NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 643 "Accepting failure is the way to become better!" (Daily Chapter)

On Wednesday, May 2009, 5, after a week, fans finally welcomed the Eastern Conference Finals.

Since both the Cavaliers and the Knicks swept their opponents, both sides got enough rest time in the schedule.

This result has both advantages and disadvantages. The abundant physical energy leaves both sides with no excuses, but as they have not played a game for a week, there is a high possibility that both sides will be slow to warm up after the start.

Last night's Western Conference Finals got off to a good start. Carmelo Anthony performed extremely well, shooting 20 of 14 and scoring 39 points efficiently. Although they lost, Anthony was still confident after the game:
"Our strategy was to let Kobe play one-on-one, and it worked. Without those free throws, there is no doubt that we would have won!"

At the press conference, Anthony did not hold back. Not only did he mock the Lakers' home whistle, he also showed no respect for Kobe and Duncan, and even mocked them in the face:
"I don't think they are that good. Do they have championships? Tim Duncan has won the MVP, but Kobe only has one ring."

"If he hadn't played in Los Angeles, he wouldn't have received so much attention. Kobe is just luckier than Allen. He met O'Neal, that's all!"

"."

Anthony, who criticized his opponent, got the attention he wanted, and news about him appeared on the Sports Center program early this morning.

Many basketball commentators also began to discuss his performance, which was in stark contrast to their previous attitudes. The big-mouthed Anthony has found the code for traffic.

As we all know, losing in the finals will lower your historical status. Kobe and Duncan only have one championship combined. Anthony has no respect at all, and the commentators choose to watch the show.

Unfortunately, the war of words between the two sides did not "break out". Duncan acted as if he was talking casually, while Kobe deliberately ignored his opponent and just complained about the "second man".

Although George Karl also criticized the away environment, Phil Jackson did not fight back. The old man from KFC seemed to look down on his opponent and just smiled and commented on the difficult victory in G1:

"It's better to win the game than to give up the initiative!"

Disappointed sports journalists finally turned their attention to the East Coast. Carmelo Anthony was not discussed much, so the Chosen One was more interesting.

At 10 o'clock in the morning, head coach Mike Brown and the coaching staff had already started the final mobilization in the stadium. For Brown, it was the first time for him to enter the divisional finals as a head coach.

Fortunately, his past experience with the Spurs helped him. Mike Brown looked confident and kept clapping and encouraging the players during their shooting training:

"Keep this shooting rhythm"

In front of sports reporters, Black Bread tried hard to maintain his demeanor as a famous coach, which really worked. At least everyone would not forget him when interviewing James.

In order to grab a victory, the coaching staff has decided to use the strongest tactics. Not only is the starting lineup directly revealed, but only veterans Joe Smith, Szczerbiak and Afflalo are included in the rotation.

Although Gibson, who returned from injury, tried hard to show himself, the low-key Afflalo still won the trust of the coaching staff with his strong physique.

As the training session ended near noon, many reporters gathered around Mike Brown and asked questions again when they heard the best coach say that the starting lineup would get more playing time.

Without hiding his thoughts, Mike Brown adjusted his glasses, smiled again, and added:
"We've had a week off. There's no reason why a 24-year-old LeBron and a 23-year-old Dwight should be more tired than their opponents!"

"Youth is the Cavaliers' biggest advantage."

These words sound familiar, and many people are reminded of the 98 Eastern Conference Finals. History is a circle, and now it is the turn of the young people to challenge Li You.

LeBron James, who stole the spotlight last week, calmed down and began to take care of his teammates. When asked about tonight's game plan, he once again praised his younger brother and partner:
"Mo has a killer instinct, and we've all seen his outstanding performance this season. Dwight's talent is incredible. You know, he has always been the core of our defense!"

With a look of admiration on his face, James stopped bragging and continued to add:
"A championship team will always produce a DPOY. We have all the conditions and everyone is ready for tonight's game."

James's humility made Howard in a good mood. He stopped making sarcastic remarks and grinned beside his partner. He accepted all the compliments and even actively borrowed money:
"We should have been here last year, but basketball doesn't lie, and we're back!"

"You know, I couldn't fully unleash my talent in the first two rounds. Everyone will grow. I think I am the best big man in the league right now."

Some reporters smiled. Apparently Howard quoted Kobe again. The big man in front of them always liked to make fun of Mamba.

The record of 67 wins and the strong performance of sweeping the opponents in two rounds finally made the two young players recognized. The Cavaliers are playing a kind of "happy basketball", which may also represent the trend of the future.

The Knicks players, who are playing at home, can drive directly to Madison Square Garden in the afternoon to warm up. So far this season, every team has suffered injuries, and New York is no exception.

