NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 630: "Fighter" is "Yuyu" again (6000-word chapter)
On Sunday, April 2009, 4, the Lakers and Celtics took the court that night, and these two teams with 19+ wins attracted more attention.

In comparison, the Nuggets, ranked second in the Western Conference, did not have that much "traffic", but thanks to Iverson, Denver suddenly rose, and a large number of basketball commentators followed to watch the fun.

The Lakers' game started a little earlier, and since O'Neal and Kobe had "reconciled" and were "good brothers" before the game, the game became less tense.

At 18:99, ESPN began to report on the Lakers' easy victory over the Suns at 114:, which once again triggered complaints from many fans:
"Bill Russell shouldn't 'meddle'! This is not the game we were expecting!"

Related topics were all complaints on Twitter, especially after the game, when the old Shark praised his younger brother, which made the funniest people feel disappointed:
"My little brother has learned how to lead a team! I've seen his growth and I'm glad to see him again in the playoffs."

In an interview after the game, O'Neal praised his little brother again, but Kobe's fans did not buy it. They thought the old shark was being "sarcastic" and that their idol should have led the team a long time ago!
Although the game entered the fourth quarter, the Lakers had always controlled the tempo of the game. The Suns' defense was really bad, and Duncan contributed 4 blocks in the game, completely suppressing the opponent.

Kobe performed equally well, making 18 of 9 shots, 4 of 0 from beyond the three-point line, and 7 of 6 free throws, contributing a team-high 24 points. Except for 5 turnovers, Mamba's performance was impeccable.

Before the afternoon game started, Kobe did not accept too many interviews and even said that he was not interested in talking about "gossip."

It wasn't until the end of the game, when Kobe was asked about what happened to his friend Iverson, that he responded seriously:
"I know Allen. He won't avoid fighting on purpose. He is a real fighter. No matter where he is, he is willing to give everything for the team!"

"Put aside your silly worries. I believe Allen and I are like each other. We are willing to meet any challenge."

Kobe acted serious, and the sports reporters in the audience also believed what he said. After all, Mamba is really strong inside, and there are few players who can insist that they are the "best".

Due to Iverson's recent traffic explosion, the sports media who like "boomerangs" dug up the incident of the New Orleans charity game that was opened in Houston that year.

It’s been almost five years since this happened. There was no Twitter at the time, and the public only realized how outrageous the remarks of Iverson, Kobe, McCready, Kevin Garnett and others were after some research:
“Champions are not everything.”

The championship overflow theory was proposed by these people. At that time, Iverson's popularity was declining, but the big star was very arrogant. He was late and was the last one to appear on the court. He also boasted that he "does not play for honor."

Several people expressed their "disdain" for the championship, which was nothing in the environment at the time, after all, many football commentators were also questioning it.

But by 2009, although Li You had never talked about these things over the years, his continuous winning of championships completely reversed public opinion.

In addition, he was the first NBA player to receive the Medal of Freedom, so no one was singing a different tune. Looking back at the news, the big star who made sarcastic remarks was simply the clown among clowns.
Duncan didn't want to get involved in this kind of gossip. He had already lost the finals, so he naturally knew how strong his opponent was. When asked about this, the MVP had no expression on his face and said calmly:
"I just want to focus on the game. If the players are healthy, we will all play. This is respect for the fans."

In the morning, the Pistons announced that Allen Iverson was doubtful for Game 2 due to a back injury. The New York team was immediately furious and began to curse the son of Philadelphia for being "cowardly."

There are also rumors that Iverson seemed to have psychological problems and was almost sent to a psychological evaluation hospital in Manhattan. Several New York reporters broke the news, but the team officials remained silent.

Perhaps the news was too outrageous, and Kobe couldn't bear to see his few good friends being "besieged", so he suddenly spoke out before the end of the press conference:
"You always think that Lee can dominate everything, but he also needs the support of his teammates during the game."

"It's disrespectful to evaluate a player based on one game. Allen will respond. He won't run away. He will face his opponent head-on."

When most of the players in the league kept silent and praised Li You, Kobe still chose to support his friend. This heartwarming behavior made the sports reporters in the audience excited. The fun started again!

The Lakers' press officer realized something was wrong and quickly signaled the two to leave. He knew these people too well. As long as he had a topic to talk about, the other party would be able to "make something out of nothing."

"Kobe, if we get to the finals, will you still play against Lee?"

"Tell me about your feelings in the finals last year?"

"."

