NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 805 The Price of "Loyalty" (Daily Chapter)
On Wednesday, August 17, the Associated Press reported that the Brooklyn Nets had been granted permission to attend Kim Kardashian's wedding in California.

This weekend, forward Kris Humphries will officially marry Kim Kardashian, and Brooklyn Nets general manager Billy King and operations staff will be in attendance.

Teams and players are not allowed to contact each other during the suspension, but weddings are one of the special circumstances that are permitted, for which the Kardashian sisters expressed their gratitude on social media.

Although the guest list is being kept secret, Carmelo Anthony and Lala are confirmed to be attending, and stars from the New York rap scene will also be present, making the grand wedding a hot topic among netizens!
A family member's wedding is usually a happy occasion, but Lamar Odom has run into trouble. The Lakers star seems to have gotten high on drugs and was recently involved in a car accident in New York.
The lockout might be a chance for Odom to have a blast. The left-handed magician has visibly gained weight and looks almost bloated!

After the photos were released by New York media, Lakers fans were stunned. It had only been a little over two months, and Omdo looked like he was about to retire early.
Interestingly, in a brief interview with the Associated Press, Odom didn't seem to think his current physique was a problem, even stating rather confidently:
"I will get back into shape after the suspension ends. It's the offseason, and I need to relax. You know, the Finals over the years have taken a huge toll on me!"

"."

This statement is hardly convincing. During the last suspension, some players suddenly gained a lot of weight, and this is not an isolated case.

It's highly likely that Odom will follow in his predecessor's footsteps. Many fans suddenly thought of Kobe. If the Mamba were still alive, would this have happened?

Looking back at Kobe's past "lazybones" remarks, many fans began to defend their idol, and it turns out that their initial view was correct!

Since fans across the ocean warmly welcomed Kobe, some Los Angeles fans have begun to reflect, and suddenly feel that the expectations placed on the Mamba are too high.
There's no need to compare him to Li You. After all, Kobe was just an ordinary All-Star. Using the GOAT standard to compare him to the Mamba is really going too far.

Andre Iguodala is great, he's happy to share the ball, and his defense is better than Kobe's in the last two years, but Lakers fans were somewhat disappointed after watching the playoffs.

Even though Kobe was inefficient, his Excel performance was poor, and he always brought chaos to the locker room, in terms of "competitive spirit," Mamba was superior.

With Lamar Odom gaining a lot of weight, many Los Angeles fans began reminiscing about Kobe Bryant on social media. One die-hard fan's tweet resonated with many, garnering numerous likes:

"Kobe may not be the best basketball player, but his desire to win surpasses that of everyone on the Lakers team right now. We need a strict leader like him."

"."

Such views are just fans indulging in wishful thinking. In fact, most Lakers players don't miss Kobe, and nobody wants to practice extra every day. They're living the best life right now!

Unlike Los Angeles fans who miss Kobe, Boston sports fans have been complaining about the Celtics all month.

In the past, Garnett has always been active in organizing training camps. Fans have seen Garnett's dedication to basketball, and everyone believes that "Big Three basketball" will definitely succeed.

However, the Celtics are not the 76ers, and they don't trust the process as much. After Ray Allen's departure was confirmed, calls for a rebuild began to emerge.

Garnett also sensed something was wrong. The best way to rebuild was to trade Harden and Pierce while they still had trade value, so they could get some good assets in return.

Due to the suspension of play, team management is theoretically unable to communicate with players, but making phone calls is still possible.

Under these circumstances, Garnett didn't receive a single phone call or text message for a whole month. It seemed that Danny Ainge was really preparing to break up the team, and Garnett finally couldn't hold back anymore.
Rondo took his young teammates to New York for training, and the championship-winning guard didn't invite Garnett, the nominal leader, nor was their original leader Pierce.

This move clearly indicates that Rondo received a promise, and Boston fans immediately began speculating about which stars the trade might bring in!
In the afternoon, Garnett gave an exclusive interview to the Boston Globe, showing the reporter his trophies at home. Speaking emotionally about his MVP awards and past peak moments, he said:
"I never thought I could win MVP. I was really excited at the time, but now it seems like this trophy is a curse."

"Injuries are not an excuse for failure, but I still believe the Celtics deserve a championship. We have everything we need to win one."

"I'd trade an MVP award for a Larry O'Brien Trophy."

The tears welled up in Garnett's eyes, a sight that left the reporters and staff looking at each other in bewilderment.

But the interview had to continue, and the sports reporter had to ask the question that might offend Harden:

"Kevin, if the team is planning to rebuild, what are your thoughts on that? Do you want to leave and continue pursuing a championship?"

