This Forward is Not Serious

The first strong opponent in January, the Suns encountered the Cavaliers who were in the spotlight.

In the end, the Suns lost 107 to 115.

Although Stoudemire defended very hard, he still couldn't stop O'Neal's wrath;

Lin Ying is also very focused on James' breakthrough, but it turns out that James, who is at his peak 1.0 and has not yet gained weight, is already a big threat to his shooting.

On the last day of the first week, the Suns and Magic met.

After four quarters of fierce fighting, the Suns successfully defeated their opponents 115-97.

The Magic's offense dropped significantly after losing Turkoglu.

At the beginning of the second week, the Suns encountered the most difficult home back-to-back in the difficult January schedule.

They will face the Rockets and Celtics consecutively.

After renewing Artest's contract and signing Carter, the Rockets now have many players who can play.

Starting Brooks, Carter, Battier, Artest, Yao Ming.

Substitute Lowry, Budinger, Landry, Scola, Hayes.

This game was basically evenly matched throughout the game.

After Yao Ming lost weight, the inside threat became smaller, and Stoudemire and Lin Ying were not as disadvantaged as expected.

Carter's performance on the outside has also shown a downward trend in the past two years, otherwise the Nets would not sell at a low price.

On the Suns side, Lin Ying's misplaced singles play still seemed unsolvable.

Fans watching this game felt a bit like when the Nuggets played the Rockets in the playoffs last year.

At the final moment of the game, Yao Ming made a buzzer-beating shot, but in the last second Lin Ying assisted Nash to complete a three-pointer.

The Suns finally passed with a thrilling score of 103-101.

Before they had time to celebrate, the Suns faced the Celtics back-to-back the next day.

The Suns suffered their biggest defeat of the season.

Yesterday's fight with the Rockets was a little too much.

The bigger aspect is that the Celtics' style of play is too restrained against the Suns.

Because of the increase in age and the release of Posey and Allen, the Celtics' defensive level declined slightly last season.

But they added Rasheed Wallace in the offseason!

This one step directly brought their defensive strength back to the level of the iron barrel formation.

The game was forced into a positional battle.

And in this game, Rivers used Rasheed Wallace as the starter very specifically, using quick rotation to limit Lin Ying's misplaced singles.

The Suns basically had their hands held down and then their feet, completely pinned to the ground and rubbed.

In the end, they were defeated 83-101.

After two weeks of playing, Lin Ying made a summary and prediction of the outcome of the game.

It goes something like this:

1. Cavaliers, 50-50.

He considered O'Neal's physical condition here. If the series goes on for a long time, O'Neal is likely to be injured;

2. Celtics, 37-30.

This is mainly determined by the style of play. If the Suns want to win, they must be in a good state, and Lin Ying must use mismatched singles to play exciting games in certain games;

3. Magic team, 73 opener.

Of course, judging from the current performance, it is the most difficult for the Magic to reach the finals this year among the teams in the Eastern Conference;

Four, Rockets, 50-50.

The specific victory or defeat is the same as last year when the Nuggets played the Rockets. It depends on their respective performances.

Halfway through January, the only important opponent left for the Suns is the Lakers.

But that won’t happen until later in the year.

And compared with the previous teams, the Lakers are obviously more important to the Suns.

Because the Lakers are now the strongest team in the Western Conference. If you want to break out of the Western Conference, you basically have to step on the Lakers.

Moreover, the previous disastrous defeat had a great impact on the Suns, and the Suns needed a victory to rebuild their confidence.

Lin Ying is also confident in this game because the Lakers' current state is average at best.

But before the game came, he flew to Chicago with Hill.

Grover is back.

They met at a coffee shop downtown.

He was a delicate middle-aged man who was almost 50 years old.

The reason why he is said to be delicate is because his face is relatively long and he also has a mustache.

Seeing Hill, Grover stepped forward and hugged him warmly. It was obvious that the relationship between them was more than what Hill said.

But it’s actually understandable. His background can be seen from the photos taken at Hill’s house before.

