NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 535 The Importance of Champion Experience (Daily Chapter)

In the increasingly impetuous NBA league, a player's reputation may take a sharp turn for the worse in just one game.

Ever since the "Big Four" formed their team, the Boston sports media has never been stingy with their praise, even though such a team formation violates some unspoken rules. But in this era, winning is all that matters!
After months of hype, at the start of the new season, as the Celtics won a series of games, the inflated media finally began to speculate on the championship.

If everyone was powerless to refute before the Christmas game, then after the game on Christmas Day, some veteran players who won the "One Man One City Award" were about to strike back!

The Celtics players are aware of this situation, but they have already "banded together". If they continue to admit defeat, their remaining dignity will disappear.

Although it seemed easy before the game, everyone was actually under a lot of pressure. However, in the game that night, the pressure completely disappeared in the third quarter, and a complete defeat was the best portrayal.

At 25:16 on the th, the Christmas game was coming to an end and Madison Square Garden was full of joy. This Christmas gift would make New York fans happy until the New Year.

Starting from the second half, the director of ABC frequently focused the camera on the Celtics' bench, or more precisely, on Stephen Marbury.

The louder the praise was before the game, the more embarrassing it is now. Ignoring the fact that he was "beaten" by Li You in the first quarter, Marbury's only contribution in subsequent games was fouls.

With Eddie House being hit hard, head coach Rivers chose to take a risk and use Marbury. In the end, the "Son of New York" who broke through the defense had 6 fouls in three quarters.
Based on the situation in previous years, the referee would not actually whistle in this way, but the betting scandal case will go to court again in January, which makes the whistle broadcast live across the United States particularly strict.

The whistles that used to be used to balance the opponent have returned to normal. Under the strict control of hand movements, Marbury suffered a great loss.

His speed and strength were completely suppressed. Facing frequent individual attacks, he had no other way except pulling. In the end, Marbury left the game in frustration after playing for only 25 minutes.

"Oh!"

The fourth quarter had already entered garbage time. When Dio faked a pass in the right elbow area, instantly dribbled past the defense, broke through to the basket and caused a foul, the New York fans at the scene did not hesitate to cheer.

This foul also forced head coach Rivers to replace the main lineup and officially announce his surrender.

Garnett walked to the bench, punched in frustration and kept muttering to himself. After the starting point guard collapsed, the team fell into a one-on-one dilemma.

At this time, Pierce was entangled by the forward line and failed to respond in time. The Celtics completely lost the rhythm of the game, ran around with the opponent, and were killed by Li You's simple and rough stop-and-jump shots again and again.

9中2，三分线外3中0，罚球4中2，6分3篮板3助攻3失误，对于马布里的表现，加内特有些不满。

But seeing his old partner's frustrated look, Garnett returned to his seat, controlled his emotions, looked at his old partner and whispered to comfort him:

"Listen, this is just an ordinary regular season game! We still have three more chances to play against each other. Even if we lose, we will only be one game behind."

Garnett covered his mouth with his eyes wide open, and kept mumbling after saying this. Marbury felt a little better, but when he thought of tomorrow's newspaper, he couldn't help but complain:
"Shit! I don't want to watch those boring news anymore. These damn referees are always looking for trouble with us!"

Because the stadium was too noisy, the two stopped talking after a brief exchange. On the other side, Ray Allen wiped his sweat silently. He didn't want to deceive himself that the gap between the two teams was not small.

出场32分钟，13中6，三分线外8中3，罚球4中4，19分4篮板2助攻1抢断2失误，对于自己的表现，雷-阿伦只能打了6分。

Perkins, who is always loud-mouthed, was benched early. Ray Allen thought his teammates were upset because of the reduction in playing time, so he took the initiative to say after replenishing water:
"You know, we need your energy, but we were behind so much in the first quarter that the coach made this arrangement."

"."

Looking up at his teammates, Perkins, who was hit, forced a smile on his face. Thinking of his boast before the game that he could limit the pick-and-roll, he muttered in his heart with increasing depression:
"All I know is that I lost too much this time."

Without fully hearing what his teammates were saying, Ray Allen patted Perkins and stopped talking. Looking at the players from both sides going back and forth on the court, his thoughts were all over the place and his mood was very complicated.

In order to show his tough attitude, Pierce was the last to leave the court. As he walked to the bench, he did not forget to yell at Artest:
"Next time you come to Boston, you won't have the chance to lick the referee's ass."