Seeing the two men leaving, some young reporters shouted, but the Lakers staff acted faster and quickly controlled the situation, allowing the two core players to leave calmly.

Kobe, wearing a training suit, was so angry at the last question that his face turned black. Last year's finals was something he didn't want to mention.

The Lakers staff were all in a good mood tonight. Tickets were selling well and the game was crushing the opponent. Although there was a lack of individual performances from star players, the team was visibly stronger than last season.

Many people greeted Duncan, and everyone respected this low-key MVP.

"We just have to do our job, Kobe. The media never empathize with losers."

When they were about to return to the locker room, Duncan turned around and reminded Kobe, who nodded silently. It seemed that the fun was increasing year by year, and he also realized this.

Phil Jackson, who had been waiting for the two, smiled and took the initiative to pat the core players. The old man was very satisfied with tonight's game, especially Duncan's defense, which even surprised him:
"Keep it up like this, we have to finish the series as soon as possible!"

As if aware of Kobe's demeanor, Phil Jackson reminded him meaningfully after he finished speaking:
"Don't watch those boring news. Put down your mobile phone and turn off the TV when you get home. We have to protect our home court the day after tomorrow."

After hearing what the coach said, Kobe did not agree immediately. Iverson's experience reminded him of his own experience last year, and he could really empathize with his good friend.

In the later game, the Rockets and Nuggets had basically lost their suspense after the third quarter.

The Rockets never gave up, but as Yao Ming failed to catch the ball in the sweet spot several times, and Aaron Brooks missed many shots, the game entered garbage time after half a quarter.

94:107, the Nuggets successfully defeated their opponents, and at the Pepsi Center, Denver fans began to celebrate.

Unlike last year, Billups seems to have found the code to winning. The championship guard is obviously more suitable than Iverson, and Denver fans no longer miss the son of Philadelphia.

In recent years, McGrady has always suffered from injuries. His attendance this year has been poor and his personal condition is much worse than before. Most of the time, he relies on three-pointers to maintain his data.

The director focused the camera on the sleepy-eyed out-of-date star. Although there were frequent trade rumors about him, McGrady still maintained his composure, constantly high-fiving his teammates and offering encouragement.

Yao Ming looked depressed. The team made a trade during the All-Star weekend, but Alston's departure did not improve the situation. They still have big problems at the No. 1 position.

Anthony was heavily guarded, but Billups carried the team on both offense and defense, shooting 17 of 10, 11 of 8 from beyond the three-point line, and 8 of 8 free throws, scoring a game-high 36 points and dishing out 8 assists without a turnover.

Many fans began to shout Billups' name. Facing the ESPN reporter, the champion guard was not polite and responded to the latest hot topic with a smile:

"That's why I came here, I believe my championship experience can help the team!"

"I respect Allen. He has given everything for this team. I have nothing but blessings for him."

Anthony has always avoided talking about his idol. He is not as firm as Wade. The team's improved record this season has made him begin to believe the "cancer" views of basketball analysts.

When the two core players attended the press conference, head coach George Karl had no scruples and once again "added insult to injury". The old guy was interviewed and mocked bluntly:
"Our tactics haven't changed much. I have always insisted on my point of view that Iverson must give up his current style of play and integrate into the team."

"He is not Lee. Iverson cannot lead a team to win the championship just by relying on his personal ability."

The Pistons' poor record seems to prove George Karl's point. The old coach successfully "passed the buck" and put the blame on Iverson for the losses of the past two years.

Many people began to "kick him when he's down", but McGrady once again spoke up for his friend. Although he couldn't play, he couldn't stop talking, and he even put on the airs of a big star during the interview:

"If Allen and I can stay healthy, we will definitely achieve greater success!"

"You have no idea how good he is. Many players in the league regard him as an idol."

"I don't recommend him to play with an injury because I know the consequences of doing so. You don't care about it at all. As a friend, I just hope he can stay healthy."

McGrady, who always asks "if", may not have read the recent news. Mocking Iverson is what everyone expects. The Yahoo Sports reporter didn't like this answer and continued to ask with a recording device:

"If you are healthy, can you snatch the championship from Lee?"

"."

The statistics and honors are all behind. Although McGrady has important awards such as the "Most Beautiful Calf Award" and the "35 Seconds 13 Points Award", he was still a little upset when he heard the championship. He suddenly responded with his eyes wide open:

"A championship is never a one-man show. If the Knicks didn't pay those high luxury taxes, Lee wouldn't have won until now."

