Chapter 226: Rain Man’s Wild Words

"So Willis, which round do you think the Knicks will fall in?" Bill Walton asked.

Willis Reed thought for a while and said: "According to what the media has learned and the medical doctor's introduction, Feilong needs a month for the wound to heal. Although the ribs are not broken, it still needs time to recover. Then The Eastern Conference Finals have already begun.

To be honest, we might not be able to get through the second round without the Feilong.

But no matter what, even if we sacrifice this playoff, we don't want Feilong to play with injuries. He is too young and has a lot of future. As long as he stays healthy, the Knicks' future will be very bright.

Here, I also hope that all Knicks fans will not force Feilong to play with injuries when the playoffs are unfavorable. That is definitely not a good idea. "

"Actually, in the absence of Iron Man, the first thing you have to consider is the first round, not the second round." Bill Walton reminded.

"No, no, I think even if there is no flying dragon, there will be no problem if we fight the Cavaliers." Willis Reed said.

Bill Walton said: "Although the Cavaliers are seventh in the Eastern Conference, they are not weak. Rainman Kemp was traded to the Cavaliers this season, and he is still an All-Star.

His inside partner is Iron Man's draft pick of the same year, Big Z, the No. 20 pick in the first round of 1996. After he was drafted in 1996, he officially signed with the Cavaliers this season. This season he started 81 games and played in 82 games, averaging 29 minutes, 14 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. His performance was quite good.

Of course, the Cavaliers' outside strength is average, which is something the Knicks can take advantage of. "

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said: "As for the Knicks' interior, in order to train new players, Oakley's playing time has been reduced this season. The two new interior players are both defensive, but I'm afraid no one can guarantee whether they can withstand Rain Man's violent impact. .

In fact, if they can't stop the rain, I'm not very optimistic that the Knicks can make it past the first round. "

Black Seven, after hearing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s last words, this word flashed through the minds of those who watched this show.

Zhao Dong touched the wound on his right chest and felt an itchy feeling.

He also agreed with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Without him, the Knicks' inside line has no offensive ability at all. Even if Oakley returns to the main position, he will not have the ability to attack in the low post.

Therefore, the Knicks' offense is all perimeter offense and will not be very efficient.

What's more, the shooting of Alan Houston, John Starks, and Billups are all insane and not stable at all.

The Cavaliers' first and second offensive points are Rain Man and Big Z. They are all offensive at the basket, and their efficiency will be far higher than that of the Knicks' perimeter.

In this case, the Knicks are really likely to fall in the first round.

"System, will my wound heal in advance?" Zhao Dong asked tentatively.

"The host has level 100 immunity to injuries and illnesses that exceeds human limits, and its recovery ability is one to three times that of ordinary people, depending on the severity of the injury," the system said.

"real?"

Zhao Dong's mood quickly improved.

His injury should be classified as a moderate injury, so he can recover at twice the speed.

It took a month to heal, but now?

"System, to be more precise, how many days will it take?" He was not good at math and couldn't figure it out, so he asked immediately.

"It will take a week to heal," the system said.

"Including ribs?"

"yes."

Zhao Dong was delighted. Today is the 19th, the first round starts on the 23rd, g2 will fight on the 25th, and g3 will fight on the 27th. He should be able to catch up with the g3 game.

Now in the first round, there are still three wins out of five. As long as he comes back in the G3 game, there will be no problem in winning the first round.

The next day, ESPN announced the latest ranking of predictions for winning chances. The Knicks, who were originally second, were missing and were ignored by ESPN.

At noon that day, Wells arranged for a doctor to come to Zhao Dong's house to change Zhao Dong's dressing. At the same time, Grant also came over to take a look at the situation.

"There is no inflammation and the condition is good."

The doctor opened the gauze and checked the situation.

"Honey, does it hurt?" Lindsay's eyes turned red again when she saw the gunshot wound on her chest.

"It doesn't hurt, this little injury is nothing." Zhao Dong smiled without changing his expression.

At this time, the doctor was very surprised and said: "The muscles grow very fast, very fast, and heal very well."

"This is a good thing!" Wells and Grant said in surprise.

"This has exceeded the normal healing speed. It seems that Feilong, you are indeed the Iron Man hiding among us." The doctor made a joke.

