NBA: The Basketball Miracle

The University of Connecticut's training hall, Gampel Pavilion, is located in Storrs, Mansfield Township, on the main campus. In January 1997, the roof collapsed.

Several days of continuous snowstorms caused too much snow to accumulate on the roof, and the drainage system malfunctioned, causing it to collapse.

This also forced the basketball team to move its games to the Civic Center in Hartford.

As a well-known alumnus, Lee made a lot of money, so he naturally had to give back to his alma mater and donate US dollars, and the graduation was secured!

Despite winning the NCAA championship, compared with other famous basketball schools, Calhoun coach still failed to recruit talented players with outstanding talents.

Back at the university for training, Clay Lee and Ray Allen attracted many new players.

After just a few days of watching, everyone was dumbfounded:

"Does it take this much training to play in the NBA?"

Every afternoon training session, Lee would start by warming up and moving his body.

Then, the sound of sneakers rubbing against the floor and basketballs entering the net would continue to rang out in the gym.

With a resistance band tied around his waist, Lee began to do several sets of defensive sliding training.

After fully activating his body and continuing to wear the resistance band, Lee started a half-court sprint and then a quick stop jump shot, followed by a sprint dunk.

Untie the resistance band, and shoot after vigorously blasting the ball in place at 5 points on the outside.

Continue to slide, run back and forth across the court, sprint in half the court, and quickly bounce out after completing a dunk, catch the ball on the outside and then complete the shot.

Start panting, continue to sprint across the court, make an emergency stop outside the three-point line, and complete the shot.

Finally, continue to slide, run quickly, and complete the catch and shoot.

The number of training times for each set is not fixed, depending mainly on Lee's physical condition on that day.

The purpose of training is to improve shooting stability while increasing heart rate.

Gaining muscle is unreliable, but it is not difficult to tap into Allen Iverson's talent of excellent physical fitness.

Ray Allen also trained with Lee at the beginning, but he ended up lying down on the first day.

The training effect was very poor. He kept missing shots, which was far from Lee's almost 100% accuracy.

However, after adapting for half a month, he was able to practice it quite well.

The newbies in Connecticut have become numb recently.

This intensity of training is okay for occasional practice, but most of them can't stand the repetition day after day.

Coach Calhoun's face showed a mix of stress, determination, and perhaps a touch of bewilderment.

Looking at the shirtless Lee leaning on his knees and breathing heavily, he said cheerfully:

"Next season, strive to enter the best team. Lee, you are now a big star in Connecticut. It seems that it is not a bad thing to get in touch with a high-level league earlier."

"It's not a good idea to enter the NBA too early. Most teams in the league don't know how to use basic tactics, and rookies still have to adapt to the team's playing style."

"The Knicks are in a special situation. If Larry Brown were the coach, I probably wouldn't get many opportunities in my first year."

"Fortunately, the opponent went to the 76ers. Allen Iverson is very lucky!"

After adjusting his breathing, Lee began to gloat.

He had not paid much attention to it before until Ray Allen told him that the 76ers had changed their coach.

Only then did he see the news.

At the end of April, Larry Brown resigned as head coach of the Pacers.

A few days later, the famous coach accepted the invitation of the 76ers.

The Pacers then announced that Larry Bird would become the team's new head coach!

Being a head coach in the NBA has always been a high-risk job.

If a superstar is in a bad mood, the coach may have to take the blame and be fired.

At the end of the 1996-1997 season, many teams replaced their head coaches.

Jeff Van Gundy of the Knicks does not have to worry about his next contract.

As he won the league's best coach award this season, his next contract is basically secured.

However, the two sides are still arguing over the length of the contract extension, but next season, Jeff Van Gundy will most likely remain with the Knicks.

Larry Johnson, who practices boxing every day, also sent a message to Lee these two days.

The "grandmama" hopes that the bald young coach will be dismissed as soon as possible, so that he doesn't have to circle around the gorilla every day.

"Next season, the 76ers' performance should improve, but they traded the second-overall pick to the Nets."

Ray Allen on the side also wiped his sweat. As a rookie player, he still wanted to work with a famous coach.

Bucks head coach Chris Ford is also very prestigious. He has coached the Celtics in the past, but he is still a little bit inferior to Larry Brown.

Lee suddenly thought of the future Doc River.

He didn't know if Ray Allen's mentality had changed after playing under this famous coach.

