"Tracy has a lot of potential."
Rivers continued, "But he's still young, and his performance isn't consistent enough. Without Grant, it's just Tracy. He needs to drop over 30 points for us to even have a chance of winning. And you have to remember, last season, he only averaged 15.4 points."
Looking back at the last 12 games, McGrady frequently scored 20-plus, but they lost every time.
And he was often taking over 20 shots a game, which just shows he's not consistent enough yet.
Most importantly, their only four wins were all against bottom-feeder teams from the East and West.
If the Magic's goal this season is to return to the playoffs, or even get out of the first round, then this kind of performance is nowhere near good enough.
"John, we need Hill. I'm not kidding," Rivers said with a serious expression.
When you only have one strong offensive threat on the court, any opponent knows what to do.
Hill's return wouldn't just relieve the defensive pressure on McGrady, it would also provide a stable scoring option.
Hill was third in the league in scoring and sixth in efficiency last season. His offensive consistency and clutch ability to make tough shots are on a completely different level than a fourth-year high school draftee.
"We're already on a four-game losing streak. We'll most likely lose to the Celtics the day after tomorrow. Maybe we can win the back-to-back against the Hawks since they've already started tanking, but what about after that? The Bucks, the Jazz? It's not that I'm being pessimistic, but I really don't think we can win."
"So how many more games are we going to lose?"
Rivers retorted.
"Alright," Gabriel interrupted Rivers.
'Doesn't he think I know all this?'
Besides, he knew some things Rivers didn't, like how home game attendance had plummeted since Hill's injury.
The Magic, founded just eleven years ago, didn't have that deep of a fan base in Orlando.
Fans buy tickets to come to the arena not to watch a bunch of unknown players lose, but to see stars, to see the heir to Jordan's throne.
Without Hill, who was going to watch the games?
The owner, Rich DeVos, had even subtly complained to Gabriel, asking why they didn't discover Hill's hidden injury risks when they signed him in the summer, saying they got swindled by the Pistons.
Orlando is a small market, and DeVos isn't exactly generous.
When they let O'Neal walk years ago, questionable moves by the front office were one thing, but a big part of it was also a lack of money, wasn't it?
If they were really like the Knicks or the Lakers, who don't care about the luxury tax at all, the Magic would have thrown a hundred-million-dollar contract in O'Neal's face long ago.
"Don't worry, I know what to do," Gabriel said in a low voice, his eyes fixed on Hill in the distance.
Hill was leading a group of children, teaching them a secret technique for strengthening the body from a mysterious, ancient Eastern country.
"This move is called Bird Flies! You can imagine you're flying in the sky like a bird. First the right foot, and then the left foot."
Hill's attention was on the children, and he subconsciously put his right foot down and stood on his left.
Everything was normal.
Chen Yu, who was chatting with Monty nearby, noticed this but didn't stop him. In Hill's current condition, normal activity was not a problem.
You could say his sprained ankle was completely healed.
The only issue was the lingering risk of cartilage damage.
If left untreated, there would be a dull ache, and the damage could potentially worsen.
"Chen, so it's settled. I'll come find you tomorrow at two in the afternoon," Monty said.
With a game the day after tomorrow, he only had tomorrow free.
Chen Yu nodded and added, "You guys have a back-to-back coming up, right? I personally suggest you take some rest."
Back-to-backs, with all the constant travel, are really tough on the body.
Monty gave a faint, wry smile.
'Rest?'
'Easier said than done.'
He wasn't a star like Hill, who the team revolved around. Role players like him had no right to make demands of the team.
Just getting playing time meant the head coach thought highly of you and was giving you a chance.
Telling the coach you're injured and can't play? He'd have you riding the pine immediately.
"Just try," Chen Yu said, sensing Monty's predicament and patting his arm encouragingly.
Monty nodded.
This was about his own ligaments and knee; it was no small matter.
After the event ended, Monty found Rivers and cautiously brought up his desire to rest for two games.
"Coach, my knee really hurts." Facing Rivers, Monty spoke without much confidence.
Rivers looked at Monty with a cold expression.
'Really hurts?'
'How come I didn't see you complaining about it before the event?'
'Damn that Chen Yu!'
Rivers cursed silently, then thought for a moment and said, "Go see Joe. Have Joe diagnose you again. If he says you can't play, then I'll approve it."
Monty nodded quickly, relieved. He hadn't been rejected outright, so there was still hope.
There was a practice scheduled for the afternoon. Monty arrived at the training facility early and found Billings first, telling him about the pain in his pes anserinus tendon.
"Pes anserinus tendon pain? Who told you that?"
Billings sized up Monty. Feeling pain was one thing, but for a big lug like him to be able to spit out a technical term like "pes anserinus tendon" was a real surprise.
'Did he go to a hospital on his own?'
Monty didn't hide it. Instead, he said with some excitement, "During the event this morning, I met Hill's private doctor, Chen Yu. He's the one who discovered my problem."
Billings, who was crouching down to examine Monty, felt his expression change.
'It's Chen Yu again!'
'Is this bastard overstepping his bounds? Who's the team doctor here, him or me?'
"So what did he say?" Billings asked, nonchalantly pressing on Monty's pes anserinus tendon.
Monty flinched in pain. "He told me it was mild pes anserinus tendinitis and that it would be best to rest for a few days. Joe, I already spoke to the coach. He said if you agree, I can sit out for two games."
"By the way, Joe, you must have met Chen, right? His medical skills are amazing."
Monty figured that since Billings had diagnosed Hill, he must have met Chen Yu.
Billings stood up and sat back down, staring at Monty with a strange look for a long moment before nodding. "That's right, I've met him."
After a pause, he added, "Sorry, Monty, I've examined it, and your pes anserinus tendon issue isn't serious. You know the team needs you right now, so I can't grant your request. How about this: I'll prescribe you some painkillers. Take them as directed, and come game time, I'll have Houston tape you up to make sure your knee is protected."
As he spoke, he even chuckled and patted Monty's shoulder. "Don't worry, your condition isn't that serious. It's just a minor problem."
Monty, who had been smiling, felt his expression freeze on his face.
「The next day.」
Chen Yu, thinking about checking on Monty and De Brown, finished Hill's routine dressing change, acupuncture, and massage, then arranged the day's rehabilitation plan before heading to his clinic early.
He arrived at the clinic and parked his car on the side of the road.
The clinic looked the same as always; Chen Yu hadn't even changed the sign.
Just as he was taking out his keys to open the door, someone suddenly called out to him from behind.
"Hey, mister with the Lamborghini! Can you tell me where Javier went?"
Chen Yu turned his head. The speaker was an old man with completely white hair.
A yellow Beetle was parked across the street from the clinic. He was sitting in the driver's seat and had rolled down the window to shout.
After speaking, he opened the car door and got out.
His legs seemed to be giving him trouble, as he was using a cane. As he got out of the car, he also casually put on a round-crowned straw hat.
Chen Yu figured he was here to see a doctor and said, "Javier has already transferred the clinic to me. If you're here for a consultation, I can help you."
The old man hobbled closer with his cane. Just those few steps had him starting to pant.
"So that means the guy really took off?" he asked, sizing up Chen Yu with a frown. "Are you a doctor too?"
Chen Yu nodded casually, his gaze falling upon the old man's body.
It wasn't just degenerative disease; there was also a clear lumbar spine displacement and arthritis in the left knee. Especially that knee.
Chen Yu subconsciously furrowed his brow.
'Looks like his leg was run over by a car when he was younger. It's a complete mess.'