February 17, Boston, Celtics president's office.
At 10 a. m., Lin Qi was reviewing the scouting report for the next game against the Detroit Pistons.
The door was pushed open without warning.
Head coach Rick Carlisle walked in. He looked even more haggard than when he had been scolded by himself after the winning streak ended, and there was even a rare hint of exhaustion and despair in his eyes.
" Rick?" Lin Qi put down the report, frowning. "What's wrong? Did someone get injured during training?"
"No." Rick Carlisle pulled out a chair, sat down heavily, and sighed deeply. "Lin, I can handle the tactical problems, but this matter requires your intervention. I'm going crazy."
"Who?"
" Jackie Doc Doug Christie's wife."
Upon hearing this name, Lin Qi felt a sudden throbbing in his temples.
"What did she do this time?" Lin Qi rubbed his temples.
"She cornered me in the parking lot," Rick Carlisle recounted the morning's events with a blank expression. "She demanded that I immediately adjust our tactics, adding more one-on-one plays for Doc and elevating his tactical role. She insisted that Doc must attempt at least 15 shots per game."
"What's the reason?"
"Her exact words were..." Rick Carlisle took a deep breath, mimicking Jackie's aggressive tone, "'Last year, Lin Qi spoke up for Eddie Jones, saying that Eddie sacrificed his stats for the team and that he definitely had All-Star potential. And what happened? This year, Eddie went to the Sacramento Kings, not only putting up impressive stats but also making the Western All-Stars starting lineup! My husband Doc, is now a better defender than Eddie, and he's also sacrificing for the team! He deserves to be an All-Star too!'"
This season, Eddie Jones has experienced a transformative breakout with the Sacramento Kings, averaging 22 points, 4 assists, and 2.8 steals per game. His presence is felt throughout the game, from scoring to perimeter defense. Compared to his lackluster performance last season, averaging just over 10 points per game, this near doubling of his stats has truly astonished those unfamiliar with him. With this phenomenal play, he is now the leading candidate for this season's Most Improved Player award.
Rick Carlisle paused, looking at Lin Qi: "She concluded by saying that if we don't give Doc a tactical role that matches his abilities, they absolutely will not renew his contract with Boston when it expires this summer."
Lin Qi leaned back in his chair and fell completely silent.
Her logic was surprisingly sound. She even knew how to use Lin Qi's strong support for Eddie Jones from last year as leverage.
The problem is that Doc Doug Christie and Eddie Jones are fundamentally different types of players. Doug Christie is an exceptional 3-and-D player, the Celtics ' first line of defense on the perimeter. While he does have one-on-one ability, it's limited to opportunistic plays; he lacks the ability to forcefully break through defenses with his dribble. Allowing him to engage in numerous isolation plays would not only destroy the team's existing chemistry but also expose his weaknesses.
But more than tactical issues, what troubled Lin Qi more was Jackie herself.
Since trading Doug Christie to Boston, Lin Qi has truly experienced the terrifying controlling nature of this "fierce wife" in NBA history.
To appease her, Lin Qi had already made significant concessions.
Because Jackie absolutely hated Doc showering with the other naked teammates, and even refused to wait outside the locker room with the other players' families, Lin Qi readily obliged, having a storage room vacated and renovated to create a separate single locker room for Doug Christie's exclusive use.
Lin Qi is even planning to build a new, modern training facility, partly because Doug Christie mentioned his wife complained that the Celtics ' training facility was too run-down.
Just last week, Jackie barged into the team's closed training session without an appointment. Not only did she sit casually on the sidelines, watching the game, but she also yelled at the players while Artest and Doug Christie were having a normal intra-team physical match, almost interrupting the training.
In a regular game, every time Doug Christie makes a basket, he must immediately turn to Jackie in the stands and make an "I love you" gesture with both hands. According to the on-site director, Doug Christie made this gesture more than 10 times in the previous game against the Raptors.
Lin Qi looked at a medical bill on the table.
That was the bill for the top psychiatrist he had hired from New York for Ron Artest, who cost a fortune.
After seeing three different psychologists, Artest, the beast from the Queensbridge slums whose mind was always filled with a powder keg, has shown significant improvement. In Chicago, Kobe pointed his finger at him and hurled such vulgar insults, yet Artest managed to hold back from throwing a punch—something unimaginable before.
A psychologist can cure Artest's irritability.
But no doctor in the world can cure Jackie Doug Christie's controlling nature.
" Rick, what is Doc's own attitude?" Lin Qi asked.
" Doc?" Rick Carlisle gave a wry smile. "On the field, Doc is a tough guy. But off the field, when Jackie talks to him, he's like a tamed lamb. He doesn't say a word, just stands behind his wife with his head down."
That's the most crucial point. Doug Christie is a perfect piece of the puzzle; he works tirelessly on the field, resolutely executes Rick Carlisle's defensive instructions, and never complains about possession. All the trouble was started by his wife, yet Doug Christie is completely obedient to her.
"I understand." Lin Qi stood up and put the Pistons scouting report into the file box.
"What are you going to do?" Rick Carlisle asked. "We can't afford to lose Doc's perimeter defense. In the playoffs against players like Kobe, Vince Carter, and McGrady, he and Bruce ( Bowen ) are our most important defensive resources."
"Of course I know. But locker room rules can't be broken." Lin Qi's eyes regained the coldness and decisiveness befitting a CEO.
"Tactics are your domain, Rick. You don't need to compromise for any player's family. Doc's tactical role cannot change at all. He continues to play his 3-and-D game and be a solid perimeter defender. If he insists on getting the ball and going one-on-one, take him out."
Rick Carlisle frowned. "What about Jackie...?"
"You go and lead the team in training. Dealing with other teams and players' families is my job." Lin Qi picked up his suit jacket from the hanger.
"Are you going to see her?"
"No," Lin Qi put on his coat and straightened his tie, "I can't go directly to her. That would mean the Celtics ' management is having tactical negotiations with a non-employee, which would completely destroy the team's bottom line."
Lin Qi opened the office door.
"I'm going to see Doc. I'll talk to him alone after practice. Want All-Star treatment? Fine. But he has to come to my office himself, look me in the eye, and say what he wants out loud."
Lin Qi looked at Rick Carlisle, his tone unwavering and firm. " The Boston Celtics can tolerate players' personalities and even build them single-person locker rooms. But this team's tactics and contract extensions will never be signed under the coercion of a woman."
"What if he doesn't renew his contract?" Rick Carlisle asked.
"If he doesn't even have control over his own career," Lin Qi answered without hesitation, "Then this team doesn't need another defender like him."
After saying that, Lin Qi strode out of the office, leaving Rick Carlisle standing there, letting out a long sigh of relief.