NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 749 Who is the leader? (No protagonist chapter)

On Wednesday, August 2010, 8, NBA TV previewed several important games and holiday dates for next season in its evening program.

As insiders revealed last month, the Knicks finally missed the Christmas game, and the NBA seems to have entered the next stage.

The full schedule will not be officially announced until next Tuesday, and the preview only reveals the opening game, the "revenge game" and the Christmas game to fans:

The opening game will be held on October 10th, when the Knicks will face the Heat at home. This game is called "a game that tests the quality of the stars" by fans.
On the 29th, the Heat faced the Cavaliers at home. Many commentators called the game James' "revenge" against Gilbert, and everyone was looking forward to it.

The owner of the Cavaliers has been very active recently, and he and the general manager of the Raptors have successively scolded traitors on Twitter.

The former is sarcastic, James and Duncan are both untrustworthy "villains" who forget their promises and betray their own teams, and are not worthy of being superstars at all;
The latter began to dig up old issues, believing that Bosh had not played hard in the past two seasons and had been perfunctory in his contract renewal with the management, thus betraying the fans' trust. His behavior of banding together was that of a complete wimp.

In this regard, James and Bosh did not respond directly. The Chosen One just updated a tweet - "Unfortunate", and the Ex-Dragon King was too lazy to pay attention to the other party. He was busy shooting a commercial.
In addition to these two focus games, the Knicks are not included in the five Christmas games in the preview:

Bulls vs. Magic, Celtics/Cavaliers, Heat vs. Lakers, Nuggets vs. Thunder, Trail Blazers vs. Warriors.

After the show ended that night, many New York basketball critics reiterated the old topic, calling for a complete break in the new season, and by the way, they also embraced New York's most popular new-generation star Kyrie Irving.

Many fans in the comment area agreed, but in the Eastern Conference, it is not easy to tank. Look at the Nets next door, they are a professional tanking team, and the Knicks may not be able to compete with their opponents.
This is related to the Nets' relocation. There are rumors that the new Russian owner is also taken care of by the league, and Kyrie Irving is very suitable to play in the Barclays Center!

Anyway, they are all in New York. Brooklyn fans love Irving just as much. After the move, they will rise again and sell tickets like crazy. The script is already written.
All the various explanations are plausible. Anyway, David Stern definitely intervened. The old man has a criminal record. Ewing was able to play for the Knicks thanks to this president.

At the end of the discussion, even Boston fans joined in the topic, taking the opportunity to scold Stern for being "unhuman". They were playing so badly back then, and in the end, Duncan was robbed by the Spurs!

If Duncan could have been signed successfully, perhaps Red would not have retired. The Celtics have been in a bad state for so many years, all because of the league's intervention.

On Thursday morning, the 5th, social media was boiling again after ESPN broke the news that Derek Fisher signed a mid-level contract with the Thunder and Jim Buss still planned to trade for Carmelo Anthony.

No one is denouncing the president anymore, and Lakers gossip is sweeping the NBA circle again. The two Busses have completely fallen out over the fight over "Kobe."

Even though Mamba held the right to veto a trade, Jim Buss still did not give up sending Kobe away and traded Carmelo Anthony to the team. The young ruler believed that Kobe should not receive $2481 million.

Jeanie Buss continued to play the emotional card in the Los Angeles Times. Mamba played for the Lakers for so many years and helped O'Neal win the championship. He should retire with the Lakers. The trade would hurt the team culture.

In order to send Kobe away, Jim Buss even warned Pelinka that the Lakers would no longer offer a maximum salary after the contract ended;

However, Jeanie Buss once again objected, claiming that the Lakers would continue to compete for the championship with Kobe as the core, and also publicly stated:
"Carmelo Anthony is not as good as Kobe, and the trade will put the Lakers in a quagmire in the future."

The two Busses fought for a whole month, refusing to give in to each other over the core of the team. After Fisher officially joined the Thunder, he also accepted an interview with a local in Oklahoma. When talking about the reason for leaving the team, the veteran also commented tactfully:
"I just want to share my championship experience at the end of my career. I have no interest in the team's struggles."

