Basketball trainer, I created a super giant

Chapter 158 Wasps, stinging people? They don't even deserve it!

Outside the main entrance of Water House Center.

Two cranes roared as they helped workers hang a huge poster on the advertising space on the exterior wall of the stadium.

As the person in charge confirmed that all positions were fixed, the posters unfurled like a waterfall.

Against a black background, the entire magician team unfolds in a V-formation, moving from near to far.

Standing in the most prominent center position are undoubtedly Brown and McGrady, one on the left and one on the right, arms crossed, back to back.

Behind him, the most outstanding moments of each teammate's season were captured and pieced together like silhouettes.

Behind everyone, there is the silhouette of a trophy.

Judging from its outline, it is undoubtedly the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.

Of course, there's also that arrogant promotional slogan.

[Championship, here we come!]

“Sir, aren’t we being a little too conspicuous?” Dave looked up at the roadside, then turned to ask Gabriel beside him.

The playoffs haven't even started yet.

At this point, he was aiming for the championship. Although it wasn't as arrogant as directly shouting "Magic championship," he still felt it was flamboyant.

"This is the playoffs. If we lose, we'll become a laughing stock." Dave tried to find a more tactful way to put it, but couldn't.

Gabriel waved his hand dismissively.

"This is the boss's order."

Ricky DeVos has already said he wants to make the biggest poster possible so that he can see it from a great distance when he drives to the arena.

And it's not just the exterior of the arena, but the entire Odorland stadium, in prominent locations, even at the airport and Disney.

He wants not only every resident of Orlando to see this, but also to let the tourists who come to Orlando for vacation know that the Magic are going for the championship.

"As for jokes?"

Gabriel scoffed and said with a sneer, "Who the hell cares?"

Even if we ultimately fail to win the championship, so what?

The Magic have made a lot of fools, and there are plenty of fans and media who laugh at them. This little joke is nothing.

"That's perfect!"

Gabriel was not only satisfied, but even felt it wasn't quite enough.

They're already the top team in the East, so what's wrong with shouting "Magic for the championship"?

We Floridaans have never cared about saving face.

Just as Gabriel thought, Floridaers never prioritize saving face when they speak or act.

Everyone has a little bit of a crazy desire to do whatever they want.

At Tang Sen's home.

Guo Yonglin stared at the television in disbelief, then said to Tang Sen, "Old Tang, is it appropriate to say something like that in public?"

The two got up early and sat in the restaurant to eat together.

The television next to me was playing Channel 6's morning news.

Today is the 20th, the Magic and Hornets' first game of the first round.

These past two days, Orlando has been filled with a festive atmosphere, like a holiday.

Especially local media.

Between the lines, his arrogant attitude of being embarrassed and implying that everyone present was trash was impossible to conceal.

So these two guys on the morning news were spouting wild claims.

Before the first round even started, Bernie was already discussing who would make it out of the West: the Lakers, who exude the aura of a powerhouse, the unexpected rise of the Kings, or that old sly fox from Texas.

Bernie went even further, criticizing the Spurs and saying that the Magic were swept by the Spurs twice this season and were ready to take revenge in the playoffs.

As a result, there was no chance!

You Spurs should also work hard and try to break out of the West, giving us a chance for revenge.

Meanwhile, Carole, the blonde bombshell standing next to her, seems to be experiencing a decline in popularity, perhaps due to her age and no longer being the dream girl of young men in Orlando. Is this a deliberate attempt to create hype, or simply a genuine feeling?

She announced it directly to the camera.

If the Magic win the championship this year, she is willing to put herself on the dinner table for the entire Magic team to enjoy.

These wild words made Guo Yonglin tremble.

Although Tang Sen already knew about this guy's unruly and dissolute nature, he was still completely shocked.

But the wildness of Floridaers doesn't stop there.

Brown's arrival began with a pile of poop.

So that gentleman came again.

Perhaps he thinks that one should die a natural death?
That noon, outside the Ritz-Carlton Hotel where the Hornets were staying, a number of Magic fans spontaneously organized themselves and came to the hotel to show off, trying to give the Hornets a taste of the passion of Orlando fans.

At this moment, that gentleman, just like last year, stepped out from the crowd.

Even with messy hair, she still manages to catch people's attention.

