area51novel Chapter 494 Is OK! You can go! We'll be back soon!
Chapter 494 Is OK! You can go! We'll be back soon!
After a day of rest, the fourth game of the series began.
However, compared to the intense back-and-forth battle of the previous match, the intensity, excitement, and fighting spirit of both sides in this match were significantly lower.
The Timberwolves had no will to fight; their minds were no longer on the court. Their morale and fighting spirit had been completely shattered by Lin Tian's performance in the previous game.
The Pacers weren't in good form tonight either. Like the Forest team, they were still caught up in the madness of Lin Tian's last game!
How should I describe the course of this match?
A bunch of noobs pecking at each other!
How bad was he? After scoring 5 doubles in the last game, Lin Tian scored almost 4 doubles again tonight!
可惜的是，他27投只有10中，3分球7投2中，罚球14罚9中，拿到31分11篮板13助攻8失误。
Eight turnovers also set a new career high for Lin Tian in the playoffs.
So many mistakes and such a low shooting percentage actually show how relaxed Lin Tian was tonight.
He relaxed to the point that he took many casual shots and made overly freehand passes.
But clearly, no one thinks Lin Tian played poorly tonight, nor does anyone think he was a complete failure.
After his performance in the last game, no matter how he plays tonight, everyone will just think he let the Timberwolves off the hook.
The performance of both sides that night was in stark contrast to that of the previous game.
Both sides played terribly, with very low shooting percentages and numerous mistakes.
But in the end, the Timberwolves' morale was lower and their performance was worse, and they lost the game as expected.
81: 92!
The Timberwolves lost this Finals game by a mere 11 points, a rather unremarkable defeat.
4: 0!
The Pacers swept the Timberwolves, marking their third consecutive sweep of their opponent!
They successfully won the 2003-2004 season championship!
The sixth in seven years, and the fifth consecutive championship!
Meanwhile, the Pacers only had a 43-39 record in the regular season this year and were ranked eighth in the Eastern Conference!
These two numbers also allowed the Pacers to create several new historical records without anyone realizing it.
Their record is worse than the Washington Bullets' 44 wins and 38 losses, surpassing them to become the NBA's worst-performing championship team in regular season history with the lowest winning percentage, fewest wins, and worst overall record!
At the same time, their eighth-place ranking in the East surpassed that of the Rockets, who were sixth in the West that year, making them the lowest-ranked championship team in the league's history!
Simply put, this year's Pacers team is the worst-performing, worst-looking, least favored, most unbelievable, and most fitting underdog and comeback champion team in history!
Along the way, they successively defeated the 61-win Pistons, the 49-win Bucks, the 57-win Nets, and the 59-win Timberwolves.
Even with Lin Tian, the league's top weapon, the team suffered significant personnel losses during the offseason and two key players were sidelined for the regular season. Lin Tian almost single-handedly led the team to the championship!
This year's Pacers are absolutely the most 'single-core' championship team in history! There's no purer single-core team than this!
Throughout the playoffs, Lin Tian was the team's leading scorer, assist leader, rebounder, and stealer. Even his blocks, after 10 in the previous game, ranked second on the team!
In addition, Lin Tian's average points per game during the playoffs were more than 20 points higher than the team's second-leading scorer, Artest, and his assists were 7 more than the team's second-leading assist provider, Parker!
These two lopsided lead statistics further illustrate just how exaggerated and terrifying Lin Tian's influence on the court is.
Not to mention that in order to keep the team's fighting spirit on the court, Lin Tian often played the entire game throughout the playoffs! Except for the slightly easier series against the Bucks, Lin Tian hardly rested in the other three series!
If we exclude the series against the Bucks and a few games that went down to garbage time, Lin Tian averaged more than 46 minutes of playing time in the other games!
It can be said that Lin Tian hardly rests except in matches where he is completely outmatched!
As for why he doesn't rest?
This is not a problem at all!
