Holt's exclusive interview was quickly released by Fox Sports.

This sparked a huge wave of discussion among fans on social media.

"Holt endured it for two years and finally couldn't hold back? He's announcing to the world that their decision back then was correct!"

"This is capitalism! He's forgotten how the Spurs won those back-to-back championships. Now that the Pelicans are about to be eliminated, he immediately speaks out!"

"There's no helping it. The Spurs' management has been called idiots for the past two years. Just ask Spurs General Manager Buford!"

"Buford: Yes, yes!!!"

"But I'm inexplicably annoyed. This kind of behavior feels like a snobbish act, taking advantage of someone's misfortune!"

"Yes, those reasons are also very weak. Leonard can grow to this level, would Tang really be worse than him if he stayed in the Spurs?"

"Those are all excuses. But the series isn't over yet, and I still hope the Pelicans can make a comeback!"

"That's impossible. Let's wait until next year. I think Jokic will develop by next year, and the Pelicans will definitely win!"

……

Holt's interview caused a great deal of public opinion, and the Pelicans players were very unhappy after seeing it.

Tang Tian is the team's leader and a strong candidate for MVP, but in Holt's words, he still feels like an ordinary role player.

Originally, the team's morale was extremely low after falling behind 1-3, but it rebounded a lot after this stimulus.

Of course, the overall mood is still low.

No matter which team it is, it is difficult to be optimistic about a 1-3 situation.

Tang Tian was also thinking about how to boost the team's morale in his spare time.

It is said that history is a mirror, but he had never experienced this situation even in his previous life, and he didn't know those famous players from other experienced teams.

The Rockets are readily available, but he doesn't know anyone there. He doesn't have a good relationship with Harden, Bosh, or Parsons.

Just as Tang Tian was thinking about this, an uninvited guest came to his villa.

Dempsey.

Dempsey came to Tang Tian for only one reason.

Although the playoffs are still going on, the draft will be in a month, and the Pelicans need to start preparing for next year's draft in advance.

The Pelicans' second-round pick this year had already been sent to the Clippers, but they still have a first-round pick.

The order of this first-round pick was determined when the regular season ended. It's the 28th pick at the end of the first round.

Tang Tian brought Jokic to the Pelicans last year, so Dempsey will definitely come to him this year.

The two sat in the living room and chatted for a while.

The Pelicans' current lineup is already stable, and they don't really need to add too many new players.

But even the strongest team must have rookie reserves, so this draft pick still needs to be used.

If they really want to supplement, the team's power forward position is relatively weak.

Telltovic has fallen out of the rotation and his contract expires this summer, and the Pelicans will most likely not keep him.

Even Aminu, the current substitute, is not a true power forward.

Tang Tian gave Dempsey a few scouting targets.

Bobby Portis, Larry Nance Jr., Montrezl Harrell, and Cedi Osman.

History has changed a lot now, and the Lakers and Knicks, who had not made the playoffs before, have both made the playoffs.

So the draft will become even more unpredictable.

Therefore, Tang Tian put all the players who might be helpful to the team, and whose draft stock is in the late first round, on the list.

Dempsey took the list and left.

Tang Tian is now like a strategist, constantly offering advice to the Pelicans.

And it's free.

After seeing Dempsey off, Tang Tian suddenly remembered something.

When the Pelicans and Grizzlies were tied 2-2 in the first round, Dempsey and LaRussa came to the training ground.

That training session was surprisingly effective.

At that time, he felt that the management's encouragement was very helpful to the players.

Thinking about it, although the NBA doesn't have the owner directly paying the players' salaries, the management still decides the players' contracts.

Everyone wants to have a good impression with the management.

With this in mind, Tang Tian first sent Benson a text message to confirm that he had time, and then gave him a call.

The content was simple. He hoped that Benson would come to the scene during the team's training to say something to boost the team's morale.

Before, when they were tied 2-2 with the Grizzlies, the situation could only be considered a stalemate, so Dempsey and LaRussa were enough.

But now it's 1-3, on the edge of a cliff. If they want to borrow external forces, of course they should borrow the best.

Benson is the most suitable person.

Benson gladly accepted.

Although he is old, he is truly dedicated to the Pelicans.

The next day's training session, the players were training when there was a commotion at the door.

It turned out that team owner Benson and his assistant had come to the training facility.

Benson's sudden appearance made the players very excited.

Benson's physical condition is not very good now, and he rarely goes out, let alone comes to the arena.

He doesn't need to say anything. Coming to the training facility is already a great encouragement to the players' spirits.

Benson secretly made eye contact with Tang Tian when he came in.

After Borrego gathered the players together, Benson smiled and told them a story.

"In 2010, the Saints made it to the Super Bowl. Their opponent was the Colts, led by Peyton Manning, one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. We were the underdogs, and most people didn't think we could win. Even after the first half, we were behind as expected.

But during halftime, Drew Brees, the team's star quarterback at the time, said something I will always remember.

'We may lose this game, but this may be the closest or only chance I have to win a world championship, so until the final whistle blows, as long as my legs aren't broken, I will run as hard as I can.'

I was in the locker room at the time, and we reversed the opponent in the second half. His words made me realize one thing: if you don't give it your all, you don't know how strong you are."

The Saints are a New Orleans legend. As a traditionally weak team, they won their only Super Bowl championship in 2010, and they are also the only team in New Orleans to win a North American professional sports league championship.

Before winning the championship, they even missed the NFL playoffs for two consecutive years.

Benson was talking about what happened on the night of the 2010 Super Bowl. At that time, the Saints were behind in the first half and made a comeback in the second half, reversing the Colts 31-17 to win the championship.

The situation at that time was indeed similar to the Pelicans' current situation, and there were also some merits to be learned.

After Benson finished speaking, Tang Tian glanced around at his teammates and found that they all looked very excited.

Living in New Orleans, they must have heard the Saints' story to some extent.

Now Benson, as the team owner, uses this story, and a firsthand experience, to encourage the players.

The effect is really twice the result with half the effort, even exceeding Tang Tian's expectations.