NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 564 "Why should we respect him?" (Daily Chapter)

On Sunday, May 2008, 5, a heated exchange between sports reporters from New York and Boston affected Game 24 of the Western Conference Finals that evening.

One is in the East and the other is in the West, the two sides are very far apart, but reporters in Los Angeles also like to join in the fun. The Lakers' "bullying" has caused the Eastern Conference Finals to be much more popular than here.

Although the home team had already departed for Phoenix, the Buss family was still there. Before the evening game began, a Los Angeles Times reporter gossiped on his Twitter:
"Mr. Buss believes the Knicks lack respect for history and the Lakers have great respect for the Celtics as an opponent."

The emergence of Twitter has brought a carnival moment to sports journalists. Many people have discovered its usefulness. There is no need to write too much, just a few words can "add fuel to the fire", and fans can also get the news first.

It doesn't matter whether it was said by Buss Sr. or Buss Jr., the Lakers respect him anyway, and Los Angeles fans have also "proudly expressed their opinions":
“Only historically strong teams can understand each other!”

As the broadcaster of the Western Conference Finals, TNT warmed up for the game early before the game. Everyone was expecting O'Neal to do something, but unfortunately, after losing two games in a row, the old Shark remained silent.

Contrary to everyone's expectations, the Lakers' family and friends group is more active this year. Duncan's wife Amy just gave birth to their youngest son last year. After the family moved to Los Angeles, their lives have changed dramatically.

Many times it is easy for girls to get lost in the spotlight. Amy lived a dull life in San Antonio, but after coming to Los Angeles, the media attention made her more active.

Amy was the cheerleading captain in college. She was pretty and frequently appeared in the front row of the Staples Center during the playoffs. This time, she even traveled with the Lakers family group.

Perhaps it was because of the years of losing that Duncan complained about it at home. Amy, who was interviewed, began to speak up for her husband and followed suit to complain about New York basketball:

"We never liked playing in New York. The league gave them special treatment. The fans there are crazy. They don't really like basketball at all."

"My husband has led the team to the finals many times, but the fans in New York only laugh at him and have no respect for him at all!"

"Now they're laughing at Boston again, and I don't know why."

"Seeing Stephon Marbury leave the court with ice and being laughed at by New York fans, I just couldn't understand it. He's a player from New York! They are completely crazy."

Already a mother of two children, blonde Amy is just like the American stereotype of a "sweet girl". She carries her own subjective emotions and always expresses herself externally.

In contrast, Vanessa, who has seen through the media's true colors, is very low-key. She brought her eldest daughter to cheer for her husband and simply smiled when she was interviewed by TNT:
“I don’t really care what’s going on on the East Coast, but I think the respect is mutual.”

"Now I want to see the Lakers win. I know what my husband has sacrificed for this. Basketball is almost everything to him. I want to see him lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy again."

The two wives were deliberately connected before the game mainly because Kobe and Duncan refused to make any connections during interviews. Fortunately, the family members did not disappoint them.

Amy and Vanessa were both dressed in purple Lakers away T-shirts and jeans. When Vanessa noticed that the reporter wanted to continue the interview, she pulled Amy beside her, which made the TNT reporter very regretful.

In the studio at the back, the trio all had smiles on their faces. If they couldn't interview the players, they would interview their families. After the connection ended, the director replayed the interview after the Eastern Conference Finals last night.

The rude New York fans seemed to have completely angered Marbury's father. After the game, the bespectacled old Marbury saw his son leave the court in pain and almost cried during an interview:

"My son has always loved this city, and no matter where he played, he would come back to New York every year to give back to the community, and he has always been connected to this city."

"Now these fans are constantly hurting him. My son is a fighter and he will not be defeated by Lee. I believe he can lead the team to victory."

"This is not how basketball should be played in New York. I am ashamed of the fans here. They should respect my son!"

For two consecutive home games, Marbury's family and friends were all there. Although they were not watching the game in the front row, they were able to experience the madness of the young fans in the back.

The G2 game became confrontational under the "care" of the referee. Many players from both teams received 5 fouls. A large number of free throws and physical confrontations made the game "ugly".

Perhaps they were regaining the feeling of watching a game in the early 90s. The New York fans at the scene angrily criticized the Celtics after the game, and there were drinks thrown and debris thrown on both sides of the player channel.

The "Fan Guidelines" distributed before each game were all broken, so much so that the NBA issued a $5 fine to the Knicks this morning.

89:113, cursing the referee after winning the game, perhaps this phenomenon can only happen in Madison Square Garden.

The Eastern Conference Finals were broadcast by ESPN and ABC. TNT didn't jump in immediately after the game yesterday to join in the fun. After a day of fermentation, the trio had enough fun watching the game and finally started talking about it.

"Stephen Marbury is a tough guy, but his performance was a mess, and his defensive habits sometimes hurt the team."

"Sometimes I don't like the basketball atmosphere in New York, but they are the real winners and they have the right to be proud. The championship banners above the arena say it all."

Kenny Smith praised Marbury's performance, and the director also took the opportunity to show some confrontation shots to the fans in front of the TV to increase the persuasiveness.

