The Whip of the God of Basketball

Leon and D'Antoni drove to Richmond and then took a regional plane to New York. D'Antoni and Leon chatted a lot along the way, and he found that Fox-Leon was not what many people imagined.

First of all, Leon is a solitary person. In D'Antoni's impression, those big bowl coaches will have many followers and assistants, especially championship-level coaches. Even D'Antoni used to bring at least one assistant with him when he went out to do things, but Leon did everything by himself.

Secondly, Leon's energy and brain power are extremely amazing. When he competed with Leon in the past few seasons, D'Antoni knew that the coach in Boston was a person with terrible brain power, but only after getting in touch with him in depth did he realize that he was simply a machine. Human Computer. Among other things, there is not a single number in his mobile address book because he has everyone's numbers in his head.

As for the reason, Leon said that if he accidentally loses his phone one day, he doesn't have to worry about leaking his phone number or re-entering his address book.

The last point, and the strangest point for D'Antoni, is that he found that Leon did not seem to be a basketball tactics madman like the rumors. D'Antoni didn't have much contact with Leon in the past. He only learned from media magazines and insiders that Fox-Leon seems to be an out-and-out tactical maniac. He has in his mind all the tactics that basketball has been invented for more than 100 years. .

But the two chatted all the way, and Leon didn't mention any tactical issues, such as the Suns' tactical training methods, the Suns' tactical planning, and what key ball tactics the Suns mainly used. He didn't seem to be interested at all.

On the contrary, Leon seems to be more concerned about the gossip issues of those teams, such as who has a better relationship between the players, what hobbies each player has, what Stoudemire likes to eat, and where Barbosa likes to go after training. Play, is Nash the serious boss or the amiable boss in the team, and who is the real boss in the locker room. Waiting for questions, Leon was like a paparazzi reporter who likes to pry, staring at D'Antoni and asking endless questions.

Later, D'Antoni felt bored and couldn't help but ask on the plane: "I said Fox, are you going to work as a screenwriter in Phoenix? Are you going to write a sitcom about the basketball team?"

Leon smiled and replied: "I just want to get to know my players before the start of the new season. There is an old Chinese saying, know yourself and the enemy, and you will never be in danger in a hundred battles. Sometimes understanding your own team is more important than understanding your opponent. Especially a team like the Suns, which is only one step away from winning the championship."

After Leon said this, D'Antoni couldn't help but fall into deep thinking.

……………………

In the afternoon, Leon and D'Antoni arrived in New York. The two did not reveal any news before arriving, so they were not surrounded by any reporters at the airport. Only in the parking lot of the airport, Woj was sitting in his car waiting for the two of them to arrive.

After getting in the car, Woj took Leon to a frequently visited Chinese restaurant in Manhattan. The restaurant was small and inconspicuous. It was a place where Leon often stayed when he went to New York. It was also where Leon and Woj held talks, chats and exchanges. A place for intelligence.

Along the way, Woj kept complaining about Leon, just because he didn't tell him that he was going to be the head coach of the Phoenix Suns some time ago. Obviously, with such big news, Woj didn't drink any soup, and he was still his good friend. Of course he Somewhat angry.

"Okay, okay, when I provided you with important information, I didn't see you thanking me. You can treat me to dinner tonight. I want to eat the most expensive Buddha Jumping Over the Wall in the store." Leon didn't care about Woj's accusation. He was also ripped off.

Woj said while driving: "If you can provide me with high-quality information, I can treat you to Buddha Jumping Over the Wall for a week."

D'Antoni was obviously not used to sitting aside, because he used to be the head coach of a team and never thought that a team's head coach would hook up with these NBA reporters and provide so-called intelligence. Are we going to reveal the Suns' trading and signing plans?

Seeing some hesitation on D'Antoni's face, Leon patted him and whispered: "Believe me, Woj is my good friend, and he will never do anything to hurt me. Reporters are sometimes annoying, but most of the time, They are useful.”

After arriving at the restaurant, Leon ordered the most expensive Buddha Jumping Over the Wall as expected. While waiting for the food, the three of them started chatting, of course, mainly about the trends of the league's teams in the offseason.

