Starting lineup:
Point Guard (PG) | Gary Payton, Height: 1.93 meters, Age: 29, Jersey Number: 20.
Shooting Guard (SG/SF) | Eddie Jones, Height: 1.98m, Age: 25, Jersey Number: 7.
Small Forward (SF/PF) | Robert Horry, Height: 2.08 meters, Age: 27. Jersey Number: 8.
Power Forward (PF/SF) | Kevin Garnett, Height: 2.11 meters, Age: 21, Jersey Number: 5.
Center (C) | Dikembe Mutombo, Height: 2.18 meters, Age: 31. Jersey Number: 55.
Second lineup:
Point Guard (PG) | Chauncey Billups Billups, Height: 1.91 meters, Age: 21. Jersey: 4.
Shooting Guard (SG/SF) | Ron Mercer, Height: 2.01 meters, Age: 21, Jersey Number: 30.
Swingman (SG/SF) | Tracy McGrady, Height: 2.03 meters, Age: 18, Jersey Number: 9.
Forward/Swingman (PF/SF) | Wall McCarty, Height: 2.08 meters, Age: 23, Jersey Number: 0.
Center (PF/C) | P.J. Brown, Height: 2.11 meters, Age: 27, Jersey Number: 93.
Third unit and role players:
Combo Guard (PG/SG) | Derrick Anderson, Height: 1.96 meters, Age: 23, Jersey Number: 26.
Combo Guard (PG/SG) | Tony Delk, Height: 1.85m, Age: 23, Jersey Number: 28.
Swingman (SF/SG) | Bruce Bowen, Height: 2.01 meters, Age: 26, Jersey Number: 27.
Forward/Swingman (SF/PF) | Bo Outlaw, Height: 2.03 meters, Age: 26, Jersey Number: 45.
Power Forward (PF/C) | Ben Wallace, Height: 2.06 meters, Age: 23, Jersey Number: 12.
When the lineup was written on the whiteboard, the chief scout standing behind him subconsciously gasped.
The assistant, who was about to hand over the player's medical report, froze in mid-air.
This is a lineup that's suffocating on paper.
But Lin Qi stared at the whiteboard, his right hand unconsciously fiddling with the plastic pen cap, his fingertips rubbing back and forth on the rough edge. There was no trace of barely suppressed elation on his face, and his eyes were as deep as a stagnant pool.
Because he knew better than anyone what he had personally dismantled in order to put those five defensive monsters together.
Over the past two seasons, his core team-building logic has never been simply about piling up talent in the free market.
It's not about compatibility, it's about a chemical reaction.
Every role player knows where to stand on the floor when they step onto the court, whether to shoot with the third or fifth second remaining, and at what angle to comfortably feed the ball to the more reliable player.
Last season, Boston's ability to make a comeback and reach the Eastern Conference Finals was not only due to the defense of their starters, but also to their bench depth, which could grind down any opponent.
Mark Price can stabilize the situation on the court with the most textbook rhythm; Chris Mullin, standing beyond the three-point line, is like a threatening artillery platform, able to punish opponents for even the slightest retreat with his shots; Michael Finley, on the other hand, is like a tireless bomber, repeatedly attacking the rim with his body during transition periods...
Even Steve Nash, who was a fresh start in the league and often a liability on defense for the veterans, has shown masterful flair on some nights, using his no-look passes to seamlessly connect the second unit.
That was a rotation system that Lin Qi spent an entire season working on, staying up late in the video room until his eyes were red and swollen, to perfect.
And now, he has smashed all of these things to pieces with a single hammer blow.
Mullin donned an Indiana Pacers jersey; Price, Finley, Sam Cassell, and Nash were probably already on a flight to Seattle.
Lin Qi's gaze shifted to the roster next to the whiteboard, his finger tracing over the crossed-out names.
What made him pause, and even caused his pen nib to leave a huge ink blot on the paper, was Nash.
Lin Qi leaned back in his office chair and rubbed his throbbing temples.
Only he, the time traveler, knew what kind of basketball world, ahead of its time, was hidden in the mind of that Canada guard who seemed to be on the verge of collapse even in physical confrontations and could be easily targeted by opponents on the defensive end. He knew that kid would later win two regular season MVPs and become a pioneering Son of the Wind basketball.
Knowing this, when he saw the name " Steve Nash " on the final trade confirmation document, his pen hovered in mid-air for a full minute.
In the end, however, he signed the document without any expression.
Lin Qi had to give them an offer they simply couldn't refuse. In this ruthless business world where only the winner takes all, there are never many win-win situations.
Seattle's management team isn't some fool running a charity. For a team forced to rebuild, Nash, a young point guard with an extremely low rookie contract, exceptionally high tactical intelligence, and whose potential hadn't yet been fully exploited by the league's mainstream, was one of the key reasons they were willing to sign him to a trade contract.
Lin Qi was reluctant, but he had to close his eyes and cut off his own flesh.
This summer, Boston no longer has the luxury of leisurely waiting for a seed to slowly sprout, blossom, and bear fruit.
In order to clear salary cap space, Derrick McGee was handed over to the Los Angeles Clippers by Lin Qi without hesitation, before he even had a chance to settle down in Boston. He was given two future second-round draft picks as compensation.
This is a lineup that looks incredibly luxurious on paper and could score full marks in the game, but is extremely unbalanced in reality.
It not only requires extremely high break-in costs, but also poses a huge safety hazard in the locker room.
This roster has a truly high ceiling, high enough to make Chicago Bulls general manager Jerry Krause anxious and sleepless.
However, its floor is also frighteningly low. The young players are inconsistent in form, the ball possession is unevenly distributed, and these talented players are all arrogant. If they are not careful, the team will be dragged into a losing streak.
Even more devastatingly, the final piece Lin Qi presented to head coach Rick Pitino was Gary Payton.
Looking solely at the core players on the field, Gary Payton is practically perfect. He has a tough playing style, is extremely fast, and when defending, he's like a mad dog, relentlessly harassing his opponent and bringing Pitino's "full-court press" tactic to its fullest potential.
But he is by no means an obedient player.
When he was with the Supersonics, he dared to stand in front of the bench during a regular season timeout and yell insults at head coach George Carl.
Even after losing a game, he dared to publicly criticize the management at the press conference. He's definitely not the kind of obedient student who would obediently follow the coach's tactics and run the 24-second timer.
He is like a ball of fire.
If used properly, this fire could burn the Chicago Bulls to a crisp.
If not handled properly, he could set the Celtics ' own locker room ablaze before even meeting Michael Jordan.
Lin Qi stood in front of the whiteboard, looking at the brand-new list of 15 people, his fingertips rhythmically tapping the table, making a dull sound.
Despite the criticism from the entire American media and the pressure from management, he has already set the stage for winning the championship.
Pitino had requested all the people he wanted, and he delivered them to him without missing a single one, using the most extreme trading methods.
Next, it's time for this renowned coach, who once dominated the college league and was known for his pride and arrogance, to prove himself to the discerning Boston fans.
Does he truly possess the skill to steer this machine, packed with explosives and poised to go out of control at any moment, or will he be blasted into cannon fodder by this group of extreme, rebellious, and talented individuals during the regular season of the new season?