Recaps

Five Celtics All-Stars turned the exhibition into a fierce comeback win, then exchanged a challenge with Kobe Bryant before heading to Chicago. The chapter left them preparing to face Kobe and the Bulls two days later.

• On the flight to Washington, Gary Payton urged the Celtics to avoid distractions, while Kevin Garnett studied tape of the Bulls and Kobe Bryant.
• At All-Star media day, Paul Pierce defended his selection, Ben Wallace dismissed the exhibition questions, and Garnett vowed the Celtics would keep fighting for a third straight title.
• With the East trailing by 21 points in the fourth quarter, Larry Brown sent Gary Payton, Kobe, Paul Pierce, KG, and Big Ben onto the court to raise the defensive intensity.
• Ben Wallace and Garnett disrupted Shaquille O'Neal inside, while Kobe and Garnett led the East to a 111-110 comeback victory; Kobe won the MVP award.
• After the game, Kobe challenged Pierce and Garnett about their defense ahead of the Chicago matchup, and Pierce said the Celtics had barely broken a sweat.

Kobe Bryant tried to beat the Celtics alone in Chicago, forcing difficult shots as the Celtics’ balanced offense built a blowout lead. After a heated confrontation with Ron Artest, Kobe left the United Center alone following an inefficient 33-point performance.

• Kobe opened the game by making a contested three and continued taking nearly every Bulls shot without passing to his teammates.
• Kobe ignored Elton Brand’s call for the ball and forced a missed fadeaway against Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.
• The Celtics’ starters and then their deep bench widened the lead beyond twenty points while Kobe refused to leave the court.
• Ron Artest physically harassed Kobe, and Kobe shoved him after Artest pinched his lower back; Artest lunged at Kobe but was restrained by Rasheed Wallace, Brad Miller, and Chauncey Billups.
• The referee assessed technical fouls to Kobe and Artest, and the Celtics finished an easy road blowout without a handshake.
• Kobe left for the tunnel after recording 33 points on 12-for-32 shooting, four rebounds, and one assist, while Lin Qi watched him go alone.

Rick Carlisle promoted rookie Michael Redd into the Celtics’ regular rotation, and Redd’s scoring helped Boston beat Toronto 105-96. His emergence strengthened the second unit and left Boston better equipped to manage its stars’ minutes through the regular season.

• Rick Carlisle and David Blatt reviewed Michael Redd’s performance against Chicago, and Carlisle decided to put him in the rotation against Toronto.
• Rick Carlisle sent Redd into the first quarter against Toronto, where Redd made two quick three-pointers.
• Michael Redd faked out Vince Carter and scored a left-handed layup over the Raptors’ help defense.
• Redd scored 22 points in 28 minutes as the Celtics defeated the Raptors 105-96.
• Rick Carlisle praised Redd’s readiness at the postgame press conference, while Boston media hailed his breakout performance.
• Lin Qi reviewed the team’s statistics and found that Redd’s role had improved the second unit while the Celtics kept key players’ minutes under control.

Lin Qi faced Jackie Christie's demand that Doug Christie receive more isolation plays and at least fifteen shots per game, despite the damage it would do to the Celtics' tactics. He refused to negotiate with Jackie and planned to confront Doug directly after practice, leaving the team's strategy unchanged.

• Rick Carlisle told Lin Qi that Jackie Christie had demanded a larger offensive role for Doug and threatened that they would not re-sign with Boston if the team refused.
• Lin Qi recalled the accommodations he had already made for Jackie, including arranging a private locker room for Doug, and recognized that Doug himself had not spoken up.
• Lin Qi told Carlisle to keep Doug in his 3-and-D role and remove him from games if he demanded isolation plays.
• Lin Qi said he would speak to Doug alone after practice and require him to make any request for All-Star treatment himself.

The Celtics beat the Pacers after Rick Carlisle tested Bruce Bowen in the starting rotation, and Lin Qi defended Carlisle’s authority when Jackie Christie confronted them over Doug Christie’s playing time. Lin Qi backed the rotation experiment and left Doug’s contract future uncertain.

• Rick Carlisle replaced Doug Christie with Bruce Bowen, whose defense and corner shooting helped the Celtics defeat the Pacers 102-91.
• After the game, Jackie Christie accused Carlisle of targeting Doug and threatened that Doug would refuse a contract extension unless his role improved.
• Lin Qi asked Doug whether he shared Jackie’s demands, but Doug stayed silent under her glare.
• Lin Qi rejected Jackie’s interference, affirmed Carlisle’s authority over playing time, and told her the Christies could leave Boston if they valued a bigger role elsewhere.
• Lin Qi told Carlisle to continue testing the rotation and questioned whether Doug could be trusted in a playoff Game 7 if he could not speak for himself.

