NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 715 "Youth Storm." (No protagonist chapter)
On Monday, May 2010, 5, many sports media reported on the injuries that occurred in last night's Eastern Conference semifinals:

"Tyson Chandler suffered a dislocated left shoulder and will miss the rest of the Eastern Conference Finals."

"Kendrick Perkins tore the medial collateral ligament in his right knee and is expected to miss two months of the new season."

Contrary to the expectations of many basketball commentators, the injuries of both players were very serious, and the rebounding foul in Game 4 seemed to be a lose-lose situation.

The good news for Celtics fans is that in the "Battle of Honor", even though their main center was injured in the first quarter, they fought with the defending champions until the fourth quarter!
The bad news is that despite a tenacious fight, they still lost a lot in the end, 123:106. Pierce, who had recovered his form, failed to save the team. They were completely defeated in four quarters, and "Giant Basketball" was swept again.

No one cares about the outcome of this series anymore. After losing Game 3, the Celtics are doomed to lose. After the game, the commentators were discussing the "intensity" of the game, and Perkins didn't look like it was unintentional.

The "clumsy" Perkins actually performed well when he returned to his home court, at least helping Garnett block a lot of "kidnappers" on the defensive end.

At the post-match press conference, head coach Rivers also expressed his grief over the injury, and praised the black fat man emotionally in a hoarse voice:

"Kendrick's exit has had a big impact on our rebounding. You know, he's a real tough guy!"

"His passion for basketball far exceeds that of most players. It is very difficult and we will help him get through this difficult time together."

According to Rivers, the Celtics sounded like they had a chance to win at home. The reason they lost was because of a reduction in players and they lost 10 rebounds. They had tried their best!
But everyone who watched the game knew that it was not only that they could not grab rebounds as well as the Knicks, but the 16 turnovers and less than % three-point shooting percentage were the main reasons for the loss.

The Celtics, who enjoyed the home whistle in G4, got 40 free throws. If they hadn't taken 22 free throws in the first half, it would have been difficult for them to get 51 points.

The referee tried his best, but Lao Deng and others just couldn't do it!
The Celtics, whose physical defense in the paint cannot match the violent three-point shooting and whose basketball philosophy is backward, are destined to disintegrate in the offseason, and the "Big Four" will soon become a thing of the past.

After the news was released in the morning, the commentators only had a brief discussion, and most of the messages on Twitter were blessings.

After the game between the Cavaliers and the Hawks ended that night, the Cavaliers celebrated happily after completing the sweep. In garbage time, the daring Leon Powe suddenly blasted his old club in an interview:
"I feel bad for Perkins, he will be dumped like me, that's why the Celtics keep losing!"

"This team has no winning culture at all!"

"Everyone knows that there are always some players who get instructions during the game. The team may package this behavior as so-called sacrifice, but I swear, they are a bunch of liars."

"When you leave the team, no one will remember you and you will just be a clown and feel proud of yourself."

Leon Powe once squeezed into the Celtics' rotation, but after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee, his contract was lost, and no one was interested in him after entering the free market during the offseason.

Although he signed a two-year contract with the Cavaliers, he did not get many opportunities this season. After his athletic ability declined, Leon Powe's NBA career is basically over.

The reason for complaining about the Celtics is mainly because his old club was "dishonorable". If he had been given a guaranteed contract after his injury, Leon Powe might have been cheering on the bench this season.

The sports journalists who dug up the big news were overjoyed, and the frustrated Leon Powe was not polite either. He took advantage of entering the conference finals to gossip about the players' inside information:
"The Celtics' locker room was terrible. It was only when I came to the Cavaliers that I realized the joy of basketball."

"Some big-name players only form cliques. The old-school locker room culture is all bullshit. I've watched the Knicks documentary and talked to them. Champions aren't built like that."

"Why do most role players like to play in New York? Because Lee can help us get everything we want, and every player who leaves New York has a stable contract."

Leon Powe is extremely resentful of the Celtics for abandoning him. After gossiping for a while, he did not forget to praise the Cavaliers' locker room. When talking about the current environment, he was full of praise:
"I'm doing well with the Cavaliers. LeBron and Dwight are young, but they lead the team well."

"."

Howard and James, who attended the press conference, were in a very good mood. They no longer complained about the little tricks of Zaza Pachulia of the Hawks and directly forgave their opponents.

