NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 530 "Do you want to surrender to the enemy?" (Daily Chapter)

On Sunday, December 2007, 12, the Suns faced the Knicks again this season.

Before the game, Li You received his Player of the Month award. Naturally, Madison Square Garden was filled with jubilation. This is almost a regular feature every year. The first month's Player of the Month must belong to New York.

Last time at the Suns' home court, Steve Nash performed poorly and eventually led the team to an 18-point loss.

If any sports media takes stock, they will find that the Suns have not beaten the Knicks since 96.

Many players make fun of Allen Iverson, but the reality is that everyone is "Iverson". There are many teams that have not won a single game over the years, and the Son of Philadelphia is just the most famous one.

Many fans can't even name some role players, and no one cares whether they win or lose. Steve Nash has this tendency, and everyone is tired of his "imitation show."

The fourth quarter was about to begin. Mike Breen was also sharing his gossip on the MSG commentary booth, talking about the Spanish rookie on the other side:

"Rudy Fernandez was said to want to play in New York before the draft, and the Suns were his second choice. It must be said that the rookie is very clear about his position."

"Gasol obviously briefed his national team teammates on the current situation in the league. It's a pity that we didn't have the opportunity to sign him."

"Shawn Marion is still in trade rumors. General Manager Donnie Walsh is very interested in him, but I haven't received any definite news yet."

If you pay attention to the Suns, you will find that Marion has been traded every season, but it has never been completed in the end. The All-Star forward is still shining in Phoenix.

Walter Frazier on the side did not delve too deeply into the topic because it was a way for the general manager to pressure the players.

Artest is still recovering from his contract break. His agent will certainly try to get a big contract, at least higher than Dio's.
The two sides have started negotiations now, and finding a "substitute" is a routine measure. Obviously, Donny Walsh does not want to continue to pay a premium.

Even if the boss is willing to spend money, once the players show a rapid decline in performance, the general manager will be blamed. Both parties are silently competing for their jobs.

"I'm glad to see Stoudemire's growth. Injuries didn't defeat him. This is the fighting spirit that a championship team should have!"

"With a 12-point difference, Nash has to step up and find his shooting touch again."

9中2，比赛到现在纳什贡献了5分3篮板8助攻1抢断2失误的数据，沃尔特-弗雷泽说得比较委婉，但落后确实是纳什的锅。

73:85, after three quarters, the Knicks suppressed their opponents throughout the whole process, and there was not much time left for the Suns.

The game was about to start, and coach Gentry seemed to be worried about the rotation. He wanted to play himself, and pulled Nate Robinson to keep telling him:
"Don't make stupid mistakes, try to create opportunities for Leonardo!"

Robinson, who had been pressed on the bench during the previous rotation phase and just played around randomly, could only nod his head. He had to compromise with the coach, and his dream of becoming a core guard was shattered again.

During the rotation phase, the Suns had Robinson and Barbosa partner in the backcourt, and the front three were Marion, Quentin Richardson and Brian Skinner.

Since Marion took on too many defensive tasks, the scorers in the transition period were mainly the Brazilian Lightning. Even if Nate Robinson was dissatisfied, he had to keep it to himself at this time.

The Knicks also made rotations, with Rondo and Gary Neal partnering up in the backcourt, while Dio, David Lee and Gazuric partnered up in the frontcourt for the first time tonight.

Each team starts the first wave of layoffs in October. November is also an observation period. Only after getting through the All-Star Weekend can they get a stable contract.

D'Antoni is not stingy with opportunities. As long as someone is in good shape in training, he will always get a chance. Gary Neal is an example. Although he was selected 60th, he has more playing time than Novak.

When the game resumed, Nash on the Suns bench held his chin and began to frown. They seemed to be passive again in the first round.

"Let's go Knicks!."

Amid cheers, facing the Suns' zone defense-like stance, the Knicks completed the double screen on the line in the first possible moment.

