NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 574 Distorted Confidence (Daily Chapter)

On Tuesday, June 2008, 6, the Staples Center welcomed the long-awaited finals.

Returning to the stage after a long absence, the fans in Los Angeles seemed very happy. Even though the home team was trailing 0:2, everyone still firmly believed that the team could reverse the series!
Old Buss also mobilized the entire family, including his eldest son and his beloved daughter. Before the game, he actively invited people from the entertainment industry and socialites, injecting a different element into the finals.

The best way to get out of the financial difficulties is to sign a higher-value broadcasting contract.

In the eyes of fans, victory is the most important thing, but as a team owner, Buss is more concerned about the interests of shareholders. Winning a championship in the NBA does not mean making money, and popularity is the most important thing.

The sports media in Los Angeles were also instructed, and in less than two days, they criticized the Knicks' home court and attributed Kobe's poor performance to "playing away from home."

One of the commentators even wrote something in his ESPN column that angered New York fans:
"In Madison Square Garden, the crazy atmosphere there reminded me of those who worship Hitler. I didn't feel the love for basketball there. They just bullied us."

The article sparked heated discussions across the United States as soon as it appeared in the morning. Then the columnist knelt down at lightning speed and apologized to the fans before noon.

ESPN also immediately deleted the content of the article, but the popularity of the finals rose again, and Kobe was called "the fighter for justice who defeated evil basketball" by Los Angeles fans.

As things unfolded, a huge argument broke out on Reddit, with fans from both sides arguing with each other crazily. At this moment, no one was simply discussing basketball. Everyone just wanted to make accusations and try to defeat the other side with their keyboards.

Such an abstract off-field situation made a group of sports reporters happy. In the afternoon, many Los Angeles Times reporters updated their personal status on Twitter:
"Kobe will rebound strongly tonight. He has promised us that he will not score less than 40 points in the three home games!"

"."

The news is naturally false. In order to calm Kobe's anger, Phil Jackson has been leading the team in meditation these two days. The Lakers rarely accept interviews for fear that the Mamba mentality will explode.

Unfortunately, this did not have much effect. In order to attract attention, reporters in Los Angeles ignored the situation of the home team, and fabricated stories out of thin air, praising Kobe to the sky again!
Why no one is promoting Duncan is because this MVP cannot directly compete with Li You. Most reporters just want to have fun, and they already have the answer in their hearts as to who will win the championship.

Playing at home, the Lakers don't need to rush to warm up. For a 21 p.m. game, everyone just needs to arrive at the stadium two hours in advance.

If Madison Square Garden exudes a "sense of history", then Staples Center is "luxurious and modern".

After being packaged for the finals, the arena exudes championship elements from the outside to the inside. When night falls, Los Angeles from aerial photography is as good as New York, and the dazzling arena shines in the night.

Entering the passage from the parking lot, a large number of reporters pointed their cameras at the Lakers players. At this moment, no one laughed at them, and everyone seemed to be cheering for them.

Fisher is a player who has seen big scenes. Dressed in a proper gray suit, he simply smiled at the camera, did not answer any questions, and walked quickly to the locker room with the help of the staff.

But the new players couldn't control themselves when they saw such a scene. Ariza, who was surrounded by reporters, almost had his mouth grinning to the back of his head. After wandering in the Development League for a few years, such situations only appeared in dreams in the past.

"Yes, we are confident that we can win the game! I have adapted to the intensity of the finals!"

"Kobe has been encouraging me these past two days. He is definitely an excellent leader."

Ariza spent a lot of money on a new set of clothes, and from time to time he showed off his newly bought watch on his arm. He enjoyed being the center of attention and even felt ecstatic at this moment.

"Do you think Kobe can score 40 points against Lee's defense? We have received confirmation that the Knicks will not change the matchup."

The Fox Sports reporter's question brought Ariza back to his senses. He lost his previous calm demeanor and looked around for a long time before finally giving a positive answer:
"We believe in Kobe. With his scoring ability, 40 points is not a problem."

