The Whip of the God of Basketball

Frank Vogel decided to leave when he felt he was the last person in the building other than security, and it was late at night when he walked out of the video editing room. This will be his last overtime day of the season, as the Celtics' 00-01 season came to an end with the playoff failure. They beat the Milwaukee Bucks 1:3 in the first round. After five years, they re-tasted the playoffs and left reluctantly.

Vogel looked at the moon in the sky. It was hidden in the thick clouds and mist, occasionally revealing a little halo, just like the Celtics began to see a glimmer of light this season.

Vogel completed the video analysis of the Celtics' last game of the season in the editing room. They faced the Bucks at home in a life-and-death battle. The Celtics brought Boston fans a long-lost playoff victory with a big victory, and if they win the fourth game, they have the opportunity to go to Milwaukee to create miracles.

"Huh, it's just a little bit, a little bit, if it can prevent Ray Allen's breakthrough, it will be fine if the last attack is not in Rodman's hands... There is a problem with the last attack, the positioning No, it's completely messed up, it's wrong from the start of the serve, Blount's screen position is wrong, Anderson's running position is also wrong, it's all a problem..." Vogel recalled the details of the final moments of the game, through the video he He found a lot of problems, but standing on the sidelines of the court, he admitted that he was also in a daze at the time.

The Celtics and the Bucks fought to the last moment. The Bucks led by one point with 27 seconds left in the game and had possession of the ball. Blount's defensive high board throw hit, opened the point difference to three points, forcing the Kettles to desperately shoot three points in the last four seconds.

And O'Brien's last tactic was not successful. He originally wanted Pierce to catch the ball and shoot a three-pointer directly, but under the tight defense of the Bucks, it was Dennis Rodman who finally received the ball. Had to force a three-point shot at the top of the key, and the miracle didn't happen, Rodman's three-pointer didn't even touch the basket, the ball fell into the hands of the Bucks, and the game was over.

Vogel watched the video of the last attack and one defense repeatedly in the editing room. He knew that although the final point difference was only three points, this attack and one defense was the epitome of the Celtics' strength this season. It's better than before, but it's still far from the word "powerful".

Vogel walked to the second floor while thinking, but found that there was still an office with lights on. It seemed that someone hadn't left. Vogel didn't know who it was so late.

He walked to that office, and Vogel knew that it was Miss Polis's office. Administrative staff like Miss Polis had gone home early from get off work, and it was impossible to work overtime.

Vogel walked to the office door and walked through the open office door. A guy in a white shirt was drawing on a whiteboard. He walked around with his sleeves rolled up, meditating with his cheeks propped up from time to time. Vogel could tell from his hair that this was Leon, and he still had that unruly long hair.

"Fox, don't leave yet." Vogel knocked on the office door and said to Leon.

Leon didn't look back, he ticked Vogel's finger, meaning to let him in.

Vogel felt out of breath, but he had been working together for almost a year, and he knew that Leon had such a personality that he would always forget some etiquette when he was obsessed with work. Why didn't he himself do the same?

Vogel walked into the office and saw six tactical maps drawn on the whiteboard in front of Leon. He stared carefully for a while and realized that these were the last two when the Celtics and Bucks played tonight. Offensive and defensive field situation map. Vogel has long been familiar with Leon's memory. He knows that this guy sometimes doesn't need to watch the video at all, and can completely draw the tactical positions of the two sides on the tactical board just from his memory.

"Do you have any comments, Frank? The last defense and offense, I feel like this is the epitome of our entire season, always a little bit, a breath away." Leon folded his arms and looked at the whiteboard.

During the one year of working for the Celtics, Leon's temperament has changed. The brutal and violent atmosphere of the original boxer has weakened a lot, and the scar on his face has gradually faded. , his face became more handsome, and a calm and elegant gentleman began to appear on his body.

But his hair was incompatible with his temperament. Auerbach also repeatedly reminded him that he had better cut his hair, telling him that this kind of flowing long hair is not unpopular in European football. But Leon disobeyed the bishop in this matter, and he was still unwilling to cut his hair short, and the reason for his reluctance was simply because Khomeinis liked his long hair.

