On Saturday, October 4, 1997, the preseason season was about to begin, and the Knicks gave their players a day off.

After Li You had breakfast, he continued to read the news in the newspaper, and he liked to read text messages rather than watching TV.

Ivana, who sneaked out of the school, casually took a look in the apartment, and noticed that Li You deliberately marked the news of Apple stock, so she whispered:

"Microsoft bought 150 million non-voting shares, but the stock price still hasn't risen, you must lose money, and Apple's stock price may fall."

Putting down the newspaper, Li You looked at the blonde white rabbit with jeans and a red T-shirt, and deliberately joked:

"Has chapin school started teaching high school students to trade stocks?"

Seemingly disliking to be treated as a child, Ivana argued:

"The product is the key, will you buy a new Apple product? There is no market for their new products. ”

Looking at the choppy blonde white rabbit, Li You felt that the other party must be overnourished:

"Go to school obediently, and when you get to college, then go to research stocks!"

Li You took out the prepared lady's cigarette, lit it, raised his eyebrows and handed it over, hesitated for a moment, Ivana still took it, took two puffs, and was choked and coughed again.

Sensing that the blonde white rabbit was in a bad mood, Li You was not interested in being a spiritual mentor, so he hooked his hand at the other party, and then leaned into his ear and whispered:

"Take you to a good place at night!"

It seemed that she felt that she was making a mistake, but Ivana did not refuse in the end.

Tobacco and alcohol, combined with a vague nightlife, always make people forget their troubles.

...

The media in New York also noticed that there was something going on within the Knicks, Oakley's salary this season was $2.85 million, and the old guy's contribution must be much greater than that.

There's nothing wrong with seeking a big contract at the end of his career, but the Knicks are having a hard time meeting the veteran's needs.

However, unlike Pippen, although Oakley has conflicts with management, the old guys who adjust their mood in daily training and preseason games are still very hard.

After many years in New York, Oakley still has high expectations, hoping to get a big contract here through his excellent performances.

On the evening of October 9, Madison Square Garden, 92:106, in the preseason, the Knicks easily defeated the Celtics.

In the live mSG commentary seat, "The New York Voice" Marv Albert was gone, replaced by Mike Bryn.

Commentator Marv Alberttan, who was caught up in a peach scandal, was fired by the mSG, and New York fans will never hear from him again in the new season.

Knicks legend Walter Fraser was also on the commentator's bench, and the legendary guard will be paired with Mike Brin as the Knicks' home commentator for the new season.

The loud cheers of the New York fans at the scene seemed to make the legend fall into memory, but Mike Brin suddenly said:

"Lee's form is so good that he seems to be perfectly adapted to the intensity of the league compared to last season."

Coming back from the memories, Walter Fraser also whispered praise:

"Last season, I witnessed Lee's performance in the playoffs, and the stats don't tell the full story of what he's capable of."

"It is worth noting that after increasing the number of shots and increasing the playing time, Lee's efficiency has increased instead of decreasing, indicating that Li can also digest more balls!"

"Coach Van Gundy can enrich the team's tactics, and different opponents can play different tactical plays, which is conducive to the team's championship."

Mike Brin nodded his head, having watched Li You play on the spot, he completely understood why Hook would send a large sneaker contract:

"Several new signings have come on and shown, with Chris Mills being the starting forward for the Cavaliers last season and currently playing a bench role on the team."

"With a forward player who averages 13.4 points per game, I think we don't have to worry about the firepower of the bench this year."

Walter Fraser was also very satisfied with this, and said with some pride:

"Chris Childs, John Starks, Chris Mills, such an outside combination, can even be a starter in some weak teams!"

"The best time for the Knicks to win the championship this year, General Manager Grenfield did his job well, and we have plenty of roster depth."

“...”

Last season, he was a starter for the Cavaliers, and when he arrived at the Knicks, he directly became a substitute, and Chris Mills was naturally not in a beautiful mood.

In the starting lineup, Larry Johnson firmly occupies the small forward position, and the new signing just has a stomach full of grievances and does not dare to speak out in the locker room.

In a relaxed preseason, everyone has a chance, and Lee Woo has also met Chauncey Billups, and Tanhuaxiu is currently doing well with the Celtics.

Although the Celtics had previously planned to trade all of these newcomers in exchange for Tim Duncan, the deal was quickly rejected by the Spurs.

"This is our great opportunity! I have a hunch that we're going to win the championship! ”

Back in the dressing room, Oakley sat in his seat and shouted loudly, and the new atmosphere team, led by Pete Meyers, immediately followed suit:

"The Bulls are not going to do it, we will win the championship!"

Of course, Li You knows Oakley's calculations, and if he wins the championship this season, maybe the management will keep the squad for this, and the big contract will become within reach:

"We should establish home field advantage in the regular season."

Compared with the louder and louder atmosphere group, Li You simply gave his own suggestions.

At the beginning of the season, the Bulls were without Pippen, and the record was sure to fluctuate, and the Knicks only needed to seize the opportunity to open the win gap in one fell swoop and rush to the top spot.