Realizing that the questions were becoming unfriendly, Ariza didn't bother to continue his show and quickly left with the help of the staff. These reporters seemed to be more concerned about personal data, which was somewhat different from what he had expected.

Vujacic swung his medium-length hair in front of the reporters. No one paid attention to him in Manhattan. For New York fans, he was a marginal figure whose name did not need to be remembered.

It felt good to be the center of attention. Vujacic was a little lost. Amid the compliments from everyone, he completely forgot about Phil Jackson's instructions and made a solemn promise:

"Away games are completely different from home games. We will win three games in a row. The fans in Los Angeles gave me great encouragement. It's wonderful!"

When asked the same question, Vujacic naturally helped the boss to brag, and gave a positive answer without hesitation, and even further advocated:

"I wouldn't be surprised even if Kobe scored 81 points again! We all know that he has the ability to do this and the whole team supports him!"

"."

For a moment, the atmosphere in the tunnel became even more heated, and every Lakers player received extra attention.

Turiaf and P.J. Brown had not had much playing time before, and when they found themselves being called "defensive stalwarts," they shook their heads. The two refused to reveal any other information and tried to "cool down" the scene.

If you only read the local newspapers in Los Angeles, you will get the illusion that the Lakers are leading 2:0. The Los Angeles Times may really believe that the home team can win, and the front page this morning was given to Kobe:

"The best players will launch a storm of counterattacks!"

In this public opinion environment, in line with the KFC old man's meditation, Kobe appeared in front of everyone in a black suit. He had completely lost his previous excitement and a confident smile on his face.

When Kobe saw the reporters surrounding him, he raised his head slightly, showing the demeanor of a champion guard. When he heard the question about the game expectations, he chuckled and responded:

"Of course I win! It's our turn now, and I will lead the team to the match point!"

The strong confidence infected everyone at the scene. When Kobe waved and apologized to them and left with the staff with a smile on his face, several ESPN reporters couldn't help but whispered:

"Can he really win?"

“Maybe we should look forward to Tim Duncan’s performance.”

TNT reporters still don't think highly of Kobe. Duncan arrived the earliest. Unfortunately, this low-key MVP did not accept many interviews. They are not sure whether the Lakers will adjust their tactics.

Since ABC broadcasts some locker room scenes during the halftime of each game, many reporters gathered in the visiting team's locker room before the game started.

The camera was focused on D'Antoni, who was standing in front of everyone. He had a mustache and was wearing a black striped suit, and was currently making a final mobilization:

"I think you have realized that we have an absolute advantage in this series!"

"This Lakers team lacks experience. Compared to us, they don't know how to win at all. What they need to do in consecutive away games is to stay confident and relax."

"If anyone is nervous, give the ball to Lee and follow his instructions on the court. Gentlemen, sometimes winning is that simple!"

Hearing D'Antoni's self-mockery, the locker room was immediately filled with laughter, and even the staff who were filming grinned.

No matter how the outside world ridicules him, the mustache always sticks to his best tactics, and this has not changed since he took over the team.
The Los Angeles newspapers have been blowing the whistle these past two days, but this has not affected D'Antoni. After confirming that Kobe could not break through Li You's limitations, he became more confident. Facing the camera, he simply pointed to the whiteboard:
"The only thing I want to remind you is to pay attention to fouls! The opponents will definitely increase the confrontation and they will try to disrupt our offensive rhythm."

"This is the most effective defense at the moment, and I don't want anyone to fall into the trap."

Mike Malone next to the whiteboard was also dressed up. This year's broadcast added a lot of shots and the coaching staff received more attention, which was also a good thing for him.

The Knicks' assistant coaches are very popular. If they switch to other teams, they will most likely get more salary, while those who stay with the team will not earn much. However, Mike Malone has persisted and now seems to have been rewarded.

"After the opening, we just need to use the defensive strategy from the first two games. Tyson, you need to pay attention to your defensive position and don't let Duncan catch the ball easily in the low post."

