NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 687: The Last Song of the Old Dengs (Daily Chapter)
On Sunday, November 2009, 11, the NBA announced the Player of the Week for the first week of the new season.

ESPN has recently focused more on other events, with MLB, the World Championship Series, and the Yankees-Phillies showdown attracting more attention.

During the morning routine coverage of the NBA regular season, when the best players from the East and West were announced, some sports fans in front of the TV would feel confused when they saw the Excel scores of the two players.

With a record of 3 wins and 0 losses, the Knicks faced back-to-back away games after defeating the Cavaliers in the opening game, but neither the Bobcats nor the 76ers caused them much trouble.

场均出场35.3分钟，场均拿到42.7分4.7篮板10.0助攻2.3抢断0.7盖帽1.7失误；

His shooting percentage was 63.3%, his three-point shooting percentage was 56.3%, and his free throw shooting percentage was 95.2%. With a small data sample, Li You once again presented outrageous data to the fans.

In the game against the 76ers, due to the poor performance of Gary Neal and Wesley Matthews outside the three-point line, Li You took over the game prematurely and scored 55 points in three quarters, becoming the first player to score 50+ in the new season.

With 2 wins and 0 losses, the Nuggets defeated the Jazz and Trail Blazers in back-to-back games, and Carmelo Anthony also showed excellent physical condition.

Averaged 35.5 points per game, shooting 51.2% from the field, 50% from three-point range, and 86.2% from the free throw line;

Unlike Li You who averaged 14 shots from beyond the three-point line in the three games, Anthony had more free throws in the two games, 14.5 free throws, showing maximum aggressiveness!
After showing the stats of the two players of the week, the two in the studio teased Philadelphia sports fans:

"I think this weekend was terrible for people who follow Philadelphia sports, and they don't want to see New Yorkers again."

"."

On Friday, the Knicks beat the 105ers 126:76. The highly anticipated duo of Elton Brand and Dalembert became the cash machines after Lee You's pick-and-roll.
On Saturday, the entire Knicks team watched the Yankees game, and the New York sports fans who followed them took over the game. After defeating the Phillies, fans wearing Knicks and Yankees jerseys celebrated wildly.

The Philadelphia Inquirer's headline early this morning was "We were beaten by New York again."
The 76ers fans have long been numb. No matter how the management promotes the team's team-building ideas during the offseason, the fans don't buy it. The poor season ticket renewal rate is the best proof of this.

The current team leader Andre Iguodala has not been recognized by the fans so far. Iverson has never won once, and Iguodala is no different at the moment, and he has also lost.

Everyone had high expectations for the Phillies, but after losing the game, many people were upset and the next door was almost a "nightmare".
There was no MLB game that day. In the evening, the game between the Eagles and the Lakers attracted the attention of basketball commentators again. After losing to the Mavericks, more and more doubts emerged.

Many sports reporters arrived at Staples Center early, and Phil Jackson did not disappoint them. When asked about the loss, the old man gave a straightforward answer:
"That's Kobe. He always has his down moments, and the team supports his offensive choices."

"Inefficient play is one of the reasons for the loss, but the whole team is still building tacit understanding. We will not over-pursue results because I know that the Lakers are a playoff team."

"."

19中6，三分球4中1，罚球9中7，科比下半场10中2，帮助小牛队成功战胜湖人队。

As for Duncan, his performance was also mediocre. When Nowitzki regained his shooting form in the second half, the former MVP was unable to limit the opponent's core.

The new season has just begun, and the sports media in Los Angeles has questioned Kobe's performance. It's not that the Mamba didn't try his best, but in comparison, he seemed too "old".

Despite playing in only three games, Li You has taken more shots from beyond the three-point line than last season. In the game against the 76ers, consecutive pick-and-roll three-pointers made Philadelphia fans leave the court in the third quarter.

They rarely see this kind of playing style from Kobe, especially after he turned 30, when his number of post-up single plays increased.

Before the game started, a reporter asked Kobe about the three-point shot. When he heard the question, Mamba showed his old-school basketball style in front of everyone:
“I’m never going to shoot too much from beyond the arc because it affects my other skills.”

Hearing this answer, some reporters looked at each other in bewilderment. Kobe naturally noticed the expressions of the crowd and added calmly with a blank expression:
"Once I can score easily from the three-point line, I might not choose to break through."

"You know, this is not the way I want to play."

ESPN reporters found Kobe's answer incomprehensible. They couldn't understand this basketball philosophy and couldn't help but question again:
"Maybe this is why you've been losing games in a row, Kobe. 3 points is better than 2 points. Can we understand that you don't have the ability to score stably from beyond the three-point line?"

"Throughout your career, your three-point shooting percentage has never been higher than 40%, and you've never entered the 180 club."

"."

When talking about the data, Kobe's face darkened, and the Fox Sports reporter was even more mocking. They broadcast the most Lakers games and questioned together:

"Why is Lee not affected at all? He seldom shoots mid-range shots since he entered the league. He proved that 3-pointers are the most efficient way to score."

