NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 551 "The Best Player" (Daily Chapter)

On Saturday, May 2008, 5, before the NBA officially announced it, the New York Times had already revealed that Li You had won the MVP.

After the previous MVPs Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki failed to perform well, Li You won the award this time, which was called by many columnists:

“The return of pure basketball!”

The regular season Most Valuable Player Award should be selected from players who have led the team well and have good personal statistics, but in the past two years, "sympathy points" have been added to the award method.

Fortunately, pure basketball has returned this year, with results and data speaking for itself.

Under the current trend of "banding together", the "star-making movement" has been declared a failure, and the trophy has returned to the hands of GOAT again. In this regard, Li You's fans have begun to celebrate in advance on social media.

There are only so many trophies in a season, and naturally some people are unhappy about Li You winning the award.

Chris Paul just felt helpless. If he could lead the team to 60 wins, he might still have a chance. Fortunately, he led the team to easily eliminate the Nuggets this year. The fans were very satisfied with this result.

Kobe Bryant was naturally also paying attention to the trophy. Although he jumped from outside the top five to the third place, most of the voting media did not buy it. Once the news came out, his fantasy was completely shattered.

LeBron James, who was squeezed to fourth place, congratulated Li You immediately after receiving the news in the morning. When he was interviewed by the local media in Cleveland, he did not forget to add drama to himself:

"I'm glad to see Li win the award again! It's also an encouragement for young people like me!"

"If the league's top 60-win team can't win the MVP, then I think we should change the selection method."

"I will have the opportunity to go one step further next season. The Cavaliers are in great shape right now and I will challenge for trophies in the future."

LeBron James couldn't hold back the smile on his face when he said this. The reason why he was so confident was that the Celtics and the Hawks entered the Game 7.

If the "Big Four" lose unexpectedly, then the Cavaliers will get a big bargain, and the Hawks are no match for them;
If the Celtics finally advance, the Cavaliers still have a good chance despite such a heavy loss in the first round. Their tough defense will give the old men a surprise!
During the training these days, the atmosphere of the Cavaliers has been getting better and better. Even Van Gundy has put aside his prejudice. As long as they can eliminate the "Big Four", they can still challenge the Knicks this year.

Although this was somewhat different from the game plan previously formulated by the coaching staff, the result was still good. James even felt that even God was helping him. The opponent lost to a seventh game in the first round, which was really outrageous.

In the four games against the Raptors, Howard performed extremely well, and even his low-post offense, which was a bit stiff, was played well.

Howard was a little inflated by the early end of the series and the praise he received. Seeing James chatting nonstop with reporters, he hugged his partner as he passed by and said to everyone with a smile:
"I like the MVP trophy too! Maybe you guys should consider voting for me."

"If I win an award next season, I promise to say every single one of your names during the ceremony, which is so cool, and I'll invite more of you to my ceremony!"

Howard, looking very happy, seemed to be joking, and everyone laughed. Only James, who was standing aside, realized that his teammate was speaking the truth and that his partner was competing with him.

For the Cavaliers' coaching staff, they all had the illusion of being hit by a pie in the sky. Even Thibodeau felt that it was God's care. This was very similar to what happened to the Knicks.

On one side was an exhausted old man, and on the other side was an energetic young man. Van Gundy's uneasy mood disappeared with the arrival of the opponent's seventh game, and his confidence returned to him.

Facing the local sports reporters, Van Gundy smiled somewhat reservedly, but his sparkling eyes seemed to express his attitude:

"The Cavaliers are in great shape. This is not the first time LeBron and Dwight have experienced the playoffs. They also have a wealth of game experience!"

"We will show our absolute talent in the semi-finals. Young people are not afraid of any challenge."

Seeing the championship coach showing a confident look, most sports reporters nodded slightly to show their approval. This is indeed a great opportunity for the Cavaliers. Eliminating the "Big Four" will win them great prestige.

Thibodeau was somewhat delighted to notice that his old partner had regained his former confidence. He had received an invitation from the Bulls, but had not yet told them about it.

