The Rest, Only Noise

Chapter 50: Continuous casting is interrupted (1/16)

On the way to Virginia, Auerbach and Louie talk about Plan A.

Plan A in the draft was to convince Ralph Sampson to sign up as a rare freshman.

Then, the Celtics happily brought him under his command, and Boston dominated the arena from then on.

This is of course just a good idea.

Although Sampson is regarded as the most important risk-free lottery after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, his strength is not as exaggerated as bragged.

Auerbach values ​​him and has full confidence in Sampson's development after joining the team.

"Are you so optimistic about him?" Louis couldn't see how Sampson's appearance appealed to the old-fashioned Auerbach.

"He has the athleticism and instinct to be the second Russell," Auerbach said eloquently.

It's not that Louie beats him, Sampson and Russell really have nothing in common.

Although Louie didn't watch Russell's game, later generations said that Duncan was the embodiment of Russell in modern basketball. Then, he can completely compare Duncan to Sampson. The two are not the same in terms of body structure and style of play.

"If you say that he is like Karim in the 'Lou Alcindor' period and doesn't know how to use a skyhook, I can still reluctantly agree." Lou said with a smile.

Louie referred to many similar players when looking for a development template for Sampson.

From Bob Lanier, Walter Bellamy, Artis Gilmour...to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The only one that has similarities is Kareem.

About the same height, very similar build (tall and thin), unexpectedly not top-notch in rebounding and rim protection - still outstanding - like a god-given physique that allows them to face any defender. Form an unsolved dislocation advantage. The problem is, Abdul-Jabbar hates basketball and, in his words, never had fun in basketball until 1985.

He just knows that he has the talent to play basketball. He is naturally competitive, responsible, extremely sensitive and vulnerable. He hates his job and hates losing at work. And bitter and bitter princess character. The problem is that he used the NCAA's "prohibition of Alcindor torturing classmates with dunks" rule issued by the NCAA during his four years in college. This rule successfully allowed Kareem to change the skyhook from an "occasional use" trick to his signature under Wooden's persuasion.

Unlike Abdul-Jabbar, Sampson clearly loves basketball and enjoys it. His determination to bring change to the game of basketball is much better than Kareem's self-destructive tendencies that are "born to be bitter" all day long.

The problem is that no one except the traverser can make him accomplish his goal.

"If you get out what you say about Ralph, people will think we paid an idiot to be a scout."

Auerbach rolled his eyes at the thought of Louie's scouting report.

Although most of the space is praising Sampson, those predictions about Sampson's future and the comments on his shortcomings are clearly telling Auerbach - don't choose him! Don't choose him! Don't choose him!

"I've never denied his talent," Louie said arrogantly. "I just know better than anyone in the world who is involved in the sport how difficult it is to train Ralph."

"His talent needs to be cultivated?"

Auerbach said contemptuously: "I admit that he is too skinny now, so if we draft him, I will not let him start as soon as he comes up, he should play the sixth man for a few years, learn from Larry and the others, use In less than three years, he will make the whole world tremble!"

Louie believes that if Auerbach can convince Sampson to run early, with the Celtics team culture, Sampson will develop well.

But can he live up to his talent?

If the head coach has always been Bill Fitch, a maniac who is injured and advocates letting them continue playing with injuries, Louie only feels that Sampson's future is bleak.

Auerbach and Louie came to Charlotteville to meet Virginia head coach Terry Holland first.

They exchanged a few words, and Auerbach offered to ask Holland to take him to a Chinese restaurant for dinner. They want something to eat before they go to see Sampson and his family.

"Terry, do you think Reed will succeed this time?"

Asking Holland about this kind of thing in person is like a tauren praising his wife for being warm and delicious.

Holland naturally wants Sampson to stay, and he believes Sampson will stay.

"Ralph and his family wanted to stay longer at the college, Ralph loved the campus life, Charlotteville was so close to Harrisonburg (Sampson's hometown), and he valued that connection very much. ' said Holland.

Louie said happily: "Looking at it this way, Reed has a great chance this time. Although Boston is not so close to Harrisonburg, for NBA teams, no team has a closer geographical advantage than Boston. ."

"He's going to play in the NBA sooner or later..."

"Haha!" Holland could only laugh.

From his laughter, Louie heard the overtone of "you know a **** hammer".

According to the agreed time, Auerbach, Louis and Holland came to Sampson's house.

In addition to Sampson's parents, there are several of his siblings, as well as a law professor at the University of Virginia.

Auerbach understands that everyone else is there.

This law professor?

"My name is Jeremy Brett." He gave his name.