The Eastern Conference Finals will be held next Sunday. For a young team, the nearly one-week rest time is too much. The inflated Howard began to speak boldly again:

"I want to say sorry to the defending champion, I will dominate the penalty area on Sunday!"

"As the best big man in the league, no one can limit me. Maybe the opponents have already started discussing how to double-team me. The Cavaliers' shooters will get my assists and show their true strength!"

When talking about the game strategy, the "Happy Beast" grinned and boasted that without Chandler, he could indeed better demonstrate his low-post skills in the divisional finals.

After all, the big white guys in Europe are not as tough as the big black guys in China. The young Howard can't wait to play the day after tomorrow, his physical condition is so good!

Channing Frye and Rasheed Wallace did help the Cavaliers' offensive system. The big men who could shoot three-pointers made James "taste the sweetness". The Chosen One also became a little inflated when he heard his partner's words:

"We really showed our dominance in this year's playoffs!"

James looked at the reporters in the audience with a smile on his face. He was no longer modest. He easily swept his opponents in two consecutive rounds and was only one step away from the championship. He was extremely confident that he could lift the trophy if he won the Eastern Conference Finals.

ESPN reporters are more concerned about the "Superstar League". Although Joe Johnson performed mediocrely in this round of games, the player in his contract year has confirmed that he will participate in the player action.

Many people want to know what the "big fish" thinks, and the questions they ask are very straightforward:
"LeBron, if the Cavaliers continue to lose in the Eastern Conference Finals this year, will you re-plan your career like your friends?"

Wade, who is involved in a lawsuit with his ex-wife, has been very active. He ignored Pat Riley's invitation and has officially announced through his agent that he will seek a new contract.

Chris Bosh also made the same choice. The two have a common agent. Analysts predict that the Bulls will extend an invitation and "package" the two to start "hometown basketball."

"I'm only focused on the game right now. As a kid from Akron, there's no reason for me to leave!"

"Our coaching staff has created a perfect championship system. Leading the Cavaliers to break the championship curse is what I have always wanted to accomplish."

James smiled happily after winning the game, his attitude was no longer ambiguous as before, the Knicks suddenly lost some players, and now they are the advantageous side. The Chosen One was extremely "loyal" at this moment!
Howard is no longer jealous of his partner stealing his limelight as before. As long as they win the game, it will not be too late to share the "FMVP" award then. The Western Conference teams are all "small fry".

Entering the divisional finals again, the Cavaliers got on the bus and sang and danced. Rasheed Wallace rapped with the young people. The veteran was also happy, as this was the game he was looking forward to.

Delonte West, who was ostracized because of rumors and "Flying Leaves", also followed suit and hummed along, shaking his head. Only Gibson, who was absent due to injury, was a little depressed. "Loyalty" could not defeat injury.

Head coach Mike Brown, who was sitting in the front, was in high spirits. Black Bread felt happy when he thought of the frustrated smile on the face of Mike Woodson of the Eagles.

Feeling proud, Mike Brown announced the good news directly to his players, clapped his hands and said loudly:

"We will reduce training in the next two days to let our bodies relax, and then we will devote ourselves to the regional finals!"

"Oh!"

Hearing about the holiday, the Cavaliers cheered again. They easily swept their opponents in two rounds of games. Old Deng was unexpectedly eliminated in the divisional finals. God really loves young people more. This will be their best chance.

On Tuesday, May 5, Leon Powe's complaints about his former team made headlines in many sports media outlets, and LeBron James's exit from the superstar league also became big news.

After showing his loyalty, even David Stern praised the Chosen One and the Cavaliers in an interview in the afternoon. The president believed that this was a "two-way run" and the league hoped to see superstars stay with their parent team.

The league began preparing for the lottery ceremony. Although it is not a big year for the draft, many fans of the Fishing Team have also begun to pay attention to the ranking issue.

There was only one game that night. After the Lakers quietly got the match point last night, the decisive battle between the Thunder and the Trail Blazers finally received extra attention.

Head coach Nate McMillan kept complaining about the referees' calls in Oklahoma City, while head coach Scott Brooks stood up for his players.

Fans of both teams have already had several quarrels on social media, but they have failed to attract attention. New York fans who are watching the show on Reddit are adding fuel to the fire every day, mocking the two teams for their "lack of star power."

The Thunder players were a little nervous as they flew to the Rose City again. If they could win this crucial game, they would have a chance to advance to the divisional finals at home!

