basketball player

Chapter 637 Chapter 635: The Last Season of the Great Adversary

"We're going to be under a lot of pressure next season."

"Well, so many incredible things happened this summer."

The two men looked at each other, followed by a 2-minute silence.

"If we can't win the championship next season, will you choose to coach for another year? You will be very unwilling to leave like this." After finishing speaking, Bird shook his head slightly.

It's not that the "forced king" is not confident anymore, but that next season, the Pacers' competitors are really too strong.

Leaving aside the west, let's just talk about the east.

The Celtics are a big obstacle first. Tatum and Jaylen Brown have shown their talents last season.This season, when Irving and Hayward return from injury, God knows how high the Celtics can reach.

If the Pacers and the healthy Celtics meet in the playoffs next season, the Pacers will never sweep each other 4-0.

Of course, how could the Toronto Raptors be forgotten?The problem with the Raptors has always been that the two stars DeRozan and Lowry can't compete with others at critical moments.But now, DeRozan has become Leonard, and the Raptors' biggest problem is solved.

When it's time to hit a giant planet and a star to rule the field, Leonard's ability to end the game is more than a star and a half better than DeRozan.After all, Leonard went out with the Pacers, and Bird is too aware of his strength.

In addition to the Celtics and Raptors, the status of the Philadelphia 76ers next season should not be underestimated.This summer, the 76ers added a lot of experienced puzzle players.As long as Embiid and Ben Simmons play steadily, the 76ers will not be easily defeated.

In the past, the Pacers were basically James' opponent in the East.But now, the situation has changed.With the rise of the Eastern Conference, the Eastern Conference playoffs are no longer safe.

Moreover, even if the Pacers break out of the East through hard work, they still have to face the Warriors with the Big Five!
It is no exaggeration to say that even without the addition of Cousins, the Warriors are still the most capable team to win the championship next season.Last season, the Pacers fought the Warriors until the tiebreaker to decide the winner.And with the joining of that big guy, the Warriors seem to have lost suspense about the ownership of the championship next season.

Before Cousins ​​joined, the Warriors already had 4 All-Star players.In NBA history, there are only a handful of teams that can have 4 All-Stars at the same time.

Now, the Warriors have another All-Star player.The last time a team had five All-Stars at the same time was the Celtics in the 5-1975 season. For the first time in 76 years, the first five players were all All-Stars. The NBA is afraid that it will really come to an end.

Such a lineup, which is unimaginable in the game, was unexpectedly created by the Warriors.

With other teams getting great reinforcements, the Pacers left Paul instead.So, it's really not that Bird was counseled, but that the situation is really very unfavorable for the Pacers.

That's why he asked Henson the question: "If we don't win the championship next season, will you choose to coach for another year?"

Henson looked at Byrd and didn't answer right away.He also knows that next season will be challenging for the Pacers.But don't forget, the Pacers players are always growing.

As before, though the Pacers haven't made much of a move in the transfer market.But there is absolutely no team in the league with an arc of improvement that can match the Pacers.

Siakam, Kuzma, Bogdanovic, Brogdon, Antetokounmpo and even Paul George!They are all still making progress!

It is not certain who will win and lose next season!

So, Henson shook his head at Bird, "No, next season will be my last year. And, I won't lose the championship."

You have persisted until the last lap, why are you willing to let others overtake?

The starting five tigers are all-star Golden State Warriors?Well, let's try it!
※※※

Since Cousins ​​joined the Warriors, the NBA transfer market has begun to calm down.

Throughout August, the sport of basketball finally seemed to say goodbye to the fans, and no big news was revealed.Of course, fans come out to complain from time to time, saying that next season's NBA is not worth watching at all.

Because the other 29 teams in the league seem to be the foil of the Golden State Warriors.

Henson didn't care about these complaints, nor did he think about "five-star warriors", but devoted himself wholeheartedly to his vacation.

It is precisely because next season is bound to be extremely difficult, so Henson must seize the time to enjoy the few family moments.As soon as the training camp for the new season begins, Henson will devote himself wholeheartedly to the tough battles of the new season.

This is his last season, but it's also quite possibly the hardest he's ever played.

After traveling around Europe, Henson and his family returned to the United States for their last stop, Miami.

At this time, the time has come to the end of August.One more week in Miami, and Henson should be busy with summer training camp for the new season.

With Paul leaving, Henson wants Antetokounmpo to play at the [-] next season.Therefore, this summer's summer training camp is very critical.Whether the players can adapt to the new style of play and system depends on whether the effect of the training camp this season is significant.

Hearing that the Henson family is coming to Miami, Wade naturally entertained them very warmly.

This summer, Wade stayed in Miami with a one-year, $240 million minimum salary contract.It's what everyone expects.

People are discussing how long Wade can play and whether this will be his last season.

And Henson may be the first to get the answer besides Wade's family.

"You mean you're going to retire after this season?" Henson looked at Wade. Although he never worked with Wade, the two were once their biggest rivals.But for some reason, Henson felt very sorry.

This alliance will lack a touch of scenery again.

"Yeah, I can't beat it anymore. Man, sometimes I have to be old. Speaking of which, you still owe me at least two championships, Henson!" Wade and Henson joked. It seems that Wade has long been relieved of the matter of retirement.

"Hey, if you're willing to come to the Pacers' coaching staff, like Nash, maybe I can give you back the two championships, er, or maybe never." Henson said halfway, and suddenly changed his words.

At that moment, he almost forgot that he would retire after this season.

"Forget it, it's rare to come here, let's not talk about work. This week, have fun in Miami, I will find you a guide, and you will definitely let you play Miami to the bottom." Wade raised his glass with a smile, and Henson noticed that the guy's cheeks seemed to be getting bigger again.
Although Wade and Henson were once the worst enemies, his enthusiasm did not surprise Henson at all.After all, a great career requires a great opponent in addition to great glory.

And Henson has long been a part of Wade's great career.You said, can Wade not be enthusiastic about a figure who plays a pivotal role in his career?

After playing in Miami for a week, Henson is officially back to work.The players will not report until mid-September, but the coaching staff must arrange a detailed training plan before then.

On September 9, the day the NBA summer training camp began, Wade posted a video announcing that the new season would be the last of his career.

In the recorded video, Wade said: "This is the hardest decision I have ever made, but it is also one of the best decisions I have ever made. I asked myself, why not? From my family to fans all over the world, I have been listening to them what I should do and what I should not do. But I always do things in my own way, whether it is good things or bad things, I am here today because I have always done what I think is the best thing for me and my family."

"My feeling is correct, I feel, now is the time to invite you, come and dance the last dance together. The final season, that's it."

Wade's video made countless fans cry.There is always sadness in the retirement of a great player.And the metaphor of Wade's "The Last Dance" will definitely be regarded as a classic.

But people never thought at the time that Wade's retirement video was just an "appetizer".

Sept. 9, the day after Wade announced that he would retire after this season.The social media of Henson Joe, the meritorious Indiana Pacers coach, also exploded.Due to too many retweets and comments, INS officials even restricted fans from commenting on Henson's post.

Henson's dynamics are not as carefully recorded as Wade's, but only a simple sentence.

"The last lap of my career, I still have to do Pacers!"

At least this time, Henson didn't leave without saying goodbye.

(End of this chapter)