The Basketball Court Swordsman

Turning on the stereo, playing pop music from the 70s, Larry Bird started his day.

He first prepared two portions of toast for himself, of course, adding cheese is his favorite. He doesn't like going to the restaurant of the hotel, but likes to settle in the room by himself. Because, when he was reading the newspaper, he didn't want to be disturbed by outsiders.

Although it is the Internet age, Larry Bird is still used to reading the newspaper while eating breakfast. It seems that people of their time prefer to use newspapers rather than mobile phones.

The front page headline of the Indianapolis Post, as always, is news for the local NBA team Pacers.

The headline of the news has been bolded and blackened to become very eye-catching.

"3-0, the Henson Army beat San Antonio and got the match point!"

Below the headline, is a picture of Paul George leaning on Tim Duncan for a layup. The small picture below shows Henson directing the game from the sidelines.

Looking at this front-page headline, Bird smiled comfortingly. Henson Joe, Bird thinks this is the perfect signing of his basketball operations chairman career.

Yes, for other managements of this level, the introduction of stars is their "political achievement". But in Bird's view, his most successful signing came from the head coach.

Bird has always believed in the "three-year theory", that is, if a head coach leads the team for three years and fails to achieve results, it will be difficult to change the status quo even if he works hard afterwards. Therefore, he decisively cut off Jim O'Brien and straightened the glib scout.

Facts have proved that his highly questioned operation was extremely correct.

Bird himself has been a head coach, and he knows how difficult it is to be a head coach.

On May 12, 1997, Bird began to formally serve as the head coach of the Indiana Pacers and was named the best coach of the NBA in the same year. It can be said that Bird's coaching career started perfectly. However, for Bird, no honor other than the championship is worth mentioning.

In the 1997-1998 season, the Pacers, with Reggie Miller as their main firepower, fought hard against Jordan's defending champion Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals, but lost in the end.

In the 1998-1999 season, the Pacers reached the Eastern Conference Finals again, but they were still blocked from the finals, losing to the New York Knicks.

In the 1999-2000 season, Bird led the Pacers to make a comeback and defeated the Knicks in 6 games in the Eastern Conference Finals. In the finals, facing the unbeatable Los Angeles Lakers, they passed the championship after six games and witnessed their opponents achieve three consecutive championships.

Two-year Eastern Conference finals, one-year finals. It stands to reason that Bird's results are very good. But he knew that his upper limit might be like this, and he might never get a championship as a coach, so he decided to retire quickly. It was not until three years later that he returned to the Pacers management.

And what did Henson bring to the Pacers? In the first year of the Eastern Conference semifinals, he upset to win the second year and successfully defended the third year. In the fourth year, he was able to establish a dynasty!

What is the concept of three consecutive championships? When watching Kobe and O'Neal establish a dynasty, Bird had only jealousy in his eyes. Because even when he was a player, he has never completed three consecutive championships. No, Bird didn't even know what it was like to successfully defend his title. Let alone three consecutive championships. And now, he is almost done. Moreover, I still do all this in my hometown team.

There is no doubt that Henson is the kind of head coach Bird ideals. It's just a pity, this guy's career is coming to an end...

So today, Bird got up very early. He picked one of the most expensive suits and combed his hair meticulously. Because tonight is the day of the fourth game between the Pacers and the Spurs. Today is the day when the Pacers may establish a three-game winning dynasty. Today, it is very likely that Henson's last game of his career will end.

In short, today is a big day!

After playing well, Bird wanted to go to the training hall to see the team training. But on second thoughts, with Henson, it doesn't matter whether he goes to supervise the battle. So, he simply called Henson. The phone rang for a long time before being connected, presumably Henson on the training ground didn't put the phone beside him.

"Don't worry Bird, this evening will be the day when the Pacers will be recorded in history, I can guarantee it!" As always, Henson went straight to the subject as soon as he answered the phone, without even saying "hello".

"I know, I never doubted that. Three consecutive championships, 16 wins and 0 losses in the playoffs to win the championship, four rounds of sweeps... You are right, Henson, this will be the Pacers. The day the team was recorded in history. But if all that becomes a reality, it will also become the last game of your NBA career. Are you ready? You have nowhere to escape, Henson."

