Adidas did not seize this opportunity to make McGrady more famous, and McGrady also lost the opportunity to improve his position in the league.

Now, when McGrady and Howard have easily achieved the ultimate goal that Nike customized for LBJ, even without the help of Adidas, McGrady and Howard's fame and reputation will skyrocket.

This means that the Chosen One is not even the best player in the Eastern Conference, let alone compared to Roger.

It is not difficult to imagine how frustrated Nike was at this time. They spent countless resources and money on LBJ, trying to make him the second Michael Jordan who saved Nike and treat him as a superstar of the same level as Roger. But his current honor and fame are not even as good as Wade, McGrady and Dwight Howard.

This is simply unacceptable.

Even Daniel Gilbert was thinking about a question: Maybe LeBron is not our chosen one?

This is a terrible idea. Daniel Gilbert bought the Cavaliers just for LBJ and invested everything in this team.

But look at it now, all he got was the second round of the playoffs.

In addition, LBJ insisted on only renewing the 1+1 contract with Ball, which made Daniel Gilbert think whether the man was worthy of his licking.

Even the most selfless bootlicker needs a little feedback from the goddess, even if it's just a good morning or a selfie.

Otherwise he will no longer have the motivation to lick it.

And what about Daniel Gilbert? He has not received any positive feedback since he became the owner of the Cavaliers.

What is the reward for the second round of the playoffs? With the configuration of the Cavaliers, any star player can lead the team to the second round.

But Daniel Gilbert can only continue to increase his bet because Cleveland can't attract any stars except LBJ.

He can only work tirelessly, continue to invest in LBJ, and hope that the day of his success will come sooner.

The next day, Daniel Gilbert met with LBJ and his team. LBJ's rookie contract was only one year away from expiring, and he had to get that early contract extension this summer.

But no matter what Daniel Gilbert said, no matter what promises he made, LBJ's final answer was still the same: "We only want to accept a 1+1 contract."

At that moment, Daniel Gilbert didn't know what LBJ was thinking.

He couldn't see through him at all.

The essence of a 1+1 contract is to force a team to strengthen its team and keep it competitive.

But the Cleveland Cavaliers have been fully cooperating with LBJ and they have never relaxed.

Moreover, LBJ has always been a philanderer, which is the essential difference between him and Roger.

Even though Roger only signed a 1+1 contract with the Warriors, he has never been involved in any scandals.

What about LBJ?
He is going to the Nets today and to Los Angeles tomorrow. There are more scandals about him than any Hollywood actress.

What else does he want?
"I don't understand," Daniel Gilbert replied. "I have been working for LBJ's future, and you won't even give me a little bit of security."

"I don't understand it either. Roger and the Warriors have always signed 1+1 contracts," Rich Paul answered on behalf of James. "Why don't they have any problems?"

"Because Roger never has rumors with other teams every other day, and he never says nonsense like 'I'm not opposed to playing for Jay-Z' in front of reporters. Also," Daniel Gilbert was obviously very angry. He slammed the table, "Who the hell do you think you are? Why doesn't Leon Rose (LBJ's current agent) come to see me in person!?"

Young Rich Paul remained calm in the face of the angry Daniel Gilbert. He was not intimidated or fearful, demonstrating the basic qualities of a future top trader.

"My name is Rich Paul, and I'm Mr. Leon Ross' assistant."

"I only see Leon Rose. LeBron, tell your agent not to send an assistant to deal with me!"

"Before we reach an agreement on a 1+1 contract extension, I will be the one to see you," Rich Paul said calmly, as if he had complete control over the negotiation situation. This made Daniel Gilbert's anger just now ridiculous. "There is only one situation in which Mr. Leon Rose will come to see you, and that is the day when LeBron signs with the Cavaliers."

An unpleasant negotiation ended here. LBJ still did not get the 1+1 contract, and Daniel Gilbert was able to convince LeBron to sign a long-term contract.

However, on the way back to the hotel, LBJ was very satisfied with his friend's performance.

"Rich, you really look like a top agent."

LeBron James has always been a very business-minded guy who always hopes to maximize his own interests.

If you want to maximize your benefits, you must do one thing - not be controlled by anyone else, and control the overall situation yourself.

Since entering the league, LBJ has changed his agent once. His purpose is to gain more say.

The Goodwin brothers were LBJ's agents when he first entered the league. They successively secured sky-high endorsement contracts from Nike and Coca-Cola for this chosen son. In 2005, after LBJ realized his own value on the court and in business, he announced the dismissal of the Goodwin brothers, and together with several childhood friends, he established James' personal company LRMR, which was fully responsible for managing his own commercial advertising endorsements.

