NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 806 "Surrender" Counts as a Victory?! (Daily Chapter)
On Thursday, September 1, 2011, Kevin Garnett, who had recently become a hot topic, appeared on the Dan Patrick Show.

After leaving ESPN in 07, Dan Patrick started his own podcast. Last year, he gained recognition from Fox Sports and NBC Sports, and both will broadcast the sports talk show simultaneously.

Sports fans also love Dan Patrick, after all, he's been with ESPN for 17 years and everyone is used to his image on the big screen.

The reason I was able to appear on this show, besides the breakdown of the second round of negotiations a couple of days ago, was mainly because Garnett was traded.

The public is eager to hear what the parties involved have to say, making this episode highly anticipated!
At 1 p.m., Hardt, whose face was even darker, arrived at the studio located at the intersection of River Street and New Haven Avenue in downtown Milford, Connecticut.

The sophisticated club-style studio failed to attract Garnett, and being traded really hurt him; even now, Garnett still finds it hard to accept.

Guided by Dan Patrick, Garnett, who was attending the meeting, quickly expressed his views on the lockout:
"As a fan, you may just want to watch the game, but you have to pay attention to the commercial factors involved."

"The NBA is not just about competition; more often than not, business activities dominate the league."

"Therefore, don't believe any reports. Fans just need to focus on the result and continue to enjoy the game. That's my advice."

Knowing that Harden was unhappy with the boss, Dan Patrick smiled and subtly added fuel to the fire:
"Kevin, after the latest negotiations, do you think the team owner wants to cancel the season?"

"I don't know, I don't know what they want!"

Dressed in a black suit, Garnett answered the question with anger, seemingly feeling that words couldn't vent his frustration, so he simply spoke his mind:
"Many teams neither want to pursue the championship nor want to gain higher profits. In this era, all I see is fear."

"Everyone is afraid of failure, everyone is making excuses for themselves. Li is about to retire, and we are accumulating energy for the future."

"In my opinion, this is the stupidest move. How many teams have never even been to the conference finals? The championship is not what they imagine."

Dan Patrick realized that Garnett was referring to the Celtics, and that recently, commentators believed Danny Ainge had given up and no longer wanted to stop New York from winning the championship.

In other words, the Celtics were the first to prepare for the 2016 draft, and from the perspective of accumulating talent, the Celtics were far superior!
The two began discussing championship experience. Although Garnett had never experienced the NBA Finals, he was still able to eloquently explain his philosophy:

"I don't want to blame anyone, but many times, winning a championship requires unity, and the management needs to show a determination to do whatever it takes for the players to fight hard."

"In this regard, I've only seen this in the Heat, besides New York, and it's a necessary condition for contending for a championship."

"I'm not afraid of any challenge. 35 years old? I believe I'm still in my prime, and I will continue to chase championships!"

At his most excited moment, Garnett was practically pounding his chest in the studio, his beard bristling and eyes wide with rage. Dan Patrick agreed, but then abruptly changed the subject, asking:
"Kevin, if the new season starts, are you ready to face Lee and the Knicks?"

After asking the question, the director also took the opportunity to play a video of Li You leading his children in a training exercise at the Carrington training center last month.
After arriving in the UK, Li You updated his personal YouTube channel once a week. Apart from training sessions, most of the content consisted of "fashion shows" prepared by the Olsen sisters for the little ones.

The content was rich and satisfied the curiosity of the onlookers; it turns out the girls were working all along.

Garnett regained his composure as soon as he heard the question. It wasn't that he wasn't tough, but rather that years of playoff experience had left him with a psychological scar. At this moment, he barely maintained his tough-guy persona and responded:
“Li is already 34 years old. Like me, he will eventually be defeated by time. I firmly believe that these few years are the best time to pursue the championship.”

-

On Friday, September 2nd, Kobe Bryant, back in Philadelphia, officially opened his Twitter account in the morning. The first post he made was an expression of gratitude:
"An incredible journey. After a short rest, I will go all out to win the championship, and I also hope that my brothers can successfully get their Olympic tickets."

After negotiations broke down again, Kobe decided to spend a season in the CBA, and he never responded to the players' union's appeals.

When Philadelphia Inquirer reporter @Kobe Bryant discussed recent trades and loyalty issues, Mamba ultimately gave a brief reply in the comments section:
"The team doesn't care about loyalty at all."

