NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 599 "We Want to Improve Too Much" (5600 words chapter)
On Tuesday, November 2008, 11, there were less than 11 people in the AT&T Center, and the Spurs were having a hard time selling tickets for the new season.

Some die-hard fans may have bought season tickets but chose not to watch the game in person because the team's record was really poor after suffering a wave of injuries.

With 1 win and 4 losses, under the leadership of rookie coach Budenholzer, the Spurs showed a trend of diving for the No. pick at the start of the season. This once strong team in the Western Conference seems to have completely fallen out of the championship race.

Tony Parker started showing his love for Eva after just one game. Apart from actively taking care of his eldest brother Brent Barry's family, his training began to be discounted.

Ginobili was injured in the Olympics and will miss three months after surgery. Fans had a little fantasy before, but the importance of the Argentine exceeded their imagination.
If we don't discuss past achievements and only look at salaries, it's not surprising that the Spurs lost like this. After all, they only filled the "poverty line" and their highlight was "value for money."

Andrew Bynum, who was highly expected, missed the second game of the new season again due to ankle bone spurs. The only "star" was gone, and the fans of San Antonio were not happy about it.

Before the game started, Budenholzer, who was hailed as "Popovich's successor", became the "big star" of the Spurs. However, sports reporters like to take advantage of others' misfortunes, and the young coach was once again troubled.

“Why did the Spurs fall so quickly?”

"Can you explain the team's tactics after the new season starts?"

"Will Bynum renew his contract? Will he be the core of the team in the future?"

Some questions were simply impossible to answer. Budenholzer's face turned red with embarrassment. No one was satisfied with the answers he handed in. Local fans began to shout "fire". The young coach could not bear it anymore.

After the game started at 20 p.m., D'Antoni, who was sitting quietly on the Knicks bench, smiled slightly when he saw the lineup of his old rival. Although the core players were absent, there was a high probability of another victory tonight!
The Spurs' starting lineup tonight is George Hill and Roger Mason in the backcourt, and the frontcourt three are Amy Udoka, Matt Bonner and Fabricio Oberto.

Budenholzer insisted on using the "space lineup" in the new season and hoped that the team could give more responses from beyond the three-point line, but problems arose with both three-pointers and rebounds.

In the eyes of Knicks fans, the Spurs are completely finished. They can't even name the starting players, let alone the atmosphere group on the bench, which are all pure "scraps".
"shush"

In the middle of the first quarter, boos appeared again in the arena. Oberto received a pass near the right baseline and missed a mid-range jump shot. The Knicks launched a counterattack again.

Facing the newbies, Rondo was full of confidence. Not only did he dribble the ball behind his back during the advancement, but he even made a long-distance ground pass with one hand just after passing the center line.

The basketball passed under the crotch of the retreating Udoka and fell into the hands of Prince who cut in from the left wing. Matt Bonner who was retreating in the middle did not have time to return to the basket to block the shot and could only watch his opponent layup and score!
Rondo, wearing a dark blue headband, had a confident smile on his face and clapped his hands repeatedly. On the bench, Chalmers was also jumping up and down. He will get more playing time tonight.

Bill Rand, who just became a full-time TV commentator for the Spurs' home games this year, has gray hair. 12:4, the game is almost 4 minutes in, and the Spurs are in a scoring drought again:
"I felt like we lacked energy tonight! We lacked energy on both offense and defense. It's unbelievable. This is not the Spurs team I expected!"

Bill Rand's tone revealed frustration. As a home commentator, it was difficult for him to mobilize emotions in this kind of game. The Knicks also had injuries, with Li You and Gasol not there, and as a result, the home team was still "vulnerable."

As his partner, Sean Elliott is a Spurs legend. However, when he saw George Hill rushing into the crowd and being blocked by Chandler, he couldn't hold it anymore and his face turned even darker:

"Obviously we are not prepared for the difficulties! We have to be more patient on offense! I hope everyone can be as positive as Udoka."

"The team lacks star players, but this is not the way to play. Maybe we should request a timeout."

As soon as he finished speaking, Rondo instigated a counterattack that crossed the center line again. Although George Hill tried hard to chase back, the ball was faster than the man. In the counterattack, Raja Bell just approached the right wing when the basketball flew into his hands.

The moment he raised the ball, Roger Mason flew out sideways, put the ball in his left hand, dribbled sideways, and Raja Bell quickly jumped and shot from outside the three-point line!
"Whoa!" The three-pointer hit the net.

