After November, the Rockets ranked ninth in the West and were outside the playoffs, and in early December, Qiao Hai, who had been very laid-back, suddenly found that the media criticizing him suddenly increased.

In the first game of December, the Rockets lost to the Kings by a large score.

The headline of ESPN's post-game report reads like this - "The Rockets lost again, the winning rate was barely 50%, and they still haven't made the playoffs, Qiao Hai is no longer magical?" ”

Then, the Rockets won one against the Spurs and the Hornets, forcing a fifty-percent win rate.

The latest issue of Sports Illustrated's weekly magazine was released, and the front page was an analysis of rockets.

"With a 50% win rate, the Rockets are 1.5 wins away from the playoffs, are they considered a strong team?"

The above is the title, and this title is obviously questioning whether the Rockets are a strong team.

The core content of the article is an analysis of the schedule: "In the first 18 games of the season, the Rockets won 9-9, barely maintaining a 50% winning rate, and it seems that they still have a chance to make the playoffs, but if you look at the Rockets' schedule, you will find that in the first 18 games, the Rockets only met 9 playoff-level teams, and in 9 games, the Rockets only won 3 games. ”

"In other words, 9 of the Rockets' first 18 wins, 6 of which were won against non-playoff teams, are obviously not enough."

"After an easy start to the season, the Rockets will have a tough schedule, and that's when the Rockets really fall behind."

The criticism of Qiao Hai was placed at the end of the article.

The reporter of Sports Illustrated first affirmed Tang Shuai's ability: "Rudy Tomjanovic's coaching ability does not need to be questioned, leading the Rockets to win two championships is the result!" ”

Then he began to criticize Qiao Hai: "If the Rockets still miss the playoffs this season, the problem is obviously Qiao Hai's, and his poor operation in the summer has caused all this." ”

"Trading Catino Mobley led to Steve Francis being alone on the outside, and Yao Ming was selected in the draft, a first-round center who still failed to play as a starter......"

“……”

Soon, a reporter found Qiao Hai with an article from Sports Illustrated.

Qiao Hai's answer surprised everyone: "We are a strong team? No, we have never been a strong team, so there is no need for Sports Illustrated to analyze whether a team that is not a strong team is a strong team or not. ”

Of course, for such an answer, more journalists are speechless.

……

However, Qiao Hai's leisurely did not last too long after all.

After a 1-2 record in early December, the Rockets' record took a turn for the worse, losing back-to-back home games to the 76ers and Kings, and then, in the highlight game on December 13, the Rockets took on the Grizzlies on the road, and they lost again.

Counting the loss to the Hornets, it's a wave of 4 straight defeats.

In the blink of an eye, the Rockets couldn't even keep the ninth place in the West! , because of this wave of four consecutive defeats, they were directly overtaken by the supersonic speed and fell to the tenth place in the West, and the eighth-place Sun is also 3 wins behind!

……

……

Compaq Center, the Rockets, who had lost four in a row, were demoralized, and even the training was already listless, Qiao Hai stood in front of the small window of the office, watching Tang Shuai stand on the sidelines and roar a few times.

The players on the field didn't react, it was completely useless.

Qiao Hai smiled secretly, thinking in his heart.

"If the team continues to lose, it's time for Rudy to get out of class."

Outside the small window, on the training ground, Tang Shuai directly took Steve Francis, who was not serious in training, aside and reprimanded a few words.

Then, he suddenly turned his head and glanced at the small window of Qiao Hai's office.

Qiao Hai was startled, but soon, he smiled downstairs, Tang Shuai nodded to Qiao Hai, and then, Qiao Hai saw Tang Shuai walking towards the passage step by step.

A minute later, Qiao Hai saw Tang Shuai pushing the door in.

"Rudy, what's the matter?"

"Something." With that, Tang Shuai pulled out a chair and sat down.

Qiao Hai also returned to his position and sat steadily.

"The team needs to be traded."

"Deal?"

Qiao Hai frowned, at this time, Tang Shuai suddenly came to him and asked for a deal, and the meaning was a little indescribable.

"yes, we need a second outside scorer." Tang Shuai nodded heavily. "You saw the team's four-game losing streak, and the reason was that we didn't have a second outside scorer, and Steve Francis couldn't support an entire team's outside attack."

Qiao Hai continued to frown, but did not speak.

Tang Shuai saw that Qiao Hai didn't speak, and he continued: "If Catino is still here, I dare to say that our record is much better than now. ”

As soon as this sentence came out, Qiao Hai's expression changed to complete disgust: "So, Rudy, you mean that Ron and Jamal together can't compare to a Catino?" ”

"Isn't it?"

"Of course not, Ron is averaging 16.8 points per game and shooting 42.8% from the field so far this season, Jamal is averaging 10.7 points per game and shooting 41.3%, and Catino is averaging 17.5 points per game and shooting 43.4% from the field with the Bulls.

"Basketball can't look at the stats!"

"What do you look at without looking at the data? Look at the results? Jalen Ross plus Catino Mobley's bulls, how are they doing now? 6-15, worse than us! ”

Qiao Hai's anger has been stimulated, the reason is that Tang Shuai pointed out that Qiao Hai should not trade Mobley, he was already holding Qiao Hai accountable, perhaps, Tang Shuai really thought that the rocket's record was caused by Qiao Hai's trading operation, but Qiao Hai even thought that Tang Shuai was going to throw the pot on Qiao Hai's head.

But in the end, Qiao Hai calmed down.

Tang Shuai was still chattering: "Jalen Rose's ability can't be compared with Steve, so the combination of him and Catino is naturally no better than the combination of Steve and Cateno......"

Qiao Hai quickly interrupted Tang Shuai's words, and stopped arguing: "Deal, I will do it, but Rudy, you should know that we don't have any leverage, so don't get your hopes up......"

After sending Tang Shuai away, Qiao Hai sighed.

However, he quickly dialed Kevending's phone.

"Kevin, I'll give you a big ......"

Kevending, who was on the other side of the phone, quickly recorded the big news given by Qiao Hai, and said, "I will arrange someone to report as soon as possible." ”

"It's better to include a photo." Qiao Hai finally reminded him, and then changed the topic to the other side: "By the way, there is one more thing to trouble you, help me find a professional negotiation manager as soon as possible, I want to use it." ”

"Okay."

Qiao Hai hung up the phone.

Then, leaning back in his chair, he let out a heavy sigh of relief.

For Qiao Hai, making this call means that the plan he didn't want to use before has been implemented......