Although this explanation sounded more respectable, Garnett still felt humiliated. Did the team really want to trade him?
"We still have the ability to compete for the championship! Everyone is eager to play."

"Ray's departure has certainly had some impact on our outside shooting, but from another perspective, it's also an opportunity for Tony!"

"Many commentators don't understand the key points of the game. If you want to limit Li, you have to bring in a defensive specialist."

Seeing that the reporters' attention was drawn to his words, Garnett breathed a sigh of relief and then added:
“Pau can handle more of the ball, and our backcourt duo will be younger, which will help us against the Heat.”

Harden praised his protégé Tony Allen as the Defensive Player of the Year, and even implied that Ray Allen had previously "suppressed" this promising rookie!

Several reporters listened with skepticism: the Celtics really have such an excellent player?
While continuing to discuss the team's roster, Garnett didn't forget to bring up Jermaine O'Neal, once again painting a rosy picture for everyone.

Brandon Bass and Avery Bradley were also praised by Harden, and after his reasoned analysis, several reporters also felt that Ray Allen's departure was not a problem.

At the end of the interview, the reporter subtly probed Garnett's opinion, attempting to find out the ideal team for the former MVP. However, Garnett once again demonstrated his loyalty, stating resolutely:
"I have never considered leaving. The green blood is in my veins, and I will fulfill my promise to the fans."

-

On Friday, August 19th, following the Boston Globe's report, trade rumors continued, with renowned basketball commentator and Celtics superfan Bill Simmons suddenly dropping a bombshell in the morning:
"The Celtics have begun the countdown to rebuilding, and several players are not in the team's plans."

As one of the Celtics' most accurate sources, Bill Simmons' Twitter comment section was flooded within minutes, indicating this is definitely a blockbuster trade!
Garnett, who touted his "loyalty," failed to win over the fans, and most Boston fans felt it was time for a change, believing that "old man" basketball had no future.

No one mentions loyalty anymore, and no one advocates for a "one man, one city" award. Management and fans alike have selectively forgotten, and past promises seem to have become a joke.

The suspension of the season did not dampen the enthusiasm of sports commentators, and many people started to capitalize on the trend by sharing their trading strategies.

The Nets' trade has been widely praised, with Anthony teaming up with Garnett. Considering the need to sell tickets after moving to Brooklyn, this trade is a sure win!

Pierce, who had just attended a poker tournament last month, looked puzzled after seeing the news. No one had ever discussed the deal with him. The native leader suddenly realized that he might also be "put on the market."
Although the free agency period is still some time away, the deal is likely already largely finalized, and Danny Ainge is clearly all ready.

With the "Big Three" in the Eastern Conference officially disbanded, there are also trade rumors circulating in the Western Conference, with the Hornets, who are currently under trusteeship, possibly trading Chris Paul!

Both Los Angeles teams are interested in the young star guard, with the Lakers even willing to package Odom and others.

According to an unnamed source, Jim Buss firmly believes that a Big Three of Paul, Iguodala, and Stoudemire can bring the Lakers a championship. This news has caused a frenzy among Lakers fans; the combination sounds incredibly plausible and sparks endless speculation!
Putting aside the championship, once the Lakers form a Big Three, they will be virtually unbeatable in the Western Conference, and returning to the NBA Finals will be a piece of cake.

The players naturally wouldn't reveal their preferences, but a Los Angeles Times reporter posted several updates on Twitter, as if the trade had already taken place:
"Kudos to Jim Buss and Kupchak, this is the perfect plan, the Lakers will return to the Finals."

After receiving the news, a reporter from the San Antonio Express-News immediately expressed a pessimistic view on social media:
"Ginobili told me that he plans to retire in two years, along with Duncan."

"The Spurs, currently in a rebuilding phase, may not be able to return to the Finals for many years to come. The league should not make any trades related to this. Small-market teams should receive more support."

Spurs fans were heartbroken upon seeing the news; Duncan has remained silent since the end of the regular season.

Garnett is still striving for a championship, while Duncan seems to have completely given up. Since the lockout, no one has been able to find the figure of the former MVP.

After much back and forth, the Lakers seem poised for a resurgence, prompting reporters covering Western Conference teams to take to social media to express their sarcasm and even launch sweeping generalizations.

"That's the real reason for the NBA lockout; big markets always get extra treatment."

-

On Monday, August 22nd, at 9 pm, Old Trafford Stadium was packed to capacity for the second round of the Premier League match, where Manchester United hosted Tottenham Hotspur.

The stadium, after several renovations, has been given a new lease on life, and the restaurant's food has also been refreshed. Although some dishes are a bit pricey, most Manchester United fans still give it positive reviews.

