NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 737 "Enjoy life!" (5500 words chapter)
Every year's finals attracts a huge amount of attention from fans across the ocean, and the benefits brought by Yao Ming continue to spread.

Although it was Wednesday, the G6 ratings of CCTV Sports' broadcast hit a record high.

Yao Ming, who has recovered from his injury, is preparing for this year's World Championships. After returning home early, he accepted the invitation and came to the studio to comment on this "championship game".

Xu Jicheng, a die-hard Bulls fan, has always liked Kobe, which is related to the fact that Mamba's posture and technical style are similar to Michael Jordan.

Zhang Weiping is considered a die-hard "Kobe hater". The old man has attracted a large number of haters over the years. Fortunately, Xu Jicheng and others are still persisting, otherwise Mamba would not have been so popular when he visited China.

At halftime of Game 6, the three people in the studio were a little embarrassed. Zhang Weiping in the front was completely out of his element. In the previous live broadcast, the old man blasted Kobe to the sky:
"Kobe is really not good. Injuries are part of the game. In the first half, Li You defended him and he made only 14 of 3 shots. It's right for New York to prepare the award ceremony in advance!"

"He was just shooting randomly the entire half. Apart from running into the crowd, all his jump shots were missing!"

"The defense was just one step ahead, and the Lakers scored 39 points in the first half. I'm sure there will be another disaster in the second half."

Although the two partners in front were still trying to smooth things over, Zhang Weiping was firing on all cylinders. Phil Jackson was so humiliated in his last season that it made me feel sad for the Zen Master when I thought of these old guys.

When the camera returned to the studio, the host Yu Jia smiled awkwardly. He also knew that some Kobe fans had been complaining about the old man, but everything has two sides, and more fans expressed their support.

Li You's rapid increase in fans in recent years is inseparable from Zhang Weiping's efforts. Whenever he commented on a match, it was always "unsolvable, amazing, really reasonable, and it should be played this way."
In the first few years, Zhang Weiping would grumble a few times when he saw long three-pointers, but later on it developed into “that’s how it has to be shot”!
Although I am familiar with the old man's commentary style, it was a bit too much this year. After all, Kobe was so injured, it was understandable that he played badly.

"Dayao, from your perspective, how would you evaluate today's half of the game?"

Yu Jia took the initiative to change the subject and stopped talking about the performance of the core players of both sides. Kobe was in such a miserable state that he didn't want to hit him again.

Yao Ming, who has been gradually losing weight, was mainly affected by waist and back injuries this season. At the end of the season, his foot injury recurred and he was completely out of the rotation.

Yao Ming has a deep feeling about the development trend of the league. When talking about the game, he showed a bitter smile on his face:
"61 points in the first half, very typical Knicks basketball! Defense, rebounding, transition offense and three-point shooting crushed the Lakers."

"The Lakers still had too many mid-range jumpers, and it was difficult for Kobe to create good opportunities for his teammates. We can't blame him, as he did his best during the game."

Yao Ming, who was wearing a loose black suit, felt a little sad when talking about these things. Under the current trend, heavy centers are no longer popular, and big men who can "deal cards" have become the pursuit of all teams.

Of course, if a big center can play 40+15 like peak O'Neal, no one would refuse, but the conditions are too harsh, and forwards and guards are the mainstream.

"If it was a young Michael Jordan, we could still look forward to the game. Kobe played a good game in this year's finals, but his performance in the fourth quarter of Game 1 was not very good."

Xu Jicheng was still the same, dunking as soon as he opened his mouth. He looked regretful when he talked about Kobe. Thinking of the news he saw from his colleagues on the other side of the ocean, he couldn't help but sigh:
"For the players of the 96 class, the experience over the years has been a bit cruel."

"It will be difficult for these players around 32 years old to compete for championships in the future. According to Michael Jordan's standards, they will almost retire at the age of 34."

"The body is bound to decline at that time. There were many injuries in this year's finals. Duncan's action was obviously anxious. He ruined his reputation with one kick. The championship is still out of reach."

After broadcasting the game for so many years, Yu Jia also felt that the players of the 96 class were unlucky. What shocked him the most was that Iverson was beaten so hard that he retired on the spot:
"It is really difficult to let these veterans compete for the championship as core players. Maybe they will choose to join a young team in the future."

"Let's continue to enjoy the game in the second half! It's almost impossible for us to win eight consecutive championships in the future. This is the great era of Li You!"

"."