Kobe was heartbroken after being traded by the Lakers, but from an economic perspective, the Mamba didn't suffer much loss.

Pierce, who had just taken a pay cut last season, was completely numb at the moment. After greeting everyone on Twitter, he also joined in with complaints:
"Our locker room culture has been destroyed. Basketball shouldn't be like this."

Many players immediately followed Kobe's post, sharing and commenting while also criticizing Garnett's situation; the Celtics really showed no mercy.

Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, a prominent figure in sports Twitter, also joined the fray, revealing some insider information:
"The trade could involve three teams. It's a shame for Kevin Garnett; the 35-year-old MVP deserves more trust."

For every opponent, there is a supporter. Bill Simmons, a well-known Celtics die-hard fan, wholeheartedly agrees, maintaining a different perspective among basketball commentators. He also joined in on the hype on Twitter:

"The Celtics made the best choice for the team, and I don't think keeping the roster will beat Lee."

"Fans should be patient. After Lee's era ends, we will catch up quickly. If you are a Celtics fan, please give the team some time."

Kobe's Twitter followers continued to rise, and fans started leaving comments, all expressing curiosity about the CBA and wanting to hear about the Mamba's story in China.

Unfortunately, Kobe didn't actively respond, and the public was quickly drawn to another news story: ESPN broke the news:

"Boris Dior has officially signed a minimum-salary contract with JSA Bordeaux and will also serve as the club's president."

"."

The source is very reliable; the Frenchman is mainly in charge of the CEO position, and he even turned down two top European clubs for this role.

It's true that many Knicks players have chosen to play overseas, and neither the management nor Li You has objected. With the lockout escalating, finding a job first is the right choice.

New York media knew that Li You had returned to the United States, but after returning from the UK, he did not go back to Manhattan, but went directly to Greenwich.

The University of Connecticut also released a new announcement this morning, stating that Li You and Ray Allen will return to their alma mater together on Monday, and will practice with the Husky team after the speech event.

The news sent New York fans into a frenzy. Li You had indeed kept his promise, and with such proactive preparations, the championship was practically guaranteed!
The Las Vegas-exclusive fall NBA games have also begun to be promoted. With the lockout in full swing, many players have chosen to participate in the warm-up games, and more than 40 players have already decided to join.

A reporter from the Sun Sentinel also updated their Twitter, revealing that Bosh had just returned from a vacation in France after his wedding, and several reporters were already announcing his future plans:
"Whether or not there is a lockout, the Heat are prepared, and we will work together to develop some plans. We are a family."

Bosh was not lying in the interview. As September approaches, more and more teams are seeing players sign new contracts, and the union's attitude is not optimistic. It will be difficult to reach a consensus at least this month.

The Heat's aggressive training has also drawn criticism from many onlookers who are criticizing their own team!
The Celtics have already surrendered; among the teams in the Eastern Conference, no one has spoken out to declare that they are aiming for the championship in the new season.

Clearly, industry insiders have already accepted that Danny Ainge's approach is sound, and "fighting for the future" has become a way to "win."
In this respect, Chicago maintains its championship aura; local sports reporters updated the team's plans last month, and the Chicago Tribune even mocked the "surrender faction" this morning.
"Even God can't guarantee that a talented young man will appear in the future. It's better to win in the present than to rely on the future." "Coach Thibodeau has been staying in Chicago, leading the coaching staff to review a lot of game footage. After his rookie season, Derrick Rose will undergo a transformation."

"."

Regardless of whether the article's content is true or not, and without discussing the Bulls' team plans, just looking at the content makes Chicago fans happy—that's the kind of class a championship team should have!

With Michael Jordan's stats showing a significant decline at 34, many firmly believe that Li You, at the same age, will also decline, and the new season will be all about "going all out."
Indiana didn't "surrender" either. After Frank Vogel took over, the team's attitude was very firm, and Larry Bird, as general manager, remained as tough as ever.
"No tanking, no compromise, the Pacers' only goal is the championship, and I believe the boys are ready."

This attitude contrasts sharply with Boston's; nobody likes "softies," and with this "tailwind," the Pacers' popularity soared.

Jay-Z announced the Brooklyn Nets' new team name via Twitter.

With the Barclays Center now operational, Jay-Z, while promoting it, also elevated the Nets' prestige by commenting on recent potential trades:

"I believe every Nets fan will feel proud to see Brooklyn."

"The team welcomes true champions and we are not afraid of any challenge."