"Fox, haven't you thought about making any big moves after joining the Suns? I heard that the newly appointed general manager Cole has plans to make major changes to the Suns' lineup." Woj probed.

Leon shook his head and said: "Cole's main role is to sit in the position of general manager and collect wages. I guarantee that the Suns will not make any big moves in the free market and trade market. This team is great, very good. Well, there’s no need to make any big moves.”

Woj shrugged, looked at D'Antoni, and D'Antoni spread his hands and said: "I don't even know now whether Cole is the general manager or he is."

Leon and Woj both smiled, and Leon said: "Cole is actually more suitable to be a head coach. Letting me be the general manager is a good choice. It's not that Cole is not good, it's just that he is better at dealing with players. He's not really stepping into the general manager role, he's more of a walk-in in the position, trust me."

Woj is not interested in what will happen to Cole in the future. He is only interested in big trades and the draft, and then asked: "Do you have any ideas in the draft? The draft will be in two days, I know, You have to be a manipulator in every draft."

Looking at Woj's eyes, Leon showed a sly smile and said: "We have four picks in the draft this year, but whether it is the first or second round, the position is relatively low, but..."

"But what, tell me Fox, I know you must have some ulterior motives in your mind." Woj is particularly looking forward to Leon's ulterior motives. This guy often does things that benefit others at the expense of others, especially in the draft. Once his opponent lets him know his trading intentions, he will try his best to rob his opponent and will not stop until he takes away two ounces of meat.

Leon smiled, dipped his finger in a little water, and drew a U shape on the table, then drew a vertical line at the bottom of the U shape and an asterisk at the top of the vertical line. Woj took a look, isn't this the Spurs' logo? He quickly asked: "Are you from San Antonio again?"

Leon frowned and said, "What do you mean again?"

"It's not like you don't know that a few years ago, when the Spurs drafted Tony Parker, you arranged a deal with Steve Kerr, and then you took away the right to sign Chris Anderson. . These things, to this day, Popovich still nags when he is being interviewed!" Woj mentioned the old things from that year. When Leon was still with the Celtics, he figured out that the Spurs wanted to play behind the Celtics. Taking Parker's position, forcing the Spurs and Celtics to trade, and giving Cole to the Celtics.

Now he has the idea of ​​​​Spurs again. He is really trying to catch something!

Of course, that robbery was a typical case of harming others but not benefiting oneself. In the end, the Celtics failed to win the 2003 championship. They lost to the Spurs in the finals, which caused Cole to lose a ring, and then caused Leon to lose this year. When I coach the Suns, I want to give Cole a championship.

When it came to this matter, Leon himself found it funny, but he still said to Woj: "Now that I have become the coach of the Suns, of course I have to give the Spurs some pain. According to my intelligence, the Spurs want to pick the 28th pick. They won the Argentinian Split first, haha, they really have a soft spot for overseas players. But we have the 24th pick, and we will intercept it. They can either trade and add some chips in exchange, or... Or it’s good to keep it for ourselves. I’ve seen the Split training materials and I think it’s pretty good.”

Woj immediately wrote down these contents in his notebook, and D'Antoni whispered: "Is it okay to just say it directly? Moreover, overseas players like Split are under contract, even if they are selected, , there is no way to play in the NBA in a short time."

Leon just nodded and continued: "What I most hope is that the Spurs can exchange Robert Holley for this draft pick. You know, our Suns just lack such players with championship experience."

As soon as Leon said this, Woj's eyes widened and he felt incredible, using Holly? Everyone knows what happened in the playoffs this year. Holly's blow to Nash's nose was considered to have ruined the Suns' championship. What if Holly came to the Suns? It is estimated that he will not be able to enter the training hall alive or make it out of the locker room alive.

"Then, when the trade comes, I will cut him." Leon added.

"Are you kidding, Leon? What's this for? Revenge?" Woj asked.

Leon didn't speak, just spread his hands. At this time, the dish of Buddha Jumping Over the Wall was ready and served. Leon said: "The dish has been cooked and put in the jar, just waiting to open the lid and eat! Smell it, Doesn’t it smell delicious?”