"It only took 23 shots to score 55 points."

When Kobe heard these people bring up the topic of "mortal enemy", he immediately glared, his mood became extremely bad, and he said harshly:
"This is how I play. You can't understand my pursuit of basketball skills at all. I'm not interested in explaining it to you!"

Mamba turned around and left. Even though the new season had just begun, he was repeatedly called into "meetings". Some fans even boycotted his back-to-the-basket singles on the spot, and more and more people called on him to shoot three-pointers.

Duncan is the "non-stick pan" of the Lakers. No one criticizes him, and no one questions his way of playing. Even though his left knee has not yet healed, he has won more respect.

However, what makes Lakers fans sad is that although the game samples are not large, Duncan looks really old. At the age of 33, his performance on the court is becoming more and more mediocre.

After the game started at 20:55, perhaps stimulated by Li You's points, Kobe entered the Mamba mode in the first quarter. Joe Johnson of the Hawks was not afraid of the challenge, and the two stars competed passionately with each other!
For a while, the scores rose alternately until Kobe stole the pass from Al Horford and the Staples Center was completely activated.

"what!!"

After a fast break and a gliding slam dunk, Kobe once again showed a ferocious expression after landing and clenched his fists in celebration in front of the camera.

The game was lively, but at the end of the first quarter, the score was fixed at 25:27, with the Eagles only trailing by 2 points.

After successfully defending Kobe's final attack, Joe Johnson ignored the boos from the Lakers fans and looked at Mamba with disdain. As he walked to the bench, he kept muttering:
"This is the Mamba?! Can anyone tell me why he can make so much money?"

"Damn it! Why would anyone offer him a big contract!"

In a single quarter, Joe Johnson scored 8 points, making 7 of 4 shots, 3 of 1 from beyond the three-point line, and 1 of 18 free throws. His personal performance surpassed Kobe.

Kobe scored 12 points, including 5 of 1 shots, 1 of 2 from beyond the three-point line, and 2 of 13 free throws. He sat on the bench with his lips pursed and remained silent, and Los Angeles fans booed him again.

Paul Sunderland noticed the attitude of the Hawks players in the commentary booth. After becoming a commentator in 05, he witnessed Kobe's second rise, but he couldn't help but comment at this time:

"I don't want to question a superstar's offensive choices, but Kobe needs to make himself more efficient."

"His shots account for half of the team's total. I hope to see a different game in the next three quarters."

The angry Kobe did not rest for too long. The entire first half of the game almost turned into an offensive battle. At the end of the half, the Hawks had scored 59 points and the Lakers were only leading by 4 points.

However, after the start of the third quarter, as the outside line began to double-team, Duncan continued to defend Horford's offense, Josh Smith was silent, and the Lakers launched a wave of attacks, easily securing the victory.

At 18:32 in the quarter, the Lakers fans in the Staples Center began to celebrate the victory in advance. In the last quarter, the angry Kobe still did not relax. When the Hawks began to chase points frantically, Mamba responded continuously. With the last 3 minutes and 12 seconds left in the game, the two sides began to rotate.

Kobe, who was substituted off the court, did not receive any cheers or applause from the fans. Mamba returned to his seat feeling a little upset because he had performed very well.

29中15，三分线外2中1，罚球11中10，出场39分钟，科比高效轰下41分！
In the end, the score was fixed at 109:118, and the Lakers stopped their losing streak.

In the winning player tunnel, Kobe, who was in a bad mood, left early, while Duncan kept hugging and greeting his opponents, and veteran Joe Smith also had a bright smile.

Duncan had no smile on his face when he was interviewed on the sidelines. For him, the Hawks didn't need to take it to heart. When he heard the reporter ask about Mamba's playing style, he responded calmly:

"This is Kobe! In the third year of our partnership, I hope he can be himself again."

"I don't care about those reports because our goal is to win. Three-pointers? Mid-range? As long as I can win the game, I can accept any way."

"."

In the home team's locker room, Fisher and Matt Barnes were also asked similar questions. The former supported his old teammate as always, while the latter naturally shared his championship experience:

"That's Lee's unique way of playing. Over the years, have you ever seen a player with Lee's shooting touch?"

"Lee made basketball simple, and Steph and I tried to bring championship experience to the league, but in the end we failed. The Warriors beat the Mavericks, but we ultimately couldn't maintain that three-point production."

"Kobe works very hard, I respect him, but don't compare him with Lee anymore. We all know that in history, no one can get close to Lee's level. Look at those advanced statistics, no one is close!"

Although Barnes was speaking well of Kobe, Mamba did not appreciate it and even felt humiliated. He left early without saying a word to his teammates.

Fortunately, the Lakers players have become accustomed to the eccentricity of their leader on the training ground. Under Odom's leadership, the atmosphere quickly became lively and everyone said goodbye with laughter.

