NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 523 Someone Always Becomes a Joke (7000 Word Chapter)
On Sunday, September 2007, 9, the final of the European Men's Basketball Championship also came to an end that night.

60:59, Russia defeated host Spain in the final and won its first European basketball championship since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Contrary to everyone's expectations, Pau Gasol's performance tonight was extremely poor. He made 13 of 4 shots, including 1 of 1 three-pointers, and 12 of 5 free throws, scoring only 14 points.

Facing the Russian inside combination led by Andrei Kirilenko, Gasol's team collapsed in the second half, and the team only scored 4 points in the fourth quarter.

In the end, thanks to his outstanding performance in the final, Kirilenko was successfully elected MVP of the event.

In this European Championship, Nowitzki won the scoring title. The German, who had been extremely low-key during the offseason, was unable to avoid interviews this time. Fortunately, his mood calmed down a lot and he finally faced the reporters calmly.

Germany finished fifth and still has a chance to advance to the Olympics, which Nowitzki has mixed feelings about:
“It’s a bit of a shame to miss out on a medal, but it’s also nice to be able to play in the Olympic qualifiers!”

"Yes, I'm still frustrated about the playoffs, but I have to look forward to it. We are still one of the best teams in the league."

"As for the opening game, I think it's great. A lot of things happened in the NBA during the offseason. I hope fans can pay more attention to basketball itself. I'm glad to see Michael return to the team."

Nowitzki had regret on his face when answering the question, but when talking about the opening game at the end of October, he was very calm, and the return of Michael Finley made him even happier.

The final was held at the Freemason Stadium in Madrid. Spain lost the championship. The fans at the scene were unhappy and some people started swearing.

When Nowitzki said goodbye to the reporters and left the court with his teammates, although it was not clear what the fans here were scolding, it was obvious that they were very dissatisfied with Gasol's performance.

There were also people from the French team who came to watch the final, but their performance in this European Championship was rather poor, and they only got 8th place in the end, completely missing out on the Olympics.

Tony Parker averaged 20.1 points per game, ranking second in the scoring list, and even had a highlight performance of 2 points in a single game. Unfortunately, he could only watch others receive the award at this time.

Parker was also a winner in life this summer. Although he lost in the finals, he successfully married Eva. The two weddings in France were the highlights of his life.

Most sports reporters went to interview Kirilenko, and some gathered around Gasol and others. Parker, who lost the qualifying game, was ignored for a while and could only complain quietly to his teammates:
"Last year I injured my finger, and this year you have a back injury"

France had a fight with the Spurs last year and a big battle with the Knicks this year, both results were not very good. Now they have completely lost their Olympic qualification and will have to play in the qualifiers for the 09 European Championships.

Parker signed a contract with the Spurs for 5100 million US dollars. Seeing Dio's 4800 million this year, even his old teammates from the youth team were a little jealous. This money is too easy to make!
In the end, Dio, who only played two games, looked at his nagging teammates with a helpless look on his face. This money is not so easy to get:

"The team trainer has made many demands on me. The contract also includes incentives. The training camp will start in a few days, and I have less than two months to rest."

"."

The teammates who came to watch the game were all cheering on the sidelines. Parker had been an All-Star, and Dio played more garbage time in the playoffs last season, but the difference between their contracts was only $300 million. Anyone would be jealous.

By 2008, many Knicks players will have player options. Dio is naturally aware that his contract may have a negative impact, but the Frenchman is too lazy to think about those trivial things.

Hearing Parker still complaining about the Spurs' stinginess, Dio, who was shaking his head, kept silent and joined in the commotion. Now he was in the state of "I've got the money, what's there to be afraid of?"

On Friday, September 9, White House Chief of Staff David Addington and a delegation visited Sandia High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

David Addington, whose hair has mostly turned white, gave back to his alma mater in a low-key manner. He declined the invitation of Governor Bill Richardson and took Li You and others to visit the former chairman of the New Mexico Elephant Party.

In last year's gubernatorial election, Donkey Party candidate Bill Richardson defeated John Dendahl with a record number of votes. After the old man lost the election, he bid farewell to the sad place.

As the former chairman, John Dendahl was a member of the University of Colorado Sports Hall of Fame before entering politics. He won three NCAA skiing championships and was a member of the 1960 U.S. ski team at the Winter Olympics.