"Keep communicating, test the opponent's shooting, Pau is always ready to help defense, maybe the opponent will use more pick-and-rolls, I just need to squeeze through the screen toughly."

"."

The camera lens was focused on Mike Malone who was constantly drawing arrows next to the whiteboard. Seeing that Li You was also listening carefully, many sports reporters felt that this assistant coach really had some "substantial information".

In contrast, Doc Rivers’ image as a famous coach has collapsed recently, and the 100 tactics he called out finally turned into “Give the ball to Kevin Garnett.”

In the locker room footage of the Eastern Conference Finals, Rivers mostly said "Let's go" and "Our game". After reviewing the game, the commentators all agreed that the Celtics lacked a defensive system. The excessive attention also made Mike Malone a little inflated. The assistant coach in a white shirt finally put down his marker and made the final summary:

"No matter how the Los Angeles newspapers explain it, they can't solve the most fundamental problem."

"Do you think Kobe Bryant can score 40 points under Lee's defense? He can't do it. Lee has solved the key problem on the outside. Now we just need to fix the inside defense!"

"If you can grab their rebounds, the wimps in Los Angeles will start crying!"

Laughter reappeared in the locker room. The absolute confidence of the coaching staff naturally infected everyone. The atmosphere group began to get ready. As long as they were leading by a large score, they would become "Windward God of War".

The time to play was almost up. D'Antoni clapped his hands. Li You, who was wearing the Knicks' blue away training uniform, also stood up. When everyone gathered around him, he simply said:
"The Knicks lost a championship here. The team was very young at the time. It was a regrettable series."

"Now we are more mature and we have a lot of championship experience, so we will crush our opponents this time."

"Not only do we have to beat them in terms of score, but we also have to make them feel desperate psychologically!"

"We have to go all out in the two away games. Even if we get the match point, the series is not over. We will let them understand why the Knicks are the champions!"

“Yee!!”

Everyone shouted out loud, and as they were jumping up and down to get ready to leave the locker room, Li You smiled and asked the Knicks staff who were applauding:
"Did we set the record for the biggest point difference in the finals last year?"

"Of course, Lee! The Spurs played horribly, they seemed to collapse at the end, and I always remember the frustrated look on Coach Popovich's face."

When the reporters heard the staff's answer, they all pointed their cameras at Li You, and soon they got what they wanted:

"Maybe we can break the record again. I don't like the report in the morning. New York fans are the most loyal. No one loves basketball more than them. We have to respond to our families!"

"."

Even without waiting for the game to start, a large number of reporters will act as "repeaters" on Twitter. The away game makes everyone excited. Los Angeles is more of a topic than San Antonio.

Los Angeles sports reporters crowded in the passage soon got the news from their colleagues, and someone even took photos. As an "old actor", Li You looked a little "angry" in the photos.

New York reporters like this statement. "Family" is the most important. If you enjoy the highest ticket prices in the United States, you deserve the support of the superstars on the team.

"Distorted self-confidence! Lee has gone crazy! The Lakers have defeated him, this is not San Antonio!"

An older black reporter from Los Angeles immediately followed the discussion of the New York crowd. ESPN looked at the Knicks players who were exercising in front of them and added fuel to the fire with a smile:

"The Spurs have made it to the finals many times over the years! Without Tim Duncan, the Lakers might have gone home to fish!"

"Kobe is the one with twisted self-confidence. 9 is greater than 1. I don't know why he can be so confident in saying that he is the best player."

This topic made the Los Angeles reporters in the tunnel a little unhappy. Kobe's honors and statistics were all lagging behind, but his crazy training over the years did impress them.

"Two games in New York made people feel uncomfortable. The mecca of basketball? Why laugh at players who work so hard?"

"Kobe should show respect to the GOAT! He should lower his head in Madison Square Garden like Duncan did!"

"."

The sports reporters who were "into the drama" couldn't help but start arguing, until the Lakers staff showed up and both sides calmed down.

Kobe, who hated the media, earned the respect of Los Angeles sports reporters through his own efforts;

Li You, who "always responds to requests", let the New York media enjoy the joy of victory. They think the championship and data are the most important.