Then, under the watchful eyes of all the fans, all the media, and the hotel security personnel, he turned his back to the hotel, unzipped his pants, squatted down, and did it all in one smooth motion.

He gave the Hornets a "big gift".

Although he was immediately taken away by the police, the matter had obviously reached the ears of Hornets head coach Paul Silas.

At the pre-match press conference, he angrily protested this behavior.

"In my heart, Orlando has always been a beautiful city with the best fans in the country."

He was blatantly lying, and his claim of being the best fan in the country almost made some local reporters in the audience burst out laughing.

"But I can't understand this kind of behavior of defecating outside our hotel. It's a huge disrespect to us. I don't think we Charlotte fans would welcome the Magic to Charlotte like this if they went there."

Even so, Silas still showed restraint.

However, the reporters present were clearly not paying attention to the Orlando fans.

Haven't Florida residents caused enough farces already?

Their professionalism made them more focused on the game itself, and a reporter asked Silas how he planned to deal with the Magic, who were ranked first in the East.

After all, in everyone's eyes, the Hornets were just there to make up the numbers in this series.

"And PJ."

A reporter actually asked Silas if he regretted making the trade with the Magic mid-season and sending his core center to the Magic.

As a result, in the playoffs, they faced the Magic in the first round.

This is absolutely tantamount to aiding the enemy.

When PJ Brown was mentioned, a hint of embarrassment flashed across Silas's face.

Although we got two first-round picks and a center who was selected 15th overall in the first round, it feels like a pretty good deal.

However, Hunter's performance in Charlotte was mediocre, which led to some voices questioning the deal.

Silas, of course, wouldn't say something that contradicts himself: "Steven is a genius, everyone underestimates him, believe me, he will shine in this series."

"As for how to deal with the Magic, I know many media outlets believe they are a championship-caliber team with no rivals in the East, but we are not weak either."

Silas looked proud as he said this.

Who was it that upset the Heat, who were third in the Eastern Conference, last year?
They also played seven games against the Bucks, narrowly losing in Game 7.

“We are not weak. Mashburn has returned healthy and is still our best scorer. The inside-outside combination of him, Davis, and Magloire is very imaginative.”

Silas's gaze was sharp as he looked at the group of reporters below the stage.

"Anyone who underestimates us will be taught a lesson: wasps can sting!"

Wasps do sting.

So in the home team's locker room, a few veterans gathered around Brown, who was playing in the playoffs for the first time, and described to him the dangers of the playoffs.

We need to give him a heads-up.

He's the team's absolute core player. If something happens to him, forget about the championship; he should just take a vacation and go home to be with his kids.

PJ Brown, in particular, shared his personal experience.

“Believe me, Kwame, Paul is no pushover, he’ll definitely target you.” PJ Brown’s expression was extremely serious.

Yu Yin nodded repeatedly beside him.

Paul Silas was a notorious enforcer for the Celtics in the 1970s, known for his dirty tricks and underhanded tactics.

Under his leadership, the Hornets were not exactly a model team.

“Before Game 7 of last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals, Paul specifically approached me and asked me to provoke Glen during the game because he knew he had a bad temper and wanted me to get him out of the game.” PJ Brown directly started exposing Silas’s dirty secrets.

This clearly touched a nerve with Ewing, who was standing nearby. The memory of PJ Brown's incredible 1-for-5 trade was still fresh in his mind.

Rivers, who had arrived at some point, walked up and patted PJ Brown on the shoulder, saying, "So PJ, when you're on the court, you have to protect Kwame."

You are a veteran with relevant experience, so you must step up and protect the team's core player.

"And you!"

Rivers then turned to the crowd and loudly reminded them, "This is only the first round of the playoffs. Don't forget our goal. Our goal is the championship, so take it easy and protect yourselves."

The playoffs aren't just one or two games; they're played round after round, spanning two months of competition.

Sometimes, being able to protect yourself and persevere to the end is also a victory.

"So I don't need you to beat the Hornets by 20 or 30 points. Just play it safe and play like you would in the regular season. Their strength is not worth mentioning."

Rivers pinched his fingers, tracing the wasp's pinpoint-like frailty.

Strategically, Rivers despised the enemy, but tactically, he chose to teach Davis.