Marion, who was defending the big man, switched defense in time when facing the pick-and-roll, forcing Rondo, who had the ball in his right hand, to not find many good opportunities when he cut into the basket from the right wing.

Nate Robinson tried to disrupt David Lee's downward movement by pulling and tugging, but Rondo, who was "circling" with Marion, made a bold pass near the lower left side of the basket.

The moment he stopped, he threw the basketball into the air to the other side. Finally, David Lee jumped up with his little body hanging on him and pushed the ball into the basket with his right hand.

"Oh!"

The referee blew the whistle and cheers started again. With the same tactical system, facing zone defense, the Knicks were better at using faster guards to tear through the defense and create mismatches.

The whole performance was suppressed by the rookie, which made Nate Robinson particularly unhappy. Seeing Rondo seriously reminding his teammates to prepare to retreat, he stood outside the three-point line during free throws and said sarcastically:
"Don't act like that in front of me, lucky rookie!"

"."

After glancing at the other person, Rondo ignored the little guy in front of him. He cherished his limited playing time very much and had no interest in competing with a small character.

After David Lee made the free throw, Nate Robinson, who was ignored, received the ball at the baseline and rushed forward. He vaguely heard the coach's shouting, and then he reluctantly made tactical gestures.

Gary Neal knew that Babos was fast, so he tried his best to squeeze through the screen, and when the opponent bounced out to the left wing, he immediately chased to his side and disrupted the ball.

Seeing that the tactic failed, Marion immediately moved to the right wing, set a fake screen, and quickly came to the top of the arc.

David Lee, who came out to defend, chose to stay inside the three-point line. Rondo easily squeezed through the screen and successfully interfered with the opponent's pass.

Nate Robinson was almost intercepted when he made a jump pass after pretending to break through. When the basketball flew into Marion's hands, he was forced to adjust after receiving the ball.

Facing David Lee's retreating defensive choice, Marion did not hesitate at all and quickly pushed the ball out and missed.
Seeing the rebound being easily caught by Gadzuric, head coach Gentry on the sidelines did not blame the players for their offensive choice. This is their game rhythm, attack when there is a chance!
The Suns retreated quickly, and Rondo, out of caution, failed to seize the opportunity for transition offense.

However, when everyone was in position, Rondo, holding the ball in his left hand, stopped, seemed to be observing the defense at the top of the arc, and then suddenly pushed the ball and changed direction.

The moment he switched to his right hand, he immediately lowered his shoulders and accelerated, Rondo gained half a body position, trapped Nate Robinson behind him, and went straight to the basket from the middle.

"Oh!"

The two had just crossed the free throw line when Rondo suddenly slowed down and pulled the ball back with one hand. The sudden fake move startled Robinson, and by the time he reacted it was too late.

Rondo moved inside to assist in defense, but after getting rid of the defense, he twisted his body, held the ball with his right hand, and threw the ball high.

It looked like a pass or a shot, and Marion subconsciously held off David Lee on his side, and the basketball finally went into the net.

73:90, the score difference went straight to 20 points.

There was jubilation on the Knicks bench. Li You, who was wearing a training suit, also stood up and applauded. It was likely that he would clock out in at three quarters again tonight.

The game had just begun. Head coach Gentry looked at the bench and ultimately did not make any substitutions. Fortunately, with the same tactics, Marion made a three-pointer from the top of the arc, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.

Within a few minutes, the two sides exchanged blows and the score difference did not narrow. Rondo forced his way through his opponent in several rounds, which made Nate Robinson's defense a little broken.

With 7 minutes and 46 seconds left in the game, when Rondo broke through again on the left wing with the ball behind his back, Robinson directly pulled him down and both of them fell to the ground.

Before the referee could stop him, the situation got out of control as Nate Robinson yelled in anger as he stood up:
"A man who can only lick a**"

Amid the fans' exclamations, Rondo stared with his eyes wide open and raised his left arm, then punched the little guy in the face with his right hand. Seeing that Robinson was almost knocked down, the scene instantly boiled over.