The trophy was placed in the most conspicuous place in the house. Anyone could see that the old man was very proud of his championship. Even the commemorative trophy of the New Mexico Ski Hall of Fame was placed on the other side.

Albuquerque has entered autumn in September and the temperature is no longer hot.

It was no different from an ordinary family, except that the swimming pool in the yard was slightly larger. John Dendal, wearing a flowered shirt, entertained a few people. The old man looked at Addington's hesitation and said self-deprecatingly:
"I was swept by 6 votes in all the counties. Now when I mention the election, everyone will laugh at me. Don't say comforting words. I'm retired now and I don't care about these reputations anymore."

Li You, who was looking at the trophy with Jin, did not interrupt. David Addington subconsciously pushed his glasses and said seriously:

"We need help. There are problems with election funding. I know this. The Heritage Foundation will be able to help your son in the future."

Except for 04 when New Mexico voted for the Elephant Party, it has been blue most of the time.

John Dendal chuckled. His grandfather was German, and his family had taken root here and opened a family business. He was no stranger to the Conservative Party, and did not take over the conversation. Instead, he said with great interest:

"What do you think, Li! The older I get, the more I miss my college days. Winning the championship is the happiest thing in my life!"

"I remember you also won the championship at the University of Connecticut. You must understand how I feel. As for those Hall of Fame titles, they are all boring tricks."

Li You took off his suit jacket and put on a blue shirt. He smiled and gave the old man a thumbs up, then said with empathy:
"A group of young people fighting for the championship is indeed the purest competition. No matter how many NBA championships I win, college sports time will always be the best!"

Jin, who was dressed as a private lawyer, curled his lips quietly. Li You hadn't taken care of the trophies at home for a long time. His words were obviously not sincere enough, but John Dendal was overjoyed when he heard them.

David Addington sighed when he saw the two talking about college sports, and it wasn't until the end of dinner that he found another topic:
"When the documentary comes out in October, Dick Cheney is done, both physically and with his reputation."

"He wanted his son or daughter to be a senator, but I didn't think she was a good candidate, and you know, Cheney has always supported same-sex marriage, so I wanted to come back and start over here."

The old man took out his treasured cigar to share. After hearing what the other party said, he shrugged his shoulders and simply responded:

"Next term will be your chance. Maybe my body won't be able to see that day. Isn't four years enough?"

Shaking his head, David Addington said that he needed a more stable environment. His reputation was not very good, and returning to his hometown for development was a forced choice.

"Kim, I know you're doing great work in the Southern District U.S. Attorney's Office. If you want to come back here, become a county prosecutor first. There will be more development in the future."

"In a few years, you can run for governor. I think female governors will become a trend. Lee can also help you canvass votes. Don't forget that he was born here."

John Dendal ignored the "whoever feeds you is your mother" chief of staff and stated his choice with a smile. He also winked at Li You and joked in a low voice:
"Remember to complete the marriage formalities when the time comes. The governor needs a happy family."

Li You glanced at David Addington, who looked a little unhappy. The old man also rejected the Heritage Foundation. He also felt gloating about this. No one wanted to be manipulated by others:
"Well, it seems that we need to have two more children, and we need to have a daughter!"

The old man laughed happily. Jin, who was standing beside him, was a little reserved. She could see that someone was about to become a joke, so she could only smooth things over and said quickly:

"Well, I haven't thought about that. Being able to get to this position now should be the limit. I haven't paid attention to the situation in the New Mexico legal community in the past few years."

"Alvin will be 2 next month, so I'll probably stay in New York forever."

The topic turned to family matters again. Although John Dendal did not refuse openly, the party ended in a rather unpleasant mood.

When they returned to the secret residence at night, it was almost midnight. Old Mike, who was driving, got out of the car and checked front and back for a long time before finally making a safe gesture to Li You.

Li You went to the kitchen and took out juice from the refrigerator. After drinking a few glasses, he looked at Jin who was in a daze and said jokingly:

"Still thinking about the governor? When we have more funding, it will be okay to say no to them."

Jin came to his senses and started to take off his coat. Seeing that Li You didn't seem to be worried at all, he couldn't help but roll his eyes at him.

