NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 438: Winners need to "control the team" (Daily Chapter)

2006年4月30号，NBA联盟公布了2005~06赛季体育精神奖获得者：
Lee You of the New York Knicks won the award for the first time in his career.

The news was announced in the morning, and in the afternoon TNT reported that Iverson's wife Tawanna cried during an interview after losing G3.

Perhaps because she really didn't want to leave Philadelphia, Tawanna took the initiative to stand up and brought her eldest daughter to cry in front of the media to speak well of her husband:
"People don't know what a great father and husband he is!"

"He loved his family and friends and was fiercely loyal to them, and he loved Philadelphia deeply, and he gave everything he had to this city."

"He does make mistakes, but he learns from them. We want to stay here, and he's even willing to accept the role of sixth man."

The eldest daughter, Tiora, admires her father very much. The little girl is only 8 years old this year and has the same furrowed hair. When she saw her mother crying, she also shed tears.

Not only did the family speak out, but the unnamed followers also accused Li You of ruining Iverson in an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer:
"Lee ruined Allen. His appearance made the NBA utilitarian, which is not the basketball game we expected."

"In the past, no one cared about the statistics, and no one was keen to discuss the championship. Now everything has changed."

"Allen could have had a much better career, Philly is his home, he should not be traded!"

No one commented on last night's game. Iverson did not attend the press conference after Game 3. The 76ers have not denied the trade rumors, and the Philadelphia newspapers are all crying.

128:89, in last night's crucial Game 3, before the game was over, most of the fans at the Wachovia Center left early.

The front-row spectators who stayed witnessed a "massacre". To show respect, Li You played for 38 minutes. After the game, the stadium was as quiet as a library.

22中17，三分线外13中9，罚球8中8，51分6篮板7助攻3抢断1盖帽，没有失误。

Lee Yu scored 51 points without much of a fuss, leaving the Philadelphia sports media collectively silent. Apart from crying, no one predicted Game 4, and no one talked about the series anymore.
Off the court, Li You never said anything bad about Iverson, and even often praised his old rival.

On the court, Li You also respects Iverson very much. He gives his all every time he meets him. The 40:0 in the regular season is the best proof of this!

During TNT's pre-game show in the afternoon, on one side, Li You was wearing a decent blue suit and smiling as he accepted the award, while on the other side, Iverson's relatives and friends were crying and making accusations.

The director put the two images together, and the three people in the studio were silent for a while facing the camera. It was so tragic that they couldn't bear to comment.

Charles Barkley, who has been clamoring to trade Iverson for the past few years, did not add insult to injury this time. Facing the camera, he sighed and said:
"I remember a player told me that Lee was not easy to get along with and that he held grudges. Now I believe it."

"He performed impeccably in front of the media, but on the court, Lee showed his true other side. He shouldn't have humiliated Iverson. He didn't need to play 38 minutes."

出场42分钟，艾弗森在G3拼尽全力，29中11，三分线外7中2，罚球14中12，36分3篮板3助攻5失误。

After making 9 of 3 shots at a crucial moment in the third quarter, Iverson did not give up and continued to play in the fourth quarter.

It’s hard to comment on Kenny Smith. After all, the 76ers didn’t withdraw their main players at the last moment. There’s nothing wrong with Li You playing for a few minutes in the fourth quarter:
"Is it because he shot too accurately?"

The thought flashed through his mind, and finally Kenny Smith maintained a serious expression on his face and commented tactfully:

"There's nothing to summarize about the game. A team with 39 wins, this is their true strength. We should have known this before the game."

"Iverson performed very well, scoring 36 points. His performance was worthy of the status of a leader. Philadelphia fans should not blame him."

Ernie Johnson didn't expect the 76ers to lose so badly in three games. Double-teaming Li You was useless. Thinking of those crying scenes, he could only sigh:

"Leaving the Eastern Conference is not a bad thing. No longer being the focus of the media, maybe Iverson can prove himself again."

"Don't forget that he ranks second in scoring per game this season. He is still the best scorer in the league!"

This statement may be enough to fool Iverson's fans, but Charles Barkley subconsciously retorted after hearing it:
"There is no future. Iverson has proven that he cannot be the core of the team. After this series, who will put his name together with Lee's?"

"The fact is that he led the team to tie the largest point difference in playoff history, and his personal data was completely surrounded by Lee. Don't tell me that both of them are All-Stars. We all know that it was the fans' vote."