Lin Qi traded Doug Christie to the Phoenix Suns in a three-team deal, ending the Celtics’ locker-room turmoil while acquiring a 2001 first-round pick. The trade marked Lin Qi’s first midseason move since taking over Boston in 1994, and he turned the team’s focus back to its three-peat attempt.

• Lin Qi rejected trade offers for Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, and Brad Miller while seeking a deal for Doug Christie.
• Lin Qi arranged a three-team trade sending Doug Christie to the Phoenix Suns, Corie Blount and Mario Elie to the Los Angeles Clippers, and Boston’s 2001 second-round pick to the Clippers in exchange for Phoenix’s 2001 first-round pick.
• The league approved the trade, and Rick Carlisle moved Bruce Bowen into the starting lineup, splitting the open rotation minutes between Michael Redd and Ron Artest.
• Rick Carlisle told Lin Qi that the Celtics’ locker room had accepted the trade calmly, and Lin Qi ordered the team to focus on basketball and the three-peat.

The Celtics defeated the 76ers 98-91 as Bruce Bowen helped contain Allen Iverson and hit a crucial late three-pointer. Lin Qi reviewed the game and wondered whether Boston had actually become stronger after trading Doug Christie.

• Bruce Bowen scored an early three and helped hold Iverson to 3-for-9 shooting in the first quarter as Boston took a 26-19 lead.
• Michael Redd and Chauncey Billups led the Celtics’ reserve offense, extending the halftime lead to 51-38.
• Iverson scored 14 points in the third quarter, cutting Philadelphia’s deficit to four.
• With the Celtics leading by three late in the fourth, Kevin Garnett blocked Iverson’s shot and Paul Pierce passed to Bowen for a decisive corner three.
• The Celtics beat the 76ers 98-91, and Lin Qi wondered whether the team had improved after the trade.

At a private dinner, Lin Qi told Beth Finneran how his parents lost their Chinatown restaurant to redevelopment and how that shaped his ruthless approach to business. He gave Beth an antique silver card case, and their growing attraction was interrupted when Margaret summoned him to leave.

• Beth told Lin Qi that the Brighton property handover and city council approval would proceed, and they discussed his victory over Jim Davis.
• Lin Qi recounted his immigrant parents' struggles, the loss of their restaurant through a rigged legal process, and his resolve to gain power and protect himself and others.
• Beth realized Lin Qi understood the contractors' desperation and had helped them partly because of what his parents had endured.
• Lin Qi gave Beth the antique silver business card case she had admired, and they flirted as she called him dangerous.
• Margaret knocked to remind Lin Qi of the time, and Beth left while Lin Qi remained alone and finished his wine.

On March 2, Lin Qi reviewed the EBA’s strong first-season finances and the progress of Celtics players sent to Europe. He redirected the scouts from NCAA prospects toward European talent, highlighting Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, and Mehmet Okur.

• Lin Qi read the EBA’s financial report and found that the league’s stable ratings had secured a $25 million offer for its second-year broadcast rights.
• Lin Qi reviewed how Stephen Jackson, Raja Bell, and Chris Andersen had improved in Europe under their coaches.
• Lin Qi brought European scouting reports to the Celtics’ video room and switched off two screens showing NCAA games.
• The scouts read evaluations of Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, and Mehmet Okur, and Lin Qi told them to prioritize European players.

After Lin Qi's Nasdaq short earned $4.5 billion, he established Lin Qi Capital and built a staffed, compliant hedge fund structure to manage $4 billion from twenty offshore companies. The fund began operating in Boston, with Lin Qi collecting management fees from the day he signed its partnership agreement.

• David Cohen reported that his dynamic position rolling had raised the short's net profit to $4.5 billion, and Lin Qi approved the result.
• Lin Qi Capital was registered in Delaware with Lin Qi as its sole owner, general partner, and fund manager.
• Lin Qi hired senior finance, compliance, and legal officers, along with analysts, traders, and operations staff.
• Lin Qi Capital opened its Boston office and accepted $4 billion from twenty offshore shell companies as limited partners.
• Lin Qi signed the final GP/LP agreement, starting the fund's annual management fees under the 2/20 structure.

