The open tryouts were over.
people had officially gathered. As per the production team’s requirements, they would be moving into a training camp.
meters from the training camp, Chen Yu temporarily rented a closed-down nursing home to serve as the dormitory for all the players. Phoenix had plenty of similar nursing homes to choose from.
It was under closed management.
On a daily basis, they could play ball and enjoy recreational activities at the nursing home, or they could walk to the training camp, which had more professional training facilities.
The training camp itself was semi-closed. It featured centralized management, a lights-out policy, lodging for the production team, round-the-clock filming, and scheduled times when players were allowed to go out.
This rule was a last-minute decision.
Chen Yu was afraid of another incident like the Beasley fight.
With a group of young hotheads, things could easily go wrong if they weren’t managed properly.
Besides, their parents had entrusted them to him, so Chen Yu had to be responsible for their safety.
On the second day after the tryouts, the 126 players officially moved in.
The next phase of recording would only begin seven days later.
During these seven days, Chen Yu’s team would also move in to train them, arrange practice games, and help them get to know each other, all in preparation for the upcoming mock draft.
This way, Chen Yu could relax a bit and not worry about the show’s recording for the time being.
The footage from the open tryouts was currently being edited and produced. It would be aired at a later date after the Finals.
Everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion.
But the most important matter facing Chen Yu was the Finals.
In the first away game, the Phoenix Suns once again gave the Pistons no chance. O’Neal and Hardaway combined for 64 points, helping the team secure another victory.
The series score was now 2-1.
After Game 1, some media voices had emerged predicting the Suns’ decline, but now they had all fallen silent.
In the subsequent Game 4, the Pistons, seemingly aware that their backs were against the wall, played as if their lives depended on it. The entire game was a rollercoaster.
In the first quarter, the Pistons adjusted their defensive strategy, which made the Suns very uncomfortable. They were down by as many as 7 points in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Suns began a ferocious comeback, successfully taking the lead before halftime.
In the second half, the physical confrontation between the two teams reached its peak.
In the first half, Hardaway was kicked in a sensitive area while driving to the basket and had to rest on the bench for a few minutes. In the second half, this kind of physical play became even more frequent.
O’Neal was elbowed, and Marion was taken down to the floor with his arm locked.
Near the end of the third quarter, an enraged Rashid Wallace lost his cool and got into it with McDyess, nearly sparking a massive brawl.
Of course, the Suns didn’t just take it lying down. The sight of Billups leaving the court with a bloody forehead was proof enough of how strongly the Suns retaliated.
In the end, the Suns won 83-75. It was an incredibly ugly, fragmented game where the two teams combined for 58 fouls, but it secured them the match point and a 3-1 series lead.
「June 12th, Game 5 of the Finals began.」
The Pistons already had one foot in the grave. Before the game, Larry Brown told the media more than once that they were entering a war they had to win.
The fact that he used the word "war" was enough to show how seriously he was taking this game and how badly he wanted to win.
But in the end, a game was just a game.
The day before the game, Chen Yu received a call from Larry Brown, who invited him to meet and talk.
He drove his little sports car to a coffee shop downtown.
"Stu, what are you doing here?"
Chen Yu was taken aback when he saw the two men sitting across from him at the table.
Besides Larry Brown, there was another person: Stu Jackson, the NBA’s head of officiating.
After shaking hands with both of them, Chen Yu sat down, ordered a coffee, and studied them, wondering about the purpose of their visit.
’Could it be because Game 4 was so ugly, with all the fouls? Is that why Stu Jackson sought me out, to talk about the officiating standard for Game 5?’
’After all, the last game had a combined 58 fouls, including three technicals, all committed by bench players. Brown and Skiles were being sly about it.’
’And it almost led to a brawl.’
’This is the Finals, broadcast all over the world.’
’On top of that, the score was low, with constant fouls and free throws. The game was really not entertaining at all.’
After the game, major sports media outlets like Yahoo, Fox Sports, and ESPN all published articles criticizing both teams, calling the game ugly and unwatchable.
They said things like, ’When fans buy tickets or turn on their TVs, they want to see an exciting basketball game, not watch players fight. If they want to see a fight, they can just watch a boxing match.’
’The key thing is, even if that’s the reason, there’s no need for him to come to me.’
’He should go find Skiles.’
’As a minority owner of the team, I don’t handle this stuff.’
Stu Jackson was the first to speak, saying with a smile, "Chen, you must have seen the news. You know about the formation of the Dream Six Team, right?"
The moment Dream Six was mentioned, Chen Yu understood.
’Of course. Stu Jackson wouldn’t have come to me just because of the game.’
’So it’s about Dream Six.’
Chen Yu then remembered that Larry Brown was the head coach of the Dream Six Team.
And Stu Jackson, besides being an NBA official, was also the chairman of the United States Basketball Association’s selection committee, responsible for assembling the Dream Team and selecting its players.
"I haven’t been paying much attention, actually. You know how busy I’ve been lately. What’s up?" Chen Yu wasn’t just being polite; he really hadn’t been following news about the Dream Six Team.
In ’02, they suffered a disastrous defeat at the World Championship.
The United States Basketball Association was "outraged"!
Whether they were actually outraged didn’t really matter. The main thing was that the American people and the mainstream media felt they had lost face.
Putting aside how badly they lost, the mighty Dream Team actually had to play in the Copa America just to qualify for the Olympics.
’The Dream Team! It’s simply unimaginable.’
So last year, the Dream Six Team was reassembled, packed with stars, and they easily won first place.
Stu Jackson nodded. He knew Chen Yu had been very busy, with a bunch of stars coming to Phoenix to train, plus producing a show and running his clinic.