This attitude brought smiles to the faces of the sports reporters surrounding him. McGrady always emphasized "very strong" but never compared data and honors. His stubborn look made everyone happy.

In the other two Eastern Conference games that have ended, the Heat relied on David Lee's near triple-double to successfully win the first game on the road, 94:91. Artest made 15 of 5 shots, 5 of 1 from beyond the three-point line, and 4 of 2 free throws, contributing 13 points;
大卫-李16中9，罚球6中4，砍下22分13篮板9助攻1抢断1盖帽4失误的全能数据。

The two new players helped the Heat complete a comeback, and they were also the only team in the lower half to win in the first round.

Despite winning the game, Coach Spoelstra didn't look very happy. Not only was the tactics not executed properly, but the inability to control his big mouth was what really gave him a headache.

In the visiting team's locker room, Michael Beasley was smiling as he won the game. He made 14 of 4 shots and got a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds. He was grinning and high-fiving his teammates to celebrate.

"Bro! You did a great job tonight. Look at Joe Johnson. He must be scared!"

He took the initiative to high-five Artest, and Michael Beasley showed an admiring look. The opponent suddenly broke out in the third quarter, just in time for Wade to go silent. In the end, it was the championship forward's defense that suppressed the opponent.

"Even if he is selected as an All-Star, he is still a small role! Who cares about the Hawks, a bunch of rookies who don't know how to win the game!"

Artest, with his chest puffed out, naturally praised a lot. His game form still hasn't improved since coming to Miami, but his "tough" defense is still basically on point.

"Mehta is right, we played too soft in some rounds! If we want to win the championship, we have to make ourselves tougher!"

"Wade, you have to play like Lee and reduce some mistakes. Every time you make a mistake, the opponent will score easily. These guys have good athletic ability. We have to be careful in G2."

David Lee, with curly hair and a towel wrapped around his head, took on a leadership attitude, looked at Wade who was silent on the other side, and began to summarize the shortcomings of tonight.

Daequan Cook, Joel Anthony and others spoke out to cheer Wade up. This situation made the Flash very depressed. He always felt that the locker room was out of control, and only Haslem still firmly supported him.

"You are right, we should have won more easily, don't question the coach, we have to respect him."

Wade saw that Artest wanted to say something, so he immediately responded and interrupted him. He was not interested in listening to "championship experience" anymore. He just wanted to attend the press conference as soon as possible and return to the hotel early.

When David Lee and Wade appeared in front of the reporters, they both had smiles on their faces, but as the audience asked questions, the Flash's smile soon disappeared.

"A team in the bottom half? I don't care about that at all. When I was playing in New York, Lee always told me that all teams in the playoffs are at the same starting line. I never underestimate myself!"

"The opponent has excellent talent, but talent alone cannot win the game. We have taken the initiative. What we need to do now is to protect the home court behind us."

"I know what role I should play, and I have the confidence to lead the team forward!"

David Lee, who has become the core of the Heat's inside line, no longer hides his position and puts himself in the same team position as Wade. No one in the audience refutes this, which makes the Flash's face slightly dark.

22 of 8, 6 of 1 from beyond the three-point line, 4 of 2 free throws, 19 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 8 turnovers. As the leader of the team, Wade performed well, but at this time "no one cared".

It wasn't until a Fox Sports reporter asked about Iverson's renewed mental problems that Wade responded angrily:
"Why do you have no respect for a veteran who has been in the league for 13 years and has been selected to the All-Star Game many times?"

"He won't back down, he's a fighter."

Early in the morning on Tuesday, April 4, New York fans were "eagerly looking forward" to news from the Pistons, in addition to laughing at Boston's difficult victory over the 21ers next door.

The game was scheduled for 20 p.m., but the Pistons didn't confirm Iverson would start until an hour before the game. Soon, New York fans who saw the news burst into enthusiasm.

Many people went straight to the stadium after get off work, some came early to line up and try to get in early, and more fans held up white boards outside the stadium to express their love for Iverson!

As the broadcaster, TNT had several reporters who didn't know what to say when they saw the abstract art painting on the whiteboard that resembled the "Tea God Lying in a Pit".

He was curled up on the floor with his body sideways, wearing the Pistons' blue away jersey, headband and arm guards. If you only looked at these, you couldn't tell him exactly, but the number 48 faintly visible on his back revealed his identity.

The old reporters may not be aware of the "Dragon Ball" joke, but the young staff almost laughed out loud.

When the New York crowd discovered the famous painting, they all cheered and crowded around the young black fan. They jumped and laughed, and the crowd grew larger and larger. They began to shout again:
"We need answers!!"