At the Celtics' practice facility, the players watched ESPN debate whether Allen Iverson or a Boston star deserved the MVP, and Garnett confronted his frustration that the Celtics' success divided their votes. Gary Payton and Pierce reminded him to prioritize the championship, leaving Garnett focused on proving himself if Boston faced Philadelphia in the playoffs.

• ESPN's SportsCenter showed Iverson leading the MVP vote projections while Garnett, Pierce, and Gary Payton split Boston's support.
• Rasheed and Billups objected to commentators calling Boston's steady winning routine, and Garnett arrived to hear the debate.
• Garnett said he resented that Boston's 59-10 record and unselfish play counted against its players in MVP voting.
• Gary Payton told Garnett he cared about winning the championship and supported management campaigning for Garnett's MVP bid, while Pierce urged the team to pursue a three-peat.
• Garnett agreed to focus on the title and vowed to show what most valuable meant if Boston met Philadelphia in the playoffs.

Lin Qi used the Celtics’ MVP campaign for Kevin Garnett to turn the likely loss to Allen Iverson into motivation for the team’s three-peat. After Kobe Bryant vowed to win an MVP on his own terms, Rick Carlisle rallied Boston around the championship and challenged the players to teach Iverson a lesson.

• Lin Qi told Rick Carlisle that Boston would keep campaigning for Garnett, while using the team’s frustration over the MVP race to fuel its playoff focus.
• Iverson crumpled a newspaper suggesting Boston’s split votes were giving him the MVP and vowed to prove himself against the Celtics on March 27.
• Kobe Bryant brooded over the Bulls’ poor record and his dwindling MVP support, then vowed to win the award through his own efforts.
• Carlisle told the Celtics to put the MVP debate aside and focus on winning the championship.
• Carlisle reminded the Celtics that Iverson wanted to prove himself against them, and Garnett, Pierce, and Gary Payton responded with fighting spirit.

Boston overwhelmed Philadelphia in a heated game after Jermaine O'Neal Jr. was ejected for a flagrant foul, leaving Allen Iverson isolated against Boston's defense. Garnett led Boston to a 108-82 win and dismissed the debate over Iverson's scoring in his postgame interview.

• Jermaine O'Neal Jr. won the opening tip, and Boston took control with smooth offense while Philadelphia relied on Iverson and O'Neal Jr.'s post scoring.
• Rasheed Wallace and Garnett shut down O'Neal Jr., who grew frustrated and committed a flagrant foul that sparked a brawl and earned him an ejection.
• Boston intensified its defense after O'Neal Jr. left, and Garnett blocked Iverson before Payton scored on the fast break.
• Boston led 108-82 with six minutes left, and Rick Carlisle pulled the starters as the Celtics secured the win.
• Garnett finished with sixteen points, fourteen rebounds, eight assists, and four blocks, then told TNT he did not care about the scoring totals before joining Pierce and Payton.

Lin Qi unveiled Boston’s 120-acre Brighton Sports and Commercial Complex, including a state-of-the-art Celtics training facility and a sports medicine center. After promising the project would open in 2003, he privately discussed Beth Finneran’s new public profile and hinted that some things between them could not be rushed.

• Lin Qi revealed the Brighton Sports and Commercial Complex at a Celtics press conference and described its training facilities, family spaces, and sports medicine center.
• Lin Qi publicly thanked Beth Finneran and her legal team for helping secure the project’s land and move the plan forward.
• Lin Qi promised construction would begin early the following month and that the principal buildings would open in summer 2003.
• After the press conference, Beth questioned Lin Qi about spotlighting her and whether his medical-center plans were genuine; Lin Qi said they would help keep Boston’s players healthy and competitive.
• Lin Qi hinted to Beth that he wanted something else in Boston but said it could not be rushed, then invited her to dinner.

After team owners complained about Lin Qi's lavish Brighton Sports Complex, he explained to David Stern how its separate ownership and league-wide medical center avoided unfair competition. Stern agreed to defend the project at the owners' meeting.

• David Stern told Lin Qi that at least ten team owners had complained about the Brighton Sports Complex and feared it gave the Celtics an unfair advantage.
• Lin Qi said Lin Qi Capital owned the Brighton property and training facility, which the Celtics would lease at a reasonable rate.
• Lin Qi argued that the sports science and medical center would keep stars healthy and help the league secure valuable broadcast deals.
• Lin Qi revealed that the center would be an independent company open to players from every NBA team, with capped profits and reasonable prices.
• Stern said he would explain the plan to the owners and support Lin Qi at the meeting.

