Recaps

Lin Qi guides Boston through a difficult regular season and the first round, developing Kevin Garnett and building confidence in the Celtics’ depth. After Boston eliminates Washington, the team opens its semifinal series against Miami by using Lin Qi and Rick Adelman’s pace-changing plan to seize control.

• The Celtics overcame Miami’s physical defense to beat the Heat, then defeated the Lakers as Kevin Garnett hit the tying jumper and dunked in the final seconds.
• Lin Qi traded San Antonio’s future first-round picks for the Spurs’ 1997 pick and Vancouver’s unprotected 1997 and 2001 picks, while Boston routed the Grizzlies with Steve Nash and Chris Mullin leading the way.
• After Philadelphia exposed Nash’s weaknesses and Garnett struggled against Derrick Coleman, Lin Qi found both players working to improve under Rick Adelman’s guidance.
• Kevin Garnett made the Eastern All-Star team, and Lin Qi arranged for Paul Westphal to advise Garnett, who developed his high-post offense and recorded a triple-double.
• Lin Qi introduced Garnett and his mother to Mark Wahlberg and arranged a streetwear opportunity for Andrew Miller, while keeping Miller’s background check alongside Eric Fleisher’s file.
• Ben Wallace helped Boston withstand Miami’s late pressure, and Lin Qi rewarded him with a fully guaranteed contract as the Celtics finished the regular season 57-25.
• Washington took Game 1 after Chris Webber dominated early, but Adelman adjusted Boston’s defense and Garnett helped the Celtics win Games 2 and 3.
• Webber tired in Game 4 as Boston rallied, and the Celtics won 93-89 to take the series and advance to face Miami.
• Adelman sent Boston’s starters out to match Miami’s physicality before unleashing a faster second unit, which fueled a 20-7 run and a sixteen-point lead before Pat Riley called timeout and planned to make the game rougher.

Boston battled Miami and Chicago through punishing playoff series before Chicago eliminated the Celtics in six games. Lin Qi then maneuvered through a leadership shake-up, rebuilt the roster around Gary Payton and Kevin Garnett, and left Rick Pitino to manage the team’s volatile mix of talent and egos.

• Boston split the first four games with Miami, then won Game 5 before the Heat forced a decisive Game 7.
• Lin Qi and Adelman changed Boston’s Game 7 approach, and Garnett helped the Celtics defeat Miami and advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
• Chicago took the first two games, but Boston responded with two wins as Garnett defended Jordan and battled Rodman.
• The Bulls won Game 5 on Pippen’s final tip-in, then beat Boston 100-95 in Game 6 to advance to the NBA Finals.
• Gaston announced that Pitino would take over basketball operations, gave Lin Qi one year to prove his value, and handed him a list of players Pitino wanted.
• Lin Qi arranged for Chris Mullin to join Larry Bird in Indiana in exchange for Derrick McKey, Indiana’s ninth draft pick, and a future second-round pick.
• At the draft, Lin Qi selected Chauncey Billups, Ron Mercer, Tracy McGrady, and Derek Anderson, then acquired Tony Delk and Walter McCarty for Pitino’s roster.
• Lin Qi traded for Gary Payton and assembled a team led by Payton, Eddie Jones, Robert Horry, Garnett, and Mutombo, then gave Pitino authority while anticipating conflicts and contract concerns.

Lin Qi watched the Celtics collapse under Rick Pitino, then bought the team and rebuilt it around Paul Pierce, Gary Payton, and Kevin Garnett. The arc ended with Doc Rivers meeting the players at a Cape Cod motel as they began to settle into a new team.

• The Celtics finished 60-22 but were swept by the Knicks, and Paul Gaston told Lin Qi to make Pitino resign.
• As Gaston’s restructuring faced lawsuits and opposition, Lin Qi offered him $180 million for the Celtics and secured a deal before the June 30 deadline.
• Lin Qi won Auerbach’s support, brought Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Mark Wahlberg into the public-facing ownership group, and received NBA approval to take over the Celtics.
• Lin Qi traded Tracy McGrady, Ron Mercer, and Tony Delk to Chicago for Ron Harper and four unprotected first-round picks, then traded up to draft Paul Pierce tenth.
• Lin Qi traded for the 31st pick to select Rashard Lewis and recruited Dominique Wilkins to help new head coach Doc Rivers lead the team.
• Rivers told reporters he would rebuild trust on the Celtics, then Lin Qi gathered the players at a Cape Cod motel.
• Payton challenged Rivers, Garnett arrived, Harper and Payton renewed their old rivalry, and Wilkins and Ben Wallace helped Pierce and Lewis adjust as the players shared food through an August storm.

During the lockout, Lin Qi secured Kevin Garnett’s future, strengthened Boston’s finances, and assembled a deep roster. The Celtics returned to win the shortened regular season and began their playoff rematch with the Knicks.

• Doc Rivers gave the Celtics individualized training plans before the July 1 lockout, and Lin Qi reminded them that their goal was the championship.
• When Eric Fleisher’s public contract demands for Kevin Garnett helped prompt a new salary cap, Garnett dismissed Fleisher and appointed Andrew Miller as his agent.
• Lin Qi promised Miller that Boston would offer Garnett a six-year, $71 million contract, and he helped Garnett earn money and exposure during the lockout.
• Lin Qi recruited Brad Miller from Italy, arranged a guaranteed contract, and urged him to turn down USA Basketball while training.
• Lin Qi waited as the FleetCenter’s financial troubles pushed Jeremy Jacobs to sell, then the lockout ended with a 50-game season and Michael Jordan announced his retirement.
• Lin Qi built a deep Celtics roster, established workload limits and medical assessments, and arranged treatment for Ben Wallace’s wrist injury.
• Boston beat the Knicks, 76ers, Spurs, Lakers, and Hawks during the regular season, while Pierce earned a starting role and Dominique Wilkins returned for the playoffs.
• The Celtics finished first at 39-11, then beat the Knicks in Game 1 of their playoff series before facing New York again at Madison Square Garden.