Bruce Bowen, who successfully integrated into the team, saw Duncan walking unsteadily, sighed secretly, and then whispered:
"We watched the game tape and no one offered any suggestions. Lee didn't even organize the offense anymore. This season he seemed to be only interested in shooting and fast breaks."

"."

Duncan's eyes twitched slightly. Every season, Li You can come up with some new tricks. In the three games, he was "smoking on the wing". Except for being more active in the opening game, he was visibly slacking off afterwards.

“Why does he always make those shots?”

Hearing Duncan's depressed whisper, Bowen didn't say anything, but secretly made up his mind that he had to pass on his defensive experience as soon as possible, and it was the right choice to develop more defensive talents.

It is Monday, November 11nd. New York is particularly lively today. Although Halloween has passed, tomorrow is the voting time for the mayoral election, and both sides are making their final efforts.

Brooklyn native William Thompson has a good chance of winning, the New York Police Department has been replaced, and the Elephant Party line of attacking Bloomberg has been widely accepted.

Breaking the rule of term limits has made more people have a bad impression of the mayor, and with more and more voices saying "winning Brooklyn will win the election", the final sprint of both sides has swept Manhattan.

The arrival of the Hornets did not spark much discussion. On MSG's own TV show, the topic of discussion was Kurt Thomas and Varejao's contributions to the team.

With 1 win and 2 losses, head coach Byron Scott had a bad start. Voices calling for a replacement head coach and rumors of the team being sold also affected the players' performance.

After the game started at 20 p.m. that night, Chris Paul had to focus on organizing the offense in the first half. David West was in excellent form and Varejao also had a good performance.

Unfortunately, Morris Peterson and Julian White missed some transition offenses and open jump shots, but thanks to the performance of Pacers during the rotation phase, the Hornets only trailed by 8 points at halftime.

50:58，半场结束时，保罗3中1，罚球2中1，3分篮板7助攻1失误。

Although his rookie season is over, Paul's performance in the first half looks no different from the past. Facing Li You's pursuit and the delay of the big man, he was silent again.
Walter Frazier and Mike Breen were smiling brightly in the MSG commentary booth. Back at home, Li You was full of energy. Although the lead was not big, it was a good thing for the fans:
"The best active point guard besides Lee? I'd still go with Chris Paul."

"I love Rajon, but his shooting needs to be polished. Chris Paul is better in this regard, but his size disadvantage will make him very passive in some games."

Walter Frazier was very impressed with Paul, saying that some of his technical moves looked like a replica of Li You's. Mike Breen agreed, but quickly added:

"In the game against the 76ers, Lee made 11 three-pointers in a single game! Now it seems that some young players have begun to change their offensive options."

"Chris Paul is one of them. In the future, maybe Lee will face more challenges. The 3-pointer is a wonderful offensive tool!"

"."

After the start of the third quarter, Paul did not feel the "wonder". After being intercepted by Li You in the first round of the pick-and-roll, he accidentally retreated too quickly in the transition offense and watched the long-distance three-pointer go by.

Near the right sideline, Paul's raised arm, who was trying hard to defend, did not have any effect. When he jumped in front of Li You, Li You had already started pacing backwards, and soon cheers resounded throughout the stadium.

There was no time to regret. With West's jump shot at the free throw line missing, Paul failed to squeeze through Chandler's high screen in the semi-conversion offense, and Varejao watched from the top of the arc.
"Oh!!"

After hitting two consecutive long-range three-pointers, Li You raised his right arm and the cheers in the stadium couldn't stop.

When Paul broke through and hit the rim for a layup after a pick-and-roll, the retreating Hornets panicked. During the one-on-one defense, Li You approached the left wing while moving, circled behind the ball and quickly retreated.

After trying hard to defend, Paul made Li You lean back, but still failed to completely interfere with his shot. Instead, he hit his right forearm, causing the referee on the sidelines to blow the whistle.

"God—Lee!! And a foul!"

In the commentary booth, Mike Breen and the New York fans cheered when they saw the three-pointer go into the net. The "three-hit combo" ignited the entire stadium.

Leaning on his knees outside the three-point line, Chris Paul had a worried look on his face. He watched Li You make the free throw and subconsciously glanced at the scoreboard, 50:68. He felt inexplicably emotional for a moment.

The Hornets immediately called a timeout. On the bench, Kurt Thomas shrugged his shoulders and walked forward to comfort everyone. The veteran seemed to have already laid down:
"This is modern basketball, Bro, we have to accept it! Don't be depressed, Chris, you are still young, those veterans are really desperate!"

Hearing the veteran's whisper of comfort, Chris Paul felt better. He is still in his rising stage, and working hard on his three-point shot will also improve significantly:

"I know, I'm not a veteran like Kobe, don't worry about me!"

Paul responded after returning to the bench, and immediately cheered up and clapped his hands, calling everyone to gather around the coach. When he heard Scott start to arrange the three-point shooting tactics, he sighed again in his heart:
"Modern basketball?"

"."

(End of this chapter)