NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 824 The "Invisible" Opponent (Daily Chapter)
On Sunday, May 13, 2012, the first round of the Western Conference playoffs continued. Unlike the situation in the East, this year there were many close games on the Western Conference side.

On Saturday, the Mavericks defeated the Lakers in Game 7, with Nowitzki once again stepping up and securing the win on the road thanks to his outstanding performance in the second half!

The Lakers' 104-96 first-round exit drew heavy criticism from Los Angeles fans, who lamented that if Lamar Odom had been in better form, the team wouldn't have been eliminated in the first round.

Of course, the main reason for his elimination was Stoudemire's injury. His back injury caused the championship striker to lose his touch in the later games, and he was ultimately forced to leave the game when facing the increasingly better-performing Harden.

Regardless of the outcome, the series was incredibly exciting. Although the Lakers were eliminated, fans can still watch a decisive Game 7 at Staples Center tonight!
The Clippers and Rockets faced off in their final showdown. Nick Young's outburst saved the team from defeat, while injuries to Lowry and Lin tipped the scales in their favor.

Before the decisive Game 7, Yao Ming was somewhat helpless, not only because of an injury, but also because Jordan Hill was accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend and would be unable to play tonight.

Fortunately, the opponent's interior rotation wasn't great either, and Reggie Evans was almost completely out of steam, so both sides were relying on their starting lineups.

At 3 p.m., half an hour before the game started, ABC's broadcast cameras were frequently focused on Kobe Bryant on the sidelines.

Mamba's return to Los Angeles today has once again made him the focus of attention for onlookers!

Staples Center was the same as always, with fans in the back rows shrouded in darkness. Although it was Game 7, the atmosphere was rather subdued.

Even though the Clippers played "beautiful basketball," most local fans didn't appreciate it, but Kobe's arrival excited many longtime fans.

Mamba has achieved great success in China, and at this moment he exudes confidence, as if he has returned to his peak.

Wearing a black printed T-shirt, Mamba sat next to Jack Nicholson, and the two chatted and laughed, seemingly having a very pleasant conversation.
Before the game started, ABC's cameras were focused on Kobe again. He smiled and waved, and anyone could tell that the Mamba was in a great mood!
In the commentary booth, Van Gundy maintained his high level of enthusiasm, and as the two sides were about to jump ball, he once again gossiped:
"Rumors say the Rockets are pursuing Kobe, but I maintain that leaving the Eastern Conference was the right choice!"

"The 76ers have received a contract extension commitment from Kobe, and a 1+1 contract should already be on the negotiating table. However, I also agree with your point that Kobe is better suited to playing in the Western Conference."

Mike Breen continued the conversation by talking about a recent topic of discussion among basketball commentators: since the first round ended and news broke that Garnett was considering retirement, the former MVP has received a great deal of sympathy.

With few remaining competitive veterans like Harden, and some commentators disliking Kobe "repeating his mistakes," the situation is not optimistic if he continues to lead the 76ers, and he may also have to leave.

After a brief chat, the two turned their attention to the game. Yao Ming received the ball in the low post right after the start of the game, and DeAndre Jordan stopped "jumping around" like he had in the previous games, extending his right arm after a series of physical confrontations.

Such interference had no effect. Yao Ming, who turned towards the baseline, leaned back slightly and easily made a jump shot over the defense!

In the Clippers' offensive possession, Chris Paul initiated another pick-and-roll. Although DeAndre Jordan's screen was somewhat questionable, he still easily shook off Dragic.

At the top of the key, as Paul, holding the ball with his left hand, accelerated his breakthrough, Yao Ming had to quicken his pace to get back to the basket. His opponent's physical attributes were too good; his alley-oops in the previous games had left a deep impression.

Paul, observing the situation on the court, suddenly slowed down, then leaned against the defender behind him, quickly completed a crossover, and as he switched to his right hand, he took a step back and floated a fadeaway jump shot to score!

Nick Young excitedly high-fived the team leaders, while Prince, retreating on defense, loudly urged everyone to get into position quickly.

When Griffin successfully disrupted Scola's turnaround layup under the basket, cheers erupted in Staples Center for the first time.

In transition offense, Paul's speed was extremely fast. In the crucial Game 7, he didn't pass the ball much anymore. When he crossed the three-point line, he used one hand to dribble between his legs to change his rhythm. Then, he suddenly lowered his center of gravity, spun around, and completely shook off the defender!

Dragic's hard foul thwarted Paul's shot, and head coach McHale on the sidelines applauded repeatedly, loudly reminding his players to retreat faster.

