NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 763 "You really can't do it" (no protagonist chapter)
On Saturday, October 2010, 10, the Lakers played their last preseason game at home. Prior to that, Stoudemire successfully led the team to seven consecutive wins!

The new tactical system and new core shined in these games, and the championship striker's violent style of play also successfully won the love of Los Angeles fans.

Compared with the previous Lakers team, the defending runner-up team, which focuses on pick-and-roll and transition offense, plays at a much faster pace. The most significant change is the increase in the number of rounds.

In 7 games, the Lakers averaged 85+ possessions per game. Not to mention defense, their vigorous offense made the fans very excited.

In this era where offense wins championships, many Los Angeles basketball critics even shouted dawn, as they had long been fed up with the previous poor offensive performances.

Tonight's opponent is still the Warriors. In the game the day before yesterday, the unlucky Stephen Curry sprained his ankle again. The rookie only played two good games in the preseason.
Many basketball commentators have high hopes for Curry's excellent shooting, but at present, it seems that the rookie may not be able to overcome the injury.

His relatively thin body and fragile ankles look too deadly. It is no wonder that the Warriors used the rookie as a bargaining chip to try to get Carmelo Anthony. It is difficult for Curry to realize his talent.

When the team arrived in Los Angeles, a depressed Curry looked unhappy during the interview. The medical team had evaluated his ankle and the conclusion was a bit bad:
“It’s very likely that I’ll be dealing with long-term ankle injuries in the future.”

This situation is not uncommon in the league. Many new players have been devastated by injuries. Most players' careers average only about four years, so it is not easy to gain a foothold in the NBA.

As a second-generation player, Curry also received some extra attention. However, when a reporter asked about his ankle injury before the game, the usually easy-going rookie was rarely confident and boasted:

"I don't think my ankle will affect my career!"

"Injuries are inevitable. I know my body is not strong enough, but this is only my second season and I am confident that I can change the status quo through training."

"The ankle won't knock me out and I'll be back on the court soon."

Although he tried to appear confident in front of reporters, Curry's heart began to waver. He believed in science and the medical team's advice was to reduce changes of direction and try to reduce the pressure on the ankle.

But this is something that Curry finds difficult to control, as the NBA is not a league where he can "let go". With his thin body, he relies more on speed and changes in rhythm, all of which require strong ankles.

After head coach Nelson resigned, Keith Smart took over. The interim coach received instructions from management to give Curry some care.

It's not about letting the newbie become the absolute core, but the Warriors want to test whether Curry is capable or not. If he cannot live up to his talent, they will trade him early after the second year of the contract to stop the loss in time.

As a rebuilding team, the Warriors are not under much pressure. At the end of the pre-game press conference, Keith Smart saw Curry's unwillingness and took the initiative to comfort the rookie by hugging him:
“Stephen, you should have faith in yourself. God will bless those who work hard!”

In his first year as a rookie, Curry ran errands and carried bags for the team. In order to integrate into the Warriors, he even did not forget to flatter Monta Ellis.

After joining the national team, Durant was in great form. Although Curry performed well, he was unable to become the core of the team.

Curry was worried when thinking about his future, but the new season was about to start. In order to get more playing time, he could only express his confidence at this time:
"I'm ready and I'll be back for the first game!"

Keith Smart patted Curry on the shoulder to show encouragement. He understood Curry's feelings. If Monta Ellis was officially promoted, the one who would be sent away would most likely be the rookie.

Curry of the Warriors was absent due to injury, but the Lakers welcomed Kobe who returned from injury.

Mamba's early return was originally a good thing, but the atmosphere within the team has changed, and even the sports media in Los Angeles have begun to question it.

A column in the Los Angeles Times yesterday mentioned Kobe's early return. There was no praise, no outlook, and the commentators showed their ruthless side:
"Kobe will destroy the chemistry of the existing team. He should give up his trade veto and leave the Lakers."

"."

This view has been going on for several months. It is the first time that a superstar insists on using the trade veto power regardless of his face. In response, more and more Los Angeles fans are boycotting.

Seeing the team's consecutive wins in the preseason and the regular season about to begin, the calls for trading Kobe can't stop. It's time for Mamba to make his final contribution to the team!

In the Lakers' pre-game press conference, head coach Byron Scott was not so extreme. As an old Laker, he did not get involved in factional disputes after joining the team.

But Scott still has gratitude towards Jim Buss, so when answering questions about the trade, the new head coach expressed his attitude relatively tactfully:

"I will control Kobe's playing time. His primary goal for the new season is to get back to full health. We all know how good a healthy Kobe is."

Scott intends to gradually marginalize Mamba to cater to Jim Buss's instructions. Stoudemire welcomes this, but the champion forward remains calm on the surface and even speaks well of his partner:
"As a team leader, I'm glad to see Kobe return, which will strengthen our roster depth."

"As for the new tactical system, I'm not worried about him. Kobe can handle it. You know, reaching the finals is never an easy thing. He is underestimated."

"The cooperation between the excellent players will not be affected in any way, and I am confident that I can lead the team back on the right track."

"."