With or without Lin Tian, the Pacers are like teams from two different leagues! The difference in strength is unimaginable!
If this Pacers team can't be called a single-core team, then there's no such concept or saying in the history of the league!
If this concept exists, then Lin Tian and this Pacers team will definitely be the first person and team to be mentioned!
In a sense, the shock that Lin Tian brought to the league and fans around the world this year was far more shocking and exaggerated than the year he won the unanimous MVP, the year he won all the playoff games, and the year he broke the regular season win record.
This year, Lin Tian's performance and statistics might be a little unreliable if we say he has the best individual performance and statistics in NBA history, after all, there was a monster in history who averaged 50+25.
However, considering the final results, it would be perfectly reasonable for Lin Tian, who won the championship, to be called the greatest single-season performance in history.
In short, after winning this year's championship, the Pacers dynasty and Lin Tian have become increasingly insane and increasingly unstoppable!
That night in Indiana was an absolutely sleepless one, with everyone caught up in a frenzy of celebration and revelry!
When the final whistle blew, the Pacers players rushed onto the court to celebrate, cheering and celebrating wildly.
As for the Timberwolves players, after the disappointment, despair, and pain of the previous game, although their performance in this game was poor, their mentality has recovered quite a bit. At least Garnett, Iverson, and others did not choose to leave the court early after such a disappointing night.
They patiently waited for the Pacers' first wave of celebration to end, then went up to Lin Tian to high-five and hug him, expressing their congratulations.
However, after these people hugged Lin Tian one after another, they regretted it.
They discovered they were too noble! Noble to the point of being unnecessary, so noble that it was almost foolish.
They overestimated Lin Tian's integrity; they thought Lin Tian wouldn't be so shameless.
After several people hugged Lin Tian, Artest and Howard walked onto the court with four huge suitcases, put them on the ground, and opened them with a 'clack clack'.
liquor!
It's all wine, four full cases of wine!
This is?
Iverson, Garnett, Sprewell, and others looked at Lin Tian with curiosity.
They didn't understand why so much alcohol was being produced at this time.
"Take a few bottles! They're all shipped from Minnesota, and we bought them from you guys! It's super difficult to carry so much liquor all the way here without breaking it!"
"Bought in Minnesota?" Iverson didn't understand. Was the liquor in Minnesota really that good? Was it worth Lin Tian 'importing' so much liquor from that wretched place to Indiana?
"After the first game, we went to celebrate, right? We brought back some drinks that night!" Lin Tian chuckled, patting Iverson on the shoulder as he answered, "That night, everyone agreed not to drink alcohol, we just brought some back specifically to drink!"
"FUXX!"
Upon hearing this, Iverson knew he had been tricked again.
He slapped away Lin Tian's arm that was around his shoulder while cursing, and turned away from Lin Tian.
Iverson made up his mind that from today onwards, he would never speak another word to Lin Tian!
That bastard has no right to say even a single word to me!
What kind of bastard would dare to mock people at a time like this?
Is this supposed to be a Q&A session?
That damn bastard!
Watching the Timberwolves players leave cursing and looking disgusted, and even refusing the drinks offered by the cheerful Artest and others, Lin Tian and the others laughed even more heartily. Could there be a more perfect night than this?
Obviously not!
"Congratulations, Lin, and congratulations to myself too." At this moment, Bird also walked over from the audience and hugged Lin Tian tightly: "Honestly, these past seven years have felt like a dream! It really feels like a dream!"
"I still can't believe we actually did all this! Six championships in seven years, five consecutive championships, countless honors, countless records, countless achievements! Lin, you're saying all of this is real... FUXX! What are you doing?!"
Bird was halfway through his sentence when he suddenly rubbed his thigh and jumped away as if he had been bitten by a snake, moving far away from Lin Tian.
"Didn't you suspect this was a dream? Let me help you wake up! It hurts, doesn't it? The pain proves it's definitely not a dream!" Lin Tian laughed, "Happy championship, Larry! Happy championship!"