He also asked about the show.
"It’s coming soon. The first episode should have its trial broadcast on June 19th."
The Finals would be over soon, and the 19th was a Saturday. The first part of the open tryouts would air as a pilot.
Then the next episode would air on the 26th.
They would decide on the rest of the broadcast schedule based on the ratings.
It was perfect timing, as the mock NBA was set to start in July.
"In that case, I’ll be sure to tune in on time," Stu Jackson said with a smile, then got to the point.
Within a few sentences, Chen Yu understood.
He was asking Chen Yu for a favor.
He wanted Chen Yu to step in and persuade O’Neal, Hill, Hardaway, Tracy McGrady, Kobe, and J Kidd to play for the Dream Six Team.
He then went into detail about each player’s situation.
They had invited O’Neal, but he had rejected them outright. It was the same with Hardaway and Hill. Tracy McGrady and J Kidd had played in last year’s Copa America, but they didn’t want to come back this year.
As for Kobe, Vanessa was about to give birth, and he said he wanted to be with his wife.
Chen Yu fiddled with his coffee cup, secretly calculating.
’No wonder they came to me.’
’Hill, Tracy McGrady, and Hardaway—my relationship with those three is incredibly strong.’
’As for J Kidd and O’Neal, I can persuade them too.’
’With Kobe, I have enough clout to make it happen.’
And for stars a tier below them, my influence would be even greater.
’But why should I be the one to use up my social capital?’
The Dream Team competing wouldn’t benefit me in the slightest.
In the past, he had needed to build his reputation, so Chen Yu had joined the Football Association and accompanied the team to the ’02 World Cup. Later, he also joined the Basketball Association for the World Championship.
But with Chen Yu’s current reputation, he no longer needed to join the Basketball Association to gain any fame.
’If I go talk to them and get them to join, I’ll owe them favors.’
’And in the end, I won’t get anything out of it.’
’Especially in Kobe’s case. His son is about to be born. Making him go play in the Olympics would seem rather heartless.’
’Then there’s O’Neal. The offseason is when he lets loose. He doesn’t have the time to go play in the Olympics with the Dream Team.’
And if we’re talking about honors, O’Neal, Hardaway, and Hill already won Olympic gold medals in ’96. They don’t need another one.
Most importantly, there’s the issue of security.
That seemed to be a major concern for these stars as well.
Seeing Chen Yu remain silent and noncommittal, Stu Jackson glanced at Larry Brown, giving him a pointed look.
’You’re the head coach. You want good players, you want a gold medal. Aren’t you going to say a few nice words and beg Chen Yu?’
Larry Brown felt a surge of frustration. It was especially uncomfortable with Chen Yu sitting in front of him as the minority owner of the Phoenix Suns.
He didn’t actually care that much about the National Team’s results.
But if he lost tomorrow’s Finals game and the title of "championship coach," his heart would bleed.
"Chen, we lost so badly in ’02, and you were there to witness it firsthand. If we don’t win the gold medal at the Olympics this year, it will be a historically terrible outcome. So we really need your help," Brown said with a sincere expression, taking a deep breath to compose himself.
Chen Yu quickly scanned his memory for media reports, but he really didn’t have much of an impression about the formation of Dream Six.
However, Chen Yu soon recalled a piece of news.
"By the way, I saw a news report that said the Basketball Association also invited Ben and Richard. They’re your players, so they must be participating, right?" Chen Yu asked with a faint smile, turning the question back on him.
’If I remember that news correctly, the Basketball Association did invite Da Ben and Hamilton, and then those two turned them down.’
’You, Larry Brown, as the head coach of the Dream Team, can’t even persuade your own players. So why are you being generous at others’ expense, inviting players from other teams to join?’
’Or why don’t you take the lead and force Da Ben and Hamilton to participate?’
’As a no-nonsense head coach, surely you have at least that much pull, right?’
Larry Brown froze for a moment, then stammered an explanation, "I talked to them about it. They feel they aren’t skilled enough, and I personally don’t think they’re a good fit for the current roster."
’Give me a break,’ Chen Yu thought.
’Your Pistons fought their way to the Finals and even managed to snatch a game from the Five-star Phoenix Suns. If those two aren’t skilled enough, then don’t play them in the Finals.’
Chen Yu smiled. "Larry, honestly, the other national teams aren’t that strong. I don’t think it’s necessary for top-tier stars like Shaq and Anfernee to play. Regular stars are more than enough. Players like Ben, Richard, and Chauncey are all excellent two-way stars. If they’re willing to play, winning a gold medal shouldn’t be a problem."
Larry Brown was completely dumbfounded. How had Chen Yu turned the tables and cornered him like this?
"Also," Chen Yu added, turning to Stu Jackson, "it’s not a big deal if you lose. Us winning all the time isn’t necessarily a good thing for the development of basketball. Look, outside of the United States, basketball development in other countries has practically stagnated."
’You can’t win all the time. How boring would that be?’
Stu Jackson grew anxious. He felt that Chen Yu was just spouting nonsense to refuse him.
’What’s wrong with the Dream Team always winning?’
’And what does the stagnation of basketball in other countries have to do with this?’
"Alright, it’s about time. I have a surgery to get to, so I’ll be leaving now."
Chen Yu stood up, smiled, and took his leave.
’No benefits, and they still want to cash in on my connections for free. They’re really overthinking things.’
However, talking about the National Team made Chen Yu inexplicably think of China.
’If, one day in the future, the Chinese Men’s Basketball Team could have the same happy problem as the Dream Team—so many stars that they don’t know who to pick—then they would truly be a world-class powerhouse.’

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