NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 573 It's time to spread the champion experience again! (Daily Chapter)

The ratings of the NBA Finals have been on a downward trend for many years, but they finally rebounded strongly in 08, and ESPN/ABC was smiling again after the Game 2.

As the broadcaster, although they appear to firmly support the NBA's explanation of the betting scandal, the relevant practitioners are secretly "cursing".

If a brand collapses, it will definitely be difficult to rebuild it again. Fortunately, the data shows that they have overcome the difficult times, and many people sincerely thank Kobe!

Without Kobe's efforts and the cooperation of Los Angeles, Li You and New York, who were performing a solo show, would not have received so much attention!
Since G3 only had one day of rest, the backstage studio was moved to Los Angeles early. Scott served as the on-site reporter for G2, and Grant Hill took over the hosting task.

In order to make the fans in front of the TV feel happy, the guest invited for G2 was the familiar O'Neal of the fans. The old shark patted his thigh in the studio. He missed Kobe's embarrassing moment.
In terms of game content, G2 was not exciting. Kobe's finger was severely injured right after the opening, and he was technically sent back to the locker room at the end of the first quarter. The Lakers collapsed early.

Until the end of the game, the Lakers were unable to fill the hole they had dug. Both teams used 10 players in rotation, and the final score was fixed at 92:120, with the Knicks narrowly winning!
Since the press conference ahead would take some time, when the camera returned to the Los Angeles studio, O'Neal, wearing a black suit, was smiling happily.

He was visibly happy. If it weren't for the program's requirement, Old Shark would have celebrated on the spot. Without waiting for Hill to find a topic, he couldn't wait to say in a deep voice:

"Kobe and I have no grudges! In my opinion, he is always my little brother!"

"Basketball doesn't lie. As a player who has won MVP and FMVP, I must express my views honestly."

O'Neal could no longer hold back his smile. He held the technical statistics and said these words to the two people beside him with a wide grin. He was about to output again!

Jon Barry and Michael Wilbon did not expect the old shark to be so thick-skinned. They barely maintained a serious look and waved their hands solemnly and said:

"Shaq, you can express whatever you want!"

"Yes, we respect your achievements, and I believe that the fans in front of the TV also want to hear the superstar's opinion on tonight's game."

Controlling the smile on his face, O'Neal did not talk about any tactics, let alone the use of players by the two teams, and directly pointed the finger at Kobe's data:
"4 of 1, 6 of 2, 7 of 3, 3 of 2. After the first quarter's clash, Kobe still couldn't find his offensive rhythm."

"Kobe performed well in the second half, shooting 20 of 8, but the failure of the core players to respond in time was the fundamental reason for the Lakers' loss."

"In my opinion, the role players have done their job. The Lakers took 83 shots tonight. If Kobe could be more efficient, they wouldn't be behind by double digits in the first quarter."

"You all think I'm laughing at him, but I know my little brother. He's not Lee. He can't organize an offense. He can't even be a qualified leader!"

The more he talked, the happier he became. O'Neal shook his head and his face was full of joy. He didn't expect Kobe to cooperate with his performance so well, and to dare to fight even in garbage time.

Michael Wilbon, like many other commentators, assured Kobe that he would bounce back before the game. Statistically, his shooting percentage rose to 40%, but the content of the game was a mess:
"I agree with some of Shaq's points, but the biggest reason the Lakers lost should be defense."

"Maybe Duncan's help defense can solve most of the problems, but after encountering Lee, he needs more help."

"If you look at it from this structural perspective, the Spurs lost again last year, but Parker and Ginobili didn't perform badly. They lost because of the lack of lineup depth."

"The Lakers have a good lineup depth, but the core players must stand up. I believe Kobe knows what G3 means, and I still believe he will have a better performance after returning to his home court!"

Unable to bear hearing his old partner being praised, O'Neal did not even look at Jon Barry who was about to take over the conversation, and once again confidently gave his opinion:
"I know Kobe, and I know Lee. I have been fighting against Lee for so many years!"

"Lee is a born winner, but he also has his own persistence. Going to Los Angeles, he will teach Kobe a lesson that he will never forget."

"In front of the Los Angeles fans, to beat the 'best player', I believe Lee is ready, I will be there to witness this moment!"

O'Neal almost laughed out loud when he said this in a rough voice. Whenever he thought of Kobe losing, the joy in his heart rushed to his head. He really wanted to see his old partner get into trouble.

Hill and Barry in the studio were almost amused, and the "no grudge" O'Neal was about to wave the banner of "Kobe will lose."