At this point, matters concerning commercial endorsements were completely under the control of LBJ himself.

At the same time, he handed over his player contract matters to Leon Rose, who had a CAA background, but the condition was that his friend Rich Paul from his core circle would enter CAA to learn advanced agency management concepts.

The purpose? Of course, to train Rich Paul, a native of the company, into a good enough agent and then use him for his own purposes.

By then, LBJ will be able to take control of everything.

Roger and Michael Jordan controlled everything without using so many complicated means because they both had strength far beyond that of anyone else in the league and they were able to win consistently, so they naturally took the initiative in everything.

LBJ is different. He must use various means and operations to achieve his goal of controlling everything. He even wants to control the media in the future so that no media can question him.

So far, LeBron James' plan has been successful.

The difference between him and other superstars, and also his most subversive aspect, is that he makes up for his lack of on-court dominance with off-court means.

It's like 18 years later, it's hard to imagine that a player who ranked 13th from the bottom in the league in cumulative plus-minus value, last on the team, and did not inject any strength into the team, is still touted by the media as the best player in the league.

James was very satisfied with Rich Paul's performance and felt that his plan would succeed sooner or later.

Rich Paul nodded: "Everything is at your service, LeBron. Don't worry, we already have a plan. If the Cavaliers don't accept it, we will find a place that accepts a 1+1 contract and is fully competitive. All you need to do is stay in shape next season and continue to play like a superstar."

Rich Paul was already imagining how disruptive that plan would be if it succeeded.

The history of the alliance may be rewritten as a result.

He could foresee that this subversion might not be entirely positive, but it didn't matter, because the history of competitive sports would always only record the names of the winners.

Don't ask how we won.

That evening, the 2006 NBA draft lottery drawing ceremony officially began.

As a championship-contending team, this year's lottery draft is closely related to the Warriors.

The Warriors got the first-round draft pick that belonged to the Trail Blazers in the trade to clear Alan Houston last season. The Trail Blazers lived up to expectations and won the Warriors a place in the lottery with their outstanding performance.

Jeff Hornacek's sweet-looking daughter Abby Hornacek participated in the lottery draft on behalf of the Warriors, but luck did not favor the little girl. The Warriors failed to get the top three picks due to the Trail Blazers' last-place record in the league, and only finished fourth.

People have reason to believe that this was intentional on David Stern's part. The Warriors are already strong enough, and he can't afford to give them another No. 1 pick.

But the Bay Area media was very satisfied with this pick: "Don't forget, Roger was also picked fourth that year."

Suddenly, there was a new topic in the locker room, and everyone was speculating who would become the new member of the Golden State Gang.

"It certainly can't be Adam Morrison," Stephen Jackson joked. "Who would believe a guy whose draft template is Larry Bird, except for that idiot Michael Jordan?"

"Maybe Tyrus Thomas. He's the kind of athletic wing Roger likes, and the guy's from Baton Rouge, which means he's 100% Roger's fanboy."

"It's definitely Rudy Gay. He's not a ball-handling scorer, but he's comprehensive and fits the style of our team."

Everyone expressed their thoughts, and finally, everyone looked at Roger: "Who would you choose with the fourth pick?"

"Brandon Roy." Roger answered without hesitation.

Everyone was stunned. A guy who was older, had part of his meniscus removed in high school, also had surgery on the meniscus of his other leg in college, had the same arm span and height, and whose static and dynamic talents were not that outstanding?

At this moment, Boris Dio, who was drinking coffee, suddenly put down his coffee cup.

"Brandon? I remember him. I played against him during the 2002 draft tryouts."

"What's the result?" Stephen Jackson asked with interest.

"Man, he couldn't play basketball! I heard that after I beat him, he gave up the draft and chose to go to college because he realized he didn't have the strength to play in the NBA."

This statement made everyone doubt Brandon Roy's ability. After all, Boris Diaw was never a superstar. However, he was able to beat Brandon Roy in a tryout four years ago and forced him to withdraw from the draft.

But soon, Stephen Jackson started laughing.

"Good, so he's a typical Golden State gangster."

Look in here, look at all the people in this locker room.

At the beginning, they were never expected to have any future.

But now, they are on the road to a three-peat.

The next night, the Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers for the second consecutive game on the road, and the series score became 2-0.

The Los Angeles Lakers have fallen into the death curse of "it is impossible to win the series if they cannot beat the Warriors in the first two games."

(End of this chapter)