On the night he arrived in Seattle, Lin Yu knew that Weber had led several young people out, but he did not stop them. In his opinion, a proper release was not a bad thing.
Moreover, Lin Yu knew that these guys were most likely to be evil-minded but not courageous, especially Kobe. He might not even be able to spare a hundred dollars. How could he have the nerve to ask someone to borrow money for such a thing.
All his money is kept by his parents. During training, he has to ask Lao Qiao for money when he wants to have a drink.
Xiao Ao and Nash are both good boys, and they just go to watch the fun.
By the next morning, Lin Yu pretended that nothing had happened.
After the game in the evening, Lin Yu sat on the sidelines with a dull expression. The Galaxy battleship he built with his own hands was beaten into a Galaxy bicycle by the Seattle SuperSonics. He was at a disadvantage almost from beginning to end.
For a long time, Lin Yu has only had the Bulls in his eyes. Together with the Spurs and Lakers in the Western Conference, apart from these three teams, no other team can catch Lin Yu's eyes.
But he ignored the special nature of the SuperSonics team.
The SuperSonics coach is George Karl. This old coach's style is incompatible with the times. All coaches focus on attacking the basket. Even for a team like the Bulls, their basket shot ratio is higher than shooting.
However, old Karl is different. He really likes to shoot, especially three-pointers.
Last season, the SuperSonics were second in the Western Conference. This season, they traded Kemp for Vin Baker, who has a better shooting ability, and then acquired Dale Ellis from the Nuggets. This team's three-point ability Gradually becoming outrageous.
This team can find seven or eight players whose three-point shooting percentage exceeds 40%!
They averaged 22 three-pointers per game this season, far exceeding their opponents' 14. Their key shooting percentage is still very high, and the team's average three-point shooting percentage per game reached 40%!
Tonight against the Wizards, Old Karl has obviously realized that it is impossible to defeat the Wizards with conventional play, so he started shooting three-pointers as soon as he came up, hoping to use three-pointers to give it a try.
This move really gave him a bicycle and a motorcycle. Each of the Sonics players on the field was more accurate than the other three-pointers.
Even Vin Baker, who is not good at three-pointers, hit two three-pointers tonight.
Dale Ellis on the bench had six three-pointers, Sam Perkins had four three-pointers, and Greg Anthony had three three-pointers.
Lin Yu didn't even know who the two players behind him were...
The whole game took 40 three-point shots and hit 27 of them, causing Lin Yu to collapse.
In fact, if Lin Yu knows anything about the history of the SuperSonics, he should know that the three-pointers of this team cannot be underestimated. There are many records about three-pointers in the NBA. Even in the small ball era of later generations, this is still the case. Supported by the supersonics of the 1990s.
"Man, you're amazing. When I was your age, I couldn't even look at Auerbach."
"First you called Larry Brown a wild dog, and then you called Pat Riley a cowherd. If there is a most courageous award in the league this year, I will definitely vote for you."
After the game, George Karl, who was in a good mood, stepped forward and joked with Lin Yu.
Lin Yu shrugged and said with a smile: "Are they two worthy of being compared with Auerbach?"
"Mr. Karl, I have benefited a lot from tonight's game. Your tactical concepts are extremely advanced."
This is not Lin Yu's deliberate compliment to Carl, but a fact. Carl's coaching philosophy is indeed beyond this era.
However, sometimes surpassing the times is not a good thing. For example, Lao Qiao also surpassed the times, so he could only be reduced to playing in Europe.
"No, no, no, Lin, actually I was inspired by you. Your 59-point victory against the Heat in the playoffs last season made me really see the importance of three-pointers."
"You broke numerous playoff three-point records in that game."
"During the offseason, I simply gathered together a group of top three-point shooters, and the effect was surprisingly good."
Lin Yu was dumbfounded and made a fuss for a long time. The culprit of the Wizards losing tonight turned out to be himself?
The two continued chatting for a while, mostly talking about business. You praised me for being young and promising, and I praised you for being cunning and resourceful. They had a very happy chat.
"Lin, where do you think our Sonics can go this year? Do you have a chance to join your Wizards in the Finals?"
George Karl suddenly asked.
Lin Yu was stunned. This question was difficult to answer. He remembered that the SuperSonics this season was actually very miserable.
The second-best record in the Western Conference entered the playoffs, and then almost overturned against the Timberwolves in the first round. They only eliminated the Timberwolves 3:2. If Garnett's teammates were not too stretched, the SuperSonics would probably be defeated.
When they faced the Lakers in the second round of the playoffs, they were directly eliminated by the Lakers with a score of 4:1.