When everyone separated the two, Nate Robinson, who had suffered a loss, was still shouting angrily. He almost rushed over again when he heard Rondo's ridicule:
"Trash like you will only be a minor character your whole life!"

"." This conflict eventually resulted in both men receiving technical fouls, and the Suns were unable to launch an effective counterattack. After the main lineup came on the court, Nash still could not regain his touch and could only watch time pass by helplessly.

Thanks to several mid-range jump shots and free throws by Stoudemire, the score difference kept fluctuating around 14 points. Until the end, head coach Gentry on the sidelines could only smile bitterly with his arms folded.

101:116, at the end of the game, Nash was in low spirits, and the cheers in his ears could only make him sigh secretly.

In the past two years, he was still on the MVP list, but after the start of the new season, no one was talking about him anymore. Li You seemed to see what he was thinking, and immediately stepped forward to give him a fist bump and console him after the game:
"Don't pay attention to those boring lists, we all know how difficult it is for small guys in the league!"

"."

Nash didn't know how to respond for a moment, so he shook his long hair and could only compliment dryly:
"Congratulations, Lee! It looks like you'll be able to win another trophy this year, and there won't be any surprises this time!"

The All-Stars who form a group are destined to miss out on the trophy, which leaves Li You with only some young people as competitors. Some commentators have already begun to speak out, and there is almost no suspense about this year's regular season awards.

Hearing his opponent's blessing, Li You didn't hesitate but responded calmly, once again securing the first place in the MVP candidate list. This was just a routine operation for him.

On the other side, Marion also simply shook hands with the Knicks, but he soon noticed the hostile gazes. Facing Artest's scrutiny, he said frankly:

"What's up, Bro!"

As soon as the two men bumped fists, Artest, who was dressed in formal attire, curled his lips. He did not pretend to be confused, but said in a very straightforward and low voice:
"You should ask your agent to tone it down. You know, I grew up in Queens. There's no way I'm leaving the team!"

The New York fans at the scene were still cheering loudly for the home team. Some of them were shouting Artest's name, making fist-pumping gestures from time to time and cheering happily.

Maybe it was because there were too many "grouping" behaviors this year. In the past, Marion, as a player, never expressed his views on trade rumors. But this time, he smiled and said again after touching Artest's shoulders:
"I get traded all the time, why can't I choose the best team in the league?"

"."

Artest was a little unhappy. He despised his opponent's "betrayal of the enemy", but he couldn't come up with a reason to refute it. In the end, he could only say angrily:
"You are not welcome in New York!"

Marion acted as if he didn't care, smiled at Artest and left. JR Smith, who was no longer on crutches, came up to him:
"Damn it! These guys are crazy! Damn Celtics, without them, this situation wouldn't be here now."

The two men walked slowly towards the locker room. JR Smith kept complaining in a low voice that he might be traded as a bargaining chip, which gave him a serious sense of crisis.

The shouts of the fans on both sides of the tunnel made Artest smile. When he walked into the tunnel, he saw his frustrated younger brother and said in a muffled voice:

"We can go talk to Lee about this. Donnie can't destroy the locker room like this!"

"."

At the post-match press conference, new faces also appeared among the New York reporters.

Tina Chelvacio has been covering football in the past. The female reporter's contract with NESN is about to expire, and MSG seems to be planning to sign her.

The team's press officer was very considerate of the other party. He first asked Chelvasio to ask questions. After getting permission, Chelvasio smiled, shook his big waves, and asked very professionally:

"Lee, I've been following the recent developments of the Knicks. General Manager Donnie Walsh seems to be interested in changing the team's roster. We would like to hear your opinion on this?"