The atmosphere in Madison Square Garden was getting increasingly heated at this time. The 22-point lead was something that New York fans were all too familiar with, and the game was completely secured.

During the halftime show, the shouting couldn't stop and the heated atmosphere could be felt in the player tunnel. Kobe, who was preparing to warm up in advance, was so excited that his face turned dark.

The swollen fingers made the Mamba lose his touch, and the difficulty in exerting force in his knees made Kobe completely lose his first step. Coupled with the shoulder injury, it was a miracle that he could play.

"I have to give Kobe credit, he has given his all for this series!"

Watching the Mamba shooting in the warm-up, Mark Jackson praised him from the commentary booth. Van Gundy looked at his partner to agree, but he didn't hold back and commented bluntly:

"Kobe deserves praise. The gap in basketball ability is hard to make up!"

"I always think that in the history of the NBA, Lee and Michael Jordan are the gaps ahead of all players. This is the gap in talent. No one can get close to them."

"When I took over the Knicks, what impressed me was Lee's control of the game and his character. He is a natural leader and does not have the impetuousness of young players at all."

Mark Jackson, who had played against Li You, agreed with this and interrupted his partner's boasting, laughing and joking about the scene in the previous game:

"I understand that! I respect my compatriots, but most of the time, young black players always like to play by instinct."

"Being impetuous, irritable, and unable to think, these factors make it difficult for young people to succeed, but Li is completely different. It seems that God has a special preference for him!"

"I like the dunk in Game 5. Lee wasn't aggressive in the first half, but don't give him a chance. When I saw Kobe being broken through, I knew Duncan was going to be finished."

Mike Breen suspected that Mark Jackson called Li You a "slut," but he didn't think Li You meant to hurt him. There are too few players in the league who dunk without supporting their elbows, so it was clearly a protective move:

"Li obviously hasn't recovered to his best condition, but after slowing down, we can see how good his control of rhythm is!"

"For Kobe, this is destined not to be his night. Unfortunately, the Lakers will suffer another defeat in the seventh matchup."

"."

The three of them stopped talking about the game. Van Gundy kept sharing his "championship stories", Mark Jackson began to recall "past matchups", and Mike Breen couldn't stop bragging.

When the third quarter started, as Kobe was stopped by Li You on the right wing, Madison Square Garden was boiling again. Mamba twisted his body and made a strong shot, and Van Gundy shouted:
"Lee continued his dominance over Kobe in the first half!"

The Lakers, who retreated quickly, no longer fought for the frontcourt rebounds. The huge score difference made most of the players on the court lose interest in the game. When they saw Li You receiving the ball on the left wing, the help defense on the line no longer appeared.

After one round, sweat appeared on his forehead. Kobe bared his teeth and maintained a ferocious expression. He took a difficult step and watched Li You dribbling the ball from behind. He kept shaking his hips and his body swayed instinctively for a moment.

Li You suddenly accelerated after switching to his left hand, pretending to break through. Kobe hurriedly moved to the right rear, and the moment he changed his center of gravity, he was pulled back by the cross step and was fixed to the floor.

"Oh!!"

Amid cheers, Li You calmly received the ball outside the three-point line and made a quick jump shot. Mamba had no time to reach out and before he could turn his head, the sound waves in his ears immediately rose a lot.

"OH——! Good night! Lakers!"

After noticing Li You's shot, he turned around and made a "good night" gesture. Mike Breen in the commentary booth also cooperated by shouting happily. The New York fans in the front row were all overjoyed, and the entire stadium was celebrating.

The huge noise made the Lakers even more frustrated. Except for Kobe who kept gritting his teeth and asking for the ball, the offense of everyone else was completely stagnant.

With nearly 24 seconds left, Kobe's jump shot near the free throw line still missed. The huge backward movement caused Mamba to fall to the floor. Before he could stand up, the Knicks had already launched a counterattack.

Li You rushed forward with the ball and attracted Odom's defense when he broke into the paint area. He took three steps and suddenly threw the ball behind his head. Dio, who followed up from the wing, received the ball and dunked with one hand without any defense!

The Lakers attacked again. Josh Powell, who replaced the veteran in the second half, received a pass from Kobe at the basket but lost the ball with his butter hands. The direct mistake made the furious Mamba yell angrily:
"What the hell! What are you thinking!"

On the defensive end, Kobe continued to grit his teeth and pursue defense. After the Knicks passed the ball continuously from the outside, Dio at the top of the arc dealt the ball again. On the right wing, Mamba was shaken by Li You's counter-run and lost his defensive position.