After a few years of slump, the team suddenly rose to prominence. Even Durant did not expect this season to be so smooth, but he also knew that this might be a benefit from injuries. Brandon Roy of the Trail Blazers was in poor form after returning from injury.

When he arrived at the Rose Garden Arena to warm up in advance, the focused Durant changed into his training clothes and did not forget to share the dynamics with fans:
“I want to give the victory to my goddess of luck!”

"." Most of Durant's fans have become accustomed to their idol sending out incomprehensible tweets. Previously, everyone thought that this was a confession to his girlfriend, but unexpectedly, Durant directly announced his breakup with the "black girl."

In the locker room, Jeff Green had a gloomy face. The commentators thought that Marcus Camby was a stat-gapper, but in this round of games, the opponent proved himself against him.

As a space-type power forward, Jeff Green failed to support the team's offensive system. In this series, he was repeatedly left open by opponents. He responded in individual rounds but was unable to change the opponent's defensive strategy.

Presti, who is working hard to build a modern basketball system, seems to be planning to adjust the lineup during the offseason. In this regard, Jeff Green is a little worried about himself and he may be sent away by the Thunder.

In contrast, James Harden had a great time throwing the ball, and Westbrook also showed his physical talent in the series. After winning two games in a row, the two even began to fantasize about the finals.

However, Harden has a different view on the upcoming conference finals. Speaking of the Lakers, he casually commented:

"They're just like the Celtics, still sticking with that outdated basketball! Give me a few more years and I can beat those old guys."

Besides Durant, Harden is the most enthusiastic advocate of three-point shooting in the team. The newbie even "learns frame by frame" from Li You's technique, and his step-back jump shot is very good!

Westbrook disagreed, thinking about facing his idol Mamba in the conference finals, and he refuted a few words:
"You don't understand Kobe at all. He gave everything for basketball. Lee just treats basketball as a job."

"Man, I'm talking about basketball philosophy! No matter how good he is at post-up play, it's useless. Kobe is not Michael Jordan. He can only score inefficiently. Think about the games we won."

Harden was not interested in discussing Kobe's basketball attitude. After interrupting, Westbrook couldn't help but stare and refute again:

"I don't like to think of basketball as a job. Do you think it's just a job?"

"."

Thabo Sefolosha, who was selected into the All-Defensive Team this year, heard the daily arguments between the two and walked aside helplessly. Big man Nenad Kostic was not interested in participating in the discussion of the newbies. Seeing his teammates shrugged their shoulders:

“I think we did a pretty good job this year!”

Sofolosha rubbed his furrowed hair, did not refute his teammates, and teased them:

"Kevin will probably agree with you. I hope his goddess of victory can bless us."

"."

At 19 p.m. that night, 2 spectators poured into the Rose Garden Arena. After the period of slump ended, the local fans in Portland burst into enthusiasm again!

Many old fans began to recall the Western Conference Finals that year, when they were only one step away from the championship. Compared with the slump period, being counterattacked by the Lakers became a good time.

Andre Miller showed his good form after the opening, which made the camera focus on Brandon Roy on the bench from time to time. Obviously, Miller is the best choice for this Trail Blazers team.

Compared with the good condition of the opponents, Durant and Westbrook, who came to the away game, were in good shape. At the end of the first quarter, the latter made consecutive mistakes, the Thunder's rhythm was disrupted, and they were hit by a wave of attacks by the opponents.

18:28, after the first quarter, the cheers in the Rose Garden were endless and the atmosphere became more and more enthusiastic!

However, when it came to the rotation stage in the second quarter, Brandon Roy, who came on the court, still failed to find his form and led the Thunder to a counterattack. James Harden's transition three-pointer made the Thunder bench boil.

The game was quite enjoyable to watch, but the positional offense was a bit chaotic and the Trail Blazers' shooting percentage dropped, resulting in the score being 45:48 at the end of the half, with both teams almost on the same starting line.

Aldridge breathed a sigh of relief as he walked toward the tunnel. He was also a little nervous in the crucial game. He only grabbed three rebounds in the first half. The Thunder's random throwing made him feel uncomfortable.

Fans on both sides cheered for Brandon Roy who returned from injury. He made 4 of 1 shots in the first half and scored only 2 points, but fans firmly believed that the "Rose Mamba" would bounce back!
In the TNT commentary booth, Kevin Harlan and Doug Collins also discussed Roy's return from injury during the halftime break:

"Brandon Roy's return from a bad knee was admirable, but I think he ruined some of the team's chemistry!"