"This one's for you." Bird raised a bottle of liquor, clinked it against Lin Tian's with great gusto, then carefully licked it before setting it down. "You've already played your last game representing Indiana, haven't you?"
"You don't want me to stay?" Lin Tian didn't answer, but asked directly.
"I can't keep you here." Bird shrugged helplessly. "That old fox Stern didn't come up with this so-called 'God Clause' to keep you in Indiana; he just wanted you to leave."
"According to this bullshit clause, the most you can sign this summer is a 5-year, 2 million contract, averaging 4000 million per contract, and all luxury taxes arising from that contract will be doubled, damn it!"
After Bird cursed again, he said, "Even if you force the Simon brothers to their deaths, they can't come up with that much money. You can make money for them and bring them honor, but they are not Paul Allen or James Dolan."
"Indiana isn't New York or Los Angeles; the market here can't handle such a large contract."
"Aren't you going to try to fight for it? I'm going to be really sad, Larry."
"Don't give me that crap!" Bird glared at Lin Tian. "You bastard, you're not the kind of person who would compromise for money! If I had only offered you a 7-year, $1 million contract back then, would you have come to Indiana?"
"If the Simon brothers can grit their teeth and offer you a five-year, $150 million contract, I'll grit my teeth, swallow my pride, and try my best to keep you."
"But unfortunately, I've already tested their offer. At most, it's 1-1.2 million over 5 years or 8000-1 million over 4 years. That's far from the highest contract you can get, so I'm not going to waste my pitiful dignity or my energy on you."
"I have a lot of other things to do this offseason! I'm very busy!"
"Busy? How busy can you be? You just sign a few worthless free agents and spend the whole summer grieving the loss of me."
"That's hard to say," Bird said with a sudden laugh. "Maybe we'll meet again soon? There are many things in this world that you can't predict."
Lin Tian didn't bother talking to Bird about that kind of stuff, and instead steered the conversation back to his new contract: "Given your understanding of this league, how much do you think those big spenders will pay me?"
"Are you sure you want to discuss this with me? What's the difference between this and talking to your ex about your new boyfriend?"
"There's a huge difference," Lin Tian said decisively. "Our situation is more like me consulting my ex-girlfriend about how to choose among 7-8 girls who are better than her."
"Damn it!" Bird cursed, then glared at Lin Tian and said, "First of all, what we can be sure of is that no big spender will give you 2 million over 5 years. Even Paul Allen or James Dolan wouldn't be that crazy! 2 million over 5 years, an average salary of 4000 million plus double the luxury tax."
"If they really give you this contract, it means they'll have to pay over 1 million a year for you! Nobody's that crazy."
"However, a contract like 5 years 1.5 years or 4 years 1.2 years should be fine!"
"You can still earn an average salary of over 3000 million and a maximum annual salary of 4000 million over the next 4-5 years! That's already crazy."
"Our brand-new collective bargaining agreement is hailed as the greatest, most comprehensive, and most unassailable super agreement in the history of world sports. Under this agreement, Stern can let you take 50-60% of the team's salary cap, which is crazy enough!"
"To make it acceptable to the bosses, Stern even calculated the hush money in advance—double the luxury tax! Each boss will get a lot!"
"So what are your plans for this year?" After listening to Bird's analysis, Lin Tian didn't respond. Instead, he abruptly changed the subject, bringing the topic back to what Bird had mentioned earlier.
The main feature is that monkeys will steal peaches from you anytime, anywhere, leaving you with no way to avoid or defend against them.
"I'm going to talk to... Fuxx! I'm not telling you unless you're willing to sign a 4-year, 1 million contract with me. Then we'll still be on the same side, and everything will be fine."
"If you don't sign, I have nothing to say! We're enemies, and I won't share any intelligence with my enemies."
"How boring." Lin Tian shrugged, too lazy to waste any more words with this old fox, and too lazy to care whether Bird had gone crazy and wanted to go to Buss to buy O'Neal. He turned around and went to celebrate with Webber, Ginobili and others.
