Idiot

Boston Celtics training facility:

"Come over and gather around," assistant coach Jack shouted. The players stopped what they were doing and ran over to assemble.

"Who is he?"

"Is he going to be our new coach?"

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

The players noticed Doc Rivers standing next to assistant coach Jack immediately, and they couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

Doc Rivers?

Paul Pierce was a bit dissatisfied with this. Danny Ainge had actually brought in a head coach who had been coaching the team with the worst record in the Eastern Conference; what on earth was he thinking!

Paul Pierce wanted to rush to Danny Ainge's office right then and there to confront him, but his reason held him back.

The players' whispers reached the ears of Doc Rivers, but he didn't take it to heart. He had prepared himself for gossip and rumors long before he arrived.

This was normal, after all; he had just been fired not long ago, and under his tenure, the Orlando Magic had finished with the worst record in the league.

In truth, Doc Rivers' coaching ability was not poor. In the 1999-2000 season, Doc Rivers began his tenure as the head coach of the Orlando Magic.

That season, Doc Rivers led a team that many had predicted would finish at the bottom—a squad where four of the five starters had never even been through the NBA draft—to an impressive 41-41 record, ranking ninth in the Eastern Conference. Doc Rivers was named the NBA Coach of the Year that season, becoming the fifth head coach in NBA history to earn the honor in his debut season.

Over the next three seasons, Doc Rivers led the Orlando Magic to the playoffs every year, though they were unfortunately eliminated in the first round each time, and they had started this current season with a dismal 1-10 record.

The Orlando Magic management acted immediately and fired Doc Rivers!

Afterward, Doc Rivers accepted an invitation from Danny Ainge to come to the Boston Celtics, becoming the 16th head coach in Boston Celtics history.

Doc Rivers wore a smile as he scanned the players and said, "Hello everyone, my name is Doc Rivers, and I am your new head coach. I hope that in the days to come, we can work hard together to break into the playoffs."

As soon as Doc Rivers finished speaking, assistant coach Jack took the lead in applauding, and seeing Jack clap, the players gave him the courtesy of following suit.

"Thank you. Now, let's get started. I want to get a good look at your strengths, so let's have an intra-squad scrimmage: starters versus reserves."

The players were stunned. We're starting already?

The players couldn't quite keep up with Doc Rivers' pace, but under the urging of assistant coach Jack, they quickly began to prepare.

"Jack, thank you very much," Doc Rivers said, expressing his gratitude.

"You're welcome. I also 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 only as a benchwarmer. After his playing career ended, he came to the Boston Celtics to work as an assistant coach, a position he had held for ten years now.

Assistant coach Jack had done everything in his power to help the head coaches, hoping to see the Boston Celtics return to their peak, but unfortunately, they couldn't even see a shadow of that former glory, let alone return to it.

"Don't worry, I will do everything in my power!" To be honest, after being fired by the Orlando Magic, Doc Rivers had a fire burning in his gut. He was determined to prove that the Orlando Magic management were nothing but a bunch of fools.

Just because of a poor start to the season, they had fired him—this, this, this...

Soon, the scrimmage began.

Right from the start, Paul Pierce played as if he had taken some kind of stimulant, playing with extreme aggression and frequently helping the starters score.

The reserve team also managed to put points on the board through team play.

However, as time passed, the reserve team couldn't keep up, and the point gap gradually widened, eventually reaching a staggering 20 points.

"Beep!" Seeing this, Doc Rivers ended the game early.

The game had already reached this point; there was no need to continue.

"It's over already? I haven't even gotten into a rhythm yet."

The starters were still eager for more.

"Don't worry, it's not over yet!" As soon as Doc Rivers finished speaking, he pointed to the five reserves who hadn't played yet, including Goodwin.

"It's your turn now. Let me see what you're capable of."

Doc Rivers wanted to understand every single player on the team comprehensively, even the benchwarmers.

"Hahaha, it's our turn."

"Let's go, let's show them what we've got."

"They just finished playing; their stamina definitely won't be as good as ours."

Before the second reserve team could finish their excitement, Doc Rivers said, "We start in 30 minutes."

The second reserve team: "..."

Except for Goodwin, their expressions immediately turned from sunny to stormy.

"Hahahahahaha." "Hahahahaha." ... The starters laughed uncontrollably as they watched the expressions of the second reserve team.

Trying to take advantage of the situation? No way!

Goodwin didn't join them, but instead walked silently onto the court and began to warm up.

He picked up a ball from the floor, aimed at the hoop, jumped, hung in the air, and released the shot.

The ball traced a graceful arc through the air.

"Swish." With a crisp sound, the ball settled steadily into the embrace of the hoop.

Immediately, Goodwin hurried toward where the ball had landed, picked it up, jumped, aimed at the rim in mid-air, and flicked his wrist.

"Swish." With another crisp sound, the ball once again dropped into the embrace of the hoop.

Repeating the cycle, Goodwin hit 15 out of 15 shots, which inevitably caught the attention of Doc Rivers.

Doc Rivers couldn't help but ask, "Jack, who is he?" Doc Rivers truly had no impression of Goodwin, even with his handsome appearance.

In the NBA, without talent, everything else is for nothing.

Assistant coach Jack curled the corners of his mouth upward and replied, "His name is Goodwin, he's a rookie this season. I don't know if you followed the 2003 NCAA finals, Doc."

"Of course I did. I heard that the University of Kansas sent in a player at the last moment, and that player hit a game-tying three-pointer, and even hit consecutive three-pointers in overtime, single-handedly helping the University of Kansas win the NCAA championship," Doc Rivers said enthusiastically.

At the time, Doc Rivers was preparing for the playoffs and hadn't been able to watch the NCAA finals at all. It was only after it ended and he heard from friends that he realized the NCAA final had been so thrilling, and he felt a bit of regret for not seeing it live.

"That player is Goodwin," assistant coach Jack said, pointing toward Goodwin on the court.

What? It's him!

Doc Rivers was stunned for a moment, his mind involuntarily flashing back to the team data and game footage of the Boston Celtics from the past two months, yet there was no trace of Goodwin anywhere.

"Then why hasn't he played? Is he injured?" Doc Rivers asked, puzzled.

Assistant coach Jack shook his head and said, "Coach John didn't really like him before, so..." Jack made a gesture as if to say you understand.

Doc Rivers hadn't expected it to be like this, and he couldn't help but curse in his heart: Idiot!

Far away, John Carroll couldn't help but sneeze.