New York's "Wall Street Sheriff" has been waiting for Ax Capital to make a mistake. As the number of lawsuits involved increases, Jin said with some concern:
"I'm thinking about the case that Milinda is in charge of. You should have read the New York newspapers recently. The governor's poll numbers are starting to rise again."

"."

Before going to bed, the two of them brushed their teeth together in the bathroom. Jin, with her blonde hair and loose pajamas, looked at herself in the mirror, who looked more refined. She also looked at Li You, who looked still young except for his thicker beard:

"Isn't this a joke, Governor?"

Li You almost laughed out loud. After being punched a few times, he quickly rinsed his mouth and threw away his toothbrush. He hugged the other person on the table and said in a muffled voice:

"Maybe it's true, but we are short of two children"

"Oh not here."

On Thursday, the 27th, many NBA teams officially opened their training camps. Although it was not a public media day, most sports reporters actively participated in reporting on local teams.

This year's preseason, the Suns and Grizzlies will return to Vancouver, the Knicks and SuperSonics will go to New Mexico, and the Cavaliers and Magic will fly across the ocean to Shanghai to participate in the China Games.

Some teams will also complete their warm-up in Europe, but plans have not changed quickly. The betting scandal has damaged the NBA brand, and individual games may be coldly received.

For fans who like to watch fun, they are more concerned about the Lakers' training camp at this time. Will Kobe, who is publicly traded, return to the team in time to report?

In the morning, a large number of sports reporters gathered at the Toyota Center training hall in El Segundo.

The Associated Press, Washington Post and other media reported that Li You and his team returned to their hometown. There is no place to eat spectators about this kind of news. Instead, it is Kobe's previously tough team that deserves more attention at this time.

There are usually a lot of luxury cars gathered in the parking lot in front of the Lakers training center. When Kobe's car was not seen, many reporters began to discuss in low voices.

Unlike the crowd who were just there to have fun, the reporter from the Los Angeles Times sincerely hoped that Kobe could return to the team. Without the "special Black Mamba", the team would most likely be fishing every year in the future.

The reporters didn't have to wait too long before Kobe's Ferrari appeared in everyone's sight. Those who wanted to watch the fun became even more excited. Mamba was defeated by Kupchak!
After getting off the car, Kobe was dressed in a gray suit, without taking off his sunglasses. He had a cold face and didn't want to talk to the reporters. He walked quickly towards the gate of the training center.

"Kobe! Parker thinks the Heat's locker room atmosphere is much better than the Lakers'. What do you think of this?"

"Sacramento fans firmly believe that they should appear in the finals. Did the Lakers get the favor of the referees that year?" "."

Lakers staff stopped reporters who wanted to gather around Kobe and loudly reminded them that there would be interview opportunities later, but many people still shouted, fearing that Kobe would not hear the questions.

Kobe Bryant came to the locker room with a sullen face, looking at his familiar teammates, his eyes twitching slightly. Andrew Bynum was still gloating at this time:
"I heard that we were ranked 17th in the pre-season odds? Shit! It looks like we won't win the championship this year!"

Originally, the words were meant to express regret, but Bynum said them cheerfully. Ever since the "video incident" happened, he and Kobe have completely broken off, and he feels comfortable as long as the other party is unhappy.

Ronny Turiaf, who had just completed heart surgery, was the first to notice the arrival of the boss and took the initiative to step forward and give a fist bump to greet him:

"Great performance at the America's Cup, Kobe! Now everyone knows that you are the core of the national team!"

Fisher has been in New York to take care of his daughter who had surgery during the offseason. He didn't pay much attention to basketball news, but when he saw Bynum's face, he knew there were still problems in the locker room:

"How have you been resting these days? Kobe, everyone can't wait to go to Hawaii to complete training. It feels great to see you back!"

Hearing his old teammate's words, Kobe forced a smile, ignored the lazy guy, looked at everyone, and said expressionlessly:
"Listen, I will be strict with you! We must return to the finals this season. If anyone has any opinions, go talk to Kupchak now."

"I have no interest in playing basketball games with you guys here. Most of you are as soft as Charmin!"

Charmin - a well-known American toilet paper brand. After hearing Kobe's words, the locker room, which was just bustling, became quiet.

Loyal Kwame Brown had a serious expression on his face. After his agent explained to him that the Lakers were the most suitable team for him, he decided to end his career here:

"That's right, I promise I won't be lazy! Kobe, we believe you can do it!"

