My absurd experiences in North America over the years

In the last week of October, the nights in San Francisco were already carrying the chill of late autumn.

The trade was finalized the day before the start of the new season.

The Warriors traded Monta Ellis and two future second-round picks to the Philadelphia 76ers for Andre Iguodala.

This trade caused quite a stir in the league. Ellis had been the face of the Warriors for the past five seasons, a scoring machine averaging 25.5 points per game. Trading him away meant that the team was entering a completely new era.

The 76ers were happy to take him on. After drafting Evan Turner, they had an overabundance of wing players, and Iguodala's large contract had always been a burden that the management wanted to get rid of.

Both sides got what they wanted. The trade had been initially discussed before the draft, and after several months of back and forth, it was finally settled on the eve of the opening game.

Iguodala has four years left on his contract, with an annual salary of approximately $1350 million, which increases each year.

The Warriors' two potentially early second-round picks are future assets, but Li Fu isn't worried about them. Second-round picks can be bought with cash, and the value of this trade isn't about how much money they save.

Instead, the team finally has a wing core who can defend, organize, and doesn't dominate the ball.

Iguodala is a perfect fit for Curry and small-ball tactics.

On October 28th, North American time, the lights in Oracle Arena were blindingly bright, and the cheers of the fans were like a tsunami.

The Warriors will host the Rockets in their season opener.

All 18,000 seats were filled, and the team's new look made the atmosphere particularly enthusiastic. When the players came out, Curry walked in front, followed closely by Iguodala.

David Lee, Paul George, and Darrell Wright entered in turn.

When George's name was called, a loud cheer erupted from the stands. It's rare for a rookie to receive such treatment in his home debut.

They all believed that the rookie brought in by the new boss would definitely make a name for himself.

Li Fu sat in the first row on the sidelines, with Taylor Swift sitting next to him, wearing a custom-made Warriors gold jacket and her hair loosely draped over her shoulders.

She rarely makes public appearances at sporting events, but tonight is an exception.

The surrounding fans frequently turned their heads to look. To be able to see this top star of the era so closely, they would probably have to buy front-row tickets to her concert.

That's not easy to snatch.

Yao Ming did not play due to load management during back-to-back games.

Even so, the Rockets' roster should not be underestimated, with Scola, Martin, Brooks, Hayes, and Battier forming an experienced starting lineup.

Last season, their ragtag lineup battled the champion Lakers to seven games.

The game started at a fast pace.

Curry displayed a completely different temperament in the first quarter. Without Ellis occupying a lot of the ball, his scoring ability was completely unleashed.

He was incredibly agile and quick, controlling the entire rhythm of the game.

Despite Battier's tight defense, every shot he took carried a calm confidence, as if the stage was made for him.

He ultimately scored 42 points, making 14 of 22 field goals and 8 of 12 three-pointers.

As a new addition, Iguodala didn't steal the spotlight. He scored 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, along with 7 rebounds and 5 assists.

His value lies in defense; the Rockets' wings could hardly find a comfortable shooting opportunity in front of him, and his fast breaks after several steals ignited the entire arena.

George appeared somewhat nervous in his debut, playing 23 minutes, shooting 2-for-7, and scoring only 5 points, missing several open shots.

However, his presence on the defensive end was undeniable, as he recorded 4 steals and 2 blocks in his limited playing time.

The first time Li Fu watched rookie George play, he found that George's ball-handling skills still needed improvement, but the professional scout's report indicated no problems.

Without a god-like perspective, it's impossible to tell whether he'll ultimately succeed in training.

However, his defense and physical talent are obviously good, and his willingness to defend is extremely strong. Moreover, Li Fu has also opened the "Heavenly Eye". This deal is definitely a win.

The final score was 132-112, with the Warriors winning by 20 points and securing a winning start.

When the final whistle blew, the cheers at Oracle Arena almost lifted the roof off. For years, the team had been a bottom-feeder, and at that moment, it seemed to have been reborn.

Curry was surrounded by his teammates, a calm smile on his face.

Iguodala stood to the side, a towel draped over his shoulder, his expression calm. He was a veteran who had experienced many situations.

George was a little down, so head coach Don Nelson called him over to offer guidance and comfort.

This founder of the small-ball tactics saw George's future value at a glance; he was not a good fit for the power forward position in a traditional team.

However, in Nelson's view, George and Iguodala could switch freely between the two, three, and four positions.

This has extremely important tactical value.

After the game, Li Fu gave a media interview, stating that he would bring more than one championship trophy to the Warriors in the next five years.

Upon hearing this, both the players and coaches looked surprised.

The Warriors only had a 26-56 record last season, ranking last in the Western Conference. Otherwise, they wouldn't have gotten the 6th pick. Although the team performed well in the opening game of the new season, it's really too early to talk about winning the championship.

Besides, he won more than one championship!

Taylor Swift, standing beside him, remained calm. When asked by reporters what she thought of Li Fu's bold statement, she said she believed in Li Fu's vision and ability and that he would definitely win the championship in the future.

She also stated that if the Warriors ultimately win the championship, she will compose a song for the team.

Bird quickly saw the interview after it was widely reported by the media. On the same day, the Pacers also played their opening game and were defeated by the Spurs.

When interviewed in person, the reporter asked Li Fu what he thought of his bold statement.

Bird simply replied, "I wish him good luck."

He still doesn't regret making the trade to trade George for Udoh. After psychological counseling, Biedrins is in much better condition and recorded a double-double against the Spurs' interior defense today.

Although Ekpe Udoh is injured and unable to play, he has shown amazing talent in training.

He believes that Ekpe Udoh is the answer for the Pacers' future power forward position.

Of course, even someone as great as Bird couldn't see the possibility of the Warriors winning a championship in the future, unless that skinny point guard Curry grows into a superstar and George has to become a top-tier wing.

However, achieving either of these is very difficult.

Don't even mention achieving both simultaneously.

This doesn't mean Bird didn't understand basketball, because he couldn't foresee the small-ball revolution that would begin after Stern retired and Adam Silver took over in the next few years.

Basketball is about to get a new version.

As November arrives, major sports leagues are in full swing, and the midterm elections are drawing to a close, with voting about to begin.

Democratic poll numbers continue to decline, and multiple media outlets predict that they will lose control of the House of Representatives.

The Senate wasn't much more optimistic either.

Several Tea Party members will rise to power, and a new political landscape is beginning to take shape.