Chapter 675 - 600: He Must Know What You Have Sacrificed for Him

Chapter 675: Chapter 600: He Must Know What You Have Sacrificed for Him

"Morning!"

Chen Yu, coffee in hand, greeted people along the way as he walked to his office at the clinic.

As usual, he first cleared out the dozens of work emails in his inbox. Only then did Chen Yu have a moment to rest, picking up the day’s newspaper from his desk.

The *Arizona Republic* had dedicated a considerable section to analyzing yesterday’s season opener.

It said Nowitzki’s performance was outstanding and the newly traded players were also quite good, but between the lines, there was a sour undertone.

It was as if they were saying, ’Remember our strength a few years ago? Beating the Magic was a sure thing; we’d just wipe the floor with them.’

And now? They were trailing the whole time and couldn’t even catch up.

Sure, the Magic weren’t a weak team, but compared to the last two years, the Phoenix Suns had lost a lot of their dominance.

Of course, they didn’t complain openly.

The team had won three consecutive championships, turning the Phoenix Suns into a powerhouse. What more could the fans be dissatisfied with?

It was just that they had gotten used to dominating the league, and the sudden decline in strength was a bit hard to adjust to.

At the end of the report, they also took a shot at Chen Yu, saying that he had too many business ventures now and wasn’t as focused on the team.

In the past two years, Chen Yu had practically worked alongside the team, keeping them perpetually healthy and the players always at peak condition.

Chen Yu pretended he didn’t see it and picked up another newspaper.

He was surprised to find that many media outlets were reporting on the Phoenix Suns with a sense of schadenfreude.

Between the lines, there was a palpable sense of relief, as if a great mountain that had been pressing down on every other team in the league had finally been removed.

The *Los Angeles Times*, for instance, didn’t spare any praise, lavishing it on Yao Ming. They claimed this year was the perfect time for the Lakers’ dynasty to be revived and even started chanting the "Lakers for champions" slogan.

And Los Angeles wasn’t the only one making such claims.

Reading between the lines of the *Orlando Sentinel*, they might as well have put "Magic for Champions" in the front-page headline.

To this, Chen Yu could only say, ’After Lu Bu’s death, everyone thinks they have the courage of Lu Bu.’

After finishing the newspapers and handling some more work, the players from both teams started arriving around ten in the morning.

Even though the new season had just begun, since they were in Phoenix, they couldn’t pass up the convenient opportunity for body maintenance.

Of course, Hill, Tracy McGrady, and the others came too.

This "unhealthy trend" of visiting teams seeking out Chen Yu for body maintenance during away games still hadn’t died down.

When Chen Yu hurried to the rehabilitation center, veterans like Hill and Tracy McGrady were already starting their maintenance routines, knowing the place like the back of their hands.

The facility was fully equipped with apparatus for recovery exercises, as well as numerous high-tech devices for physical recuperation.

"Chen, I saw that patch of lawn next door. Have you ever considered building a training facility there? It wouldn’t have to be very big, just a place to do some recovery training," Alvin Gentry suggested, stroking his chin.

Last summer, he left the Fast Ship.

After taking a year off, he had been looking for a head coaching job.

But there are only so many teams in the NBA. It’s one spot per person, so you really have to wait for an opportunity.

This was also why Rivers was willing to forget the past and was grateful to Chen Yu. Without Chen Yu’s recommendation, he would still just be an assistant coach, and after a few years, he might have never gotten another chance to be a head coach.

With the Magic unable to make a breakthrough, the management inevitably started to think the head coach was the problem.

’You, Paul Plessey, were always assistant coach material.’

So, the Magic changed coaches over the summer. After some consideration, they ultimately chose Gentry.

The main reason was likely that he had worked with Hill on the Pistons. Hill had a falling out with Doug Collins, and after Collins was fired, Gentry took over and briefly coached Hill.

Secondly, Gentry excelled at offense.

The Magic had Tracy McGrady, one of the top four shooting guards, and one of the league’s best small forwards. In the management’s view, they didn’t lack offensive firepower, so they should find an offensive coach to properly hone it.

