In early 2002, George William James published "Win Shares", which caused quite a stir in the baseball circle.
Win Shares is the name of the metric he developed in his book, which uses detailed statistics to demonstrate a baseball player's contributions.
In Major League Baseball, MVP data visualization is widely recognized by sports media!
ESPN's columnist believes this book is groundbreaking and even thinks this theory can be applied to other sports events.
New ideas are naturally a business opportunity. Just like data expert Hollinger gained fame in the industry through PER, creating a new data indicator will undoubtedly bring huge benefits.
Different from the old school of football analysts in the past, the new generation of football analysts and scouts pay more attention to data. Everyone hopes to evaluate players through big data samples, which creates a lot of demand.
The same goes for the new generation of fans. In addition to honor, data is the best way to evaluate a player.
Under this circumstance, ESPN's recent programs have begun to strengthen the popularization of data, but currently it is limited to the field of baseball.
Basketball still lacks some reasonable data models. Everyone is working hard, waiting for a blockbuster!
On July 3, Li You started to deal with sponsors' event arrangements early in the morning and confirmed his schedule for this week.
Agent Mark Bartelstein is no longer at odds with the Wizards. Unless McQueen retires immediately, his No. 1 pick will never succeed.
Li You was looking at the sifted emails at his home in Manhattan. He noticed an invitation from Sean Forman, a professor of mathematics at St. John's University. He looked at it carefully and then asked curiously:
"Baseball Reference? This website was founded by him. Unexpectedly, this mathematics professor is also a senior baseball fan."
Mark Bartelstein didn't gain much in this year's draft. Since signing Kwame Brown, troubles have consumed a lot of his energy.
After hearing Li You's words, he cheered up again. Mark Bartelstein looked through his notebook and then introduced:
"This mathematics professor probably wants to expand his business and extend the data field to basketball."
"I want to talk to you about basketball data and make another investment. The other party should not be limited to baseball and basketball. He also wants to involve more sports."
Li You nodded. He always felt that the name of the website was familiar. It could survive after the Internet bubble. The number of users of the other party's data website should be very good.
Realizing that the other party was a data expert, Li You felt that his "customized data" should be available in the future.
Basketball superstars must be crushed by Excel!
The 2002 World Basketball Championship was held in Indianapolis.
This is considered the home court of the Pacers, and Reggie Miller has confirmed that he will participate in the US team in order to give back to the fans.
The American Basketball Association sent several invitations to Li You, and Mark Bartelstein couldn't help but ask for his opinion again:
"Li, are you sure you won't participate in this year's World Championship? If you agree, you don't have to participate in training immediately. The coaching staff allows you to train with the team in August."
Li You was still looking through the email messages he was interested in, and at this time he replied without looking up:
"No, I have no interest in playing international competition. I have even reduced my offseason training plan."
"These years have been exhausting. I hope to have a good rest. Moreover, the sponsor did not write these terms. The most important thing in the United States is defenders."
Seeing that big employers are not interested in international competitions, Mark Bartelstein stopped mentioning the matter. The main reason for the dimming of this US team's stars is too little compensation.
On July 4th, Independence Day was celebrated, and Manhattan became lively. Yesterday I checked my email and made a phone call, and this morning I received bad news again.
In the morning, Kevin Plank, the founder of Under Armor, came to Li You and felt a little embarrassed.
The brand has developed rapidly in the past few years. After its launch, it has blossomed in both football and basketball tights.
With the advertising effect, the company's market value will naturally increase.
Yesterday, Li You just reminded the other party that the US Securities and Exchange Commission will soon require the CEOs and financial officers of listed companies to provide written certification of their company's financial reports.
As a result, this news shocked Plank, and he flew to Manhattan in the morning.
Independence Day happened to be a day off, and Jin was also at home. Of course, Li You got the news from her. After the financial fraud scandal broke out, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District began to "strike hard" on financial criminals.
Whether it is explaining things to the public or venting anger on big bosses, the purpose is to restore credibility, give investors confidence, and help the market pick up.
Her blond hair was combed into a ponytail with the ends curled up playfully. Even though she was at home, Kim still wore a blue shirt and hip-hugging skirt, looking professional.
After pouring a cup of coffee for the two of them, Jin introduced the situation of the attack:
"There is still time. Certification can be postponed to mid-August at the latest, a month and a half. If there are any problems, they should be solved."
The news hasn’t been announced yet, but this certification operation is definitely for real.