Lee's life was very regular, reading books and newspapers, attending classes and training.

In the evening, when we returned to our newly purchased home in the west end of Hartford, Melinda, who was decorating the room, suddenly suggested:

"It's actually not bad to settle down in the south. There are country clubs and golf courses there, which is convenient for socializing!"

Lee knew that this was a suggestion for him to enter the upper class.

Although the new house was close to Elizabeth Park, this place was already out of fashion.

Just like this elegant Victorian villa, the old money has also moved to a new place.

The American society of equality and freedom is clearly divided into different levels.

To enter the upper class, one must not only be rich but also have good taste.

Hugging this thoughtful and thoughtful girl with big breasts, Lee joked:

"It doesn't really matter where you live. For example, if I apply to join the Metropolitan Club, they may welcome me with a smile!"

"Very good! Young man, would you like to join the Metropolitan Club?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Tell me briefly, where are you from?"

"Sir, I'm from New Mexico!"

"Oh, that's how it is."

Seeing Lee vividly imitating jokes from previous years, Melinda laughed so hard that she collapsed in her arms.

Holding Lee, she said with a smile:

"Things are different now. There are no level maps. Transportation is more convenient. Albuquerque is also great!"

Lee focused on controlling the ball, then tilted his head and asked in a muffled voice:

"Want to go to Albuquerque? It's much freer there than Hartford!"

Melinda thought for a moment, straightened her coat, and without answering the question, whispered in his ear:

"There's no Saturday night show, so let's rest early!"

"."

On July 27, Lee finally saw his friend Ivan, who was letting himself go. At this time, he was single again.

His former girlfriend, who was a top student, did not break the record and broke up in less than three months.

After visiting Lee's new house, Ivan looked around but couldn't find any wine.

He couldn't help but raise his voice and complain loudly:

"You bought Apple stock? You might as well donate all your dollars!"

Earlier in Chicago, when Mark Bartelstein heard Lee's plan, he had the same reaction as his friend in front of him, with an expression of "are you crazy?"

"Didn't Steve Jobs return in February? I watch the news every day!"

Lee shared his news with a smile, but Ivan stroked his long hair and said helplessly:

"Then you should have seen that in the second quarter financial report in April, they lost 710 million US dollars, a record high!"

"In May, the company laid off 3,000 people and shut down several projects and departments. Even if the loss in the third quarter is smaller, the stock price will not rise significantly."

Lee shrugged. The stock price had plummeted from $18.87 at the beginning of the year.

He thought this was a bargain hunting opportunity, but everyone thought Apple was finished:

"I've already bought it, it's too late to regret it. I think this deal will definitely pay off in the end!"

Ivan shook his head, and then stopped dwelling on these questions. He smiled and suggested:

"Summer classes are almost over, and I haven't been to the Atlanta Club yet, so it's time to check it out!"

Lee pointed to the mirror and asked his friend to look at his dark circles before jokingly saying:

"Be careful not to lie there and not come back. Young people should exercise moderation too!"

"."

At the beginning of August, Lee received a text message from newbie Walter McCarty:

"Lee, I may be leaving the team, and I'm glad to have a friend like you in the Knicks."

Two days later, Lee received another text message from newbie John Wallace:

"Lee, I don't want to leave New York, I don't want to leave the Knicks, and I don't want to play in Canada."

In response to these two messages, Lee could only reply simply and comfort them.

Charles Oakley had a good eye, and the bullied McCarty did not stay with the Knicks for two years.

On August 8, the Knicks finally made a move, signing free agent Ben Wallace for two years and $1.2 million.

This news did not attract any attention at all.

Perhaps some players knew the inside story. Oakley discovered Ben Wallace, but everyone thought that this signing was a relationship-based contract to collect the salary.

Soon, Lee received another text message from veteran Herb Williams.

The veterans who did not play much this season will also leave the team next season.

Perhaps it won't be too long before Herb Williams will even retire directly.

After losing a rebound in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks needed to add a dynamic big man.

As for the subsequent operations, Lee had no idea, and the memory in his mind could not give an answer.

Lee continued to explore talents and secretly counted, and finally found that the Knicks lineup next season would not change much.

Jeff Van Gundy is likely to renew his contract, and the Chicago Bulls are still here.

Not only the Knicks haven't made any moves, most teams in the league haven't made any moves either.

Everyone is lying down:

"Are you all waiting for the Bulls to break up?"

...

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