"Hey! Sorry for the wait! Sam pushed the door in, and inside sat McCloskey, the general manager, and Timothy, the chief executive, both looking sideways.

"Would you like some?" Timothy beckoned, and took a sip from his glass.

"Thank you! I'm a bit allergic to alcohol. Sam replied, moving to the couch and lying on his feet.

"We just mentioned you and some questions about the team." Timothy put down the small cup in his hand.

"Yes! Well done Sam. McCloskey gave a positive assessment.

"I need to do more." Sam didn't dare to take credit at all, his record was so bad, and he did a good job! It's just a joke.

"You do need to do more. I think I need to say something about the team, we've had a poor record in recent seasons and I don't know why? Sam, can you tell me why? Timothy put away his smile and said very seriously.

"I'm sorry!"

"You don't need to say sorry, like McCloskey said, you've done a good job." Timothy raised an eyebrow, "I just want to know what our crux is?" ”

This is simply not a score, what is the crux of a team's good or bad record? Where is it clear in one sentence. Who is Cotimothy? The fact that the CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Group, which owns several sports clubs like the Raptors, was able to ask in person shows that his patience has run out and he is disappointed in the team leader. Of course Sam understands that.

'We lack a star, a man who can make the difference in the game. Chris is a good guy, but he's still in his formative stages, he's matured a lot this season, and I'm sure next season we'll be able to make the playoffs and go even further." ”

"Vince's departure has hurt us immeasurably, and that's the status quo." McCloskey also helped, if he doesn't help, he can't do it, and he also has an unshirkable responsibility in this.

"Star player? This is indeed a problem, do you have any good suggestions? Sam! ”

"Can't change it for the time being! With all due respect, Toronto really struggled to recruit the big names, and we have a young team that the big names don't believe we can succeed. ”

Timothy didn't speak, silently holding his forehead in thought. Let's be honest! The Raptors, as the only NBA team in Canada, still have a good attendance rate and will not lose money, but they also do not make money, which is the most important thing. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Group has many shareholders and intertwined interests, and the reason why the Raptors can be established is that several major shareholders hope that Canada will have a top team. But not making money is failure, shareholders are definitely not satisfied, it is difficult for him to do. Why? That is, the jerseys are not selling, there is an extreme lack of extensions, and there are not many sponsorships, all of which are caused by poor results and no top players. But the Raptors can't attract big names in the free market, except for the cold, the location of Toronto, high taxes, and most importantly, they are not competitive. Top stars, who doesn't want to win the championship with honor and go to a big market? The Raptors don't have all of this. This creates an endless circle that cannot be broken, and he understands this truth, but he is here to ask for a solution to the problem, not to listen to complaints and grievances.

In fact, it is not possible to recruit stars, you can train them yourself, this is the only way out, and they are doing it. For example, Vince Carter is a success story, and the team made a lot of money in those years. Unfortunately, the good times did not last long, because he could not make a breakthrough, and after a round of tours year after year, Carter was dissatisfied, and the conflict with the management intensified, and finally broke up.

In 03, they picked up this tall and thin big man Bosh in the draft, after two seasons, Bosh has slowly metamorphosed and has the potential to become an All-Star, so this season they chose to correct Bosh, and the facts have proved that their vision, Bosh can average 21 points and 9.8 rebounds per game in six games and quasi-20+10, has emerged.

"I'm running out of time for you!" All Timothy can say is that his patience is limited and he has to give an account to the shareholders.

"Sir! Rest assured! I'll try to do something. McCloskey's head was bubbling and he sat upright, looking cautious, not wanting to lose his promising job.

"Kyle Lowry did a great job today! I know him, and I must be amazed by your vision. ”

"Yes! He's really a great player, he's smart and he's mature. "Just now Timothy bluntly expressed his disappointment, Sam is also related, and now when it comes to Kyle, of course he has to praise desperately, this is his masterpiece.

"What do you think of the inner and outer duo of him and Chris?"

"They're a perfect match and I think they can bring the team back to the playoffs and even create a great streak." McCloskey was the first to answer, and the boss's meaning was very clear, that is, to support Kyle as the leading point guard, and he was now pandering to the mustache, which was the most correct choice.

"Sam! What do you think? Timothy was noncommittal, turning to a more professional person.

"Kyle's technical characteristics are very distinctive, he is very strong, the combination of power and speed gives him an absolute advantage in the point guard position, and the breakthrough is his killer move. And he knows exactly what to do, whether it's splitting the ball or shooting, and his ability to read the game, combined with his excellent vision and solid fundamentals, makes him a fish in water. He is extremely calm in the game, but also persistent enough, strict with himself, very leader, as long as he exercises three-point ability, stable shooting, then he is definitely a shining star. He has already proven himself in college. I think it's more reliable to develop him as the first core of the team. Sam is not shocking and dies, and actually puts Kyle in a higher position than Bosh. You must know that Bosh has established himself in the NBA and has shown star ability, and Kyle is just a newcomer who has played well, who knows if he is not a false appearance? No matter how you look at it, having Kyle as the first core was a super risky decision, and anyone would find Sam's suggestion unreliable, a bit fanciful, and whimsical.

"Are you sure?" Timothy's eyes narrowed, unable to see the joy or anger.

"Absolutely sure."

“OK！ Just do as you say, and hopefully your advice is correct. "Timothy loves Kyle, passionate, powerful, smart, but that's only one aspect. It's more that he believes that Sam, as a coach, should be able to thoroughly understand the ability and potential of a player after spending so much time with his players. And as the team's signature star, Kyle's image is undoubtedly more suitable than Bosh. He decided to give Kyle a chance, and it was up to the guy to take it. It's a very risky gamble, but Timothy can afford to lose, and if Kyle doesn't, the coach and GM will take the blame, so it's no big deal.

Usually the team management will meddle in the internal affairs of the team, and no team can be an exception, unless you are a meritorious coach, unfortunately Sam is not. He has several bosses on his head, and there are a lot of constraints in the team, he actually wanted to establish Kyle as the first core for a long time, but unfortunately he couldn't get support, and now with a word from the CEO, all obstacles are removed.

That's right! Sam was gambling, he was betting that the Kyle he knew would take to the skies, if only the kid was given a chance. This is the smell of his years of coaching and basketball career, and he firmly believes that he can't be wrong. (To be continued.) )