NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 714 "Disbandment Game" (Daily Chapter)
On Saturday, May 2010, 5, ESPN morning show reported on the big event of last night's Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Celtics fans who left the game early had a conflict with the New York spectators outside the stadium. Young people on both sides raised their fists amid shouts of "Go New York".
The Red Sox and the Yankees can be called "rivals", but the Celtics and the Knicks cannot be said to be. The conflict is mainly because of the New York fans who taunted and yelled when they saw the players leave early:
"You are going to 'disintegrate'"

Celtics fans, who have only had a few years of "good days", are naturally angry. Even some proud "Old Dens" can't hold it anymore. It seems that it is really a matter of time before the Knicks surpass them in the number of championships!
After the confrontation on social media, the two sides also started a "real boxing match" offline. This scene was recorded by many sports media and became a source of joy for Saturday's program.

Chris McKendry, the host of the 9 o'clock show on Saturday, is from Philadelphia. This female host can empathize with Celtics fans. In her early years, she worked as a special reporter for TNT, responsible for reporting on the playoffs.

Chris McKendry was deeply impressed by the tragic experience of Iverson and Philadelphia basketball. After broadcasting the scene of New York fans celebrating wildly when seeing Li You boarding the bus, he said self-deprecatingly in front of the camera:

"We got the news that even if a conflict breaks out, the Celtics will not restrict ticket sales for Game 4. This reminds me of the 76ers' playoffs, when the home court in Philadelphia was full of New York fans."

"I hope this will not affect the Nets who are preparing to move. The construction of the Barclays Center has encountered some problems. I wish the Nets fans good luck."

His partner Josh Elliott was also amused by the "silly actions" of New York fans. Many people rushed to the next door after get off work on Friday, and when they couldn't buy tickets, they provoked outside the stadium.

After the director broadcast the ticket issued by the NBA early in the morning, Elliott also felt a little sympathy for the veteran. The team was "beaten" and the championship seemed hopeless:
"It is a bit regrettable that Kevin Garnett missed the post-match press conference and we cannot judge the future of the Celtics."

"Whether Garnett, who is about to turn 34, will continue to stay with the team will be the biggest concern of the fans. In the offseason, they will also face challenges from young people."

"."

Garnett was fined 25000 US dollars for missing the press conference. He has not accepted any interviews until now. The score is 0:3 behind, and the veteran's playoffs this year are basically over.

The other Western Conference semifinal did not receive much attention. The Thunder team successfully scored a goal after returning to their home court. The showdown between the young players is likely to enter a decisive seventh game!

Oklahoma City fans were very satisfied with this, but their voices were too small to compare with the "violent" New York fans.

However, more basketball commentators believe that no matter which of the two teams makes it to the Western Conference Finals, they will not be a match for the experienced Lakers. The lower limit of the combination of Kobe and Duncan is ridiculously high.

In the afternoon, ABC, which was responsible for broadcasting the Western Conference focus game, continued to warm up for the game. The Lakers players who flew to Phoenix were extremely low-key, and Phil Jackson, who came to the away game with the team specially, continued to make promises as usual.

Arriving at the American Airlines Center in Phoenix a little earlier than usual, the Lakers warmed up in advance. The old man from KFC who came with the team to the away game looked in good shape and even joked about himself during the interview:

"Maybe I can still do it for a few more years. I've always been looking forward to holding the championship trophy again. You know, the Lakers need this victory!"

After saying this, Phil Jackson laughed and shrugged his shoulders to indicate that it was just a joke. The sports reporters who gathered around him stopped making fun of him and asked directly:

"We noticed that the Knicks have already got the match point. Can the Lakers also seal the series victory tonight?"

Since Gentry, the head coach who returned to the team for the second time, DNPed O'Neal, the Suns' status has gradually improved. Phil Jackson naturally would not be careless about this and responded tactfully:

"We are not looking for those winning streaks. This is a seven-game series and we just want to get the final victory."