Raja Bell arrived the earliest. His right knee injury still troubled him. In his contract year, he refused arthroscopic surgery because it would cause him to miss at least six weeks of games.

Conservative treatment, coupled with reduced playing time, has caused fluctuations in his condition. However, the good news is that he has a high probability of getting a good contract. The bad news is that he may be traded due to his poor condition after the surgery.

Li You promised everyone early on that there was no need to make sacrifices in terms of pay cuts and that salaries would only increase year by year.

The promise is indeed effective. Gazuric was the first overpriced contract, and the subsequent ones were all above the market price. But there are pros and cons. Li You never promised that everyone would stay with the Knicks forever.

Staying in New York is always a good thing, and Raja Bell is still working hard for it, but years of playoffs have taken a toll on him, and a decline in his physical condition is inevitable.

When he arrived at the locker room, he found that Marion had already changed into his training suit. When he met someone who was even more curvy than him, Raja Bell greeted him and then joked:
"You should let the reporters record this moment. I guarantee that the New York fans will give you more applause."

It is also a contract year, but Marion does not expect to sign a contract with a starting salary of 1700 million. His declining statistics and increasing age make him more dependent on the system. He has been prepared for a pay cut after being traded.

In the Knicks, only rookies would show off to reporters how hard they train, because this is one of the few ways they can get attention. Marion stepped forward to bump fists and showed a "bright" smile:
"I don't want to be seen as a 'rookie', Bro, how does that feel?"

"After the finals, I had surgery. Sometimes I envy Li's body. Maybe this is God's preference."

Raja Bell couldn't roll anymore, so he shrugged his shoulders and told everyone his plan. Marion felt the same way. Although they were both 31 years old, there was a visible difference in explosive power between him and Li You.

After experiencing the Knicks' training session, Marion was completely convinced. Compared with his previous "pirated teammate" Steve Nash, Li You crushed him in all aspects.

"How many years do you think the team will offer?"

Marion subconsciously lowered his voice and asked the question, but Raja Bell showed a firm expression on his dark face and answered immediately:

"Donnie Walsh will not sign a long-term contract for a maximum of four years. If a player declines, he will make a trade. I even think he will send Pau away in the future."

Gasol, who suffered recurring knee inflammation, performed well on the offensive end after returning from injury, but he still failed to return to his best form on the defensive end.

Considering the tradition of the Knicks, Marion shook his head. Ewing can stay with the team for the rest of his life, and it is difficult to give up a core player like Gasol:

"I just want to experience what it's like to be a champion!"

The carefree rookie Chalmers appeared in the locker room wearing headphones and humming a little tune. When he saw the two big brothers, he immediately stepped forward to greet them, muttering non-stop:

"We really should be interviewed by CBS. Now all the reporters are interviewing James. It seems that these guys have forgotten that the Cavaliers have been losing in the regular season."

LeBron James has become extremely popular recently and even had an exclusive interview with the Associated Press. Such treatment made the newbie jealous. When talking about the content of the morning news, he couldn't stop complaining.

When Thaddeus Young and others showed up, the locker room became even more lively.

The atmosphere group has been denouncing James these days. The chosen one did not receive such treatment in previous years, and the sudden tilt of resources made everyone feel sour.

Gary Neal, who was rarely included in the active list, also happily gossiped. The team needed a shooter, and this gave him an opportunity. Thinking of the recent heated discussions among the commentators, he suddenly asked curiously:
"Is it true that Lee is about to leave, as they say?"

No one laughed at Gary Neal, who played in a lower league. Dio, who had just changed into slippers, pointed at Rondo and answered the question jokingly with a smile:
"The 23-year-old Rondo has never beaten Lee in training. As the No. 1 player, if Lee is willing, I think he can play like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar until he is 42 years old!"

"."

JR Smith followed suit with his head shaking, and Gasol, who had just finished his physical therapy, felt that everyone's "flattery" skills had improved again, and they were praising him to the sky even when he was not around.

Li You, who practiced at home after returning to Manhattan, still maintained his previous habits on game days, leaving more opportunities for his teammates before the game.

In the townhouse on 82nd Street, Li You was on the fourth floor, watching a program on TV while waiting for two people to serve him.

Kristen Ritter, who was choosing a tie, was only wearing a white nightgown. She had black hair and was comparing it with Li You from time to time. She turned her head and complained to Scarlett, who was choosing a formal dress on the other side:
"You should have terminated your contract with your family a long time ago. We haven't even moved to a new house in Manhattan. Think about where your money is going."

"How about the blue stripe one, dear?"