Old Fish's departure from the team is also related to the Lakers' team building ideas. Byron Scott no longer plays the triangle offense and gave the middle-class contract to Raymond Felton, and Fisher was optimized.

Kobe has no say in the contract renewal issue. Jim Buss and Kupchak no longer regard Mamba as the core, so they naturally will not consider Kobe's suggestions.

In the afternoon, the old Bass, who had been ill for a long time, finally accepted the connection of the First Take program and put a conclusion to the struggle between the two Bass:
"Every year our goal in the offseason is the same - a championship, and the Lakers only want to pursue a championship."

"When the season is over, we look back and think about 'what are the weaknesses of the team' and 'what can we do to improve the team'."

"All the fans have seen our efforts over the years, but sometimes basketball is like this, and the Lakers still can't win the championship."

In the footage, Buss looked helpless when talking about the results of the past few years. Stephen A. Smith's question was more specific, and he continued to ask questions at a fast pace:

"Can I assume that when the Lakers think about these issues, your answer is to rebuild and replace the core players?"

Skip Bayliss also showed an expectant look at this time. After being silent for a moment, Buss finally chose to save face for Kobe and did not directly answer the question:

"After losing consecutive finals, I believe every team will make a similar choice as us. Kobe is very good and he is still one of the core players of the team."

"We will face more challenges in the new season. Young people have formed a team. To be honest, I feel excited for the first time in a long time. Our window to win the championship is still there."

This answer has already made clear Buss's point of view. Kobe took the initiative to apply for a trade back then, and now his eldest son is trying to put pressure on Mamba. The old man supports his son, but it is not easy for him to criticize his daughter.

The Lakers' backcourt has been completely renewed. In the show, old Buss was quite satisfied with Haodaer's performance. By the way, he also praised Byron Scott. The real Lakers can always support the team in difficult times.

After the afternoon show, Kobe, who does not have his own social media, updated his blog. The content of the article did not accuse or complain, but continued to encourage himself:
“God will never let down those who work hard!”

"."

At 17:30, Michael Wilbon invited O'Neal to the PTI sports talk show.

The old shark's mouth was almost grinning to the back of his head when facing the camera. He was so happy to see that his younger brother couldn't get a big contract. This was simply a replica of himself back then!
At the beginning of the show, when the two sides talked about retirement, the old Shark said that he was still considering it. Many teams wanted to sign him, but he preferred to comment on the game in the studio.

The reason why he hasn't retired yet is that O'Neal is a little worried that the Lakers will win the championship, strengthen the backcourt, welcome the championship forward, and the strength of the defending runner-up seems to be increasing instead of decreasing.

If the little brother wins another championship, the old shark plans to call Li You directly and go to the Knicks to throw in the towel and get another ring. At that time, he can still suppress Mamba.
"Kobe's next contract? I can definitely give him some advice. You know, I was in the same situation back then."

"Leaving the Lakers is actually a good choice, but playing in Denver has some problems. The local fans may not welcome him."

When talking about this, O'Neal smiled and shook his head. Michael Wilbon could tell that the old shark was being sarcastic again. Some local women's organizations are still boycotting the Mamba and protesting almost every year.

"Do you think the Lakers, with their blood transfusions, still have a chance to chase the championship?"

Hearing the question, O'Neal regained his serious expression and spoke about the championship in great detail:
"The ceiling of every team is determined by superstars. Lee is the GOAT, so he completed 8 consecutive championships and won 12 championships!"

"I'm the most dominant center in NBA history, so I can win a championship with my little brother."

"If the Lakers stick to the past system, it will be difficult for Kobe to carry a team. After all, he is an ordinary All-Star, but his posture is a bit like Michael Jordan."

There was laughter in the studio, but no one thought that what he said was wrong. Old Shark was very satisfied with his own summary and added with a smile:

"The best way is to give up your core player position. Stoudemire knows how to win the championship, and Barnes is also the perfect championship puzzle."