After saying this, Barkley felt a little regretful. Iverson was already in such a miserable state, he really shouldn't have hit him again.

Kenny Smith glanced at his partner and took the initiative to change the subject, no longer talking about this series with no suspense:
"The Cavaliers are currently leading 3-1. If they can win another game tonight, they will face the Knicks in the semifinals."

"During the regular season, the Cavaliers limited their opponents to 90.2 points, ranking third in the league. Their defensive performance was better than that of the Knicks."

"Coach Van Gundy has spent three years turning the Cavaliers into a team with both offensive and defensive capabilities. Perhaps the next round will be a showdown between the spear and the shield."

The Knicks averaged 114.2 points per game in the regular season. Their exaggerated offensive performance made people feel desperate. If it weren't for Kurt Thomas' injury, perhaps no one would question the championship.

Without giving his partner a chance to talk nonsense, Ernie Johnson immediately took over the conversation and previewed tonight's game:
"The Spurs also got the match point. Maybe this year they will be the first team to advance to the semi-finals!"

"Although Mike Miller won the Best Sixth Man Award, the Grizzlies are still far from being a championship team."

"Tim Duncan has once again proved himself to be the best big man in the league. Perhaps in a few days, he will win his first MVP trophy at home."

In the 4 games that night, the Spurs swept the Grizzlies 104:86 and easily advanced to the semifinals on the road. The Suns unexpectedly lost and the score came to 3:1. It seemed that the Kings still had a chance.

86:94, the Bulls pulled one back and the Pistons will face the decisive battle at home.

The Heat didn't give the Wizards any chance and easily won the match point at 106:90.

出场45分钟，23中12，三分线外3中1，罚球11中8，33分6篮板5助攻4失误，完全“李佑化”的打法让韦德交出了一份完美数据。

There were still waves of boos after the game. Pat Riley put on the airs of a championship coach again and boasted again in an interview after the game:

“Everyone played great tonight, but we can do better!”

"We suffered injuries in the regular season, but as the season progresses, the players are getting better and better, and they are eager for the championship!"

The oily-haired boss finally felt the feeling of being the center of attention again, and felt ecstatic amid all the compliments:

"I should be the coach of this team!"

On Monday, May 5, with Game 1 tonight, the New York Times continued to strike hard, without any regard for the opponent's emotions:
"The clown of Philadelphia - Allen Iverson."

Several columns have been mocking the "ugly behavior" of Iverson's family and friends in recent days, directly labeling their crying behavior as "clowns."

The New York Post also took this opportunity to explain to fans how Iverson "stole" the scoring title.

The label of "fake No. 1 pick" took away the only remaining honor of Iverson.

The image of a "good husband" was also torn to pieces, as the New York media dug up old stories and resurrected the news that Iverson had kicked his wife out of the house naked a few years ago.

By the way, we also explain how Iverson used his financial power to get rid of various lawsuits and create the image of an "indomitable fighter."

Mainstream newspapers did not miss this opportunity and also followed suit to explain how many times Iverson had lost over the years.

At present, Iverson only has the undisputed "Dribble past Jordan Award" and "Lee You Recognition Award". Perhaps as the opponent leaves the Eastern Conference, his reputation will improve.

After a few years of silence, Iverson is all the rage again, and it's to be expected that when he's traded, the old story will return.

This series completely broke down Iverson's die-hard fans. In the past two days, some radical fans came to protest against Li You outside the hotel. They could not accept such a result.

When they were taking the bus to the stadium for warm-up in the afternoon, die-hard fans surrounded the Knicks team and the local police had to step in to maintain order.

Li You has offended many fan groups over the years. The first to break down were fans of Michael Dunk. Ever since that buzzer-beater against the Chicago Bulls, the Knicks have not been welcome in Chicago.

Close behind were the Pacers fans. Although Stephen Jackson brought championship experience, the fans still could not forgive Li You for beating up old Miller.

Pistons fans have also become part of the "anti-Lee alliance" since they were hit by Artest, and now Philadelphia fans are completely numb.
As for Los Angeles and San Antonio, they never said anything good about Li You. The group of "victims" is increasing, but Li You has also gained the most loyal fans of winning over the years!

Sitting on the bus, Li You smiled and waved out the window. There are also "traitors" in Philadelphia, and fans holding "GOAT" banners will also appear around the hotel.