"Yeah, I have nowhere to escape. Maybe after today's game is over, the world will know that Henson Joe should retire. But maybe, I will save these words until the championship parade. Everything See my mood, I am the dynasty coach, Bird! I am the **** dynasty coach. How many dynasty coaches are there in the history of the alliance?" Henson's voice on the phone became excited.

"Yeah, you are the head of the dynasty. Do whatever you want. I just remind you, Henson. Go, tonight, it's your night."

After hanging up the phone, Bird was in a mixed mood. He didn't know whether he should laugh or cry today. Bird led the team to the finals, and then quickly retreated. But compared with Henson, Birdna was not a rapid retreat at all.

Henson Joe, leave your name and legend in the league!

Spark Lee’s team deployed in the ATT Center’s No. 2 Training Hall early this morning, with the goal of shooting the Henson Finals in 360° without blind spots.

This is one of the most important parts of this one-year documentary. Spike Lee decided to use this part as the main perspective of the documentary to present the audience. The title of this section is called-"The Last Day of Henson Joe." 》

At this time, Spike Li Zheng was meticulously filming Henson's attitude on the training ground. Spike Lee is one of the few people who knows that Henson will retire after playing this season, but he doesn't notice anything unusual on Henson's face.

The players are still training in a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere. Henson will occasionally make jokes and occasionally be very serious. He is the same as usual, he is not at all like a person about to retire. Perhaps Henson's ability to hide emotions is so powerful.

Spike Lee rubbed his eyes and felt extremely lucky to be able to record this legendary season himself. To be one of Henson's defeated men, he even thought it was an honor. At least later, when people mention Henson Joe, he is definitely one point in that bastard's career that cannot be ignored.

At this moment, Henson on the training ground clapped his hands and motioned everyone to take a break. There are not a few hours before the official game of the evening begins...

Chris Paul was in the locker room, his hands shaking slightly. When he was in the Western Conference, his only hope was to play the Western Conference Finals once. But now, he has already become the head of the Dynasty team's point guard.

He was very lucky that he chose the Pacers instead of the Clippers that summer. That summer, I believed the Chinese coach’s so-called "a championship plan."

Although he has won two championships, Paul is still excited this time. Just imagine, how many superstars in this world are capable of establishing dynasties? Let alone the dynasty, many stars have not even been involved in the championship! So even the well-informed Paul was extremely emotional at this time.

But soon, he tried to calm himself down. Because he is the big brother in the locker room, he cannot be too nervous in front of young people. The second reason is that Henson Joe finally appeared in the locker room, which made him feel extremely relieved.

Henson did not speak after he came in, but first drew a few tactics on the big white board. Henson didn't need to talk about these tactics. Paul knew how to execute it just by reading the tactics blackboard. He knows the Chinese coach too well, and the Chinese coach also knows the abilities of everyone on the team too.

"Okay guys, listen to me." Henson clapped his hands, and as usual, the locker room became silent.

"I know, today is our big day. But before we won the championship, today is nothing. This is just an ordinary game day. Whether today is a big day or not depends on you on the court. How will it behave."

"Don't worry, we won't give the Spurs any chance."

Paul agreed, and the others nodded and geared up.

"Very well, this is what I want to hear. Before emphasizing tactics, I will talk more nonsense today. As we all know, I have missed three months of games due to physical reasons this season. My body can no longer be a basketball coach. This kind of work. So I decided long ago that I will retire after playing this season. Therefore, tonight is also likely to be the last game of my career. So guys, work harder and let me be successful Just leave."

After Henson finished speaking, the air in the entire dressing room seemed to freeze. Everyone froze in their seats, as if they were frozen into ice.

But Henson felt relieved, and a big rock in his heart finally fell.

After a few seconds of silence, the players stood up abruptly, leaning towards Henson one by one, hugging him one by one.

Vogel and Becky Harmon couldn't hear what the players were talking to Henson, they only heard Henson yell.

"It's very embarrassing to go out and play this game with red eyes, bastards!"