"This shows that Feilong has a superhuman physique." Wells said with a smile.

The doctor nodded and said: "I treated a man who was shot a few years ago. He was a white man. His injuries were much more serious than Feilong's. His physique belongs to that of a true superman, and his healing speed is several times faster than that of ordinary people. Ordinary people need The wound that took dozens of days to heal was almost healed in two weeks, which is really amazing!”

"Then do you think Feilong's wounds can heal in advance?" Grant asked happily.

Now the morale of the Knicks is beyond mention. From the management to the coaching staff, from the players to the fans, everyone is in frustration.

But if Zhao Dong can come back early, that will be the best news.

The doctor smiled and said: "Today is only the second day. It's not clear yet. It needs continuous observation. But it is certain that Iron Man will not need a month."

Grant nodded, calmed down and said to Zhao Dong: "You still have to fully recover before you can come back. You must not play with injuries. We would rather lose this playoff than agree to your early comeback."

He thought clearly that even if Zhao Dong could come back early, he would not be able to make it to the first round. With the Knicks' current strength, it would be difficult to get past the first round, so there was no need for Zhao Dong to come back early.

Time came to the 22nd, and the Knicks' first round began on the second day. At 10 o'clock in the morning, Grant and Wells once again accompanied the doctor and rushed to Zhao Dong's home.

The two of them were in a good mood, because Zhao Dong's wound healing was very ideal, or it exceeded the ideal, reaching the extraordinary healing speed that the doctor said.

After opening the gauze, the doctor only took one look and said with a smile: "The muscle growth is so ideal. I have really met the second physical superman. Feilong, you are really Iron Man. I think in another week, you will be able to Your wound will fully recover."

"marvelous!"

Wells and Grant were excited.

Grant didn't say anything this time to tell Zhao Dong not to come back early.

As long as the Knicks are not swept in the first three games and dragged to G4 or G5, there is still hope for Zhao Dong to return at the end of the month.

The three of them discussed it and decided to just inform the news internally and not announce it to the public.

Now that the Knicks have no morale, this news can boost the team's morale.

At the same time, concealing the news that Zhao Dong may come back early can prevent the Cavaliers from being prepared to prevent them from sweeping the Knicks.

"Tell them that I will play G4 at the latest and come back on the 29th, so they can hold on."

Zhao Dong was sure that he could come back in the G3 game on the 27th, but he was worried about leaks within the team, so he also laid an ambush for his own people.

After Grant left, Ringo Wells told Zhao Dong the news that Hummer wanted Zhao Dong to become their global spokesperson.

"They said they can produce a unique model for you, like a signature sneaker, or call it Iron Man-Hummer."

"How much does it cost? I'm not interested in anything less." Zhao Dong asked directly.

"They offered an endorsement fee of 50 million US dollars a year, but I didn't negotiate with them. Doesn't that mean you are unwilling to accept the endorsement? Then I will negotiate with them right now?"

Seeing that Zhao Dong did not refuse directly, Wells said very excitedly.

No wonder he wasn't excited. He could get 10% of the endorsement fee. If he signed an endorsement contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars, he could get tens of millions of dollars.

"Let's talk."

Zhao Dong doesn't care about being authentic.

"What about the movie rights?" Wells asked tentatively.

"Let's talk, let's talk." Zhao Dong said helplessly.

It doesn’t cost him anything anyway, so let’s make some extra money.

Grant rushed back to the training base, first invited the team reporters out, and then talked about Zhao Dong's situation with Nelson and other coaching staff. The coaches were ecstatic.

Grant then informed all the players of the news.

"Feilong can really come back in the G4 game? That's great!"

"He is indeed an Iron Man."

"Long live the boss."

After the players got the news, they were inexplicably surprised, and their morale immediately soared.

"Do you understand that this information is strictly prohibited from being leaked to the outside world?" Grant said with a stern expression.

"Understood." Everyone said.

Old Nelson said at this time: "Now we have to work hard in the first three games. As long as we are not swept, once Feilong returns, we will definitely have a chance to advance to the second round."

"Sweep? Just rely on the knight? We will definitely be able to hold on until the flying dragon, no, the return of Iron Man." A fierce aura appeared on Oakley's face.

