mountain top

Chapter 256 One Shouldn't Be a Hindsight Expert (First Update!)

The exchange between Brown and O'Neal became a widely discussed topic after Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals.

Online, many netizens even defended Brown, saying, "Kwame is right, Shaq is simply not qualified to comment on him as a legendary center!"

Although any fan who watched the game knows why O'Neal was afraid of the Warriors back then.

But in this era filled with people who enjoy entertainment and armchair fans, who cares about the truth?
Now, this group of people who enjoy watching entertainment are simply looking forward to seeing Brown and O'Neal go toe-to-toe in the octagon.

"Shaq wants to fight me? Fine, let him bring it on!"

The following day, Brown responded to O'Neal's statement that he wanted to fight him to the death.

However, Qin Yue looked worried and asked, "Are you sure you can beat Shaq?"

Qin Yue knew very well that O'Neal was indeed a complete idiot when it came to fighting.

but
Brown might not be entirely without fault in this regard either.

Regarding Qin Yue's concerns, Brown said: "You don't understand, this is called hype and marketing. Originally, even if I played for another twenty years, I would never be able to embarrass Shaq, but now, the fans have elevated me to a level that doesn't belong to me just for fun."

"so?"

“Even if I just get beaten up and Shaq gets his revenge, it doesn’t matter,” Brown said. “At least after this fight, people will remember why Kwame Brown went up against Shaq.”

Qin Yue realized that Brown was determined to go all the way down the path of abstraction.

And
In an era that was not as abstract as it would become in later generations, Brown might even become the originator of abstraction in the American influencer world.

And what about O'Neal?
After learning that Brown had agreed to a life-or-death free-fight match, O'Neal, having calmed down, immediately realized the business opportunity behind the challenge.

An enraged O'Neal might want to kill Brown.

But the rational O'Neal was clearly more concerned with personal gain.

What is Jianghu?

This is Jianghu.

Where does all this fighting and killing come from in the martial arts world?

So, in response to Brown's request to broadcast the fight nationally, O'Neal said, "He better wash his neck and wait! I'm going to kill him!"

O'Neal and Brown scheduled their fight for the offseason.

Furthermore, as this challenge attracted widespread attention throughout the basketball world, capitalists, who are always quick to act, also sensed the potential for profit.

TNT immediately spent a large sum of money to buy the broadcasting rights to the fight.

The MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas will be responsible for hosting this fight.

In addition, there are various kinds of sponsorships.

Even Qin Yue, a transmigrator, never expected that Brown would inadvertently open up a lucrative business opportunity.

Especially after The New York Times revealed that this fight could bring Brown and O'Neal tens of millions of dollars in revenue.
Even Ben Wallace, who has always looked down on Brown, wants to join him in boxing.

"How many dollars? You can earn tens of millions of dollars from a single fight?"

Actually, tens of millions of dollars is an understatement.

If Qin Yue remembers correctly, about three years later, the "Fight of the Century" between Mayweather and Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Hotel will generate more than $6 million in box office revenue.

Although this match between Brown and O'Neal is certainly not as significant as that legendary battle.

But in this age of highly developed internet, those who are only interested in whether Brown and O'Neal will beat each other to a pulp have quietly made this life-or-death battle gain unimaginable attention.

"The biggest fighting match of 2012 will take place in Las Vegas in July!" — ESPN News Headline
"Two giants from the basketball world will face off in the octagon!" — Los Angeles Times

Before the highly anticipated Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals even began, some bookmakers had already started offering betting odds on it.

Moreover, the odds offered by these betting companies can only be described as bizarre and varied.

For example, some bet on who would beat Brown and O'Neal, while others bet on who would get a head injury first between O'Neal and Brown.

In short, the economic benefits directly or indirectly generated by this fight will far exceed people's imagination.

"You're a fucking genius!"

At Oracle Arena, during the warm-up phase before Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, Ben Wallace, who had offered to carry Brown's bag and shoes, was now filled with resentment for not having recognized Brown as his older brother sooner.

what?
You said Ben Wallace is clearly older than Brown, so why does Ben Wallace acknowledge Brown as his older brother?
Of course, it's because Brown has agreed to hire Ben Affleck as his combat coach and will offer him a considerable income.

In this world, everyone has their own price.

Daben is no exception.

If the old Ben Wallace was an unruly Ben Wallace in front of Brown,

Now, in front of Brown, Ben has become a docile and obedient number one underling.

However, contrary to what people might imagine.

As a party involved in this life-or-death battle, Brown did not take his duel with O'Neal to heart.

"This is just a business deal." "Since I'm a basketball player, no matter how much income this business brings me, my top priority right now is to play well in the upcoming games."