"No one can say for sure about this kind of thing. I hope we can meet in the finals." Lin Yu could only prevaricate.
Unexpectedly, George Karl clapped his hands and laughed, "Actually, you also know that our SuperSonics may not make it far in the playoffs, right?"
"I feel the same way, but I've come up with a solution."
Lin Yu looked suspicious, and George Karl acted a little strange since he took the initiative to greet him, as if he was a little too determined to make friends with him.
When something goes wrong, there must be a monster. Lin Yu, who has been a man for two generations, immediately determined that George Karl must have a purpose.
"Mr. Karl, if you have anything to say, just say it."
"Smart! Man, you not only have courage, but also wisdom. No wonder you can lead the Wizards to achieve such a record." Old Karl continued to praise Lin Yu in a fancy way. He said that Lin Yu was already wise and brave.
"Daben's contract, this is the contract year, right?"
"He has a two-way contract next year. I know Abi Poulin. He has already signed Ben. It is impossible to give him a too big contract."
"So Ben is destined to leave the team, unless he can give up tens of millions of dollars for you."
"When he leaves the team, can you introduce him to our SuperSonics? As far as I know, he has a very good relationship with you. As long as you ask, he will definitely come to our SuperSonics."
Lin Yu was speechless. Not long after this season started, some teams were already thinking about big money?
There must be a reason for the SuperSonics to be concerned about big money. Their style of play has an extremely high upper limit, but the lower limit is also extremely low.
When players feel good, they can kill any team.
And if they don't feel good, they can lose to any team.
If there is a big man sitting under the basket, the situation will be different, which can greatly increase the lower limit of the Sonics.
Ben has the league's top interior defensive capabilities, which can prevent opponents from relying on offense at the basket to gain an advantage. He also has top rebounding capabilities, which can provide the team with more shooting opportunities.
It can be said that Big Ben is the most suitable puzzle piece for the Sonics. A veteran coach like George Karl with decades of experience certainly knows the shortcomings of his own team and also knows what players can make up for the shortcomings.
Lin Yu has already begun to think about whether he should agree to George Karl.
In fact, George Karl is right. It is impossible for the Wizards to retain a large sum of money next season. It is not a matter of salary space. The contracts of Simmons and Hurley will expire next season. The Wizards can afford to sign a large amount of money. Cap space.
But it is impossible for Paulin to agree to spend so much money on Big Ben. With Big Ben's strength, some teams will provide him with an annual salary of tens of millions, and it will definitely be a long-term contract.
Once Ben is given a long-term contract, it means that after the rookie contracts of Kobe and McGrady expire, the Wizards will have no salary space to renew these two people.
Pauline is definitely not a fool, and Ben's value is definitely not comparable to that of Kobe or McGrady. These two young outsiders have not only strength, but also commercial value.
Unless Big Ben is willing to reduce his salary for Lin Yu, and the salary must be reduced to at least four to five million, then he can stay with the Wizards.
However, even if Big Ben is willing, Lin Yu is unlikely to agree. He will definitely tell Big Ben to get the big contract.
The SuperSonics are undoubtedly one of Ben's perfect destinations.
Since Lin Yu wants to let Ben go, he definitely doesn't want him to stay in the east. After all, most of Lin Yu's enemies are in the eastern half.
Joining the Sonics will make them an extremely difficult team, but Lin Yu doesn't care. The Spurs, Lakers and Jazz are already so strong, and there won't be one more Sonics.
Lin Yu even thinks that the more strong teams in the West, the better, which muddies the pool. If the strong teams in the West want to reach the finals, they must go through many hardships, and they will have to shed their skin even if they don't die.
"Okay, I promise you, by the end of this season, I will persuade Ben to join your SuperSonics."
"But your salary must not be too low. If it is too low, then I might as well leave my big money with the Wizards."
Lin Yu said in a deep voice, thinking that Ben would be leaving next season, he felt very uncomfortable.
The Wizards are currently full of players, but in Lin Yu's mind, his favorite player is actually Ben.
It's a pity that Lin Yu also knows that Da Ben has lived hard for more than 20 years and he really needs a super contract.
"We can't afford a contract that is too high. The annual salary is only 10 million at most. We can try to make the contract longer. Anyway, the boss is still young."
George Karl said with a confused look on his face.
Lin Yu smiled and nodded, "It's enough, it doesn't even require an annual salary of 10 million."
Because the maximum salary regulations were introduced in the 1998 labor negotiations, Big Ben could only get a starting salary of 7.5 million US dollars. Even if the Sonics wanted to give him 10 million, Big Ben couldn't get it.
