NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 632: The Real "Power" (No Protagonist Chapter)
On Monday, April 2009, 4, the news that Allen Iverson was leaving basketball swept across major mainstream media in the United States.

As the No. 96 pick in , Iverson received great attention across the United States when he was in high school.

Not only basketball, but also cases involving the issue of "skin color" at the time caused quite a bit of heated discussion. From another perspective, Iverson also represented the spirit of "resistance."

The unique ridge hairstyle and hip-hop street style were all brought into the league by Iverson. He was the first person to oppose the "dress code" and was also the son of Philadelphia.

Many young fans fell in love with the NBA because of Iverson. Although he was inefficient, lacked self-discipline, had many problems off the court, and did not win many honors, fans just liked him!

This is their youth, but now Iverson has announced his return to his family. The die-hard fans suddenly felt like the sky had fallen. They still wanted to continue "fighting" for their idol:
"Dove, don't leave!"

After announcing the news Sunday night while holding his youngest son, Iverson answered a lot of questions and, overall, the decision to leave was a decent one:
"I have accumulated a lot of injuries to my ankles, knees, wrists, and fingers. This year's back injury has made it impossible for me to focus on basketball."

"Injuries prevented me from playing like I used to, which was the main reason for my departure. I wanted to take this opportunity to spend more time with my family. Over the years, I have neglected the growth of my children."

"."

The clip of Iverson choking up and saying these words was broadcast by Sports Center early in the morning, and the program also showed fans the injured parts of the son of Philadelphia's body.

Some die-hard fans also had tears in their eyes after watching the show, and exclaimed, "Iverson is really a fighter!"
Although he suffered injuries almost all over his body, Iverson did not bow to these difficulties. He played with such spirit despite the injury. His die-hard fans felt sorry for him.

Of course, some people don't buy into Iverson's decision. On TNT, after the game ended last night, Charles Barkley angrily criticized the son of Philadelphia:

"In the three games he played, he averaged 9 points per game! I didn't see Iverson's efforts. I saw him running away. He was afraid of facing Lee and worried about the public opinion after the game."

"If he admitted that he was incompetent, I wouldn't say this, but Iverson still acts like a superstar until now, so he must accept our criticism!"

"Leaving basketball? Iverson is a coward for making such a choice. I was still chasing the championship at the end of my career. I don't sympathize with him. He failed the fans' expectations."

"."

Charles Barkley was bombarded by fans after the show ended last night. Why did they target Iverson when he was in such a miserable state? Many fans on social media scolded TNT for being "cold-blooded".

Regarding leaving basketball, fans think it is the right choice, while some people who like to laugh at others scold Iverson for being a coward!

He left just after returning to the Eastern Conference this season, with the regular season record not even reaching 50 losses. Everyone wanted to have fun, but the important supporting role ran away.

Some basketball critics also questioned that Iverson had no ball to play in the first place. After all, the contract had ended and the Pistons did not plan to renew it!

The Sons of Philadelphia made this decision for the sake of "respectability".

But these voices were all overwhelmed by the fans. He averaged 9 points per game in the first round and created the largest point difference in playoff history. Why should Iverson be slandered when he was in such a bad situation?
The "retirement" of the son of Philadelphia caused a huge response, and Li You went all out this year, beating up his old rivals, but no one spoke for Iverson anymore, and some extreme fans even blamed their idol:

"Iverson doesn't deserve to be the pride of black basketball. He is just an inefficient brush."

After fermenting throughout the day, the related topic became increasingly popular on social media, and fans who like to dig up old things began to review history again.

Many people were surprised to find that Li You did not lie. There were very few reports about him in high school. His statistics as a substitute in his freshman year were not bad, but no one discussed him.

Even though Connecticut University always beat Georgetown University, Allen Iverson, who lost the game, was still the focus. In terms of popularity, the son of Philadelphia is the strongest in the 96 class.
Since the Lakers lost the away game on Saturday, they returned to Los Angeles for Game 5 tonight. When they came to the stadium to warm up before the game, many reporters were waiting to interview Kobe.

The 96 class was hailed as the golden generation and still dominates the league. Now that Iverson has left, many commentators believe that this is the beginning of the decline of this class of players.

Iverson is gone, but there is Kobe. Sports reporters don't want to miss this hot topic, so they are ready to put Mamba on the stage to replace the son of Philadelphia.
I never received the text message from my friend, but last night I witnessed Iverson's miserable appearance. Kobe was in a bad mood and he didn't like the decision to "leave basketball."

Kobe, with an unhappy face, finally accepted the interview. The pressure of the game in the evening was not too great. With a big lead of 3:1, they had already secured the victory.

"Kobe, do you support the decision made by Allen Iverson?"

As the broadcaster of the Lakers, Fox Sports naturally had to answer the questions carefully. Kobe let out a long sigh in front of everyone, and then said a little depressed:

"What else can I say? Now I just have good wishes for him. He is a worthy opponent and I will miss playing against him."

