Where the noise did not reach

Chapter 154 Don't Change Shoes If They're Not Broken
The dust has finally settled in the Finals, and the Dallas Mavericks have been crowned champions, lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

When Kobe held the Finals MVP trophy, the look on his face that said "this is just the beginning" was instantly transmitted to every corner of the world through the league's official cameras and Nike's vast advertising network.

It was a brand new day. Xu Ling had just finished a day of special training and was now lounging on the sofa in their rented villa with Kyle Lowry, enjoying a rare moment of leisure.

“Eli,” Lowry gulped down a mouthful of water, then turned to the currently popular political figures, “do you think Obama can win?”

Xu Ling squinted at the palm trees outside the window, momentarily lost in thought.

2008, Obama. For him, a time traveler, this was more like a historical term than a reality in progress.

"Who knows?" Xu Ling replied lazily, "The chances are pretty good."

“Hope?” Lowry sat bolt upright, as if Australian blacks were some kind of faith to him. “That’s not just hope, brother! He’ll bring change! You know what? Real change! He’ll make this world a different place!”

In a sense, Lowry is right.

The Australian blacks ultimately brought Trump to the United States, which was indeed a transformative event that spanned the 2010s and 2020s and was destined to change the world.

Xu Ling smiled as he looked at Lowry's almost naive enthusiasm. He couldn't tell Lowry that some changes don't happen overnight, and that some hopes will eventually be mixed with complex realities.

In the end, he simply said calmly, "Yes, change. But Kyle, never expect too much from politicians. They promise to change the world when they run, but often the world changes the world first after they take office."

After a month of joint training, Lowry and Xu Ling's relationship improved significantly, and he has now completely entered Xu Ling's circle.

“Hey! You sound like a cynical old man!” Lowry grumbled. “You need to have some ideals, Eli! Our generation can make history!”

Okay, let's make history.

Xu Ling pursed his lips, wondering if they hadn't made history.

Leading the Grizzlies to the semifinals and incurring the wrath of half the league, this experience is certainly "historic".

However, compared to the changes that Americans who voted for the Australian Blacks were hoping for, these minor changes to the Grizzlies are hardly worth mentioning.

Just as Xu Ling was about to change the subject, perhaps by complaining about Lowry's pathetic state during training, his phone on the table suddenly vibrated, the screen flashing the name "Dick Vesach".

Lowry also saw the caller's name.

This made his heart skip a beat.

If he were the one receiving this call, he would definitely think he had been traded.

However, if the call is to Xu Ling, it is very likely that the team is facing some major decision and needs to inform him in advance, or that they need his support before making some major decision.

Although Lowry has fully integrated into Xu Ling's social circle, and it can be said to be Xu Ling's person, protected under Xu Ling's wing, he also knows when he can play around and when he needs to be clear about their respective positions.

Lowry tactfully picked up her phone: "I'm going to reply to a message."

After saying that, he slipped away, leaving Xu Ling with her private space.

Xu Ling looked at the Blackberry phone flashing the vice president's name and immediately answered the call.

"Is there something you need?" Xu Ling returned to his role, a star player devoid of joy or sorrow. "Mr. Vesacc?"

"Eli, I hope I haven't disturbed your rest."

Of course not, Mr. Visach, this is the best time of day in California.

Are you settling in well in California?

Visachus asked again.

"Everything is fine, thank you for your concern." Xu Ling's reply was impeccable, but doubts began to creep into her mind.

Actually, he had a good impression of Vesach. Although they didn't interact much, Vesach helped the team bring in Dr. Deckard Rose after the All-Star Weekend.

Since Xu Ling accepted Dr. Ross's post-game conditioning and sports medicine recovery philosophy, he has not been injured on the court. Perhaps that was due to good luck, but in the playoffs, under the pressure of Jaffaroni's high-intensity playing time regardless of the cost, he still maintained enough energy, which must have been inseparable from the doctor's help.

Moreover, after the season ended, Xu Ling went directly to Los Angeles to hire an accelerated training team to give him special training, also because of Dr. Ross's advice that he needed to learn to make good use of his "hips".

From this perspective, Vesacci helped Xu Ling a lot.

However, Vesacci wouldn't call without a reason.

"That's good, that's good." Vesach smiled, then subtly changed the subject, "I watched the Finals last night, and I was really moved. Thinking about our journey last season, we weren't actually that much worse than Dallas, because of you, Eli. You had a phenomenal rookie season, and the whole of Memphis was going crazy for you!"