Kobe had just come to the right wing with a hurried slide when Li You released the ball with his right hand and broke through, trying to interfere, but his arch-enemy quickly retreated.

Near the right sideline, Li You drifted to the right rear outside the three-point line. Kobe raised his hand subconsciously, but it didn't have any effect. The basketball drew an arc and went into the net again.

"Shet!!"

Seeing Li You make the shot and turn away, Kobe cursed angrily and subconsciously looked towards the bench, only to find that Phil Jackson had already sat back in his seat with his eyes wide open.

The old man from KFC was daydreaming at this time, his eyes fixed on the situation on the court, but his thoughts were immersed in the memories of the past. As a Knicks legend, he actually had the opportunity to take over the team.

Unfortunately, Phil Jackson, who was frustrated by the loss and wanted to prove himself again, never considered New York. D'Antoni, who was smiling, was already celebrating wildly with his hands on his head, following the atmosphere group. The championship was only a matter of time, and they would soon usher in a historic moment.

His shots missed, his breakthroughs hit the wall, and his passes were difficult to convert into points. Facing Li You who started to throw the ball randomly, Kobe, who broke through the defense, finally chose to throw himself into the basket.

After breaking through and falling to the ground many times, Mamba finally heard the whistle and sat on the floor. Kobe refused the help of his teammates, slowly got up, gritted his teeth and made two free throws.

Kobe, who was completely unable to keep up with the rhythm, could only commit fouls on the defensive end. The Lakers, who had been fighting piecemeal, had completely collapsed at this point. This scene made Mark Jackson feel sour in his heart, and he sighed subconsciously:

"There is no miracle. Maybe the Lakers should consider changing players."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Knicks kicked the ball out from the sideline. Li You, who came to the top of the arc to receive the ball, first leaned sideways to protect the ball, and then faced the bending Kobe and shot directly.

"oh!!"

The "Goodnight" after scoring twice made the New York fans at the scene shout loudly, Kobe's eyes were wide open, Mamba pursed his lips and said nothing, the Lakers requested a timeout, but still stood outside the three-point line.

In the second half of the third quarter, Odom barely helped the team save face. Kobe, who was hit hard, didn't hit a three-pointer until Li You left the court.

58:97, during the intermission, Rambis took over the tactical board, and the old man from KFC had already shut himself up on the spot.

三节比赛，20中4，三分外6中1，罚球6中4，科比贡献了13分6篮板2助攻4失误的数据。

The performance was so poor that Van Gundy didn't even want to comment after looking at the technical statistics. In contrast, it was the champion forward Barnes who contributed more tonight, making 13 of 5 shots, 6 of 2 from beyond the three-point line, and scored 15 points:
"It's a pity that Kobe still couldn't respond tonight, but I don't think the fans will blame him. He has tried his best."

"Lee dominated the game again with his shooting, 45 points, incredible performance."

The ABC broadcaster also focused the camera on Li You who was changing into training clothes. Surrounded by many people, he had a bright smile on his face and anyone could see that he was in a good mood.

出场34分钟，21中14，三分线外13中9，罚球8中8，45分5篮板12助攻2抢断2盖帽2失误；

After his true shooting percentage reached 104% in the last game, Li You returned to his normal level tonight.

The director displayed the data of the two core players, and the online fans in front of the TV could see the huge gap. After this year's finals, "Mr. Best" is destined to become a laughing stock.

After the last quarter started, seeing Kobe was still there, Zhang Weiping on CCTV's commentary desk stopped criticizing Mamba and instead looked at the technical statistics and boasted:

“出场的5场比赛，场均43分6篮板10助攻2.4抢断1盖帽1失误，差点就刷新李佑自己的总决赛场均得分纪录！”

"This is incredible! Kobe is truly incomparable. Don't ever say you are the best again. This is just exaggeration!"

Yang Yi looked at Kobe, who was fighting hard on the court, and he felt admiration in his heart. Mamba really tried his best and did not back down until the end of the game:
"I believe fans will not blame Kobe. He did his best. He has such strength. The NBA is so cruel sometimes."

"In my opinion, this is a crushing victory of talent. Kobe is training, and Li You has not relaxed either. Look at how his shooting style suddenly changed in these two games. It takes a lot of effort."

In the United States, there are always gossip news about Li You and the blonde girl, which leads many basketball critics to not believe that Li You is still honing his basketball skills.