The ESPN reporter seemed to be worried that Kobe would also take the path of "retirement", and took this opportunity to ask curiously:
"If you lose the finals again, Kobe, will you make the same choice? Lee is in great shape, and many people think he will lead the Knicks to continue to win."

Hearing the news from his "mortal enemy", Kobe became even more unhappy. He looked at the other party with a sullen face, and then said in a deep voice:
"I won't leave. I'm still the best outside scorer in the league. Although I'm about to turn 31, I think this is the peak of my career."

"I respect every opponent, but beating a 37-win team doesn't mean much!"

"You can continue to favor New York, but I will respond shortly."

尼克斯队已经结束了首轮比赛，场均出场34分钟，场均拿到41.5分6.0篮板10.0助攻3.5抢断1.8盖帽1.0失误；

The shooting percentage was 67.7%, the three-point shooting percentage was 54.9%, and the free throw shooting percentage was 100%.

Based on the small sample data, Li You's performance was very terrifying, and many well-known ESPN columnists described him as "all-powerful."

Kobe was naturally aware of these Excels. The Lakers had been paying attention to their opponents. Hearing the compliments from these reporters, he felt angry. Thinking of Iverson's choice, he couldn't help but complain secretly:
“Why are you leaving!”

No matter how the reporters tried to insinuate themselves or fan the flames, Kobe remained firm and repeatedly stressed that he was "the best."

In the past, people might have laughed at him, but when thinking of Iverson and looking at Kobe, most sports reporters think that Mamba is really "powerful"!
Most players don't have this kind of "strong" mentality. Kobe has lost so many times in the finals, but he still refuses to admit defeat and even keeps challenging. This spirit is really rare.

He thought these people would be sarcastic, but unexpectedly many people began to encourage him. Kobe was a little confused, and finally forced a smile to everyone before ending the interview.

Many Lakers players were also discussing Iverson's "retirement". Barnes took this opportunity to popularize it in the locker room, and Fisher also added:

"Iverson made the right choice. If he had stayed in the NBA, he would have been laughed at every time he played against Lee! Lee destroyed him in almost all aspects!"

"If Iverson hadn't won the scoring title, maybe he would have had a chance to play in New York. Lee turned him into a clown."

The two of them kept gossiping about their grievances. Shannon Brown, who was sitting in his seat, occasionally let out a low cry. Lamar Odom, with an expression that said, "I've seen through this a long time ago," suddenly gossiped:

"Maybe we should worry about Kobe"

The locker room suddenly became quiet. Noticing that everyone was looking at him, Odom shrugged his shoulders, a smile appeared on his face, and he whispered:

"Those who participated in the Houston charity game that year would definitely be targeted by Lee! Think about last year's finals." The discussion was interrupted by Duncan who returned to the locker room. Everyone stood up and greeted the low-key MVP.

The retirement of the son of Philadelphia did not affect Duncan. He rarely accepted interviews these days and focused on training. Seeing his teammates looking confident of winning, he once again solemnly reminded them:

"We have to end this series tonight, don't give the opponent any more chances, and pay attention to the rebounding position."

If he was on the Spurs, Duncan would not be like this, but last year's loss, coupled with Popovich's persuasion, made him more eager for the championship, which was also to "go home" as soon as possible.

When Kobe returned to the locker room, he felt much better when he saw his teammates concentrating on the game. He must take his old partner fishing tonight.

The game started at 20 p.m. and the Staples Center was packed. O'Neal still looked impressive. The more championships Li You won, the more valuable the old Shark's ring would be!

Due to a knee injury, Stoudemire sat on the bench tonight. Although the championship forward waved the towel hard at the beginning of the game, the Suns still failed to withstand the Lakers' offense.

Steve Nash and Jason Richardson failed to continue their good form from the previous game, and Jared Dudley was no longer magical either;
Rookie Robin Lopez couldn't find his position in the starting lineup and was repeatedly fooled by Odom on the defensive end. O'Neal lost his energy, and as time went by, the old Shark became slower and slower.

At the end of the first half, Kobe and Odom scored 16 points respectively. Their outstanding performance gave the Lakers a 15-point lead.

Nate Robinson, who came on as a substitute for the Suns, once again ruined the game. At this time, the little guy was still arguing with his teammates. The Lakers fans all laughed when they saw this scene.

After the start of the third quarter, the Suns failed to launch a counterattack and the game lost suspense. In the end, the Lakers defeated their opponents 3:92 and advanced with a score of 109:4.

O'Neal was not depressed after losing the game. He stood up from the bench and waved his hands. Soon, the fans in Los Angeles responded:
“MVP! MVP! MVP!”

With a smile on his black face, O'Neal pounded his chest to express his acceptance of the blessing. Since he reconciled with his brother, Lakers fans also accepted him again. After all, that was the only championship in the 21st century.