This guy has the same name as a British star, but the Brett Louis knows is a suffocating guy with a face like a crown jewel, and this guy... can't be said to be ugly, just asymmetrical .

"Mr. Auerbach, Ralph doesn't like people going around in circles, just say what you want." Brett quickly revealed his identity.

He's here to stop Auerbach from doing it.

Not even giving a chance to greet each other made Auerbach really uncomfortable.

Although the small talk can't tell anything, being able to tell a joke and tell one's own story before getting down to business helps bring Auerbach and the Sampsons closer, but Brett took that opportunity.

He made Auerbach look like he was going to get out of business.

Louie looked at Sampson carefully. He had thick eyebrows, big eyes, broad shoulders and long arms. He looked like a refugee because he didn't have much flesh on his body, but he actually gained dozens of pounds in one year at the University of Virginia.

Sampson noticed Louie's scrutiny.

Louie raised his eyebrows deliberately, making Sampson almost laugh.

"Okay, then I'll cut to the chase." Auerbach turned to Sampson's parents, "Mr. Sampson, Mrs. Sampson, Ralph is a once-in-a-decade talent, and even if you search the NBA, you can't find it. The second player has his talent."

Brett said with a smile, "Everyone knows this."

Auerbach gave the ugly one an unhappy look and continued: "Although Ralph's body is not fully adapted to professional basketball, please believe that I will prepare a long-term training plan for him. The Celtics have always had With a tradition of great centers, Ralph has a chance to be the best ever. And..."

"And what, are you going to send Ralph to Boston to replace Dave Cowens?" Brett interrupted Auerbach directly this time, "Mr. Sampson, I think Ralph's The potential can be developed in both the NBA and the NCAA. The impetuous life of the NBA may also affect his future, and at UVa, he can not only improve his skills, strengthen his body, but more importantly, he can get four years of high-quality college education , and stay with the family.”

Auerbach really wanted to stuff this ugly mouth with a cigar.

As long as he was there, it was impossible for him to speak the words he had prepared.

Louis could see that Auerbach was already upset, but he couldn't get angry. Brett was obviously a well-respected person in the area, otherwise the Sampsons couldn't have invited him to sit in.

"You say that life in the NBA is very impetuous, I don't deny it, but it doesn't include Boston." Auerbach said proudly, "The Celtics are the most unpretentious team in the league, you should know this, stay in UVa Of course it can continue to improve, but how much? If Ralph is unfortunately injured, his prospects will be hurt; if he is in a car accident, he will likely lose his future; now join the Celtics..."

"Are you cursing Ralph, Mr. Auerbach?"

Brett almost drew out Auerbach's thunderous fury this time.

"Mr. Brett, forgive me." If Auerbach turned against this ugliness here, things would go wrong, so Louis interrupted Auerbach's "casting". "Since you are a law professor at UVa, do you know more about basketball than Reed? He is the best coach in NBA history, and UU Kanshu www.uukanshu.com has trained countless Hall of Famers. As long as it is related to basketball When it comes to that, whether you're a professor or the smartest person in the world, you don't have more say than him."

"And you've been rudely interrupting Reed since just now, and I'd love to know what you're sitting here for."

At this time, Holland made a round of the game: "Okay, don't be angry, this is originally a matter of Ralph and his family, and the final decision rests with them. Mr. Brett is a big man in Harrisonburg. , so Mr. Sampson will ask him to come here to sit in and give advice."

Louis refused to give in an inch: "But I didn't hear the advice."

Louis didn't even look at that ugly comparison, he was afraid of going back at night and having nightmares.

"What I heard was that a college professor who didn't know much about basketball but had no education was influencing the judgment of Ralph and his family time and time again." Although Louie's voice was not loud, it was just enough to occupy the entire room. " Mr Brett, if you're on the sidelines, please keep quiet. If you're going to give an opinion, please also take a hard look at whether your expertise is sufficient to speak in front of Reed and Coach Holland."

Brett's expression remained the same, "Who are you?"

"I'm Reid's entourage. Strictly speaking, I'm the assistant coach of the Celtics." Louie smiled, blushing, "Strictly speaking, I'm the same as you, and I'm an onlooker."

(1) After Fitch left the Celtics, he went to coach the Rockets, and for two consecutive years, he won the King Fried Sampson + Big Dream. In 1986, he creatively used the twin towers to smash the Lakers, and was killed by Bird in the final. Then in 1987 Sampson was seriously injured and never recovered. Fitch's encouragement of players to play with injuries is not a reason I'm just here to make players hate him, it's true.

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