After serving as an assistant coach for so many years, Thibodeau also wanted to experience the feeling of being a head coach again. He didn't know how his old partner would react after hearing the news, but he finally made a decision in his heart:
“I’m capable of being a head coach.”

On Sunday, May 5, the NBA officially announced the Most Valuable Player Award for this season, and the Knicks' Li You won the award without any suspense.

After the award is announced, David Stern will present the award to Li You in New York tomorrow. Although the tickets for tomorrow night's game are a bit more expensive, they are still sold out.

The Lakers will face the Jazz at home tonight, and the Western Conference semifinals officially begin.

The simultaneous Game 7 between the Celtics and the Hawks obviously attracted more attention, and many people who like to watch the fun were looking forward to the "Big Four" to fail.

Faced with a talented team, head coach Rivers was clearly not prepared and their defense had problems.

If the Nuggets were defeated by the Hornets' pick-and-roll, then the Celtics encountered unreasonable individual ability and the coaching staff underestimated the opponent.

Compared with Boston, New York's years of dominance have become more valuable. It's not that the opponents are not strong, but that the Knicks are too outrageous and don't give the underdog team any chance in the playoffs!
When discussing the "Big Four", Li You will come up. After resting for almost a week, Kobe was helpless to find that no one paid attention to him. Instead, Duncan, who was booed by fans when he returned to his home court, sparked more discussion.

After crushing the first round, Lakers fans were excited and the finals became within reach. They finally rose again!

The Staples Center was packed. Before 18:, nearly fans had already arrived. The atmosphere was already extremely lively before the game even started.

With less than 40 minutes left before the game, Kobe looked relaxed. When he appeared in the player tunnel, he was quickly confronted by cameras, who followed him all the way, and someone asked a simple question:
"Kobe, what do you think about this year's MVP election? I heard that you got very low votes."

Kobe, who was wearing a gray suit, suddenly stopped and noticed that it was an ESPN reporter. He immediately said seriously:
"I'm not interested in the selection process. If you watched my competition, you wouldn't ask such boring questions."

"Maybe by June, you'll see me lifting another trophy. I'm the best player in the league, I'm sure of it!"

"."

As if they were shocked by Kobe's confidence, everyone didn't react for a moment. When they wanted to ask questions again, Kobe had already turned and left under the protection of the team staff.

"He's saying he's the best player? He's not even the best on the Lakers"

The ESPN reporter complained quietly to his partner, but the others were not surprised. Since Duncan joined the team, Kobe has expressed his views in front of the media more than once, showing his confident attitude.

"Confidence is a big deal, man! Allen Iverson lost his confidence and he lost to the rookies this year."

“Players need to believe in themselves and maybe that will increase their shooting percentage.”

The Yahoo Sports reporter responded casually, but some people just couldn't stand such boasting, and when they were about to go to the media seats, they began to mutter:

"Kobe's shooting percentage can't be compared to Lee's. He should really check the specific data."

The reporters' complaints did not affect the Lakers' locker room. Before the game, Phil Jackson, with the help of his assistant coach, once again explained to the players the precautions for tonight's matchup.

After Ginobili was injured in the first round, the Lakers won consecutive away games with large scores and did not encounter too many tests.

Perhaps because he was worried that the players would be careless, the old man tapped the whiteboard with the tactics drawn on it, attracted everyone's attention, pushed up his glasses, and said in a very affirmative tone:
"Deron Williams is the core of the opponent's tactics. You should all know how to defend the opponent's pick-and-roll."

"Kobe, I want to see your defense. You have to end the opponent's offense after the opening. Tim, pay attention to your defensive position and try to cut off the opponent's passing route."

Kobe, who had already changed into training clothes, nodded vigorously, indicating that he accepted the challenge. Duncan on the side responded and stopped talking. His experience in San Antonio made him very sad.

The Spurs fans did not welcome him, but instead described him as "betrayed". Duncan was unable to get rid of his depression for several days, and a feeling of guilt would surge in his heart from time to time.