As time ticked away, DeAndre Jordan stared blankly, seemingly lost in thought. Yao Ming then received the ball near the free-throw line and took a jump shot, seizing the opportunity to establish position in the low post.

Between his defender and the rim protector, DeAndre Jordan unfortunately created a gap, allowing Martin and Dragic to easily break through in a few possessions.

Fortunately, Griffin was in excellent form tonight and participated more in defense, which prevented the Rockets from taking the lead.

With 3 minutes and 12 seconds left in the first quarter, Prince first hit a three-pointer from the left corner, and then stole the ball from Budinger on the defensive end and assisted Griffin for a fast break dunk!
When Yao Ming missed his jump shot and the Rockets failed to respond in time, the Clippers' counterattack continued.

Showcasing his excellent ball-handling skills, Paul repeatedly turned to shake off his defenders. As he cut into the paint from the right wing, before Budinger could react and interfere, the ball had already flown to Prince, who was following up in the middle.

With the defense in place, Prince dribbled the ball with his left hand, leaned forward, and made a layup. The referee immediately blew the whistle!

"Oh!!"

Cheers erupted once again throughout the arena. Paul, pulling Prince up, let out an excited shout, and Van Gundy, witnessing this, also loudly praised the moment.
"The more crucial the game, the more players with experience in big matches can contribute to the team!"

"Prince brings a wealth of championship experience to the Clippers, which is undoubtedly a valuable asset to this young, rebuilding team."

"."

Chalmers' appearance at the end of the first quarter brought a smile to Coach Denagro's face. The young man was very composed on the court, and his pick-and-roll initiation and passing routes were impeccable.

Chalmers and Nick Young's consecutive three-pointers left the Rockets speechless, while Courtney Lee, who came off the bench, missed an open shot, and could only watch as the opponent launched another counterattack.

Amid cheers from Los Angeles fans, the score reached 22-31, with the Clippers' balanced attack giving them the upper hand in the game!

Looking at the familiar figures on the court, Kobe, sitting in the front row, gradually lost his smile. He still didn't like players from New York. Chalmers' smug look reminded him of the Lakers' divided locker room.

"Would you join the Rockets? I don't think it's a good option; they seem to lack ambition."

Nicholson, wearing brown sunglasses, asked with a smile. Kobe merely raised an eyebrow upon hearing the question before saying meaningfully:

“I will not break my promise. I know many people are discussing whether we can return to Los Angeles, but that is simply impossible.”

"Philadelphia is pretty good, at least the fans there respect me!"

"."

The Clippers, who were leading, seemed to have the game in their grasp, but suddenly slumped in the second half, and their double-digit lead disappeared just three minutes into the fourth quarter.

The Rockets launched a comeback, and Yao Ming's catch-and-shoot jumper in the left-side paint forced overtime, much to the delight of the Los Angeles fans. In the first overtime, Griffin went to the free-throw line repeatedly, and Yao Ming responded in kind. As their energy waned, both teams missed several shots, leading to a second overtime.

Physical fitness became the key to dominating the game at this point, with DeAndre Jordan grabbing offensive rebounds in two consecutive possessions to help the Clippers regain the lead.

After Martin missed several shots and Prince stole the ball, the Rockets' fate was sealed.

When the buzzing sound started, Yao Ming, with his hands on his hips, didn't move for a while. Coach McHale chose to fight hard against the main players, and his physical strength was severely depleted.

At 109-115, Jeremy Lin on the bench watched his opponents celebrate happily, feeling a pang of sadness. Kyle Lowry remained silent for a long time. If Yao Ming had a qualified substitute, the outcome of the game might have been completely different.

During his interview with ABC, Chris Paul continued to hug and greet his teammates. Amidst the cheers of the crowd, he finally responded with a smile:
“Game 7 was the most amazing game! As young players on the team, we must thank Tayshaun for sharing his championship experience!”

“He is a true big-game player, and in such crucial games, Tayshaun knows how to win.”

"Although we will face the Thunder on Tuesday, everyone on the Clippers team will overcome the difficulties and our goal is to win on the road."

The series is over, but Yao Ming doesn't feel particularly regretful like some veterans, since the Olympics in the summer are the main event.

Back in the locker room, when asked by reporters whether the Rockets would continue to recruit Kobe, Yao Ming noticed the expectant looks from the Sina Sports reporters and ultimately told the truth:

"The era of big men is long over, and the pace of the league is getting faster and faster."

"Kobe is excellent, but the Rockets can't succeed just by recruiting a star player. The team is in the process of transformation, and keeping up with the pace of modern basketball is the most crucial thing."