After successfully seizing the opportunity, Raja Bell scored a goal, and all five players on the court scored. Dio, who had already rushed to the basket, also gave his teammates a thumbs up, and there was even more jubilation on the bench.

If it was Popovich, the old guy would have been furious and started scolding the players, but Budenholzer was so angry that his face turned red. The "baby-faced" player showed great dissatisfaction and still picked up the tactical board after the timeout.

"shush"

Amid the boos, some San Antonio fans began to shout randomly, some cursed Duncan, some called for the need for Popovich, and some cursed the rookie coach.

The AT&T Center was in chaos. The camera kept focusing on Parker and Ginobili, who were dressed in casual suits. Both of them had serious expressions. They didn't have much to do about the team's predicament.

Artest, who returned to the Knicks, failed to make the active roster in the last game against the Jazz and will still sit on the bench tonight.

The rookie Thaddeus Young has been in excellent form recently and has temporarily snatched away the big brother's playing time. Although he did not receive instructions from the coach at this time, he was still busy running around, handing out water while standing up to listen to tactical adjustments.

Although Rondo's agent has been very active recently and Artest has no interest in basketball, the team atmosphere is not as reported by the outside world, and the Knicks are still winning.

"I hope everyone can cheer up and get through the difficulties positively! The Spurs shouldn't be like this. We have made it to the finals many times and were just one step away from the championship."

"I believe that as the season progresses, with the return of Parker, Ginobili and Bynum, the team will be on the right track."

Every time the team loses, Sean Elliott paints a rosy picture for the fans, but tonight, facing an old rival, he was a little quick to paint the picture, as if he had already tacitly assumed that the team would suffer a losing streak.

As the timeout ended, Udoka missed the shot from the right wing. Bill Rand in the commentary booth couldn't hold it anymore. Seeing Rondo rushing with the ball, he commented in frustration:

"We even forgot how to foul!"

"."

The game lost suspense at halftime, which caused some fans to leave after the third quarter. After looking forward to the season, the team started with 3 win and 1 losses. The losing streak was unacceptable to everyone.

The Spurs fans who were still watching the game soon "appreciated" the scene where Chalmers beat the 33-year-old Jacqui Vaughn. MOP's three-pointer helped the Knicks continue to widen the gap.

The Spurs were beaten by a simple pick-and-roll. At the end of the game, the Spurs' score was fixed at 78. Budenholzer stood on the sidelines and forgot to go to the technical desk to shake hands.

112:78, Spurs fans were booing, the 34-point difference was not big, but the game content was really terrible.

The sports media, who were just looking for fun, interviewed D'Antoni after the game, trying to draw a "terrible" conclusion from the opponent. Fortunately, the mustache was very considerate and smiled and painted a big pie for the Spurs fans:
"Every team will encounter a trough period. I believe the Spurs will be able to get out of the predicament soon! Now the team needs the support of the fans more than ever. Everything will be fine!"

"."

10中5，三分线外3中1，罚球6中4，拿到15分4篮板10助攻2抢断4失误的朗多也被体育记者围在更衣室，自从宣布要离队后，萌新就备受关注。

"Rondo, we got some news that the Celtics seem to be very interested in you? Have you considered playing in Boston?"

The ESPN reporter did not lie. Although the Celtics currently have an excellent record of 6 wins and 2 losses, general manager Danny Ainge no longer seems to be optimistic about Marbury and has never offered him a contract.

Rondo, who took off his headband, smiled brightly when he heard the news. He had no choice, but no matter where he went, he was confident that he would become the core:

"The Celtics? Maybe I can coach them to win the championship!"

"You have to remember that their last championship was in 1986. This team obviously has some problems. Choosing me is the right choice."

There was laughter in the locker room, and some reporters couldn't help laughing. Rondo was more confident than they thought, and seemed to look down on the "Big Four" at all.

"Garnett needs a championship guard. Sprewell gave him a huge help back then. This guy is actually a softie, but he always acts tough!"

Artest was also talking nonsense and had no respect for his opponent, which made many sports reporters even more excited.

The sports media got a satisfactory answer. The Knicks team returned to the hotel on the bus. Since they had to fly to Memphis overnight, they had to set off immediately after a short rest.

Rookie Thaddeus Young recently scored a career-high 16 points. In order to get more opportunities, he took the initiative to ask to stay in the same room with Chalmers.

