NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 559: The Winner's Game (Daily Chapter)
On Monday, May 2008, 5, the NBA's conference finals of this season officially kicked off, and that night was the grudge match that fans loved to see.

The Suns eliminated the Hornets with a difficult score of 4:2. They fought every game to the end and finally defeated their opponents with their richer game experience.

However, the feud between O'Neal and Kobe was not as popular as the championship coach who was reversed. After the seventh game last night, the sports media ushered in a carnival moment!

Everyone turned into a basketball expert, criticizing the Cavaliers' tactical adjustments after the fact, and also made sarcastic comments about Van Gundy's arrangement of the last attack, making the championship coach worthless.

Sports journalists may respect winners, but once you lose, their amnesia will immediately relapse and all past achievements will be invalidated. Everyone just wants to see the winners become a joke.

The trend of public opinion made Cleveland sports reporters "rebel", and the fans could not accept that the home team was reversed 1:3. At this moment, no one complained about the referee, and Van Gundy finally took the blame.

In even-numbered years, TNT is responsible for broadcasting the Western Conference Finals. The game officially starts at 18:2, and related programs begin to warm up hours before the game.

However, the discussion of the game in the back studio was not long. The trio inevitably talked about last night's thrilling Eastern Conference semifinals, and by the way, they followed the trend to discuss the championship coach:

"It's a pity that the Cavaliers ended their season in this way. The young players paid an expensive tuition fee, and this series was also a rare opportunity for them to grow."

Kenny Smith smiled and commented seriously on this series. Ernie Johnson, who was sitting in the middle, didn't want to add insult to injury, so he just agreed:
"The Celtics have now gone through two rounds of Game 7s, and their condition seems to be getting better and better. Paul Pierce is gradually becoming the winner of the game!"

"In this matchup, LeBron James exposed his technical shortcomings, and the same was true for Dwight Howard. The Cavaliers did not do a good enough job in the details of the game."

Neither of them wanted to be the first to fire, but Charles Barkley didn't have that scruple. He didn't want to miss this hot news, so he grinned and commented bluntly:

"If a new coach is defeated 1:3 in the playoffs, we can accept it. After all, this is completely different from college basketball."

"But coach Van Gundy has been extremely successful in New York, and in the end this happened. There is no doubt that this is his fault and he must be held accountable for this defeat."

"Looking back at the game, I believe it's not difficult for everyone to find that the Cavaliers were always responding passively, and their sideline ball tactics were completely ineffective."

"Now I just want to praise Coach Rivers, he is underrated, he led this Celtics team to an epic round!"

Black people naturally help black people. After winning this round of games, Rivers' reputation soared and he became a famous coach.
No matter how badly he lost in the past, as long as he wins now, he must brag about it!

A winner will be criticized every time he loses, and a loser will be praised every time he wins. Charles Barkley may know that Van Gundy is not that bad, but the reality is that everyone likes to see a championship coach get into trouble.

In order to cater to the audience, TNT also has to output. The more outrageous the views, the more people will like them. If you present facts and reason, who would switch the channel here?

Hearing his old partner's comments, Kenny Smith had to pretend to object, and also mentioned Li You:

"This is just one round of playoffs. Think about the success that coach Van Gundy achieved in New York. He discovered Lee and started the New York dynasty. We all know how difficult it is!"

"Yeah, man, but when we think back on it, it's not hard to see that it was Lee who changed New York!"

Charles Barkley was just short of calling Van Gundy lucky, and to prove his point, he added loudly and righteously:

"After Van Gundy left New York, the Knicks did not stop, they won one championship after another!"

"After coaching the Cavaliers, Van Gundy's best result was leading the team to the conference finals, but they still lost to the Knicks 4-0."

“Perhaps one round of games cannot prove the point, but time will tell. Lee is the true founder of the New York dynasty.”

The show naturally won't reveal Van Gundy's coaching statistics too explicitly, but some column writers don't have that scruple. After leaving New York, Van Gundy's winning percentage dropped and he never won 60 games again.

LeBron James and Dwight Howard were both on the first team this season and are currently in peak form, but they were reversed and stopped in the semifinals.

Young players will not be blamed, after all, they are important assets of the team. Van Gundy is now speechless.

Ernie Johnson really doesn't want to discuss this topic too much. It's crazy to use a series to criticize a championship coach.

Seeing the two partners arguing in the studio, Ernie Johnson could only sigh in his heart. Thinking of Van Gundy not attending the post-game press conference, he could only sigh in his heart:

"The basketball world changes so fast."

There was still an hour before the game started. A large number of sports reporters gathered in Los Angeles before the game. Everyone wanted to hear Phil Jackson's opinion.

Also a championship coach, Phil Jackson has lost most of his status after consecutive losses. Like Pat Riley, no one believes in their coaching abilities anymore.