The Boston Celtics routed the New Jersey Nets in their final regular-season game, finishing with a league-best 69-13 record and a ten-game winning streak. The reserves impressed in the second half, and Rick Carlisle looked ahead to the playoffs beginning in Boston three days later.

• Garnett, Pierce, Gary Payton, Chris Paul, Ben, and Bruce Bowen built a 28-point lead before Rick Carlisle pulled them from the game.
• Chauncey Billups, Michael Redd, Ron Artest, Hedo Türkoğlu, and Wang Zhizhi extended Boston's lead with disciplined offense and defense.
• Lin Qi praised the reserves' depth and Wang Zhizhi's ability to draw opposing centers away from the basket.
• The Celtics beat the Nets 112-81, secured their tenth straight win, and finished the season 69-13, first in the league.
• Rick Carlisle told reporters, "See you in Boston in three days," as the playoffs approached.

On April 19, Lin Qi imposed a strict lockdown on the Boston Celtics to shield them from playoff distractions and focused the team on Doc Rivers and the Orlando Magic. The players accepted the challenge and prepared for their first-round opener.

• Matt Damon tried to bring Hollywood producers into the Celtics' practice facility, but Lin Qi refused to let them inspect the team's tactics.
• Lin Qi ordered the public relations director to warn player agents that the Celtics would blacklist brands that sought commercial appearances during the playoffs.
• Lin Qi locked the locker-room door and announced that the team was under total lockdown, with phones off and no interviews or commercial engagements.
• Lin Qi pointed out that Doc Rivers claimed to know Boston's system and weaknesses, while Pierce, Garnett, and Gary Payton dismissed the media's portrayal of Rivers as a tactical master.
• Garnett warned that Boston had changed, and Lin Qi told the team to lock down the locker room and prepare for battle.

Lin Qi and Rick Carlisle finalized the Mavericks’ twelve-man playoff roster and assessed the strongest teams in the Western Conference. Carlisle began considering which Western opponent might emerge from the brutal playoff bracket, but the chapter ended before he named one.

• Lin Qi found Carlisle in the video room and reviewed his proposed twelve-man playoff roster.
• Carlisle explained that Hedo would be inactive because he lacked the strength to handle playoff defense, while Wang Zhizhi’s shooting gave him situational value.
• Carlisle said the Mavericks were prepared for the Orlando Magic and were strong enough to beat any Eastern Conference team in a series.
• Carlisle analyzed the Spurs, Kings, Jazz, and Mavericks, pointing out their playoff strengths and weaknesses.
• Lin Qi asked Carlisle which team would survive the Western Conference, and Carlisle pressed the remote without answering.

Rick Carlisle explained Boston’s strategy for facing the Lakers, focusing on exploiting their weak three-point shooting and Shaquille O’Neal’s limited mobility. Lin Qi approved the plan, leaving Boston prepared to challenge the Lakers in a playoff series.

• Rick Carlisle showed Lin Qi how Shaquille O’Neal and Jason Kidd made the Lakers difficult to defend.
• Rick Carlisle identified Shawn Marion’s transition play as a key factor in the Lakers’ success and noted that Marion, Lamar Odom, and Kidd were weak three-point shooters.
• Rick Carlisle proposed packing the defense into the paint, having Ben Wallace guard O’Neal, and allowing the Lakers’ perimeter players to shoot.
• Rick Carlisle proposed spacing Boston’s big men beyond the arc to force O’Neal away from the basket and tire him out.
• Lin Qi approved Rick Carlisle’s plan and left the room.

The Boston Celtics overwhelmed the Orlando Magic 112-85 in Game 1, exploiting the weaknesses of three former Celtics in Orlando’s starting lineup. Lin Qi watched the Western Conference teams wear one another down and expected Boston to face the eventual survivor in the Finals.

• Lin Qi watched the Celtics host the Magic and noticed that Ron Mercer, Bo Outlaw, and Magic Johnson had all been traded away by him.
• Gary Payton, Bruce Bowen, Ben Wallace, and Kevin Garnett stifled Orlando’s offense as Boston raced to a 16-4 lead.
• Paul Pierce overpowered Mike Miller in the post, and the Celtics carried a 22-point lead into halftime.
• Wang Zhizhi hit a three-pointer late in the third quarter as the Celtics’ rotation extended their dominance.
• Boston finished with a 112-85 win after holding Orlando to 36 percent shooting, while Lin Qi watched Western Conference playoff highlights and anticipated the Finals.