As the head coach finished his instructions, Fisher was the first to stand up, clapping his hands, and asking everyone to gather in a circle. Finally, he spoke loudly in the middle of the crowd:

"Get into the game state as soon as possible, we must always dominate the opponent! Believe in the teammates around you and play for each other!"

"Oh! Wan, spit, smash, Tim!" Every team's chicken soup and slogans are similar, but this year the Lakers' shouts are particularly loud. After an absence from the semi-finals in several years, the atmosphere group also felt their blood boiling.

When they walked out of the locker room, Turiaf was whispering with Duncan. PJ Brown also noticed the "thigh" mood and took the initiative to comfort him:
"Don't worry about the fans' extreme behavior. I promise you that in two years, everyone will accept this and no one will mention it anymore."

"The league has always been like this. No one pays attention to the teams at the bottom. Everyone focuses on the top. As long as you can make it to the finals, he will sing praises for you."

P.J. Brown has a look of a veteran on his face. Compared with Duncan, the only thing he can show off is that he has played for multiple teams.

Although he knew that these were all the truth, Duncan still couldn't let it go. He patted the two of them and kept silent. After waiting for a while, he maintained his demeanor and said:

"Don't worry about me. I've lost so many times in the finals. I know what the championship will bring me."

Everyone stopped and the noisy sounds from the stadium came in from the player tunnel. Kobe pursed his lips and started moving his body again. When he heard the DJ start to call the home team, everyone immediately turned around and rushed forward.

As the names of the home team players were read out one by one, Kobe, who came on the court, quickly got the Los Angeles fans to cheer for him. When Tim Duncan came on the court, some people even started to cheer and shout:

"MVP"

The Lakers fans were so happy that their cheers almost broke out of the arena. When the lights came on, there was continuous cheering, as if they were celebrating the team's advance to the Western Conference Finals ahead of schedule.

The game entered a stalemate after the start. The Jazz made bold substitutions but failed to achieve the expected results. Instead, Kobe found the rhythm of the game and delivered consecutive heavy punches.

41:58, the first half of the game is over, the Lakers have a high probability of winning!

The Los Angeles fans at the scene were not interested in paying attention to the opponent. Everyone was cheering for the home team. Kobe raised his head and waved to the fans. He glanced at the ESPN reporter, as if to say:

“I am the best player!”

半场9中6，三分线外3中1，罚球11中11，24分2篮板2助攻1抢断1失误，科比的爆发让爵士队束手无策。

This game was the first meeting between the two teams since 1998. Head coach Sloan was somewhat helpless. Kobe's performance tonight was better than he expected. This was due to the gap in the strength of the stars.

On the ABC commentary booth, Hubie Brown looked at the technical statistics and began to praise Kobe's defense:

"He only scored 9 points with 2 of 4 shots in the first half. Head coach Phil Jackson made the most correct decision. Kobe restricted the Jazz's engine. They have taken the initiative."

"Tim's defense is like a textbook, with perfect positioning. In the first half, it was difficult for the Jazz to play an effective pick-and-roll. This Lakers team began to show its dominance!"

The old coach praised him so much that his partner Mike Breen had to admit that his old opponent was stronger than he expected:
"Obviously Kobe is declaring war on Lee. If the Lakers could have gotten Tim Duncan earlier, I believe they would have had a chance to win 60 games this season."

"The two teams have a chance to meet in the finals this year. I hope Kobe can continue his current hot form."

"."

In the subsequent games, Kobe made only 4 of 6 shots in the fourth quarter, and his hit rate dropped. The Jazz failed to launch an effective counterattack, and the Lakers, with everyone fighting bravely, finally won.

96:108, Staples Center was boiling again and Lakers fans were celebrating wildly.

18中9，三分线外3中1，罚球23中21，40分6篮板6助攻2抢断1盖帽3失误，出场40分钟的科比比赛结束时怒视对手，攥拳庆祝。

It was the first time that Tafoya saw Kobe in such a state. Unlike the young man who made it to the finals that year, Kobe was now calmer, and there was a hint of desire in his expression.