At noon that day, the Cavaliers arrived in New York and held a media conference at the hotel.

Although he was traded to the Cavaliers just this season, Rainman is the team's biggest star and has still become the boss of the Cavaliers. He is the main target of reporters' interviews.

"Rain Man, are you confident about playing against the Knicks in the first round?" a reporter asked.

"We are not only in Black Seven, but we are also going to sweep the Knicks." Rainman Shawn Kemp said excitedly.

"Black Seven? Sideswipe?"

All the reporters were surprised and then excited.

"Why do you sweep the Knicks?" New York Knicks team reporter Thomas questioned.

"With just me and Big Z, we can blow up their insiders." Rainman shouted.

"Aren't you worried about Feilong's early comeback?" a reporter asked.

"Do you really think he is Iron Man?" Rain Man said disdainfully.

Under the arrangement of James Dowland, a reporter from New York TV station went to Zhao Dong's home to interview him, and it was broadcast live on TV.

"Feilong, Rainman said he wants to sweep the Knicks. Do you think he can achieve this wish?" the reporter asked.

"Why don't you ask me what I think of Hei Qi?"

"Black Seven is a done deal, isn't it?"

"Then what I want to tell you is that we reject Black Seven, and we refuse to be swept away." Zhao Dong said.

"Refuse to be hacked! Refuse to be swept away..."

"Enter the second round and wait for Iron Man to return!"

Zhao Dong's interview inspired many Knicks fans. A large number of fans ran to the team headquarters and training base and shouted various slogans.

The next day, the first round of G1 match day.

There are four games in the Eastern and Western Conferences on this day, including the Knicks facing the Cavaliers at home.

This morning, the New York media was frantically hyping the news that the Knicks were about to be swept by the Cavaliers.

"Black Seven is a foregone conclusion, the Knicks are about to be swept, the only thing we can do is look forward to the return of Iron Man!" New York Times.

"Black Seven is not a foregone conclusion, the Knicks refuse to be swept." New York Sports.

Another influential New York Business News reported on Zhao Dong, but the focus of this newspaper was not on the game, but on the commercial impact of Zhao Dong's shooting.

It wrote in the report: “Since the launch of the All-Star Silver Devils generation, the stock prices of companies such as Nike and Adidas have fallen by 30% and 35% in two months, and Reebok has fallen by 40%. .

The reason why the stock price plummeted was that within two months, the sales volume of the Silver Devil Generation in North America reached 3.7 million pairs. It cut off the market share of brands such as Adidas, Nike, and Reebok in the North American market, reaching an astonishing 18%.

On the afternoon of the 19th, Feilong was shot. On the morning of the 20th, Nike's stock price rose sharply by 7%. As of today, the stock price has increased by 17%. Other companies are in a similar situation.

What does this mean? This means that Feilong’s influence in the NBA and basketball world has expanded to the business and financial circles.

But what I want to remind investors is that Feilong did not suffer an injury that affected his career. Both of his gunshot wounds can be recovered 100%.

The performance of the Silver Devil generation is superior to that of brands like Nike and Adidas, so when Feilong comes back, the stock prices of companies like Nike and Adidas will definitely reproduce the trend of the past two months..."

"Lindsay, please notify Beijing and ask them to immediately launch an Iron Man playoff shoe. We will definitely hit the stock price of Nike and Adidas."

Zhao Dong read the report in detail, showed it to Lindsay, and said in a teasing tone.

"The headquarters has developed several models of Silver Demon, and special models can be launched at any time. Just make some modifications. There is no technical problem. However, you have to purchase the copyright to use the Iron Man name from Marvel." Lin Sai smiled.

"That's impossible. Silver Devil uses the name Iron Man to promote the popularity of this comic character. They also make money, so they have to pay us." Zhao Dong said with a smile.

At six o'clock in the evening, after dinner, Lindsay drove to Madison Square Garden with Zhao Dong.

"Sweep and be hacked seven! Refuse to be swept! Advance to the second round..."

At this time, Madison Square Garden was already overcrowded outside. Zhao Dong's truce and the Knicks' loss of hope for the playoffs did not affect the enthusiasm of the fans, and slogans continued one after another.