As if thinking that this statement sounded a bit "soft", the old man at KFC looked at everyone's expressions and added slowly and solemnly:
"But we will not give up the chance to get the match point. In terms of playoff experience, my players are ahead of their opponents. All I have to do is believe in my players."

As long as the performance issue is not taken into consideration, Phil Jackson, with his white hair and beard and burly figure, is still very impressive. This confident statement made many Los Angeles reporters happy.

Winning is always a good thing. These days, no one likes to read articles about losers. The East Coast is winning big, and it can be said that they are winning to death. The majority of fans of winning don’t think it’s a bad thing. Instead, they continue to support their winning.

"If we meet the Knicks in the finals, has the coaching staff already developed a new game strategy?"

The reporter from the Los Angeles Times also started to "borrow money". Unfortunately, the old man from KFC was very cautious and did not answer the questions directly. He just responded with a smile:
"I don't want to announce our tactics. Secret weapons will play a greater role in crucial games!"

"In practice, Kobe will imitate Lee. We have been doing this since the beginning of the season. I think it helps the team a lot."

"."

As if they heard a joke, smiles appeared on the faces of several New York reporters. Fortunately, they all maintained their composure and did not "get embarrassed" on the spot like the Knicks fans did.

While the Lakers players were still warming up, several reporters who had just finished their interviews were discussing in a low voice on the sidelines. When it came to "imitation", a young reporter from New York laughed and whispered:
"Is Phil Jackson serious? Kobe? He doesn't let his players feel that kind of pressure at all."

"If Lee takes 47 shots like Kobe, he can score 100 points. Let an inefficient 'stat brush' play Lee. This is the funniest joke I heard today."

The reporter from Fox Sports was very professional. He did not join in the joke, but instead explained seriously:

"It should just be a copy of Lee's shot selection. The Lakers at least won't lose like the Celtics this year."

"The Lakers lost more in the finals! Without Tim Duncan, they could only get eliminated in the first round. New York has long been the first choice for players. The Lakers are already 'outdated'."

The young reporters started arguing again. The Celtics had completely fallen, the Lakers could only play a supporting role, and now the Knicks had become the real top team. Many people were proud of it.

After the sports media released the entrance and training photos on social media, they suddenly discovered that O'Neal updated his Twitter before the game, and the old shark started to be sarcastic again:

"If you are the best player on the team, you will lead the team to win the trophy. Fortunately, I did it that year."

"Now I will play another role and I will continue to help the team."

After seeing the content of the tweet, you know that O'Neal is likely to be a fake starter tonight and will play for 20 minutes at most. The old shark "has the will but not the strength" and is no longer able to limit his little brother.

At 19 p.m. that evening, the American Airlines Center in Phoenix turned into an "orange ocean". Many fans were very satisfied to be able to enter the semi-finals.

After all, they are still on "tour" before the All-Star Weekend, and they want both entertainment and results, which is the best result at the moment.

If they win tonight's game, they will advance to the Western Conference Finals, and their opponent in the finals will still be a young team. In other words, by locking in the match point tonight, the Lakers will have "half of their body" standing on the floor of the Finals.

Today, the news about the Knicks and Celtics exploded. Li You's 48 points made Mamba unhappy again. Obviously, he was also very efficient in this series, but no one discussed his performance.
From time to time, the director would direct the camera to Kobe who was warming up and shooting. The expressionless Mamba didn't say much this year. He seemed to have matured completely and no longer competed with the media.

The other Lakers players looked relaxed. Many of them were chatting and laughing while shooting around Duncan. Shannon Brown, who had established a foothold in the rotation in the playoffs, was even more smiling and seemed to be in a good mood.

Fisher, Barnes and Odom were also joking. They were not discussing basketball. The spin-off series had been confirmed and "Khloe and Lamar" was about to be staged.
Since Kobe stopped pressuring his teammates, the atmosphere in the locker room has improved a lot. Everyone is full of confidence for this crucial game. Barnes turned his head to look at Nash who was warming up seriously, and smiled and joked:
"An imitator can only be an imitator! If it was Lee, the Suns might have won the championship long ago."

