Chapter 1026
I can give you one chance, one chance to take down the Mavericks!
Nothing major happened in the league for the next two days, except for a few comments.
One of them was released by Walsh; the Knicks are considering offering Terry a mid-level exception contract in hopes of bringing him to the team.
Another source said that Terry gave up so much salary not to go to a bad team to help young players grow, but because he wouldn't go to a team that wasn't in the top five in the league, and if he couldn't play there, he would go to Europe to play.
These two pieces of news, when analyzed together, led many teams to decide to withdraw from the competition, as there was no need to put in the effort for nothing and incur hatred.
After all, Terry has already proven with his actions that he really has the guts to do it.
He's already shown his mettle twice, with the Mavericks and Bucks already. No team would really risk their salary cap space by betting that Terry won't show it a third time.
As a result, the amnesty market, which had just been booming, immediately cooled down again.
Then, 48 hours passed in the blink of an eye, and the day for the league to announce the results arrived.
Everything went as Lin Tian had predicted.
No one knows whether Walsh's false information actually worked, but in the end, only four teams made offers to Terry.
These were precisely the teams that Lin Tian had mentioned earlier as championship contenders; the rest of the teams chose to back down and give up voluntarily.
Of course, many teams also cursed, saying that the Knicks were unfair, saying they made an offer but didn't actually submit one, otherwise they could have offered 2 or 300 million to test the waters.
But no matter how much he regrets or curses, it's too late. The four teams that actually make offers will become Terry's next destination.
Celtics, Cavaliers, Bobcats, Lakers.
These four teams are currently the top four in the league.
According to the rules, the four teams will contact Terry one after another within 24 hours, whether by phone or in person, it doesn't matter, and it's even fine if any team is confident enough not to contact Terry at all.
Then, after 24 hours, Terry will have to make his decision and choose a team to join. If Terry is not satisfied with any of the four teams, that's fine too, but he will not be eligible to continue playing in the NBA this season and will have to wait until next season.
That would mean he would have a 7-8 month hiatus without playing.
Of course, Terry could also choose to join an overseas league.
But it's obviously unnecessary, since the teams that are making offers now are the very teams that Terry previously mentioned as his ideal teams.
Terry's fighting ability is still the strongest. This season he is averaging 14 points per game with a 39% three-point shooting percentage. His ability is definitely enough to make him a starter or even a top-three player on any team.
Paying him a base salary to get six months' worth of usage rights is definitely a sure win.
Lin Tian wasn't in a hurry. He waited until evening before picking up his phone and calling Terry.
"Hi, this is Lin. I was the one who strongly advocated for our team to make an offer to you." Lin Tian got straight to the point, stating his purpose directly: "You've already talked to the other three teams, right?"
“We’ve talked, so I’d like to know what you can offer me. The Celtics have promised me a starting position, the Cavaliers have said they’ll give me unlimited shooting opportunities when I’m on the court, and the Bobcats are the defending champions, they seem to be the closest to the championship, so what about you?”
What can you give me?
"How about I give you a chance to crush the Mavericks, crush LeBron, and then swagger in front of Cuban, shooting them all over the place?" Lin Tian knew Terry like that; he was all about pride. Did he really not want to play in Milwaukee?
He just wanted to prove himself! He wanted to show that he could still play and that he shouldn't be treated like this by the team.
The best way to get revenge, of course, is to personally kill his former team, the Mavericks.
“I could get this opportunity on other teams too.” But Lin Tian’s words clearly didn’t immediately impress Terry.
"No, other teams won't get this opportunity because we'll beat the Mavericks! Those three are all Eastern Conference teams, they can only be beaten by us, they won't have a chance to face the Mavericks."
"If you want revenge, if you want to blow up the Mavericks with your own hands, then you only have this one option."
"Why are you so confident?" Terry asked. "What if you were the ones who lost?"
"Don't you want to see what you're saying, Jason?" Lin Tian laughed loudly. "Why am I so confident? Just open Wikipedia and search my name, and you'll know why I'm so confident."
"We're offering you your only chance for revenge! Whether you come or not is up to you!"
"As for the rest, I can only guarantee that you will get everything you deserve. If you play well, you will get more playing time and a higher status on the team. If you play poorly, then you will have to stay on the bench. If you insist on a promise before you dare to join the team."
"Well, I have nothing more to say. I think someone as insecure as you isn't a good fit for our team."
"What do you mean, lack of confidence!" Terry immediately exploded upon hearing this: "When have I ever lacked confidence? If I weren't confident, would I have missed reporting to the team for several days?"
"I am the most confident person in this league!"
“Great, so that means you’re sure you want to come here, right?” Lin Tian said with a smile. “Then hurry up and come to Los Angeles so we can sign the contract.”
“No, I didn’t say that!” Terry quickly refused, indicating that he shouldn’t have said that.
