NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 592: Fighting for One's Speech (Daily Chapter)
On Thursday, September 2008, 9, Allen Iverson, who had faded from the fans' sight, became the subject of heated discussion again due to the sarcasm of head coach George Karl.

According to the Rocky Mountain News, George Karl believes that under his coaching, the Nuggets have a high probability of winning 60 games and becoming a championship team!

In order to achieve this result, the old guy also proposed a solution, which made Iverson's fans feel uncomfortable:

"Allen has to work hard to share the ball! When his assists reach more than 10, we rarely lose."

"He has to find a balance between offense and organization like Lee did, and that will transform the team."

Iverson's salary this season has reached 2084 million US dollars, which is definitely a high salary!

There were rumors two months ago that the Nuggets planned to save money and wanted to trade Iverson. It seems that they have not given up this plan yet. The out-of-date Iverson seems to be about to start his own wandering journey.

As the team's head coach, George Karl's contract is about to expire. Fans believe that the old guy is just trying to pass on the blame, and they began to speak up for Karl on social media.

Everyone thought Iverson would stand up and resist as he did in the past, but unexpectedly, after waiting for a whole day, no reporter was able to interview him, which made his die-hard fans very sad.

What’s even more interesting is that some fans still hoped that Carmelo Anthony would speak for their idol, but they were slapped in the face again. The gold medal-winning small forward also expressed his opinion in a tactful way:
"We have the potential to win 50-60 games! We have a chance to be one of the best teams in the NBA."

"."

Although he did not blame his partner, everyone could hear the hidden meaning in his words. Anthony still agreed with the head coach's point of view that Iverson's playing style in certain games was indeed a bit poor.

The backstabbing by his head coach and teammates also prevented Iverson from accepting interviews, and his fans began to become disappointed. The rebellious "Son of Philadelphia" seemed to have disappeared, and their idol had his edges smoothed out.

It wasn't until the evening that Iverson posted a simple update on his Twitter:
"Loyalty is the most ridiculous attribute in the league."

The die-hard fans were moved again, shouting "The Nuggets will definitely regret this" and "Without Iverson, they can't even make it to the playoffs."

Unfortunately, no matter how happily the fans danced, the team management did not come out to refute the rumors. It was obvious that the other party had made up their minds, and Iverson entered the countdown again.

Denver fans are denouncing the team's management, while in Indianapolis Star's column on Larry Bird's "leadership theory" has also caused considerable controversy.

“Just because you make the most money doesn’t mean you’re a leader!”

“People will always say this guy makes the most money, which means he’s the leader, and that’s not true, leadership comes from people who do the right things.”

"The leaders of a team are the ones who train every day, who endure the pain without complaining, who do what is necessary to cope with whatever is thrown at them."

"."

Since trading Jermaine O'Neal and sending the leader to the Raptors, Larry Bird, the team's general manager, has been criticized by fans.

When O'Neal Jr. was interviewed by a Canadian sports reporter, he said that he cried when he heard the news of the trade, which aroused the sympathy of fans. It is so difficult to be a donkey!
As the new season was about to begin and without the "big-name stars", Larry Bird was not in a good mood. He simply commented that O'Neal earned a lot but was unable to take on leadership responsibilities, completely opposing his fans.

The young fans of the Mavericks were also not willing to be left out and fired at their own player Josh Howard. Someone uploaded a video clip of Josh Howard disrespecting the national anthem on YouTube.

In just one night, the video went viral, prompting the Mavericks’ public relations staff to send out announcements late at night.

Many traditional sports journalists have realized one thing: with the explosion of the Internet and social media, the way of reporting news has also changed, with more and more young people accustomed to watching sports online.

The players' behavior will also be magnified, and their personality becomes extremely important at this moment.

Both of them are "the best players", but with Kobe's persistence, he has more and more fans, while Iverson no longer persists and is completely out of date, becoming the object of casual trading.

Late at night, well-known basketball commentator Bill Simmons updated his blog and gave his own evaluation of the chaos before the start of the new season:

"Pure basketball is dying out, and young fans are more concerned about the players' personal performance and life. I began to miss the past and the emotions that basketball brought me in the beginning."

Some young people in New York who surf the Internet intensively quickly "exploded" this hypocritical commentator:

"Lee brings a championship to New York and we are moved every year!"

"."

In the middle of the night, Bill Simmons started a high-intensity confrontation with fans on Twitter, which caused great amusement, while Durant, who was warming up the Thunder's new season jerseys on social media, was "patrolling" as usual.

"Zell is growing up so fast. Maybe he's also worried about his brother's name. Daddy is going to bring back new medals for you guys."