"Kobe must face reality. If he can't accept this situation, he should leave Los Angeles and go to a rebuilding team to assist young people. Wade and I were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals. I wish him good luck!"

"."

The PTI program has a greater influence. O'Neal's remarks labeled Kobe as an "ordinary All-Star", and many of his die-hard fans expressed their anger on social media.

A New York Post reporter also began to add fuel to the fire, posting a clip of an interview with Anthony's wife Lala on Twitter:
“I’m from Brooklyn and have always been a Knicks fan, and I always wanted my husband to come to New York to play.”

"But after getting the invitation to Los Angeles, I had to think more about my husband and family. Playing for the Lakers was a perfect choice. There aren't many places in the league with the energy like the Staples Center."

"Most importantly, in my opinion, Melo is indeed better than Kobe now, and I believe my husband can bring the championship to the team!"

After the release of tomorrow's column, the comment section exploded. Is Carmelo Anthony better than Kobe? The die-hard fans naturally disagreed, and the commentators also followed suit.

——On Friday, August 8, the University of Miami welcomed James and his team. The city has almost no four seasons and the climate is always warm. Except for being troubled by hurricanes, it is hard for anyone to refuse to live here.

The group who were planning to go to the basketball hall to warm up soon met the young man from the Hurricanes. Cleveland fans did not like James' decision, but in Miami, everyone welcomed the arrival of the Chosen One.

"Come on! LeBron!"

"It's time for us to win the first championship in team history!"

“We’ve got your back, man!”

"."

The young men sent their blessings one after another, and James also smiled and bumped fists with everyone. In fact, the fact that he could gain widespread support locally was inseparable from the support of Jeff Van Gundy and Li You.

After finishing Manchester United's North American tour, Lee returned to New Mexico and accompanied Kim and the campaign team on a visit to several counties in southern New Mexico.

Visiting farmers and energy financiers, having conversations with small business owners, and showing off at church or veterans' events, Li You, who serves as a "househusband", has been running so hard lately that he has almost broken his legs with his little one as a background.

In New Mexico, there are constant television and radio advertisements, and active communication with local young voters on social media. There are more Hispanics and Latinos here, and Li You in the swing district has even made an appeal on stage.

Despite being so busy, Li You did not forget to support his old teammate Wright.

Two days ago, the New York police announced that Lorenzen Wright was missing and suspected of suicide. His ex-wife revealed through the media that her husband was taking drugs and gambling, which caused quite a bit of controversy.

Li You spoke up for his old teammate on social media, and called on the police to step up their investigation. When he talked about Wright's contribution to the team, some people left a message in the comment section:

"Lee, do the Heat have a chance to break the 73-win record?"

It was an ordinary comment, but Li You personally forwarded and responded to it, and the answer was beyond the expectations of many fans:

"LeBron, who has fully realized his talent, has the opportunity to lead the Heat to 70+ wins, and breaking the record will not be surprising. After all, young people have more advantages in the long regular season."

The day after Lee You answered fans' questions, Van Gundy, who appeared on the Sports Center program, also gave his own opinion:

"LeBron can't play like Lee, but he does have a chance to lead this talented Heat team to 73 wins."

The recognition from the GOAT and the championship coach made LeBron James smile with joy. He didn't even care about Gilbert's sarcasm. The chosen one felt full of energy and wanted to train every day.

Wade, who was walking in the team, felt a little aggrieved at this time. After Li You and Van Gundy said a few words, the fans completely forgot about him, the native leader.

Most of the people he met at this time greeted James, and Wade helplessly found that he seemed to have become a "small character".

On the other hand, Anthony also enjoyed the treatment of being the protagonist. The reporter from the Miami Herald following behind him wanted to squeeze in next to him for an interview, which made him temporarily forget the issue of contract renewal.

The Nuggets only offered a three-year contract, which Anthony was certainly not satisfied with. The two sides failed to reach an agreement, mainly because the Lakers could not come up with satisfactory chips.