A few minutes later, after the Pacers players' first wave of celebration had almost ended, the league's makeshift podium was set up once again, and the Pacers players were greeted by Stern's signature smiling face.
His face was filled with satisfaction.
Judging from this guy's expression, he would definitely think that Lin Tian is his own son. After studying hard for 30 years, he returned home and made the whole family famous and proud.
But Lin Tian, who knows Stern well, knows that no matter which team wins the championship, the old man will always show this look of satisfaction.
He also guessed that the old man's smile was probably because his contract with the Pacers had finally expired. The old man had been hoping for Lin Tian to move to a bigger city and market for at least 5 years so that the brand power, influence and most importantly, the money-making ability of the entire league could be further enhanced.
Now, the old man has finally waited for this day!
Lin Tian even recalled Bird's lewd smile just now, and he suspected that Bird and the Simon brothers behind him had probably already reached some dirty secret deal with this old fox.
Otherwise, how could they all look so confident and determined to win?
Nine times out of ten, this old fox promised that if the Pacers won the lottery after Lin Tian left, he would compensate them with something like a number one draft pick, allowing the Pacers to quickly complete their rebuild.
Hmm... most likely!
Otherwise, the two old foxes, along with the Simon brothers who came to the scene, wouldn't all be smiling as if their wives had given birth to a big, healthy baby boy.
Lin Tian could tell that it was a genuine smile from the heart, a joy that came from the soul.
"This year's champions are the Indiana Pacers!"
"This year's Finals MVP is Lin Tian!"
After Stern handed the two trophies to Lin Tian, the 2003-2004 season was essentially over!
This season is over!
In principle, the new season will begin with the draft in about 10 days, and each team will start making various adjustments to their roster from that time onwards.
Meanwhile, with everyone believing that the Simon brothers wouldn't give Lin Tian that much money, and that Lin Tian was basically certain to leave the Pacers, all the teams were eager to make their move.
However, it must be said that most teams did not even consider trying to acquire Lin Tian.
After all, if it were just a contract with a starting salary of 3000 million, there would be a few big spenders willing to pay that amount. But if it involves double the luxury tax, then there are really not many people willing to pay that amount for Lin Tian!
If it weren't for the terrifying prospect of doubling the luxury tax, teams like the Timberwolves and Lakers, who are incredibly hungry for a championship and are just one step away from it, could essentially end the league's season if they just spent $200 million over five years.
Unfortunately, with the double luxury tax included, Lin Tian's new contract, which appears to be worth 2 million yuan over 5 years, will actually be worth at least 4-5 million yuan over 5 years.
That's terrifying.
There are no Eastern European oligarchs or Middle Eastern oil tycoons in the current league. Because of this, almost everyone has concluded that although Lin Tian could theoretically get a super contract of 2 million over 5 years, it is highly unlikely that anyone will give it to him.
I really can't give it to them!
It's the early 21st century now. At least half of the teams in the league are worth only 2-3 million. There are even a few small, run-down teams that probably won't even sell for 2 million. Even the most valuable teams, like the Lakers and Knicks, are capped at 10 billion.
It seems highly improbable that someone would spend the equivalent of a team's worth of money to sign Lin Tianchong for the championship.
However, precisely because of this, how much money Lin Tian will earn next season has become something that everyone is concerned about and curious about.
Meanwhile, there's really not much to speculate about regarding Lin Tian's next employer.
Rumors suggest that there are currently five teams most likely to be Lin Tian's next destination.
James Dolan and his Knicks, who have publicly fawned over Lin Tian countless times; Paul Allen, the world's richest man, and his Trail Blazers; Lin Tian's former team; the Bulls, who once offered Jordan a $3000 million annual salary and desperately needed to revive; and Dallas, owned by the madman Mark Cuban.
Finally, there's the Charlotte Bobcats, a new team in the league founded by former basketball legend Michael Jordan, who are about to enter the league!
