NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 756 "Victory Champagne." (No protagonist chapter)
On Sunday, September 2010, 9, the 11th place play-off match of the Türkiye World Championships was held.

For Chinese fans, getting 7th place is something worth celebrating. It is a great surprise that they can eliminate Spain and enter the quarterfinals of this World Championships as the third in the group.

At 15 p.m., 1 fans poured into Istanbul's Sinan Erdem Dome, among which Chinese fans formed a large square, and cheers could be heard continuously.

In the match for the 5th place, Yao Ming twisted his right foot and unfortunately had to retire due to injury, and eventually lost to the Slovenia team.

Whether he can return to the team in this game is also a matter of concern to the fans, but head coach Deng Huade did not give a definite answer before the game, which made many media reporters very dissatisfied.

Since the first game, Yao Ming has not had much playing time. The reason given by Durant is that his physical condition has not yet recovered to its best condition, and Yi Jianlian is still the main person carrying the team's offense.

But as the group stage progressed, Yao Ming became more and more courageous. After successfully defeating two weak opponents, Puerto Rico and Côte d'Ivoire, he took third place with the help of the net score, and the media's expectations were getting higher and higher.

Today, facing the group stage opponent Russia, everyone hopes to get better results. A large number of reporters followed the report before the game started.

After the front-line connection ended, in the CCTV studio, Zhang Weiping rarely said a good word for the head coach. The old man took the initiative to explain for Yao Ming:

"Although it wasn't his left foot, Yao Ming's injury was pretty severe and he won't be able to play in the NBA preseason."

"Deng Huade is right, the 7th and 8th are actually the same. If we want to play in the 12 Olympics, we really have to use them sparingly."

After losing to Serbia in the quarter-finals, some media people called for "optimizing Deng Huade". The collapse in the fourth quarter was not just a game. The defeat in three anxious quarters was a very bad viewing experience!

The team was able to eliminate Spain thanks to Pau Gasol. With Navarro's explosive performance, the rebounds were snatched away. However, after the victory, Durant did not receive much support, and there were more and more comments that he had no tactics.

In the studio, Sun Zhengping was also unsure about his evaluation of this year's competition. Although the top eight was the expectation before the game, actually making it to the top eight was beyond his expectations.

If China finishes fourth in the group stage, it will face Lithuania, which is in much better shape than Spain. Deng Huade's strategy is correct. After discussing the results, Sun Zhengping also held back:
"We have achieved our goal and have now entered the Olympic cycle. I hope the Chinese team can make a breakthrough."

“This team has pleasantly surprised the fans and we can all stop questioning and continue to enjoy this wonderful game.”

"."

In the stadium in front, Yao Ming was still encouraging his teammates. Yi Jianlian, who had almost secured the rebounding title, clapped his hands repeatedly. He collapsed in the fourth quarter and had no choice but to take the blame. He was also holding back his energy tonight.

World basketball has been influenced by the NBA trend, and this three-point shooting contest has exploded. The Chinese team no longer has Yao Ming, but Yi Jianlian and Wang Zhizhi are both space-type inside players, which can be said to be following the trend.

Liu Wei, Sun Yue and Wang Shipeng from the outside also shot the ball hard in the previous games. With such random shots, they managed to last until the fourth quarter in all the games.

After the game started at 15:30, unlike the situation in the group stage, Russia's Mozgov exploded in the interior right after the opening.

Monia, who was eliminated by the Trail Blazers, also had a good performance. Although the team's offense was out of power in the second quarter, as the second half began, China's 2-point lead was quickly eroded.

By the last quarter, the starting lineup was clearly unable to hold on, and substitute center Zhang Zhaoxu fouled out early. Zhang Weiping groaned a few times and subconsciously began to use metaphors:
"Our game was a bit like the Lakers in the finals. The rotation was too short and we couldn't keep up with the pace of the game in the end, so we lost points in the fourth quarter!"

"Wang Shipeng's shots were just like Kobe's. He had to shoot even if he missed. He really couldn't not shoot."

"."

Sun Zhengping is an old commentator. He has not kept up with the times and has become a "Kobe hater" like Zhang Weiping. Seeing Bekov on the Russian team once again instigating a switch attack, he could only sigh helplessly:
"The three-point shot is really a double-edged sword! If you miss the shot at this time, you will be counterattacked. The opponent has a chance to score 30 points in this quarter. The boys really tried their best."

On the bench, Yao Ming felt helpless when he saw the players from both teams running back and forth. Wang Zhizhi was already exhausted, which was very similar to the situation in the NBA.

FIBA games have changed a lot from the past. European teams have completely turned to three-pointers and fast breaks. If the trend in previous years was still mainly inside, the situation has completely changed now.

The game seems to be placing higher and higher demands on big men, and low-post beasts have become players who go against the trend. A 10-point difference is not safe, and a burst of energy can make up the score.