After receiving the director's reminder, Hill did not waste any more time, kept smiling in front of the camera, and reintroduced the fans in front of the TV:

"Kobe's finger injury recurred, but he still appeared at the press conference. We can listen to his views on the series. The third game will be held in Los Angeles the day after tomorrow. Time is running out!"

"."

The media studio on the top floor of Madison Square Garden has not changed much over the years, giving it an old feeling. Entering the room feels like going back to the 90s.

When Duncan, wearing a loose black suit, sat down, a familiar feeling came to his mind again. Last year, they also suffered two defeats and were interviewed here.

Kobe Bryant, who was standing nearby, was wearing a white shirt and a black suit, giving off a "don't come near" signal, and his black face clearly expressed "unhappiness".

However, no one in the audience paid attention to his emotions. After a day of holding back, everyone finally had something fun to do. The TNT reporter asked questions enthusiastically, and after revealing his identity, he made a blunt comment:
"Kobe, it's a pity that the Lakers lost again. In the two games, you shot 8-for-0 from beyond the three-point line. We want to know why your shooting dropped so much compared to the Western Conference Finals?"

20中8，三分线外5中0，罚球8中6，22分6篮板5助攻1抢断3失误，科比数据回暖，但看了比赛的媒体却很难尊重这份数据。

"I don't think there was anything wrong with my shot selection! I just couldn't put the damn basketball in the basket!"

"The statistics are not important. Now all I have to do is have a few drinks, forget about the road experience, go back to Los Angeles and play my style of play."

"You will see my response, and you can interview me again then!"

Many sports reporters were shocked when they saw Kobe still standing there with great confidence. Most players in the league simply cannot have such a strong ability to self-regulate.

ESPN just wants to see the joke. They have been tracking Kobe's data for years and are considered the group in the sports media that knows the special Mamba best:
"Many basketball critics have noticed a set of data. Your usage rate in the regular season was 31.4%. In the playoffs, this data is still rising!"

"Did this affect Tim Duncan's performance? Do you think the high usage rate was the reason for the Lakers' loss?"

In this season's regular season, LeBron James had the highest usage rate at 33.5%, followed by Dwyane Wade at 33.1%, and Kobe ranked third.

Judging from this data, Duncan's performance will definitely be affected. After all, Kobe's usage rate has increased a little in the playoffs.

In contrast, Li You's usage rate of 28.7% is too low to be a core player with the ball.
When it comes to advanced statistics, Kobe is even more unhappy. In terms of Excel alone, he is even behind LeBron James in all aspects. When the other party wants to use statistics to express his "cancer style of play", he naturally has to refute:

"What do you want to say? What's the use of these data? I only know that the Lakers have reached the finals!"

"I never pay attention to these boring numbers. I just work hard in training and give my all on the court. These numbers cannot judge me, and basketball games are not math problems."

Duncan also began to speak up for his new partner. After losing Game 2, the atmosphere in the locker room was extremely bad, so he also had to actively express his stance:
"We are basketball players. Few people care about these data models that have been released over the years. In basketball games, only winning or losing is important. Nothing else matters."

"The team controlled their mistakes very well in both games, which is a good thing for us!"

"I want to praise New York's home court, the fans here are full of energy, but the next three games are our turn to perform!"

Kobe raised his head slightly, and after hearing Duncan's words, he still stared fiercely at the ESPN reporter in the audience. The other party has been belittling him for so many years, and the grievances between the two sides cannot be reconciled.

Perhaps Duncan's confidence infected the audience, and many reporters also restrained their mentality of just watching for fun. The subsequent questions became friendly and no one embarrassed the two anymore.

Kobe, who had been constantly speaking politely, also breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't like dealing with these reporters.

"No one has any more questions? Thank you for your cooperation."

The Lakers staff seized the opportunity to quickly end the press conference. They had to fly back to Los Angeles overnight. After losing two games in a row by large margins, the next step was a "do or die battle."

The opening battle, the crucial battle, the last stand.
Such an experience made Duncan frown slightly when he stood up. Thinking of the Spurs' past experience, a bad premonition kept emerging in his heart.

"I've had enough of New York! People here don't like basketball at all! We have to win all our home games and win the championship as soon as possible!"

Thinking of the people who laughed at him during the game, Kobe complained to his partner in annoyance, and at the same time showed his absolute confidence to comfort the silent Duncan.

"Listen to what the coach says! We have enough time to turn the game around."

Patting Kobe on the shoulder, Duncan brought out Phil Jackson, obviously hoping that Kobe could play according to plan.