The reason the Bobcats made the list is simple: they're poor!
This lousy team is dirt poor. Their most important goal for the new season is to fill the "poor guy" roster and get enough players. But with Lin Tian, do they even need to fill the "poor guy" roster anymore? It'll be full in no time!
At the same time, if this team signs Lin Tian, they won't have to pay any luxury tax!
Without paying a luxury tax, Lin Tian's contract, starting at 3000 million, isn't so scary.
Given Lin Tian's personal relationship with Jordan, many people believe that the Bobcats are the top favorite for Lin Tian to join the team!
Otherwise, why would Jordan play a year in Indiana after his comeback?
Is it really all for a scoring title and a championship?
That year, Jordan must have been constantly trying to lure Lin Tian into joining his new team and inviting Lin Tian to work with him!
Once you sort it out like this, everything makes sense! It all makes sense!
Apart from these five teams, the other teams never even considered Lin Tian.
The temple was too small to accommodate him.
As for those teams that are eager to get started, they are actually thinking about only one thing: Lin Tian is gone, the Pacers have collapsed, and he may not be able to integrate perfectly into his new team in the first year.
So, can we finally compete for the championship in the new season?
So, even though the 03-04 season has just ended, countless people are already looking forward to the 04-05 season!
They all believe that the next season of the league will be incredibly exciting, and that the league will once again enter a Warring States period of fierce competition!
Next season will surely be a year in which heroes from all walks of life rise up!
However, what no one expected was that Jordan and the Bobcats were the first teams Lin Tian excluded from his candidate list. He had no intention of meeting Jordan or giving him any chance.
Jordan's draft picks and his near-lowest market value among business owners—it's absolute hell!
Lin Tian isn't a masochist; he's not going to seek out torture.
The public couldn't guess Lin Tian's thoughts, so naturally, there were also things that Lin Tian couldn't have imagined that night.
Halfway through the celebration party that night, Bird quietly left the Pacers' VIP box, headed straight for the nightclub's parking lot, muttered something along the way, found a minivan, opened the door, and got in.
"Does it have to be tonight, and in this place?" In the van, a middle-aged man wearing glasses rubbed his eyes, somewhat helplessly saying, "We can meet anytime, anywhere, why do we have to make it look like a drug deal?"
Anyone familiar with American basketball would immediately recognize this middle-aged man, who looks impatient and sleepy, as Jerry Colangelo, the team leader, general manager, and chief architect of the US men's basketball team!
He has served as the general manager and team leader of the US men's basketball team since 00, and has built two US teams.
However, both teams he assembled were terrible. In 00, they at least won a silver medal, but in the 02 World Championship held on home soil, the American team was simply a walking disaster, suffering upsets and getting beaten all the way through.
This World Championship has become a litmus test for strong teams.
Anyone who considers themselves a strong team has to come up and beat them up to show their strength and worth.
In short, the worst performance in history in 02 has seriously cast doubt on Colangelo's career. This year is his last chance. If his team cannot achieve the desired results and regain the gold medal this year, then the day the Olympics end will basically be the day he is unemployed.
"That's more exciting, Jerry. Here, this is what I promised you." Bird extended his hand holding the wine glass and handed it to the person opposite him, then extended his other hand and said, "So, what about what you promised me?"
"When did I ask for this thing? What the hell have you been watching lately?" Colangelo took Bird's glass, bewildered, then pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Bird with a look of disgust: "This is what I promised you."
"The people you want are basically all there. I've written down the few who are a bit hesitant or have refused, and I've also written down their current whereabouts. For example, you want Shaquille O'Neal, but he has made it clear that he's not in the mood to play in international games, and he's currently in Hong Kong."
"We can pick a day to fly to Hong Kong together and try to persuade him again."
"No need," Bird said, glancing at the list. "He can come back in time. Alright, if there's nothing else, I'll be leaving."
