The rest is just noise

Chapter 99 The greatest in history? Not necessarily (1/45)

In late February, St. Louis Clippers owner Donald Sterling tried to move the team to Los Angeles. He adopted a cut-it-before-play approach, announcing first and reporting later.

But it was sternly rejected by the alliance.

Because the league believes that Los Angeles does not need a second team, and this approach of blaming local feng shui for poor management will have a bad impact.

When Louis was working in Auerbach's office, he listened to a lot of conversations between him and the general managers of each team.

Mainly about trading Archibald.

Once the Smiling Assassins arrive, Archibald will either come on the bench or leave. It is the worst thing to do now to praise him as the hero who helped the team win the championship in the starting lineup.

Auerbach has the idea of trading Archibald.

But Louis couldn't see the sincerity of his transaction. The dividends from the deal with the Pistons three years ago had allowed him to enjoy it until now, and of course he wanted to continue to enjoy it.

You know, he used Bob McAdoo in exchange for three first-round draft picks. What level is McAdoo? Today's Archibald is not much different from the original McAdoo.

Go on, the Wizards helped the Celtics win the championship last season. If they want him, does it make sense not to give him two first-round picks?

Just as Auerbach deeply misses the benefits of the McAdoo trade, other teams fear becoming the next Pistons.

Therefore, when I heard that Auerbach wanted the first round, I opened my mouth and said two words, and basically nothing happened.

"It's too much to ask for two draft picks." Louis didn't expect Auerbach's appetite to be so big.

Auerbach smiled triumphantly and asked: "What, you think Tiny is not worthy?"

If you say it's not worth it, you're belittling your own players; if you say it's worth it, you're lying to yourself.

Louis fired back, "Mr. Jane, do you think Tiny deserves two first rounds?"

Jan Walker, the Celtics' deputy general manager and a favorite to be the next general manager, is used to Louis calling him an outsider.

"If he were 10 years younger, he could have been replaced by four first-rounders." Walker tactfully supported Louis.

"Reed, look how practical Mr. Jane is." Louis immediately united with Walker.

Auerbach's eyes immediately fell on Walker: "Jane, do you have a better idea?"

It sounded to Louis that Auerbach just asked indifferently.

In Walker's eyes, this was as serious as a spot check on homework.

He is regarded as Auerbach's successor, but even he knows very well that he is not a successor, at most he is a puppet pushed to the stage by Auerbach.

He won't get much cheers and applause. No matter how wonderful the Celtics' management is, the title will fall on Auerbach's head.

In essence, Volker's role is no different from that of an assistant coach under Fitch.

But not all are the same.

Fitch's assistant coaches pointed to his reputation as their own promotion ladder, while Walker just tried his best to become the most convenient puppet for Auerbach's staff.

Louis saw Volker's expression change from relaxed to serious: "I have no other ideas. We should really find ways to get more benefits from this transaction."

"What if no one wants to trade with us because the price is too high?" Louis asked.

Before Auerbach could answer, Volcker did everything a puppet should do: "Then there will be no deal."

Volker guessed Auerbach's thoughts like the general manager: "We would rather not make a deal than sell Tiny at a low price. If he can still play, we will let him play and let other teams see him.

come back and do business with us.”

"Very good, Jane." Auerbach nodded with satisfaction, "You are now a mature manager."

Volker said modestly: "I still have a lot to learn."

This scene allowed Louis to see Auerbach's status in the team.

Like a dictator who is supreme and wise most of the time.

The essence of a dictator is that he does not tolerate second opinions.

Especially what he has already decided.

Even if he makes a mistake, the people around him will only help him.

As long as Auerbach is around, Jan Wolk will never be number one.

The same is true for Louis.

As long as Auerbach is around, his ambitions will be difficult to realize. Although he is young, he does not want to work in someone's shadow for a long time.

In the end, Archibald was not traded.

Isiah Thomas was upset because he couldn't play in the starting lineup, and the coaching staff counseled him privately. They hoped that the Smiling Assassin would start from the bench like first-year Sampson.

Thomas' response left people speechless: "Ralph played as a substitute for a year, helped the team win the championship, and then he is still a substitute. How long are we going to be on the bench?"

This is the disadvantage of having an overly strong lineup.

On the surface, it is invincible, but the shadow of failure has fallen into the corner of the Celtics locker room.

During this period, Louis seldom followed the team, but his guidance to Sampson did not stop.

After more than half the season, Sampson has somewhat mastered the entry-level positioning skills, but it will take time to become a blocking monster and rebounding dominant player like Moses Malone and Maurice Lucas.

His upper body strength is still weak, and his core strength is lacking.

The lack of both will also affect his ability to control rebounds.

Most of the time, Louis worked for Auerbach, processing documents and answering phone calls that he didn't want to answer.

