In April, the spring breeze in Boston already carried a hint of warmth.
In the president's office at the New Garden, Lin Qi was flipping through a thick stack of scouting reports and medical monitoring data.
With less than three weeks remaining in the regular season, the Boston Celtics, with a record of 54 wins and 16 losses, have not only secured the Eastern Conference spot in the Eastern Conference but also firmly hold the top position in the entire league. Compared to the chaotic and fiercely contested Western Conference: the Sacramento Kings (50 wins and 20 losses), Lakers (49 wins and 21 losses), Mavericks (48 wins and 22 losses), Spurs (47 wins and 23 losses), and the Magic (44 wins and 26 losses), who are far behind in the second-place team in the Eastern Conference, Boston's record advantage is overwhelming.
After a painful 3-4 run in early March, the team's chemistry quickly returned to normal under Rick Carlisle's patient adjustments.
The most crucial element in this process was Grant Hill's complete integration.
Throughout the 15 games he played in March, Hill's statistics presented an extremely strange yet perfectly reasonable curve.
In his first five games back, he struggled immensely, averaging 14 field goal attempts but managing only a paltry 11 points with a dismal shooting percentage. However, after that Late Night practice and heart-to-heart talk, in the following ten games, his field goal attempts dropped significantly to 9, while his scoring remained remarkably efficient at around 14.5 points. More importantly, he averaged 5.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game, and his corner catch-and-shoot three-point percentage was an astonishing 37.2%.
The Boston media stopped mocking him and instead exclaimed in surprise: The Celtics not only have two young stars, but they have also suddenly gained a top-notch "point forward" who can switch on defense endlessly at the small forward position and possesses top-notch basketball IQ.
But Lin Qi, sitting in his boss's chair, had a different set of thoughts on these high-level data.
"Knock knock knock..."
A knock sounded at the door, and physical rehabilitation expert Mark Verstegen walked in, holding a newly released biomechanical monitoring report.
"Boss, you wanted to see me?" Mark pulled out a chair and sat down.
" Hill played a full month, what's his physical condition like?" Lin Qi put down the scouting report in his hand and went straight to the point, "Tell me the truth. Don't be like Rick Carlisle, trying to appease Hill with those nice words."
Mark adjusted his glasses, his expression becoming extremely professional and serious.
"The bone healing has been perfect. After playing 15 high-intensity games last month, his ankle showed no redness or effusion, and even minimal fatigue soreness." Mark pointed to the data on the report, his tone filled with pride. "He's absolutely healthy enough to play the rest of the regular season, and then the intense playoffs."
"Good news," Lin Qi nodded. "And the bad news?"
"The bad news is that the 'sluggishness' he felt during that Late Night training session in early March is irreversible."
Mark sighed, a hint of medical helplessness in his voice. "Boss, we spent a year and a half rebuilding his entire lower limb kinetic chain using core and gluteal strength. But this wasn't just for protection; it was also because... his left ankle, which had been broken, had pins inserted and removed, and suffered minor cartilage damage, could no longer withstand the kind of force he used to exert."
Lin Qi listened in silence.
"Coach Rick Carlisle that day, to encourage him, that his first step was still among the top five in the league, even faster than Kobe's." Mark gave a wry smile. "As a locker room motivational tactic, that was perfect. But as a medical fact, it was a huge exaggeration."
Mark turned to the second page of the report and pointed to the graphs of ground contact time and peak power.
"Real biomechanical data doesn't lie. His current breakout initiation time is longer than before the injury, and his ankle's peak power has decreased by 12%," Mark gave the final diagnosis. "Simply put, Hill's brain is now forcing his 'hip' to carry his 'ankle'. In the final moment of initiation, his nervous system subconsciously issues an extremely small 'braking protection command'."
"So," Lin Qi leaned back in his chair, his voice calm, "What did he actually lose?"
"He's lost a bit of explosiveness, maybe 5% if you have to quantify it," Mark said. "For an average player, losing 5% isn't a big deal. But for a player like Hill who relies on his phenomenal first step, that 5% is precisely the overflow of talent that once allowed him to 'surpass the elite level.' He's no longer the monster with a first step that's been legendary in the league, or even in history. Iverson, Steve Francis, Baron Davis... even McGrady now, are actually a bit faster than him in terms of pure acceleration."
Lin Qi closed his eyes, and the video footage of Hill's recent games flashed through his mind.
He had actually seen it long ago. The current Hill can still easily get past most ordinary wing defenders in the league by using his rhythm. But once he faces a top player with extremely strong defense (you can see this in team training, after all, most of the league's top wing defensive players are with the Celtics ), it is difficult for him to overwhelm his opponent with a single acceleration like he did with the Pistons. Now, his dribbling relies more on rhythm, lowering his center of gravity, and his quick stop after the first step, as well as his passing vision.
"In other words, if we don't count those small, slippery guards," Lin Qi opened his eyes and gave his assessment, "Considering only forwards, his current starting speed is still among the top three in the league. But if we compare him to all positions in the league, he'd probably only rank in the top ten?"
"A very accurate assessment." Mark nodded.
Lin Qi remained silent.
This advanced comprehensive rehabilitation program, coupled with hundreds of thousands of three-point shooting drills, truly saved Hill from the "glass man" situation he was in real history, where he could only play 14 games and was on the verge of retirement.
Medicine changed Hill's fate, but it could not overcome the physical limits of the human body itself.
Grant Hill remains a top-tier wing player capable of playing 70 to 80 games a season while healthy, and shouldering offensive and defensive responsibilities in the playoffs. If he were on a weak team with him as the absolute core and unlimited shooting opportunities, his newly developed three-point shot could definitely bring his average points per game back to over 25.
Before LeBron James, that high school student, actually entered the league, Hill was undoubtedly the best point forward in the league. Even in the first few years after LeBron entered the league, before that prodigy's skills were fully mature, the well-rounded and experienced Hill would definitely have the upper hand in terms of positive impact on the game.
His current actual strength is probably at the level of the league's All-NBA Team Second or Third Team. For the Celtics, who are aiming for the championship, that's enough.
"I understand, Mark." Lin Qi closed the report, leaning back in his chair with satisfaction. "You did a great job. In the upcoming playoffs, keep an eye on his playing time and keep it under 30 minutes."
"Understood, boss."