Chapter 96 The new coach
Ye Feng sat on the side of the sofa and said to Hank: "The competition is not over yet, you don't have to be so pessimistic. Quanben Novel Network"
Hank leaned on the sofa, still covering his head with a cushion, said in a weak voice: "I am just a small employee, not as much money as you, nor as good as yours. You have suppressed 3 million! Don't you feel sorry for losing?"
Ye Feng remembered that there was a shocking reversal in the fourth game of his previous life. He was afraid that this time he would not be able to reverse unexpectedly, so he did not increase his bet, otherwise he would have at least 5 million yuan.
At this time, Barnes clapped his hands and shouted, "Hey, Hank, the Celtics have recovered the score, they are going to reverse it."
"Really?" Hank put down his cushion and looked at the TV screen.
Barnes smiled and said, "No, it's not true. Vujasic just made a three-pointer, and the Celtics are 24 points behind."
"oh,god! Are you still in the mood to joke?" Hank fell on the sofa again with excitement. He now felt that Barnes was also a lunatic.
Barnes showed good psychological qualities, and he still looked like he couldn't wake up when he hugged Luo Ruiya, and asked, "Ye, do you think the Celtics still have a chance to reverse?"
Ye Feng smiled and said, "Of course there is a chance. Once the Lakers shoot continuously, the Celtics will seize the opportunity to chase points and play offensively. The Big Three have strength, and the Lakers have blacksmiths, and anything can happen."
The Lakers led the second half with a big score of 58-40, and the miracle began to stage in the third quarter. Halfway through the quarter, the Lakers led by 20 points 70-50. The "Big Three" of the Celtics suddenly found a feeling and launched a large counterattack. The Lakers players made consecutive irons and had no sense of touch. The Celtics ended the quarter with a wave of 21-3, but they were only behind with 2 points. They crawled out of the deep pit dug in the first quarter.
Entering the fourth quarter, there were 5 minutes and 48 seconds left in the game. Kobe broke through and dunked with both hands, the Lakers led 81-77, and the Celtics requested a timeout. After that, James Posey scored a three-pointer. House and Ray Allen scored one after another. The Celtics scored 11-2, surpassing the score 88-83.
In the end, the Lakers lost the game at home 91-97, becoming the first team in NBA history to lead 21 points in the first quarter of the finals but lose.
When the Celtics overtook the score, Hank jumped up and down the room excitedly and screamed. "The Big Three are so great! They should be in the Hall of Fame today! If you win, we actually won again!"
Barnes looked at Ye Feng like a monster. "It turned out to be a reversal. Are you lucky?"
Ye Feng smiled and said, "This is not luck. The Celtics are indeed stronger than the Lakers. Defense is crucial in the playoffs. Only when the defense is outstanding can you have a chance to win the championship. The Celtics have a way to defend Kobe, but the Lakers have no defense to hold Pierce. I expected this day when I left the Lakers."
The Celtics won the match point 3-1, and defense played a crucial role. Under the tight defense of the Celtics, Kobe made only 6 of 19 shots, and scored 17 points, 4 rebounds and 10 assists with free throws. Pierce was the Celtics' best performer, scoring 20 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists, completely defeating Radmanovic and Ariza.
During the time he was staying in Las Vegas, Barnes had formed a deep friendship with Ye Feng through gambling and became a good friend. He patted Ye Feng on the back with a strong smile and said, "Tell me, what should I buy from the end? I will suppress you all!"
Ye Feng also guessed all the next two games.
In the last game, he beat 20 million to bet on the Celtics and scored more than 16 points. This seemed adventurous, but Barnes and Hank followed.
As a result, the Celtics beat the Lakers 131-92 in Boston TD North Silver Garden, 39 points, winning the team's 17th championship trophy with a total score of 4-2. "Truth" Paul Pierce was elected to the Finals MVP.
When he went to receive the prize, Hank deliberately changed into a new suit, dressed up like a business elite, and hired five bodyguards. The amount he wanted to receive was too large, and he was a little worried that he would be killed. The odds of 16 points or above in the sixth game were 1032... After winning the bet, the betting company lost a lot. Ye Feng became a super monster by betting alone.
Due to the high tax standards in the United States, winners of betting must pay national tax, state tax and personal income tax. If the amount exceeds $600, they have to pay taxes, and the large bonus will be paid 25% national tax; Nevada tax is 4%, and the income tax ratio for receiving the bonus in one go is relatively high, and only half of the bonus is deducted from the layers of taxes. Even so, there are 107 million. After receiving the prize, Hank got on the pre-prepared car under the bodyguard's escort and left the scene.
After Ye Feng received the bonus, he wrote a check of one million to tip Hank for service. He had to keep the matter of participating in football betting confidential, and it was necessary to give some closure fee, and Hank was not polite.