"Congratulations, Kobe, this is a perfect victory. Let's talk about the Lakers' game strategy. You completely restricted the opponent's pick-and-roll cooperation in the first half."

Looking at the strange yet familiar female reporter, Kobe finally smiled, which reminded him of the finals of that year:
"I just completed the task assigned to me by the coach. I said a long time ago that I never play for statistics."

"I get up early every day to train, I keep honing my defensive skills, and now I show it, it's that simple!"

The Lakers players passing by behind them all smiled and greeted the camera. The usually serious Duncan also forced a smile and patted his new partner on the shoulder to show his affirmation.

The long-awaited victory made Kobe talk a lot. Looking at Tafoya who kept nodding and responding to him, the special Mamba once again expressed his serious attitude when talking about MVP:
"Even though Lee got more votes, I'm still the best player in the league!"

"I'm not going to congratulate him, that's not what I want to say, I just want to let basketball do the talking."

Monday, May 5th. Last night, Kobe "declared war" and the Celtics won a big victory over their opponents. The spectators began to look forward to tonight's game.

There is a high probability that Old Shark and Li You will respond. Thinking of this, the fun people can't wait to fast forward the game to a real grudge game.

This weekend, they often practiced until late at night, which made Li You, who got up early, feel a little uncomfortable. He had a speech in the morning and noticed that it was already past 6 o'clock, so he had to get up from the encirclement of three people.

Every weekend is a carnival. Although the townhouses in Manhattan are a bit limited in space, they sometimes provide a different kind of fun.

Ivana unconsciously hugged Li You again, and there were some marks on her round and white breasts, showing how fierce the competition was in the past two days.

Melinda was squeezed under him, her blonde hair was messy, she murmured a few times, and buried her whole body in the chest of the other side. The smell of happiness still lingered in the bedroom. Li You had to pat the three of them and whispered a reminder:

"We need to prepare for a while. Aren't we supposed to record this award ceremony?"

Jin, who woke up first, pushed Melinda away from her arms. Noticing that everyone was naked, her face turned slightly red. No matter how many times she tried, she would feel embarrassed during the day.

"I don't want breakfast! God, what time did we finish last night?"

Holding his forehead, Jin quickly covered his body with his pajamas. As if hearing the complaints, Milinda hugged him again and said with a low laugh:

“You haven’t always.”

Watching the two people quarreling, Li You, who had completely sobered up, shook his head and rubbed Ivana in his arms. Seeing that she only hummed and didn't say anything, he finally just picked her up.

Ivana, who woke up, laughed out loud quickly. Noticing that it was the direction of the bathroom, she couldn't help but exclaimed:
"Honey, put me down. Uh-huh!"

At 8 o'clock, after some extra training, Ivana, who had a big appetite, was still eating breakfast at the table, while Milinda, who had helped Li You choose his clothes, was still comparing them:

"I remember that in 96, we also helped you choose the formal suit!"

"The clothes you sent this season are of great style. No wonder people who don't know you well would suspect the drugs. Your body has become stronger and stronger over the past few years."

Melinda helped Li You button up his shirt and change into a suit. She also tapped his chest a few times with her fingers, with a smile in her eyes, as if to say that he had been in poor health in the past.

Li You stretched his neck, ignored the provocation, put his arm around the big-breasted girl's waist, and said to the two people beside him in a teasing manner:

"Remember to take cool pictures of me! I don't want to disappoint the kids, Kim. Don't worry about the reporters, we've already said hello."

Jin Qiaoqiao, who also changed into a dark blue dress, rolled her eyes. Li You sometimes had a bad taste. She noticed that he seemed to have a different motivation this year:

“I thought you were worried about Goldman Sachs.”

Li You winked secretly, but Ivana didn't notice it. Instead, she happily suggested:
"We can consider making a family documentary to record our growing up years"

(End of this chapter)