"Didn't you want to crush LeBron and the Mavericks?" Lin Tian asked curiously. "Weren't you confident you could do it? Then where else could you go if not here?"
Where else can we go...?
Terry carefully recalled the promises other teams had made to him, the treatment they had been given, and fell silent.
"Jason, I really don't know what you're hesitating about."
"This is Los Angeles, damn Los Angeles! The most beautiful women, the best stars, the most beautiful scenery, and the only chance to crush the Mavericks."
"Your only chance! If you refuse, you'll have to wait until next year."
Lin Tian stopped there, no longer wanting to waste time with Terry, and waited for Terry's response.
He's said all he can. If that still doesn't convince Terry and get him to join the team, then it just means there's no future for either side, and Terry can go wherever he wants.
However, although Lin Tian wasn't absolutely confident, he was at least 90% sure of me; he knew Terry all too well.
This guy is a typical American player, with lofty ambitions.
Otherwise, why would he refuse to report to the Mavericks after being traded, and why would he refuse to report to the bad team Bucks?
This kind of person is perfect for being won over using this method; he'll definitely fall for it.
Sure enough, after a short while, Terry's voice finally came through the phone again.
"I've made up my mind! I'm joining you guys! I'm joining the Los Angeles Lakers, and I'll fly over there to join you as soon as possible."
"It's a pleasure working with you." Lin Tian smiled with satisfaction.
With Curry joining, the Lakers' weakest link has been filled.
Their bench strength has seen a leap forward and a significant improvement.
The team no longer needs to wait for players like Isaiah Thomas and Chandler Parsons to develop.
Terry's addition will immediately elevate the Lakers' bench strength from the bottom of the league to the top ten.
That's how useful a near-star-level scorer is.
In particular, this person was a scorer who harbored resentment and was obsessed with revenge. "What a pity." That very night, less than five hours after speaking with Lin Tian, the highly efficient Terry had already appeared at the Lakers' training ground.
It turns out this guy never went to Milwaukee at all.
"If you had been bought out earlier and come here sooner, you would definitely be the Sixth Man of the Year this year." Lin Tian passed the ball to Terry, who hadn't even entered the court yet, and said, "Unfortunately, now you can only win one championship."
"Shh!"
Terry lived up to his reputation as a sharpshooter, sinking a long-range three-pointer while still dressed casually, marking his first basket since joining the Lakers.
"I've never seen anyone as confident as you. The regular season isn't even over yet, and you already think you've won the championship?"
"It's not that I think we are the champions this season," Lin Tian said matter-of-factly. "Otherwise, do you really think that anyone else can beat us and snatch the championship from us?"
“There really aren’t any left.” Terry nodded, no longer hesitating, and gave an affirmative answer.
With this, the Lakers' final 15-man roster is complete! They received a congratulatory gift from the Mavericks, completing the final piece of their puzzle!
In the upcoming season, the Lakers will need some time to gel. The whole team will pay special attention to setting up Terry, allowing the newcomer to play more and practice his skills.
In addition, with the addition of Terry, a versatile offensive player, the Lakers will have to make some adjustments to their rotation, playing time, and tactics.
Fortunately, Terry is experienced, and the Lakers team had already developed good chemistry, so the team didn't suffer too much of a setback because of this.
In the first six games after Terry joined the team, the Lakers only managed a 3-3 record, which wasn't a great performance.
Meanwhile, the Warriors, who were ranked right after them, were in excellent form during this period. The gap between the two teams, which was originally as much as 5 games, was reduced to only 2 games in the blink of an eye. In addition, there were still two direct matchups between the two teams. The Lakers had been sitting firmly on the top spot in the Western Conference for most of the season, and it seemed that they were about to fall. But fortunately, the Lakers quickly regained their form after the ups and downs of these 6 games.
They embarked on a truly impressive winning streak.
They won all eight games after March!
Terry has fully integrated into the Lakers' system and become a member of the team. This move by the Lakers to bring in the final piece of the puzzle from the amnesty market has officially declared a great success!
However, while this eight-game winning streak was quite encouraging, it didn't allow the Lakers to completely secure their number one position.
Because the Warriors are also in very good form!
They haven't lost a single game throughout March, maintaining their pursuit of the Lakers and consistently putting immense pressure on them.
With two more games to play between the two teams, even if the gap between them remains at two games until the end of March, the Warriors still have a chance to catch up with the Lakers and become the top team in the Western Conference.
A glance at the current MVP rankings reveals just how much the Warriors crave the top seed in the Western Conference.
Lin Tian remains in first place. His average of 20.5 points and 15.2 assists per game this season is already unprecedented and unlikely to be surpassed. If he maintains these numbers until the end of the season, he will become the first player in NBA history to average 15+ assists per game.
If the Lakers maintain their league-best record until the end of the season, he will almost certainly become the MVP.
But now, due to the Warriors' relentless pursuit, Lin Tian's MVP award, while almost certain, is not without suspense.
