Before the start of the draft, the Pacers officially announced that they were stepping down from Jim. O'Brien's incident made the local fans in Indianapolis cheer. After three years, they finally put an end to O'Brien's "reign of darkness". Whether a manager succeeds or not, in fact, can be concluded by looking at the reaction of the fans after he was sacked.

When everyone is cheering at your departure, it's already a testament to how well you stand in this team.

Three years, Jim. O'Brien's results are also quite "stable". With 36 wins in the first two years, they are ninth in the East and just one spot away from the playoffs. As a result, in the third year, O'Brien "went further" and only managed 32 wins, which was still 32 wins in the final 14 games with 10 wins. If it weren't for Henson's involvement, O'Brien would probably have been able to bring the Pacers a higher pick.

That's why Bird often jokes with Henson, "You're really a stumbling block for the Pacers." ”

That being said, Bird was very important to Henson's magical abilities. 14 games and 10 wins, the same lineup, the same configuration, just a different person to coach and train, there has been a earth-shaking change. If this team is handed over to Henson from the beginning, the Pacers will no longer be a dream to make the playoffs.

So he fired Jim. The day after O'Brien, Bird summoned Henson back to his office, where Henson was living a happy life researching rookie profiles during the day and dating Angelie at night.

He originally thought that Bird had called him to witness Frank. Vogel was crowned, and then Bird gave them an account of his work. For this, Henson also prepared a gift for Vogel. But when Henson walked into Bird's office, he didn't see Vogel.

"Hello Henson, for me?" Bird, who was sitting behind his desk, gestured to the gift box in Henson's hand.

"Sorry Bird, this is for Frank. Why hasn't that guy come yet? He's never late. Henson looked around, and it was just himself and Bird in the office, not even Pritchard.

"Frank? Does Frank have a birthday today? Bird was stunned by Henson.

"Birthday? I bought a gift to congratulate him on becoming the manager of the team. I said, you really need to take a good break lately, Bird, just leave the draft to us. ”

Hearing what Henson said, Bird couldn't help but smile, but quickly returned to a serious look, after all, this matter must be announced in a serious manner.

"Listen, tomorrow at two o'clock in the afternoon, I'm going to have a press conference at the Consec Arena, and you have to come to it." Bird said, pulling out a cigar.

"Press conference? For what? "Henson, who used to be an assistant coach, rarely attended press conferences unless O'Brien asked him to attend on his behalf. But this kind of thing doesn't happen more than three times in a season.

"To tell everyone, Henson. Joe will be the new head coach of the Indiana Pacers. With that, Bird shoved the cigar into Henson's mouth and lit it for him.

Henson took a puff on his cigar, but choked and coughed.

"I hope you won't be so ashamed when you light the victory cigar in the future." Bird patted Henson on the shoulder and smiled.

So at noon the next day, under the cameras of many media reporters, Larry . Bird officially announced Henson in place of Jim. O'Brien, became the new head coach of the Pacers, and Frank. Vogel continued as an assistant coach to complement Henson. For the next draft meeting, Bird was given full responsibility to Henson.

"I believe that Mr. Joe will be able to lead the team on the right path."

When Bird ended the press conference with these words, the reporters in the media reception room were in an uproar! A Chinese who only has one year of experience as an assistant coach has become a head coach so quickly, will this speed be too fast!

While the Pacers are in dire need of a new head coach, Bird still has a lot of options. For example, Jeff, who is now idle at home. Van Gundy, Steve. Cole, even if it's Frank. Vogel also sounds more reliable than Henson.

But Bird used a rookie, a rookie coach who had never coached any team on his own! What does Bird want to do? Join the race for next season's No. 1 pick?

"Bird, why did you make such a decision!"

"Frank, do you feel like you're being treated unfairly?"

"Henson. Joe, can you talk about how you're feeling at the moment! ”

After the press conference, the reporters were still shouting at the top of their voices, but Bird ignored it and took Henson and Frank with him. Vogel walked out of the reception room. Closing the door of the media reception room, the hustle and bustle behind him disappeared in an instant.

"That's a lot of nonsense in those reporters." Bird tidied up his suit impatiently, what journalists do best is to complicate simple things. And Larry. Bird, he's always liked to keep complicated things simple.