Although these gossips are true, after witnessing this year's finals, Yang Jian no longer believes the reports of his peers here. After all, basketball doesn't lie. At this time, he also sighed:
"Our young players should also learn from Li You's focus on basketball!"

"I was very impressed. The Knicks documentary talked about Li You's scientific training method after he turned 30. Now it seems that it was all worth it."

"."

The three took this opportunity to brag a lot. They didn’t believe in MSG’s documentaries before, but after 8 consecutive championships, the content in the film seemed to become conservative. Li You loves basketball so much!
With 6 minutes and 48 seconds left in the game, the official timeout was called and Kobe was finally substituted off the court. Under the double-team of the Knicks' atmosphere team, Mamba finally scored 21 points.
Madison Square Garden became increasingly noisy. Kobe, sitting in his seat, refused the medical team's examination and did not even look at the energy drink handed to him by the staff. He just stared at the floor.

In the camera, Kobe's eyes were red and he was trying hard to control his emotions. After returning from injury and leading the team to a crushing defeat, the Mamba entered the second low point of his career.

After the timeout, the game time passed quickly and the noise in the stadium became louder and louder. In the last minute, Li You and his teammates were jumping around on the bench, and all the Knicks players huddled together.

When Ben Wallace grinned and threw the ball into the air, a buzzing sound followed. The Knicks defeated the Lakers 81:128 and won the 14th championship in team history.

"Oh!!"

The shouts almost broke through the stadium. Li You, who kept hugging and greeting his teammates, walked to the center of the field with a smile on his face, raised his hands high, and clapped his hands. The shouts soon became uniform:

"God-Lee! God-Lee! God-Lee!."

On the bench, D'Antoni and Gasol were all crying. The mustache was very emotional. He hugged the Spanish big man and choked up and said:

“We really did it!”

Although Li You had mentioned this goal several years ago, the Knicks players still couldn't believe it. Until this moment, everyone was completely relieved. The 8th consecutive championship really happened.

Chandler also hugged his teammates and cried. The tough guy hugged Matthews and JR Smith and said excitedly:
“Well done, we did it”

Dio put on the championship hat on his head early, and now he pulled a few people from the atmosphere group to shout.

The Frenchman is in a calm state of mind. After signing the big contract, the only thing that bothers him is his weight. He has already begun to imagine a wonderful life during the offseason.

Champion forward Barnes also smiled, hugged Li You and gave his blessing with a smile:
"Boss, you have created another miracle! I will always believe in you!"

"You will always be our champion striker."

Li You patted Barnes hard, and the sound of shutter clicks could not stop around. Sports reporters at the scene were all recording the historic moment.

Odom and his friends did not look depressed at all. They came forward to hug and greet them, and after some business compliments, they all grinned.

Hugging and fist bumping continuously, Li You saw Fisher carrying Kobe in front of him, and took the initiative to help. Seeing that Mamba kept his head down, he immediately blessed him:
"Man, you've given it your all, and you've earned everyone's respect!"

"It's my luck to compete with you, great rivals. It's time to move on and enjoy life!"

Looking at Li You's sincere smile in front of him, Kobe didn't nod, nor did he speak. He pursed his lips and said nothing. Hearing the admiration from the sports reporters around him, Mamba couldn't hold it back any longer and suddenly burst into tears.

As if he had been greatly wronged, Kobe's lips trembled and his tears could not stop. Seeing this, Li You also showed a look of heartache on his face and encouraged him again in front of the camera:

"It's okay, Bro, life is bigger than basketball!"

"You are a good father and a good role model. Think of the loggers who have always supported you."

Kobe could vaguely hear what was going on because of the noisy arena. Thinking about the lumberjack work made him even sadder. Vanessa hadn't spoken to him for several days and had moved out with her daughter.

Kobe almost went from crying silently to crying loudly, and finally fell into Fisher's arms. Mamba was very sad.

Kobe didn't say a word until he left. With the help of Fisher, Mamba came to the edge of the court and turned his head again, and found that Li You had been surrounded by his good boys.

The little ones all wore rings and necklaces around their necks. They held hands, hugged Li You's thighs, and chattered shyly in front of the camera.

The first wave of blue and orange streamers had begun to fall, and the Knicks and many New York fans gathered in the center of the field raised their hands and cheered loudly:

"Champion!"

Stumbling to the player tunnel, Kobe looked at the ribbons on his body and burst into tears again. Mamba finally spoke in front of his old teammates, whispering with some sobs:

"I just want to win once, Bro, I just want to lift that trophy one more time!"

"."

(End of this chapter)