After attending the post-game press conference, Tang Long returned to his residence.
Fortunately, he didn't encounter the landlord's daughter tonight, or she would have surely pestered Tang Long again.
The next morning, Tang Long went for training as usual.
In addition, the Cavaliers were also trying to find ways to expedite Big Z's recovery.
Once Big Z's injury improved, one of them would have to make a sacrifice.
Should Big Z continue to be the starting center, or should he be placed in a backup role, wholeheartedly serving as a backup for Tang Long, a rookie?
As for this matter, the Cavaliers' management would need to coordinate, at the very least, they should inform Big Z himself.
James and Mike Brown's idea was for Big Z to directly become Tang Long's backup upon his return from injury.
Anyone with eyes could see that Tang Long's value and talent on both offense and defense far surpassed Big Z's.
With Tang Long on the team, the Cavaliers had consistently maintained vitality and fighting spirit!
Having Tang Long serve as Big Z's backup would undoubtedly be a waste of talent.
Since entering the league in 2003, James had been yearning to win a championship and was extremely eager to bring the franchise's first O'Brien Cup to his hometown team!
Therefore, in his eyes, it was most appropriate for Tang Long to start and Big Z to be the backup.
He conveyed these thoughts verbatim to head coach Mike Brown, who was obedient to James's arrangements.
The next step was to conduct psychological preparation for Big Z himself and to inform the Cavaliers' management.
In the afternoon, after finishing his training, James found Tang Long directly and asked, "Hey! Tang... I wanted to ask you, how much time is left on your contract with the management?"
Tang Long was taken aback and retorted, "LeBron, why are you asking this?"
"Oh! It's nothing, I just thought you should re-sign. What do you think?"
James had finally found a strong teammate and couldn't let Tang Long be snatched away by other teams.
If Tang Long's contract expired and he left the Cavaliers, James would regret it for the rest of his life.
Tang Long thought for a moment and said, "LeBron, my contract should expire in about half a month."
"Oh, I see. Alright, I'll help you inquire about the management's opinion then, and we'll offer you a sincere renewal. How does that sound?"
Tang Long chuckled, "LeBron, of course, that's fine. If there's no sincerity, then I'll have to pack my bags and leave."
James heard this and shook his head like a maraca.
Joking aside, anyone on the Cavaliers could leave now, but not him and Tang Long. He was counting on winning a championship with Tang Long!
After his stellar performances in the past two games, James genuinely recognized Tang Long's individual abilities.
"Tang... don't worry, with me here, the management will be sincere. You wait for my good news."
"Oh, right, I'll also introduce you to an agent then. Who would you want as your agent?"
James inquired.
There were several top-tier agents in the NBA.
Among them, James's agent was a guy named Rich Paul.
This kid was quite resourceful, but because he was too shrewd, many players found him annoying.
As for agents like Yao Ming, Carmelo Anthony, and Steve Nash, they had Bill Duffy.
However, Bill Duffy, while a good person, was somewhat lacking in business acumen.
Compared to Rich Paul's business capabilities, Bill Duffy was inferior.
"An agent, huh? I'm flexible on that. My only requirement is to sign a big contract and earn enough money to retire back home."
"Haha..." Tang Long's words made James laugh. "That's fine, Tang. With your current performance, earning enough money will be a piece of cake. You'll have no pressure retiring back home then."
"Okay, then regarding the agent, you can introduce me, I don't really understand this."
"Sure." James readily agreed.
After bidding farewell to James, Tang Long returned to his residence.
In half a month, he would be signing a big contract, and then he would bring his parents from China to live in America.
While they weren't his biological parents in the truest sense, since he had transmigrated to this era and occupied the body of the original owner, his parents would be his parents from now on.
With beautiful aspirations, Tang Long drifted off to sleep.
The next game would be a tough one.
After looking at the schedule in the training facility, Tang Long's brow furrowed involuntarily.
Because for the next match, they would be traveling to the TD Garden in Boston, to face the Celtics, who boasted a Big Three!
2007 was the year the Celtics' Big Three were assembled.
It was also in this season that the Celtics' Big Three, in their first year together, defeated Kobe Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers to win the championship that season!
Of course, Tang Long was the only one who knew these insider details. He had transmigrated back from 2022 and was a die-hard NBA fan, so he was all too familiar with the deep-seated rivalry between the two sides!
Therefore, playing against the Celtics' Big Three put considerable pressure on Tang Long.
They were not as easy to bully as the Wizards or the Heat.
The Celtics' gritty defense during this period was known as the league's strongest ironclad defense!
"Celtics' Big Three, I must defeat you. If I can't overcome this mountain, how can I make it to the NBA Finals to face the Los Angeles Lakers?"
Tang Long thought to himself. He knew clearly that to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals with James, they had to overcome the Celtics.
There was also the Detroit Pistons. Around 2007, the Pistons were also a strong team.
Although the Pistons didn't have superstar players, and they didn't produce superstar players, their team play was very reasonable, focusing on team basketball.
Especially their defense, which was in no way inferior to the Celtics.
To put it this way, to make a name for themselves in the Eastern Conference around 2007, one had to defeat the Celtics' Big Three and the Pistons.
While pondering, Tang Long fell asleep.
Time flew by, and it was November 18, 2007.
On this day, the Cavaliers boarded a charter flight and flew to the ancient city of Boston.
As soon as they landed, a drizzle began to fall from the sky.
The North End Garden Arena loomed before everyone's eyes.
A small old man, leaning on a cane and with a large cigar in his mouth, was the icon and totem of the Celtics!
The Cavaliers and the Celtics couldn't be considered arch-rivals; over the years, the two teams hadn't had the opportunity to become rivals.
But now, things were different. The Celtics had recruited heavily and assembled a formidable Big Three.
And the Cavaliers, with the emergence of Tang Long, an explosive player, the intensity of the game was bound to be unprecedentedly exciting.
As the Cavaliers players entered the locker room, numerous Celtics fans began to jeer.
This city was similar to San Antonio; it didn't welcome outsiders much.
Especially considering the racial discrimination in America, which was very severe in Boston and San Antonio.
"Damn it, they're here. That tall Asian kid, did you see him? I heard he's the recently risen China Tang!"
"Shit... I don't care if he's China Tang or China Dragon, when he comes to Boston, he'll only get abused!"
"You guys watch, in tonight's game, KG and Perkins will definitely kick this kid from Dragon Country's ass. Let's wait and see!"
The Boston fans hurled insults at Tang Long, vowing that Garnett and Perkins would "kick his ass" in the paint!