Xu Ling hummed in agreement, waiting for the other party to say "but." There couldn't be no "but."

Unfortunately, there really is no "but," or rather, Vesacci is performing an art of "how I express 'but' without saying 'but.'"

“Mark, in particular, led us to a historic breakthrough under such difficult circumstances. He did an outstanding job that exceeded everyone’s expectations.”

Following the words of the patient vice president, Xu Ling expressed his approval of the head coach: "Yes, Mark trusts me and the team, and we work together very well."

“Of course, trust is the cornerstone of success,” Vesach immediately replied, but then a heavy worry crept into his tone. “Eli, I’ve watched you grow, I see you as the future of the team, and I believe the Grizzlies will become great under your leadership. But do you know what? Behind every great player is a great coach. They are your confidants, your mentors, just like Phil Jackson would ask Michael Jordan to pass the ball in crucial moments. But Mark, I doubt he can do the same thing.”

How could you doubt it? Have you forgotten what you just said? That was the coach who led us to make history.

"Is that so?" Xu Ling simply asked in return.

“That’s right, Eli, a lot of people are worried about whether Mark owns the team.”

Xu Ling laughed and said, "As far as I know, the only person who owns the Memphis Grizzlies is Mr. Michael Heisley."

This was a bit awkward to talk about, and Xu Ling didn't seem to want to delve into the topic.

Vesach decided to be more direct in expressing his feelings: "Yes, of course, the Grizzlies belong to Mr. Heisley, but we have a responsibility to help Mr. Heisley make the team better. Mark's position is crucial. We all know that it takes time to achieve something, but if the coaching staff cannot control the locker room, what he has may just be a fleeting thing."

“I understand your thoughts, Mr. Vesach,” Xu Ling asked proactively. “Now I want to know something else: regarding the idea that Mark can’t control the locker room, are you speaking only for yourself, or for Jerry? Are these words you’re saying today your opinion, or Jerry’s?”

Vesach chuckled dryly: "Does it matter? Eli, we all want this team to get better."

Xu Ling continued, "Would you be willing to hear my thoughts?"

"Of course, your opinion is the most important."

The best is truly the most important.

“That’s always been my thought, Dick,” Xu Ling said in his signature tone, devoid of emotion but with a hint of sarcasm. “If the shoes aren’t broken, don’t change them.”

Far away in Memphis, Vesach's smile froze on his face. With his phone pressed against his ear, he could even feel the skin near his ear burning slightly.

“Eli,”

Visach tried to maintain a professional, unemotional tone, but his voice was still a bit more tense than expected.

“I understand what you mean. I’m just worried that these shoes might need more grip as we go further. However, I respect your opinion.”

“Okay, then, Mr. Vesach.”

Xu Ling calmly ended the call.

This change within the team took him by surprise; he didn't expect that what Kidd said to the media on the night the season ended would lead to these repercussions.

However, this kind of thing is not uncommon.

However, Xu Ling believes that the criticisms leveled against Jaffaroni by outsiders are not very tenable.

It's meaningless to discuss a coach's ability without considering the roster itself.

Although Jaffaroni was of mediocre talent, he was willing to listen to advice and could quickly correct his mistakes on the spot.

Even when Kidd was almost sidelined at the beginning of the playoffs, he continued to coach methodically.

As for shortening the rotation later, there's nothing that can be done about it.

With this roster, only a few players can withstand the test of the playoffs, so he naturally wants to keep as many capable players on the court as possible.

Xu Ling had no objection to this matter.

It's not that he likes playing plantation basketball, but in any era, when facing a life-or-death situation, the star player's playing time will only increase, not decrease. Jaffaroni was just doing what all coaches do, except that he lacked experience and didn't know how to sustainably exhaust resources.

If a coach who led the team to create history is to be kicked out because of such routine procedures, Xu Ling will be the first to object.

Now that things have come to this, even though he doesn't know whose will Vesacc represents, Xu Ling knows he can no longer stand idly by.

He immediately dialed Jaffaroni's number, which was like a timely rain for the overwhelmed coach.

However, Xu Ling made no mention of the outside controversy. Instead, he took the initiative to invite the coach, who was busy with draft tryouts and worried about being fired the next day, to come to Los Angeles to provide technical guidance for his special training.

(End of this chapter)