NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 585 Jealousy and Respect (Daily Chapter)

On July 2008, 7, as the U.S. men's basketball team officially announced that it would enter a closed competition, a large number of sports reporters gathered at the University of Las Vegas.

Although not open to the public, journalists can cover the tournament, which is primarily against select teams, for which the USA Basketball Association has nominated 10 young NBA players.

Among this year's rookies, only Derrick Rose and OJ Mayo were selected, and the rest of the players are also familiar names to fans.

The backcourt also includes the Knicks' Rajon Rondo, the Pistons' Rodney Stuckey and the Kings' Kevin Martin.

The frontcourt players include Andrew Iguodala of the 76ers, Kevin Durant and Jeff Green of the Thunder, Al Horford of the Hawks, and LaMarcus Aldridge of the Trail Blazers.

Originally, JR Smith was also selected for the roster, but he was in the contract negotiation period. Smith was worried that his eldest son would get injured, so he politely declined the training camp on the grounds of fatigue.

The defeat in the World Championships made head coach Krzyzewski very dissatisfied. He believed that the problems within the team were bigger. The success in the America's Cup made him praise Kobe, and this time he even determined the captain's position early.

Jason Kidd arrived at training camp on time and mingled with everyone in Las Vegas over the weekend. Old Kidd actually didn't care about the captaincy issue. In contrast, he wanted to be more involved in the construction of the Mavericks.

After coach Carlisle took over the team, the Mavericks began "internal cleanup". It was impossible to continue spending money, and sending out the traitor who was partying in the playoffs became the top priority.

Mark Cuban brought in Jose Barea, who had an outstanding performance in the finals, from New York. This was actually the player's personal choice, but the successful poaching still made the big-mouthed boss quite happy.

That is, on Sunday, the day before the training camp opened, Cuban wrote an article on his blog, the general content of which was to call on the league to impose more luxury taxes on super teams!

Last season, the Mavericks' salary expenditure exceeded 1 million US dollars, but the luxury tax was not as high as that of the Knicks. This time, they openly fired a shot and immediately stirred up a hornet's nest.
James Dolan was actually very professional when negotiating with the league. He preferred to cite data and advocated "transparency."

Of course, the reason why the curly-haired boss is so confident is mainly because the Knicks are drafted, which is actually very outrageous because most NBA players' careers are less than 4 years.
The league actually encourages this development. After all, only by staying with the parent team can players theoretically get more salary, and more salary means more luxury tax.

Cuban's proposal is undoubtedly aimed at the Knicks. After all, there is no other team in the league whose salary will exceed 1 million US dollars.

Some small teams that intend to fill the minimum salary cap seem to agree with this proposal, which led to a number of columns in the New York Times this morning denouncing this rogue face:

"Why can't other teams develop championship players? Why can't they build a true winning culture?"

"They just want to make money, and now they even want to get more benefits through subsidies from the alliance without doing anything!"

"The New York Knicks make great contributions to the league every year. We only train the players we select. Those teams with unsatisfactory records should collectively reflect on this."

"."

If the normal development trend had been followed, the Knicks should theoretically have fallen into the "middle-class contract trap", but after waiting for a few years, the players' performances have gotten better and better, and it's even become easier for them to play.

There have been several meetings in Orlando in recent years, and it’s basically just Dolan and Cuban trading barbs.

The two had previously jointly proposed adding rules, but since the Mavericks' disastrous defeat in the finals, Cuban's defense has broken down, and the subsequent black eight made him completely lose face and become a "joke."

Whoever spends money can enjoy the privileges!

The Mavericks can use the game video to complain to the Rockets and make a comeback in the playoffs;

The Knicks can also create an undefeated record at home, turning Madison Square Garden into a real devil's home court.

Cuban provoked again this year, but James Dolan did not make a long speech like in previous years. He just responded briefly on his personal Twitter:
"Wow!"

If special terms are introduced for a team, the Dolan family will most likely sue the NBA directly. In order to monopolize the New York sports market, they may even disrupt New York State's plans.

In recent years, not many NBA players have paid luxury taxes, and it can even be said that the number is decreasing. After the free market opened this year, ESPN gave a data report:
"In the 2008-09 season, it is estimated that no more than 10 teams will have a total salary exceeding the luxury tax line."

It is already the end of July, and there are no big fish in the free market. All the newbies have received contracts, and most teams seem to be developing in a "lying flat" manner.

Nowitzki is still working hard for the Olympic qualification after returning to the German team, but Kidd is not so busy in the training camp. He even has a mentality of "watching the show".
At 9 o'clock in the morning, the Thomas and Mack Center gradually became lively. Chandler and Prince appeared together, standing next to Kidd with their hands on their hips, watching the situation on the training ground together:
"Has it started again? To be honest, I kind of admire Kobe's choice!"

