700: 242: Why is it different from the time with KG!?
(Plead for monthly tickets!) 700: 242: Why is it different from the time with KG!?
(Plead for monthly tickets!) For many haters eagerly waiting for new developments with Roger, the outcome of the Pierce incident was disappointing.
They had thought it would be another live death broadcast tearing the team apart.
But instead, Pierce told them he did not think he was in a worse position with the Hawks than anywhere else, he did not care who was Atlanta’s number one star, and he was willing to be Paul, the Angel Envoy, alongside Roger rather than being the master Paul.
Sprewell was one of those disappointed.
It wasn’t just disappointment; it was also anger.
Because Pierce blatantly criticized Shaq and Spree during a nationwide live broadcast.
The insult to Spree was even more direct by naming names.
When ridiculing Shaq, Pierce’s words were “I’m not like some people.”
But when it came to Spree, Pierce directly said, “Latrell, sorting out trash players like you doesn’t even require Roger to get his hands dirty.”
The name Latrell Sprewell was insulted mercilessly by Paul Pierce.
And it was this that enraged Spree.
All he wanted was to enjoy the spectacle of the Hawks, to see Roger once again turn his relationship with his number two into a complete mess.
But he missed out on the show and even got smack-talked to his face by a second-year rookie.
Sprewell considered himself somebody, but what had he been through this year?
In the off-season, he was thrown out of the playing area by Roger in front of a nationwide live audience.
Last night, he was insulted by Pierce in front of a nationwide live audience.
Although on the radio show, he downplayed his off-season conflict with Roger.
But no amount of self-comfort could change one fact: he lacked respect, and no one respected him.
Sprewell vowed, after today, both Roger and his dogs would have to shut up.
Reporters at courtside interviewed Sprewell, asking him what he thought about Pierce’s remarks from last night.
Sprewell was disdainful: “They always talk too much.
What happened to Kevin Garnett yesterday is their today!”
I almost killed my coach, I went to the training ground with a gun to threaten teammates—thanks to the relatively closed media information of the ’90s, I was much luckier than Gilbert Arenas.
As someone this tough, it’s only natural that people would be afraid of me.
Unlike Sprewell’s murderous vibe, when meeting his old rival Roger again, master strategist Pat Riley’s gaze was less sharp and more worried.
He was not worried about Roger, but rather about the future of the ball.
After joining the Heat, Riley steadily transformed the Heat from a no-presence East dreg into last season’s East champions.
His ability is beyond doubt.
Riley successfully built a very competitive roster, but that roster had two major flaws.
First, there was a lack of talent.
Sprewell and Allan Houston both had excellent personal abilities, but neither had top-level talent.
Sprewell might once have had such talent, but years of complacency had wasted his golden period of skill improvement.
As for the core of the Heat, Alonzo Mourning, his greatest talent was his indomitable spirit.
However, limited by height, Mourning could never become a dominant force under the rim like Shaq, nor could he be a pivot like Dream.
The Heat’s lack of top-level talent was a big reason they lost to the Spurs last season.
When both sides’ defenses were tight, the Spurs had Duncan, while the Heat could only watch helplessly.
The second flaw was an exploding salary.
Allan Houston’s contract was up at the end of the next season, and Sprewell’s contract was up at the end of this season.
When the time came, they would definitely seek max contract extensions.
Players like Sprewell and Allan Houston might not be superstars, but because of the last season’s performance, they could definitely seek max contract extensions on the market.
Yacht tycoon Micky Arison was willing to spend money, but Pat Riley did not want two guards approaching 30 without top-level talent to lock up the salary space.
You should know, as they age, the trade value of Sprewell and Allan Houston will decrease even more.
If you think in terms of commodities, these two guys are like old luxury cars that start depreciating the moment the contract is signed.
If they get stuck in your hands later, it’s inconvenient to trade them.
Master strategist Riley, the man who later wouldn’t even give Dwyane Wade a max salary, didn’t want to give Sprewell and Allan Houston a max salary right now.
Right now, Riley faced a heart-rending problem in the NBA—faced with an increasingly high cost of use and an aging core player, should this highly competitive roster continue to be maintained?
The Bulls had faced this problem, so had the Magic, and the answer was obvious.
Riley’s answer to himself was—try for one more year.
If the Heat fail to push for the championship this season, then Riley will choose to dismantle the roster for rebuilding.
This is the Miami Heat’s last dance.
Riley will use every means to win this season, striving to give the Miami Heat’s first peak in franchise history a perfect ending.
Sprewell was also aware that whether or not he stayed with the Heat, he must achieve results this season if he wanted to sign a max contract for his next deal.