Kwame Brown's flattery obviously hit the wrong spot. Kobe looked down on him and didn't care what he said. He sat in his seat and muttered to himself:
"Don't let me hear you complaining to the reporters. Anyone who doesn't want to pursue the championship doesn't deserve to be my teammate!"

"You must be prepared! Don't use injuries as an excuse"

Odom, who planned to recuperate during the regular season, shrugged awkwardly. Chris Mihm, Luke Walton and others looked at each other and stopped talking.

It wasn't until Phil Jackson came to the locker room with his assistant coach that the awkward atmosphere was completely broken:

"Very good, it seems that no one relaxes their requirements for themselves, at least no one appears in front of me in a wheelchair"

"."

The old man from KFC was also very low-key during the offseason. He did not participate in the struggle between Kobe and the team, but he was still relieved to see that the trade failed.

After delivering a simple chicken soup, Phil Jackson realized that Kobe seemed to be emotional. He thought that Kobe was upset about those reporters, so he encouraged him before training:

"Don't care what others think, you have a championship, you are a championship guard, Kobe, you just have to be yourself!"

After hearing the encouragement, Kobe finally just nodded, then walked away quickly with a blank expression. Nothing about the Lakers currently satisfied him.

The team completed physical tests in the morning, and then took final photos. The sports reporter wanted to interview Kobe, but what he saw was the big star leaving early with a sullen face.

In the end, it was Fisher who took on the responsibility of being the leader of the locker room. Facing the Los Angeles reporters, he smiled and said something polite:
"Don't worry about us. My experience with the Knicks taught me to keep basketball separate from life."

"You saw Kobe's form in the America's Cup. The special Black Mamba is about to start hunting!"

"."

On Thursday night, TNT's season preview program was also broadcast on time at 20:30. The Lakers media day started the earliest, and most teams in the league were still on vacation.

The trio had to talk about the hot topics among fans, but Charles Barkley was obviously not in a good mood. After the director played the interview footage, he loudly criticized the camera:
"Kobe doesn't seem to realize why he's not respected!"

"He performed well in the America's Cup, but we all know that the US team will not lose at all, just like Lee's current opponent is only the Celtics. This is the consensus of everyone."

"It was O'Neal who won the Finals MVP and the MVP. O'Neal was the best player on that Lakers team."

"Put away that arrogance, accept the interview, answer the questions, don't forget that you asked to leave the team, remember, respect is mutual."

Since the Knicks have players participating in the European Championship, the training camp will not officially start until the league media working day on October 10. Ernie Johnson can only talk about personal topics at this time:

"Pau Gasol was completely suppressed by Andrei Kirilenko in the final! We have reason to believe that his body was too tired."

"This is a huge hidden danger for the Knicks. Boris Diaw's contract is beyond most people's expectations. Kenny, what impact do you think this will have on the team?"

Hearing his partner change the subject, Kenny Smith responded with a smile and gave his own opinion succinctly:
"Artest and Raja Bell will have their player options this season, and you know their salaries are not as high as Dio's."

"JR Smith will also have a team option. Although I sympathize with him, the Knicks have not yet handed over a contract in advance. Apparently the general manager plans to discuss this matter again in July next year."

"This is an opportunity for other teams. To complete these renewals, New York needs to pay a lot of money."

Considering the Dolan family has made a lot of money, Kenny Smith did not say that the Knicks would not pay, but his intention to add fuel to the fire is very clear. If you want to destroy the championship lineup, then use US dollars to speak.
"I respect every player, but from what I've seen over the years, it's easy to overestimate Knicks players."

"I agree with the Chicago media on this point. The system that Lee brought magnified the strengths of those around him. After leaving New York, many players began to fade out of the league."

"Think about Sprewell. There are still fans who are dissatisfied with his performance in Chicago. Although he helped Garnett reach the Western Conference Finals, everyone saw what happened afterwards."

Charles Barkley started to spoil the show again, reminding his partner that there are not many teams willing to spend money now. He seemed to think there was nothing to talk about, so he simply added:
"From the perspective of basketball ability alone, Lee is the GOAT. His shooting ability is unique in history, so it is not difficult to build a team around him."