Kevin Plank maintains a good figure and is dressed as a successful person today. However, after hearing the exact time, he subconsciously unbuttoned his shirt and couldn't help but muttered:
"Will the committee finally check the information seriously? I mean, we have only been listed for a year and our market value is not high. Will the other party target us?"
Financial fraud is common among listed companies. Under Armor has been gaining momentum in the past two years, and the financial information it publishes is actually watery.
Li You looked at the other person's pursed lips and knew that there must be something fishy about the company's financial information:
"Unfortunately, there is a high probability that someone will specifically censor us, and this is also related to my advertising."
After saying this, Li You felt a little helpless. Under Armor was also unlucky because of the disaster. Fortunately, he had plenty of time. There was a high probability that the accounting firm would be cheaper this time.
Plank sighed. Fortunately, there was still enough time. After asking for detailed information, he finally assured:
"Don't worry, Lee! I can handle these problems, Jin. Thank you for the reminder."
Watching the founder leave in a hurry, Milinda, who was holding snacks, curled her lips:
"It has only been on the market for more than a year, and he is playing these financial tricks. This guy is very ambitious, but he just doesn't know if there will be more trouble in the future."
Li You understands this kind of behavior. Not only Under Armour, but also the services provided by well-known accounting firms are too tempting. It has become normal for everyone to work together to cut off the public.
"It's all about making money anyway, so it doesn't matter. We will invest in some start-up companies in the future, so we can gain experience in this aspect."
Milinda wrinkled her nose after hearing Li You's words. She had also participated in some projects at Skadden Law Firm, but she personally didn't like the matter of fraud.
"At the end of the month, we will attend a yacht party together, and there will be some people from fund companies and investment banks."
"We still have the opportunity to make a lot of money. That is the real moment of financial freedom, and then we will start our own company."
Li You sat between the two of them. Halfway through his words, Milinda, who was eating snacks, suddenly asked:
"Is it Yinpa?"
Jin on the side couldn't help but laugh out loud. Li You looked at Milinda who was blinking her big eyes innocently, and was so angry that he picked her up in his arms and spanked her hard:
"What the hell! We're going to talk business and make friends!"
"."
At the end of this season, many team coaching staffs changed.
Head coach Thibodeau did not get a contract from the team, which means that his acting coaching position has come to an end, and it also means that the team has no plans to make him a regular player.
In addition to boasting about Li You's inhuman statistics and playoff record, the New York sports media also didn't forget to take advantage of the situation. Everyone wanted to know who the team's next head coach would be.
James Dolan originally wanted to take this opportunity to hold a recruitment meeting, but was quickly dissuaded by management.
If there really is a "You're fired!", the Knicks will most likely be blackballed by the coaches association!
Boss Curly Hair is particularly concerned about this matter. "Outside monks can chant sutras." It is impossible for members of the coaching staff to get a higher position.
On Friday, July 5, at the Tarrytown Training Center, general manager Glenn Field provided the Curly owner with a list.
The coaches in the information had photos and resumes. After just looking at them for a long time, James Dolan suddenly asked in a low voice:
“How come there are more black coaches than I thought?”
Looking at the big boss sitting behind the desk, Grunfield could only introduce in a low voice:
“If we want to release the coaches’ information to the media, we have to have black coaches.”
“The coaches union is also working hard to improve the treatment of black coaches, and the entire league is heeding this call.”
James Dolan shook his head and looked at the list in his hand again.
When he noticed that the curly boss had directly passed over Hubie Brown and Mike Fratello, several coaches with good coaching experience and good reputations, Grunfield twitched his lips.
A few circles were drawn on the information of the last four people, indicating that this was his final choice.
Eric Musselman, Mike D'Antoni, Terry Stotts, Mike Brown.
Seeing the four people in the circle, Grunfield was completely speechless.
An assistant coach of the Hawks, an old man who became homeless after one year as head coach of the Nuggets, a rookie without much coaching experience, and a black assistant coach of the Spurs.
Ignore all the famous coaches before. If the Knicks really send out an invitation, and Hubie Brown can be persuaded by the salary of US$5 million, who will be in trouble with US dollars?
"I think these four people are good. Let's start having a detailed chat with them tomorrow!"
James Dolan laughed and was quite satisfied with his choice. He had no interest in finding a famous coach to make him angry.
The head coach needs to be able to listen to him, that's the most important thing, the old guy doesn't fit into the team plan.
