NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 568: All encounters are long-awaited reunions (Daily Chapter)

On Monday, May 2008, 5, the Lakers were happily eating breakfast in Phoenix while preparing for Game 26.

In away games, the busiest people are the coaching staff and staff. The former need to consider tactical arrangements, while the latter are responsible for taking care of the players with all kinds of things.

Fortunately, the Lakers had an extremely smooth playoffs this year. After getting the match point, everyone completely relaxed. No one could make a comeback after falling behind 0:3. Championship coach Phil Jackson was their guarantee.

Before taking the bus to the training hall, during breakfast time, the coaching staff found a whiteboard and explained tonight's game strategy to everyone.

After the assistant coach finished all the arrangements, Phil Jackson stood in front of the whiteboard with a smile on his face. Unlike usual, the old man took the initiative to draw up tactics and asked everyone:

"I suppose some of you must be very familiar with this tactic?"

The arrow indicating the direction shows that the whiteboard is a defensive round, and it is a low-post defense, with outside players participating in assisting defense, forcing the opponent to score in and out.

Tim Duncan, who had already finished his breakfast, stared at the whiteboard at the dining table. He was used to Phil Jackson's unconventional ways. The championship coach was very charming at certain moments:

"This was the Knicks' defensive strategy last night in the fourth quarter, they started to double-team Kevin Garnett and force the opponent to pass the ball."

Noticing Phil Jackson's gaze, Duncan took the initiative to answer. Hearing the answer he wanted, the old KFC man smiled cordially, pushed his glasses, and said with a smile:

"Yes, it was a defensive trap and unfortunately the Celtics were not able to react in time."

"I don't want to make excuses like the Boston reporters did, that Coach Rivers made a stupid choice and they wasted the best chance to turn the game around."

"I'm sorry, Tim. I respect Coach Popovich, but the Spurs made a mistake in this matter as well."

Phil Jackson's ability to "play tricks" should be the best in the league. This vague statement aroused the curiosity of the Lakers. Everyone put down their food and looked up at the head coach.

Kobe was no exception. Last night, he declined the team's card-playing activity, did not discuss life with Vanessa, and watched Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals alone.

When the Celtics narrowed the gap to 3 points in the third quarter, he was a little excited. However, in the following fourth quarter, Kobe felt unbelievable because the Knicks easily defeated their opponents.

The score was 32:14 in a single quarter. After Li You made consecutive three-pointers, Boston's offense and defense completely collapsed in less than half a quarter. Apart from fouls, there was no counterattack.

Perhaps noticing Kobe's inquiring gaze, Phil Jackson did not keep the topic secret and talked about his own basketball theory:

"In the playoffs, when a team plays a perfect quarter, the first thing they should do is to take decisive shots. Boston made the stupidest choice and began to hesitate after the gap was widened."

"Assist defense? Garnett can seize the opportunity to shoot in front of two people. When he chooses to pass the ball, everything changes. Kobe, you know best how we won the game that year."

When talking about the past, Kobe looked a little unnatural, because the reason they won the game was mainly because O'Neal was too stable and he attacked the basket with two players.

The Knicks' rotation and defense were very tacit, but the Lakers' response was simple and rough. When O'Neal ensured his free throw shooting rate, all difficulties were solved. Responding to the ball strongly was the key to the series.

"Be prepared to respond and take decisive action. I can do this. I have been preparing for this for many years."

Kobe responded in a deep voice, without mentioning O'Neal's free throws, but just reiterated his position in front of everyone. Phil Jackson didn't care about the core's little thoughts, and after expressing his affirmation, he looked at everyone and joked:
"I can guarantee that in the last quarter, Coach Rivers was probably still emphasizing the rotation of the ball. They had a chance to win the game, but they were scared by Lee's offense and lost confidence."

"A 3-point shot is only one point more than a 2-point shot! A 1-point difference can be reversed in just a few rounds."

"I don't want to see any hesitation in the finals. Remember, in the crucial rounds, our only goal is to score points. Everyone must attack resolutely."

“Maybe during the game you can see that your teammates have a better chance, but I still don’t recommend passing the ball because the team needs a tough response.”

"."

After hearing what Phil Jackson said, Duncan was speechless. The Spurs did make some mistakes, and the smooth cooperation did not help them.

Everyone in the atmosphere group had different expressions. To translate the head coach's point of view, it basically means "give the ball to the big guy."