The championship forward said nice things, but in the locker room he and his old teammates isolated Kobe together. Coupled with Jim Buss's clear statement, it seems that it is only a matter of time before Mamba leaves the team.

Kobe is certainly aware of his situation. The continuous winning streak in the preseason has allowed Stoudemire and others to completely control the right to speak, and these "brushes" do not want him to return to split the data.

The Lakers are gradually developing into the direction of the "Knicks second team". Head coach Scott likes Excel very much, and Stoudemire also uses data to paint a rosy picture for everyone.

Under the leadership of these two new point guards, even Odom fell into the "data trap" and Kobe completely lost control of the team.

At 19 p.m. that evening, when Kobe Bryant, who had officially returned, took the court wearing the Lakers' white home jersey, there was a faint sound of boos at the Staples Center.

The slogan "Kobe Out" occupied a large area, and many Los Angeles fans who came to watch the game once again expressed their wishes that they did not want to see Mamba again.

In front of the camera, Stoudemire showed his leadership qualities and took the initiative to fist-bump with the sullen Kobe. After the game started at 19:30, the championship forward repeatedly signaled to give the ball to Mamba.

In the first round, Biedrins discovered the Lakers' problem. The situation was completely different from what was shown in the video session. The opponent seemed to have lost its vitality.

Seeing Mamba's missed layup after a pick-and-roll, Monta Ellis received the ball and launched a personal counterattack, easily scoring 2 points. Cheers could be heard faintly in the stadium.

Kobe, who returned from injury, seemed to have lost his explosiveness. He was unable to quickly get rid of the ball and had to dive into the crowd when attacking from the low post.

As Kobe Bryant's three-pointers kept missing, the boos in the Staples Center became louder and louder, until Felton assisted Stoudemire to make a slam dunk, which changed the atmosphere.

At the end of the first quarter, Kobe was gasping for breath after running back and forth for several rounds. He was indeed a little anxious after returning from injury, and at this time he actually felt powerless.

26:28, the Lakers were ahead, but the difference was negligible.
During the intermission, the scene was very noisy. The previous games were not like this. The constipated offense was back, and Kobe was like the cancer!
In the following games, the unyielding Mamba started his strong attack again. Occasionally, he would score a difficult goal and immediately celebrate with his teeth bared, but no one interacted with his teammates.

After three quarters, the Lakers were only leading by 3 points, which was completely different from the previous game, and the boos were getting louder and louder.

In the last quarter of the game, due to playing time restrictions, Kobe returned to the bench, and several Lakers players on the court immediately became rejuvenated.

They ran actively on the offensive end, pressured the ball handler on the defensive end, and ran even faster in transition offense. For a moment, everyone was fighting bravely. No one pretended anymore. Everyone just wanted to send Mamba away together!

In the weird atmosphere, as the Warriors made more mistakes, the Lakers went on a 12:2 run and eventually won the game easily.

99:109, amidst the cheers, Stoudemire, who played till the end, kept high-fiving the fans, with a bright smile on his dark face. Noticing that Kobe left the court early with a sullen face and many fans booed, Barnes was completely relieved, and after high-fiving his old teammate, he was secretly happy in his heart:
"We must get rid of this cancer!"

"."

In his first game back from injury, Kobe had pretty good stats, shooting 21 of 8, 3 of 0 from beyond the three-point line, and 8 of 6 free throws, scoring a game-high 22 points.

The shooting percentage was not ideal, mainly due to Mamba's touch problem. He hadn't played any games for a few months, so his performance was already very good when he came on the court.

Unfortunately, at the post-match press conference, the Los Angeles sports reporters did not treat Kobe well, and the Yahoo Sports reporter directly added fuel to the fire:

"Kobe, do you plan to leave the Lakers before the trade deadline?"

Slapped in the face, many people looked at Kobe with different eyes. Mamba was furious at this time, "death stare" at the other party, and replied viciously:

"This is my team! I will fulfill my promise, stop asking such boring questions!"

Fox Sports reporters were more concerned about the Lakers' new system. The two sides have a cooperative relationship, so the questions they asked were relatively friendly:

"Kobe, we noticed that you didn't have much connection with Stoudemire in tonight's game? Are you still adapting to the pick-and-roll system?"

The angry Kobe could no longer distinguish the reporter's intentions. He felt that any question he heard was a mockery of himself, and he answered angrily again:
"I can play in any system! Stop asking these stupid questions!"

"Listen, I'm a championship defender, don't tell me what to do, I don't need anyone to tell me how to play!"

"."

Seeing Kobe turn around and walk away after saying these words, the reporters in the audience showed dissatisfaction, and some even shouted directly towards the door:
"Stoudemire is more successful than you!"

Mamba angrily quickened his pace. Everyone was laughing at him. He was laughed at by even more people for making it to the finals. Kobe couldn't understand what these clowns were thinking.

-

Tomorrow is Monday, October 10th, and the opening game is coming. The NBA has prepared three games for the fans.

The matchup between the Knicks and the Heat has attracted the most attention. The Big Three are "equally matched" in the preseason, and the defending champions are "50-50". There seems to be a big gap in the desire for victory between the two sides.