Paul has reached the peak of his career this season, averaging 24.5 points, 12.5 assists, and 2.9 steals per game, all career highs. He has also surpassed Rondo to become the second-highest scorer in assists.
Lin Tian's stats were absolutely epic, but Paul's stats were equally remarkable! In NBA history, there are only a handful of players who can average 24+12 in a single season.
More importantly, if the Warriors can win both of their games against the Lakers in late March and April, and if Paul can suppress Lin Tian, or even just put up a good fight against Lin Tian and climb to the top of the Western Conference, then...
So it's really hard to say who will ultimately win the MVP award!
Such head-to-head matches at the end of the season are definitely a huge plus, worth as much as five matches.
However, Lin Tian has a major flaw in the MVP selection process.
His teammates are too strong!
With Kobe and Durant both in the top ten of the MVP rankings and candidates for the All-NBA Team, plus Bynum, who is also a sure-fire All-NBA Team selection, the Lakers' super team is simply too dazzling.
Such strong teammates will definitely have a negative impact on Lin Tian's MVP campaign.
If he's unstoppable and leaves everyone else in the dust, winning the MVP award is practically guaranteed.
But now that competitors have emerged, things are hard to say!
Of course, it's hard to say whether it's difficult or not. In fact, we'll be able to get a general idea of the final result by the end of March.
March 31st, Lakers vs. Warriors at home!
If the Lakers win, they will essentially lock in the top seed in the Western Conference, and Lin Tian's MVP award will be practically his.
Conversely, if the Warriors win, they will continue their pursuit of the top seed in the West, and Paul's chances of winning the MVP will greatly increase!
Lin Tian or Paul?
Lakers or Warriors?
This season's Warriors have definitely undergone a qualitative change. Although they have always had a good roster, they have never been able to fully realize their potential. In the highly competitive Western Conference, they are good, but they have not stood out.
But their situation this season is completely different. Their chemistry is impeccable, the whole team works together with one-on-one effort, and at the beginning of the season, they did not show how strong or invincible they were.
However, as the season progressed and the Mavericks experienced internal strife, the Warriors suddenly emerged as a dark horse, not only firmly occupying the second position in the Western Conference but also maintaining stability. Especially after the All-Star Game, they were in top form!
They have only lost two games since the All-Star break, and have not lost a single game throughout March so far, accumulating an 18-game winning streak!
Having persevered to this point, they are the only team in the entire league that has not fallen behind and has the only chance to surpass the Lakers to become the top team in the West and the top team in the league.
If we can win the two direct confrontations with the Lakers and maintain our form, anything is possible!
The Warriors' current roster is quite complete and balanced, with each key player fulfilling their role, making the lineup very reasonable.
Paul is the undisputed leader and core of the team. He is the starting point of the tactics and the most important player on the team. This season, Paul has reached his best and peak year in terms of form, statistics, health and any other aspect.
This year, he finally started to resemble the league's top point guard that Lin Tian had described back then.
Of course, this is on the premise that Lin Tian does not make a comeback.
With Lin Tian back in action, he looks more like a second point guard.
The shooting guard is JJ Redick, one of the league's top three-point shooters. Redick broke countless NCAA three-point records during his college years. Although he did not become an All-Star player in the NBA, his shooting skills remained.
Redick's ball-handling ability is average nowadays, his defensive ability is mediocre, and his playmaking, penetration, and rebounding abilities are not worth mentioning.
But he can throw it.
他能用41%的命中率每场扔进超过3个3分球，还能在3分线内3秒区外的每一个区域接球后拔起就扔。
His signature drifting shot has become a signature move in the league.
This season, Redick is averaging 12.5 points per game, with catch-and-shoot scoring accounting for over 11 of those points, nearly 90% of his total points. This demonstrates just how unpredictable his movement is and how accurate his shooting is.
The team's starting small forward is Rudy Gay, a lottery pick in 06. Gay was a promising star acquired by the team in a previous trade, and his arrival has been a great way to fill the void left by the aging Richardson.
His defense, rebounding, and size are a huge addition to the team. In addition, he is the team's strongest and most consistent perimeter player in terms of ball-handling offense besides Paul. He can take on the responsibility of organizing the offense when Paul is resting.
They can also dribble the ball and attack the basket to score crucial points when needed.
The team's starting power forward is Aldridge, Paul's longtime partner. Over the years, players have come and gone on the Warriors, but only Aldridge has stayed by Paul's side. His duo with Paul and their pick-and-roll plays can be described as the most tacit and efficient duo in the entire league.
Finally, there's Tyson Chandler, the team's starting center, who does the dirty work and is responsible for the team's last line of defense. This former high school prodigy and the source of Yao Ming's confidence ultimately didn't develop into a top-tier star, but he did fulfill his potential and became a very good blue-collar center in the league. (End of Chapter)