The cheers continued to ring out, the game time passed quickly, and when the score difference reached 8 points, the Chinese team still failed to withstand the pressure and the response ball was completely cut off.

When the buzzer sounded, the score was fixed at 77:85, all the players on the field were leaning on their knees, and the play-offs officially ended.

The players encouraged each other, and the 8th place result was still very good. Mozgov, who will officially enter the NBA this year, scored a game-high 22 points.

The big man smiled happily. When asked about playing for the Knicks in an interview, Mozgov immediately boasted:

"It's my honor! Lee changed the trend of world basketball. Being able to play for the Knicks is the dream of every basketball practitioner!"

"."

Unlike Ibaka who played one more year in the Spanish league, Mozgov spent two seasons in the Russian league.

If he doesn't enter the NBA, the big man will have no chance. In this year's finals, D'Antoni frequently used Dio, and the Knicks no longer seemed to rely on the twin towers. Mozgov was eager to get the recognition of the coaching staff.

Yao Ming, who lowered his head during the interview, even made a joke about his sprained right foot, saying it was better than injuring his left foot.

The CCTV reporter still asked a tactical question, and Yao Ming could only continue to explain to everyone:

"We did rely more on pick-and-roll in this World Championships. This is the trend of world basketball development. A 3-pointer is one point more than a 2-pointer. We can't expect to launch every attack from the low post."

"I think change is a good thing. If we want to get better results in the Olympics, our rotation needs to be deeper."

"Young guards need to learn how to pick and roll and shoot jump shots"

In the studio at the back, Sun Zhengping briefly summarized the game, his tone revealing a sense of regret. Zhang Weiping was content, but the old man went off topic again:
"Pau Gasol was in a slump in this World Championship and Nowitzki was eliminated in the group stage."

"If Yao Ming can stay healthy, he has a chance to make the All-NBA First Team in the new season, and the Rockets also have a chance to advance past the first round."

"The World Championships have been outstanding, and A-Lin will have more opportunities when he joins the Wizards!"

"The regular season is about to start. Let's continue to focus on Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian. NBA Frontline will also follow up and report on the relevant news."

The old man did not mention the Knicks and the Lakers, but the league has already sent out a signal that these two teams are no longer the protagonists of the new season, especially the defending champions, who are doomed to fail.

At 19 p.m. that evening, in the same stadium, the US team faced the Lithuanian team in the semi-finals.

Durant performed bravely, scoring 38 points, 89:74, and successfully led the team into the finals!
The US men's basketball team is still undefeated and got a game-high 10 rebounds. Odom, who is in better form, grinned during an interview after the game.

Talking about the three-point shooting trend in the World Championships, Odom put on a "not surprised" look and said confidently to the reporter:
"I've witnessed crazier three-point shots than this! Chandler and I have been telling the youngsters on the team that they should take the shot decisively when there is an opportunity outside the three-point line!"

"Billups has played a leading role, and of course I think everyone wants to thank Lee more. We are leading the world."

"." Chandler, who appeared in the back, hugged Odom. He found that this guy also had the potential to be a flatterer. Facing the camera, the champion center also boasted:
"We don't care about the opponent's three-pointer. In fact, this way of playing is the most familiar to everyone."

"Lee is the only one in the world who can pull off those incredible shots. I am absolutely sure of this. Imitation is impossible to surpass. The championship is waving to us."

-

On Sunday, the 12th, at 21:30 p.m., the host Türkiye team and the United States team faced off in the final of this World Championship.

Head coach Krzyzewski looked relaxed before the game. He had to admit that this group of young players was better than he had imagined. The combination of their outstanding athletic ability and shooting allowed them to demonstrate considerable dominance.

After the start of the game, the US team has been suppressing their opponents. With large-scale rotations, the Turkish team continued to lose points in a single quarter.

Although he no longer has the violent performance as before, Durant is still the best player on the court. He can do everything from inside to outside. Derrick Rose also uses his speed to constantly attack the opponent's defense.

At the end of the third quarter, the US team was only leading by 13 points. In the last quarter, the Turkish team failed to fight back effectively and ultimately lost.

64:81, relying on excellent defense, the US team crushed their opponents in the final and successfully won back the gold medal.

At the award ceremony, there were constant cheers. Durant, who was successfully elected as the most valuable player of this World Championship, smiled happily with the gold medal. Amid the cheers of his teammates, he was interviewed and his true colors were revealed:
"I want to give this medal to my goddess of victory! Thank her for her support!"

"The gold medal is just the beginning. I haven't fully realized my talent yet! There is still a lot of work waiting for me to do!"

"A great leader! A caring father! I can do more"

Rose, who had a paralyzed face, barely maintained his expression when hearing his teammates' words. He followed Stephen Curry, who was shouting excitedly, with a question mark on his face. He couldn't understand Durant's recent tweets again.
The newbie thinks this guy is very talented, but his daily life is weird.

The ESPN reporter thought that the goddess of victory was Durant's mother. After hearing these words, he was very moved. After all, Durant grew up in a single-parent family environment, and it is very good for him to have such awareness!

