Chapter 266

Unfortunately, the Celtics' anchor at the time, Red Auerbach, didn't choose to trust Larry Bird, but instead chose two other disciples to manage the Celtics.

Larry Bird was very angry at the time; he felt he hadn't received Red Auerbach's trust and respect.

In a fit of anger, he returned to Indiana to grow corn, starting his old-age life early.

Whenever he felt like it, he would go to the TV station to be a commentator, using his big mouth to rage against the Celtics to vent.

It wasn't until 1997 that the Pacers took the initiative to find this hometown hero and hired him to be the team's head coach.

Before this, the Pacers only achieved a terrible record of 39 wins and 43 losses in a single season; the team urgently needed to make changes.

Larry Bird didn't hesitate long before agreeing, even saying, "Within three years, if I don't help the Pacers win the championship, I'll get out myself."

Then, in the 97-98 season, the first year Larry Bird led the team, he helped the Pacers improve their record to 58 wins and 24 losses!

In his first year as head coach, he led the Pacers to the best record in Pacers history.

That year, they fought all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals and didn't lose until a Game 7 against the Bulls.

That year, Larry Bird won the league's Coach of the Year...

Everyone knows what happened later; the Pacers made it to the Eastern Conference Finals for three consecutive years, and in one of those years, they broke into the Finals, eventually losing to the Lakers' KO combination.

Larry Bird almost realized the boast he had made again.

After that year, he fulfilled his promise: if he didn't win the championship, he would get out, and he resigned from his coaching position.

But his ability had been fully recognized by the Pacers' owner; since this big guy didn't want to be a head coach, he could be the team manager.

And then Larry Bird became the Pacers' team manager.

It is worth mentioning that during the time Larry Bird led the Pacers, the Pacers' record against the Celtics was 10 wins and 1 loss—the Pacers won 10!

It is definitely the model for beating one's old team the hardest!

Sometimes Tiandao himself doubts whether he has the system or Larry Bird has the system?

This life is like cheating! ===== CHAPTER 268 =====