While the rocket was still conducting spontaneous training, the labor dispute was also in its final moments.

On December 23, 1998, the eve of Christmas Eve, Stern announced that January 7, 1999 was the deadline for negotiations, and that the entire season would be cancelled after that date.

All of a sudden, it caused a split within the players' union, and some low- and middle-income players could no longer wait, they needed to support their families.

Ewing, then the chairman of the players' union, was forced to and the then vice president Billy? Hunter discusses countermeasures.

In the end, the compromise proposed by the coalition could only be accepted, and on January 6 Billy? Hunt accepted the league's compromise on behalf of the players' union.

Tiger, who was far away in Houston, looked at the TV report and Amy next to him and said: "Amy, in fact, when everyone can solve this kind of thing by taking one step, it has to be noisy for so long, and the final loss is still the labor and management and the fans. ”

Amy leaned on Tiger's body and said, "Yes, in fact, everyone chatted calmly and put forward a plan acceptable to both parties, isn't it very good, you have to fight to the death, and in the end you still have to fight, the loss is still yourself, what do you say they want." ”

Tiger looked at the beauty beside him and said with a smile: "Amy, if there is no war in the world with an idea like yours, this is a conflict of interests, the players want to get a higher salary so that they can live a worry-free life when they can't play, and the owner of the team wants to limit the player's salary to ensure their own interests." It's like an endless loop, both sides need interests to maintain their own lives, so there is only such a contest, there is no way. ”

Amy looked at her lover and asked, "What about your rockets, I look good at the rockets, there are not so many disputes, I see the players spontaneously training every day, just like when there are normal games." ”

Tiger got up from the sofa, walked to the coffee table, opened the bottle of wine, poured himself a glass, and said: "Amy, you must know that Team Rocket is not the rocket of the past, the current rocket is already a powerful gold-sucking beast, he has his own roots all over the world, and the income of the rocket is now more than 3 times that of an ordinary NBA team in the United States, and this does not include the income of the overseas division of the rocket." That's a pretty big number when you count it all. Therefore, the rocket is not afraid, the rocket has its own powerful hematopoietic function, and the most important thing is that behind the rocket stands me, a predator in the financial world, who dares to provoke me. ”

Amy tilted her head to look at Tiger, and said coquettishly: "Oh, I don't see that our Tiger still has such a great deterrent." ”

Tiger looked at Amy's teasing eyes and sneered: "Hehe, isn't this just bragging, don't take it seriously, don't take it seriously." ”

Looking at Amy, who was smiling on the side, Tiger could only pounce on a hungry tiger and take practical action to punish Amy.

A night without words, a night of romance.

The next day, Tiger, who was still lazy in bed, was in the middle of a fugue when he was awakened by a phone call.

Looking at the number on the phone, Tiger was helpless, so he could only pick it up lazily and said, "Paul, is your kid sick, what time is it in the morning, and Lao Tzu is still in bed." ”

When Paul on the other end of the phone heard this, he was stunned and said, "Oh, I'm sorry, Tiger, I'm now basking in the sun and watching beautiful women on the golden beaches of Australia, and I forgot about jet lag." ”

Tiger was speechless, and could only say in a helpless tone: "Say, what's the matter with you kid." ”

Paul smiled and said, "Man, don't you want to be like this, the new season is about to start, is our trade possible?" ”

Tiger turned over on the field and said, "Of course you can, if you kid doesn't want to, forget it, I don't want to let him go." ”

When Paul heard this, he immediately said, "Then I can inform my general manager that it can be carried out." ”

Tiger picked up a glass of water at the head of the bed, took a sip and said, "Whatever you want." ”

When Paul heard this, he was happy, and quickly thanked him, and then said to Tiger very interestingly that his private yacht would be open to him at any time if he had the opportunity in the future.

Tiger pouted on the phone, didn't say any nonsense, and hung up the phone directly.

Then, cover your head and continue to laze into bed.

While Tiger was still lazy, all the teams in the league started to move.

Because it has been suspended for too long, some deals that have been negotiated in private can be brought to the table immediately.

Other teams in the league that have coveted the Rockets' young players for a long time have begun to make offers to the Rockets, hoping to get the players they want.

But the rocket was resolutely unmoved, just with Jacques? Vaughn swapped the Trail Blazers' John? Crotty. Then, the Rockets immediately announced that they had laid off John? Crotty.

The Rockets announced their strong return with an unprecedented stability.

Although, Jacques? Vaughn is not very willing to leave the Rockets, but the salary of 2.8 million for 3 years given by the Trail Blazers is something he can't refuse, and he can guarantee his position as the main bench, such a condition is really nothing to say for a role player.

Unexpected things happened one after another at the Trail Blazers, who changed their team doctor and formed a rocket-like kinesiology laboratory to ensure the health of the players.