The old rival was unlucky. After a fierce fight, Artest was in a good mood. Facing Pierce who was in the "emoji" state, he turned his head and yelled at the other party:
"What the hell are you talking about? Which of those championships belong to you? I can help you reserve a spot in New York, how about helping the rookie carry his bag!"

Two loud voices were shouting in front of the technical desk. Artest's words had obviously touched Pierce's sore spot. The championship banner over the TD Garden had nothing to do with him.
The team culture was not established by Pierce. He was just an ordinary "passenger" who had the opportunity to perform now only after boarding the Celtics.

Looking at Pierce being pulled back to the bench by the assistant coach, the New York fans behind him all laughed. These "giants" are nothing more than that.

16中6，三分线外4中0，罚球11中8，20分6篮板3助攻1抢断3失误，奋战到第4节的前核心皮尔斯表现平平，回到座位上就怒摔毛巾。

Due to the addition of interviews with coaches during intermissions, Rivers, who is about to become the Eastern Conference All-Star head coach, has also attracted much attention tonight.

However, at this time, the chicken soup master stood on the sidelines, as if he had not yet accepted the reality. He folded his arms and stared at the players on the field.

Rivers stopped yelling after watching Rondo pass Eddie House after the pick-and-roll, and he didn't say anything in the last few minutes, allowing the players to play more and more chaotically, and the score difference was widened again.

When the buzzer sounded at the end of the game, the cheers that echoed throughout the stadium brought Rivers back to his senses. After being reminded by his assistant coach, he controlled his expression and walked towards the technical table.

D'Antoni, wearing a red scarf, had already arrived here. He had a bright smile on his face and held the other person's hand, praising loudly:
"This is definitely the most exciting game of 2007. In my opinion, tonight's matchup even surpassed last year's finals. This is the biggest difficulty I have encountered since taking over the team!"

"."

86:118, if you ignore the score, D'Antoni's words are more convincing. At this time, Rivers' eyes twitched slightly, and he was so angry that he couldn't speak for a while.

Pulling his hand back, no longer looking at the other person's smug smile, Rivers took a deep breath, forced a smile, and praised in his hoarse voice:

“This was indeed a wonderful game. The defending champion taught us a lesson. I am looking forward to the next match!”

The two men looked very graceful in front of the camera. Rivers did not look frustrated, as if he had expected to lose by 32 points. He still looked very confident.

At the end of the game, ABC broadcasters also showed the final statistics of the core players of both teams to the fans in front of the TV:
出场32分钟，23中16，三分线外9中5，罚球9中9，46分4篮板12助攻3抢断2盖帽1失误，李佑交出一份两双数据；
出场34分钟，17中8，三分线外1中0，罚球8中7，23分9篮板3助攻2抢断2盖帽3失误，加内特也展现出了自己的全能性。

Many fans were confused when they saw this scene. Unlike the "Big Four" promoted before the game, they looked more like "four role players".
The director quickly locked the camera on Li You and Garnett. The two simply fist-bumped in greeting on the field, and seemed to feel embarrassed. The former MVP finally added:

“It was an unforgettable experience and I will win it back soon.”

Looking at his opponent who was staring down, Li You just raised his eyebrows and sat on the bench for almost a quarter before his slightly boiling emotions calmed down:

"You know Bro, the regular season is just for me to adjust my form. I am more looking forward to your performance in the playoffs. I like strong opponents!"

Li You's words gave Garnett a feeling of "You can say whatever you want, I will still win", which made him feel very unhappy. But in the end he gave Garnett a hug and then turned away.

The two of them performed relatively harmoniously, but on the other side, Pierce and Artest started quarreling again. In fact, they are the real "old enemies".

The two sides have been facing each other for a long time, and every time they meet, the statistics of both players are not good. The final result is that the Celtics suffered a crushing defeat and the Knicks won badly.

He thought he would be able to hold his head high this time with help, but the result was no different from the past. Pierce couldn't hold it in, and when he was pulled away by his teammates, he was laughed at by New York fans on both sides of the tunnel.

During the interview, Li Youzheng was holding Ray Allen's eldest son. The little guy is 3 years old this year. The atmosphere tonight was too warm, which made the little boy a little scared.

Michelle Tafoya has covered the Finals for many years and has witnessed the brutal dominance of the Knicks. Some reporters were surprised, but she looked normal:
"Lee, let's talk about tonight's game. You showed dominance in the first quarter. After this match, how would you evaluate your opponent?"