Chandler, with a beard, watched the ongoing duel and expressed his respect again. Prince was the same. He no longer had the mood of "watching the show" as he had in the past few days. He said with emotion:

“Maybe the coach had thought of that a long time ago.”

In the training camp, Kobe got up the earliest, worked the hardest in training, actively communicated with the coaching staff every day, and demonstrated his leadership qualities with practical actions.

Of course, there are also players who are not convinced. In this regard, Kobe's approach is very simple. Come one-on-one, and if the player can always beat him, he will give up his position.

At the beginning, Carmelo Anthony stole the show and won the one-on-one duel, but winning on the first day does not mean he can win again in the future. Kobe soon regained his face and won more and more.

Among the new players, Durant also performed well, but facing Kobe's constant challenges, he was eventually defeated and no longer participated in this activity.

This is the fourth match between Wade, who has just returned from injury, and Kobe. The confrontation between the two is quite intense, and the sweat on their bodies shows that this is not the first round.

In the past few days, LeBron James did not participate in the "captain competition", but chose to cheer for his good brothers. As Wade released the ball, the countdown began immediately:
"Five, Four"

After receiving the ball in the left elbow area, Wade chose to face the basket. After a series of tentative steps with his left foot, he suddenly released the ball with his right hand, then accelerated to the fullest, blocking most of his body distance, and forced a breakthrough into the paint area against Kobe.

As his good brother counted down, Wade stopped abruptly, exerted force actively, pushed Kobe away, stepped back, drifted to the right and rear, and shot a jump shot.

Wade, who turned into a tank, is the strongest competitor Kobe has encountered in recent days. The two have already started to fight fiercely. When the ball flew into the air, Wade shouted "foul" and the opponent hit his wrist.

Seeing the basketball hit the rim and bounce out, Kobe stared at Wade and said viciously:

"Stop complaining like a wimp!"

"Nigo, you can only disturb me by committing fouls."

Wade responded with a choke. Anthony on the sidelines was already grinning beside James. In fact, he had a huge advantage in a one-on-one fight, but Kobe seemed to be obsessed with the position of captain and he was not interested in fighting repeatedly.

"That's it, Bro! We're all behind you, teach him a lesson!"

Anthony smiled and fanned the flames, and Paul began to give Wade "advice". Wade was the representative of several people and helped them pass a lot of boring time.

When Billups and Michael Redd showed up at the practice facility, the two still couldn't decide the winner. Howard smiled and yelled at the rookie players to explain the "game":
"I like Kobe's elbows! But they don't seem as powerful as Lee's"

"Oh! Shit! The Flash broke through the defense, he's so strong! This guy got his strength back through the Speed ​​Force!"

Before the reporters entered the venue, everyone let themselves go and watched Kobe and Wade continue to "fight". Until the coaching staff showed up, the two were still unable to determine the winner. Although they missed shots continuously, it was still a thrilling game for everyone to watch.

With the blessing of "core technology", Wade's condition is frighteningly good. Not only has his body become stronger, but his reaction speed and explosive power seem to have improved a little.

No one would underestimate such progress. For talented monsters, even a small step forward would be a remarkable achievement.

The morning was mainly a video analysis class, with a "heart-to-heart talk" as well. Head coach Krzyzewski was very satisfied with the current atmosphere within the team, and Kobe took on the responsibility of a leader.

For sports reporters, they were more looking forward to whether Kobe and Rondo would have a conflict today. It was not until the "heart-to-heart" time came that they realized they had unearthed big news again.

Everyone in training uniforms was sitting in their seats. Coach Krzyzewski stood up and saw everyone looking at him. He immediately said loudly:
"I know there are always conflicts between players, but in my opinion, this is not a problem. We have outstanding talent, but we have not been successful in recent years. Obviously, there is a problem with our mentality."

"Before the closed training begins, you can speak freely. I want to know your true thoughts deep in your heart."

"After this meeting, we will unite together, conduct closed training, welcome the Canadian national team, and then go to Macau before the Olympic Games."

Sitting in the front row were Kobe and James, and in the back row were low-key Kidd and Prince. Wade was the first to speak up, his strong body making him more confident:
“I’ve had two losses where we played like shit!”

"Lack of discipline, lack of concentration, and even complaining to each other, this is not the national team I expect. I hope everyone can focus on defense."

"The team's talent and depth allow us to put pressure on our opponents throughout the game. When they miss a shot, we can teach them a lesson with a counterattack. I don't want to go through positional offense so often. Basketball has changed!"

LeBron James immediately took over the conversation. As a fast break expert, he fully agreed with his brother's basketball philosophy. This is how the Cavaliers play. He is very adaptable to the game strategy of a lot of transition offense:
"Look at the players on the field! We have such great talent! As long as we stick together, there is no reason why we will lose!"

