NBA: A collection of super busts

"But our record is pretty good, right? We won four games in the preseason, and the players' teamwork is pretty good too." West frowned. He really didn't see any problems with his team's chemistry: "Even Jason is playing honestly and not doing fancy tricks anymore."

"The overall chemical reaction is indeed fine, but the local problems are significant," Brown said. "Or rather, the problem lies with two individuals."

"Ye and LeBron."

"We were hoping these two would work together long-term, becoming the next generation of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar + Magic Johnson or Kobe + Shaq. But judging from their current performance in games, they don't seem to have much chemistry."

"LeBron prefers teammates who can shoot and create space for him, but while Ye can shoot, he's better at attacking the basket directly, so he's more comfortable playing with Williams than with LeBron."

"There's no problem in the short term. I can stagger their playing time and keep the team running, but..."

"This isn't what you want, is it? You crave to see these two work seamlessly together, becoming a super duo, not an awkward pair who can't coexist and drag each other down."

"I've noticed that," West said. "To change that, one of them will probably have to make a sacrifice; someone has to change their playing style and improve their weaknesses."

"Two guys whose combined age isn't even half my age, who've had an incredibly smooth life from childhood to adulthood, who've never failed, and who's bursting with confidence—you want them to sacrifice and change?" Brown shrugged. "Do you think that's possible?"

"It's definitely not going to happen this season," West sighed. "But next season, and the season after that, it might be different."

"After they've lost enough games and suffered enough setbacks, they'll know how to cooperate with their teammates and how to take themselves to the next level."

Having said that, Brown could only shake his head and say, "I hope that day will come, and I hope your vision will be fully successful. I also hope I can see that day."

The two most powerful veterans on the team have begun to think about the future and prepare for the worst, but West is clearly more optimistic. He has plenty of time to try and fail, and the team owner has never demanded that they win a championship within 2-3 years.

But Brown was clearly much more pessimistic.

He even had a feeling that he might be dismissed because of the future conflicts and discord between the two of them.

Filled with deep unease and pessimism about the future, Brown continued to work overtime day and night, and the 03-04 season regular season started as scheduled under these circumstances!

On November 1st, the Grizzlies hosted the Portland Trail Blazers at the Memphis Pyramid Arena!

This is the Grizzlies' first home game of the season since they moved to Memphis. Before this season, they had no standing in the league, no star players, and no glorious team history. They were basically nobody.

Such teams naturally have to play a few away games at the beginning of the season to serve as stepping stones for teams with enough fame and popular stars.

But this year everything is different.

With the addition of two highly anticipated rookies, they can finally start the new season at home.

On their opposite side was the league's number one team with a lot of money and a lot of gullibility over the past few years.

Since being bought by billionaire Allen, the Trail Blazers have been on a spending spree for the past few years, buying players and relentlessly pursuing results and the championship.

It wasn't until the last two years, with their roster aging and high-paid players either leaving or expiring, that Allen finally started to think about taking a more stable approach and building the team step by step.

He finally realized that relying on ruthlessly piling up star players was not a quick way to achieve success.

This season, with the departure of Pippen, Smith, and others, and the retirement of Sabonis, the Trail Blazers' roster has clearly declined compared to previous years.

However, the team still boasts talented stars such as Rasheed Wallace, Darius Miles, Bonzi Wells, and Damon Stoudamire.

At least at the beginning of the season, ESPN and other media outlets generally predicted that the Trail Blazers would make the playoffs and win around 45 games.

In contrast, the Grizzlies, despite bringing in two top rookies and having high hopes for their future, are not widely believed to make the playoffs this season.

Of course, both the Grizzlies' own staff and Memphis fans are full of confidence for this season!

It's not because of the 4-2 preseason record, but because this team has truly reached the harvest season, and fans are eagerly anticipating their first-ever playoff run.

"This is fantastic!" Standing on the sidelines, looking at the packed stadium and the excited, jubilant fans, Haisley exclaimed again, "My decision a few years ago to build this new stadium was absolutely brilliant!"

"The new arena is bigger, there are more places to spend money, and the fans are definitely going to be even more excited!"

"Next season, we can move in, Jerry. Do you think we can win a series next season?"

"Maybe we can win this season." West smiled, quite satisfied with his pragmatic boss, Heisley.

"I have to say it again, you did an amazing job this summer! You lowered your total salary, acquired a top rookie, and even got the number one draft pick! Seriously, how did you manage that? How did that old devil Stern even give you the number one pick?"

"Nothing was done," West shrugged. "It was all luck."

"Jerry, just tell me!" Haesley: "I promise I won't tell anyone."

West turned to look at Haisley and said, "Stern dealt drugs when he was young and was also an avid gambler. To pay off his debts, he sold a lot of match information and insider information about lottery draws. I have evidence of that."

"Really?" Haisley's eyes widened.

How could Stern, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, do something like this?

"Of course it's fake." West really didn't expect that his boss would believe such a thing. Looking at Haisley's disappointed look, he even felt a little guilty.

Fortunately, the match had already started by then, and both teams' starting players had taken to the field.

The Grizzlies used the same starting five from their first preseason game: Gasol, Ye Feng, Battier, James, and Williams.

The Trail Blazers' starting lineup has changed dramatically compared to when they reached the Western Conference Finals a few years ago.

Not only have things changed drastically, but their starting lineup has also been quite unusual.

Even a seasoned veteran like Brown could tell the Trail Blazers' current situation just by looking at their starting lineup.