The rest is just noise

September 10, 1986

The New York Knicks' preseason training camp, like last year, is set up at the Blue Palace.

In this way, players do not need to stay away from home for a month, and can relax nearby after training during the day and at night.

Many teams want players to be isolated from the outside world during training.

Louis never believed in this. He believed that combining work and rest was the best way to maintain his condition.

Louis came to the Blue Palace with a natural appearance. Benjamin Wilson had already arrived and was dueling with his classmate John Salley.

Louis made the decision after watching his college games.

At first, Louis only knew Selly as a member of the Bad Boys. After watching his game, he was first attracted by his physical condition.

With a height of 6 feet 11 inches (211m) and an untested wingspan, he has a length close to 225m by visual inspection.

He looks very thin, runs like a deer, and is very light. He is currently the most popular athletic power forward.

Louis decided to draft him almost immediately. With one him, one Rodman, and Alex Stevens, the core lineup of murderous tight ends was already there.

Three spider-men who are immortal, have amazing athletic talents, are tall and have long arms. As long as they are polished hard, their bodies become stronger, the defensive details are done well, and they understand each other well, and the chemical reaction occurs, these three people will become the core of the murder press.

On the stage, Louis didn't believe any team's second lineup could withstand it.

Selly's body can cover Wilson.

However, Wilson's ball-handling ability is not what a player of his height should have.

His sense of rhythm is so good that he can dribble and open up space without using explosive power.

Selley basically couldn't guard him, because Wilson's hand felt so hot that his hand was close to his face, but he still hit the shot.

"Come again, John!"

Wilson was in high spirits and was still not satisfied with shaving Selley's head 11-0.

People around him booed and started placing bets to see if Selly could prevent Wilson from scoring next.

The majority of people believe that Seli cannot be defended.

Rodman sat shyly in the crowd, saying nothing, but he seemed eager to participate.

"Hit his ass! Touch his little brother! John, you have to accept the challenge like a man!"

McHale excitedly drove a wedge between the two.

"coach!"

Stevens said hello.

"Why didn't you go teach our No. 1 pick?" Louis believed that Stevens should be able to cause some trouble for Wilson.

Stevens said modestly: "No, I'm not his match at all."

"That's because you gave in to him, and that kid got a little swollen. It's better to teach him a lesson."

Louis asked, and Stevens complied.

After John Salley was defeated by Wilson again, Stevens joined the battlefield.

Unlike Salley, Stevens guarded Wilson as a formal game.

You can tell from his actions that he is serious.

No matter how good Wilson's skills are, Stevens' confrontation can effectively interfere with him without the influence of the referee.

When it was Stevens' turn to attack, he only used one back hook to score.

Wilson was a little anxious and missed consecutive shots. When Stevens led by 6 goals, he started to break through.

Like Stevens said, Wilson is stronger.

He was furious from behind, and every breakaway from Stevens ended with a dunk.

Moreover, he will roar when he completes the dunk.

"This kid really deserves his fame." McHale sighed.

Selly, who had his head shaved for two consecutive games, said angrily: "I told you earlier and you didn't believe me."

"Kevin!"

Louis called out to McHale.

"Please come with me."

McHale followed.

The last time they met, McHale was wearing normal casual clothes, but now he's wearing training clothes.

His exaggerated body structure looks so wrong.

"Coach, you don't want to tell me that I was traded, do you?" McHale asked jokingly.

"I said, you are our long-term plan." Louis asked, "Would you like something to drink? I have everything in the vending machine."

McHale comically asked: "What's the one that the vending machine doesn't have?"

"Don't talk nonsense."

"Give me a bottle of Sprite, thank you."

Louis tossed in the coin.

With his economic level, he can definitely get a vending machine that does not require coin operation, as long as he has people come to restock the goods regularly.

The main reason why he wants a vending machine that requires coins to be used is that he likes the process of inserting coins to buy things.