In a way, this is actually a lack of trust in role players, but seeing what happened to the Celtics, everyone cannot refute it. The "Big Four" are all iron, and they really rely on their thighs at critical moments.

This was Ariza's first time experiencing a big game, and he was excited at the thought that they would win the division championship tonight.

When the old man at KFC finished making the chicken soup, Ariza stood up with his teammates and said longingly:
"It's unbelievable that I'm going to play in the finals! I actually expected the Celtics to win. When I was with the Magic, no one wanted to play against the Knicks."

Vujacic and his friends also had smiles on their faces. They often teased Ariza about his wandering experience. Just as they were about to respond, Kobe in front of them suddenly turned his head:
"Put away your weak thoughts! We just want to defeat New York and end their championship."

"If anyone has other ideas, go talk to the coach. Listen, I don't like playing with softies!"

"."

Ariza was silenced. The closer they got to the finals, the more Kobe's mood became. Everyone could see that their boss seemed to be mentally unbalanced.

Odom was no stranger to this kind of situation. Kobe was the king of the team. Seeing Ariza's silence, he quietly comforted him before returning to his room:

"You're right, man, we all want to face Boston in the Finals!"

"It's probably Kobe's turn to perform tonight. Give him the ball. He always wants to prove himself. You all know why."

Jordan Farmar scratched his head. During the draft, Kobe sent him a text message. He thought he was an easy-going person, but he didn't expect that he was a "grumpy guy" on the court.

Kobe often criticized him during daily training. After Duncan came, the atmosphere in the locker room improved a lot:
"I think the coach is telling Tim not to hesitate at critical moments."

Hearing Jordan Farmar's words, Luke Walton came over, and seeing Odom's playful smile, he immediately lowered his head and whispered to comfort him:
"Don't say that in front of Kobe! We all know that the coach actually trusts Tim more."

As the MVP, Tim Duncan gained the trust of the championship coach after joining the Lakers. Everyone could see the shift in the tactical core, and only Kobe was still "adding to the drama."

Turiaf, who had braids, didn't want to discuss the core issue, so he started gossiping as he passed by and took the initiative to change the subject:

"Did you see that picture of Pierce? He allegedly pulled his pants down during the game."

"New York newspapers can't be trusted, but I have a hamstring injury. Can I still play?"

"I think the shit out of him!" Fisher heard the gossip and said with a smile. The atmosphere group quickly regained the harmonious and friendly state. Everyone automatically ignored Kobe's serious attitude.

Duncan returned to the room and put on a training jacket. He was also thinking seriously about Phil Jackson's advice. Except for his rookie year, his playing style in the Spurs was indeed more team-oriented.

Thinking about meeting his old rival again in the finals, Duncan wanted to call Popovich and the others, but after hesitating for a moment, he finally put away his phone:
“Hopefully we can bring this trophy back to San Antonio.”

TNT once again broadcast the entire Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals that night. As time passed, the Lakers once again easily suppressed their opponents.

O'Neal was working very hard running back and forth on the court, but the old shark was still a bit threatening on the offensive end. On the defensive end, he basically watched the shot go by when he encountered a pick-and-roll.

When Kobe, with the help of Duncan's screen, held the ball in his right hand at the top of the arc and took a big step to break through O'Neal's defense, the old Shark broke through the defense on the spot and pulled directly, almost making his old partner fall to the ground.

"Oh!!"

The booing in the stadium was getting louder and louder. Although the referee called a foul, the Suns fans were particularly happy to see Kobe's embarrassed look.

Standing up, Kobe looked up at O'Neal, and when he saw him glaring at him, a different emotion surged in his heart. A smile appeared on his face, and he slowly shook his head and walked towards the free throw line.

"You're not going to win! You know you're overrated!"

O'Neal, leaning on his knees, shouted angrily in the direction of Kobe, looking helpless and furious. He just wanted to see his old partner fail.

"I said, I can leave you a hat. In a little while, I will lift the trophy here, and you can stay and witness it."

Kobe responded with a smile while patting the ball. The angrier O'Neal was, the happier he was. At this moment, he just felt extremely happy!

The game became tense, with the Suns committing frequent fouls. As a result, Nash was hit hard by Ariza. The two sides almost fought in the third quarter, but Duncan was not affected and helped the team with screens and assists again and again.

Stoudemire was still able to contribute beautiful dunks, but the 8-point difference continued until the end of the game, and the American Airlines Arena was finally filled with loud boos.