"The point difference doesn't reflect the true strength of the two teams. From my personal point of view, they were a little slow to warm up tonight."

Li You responded simply as usual, but Michelle Tafoya, who knew him a little, heard the voice-over "the opponent is too weak":
"It seems that Li also recognizes the opponent's strength. What arrangements does the Knicks have for the upcoming games? Now you have successfully topped the league!"

Li You shook the little guy in his arms, tilted his head, and said casually without any heroic words:
"It's good to have the home-court advantage. I'll be 30 in a few days, and the Knicks are not getting any younger. We have to take care of our bodies."

"In order to ensure the home-court advantage in the playoffs, health is the most important thing. I want to thank the Knicks for their hard work, the coaching staff and the staff." Shannon hugged her husband on the sidelines. She was very happy to leave Seattle, but compared to Boston, she still liked New York more:

"Promise me not to read tomorrow's newspaper. I already know what those reporters will write."

Hearing his wife's whisper, Ray Allen just shook his head slightly. He never thought that the newly formed "Big Four" could defeat the defending champion with ease.

Li You has accumulated too much experience in "high-end games" since entering the league, which is enough to crush any player in the league.

In the visiting team's locker room, when all the players were seated, Rivers, who was standing in front of everyone, shouted "Hey, hey" twice to remind everyone to be quiet. After the assistant coach distributed the technical statistics, he said loudly:

"Listen, guys! Losing is not a bad thing. It's just a regular season game. We can review the tape and learn from it."

"Losing by 1 point or losing by 32 points has the same result, so don't worry about what those guys who don't understand basketball say, we just have to do our best!"

"Stephen, you did a great job. We like your enthusiasm, but you have to be smart. This is Madison Square Garden. Come back to the NDPG next time and show your strength!"

Marbury, who had been keeping his head down and keeping silent, was somewhat moved by his coach's words. In the past, the commentators only made him take the blame, but it was only after coming to Boston that he received these praises.

"Kevin, Ray, I see your energy, keep it up, and soon we'll be back in first place."

Garnett pounded his chest, a look of longing on his face, and Ray Allen beside him also smiled. In fact, Rivers' chicken soup tasted very good, but it was easy to get sick of it if you drank too much.
The angry Pierce soon received praise from the head coach. Rivers took the initiative to pull over the former core player, pointed at him, and said passionately:

"Pau is amazing to me, his desire to win is something I think everyone can feel, and that's it, guys! We need to keep that desire!"

"Go home and enjoy Christmas Eve. Next we have to sprint with all our strength! Let's go!"

The Celtics regained their energy after the encouragement, and Rivers' mood also improved a lot. It was not until the press conference that he broke down again:
"Doug, we didn't see the Celtics show 100 tactics in the game. Why can't you limit Lee?"

The Fox Sports reporter was obviously looking for trouble. Rivers, who was sitting down, finally patiently explained the issue of the foul and put the blame on the "whistle."

On Wednesday, the 26th, the influence of the Christmas game began to ferment. This nationwide live broadcast made Li You's die-hard fans hold their heads high. Early in the morning, the headline of the New York Times sports section mocked the opponent:
“1 is greater than 100.”

The confused fans only learned about the previous gossip after reading the newspaper. The Knicks only have one core tactic, and Li You used practical actions to prove that the tactical master made the most correct choice.

Although the players were told not to read the newspaper, Rivers, who was preparing for a Western Conference road trip, could not control himself and eventually tore the newspaper to pieces in front of the staff's surprised eyes.

The Boston Herald, as a local media, took the initiative to help the team find excuses, and Marbury's foul became the "turning point of the Christmas game" in the columnist's writing.
What surprised many basketball critics was the report of the Miami Herald. Although the Heat lost to the Cavaliers 82:106, O'Neal started to stir things up again after the Christmas game.

The old Shark was obviously also paying attention to the "Big Four" secretly. After confirming the opponent's defeat, he almost laughed out loud on the spot, and then he praised them fiercely:
"Only a true superstar can fight against Lee. I've said it before, those who haven't experienced the finals don't know Lee's other form at all!"

"You guys told me Lee didn't dunk in the game, I know him, if you see him dunking over the other big man, it means he's serious."

"Beat the opponent with just shooting, the Celtics won't stand a chance!"

"I admire players who work hard, but the NBA is so cruel that not every player can reach that level. I'm old now, and now is Lee's era!"