He especially liked the sound of putting a coin in, selecting the Coke, and then the Coke rolling out.

The secondary reason is that it can prevent some people from coming to his place to eat and drink.

After all, not everyone in the Blue Palace carries coins with them like Louis.

Louis gave McHale the Sprite and asked casually: "Kevin, you've been here with us for a while, do you have any thoughts?"

"Everything is great, really. I grew up in Minnesota and New York is heaven to me!"

Louis habitually opened the easy-pull button with one hand and asked: "I mean, what do you think of these people in the team?"

"It's all good, there's just one problem." McHale said with a wry smile, "Being with these guys, I feel old. I'm only 29 years old, but the oldest of these guys is only 26 (Avery)

(S)."

"This is why we need you." Louis told McHale about last season's playoffs. "We had a chance to overtake Detroit, but at the critical moment, the young people didn't know how to end the game."

McHale seemed unable to understand what Louis meant, and began to insult himself: "Coach, you are really right to find me. In all my years in Chicago, I have never made it past the second round."

"Kevin, I don't believe there are players in the world who don't want to win. I want you to be the leader of this team." Louis took out the captain's armband, "What do you think?"

When Louis took out the captain's armband, McHale's smile disappeared.

Instead of a smile, there was a nervous expression.

He has an instinctive resistance to the burden of shouldering the responsibility of the entire team.

"Coach, I can't." McHale refused directly. "I was not a leader when I was in Chicago. When Chuck arrived, I breathed a sigh of relief. I finally no longer have to bear responsibilities that are not mine."

Louis hummed: "Then how do you think you, the second boss, are doing your job?"

McHale is very self-aware: "I am here now, and although I am satisfied, I know that Chicago is not satisfied with my performance."

"So, you are an unqualified second in command."

McHale's face darkened.

"You don't want to be the boss and take on the responsibilities of a leader, but you can't do the job of second-in-command either. Kevin, what do you think you can do?" Louis asked bluntly.

Louis' question made McHale feel ashamed and embarrassed, and he didn't know how to respond.

"Coach, what should I do?"

"Accept the captain's armband, become our captain, and hold yourself to the standards of a captain. I don't need you to take on too much, I just need you to take the lead. I hope that when this group of young people become headless flies on the court,

Sometimes, you can stand up and ask for the ball loudly and lead them to victory."

Louis is not trying to humiliate McHale, he is trying to make McHale understand what this team needs from him.

Louis looked directly into McHale's eyes, and his tone was calm but like a heavy stone falling on the opponent's back: "Patrick is the core of our defense. Benj will be the offensive ace that the team focuses on cultivating. The responsibility of organizing the offense belongs to John. Just

Even fighting for his teammates, Oak can do it. Kevin, I don't need you to bear a lot, I just need you to be a reliable captain, pat the young people on the back when they are confused, and lead them to win.

Contest."

"If you think you can complete this mission, accept my armband. If you think you can't," Louis said, taking a sip of coke and resisting the urge to burp, "I can tell you clearly that you will not

The future belongs to the Knicks. Start playing hard from now on, because you may be traded by me at any time."

Louis didn't hide behind McHale, he went straight to the point and told him what he needed to do and what would happen.

This can be considered a threat, but it is also a way to push McHale forward.

McHale has wasted six years, and there is no Larry Bird-like figure in the Knicks to force him. Louis needs to awaken his fighting spirit and sense of responsibility.

McHale stood up and picked up the captain's armband from the table.

"I can give it a try," he said.

"If you feel you can't do it, you can give it back to me at any time." Louis smiled, "Before you give it back to me, you are our captain. I will demand and restrain you according to the standards of a captain.

.If you are reprimanded by me for not meeting the standards, I hope you can understand that it is not directed at you, I am just scolding a disappointing captain."

"Understood, coach, I've heard your 'story'."

At that time, Louis really wanted to look at him with wise eyes like the wise man in "The Richest Man in Xihong City" and ask: "Have you heard my story?"