"Stop making excuses. Defend and counterattack. We are going to crush the world with our talent."

Looking at his good brother, James seemed full of confidence. As long as the game entered the rhythm he was good at, he could easily lead the whole team.

It doesn’t matter who is the captain. Anyway, the number of “James Gang” in the team is as large as that of the “New York Group”. James believes that he can replace them with his actions and become the most handsome guy in this Olympics!
Most of the players in the Eastern Conference are deeply influenced by the Knicks. They are deeply impressed by the fast breaks and three-pointers. Young players continue to grow in such an environment.

In contrast, the players in the Western Conference did not have any special feelings. Watching the video is different from experiencing it in person. Anthony did not agree with it immediately, but Kobe gave his own opinion with a serious expression:

"I agree with this. If the game reaches a stalemate, I am willing to take responsibility." "We must have a killer mentality. As long as we are on the court, we must go all out to completely kill the opponent, and even destroy the opponent psychologically!"

“That’s what I came to the national team to do!”

Howard chuckled in the back. Kobe, who was interrupted, just paused for a moment, then said calmly:

“I know some of you are jealous of my achievements, but God is my witness!”

"I don't want to talk about this with players who haven't experienced the finals. Your understanding of basketball is still superficial. The most important thing on the court is the mental confrontation!"

"If you don't like me being the captain, then come and beat me. Basketball doesn't lie! I am the best player!"

Kobe started out with a low voice, and almost shouted at the end. He then turned his head and looked at everyone. For a moment, the media room was silent and no one objected.

Those who secretly laugh at Kobe actually know that among the backcourt players in the league, except for Li You, Kobe is the strongest.

Talking behind someone's back is often a sign of jealousy. After all, most players in the league cannot get the same attention as Kobe. But they are superstars and there are always people talking about them.

Every player expressed his or her own opinion, the surrounding sports media became more and more excited, and American captain Kobe showed his leadership qualities!

Many reporters had high expectations for the afternoon competition. Kobe's speech made them excited. This national team seems to be really different.
What surprised everyone was that less than three minutes into the game, James twisted his ankle and had to rest. With Wade coming on as a substitute, Kobe moved to the three position and partnered with Bosh and Howard in the frontcourt.

Old Kidd was very good at seizing opportunities, but as time went on, the rookie Rondo on the opposing team performed more brilliantly.

"Cover for OJ!"

"Andre, faster!"

"Shoot, big man! It's open."

"Al, go to the three-point line, good job! Perfect screen"

Under Rondo's loud command, the newbies gradually let go and, with their excellent offensive space, gradually caught up with the score.

Rose, who was sitting on the bench, was a little depressed. Due to knee inflammation, the Bulls did not allow him to play. Seeing the outstanding performances of his teammates, he could only work hard to throw the towel.

Mayo was suppressed at the beginning, but as the quality of his teammates' screening improved and he moved flexibly under command, his hit rate gradually increased.

Durant, who plays the fourth position, also showed his super scorer side. Several singles and transition attacks made the surrounding sports reporters' eyes light up.
When Mayo bounced out to the left wing and shot a three-pointer against Kobe who was switching defense, the newbies were shouting wildly, and Mayo, who was letting himself go, jumped and jeered loudly:
"You are not Michael Jordan! Lee is the best player"

Obviously Mayo also watched this year's finals. This is the favorite offensive language used by New York fans, which made Kobe so angry that he glared at him on the spot.

If the newbies had not lost consecutive backcourt rebounds in the final moments, the "Dream Team" might have failed in this closed teaching game.

Nearly an hour later, after the game, Rondo, wearing a mask, kept high-fiving everyone. He was a little unhappy about losing in this way, but the configuration did lack big men:
"If we play the right way, we can beat them!"

“Jealous? Some people are talking bullshit, I have two rings.”

Prince shook his head secretly in the seat on the other side. Kobe's words sounded nice, but the opponent's efficiency was indeed average. Being used to Li You's daily performance, he somewhat understood Rondo's thoughts.

Chris Paul is also talking to Kidd, he also can't stand Rondo pretending to be cool
Only Durant behaved calmly. After leaving the court, he took out his mobile phone and applied ice to it while checking Twitter and Facebook.

Seeing the goddess posting a photo of afternoon tea with the Olsen sisters, Durant logged into his second account and immediately left a message, typing very quickly with both hands:

"You are the most beautiful"

Rondo was still immersed in the game. Wade performed the best on the opposite side and easily scored 20 points. At this time, he was pulling Iguodala to share defensive experience. Thinking of Durant's size, he immediately turned his head and suggested:
"Kevin, you can help with defense more! Switch defense faster, we need to make that guy take more jump shots!"

“Yee! You’re right.”