Seeing his partner's surprised look, Doug Collins added:
"Many teams should learn from the Knicks in terms of handling injuries."

Kevin Harlan subconsciously imagined that there would be a newbie on the bench of the defending champion who said, "I will treat this injury as an opportunity." It was a bit difficult to evaluate for a moment. Most teams should not be so eager:
"Hopefully 'Rose Mamba' can bounce back in the second half! The Trail Blazers need a response from their core players!"

"."

Roy, who was awarded the title of "Rose Mamba" by Kobe, did not get much playing time in the second half. Head coach McMillan seemed a bit conservative and insisted on using the main lineup even though it kept failing.

Jerryd Bayless and Martell Webster provided the firepower in the third quarter, helping the team continue to suppress their opponents.

In the last quarter, James Harden, who had missed shots in the first half, suddenly exploded.

In the final moments, free throws helped the team narrow the gap. In the chaos, Kostic got the frontcourt rebound and Harden hit a magical three-pointer in the left corner!
After being "shot in the face", Brandon Roy fell to the ground in pain after blocking the shot. The "Rose Mamba" covering his knee was finally carried off the court by his teammates.

With 13.2 seconds left in the game, the Rose Garden became increasingly noisy. The young players of the Thunder celebrated wildly, while Durant and Westbrook, who missed their shots, hugged Harden and grinned.

Head coach Brooks was also nervous. When the Trail Blazers kicked the ball out of the sideline, he subconsciously clenched his fists. When Andre Miller missed the jump shot, everyone on the bench almost stood up and cheered.

But then Nicolas Batum touched the rebound, and Marcus Camby tipped the ball in through Jeff Green. The Trail Blazers fans at the scene stood up, shouted loudly, and celebrated wildly!

"what!!"

Marcus Camby, who was hugged by his teammates, roared loudly near the bench. When the referee signaled that the goal was valid, Durant looked at the clock in frustration. They were defeated.
87:88, in a battle of iron shots, the Trail Blazers defeated the Thunder with a big score of 3:2. The divisional finals are beckoning to them.

Kevin Harlan, feeling the excitement in the arena, shouted out his blessing in the ESPN commentary booth:
"Two young teams presented us with a wonderful game! Congratulations to the Trail Blazers, they have a chance to return to the conference finals!"

"."

On Wednesday, May 5, news of the youth storm sweeping the league became a topic of mainstream sports media coverage.

The Cavaliers, Trail Blazers, and Thunder are all teams dominated by young people. The Celtics, the representative of "old Deng basketball", are completely out of date, and the transition from the old to the new has begun.

The Lakers players who returned to Los Angeles were not affected. Unlike their arch-rivals who were busy filming a documentary recently, the nervous Mamba began to suppress his teammates on the training ground again.

Leading 3:1, the Lakers have already secured a spot in the divisional finals, and Los Angeles fans have already started to borrow the "Western Champions".
In the game that night, Duncan did not disappoint the home fans. After focusing on defense, he successfully suppressed Stoudemire.

The team was leading from the first quarter, and in the fourth quarter, as Kobe made consecutive difficult jump shots, the Staples Center was completely boiling, and the sweaty Mamba also began to punch the air in celebration!
"oh!!"

Amid cheers resounding throughout the arena, the final score was fixed at 104:112. The Lakers successfully won the game and swept the Suns with a score of 4:1.

O'Neal, who was DNPed again, failed to show his grace. The old shark left quickly after the game. In contrast, Kobe smiled and kept hugging and greeting the Suns players.

When Kobe came to the sidelines for an interview, he couldn't hold back his smile. When the TNT reporter asked about his opponent in the Western Conference Finals, Mamba responded confidently:
"I like young people! They are doing well, but the next few years will belong to the Lakers!"

"I will start a new dynasty."

Duncan didn't steal the show at this time. He just praised Shannon Brown, who performed well on the bench. As they walked towards the player tunnel together, he whispered encouragement:

"If we keep doing this, we have a chance to win the championship."

Jordan Farmar, who was following behind, looked at his teammates' backs and couldn't help but think of the recent gossip. However, considering that Vujacic's butt was "crooked", he thought to himself:

“Hope nothing bad happens”

"."

(End of this chapter)