Chapter 10: Strongest opponent

"A bunch of idiots!" Thibodeau snapped, tossing the media reports onto the hotel table in frustration.

The media had completely twisted the narrative. Andrew's performance had been nothing short of stellar, proving his potential as a future top-tier coach. Yet, these reporters had spun a tale of incompetence. It was infuriating.

"Relax, getting angry won't fix stupidity," Andrew said casually, leaning back in his chair. To him, the media was like a punching bag—they hit once, but then they lined up for another.

Thibodeau glanced at Andrew's laid-back demeanor and couldn't help but chuckle. For a rookie coach, Andrew was remarkably calm, more composed than he himself had been.

"Take it easy, get some rest tonight," Thibodeau added before retreating to his room with his playbook to work on strategies.

Andrew returned to his own room, feeling the tension of the day lift slightly. Hathaway had already left, but she'd left a note on the bedside table: "Shithead, don't forget to wash your clothes!"

He grinned. Laundry hadn't exactly been on his mind, but Hathaway's playful note made him laugh. Clearly, she wasn't too fussed about it.

Settling onto the bed, Andrew pulled out the tactical manual. The Rockets' next opponent was the Portland Trail Blazers—a team loaded with raw, undeniable talent. The Blazers had built a core of future stars, especially after selecting dual powerhouses, LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy, in the draft. This wasn't just another game; this was a real test.

Just as Andrew was getting into the zone, a familiar chime echoed in his head.

"Ding! New system mission: Win the Summer League Championship. Reward: 1 Honor Point."

Andrew grinned. Winning the championship had been the plan all along. The system was clearly aware that the Trail Blazers were their most formidable opponents.

The following afternoon, nearly 10,000 fans packed into the Thomas & Mack Center Arena for the showdown. The buzz in the air was electric. The media's relentless criticism of Andrew had, ironically, drawn even more attention to him and the Rockets.

As the starting lineups were announced, the Rockets kept their same lineup from the last game. In stark contrast, the Trail Blazers fielded an all-star roster for a Summer League game:

Point guard: Sergio Rodriguez, the Spanish prodigy and 27th overall pick.

Shooting guard: Brandon Roy, the sixth overall pick.

Small forward: Martell Webster, a highly-touted sophomore.

Power forward: LaMarcus Aldridge, the second overall pick.

Center: Luke Schenscher, a towering 7-footer.

The Blazers were a powerhouse. Their young lineup had talent, size, and depth—everything a team could want. It was clear they had one goal: to dominate and take the Summer League title.

ESPN's Jemma Teague and her co-commentator Trevor Mike were covering the game. Teague, ever the professional, started the pre-game banter with, "Tonight, we have a must-watch game. Andrew's Rockets shocked everyone in their last match, but today they face the ultra-talented Blazers. Trevor, who are you backing?"

Trevor didn't hesitate. "The Blazers."

Teague feigned surprise. "Really? Did you not see the Rockets dismantle the Bulls?"

"I did," Trevor nodded, "but this Blazers team is something else. With Roy, Aldridge, and Webster, they'd win any Summer League."

Teague wasn't backing down. "You think Andrew's coaching won't make a difference? He didn't even leave his seat last game, and the Rockets steamrolled the Bulls."

"Sure," Trevor shrugged. "But let's be honest—Thibodeau did most of the heavy lifting. If Andrew tries to coach today, they'll crumble."

Teague chuckled. "Sounds like you're on the same page as the reporters."

The game tipped off, and Schenscher easily won the jump ball, sending it to the Blazers' half. Rodriguez orchestrated the offense, dishing the ball to Roy, who sliced past Bynum and pulled up for a silky mid-range jumper over Millsap.

"Swish!" The crowd roared as Roy, already showing shades of future superstardom, drained his first shot with ease.

The Rockets attempted to answer back. Barria and Millsap ran a pick-and-roll, but the Blazers were prepared. Aldridge, showing off his defensive prowess, quickly closed in, swatting Barria's shot. Schenscher grabbed the rebound, and the Blazers were off to the races.

Roy led the fast break with pinpoint precision, finding Webster wide open on the wing. Webster drained a three-pointer, pushing the lead to 5-0. The Blazers were firing on all cylinders.

The cameras panned to Andrew. This was the moment—could he sit by while his team got overwhelmed, or would he rise to the challenge?

Three minutes into the game, the Blazers led 10-2. The Rockets were struggling to find their rhythm, their offense stifled by the Blazers' stifling defense. It was time for a change.

Andrew called for a timeout, finally standing up, his tactic board in hand.

"Trevor, looks like we're about to see what Andrew's made of," Teague teased with a smirk.