"Although Knicks fans are very harsh on the players, they still care about the team."

When the car passed outside, Zhao Dong sighed when he saw the enthusiastic fans.

"Oh, it's Fei Long? No, it's Iron Man."

"Feilong, is your injury almost healed? How long will it take for you to come back?"

"Feilong, does it really take a month to come back?"

In order not to affect the healing of the wound, Zhao Dong sat in a wheelchair. When he appeared in the underground parking lot, the staff and security personnel he saw ran over and started asking questions.

"Okay, let's all disperse and go to work." Grant and several senior managers were already waiting there and immediately dispersed them.

"Miss Lindsay, please let me come."

"Thanks!"

Grant took the wheelchair and personally pushed Zhao Dong out of the underground parking lot.

"Feilong, without you, our ticket prices are 30% lower than last season." President of Operations Lewis smiled helplessly.

"How are the Knicks' jersey sales in China?" Zhao Dong suddenly asked.

"It's very good. Our jersey sales in China are the best in the league. Your sales alone are twice as much as the sales of all the stars in the league combined." Lewis said excitedly.

At the door of the home team's locker room, Nelson and Van Gundy were very happy when they saw Zhao Dong.

"Hey, gentlemen, look who's here?" Thibodeau opened the door to the locker room and shouted inside.

"Oh ho, our boss is here!"

"Welcome Iron Man!"

When all the players saw Zhao Dong, they immediately started shouting.

Zhao Dong did not sit down anymore. He came today to boost morale. They all arrived in the locker room, and he was still sitting in a wheelchair. That was not a boost to morale, but a demoralization.

"Feilong, be careful." Grant shouted immediately.

"Boss, be careful." All the teammates also shouted.

Zhao Dong waved his hand and stood at the door of the locker room and said to everyone: "Listen up, no matter whether we win or lose today, we have to show our morale and let the whole world see that we are still the iron-blooded team. The Knicks are trying to defend their championship, do you understand?"

"Understood." The players shouted loudly.

Zhao Dong nodded and shouted loudly: "In a word, you can lose anything, but morale cannot be lost. If anyone disgraces the Knicks' face on the court, then this team will not be able to tolerate him, do you understand?"

"Understood." Everyone shouted together.

"Ben, Danny..."

Zhao Dong looked at Ben Wallace and Danny Fortson again.

"Boss?"

The two of them looked at Zhao Dong nervously.

"You and Charles are our inside gates. In this game, I want to see your toughest defense. I want to see the Rainmen not dare to attack our basket recklessly. I want to see the big Z getting closer and closer to the basket." It’s getting further and further away, understand?”

"clear."

The two clenched their fists and yelled.

"Morale has really improved!" Old Nelson sighed outside.

Under Zhao Dong's encouragement, the Knicks' morale soared significantly. Although it was not as good as when he was here, it was a world of difference compared to the previous few days.

After staying in the locker room for a while, Zhao Dong left and went to the stadium with Lindsay.

"ah!"

"Flying dragon! Flying dragon..."

"iron Man……"

When the two appeared at the stadium, it was almost seven o'clock and the venue was already full. When Zhao Dong appeared, a tsunami of cheers echoed throughout Madison Square Garden.

"Feilong, do you think the Knicks have a chance to win tonight?"

"certainly."

"Are you coming back in the first round?"

"See how the wound heals."

"Niles has lost hope of defending its title. Which team do you think is most likely to win?"

"Who told you the Knicks had lost hope of defending their title?"

"So will you come back early?"

"I will come back at the most suitable time."

Zhao Dong signed autographs for some young fans and dealt with the media while a team of security personnel were protecting him and Lindsay.

It took ten minutes for him and Lindsay to take his place on the bench next to Ringo Wells.

"Wells, is there any news about the bodyguard you hired?" Zhao Dong asked.

"Oh, sorry, Feilong, I can only find ordinary guys. Or should I contact Blackwater Company?" Wells said awkwardly.

"Come on, I don't want mercenaries, I want bodyguards." Zhao Dong said angrily.

"It doesn't matter, Mr. Wells, we will solve it ourselves." Lin said.

"Thank you, Miss Lindsay." Wells said gratefully.