The slightly old atmosphere of Madison Square Garden quickly made the group silent. This stadium has swallowed up the dreams of many players. The basketball mecca is actually a nightmare for many people.

When it was almost 23:30 p.m., Li You and Gasol also appeared in the media studio. The Lakers caught a plane overnight, and the sports reporters actually had no time to rest. Everyone had to stay up late to finish their manuscripts.

As more and more fans start surfing the Internet and sports news needs to be immediate, mainstream media have to compromise with working hours.

Reporters in New York applauded and whispered in welcome. This has almost become a regular ritual. After all, the Knicks have not lost the finals in all these years.

Unlike Kobe who always had a sullen face, the happy Li You always answered all questions with a smile and in a relaxed tone.

"Lee, congratulations on winning the game again. I think the fans and I have the same opinion. You can try more shots!"

现场众人手中都有技术统计，18中12，三分线外9中5，罚球9中9，38分4篮板8助攻3抢断。

Li You played for 31 minutes and delivered a number that many reporters were "unsatisfied" with.
"Lee, you really should keep shooting like Kobe!"

"."

Yahoo Sports seemed to have resonated with the public, and some reporters followed suit. For them, fun is sometimes more important than results.

"I like to share the victory. The Knicks are a united team. Playing in the finals is the dream of many players. Everyone should get the opportunity to show themselves!"

"After all, we have the most loyal fans. It's hard to encounter difficulties at home. This is a reward for everyone's hard work!"

Li You's simple answer made the New York reporters in a good mood. He is the most loyal fan, which is recognized by the whole United States!
With the highest attendance and ticket revenue for many consecutive years, New York's basketball environment is far superior to other regions. New York fans can proudly declare that Madison Square Garden is a basketball mecca.

"Will you increase your shots when you are on the road? Li, you have a chance to average 40 points per game again in this year's finals!"

The New York Times reporter took the initiative to remind Li You, and many people followed suit. It’s not that everyone wants to see an average of 40+ points per game, many people just want to laugh at Kobe after the series is over. What a big deal!
Li You can guess most of the people's thoughts, but sometimes he also needs to cooperate with the performance. His many years of NBA career have made him a qualified "actor":
"I can't quite remember, but I think I've averaged 40 points per game in the finals several times!"

Li You did not agree immediately, but showed some confusion. Soon someone responded positively:

"Three times, Lee! The most recent one was in the 3-04 season, when he averaged 05 points per game. In the 40.6 Finals, he averaged 02 points per game, which is a record in the history of the NBA Finals. In 42.6, he averaged 01 points per game!"

ESPN reporters cooperated in the "performance". When they heard these data, many young reporters called it outrageous. In comparison, Kobe's statement "I am the best player" was simply a huge joke.

As early as 01, Li You's data was on par with Michael Jordan, but Kobe has not achieved these achievements until now, and there is a gap between the two. In the two games of the Knicks, among all the players, only Li You and Gasol had a stable number of shots in double digits. In the two games, usually only three people had more than 10 shots.

The Spaniards who were taken care of supported the boss at this time. When the audience was quiet, Gasol straightened the microphone and said seriously:

"Lee has always taken care of us. He never cares about the data. If we encounter difficulties, he will be the first to step up and solve the trouble!"

"Maybe we will encounter some difficulties on the road, the coach has already made arrangements. I believe that after this final, no one will discuss the topic of 'the best player' anymore."

After hearing Gasol's answer, the Fox Sports reporter immediately became excited and asked:

"Pau, do you think Kobe doesn't deserve to be called the best player?"

"He's a good scorer, no doubt, but he's not a leader, and in my opinion, he's not even the best player on the Lakers."

"I know Tim Duncan. We have faced each other many times in the finals. He is better than reported. It's a pity that his career overlaps with Lee's, but I respect his choice!"

Gasol's affirmative answer made everyone even more excited. Unlike Garnett's euphemistic comments, the Spanish big man clearly gave his opinion.

For a moment, everyone joined in the fun, trying to get Gasol to continue his output, and Li You did not interfere, which made the atmosphere even more cheerful.

"Lee, we noticed your tweet on Twitter, what's the prize?"

The TNT reporter once again asked the question that everyone had ignored. Li You nodded slightly with satisfaction and started advertising:
"This fall, 2k Sport will release a basketball game. You know, I'll be the cover character, and if you guess 22 points, I'll give away a commemorative edition of the game!"

"In addition, there are a series of peripherals, including my signature sneakers this year and tickets for next year's finals."