After being sarcastic to Kobe, he was able to find a job in the Lakers again, mainly because of his personal friendship. The old man from Kentucky has always been inferior to Van Gundy in the outside world's public opinion, but this time he received praise.

At the Staples Center, Chick Hearn Media Studio gathered many sports reporters, and the fun of the Eastern Conference semifinals made many people in a good mood:

"This is truly the most exciting series of the year. It's unbelievable that the Cavaliers would lose! I was forced to revise my article several times!"

"Luck is important. If I could coach the Knicks, maybe I could get a salary of 1000 million! Just give the ball to Lee. Is there any easier job than this?"

The Yahoo Sports reporter and ESPN media person joked and exchanged ideas. The latter's words caused jokes and discussions among the surrounding reporters, and Fox Sports was also very happy:

"After the loss, neither James nor Howard expressed support for Van Gundy, and I don't know when I can interview this championship coach."

No one objects to this kind of ridicule. Most reporters have lost respect for Van Gundy. Maybe he is very successful in New York, but no one wants to admit it.

When Phil Jackson, with his hair and beard all white, appeared on the stage, he also had a decent smile on his face and greeted everyone calmly:

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, it means a lot to me to be back in the conference finals!"

Phil Jackson was secretly happy when Van Gundy was reversed. He liked to see the opponent get into trouble. After the reversal, he was in a particularly good mood these two days.

Looking at Phil Jackson, who wore glasses and spoke slowly, the sports reporters in Los Angeles exclaimed in their hearts, this is the real championship coach.

"Can you share your thoughts on last night's Eastern Conference semifinals? From the perspective of a championship coach, why did the Celtics win?"

The ESPN reporter couldn't wait to ask the question, and Phil Jackson didn't mind the question. He continued to maintain his demeanor and answered with a smile:
"Anything is possible in basketball. The Celtics' desire to win surpassed their opponents, and the veterans played a role at critical moments."

"I don't want to blame Coach Van Gundy. All the coaches in the league know how difficult it is to coach a team. Remember, this is just a playoff round!"

Although he said that the coach had no responsibility, Phil Jackson's smile seemed to grow brighter, and he continued to comment with great interest until TNT began to ask about the game:
"O'Neal believes that he will end the Lakers himself. Has he made more targeted defensive arrangements for tonight's game?"

The old Shark performed well in the semifinals. Facing the relatively short inside players, O'Neal still had dominance, but Phil Jackson did not seem to care about the Suns' inside players and even took the initiative to tease his opponents:

"We will not change any of our game strategies. In my opinion, we have an absolute advantage in the matchup!"

"."

Kobe was happy to enter the Western Conference Finals again, but he did not get the attention he had imagined. Most fans were busy meeting with Van Gundy and praising Li You.

You have to know that the public opinion environment was not like this back then. Patrick Ewing was the core, and Li You's first championship was just like Magic Johnson, all thanks to the team. Now the public opinion has completely reversed, the championship is all Li You's fierce C, the coach and teammates are just scraps, and the commentator's remarks have been widely recognized by fans.

Kobe is a little sensitive about the "Boss Champion Award". In the past, he could comfort himself that some people did not recognize Li You's first FMVP trophy, but now all such voices have disappeared.

In the Lakers locker room, Kobe's "unhappy" mood also affected everyone, but the "old Laker" didn't care about it. After Odom changed his equipment, he sat in his seat and joked:

"I bet Lee must be super happy right now, he only played as a substitute in his rookie season!"

"What's that guy's name? Charlie Ward? I hadn't entered the league yet, but I knew about it. Coach Van Gundy definitely suppressed Lee!"

Duncan didn't want to get involved in this topic. He has always respected his coach. Even though Popovich only fought against the main players at the beginning, he didn't have too many complaints.

Fisher on the other hand did not have too many concerns. He was happy to share his inside information, but he had developed a habit of flattering the Knicks, and Kobe frowned when he opened his mouth:
"Lee is the most dominant player I have ever witnessed. You all know that it is not easy to score 110+, but the Knicks can always do it!"

"The core of the tactics is to give the ball to Lee. He not only knows the team's tactics, but also the opponent's tactics. He can fully understand any system with just one look."

After saying this, Fisher pretended to pull over a tactical board, gestured and glared at everyone and continued to brag:
"Lee can remember every team's tactics, and he can tell more than the video analysts without even watching the game tape!"

"You have never seen such an exaggerated memory. Li does not need detailed guidance from the coach. He is the coach on the court."

For a moment, everyone in the locker room was amazed. Sasha Vujacic even let out a strange cry and couldn't help but ask:

"Every team? Hell, I don't believe it unless he takes video lessons every day."

Kobe, who had been silent, suddenly interrupted the discussion. He didn't like to hear people bragging about Li You. He glared at Fisher and said in a deep voice:

"We have to focus on tonight's game. I don't want to lose at home! Don't let me see your poor performance in the game. We have to win the division championship!"

