Tonight is a rare day for Min Congda to feel proud.
Relying on James' 2+1 goal at the critical moment, the Cavaliers finally defeated the Clippers, who lacked core insiders, with a 4-point advantage on the road, ending the Clippers' unbeaten record since the beginning of the season.
The Clippers' 15-game winning streak ends here, which is not a bad thing for the players.
The heavy burden on the shoulders is relieved. No matter how strong the team is in the regular season, it is impossible not to lose a game.
James had his best performance tonight, scoring 38 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks, super all-around data.
Kyrie Irving scored 28 points. The two relied on their strong firepower and the team's defense to win a key victory.
Winning this game greatly boosted the morale of the Cavaliers team.
After the game, James had a smile on his face when he was interviewed by reporters.
"Our state was not very good after the start of the season, but I believe that after this game, the whole team will start again. This victory is extremely important to us. The Clippers are an amazing team, they are very strong , but victory proves everything, only the strong can truly win.”
James' confidence in the team is reuniting and improving.
Human life is actually a process of constantly being defeated, then getting up and moving forward, until one day you fall down and can no longer stand up.
Even the greatest teams and the greatest players have to experience the pain of failure.
Bill Russell won 8 consecutive championships and 11 championships in 2013. He is the biggest winner in history in terms of championships alone. He was also beaten hard in two years.
Compared with winning, how to face failure is a life issue that most people need to face.
James's growth and education in this area are lacking. His talent and experiences as a teenager make him a little confused about this, and he instinctively has some escape and calculation mentality.
Min Congda was different. He also came from a humble background. Although he had basketball talent, it was completely buried. For the first thirty years, he was an ordinary person. He lived a hard and serious life and knew how to face failure better than anyone else.
His presence has made up for James' shortcomings in this aspect to a certain extent.
Of course, Min Congda now urgently needs failure and bankruptcy to help him complete his mission.
It's been more than a month since the new season started, and I already received 2,000 yuan in lost wages.
After a season, it is estimated to be only ten thousand yuan, which is not as good as working as a teller in a bank.
When the playoffs come, they have to pay big losses and put a lot of money into it. This big guy has really done enough.
Fortunately, after this game, Min Congda will have to get a ticket.
After the game, Min Congda quickly received a call from the league office.
In the past, calls related to such punishments were usually made by Vice President Bozia to Min Congda.
But this time, Adam Silva personally called to ask about Min Congda's situation.
"Smart, you didn't control yourself. It's better that this happens less frequently."
"I'm sorry, Adam, it's just... LeBron's move on the last shot was too obvious. Didn't the referee care about it? I wouldn't play with this kind of footwork."
"Smart, you have to trust the referee. In the high-speed movement of the game, as well as the complex and high-pressure environment on the scene, things like walking..."
"Okay, okay, you don't have to explain it to me, you can explain it to the media."
"Smart, you are much more difficult to deal with than the media. There is nothing for the media to worry about."
When Adam Silva said this, Min Congda understood.
Super stars like James will always be taken care of by referees when it comes to small problems such as walking, wrist turning, and second dribbling. At the same time, the media will not focus on these small problems and argue endlessly.
Star whistles are basically a semi-public unspoken rule in the NBA.
For the same action, if you are an unknown person, such as a triple threat or an action such as breaking and walking after catching the ball, the referee will be very strict.
But if it is a star, the referee will turn a blind eye, because the fans do not want to see intermittent games, and do not want to see the star committing fouls and violations at every turn.
In the early years, the 1970s and 1980s, and even earlier in the 1950s and 1960s, the NBA was very strict about walking penalties.
At that time, players could not lift the ball or half-lift it in their hands, nor could it stay in their hands for too long.
Therefore, most of the guards of that era dribbled straight up and down, crossing the half court with their butt sticking out.
From a modern perspective, the speed is slow and the movements are ugly, making it very difficult for defenders to pass.