In the studio behind the scenes, Mark Kastecher, who usually explains the U.S. team's international games, also praised Durant's performance and even boasted:

"In the next few years, I believe Kevin Durant will win an MVP trophy soon!"

Fran Fraschilla is a frequent guest at international competitions. He previously coached college teams and has been deeply involved in international basketball. When he heard his partner bragging, he also added:
"I know that many basketball critics think that Durant lacks killer instinct in some games of the Thunder, but after watching this World Championship, I believe everyone will change such views!"

"He's so good. With such a big body, he has an amazing ability to combine with the ball. It's really a matter of time before he wins the MVP award."

Doug Collins raised his eyebrows when he heard the two people's praise, and when talking about the MVP issue, he couldn't help but joked:

"I also believe Kevin Durant can win this trophy, but I'm not sure if he can reach the higher standards of MVP!"

"We all know that as MVPs, Lee is on another level, Shaq has his own dominance, and Garnett, Duncan, and Nowitzki each represent another standard."

"I hope Durant can fully realize his talent. He should have higher requirements for himself!"

Durant, who returned to the locker room at this time, had already tasted the customized version of Spade Ace of the US men's basketball team. The champagne of victory made the young man a little inflated. Thinking of Li You welcoming a big son, he thought of the goddess who was "in dire straits".

"Dedicate this victory to the goddess of victory! The gold medal represents my heart. I swear, I will be a qualified father!"

Holding a bottle of champagne and typing away, Durant pressed the send button with a look of happiness on his face. He switched to his secondary account skillfully and found that his goddess had updated her photos in the hospital. His heart sank again.

Olsen, who is also due to give birth, took a photo with Li You and Scarlett in the hospital. The three of them were smiling happily. On Facebook, the caption was also very simple:
"A new family member!"

Westbrook was jumping up and down when he saw Durant's "face-changing" moment again. For a moment, he was puzzled. Curry was helping to clean up the locker room. He noticed the look in his teammates' eyes, glanced at them and asked in a low voice:
"Is Kevin like this usually? He was so happy just now."

Shrugging his shoulders, Westbrook thought of the last time he quarreled with Harden because of his blessing in the comment section, and replied helplessly:
“God knows what this guy posts on Twitter every time!”

-

On Monday, September 9, the news that Durant led the US team to win its first gold medal since 13 at the World Championships made headlines in major sports media.

Although the event had low ratings on ESPN, it had a significant impact worldwide. Nearly 10 billion people watched this World Championships, which is the best viewership in recent years.

Some fans were celebrating the championship, but more people who paid attention to sports focused their attention on the Heat.

Training camp is about to start, and the news about whether Pat Riley will coach the team again is getting hotter and hotter. Many basketball critics will mention a question when evaluating the Heat's lineup:
"Erik Spoelstra may be the biggest weakness of this team!"

Some kind-hearted fans dug up the scene where Wade bumped his head coach with his shoulder during the regular season in the past two years. At that time, because of the arrival of the championship forward, the Flash expressed his dissatisfaction to the coaching staff many times.

Now that the team is "armed to the teeth", reducing shortcomings and optimizing the head coach seem to be the most important things to do.

The Miami Herald is full of gossip every day and releases relevant news from time to time. In the morning, the newspaper reported that James and Wade were discussing the new season with Pat Riley.

Everyone believes that as long as the superstars speak up, it is only a matter of time before Spoelstra is fired. It will be difficult for a rookie coach to coach this historical team.

That night, there was no news of Oilhead's comeback, but the Heat officially confirmed that they would officially open training camp at Hurlburt Field and Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida Panhandle!

Unlike previous years' home training in Miami, this time the Heat gathered all their players and deliberately avoided the media, choosing closed training.

On Tuesday morning, the Heat team members who were about to leave accepted interviews from local sports media. Oilyhead did not show up. When Spoelstra heard the reporter's question, he said with a relaxed look:
"As a young coach, I really can't compare to those championship coaches in terms of coaching experience!"

"But basketball is round, and after building the right offensive system, I believe I can lead this team to win a championship."

"In addition to Pat Riley, Coach Van Gundy has always been my role model. We have a lot of similarities, which makes me more targeted when coaching LeBron."

"."

Everyone heard the hidden meaning. Jeff Van Gundy is the youngest championship coach in NBA history and the first dynasty coach to win four consecutive championships.

Spoelstra obviously also put himself at a very high level, and his words and deeds revealed absolute confidence.

Not only was the coaching staff full of confidence, but James, Wade, Bosh and McGrady were all in high spirits, as if they were not going to training but to receive an award.

McGrady has never been able to break through the first round, and his reputation has been poor. This time, the team has made the outdated "second man" active again. Facing the reporter, he confidently said:
“This is the best physical condition I’ve been in in recent years. I’m already thinking about which flavor of champagne I want to order!”

"."

(End of this chapter)