Wade felt embarrassed when he heard this, and he just stared at me and said he didn't remember the "Shaq era".
The Miami Herald did not report much on the home team's game results. Instead, it heatedly discussed O'Neal's "star hierarchy theory", and the view that superstars are far greater than all-stars was clearly put forward.

Although this may be suspected of plagiarizing Charles Barkley, both the quality and level of the star players seem to emphasize one thing:

"Li You is ridiculously strong, and the data accurately reflects part of his strength!"

The last game to end last night was between the Supersonics and the Trail Blazers, 79:99. Durant made 20 of 8 shots and scored 23 points, ending his first Christmas game in his career with a miserable defeat.

The ratings for this game were a bit disappointing, the players were too weak, the game wasn't interesting enough, and the league's attempt ended in failure.

Durant, who lost the game, soon saw some good news, which was the only consolation last night.

At this time, big stars are very real when using social media. Scarlett Johansson tweeted a sour taste, saying that she will not get married and her life is very happy.
The goddess is still single, that’s enough!

The New York Daily News is apparently even better at making things happen. They interviewed Marbury's family. Seeing their eldest son being "beaten", the whole family spoke out!

I thought it was a normal interview, but the morning newspapers showed something else. They ridiculed the Celtics and even exaggerated the "Son of New York," once again dismissing him as a New Yorker:

"Stephen Marbury has been losing since he entered the league. He has no experience in winning!"

"He should no longer call himself the 'Son of New York'. Now there is only the King of New York - GOD-Lee."

The content of the newspaper is extremely explicit. After the development of the past few years, ordinary praise can no longer attract New York fans. It is necessary to criticize and praise at the same time. Only when everyone reads the newspaper can they feel comfortable.
Early in the morning it was a carnival moment for the New York media, with everyone dancing wildly, praising and stomping on the ball, with some even directly announcing the winner.

The townhouse on 82nd Street in Manhattan was still dim. The series of competitions on Christmas Eve made Li You wake up a little later. In the morning, he took a hot bath with only the succubus who did not participate in the activities.

Scarlett, who has become a mother again, has not changed much in figure, but her temperament has become more mature. While applying bubbles to Li You, she tilted her head and whispered:
"I'm 30 years old. Time flies. What gift do you want this year, dear?"

Li You pinched the other person's chubby face, turned on the shower again, and played with her fullness. After thinking for a while, he shook his head helplessly:

"I really can't think of anything, I just hope everything goes well."

Luxury goods are no longer something she pursues. Most of the gifts these years are just the little thoughts from girls. Scarlett, leaning in his arms, arched her back twice thoughtfully, then turned off the shower.

Seeing the other party leaning over and laughing softly, Li You couldn't help but take a breath of cold air. The skills honed by the succubus over the years always surprise people:
"Oh"

On December 12, basketball critics were still arguing with each other, and the celebrities who won the "One Man, One City Award" were still denouncing the Celtics.

The NBA sent its best wishes to Li You early in the morning. ESPN and TNT also spoke out. Well-known basketball commentators also joined in the fun. Facebook traffic surged:

“GOAT at 30!”

For ordinary players, turning 30 means they are about to go downhill. The smaller they are, the faster they decline. Gary Payton is an obvious example, as his glove became too loose in the later period.

The Celtics suffered a crushing defeat, and Li You's popularity soared further. Although some fans say that "one man, one city" is not an honor, his "loyalty" is worthy of praise!

The Knicks' internal competition continued. After Christmas, they easily defeated the Magic and the Bulls, ending the year perfectly.

With 27 wins and 2 losses, the outstanding record also made the call for the championship louder and louder. With the arrival of the new year, the huge billboard outside Madison Square Garden was also replaced with Li Youhe's new sneaker promotional poster.

Since there are no NBA games on the first day of the new year, the players have another short vacation, but the King of Roll will not relax, but will double his training.

After losing to the Knicks, the Celtics beat the Lakers 112:91 in the last game of the year, with a record of 26 wins and 3 losses, continuing to follow New York.

Kobe showed up in the training hall early in the morning. He made 25 of 6 shots last night and scored 22 points to lead the team to loss. After the game, the reporters in Los Angeles were disappointed. Li You scored 46 points in three quarters. The gap was really too big.

Kobe, who had just changed his jersey, ignored the empty locker room until he heard the sound of a text message. He then found his phone again, noticed the name on it, and smiled involuntarily:

“Will we succeed?”

"Yes, I am absolutely sure of it!"

(End of this chapter)