Once the match officially started, the broadcasters would also show the camera on Li You's family sitting in the audience. The Sun newspaper updated the story intensively, even digging up the private doctor who examined British girl Natalie.

To make the newspaper more interesting, some contributors even claimed that Li You used "magic," writing vivid and imaginative short essays depicting him fighting eight men every night.
However, these reports do not affect the "awe" of Manchester United fans. During the summer transfer window, Li You basically met the team's transfer needs and even raised the price with Real Madrid.

Rafael Varane almost joined Real Madrid after being invited by his compatriot Zinedine Zidane.

However, after Ferguson's personal visit, Manchester United immediately raised their offer, setting a transfer fee of 1300 million, and Lens promptly made the final decision.
This talented center-back was eventually brought back to Manchester United by Li You. His performances in the Community Shield and the first round were decent. Although some people joked that Manchester United was raising prices and disrupting the market, a reliable defensive line is extremely important.

The arrival of young David de Gea at Manchester United was met with skepticism from fans, but Li You repeatedly praised the young man, seemingly very fond of the Spanish goalkeeping prodigy.

Aside from that, the only thing that made Manchester United fans somewhat dissatisfied was the signing of Jordan Henderson. As a native English speaker with a dream of playing for Manchester United, the young man was ultimately an outsider.

With the signing of Jordan Henderson and Pogba seeking a starting position, the midfield seems to have become a bit crowded, squeezing out homegrown players.

Right-back Chris Smalling is also a new signing. Over the summer, Manchester United suddenly became much younger, and most of the players were personally brought in by coach Li You. Sky Sports' interpretation is:
"Ferguson is being forced to retire."

Li You did not comment on this. In fact, he did look down on some of the players from his own youth academy, but Manchester United's tradition is to recruit English stars.

The management team discussed this matter, and Li You temporarily compromised.

Although there were no goals in the first half, the game was still quite good. Neymar, who shone brightly last season, was clearly given more freedom and would occasionally switch positions with his teammates to come to the center.

Putting aside some exaggerated falls, the Brazilian prodigy's flashes of brilliance in certain rounds always elicit loud cheers from Manchester United fans.

Sitting next to Li You, Ivana would occasionally look after her younger brother who was watching the game. Tang Nade's little darling loved football and often played with his friends at school.

Thanks to the daily gossip in the British media and the extensive publicity in mainstream newspapers, Ivana also learned that Li You had spent a considerable amount on football this year.

With the addition of a golf resort and several shopping malls in Miami, Li You's expenses reached an all-time high.

Ivana, who had caught the camera's attention, smiled and whispered to Li You, the increasingly mature girl starting to calculate carefully, blinking her big eyes as she asked softly:

"Honey, how much profit can a championship bring?"

They easily won 3-0 against West Bromwich Albion in the first round, and seeing that they dominated the game in the second round, the girl who didn't know much about football began to think that winning the championship was not a problem.

"We need to expand our brand influence, just like the hotel, and reaching more fans is our goal this year."

Li You explained in a low voice, and the kids next to him started cheering. Neymar's continuous dribbling once again ignited the home crowd.

Glancing at her younger brother, Ivana, with her blonde hair styled in a bun, smiled and gave him a kiss. After being pulled into Li You's arms, she chuckled softly. In terms of showing affection, she and the succubus shared a common interest.

In the second half, Tottenham finally couldn't hold on any longer. In the 61st minute, Neymar dribbled past the goalkeeper on a counter-attack and slotted the ball home, and then goals came one after another.

A resounding 4-0 victory sent Old Trafford into a frenzy. Li You, dressed in a red scarf, stood up and applauded after the match, appearing very satisfied with the game.

However, in a brief interview with Sky Sports, when asked about Pogba's contract renewal, Li You didn't show any signs of being a sucker, but instead tactfully explained:

"A weekly wage of £4 is not a problem for me, but I need to see the contributions of young players on the field."

"Loyalty is important, but I also like data. Sir Alex Ferguson will give young players a chance to play, and I hope his performance will live up to everyone's expectations."

"."

Many Manchester United fans looked on with longing as they saw Li You leaving with Ivana and his children; his immense wealth had finally instilled in them a sense of awe.

-

On Wednesday, August 24th, Yahoo Sports released a major announcement early in the morning:
"An unnamed source has confirmed that Kevin Garnett's career with the Celtics is over."

Garnett's name immediately became a hot topic on Twitter, and by noon, it seemed that the former MVP had also received the news, posting an intriguing update:
"It turns out that loyalty is only worth a few rounds of football."

(End of this chapter)