Davis simply reminded them to control the pace and prevent the Hornets from getting too aggressive.

The Hornets are young and full of energy, especially Baron Davis.

Therefore, you must maintain your own rhythm and focus on success rate. Once you start rushing after the Hornets, you're doomed.

Davis mostly pulled Billups along, conveying the coaching staff's tactical intentions to him.

Billups' stats aren't outstanding, but his role as the on-court leader is irreplaceable. By playing against a bunch of elementary school kids, he truly honed his playmaking and organizational skills.

After making the arrangements, Rivers pulled Brown aside and asked if he had seen Tang Sen.

He wanted to ask Tangsen if Sather could play.

The Hornets' backcourt has a strong offensive drive, and if problems arise mid-game, they'll need someone to contain them.

Sather is in the locker room, but Tang Sen is the most qualified to say whether he can play or not, and what level his defense has reached.

At this moment, Tang Sen had already arrived at the stadium.

The entrance to the stadium.

As night fell, a large number of fans entered the stadium, determined to fill the Water House Center to capacity.

Outside the stadium, many fans who couldn't get tickets were also gathered, celebrating wildly.

"Amare, over here!"

Tang Sen waved to the crowd.

Stoudemire stood out from the crowd, with his brother Marwan beside him.

There was also a young man with messy blond hair and glasses, who looked like a newbie just starting out in the workplace.

He was Connors's assistant, named Jack Rushdie.

Connors even managed to become an assistant.

Earlier this month, after Tangsen contacted Connors to complain that he hadn't fulfilled his duties as a professional agent, Connors sent Jack over.

I rented a house for Stoudemire and then drove him to training and school every day.

Incidentally, they also take care of Stoudemire's daily life.

The young man is quite responsible; he always tries his best to complete the tasks assigned to him.

Stoudemire hurriedly pulled his brother over to greet him. He was wearing Kwame Brown's number 66 jersey, while his brother Marwan clearly preferred McGrady and was wearing number 1.

"Thank you, sir."

Stoudemire came up and thanked him first.

This was the first time he had ever bought a ticket to watch a game.

Tang Sen waved his hand dismissively and even bought Marwan an ice cream.

Once they were in the elevator, Marwan asked curiously, "Are we going to a private room?"

Tang Sen nodded.

In the first game of the playoffs, DeVos made a special trip to the arena to cheer on the team.

Then they insisted on inviting Tang Sen to watch the game together in a private box.

Enter the largest VIP box in the stadium.

The luxurious private room immediately made Marwan feel reserved.

Stoudemire's expression didn't change much, but the tension in his eyes was undeniable.

After greeting everyone present and moving to the side, I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Marwan stopped licking his ice cream and stood cautiously next to Stoudemire, asking in a low voice if he could go down to watch the game, as he felt the atmosphere would be better down there.

Stoudemire thought the same thing, but after thinking for a moment, he ruffled his brother's hair and said, "It's okay, Marwan. Trust me, it won't be long before we can live like that too."

He glanced at Tang Sen out of the corner of his eye.

He has talent and is lucky enough to have found the best trainer. Before long, he will become the next Kwame Brown.

Meanwhile, people inside the box were also observing Stoudemire.

"Dave, isn't he the Florida basketball champion who trained with Tang?" Gabriel held his wine glass, staring intently at Stoudemire.

That physique, that wingspan, and that shoulder width—his natural talent is undeniable.

Dave nodded and reminded him, "He's currently the second-best high school player in the country, a top prospect in the draft."

The subtext is that you should stop fantasizing; you can only look, not have.

Gabriel glared at Dave, annoyed, and thought, "That won't do."

As for his ranking as the second-highest high school student in the nation, he did know some inside information.

Stoudemire wasn't this famous before he played in the McDonald's All-High School Game.

After participating, his fame soared, and he was immediately mentioned in discussions about the best high school students in the United States.

He used to play rugby, but he hasn't been playing basketball for very long, so his skills are terrible.

Logically, this should be a negative point.

However, two of the five ranking organizations still listed him as the number one high school student in the United States.

The reason is that he is now training with Tang Sen.

Brown's technique was terrible before he started training with Townsend.

Therefore, technology is no longer an issue, and all organizations believe that Townsend will help Stoudemire prepare, just like Brown did.