Embracing Li You from behind, Kristen Ritter gestured again, and after being kissed, she smiled and left to continue choosing accessories.

On the other side, Scarlett, who was wearing a red pajamas and had her hair tied up in a ponytail, came over again after picking out her clothes. She raised her head and leaned over to the sofa, and said in a hoarse voice:
"Alyce, it's not about the money. I just want to make Vanessa and the others happy."

"Clay, did I do something wrong?" Li You had been busy practicing dribbling and breaking through these two days. He heard the gossip between the two and found out that the succubus had fired his mother. When he saw the more mature girl looking at him, he raised his eyebrows and said casually:

"As long as you don't invest recklessly, you can use the proceeds as you wish. Did they get a new script? They can participate in the Tribeca Film Festival."

Scarlett leaned in and whispered in his ear again, telling him her guess, and blinked at Li You for an answer.

Li You originally thought that the other party was here as a producer to solicit investment, but after hearing the explanation, he realized that someone actually wanted to go the "family" route.

"Don't pay attention to them. It's just a small incident last year. Do you want to join the JP activities?"

Gently stroking the delicate profile of the increasingly mature succubus in front of him, Li You spoke about the issue of faith in a playful tone. Scarlett shook her head. After the age of 16, she only believed in US dollars.

After getting the answer he wanted, Li You hugged the other person again, quickly searched his memory, recalled who he had offended recently, and then said softly:

"The financial crisis caused huge problems in New York real estate. Some old guys whose assets had shrunk tried to get help, but I rejected them all."

"When they were making money, they never thought of me. There was no reason for them to lend a helping hand unconditionally when they encountered difficulties."

"Steven Ross and his collaborators, if they have time, ask the family. Maybe that's why Ms. Sloane wants to see us get married."

Scarlett, who had never been exposed to this information, nodded ignorantly. When she was a girl, Melinda took good care of her and only focused on enjoying life, never thinking about anything else.

When Li You saw the girl in his arms thinking, he suddenly felt very happy and took the initiative to kiss her, interrupting the succubus's thoughts.

Steven Ross is the largest commercial landlord in New York City and the founder of Vornado Realty Trust.

The old man suffered heavy losses last year, and his former partner Tang Nade happened to show off his wealth. With Li You's rise, the old man tried to get some help from his old friend's "family" and make money together.

Unfortunately, the old man was Spitzer's main donor at the time. When Donard mentioned this at the family meeting, Li You directly refused and also firmly stated that he would not cooperate with the other party in the future.

Last year, when Kushner Companies was unable to pay its debts and was selling its Fifth Avenue office building, Carlyle Group tried to bring in Li You to take a controlling stake but was rejected.
In the end, it was the old man and the billionaire Stanley Chela who took over and helped the tribe. This disrespectful move once again exacerbated the conflict between the two sides.

When the "Sheriff of Wall Street" warned Ax Capital and tried to cut off its financial resources, these people refused to help. Now that they have suffered heavy losses and want help again, Li You will naturally ignore them.

"Oh"

Christen Ritter, who had just picked out the cufflinks when she heard the familiar voice, looked over and saw Scarlett practicing hard again. She rolled her eyes and felt that the cow succubus was hopeless.

Li You just took a deep breath, waved to the slender figure beside him, saw the selected jewelry, chuckled and said:

“Families stick together!”

The little follower bowed her head and gave a kiss to express her support in the same way as in the past. She didn't know about these things, but Li You must be right. This was all for the children's future.

At 20 p.m. that evening, half an hour before the game was to start, Madison Square Garden was still packed. Those who had read the news reports could only buy second-hand Screaming Seats if they wanted to buy tickets.

New York fans once again demonstrated their "loyalty" attribute. Few people are interested in the Chosen One, and everyone is currently focusing on the championship.

Before the game started, TNT's well-known reporter David Aldridge took the initiative to interview Li You. When talking about tonight's opponent, the black reporter almost couldn't hold back.

"I watched LeBron's interview. He is more mature than most players in the league. Every player who enters the NBA has outstanding talent. Sometimes accepting failure can make you better!"

“I’ve had my share of failures, and having those experiences has made me who I am today.”

"Losing is not terrible. As long as you persist and keep working hard, you will eventually be blessed by God!"

Li You, wearing his home training uniform, seemed very serious when he gave out chicken soup, but David Aldridge felt that what he said was nonsense as long as he thought of Allen Iverson, who had been in and out of the psychological clinic recently.
Even though he disagreed in his heart, he had to nod his head repeatedly on the surface. After all, Li Youzhen was not talking nonsense. David Aldridge could only smile brightly and send his blessings loudly:

"Lee, God bless you! All the fans are looking forward to your wonderful performance tonight!"