Brown knew very well why his challenge to a fight with O'Neal had generated such a huge amount of buzz.

Simply put, Brown is indeed one of the top centers in the current era.

Otherwise, the Warriors wouldn't have offered him that five-year, $50 million contract extension back then.

"If I were just a nobody, would Shaq really get angry about that?"

"Therefore, only by playing well in the upcoming games can I continue to pursue fame and fortune off the court."

Those who achieve great things must be able to recognize their own limitations in a timely manner.

It's obvious that Brown, who has become increasingly insightful with each passing year, has already seen through the true nature behind the hype.

"I don't care whether I'm remembered with infamy or remembered with fame," Brown taught Ben Affleck. "Because as long as I can be a big shot, why should I care what others think of me?"

Brown's statement shocked Ben.

On the night of the game, at Oracle Arena, the Lakers, who were down 1-3 in the series, turned the focus of attention from off the court back to the court with an outstanding performance from all players.

During the game, seeing that his teammates were in excellent form, Kobe simply switched to Magic Johnson mode, taking only 10 shots and scoring a total of 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists.

没有在第五战拉胯的保罗，14投8中，其中三分球6投4中，罚球4罚4中，总计斩获了24分4篮板8助攻。

On the court, the Gasol brothers' frequent absences proved decisive in determining the outcome of the game.

That night, the Gasol brothers combined for 15 outside shots, making 9 of them.

而年轻的克莱则是9投7中，其中三分球8投6中，总计得到了20分3篮板2助攻。

The final score was 121 to 116.

The tenacious Lakers successfully brought this Western Conference Finals series, which was already very close, back to Los Angeles.

After the game, Qin Yue, who scored 47 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists and 3 blocks, said in an interview: "I have nothing to say about this game."

Even before the Western Conference Finals began this year, Qin Yue had already mentally prepared himself for a seven-game series against the Lakers.

In Game 5, the Lakers were in exceptionally good form.

With the Warriors' bench players, who performed well in the previous game, collectively faltering this night, Qin Yue, who had already led the Warriors to a comfortable margin for error in previous games, was clearly more concerned about the upcoming Game 6 in Los Angeles than about the Lakers winning a game on the road.

If possible, Qin Yue hopes the team can end the series in Game 6.

Because if the Lakers drag this series into a Game 7, then the Warriors are not without the possibility of being reversed by the Lakers.

"Oh no, have I been found out?" Warriors head coach Mike Malone couldn't help but complain after Game 5, when he returned from suspension.

Upon hearing this, veteran coach Hollins laughed and said, "Mike, why don't you resign? It seems I should take charge of this Warriors team."

"Shut up! You damn old man!" Malone said. "It's only been one game. In the next game, I'll show you the difference between your coaching and mine."

"In these two games, the Lakers have been using zone defense to test our shooting more and more often," Hollins suddenly changed the subject and said to Malone.

Malone nodded and said, "Under such a high level of physical intensity, the pitcher on both sides who can withstand the test will have a greater chance of emerging victorious."

“You know that’s not what I meant, Mike,” Hollins said.

Malone laughed and said, "I know that's not what you meant, and I've seen it for a long time. The Lakers' winning strategy now is to turn the game into a shooting game where everyone bets on who can shoot more accurately."

"so?"

"So of course we can't let them have their way."

Malone knew very well that if the game became a contest of who could shoot more accurately, even though the Warriors were the pioneers in this area, there was a good chance they would lose this Western Conference Finals series.

Therefore, the Warriors must increase their ways of breaking zone defenses.

So, how can we increase the Warriors' ways of breaking zone defenses on the court?
Malone gave his answer before the team headed to Los Angeles.

"I plan to move Messiah to center in Game 6 and use Antawn Jamison, who has a better shooting ability, at small forward."

"Who are you planning to send out for the power forward position?"

"Gerald Wallace".

After five games, Malone knew very well that the reason why the Gasol brothers were unstoppable was that one of the brothers could always leave the perimeter open and create mismatch opportunities for the other in the paint.

Therefore, Malone plans to do the opposite in Game 6.

“Gerrard’s lateral movement allows him to rush to the perimeter at any time, which means Messiah can take over the defense against the Gasol brothers inside. It’s a brilliant idea, but Mike, why did you only come up with this in Game 6?” Hollins said to Malone.

Seeing this, after giving Hollins a disapproving look, Malone, who was quite familiar with Chinese culture because of Qin Yue, said, "Old man, do you know an old saying in China?"

"what?"

"Never be wise after the event."

……

PS: First update! Please vote with monthly tickets!
(End of this chapter)