Ewing is also very satisfied with his substitution, Chris Dudley is not a rookie, plus there is veteran Buck Williams behind him, and the interior strength has increased a lot compared to last season:

"We can play the Christmas war again this year, and the alliance has recognized our strength, Li is right, we must seize these two months!"

The gorilla is still the core leader of the team, and he took the initiative to speak out, and he was like a wave of sycophants for a while.

Several new signings are also convinced that Ewing, the top 50 superstars, the four centers, and the gorillas are a qualified leader most of the time.

Larry Johnson glanced at Li You depressedly, "Big Mom" had long expected this situation, the bald young marshal failed to make any changes, and the gorilla had to continue to be the core.

Alan Houston didn't notice the depressed look on "Big Mom's" face, and as long as he could win, he was happy to accept his current role.

Starks also followed with encouragement, and for a while, the Knicks atmosphere group simply borrowed the championship, and a few people just blew it!

In the next few preseason games, the Knicks kept winning and excelling, which also excited New York fans and the media.

The Bulls are infighting, the Knicks are in explosive form, and it goes without saying which is stronger or weaker.

On October 17th, after the preseason game with the Nets, the New York media began to borrow the championship!

It's just that no one pays attention to the Knicks at this time, everyone is waiting for the news of the Bulls, and no one wants to miss it.

This season, Michael Jordan's salary is as high as 33.14 million US dollars, which is currently the highest salary in the league!

And Pippen's salary this year is only 2.78 million US dollars, which can be called the second leader of the alliance's conscience.

The contradictions brought about by the American knife are irreconcilable, and more and more trade rumors are appearing in the Bulls.

...

Before the start of each season, mSG interviews the Knicks' key players.

The main reason for broadcasting such a program is to let New York fans know the strength of the team and understand the state of the core players.

Last season, Li You was just a newcomer, so he was naturally not eligible to be on TV, but the new season is different.

As a star player in the team, there is still a large sponsorship of hooks, and it becomes Li You who appears on TV.

The 19th happened to be the weekend, Li You was dressed in a light blue suit, and was interviewed by mSG, and the show was mainly about bragging x, and New York fans were just like that.

After Mike Brin served as a commentator, he interviewed Li You for the first time:

"Lee, can you talk about the Knicks' goals for the new season? Regardless of external factors, let's simply talk about the changes in the strength of the team. ”

Of course, Li You knew the preferences of New York fans, and after hearing the question, he confidently replied:

"Compared to last season, our bench was able to take on more scoring tasks."

"And expanding the rotation allows for better control of fitness, and last season, in the Eastern Conference Finals, fitness was the reason for our loss, and now, that has improved."

"Our goal is very clear, championship!"

"I don't think the Knicks are worse than the Bulls, in terms of lineup, we are younger, and the future is destined to belong to young people!"

Walter Fraser, who was on the side, was overjoyed when he heard it, as the legend of the team, his ass was already crooked, and he said happily at this time:

"As Lee said, this year is really a good chance for us to win the championship!"

"I believe Lee will be an All-Star in the new season! New York fans don't forget to vote! ”

The 1998 All-Star Game will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York, and Walter Fred can be regarded as canvassing for Lee in advance.

...

The Christmas War, the All-Star Game, the new season hasn't started yet, and the fans in New York are excited first!

Coupled with the news of the Bulls' infighting from time to time in major sports media, there are more and more articles about loan championships.

The Knicks, while also having contract issues, haven't been bothered too much this season.

On the morning of October 20, everyone in the Knicks completed the training session step by step, and there was basically no adjustment in tactics, and they continued to play the same way last season.

Jeff Van Gundy and the coaching staff are largely on the hook, only coaching the new signings on occasional runs.

Before the lunch break, everyone began to move at will, and Oakley saw that Ben Wallace was going to iron again, and subconsciously shook his head, and then said to Li You beside him:

'Ben is really talented, but it's hard to get too many chances in the team at the moment.

"I'll probably not be in the team next year, take care of him for two years, and if he doesn't get a contract then, then forget it."

Li You was a little surprised, the old guy wants to leave the team for a big contract? ：

"We really have a chance to win a championship, and staying with the Knicks is actually a better option."

Oakley didn't care about Li You's words, but said in a low voice:

"This is the last chance of my career to get a big contract."

"At 34 years old, my physical condition has started to decline, and with one injury, I may leave the league."

"Maybe Pat will get preferential treatment, but I don't get that treatment."

"Players play to make money, where there is more money, go there, never take a pay cut, never compromise with the team!"

Li You nodded, he felt the contradiction between the player and the team.

Playing well, the players want to get a decent salary, and the team naturally wants to squeeze the players in order to make a profit, and the memory in his mind tells Li You that the collective bargaining agreement will soon go wrong.

Suddenly thinking of his own situation, Li You knew that the future of the Knicks was terrible, but the team was very rich!

"Can't you have a big contract and a championship? ...”

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