Idiot

Celtics Training Facility:

"Everyone, gather around," Assistant Coach Jack called. The players stopped what they were doing and hurried over.

"Who's that?"

"Could he be our new coach?"

"I know who he is. He's the Orlando Magic's head coach, but he got fired back in November."

The players immediately noticed Doc Rivers standing beside Assistant Coach Jack and began whispering among themselves.

Doc Rivers?

Paul Pierce was a little unhappy about it. Danny Ainge had actually brought in the head coach of the Eastern Conference's worst team. What was he thinking!

Paul Pierce wanted to storm into Danny Ainge's office and confront him right away, but he held himself back.

The players' comments reached Doc Rivers' ears, but he didn't take them to heart. He'd been prepared to face gossip and criticism before he came.

It was only natural. He'd only recently been fired, after leading the Orlando Magic to a last-place finish.

In fact, Doc Rivers wasn't a bad coach. He'd begun serving as head coach of the Orlando Magic in the 1999–2000 season.

That season, Doc Rivers led a team many had predicted would finish last. Four of the Orlando Magic's five starters had never been drafted by an NBA team, yet they finished with a 41–41 record and ranked ninth in the Eastern Conference. Doc Rivers was named Coach of the Year, becoming the fifth coach in NBA history to receive the honor in his first season.

Over the next three seasons, Doc Rivers led the Orlando Magic to the playoffs each year, only to be eliminated in the first round every time. Then, this season, they opened with a 1–10 record.

The Orlando Magic's management acted immediately and fired Doc Rivers!

Afterward, Doc Rivers accepted Danny Ainge's offer to join the Boston Celtics, becoming the team's 16th head coach.

With a smile, Doc Rivers surveyed the players and said, "Hello, everyone. I'm Doc Rivers, your new head coach. I hope we can work hard together and make the playoffs."

As soon as Doc Rivers finished speaking, Assistant Coach Jack immediately led the applause. Seeing him clap, the players followed suit.

"Thank you. Let's get started. I want to get a good look at what you can do, so we'll have an intra-squad game: starters versus reserves."

The players stared at him, stunned. They were starting already?

They struggled to keep up with Doc Rivers' pace, but Assistant Coach Jack soon hurried them along, and they began getting ready.

"Jack, I really appreciate your help," Doc Rivers said.

"No problem. I hope the team can get back on track under your leadership," Assistant Coach Jack replied.

Once upon a time, Assistant Coach Jack had been a member of the Boston Celtics, though he'd barely seen any playing time. When his playing career ended, he joined the team as an assistant coach. This was now his tenth year.

Assistant Coach Jack had done everything he could to help the head coach restore the Boston Celtics to their former glory. Unfortunately, they hadn't even come close—not even a glimpse of it.

"Don't worry. I'll do everything I can!" To be honest, after the Orlando Magic had fired him, Doc Rivers had been seething. He was determined to prove that the Magic's management were a bunch of pigs.

They'd only gotten off to a bad start, and they'd fired him for it. This was just—

Soon, the intra-squad game began.

Right from the start, Paul Pierce played like a man possessed, attacking relentlessly and scoring again and again for the starters.

The reserve team scored too, thanks to their teamwork.

But as time went on, the reserves began to run out of steam. The gap widened steadily, eventually reaching a terrifying twenty points.

"Whistle!" Doc Rivers blew the play dead and ended the game early.

With the score already so lopsided, there was no point continuing.

"That's it? I haven't even gotten to show what I can do."

The starters were still hungry for more.

"Don't worry, we're not done yet!" Doc Rivers pointed to the five reserves who hadn't played.

"It's your turn. Let's see what you can do."

Doc Rivers wanted to get a full picture of every player on the team, even those who usually sat at the end of the bench.

"Haha, finally our turn!"

"Let's go! Show them what we've got!"

"They just finished playing. They must be more tired than us."

Before the second reserve squad could finish celebrating, Doc Rivers said, "You'll start in thirty minutes."

The second reserve squad: "..."

Except for Goodwin, their faces instantly went from bright to gloomy.

"Hahahahaha!" "Hahahaha!" ... The starters laughed until they could barely contain themselves at the sight of the second reserve squad.

Trying to catch us off guard? No chance!

Goodwin didn't join them. Instead, he quietly walked onto the court and began warming up.

He picked up a ball from the floor, sighted the basket, jumped, hung in the air, and released.

The ball traced a beautiful arc through the air.

"Swish." It dropped cleanly through the net.

Goodwin immediately ran to where the ball had landed, picked it up, jumped, lined up the basket in midair, and flicked his wrist.

"Swish." The ball dropped through the net again.

Over and over, Goodwin made all fifteen of his shots. The display caught Doc Rivers' attention.

"Jack, who's that?" Doc Rivers asked. He honestly couldn't recall Goodwin, even with his handsome looks.

In the NBA, without skill, nothing else mattered.

Assistant Coach Jack's lips curled slightly as he replied, "His name's Goodwin. He's a rookie this season. Doc, did you happen to watch the 2003 NCAA final?"

"Of course. I heard Kansas sent a player onto the court in the final moments, and he hit a game-tying three. Then he made three more in overtime, helping the University of Kansas win the NCAA championship," Doc Rivers said at length.

At the time, Doc Rivers had been preparing for the playoffs and hadn't been able to watch the NCAA final. He'd only heard about it from a friend afterward. The game had sounded so exciting that he regretted not seeing it live.

"That player is Goodwin." Assistant Coach Jack pointed to him on the court.

What? That's him!

Doc Rivers paused. He remembered reviewing the Boston Celtics' game footage and records from the past two seasons, but he hadn't seen any trace of Goodwin.

"Then why hasn't he played? Is he injured?" Doc Rivers asked in confusion.

Assistant Coach Jack shook his head. "Coach John didn't really like him, so..." Jack gave him a look that said the rest was obvious.

Doc Rivers hadn't expected that. He cursed inwardly: Idiot!

Far away, John Carroll suddenly sneezed.