Odom, who was in a good mood, shook his head. He was very satisfied with his current life. He casually responded while patting the ball:

"Champion? I'd rather keep playing in Los Angeles!"

Fisher could only raise his eyebrows as he looked at his teammates who had no fighting spirit. Old Fisher always felt that this year's condition was not as good as last year. Veteran Joe Smith seemed to be there to make up the numbers, and Vujacic also had conflicts with the coaching staff.

If Shannon Brown hadn't exploded on both offense and defense after the All-Star Game, the Lakers might have lost their first place in the Western Conference.

"If we win this game, we can have a few more days of rest. I think this is a good deal."

Fisher saw the old man from KFC calling them over, and finally encouraged Odom who was completely lying down. He really wanted to help his old teammate win once.

After the game officially started at 19:, the stimulated Mamba once again went all out and showed his aggressiveness right from the start!
The right wing made consecutive long two-point jump shots, and the boos that resounded throughout the stadium made Kobe show a "ferocious" expression again.

The performance of the younger brother also stimulated O'Neal. The old shark worked extra hard on both offense and defense, and seemed to be a few points faster.
Facing the alternating defense of Rudy Fernandez and Jason Richardson, Kobe made 9 of 7 shots in the first quarter, 2 of 1 from beyond the three-point line, and scored 15 points in a single quarter with his efficient jump shots!
31:29, the Lakers ended the first quarter with a 2-point lead. The atmosphere at the American Airlines Arena remained unchanged and the Suns fans were very satisfied with the home team's performance.

Duncan made 6 of 4 shots and contributed 8 points. Although he was efficient on the offensive end, he was unable to stop the pick-and-roll cooperation between Nash and Stoudemire on the defensive end. The championship forward broke out again and repeatedly stood on the free throw line.

The boiling atmosphere in the stadium made Phil Jackson, who was playing away for the first time this season, feel a little nostalgic. The old KFC man couldn't help but recall the finals between the Bulls and the Suns.

Looking at Kobe and Duncan, Phil Jackson could only sigh in his heart that Michael Jordan's "thighs" were too thick!

"Listen, we have to get serious on defense!"

"."

Kobe nodded repeatedly at the coach's instructions, but when it came to the rotation stage, Odom suddenly "went soft" and the rookie Robin Lopez on the opposite side was able to grab the frontcourt rebounds.

With 9 minutes and 24 seconds left in the first half, the Lakers made an early rotation, but after consecutive turnovers and missed shots, the cheers couldn't stop for a while.

The score was fixed at 48:54, and the Lakers suddenly lost their momentum. The Suns seized the opportunity and successfully reversed the score.

Kobe Bryant, who scored 14 points with 9 of 19 shots in the first half, looked unhappy. After entering the player tunnel, he pursed his lips and punched in frustration. Duncan, who was following behind him, was not affected. He only reminded him after returning to the locker room:
"We need to get tight! Lamar, don't worry about the first half."

In the first half, Odom only scored 7 points with 1 of 2 shots and had 2 turnovers. The left-handed magician seemed to control the big ball too much and was very soft tonight.

The "loyal" younger brother Shannon Brown applauded again and again. In the limited playing time, his performance was also not very good. He made 4 of 1 shots and did not score any goals from beyond the three-point line. He also scored 2 points, but his attitude was impeccable:

"Tim is right, we need to finish this round as soon as possible."

Kobe was sulking and didn't say a word until the end. Phil Jackson came into the locker room and offered him chicken soup. Mamba also "forgave" the players who performed poorly.

After the Lakers scored 3 points in the third quarter, they failed to withstand the impact of Stoudemire in the last quarter. The championship forward had amazing free throw power and kept standing on the free throw line, which secured the victory in one fell swoop!

105:117, Stoudemire, who won the game, beat his chest and roared, and cheers resounded throughout the stadium.

He played for 43 minutes, made 22 of 14 shots, 18 of 14 free throws, 42 points, 12 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block and 2 turnovers. In the crucial game, Stoudemire scored the highest points of the game and once again proved his strength.