Although Yao Ming's words were somewhat euphemistic, everyone understood the underlying message: Kobe was no longer good, and he was an outdated, washed-up version of Harden.
Thinking of Garnett, who has been ridiculed recently, people suddenly feel that it's not bad to maintain the status quo in one's career. At least when it comes to traditional centers, Yao Ming is still the best big man.

In the afternoon's concurrent games, the New York game ended earlier, with the Hawks defeating the Bulls 79-121, delivering a crushing blow to the Hawks who had come from behind to reach the semifinals.

带伤作战的约什-史密斯虽然值得称赞，但13中5，15分11篮板3助攻1抢断7失误的表现却不怎么样。

Joe Johnson, the team's leader, disappeared again, seemingly vanishing as the game progressed.
In 31 minutes on the court, he made 4 of 10 shots and scored only 9 points, a particularly poor performance for the team's leader.

TNT was still interviewing Ibaka at the time, while the Hawks had several injured players, and Al Horford's hasty return had a mediocre performance. The Knicks successfully benefited from the schedule advantage.

"5 blocks! Your performance has been getting better and better since the playoffs began. Sergei, how would you rate your performance?"

Compared to when he first entered the league, Ibaka's English has improved a lot. When asked to rate himself, he immediately grinned, revealing his white teeth.
"Six points, I feel like I've just reached the passing mark! After I returned to the league, Lee set a goal for me: to win the Defensive Player of the Year award and the blocks title."

"To be honest, I was scared at the time, but Li believed that I had such potential, which really gave me a lot of confidence."

"You know, when the GOAT recognizes you, it always gives you extra motivation! I haven't done well enough, and my jump shot isn't consistent enough. I will continue to work hard in the games to come."

"."

Madison Square Garden was still bustling. Jeff Teague looked enviously in Li You's direction. Having just finished shaking hands, the rookie felt extremely frustrated.

New York fans didn't react much to the Hawks' visit; as New York media put it:

"Most of their opponents this round are names that New Yorkers can't even remember; their good luck has run out."

Jeff Teague is the kind of player the media talks about. Even though he only scored 6 points on 2-of-9 shooting tonight, no one in the arena laughed at him because people don't remember minor players.

The newbie desperately wanted someone to hurl some trash talk at him, but unfortunately, most of the onlookers didn't care about him at all; everyone was watching the little guy next to Li You.

Six-year-old Alvin was handing out the latest merchandise hats to fans in the front row with his younger brothers, while Zell, who is also in elementary school, kept holding onto Li You's hand and wouldn't let go, as many people in the crowd were calling his name with excessive enthusiasm.

Cyrus, who is almost 5 years old, will give a sweet, childlike blessing when his twin brothers give him a hat. Compared to his brothers, he is more familiar to the public, and Tang Nade often brings him into the public eye.
The sensible Alvin, after being rubbed twice by Li You, still remembered to call Elizabeth Olsen, who had squeezed to the sidelines, "Mommy." Although she was already a mother, the young woman still blushed slightly when surrounded by the little ones.

MSG's Tina Cervasio glanced at the curvaceous blonde and secretly grimaced, but when she asked the question, her face lit up with a bright smile:
"Getting closer to the record, Li, you're about to return to the division finals. Compared to the past, do you have any new feelings?"

Li You only played 29 minutes tonight, which was easier than in the first round, so the Hawks were ignored and the conference finals have become the consensus among New York fans.

"Our roster is younger, and in the locker room, I can clearly feel everyone's desire for the championship!"

"Honestly, it's a wonderful feeling. After winning eight consecutive championships, the team needs this kind of motivation. In Game 1 of the semifinals, everyone performed exceptionally well."

Li You, who hadn't even broken a sweat, praised the young players again, saying that they had indeed benefited from injuries in this series, which had just helped alleviate Ray Allen's bone spur problem.

Tina Cervasio continued to show off her "S-shaped" figure, and when discussing the regular season MVP award, which will be officially announced tomorrow, Li You once again offered his congratulations:

"I watched the game tape of the Thunder vs. Nuggets game, and Kevin Durant deserves this award. He's playing even better than he did in the regular season!"

"The MVP award is a new beginning, signifying that the young player has officially joined the ranks of superstars. Congratulations again to him; this is also recognition from industry insiders."

"."

Tina Cervasio, who was about to chat a little longer, had just smiled when Zell, remembering Scarlett's words, pulled Li You up and said:

"Mommy said that Daidi should go home and rest early!"

Li You chuckled, ruffled the clingy little guy's hair, and bid farewell to this old acquaintance. Back in the locker room, Ben Wallace immediately shared some news:
"Boss, Bibby announced his retirement on Twitter. Poor guy, I thought he'd keep going for a few more years!"

"."

(End of this chapter)