With half an hour left before the game started, Madison Square Garden was already packed. The New York fans at the scene were already excited and began cheering loudly while Iverson was warming up.

When seeing the painting, the New York fans behind the basket all grinned, and more and more people began to shout Iverson's name. On the TNT side, the director quickly shifted the camera.

In the commentary booth, Marv Albert and Reggie Miller saw that Iverson remained calm and praised him:
"Madison Square Garden is a nightmare for many players. Iverson was very calm and obviously he was ready!"

"I don't like New York, but sometimes I have to praise these loyal fans. They are the best sixth man of the team."

Reggie Miller obviously recalled the unpleasant experience. Although the fans here applauded him during his retirement season, these guys made fun of him afterwards.

During the final warm-up, no one on the Pistons spoke and the atmosphere seemed a bit dull, but the Knicks were talking and laughing. When Li You performed an outrageous three-pointer, the atmosphere group kept shouting.

D'Antoni sat on the bench early, and the guy with the mustache was dressed in a "red scarf" again tonight. After G2, the away game will be played in two days, so the schedule pressure is very small, and the coaching staff is naturally in a good mood.

On the other side, head coach Michael Curry thought of Iverson's irritable look in the hotel, and there was no smile on his dark face. Until the game started, he kept reminding him:
"Calm down, Allen, play at your own pace, and if you feel uncomfortable, remember to give us feedback in time."

"."

He has not communicated with his teammates in the past two days. Apart from routine training sessions, Iverson has locked himself in the room most of the time, and nodded numbly when he heard the coach's reminders.

After the game started at 20 p.m., in the first round, when Li You pushed the ball and changed direction, he accelerated with the ball in his right hand, stopped suddenly and knocked Iverson away, the New York fans at the scene started shouting.

The physical confrontation prevented Iverson from fully controlling his center of gravity, and he watched Li You dribble the ball behind his right elbow and then take a jump shot!

"Oh!!"

With the happy shouts of New York fans ringing in his ears, Iverson numbly returned to the baseline to receive the ball.

Seeing this scene, head coach Michael Curry on the sidelines breathed a sigh of relief and stayed calm as the game could still be played.

After receiving the ball, Iverson kept accelerating while holding the ball in his right hand, gritting his teeth and rushing forward, but still failed to shake off Li You. He stopped suddenly near the center circle, changed direction under his crotch, stopped and started quickly, but was seized by Li You and completely covered.

Seeing Iverson being entangled and slowed down just after crossing the midline, Reggie Miller secretly complained in his heart, but praised Li You's defense:

"Lee showed excellent defense and it was difficult for Iverson to get rid of him. This was the right choice. The Pistons coaching staff obviously found the problem in the last game!"

After the ball was handed over in advance, Iverson began to move without the ball, starting from the left wing, using McDyess's screen in the right elbow area, trying to shake off the defense and catch the ball again.

Rasheed Wallace lacked the desire to attack after receiving the ball, and he accelerated down the court after passing it to Hamilton.

The latter wanted to signal his teammates to go to the low post to look for opportunities for mismatched attacks after receiving the ball, but when he saw Li You shrinking inside the three-point line, Hamilton chose to pass the ball to Iverson.

After receiving the ball, Iverson immediately broke through, holding the ball in his right hand, lowered his shoulders and accelerated. Feeling the pressure on his side, he immediately stopped near the blocking area, dribbled behind his back, took a big step back, and missed the jump shot with his body tilted.

Chandler grabbed the rebound, and as Li You received the ball, the commentator Albert immediately praised:
"Many times we overlook Lee's defense. He is strong and agile. Most players in the league can't use their speed to get rid of Lee!"

"At 31, Li is still in good physical condition, which is inseparable from his self-disciplined training."

"."

The Pistons chose to foul, setting the tone for the game right from the start.

But when the game was in the middle, as Li You received the ball in the right corner, deceived Iverson's center of gravity after a fake dribble, and accelerated along the baseline with the ball in his right hand, Madison Square Garden was ignited again.

Near the baseline on the right side, Li You stopped suddenly and pulled back, shook off the defense, and made a calm jump shot. Iverson tried hard to defend but fell to the ground helplessly.

The basketball went into the net, and Iverson, who was lying near the sideline, was stunned. He watched Li You pass over his legs expressionlessly. His mind went blank at first, and then he immediately stood up and yelled:
"Fuck Squid"

(End of this chapter)