"Of course, if we don't make it to the finals, there won't be any tickets left, so I hope everyone will continue to support New York!"

Many reporters grinned, and some young reporters began to regret not leaving comments, saying that tickets to New York were too expensive!
No one at the scene questioned Li You's "loan" behavior. Over the years, most practitioners have become accustomed to New York's appearance in the finals.

The rest of the game turned into a commercial break, with some reporters discussing Li You's player rating, and some joking about how many ratings the "best player" would have in the game after the finals.

In EA Sport's games, Li You's personal exclusive moves have always been not good enough. In the words of players' feedback, they "lack beauty" and "lack power."

After tonight, 2K will undoubtedly become a topic of discussion among the crowd. After all, before this, Li You rarely recommended games.

After the harmonious press conference ended, the Knicks staff also started to get busy. Although it is difficult for the finals to return to New York, everyone still has to be prepared.

As he headed to the parking lot, Gasol couldn't help but sigh as he thought about the coaching staff's personnel arrangements:
“David is a great guy, it’s a shame he doesn’t get many opportunities!”

Even if a newbie knows how to flatter, it doesn't mean he can gain a foothold in the Knicks. Every head coach has his own preferences. In addition, there is fierce competition within the Knicks, and David Lee, who is in his contract year, is out.

"It's not a bad thing to leave New York. He has championships and knows how to win."

"Getting a good contract and sharing my championship experience may be a better choice!"

Li You got the exact news from Matt Bartelstein that David Lee hopes to get a starting position and more playing time. In the end, this handsome guy can only spread his championship experience.
Gasol nodded slightly. Li You's words made sense. He just missed the friendly locker room in the past few years. Thinking that Barea and others would probably leave, he could only sigh in his heart:
"Rookie Cemetery?"

At 0:, many sports media began to update their post-match reports, and the Knicks officially confirmed the news that the team will fly to Los Angeles tomorrow morning.

At the same time, it was confirmed that several new players, including UCLA's Russell Westbrook, Nevada's JaVale McGee, West Virginia's Joe Alexander, and others, were coming to New York for tryouts.

Although the Knicks are at the bottom of the first round again, it does not affect newbies from coming to New York for tryouts and experiencing the best basketball atmosphere in the United States.

As more and more championships are won, the division championship banner will no longer be hung above Madison Square Garden, but there will be a division championship banner at the Tarrytown Training Center.

The strong "champion atmosphere" attracts players from all over the world who are interested in the NBA. "If you don't do it, there are others who will" has become the most appropriate situation.
When the Lakers boarded the plane to go home, it was already late at night. Phil Jackson was still reviewing tonight's game with the video analyst, and Kobe also participated in the review.

After two consecutive defeats, the joyful atmosphere in the locker room was completely gone, and Lao Yu’s chicken soup was useless. The contrast was too great.

Before the finals started, everyone watched the video and thought that Marbury was too bad. However, after the match, they found that the boss was no good either. Except for Odom who was lying on the ground, the rest of the atmosphere group was silent.

"Bad attacking choice! You have to play smarter and don't let your emotions affect your performance!"

"Reduce low-post offense! The opponent has made targeted defensive arrangements. You need to participate more in pick-and-rolls and pass the ball faster."

Phil Jackson was tapping away on his notebook while giving advice to Kobe Bryant, who kept his lips pursed and remained silent when he saw his performance.

What I'm watching now is the round in the second quarter when Kobe tried to attack with his back to the basket in the right blocking area. Li You first broke through the defense to receive the ball, then saw through the shake and easily blocked the turn.

Watching the video of himself "getting carried away" and trying to break through the baseline and attack the basket, Kobe couldn't help but curse:
"What the hell!"

He received the ball, shook and turned, then encountered help defense under the basket, and finally Li You cut the ball. In the past, he was able to squeeze through the defense and make a layup, but this never happened in these two away games.

20 of 9, 8 of 5 free throws, 23 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, 3 turnovers. The old man at KFC specifically marked Duncan's data, noticing that Kobe realized his mistake, and whispered again:
"Catch the ball and shoot a jump shot! Give Tim more opportunities to control the ball. He can find you. Back at home, we must play simple and efficient!"

"We will take advantage of our home court. You know how we beat them that year. Now we have to strictly implement all the tactical arrangements."

Thinking back to his championship, Kobe couldn't help but think of his old partner, and anger quickly emerged in his heart. The old Shark had been belittling him!
However, as the video went on, Kobe calmed down again, and his brows relaxed. He had to admit that Phil Jackson was right. He wanted more catch-and-shoot jump shots:

"I know I can do it. Tomorrow, no, this morning I will find the feeling of catching and shooting the ball!"

