NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 826 The MVP's Fate (Chapter without Main Character)

On Tuesday, May 22, 2012, the NBA announced its All-NBA teams for the season, and the Miami Heat once again became the subject of much discussion after the announcement.

The five players on the All-NBA First Team are:

Chris Paul, Lee Yoo, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard;
The five players on the All-Second Team are:

Russell Westbrook, Dwyane Wade, Blake Griffin, Kevin Love, Tyson Chandler;
The five players on the All-NBA Third Team are:

Rajon Rondo, Deron Williams, Carmelo Anthony, Dirk Nowitzki, Yao Ming.

Dwyane Wade's inclusion in the All-NBA Second Team has sparked discontent among some fans. He only played 49 games in the regular season, the fewest among the selected players, and his individual scoring declined. In terms of game impact, he is far less than Deron Williams.

Most importantly, although this is based on the regular season rankings, Wade's performance in the semifinals of the current playoffs has been quite poor.

His failure to score in double digits lowered his "fan impression score," and after two consecutive poor performances, the series was tied 2-2. Even Miami fans were complaining, as this was not the playoffs they had expected.

In contrast, Bosh, who was not selected, received more recognition. The Heat lost the two games he missed due to injury, and he will play through injury in the crucial Game 5 tonight. His tough performance won the fans' approval!
At 30, Wade was already showing signs of decline, while 34-year-old Li You had already led his team to the conference finals.
Seeing this situation, some sports commentators took to social media to make fun of the out-of-form Flash:
"Perhaps we will see Wade leave the league before Lee."

The Knicks' form is not good. Compared to previous years, just looking at the starting lineup's scoring, you can clearly feel the decline of the veterans.

Gasol is the most noticeable example. If it weren't for Ibaka's large defensive coverage, rim protection might have been a problem in these two rounds of games.

On offense, the Spanish big men's low-post offense almost disappeared, and easy baskets became their main scoring method. Fortunately, their mid-range jump shot was efficient, and they managed to maintain a double-double this time.

Compared to offensive beasts like Howard and Yao Ming in the low post and defensive champions like Chandler, Gasol's omission from the All-NBA team was hardly surprising.

Some media figures believe the Knicks shouldn't have offered a max contract, but New York fans are firmly in support. After all, the Knicks were drafted by their own team and had won eight consecutive championships. After a slump in one season, everyone can understand.

The other crucial game that night was also highly anticipated. Both the Thunder and the Clippers defended their home courts, and whoever won Game 5 would most likely advance to the Western Conference Finals.

Chris Paul naturally didn't want to miss such an opportunity. He hadn't experienced the taste of the conference finals yet, and after winning Game 4, he actively encouraged his teammates.

The good news is that the Thunder have suffered another injury. Kendrick Perkins has aggravated an old hip injury and will definitely miss this important game.

The bad news is that the Clippers also have an injured player. Blake Griffin sprained his right knee. Although he insisted on playing, it's questionable whether he can maintain the form he showed in the previous few games.
With new injuries appearing in almost every round of the competition, David Stern had to retract his previous outrageous remarks and proactively admit his mistakes to the media in an interview:
"The league and professional medical teams will reassess the relationship between the schedule and injuries. Nobody wants to see players get injured, and I retract my previous inappropriate remarks."

"."

James Harden, who was named the best sixth man of the season, performed exceptionally well in the series. In the fourth quarter of several games, Coach Brooks would have him as the primary point guard.

The Thunder's unique backcourt combination has left the Clippers struggling to find a good solution, and head coach Denagro has been using their interior advantage to "counter" this.

Although the match between the two sides wasn't as high-profile, the game itself was far more exciting than the Knicks' thrashing of weaker opponents!
At 18:30 PM, an hour before the match started, the home team players, who had arrived early at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, attracted the attention of many media reporters.

As the newly crowned MVP, everyone in the industry can feel the league's favoritism towards Durant, especially after his widely publicized speech, which has made him a representative of the "American Dream."
A Black boy from a single-parent family won the MVP award after entering the NBA, earning a maximum salary contract and a huge endorsement deal with the Hook. Durant's current fame has surpassed that of Derrick Rose last year.

However, in this series, the MVP's performance was not as good as in the previous round. Although Prince has never won the DPOY, his rich championship experience effectively limited Durant's performance.

The devastating scoring prowess has vanished, making more commentators realize just how good the Knicks were back then. Even with a decline in form, Prince could still go toe-to-toe with the MVP. The New York management was truly visionary back then!
Fisher was the first to appear in the arena. Although his reputation had declined within the union, he was respected by his teammates on the Thunder.

While he may be slightly less experienced than his rivals in terms of championship experience, Fisher's leadership in the locker room is stronger!
When he played an away game in Los Angeles, his former teammates Matt Barnes, who currently plays for the Lakers, came to support him, which is enough to prove how popular Fisher is.

During a brief interview in the locker room, Fisher showed no signs of nervousness; the veteran remained confident, and when asked about Durant's lackluster performance on the road, he once again responded with sound reasoning:

"The 23-year-old MVP, Kevin is very good, but he is still a young player and does not have much playoff experience."

"In my opinion, Kevin is more like Lee. He's not like Kobe, who acts as a leader in the locker room or training ground. In the game, Kevin plays the role of a killer in key moments."

"Regardless of his performance throughout the game, when it comes to deciding the outcome, the opponent still doesn't want him to receive the ball. That's what makes him an MVP!"

While the Yahoo Sports reporter only agreed with some of the points, he didn't contradict Carter at this point. When Carter was interviewed, the Black Mamba also gave him extremely high praise:
"It's not a smart approach to judge an MVP based on just two games. Derrick is right; in terms of skill application, Kevin is more like a larger version of Lee!"