O'Neal, who played for only 18 minutes, was also smiling. The old shark was so happy that he looked at his little brother who turned around and walked away. He came to the ABC reporter, shook his head and shouted loudly:
"He should have passed the ball! I knew he wouldn't pass the ball!"

"He's not Lee, his three-point shooting is terrible"

Kobe Bryant also played for 43 minutes, making 25 of 13 shots, 8 of 2 from beyond the three-point line, and 8 of 8 free throws. He continued his efficient performance and once again scored a team-high 36 points and also had 10 assists.

When the ABC reporter asked about the Suns' strategy to win the game, Stoudemire smiled and answered seriously while wiping his sweat:
"We all know Kobe's three-point shooting level and ball handling ability. Maybe he got good data, but 5 turnovers proved that the coaching staff's strategy worked." "You know, I also have championship experience. The Lakers are just imitating the Knicks. I am very familiar with this. I am very happy to help the team in such an important game!"

"."

The Lakers took 33 shots from beyond the three-point line and only made 9 of them. Their three-point shooting percentage tonight was less than 3%, and all the rotation lineups performed poorly.

Steve Nash was also happy with the win, with 15 assists and only one turnover. When he attended the press conference with Stoudemire after the game, he talked about the imitation issue and said bluntly:
"I envy Lee very much. Since entering the league in 96, Lee has brought new basketball concepts and techniques!"

"Compared to those great historical stars, I think Lee is better, especially at the No. 1 position, his performance is incredible."

"Imitating excellent players is a shortcut to success. I believe more players will imitate Lee in the future."

The idea that defense wins championships has not been mentioned for many years. When Kobe was asked about the reason for the loss during the press conference, he mentioned the old idea again and criticized the lax locker room:
"Our defense lacks concentration! In fact, the Lakers haven't done anything yet. In the next game, we will regain the winning mentality!"

"I don't care how many points I get, and I don't want to pay attention to the form. As long as we play on the court, everyone has to do their best on the defensive end."

Kobe Bryant repeatedly emphasized defense with a stern face and did not blame the whistle. In his opinion, it was unacceptable to let the opponent score 110+. But after hearing the question from the Yahoo Sports reporter, Mamba was angry again:
"Kobe, why do you always lose when you lead the team in points? Does your scoring hurt the team?"

There is no technical statistics to support this view, but the stereotype is hard to reverse. I wanted to say "check my record", but this does not fit my "personality". Kobe's face darkened and he said in a deep voice:
"Stupid question! I'm not interested in answering!"

"."

When the Lakers got on the bus, Shannon Brown, who was sitting in the back, observed Duncan's position, then took out his cell phone and continued to text Amy.

Duncan, who was sitting near the coaching staff, was not as angry as Kobe. It was normal to lose. Without the tour, the Suns were quite strong. They could attack the basket and had shooting. They could barely be considered a weakened version of the Knicks.

Bruce Bowen glanced at the still confident old man at KFC, then turned around and whispered gossip with his old teammates:
"Ray told me he was leaving Boston."

"Are you still in touch?"

Duncan looked at Bowen in surprise, and the latter smiled awkwardly, not wanting to say that he took the initiative to admit his mistake to his friend after the "foot-stepping rule" appeared.

"I think Lee won't be chasing championships like he is now in his last few years, which is a good sign."

Li You, who pursues "brother basketball", will not only destroy the Celtics, but may also lead the Knicks downhill. This was mentioned in an article by a Washington Post columnist, and Bowen agreed with it very much.

"Man, I don't want to pay attention to other people. I'm 34 years old."

Duncan shook his head. He had no expectations for the future. He just wanted to give it one last try and then "go home" and say goodbye to the noisy life in Los Angeles.

Bruce Bowen also stopped talking. Since Li You chose the "basketball show" in the future, it was just right to give him a "kick". If the "mortal enemy" ended here, it would be a great thing that would make people feel happy!
On Sunday, May 5, after the Cavaliers defeated the Hawks on the road last night, the inflated "Happy Beast" Howard once again became the focus.