100:92, relying on excellent defense, the Lakers won another game and easily swept their opponents, entering the finals again after many years.

At the end of the game, Kobe threw the ball high, cheered, turned around and high-fived Duncan to celebrate. He couldn't hold back the smile on his face. He was so happy:

"Finals! We are still 4 wins away! I swear, I will take back everything that belongs to me."

In front of the camera, Kobe held Duncan's hand and made bold statements, but the latter just patted his partner on the shoulder. Duncan was no stranger to the finals.

O'Neal barely maintained his composure and did not exchange pleasantries. After a brief greeting with Phil Jackson, he immediately turned around and left. He was going to buy a ticket for the finals.
Fans on both sides of the player tunnel stood up and applauded Nash. In this series, their core players tried their best, but the team's defense was really poor.

Just after returning to the locker room, Nash stroked his short hair and looked up at Stoudemire who was still cursing:
"Do we still have a chance?"

The latter stopped complaining. The combination of Kobe and Duncan made Stoudemire, who had championship experience, feel difficult. He sat down in his seat and said with some frustration:
“Maybe the team should make a change”

O'Neal remained silent, joined the Suns, kept winning, and everyone welcomed him. Now they have lost an important round of games and conflicts have arisen.

The old Shark knew that his time with the Suns was running out. If it weren't for Kobe "supporting" him, he might have considered retiring.

The atmosphere group of the Suns was in a heavy mood, but the Lakers who were preparing for the award ceremony were laughing happily. Ariza and others had never experienced such a scene before, and their mouths were almost grinning to the back of their heads.
After many years, seeing the division championship trophy again, old Buss, who flew here specially, clapped his hands in front of the camera. Although Kobe had betrayed him, adults only care about interests, and the two are now reconciled.

Amid scattered boos at the American Airlines Arena, Buss took the golden trophy and held it high, and the Lakers players behind him all cheered loudly:

"Oh!!"

Ernie Johnson also smiled and clapped. When everyone had almost finished celebrating, he asked Buss:

"Dr. Buss, I'm glad to see you lift the division championship trophy again. Now you are only four wins away from the O'Brien Cup. How would you evaluate the Lakers' performance this season?"

Old Buss has not been in good health in recent years, but after winning the game, he seemed to have turned back into the high-spirited "old playboy", smiling brightly and praising loudly:

"Kupchak saved the team. I must thank him for bringing the great Tim Duncan to Los Angeles!"

"."

The team owner praised him crazily, and Duncan in the back couldn't help but smile. Phil Jackson's eyes were bent with laughter, and he put his arm around his thigh and whispered affectionately:

"Trust me! You're going to experience a completely different finals, and you're going to win it all!"

The assurance from the old man from KFC made Duncan even happier. He really felt respected on the Lakers side, and even the general manager would discuss lineup additions with him in advance.

Kobe, who wanted to lift the trophy earlier, was in the front row. When Buss praised Duncan continuously, he was a little unhappy. He saw Phil Jackson whispering beside Duncan, and his mood became worse:

“This is my team.”

In front of the camera, Kobe still kept smiling. When the trophy came into his hands, he instantly put all thoughts behind him and raised the trophy to celebrate.

In a routine interview, Ernie Johnson simply asked about his feelings about returning to the Finals. Kobe took the microphone but didn't say anything polite or boring. Instead, he made a serious announcement:
"For the championship, I will give everything! I will prove that I am the best player in the league!"

"Shhh!!"

The Suns fans at the scene booed again, but Kobe didn't care. He lowered his head and kissed the trophy. At this moment, he was extremely eager for the arrival of the finals. He just wanted to defeat his "mortal enemy."

On Tuesday, May 5, as the Lakers advanced, the New York media began to speculate on the championship again, and continued to gossip about Pierce's "return as a shooter."

Yesterday’s column almost made Boston fans furious. Even though they lost the game, their opponents shouldn’t slander their heroes!

During the Knicks training in the afternoon, the team staff found that the basket seemed to be a little short, and the two sides had another round of verbal battle.
Li You seemed lazy during the warm-up. He did not enjoy the game last night to the fullest. It was difficult for him to reach the fourth quarter, but the opponent collapsed. When facing the interview of the reporter, he just responded casually:

"I like old rivals, whether it's the Spurs or the Lakers, it reminds me of my youth."

(End of this chapter)