"My teammates are waiting for me to celebrate together! If I stay out for too long, they'll get suspicious."
"Are you out of your mind?" Colangelo couldn't help but yell, "You insisted I come out in the middle of the night, insisted on meeting you in the parking lot, and that's it? I thought you were going to talk to me about personnel, tactics, and match details!"
"There's no need to talk about Jerry. You believe me, and I believe you, right? I'll do everything I can to win the gold medal and bring us back to the top." After saying that, Bird suddenly took the wine glass back from Colangelo's hand.
"I noticed you didn't bring a driver and drove here yourself. It's best not to drink and drive. See you in the summer." Bird said, waving as he got out of the car and happily returned the way he came.
As for Colangelo, whose face turned blue with anger?
Bird said: I hope you have the same sweet dreams as me tonight!
…………
"Don't worry, I promised you." In a private club that was much more upscale, quieter, and more private, Stern squinted and clinked his glass with the Simon brothers across from him.
"Even if you weren't planning to keep Lin anyway, I'll still compensate you! Next season, even if Lin leaves, I'll still find a way to keep your games nationally televised! At the very least, you won't fall out of the top five in the league!"
"I guarantee that you will be in the Christmas Day games for the next few years. In addition, I will give priority to your team in the preseason games and World Championships to increase your team's international influence."
"And, after you lose Lin, you'll inevitably go through a slump. You'll be lottery picks, targeted by the rest of the league, and your draft position will be very, very high!"
"And another thing, let me think... Oh, right! The All-Star Game, that's a lucrative business. How about we hold the All-Star Game here three years from now?"
Stern made some things very clear, while he didn't make others so.
But that's enough!
The Simon brothers were very satisfied. They picked up their glasses and said simultaneously, "It's always so pleasant to work with the president. For a better tomorrow for the alliance!"
"For a better tomorrow for the league!"
Different people, different shady dealings!
The only thing they have in common is the madness of the Pacers players!
After several days of revelry, the Pacers players rode on parade floats and began their five-year championship parade!
This time of year is the happiest and most joyful time for the Indiana people! They are genuinely happy for the team's achievements, they unleash their passion, and celebrate with the players!
No one knows how much alcohol will be consumed in Indiana on this day, or how many children will be born ten months later, but everyone is certain that this is the most celebrated day of the year in Indiana!
The parade route basically circles the city of Indiana, finally stopping at the plaza in front of City Hall, where players, coaches, owners, and uniform staff give speeches.
The process will be the same this year.
The Simon brothers, Bird, Carlisle, Artest, Webber and Ginobili who hadn't played much... a group of people came forward one after another, expressing their true feelings to the fans, which triggered cheers, shouts or laughter.
Finally, Lin Tian took the stage, standing before the thousands, if not more, of Pacers fans. He opened his mouth and said, "At this time of year in previous years, I would always say: One more time!"
"But I think I won't be able to say those words today."
Although everyone expected Lin Tian to leave, when Lin Tian himself said it, all the fans still felt genuinely sad and upset.
Is this the end of our dynasty?
Too fast! Not long enough!
Then, led by someone, the fans in the stadium began to shout loudly, and the shouts became a continuous stream.
"Give him money! Give him money! Give him money!"
"Leave the forest! Leave the forest! Leave the forest!"
Faced with the fans' clamor, the two bosses' expressions turned grim. Being forced to resign in this situation was putting them in a very difficult position.
At that moment, Lin Tian reached out to stop the fans from shouting and making a fuss, and then he said, "The Simon brothers are the best bosses I've ever met! I can feel their passion, generosity and love. My departure has nothing to do with them."
"I just want to move to a different place. I hope everyone can forgive me and understand me."
After Lin Tian's words, another murmur arose at the scene, followed by a renewed shout of slogans, this time louder, more unified, and more moving than before!
"It's OK! You can go!"
"It's OK! You can go!"
"It's OK! You can go!"
Lin Tian owes Indiana nothing! (End of Chapter)