Seeing his roommate put the luggage aside and carefully checked the orange, he was speechless for a moment. Thaddeus Young really didn't expect MOP to lick it like this:
"Bro, Lee won't be back until next week! We can relax for a few days."

"Dude, you don't understand! These are oranges I bought in San Antonio. When I get to Memphis, I'll buy some more and maybe I can make a different flavor!"

Chalmers put the orange away, and seeing the newbie's dazed look, he boasted proudly:
"The staff accompanying the team all know how hard I've worked, so if I just mention it casually, Li will remember it!"

"I will be able to enter the stable rotation next season. If I talk to the coach, maybe I can get more playing time. By then, my data will surpass many players of the same period."

"I can even win the championship earlier than Derrick Rose! Maybe this guy will never have the chance to wear a championship ring in his life."

"." Thaddeus Young was speechless for a long time. He was really shocked. This was too much of a licking. Thinking of how he had been a bystander last season, he couldn't help but start to reflect:
"No wonder I can only play as the eleventh man."

"Bro, I also want to make further progress in the team! What do you think? The coach still trusts the veterans more!"

Seeing Thaddeus Young showing an expression of wanting to "improve", Chalmers nodded with satisfaction and then shared his own experience:

"I've noticed that when the new season starts, Lee always warms up with boxing about half an hour beforehand at the Tarrytown training center. I think you can be a target!"

"."

Thaddeus Young was speechless again after hearing the sincere advice from the newbie. He hesitated for a moment and finally nodded with gritted teeth. There is a generation gap between young people and veterans, and he really needs to communicate closely with the boss.

On Wednesday, November 11, the Knicks faced the Grizzlies in their first back-to-back game of the new season.

This is a nationwide live broadcast on ESPN, and "Brotherly Battle" is the gimmick of the game.

The Grizzlies used only two second-round picks to trade for Marc Gasol from the Spurs. To the surprise of all basketball commentators, after the Olympics, Gasol lost visibly more weight and was in better physical shape.

The FedEx Forum is rarely full. After the start of the new season, some games had less than 10,000 spectators. They have been at the bottom of the attendance list for several consecutive seasons.

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Before the game started, Gasol, dressed in a black casual suit, hugged his brother and posed for photos and interviews in the center of the venue.

Although he was still wearing protective gear on his legs, Gasol didn't want to miss his first match with his brother and sent his best wishes before the game:

"I personally hope that Mark will have a good performance. I am really happy to see that he has adapted to the confrontation in the league!"

Gasol, who had short hair and a shaved beard, was a little nervous about the sudden attention. Although he played one year in high school in New York, he spent more time in Barcelona.

"I want to thank the fans who came out tonight. I love playing in this atmosphere."

Marc Gasol expressed his opinion somewhat stiffly and was patted twice by his brother, but he still didn't relax. He could notice the "jealous" eyes of his teammates. Rudy Gay prefers to face the camera.

With 3 wins and 5 losses, the young Grizzlies have delivered a decent record since the start of the new season. Mark Iaffaroni admitted that the focus of this season is still on running in the lineup.

Mike Conley, who was caught up in trade rumors, did not show any emotional fluctuations, while OJ Mayo laughed secretly. He was competing with Gay for the boss position, and both of them wanted to get more attention and recognition.

Mayo has been gloating since a few days ago about the fact that Gasol Jr. stole the limelight this time.

In the noisy arena, Kyle Lowry was still actively warming up. Seeing Chalmers and his teammates chatting and laughing on the opposite side, he felt very envious.

In the league, if a point guard is not pursuing a starting position, it would be most comfortable for him to play for the Knicks. He may not get a big contract, but as long as he can gain a foothold, his salary will not be low.

"Choice is more important than hard work." With limited exposure in the Grizzlies, Kyle Lowry is not even as familiar to the public as Chalmers, the rookie who just entered the league.

In this very eye-catching game, the protagonist was not Gasol Jr. On the Knicks side, JR Smith, who had been silent for two games, suddenly broke out on the bench.

After the dull first quarter, during the rotation phase, he suddenly made four consecutive three-pointers from outside the three-point line in a single quarter.
JR Smith received support from the entire team. After scoring 12 points in a row, he took advantage of the opponent's timeout, knelt in the middle of the court, pointed his hands to the sky, and completely ignited the atmosphere on the scene.

On the ESPN commentary booth, Mike Breen helped fans trace back the data, and his partner Mark Jackson once again sighed:

"This is the strength of the defending champions. They were not in good shape tonight, but someone still stood up!"