As for defense, they kept Paul Plessey on the coaching staff.

The defensive side of things was still Paul Plessey’s responsibility.

Chen Yu rolled his eyes at Gentry and teased, "Alvin, if you other teams are paying for it, I have no objections."

’You guys are the ones who insist on coming here for maintenance after your away games, and now you’re asking me to build a training facility for you? What are you thinking?’

Gentry wasn’t bothered in the slightest. His eyes darted as he muttered, "Well, it’s not entirely out of the question."

A training facility costs a few million US dollars. With 29 teams in the league, if each team chipped in a little, it would be more than enough.

After all, all the teams would share it.

Chen Yu ignored his nonsense and, as usual, got to work helping all the players with their maintenance.

Things like Hill’s ankle, McGrady’s back, and Hardaway’s knee all needed careful attention.

On a soft mat, Chen Yu held Hardaway’s arm, helping him with a back stretch, and then said, "Anfernee, we’re the best of friends, so I’m just going to be direct with you."

Hardaway turned his head to look at Chen Yu and nodded.

Chen Yu didn’t hold back, explaining all the concerns about the team’s core and from the management.

With their relationship, they could just say whatever was on their minds.

Hardaway’s expression grew a little more serious. He thought for a moment and said, "Yesterday’s game felt pretty awkward for me."

With the old Phoenix Suns, the priority was always to get the ball to O’Neal. All he had to do was work to create scoring opportunities for O’Neal.

If O’Neal didn’t have a chance, then he would try to take the shot himself.

In crunch time, whoever had the hot hand would take over the game.

It was simple, and the roles were clearly defined.

But playing in yesterday’s game, Hardaway truly felt it was awkward.

There were a few times when he clearly passed the ball to Nowitzki, who had a good opportunity, but Nowitzki just didn’t take the shot and passed it back.

Hardaway had found it strange. He knew Nowitzki was called a "softie," but he thought that was because of his terrible defense. He’d never heard of him being too soft to take a shot.

Now he understood where the problem was.

"Dirk is only 26, right?" Hardaway suddenly remarked, looking up at Nowitzki jogging on a distant treadmill.

"Yeah."

Chen Yu nodded and changed his position.

Youth is an asset. A seven-year age gap is no small thing.

After a moment of thought, Chen Yu added, "Anfernee, don’t overthink it. This is purely for tactical reasons. In the locker room, you’re still the leader. And I can tell you this: as long as you don’t want to leave the Phoenix Suns yourself—say, to go back to Memphis..."

Hardaway’s hometown was Memphis.

"...then there will always be a place for you on the Phoenix Suns, and they will definitely retire your jersey."

As a true hero of the three-peat, they wouldn’t trade him for anyone.

And it was quite a coincidence, like history repeating itself. Back then, the Magic chose Hardaway and sent O’Neal away. Now, the Phoenix Suns had also chosen to keep Hardaway and sent O’Neal away.

Chen Yu’s words were tantamount to a statement from the management.

He entered the league in ’93, gave his all for the Magic, and then came to Phoenix dejectedly with an injured leg.

In these few years, he had settled in Phoenix, won championships, and earned every honor available to him.

You could say that Phoenix was his second home.

People always have a special feeling for their hometown, so hearing Chen Yu’s words, Hardaway was a bit moved. He thought for a moment more, then smiled. "It’s fine. I was never cut out to be the top guy anyway."

The media always discussed how he was just Jordan’s successor, but could never truly become Jordan because he lacked a certain leadership quality.

During the first championship run, Hardaway tried to be the leader.

But after O’Neal arrived, Hardaway discovered he was more suited to being the second-in-command.

Giving up his position as the team’s core wasn’t something he couldn’t accept.

Chen Yu nodded, reached out and pulled him up, preparing to go talk with Nowitzki together.

"I have to go too?" Hardaway asked, stunned.

"Of course."

Chen Yu’s expression was serious. "At the very least, we have to let Dirk know what you’re sacrificing for him."