Legendary star

Chapter 175

The finals between the Spurs and the Pacers is over. At the moment when the game is over, watching the scene of the Spurs players celebrating with joy, the Pacers players who are also standing on the court are also very embarrassed. They can only watch helplessly. The Spurs celebrated their victory at home.

Similarly, because the Pacers lost their head star Reggie Miller, this game was considered a must-lose game before it started, so many Pacers fans gave up the opportunity to watch this game, Because in their hearts they cannot tolerate others celebrating championships at their own home courts.Because of this, the Pacers' home stadium, the Bankers Life Arena, was occupied by Spurs fans today.

"Greg, congratulations." As a person with a detached position in the league, Larry Bird, who once belonged to his own era, has some regrets at this moment, but he still maintains his legendary demeanor and has come to the In front of Popovich, he congratulated his opponent.

"Thank you, Larry, your team is also great." Popovich, who was excited because of the defending championship, recovered immediately when he saw Larry Bird walking towards him. calm.In Popovich's heart, he still respects Larry Bird very much. Let alone Larry Bird's career as a player, it is just the changes that have taken place in the Pacers after Larry Bird took over the Pacers. Enough to be respected.

Before Larry Bird took over the Pacers, the Pacers' best record was the season when they reached the Eastern Conference Finals in the 9394 season and were eliminated by the Knicks.And since that season, the Pacers have fallen into a sinking situation, stopping the first round of the playoffs for many years in a row, and even failed to enter the playoffs in the 9697 season. The player's worst record in the regular season is No. 3 in the Eastern Conference, and the playoffs are guaranteed to enter the Eastern Conference Finals. Such a heaven-defying ability to lead the team is something that Popovich thinks he can't do, and this time the Pacers The loss to the Spurs was mainly due to the lack of strength of the Pacers. Larry Bird's performance throughout the series was good enough.

"Greg, have you considered my suggestion?" Patting each other on the shoulder, Larry Bird looked at Popovich sincerely.

"Larry, this is impossible. I will not let either Meng or Tim leave the Spurs." Popovich also replied to Larry Bird with a serious face.

"Greg, don't kid yourself. Meng and Tim can't do what Irvin and Kareem do, and the Spurs' salary space will not allow two superstars in the team." Larry Bird After a slight pause: "Perhaps you will suffer even more by the end of next season."

Looking at Larry Bird who turned and left, Popovich also had an incredible expression on his face. It felt as if all the thoughts in his heart had been seen through. How did Larry Bird know that he wanted to put Meng Did Xu and Duncan form a combination like Magician and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?
The same salary space is also something that Popovich has been worried about. Tim Duncan's contract expires this season. In any case, the Spurs will offer a maximum salary to keep him. The average annual salary of the contract needs to be at least 1200 million. Similarly, Avery Johnson's contract will expire this season. He also needs a contract with an average salary of about 500 million.And next season, Sean Elliott's annual salary is 530 million, David Robinson's annual salary is 1470 million, and Mario Elli's annual salary is 300 million. The salary of these 5 people alone is already close to the salary cap, let alone the rest of the other players. Yes, and the Spurs still need to strengthen the inside line.Originally, Popovich's plan was to trade one of Mario Elli and Sean Elliott after the end of this season to free up salary space, but the outstanding performance of these two veterans in the playoffs The performance made Popovich a little bit reluctant.When Meng Xu's contract expires next season, according to Meng Xu's performance this season, he needs at least 800 million annual salary, but how can the Spurs have the money to renew him?Similarly, if Meng Xu's contract is really renewed, just Meng Xu, Duncan and David Robinson will account for more than half of the salary cap, and the remaining 3 players can only sign the basic salary. Povich couldn't help scratching his increasingly thinning hair. Why didn't he sign a three-year contract with Meng Xu, even a 12+3 contract would be fine.

"Even if it's painful, I want to achieve the most brilliant career before the pain." Thinking of the brilliant future the team may face, Popovich let go of his inner entanglements, and at worst persuade David Robinson to sign A basic salary, although the current thinking of the team management is that, as the banner of the Spurs, even if it is David Robinson's last contract, the Spurs must retain the dignity he deserves, at least an annual salary of tens of millions contract, but now for the future of the team, Popovich has reason to believe that David Robinson will choose to cut his salary.As for the rest of the team's high-paid players, once the Spurs achieve three consecutive championships next season, they will be traded out in exchange for draft picks. The team will start rebuilding around Duncan and Meng Xu ahead of schedule. Popovich has reason to believe that even with difficulties , It is only temporary, and there is no shortage of players in this league who hug their thighs for the championship ring.

But at this moment, Reggie Miller, who was lying on the hospital bed, was in a different mood. His first trip to the finals ended like this?Watching Tim Duncan lift the championship trophy at the home court of the Pacers, the trophy he dreamed of, Reggie Miller could no longer control his emotions, and tears rolled down his face. "Is it over like this?" Reggie Miller had imagined countless times what his first finals and first championship would be like, but when such a bitter result was in front of him, the always strong Ray Jimmy Le was actually a little unbearable.

"Congratulations to the San Antonio Spurs. Congratulations to them for defending the NBA championship this season and becoming another team in the history of the NBA that has won two championships. This is a miracle for the entire American professional league. The San Antonio Spurs and their players , will also be recorded in the annals of the entire American professional league."

When the Spurs players ended their unbridled celebrations, everyone put on the costumes that symbolized the championship and stood in the center of the Bankers Life Arena. The Ray O'Brien Cup was handed over to Tim Duncan. As a result, Duncan, who held the championship trophy, lifted the trophy high above his head.

What followed was a tsunami of applause and cheers erupting from the entire stadium, and Meng Xu, who won the championship with the team as a main player in his rookie season, received the championship trophy from his teammates , also shouted the slogan that we are the champions with great excitement, and then, surrounded by teammates, raised the trophy above his head.

　Thank you Silent Xiaobai. . .tipping
　　
　
(End of this chapter)