Shortly after the start of the first quarter, in a pick-and-roll attack, Marbury used Garnett's screen to force his way to the basket, knocking Gasol away and scoring 2 points;
There was no more running game goals afterwards. Li You pushed Marbury away from the three-point line, tore a cut on his opponent's lip during transition offense, and turned his back to hang on the opponent to force an attack under the basket to complete a 2+1.
In the second half, the camera turned to Li You's block on his head, Marbury's forced attack under the basket being pulled to the floor, being intercepted in a one-on-one game, and being pushed out of the baseline in transition offense.

At the end of the game, cameras captured Marbury with blood oozing from his knee, ice packs wrapped around his ribs, ointment on his lower lip, and a limp as he walked. He was also splashed with beer by New York fans.

Fans who didn't watch last night's game on TV were also surprised after watching these footage. At the same time, they also understood why old Marbury almost shed tears. His son was really miserable.

Charles Barkley agreed with his partner's words, and did not forget to add his own drama, pretending to be empathetic:

"Adults have to be responsible for their own decisions. I understand the desire to win a championship, but when several All-Stars team up, they are bound to not get much respect."

"If I were Lee, I wouldn't respect such an opponent either. They took a shortcut! No matter how you explain it, it's an act of weakness."

"As an MVP, I will never make any excuses for my decision, let alone ask for any respect."

There were boos in the studio. Apparently Charles Barkley was showing off his honors again. Ernie Johnson laughed twice and stopped talking about it. He changed the topic to tonight's game:
"The Lakers had a perfect start, easily defeating the Suns in two consecutive home games!"

"We can see that Kobe is getting better and better. He seems to have recovered from the torn finger. Do you think the Lakers can get the match point tonight?"

Charles Barkley seemed unsatisfied and wanted to continue to add fuel to the fire, but Kenny Smith, who was sitting on the far right, immediately responded and commented seriously:

"Excellent defense is the key to winning in the playoffs, and the Celtics have proven it!"

"A team like the Knicks, which ranks first in the league in offensive efficiency, will also be affected by defense. If the Suns want to make a comeback, they must show better defense."

"I am more optimistic about the Suns returning to their home court. After some adjustments, they will face their opponents more calmly."

Charles Barkley did not agree with his partner's comments, but laughed and joked:
"Maybe we should ask O'Neal after the game whether he has ever been respected by New York fans? Apart from Lee, he is the only active player who has won MVP and Finals MVP."

Hearing this, Kenny Smith immediately took over the conversation with a smile and joked:
"Why don't you ask Kobe?"

There was a joyful atmosphere in the studio. Kobe has been seeking respect for many years, but he does not have Marbury's family and friends, so he can only shout on his own.

At 19 p.m. that evening, the American Airlines Center was packed. Although O'Neal's personal strength had declined significantly, he was still a good ticket seller and all 18422 seats were sold out early.

Suns general manager Steve Kerr also came to the scene with a decent smile on his face. The gossip did not seem to affect his mood. There were more and more rumors about Gentry's intention to resign. The trade of Marion obviously made the coaching staff unhappy, but the team's entry into the Western Conference Finals seemed to prove that Steve Kerr did the right thing.

The Suns' internal problems did not affect the players' emotions. After the entrance ceremony, Stoudemire even jumped and dunked to warm up, which quickly ignited the atmosphere on the scene.

Wearing the white jersey of the Suns, O'Neal looked serious. After arriving in Phoenix, with the help of the team doctor, his physical condition has recovered well.

O'Neal kept looking at his old partner and found that the other party was not looking at him at all. He was annoyed and couldn't help but show off two dunks.

On the TNT commentary booth, Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller were still talking about the trend of the game, and praised last night's Eastern Conference Finals:
"I haven't seen such a confrontation for a long time. I watched the game again and I have to say it was a wonderful matchup. I hope that tonight's Western Conference Finals can also surprise us!"

Reggie Miller commented with a smile, and Kevin Harlan noticed the finger bands on Kobe's fingers and couldn't help but sigh again:
"Kobe has been playing with injuries, and his performance is too outstanding. Duncan's arrival has put the Lakers on the right track. I have to say that their condition is getting better and better."

"."

Kobe Bryant was warming up, chewing gum and completing his shots with a focused expression. He has accepted the reality. These basketball commentators just like to have fun, and the Eastern Conference Finals will attract more attention.

No one discussed his efficient performance in this series, but Duncan's performance was repeatedly recognized by the Los Angeles sports media.

If it weren't for Duncan's relatively stable personality, Kobe even suspected that the two would have a fight over some issues as both sides had different understandings of the game.

The atmosphere in the stadium became more and more heated, but Duncan, who was warming up, was not affected too much. After completing a jump shot in a fixed position, he took the initiative to greet the atmosphere group and coaching staff, and then walked to the center circle.

Trevor Ariza didn't have as many emotions as the boss. He was just excited. In the first away game of the divisional finals, the Suns fans were trying hard to make noise. This was the big scene he had been looking forward to for a long time!
"You don't stand a chance! I'm telling the truth, you don't stand a chance!"