Scarlett, who shared a photo of herself reading before bed on Facebook, has lost weight compared to previous months and has regained her slim figure. It is obvious that she has been working out hard in recent months.

After settling down in Oklahoma City, Durant recently changed his girlfriend. However, his habit of peeking at the screen has not changed. Instead, he feels itchy if he doesn't post something every day. Regarding the goddess' troubles, he left another message:

“Kevin is a really good name.”

On Friday, September 9, Oklahoma City fans were excited. They finally welcomed their home team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. This team name sounds domineering!
General Manager Presti also warmed up the team's jerseys at the press conference. Durant, Westbrook and Jeff Green will all make their official debut on media day.

Local fans are looking forward to this very much. The most practical benefit of the arrival of an NBA team is to create jobs and closely integrate with the local community. At this moment, Oklahoma City fans are happy!

At this time, New York fans were divided into two factions. Today was the day when the Knicks visited the White House. Since Artest's awakening, some black fans have called on the team not to go to Washington.

The more extreme ones even called on the team to campaign for Obama, but the fans who were proud of the president were particularly unhappy about this. The two sides have been arguing for almost a week.
James Dolan was not interested in getting involved in all this shit, so he and the Knicks team visited the White House on time early in the morning to receive the president's championship blessing.

Large events are held in the East Room of the White House, a ritual familiar to the Knicks players who visit once a year.

The staff were still doing routine checks, so the family members had to wait at the reception desk for a while. Pau Gasol, who was on crutches, became the focus of the scene, and some people asked in a low voice out of curiosity.

"I feel fine, but the doctor told me that I still have plantar fasciitis. God is taking care of me by discovering the injury in advance!"

To show respect, Gasol trimmed his beard and hair. Although he was using crutches at this time, he looked a lot younger than during the Olympics, and he did not show any frustration when answering the staff's questions.

I have a torn meniscus in my right knee, and I also have plantar fasciitis, and tendinitis in my left knee.

The Knicks' team doctor complained about the training content of the Spanish national team. Gasol was still healthy when he left the team. This injury has a lot to do with fatigue.

Chandler was still excited about coming to the White House. He didn't care about the fans' sarcastic remarks and even dressed himself up to look decent enough for taking photos.

After the Olympics, Howard suffered a chest injury, and Chandler also suffered back strain. Fortunately, the problem is not serious, but he will miss the preseason.

In this regard, the medical team is somewhat dissatisfied with the national team. Even with overwhelming talent, injuries can still occur. The training intensity of head coach Krzyzewski must be very high.

The only consolation is that Prince is still very healthy, and D'Antoni's large-scale rotation in the regular season has reduced consumption, so the current injury wave is not serious.

Li You, who was lagging behind, was wearing a black suit and blue tie like everyone else. When he saw the staff members looking embarrassed, he almost laughed out loud.

"I want to talk to the President. I have received feedback that many children in the community do not like the NCLB Act, and many parents also think that it is making things difficult for the black community."

Artest transformed into a fighter and grew his hair and beard, but his "fierce" appearance and his efforts to appear amiable made people laugh.

Rondo was also very happy to visit the White House. He considered himself the leader of the atmosphere group. When he saw Big Brother doing something, he was stunned. He had just returned to New York and thought the news was fake.

"What?"

"Do any of you know what happened?"

Dio, who has gained some weight, has only been back for less than a week. Apart from basketball, his offseason has been very exciting, including outdoor sports, gourmet food and wine, and developing new products for his bakery.

The Frenchman, with his suit puffed up, saw Artest's performance, touched his chin, and joked casually:

"Maybe Ron is starting to think about retirement! But what is that bill?"

JR Smith immediately shook his head. Ever since he was beaten, he has been concentrating on being a "dog" in the team. He did not give up basketball during the offseason, but most of the time he was bullying the weak ones and pretending to be cool.

He knows where the hot girls are. JR Smith feels that he has never heard of this bullshit bill, but he doesn't dare to make fun of it. He puts on a serious face and says:

"As long as it doesn't hinder us from making money, I'm not interested in defending those little guys."

4 years and 2250 million. Although this contract did not meet expectations, JR Smith was still satisfied. His father did some calculations and planned to sign a big contract after opting out of the labor agreement when it expires in the future.

If his eldest son can secure a starting position in the Knicks, old Smith hopes that he can help his younger brother. If both brothers go to play for the Knicks, wouldn't that be a good story!
Raja Bell smiled brightly and remained a gentleman. Although he had come here many times, he still liked such activities. His championship photos and white house photos were placed in the most conspicuous positions in his home.