Therefore, he also took the opportunity to get to know some of the team managers.

Louis currently has no desire to find the lost pearl, because no matter how good players are found, they will strengthen the team and make it easier for Fitch to win the championship.

As long as the team can win the championship, even if Fitch legally kills Auerbach's entire family, Auerbach cannot fire him.

The standard by which the Celtics internally judge their work is winning.

Winning is the truth.

But Louis still found familiar names in the reports sent by a large number of team scouts.

Craig Hodges PG, California State University, Long Beach.

He is not a star or a defensive expert. He has been a role player in the NBA for a long time. The reason why Louis knew him was because of a Japanese named Hisashi Mitsui.

Before becoming a professional scout, Louis' interest in basketball originated from SD. Many SD fans have studied the prototypes of the characters in it. The longer the time, the more outrageous the results of new fans' research. In 2020, it has emerged that the immortal is James

, Ichiro Kamisou is Thompson, Rukawa Kaede is Kobe... and other outrageous conclusions. Judging from the character characteristics and creation time, Mitsui Hisashi's prototype, at least the prototype of his shooting movements, is Craig Hodges.

Unfortunately, Hodges is a shooting number one position, which is the type that the Celtics currently lack, so he did not recommend him to the team.

Time flies so fast, the NFL has ended its season, and their collective bargaining agreement will also end. It is rumored that the NFL Players Association also wants a contract that can share the TV broadcast share with the owners.

While the NFL season is ending, the NBA season is coming to an end.

Louis didn't like working for Auerbach at first, but later he fell in love with the work. It was simple and easy, and he could learn a lot of inside information along the way.

By the way, pay systematic attention to this year's NCAA March Championship.

In addition to the senior students who are about to graduate and talented players who may join the NBA early, this year's freshmen are also the focus.

St. John's Chris Mullin, Auburn's Charles Barkley, Houston's Akeem Olajuwon, Georgetown's Patrick Ewing and... North Carolina's Mike Jordan

They are all "acquaintances" of Louis!

Among the freshmen, Auerbach is most optimistic about Ewing.

He saw in Ewing the temperament of Bill Russell, his competitiveness, mad dog attributes, tenacity and determination to defend the basket to the death.

"His card placement is terrible."

"His rebounding isn't very good either."

When Ewing led Georgetown to the finals and met Jordan's North Carolina, they were not the focus of the stage.

They represent the future.

And Louis pointed to Ewing, whom Auerbach was optimistic about: "He has a lot of defensive problems."

Auerbach did not expect Louis to belittle Ewing, who he was optimistic about, and asked angrily: "Then who are you optimistic about?"

"North Carolina's No. 23." Louis had to pretend to be like this. He couldn't do it otherwise. Finally, he had a player who could make him feel at ease and act as a prophet. "He will become the greatest of his generation!"

"the greatest?"

Auerbach smiled contemptuously and said, "Not necessarily."

In the last few minutes, both Louis and Auerbach became silent for this fierce game.

James Worthy is undoubtedly the dominant player in this game.

But his performance alone is not enough.

At the final moment of the game, Georgetown was trailing. Their ace player "Sleeper" Floyd leaned on the defender with his left shoulder and advanced towards the center, flashing past Jimmy Black SG at the top of the arc outside the free throw line.

center of gravity, turn around, pull the ball, and raise your hand.

Worthy jumped up, but missed.

This was a bloody moment. When Floyd deceived Worthy and took off again, Michael Jordan was standing one step away from him directly opposite him. He did not step forward to block it, but stood there in a daze and watched.

The ball hit the edge of the frame with a slightly higher arc than a normal shot, and entered the net with a jitter.

Can you believe that this man is the "GOAT" that fans will call 40 years later? He was shocked.

Just 12 seconds later, North Carolina handed over the fate of the season, the curse of losing three consecutive championship games, and the hope of breaking the curse to first-year freshman Mike Jordan.

Louis saw Jordan bending his knees nervously, which seemed like a fake move, but was actually a subconscious reaction of his body. He slid and adjusted, and then with a visible trembling figure, he came into the air and inserted the dagger into his opponent's heart countless times in the future.

Before the moment on the pulse arrived, this was the first, and possibly the only, time that he felt afraid of such a moment.

"Whoosh!"

A new era has arrived.

Michael Jordan died on the shot that killed Georgetown's championship dreams.

Michael Jordan was born under pressure and left with victory.

"This young man is indeed extraordinary." Auerbach said softly.

Louis just watched silently.

Jordan is indeed the best in history that he recognizes, but now, the 1980s have completely changed because of his appearance.

If he wants to realize his ambition, he has to keep moving forward, which will inevitably shatter the dreams of many people.

Including Jordan's dream.

In this life, will Michael Jordan still be the greatest in history?

Not necessarily...