George Karl looked overjoyed. How could he have predicted what would happen in the future? He just thought that Lin Yu would help the Sonics persuade Ben to cut his salary. He was so grateful that he hugged Lin Yu and never let go.
"Man, honestly, I've always felt like we were destined for each other."
"Do you know? Who was the youngest coach in the NBA before you?"
Old Carl seemed to have found a long-lost brother. The more he looked at Lin Yu, the more friendly he became.
"It can't be you, right?" Lin Yu asked blankly.
"Of course it was me! I took the position of Cavaliers coach at the age of 33, setting a new historical record."
"Now that you have broken my record at the age of 26, do you think we are destined?"
"Leave Pat Riley's affairs to me. Unseld is really nothing, and I won't even bother you!"
After George Karl finished speaking, he didn't care about Lin Yu, who looked dull, and led the SuperSonics generals back to the locker room.
…
At the SuperSonics' post-game press conference, Karl Sr. appeared on the stage wearing the Sonics' glove, Payton.
"I heard that Pat Riley has started to suppress young people again recently? Can't his jealousy stop for a moment?"
"Lin and I have been old friends for many years. I know Lin's character very well. He is the most gentlemanly and well-educated young man I have ever met. I don't know what happened between him and Riley."
"But I'm sure that it was not Lin Yu who was wrong, but Pat Riley."
George Karl's life can be divided into two stages, with 2005 as the separation point. Before that, he did not suffer from prostate cancer and had a rude and abusive personality. After 2005, he suffered from cancer and his temperament became much gentler.
The old Carl now is obviously rude and irritable.
He also doesn’t have a good relationship with Riley. He and Riley have played against each other countless times over the years. Since Riley coached the Knicks and Heat, his teams have always been tough and prone to fighting at every turn. For Karl, There was no shortage of bickering with Riley from afar.
This time, what Lin Yu did completely moved Carl, and this true-hearted old man stepped forward and helped Lin Yu catch Riley and squirt.
That's not all. After Karl finished spraying, Glove Payton took over the microphone and also caught Riley and sprayed him.
He and Karl almost wear the same pair of pants. The relationship between the master and apprentice is similar to Lin Yu and Da Ben.
After hearing that Lin Yu was willing to introduce Big Ben to the Sonics, Payton, who was extremely eager for a championship, was naturally extremely grateful to Lin Yu.
Besides, he had suffered a real loss from PJ Brown, so he took this opportunity to curse him.
Early the next morning, after Riley learned the news, he had just been fined 50,000 US dollars. He had nowhere to vent his anger, and immediately got angry at Old Karl. When he coached the Lakers Showtime, Old Karl was just a bad guy. A top-notch coach.
No one expected that Riley's taunting would actually bring out the famous Spurs iceman George Gervin.
The Iceman and Karl Lao had a life-long friendship. They had been teammates for many years and had a friendship for decades. When Karl Lao was humiliated, the Iceman couldn't sit still. He appeared on a TV show at noon, from beginning to end. Riley was criticized a lot.
With the Iceman making this start, the Knicks' Speedster, who was far away in New York, immediately accepted an interview to support Lin Yu.
What Lin Yu never expected was that more than one player in the Knicks team would speak out. Old Oakley and Alan Houston also took the opportunity to scold Riley.
Of course, the two of them did not want to support Lin Yu, they simply wanted to disgust Riley. After all, the Knicks and the Heat have been fighting constantly over the years.
What made Lin Yu even more delighted was that his former generals also stood up and denounced Riley.
Mashburn, the Spurs' outside core, Davis, the Nets' inside core, Murray, Legs, Nickerson, and especially the Magic's Grant brothers.
General Harvey and Cobra Grant were very grateful to Lin Yu. They knew very well that without Lin Yu's help, it would be difficult for the brothers to get together.
Now seeing so many people supporting Lin Yu, the two brothers certainly don't want to be left behind.
For a time, the alliance was very lively, and criticism meetings about Pat Riley were held in various places.
Lin Yu was so happy that he couldn't smile from ear to ear. Just from this incident, we could see how miserable Riley was. With so many people condemning him, no one stood up and said a word for him.
Later, Riley falsely accused Hinrich of being a dirty player. At that time, countless people stood up to denounce Riley. The situation is the same as now. No one spoke for Riley. In the end, he could only run out in despair and apologize to Hinrich. .
Lin Yu felt that if he got into this situation in the future, he might as well just go home and sell sweet potatoes to avoid being embarrassed outside.