After drawing a circle and completing the work, James Dolan left the office with a big butt in his arms. When the staff saw the general manager shaking his head in depression, they couldn't help but ask in a low voice:
"Should we extend an invitation? Coach Thibodeau also wants to talk to the team."
There is still a lot of work to be done in the offseason. Grunfield sat in a daze for a while with his stomach raised, and finally whispered:
"Let me talk to Tom, and after seeing this list, maybe this guy will choose to leave."
Thibodeau, who came to the training center in the afternoon, thought that the team had changed its mind and he had successfully become a regular player. However, when he learned that the boss had selected a bunch of crooked melons and cracked dates, he suddenly became angry.
Thibodeau couldn't stand it anymore. He walked around the office and complained loudly:
"Why? I can understand if you choose some well-known head coaches. If it is these few, why not let Downey have a try?"
“I think we’ve done a good job over the years!”
Grunfield could understand the opponent's mood, but the Knicks' basketball has never been pure. At this time, he could only sigh and remind:
"Tom, you've been in New York for 10 years, which is a good thing and a bad thing."
"You can say no to the boss. All you think about is basketball, but that's not what the team needs."
"Perhaps you will become the head coach of this team in the future, but now, the boss just wants to find someone who obeys."
"Jeff also said no, so he left. You had communicated when you were in office, you just didn't realize it at the time."
Hearing such a reason, Thibodeau felt a little sad. He loved his work so much, but in the end he was not recognized.
This kind of selection method of saying it doesn't work, it doesn't work, and it doesn't work, really makes him a little sad. He completely understands the bald young coach. In this team, the head coach cannot display his personal talents.
After the two talked, Thibodeau was heartbroken. He just felt that the bald young coach was right, this team lacked camaraderie.
Li You first purged his teammates who won the championship together, and then sent away the coaching staff who won the championship together. Thibodeau thought that Li You would be on their side, but he was slapped in the face by the ruthless reality.
On July 6th, New York fans also ushered in the weekend. Soon everyone learned the news from the newspapers and saw the list of candidates for the team's head coach. Then the reaction of most fans was:
"?"
Assistant coaches have always been unattractive. Everyone looked at the names of the four people and couldn't remember their appearance. This means that the candidates are all "minor roles."
Other teams often choose a head coach quietly. At most, the coach takes the initiative to release the news and build momentum for himself.
As a result, when it comes to the Knicks, the team hits hard and makes it look like a job fair.
Many sports media were a little confused after seeing the news. US$5 million and a two-year contract are the benefits of the top coaches in the league. But this is the candidate?
There are also sports media that respond quickly. Yahoo Sports produced an article on Sunday:
“The New York Knicks—Lee’s toys!”
After losing the championship, the sports media naturally analyzed many reasons. At that time, Li You was still non-stick, after all, his playoff data was so outstanding.
In 17 playoff games, Li You averaged 39.5 minutes per game, averaging 37.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 8.1 assists, 2.4 steals and 2.6 turnovers per game;
Averaged 23.5 shots per game, shooting 54.9% from the field, 10.3 shots from outside the three-point line, and 45.7% shooting from the field;
He averaged 7.5 free throws per game and made 92.8% of his free throws.
180 clubs in the playoffs, 180 clubs in the finals, plus a PER of 38.8!
This data is another "Michael Jordan can't do it even if he comes". After Li You lost, the coaching staff and teammates naturally took the blame.
But this time the Knicks chose a head coach without a famous coach. It is very likely that the star player will express his position!
"Li wants to control the coach", "Li makes the coaching staff a decoration", "Li doesn't like famous coaches to coach him", "Li doesn't want the coaching staff to share attention".
The imagination monsters have already figured out Li You’s thoughts without even having to interview him!
Each article seemed to be immersive, as if Li You was telling them his true feelings face to face.
People who eat melon only find it reasonable and convincing. As for what the truth is, that is no longer important.
On the morning of July 8, only Li You and unemployed homeless man Christen Little were left at home in Manhattan.
Not yet 21 years old, the little follower actually has his own job. His dream of being a supermodel is shattered, but his job as a graphic model is still there. As long as he dresses up beautifully and takes photos, he can earn income.
Compared with those low-level models in New York, Kristen Ritter lives a worry-free life. The only job that bothers her is walking the dog.
Huskies exercise too much, and Happy’s eyesight is not clear in summer.