"What do you think of the Knicks' change in tactics?"

Jeff Van Gundy, who once again became a "famous coach in the commentary booth", completely regained his confidence. When he heard the question, he responded without hesitation:
"I think reducing low-post offense and increasing pick-and-roll is the right choice! This will amplify the ability of the core guard."

"Under this system, Rondo's flaws are covered up. As for Lee, he can adapt to any system. He is the player with the highest basketball IQ I have ever witnessed!"

"Marc Gasol performed well, but if Lee was on the court tonight, he wouldn't have played so easily. How to defend the pick-and-roll is a difficulty that all big men in the league have to face now."

"Some commentators believe that the Knicks should reduce three-pointers, but this is a wrong view. Reducing inefficient mid-range shots is the right approach."

"Lee has shown us how to win the championship with his actual performance. I must admit that I made a mistake before. Now I hope to see more teams follow the example of the defending champions."

No longer mentioning the "defensive system", Van Gundy's attitude has made a 180-degree turn since being stabbed in the back by James and Howard, and he has completely become a "Lee fan" in the new season.

However, the subsequent game progress was not so smooth. JR Smith became sluggish after his outbreak and failed to continue his efficient performance.

As the Knicks' shooting rate dropped and the Grizzlies counterattacked, the game became tense again. They persisted until the fourth quarter and finally won the victory by relying on defense at critical moments.

107:101, the Knicks won 8 consecutive games and it was the first time in the new season that the score did not exceed 110 points.

Michael Conley made 7 of 2 shots and contributed only 6 points, while Rondo made 9 of 3 shots and scored 10 points. The two of them played against each other in the second half and neither of them became the key player.

迪奥不声不响贡献了16分8篮板5助攻3抢断1盖帽3失误的全能数据，第四节几次关键防守，让达雷尔-亚瑟哐哐打铁。

After the game, the Grizzlies fans applauded Gasol Jr. in a "brotherly battle". He made 13 of 7 shots and scored a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. Such performance was not inferior to the core of the team.

When entering the player tunnel, Dio celebrated with the staff with his belly bulging. The Frenchman was in a good mood. When he returned to the locker room and was surrounded by reporters, he took the initiative to joke:

"I'm starting to miss Lee! I respect the Grizzlies, but against a big guy like Mark, I believe Lee can easily score 40+!"

"The newspaper said that LeBron James has a chance to win the MVP this season!? I think this is impossible unless the selection criteria are changed."

"."

The Cavaliers also made great progress after the start of the new season. Although Howard was absent, the team, led by James, who had completely transformed, achieved a record of 7 wins and 1 loss, surpassing the "Big Four".

Cleveland's sports media began to hype up the Chosen One. The excuse that "the new generation of players needs an MVP" worked well, and some basketball critics also recently began to add fuel to the fire.

However, James' opponent is not only Li You. Kobe Bryant is also making an effort for the trophy. Mamba has not had any outstanding personal honors in his career so far and is in urgent need of this trophy.

Talking about the topic of MVP, Chalmers, who has performed well recently, also got a chance. When the newbie heard the names of James and Kobe, he immediately said:

“Why can they compete with Lee?”

"In terms of personal statistics and team performance, Li will definitely be ahead of all his opponents in the end!"

"If they win the award, I think it will become a joke and there should be no more stealing of trophies in the league."

"James and Kobe should take the initiative to bow to Lee and admit their shortcomings, instead of choosing to deceive themselves and the fans and become an honor thief!"

"."

On the other side, Thaddeus Young, who had just taken off his jersey, opened his mouth in surprise. He wanted to say something, but he couldn't say it. In the end, he could only sigh secretly:
"I'm definitely not as good as Mario!"

Early in the morning on Thursday, the 13th, many onlookers appeared near South Capitol Street in Washington, DC. A large number of reporters also gathered near Independence Avenue, the main entrance of the Rayburn House Office Building.

Some entertainment reporters are out of tune with the environment of Capitol Hill. Yesterday, someone saw the "low-key" black Saleen S7 supercar, and the dusty "toy" in Li You's garage attracted a lot of attention.

When reporters saw Li You coming out of the scissor door dressed in a red scarf and throwing the keys to the police officers, they began to press the shutter button frantically.

Li You straightened his tie and smiled. He did not feel uncomfortable facing the flash lights and even joked:
“I love Washington!”

(End of this chapter)