The Godfather of Basketball

By the way, isn't this Cao Cao talking about heroes by cooking wine?

I didn't feel it at first, but as Popovich answered one by one.

If there is another thunder outside here, it will be a disaster!

"You're the first person I've ever seen who deserves the title of coach."

There was no thunder outside, but what Popovich said made Tang Tian almost drop the wine glass in his hand.

It's not "Heroes in the world, only the emperor and the ear", the first meaning is that the old man doesn't even think he is worthy.

"I don't understand very well." Tang Tian said as he put down his wine glass.

"A head coach who can gain insight into the opponent's strategy on the field, and then find out the tactics to deal with it, is tactical execution; a head coach who can handle the relationship between stars well can make every player play to the best of his ability , This is communication skills; a head coach can train young players in the fastest and most effective way, which is the ability to cultivate. A head coach who has these abilities can be regarded as a real coach, so you are what I see the first ever."

Popovich's words made Tang Tian speechless, but his face turned red.

Half of this is due to the system, but it is really unprecedented to be able to get such an evaluation from the old man.

"So, are you interested in coaching the Spurs next season?"

But Popovich's next sentence almost made Tang Tian shiver.

I believe your evil!

"I'm a little tired, especially after this year's playoffs, I feel that it's almost time to retire." Popovich said in a heavy tone, and he could feel that he was speaking from the bottom of his heart.

It seems that being eliminated by the Rockets 4-1 was a big blow to him.

Replacing Popovich as the Spurs coach?

This sounds like a good choice. Although Duncan looks old, Tang Tian knows that "Stone Buddha" retired at the age of 38 in his previous life.

And he still has the opportunity to coach Leonard. If he chooses some reliable role players, the dynasty may come faster than the Rockets.

"Besides, I have heard about the matter between you and Morey. I understand that as an excellent head coach, one needs to have absolute say over the team."

As Popovich said, he looked straight at Tang Tian.

"So I can try to go to Pete and ask him to appoint you as the general manager and head coach of the team at the same time."

Tang Tian closed his pupils. If he was only a little interested before, then what Popovich said next made him very interested.

"Although this kind of thing is very rare, it is not unprecedented in history. McHale in the Timberwolves in 2004, Thomas in New York in 2007, and Pete also approached me before and asked me if I was interested in serving concurrently, so I think this should not be the case. It's a big deal," Popovich continued.

Tang Tian was really moved.

The reason why he wants to leave the Rockets is not to have the right to speak in team management.

"I'll think about it carefully, but it won't be until the end of the season." Tang Tian said.

Although I am excited, there are too many uncertainties and possibilities in the future, and he is now leading the team to the championship. From a professional point of view, it is not suitable to talk about these things. Today we are talking about this, and it is also completely before he came here. Unexpectedly.

"Yes, I know." Popovich picked up the red wine glass with a smile, and slanted towards Tang Tian.

Tang Tian picked up the wine glass, touched it with Popovich, and then drank it down.

After talking about the business, the two chatted about some interesting things, laughing and laughing. I have to say that the old man is still very humorous.

Tang Tian was finally sent back to Houston by Popovich's son-in-law, because he was drunk by the old man without knowing it.

Wake up the next day, the sixth game between the Lakers and the Nuggets has just ended.

121 to 112, the Lakers defeated their opponents by 9 points, thus advancing to the Western Conference Finals with a big score of 4 to 2.

In this way, the matchup between the East and West finals is finally released.

The West is still the Rockets VS Lakers. This is the second consecutive year that the two teams have met in the Western Conference Finals.

The matchup in the Eastern Conference was somewhat unexpected. The Cavaliers, who had a better record in the regular season, faced the Magic and were eventually eliminated by their opponents 2-4. Failed to make it to the finals.

But for the Magic, killing the Cavaliers is only the first step, and the final against the Celtics is a bigger test.

The Rockets Lakers game ended earlier, and the finals also started earlier.

On May 16, less than a day before the start of the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers flew to Houston to prepare for the opening game of the Western Conference Finals.

Kobe, Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, Gasol, Billups, Artest, Lamar Odom, and Bynum, although the opponents in this year's Western Conference finals have not changed, but the stars are shining brighter, plus the old opponents The attention of Tang Tian and Phil Jackson kept rising.

And this is the second consecutive year that the two sides have played against each other. Whether the Lakers revenge the Rockets and avenge the Rockets, or the Rockets eliminate the Lakers and step on the former dynasty team to complete the new dynasty, no matter which script it is, it is full of interest.

The attention paid to the storm can be seen from the number of reporters on the sidelines during the pre-match training.

Standing eloquently in a long row, there are at least twenty or thirty of them.

This is definitely the first time since this year's playoffs.

The training of the Lakers has just ended here, and the reporters have already swarmed up.

Jackson and Kobe were chatting, but they were surrounded by reporters together.

"Phil, do you have any special tactics for tomorrow night's game?" The reporter at the front asked first.

"No." Jackson said with a smile.

"There is no need to prepare any special tactics against the Rockets." Seeing the reporter's puzzled eyes, he added.

"But the Rockets signed Artest this season, which greatly increased their bench strength. Do you have any countermeasures?" The reporter asked.

"We have Lamar. You should ask Don this question. This is a problem he should have trouble with." Jackson was still as proud and pretentious as ever.

"Kobe, at the end of last year's playoffs, you said you would make a comeback, are you ready now?" Maybe because he couldn't stand the pretentiousness in Jackson's words, the reporter turned to target Kobe.

Kobe didn't answer, just gave the reporter a cold look, as if he was asking nonsense.

"The Rockets traded Artest and their old opponent Battier. They will still use wheel tactics against you. Have you thought about how to deal with it?" The reporter on the side was obviously smarter, taking advantage of this half-second In the gap, he asked first.

"This year, I am even stronger." Kobe did not answer directly, but gave a very positive answer.