Barnes made a lot of money, and he called his agent and decided to join the Clippers for a basic salary. Seeing Barnes coming to the door and saying he was willing to join, Alile said: "How did you change your mind?"
Barnes smiled and said, "Since this kid bets that the Clippers can win the championship, I will follow you too! Can you tell me what players you will introduce next?"
Ye Feng smiled and said, "There is no hurry to introduce players. Next, we will go to Boston to invite the new head coach of the Clippers! We must discuss with him which player to introduce."
Barnes said: "Go to Boston to ask for a coach? Are you going to dig Rivers?"
Alil smiled and said, "Just dig his assistant!"
A day later, the Celtics ended the championship carnival. Ye Feng and Ellie flew to Boston and visited Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau.
When Alile heard Ye Feng say he wanted to dig out Boston assistant coach half a month ago, he felt that this was "hungry". Generally, the team would not take risks and invite inexperienced people to be head coaches. But after watching the Celtics' defensive intensity in the finals, Alile had some expectations for Thibodeau. This person is indeed very capable in building a defensive system.
Thibodeau once helped the Rockets become a team that restricted opponents' scoring and ranked among the top five in the league from 2004 to 2007. He helped his team become one of the ten best defense teams in the league 15 times. He and Jeff Van Gundy built the Rockets' iron-blooded defense, but in order to strengthen the offense, the Rockets' boss invited Adelman to play Princeton tactics and replaced the assistant coaching staff. Thibodeau was forced to leave the Rockets and join the Celtics.
Ye Feng knew very well how much Thibodeau wanted to be the head coach. Now he was not famous, and it was the best time to ask him to coach.
Thibodeau's annual salary as an assistant coach is not high, and the house he lives in is not big. When he saw Ellie and Ye Feng, he greeted him with a smile. As soon as he received the call, he had a premonition that the opportunity had come. The head coach of the Clippers had just resigned and it was impossible for him to come to the door for other things. He must have wanted to ask him to join the coach. He never gave up his dream of becoming a head coach, so he only signed a contract with the Celtics for one year and is now completely free.
Ailie expressed her intention to make Thibodeau the head coach straight to the point. Thibodeau smiled and connected the corners of his mouth and eyes, and immediately expressed her opinion: "I am very willing to be the head coach of the Clippers, but can you build the team according to my requirements? I heard that the Clippers are preparing to clean up the stars in the team and rebuild around Ye Feng."
Alice has already discussed the argument with Ye Feng, and Thibodeau doesn't have the big-name airs like Brown, which makes people feel very comfortable. She said seriously: "You can discuss with me and Manager Baylor if you have any ideas. We are going to replace all the players of the Clippers last season, and the original assistant coach will also be replaced. I believe you can do it. The Celtics have outstanding defense this year, which is related to your efforts. The Clippers need your defensive philosophy. I hope you can compete with us for the championship. I am a newcomer, Ye Feng is a newcomer, and you are also a newcomer. As long as you succeed, Los Angeles will be where a miracle happens!"
Thibodeau asked: "If all the new players are used, it will take time for the Clippers to get into the playoffs. It will not be easy. Miss Sterling, what are the Clippers' record goals for the season?"
Alile smiled and said, "There is no goal in the record, you can boldly use new players. We have roughly goals in the free market, and you can also propose the players you want and discuss them together."
If it were Brown, he would definitely be the leader of the signing. But when he heard that the Clippers had already made plans, Thibodeau would not fight for the right to speak. Even if the Clippers were bad, he would not care. As long as he could become the head coach and take the first step, he would have succeeded. He had only a little doubt and asked ruthlessly: "I don't know how many years the Clippers are going to sign with me? I hope I can get a long contract, at least three years. I don't want to be swept out after teaching the team defense and become the head coach of the Clippers during the transition period."
Alile also discussed this question with Ye Feng and simply replied: "How about signing a five-year long contract? Our team's manager Elgin Baylor is already 74 years old. He will retire in less than two years. Then you can serve as the team's general manager."
The conditions offered by the Clippers were too generous, and Thibodeau couldn't believe it. Few teams were willing to sign long-term contracts with the new head coach as soon as they came out, let alone an inexperienced assistant like him? He just won the championship with the team, and his dream of being a head coach suddenly came true, which made him ecstatic. "Miss Sterling, I really have no reason to refuse. The Clippers trust me like this, and I will definitely not let the Clippers down. I will make the Clippers' defense as good as the Celtics."
"Then let's work together happily!" Alile shook hands with Thibodeau, and Ye Feng gave Thibodeau a hug. He knew that he would cooperate with this underrated fat man for a long time.
In his previous life, Thibodeau joined the Bulls and led the Bulls to play beautiful team basketball and quickly rose. It was him who made Derek Ross the youngest regular season MVP in history, and he also won the best coach in the rookie season. Ye Feng had no doubts about his ability.
The Clippers' new coach has been confirmed! (To be continued)
Chapter completed!