Winning fans don't care about Allen Iverson, they just like whoever wins more.
Previously in the Hawks, Dio was a loser, but after joining the Knicks, he was a winner this season. It was a sudden reversal, and he still feels uncomfortable with it:

"It's crazy. Before the playoffs, Iverson was still a city hero. In just three games, everything changed."

On the bus' way to the stadium, Dio sighed, and everyone talked about it. Artest said jealously:
"Even so, there are still many fans who like Iverson. It's hard to understand why this guy is so popular!"

Kurt Thomas, who was sitting in the front, turned his head to look at Artest, then looked at Grant Hill who was quietly reading a magazine, and then whispered jokingly:

"Ron, you should know that some people are born with superstar faces. You don't look like a good person. Maybe you can gain more fans by boxing."

Artest was a little dissatisfied. He really didn't look that good, but according to black people's aesthetics, Li You also looked "ordinary":
"Damn it! We are basketball players, who cares about these things? If you like pretty girls, why don't you watch those Hollywood male stars?"

"Why doesn't anyone judge Lee by his face?"

"Because I'm rich!"

Everyone laughed when they heard Li You's joke. Everyone knew that Artest, who often took care of his family and friends, was very poor and would spend all his salary in a few months.
Fisher seized the opportunity to flatter the boss. It was obvious that Fisher had read many newspapers and combined with current events, he boasted very naturally:
"Lee is the real idol. Iverson should thank Lee. If he hadn't played against us, who would pay attention to a team with 39 wins?"

"Think about it, if it wasn't for Lee, who would care even if the 76ers traded him?"

"Although he lost miserably, at least he became the focus again."

Gasol was confused. He felt that Iverson would rather not have such attention. Varejao and David Lee looked at the old fish in surprise. They all felt that they had gained something new:

"I learned it, I learned it!"

Before the start of Game 4, many Philadelphia fans were selling their tickets, which attracted a large number of fans and fans who wanted to win to gather in the Wachovia Center that night.

As it turned out, the Philadelphia fans who resold the tickets made the right choice, and that night was another "Iverson-style loss."

126:90, the Knicks' atmosphere team struck hard, Li You sent 15 assists in three quarters, and the game lost suspense early. Playing 38 minutes, 25 of 10 shots, 3 of 1 three-pointers, 19 of 17 free throws, 38 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and 4 turnovers, Iverson got the highest score of the game and ended this year's playoff journey.

As Li You, wearing the Knicks' blue away training uniform, walked toward the player tunnel, a burst of happy shouts soon rang out in the arena:
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

Li You left the court with a smile and waved goodbye. On the other side, Iverson sat on the bench with his hands covering his face and did not get up for a long time. Tawanna, who was sitting in the front row, hugged her eldest daughter and cried silently.

Head coach Cheeks did not blame his players. The gap between the core players could not be made up. They never responded to the opponent's offense in the series.

Although Iguodala was the beneficiary of the transaction, he couldn't help but come over to comfort his former boss as he saw him crying silently:

"No one will blame you, Allen! There are still many fans supporting us tonight."

Iverson cried until his eyes were red. He stood up and noticed the mother and daughter crying in the front row. He became even more emotional:
“I screwed up everything.”

Iguodala and the atmosphere team surrounded Iverson, who was crying with his head down, and walked towards the player tunnel. The 76ers fans at the scene watched everyone leave silently.

It was clear to everyone that Iverson's career in Philadelphia was over.

After the game, Fisher and Finley from the Knicks attended the press conference. They struck hard again tonight, firing frequently from beyond the three-point line.

As the broadcaster, TNT did not take Iverson's emotions into consideration and took the initiative to ask:

"Michael, tell us about your feelings in the first round. You won big in all four games. What made you play such an outstanding offense?"

Michael Finley smiled on his dark face. Although he felt a little sorry for Iverson, he still took the initiative to brag:
"Lee's performance inspired us. He completely suppressed the opponent's core on both offense and defense. Many times, all we had to do was hit those open jump shots."

"Lee makes the game simple by motivating his teammates in different ways in every game. He is a selfless leader!"

Old Fish continued to brag blatantly, which made the Philadelphia media attending the press conference very uncomfortable. When Iverson appeared in front of everyone with his head lowered, the atmosphere on the scene became even more depressing.

Iverson, with red eyes, stared at the sports media in the audience with clear eyes. He no longer had a rebellious expression and apologized to everyone in a hoarse voice:
"I'm sorry to the fans who supported me. I messed up everything."

"I've been here for 10 years and I love Philadelphia. If a trade happens, it's not what I want. I want to stay here."

