The Way of Basketball: Never Talk Shit to Him!
Chapter 250 - 157: The Brightest Star in January, Kobe "Slaughters" the Dragon

Chapter 250: Chapter 157: The Brightest Star in January, Kobe "Slaughters" the Dragon

December 27th, something big happened in Miami:

Pat Riley fired his own apprentice, Stan Van Gundy, and took up the position of the new head coach for the Heat Team.

The outside world was shocked, and they never expected Pat Riley to really come back, and to act so ruthlessly — actually firing his own trusted apprentice.

When Su Wan saw the naive looks of these media people, he really wanted to say:

Is that all there is?

Fundamentally, Pat Riley and Celtics’ general manager, Angie, are cut from the same cloth.

In business, there’s no room for sentiment towards rival players and coaches, including sympathy.

The Miami media praised the decision, and the fans of the Heat Team exclaimed, "The day has brightened!"

The main reason:

Before the new season commenced, many media outlets had touted the Heat Team as "the favorites for the new season," but they did not play as expected. Within half a month from the start, they, alongside the Pacers, went from being forecasted dual powerhouses to the dual disappointments of the new season.

However for the Pacers’ side, with Su Wan’s return, everything was resolved smoothly, and the team slowly regained its strength.

Especially entering December, their ferocious momentum culminated in nine consecutive victories, only losing their first game of December right before the "Christmas Battle."

The Heat Team was different; their win rate in November barely crossed 50%, and in the first eight games of December, they only managed five wins and three losses. Now, sitting in the ambiguous fourth position in the Eastern Conference, they could see no hope of squeezing into the top three.

For the Heat Team fans aiming for the championship this season, this was an unacceptable outcome.

So, firing Stan Van Gundy was not hard to understand.

Lastly, before 2005 ended, another major trade shocked everyone in the league:

The Philadelphia 76ers traded Allen Iverson, a ten-year city symbol known as "The Answer," to the Nuggets in exchange for Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and two first-round draft picks.

With Allen Iverson’s status as a "Super Star," this was almost like a giveaway.

Andre Miller is decent, having been named the "Assist King" of the league, but that’s it; comparing him with Allen Iverson doesn’t hold up. Now, as the primary asset in this trade, it indicates one thing:

The Philly management wanted to rebuild, and Allen Iverson had officially reached the "bottom half of the ninth inning" of his career. If he couldn’t produce high-quality plays to turn the game around, his greatest career achievements would likely be set in stone.

This is the "New York Times’" assessment of the transaction.

And, as far as Su Wan understood, the "New York Times’" evaluation was extremely accurate!

When Allen Iverson moved to the Nuggets, he formed a high-octave "Golden Dual Guns" team with Carmelo Anthony, showcasing explosive offense during the regular season and decent records, but repeatedly failing to break past the first round in the playoffs. The duo was dismantled in less than two years, with Allen Iverson sent off to Detroit in exchange for Chauncey Billups.

Following that, Carmelo Anthony reached the peak of his career, and the "Answer" Allen Iverson sought, like the city of Detroit, shattered in the American night sky.

From then on, the NBA no longer had "The Answer."

Su Wan had no concerns for the prospects of his "idol."

But it was indeed an "alarm bell."

Seeing him construct high buildings, entertain guests, watch as his building collapsed...

The career of a player is like "rowing against the current"; when you can no longer advance, it’s time to start the decline.

Allen Iverson in ’97 was also Su Wan in ’05;

Su Wan would play out a perfect season just like Allen Iverson did in ’01, bending countless fans in admiration;

And of course, he might face the same day as Allen Iverson, when the team lets him go.

Unless he always stays at the peak and grandly exits at the height of his glory, retiring successfully.

Like the first and second retirements of Jordan...

Though highly challenging, it was still Su Wan’s goal.

Philly fans couldn’t accept the trade of Allen Iverson, clamoring, "We don’t want Andre Miller."

Hearing this, Miller responded in front of the media, "I don’t want to play for Philly either!"

In an interesting turn of events, on December 30th during the Lakers vs. Grizzlies game,

Kobe, during a breakthrough, was hit by Mike Miller, opening a cut over his eye that bled profusely; the referee quickly called a timeout but did not call a foul. A vengeful Kobe, while being treated, slightly licked his lips, and after stopping the bleeding, turned and decisively walked back onto the court, as if having made up his mind.

Returning to the game, he immediately threw an elbow that knocked Mike Miller to the ground.

The referee issued a "flagrant foul" and later, the league added a two-game suspension to Kobe.

He was shocked and questioned the officials, "Why does he (Mike) open up my eye, yet I can’t get a foul call?"

He then received a fine of $25,000.

Barkley said, "It seems the league has suddenly gained a lot of Su Wan."

Su Wan on Facebook: Ah yes, yes, blame me, my fault!

The NBA’s 2005 season ended amid this turbulence.

On January 1, 2006, the first day of the new year, the official announced the "Monthly Best Player Award" of December.

Averaging 29.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.2 blocks, a shooting accuracy of 48.7%, three-point shot accuracy of 32.3%, free throw accuracy of 81.4%, Su Wan led his team to a 13-2 record, earning his second career and first season "Monthly Best Player Award."