Kobe's smile gradually disappeared when he saw this scene, especially when his old partner smiled smugly at him. He always felt that the other party was laughing at him again.

When interviewed by ESPN, O'Neal looked nostalgic when he talked about Iverson's decision to leave:

"I understand Iverson. You know, I also felt disgusted after losing in the finals. I know how it feels to lose to an opponent in a row!"

"But I was lucky. I overcame the difficulty in free throws and eventually led the Lakers to win a championship!"

"When I beat Lee in the finals, I felt like I had it all. Unfortunately, I can't pass on this feeling to Iverson. I can only wish him all the best."

O'Neal couldn't help but reveal a look of pride on his dark face. When he heard the old shark emphasize again that he led the team, the ESPN reporter took the opportunity to add fuel to the fire:
"Shaq, if the Lakers make it to the Finals again, do you think Kobe will play against Lee again?"

"Of course, I know my little brother, he won't refuse a challenge, I believe he can prove himself!"

"."

As if worried that Kobe would back down in the face of difficulty, O'Neal turned into a "confidant brother", constantly cheering up his younger brother and almost blowing his old partner into a whirlwind.

After the interview, in front of everyone, O'Neal hugged Kobe again, both of them had smiles on their faces, and the old shark hugged Mamba and said loudly:

"Kobe will prove himself this year! I will always support my brother!"

Although he felt that O'Neal's words were not sincere, Kobe couldn't help laughing after being recognized. He punched his old partner and said in front of the media reporters:
"The deadly mamba bares his fangs!"

On Tuesday, April 4, the NBA announced the Most Improved Player Award (MIP), and David Lee of the Heat won the award!
David Lee was particularly happy to receive his first individual award in his career. Before the team departed for Atlanta, he made a bold statement at a brief press conference:
“I’m happy to receive this award, but I want to lead the team to the semi-finals even more!”

Last night the Heat team was silent, losing 86:78, and failed to get the match point, and was pulled back by the Hawks.

Wade, who lost the game, was still sullen after getting on the plane. He shot 26 of 9 shots and scored 22 points inefficiently. After the game, many people accused him of not passing the ball more, and some even said he should have given the ball to David Lee.
It's not that they are unwilling to share the ball, but the Hawks have temporarily cracked the hand-to-hand tactic and are strictly guarding against the cuts after the pick-and-roll, so Wade can't find any good opportunities at all.

Head coach Spoelstra was a little nervous. He did not rest after getting on the plane. Instead, he came to the players and reminded them of the details of the game from time to time. After all, the decisive battle will begin tomorrow night.

"Coach! They don't stand a chance. Give the ball to Wade. We can win the game by defending well and rebounding!"

"That's how the playoffs are. Those complicated tactics will eventually become one-on-one. If you are double-teamed, you will take the shot decisively if you get an open shot."

“Losing is not our problem”

Artest, who had just been sitting in his chair, stood up, shared his championship experience, put his arm around head coach Spoelstra's shoulders, and finally looked at Wade.

These words made everyone quiet down, and the atmosphere group members also looked at the boss. Wade had to show a confident smile, and without waiting for coach Spoelstra to say anything else, he stood up and said loudly:

"Yes, Meta is right! I will do better!"

"."

Wade gritted his teeth and started serving chicken soup. He was a little reserved at first, but gradually he began to enjoy the process. He could feel that this was his "horse"!
When the coaching staff saw this scene, they all felt that Artest was trying to pass on the blame. In fact, the loss in Game 4 was also closely related to the fact that the championship forward made 14 of 4 shots. He was completely out of touch with the tactical arrangements and played randomly in many rounds.

The championship experience finally invaded the Heat. Some young players felt that the training was too tiring. Michael Beasley and others complained secretly, and the coaching staff was a little embarrassed about it.

Leaving the space for the players, Spoelstra returned to the staff with a wry smile on his face. He turned to look at assistant coach David Fizdale and whispered helplessly:

"David, maybe we're overthinking the game."

The Knicks used pick-and-rolls and breakthroughs in many rounds, and the Pistons' defense was actually pretty good, but losing by 62 points was a departure from tactics and more of a psychological problem for the players.

David Fizdale is only 34 years old this year. As a young assistant coach, he only entered the league in 03. He did not expect that Li You could "beat Iverson to the point of collapse."

Although most sports media are promoting Iverson's injuries and mental state, industry insiders know that the Son of Philadelphia simply can't stand being targeted anymore and the pressure of public opinion is too great.

"Wade is not Lee. No one can play like Lee! So we have to help him make tactics."

"Lee is the strongest player I have ever witnessed. In addition to his height and wingspan, his talent far exceeds that of other players. We have to let everyone realize this."

"Tactics can help the team, but individual ability alone cannot help you win all the time."

"."

(End of this chapter)