"It's Tang,"
Mike Brown didn't hide anything, giving all the credit to Tang Long. After all, the interview was being watched by fans worldwide.
Xiao Gen was also surprised by Mike Brown's generosity and finally understood why the Cavaliers had such a united team atmosphere!
Xiao Gen quietly put aside the trending topic she had prepared and asked enthusiastically, "Coach Brown, you're already leading the Lakers 2-0. If, and I mean if, you win the championship ring this season, what would you want to do most?"
"Of course, I'd go see the owner."
Xiao Gen was stunned; Mike Brown's answer was clearly beyond her expectations.
Mike Brown immediately added, "I must ask the owner to sign Wade. This season has been too thrilling, and we need to learn from the Lakers."
This was the first time the Cavaliers' official team had formally commented on Wade's transfer.
This also confirmed that the league's rumors were true: the Cavaliers were interested in inviting Wade to join.
The Cavaliers' 2-0 victory over the Lakers had already stunned many, and Mike Brown's statement pushed the Cavaliers' popularity to a boiling point!
Whether in the United States or China, or even on the European continent, it wasn't just sports channels reporting the news; headlines also featured Wade preparing to join the Cavaliers.
However, the headlines focused more on capital investment, while the sports pages discussed the changes Wade's move to the Cavaliers would bring to the league!
Of course.
The outside discussions did not affect the Cavaliers' internal atmosphere. With a two-game lead over the Lakers, Mike Brown gave the entire team a day off.
They were scheduled to play the Lakers away the day after tomorrow, the 11th, so Mike Brown issued a strict order: players were not allowed to drink alcohol during their day off and could not attend any parties organized by others.
The implication was clear: if they wanted to relax, a team dinner among teammates was fine, but no going out to party.
LeBron and Tang Long discussed it and decided to still host a team dinner, which could include family members.
This would not only strengthen the bond between teammates but also serve as an opportunity for everyone to relax.
Tang Long also asked Bill Duffy to invite Westbrook.
If Tang Long hadn't appeared, LeBron and Westbrook might have been teammates.
Bill Duffy had mentioned to Tang Long that he could introduce Westbrook to the Cavaliers, but Tang Long had thought about it and rejected the idea.
If Westbrook hadn't signed with his agency, Tang Long might have considered it, but the current situation was clearly not ideal.
Westbrook would undoubtedly become a starter if he joined, but having three starting players from the same agency company would not only make the team uncomfortable but also keep them on guard against potential issues from the agency.
The greater concern was that these players might form cliques and go against the team, which would significantly impact team unity.
After the dinner, many players posted photos of the gathering on Twitter.
After more than half a year of integration, Twitter's user base had surpassed the ten million mark, growing rapidly, and its assets had multiplied more than ten times.
Tang Long, as the second-largest shareholder from China, naturally attracted the attention of various influential figures!
Tang Long couldn't pay attention to these matters now, as the team was about to face the Lakers on the road.
The Lakers already had a strong roster, and with the Cavaliers playing away, everyone's mood was naturally less relaxed than before.
Larry Hughes and Pavlovic, who had performed exceptionally well in the previous game, both had sweaty palms, worried that they would be exposed by the Lakers in this game!
Mike Brown, however, remained relaxed.
With a 2-0 lead, he was prepared to lose both away games.
This was Los Angeles, and their opponent was one of the greatest teams in the NBA. Losing away was perfectly understandable.
"Don't be nervous, everyone. Just stick to the game plan we've set."
"Coach Brown, are we really sacrificing some offensive advantage in this game to strengthen our defense?"
Tang Long pondered for a moment and asked the question that was on his mind.
The Cavaliers' defense had improved significantly this season, and Tang Long knew he was largely responsible for it.
But if asked which contributed more, defense or offense, Tang Long would not hesitate to choose offense. This was also why the Cavaliers had reached the finals and were leading the Lakers 2-0.
Now, with Mike Brown abandoning their advantage, the team could invest more energy in defense, but if their offense couldn't click, even the best defense would be useless.
The best defense, after all, was offense!
"That's right. We are playing away, and the Lakers will definitely increase their offensive intensity. While we focus on defense, we'll exploit their rhythm and counter-attack."
"Alright."
Tang Long nodded.
From a tactical standpoint, Mike Brown's idea wasn't wrong, just a bit conservative.
...
"Good evening, viewers. This is the third game of the NBA Finals, broadcast live by our sports channel, with the Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers."
"The starting lineups have been released. There are no changes to the rosters from the previous game."
"It's no surprise that the Cavaliers have no changes. Phil Jackson is still starting Manoch, clearly trusting his defensive ability more."
"So, Coach Zhang, what's your take on Phil Jackson's arrangement of Manoch and Vujačić?"
Coach Zhang chimed in, "First, Manoch's defensive ability is better than Vujačić's. These past two games have made Phil Jackson recognize Tang Long's capabilities, and he's using Manoch for help defense on Tang Long to free up Odom."
"Secondly, Coach Jackson is definitely considering using Vujačić against the Cavaliers' bench players when both teams field their reserves."
Yang Yi looked curiously at Coach Zhang, "Coach Zhang, do you think the Cavaliers will field their bench players for a certain period in this game?"
"Absolutely. They are playing away, and the Cavaliers' starters have essentially played two consecutive games. If they don't manage the starters' energy levels reasonably, there will be problems when they return to Cleveland."
"Therefore, the Cavaliers will definitely give playing time to their bench players in this game. I believe Phil Jackson is considering this very point, which is why he's keeping Vujačić on the bench."
As the two commentators were speaking, a reporter found Kobe, clearly hoping to conduct a pre-game interview to generate buzz.
This was Los Angeles, and the floor beneath their feet was the Staples Center. If a reporter wanted an interview, finding Kobe was the most logical choice.
The reporter excitedly held up the microphone, "Kobe, the Lakers are already down 2-0 to the Cavaliers. Are you worried about losing this game to the Cavaliers? If you lose to the Cavaliers, will you consider it your responsibility?"
Kobe glanced at the reporter and said calmly, "Of course, I'm not worried, because this game, we will definitely win!"