One in the East and one in the West, with completely opposite basketball atmospheres, "conflicts" broke out after arriving in Los Angeles. Both sides have their own theories. G3 was so crucial that the war of words between the two sides could not be stopped.

Inspired by such an atmosphere, Los Angeles fans were also particularly devoted. When the visiting players came out, there were constant boos. After the DJ called out Li You's name, nearly 19000 fans booed even more loudly.

The director quickly found the "traitor" sitting in the front row. O'Neal was wearing his white "champion T-shirt" and applauded when Li You came on stage.

After arriving in Los Angeles, the old Shark completely let himself go. In a recent interview, he took the initiative to express his position:
"I respect Lee's achievements. If he wins his 10th championship, I will book the best nightclub in Los Angeles!"

"I'm planning on releasing a single soon! Maybe I'll give it a jam session then."

Noticing the director's camera, O'Neal grinned, raised his thumb and pointed at his T-shirt.

When the lights in the stadium went out, the home team's entrance ceremony ignited the atmosphere. Lakers fans were shouting hard. In the most crucial G3, no one wanted to see the home team lose.

Perhaps it was because there were more and more news about Kobe's "confident statement" recently. When the special Mamba was the last to appear on the court, everyone began to shout the name of the "hero":

"Kobe! Kobe! Kobe!"

In the first home game of the season, Kobe was booed by Lakers fans because he took the initiative to request a trade during the offseason.

Back to the finals, the fans' attitude changed 180 degrees. Kobe, who ran from the bench to the field, was a little proud. He conquered the Los Angeles fans again with his own strength!

The Lakers team gathered in a circle. Duncan was very low-key before the game, but Kobe was already in the game. He stood in the middle and shouted excitedly:
"Let's go!"

With flashing lights, passionate music, and the Lakers cheerleaders twisting their bodies enthusiastically, the Staples Center was completely boiling at this moment.

When the lights came on, the floor in the center of the venue had been replaced with a golden O'Brien Cup pattern, and the cheers suddenly became louder!
New York fans no longer care about these details. They have seen this kind of finals packaging for too many years and have long been accustomed to it. They want to see their opponents get into trouble and are looking forward to attending the award ceremony at home.

It’s different for Los Angeles fans. Under the influence of the atmosphere in the past few days, the previously dull home atmosphere has turned into a frenzy.

The two teams were conducting their final warm-ups. In a private room on the upper level of the arena, old Buss brought his family to cordially greet celebrities.

But when he saw James Dolan and his band members grinning unabashedly, the smiling old Buss couldn't help but curse:
"This lucky idiot!"

As early as when he took over the Lakers, Buss renovated the Great Western Forum. In that year, he not only made basketball completely entertaining, but also turned the private rooms into bars and adult clubs.

The success of the Lakers is the pride of old Buss. Now a "stupid rich second generation" is about to surpass him. This is simply God playing a joke on him.
Daddy is in a bad mood recently, and Jeanie Buss will not be in trouble. Although her brother has taken over more team work, her boyfriend is the real controller of the Lakers:
"Phil told me we can win the game tonight!"

"We have the opportunity to get a better broadcasting contract from Time Warner. The ratings for this year's finals are very good, and everyone likes this matchup!"

The revelry in the box continued, the girls twisted their bodies vigorously, and old Bass was not in good health. He was in sage mode for the whole year, which made him focus more on his work:

"I don't want to be laughed at! The first two games made me a clown! I spent so much money, not to watch the Lakers get humiliated."

"."

After saying this, old Buss turned his head and looked at the venue. Jeanie Buss on the side wanted to explain for her boyfriend, but finally chose to remain silent.

"Tell Phil I'm disappointed in him and why he can't control the players!"

"He needs to give me an answer! I don't want to waste my money."

Without the US dollar, the team cannot become stronger. Jeanie Buss forced a smile and had to explain that she still supports her boyfriend very much:
"We will win!"

(End of this chapter)