The Whip of the God of Basketball

On the morning of May 22, Bird got up a little late. When he got up, he found that the Pacers players had followed O'Brien to the training hall for pre-game shooting training. Bird went downstairs to have some breakfast, which was some fruit salad and oatmeal with milk. After retiring, he still maintained a healthy diet.

In the restaurant, Bird met the hotel owner, a middle-aged white man with a red face. He sat opposite Bird with a smile and reverence on his face, and handed him his business card.

"Camille Lauren, the owner of this hotel, a Boston Celtics fan, a die-hard fan, a very die-hard fan!" The boss introduced himself. It can be seen from his tone and eyes that he is indeed an unparalleled person. Avid Celtics fan.

"Camille, are you French?" Bird asked as he drank the soaked milk and licked his lips.

"Yes, yes, my ancestors are French. So everyone in my family likes basketball. When I was a child, my father took me to the arena to watch games. Russell had retired by then, and Havlicek and Cowens was in charge. Then came the golden 1980s! Oh my god... you signed an autograph for me once. I remember it was in 1984, when we won the championship, next to the tunnel! And..." Looking back on the past, this boss was obviously a little excited. Such old Celtics fans can be seen everywhere in Boston, and they never forget those golden years.

"Sorry, I can't remember clearly...I'm leading the team to defeat the Celtics now." Bird drank all the milk in the bowl and finished the fruit on the plate with a fork while saying calmly. said. Bird is a little different from Magic. He has never liked contact with those fanatical fans, and he is not good at contacting them. Perhaps deep down Bird loved them, but his personality determined that he couldn't do it as easily as a magician.

Obviously, the middle-aged hotel owner's nagging made Bird a little intolerable. After eating, he decided to take a taxi to the training hall to train with the players.

After hearing what Bird said, the smile on the boss's face suddenly disappeared and his expression became serious. He said to Bird seriously: "No, you can't beat the current Celtics."

The boss's words made Bird a little angry. Auerbach told him something similar last night, and today someone said it to him again with a serious face, as if he was not challenging himself, but stating a fact to himself.

It is normal for the two camps to support each other's teams, but the Celtics fans seem to be extremely sure that the Celtics can defeat the Pacers, without any worry, hesitation or even excitement, as if the series has already begun. It's over, everything has happened.

Bird put down his fork, wiped his mouth and said: "The Celtics I led were once invincible and also experienced painful defeats. I think I know better than you whose hands victory will be."

Seeing that Bird was a little angry, Boss Camille regained the smile on his face, stood up, packed up the things on the table, and said to Bird with a smile: "I have lived in Boston for more than 40 years and became a Celtic." I have been a fan for 30 years, and I tell you Larry, there has never been a year when Boston fans were so sure that the Celtics would win the championship, not even in 1986. The only thing we have to worry about is how many games we will lose. , because the most you can win is 16 games.”

After saying that, the boss put away his plate and fork and walked away. Bird sat on the stool and the fire in his heart bubbled out. He had never wanted to put the Celtics to death so much. In Boston, at the North Shore Garden Arena, he completely Defeat them.

………………

In the afternoon, a few hours before the start of the game, Bird was stopped by a large number of reporters for interviews as he entered the North Shore Garden Arena with the team. In the morning, he went to the training hall to personally supervise the players' training. In the afternoon, he took the players to a mobilization meeting in the hotel, and then went to the competition venue together to prepare for warm-up.

"Does it feel special to come to Boston? Although I am no longer the head coach, will it affect the players' ability to play games?" a reporter asked.

"There is no special feeling. I just want to tear this city's team apart. After all, I have done a lot of evil here in the past and killed many other people. I will not influence the players. They are great and will win." De replied with an indifferent look, he did not want to reveal any feelings towards the Celtics.

This answer undoubtedly surprised the reporters. They did not expect Bird's answer to be so impersonal, and there was not much joking in it, because he made it clear at the end that the Pacers would win.

"How would you evaluate your opponents? They have rested for a week, and you have just finished a seven-game battle. Will physical strength be a problem?" Someone else asked, which is also a regular question. Indeed, the physical advantage and home court advantage will make the situation facing the Pacers more dangerous.

"It's nothing. Resting too much doesn't mean anything. I've been resting for almost 20 years, and I probably can't beat them on the court. So, it's nothing. Our boys are fine. But... sometimes, taking too much rest is not a good thing. ." This time Bird showed some humor and made the reporters laugh.

"Before the start of the playoffs, the Celtics vowed to sweep all the way to the championship. They said 'fo, fo, fo, fo'. What do you think?" A reporter asked a sharp question.

Bird lowered his head and smiled, and said first: "You're bragging..." Then the reporters all laughed, Bird also shook his head, and then continued: "I pretended to be a bitch when I was a player. I have passed a lot of flags, some were successful and I can brag about them, some were flops and failed, and the laughter will pass, and few people will remember it. But I want to say, like 'fo, fo, fo, fo' Once his big leather is blown, people will remember him forever. All I can say is, I wish them good luck. Well, let’s end it.”

After saying that, Bird walked towards the arena, ignoring those who wanted to take something out of his mouth.

………………

It was past five o'clock, two hours before the start of the game. Coaches and players from both sides began to attend pre-match interviews. This was also an important position for the two sides to compete. Before the series is over, interviews before the game, after the game, and during training will be an important part of the public opinion war, which often has a non-negligible impact on the psychology of players and coaches.

Leon was a bit late tonight because he has been having a headache with the team's lineup, because he tried to make some lineup changes before the game to better deal with the Pacers, although as a strong side One should remain unchanged in response to all changes, but Leon believes in striking first and wants to take the initiative.

After arriving in the media room, Leon said directly: "I'm sorry, the preparations for the game are a bit busy. I hope you can ask questions as soon as possible. I will try to answer as briefly but completely as possible."

"Do you think Kevin Garnett's vow to sweep before the playoffs will come true? As far as I know, the Pacers are not the same as the first two opponents." A reporter mentioned something similar. Problems, such problems and pressure have been lingering on the Celtics since the start of the playoffs, which is both an annoyance and a motivation.

"I know they are different from the first two in your eyes, but in our eyes, they are the same, the next one." Leon replied without any hesitation.

"The Pacers' head coach used to be the Celtics' head coach, as did their assistant coaches, and their general manager was still the Celtics' legendary superstar Bird. Will this have any impact on the series between the two sides?" One person The reporter asked, this is also the biggest stunt in the current battle between the Pacers and Celtics.

Leon pondered for a moment and said: "If Larry Bird was 20 years younger, I would be a little worried, but otherwise it would have no impact."

Finally, a reporter asked: "Are the Pacers considered the strongest opponent you have encountered in the East, or would you rather fight the Detroit Pistons?"

Leon directly spread his hands and said, "I think our strongest opponents in the East are newspapers like you. There is nothing else... Okay, I'm sorry I have to end this interview. Thank you all."

After speaking, Leon left quickly. A group of reporters were left silently sorting out the quotations of the two powerful players. Regardless of the result of tonight's game, tomorrow's headlines are worth writing about, and the jokes are flying everywhere.