Some Philadelphia sports reporters had mixed feelings. This was the first time that Iverson officially bowed to them. The "rebellious boy" was finally smoothed out by Li You.

In the game that was played simultaneously that night, the Cavaliers did not waste the opportunity and swept the Nets with a score of 92:102, 4:1.

For a time, championship coach Van Gundy and the chosen one LeBron James became the focus of sports media again.

LeBron James was naturally very happy to have reached the divisional semifinals for two consecutive years. After the game, Howard jumped up and down and cheered loudly with the fans.

"Our work is not over yet. The semi-finals are not our end. Our talent can support the team to move to a higher stage!"

James was interviewed by ESPN on the sidelines after the game and said this with confidence. He believed what Van Gundy said, that the playoffs are also a competition of momentum.
Howard, who was cheering, was already dancing stiffly on the sidelines. Finally, he rushed to the camera, smiled, and shouted:
"Our time is coming soon!"

On Tuesday, May 5, the NBA announced the Most Improved Player (MIP) Award for the 2-2005 season:
The Knicks' Boris Diaw narrowly beat the Hornets' David West in the voting to win the award.

After the news was announced, New York fans were happy again. Although Dio's statistics were mediocre, he left a deep impression during the period of time he served as a starter after Kurt Thomas was injured.

Dio flew back to New York overnight last night just in time to receive the award. From being a jerk disliked by the Hawks to a piece of the Knicks' championship puzzle, his reputation changed dramatically in just one season!
Perhaps influenced by the team's atmosphere, Dio, who received the award, made a rare bold statement:
"I am very happy to win the award, but we will achieve more this season. This is the first time I feel so close to the championship."

In the highly anticipated decisive battle that night, the Pistons easily defeated the Bulls 82:98 and successfully got the match point.

The Heat did not give the Wizards any chance and easily advanced to the semifinals with a score of 4:1.

The situation in the Eastern Conference has become clear. The teams in the upper half have a huge advantage, and the situation of the underdog defeating the strong has not occurred.

In the Western Conference, the Suns swept the Kings 102:116. Their opponent in the semifinals is the Clippers, who they defeated from behind.

Due to the locker room explosion, Kenyon Martin was suspended by the team. In addition, Carmelo Anthony suffered an injury and performed poorly. The Nuggets' shooting percentage in the series was just over 30%, and they were eliminated in the first round again.

There is only one game on the 3rd, and the Lakers will defend their next home court. The current score is 1:3, and tonight is a life-and-death battle.

Before the series, many basketball commentators were still looking forward to Kobe's explosion, but unfortunately, the Mavericks' double-team defense and Nowitzki's explosion made the game basically lose suspense.

Kwame Brown, winner of the "Michael Jordan Recognition Award", performed extremely poorly in this series, with some of his missed shots making even Phil Jackson shake his head.

The champion coach has fallen to the rookie coach. This is not the first time that this has happened. The old man from KFC has lost all his prestige long ago.

In the afternoon warm-up, Kobe Bryant was interviewed by the Dallas Morning News with a serious expression. In addition to saying that he would do his best, he also spoke up for Iverson again:

"Yes, I saw the news. Philly fans shouldn't blame Allen."

"Winning a championship is not an easy thing. Not every team has excellent pieces. Look at how much luxury tax the Knicks paid for their roster."

"In fact, we shouldn't compare Allen to Lee. Lee was successful, but he was surrounded by excellent players."

The Fox Sports reporter nearby naturally heard the hidden meaning. Kobe was dissatisfied with the Lakers' staffing. Thinking of this, he continued to add fuel to the fire and asked:

"Kobe, the Lakers' championship was also built on an excellent lineup. You had Shaquille O'Neal, the best center in the league at the time."

Kobe frowned and interrupted the other party without waiting for him to finish speaking. He knew what the other party wanted to say:
"I have never denied these. Our team was very good back then, but I didn't win the championship because of O'Neal."

"You can judge me however you want, but I will prove myself again. If you have watched my games this year, you should know that my performance is not inferior to Lee's. We are both championship-level defenders."

The ESPN reporter seemed to have heard a huge joke and couldn't hold it in for a moment, so he followed up with a joke:
"Do you also have an MVP or FMVP trophy?"

Noticing the teasing looks from everyone, Kobe's face became long, and for a moment he could only emphasize his own strength again:
"Basketball games are all about the ball. You haven't even watched my games in their entirety. I never play for honor. I only pursue victory."

