816: 273: Michael’s Cleveland Revival Plan?
This is the secret to their consecutive victories (Requesting monthly tickets!)_6 816: 273: Michael’s Cleveland Revival Plan?
This is the secret to their consecutive victories (Requesting monthly tickets!)_6 Many teams are starting to show interest in this once-overlooked undrafted player.
Joe Dumars has publicly praised Big Ben multiple times and stated, “It’s a real shame if a player like him doesn’t don the Pistons’ courageous blue.”
Therefore, giving Big Ben a max contract isn’t unbelievable; if he enters free agency, surely teams will be willing to pay for him.
In the original timeline, just after winning a championship with the Pistons, Big Ben signed his first and last max contract with the Bulls.
For many players, there’s only one chance in a lifetime to pursue a max contract, so Big Ben definitely won’t miss such an opportunity.
However, Steve Belkin quickly gave a response that calmed down the worried Atlanta fans instantly: “Of course, we’re willing to pay any price to keep Ben.
That’s why we’re here; we’ve always been committed to maintaining the Hawks’ championship lineup.”
Steve Belkin’s straightforwardness eased the entire Hawks locker room.
Excited after receiving promises, Big Ben’s mood further boosted the locker room atmosphere.
But it also started to unsettle some shareholders.
As a consortium, profits are shared, but expenses also need to be shared.
Steve Belkin can’t just bypass everyone and promise Big Ben a max contract directly.
Is he really going to give a player like Ben Wallace, who struggles to score in double digits per game, a multimillion annual salary?
Steve Belkin thinks there’s no issue, as he currently has the majority support within the board.
Since the vote is clear, he naturally can say whatever he wants.
It wasn’t until the loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on January 9th that the Hawks’ second wave of consecutive wins finally ended.
In that game, as usual, the 76ers locked down the Hawks’ role players, and AI played outstandingly, scoring 46 points.
Ultimately, because Roger’s buzzer-beater long three-point attempt failed to land, the 76ers narrowly won by a 3-point advantage.
If any team in the Eastern playoffs can pose some challenges to the Hawks, it’s likely the Philadelphia 76ers.
Yet this loss still couldn’t stop the Hawks from topping the East with a 28-6 record, nor could it prevent the Philadelphia 76ers from continuing to sit at the top.
At the end of the game, AI retaliated against Roger: “Even gods fail.”
Roger wasn’t angry; he clearly knew the level of Allen Iverson in 2001, losing to him wasn’t too hard to accept.
Roger spoke, AI thought he was about to get a scolding, but Roger asked AI: “How’s your relationship with your former teammate Jerry Stackhouse?”
“Nothing, just asking casually.
I just wanted to know if he’s nastier than you on a daily basis.”
Did Jerry provoke you again?
That brainless bastard.”
“No,” Roger waved his hand, “He didn’t provoke me, but he insulted my friend.”
Tomorrow, the Atlanta Hawks will face the Detroit Pistons who lost Grant Hill, in a back-to-back matchup.
Currently, the only star of this Pistons team is Jerry Stackhouse, Roger’s “lifetime rival.”
Stackhouse’s performance this season is quite strong, averaging an astonishing 30.8 points!
After Grant Hill left, Jerry Stackhouse finally got his chance.
So he started his explosive mode right from the first game of the season.
Facing his brother Vince Carter, also known as “Jordan’s Successor,” he scored a career-high 44 points.
46 points against the Rockets on December 4th, 41 against the Trail Blazers 10 days later, 40 against the Celtics on January 3rd, and then 47 on Kobe’s head on the 5th, continuing to set records.
However, the most impressive was his matchup against the Bulls at the end of December.
Not sure if he wanted to prove at the United Center that he was the most qualified successor to Jordan, Jerry Stackhouse shot 36 times with 21 buckets and 11 free throws, achieving his career-high 57 points with extremely high efficiency!
This season’s Jerry Stackhouse is evidently a scoring machine, and recently, about to face the Atlanta Hawks, he’s getting more journalists’ attention and increasing coverage.
During the media session after training yesterday, Jerry Stackhouse’s series of complacent comments were reported.
Hey, I take 30 shots because the team needs me to do that.
If given shot rights, I can score 40 points, what can you say?
They damn sure need me to take 30 shots!
I am not cancer, I am the leader who shoulders the team!”
“My goal this season is to end Roger’s reign as scoring king!”
“Jeff Hornacek definitely won’t find his shot then, because he shivers when he sees me, haha.
That timid pig, only fit to survive under Roger’s crotch.”
The last statement is why Roger was so angry, he couldn’t understand what’s boastful about bullying an old white guy.
Besides, there wasn’t any personal feud between Hornacek and Stackhouse.
Jerry Stackhouse continued to hold onto him merely because he was easy to bully, using him to highlight his own robustness.
AI shrugged after hearing Stackhouse’s words: “You wouldn’t want to beat him up, right?”
“It depends on how he treats my friend, AI.
Good night, you won splendidly tonight.
Cherish it, because next time won’t be as lucky.”
Watching Roger leave and uttering harsh words, AI didn’t pity himself.
He felt sorry for Jerry Stackhouse.
When will that fool realize that even at 40 points per game, he’s not worth a strand of Roger’s hair?
AI thought, if he were Jerry, he should now be praying to the gods.
Will he respond to Jerry’s prayers?
Continuous victories, continuous victories, continuous victories!
The Atlanta Hawks are the most cohesive team I’ve ever seen, when a Hawks player scores on the court, no one on the bench sits still.
When someone falls, there’s always someone there first to help.
They’re united, and that’s the secret behind their continuous victories.
— “Atlanta Journal-Constitution.”
That, of course, doesn’t represent the final outcome, it’s merely Steve Belkin’s personal remark.
Specific circumstances will only be decided after the board votes.
— Michael Gillen, the Hawks’ third-largest shareholder, talks to reporters during an interview regarding the max contract renewal for Ben Wallace.
Golden State Warriors owner Chris Cohan is seeking to sell the team?
David Stern: Further investigation and verification ongoing.
Michael Jordan believes: Playing with LeBron James is an exciting thing just to think about.
Guys, will this become reality?
— “Cleveland Plain Dealer.”
Jerry Stackhouse is one of the most explosive scorers this season.
We can look forward to his scoring battle with Roger.
However, Jerry should better not mention anything related to Jeff Hornacek, for this is advice.
Otherwise, his end might be more miserable than losing a game.
(Only one update today, as it’s directly 10,000 words.
Thank you all for your concern.
After going to the hospital yesterday, the doctor prescribed some sleeping medication.
Didn’t fully recover by bedtime, slept soundly last night, feel very energetic today, hope it continues.)