ESPN's morning show reviewed the Eastern Conference semifinals. Facing the Hawks who were beginning to realize their talents, Howard dominated the penalty area!

全场14中9，罚球12中7，霍华德砍下25分17篮板2助攻3盖帽2失误的大号两双数据。

持球前锋勒布朗-詹姆斯也交出两双，18中9，三分球8中3，罚球8中6，27分6篮板10助攻2抢断1盖帽4失误。

The "two stars and three shooters" system created by head coach Mike Brown was praised by many basketball commentators. With the score of 116:84, the Cavaliers had already got the match point and secured their place in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Howard was so inflated that he boasted again during an interview on the sidelines after the game:

"Superman is unstoppable! I told you I'm already thinking about the Eastern Conference Finals!"

"As long as we win the conference finals, we will lock up the championship!"

Many fans found such inflated remarks very reasonable after reading the news. As the "only two" teams with 60+ wins this season, the Cavaliers are indeed qualified to say so.

Boston's basketball critics have been collectively silent recently. ESPN predicts that the Celtics will disintegrate during the offseason. Several related columns have appeared, but no one has refuted it so far.

Not only will the "giant model" disintegrate, the head coach will also be fired with a high probability. The betting market is open.
At 19 p.m., the Celtics will face off in another "Battle of Honor". In response to this, many Boston fans have started a petition on social media. Their demands are not high, just winning once at home will be enough!
The Celtics were "massacred" on Reddit by Knicks fans in the afternoon, with "Knicks In Four" everywhere. Before the game started, the fans had another fight.

As the weekend came, Knicks fans who had both money and time went next door and took advantage of the "sad fans" selling second-hand tickets to act as "buyers".

When the Knicks came to the arena to warm up before the game, a group of sports reporters began to act as mouthpieces. When Li You returned to his seat on the sidelines, they once again fanned the flames:

"Pierce believes that no one on the team will escape. He believes that the team's current lineup can win the championship. Lee, do you think the Celtics' championship window has closed?"

The ESPN reporter thought that Li You would give his opponent some face, but in the end he didn't even hear any polite words. He was overjoyed for a moment!

"There is no doubt that the future belongs to the young! Rondo will become the core of the Celtics. Reorganization is indeed the best choice."

Li You, who was sitting in his chair, smiled at the reporters beside him after saying this, and then added in a relaxed tone:
"In the last years of their careers, veterans can also contribute their strength, but Kevin should not consider New York. He is a respectable opponent!"

"Of course, if he chooses to play in New York one day, I believe all New York fans will welcome him with open arms."

If you can't beat them, then join them. If Garnett, as the MVP, did this, he would most likely become the laughing stock of the entire NBA. Li You was obviously teasing his old rival again.
When the Celtics players arrived at the stadium, Garnett, who was wearing a black striped suit, got out of the car with a sullen face!
Not to mention the fact that he was "soft" during the game, after G3, even the younger brothers in the locker room had given up and completely lost their fighting spirit, which made Harden unable to bear it.

In contrast, Rondo was more eager to win. Although the champion guard beat "Little Nate", after this round of games, Garnett really recognized Rondo in his heart.
Walking quickly into the player tunnel, ignoring the sports reporters who were about to surround him, Garnett tried to avoid the interview with the help of the staff, but the chattering finally stopped him:

"The series isn't over yet, and miracles are still to be created! I'm not interested in answering those boring questions about the offseason."

"Damn it! We just created a perfect chemistry."

Garnett became more and more confident as he spoke. No matter what his teammates thought, he would not give up and would at least win one game!
The sports reporter wanted to hear more from Garnett, but the staff quickly helped Garnett get away from the crowd.

After arriving in the locker room, Garnett saw Nate Robinson laughing and glared at him, then raised his voice and yelled:
"What the hell! What do you think this game is? This isn't high school basketball. Don't let me see you look like a bitch."

The frustrated Nate Robinson cursed twice, but when he saw Pierce glaring at him, he could only return to his seat, raised his hand to indicate his problem, and kept muttering:
"Oh my god, man! I want to win the game too, coach should put me in the regular rotation."