"We lost by 6 rebounds. Tim needs more help. We have to suppress them from the beginning of the game."

As Kobe was speaking, he paused the scene of losing the backcourt rebound. Chandler rushed forward fiercely and disrupted the Lakers' basket. This was still a scene during the rotation stage.

4 offensive rebounds in two games. Chandler even performed better than Duncan in rebounding, and Odom lacked protection for the basket.

Phil Jackson nodded and felt a little helpless. When watching the video again, Kobe seemed mature and calm, and he could clearly recognize the problems of the team.

But when he returned to the court, the situation became completely different. The old man KFC knew that this might be caused by the obsession accumulated over the years.

Ever since Li You "stepped over" Kobe, the two have become "mortal enemies". As the old rival continued to win championships, Kobe's desire for the trophy continued to deepen.

Phil Jackson, who was a little tired, didn't know if the situation would change when he returned to his home court. Game 3 was so important that he whispered in a negotiating tone:

"No one is perfect. Michael Jordan also experienced these struggles, but he overcame the difficulties because basketball is a game for five people. Everyone on the Bulls team helped him!"

"I hope you can control your emotions and think about the current situation in the locker room. Basketball is not a video game. You must take on the responsibility of a leader."

"Trust your teammates, we need to play the right basketball!"

"."

The right basketball might cost him the trophy, and Kobe knew that very well. Thinking of the "humiliation" that Li You inflicted on him during these two games, he finally made a promise:
"I won't lose again. I will finish the game as you ask."

The two stopped talking, and for a moment the only sound in the plane was breathing. Kobe put the golden trophy behind him. At this moment, he just wanted to go home to practice and find his game form as soon as possible.

On Monday, June 6, Li You woke up early in the penthouse. As usual, every Monday was a family dinner with Tang Nade, but this time the gathering had to be postponed.

It was less than 7 o'clock. Ivana looked at the time with sleepy eyes, and then leaned in his arms twice, and then said in a muffled voice:

"Honey, what gift do you want for Father's Day this year? Do you want to bring Cyrus back home?"

The little guy didn't stay in New York for long after he was born. Donard insisted on letting the child grow up in Florida because the environment of his baby manor was better than that of Peninsula Manor.

Li You leaned his head sideways, admiring the whiteness in his hand, and responded casually:

"It's a festival for the elderly! After I turned 30, I kind of disliked birthdays and these festivals."

Ivana, who was used to being naked, laughed softly when being kneaded. She was completely awake and adjusted her position to better show her figure:

"How about a special holiday?"

Hearing the whisper in his ear, Li You also laughed. Ever since Ax Capital stabilized its basic profits, Tang Nade, who had been jumping up and down, has returned to his previous state. This has also made life a lot better for Ivana and the others.

With a sweet laugh, Li You picked up his "eldest daughter" and had to hurry up to warm up before the flight in the morning:
"I swear, I'm starting to like this festival!"

"."

New York fans spontaneously sent off the Knicks players. On the other side, several new players of Westbrook also came to the Tarrytown Training Center. They will be active here in the next few days.

When everyone arrived at the training hall and saw championship flags on the walls, everyone started shouting. JaVale McGee even jumped up and down exaggeratedly, covering his mouth:

"God! This is amazing! Lee is incredible. Kobe should really think about how many championships he has won for the Lakers. How dare he call himself the best player!"

McGee's words made many newbies agree, only Kobe's die-hard fan Westbrook curled his lips and began to defend his idol:

"What's so surprising about this! UCLA also has a lot of championship banners!"

"Kobe is the best player. I know the situation better in Los Angeles. He works really hard. It's real at 4 a.m.!"

"Without Kobe, O'Neal would never have won the championship. I don't like Lee. He is no longer focused on basketball. He treats the NBA as a job. I don't like this attitude."

McGee looked at his friend next to him in surprise. He didn't expect that Westbrook, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, was an "undercover". While the staff were not paying attention, he hurriedly whispered:

"Damn it! This is the Knicks' practice facility. I heard that people who slander Lee are not welcome here!"

Looking at McGee's winking eyes, the young Westbrook showed the same confidence as his idol, staring at the championship banners and said seriously:
"In a few years, I will be successful in the league. I don't care about my draft pick, and I'm not interested in playing in New York. Today is just my agent's arrangement!"

"Kobe is right, the NBA shouldn't be like this!"

(End of this chapter)