It’s rare that she doesn’t have to take care of a dog. There’s no one at home early in the morning. After some extra training, Kristen-Litte’s whole body turned red.
After several years of maintenance, Li You had grown his hair to waist length. Li You took the girl in his arms and took a bath. After returning to the bedroom, he blew her hair and joked:
"Happy, you've been a big help. Look at your figure, it's getting better and better."
Thin branches bear fruit, Christen-Litte didn’t care about Li You’s big hands, but said in a bored voice:
"In a few years, I will gain weight. You can't dislike me!"
The little follower plans to have one child by the age of 23 and three before the age of 30. Calculating this, the girlish figure will indeed not be maintained for a few years.
There was still work in the morning, and Kristen-Litte pushed Li You away with a red face. Although she had unlocked more knowledge, she still felt embarrassed to be hugging each other in broad daylight.
"Are you going to stay in Manhattan this week? I haven't seen you go out in the past few days."
Thinking of his itinerary, Li You felt a little helpless. He hugged the girl and complained twice:
"The president is coming to Wall Street to give a speech. The security has been upgraded and he wants to participate in the event. I have been at home for the past week, waiting for the big shots to arrive."
Christen-Litte kissed Li You, rolled her eyes, and stopped discussing the topic too much. She hugged Li You and whispered in his ear:
"I'm preparing a beautiful set of underwear tonight!"
"."
On the 9th, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission formally filed a lawsuit against WorldCom, accusing the company of fraudulently inflating revenue by $11 billion.
Initiating a lawsuit will naturally cause the other party's stock price to plummet, and the market will be in an uproar.
On the morning of the 10th, Mayor Bloomberg also delivered a speech on Wall Street, which could be regarded as stabilizing investor confidence.
Financial fraud is naturally very bad, which caused huge losses to the market. After the speech, Li You and Bobby also attended the business party.
The mayor called on New York's business leaders and financial institutions to abide by ethics and maintain market order, but ironically, most institutions rely on "insider trading" to make profits.
As a billionaire, Bloomberg often holds events at his private residence.
The five-story townhouse on 79th Street in the Upper East Side, near Fifth Avenue and Central Park, is also not far from Li You’s home.
Li You has attended similar dinners many times, but seeing many people from well-known investment banks there tonight, he couldn't help but joke in a low voice about tonight's situation:
"If you expect these guys to maintain market order, even God can't do it!"
People from well-known investment banks such as Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs Group, Merrill Lynch, and Lehman Brothers are all there.
On the surface, everyone is happy, but WorldCom went bankrupt, and perhaps these companies were behind it.
Bobby is more concerned about his competitors. There are many small and medium-sized hedge funds. If you want to obtain more funds, you have to eat up the shares of these companies:
"Market order is something that big people should consider. We only care about making money. I like this kind of market. There are new opportunities every day!"
Both of them were dressed in black formal attire, and after whispering a few words, they started socializing at the scene.
On Independence Day not long ago, Bloomberg enjoyed watching the fireworks show on the Hudson River with City Hall staff, and by the way, issued certificates to newly naturalized American citizens on Liberty Island.
Within a few days, the news of major financial fraud dealt a heavy blow to Manhattan. Its credibility was disappearing, and the pressure on New York's public finances has not been relieved.
When Li Youzheng was chatting with people from Goldman Sachs, Bloomberg waved again, and the two came to the second floor window, and then the mayor said:
"Li, you have to stay in Manhattan for a while. British Prime Minister Blair will come to New York. I have invited some celebrities and stars. This is a private banquet. Maybe it can solve some of your little troubles."
"Don't forget the Elephant Party gathering the day after tomorrow. Mr. President is also there."
Li You knew that he still had to pay, but as long as he could solve the resistance to acquiring the Manchester United club, the money would be well spent:
"This is a great thing, I love this opportunity!"
Sensing Li You's "sincere" mood, Bloomberg also smiled with satisfaction. The two clinked glasses and soon chatted about other topics.
For the melon-eating people in New York, no one pays attention to these news. The Internet bubble cut a lot of leeks, and many people have not yet recovered from the previous blow.
It was also the night of the 10th, and Kobe Bryant did not attend the ESPY Awards ceremony.
O'Neal, who won the NBA Player of the Year award, did not receive his younger brother's blessing. When delivering his acceptance speech, he did not forget to make some weird sarcasm:
“I’m so happy to receive this award, I know what you want to hear!”
