Chicago is the third largest city in the United States, an important financial city, a science and education city, and a very important industrial base in the United States. Of course, with the full-blown recession of the U.S. economy, Chicago, like Detroit, is entering old age and seems to be faltering.

Every time Henson comes to the city, he feels heavy. Of course, the reason he felt heavy was not because of the economic recession here, but because of a good friend of his who would sleep here forever.

4001 North Clark Street, Graceland Cemetery, Chicago. It is the resting place of the deceased, but because of its rich history and beautiful scenery, it has also become one of Chicago's tourist attractions.

Graceland Cemetery is an oasis hidden in the middle of this bustling city, quietly nestled in this corner.

Graceland Cemetery was established in 1860 and is not simply a place to bury the dead, but is lush and full of carvings, with an idyllic open landscape and a garden atmosphere created by carefully selected vegetation.

The "country cemetery" is designed in this way not only to pay tribute to the dead, but also to make the living feel at ease. Some worshippers also take a picnic stroll through the garden after paying their respects to the deceased.

With such a long history, Graceland Cemetery is naturally the preferred resting place of many of Chicago's most prestigious citizens, such as Philips. Amor, who is a meat processing tycoon. John. Peter. Alt Gaild, the 20th governor of Illinois. Marshall. Field, a well-known philanthropist in Chicago.

and, a well-known basketball journalist in Chicago, affectionately known as "Mr. Colored" Craig. Sag is also buried here.

Henson strolls through the green grounds, but he's not in the mood to enjoy the view. He walked to Sag's tomb, which, as always, was always filled with flowers. Sag is clearly more familiar to Chicagoans today than he is to those who were more than 100 years old.

Therefore, every now and then someone always comes to offer flowers to Sag. He's still remembered, and he's still held high in the hearts of Chicago basketball fans, much to Henson's relief.

As long as a person is remembered, a person is not really leaving.

"Sager, did you watch last season's finals? Fight for seven battles to the last moment! The Warriors are getting stronger, and the Finals are getting more difficult. But it doesn't matter, as long as you come, I can win for you. ”

Henson also put the flower in his hand in front of Sag's tomb, and it has become a habit for Henson to visit Sag once a year before the season and before the start of the finals.

He believes that his friends will definitely be watching him from the sidelines. It's just that I can't see it.

"In a few days, the 2018-2019 season will begin. Do you know? LeBron. James actually went to the Los Angeles Lakers! He actually left the east! Oh my God, this world is crazy. I don't know what kind of expression you will have when you hear this news. Anyway, I almost dislocated my jaw. ”

"It's my last year, and after this year, I want to retire. Well, the second retirement. But this time, I was serious, and I was determined not to come back. So, watch it, man. In Kobe's last game, he scored 60 points. And my last game, I'm going to win the championship! ”

After Henson finished speaking, he stroked the name on the tombstone and got up to leave.

Later, another man who was traveling with Henson also walked up to the tombstone and said a few words to Sager. This gray-haired guy is none other than Spurs coach and Henson's good friend Greg. Popovich.

Popovich has followed in Henson's footsteps since last year and has been paying a visit to Sag at the start of the season. It can be seen that Popovich looked lonely in front of Sag's tomb and almost cried several times. After all, 2018 was really too difficult for this old man.

Last season, Leonard was at odds with the team and refused to play. This is the first time in more than 20 years that people have heard that the Spurs actually have a locker room conflict!

With the Spurs without Leonard stumbling into the playoffs, Popovich's beloved wife died suddenly. The two husbands and wives have lived together for 40 years, and the pain of losing their wives is incomprehensible to outsiders. So during that time, Henson didn't know how to comfort Popovich.

And in the offseason, the bad news has not stopped. Leonard transfers, Parker leaves, Ginobili retires...... Popovich watched an era he had built with his own hands completely collapse.

As a result, Popovich, who came with Henson this year, has been heavy. Sometimes Henson really admires Popovich, an old man who is almost 70 years old, can still carry so much bad news, and has been so strong.

It's not for nothing that this old man can become the idol of so many people.

"Let's go, Henson, I'm done."

Just as Henson was reflecting on Popovich's troubled year, the old man who had finished talking to Sag walked up to him.

"Well, let's go. By the way, Pop, where did you play your first game of the season? ”

"Come on Henson, I don't want to talk about work today. Let's go find a bar or something else and have a few drinks. Then, let's talk about work. ”

Henson smiled, and the two men strolled away on the green lawn.

After all, this is their last idle time before the start of the season, and Henson and Popovich are well aware of it. This season has been an unprecedentedly difficult one for them.

And today, it is also their last peace.

※※※

October 16, 2018, the day before the start of the new NBA season. At the Bankers Living Arena, the Pacers' training is still going on in an orderly manner.

Now that summer training camp is underway, the Pacers' tactics have basically taken shape, and everyone has become accustomed to the new style of play without Paul. Antetokounmpo's approach to directing the team's offense is, in Henson's opinion, relatively mature.

He watched with satisfaction as the players showed their form on the training floor, and tomorrow, the Minnesota Timberwolves will be in a big surprise!

After all, the Pacers had a pretty poor preseason run. Moreover, in the preseason, Henson did not expose the tactics of letting Antetokounmpo play the No. 1 position. Therefore, the Timberwolves coach, Henson's old rival Tom Brown. Thibodeau, even if he wants to prevent it in advance, he can't do it.

Speaking of Thibodeau, Henson still has some emotion. In that year, Thibodeau killed himself with his sharpest sword, Ross. Now, Henson is turning to Rose against him......

Perhaps, the various personnel changes are also one of the reasons why this alliance can always maintain its freshness and charm.

"That's it!" Seeing that the time was almost up, Henson clapped his hands on the sidelines. The game is tomorrow and he doesn't want his players to waste too much energy on the training pitch.

"Let's stop, let's end the training early today. If anyone isn't feeling like they're having fun yet, let out all their energy in tomorrow's race! Especially you, Lance. I don't want you to waste any more energy on women. ”

When Henson said this, the Pacers players burst into laughter. Stephenson scratched his head in embarrassment.

Stephenson has made a big difference to Henson this year after all these years. He didn't look so "funny", but a lot more composed.

In training, he even coaches some young players!

But on second thought, this post-90s generation is now 28 years old. A 28-year-old person should be more or less mature.

"Tomorrow, the first game of the new season will begin. I know the media is saying that after losing Paul, we're finished. They all said that we were just a foil for the Warriors. What's more, tomorrow we will lose to the Timberwolves. Come on, we're the defending champions! And just took two in a row! ”

Henson gestured two fingers, and the players below nodded their heads. It can be seen that their emotions have been mobilized by Henson.

"So, tomorrow's game. Just use our new way of playing and let others take a good look. What will happen if you offend the defending champions! ”

"Roar!" The players roared, as if they were eager to pass it and slash the Timberwolves.

On the other side, the Timberwolves players also arrived in Indianapolis early. Back to this familiar city again, Jimmy. Butler was undoubtedly very popular with reporters.

"Tomorrow we'll give it our all, without Chris. Paul's walkers were not invincible. In the first game of the new season, I didn't want to lose. ”

Facing the cameras of the reporters, Jimmy. Butler couldn't be more confident.

"So, what do you think about Coach Henson retiring after this season?"

"To be honest, I'm reluctant. After all, he was the guide of my career. But I won't be sorry for him in the ring, and beating him is the best way for me to respect him. ”

The proud Indo-City veteran stepped onto championship land, and little did he and anyone else in the world know that he was about to face a multi-disruptive Indiana Pacers.