Back at his office, Feng Yu called the LA Wind and Rain team’s coach. “George, it’s me.”


  “Boss, we had gotten into the finals again!” George Karl shouted excitedly.

  “I know. You had done well. I know you will take good care of the team. I am in New York now and will be with the team when the finals start.”


  George is ecstatic. With Feng Yu watching the team from the bench, the team will be more motivated.

  “Don’t worry, Boss. We can get at least one win in New York and will win another two matches in LA. We have high hopes of winning the Championship this year!”


  “George, listen to me first. I had signed a 5-years contract with you previously. But I think you had contributed greatly to the team and I hope to extend the contract by another five years. Name a price.”


  George Karl’s contract will be ending this year. Feng Yu had never talked to him about renewing his contract, and he thought Feng Yu is unhappy with the team’s results in the previous two years. If Carter were not traded to the Nets, the Wind and Rain would have gotten the Western Conference Champions last year.

  Now, Feng Yu is going to discuss George’s contract, and he is overjoyed. Although he can get a high salary with other teams, he prefers to stay in LA. Also, he felt the Wind and Rain Team’s new line-ups have hope of winning the overall champions within the next three years. He doesn’t want to miss this opportunity.

  George Karl thought for a while. “Boss, can I get 5 million USD a year?”


  Other teams had offered more than 4 million USD, but Feng Yu is very generous, and George felt he might get slightly more.

  “No problem. Then we will sign another 5-years contract.”


  “Thank you, Boss!” George Karl is ecstatic. Feng Yu is indeed generous, and his salary is one of the highest among the coaches.

  “I am telling you something now, and keep it to yourself. You must not even let the team manager know about this.” Feng Yu’s tone changed.

  George Karl was surprised. Is Feng Yu going to make him the Team Manager too? It will be terrific even if his salary remains the same. He will have more authority and can get more bonuses.

  George Karl asked everyone to leave his office and said. “Boss, I am alone now. What is it you want to say?”


  “I want you to lose the first two matches in New York!”


  What?!

  George Karl is stunned. What does Feng Yu mean? Is he going to place a huge bet? It will be disastrous if anyone finds out about this!

  “Boss, I don’t understand what you mean.”


  “Don’t think too much. I am not betting, and I also do not like to gamble. The Nets’ Boss, Kirilenko, is my good friend and everyone knows about it. We have an agreement that we will compete for real on the seventh match, and the home team will win in the previous six matches. Do you understand?”


  George Karl’s jaws dropped. How can the finals be decided like this? Are you all deciding the winner through rock-paper-scissors?

  But playing to the seventh match in the finals will benefit both teams. They can sell more tickets and get more prize money.

  But this will be a strain on the older players like Olajuwon.

  Olajuwon had decided to retire after winning the Championship this year. If they compete until the seventh match, he might run out of stamina, and his performance will drop.

  Although the team has Yao Ming, he too young, and his stamina is also an issue. He can only be effective for around 30 minutes and have to be substitute by Olajuwon. Olajuwon is the super substitute despite his age.

  The Nets’ Gasol is stronger than Yao Ming, and George Karl had planned to let Olajuwon go against him first.

  After that, Yao Ming can easily control the inner courts and score at least 30 points!

  This way, the chances of winning will increase. But now, it won’t be easy to win. Although the Nets also have an older Center, he is seldom in the starting lineups.

  “Boss, it will be disadvantageous to us if we drag to the seventh match. Our reserves are older players.” George Karl replied.

  Feng Yu replied in a casual tone. “They are injured, right? Just take them out from the first few matches.”


  George Karl suddenly remembered. That’s right. Since they plan to fix the first few matches, he can rest Olajuwon and other older players. This way, they will be well-rested for the seventh match, and their chances of winning will increase!

  “Remember, the main players must not be injured, and we cannot be too obvious when we are losing. You can try out a new strategy in our away matches and treat it as you had used the wrong strategy. You are getting a high salary, and you will be responsible for the team’s failure.”


  “Don’t worry, Boss. I promise no one can tell we had fixed the matches!”


  “Good. I will leave everything to you. I know you are not the coach for the 2008 US Olympic team. But if you win the seventh match, I can let you become the main coach for China’s basketball team. You are also familiar with the Chinese players, and you will be satisfied with your salary!”


  Feng Yu made another promise to entice George Karl. China’s current main coach is average. Many Chinese basketball players trained in LA during the Summer and respected Karl a lot.

  Training an Olympics basketball team is too attractive for Karl. The US Basketball did not even offer him an assistant coach position. He wants to prove to them it was a mistake for not selecting him!

  In the past two years, NBA’s status among the four major leagues had increased a lot. This year, the finals are between two major cities, LA and New York, and both teams are well balanced in terms of attack and defense. The TV ratings will break records!

  Before the match starts, the media start to report on both teams.

  Last year, the Nets faced the Lakers, and this year, the Nets moved to New York, and getting into the finals made the New Yorkers excited.

  The Nets had won against LA, and they are facing LA again. But this time, they are facing a different LA team. Can they win again? Will the Wind and Rain Team emerge the winner?

  The NBA officials were furious with Yao Ming had given up his no. 1 draft pick and joined the Wind and Rain Team as a non-draft player previously. But luckily, Yao Ming had proved his worth and did not let those officials down for promoting him then.

  Many people realized the two teams’ bosses in the finals are from different nationalities. It becomes another topic to discuss.

  Finally, the first match is about to start.