"."

Odom shrugged his shoulders and curled his lips at a few people. The Lakers locker room became more and more boring after being cleaned. Kobe only cared about training. Only Duncan had no complaints about this involuted environment.

Fisher, who was a fence-sitter, immediately smiled at Kobe and then took the lead in encouraging everyone. Phil Jackson soon came to the locker room and after the pre-game mobilization, he pulled Kobe again:
"Kobe, you see what these reporters are reporting, they only respect winners!"

Kobe, who likes to "speak with the ball", nodded silently. The old man at KFC smiled again and finally whispered encouragement:

"They don't care what time you practice, nor do they care about your attitude towards basketball. If you want them to shut up and respect you, you have to keep winning!"

"I will adjust my tactics. I believe you will not let me down."

Kobe, eager for the trophy, agreed immediately. He had seen through the true face of the media. Only victory could make him regain respect:

"We're going to win the championship! Soon they'll learn to respect me!"

Seeing Kobe's serious look, Phil Jackson smiled again. He liked the core in this state. As long as he could win the championship, he could regain the status of a championship coach.

At the Staples Center, after the game started at 18:, the cheers from the Lakers fans were one after another.

Kobe got into the game very early, and Barbosa, who was facing him, was completely at a disadvantage. Quentin Richardson's inaccurate outside shooting made the Lakers frequently launch transition attacks.

Stoudemire and O'Neal had problems controlling long rebounds, and although Steve Nash responded on the offensive end, the Suns lost points too quickly.

At the end of the first quarter, 24:29, the Lakers took a 5-point lead and successfully cut off O'Neal's offense.

O'Neal was substituted off the court early, and head coach Gentry did not pay much attention to his emotions. At this time, he was pulling the rookie Fernandez and giving him instructions. Nate Robinson was also repeatedly instructed by the assistant coach.

Although he was told in advance to avoid peak travel times, O'Neal was still in a bad mood. The guy on the opposite side passed the ball to Duncan frequently in the first quarter, and the two got along surprisingly well.

O'Neal stood up again, rubbed Nate Robinson's little head, lowered his head and looked at him and said loudly:
"Give me the ball! I don't want to lose tonight."

The Suns quickly fell behind in the subsequent games, and Kobe began to take over the game. He broke out completely in the second half and easily helped the team secure victory.

94:106, at the end of the game, Lakers fans were cheering loudly.

Seeing O'Neal walking towards the player tunnel without looking back, Kobe finally smiled and modestly praised the TNT reporter:
"Tim set the tone for the game in the first half, we had a perfect start, 27 points, I was just doing my job!"

"."

On Tuesday, May 5, in addition to reporting on last night's Western Conference Finals, major sports media continued to "meet" with Van Gundy.

Some people who like to watch the fun even posted a video of Van Gundy losing his focus while planning tactics, and the number of views on YouTube has been increasing.

Early in the morning, a column titled "Lucky Coach?" appeared on the sports section of Yahoo Sports. They were the first to officially fire the criticism, but they will definitely not be the last.

Last night's family meeting was a bit tense. Li You ended up spending most of the night with Ivana, and even went to the bathroom for extra practice before going to work. By the time the two of them showed up at the dining table, everyone else had already left.

When Ivana, who had put on light makeup, confirmed that Tang Nade was not at home, she immediately became unbridled again. After actively sending a kiss, she pestered him for a while before sitting next to Li You and eating breakfast:

"We're flying to Moscow tomorrow night?"

Ever since Manchester United reached the Champions League final, Li You's schedule has become busy. David Gill flew to New York specially, and all board members will be present at the final.

After eating the fruit handed to him by Ivana, Li You leaned over and gave her another kiss under her angry eyes. Thinking of the Champions League final, he felt better:

"This is a trip that has been confirmed long ago. You can also go with us to experience the charm of football. Don't worry about your father. As long as the proceeds arrive, he will soon be in a good mood again."

Before, he was worried about the huge losses in investment due to the financial crisis, and now he is worried that the expected returns will not be received. Seeing that his beloved daughter didn't care at all, Tang Nade got angry last night.

Ivana was a little moved, but thinking of her father's bad temper, she finally shook her head:
"I'm going back to Florida recently, and my kids are there."

"."

While Li You was enjoying his family breakfast, Van Gundy, who had not slept all night, greeted his old partner Thibodeau early in the morning. The latter hesitated as soon as he entered the door, looking as if he was unable to speak.

This apartment is also where the two worked all night. Seeing Van Gundy's wrinkled white shirt and bloodshot eyes, Thibodeau finally spoke up:
"Jeff, I'm going to accept the Bulls' invitation."

Van Gundy seemed not to have heard clearly, staring at the other party with mixed feelings in his heart, which eventually turned into one sentence:

"why?"

(End of this chapter)