"Yes, I am the best player in the NBA this season! There is no doubt that I am also the best player on the Lakers."
"I love Kobe, we are the strongest team, but he left me and could only be ruled by Lee. I was looking forward to Kobe appearing here today, but I was relieved after receiving the award."
"I forgive my little brother. Next season, the Lakers will defend their title and I will still be here."
"I'm sure my little brother will give me the award eventually, after all we love each other so much!"
"."
The sports stars present laughed when they heard O'Neal making fun of his partner.
In everyone's opinion, the two people only had some minor conflicts, and O'Neal's words only added a touch of interest.
After the Los Angeles Times reported the news the next day, Kobe, who was still in Los Angeles, was furious.
The two have long disliked each other. After winning the championship, O'Neal stopped pretending. The petty Shark obviously still remembers the fact that Kobe beat him in the regular season MVP ranking.
Phil Jackson's pie was useless. After O'Neal won the championship, he swelled to the sky and completely let himself go.
On the morning of the 11th, at the Tarrytown Training Center, after Eric Musselman left, James Dolan immediately shook his head:
"Stiffy guy actually thinks the Knicks need to improve their defense?"
"Doesn't this guy watch the news? Show Time! We have to serve the fans who bought tickets to watch the game. Who would like to watch the defensive battle?"
"What the young fan wanted to see was the goals and the performances of the stars, but he came to talk to me about defense!"
On the other side, General Manager Glenfield was complimenting him on the surface, but in his heart he was unable to complain. He felt that what the other party said made sense.
Half an hour later, the young Stotts also appeared in the office. Although he had no NBA coaching experience, he was not afraid of stage fright when talking about his plans during the interview:
"There is no doubt that the Knicks are a good team, and if we want to win another championship, we must increase our interior defense."
"At the same time, we also need more interior rotations. Maybe in the Eastern Conference playoffs, the team can win the game with Lee's offense."
"But after entering the finals and meeting the better insiders in the Western Conference, if you want to win, you must defend well."
"Basketball is for five people, and Lee also needs to reduce some three-point shooting."
Stotts, who is in the mood, talks eloquently and has abundant hair. Set off by a straight black formal suit, he has the feeling of a future famous coach.
General manager Glenfield nodded repeatedly after hearing this. He had a good idea. He also felt that the team should add big men, so that at least it could avoid foul trouble and not be as embarrassing as the finals.
After James Dolan heard the other party describe his basketball philosophy, he asked a few more questions, and then the two sides shook hands politely.
During lunch time, both coaches were having lunch at the Tarrytown Training Center, and the curly boss started complaining again in the office:
"Damn it! Don't these guys watch the news? Don't they know my basketball philosophy!"
General Manager Glenfield didn't say anything. The two coaches answered questions about how the Knicks would win the championship. He felt that what the other coach said made sense.
At 14 o'clock in the afternoon, Mike Brown was wearing a straight black formal suit, white shirt, blue striped tie, and a pair of glasses. He looked very imposing.
Refusing to sit down, when asked how the Knicks would win the championship, Mike Brown gave a different answer:
"Offense! It is difficult for the Knicks to recruit qualified big men. In this case, offense is the best way to win the championship."
"Entering the playoffs, Lee should attack more without the ball, so as to avoid double-teaming and give others more opportunities."
Mike Brown used the unique RAP accent of black people to constantly criticize the two of them. He seemed to be very satisfied with this person. James Dolan suddenly asked another question:
"How do you think a head coach should control the locker room?"
As an assistant coach with the Spurs, Mike Brown "has never eaten pork, but he has seen pigs running." When faced with such a question, he calmly answered:
"The head coach should communicate with the players at all times to understand the players' demands, control the locker room, and the player's status."
After telling about his "Chicken Soup Technique", Mike Brown noticed that the two of them nodded secretly again, and for a moment he just felt that he was stable!
After the black assistant coach left, James Dolan was in a much better mood. It was rare for anyone to agree with him:
"I didn't expect that this one is the one with the highest level among the three. It seems that all those academic coaches are outdated. I think he is good."
Seeing that Curly Boss looked like he had found a soulmate, General Manager Grunfield could no longer complain:
"Same view as you, that he is a good coach who understands the game?"
Mike D'Antoni, the last person to interview, is the oldest among the four. To show respect, he naturally has to be the last one to appear.