After Boston’s win, Lin Qi and Rick Carlisle dismissed Doc Rivers’s explanations for Orlando’s loss. Lin Qi then rebuffed R.C. Buford’s attempt to unsettle Boston over future contracts and proposed trading for Manu Ginobili, leaving Buford to consider Boston a threat.

• Doc Rivers defended Orlando’s players after a reporter asked whether Boston had traded them because of their playoff limitations.
• Lin Qi and Rick Carlisle agreed that Orlando’s roster flaws could not be fixed by Rivers’s motivational speeches.
• R.C. Buford warned Lin Qi that Boston could not afford to keep Michael Redd, Brad Miller, and Bruce Bowen, hoping to stir anxiety over the team’s future.
• Lin Qi said his players would first help Boston win the O’Brien Trophy, then offered to discuss a summer trade for Manu Ginobili’s signing rights.
• Buford refused to put Ginobili’s rights on the table, and Lin Qi ended the call by warning him to watch Boston’s moves.

The Magic tried to unsettle Boston with physical play in Game 2, but the Celtics answered with even harsher defense and took a commanding 53-36 halftime lead. Lin Qi judged that Rivers had badly miscalculated, and the game left the series looking all but decided.

• The Magic opened Game 2 with relentless physical pressure and led 22-20 after the first quarter.
• Magic Johnson knocked Wang Zhizhi to the floor, prompting a shoving match before the referees gave Johnson a flagrant 1 and Artest a technical.
• Artest stole the ball from Mercer, scored a forceful dunk, and taunted Rivers and the Magic bench.
• The Celtics tightened their defense as Garnett stopped Outlaw, Billups scored over Armstrong, and Ben Wallace and Garnett blocked Magic shots.
• Boston closed the first half with a 24-4 run to lead 53-36, while Lin Qi said Rivers had made a cardinal mistake.

The Celtics overwhelmed the Magic 115-82, and Lin Qi quietly approached Doc Rivers during garbage time. Lin Qi offered to help Rivers keep his job and told him to call this summer, leaving Rivers hopeful despite the loss.

• The Celtics led the Magic 108-74 in the fourth quarter as Boston fans celebrated Gino Time.
• Lin Qi sat near the Magic bench, and Rivers approached him behind a clipboard to complain about Orlando’s roster and failed pursuit of star players.
• Rivers admitted he expected the Magic to fire him after the season, and Lin Qi suggested he could help him keep his job if he called that summer.
• The Celtics won 115-82, and Lin Qi patted Rivers on the shoulder before leaving for the players’ tunnel.
• Rivers watched Lin Qi leave and felt anticipation replace some of his fear about being fired.

The Boston Celtics swept the Orlando Magic 3-0, leaving Doc Rivers dependent on Lin Qi for his future. Lin Qi rewarded the Celtics with two days off but reminded them to return to practice Monday as they prepared for the next round.

• The Celtics defeated the Magic 102-84 in Game 3 to complete the first-round sweep.
• Kevin Garnett embraced Bo Outlaw and Ervin Johnson after the game, exchanging respect and recalling their time together in Boston.
• Lin Qi watched the players reunite and admitted that building a championship team had required him to make cold decisions.
• Lin Qi gave the Celtics two days off after their early series victory and told them to report for practice on Monday.
• Lin Qi discussed the other ongoing playoff series with the players before leaving the locker room.

Lin Qi and Rick Carlisle watched the New York Knicks sweep the Miami Heat and assessed their defensive strengths as Boston’s next playoff opponent. The chapter ended with Lin Qi confident that Boston’s top-ranked defense could defeat New York.

• Lin Qi criticized Pat Riley’s conditioning methods and argued that Alonzo Mourning’s kidney failure had been worsened by years of overtraining and painkiller use.
• The Knicks defeated the Heat 89-72, completing a 3-0 sweep and securing a second-round matchup with Boston.
• Lin Qi and Rick Carlisle reviewed New York’s defensive identity and discussed its key players, including Allan Houston, Sprewell, Marcus Camby, Kurt Thomas, Larry Johnson, and Glen Rice.
• Lin Qi declared that Boston would show New York what the league’s number-one defense could do.