In a post-match check-up, Shaquille O'Neal confirmed a muscle strain and will be sidelined for a week.

It's bad news, but it's a blessing in disguise, as it's just a muscle strain, and O'Neal will be back in full shape a week later.

Without O'Neal, the Lakers can only rely on Scott Pippen, who is no longer a superstar, and Kobe Bryant, who has still not grown to the superstar level, and the next week of games will not be easy to play, especially the team is still lacking an interior line.

Qiao Hai found Jerry West and asked about the reinforcements, because of the shrinking season, the trade deadline is approaching, and if no reinforcements are introduced, Qiao Hai can only play the playoffs with a broken interior rotation, which is not what Qiao Hai wants to see.

In particular, when the season gradually entered the second half of the season, the schedule became more and more tight, and at this critical juncture, O'Neill was injured again, and there was no movement in the internal reinforcements, so Qiao Hai naturally wanted to ask.

But Jerry West's answer to Joe Hai was that there was no suitable recruit.

This also means that the Lakers are likely not to bring in reinforcements, because even if they don't, the team's interior line is barely enough.

The team doesn't bring in reinforcements, and Qiao Hai can't do anything, he is just an acting head coach and has no transfer rights.

After O'Neal was sidelined due to injury, Qiao Hai took the remnants away to play the Suns.

In order to win, Qiao Hai put on a large four-small lineup of point guard Derrick Fisher, scoring guard Kobe, small forward Bruce Bowen, power forward Scott Pippen and center Robert Horry, holding high the banner of fast break.

As a result, there was a five-to-five fight with the Suns at halftime, which was impossible to happen when O'Neal was there, but now that O'Neal is not there, a halftime deuce just happened.

The game was a tough one, and in the last five seconds, the two teams were still evenly divided.

Scott Pippen counter-attacked with the ball to the frontcourt, Joe did not call a timeout, and with five seconds, he decided to let the players on the court play freely.

Kobe Bryant went around the right side 45°, Scott Pippen passed, and Bryant received the ball and pulled it directly.

Everyone's hearts were in their throats, especially Qiao Hai.

lost the last game, and also lost O'Neal, if this game is lost again, it will be another wave of two consecutive defeats, even if the Lakers have a good record now, Qiao Hai will be questioned.

Bryant raised his hand to throw the ball.

Bang!

With a crisp sound of wiping the net, and the subsequent timer beep, Kobe Bryant defeated the Phoenix Suns!

Qiao Hai breathed a sigh of relief.

At 93:90, the Lakers had a tough win without O'Neal!

The next day back-to-back battles against the Warriors, Qiao Hai repeated his old tricks and continued to put out a big and four small lineup, hoping to win a streak.

But because of the intensity of the last game, the Lakers began to have physical problems in this game, and the Lakers also led by 5 points in the first half, but in the second half, the Warriors counterattacked wave after wave, with the help of physical strength, broke the Lakers' defense, and overtook the Lakers by 10 points in the final quarter.

In the end, the Lakers lost the game 90-97.

On April 5, the good news came, O'Neal was close to making a comeback.

But the Lakers also have to face the Nuggets at home, O'Neal can't play, and considering the previous back-to-back battles, Joe Hai chose to rotate Hugh Scott Pippen.

So in this game, Qiao Hai could only put out a lineup of point guard Derrick Fisher, scoring guard Kobe, small forward Rick Fox, big forward Bruce Bowenga, and center Shaun Lukes.

As a result, Kobe Bryant was unable to support himself in this game, and the Lakers lost again, losing two in a row.

Qiao Hai couldn't do anything, he really had no one to use.

Although there is still a Michael Jordan experience card in the system backpack, which can be used directly on Kobe Bryant, Qiao Hai still restrained himself, he knows very well that now using the Michael Jordan experience card is only used for one or two unimportant regular season games.

This kind of buggy prop still has to be used in important playoff games.

Two consecutive defeats, coupled with the previous losses, the Lakers' record has become 21-14, not only failed to enter the top four in the West, but fell another place due to this wave of injuries and physical crisis.

Qiao Hai felt the cruelty of professional basketball for the first time, even if he had a system by his side, in the face of these strange resistances, Qiao Hai had no more way.

Losing the game against the Nuggets, Qiao Hai finally ushered in the worst news.

……

Mitch Kupchak's office, looking down from the window, can see the Lakers' training ground.

Qiao Hai and Michkupchak stood in front of the window, both of them silent for a while.

Joe Hay doesn't know what Kupchak came to him for, maybe Jerry West has an opinion about the Lakers' extremely unstable state lately? Let Kupchak talk to him?

Qiao Hai didn't know.

It didn't take long for Kupchak to speak up: "Joe, maybe bad news for you. ”

"What?"

Qiao Hai's heart sank, very bad news, Kupchak would never joke with him, so, this news must be very bad.

"Mr. Jerry West went to Chicago early this morning."

"Chicago?"

Mitch Kupchak nodded: "Yes, Phil Jackson lives there, you should understand what I mean, right?" ”

Qiao Hai's face was very bad, and when it came to this, how could he not understand? Jerry West flew to Chicago to meet Phil Jackson at a time when the Lakers were not in good shape, and the purpose was obvious.

The Lakers are going to sign Phil Jackson, whether Phil Jackson joins immediately or joins again next season, Qiao Hai, the acting head coach, cannot be removed in any case.

Because of the Lakers' poor performance during this period, Jerry West decided to sign Phil Jackson early.

"In fact, we had a verbal agreement with Phil Jackson before you took on the role of head coach, and today is the date we set for the signing of Phil Jackson, so Mr. Jerry West decided to sign Phil Jackson early."

"But Joe, don't worry, you will still lead the team to finish this season, but at the end of this season, Phil Jackson will be the new head coach of the Lakers, no matter what your results are, this result will not change."

Mitch Kupchak explained to Joe that the Lakers had signed Phil Jackson and assured Joe that Joe would finish the season.

Qiao Hai also took advantage of the time explained by Mitch Kupchak to adjust his mood.

In fact, if you think about it carefully, Qiao Hai does not need to be disappointed or even sad about losing the position of head coach of the Lakers, there is a system to be around, plus this semi-complete coaching season, Qiao Hai is confident that after this season, he will find a new job that he is satisfied with.

But......

But before that, Joe felt it was time to prove himself, and Jerry West didn't believe that young Joe Hay could lead the Lakers to the championship, and he chose Phil Jackson, a dynasty coach who had proven himself.

And Qiao Hai obviously doesn't think he is worse than Phil Jackson, and being young is not a problem, and the team's poor performance during this period is just an accident under the influence of many parties, Qiao Hai believes that as long as Shaquille O'Neal returns, the Lakers will immediately get back on track.

But Qiao Hai wants to prove himself further, and he needs to add weight to himself.

"Joe, take this season well, the team won't treat you badly, don't worry, at the end of this season, the team will give you a lucrative contract as the chief assistant coach." Mitch Kupchak patted Qiao Hai on the shoulder, pretending to be comforted.

Qiao Hai smiled, no one could see the meaning of Qiao Hai's smile, only he knew that it was a sneer.

"Don't worry, Mitch, I'll take care of this season."

Leaving Mitch Kupchak's office, Johi decided to give himself an immediate boost, and he walked to the sidelines of the training ground and called Scott Pippen.

"Scott, come on."

I flipped through the buggy prop card in my backpack - Ragnarok, and thought: A peak Scott Pippen, this extra size should be enough, right?