He achieved success in Italy and was elected the best coach of the Italian League.
Entering the NBA, he served as the head coach of the Nuggets, a scout for the Spurs, and an assistant coach for the Trail Blazers.
D'Antoni was different from the previous three. When he came to the office, he took out his tactical board and distributed a dozen prepared tactics to the two of them.
Sensing the surprised gaze, D'Antoni smiled slightly, and then said confidently:
"This is the tactic I prepared for Li. He is a genius and has unparalleled talent on the offensive end!"
"The Knicks can get better. Next season, we need to continue to speed up, at least let the number of possessions reach 88, and at the same time take more three-pointers."
"Lee is the future of the team. We just need to match him with qualified wing defenders. What the team needs to do is to liberate his talent."
The more General Manager Grunfield listened, the more outrageous he felt:
"He didn't even talk about defense?"
James Dolan was elated, especially when he heard that D'Antoni planned to let the Knicks average 110 points per game. He couldn't help but ask again:
"110 points? It seems that no team has been able to achieve such data in the past few years."
Grenfield wanted to interrupt, but D'Antoni responded confidently:
"That's a matter of scoring composition. Can we increase the number of three-pointers we take? 22 attempts per game? We can increase it to 30."
"Fans like goals and players like statistics. It's a win-win situation!"
The curly-haired boss began to nod again, looking at D'Antoni, who was introducing his tactical concepts and team plans, and felt more and more satisfied.
Looking at the smiling D'Antoni, general manager Grayfield began to complain again:
"Old liar! No wonder I can't find a head coaching job in the league!"
Compared to the previous three coaches, D'Antoni chatted for a long time, and finally James Dolan asked another question:
"If you were the head coach of the Knicks, how would you run the locker room and deal with Lee?"
"It's very simple. I leave the locker room to the players. I am a head coach and it is my job to make pre-match plans. Of course, players can come to me to talk if they have any problems. I believe I can help these little guys."
After giving a simple answer, D'Antoni put away his tactical board with a smile.
The two parties ended up having a pleasant conversation. James Dolan looked increasingly satisfied with the old man in a black formal suit, white shirt and red plaid tie:
“Looks very personable!”
After sending D'Antoni away, the time came to 16:00 in the afternoon. James Dolan was so thirsty from chatting that he realized that it was getting late, so he immediately warned:
"I think Mike D'Antoni is very good. He has prepared so many tactics. Sure enough, coaches who have achieved success in Italy are different."
"Let him communicate with Li when he has time. If the two of them have a good chat, then let's make a deal!"
"It just so happens that the freeze period is about to end. You can still discuss how to recruit players. 110 points. I like this kind of game!"
Without waiting for the general manager to respond, a skinny blonde girl entered the office. James Dolan hugged her and left quickly.
Granfield looked helplessly at the documents on his desk. Fortunately, he had prepared a bunch of candidates. As a result, he won the boss's trust with "110 points".
Obviously, the old guy D'Antoni came prepared. He understands the boss's preferences better than the three coaches who don't know how to adapt.
The staff did not expect to make a decision so quickly. Sensing that Grenfield was not in a beautiful mood, several people looked at each other and finally asked:
"Should we notify Li? Tomorrow is Friday, and Li seems to be attending some events."
The boss made a decision. Even if Grunfield didn't like the bombastic D'Antoni, he could only accept his fate at this time:
"Let's talk about this on Monday. In fact, Lee doesn't care about the choice of head coach. I believe they can get along well."
On July 12, Wall Street welcomed Mr. President again, and news of financial fraud broke out repeatedly. At this time, he had to give a speech to try to win back the public's confidence.
After a strict security inspection, Li You followed Blomberg as the atmosphere team at the scene.
It wasn't until yesterday that Li You understood why the security work was so strict this time. The FBI believed that there were lurking terrorist organization members in New York.
In the Federal Hall on Wall Street, the news media on the scene focused their cameras on the President who was delivering a speech.
When hearing about increased penalties for illegal companies and executives and the establishment of new oversight agencies, there was natural applause.
Li You also followed suit, but he felt that this matter would most likely be strictly enforced for two years, and would eventually turn into a formality.
As for whether this speech can restore the confidence of ordinary people and investors, the answer is naturally no.
On July 15, after attending the Elephant Party gathering, Li You breathed a sigh of relief. When he arrived at the Tarrytown Training Center, general manager Glenfield introduced Mike D'Antoni again.