Regarding the fans' protests, he just thinks those people have a problem with their brains. 90% of NBA players have never had such an experience. It's a pipe dream for him to give up.
"It will be fine once the money is gone! Ron has to borrow money from Li every year, so he probably has no savings in the past few years."

Raja Bell turned his head and whispered to a few people after entering the East Hall. After signing a four-year, $4 million contract, he had a good time traveling during the offseason, but returned to New York earlier to learn about these "interesting things."

Newbie Thaddeus Young tried hard to suppress the smile on his face. He didn't want to embarrass himself here. Under the gaze of the staff, he straightened his chest and sat down with everyone else and waited.

Members of the atmosphere group Gazuric, David Lee, Gary Neal, Barea and Novak also seemed very happy. This was a memorable moment in their careers.

Li You and James Dolan were the last to enter. The curly-haired boss wanted to intervene in the recent troubles, but now it is the election stage, and he could only refuse the interview in the end.

"He's crazy! Who on earth gave him this crap idea?"

James Dolan, who noticed Artest's change in temperament, had just witnessed another farce and was in a particularly bad mood.

Thinking of the fans' protests, I wish those who follow the wind would be reborn.
"Ron will grow up, and maybe that's not a bad thing."

After sitting down, Li You responded with a relaxed look. He believed that after those relatives, friends and followers had sucked all the money, they would be completely obedient.

This kind of black culture cannot be criticized, and everyone in the team understands this. If one person prospers, the entire neighborhood benefits. This is also a way of life.

D'Antoni was in a good mood and whispered with the staff from time to time. The same went for the coaching staff and management staff. Everyone had been lying low for many years and had become accustomed to enjoying the honor.

At 10 o'clock, with the introduction of the staff, music and applause, the Knicks team officially entered from the side.

As Bush appeared, everyone shook hands one by one. After he came to the podium, the media and White House officials below applauded again.

Li You brought a shiny basketball model and shook hands with Bush. In front of the camera, the President smiled happily and gave Bush two affectionate hugs. After taking the model, he jokingly said:

"I didn't prepare any speech today, and the secretariat told me that they couldn't find any words to praise me!"

“Lee, if you keep winning, you can come to Texas next year.”

There was laughter at the scene. This was the last time he hosted an event, and the atmosphere was more relaxed than in previous years. There was indeed no speech today, and Bush basically just praised the name after calling it out. Perhaps it was because the New York media had praised him so much that Bush obviously read the newspaper frequently and knew the popular "memes" recently.
When Li You heard the other party bragging about running a baseball team and having a "family culture", he almost couldn't hold it in.

When it really came to the critical moment, Artest was scared again. He only had a general understanding of NCLB - No Child Left Behind Act, and had no idea about the details. At this time, he could only smile foolishly.

James Dolan then began the annual thank you ceremony for the governor, mayor, and city council members.
He almost slipped up at the end as there were too many people to thank. After all the links were finished, Li You finally presented the souvenirs. For the Knicks, it was no longer possible to give away jerseys as they had won so much.

New York Governor David Patterson clapped his hands in the audience. As the first African American and legally blind person to serve as governor in New York State history, he also came to witness this moment today.

Blomberg smiled appropriately in front of the camera, but noticed that Georgina beside him seemed happier than ever, and couldn't help but curse in his heart.
However, he quickly put the matter behind him. The mess on Wall Street had a huge impact, and Lehman Brothers' outrageous operations were really incomprehensible.

After the ceremony, everyone had to move on to continue sightseeing and taking photos. Georgina, wearing a blue slim dress, naturally took Li You's arm, said hello to her father, and left quietly.

Li You only felt a chill on his back, but Georgina secretly hooked her finger.
Li You groaned inwardly after receiving the signal. He had to undergo another high-intensity training this weekend, but soon he heard another whisper in his ear:
"My father plans to change fund companies. You can give it a try."

Georgina raised her head slightly and smiled appropriately. Thinking that this must be a large sum of money, Li You really felt that he had to fight for it. He also hooked his finger and whispered to the staff:

“We need to talk about this in detail.”

On Sunday, September 9st, the news media has been reporting on the Knicks' trip to the White House. The sight of Gasol on crutches made some fans very happy and triggered high-intensity online activities.

For San Antonio fans, after the news that Ginobili underwent surgery on his left ankle was confirmed, most fans were disappointed. The Argentine will miss at least two months of games!

In addition, Bynum has just returned from injury and his competitive state is still questionable. Given the fierce competition in the Western Conference, two months is enough for them to fall behind completely.