O'Neal had an inexplicable smile on his face. He came to the center circle and yelled at the other side. When he found that no one responded to him, he became more and more angry:
"You can't outdo me! You know what I'm saying, give up the fantasy."

The old Shark looked at Kobe and continued to provoke him, but the latter didn't care. He raised his head and glanced at his old partner casually. While moving his body, he responded casually:
"You'll see me hold up the trophy! I can leave you a championship hat! Sorry the Lakers don't make large T-shirts and don't have your size right now."

Perhaps he was angry with Kobe, when Stoudemire jumped to the ball, O'Neal was not focused enough and was intercepted by Duncan as soon as he received the ball. For a moment, the American Airlines Center was filled with boos.

Completely different from the Eastern Conference Finals, the Suns, returning to their home court, launched a gorgeous attack early on. Nash was in full force in the first quarter and frequently assisted Stoudemire.

The old shark gave up the low post, the beast returned, and the Suns' strong performance made the Lakers gradually fall behind.

Ariza seemed too nervous and missed several chances. Although Phil Jackson replaced Odom early, the latter was also possessed by a blacksmith and was as soft as if he was squeezed dry by a big-butt girl.

At the end of the first quarter, O'Neal participated in the fast break, ignored Radmanovic who was returning to defense, received the ball and slammed it into the basket with one arm!

"You'll never be able to surpass me!"

As he ran to the half court, O'Neal yelled at Kobe, who's eyes twitched slightly and became angrier and angrier as he thought about it. Everyone ignored him at the beginning, which led to no one respecting his championship now.

The old man at KFC noticed that Kobe was in a bad mood. Seeing that Kobe just took the ball and kept missing shots, Phil Jackson frowned subconsciously, but did not give any instructions immediately.

24:31, at the end of the first quarter, the American Airlines Center was full of joy, and Nash and Stoudemire's pick-and-roll was unstoppable!
The atmosphere in the stadium became increasingly noisy. On the Lakers bench, Kobe glared. He was still upset about O'Neal's ridicule, which made his face look angry.

"Calm down! Move the ball! Tim, you can have more control over the ball!"

"."

After hearing the coach's arrangement, Duncan nodded. Kobe wanted to say something, but Fisher quietly pulled him back. Old Fisher saw the situation of the game clearly and whispered to comfort him:
"Win this game and Shaq will shut up!"

Kobe breathed a sigh of relief and no longer asked "Give me the ball" as he did in the past. From the beginning of the second quarter, Duncan participated more in high-post pick-and-rolls and hand-to-hand passes on the line.

This is not the Lakers' previous triangle offense, but more like the Spurs' team basketball.

More patient passing and screening allowed Kobe to always easily get rid of the defense. After completely finding his shooting touch, he made drifting jump shots in the mid-range after repeated screens, which quickly helped the Lakers to overtake the score.

Whether it was Stoudemire or O'Neal, there were always problems defending the pick-and-roll. When the Lakers widened the gap to 8 points, Suns fans felt that the game was going to be over.

Screens, rebounds, ball control, occasional low-post attacks, and mid-range jump shots after being broken up. Duncan's statistics are not flashy, but the content of the game is very rich, which made Phil Jackson nod his head again and again.

Duncan used his influence to change the game without any need for his reminder. When the Suns began to help defend in the low post, Fisher also found opportunities on the outside.

Duncan easily passed the ball outside the three-point line, and Fish made a decisive jump shot from the left wing!
"Shhh!!"

When the game entered the last quarter, the booing couldn't stop. The Suns were never able to close the score. Instead, the Lakers seized the opportunity. Ariza, who was in poor shooting form, made many steals.

108:102, the buzzer sounded at the end of the game. On the Suns bench, O'Neal, who had been covering his head with a towel, did not get up for a long time. The old shark became autistic on the spot.

This was a Duncan-style victory. 20+13, an ordinary double-double, allowed the Lakers to reverse and win. Kobe also smiled at this time and took the initiative to fist-bump and hug his partner:

"Perfect game! We are back in the finals!!"

"Good job, man!"

Duncan looked calm. He patted Kobe on the shoulder, raised an eyebrow at him and stopped talking. The latter turned around and found that O'Neal had already entered the player tunnel.

The boos at the American Airlines Arena did not affect Kobe's good mood. For him, this season can definitely be called "the dawn". After reaching the finals again, he couldn't help but imagine the future:
“We must win.”

At the press conference after the game, many sports reporters thought that O'Neal would not attend, but they did not expect that the old shark would sit on the stage with Nash with a calm face.

This situation immediately made the reporters in the audience excited, and TNT was the first to add fuel to the fire:

"Shaq, it's a shame that the Suns lost again. This year's finals will most likely be a showdown between Los Angeles and New York."

"We all know what happened to the Celtics in the last Eastern Conference Finals. If the Lakers go to New York to play again, do you think the other side will show more respect?"

The score was 3:0. O'Neal knew that he was powerless to stop his old partner. He was a little upset at the thought of him being eliminated. His emotions were surging. He asked in a deep voice:

"New York will respect Los Angeles, but they won't respect Kobe!"

"Why respect him? He's not even the best player in Lakers history!"

"."

(End of this chapter)