"."

As the broadcaster, TNT frequently focused the camera on Gasol who returned to the starting lineup. There was no smile on the Spanish big man's face as he seriously completed his warm-up shooting in the mid-range.

In order to deal with the Cavaliers' height advantage, the Knicks also put out a twin tower lineup. D'Antoni did not sit on the bench with a smile as he did in the past, but crossed his arms and shouted encouragement on the sidelines.

The bearded Chandler had a serious look on his face and was practicing free throws. On the other side, Howard had been infected by the atmosphere and was showing off his "Superman dunk" from time to time, grinning and looking extremely happy.

The defending champions became serious, while the Cavaliers looked more relaxed.

Noticing this, Doug Collins praised the Knicks' attitude towards the game and then introduced it again:

"In the semi-finals against the Heat, Lee was in hot form, averaging 35.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 9.8 assists, 3.8 steals, 1.3 blocks, 1.8 turnovers, and a shooting percentage of 68.6%. This performance is incredible!"

"It's time to test the Cavaliers' big men. Maybe coach Mike Brown will replace Joe Smith very early. How to defend against pick-and-rolls will determine the direction of this series."

Marv Albert also thinks that this year's Cavaliers are stronger, with both offense and defense. Seeing Mike Brown pulling James and constantly giving instructions, he also commented:
"This season we have witnessed the growth of LeBron James. He has become a strong contender for MVP in the regular season and performed exceptionally well in the playoffs!"

"Averaging 33.8 points per game against the Celtics, James showed his dominance."

The director showed the core player data of the two teams to the fans in front of the TV. Judging from Excel, LeBron James is indeed the player closest to Li You, and he deserves the title of "the second best player in the league"!

At 20:30, the game officially began. The excited Howard bravely jumped for the ball, and then in the first round he turned his back to the basket and asked for the ball in the low post on the left side.

James also fulfilled his pre-game promise. After receiving the pass on the left wing, he immediately passed the ball to his teammates.

Mo Williams and Delonte West were at the top of the arc and the right corner respectively, while Ilgauskas stopped in the right blocking area. Everyone watched Howard attack in the low post.

The two are teammates on the national team. Chandler did not retreat in the face of Howard's powerful attack, and he also blocked the lower line, trying to drive his opponent to the upper line to complete the attack.

"Defense!."

Amid the cheers from the defense, Howard, who was approaching the paint area, suddenly passed the ball after a series of shots, then lowered his shoulders and accelerated laterally, took three big steps, leaned against the defense, and came to the front of the basket and shot with his right hand!

Although his posture was not graceful, Howard relied on his great strength to break through the defense and put the ball into the basket, which immediately caused boos in the stadium.

“Yee!!”

Howard was very excited after scoring the goal, shouting with his head raised. The posture was not important, what was important was that he scored one-on-one.

"Let's go Knicks!."

Amid the cheers, Doug Collins noticed that Howard was guarding Gasol on the defensive end. He delayed Li You after the pick-and-roll and then immediately returned to defense. He couldn't help but praise him again:

"Excellent defense! Howard's defensive positioning was excellent this time!"

Facing the defense of Delonte West, Li You initiated a pick-and-roll in the first round. When the big man returned to defense, he did not rush to attack personally, but accurately found Gasol who was running down the middle.

The latter received the ball in the paint area, and it seemed like he was passing or throwing the ball while moving. In front of the basket in the game area, Gasol made a one-handed shot with his right hand. Neither Howard nor Ilgauskas jumped, and the basketball was thrown high into the basket.

In the following rounds, contrary to the expectations of the commentators before the game, both teams started from the inside.

Howard repeatedly positioned himself, attacking from both sides, and would only throw the ball when he was helped or restricted;

Gasol roamed the upper lane, cooperated with pick-and-roll and hand-offs, seized the opportunity to shoot mid-range shots, and dominated the ball again when faced with defense.

The Cavaliers played one-on-one, James' transition offense was tightly guarded, Prince kept pestering him silently, and the Knicks retreated even faster.

The Knicks ran back and forth, and Li You did not seem to be too aggressive, continuously directing traffic. For a while, the two teams went back and forth, and the scores rose alternately.

With 6 minutes and 02 seconds left in the first quarter, Li You finally made a sudden attack after a pick-and-roll and hit an ultra-long three-pointer from the top of the arc, instantly igniting Madison Square Garden.

The Cavaliers immediately requested a timeout. Li You celebrated with his teammates with a smile on his face, and then he returned to his seat and sighed in his heart:
"I shouldn't have practiced twice. I'm really getting old!"

(End of this chapter)