When entering the stadium, Chris Paul put down his equipment bag and shook his head helplessly. He felt that James was possessed by a ghost. Even he could see that Wade was in a bad mood.
"Bro, don't read those boring reports. You know, Li always likes to praise young people."

Sitting on the chair next to him, Wade's eyes twitched slightly when he heard Paul's words. He seriously suspected that Li You did it on purpose. After humiliating Iverson, he came to watch his fun!

Paul keeps chattering, but in fact he has also been involved in trade rumors recently.

However, Matt Bartelstein is an old-school agent who communicated with the team in a low-key manner and reflected his desire to leave without alerting the media:
"Some things can be handled by agents. You shouldn't accept CAA's arrangement. To be honest, that decision-making program is really not good!"

Hearing Paul's complaints, Bosh couldn't hold it in anymore. It was a rare opportunity for him to be the focus of attention. The outdated Dragon King was very pleased with his decision:

"We need to pay attention, Chris, you should understand the problems of playing in a small market. After the decision, I got more advertising contracts, and I don't think there is anything wrong with it."

While the three were still communicating, Anthony, who had changed his jersey, also smiled. When he heard the question from the Miami Herald reporter, he shrugged his shoulders and answered easily:

"Modern basketball requires a better lineup to pursue the championship! Look at the choices made by Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. LeBron and others just made the right decision in advance."

"I don't want to deny it, you know, I want to compete with these guys, and I did get the Lakers invitation."

"As for who is the better player, I don't think there is any need to dwell on this question. Kobe is already 32 years old, and I haven't entered my prime yet. You should understand what I mean."

The confident Anthony almost said that he was stronger than Mamba and more suitable to be the core. Several reporters agreed with this. Kobe's performance in the finals in recent years was really too bad.

After changing into his sneakers, James put on a black headband. When he heard the reporter asking why they came here to play basketball, the Chosen One couldn't help but puff out his chest and boasted with a smile:
"We have received an invitation from the White House to play a game with the President at Fort McNair, Washington on Sunday!"

"We all want to be in the best physical condition in front of Mr. O'Hare and those injured soldiers. You know, I will give my all in every game."

"."

In fact, other legendary players such as Magic Johnson and Bill Russell were also invited. Maya Moore from the University of Connecticut was also invited. In short, all the people at the party were black players.

Wade pricked up his ears and heard the Miami reporter asking about the 73-win record. James grinned again. The Chosen One seemed to become more confident when he mentioned the "Lee Yoo Recognition Award":
"You know, I led the Cavaliers to a 68-win record. I am very grateful to Coach Lee and Coach Van Gundy for their recognition of me."

"I like to take on new challenges. As for the records, I will share my leadership experience with the Heat without reservation. Wade and I have had in-depth discussions on how to lead this team."

"."

Wade felt uncomfortable listening to his good brother bragging about himself. He really had no way to refute it. After all, James' record as a leader was indeed better than his.

He stood up slowly, and soon reporters surrounded Wade. The Flash tried to smile, but his expression froze when he heard the question.

"Wade, regarding the invitational tournament on Sunday, World Peace threatened to give you a hard time in front of the President. What do you think about this?"

Artest was naturally invited as well. In fact, it was he who came up with the idea of ​​the invitational tournament.

Wade looked at the curious expression on the face of the Washington Post reporter and couldn't help but curse in his heart. He managed to maintain a smile on the surface and responded:

"I know Mehta, he loves competition, and on Sunday, I will let basketball speak for itself."

When the interview was over and they came to the court to shoot warm-ups, Anthony looked at James with envy and whispered to Paul beside him:

"If I can join the Lakers, I will prove that I am a better leader than Kobe!"

In order not to break his friend's fantasy, Paul responded casually. In fact, he didn't tell a few people that the Lakers had also communicated with him. Jim Buss believed that he and Stoudemire could form the strongest duo in the West.

Thinking of Matt Bartelstein talking to him about the benefits of playing in Los Angeles, Paul sighed inwardly:
“It would be nice if there was no trade veto.”

(End of this chapter)