How to make the arrogant players train honestly and accept the arrangements is also a technical job. After all, when the black players get emotional, they can really go against the flow.
After a brief conversation with the general manager, Li You expressed his respect, but when answering questions, he showed his "emotional" side and said emotionally:

"I respect everyone on the team and I believe everyone is working towards the same goal!"

"Maybe you heard some bad news, but that's not true. We've been through so many championships and we play for each other."

"Ron and the others will recover soon. As for other issues, it's too early to discuss them now."

Noticing that the reporters seemed to want to hear a more precise answer, Li You straightened the microphone, looked "sad", and said meaningfully:

"You all know well, Business Alliance, we always hear that business is business."

"Players are starting to take control of their careers, which is not a bad thing! But I'm an old-school player and I prefer to grow with everyone."

"As long as we train hard and give wonderful games to the fans, I believe no one will leave the Knicks family."

If these words were said in the past, combined with Li You's operation of cleaning up Big Brother, many sports reporters would definitely complain secretly.

But "banding together" has become a trend this season, and Li You's flawless "One Man One City Award" is more valuable and is unique in the league.

Even reporters who don't like Li You have to praise him for his "loyalty" at this time. Everything is afraid of comparison. With the backdrop of a group of stars in the league, the Knicks have become the representative of pure basketball!

The Knicks staff also showed an expression of "sharing honor and disgrace" on their faces. The opponents' previous criticisms of New York have now been slapped in the face.

Chelvasi smiled and nodded in agreement, but the ESPN reporters in the audience were unable to complain. They could naturally hear another meaning in these words:
"If you don't play basketball honestly, you are not Li You's 'family'."

On Wednesday, the 5th, the Knicks fly to Charlotte to face the Bobcats for the first time this season.

6 wins and 10 losses. The new season has just begun, and the Bobcats have shown their bottom-feeder nature and are on the verge of falling behind.
Although Michael Jordan was praised by fans for blocking the Lakers' trade during the offseason, the damage caused by the vice-GOAT's operations in last year's draft continues.

No one cares about the result of tonight's game. Rather than expecting the Bobcats to win by surprise, it is better to expect Li You to explode and get more data.

The new season always takes place at home. Although he did not officially appear at the press conference before the game, Michael Jordan also accepted interviews from some media.

Michael Jordan, wearing a gray suit and smiling, began to frown when he heard the question.

"Michael Dunk, have you noticed the recent news that many players in the league are planning to join forces? What do you think of this phenomenon?"

The TNT reporter threw out an annoying question. Michael Jordan thought for a moment, then shrugged and made fun of the league today:

"Honestly, I'm not surprised. Looking back, this has happened before. Players want to win titles, and there's nothing wrong with that!"

"Now I just feel fortunate that although my experience with the Bulls was not perfect, we still won five championships."

"."

These words are meaningful, probably referring to the Suns. Charles Barkley did the same thing back then.

Although Michael Jordan did not reveal his true emotions, his words still revealed a hint of disapproval, and he even took the opportunity to criticize his younger brother:
"I read the news about the Lakers. Kobe should be more mature. He must unite the team."

"He can call me or ask Li for advice. We are not stingy in sharing our experiences."

"I don't know if he was involved in the recruitment, but if that solves the problem, then do your best to do it well. I hope to see him prove himself again in the finals."

After hearing the answers they wanted, a group of sports reporters felt relieved. Michael Dunk criticized the "successor" and Kobe was denied by his idol!
In the game that night, Michael Jordan, who was sitting in the front row, quickly showed a "painful" look, Raymond Felton was completely suppressed, and Li You easily restricted the team's engine.

Although head coach Sam Vincent has the support of the vice-GOAT, he lost the new season at the beginning. He was a little upset for a while and kept yelling on the sidelines.

35:18, at the end of the first quarter, the arena was a little quiet, and Michael Jordan regretted coming to watch the Knicks game. At this time, he rested his chin on his hand, stared at the bench and thought secretly:

“It’s painful to watch you guys play.”

(End of this chapter)