Football commentators can also understand that Li You is tired of winning 12 championships. It is human nature that he no longer desires to win. It is time for him to "enjoy" himself.

Everyone knows how difficult it is to maintain excellent physical condition for 14 seasons without professionals explaining it. Li You must have paid a huge price for this.

It is normal to relax for the next few years. When you are older, your health is the most important thing.

The game between the Rockets and the Lakers also attracted a lot of attention. Yao Ming was in excellent form in the World Championships and had a huge advantage against the Lakers' inside line.

Considering that the team's form has declined since Mamba's return, fans on the other side of the ocean are also beginning to expect Yao Ming to beat the defending runner-up.

The game between the Cavaliers and the Celtics is considered to be a battle to prove Dwight Howard. The "Happy Beast" has been very busy during the offseason, frequently appearing on well-known talk shows and being very active on social media.

Analysts are also paying close attention to whether the Celtics can demonstrate dominance against their luxurious inside combination.

ESPN had a lot more NBA content this morning, and TNT's pre-game show in the afternoon released some "big news". The trio's return brought an exclusive piece of news:
“Isaiah Thomas could become the new Knicks GM!”

During the offseason, Donnie Walsh was hospitalized due to health reasons, and some basketball commentators speculated that the 69-year-old might have to leave his job.

Donnie Walsh has been very successful in the past few years since taking over the Knicks. Although he "sacrificed" some late-round picks, the old man has generally done his job well.

The rumor that Isaiah Thomas would take over the position was mainly due to the personal friendship between the veteran and James Dolan.

Thomas' early experiences with the Pacers and Raptors were not successful, but the legend did not give up and has been active in the media over the years.

When accepting the three-way connection, Isaiah Thomas showed his signature smile again. The famous player seemed to be in a very good mood. When talking about the rumors, he grinned:
"Guys, I can't reveal the specific news, but the Knicks are about to enter a rebuilding period, and I do have some opinions on this!"

"You know, I have a good relationship with Dolan. We talked about this before. The Knicks need three more championships, and we have reached some consensus on this."

Isaiah Thomas, who was wearing a black striped suit, looked proud when talking about friendship, giving the three people the illusion that he had been chosen.
The Knicks have always done a good job of keeping secrets, and there is no traitor in the team. Charles Barkley got a lot of information from the MSG documentary.

The latest "New York Dynasty" documentary will not be released until next year. Big Mouth only knows that Walsh's health is indeed not good. Seeing Thomas so confident, he also boasted to him:
"Taking over a team during the rebuilding period is indeed not an easy task. Considering Lee's age, there may be greater challenges in the next few years!"

"To remain competitive around the age of 35, the defending champion needs more quality pieces."

Kenny Smith kept smiling when he heard the two men bragging about their business, until Isaiah Thomas said "the blueprint in his mind", then he smiled and asked:
"Man, have you talked to Lee about this? I won't question Lee's ability, but Michael Jordan has shown a clear decline at the age of 34. What are Lee's plans for the next few years?"

The smile froze, but Isaiah Thomas quickly covered it up and continued to brag when he heard the question:
"You know, Lee is very busy this offseason. We just had a brief chat about this matter. He trusts me very much."

After a lot of bragging, Ernie Johnson, who had become completely bald, smiled and nodded in the studio. However, he felt that the outdated star lacked confidence. He thought of a possibility and couldn't help but cheer up.

When the call ended, Big Mouth Barkley was still lamenting about Li You's physical condition. Compared with the "frail and sickly" Curry, Li You was incredibly healthy.

Pushing up his glasses, Ernie Johnson interrupted the discussion between his two partners and asked, adding fuel to the fire, when talking about the exclusive news just now:
"I think we can talk to Lee about this after the game tomorrow and get his opinion on the new general manager?"

Kenny Smith reacted with a surprised look on his face. The thought that "Isaiah Thomas was lying" flashed through his mind, but he regained control of his expression and continued with a smile:
"I am even more looking forward to tomorrow's game. Maybe it will break TNT's opening game ratings record."

Hearing the sarcastic words from his two partners, Barkley also reacted. He touched his chin with his big mouth, and finally saved face for the outdated celebrity and teased Li You:
"Lee should be more concerned about the House election situation at this time!"

"I never doubted his ability, but Lee, who is about to turn 33, may focus more on his family."

"."

The trio was still previewing tomorrow’s game, but Isaiah Thomas, who ended the connection, was a little numb, and after being reminded, he began to doubt James Dolan’s right to speak.

During the offseason, the Curly-haired boss took his band on tour again, and the former star followed suit. When the two sides talked about team affairs, they naturally talked about the general manager's health issues.

Isaiah Thomas, seeing the opportunity, recommended himself after boasting, and James Dolan, who was drunk, agreed immediately.

Recently, I saw Donnie Walsh voluntarily resign in front of the New York media, and the out-of-date star directly opened the champagne!
Walking back and forth in the study, Isaiah Thomas became more and more worried. He simply sent a text message to his friend:
"Man, maybe we can talk about our previous plan in more detail."

"."

(End of this chapter)