The Spurs training camp is about to begin. The new head coach Budenholzer has been a little nervous in front of reporters. When faced with difficult questions, his face sometimes turns red.

These sports reporters like this kind of scene. Everyone likes to take advantage of the situation. Not only will they not show mercy at every press conference, but they will even go further.
Tim Duncan has left and Tony Parker has become the core of the team. The Frenchman had a very comfortable offseason. In addition to showing his love with Eva, he also often appeared on TV shows.

When participating in a talk show, Eva even did not shy away from talking about private topics and described Parker as a French veteran.

If Popovich was still on the team, the old man would definitely scold Parker when he saw how indulged he was during the offseason after training camp started.

But the rookie coach did not do so. Instead, he spoke well of the Frenchman and called Parker "the true leader of the Spurs."

Regardless of the team's performance, Parker has indeed lived a good life after Duncan left. He has Eva at home and Erin Barry on the team.
In the new season, Brent Barry left the Spurs and went to Houston, but his family remained in San Antonio. In order to better take care of his big brother's family, Parker felt that he had to take on more responsibilities!

The training camp will officially start next week. Before the media day, Tony Parker took the initiative to accept interviews in advance.

The Frenchman first worked out in the training hall, sweating all over, and then before lunch break, he talked about how he would lead the team back to the finals:
"I know the team's problems! I will be more aggressive while Manu is recovering from his injury!"

Parker wiped his sweat in front of everyone and showed a determined look in his eyes, as if he was ready. From the outside, he really looked like a team leader.

"Tony, the Spurs' salary this season may only fill the minimum salary cap. Will this affect the team's record?"

"How would you rate the trade for Marc Gasol, who had a great run in the Olympics?"

Speaking of the team's salary, Parker's eyes twitched slightly. Duncan's departure did save a lot of money, after all, Bynum was still on a child labor contract, but he did not expect that the team really did not do much during the offseason.

Instead of bringing in a third All-Star and actively replacing role players, the Spurs chose to sit tight when Ginobili was injured:

"I just want to play my own basketball! Salary cannot measure the strength of a player. I am very confident in the Spurs! We can overcome all difficulties."

"As for Mark's choice, I have talked to him. He hopes to get a starting position and get stable playing time. I can understand this. It is not easy for international players to gain a foothold in the league."

"."

Looking at Parker who was talking so eloquently, many reporters couldn't help but sigh in their hearts that he had really grown up, but Duncan had already left, and this team had most likely fallen out of the championship race.

The interview went smoothly and Parker was very satisfied with his performance. He found an opportunity to send a text message, and soon his new teammate Erin Barry responded immediately.

Budenholzer did work very hard and started preparing for the new season very early. He watched a lot of game videos, but the more he watched, the more uncomfortable he became. It is really difficult to break out of the West.

The reporter from the San Antonio Express didn't want to embarrass him. They just wanted to hear some bold words before the new season started. As a result, the new head coach was very confused:

"I've read everyone's medical reports, and they're in good physical condition, but the team is still facing huge difficulties!"

"I know the fans' expectations, but with the current lineup, it will be difficult for us to return to the finals."

"Tony is not Lee. Their playing styles are completely different. We shouldn't put too much pressure on him. In the first two months, all we have to do is not fall behind easily."

The sports reporters were very disappointed. The rookie coach didn't even dare to blow X. After looking at each other, they all had the same thought in their minds:
"The Spurs are completely finished!"

On Monday, 22nd, another Spurs-born coach, Mike Brown, was very high-profile. Even when Howard suffered a chest injury, he still took the lead in blowing the whistle:

"We have enough depth to handle the first two months of games!"

"I am only angry about the news that LeBron James plans to leave. This is a disgrace to Cleveland!"

"After coming to this city, I was shocked by the basketball atmosphere here. I discussed the future with LeBron, and I am absolutely sure that he will stay here and he is loyal to his team."

Cleveland Clinic Arena will officially open training camp next Monday. Mike Brown arrived early and mingled with the staff while also bragging to the local media.

The reporters who came to the training hall were very satisfied with this answer. They believed that the Chosen One would wait for the opportunity, instead of planning to run away with his good brothers as the Miami media said.
Since the Heat did not have any outstanding players, Wade, who got the core technology and became a "tank", was very disappointed. Perhaps stimulated by the Knicks' visit to the White House, he shouted through his agent:
"We are considering leaving Miami when our contract expires."

As soon as the news broke out over the weekend, sports reporters in New York who were just looking for fun began to make up news, believing that Wade and James had planned to sign short-term contracts for a long time and that there was a high possibility that the two would join forces.