On the contrary, street basketball does not have so many rules, with various lifts, wrist flips, and dancing-like steps.
Beginning in the 1990s, especially when players with a strong street style like Allen Iverson entered the NBA in 1996, the league saw the strong box-office appeal of street basketball moves and relaxed the rules on walking, wrist-turning and other rules.
Various crossover actions are popular, and the defensive restrictions on outside stars are gradually relaxed.
At the beginning, some traditional guards had the ability to stick their butts out and play post-up singles.
Nowadays, with the improvement of dribbling skills and changes in rules, this style of play has basically disappeared from the league.
The outside player's breakthrough with the ball is already a basic operation, and accordingly many people's footsteps cannot withstand consideration.
James's basic footwork skills are average, and he can't explain clearly for more than a day or two.
Min Congda was just using the topic this time, and took the initiative to take the blame again.
Adam Silva actually couldn't figure out what Min Congda was after.
Last season, his total fines exceeded Cuban, ranking first in the league.
For this reason, he was suspended from the game many times and went to see a psychiatrist, but he still refused to calm down.
Adam Silva couldn't help but said: "Smart, how about forgetting the fine this time? This is considered your regular behavior. We always fine you money, but it's useless."
"It works! It must be punished! I must be punished. Adam, you can't bend the law for personal gain just because we have a good relationship. If you do this, the league president will not be able to sit still, you know? Punish it if you deserve it, don't feel bad, I was already fined 1 million yuan before, but it’s meaningless to talk about it now. I will pay the full amount as ordered, and you will be fined more. Why don’t I restrain myself next time?”
This is the first time Adam Silva has encountered such a bargain.
If you're not happy even if I don't punish you when I'm given a chance, I'll punish you more, and then be more restrained next time.
What a weird thing.
However, Silva was used to Min Congda's weird behavior, so he refused to be polite to him and directly issued a $30,000 fine.
Min Congda was so happy that he received US$30,000 after tax, which is equivalent to the Clippers losing all 15 games.
Otherwise, it depends on James. If the Clippers win this game, or if James doesn't walk, Min Congda will have no chance to get angry reasonably, and the system will not recognize his ticket.
In order to repay his adopted son, Min Congda also needs to solve coaching problems for the Cavaliers.
The day after the game against the Cavaliers, Min Congda called Steve Kerr aside at the training center and said he had something to talk to him about.
Cole thought that after losing the last game, Manager Smart would personally come over to give some advice, encourage the players and coaching staff, and make some tactical improvements.
Unexpectedly, Min Congda did come to make some improvements, that is, to directly improve him.
"Steve, thank you for your contribution to the Clippers for more than a season. You have been fired. The contract money will be paid to you every penny, and you will be given a liquidated damages."
Cole was surprised. He was fired just like that?
Why? What reason? Why?
"Why? Smart, you have to give me a reasonable explanation."
"The reasonable explanation is that staying in the Clippers is not conducive to your development. I fired you early for your own good and let you go to a bigger and broader place to realize your ambitions. Here you have already got what you thought of. It’s something, isn’t it? And what you need more is a stage that belongs to you, Steve.”
Min Congda's words seemed to have magic power, immediately soothing Cole's mood.
Because these words spoke to Cole's heart.
I have to say that Min Congda is quite accurate in judging people.
When the team recruited Steve Kerr as an assistant coach, Kerr attracted Min Congda with his "big talk."
Min Congda believes that this person has empty ambitions and no real talent and learning, and will only lead the Clippers astray.
Who knew that Cole not only had real talent and knowledge, but also really guided the Clippers in the right direction, which is terrible.
However, the position of assistant coach is really not Cole's goal.
Even if he is the first assistant coach, even if he is almost equal to Tyronn Lue on the team, he is not the head coach after all.
Many of my ideas and talents cannot be truly put to use.
Cole's idea is to leave here after the Clippers contract expires and go somewhere where he can display his talents and ambitions.