Durant came back to his senses and raised his head and responded simply. In fact, the team didn't want him to play in the Olympics after the move. He would be the main ticket seller next season. For the sake of health, the training game was just a formality.

Durant looked through the news on Twitter again and didn't see any personal updates related to Li You. He couldn't help but feel happy. The goddess was well taken care of!

It was a rare Monday when the "family gathering" was cancelled, and Li You rested at the Peninsula Manor all day. Scarlett, who recovered quickly after giving birth, invited the plastic sisters to spend time with her, and the three Olsen sisters gladly accepted.

After the photo session, the four of them started playing Texas Hold'em. The garden was well-maintained, and you could see the beach under the parasol, which made Mary Kate Olsen feel a lot better.

"Clarence is such a cutie, what are your plans for the future?"

Since their younger sister came to New York to attend college, the Olsen sisters, who took back control of Dualstar, have been spending more and more time in New York.

I've been hanging out with the succubi since 04, and I can be said to have watched the little guys grow up.

Kristen Ritter, who was only wearing a white suspender and shorts, looked at the curious look on Mary's face and responded lazily:

"I don't know. I'm too lazy to think about it. Anyway, I have more money than I can spend. My parents hope to take care of Clarence."

Scarlett wrapped herself tightly, and while playing cards she did not forget to complain. The Dark Knight was recently released, and she knew that the Plastic Sisters remembered the death of their close friend Heath Ledger:
"Alyce is always like this, I hope they can go to the best university and then go into business management, being a star is the worst choice!"

"You can also consider changing your life. Instead of making movies, you can invest."

Ashley Olsen, who was wearing the same black printed T-shirt as her sister, rolled her eyes at the fake sisters. The two of them only took back control of the company when they were 18 years old. It has only been a few years, and they are still in a puppet state.

"We don't have that much money, and we don't want to make a movie. I heard that Harvey Weinstein has some problems with the distribution of The Reader."

It seemed that the gossip was a bit outrageous, and Ashley Olsen couldn't help but lower her voice and added in a low voice:

"It is said that he was harassing the family of Director Pollack before his death!"

"Oh! He is such a scumbag!"

Scarlett couldn't help staring. The moment she heard the news, she imagined a bunch of terrible postures. Kristen Ritter also stared, and she also imagined some taboo plots.
The two sisters went on to add that since the failure of "New York Minute", they have stopped filming, but they are still keen on Hollywood gossip, and this news is one of their ways to pass the time.

Unlike her twin sisters, Elizabeth Olsen, 19 years old this year, is still a little green. At this moment, she was wearing a tennis suit, following Li You and chattering, with the elderly dog ​​Happy beside her.

"Will you be at the Marvel party? Lee, you should go to the Olympics. I want to go to BJ's too."

"I read the comics of Iron Man, and they are not as good as the movies. However, the teachers at school all think that Iron Man should not be successful."

After playing tennis for an entire afternoon, Elizabeth Olsen is still full of energy and is sharing her daily life. It is expected that the global box office of Iron Man will exceed 2 million, and Marvel is going to hold a celebration party.

"I will attend the board's activities. If you are interested, your sister has an invitation."

“Every year I need a break from reading the New York gossip papers.”

Some New York newspapers described Li You as "non-human", with unlimited physical strength, never injured, and even eternally young, so he had to grow some stubble to make himself look older.

Almost a year after officially moving to New York, Elizabeth Olsen followed her sisters to parties and became no different from ordinary young people after getting to know them thoroughly.

She wanted to squeeze next to Li You, but was separated by the elderly dog ​​Happy. The Husky's natural smile seemed to be mocking the young girl, and soon the dog was chased away.

When Li You came to the four people, they were still gossiping enthusiastically, complaining about a certain actress who almost slept with the entire crew in order to get promoted.
"Ladies, what would you like for dinner? No need to take care of Scarlett."

When Ashley Olsen heard Li You's voice, she immediately turned her head and smiled. After stating her request, Mary Kate Olsen also showed a different smile on her face.

Without noticing the condition of her sisters, Elizabeth Olsen was still shouting from behind, "Don't forget to be happy." It seemed that the happy day was about to end.

The night at Peninsula Manor was very quiet. The young girl, who had played tennis for an afternoon, fell asleep early and only woke up drowsily after midnight to look for water to drink.

Looking at the dim light on the third floor, Elizabeth Olsen, who was wearing a suspender nightgown, woke up inexplicably and subconsciously tiptoed upstairs. Some strange sounds made her heart beat faster.
In the huge master bedroom, naked Ashley Olsen is being "attacked" by her sisters. Scarlett, holding the DV, seems to have become the director at this moment.

Elizabeth Olsen took one look and immediately turned her head. In the dim environment, she bumped into Li You in a panic, and then a warm current appeared in her ears:
“This is our little secret.”

"Oh"

(End of this chapter)