Pierce ignored the request of the former dunk king, took the initiative to clap his hands, and encouraged loudly:
"We have to win the next home game! I believe no one wants to continue losing"

Although the original leader said so, the atmosphere group still couldn't get excited. The sports media were reporting extensively on the Celtics' rebuilding, and everyone was thinking about where to get their next job.

Glen Davis and Tony Allen are both a little confused. It's actually pretty good to play in Boston, but with the reorganization, they are probably not part of the team's plan.

Ray Allen was the calmest person in the locker room. In Game 3, he was defended by Li You and made 14 of 5 shots, including 7 of 2 three-pointers. This was the result of a decrease in defensive intensity later on.

Under the persuasion of his wife, Ray Allen has decided to play "school district basketball". As long as the contract is acceptable, joining forces with friends in the last years of his career is also a good choice. At least he does not have to worry about being isolated:

"The coach didn't say it, but I think the game has to slow down."

After hearing what Ray Allen said, Rondo, who had been watching the performances of the two "outdated leaders", nodded. Old Deng and others only talked about chicken soup, which was useless. Pierce made 3 of 15 shots in G4 and the game was not won:

"I need more pick and rolls!"

Rondo interrupted the two leaders, came to the whiteboard and began to arrange a simple tactical routine. Garnett's eyes twitched slightly when he saw this scene. This was what he didn't like about the championship guard, the lack of passion!
Another person affected by the media reports was Rivers, who also did not want to leave Boston. He had been actively communicating with the management these two days. If they lost tonight, he planned to secretly "pass the buck" in an effort to regain trust.

After the game started at 19 p.m. that night, most of the TD Garden Arena was occupied. Cheers broke out right after the opening, which made Garnett and his teammates even more uncomfortable.

Head coach Rivers on the sidelines was still roaring loudly. Gasol's consecutive low-post attacks actually broke through the defense. This performance was beyond the expectations of the coaching staff.

"what!!"

He attacked with the ball from the left blocking area, broke through the basket along the baseline and made a layup. When he heard the whistle, Gasol yelled loudly in front of Garnett again.

The strong performance of the Spanish big man also made the New York fans at the scene cheer continuously. The opponent seemed to have lost all confidence and was basically on the verge of breaking up. There is a high probability that they will win again by a big margin tonight!
Seeing Gasol quickly returning to defense after making the free throw, Garnett slammed the ball to express his dissatisfaction. In the offensive round, Perkins, as his younger brother, started to fight fiercely again.

Near the left baseline, Garnett turned around and made a jump shot but missed. At the bottom right side of the basket, Perkins was pulled and dragged to jump. Under the traction, Chandler touched the backboard and both fell to the ground.

Chandler, who was covering his shoulder, and Perkins, who was hugging his knees, were lying on the ground with painful expressions on their faces. Players from both teams rushed over to surround them.

Garnett didn't get to the front, thinking it was just an ordinary confrontation. He clapped enthusiastically from the back and kept cursing:

"***"

JR Smith, who also didn't get into the crowd, saw Garnett actually starting to interact with the fans. He ran up to him and made a violent collision with him from behind, sending Garnett directly to the bench.

"Fuck Squid"

The sudden conflict finally activated the TD Garden. Seeing Garnett stand up with the help of his teammates, the Knicks began to move to the sidelines. The angry Boston fans shouted:
"Those damn New Yorkers!"

Although the referee intervened immediately, the players on both sides still huddled together. Garnett, who was protected, continued to charge forward, and the NDRC was completely boiling.

Under the basket, Li You helplessly looked at Chandler who was leaving the court holding his shoulder, and then glanced at Perkins who was carried away on a stretcher. He was speechless for a moment. Some people really chose to "self-destruct".

The chaos continued. When the players from both teams went to the bench, D'Antoni looked at the collectively frowning coaching staff, pretended to be relaxed, and simply comforted them:

"Don't worry, guys, it's probably just a simple strain."

"."

(End of this chapter)