Unexpectedly, after only playing 16 games in the new season, Min Congda helped him realize his wish, fired him directly, and asked him to find another job.
Cole thought that Min Congda also hired him from the TV station, paid a high liquidated damages, and gave him a large contract to take up the coaching position.
Now, he has terminated the contract early, accelerating his dream and making a lot of money at the same time.
Cole was really touched.
Mr. Smart is really my lucky star!
Seeing Cole's tearful eyes, Min Congda felt a little sorry.
"Steve, don't be sad. I believe you will be able to find a new job soon. I will use my connections to help you find a job immediately."
Cole knew that Min Congda had misunderstood, and said: "No, no, I'm not sad, I am... in short, I will have a bigger world. It's just that I really can't let go of the Clippers. These boys, they really have unlimited potential." potential."
Min Congda hurriedly said: "Yes, they have unlimited potential, but isn't defeating them a more interesting task?"
Cole looked at Min Congda, and although he agreed, he still felt a little weird.
Who are you, the general manager of the Clippers? The Clippers only have a championship.
Moreover, the team's lineup is young and it will not be easy to defend the title.
Young people are prone to making mistakes on the way forward.
But this does not change the reality that Cole left the Clippers.
Min Congda quickly announced the news to the coaching staff and players.
The two had a unified voice. It was not that the Clippers fired Cole, but that Cole resigned and found another job.
This shocked the Clippers coaching staff. Cole is the brains of the entire team's coaching staff.
Without Cole, the Clippers' tactical ingenuity and strategy would be at least half missing.
Tyronn Lue had an even bigger headache. Originally, Cole was here, so he could let Cole take charge if anything happened, and he could just be the hands-off boss.
At the critical moment, if he used his Chicken Soup Master ability again and roared, wouldn't he have won the game?
Now that I am fine, I have lost one of my left and right arms. How will I live in the future?
The players were also very reluctant to give up, but in general, the real pillar of support for the Clippers players was Min Congda.
It doesn't matter who else leaves.
In the evening, the Clippers also held a farewell dinner for Cole, and everyone had a meal together.
The team's female owner Shelly Sterling asked Min Congda why she fired Cole. Min Congda's explanation was that a double-headed coach is detrimental to the development of the team.
Now is a critical moment for the team to take shape and must make a decision.
Xie Li completely obeyed Min Congda's opinion on basketball. She just asked Min Congda if he had a replacement.
Min Congda thought for a moment and said, "Not yet, but I will find a new replacement."
Shelly said: "If it doesn't work, I might as well let you go."
"Me? No, no, I can't. The job of head coach is not suitable for me."
Min Congda played a few haha. The situation of being the head coach before was still in front of him. He didn't want to win consecutive games.
News of Steve Kerr's "resignation" spread throughout the league the next day.
Many teams are ready to hire Cole to coach.
But they were all a step too late.
On the night of Cole's resignation, while he was still saying goodbye to his old colleagues in the restaurant, the Cleveland Cavaliers management had already called Cole's cell phone and invited him to coach the Cavaliers.
Cole never imagined that the Cavaliers, who had just defeated the Clippers in a key battle, would suddenly invite him to be the head coach.
And how did they know so quickly that they were leaving the Clippers?
There must be a mole in the team, or a mole in the Cavaliers.
But that doesn't matter, Cole said he would think about it.
In fact, he only thought about it for half an hour before he called back and agreed to the Cavaliers' invitation.
Cole was quite excited at the thought of being able to coach James and Irving.
In his mind, he has always had an idea of using James that is different from other coaches.
On this point, Steve Kerr's ideas coincided with Min Congda's again.
He believes that James can be more versatile and play a greater role in organization and defense.
He can even become a pretty good inside basket protector and rebounder if he wants to.
He has even outlined the Cavaliers' basic tactical blueprint in his mind: James stands at the top of the arc and deals cards... No, serves...
A new era for James is about to begin.
(End of chapter)