Vogel looked at the tactical board drawn by Leon. In fact, his feeling is the same as Leon. In many cases, there is only a thin line between strength and weakness. This season, the Celtics have also won games like the Lakers and 76ers , Trail Blazers such a strong team, the new tactics brought by O'Brien activated the team's defense, what happened to Pierce made him more mature, Walker was still at the peak of his form, and Dennis Rodman unexpectedly became a bench Leader, Michael Reid's performance exceeded the expectations of many commentators, and lost to Mike Miller in the selection of the best rookie by a narrow margin.

But in the playoffs, in this completely different battlefield, the small gap between the Celtics and the strong teams was infinitely widened, until the fourth game "win-or-go-home", the defense missed people, and the offense Catch the blind, complete gap.

"There is a problem with our tactics. We shouldn't double-team Cassell at the last moment, or we should have double-teamed too early, ignoring Ray Allen who slipped to the bottom line... Then in the offense, Blount's position, Pierce's circling There were problems with both the circle and Anderson's running position. It was originally intended to play a double screen, but Rodman ran to the wrong position...and here, there are two details..." Vogel pointed to the whiteboard and analyzed seriously.

"No, no, no, no, no, it's not a question of tactics. It's not a question of tactics. I've thought about it for a long time. It's not a question of tactics, Frank. I think you shouldn't limit your thinking to tactics." Leon interrupted Vogel's analysis, and then said to Vogel.

"Then tell me, what's the reason? Because the fans at the scene weren't enthusiastic enough?" Vogel responded sarcastically. The response was feeble and vulnerable. He always felt that way in front of Leon.

Leon picked up the whiteboard eraser and wiped off all the tactical diagrams on it without leaving any, then put on his coat and prepared to leave. Before leaving, he said to Vogel: "Because of confidence, confidence."

After speaking, Leon patted Vogel on the shoulder and left the office.

"Remember to close the door! There are still lights!" Vogel stood in the office and heard Leon shouting outside. He should have gone away at this time.

"Bitch..."

…………………

When Leon drove back to his residence, it was already early in the morning. He still lived in the apartment rented by the team. When he returned home, the small apartment was cleaned up and everything was in order. .

Although he didn't spend much time living here for half a year, he needed to travel all over the United States because of his work, especially during the period from the end of 2000 to March 2001 when the NCAA started fighting. He was either on the plane or catching a plane. on the way.

Leon didn't have time to stay in Boston until the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs, and even then, he was often flown from Boston to Los Angeles with a call from Wojnarowski just to watch a game. Ordinary Challenger League - for the establishment of the damn development league.

Now at home, he can finally take a break. One season is over, and at the same time, it means that a new season is about to start. Before the finals, for those teams that have been eliminated, the June draft The General Assembly will be their battleground.

Leon just lay down and took out his mobile phone to make a call to Khomeinis, only to realize that Khomeinis must be asleep now, and he decided to go to the movies with her tomorrow. It was a rare time for the two of them in Boston recently. Time to meet every day.

But as soon as Leon lay down, the phone rang. When he checked the caller ID, it was a call from New Jersey, and it must be Wojnarowski.

"Shit!" Leon not only scolded, Wojnarowski is such a workaholic day and night, when he has any news, he will always call Leon regardless of the time and occasion. Is his criterion - time is the life of information.

"Tell me, if you let me go to Los Angeles to watch some challenge, I will punch you to death next time I see you." Leon yelled at the phone after answering the phone.

"Texas, go to Texas tomorrow afternoon, Austin! There is a nice guy, not a genius, but absolutely great, you better go there. I'm not thinking about the Development League right now, but for you Kyle The special thought, go kid, I'll wait for you there, I'm just going to Houston!" After finishing speaking, Wojnarowski hung up the phone without any pleasantries or long-winded words.

Throwing away the phone, Leon let himself fall limply on the bed, thinking, when will his life as a scout flying around like this come to an end.

Only two minutes later, the call came back again. Leon, who was a little sleepy just now, almost threw the phone out of the window, but this time he saw the most familiar number, and immediately pressed the connection button.

"Arnold?" It was Auerbach.

"Yes, Leon. Sorry to bother you so late, I'm rarely up this late, but I really need to tell you something right away. Listen boy, you're not a Celtics player from now on Come on, in two weeks, the team will announce that you will be promoted to assistant coach. You have two weeks to prepare, prepare in all aspects, and come to Washington to see me in a few days."

"Good Arnold."

"Well, rest, goodbye."