the rest, only noise

Chapter 1554 Let this team become what it should be
Since the Celtics gave the Lakers the 2005 first-round pick a few years ago, after taking Brandon Roy with the fourth pick, there was only a long wait left.

The Celtics still hold their No. 27 pick in the second round.

Then, watch the Grizzlies draft Ronnie Brewer, the Spurs draft Rajon Rondo, the Astros go to the Golden State Warriors, Rudy Gay goes to the Houston Rockets, JJ Redick goes to the Hornets , Sefolosha went to the 76ers, and Paul Millsap was picked up by the Jazz. Finally, two hours later, it was the Celtics' turn to make a choice again.

The rest of this position is basically crooked, and scouting director Andy Greer made a list for Louie.

After a glance, Louis made a decision.

The Celtics selected Puerto Rican Jose Barea with the 27th pick in the second round.

Considering how crowded the Celtics' current roster is, starting from the new season, Barea's rookie season will be spent in the development league for a long time.

Moreover, not only Barea, like Jose Calderon, Carlos Delfino, Ersan Ilyasova, they will also spend most of their time in the Development League in the second year of their careers.

The day after the draft, the Celtics held a grand press conference in Boston.

At the press conference, Bird said he would temporarily step down as head coach to focus on behind-the-scenes administrative work.

As soon as this remark came out, the Boston media wailed.

Although defending the title failed this season, the Boston media is very satisfied with Bird's coaching work.

In the past three years, one championship and two Eastern Conference finals, Isiah Thomas never dreamed of such a result.

For leaving the coaching position, Bird explained: "Seven years of high-intensity work has exhausted me physically and mentally. I must take a break for a while."

Louie then announced that Bird would serve as the team's vice president of operations and general manager.

This is sort of a consolation prize.

However, the media still want to know; "Who is Larry's successor?"

Bird set the bar too high, and the pressure was on whoever took over.

"We haven't made up our minds yet, and we welcome unemployed coaches to recommend themselves bravely." Seeing the uneasy faces of the crowd, Louis threw out his hole cards, "Please rest assured, we will not rashly decide on the candidate for the new coach . If there is really no suitable person, I will consider a comeback."

That's right, this is what everyone has been waiting for.

The press conference ended in a pleasant atmosphere.

Backstage, Bird asked seriously, "Are you planning to come back?"

Louis snorted softly, "Are you serious about coaxing them to play?"

Bird does feel like there's no one other than Louie who can bring the Celtics back on track.

The Celtics' problem is hard to say.

To clarify the core, there must be an iron fist to overwhelm everyone, so that the whole team can find a consistent goal.

Louis did this in 1984.

That was his "rookie" season.

Although Louie has been away from the front line of coaching for more than six years, Bird still believes that he is immortal.

In July, the low season arrives.

The Celtics' roster is already bloated. Unless there is a plan to trade, they will still not be seen in the free market and trading market.

On this day, Louis and his wife came to Washington to attend a banquet.

The banquet was held in the evening, and in the afternoon Louis went alone to visit Reed Auerbach at the George Washington University Hospital.

At the end of last year, Auerbach underwent bowel cancer surgery. Although he recovered well, the impact of the disease and surgery was also obvious.Since then, the luncheon has been discontinued.

In February, Auerbach was released from the hospital and had planned to come to Boston to watch the Celtics playoffs -- Louie was glad he didn't, given the team's circumstances -- but the cancer couldn't. Taken from Auerbach, accident is okay.

One day, Auerbach accidentally fell at home and was admitted to the hospital for recuperation, and his health deteriorated.

Louis met Auerbach's daughter Naxi in the ward, she said hello and found an excuse to leave.

She knew Louie was a special guest.

"Louis, how are you doing?"

Seeing Louis, Auerbach got up from the bed and leaned back, as if it could prove that he was still healthy.

Louis said lightly: "I'm fine, how are you?"

Auerbach smiled bitterly: "You know, the days go by and nothing gets better. But don't worry, I'm fine too."

He doesn't look good.

If Auerbach looked like one of the most vital people in the U80 before, he looks older now, with obvious signs of weakness.

Louie didn't want to look sad, because Auerbach's generation had strong machismo. They thought they could take care of themselves and didn't need other people's care.

Just when Louis was about to talk about something else, Auerbach took the initiative to bring up the Celtics, "I heard that Larry resigned again?"

"Yeah, just like three years ago, he's a jerk who backs down when he has a problem." Louie taunted Bird mercilessly. "I don't know why he didn't show that when he played."

When it came to the topic of basketball, Auerbach resumed his guru demeanor, and said in Louie's familiar tone that could be the final word on any topic: "You should know that a great player is not necessarily a great coach."

Louis said helplessly: "I guess I can't find a better coach than him."

Hearing this, Auerbach looked at Louis mockingly.

"Is there a problem?"

"A coach far greater than Larry has given himself a six-year sabbatical," Auerbach asked jokingly. "Who do you think he is?"

Louis smiled bitterly: "Forgive me, I think I have lost the ability to coach."

"No, you are still young."

"Young? Maybe." Louie said, "When I won the Olympic championship with the Chinese team, I lost my goal in the basketball world. Even though I was young, I had nothing to fight for."

Auerbach doesn't believe Louie has lost his faith in coaching.

"The way the Celtics ended this year, didn't it really move you?" Auerbach asked. "Do you think anyone else could put the Celtics on the right track besides you?"

Louie didn't answer, because there was no answer to the question.

If Bird can't do it, who else can?He's already one of the best coaches in the game.

"Do you remember what you said to me in the summer of 1983 before you took over the team?"

Louis smiled and said, "I have said so many things, how could I remember them all?"

"I remember," Auerbach said, "'I just want this team to be what it should be.' That's what you said to me."

"23 years ago, I didn't believe that you could do it at all. I thought it would be good if you could clean up the mess. However, your performance far exceeded my imagination."

When Auerbach said these words, the sunlight outside the window just shone on half of his face.

"Go make this team what it should be, Louie, and let me see what it really is."

Louie asked, "Will you be able to see it someday?"

"I can definitely see it."

Before parting, Auerbach asked about the cigar: "Have you finished smoking the cigar I gave you?"

Louie only remembered that he smoked one when he left Boston, and then he smoked one at the Celtics home court, and then he left it idle.

"No, it's in my hometown in New York."

Hearing this, Auerbach got up from the hospital bed, and took out a humidor that looked quite new from nowhere.

"I don't smoke now," Auerbach said. "You help me deal with it."

The Cuban cigars Auerbach smoked were not expensive, but his love of cigars was well known.Before quitting, I felt uncomfortable if I didn’t smoke a few cigarettes a day.When he sent cigars, he didn't just simply ask Louis to help him deal with them.

Louis accepted the gift and was about to leave when Auerbach stopped him again.

"Wait a moment!"

Louis looked at him, wondering if there was anything else to tell him.

I saw Auerbach standing up from the hospital bed on purpose, leaning on crutches and walking cautiously towards Louis.

The young man in front of him touched Auerbach a lot. When he first met Louis at the Greek Academy 28 years ago, he was just a young man full of vitality and curiosity about everything.

Now, he is already a successful godfather, and even has a few gray hairs.

"Listen, Louie."

Had Bill Russell and his crew been there, who had fought under Auerbach, they would have immediately recognized the tone of Auerbach speaking in a serious internal meeting.

"This is a very important thing," he said seriously, "When you are old, walk carefully and don't fall, because that is the beginning of the end, so remember, don't fall."

(End of this chapter)