To be more detailed, you have never even heard of anyone on the court who would cause trouble for Hill. Even if he has been sick with the Magic for so many years, the media will not say anything about him.

After Hill sat down, he began to introduce Lin Ying in more detail.

It was also during this process that Lin Ying discovered that Hill was actually quite down-to-earth, because even blowing someone up would kill him:

Just a mediocre next Duncan.

However, Grover didn't seem to be very interested in Lin Ying, and was more interested in catching up with Hill.

Finally, after Hill's consultation, Grover told the truth: he could not leave the mountain.

As for the reason, he only said that he needed to be with his wife and children.

Lin Ying definitely didn't believe this reason.

It’s not like he didn’t have a trainer before. He hired Phil Handy for two years, but they didn’t continue to cooperate until they arrived in Phoenix.

He knew that a trainer's salary was not high. In this era, two to three hundred thousand dollars was already a sky-high price.

This is not much more than a white-collar salary. Retire before the age of 50?

However, Grover was very persistent and did not change his attitude despite Hill's words. He even went to the bathroom because he drank too much.

"Lin, do you know why Tim refuses to come out?"

While Grover was going to the bathroom, Hill did say a little embarrassed.

Lin Ying looked shocked.

Co-author Hill knew it completely but didn’t tell him!

He suddenly felt that Hill was not so honorable.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you before."

Then Hill's next words gave Lin Ying the urge to challenge him.

Fortunately, Hill quickly explained why.

The reason why Grover didn't come out of the mountain, or to be more precise, when he was not allowed to come out of the mountain, was because of that man.

When he first cooperated with Jordan, Grover was just a 23-year-old young man who had just graduated from college.

There was no such thing as a trainer at that time, so he simply relied on his own understanding to convince Jordan.

You can even understand it as an experiment on Jordan.

Then he succeeded, and Jordan became a man of steel under his training, no longer afraid of the Pistons' iron barrel formation.

Once he passed the piston, no one could stop him.

So you can say that Grover played a vital role in Jordan's career, which also made him famous.

After that, Hill, Jordan's successor, naturally approached him.

With his help, Hill created the NBA's "fastest first step" through training.

Then, this fastest first step passed Jordan, and even after Jordan came back, he suppressed Jordan and became the All-Star vote leader!

Then, the man with a broad heart called Grover back directly.

And Grover never trained for Hill again after that.

Lin Ying coughed unconsciously after hearing this.

It's exactly what that man would do.

And the example that happened to Hill is not unique, it is the same for Kobe and Tracy McGrady.

The only difference may be Wade, because Wade's talent is not a threat to Jordan, and Jordan has retired by then.

That is, after training Wade, Grover retired.

"How does he live?"

Lin Ying asked a key question.

It is true that Jordan did not want Grover to teach others, but that was also when Jordan was still playing.

Now that Jordan has retired, Grover will theoretically have to find another job.

"Michael kept him."

Hill gave a very reasonable answer.

And it wasn't for nothing, Jordan went to play baseball after retiring.

Playing baseball also requires a trainer, so it's understandable that he is still working for Jordan.

It's just possible that there is more of an element of friendship in it.

After all, an old friend who has been with him for 17 years, more accurately now for more than 20 years, spends two to three hundred thousand dollars to support him, which is a piece of cake for Jordan.

What's more, although Grover doesn't work as a trainer for others, he occasionally holds training camps, participates in activities, etc., and can earn a lot of income.

Lin Ying was thoughtful after talking.

Just then, Grover came back from using the bathroom.

"Tim, I'd like to ask you to be my personal trainer."

As soon as Grover sat down again, Lin Ying raised his head and said.

And before the other party was about to refuse, he added:

"$500,000 annual salary."

He gave this price with reference. First, he gave Handy $150,000. Second, historically, Handy's annual salary for serving the Lakers in 2020 was only $700,000.

So the price is not particularly exaggerated, but it is definitely the kind that makes people excited.

Sure enough, Grover hesitated.

Hill stared at Lin Ying with wide eyes.

500000!

A trainer!

What a waste of money!