He hasn't paid much attention to the news here, and Li You didn't expect that the team didn't choose well-known coaches such as Mike Fratello and Hubie Brown.
In the office, D'Antoni looked at the group photo of the champions, and when he noticed Li You's figure, he said hello with a smile:
"Nice to meet you, Lee. It seems the loss didn't have any impact on you."
In the past, the two were just familiar with each other. After all, the Knicks didn't have many chances to play against Western Conference teams.
"Of course there are wins and losses in basketball games. During the rebuilding period, I am very satisfied with reaching the finals. Naturally, I have been mentally prepared to lose."
"Welcome to New York!"
Li You and D'Antoni shook hands and greeted each other. Grunfield on the side noticed that Li You really didn't care who the head coach was, and he felt relieved:
"Li, the freeze period is almost over. We can discuss the signings in the offseason. Mike has just taken over the team and the coaching staff also needs to be adjusted."
"Will Coach Thibodeau choose to leave? Will Downey stay with the team?"
Upon hearing Li You's inquiry, Grunfield shrugged helplessly:
"They plan to take some time off before joining Jeff's team."
"We'd better discuss the offseason first. Although we don't have to worry about the luxury tax, no one likes to make a deal with us."
"Mike, you have to be prepared. There is a high probability that I will not be able to meet your requirements. This is the situation with the Knicks. Except for New York fans, most teams don't like us."
D'Antoni nodded with a smile. He was not a rookie coach, so he was naturally prepared for the Knicks' situation.
On the morning of the 16th, the front page of the sports section of the New York Times was a photo of Li You, James Dolan, Glenfield, and D'Antoni smiling together:
"The New York Knicks of the New Era!"
After Ewing retired, the old players were purged. At the end of this season, the previous coaching staff also disbanded.
New York fans have no impression of Mike D'Antoni, but as long as Li You agrees, the fans will naturally not object.
Of course, if his record plummets next season, D'Antoni will definitely be fired directly. With a maximum salary of 5 million and a two-year contract, part of this salary will be the money to be scolded.
Mike Brown was quite confident after attending the interview, but in the end he was snatched away from his position by the old man. For a while, he just felt aggrieved.
However, after seeing the New York Times report, Mike Brown also realized that he had made a mistake. It turned out that the Knicks' environment was "you can do it if you say you can."
The flattery didn't go to the right place, and Mike Brown felt that he had gained something. At least he understood how the team would select a superstar head coach.
As New York's mortal enemy, the Los Angeles Times interpreted the head coach's personnel changes from another perspective:
"Lee is done cleaning up the Knicks."
All elements of Ewing have disappeared, and the head coach who gave Li You a shoestring in his rookie season is gone.
Several articles have been written about the Knicks' power struggle, with Jeff Van Gundy becoming a victim again.
Kobe naturally saw the news in the Los Angeles Times at home, and looked thoughtful as he watched it.
He also wants to clean up the Lakers. He doesn't want to be the "lazy dog" fat man's younger brother!
Just thinking that O'Neal is only 30 years old and at his peak, Kobe feels that this goal is difficult to achieve.
Since Li You chose to lie flat during the offseason and rely on his "passive talent" to increase the ball, trainer Tim Grover recently came to Los Angeles to continue promoting his training sessions.
In recent weeks, Tim Grover has been by Kobe's side. Championships are the best advertisements, and he will not miss such a money-making opportunity.
During the training session in the morning, Kobe stretched his body and suddenly asked:
"Lee is leading the team? Will the Knicks' locker room also have a situation like the Lakers'?"
Tim Grover was a little surprised. He didn't expect Kobe to ask such a question. He thought for a moment before speaking:
"The situation in New York is completely different. Lee has won MVP, FMVP, scoring, assists, and steals."
"With these honors, no one will question his status in the team."
"The basketball world is sometimes very simple. When you are the strongest player on the team, you have the final say and everyone will value your opinion."
"Kobe, think about what you have achieved so far. Instead of looking at the boring reports in the sports media, think about how to get yourself into the "white hot space."
"As long as you can get those honors, you can naturally lead the team."
Kobe suddenly recalled the honors he had received: All-NBA Team, Best of the Month, Best of the Week, AMVP, Li You Recognition Award
With a hint of embarrassment, Kobe no longer discussed this topic, continued to stretch the body, and also secretly determined:
"I need MVP!"
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(End of chapter)