Sabonis underwent the most comprehensive and detailed examination, and did the most comprehensive training and physical rehabilitation plan according to his physical condition, so that the aging Sabonis once again rejuvenated.

Rashid? Wallace, Kevin? Cato, Jermaine? O'Neal, these three are listed as non-tradable by Trail Blazers management.

Then, a dazzling array of trades brought the Trail Blazers Mike? Bibby, Rassad? Lewis and Reuben? Patterson, three rookies of the year.

Sent Greg away? Anthony, Gary? Grant, Rogers? Players such as Carlos and Wells began to rebuild.

However, the current Trailblazers are also not to be underestimated, although they have lost some old guys, but Damon? Stoudeyer and Isaiah? Ryder, the main backcourt combination is still there, Rashid? Wallace and Sabonis are still around, and with Cato and O'Neal Jr. maturing, the future of this team is really good.

Plus a rich boss, a good coach.

The Trail Blazers are already qualified to challenge all the strong teams in the league.

Just as the Trail Blazers began to recruit with great fanfare, another powerhouse in the West was also taking shape.

That is the Kings, as soon as the regular season ended in May '98, the Kings traded their star Richmond and Thorpe to Chris? Webb, in addition to this year's rookie Williams, known as 'White Chocolate', as well as Divac, Peja, Pollard, Joan? Barry and a group of kings who later became swordsmanlike have begun to gather.

With the addition of Adelman, the king began to be reborn.

Such a change may only be understood by Tiger himself.

The Rockets' preparations have suddenly intensified, because there is still a month to go before a 99-year league starts.

Looking at the matchup situation, the first game is to compete with the Lakers' shark, and then go to Golden State, and the season starts with two consecutive away games.

Rockets are really lucky.

No matter, anyway, there is still a month to go, so wait slowly.

Time passed day by day, and the cooperation between the rockets became more and more tacit.

The two newcomers in this year's draft also showed their strength, Matt? Halprin was later known as a villain, and now he is still very shy, as a rookie on the sideline, with a decent body, fierce defense, good movement speed, a variety of face frame attack methods, plus accurate shooting, so that Lao Tang is very satisfied.

And the offensive guard named Mobley is also very potential, with fast breaks, accurate pull-up jump shots, and a good three-point shot, which makes Lao Tang not have to worry about anything in scoring guards.

Just as the Rockets were waiting for the new season to come, a trade shook the league again, and Pippen left the Trail Blazers.

This result made Tiger, who was far away in Houston, stunned, and then began to sigh at the strength of history.

However, this year's Trail Blazers' ball distribution is a bit of a look, Mike? Dunleaver was a little tricky.

However, it's good to think about it, there is such a top 50 superstar player pressing the field, and there is really nothing that can't be stopped, and with the help of Sabonis, it seems that the West is not so easy to mix this year.

However, Tiger was still a little weak-hearted, and asked Lao Tang when it was time.

Old Tang glanced at Tiger and said, "It doesn't matter who he is, we just need to do our job." ”

Although the words were simple, the tone in the words was domineering, and Tiger immediately thought about it, yes, don't care what others do, do your best.

As long as we are strong, foreign objects will not be able to defeat us.

In the process of everyone looking forward to the stars and the moon, the competition of the 99 season officially began.

On February 6, 1999, at the Great Western Forum Arena, the Rockets visited their first opponent, the Los Angeles Lakers.

Looking at the apparently fat shark, Olajuwon stepped forward and hugged O'Neal.

And said softly: "I said Shaq, you kid didn't eat less this holiday, isn't it like a shark now, and has begun to transform into a humpback whale." ”

As soon as O'Neill heard this, he was happy, and whispered: "Okay, Hakim, I know that you are all training on your own initiative during the holidays and shutdowns, and I don't know how good your boss is, so hardworking. ”

When Olajuwon heard this, he was also happy at the time, and teased O'Neill: "Yes, you kid can't even wear the biggest underwear at home, this is not new news." ”

When O'Neill heard this, his eyes turned red, and he said hatefully: "Don't let me find out who said it, if I let me know, I will definitely let him die an ugly death." ”

Olajuwon looked at O'Neill's living treasure and said with a smile: "Okay, man, get ready for the game, see what new tricks you have learned in the past six months." ”

O'Neill said firmly: "Hakim, we won today's game. ”

Looking at O'Neill, who was confident and slow, Olajuwon didn't speak, just smiled.

However, the contempt of the smile could be seen even by a fool, and O'Neill's teeth 'gurgled as he saw it'.

Olajuwon didn't play with O'Neill, turned around and started to get ready to play.

The first game of the new season for the Rockets is about to begin.

(To be continued)