"We lost to the Lakers that year, but he won the championship again the next year with his sophomore rookies. The more I analyze it, the more I am amazed at his performance!"

"Kobe Bryant should reflect on why he and Shaquille O'Neal, who was in peak physical condition, only won one championship, and why he could only get eliminated in the first round when he led his own team."

"Lee is loyal to his team. He is a hero in the eyes of New York fans. Look at the reaction of Los Angeles fans now. Kobe has made a joke of them!"

Ernie Johnson almost sighed on the spot. The America's Cup had just passed, Kobe's reputation was just right, and the program would most likely be complained about again because of the adverse performance.

Fortunately, Kenny Smith finally shifted the topic to the Celtics, and the news about the "Big Four" caused several people to restart their quarrel.

On Monday, October 10, media day officially arrived, the Tarrytown Training Center became lively, and the Knicks began to promote the new season.

The MSG staff had the advantage of being close to the training ground and entered the training hall early. When they noticed James Dolan was there, they immediately started interviewing the curly-haired boss.

Ever since giving out a big contract, Dolan felt that he seemed to have messed things up, but when he thought of the benefits brought by the championship, he immediately tossed aside the advice of General Manager Downey.

"4800 million, I don't think there is anything wrong with it. The Suns wanted to destroy our lineup structure, and I prevented it from happening."

"As long as I can occupy a stable rotation position in the Knicks, I don't mind paying more, and I will ensure that the team always maintains an excellent lineup depth."

James Dolan can only be tough on salary inflation, as his agent doesn't discuss contracts with him, and the details are the responsibility of the general manager.
While talking endlessly about his business plan, James Dolan also took the opportunity to advertise his sister team, the Rangers.

The ice hockey team's performance has been poor under his leadership, and some New York sports fans have already started complaining. After all, this city only likes to win now.

As the time approached 10 o'clock, the players arrived one after another. D'Antoni and the coaching staff were more concerned about their physical condition. They had played too many games, and it was likely that they would have to use games as training at the beginning of the season.

Rookie Thaddeus Young arrived at the gym early to warm up. Following the advice of his good friends, he did not rent a house in Manhattan and chose to settle down in Tarrytown.

Rajon Rondo, who had been practicing basketball in a low-key manner during the offseason and occasionally appeared on the street court, became even darker. Noticing the curious gaze of the newbie, he whispered:
"Take advantage of those open shots. That's why I keep working on my shot."

Thaddeus Young didn't feel like refuting, he just nodded. He watched for a while, and Rondo missed many shots when he caught the ball on the move.
A large number of people soon gathered at the two complete basketball courts. Artest and JR Smith, who were still in wheelchairs, also greeted the staff with a smile.

David Lee and Gazuric are still looking for Li You. They wanted to be one step ahead and flatter him first, but they never got the chance.

At 10 o'clock, Li Youcai showed up in the training hall on time. Soon the reporters' attention shifted from Dio, who got a big contract, and they no longer asked why Gasol was in such a low state.

The Knicks' jerseys for the new season remain the same. Although it is announced that new styles will be added during certain holidays, if they want to make more money, they will have to promote them for a while longer.

Sports Illustrated reporters did not report much about Li You during the off-season. The betting scandal had such a huge impact that many NBA promotional activities were suspended.

Although there has been no news about his playing basketball in the past few months, several reporters put their doubts in their hearts when they saw Li Youshi wearing a body-shaping suit, with clear muscle lines and visible eight-pack abs.

After a round of filming, familiar reporters gathered around Li You. Perhaps because they had just interviewed the Celtics, a reporter from Sports Illustrated exclaimed:

"I almost forgot that Doc Rivers also won the best coach award! When we interviewed him yesterday, he was said to have prepared more than 100 sets of tactics for the team."

Sports Illustrated was able to get an exclusive interview, but some reporters did not have this opportunity. When they heard about the 100 tactics, many of them exclaimed:

"Maybe the Celtics' past lineups limited the coach's performance."

The sports reporter from the New York Times didn't care about these things, but when he heard the number 100, he couldn't help but ask Li You:
"Lee, how many main tactics does the Knicks have?"

Noticing everyone's curious gazes, Li You didn't mind revealing some inside information. He raised a finger with a smile and answered seriously:
"Only one set!"

(End of this chapter)