"Okay, boy, now you're an interim head coach. Rest assured, I'll sign you a permanent contract before the season starts. You and Frank, this draft is up to you. Neither Paul. George or something else, I just want you to bring the right players to the Consec Arena. In the afternoon you will leave for New York. That's right, Stephen. Silas will pick you up. After today's incident, the whole world is waiting to see how you perform in the draft. Good work, I trust your vision. ”

Bird casually confessed, took the ticket to them, and left in a hurry. Bird has been quite busy these days, and I heard that the team's management seems to have a new big consortium stepping in and wants to become one of the shareholders. But those things are already beyond Henson's jurisdiction.

"Congratulations, Henson." After Bird left, Frank. Vogel also shook Henson's hand sincerely.

Before that, Bird had actually spoken to Vogel. Vogel worked as an assistant coach for so many years, and he thought he would be able to do it on his own. But after comparing with Henson, he realized that he was still some way from the head coach. And Frank didn't know if he could handle the pressure of becoming a head coach.

Look at Jim. Obrahn was in the mood for the end of last season, and Frank didn't want to be like that. So, he decided to work as an assistant coach for a few more years to gain more experience. Frank still wants to be able to stand on his own, but not now.

Henson reached out and clasped Vogel together, and there was Frank. With Vogel being such a competent assistant coach, Henson's work was not carried out without any difficulty.

"Let's go, man, the first step, let's take care of the draft first." Henson pulled Vogel out of the arena like two couples who had just finished watching a game and were about to go home.

Well? The style of painting is wrong......

※※※

The 2010 NBA Draft is Henson's second time in the draft, so he's familiar with all the procedures.

The goal of the Pacers this year is still very clear, to win Paul in the first round. George, no one should fight with them. Because before the draft began, the Pacers did not reveal any news related to George, and no one else would be caught. George's prediction is 20 outside the first round. After all, no one wants to risk a high pick to pick a player in the NCAA Division II Conference, with the exception of Henson, who can see a player's potential and roughly estimate his upper and lower limits.

In the second round, Henson plans to take Marshall University's behemoth Hassan. Whiteside. If Whiteside is cut off, then Henson will activate a backup plan to bring the talented University of Cincinnati defender Lance Brown. Stephenson was recruited.

For Paul. George and Whiteside, the opinions within the Pacers are very unanimous. But for Reims. Stephenson, Frank was a little puzzled.

"Lance. Stevenson? Unless you want a locker room blast, Henson! "At the mention of Lance. The name Stephenson, Frank. Vogel was like a ghost.

After all, Stephenson is also famous in this guy. Of course, the way he became famous was very special. When he was in elementary school, he was the main force and committed crimes against his teammates. At the age of 17, he was suspected of Xing assault, and at the age of 18, he wanted to participate in the draft, but because he was not old enough, he intended to follow Jennings to go overseas, and later stayed. Because the scholarship slots at the major basketball schools were divided, he only played a symbolic season at the University of Cincinnati, rushed to the draft at the age of 20, and a few days ago there was a scandal that pushed his girlfriend down the stairs because of an argument...... He had great physical talent and scoring skills, but due to his bad reputation, no one wanted this hot potato, and the pick slipped to the second round.

"I know he's a bomb, Frank, but not necessarily us." Henson's smile is always so confident.

Others only saw Stephenson's "glorious deeds", but Henson saw a lot of different things.

Lance Stephenson High School attended Abraham Lincoln High School in New York, a traditional basketball school from which Marbury, Telfair, and others all came out. Stephenson, who won the New York State Regional Championship three years in a row, was always talking about surpassing Marbury and others, and was considered a future star on a par with Wall at the time.

Stephenson liked to challenge recognized powerhouses, such as O.J. Mayo, who was considered the best high school player in the country at the time. At Adidas training camp that year, Stephenson, who was only 12 years old, asked to single out Mayo, who was three years his senior. This kind of courage is not shared by everyone.

And in 2008, Stephenson was selected for the U18 national team, although he was cut by the team due to "chemistry problems" and failed to play in the official game, but it also proved Stephenson's strength.

On top of that, on the day of the joint tryout, Henson saw Stephenson's potential, A-, ability to scramble for the ball, A+. In the second round, this potential value is second only to Hassan. Whiteside. And the ability to scramble for the ball...... I guess no one else can match it.