As one of the few teams with a clear goal and a willingness to go all in, the Nets' belief has indeed attracted a large number of fans. This is the kind of approach basketball should take.

Over the weekend, players' union president Derek Fisher sent out another letter, the contents of which were quickly leaked, and the original text even appeared on Twitter:
“Abandoning the union is the worst solution. I wake up every day looking for solutions for everyone. I think most agents don’t love basketball at all.”

"I have spoken with many agents about the agreement many times. The last meeting was due to a conflict of interest among the members of the owners' committee. We don't need to follow the NFL's example."

"."

The article explains why Fisher always likes to compromise; he is doing things practically, and shouting slogans is useless. What everyone should do is to propose reasonable and effective solutions.

However, most players still prefer Billy Hunter, the executive director who is very tough, which is the role of the players' union.

Compared to the bustling Eastern Conference, news about Western Conference teams barely made a ripple until Shane Battier announced he would be joining a championship contender next season.

Rockets fans were somewhat unable to accept the news. Battier was undoubtedly a valuable piece for a championship, but now that he's leaving the team, it shows that the other side didn't have high hopes for Houston.

James's close friend Zydrunas Ilgauskas also announced his retirement over the weekend via Twitter, reminding fans that James's time is really running out!

-

On Monday, September 5th, young people gathered on the campus of Storls University of Connecticut and cheered loudly when they saw Li You and his group.

Every year, the university tells the story of Li You and Ray Allen from back then. For the rookies of the Husky team, the two were superstars.

At 10 o'clock, Ray Allen, who shared his life experience in the auditorium, received a warm round of applause. The fact that the 36-year-old man could still be in such a state shows that legends are different!
"Nobody wants to miss a year, especially when I'm partnering with Li again. I'm looking forward to the resumption of the competition more than anyone else!"

Good-natured laughter erupted from the audience, and Li You, sitting at the very front, also smiled. Ray Allen, however, continued with a serious expression:
"I would only be willing to accept missing the 11-12 NBA season if I could secure a contract that would benefit the future of basketball. A suitable contract is really important."

"Many people are still concerned about whether I will retire. Now I can give a clear answer: I will continue to pursue championships alongside Lee."

A smile finally appeared on his face. During the interactive session, Ray Allen's mood improved, and he patiently answered everyone's questions.
“Li and I are indeed getting old, which is why we choose to be with young people.”

“You inspire me both physically and mentally, so I look forward to coming here and doing my best.”

"."

The lecture didn't end until 11 a.m., and young people continued to surround Li You and his group. When they heard that they were going to have lunch, many cheered and started recommending delicious food.

Ray Allen, looking relaxed, glanced at the young man with a hint of envy. If God could grant his wish, he would most like to go back to when he first entered college.

“Maybe we should take the initiative to call everyone together, Clay. If the suspension continues this month, we might only be able to team up with rookies when the new season starts.”

On the way to the dining area, Ray Allen finally voiced his concerns. Over the past few years, he had gotten used to Harden's training camps, while the Knicks seemed to rely entirely on their own initiative.

Wearing a Happy cartoon dog head hoodie and dressed in sportswear, Li You laughed and joked when he heard his friend's concerns:
"This is New York. The selection process starts from the day you join the team. You know, guys who don't work hard will have a hard time getting a chance on the team!"

"Everyone just needs to do their job well, and they will be ready. In the next few months, we just need to gradually get back to our physical condition."

Seeing that Ray Allen seemed a little confused and wanted to ask more questions, Li You continued:

"In fact, we don't have many opponents. Many teams choose to accumulate talent and, in the regular season, just make sure they get into the top half of the bracket."

"As for the finals, home-court advantage isn't that important. We might face a rookie team, and we should be able to finish them off within five games."

"Relax, at this age, we should enjoy the happiness that basketball brings."

The staff at the Hook were speechless. Ray Allen shook his head with a wry smile. Basketball hadn't brought him any joy over the years; failure had filled his entire career.

"Okay, Bro, maybe you're right!"

Seeing that Ray Allen was no longer concerned about personnel matters, Li You laughed. He really didn't care about his teammates' condition because he had already prepared for "weight training".

The group chatted and gossiped, while Li You casually checked the talent panel that no one else could see. Looking at the "lonely" [Sharpshooter] talent, his anticipation grew even stronger.

"Next year will be a great opportunity to solve the problem of 1 vs. 8!"

"."

(End of this chapter)