Early in the morning, newspapers in Cleveland began to criticize fake news, and many young fans also expressed their dissatisfaction on social media. How could a kid from Akron leave?

"LeBron is not Kobe, he is loyal to his team, he has DPOY-level teammates! The two are destined to bring a championship to Cleveland"

"."

The Celtics failed to hold together, and the current mainstream view is one man, one city. Mike Brown has the experience of coaching the Rockets and thoroughly understands how to deal with the media and what they want to hear:
"Maybe you are all worried about Dwight's injury, but our medical team has made a detailed assessment and he will be able to return to the game in mid-November."

The ESPN reporter didn't want to hear this, so he took the opportunity to ask a pointed question:

"We have received news that the Cavaliers seem to be planning to trade Drew Gooden, and it is said that the Lakers have made an offer."

Drew Gooden's salary this season is 710 million. The current salary structure of the Cavaliers is somewhat similar to that of the Knicks. There are too many middle-class contracts, and owner Gilbert wants to reduce some of the burden.

There was not much emotion on his dark face. Mike Brown knew that James had not given his boss a positive answer. All he had to do was to continue to be "loyal":
"Gooden is in very good condition and has completely integrated into the tactical system. The trade information is not true."

The owner was generous, LeBron James was loyal, he got the answers he wanted, and Cleveland sportswriters thought the new coach was pretty good.

Although he doesn't have an outstanding resume, the players seem to like him, and Mike Brown has completely won their recognition!

The Knicks and Lakers both chose to start training camp on Tuesday the 23rd and set media day on the 30th.

Kobe also underwent surgery after returning to the United States. When training camp started, he could only serve as an atmosphere member and would miss all preseason games in October.

The Los Angeles Times is considered a staunch supporter of Kobe. A friend in need is a friend indeed. Even amidst the nationwide ridicule, Kobe was moved by these "loyal" reporters.

In the morning, Kobe kept smiling when facing the local media. He was in a good mood when he was interviewed before lunch break. He was extremely sure that there were no lazy dogs in the locker room!

“I don’t know why there is so much controversy in the news about me!”

"After entering the league, all I pursued was victory. This has always been my goal and it has never changed."

Seeing Kobe's serious expression, several reporters didn't know what to say. "The best player" seemed more like a breath to them. After seeing Iverson's experience, they completely understood.

No one questioned it. Kobe was even happier. He moved his right hand in front of everyone and looked very confident:

"I won't miss too many games. Tim will ensure the team's performance. I believe in him. In the new season, our goal is to be No. 1 in the league!"

"We need to get home-court advantage in the finals, which will determine the trend of the series."

“As for my physical condition, I feel great.”

Duncan, who was exercising on the training ground, did not accept the interview. Since he found that there were problems in the locker room led by Kobe, he took the initiative to take responsibility:

"Lamar, try to trust the coach's choices."

"I don't like playing as a substitute either, but the team needs you. I support the coach and there will be no trade."

Sitting next to Duncan, Odom did not seem very angry. Whenever there were trade rumors, he was always the one who got hurt. In fact, he was used to it:

"I hear you, Bro! I don't like playing next to Kobe, and maybe he's right, but he always messes up the atmosphere in the locker room."

"."

Duncan listened quietly to his teammates' complaints and nodded from time to time to show his understanding. After arriving in Los Angeles, he discovered that the Lakers also had problems and were somewhat different from the championship team he had imagined.

Fisher and his good brother Barnes were very happy after they reunited. They were together when taking the final photos. After the morning work was finished, the old fish even took the initiative to promise:
"Matt, don't worry about the data, as long as I'm there, I will find you!"

"Come to my house when you have time. I kind of miss my days in New York."

Barnes is grateful for this. Although he doesn't like Kobe, his girlfriend likes life in Los Angeles. For this reason, he is willing to make some compromises:
"I owe you one, Bro!"

"."

Tarrytown Training Center, New York reporters, like in previous years, gathered early after training camp opened, but this time after watching the physical examination, most reporters began to frown.

Due to injuries and weight gain, many players are not in good shape. Artest has even lost weight, which surprised many people.

In comparison, Li You, standing next to D'Antoni, is still as strong as ever, with no change in figure. Many people even took photos of him shirtless.

The mustache crossed his arms and frowned as he watched the staff record the data. The Knicks had a lot of physical examination procedures, and there was also a blood test in the afternoon. These technological equipment were added one by one in recent years:
"That's a bit bad, Lee! It seems everyone's desire to win has declined."

Looking at Dio's fat belly, Li You laughed along with the crowd, looked at the frowning coach, and whispered to comfort him:
"I still want to win, that's enough!"

(End of this chapter)