Before the evening game started, Fox Sports reporters took the lead in making up news and updated the news on the Internet early:

"Kobe Bryant: If I were in New York, I would achieve more than Lee!"

That night, Jerry Stackhouse exploded on the Mavericks bench, 100:110, the Lakers lost away from home with a score of 4:1, and were eventually swept by the Gentlemen.

频频遭到包夹的科比虽然18中9，三分线外7中3，罚球9中7，高效砍下28分7篮板5助攻1抢断5失误的数据，但赛后却成了笑话。

No one cares what Kobe said, fans only remember that he was a big mouth and boasted.

On the 4th, New York fans smiled again when reading the news in the newspaper. Since the semi-finals will start on Sunday, the 7th, everyone can only watch the news for fun recently.

The second team next door lost again. Carter's performance like a blacksmith made fans laugh for many days. Kobe's boasting also made fans laugh. A bottom-ranked team with 44 wins said they were pursuing victory?

As the NBA is about to present the regular season Most Valuable Player award, New York basketball critics have recently begun to mock Tim Duncan's undominant statistics.

As for Iverson, he has been forgotten by the fans. The fans disliked the "data brush" coming to New York as a substitute.
The Knicks finished training early in the afternoon, and Li You returned to his home in Tarrytown before 4 o'clock. His agent Mark Bartelstein, who had been waiting in the study for a long time, proudly showed off his news:

"Lee, guess who James Dolan finally chose?"

The major sports media have already speculated about the candidate for the team's general manager. Seeing the other party's expression, Li You knew that something must have happened. Without thinking, he simply joked:
"Don't tell me it was Isiah Thomas? He got this position through personal friendship?"

Mark Bartelstein immediately laughed out loud. This was the most unreliable answer. Even if James Dolan agreed, the management would oppose it. A rookie manager wanted to lead a championship team?

"The news I got was that Donnie Walsh got the job, you know, he's a New Yorker, and although he worked for the Pacers for many years, his resume is very convincing."

Li You was a little surprised to hear the news. He was doing well in the Pacers, but he suddenly resigned.
Previously, Grunfeld recommended Steve Mills of the Knicks, a black executive who once worked in the NBA.

In 03, he joined the Knicks as MSG's chief operating officer and president of sports operations. Internal selection would help stabilize the team, but the curly-haired boss ultimately chose an outsider.

"Perhaps this is a good thing. After all, outsiders don't take it into consideration. You should understand that!"

Seeing the meaningful expression on his agent's face, Li You shrugged his shoulders and did not deny it. He sat down on the chair behind the desk and asked casually:
"It seems that it's not just this news. What new actions do you have?"

Mark Bartelstein had just signed Rudy Gay from the University of Connecticut not long ago, and he made another fortune. Thinking of the planned transaction, he immediately lowered his voice and introduced:
"Schwartz contacted me before the start of the playoffs. The Bulls wanted to trade Tyson Chandler and the other side was interested in PJ Brown."

"You know, Chris Paul is just a rookie, and the Hornets have no hope in the next few years, so Schwartz wants Chandler to come to New York."

Li You was a little surprised to hear the news. Ever since the Bulls signed championship guard Sprewell, the relationship between the two teams has gradually deteriorated.

Chandler and Stoudemire belong to the same agency, and while Mark Bartelstein is helping his competitors, he clearly has higher aspirations.

"Any other conditions besides Brown?"

Li You asked the key question, and Mark Bartelstein did not deny it. He introduced it very frankly:

"I signed JR Smith. If possible, I want to bring him to New York. Although this guy has some personality problems, he has outstanding talent."

Li You touched his chin and pondered for a moment. He did not agree immediately, but simply responded:

"We'll discuss this after the finals."

If there is no rejection, there is hope. Mark Bartelstein smiled and stood up immediately. He had to continue working on this deal:
"Li, believe me, these deals will help you continue to win!"

Scarlett, dressed in a cool outfit, had just returned home when she saw Mark Bartelstein leaving happily. The latter smiled and praised the young girl:
"Ms. Johnson, you are getting more and more beautiful!"

Noticing the other party's good mood, Scarlett responded with a smile, and soon came to the study, squeezed into Li You's arms and asked curiously:

"Did Mark make money again? This guy is always in Manhattan lately."

Holding the young girl's slender waist, Li You shook his head, buried his head in his arms and said in a muffled voice:
“Making money? Sometimes power is more pleasurable.”

(End of this chapter)