If his physical gifts were compensated for by his technical deficiencies, it would be incredibly exciting.

Some media outlets have said that it is very likely that Stoudemire will be the next Brown as soon as he enters the league, playing at an All-Star level in his rookie season.

Therefore, even knowing that it would be difficult to get Stoudemire, it didn't stop Gabriel from fantasizing.

If Stoudemire were replaced by PJ Brown, the Magic's roster would be incredibly formidable.

Lost in his beautiful daydream, DeVos called out to him.

“John, we won’t lose, will we?” DeVos asked in a low voice.

He invited many good friends to watch the game, and it would be embarrassing and disappointing if they lost.

Gabriel was full of confidence. He glanced at the two teams of players walking onto the field below and said without hesitation, "Trust my boss, we can't lose."

Wasps, and they even sting people? Do they even deserve to be called that?
The competition began at 8:30 p.m.

There was no nationwide live broadcast.

But nobody cares. Once we make it to the finals, you'll have to stream it even if you don't want to.

The Hornets are fielding the same starting lineup.

Starting center Jamal Magloire, 2.11 meters tall and 117 kilograms, was a 2000 draft pick and was originally intended to be PJ Brown's backup.

With PJ gone and Hunter's performance falling short of expectations, he was finally promoted to the starting lineup.

Silas was willing to trade PJ Brown for two reasons: firstly, the Magic offered a generous package, and secondly, he wanted to promote Magloire and nurture this strong, rebounding-savvy rookie.

Elden Campbell started alongside him; he was slightly lighter but still 2.11 meters tall.

He is a defensive stalwart. Before the trade of PJ Brown, he and PJ Brown teamed up to carry the Hornets' interior defense. Their contribution to defeating the Heat last year was indispensable.

Forward Jamal Mashburn.

David Wesley and Baron Davis still lead the defense.

This lineup is young.

With a solid defense inside and a powerful offense outside, Marsh can score 20+ points as easily as eating and drinking.

Therefore, the Hornets do not have very complex tactics.

The paint was anchored by two defensive stalwarts, while Davis made a series of aggressive drives to attack the opponent's formation, and Mashburn roamed the perimeter, scoring with his shots.

"Double-team Kwame Brown, shut down that kid, we need to crush them inside." Paul Silas, still haunted by their past grievances, fiercely instructed his players.

This is the playoffs. Regardless of whether you're a rookie or not, you're an All-Star starter, so it's time to enjoy the double-team treatment.

He even glanced at Magloire subtly, giving him a knowing look.

Magloire nodded knowingly. He knew how difficult Kwame Brown was to deal with in the several games against the Magic this season, and that without some tricks, they might not be able to stop him.

So at the start of the game, Magloire elbowed Brown in the neck without any attempt to conceal his position while defending in the penalty area.

Brown stumbled and immediately turned to look at the referee.

The referee made no response.

Magloire, who had elbowed Brown, showed no remorse whatsoever. Instead, as he turned and ran away at the end of the offensive possession, he gave Brown a provocative look.

Brown didn't even look at him.

His only goal is the Lakers and Shaquille O'Neal.

As for the vulnerable little Karamis along the way, who cares how much they thrash around?

Brown focused on defense and didn't lose his position.

On the offensive end, he won't hesitate to seize any opportunity that comes his way.

The Hornets' double-teaming was decisive; as soon as Brown received the ball near the basket, Campbell would rush over.

But Brown can pass inside and can finish a shot after a mid-range pick-and-roll.

His shooting has become increasingly excellent and consistent.

So even though he seemed to be in trouble, he still managed to score 7 points when he was substituted off the court.

Paul Silas was a little confused.

For most of the game, he didn't sense Brown's presence at all, as if he had disappeared.

How did he end up scoring 7 points in a single quarter?

And it wasn't just him.

Silas looked up at the scoreboard: 23 to 18.

The wasps followed behind.

In Silas's memory, the Hornets should have performed better in the first quarter.

Davis's constant drives to the basket caused damage.

Mashburn also sank a difficult three-pointer from the outside.

But the question is, why is it the Hornets that are lagging behind?

Silas turned to look at his son beside him, giving him a questioning look.

(End of this chapter)