Seeing the look in Grover's eyes, Lin Ying knew something was up.

After all, no normal person would have trouble with money!

Grover was indeed moved.

It is impossible to have this price on the market now. Even for Jordan, the price given to him was only US$200,000.

Directly 2.5 times!

The young man in front of me should have some money.

But if he wanted to be Lin Ying's trainer, he would definitely ask Jordan first.

Grover: You're giving me a hard time!

"We can consider long-term cooperation, such as signing him for 2.5 million for five years!"

Lin Ying strikes while the iron is hot.

Grover: Actually I can!

"I need to go back and discuss it with my family."

Grover gave Lin Ying an answer.

"That's natural. We can contact you by phone at any time."

After Lin Ying finished speaking, Grover took out his cell phone from his pocket.

From the heart.

When leaving the coffee shop, Hill looked at Lin Ying with a smile, his eyes were a little different.

That's the expression of the young man you are.

But in fact, 90% of the things in this world can be solved with money, and the remaining 9% is more money.

Not to mention that the profession of trainer is a job, how can anyone refuse a job with a higher salary?

There are even people who can sell it for money, which is really nothing.

…

The next day, Lin Ying received a call from Grover.

But what surprised him was that Grover's reply was: No.

Although he was very moved by Lin Ying's offer, he still cherishes the time with his family even more now.

…

Chicago, Jordan House.

Watching Grover hang up the phone, Jordan put his hand on his old friend's shoulder while smoking a cigar, and then asked him to play golf with him.

Just now, he gave Grover a piece of information. No matter how much money Lin Ying gave, he would always get one dollar more than that.

He is very broad-minded. If anyone else hires Grover at this price, he will definitely not interfere.

After all, he will also feel happy when he sees his old friend going out to make more money.

But Lin Ying could forget it. This guy killed North Carolina under his own eyes.

He didn't let the Bobcats try to trade Lin Ying back then. How could he let his old friend be his trainer now?

…

After hanging up the phone, Lin Ying thought for a while.

In the end, Grover's rejection turned into what Durant said to him during the draft:

"I said friend, New Balance is my first love and my true love. Friend, if you want to sign me, you have to pay more."

He then called Grover.

As soon as the call was connected, he didn't say any nonsense and just gave a new quotation:

"$2 million a year."

…

Grover was shocked.

No, to be precise, it should be a rapid secretion of adrenaline, followed by a slight tremor in the body.

2 million!

He had never heard anyone make such an exorbitant request!

This can directly hire a whole team for Lin Ying, or even more!

"Are you kidding?"

Grover confirmed to Lin Ying.

Lin Ying himself is a rookie, with an annual salary of just over 2 million.

Taking into account taxes and other factors, this annual salary is not enough to pay his salary!

"I never joke around in situations like this."

When he heard Lin Ying's reply, Grover knew that he was serious.

And he hadn't thought about Lin Ying carefully before, but then he thought about Lin Ying being a Chinese player.

Taking Yao Ming as an example, his NBA salary during his rookie season was not his main income.

What's more, Lin Ying's popularity in China is unparalleled, and even the LinK series is now somewhat famous in the United States.

"I still have to think about it."

Grover looked at Jordan in front of him, and finally hung up the phone first.

Jordan was frowning now.

2 million is not a small amount of money, even for him.

Especially when it comes to raising an old friend who is no longer of that great importance to him.

Don't blame him for being realistic. No one's money comes from strong winds. Talking about money between friends hurts feelings, but talking about it is also valuable.

But soon he laughed:

"Tim, go ahead."

He gave Grover attitude.

It's not that he suddenly changed his personality, but that he felt that Lin Ying's talent was limited. It would be quite interesting if he spent 2 million and failed to develop it.

Grover's heart was slightly shaken. Didn't you agree that you would pay an extra dollar for whatever Lin Ying paid?

Of course, he doesn't show his emotions on his face.

He dialed Lin Ying's phone number again, and then gave Lin Ying a final reply:

"I need to conduct a trial with you to determine whether I accept this contract."