"He has an exceptional sense of his opponent's center of gravity, and as a big man, he possesses ball-handling skills far exceeding those of his size. Once he adapts to the defense, he will dominate this series."

Led by the two veterans, every player raved about Durant, creating a fantastic atmosphere in the Thunder's locker room that delighted Durant.

When discussing injuries, Durant once again mentioned his good friend Jeff Green, his dark face showing a serious expression:
"Jeff overcame his injuries, which is far more significant than the difficulties we are currently facing!"

"We will keep the victory in Oklahoma City tonight."

Kenyon Martin, who returned from the CBA, is no longer as outspoken as he used to be. Approaching 35, James Harden has realized that this season may be his last chance to contend for a championship in his career.

At 19:30 p.m., Chesapeake Energy Arena turned into a sea of ​​blue. Oklahoma City fans are far more loyal than Los Angeles' "traitors," and the roar never stopped once the game started.

Nick Young suddenly noticed that the referees were being more lenient tonight, and Sapo Soflosa's chasing defense and hand gestures greatly disrupted his offense.

Griffin also noticed this, turning past Martin, and when Nazr Muhammad made a strong help defense in the paint, the referee stopped blowing the whistle.

"Shet!"

Late in the first quarter, Griffin lost the ball under the basket and tried to steal it back, but fell to the floor. The referee made no call, and the young man could only mutter a curse.

After receiving the ball, Westbrook quickly launched a counterattack. He was extremely fast and ignored Prince's retreating defense, accelerating forcefully through the middle.

Westbrook, who was pulled down by DeAndre Jordan and fell out of bounds after rushing to the basket, immediately straightened up and yelled when he heard the whistle:
"what!"

This passionate scene instantly ignited the entire arena. Although the Clippers were young, they seemed to lack energy at this moment, while the Thunder played with increasing ferocity.

Durant made both free throws to extend his lead. After Paul responded with a fadeaway jumper near the free-throw line following a pick-and-roll at the top of the key, Durant dribbled past half-court, suddenly stopped on the left wing, and unreasonably took the ball and threw it!
When he hit a three-pointer, the Thunder's bench erupted in celebration, with Perkins repeatedly pumping his fist in celebration.

Neither team performed efficiently, but as the pace of the game increased, the Clippers struggled to keep up, and the tight schedule put them at a disadvantage in terms of stamina.

At 22:29, the first quarter ended with cheers that never stopped.

During the rotation, Carter also exploded, hitting three-pointers and driving to the basket. Although Fisher had a hard time containing Bledsoe, the veteran steadily seized the open opportunities.

With James Harden's scoring and free throws propelling the Thunder's lead, head coach Denagro had to call a timeout early.

On the ESPN commentary desk, Mike Breen once again felt the Thunder's roster depth, and remarked with considerable emotion:

"With the best sixth man on the team, Carter's arrival has transformed the Thunder's bench, and Nick Collison continues his consistent performance. It's hard to imagine anyone in the Western Conference being able to stop them!"

Van Gundy agrees with this view, stating that the Thunder's roster depth is clearly superior to the Clippers'.
"When a player like the Black Mamba is on the bench, it's hard for me to imagine a better performance from a veteran."

“Carter has always been underrated, and through this year’s playoff run, I think many fans have realized just how good he is.”

The Clippers kept complaining to the referees, and even Paul lost his composure, receiving a technical foul in the third quarter. This scene excited the Oklahoma City fans even more.

When the point difference reached 16, the cheers grew louder and louder. In the final quarter, as time ticked away, almost all the fans stood up to watch the game. When Westbrook stole the ball from Paul face-to-face and went back to the free-throw line, head coach Denagro on the sidelines lost his temper, his face flushed as he shouted, resulting in a technical foul.

Contrary to all the commentators' expectations, when the officiating standards changed, the Clippers simply couldn't withstand the impact of the "Thunder's three referees."
When he needed to score the most, Paul failed to step up this time. With just over a minute left in the game, the "new captain" who was substituted off angrily threw down his towel.

In the end, the Clippers suffered a crushing defeat in Game 5, losing 95-110, and the entire arena erupted in cheers.

The Thunder's young players and veterans celebrated wildly after winning, constantly interacting with the fans in the arena, while the Clippers players could only stay in the player tunnel, as they had to fly back to Los Angeles overnight; the series was not over yet.

The atmosphere in the away team's locker room was somewhat subdued. During the interview segment, a Los Angeles reporter looked at the composed Prince and provoked him with a question:
"Prince, did tonight's officiating determine the course of the game?"

"No, I won't blame the loss on the referee. As a championship forward, I've been through too many playoffs, and the home team always has the advantage."

Prince gave a clear answer, noticed his teammates were all looking at him, shrugged, and continued:
"In the playoffs, everything comes down to responding to the ball. That used to be Lee's job, and Mario should know that too. Honestly, we're still getting used to our new roles."

Chalmers had a good game tonight, coming off the bench to contribute 12 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers. He usually likes to claim the lead role, but this time he grinned and shifted the blame:
"Yes, Lee makes the game easier. We're still getting used to it, but I believe Chris will bounce back strongly when we return to our home court!"

"When everyone does their job, the Clippers become invincible."

Every player who came from the Knicks has the skill of calmly passing the buck. Don't ask, just say we did our job. The Los Angeles reporter felt something was off, but couldn't refute it.

During a press conference, a reporter brought up this situation. Griffin was about to say something, but Paul responded with obvious agreement:

"Losing is definitely my fault. I failed to step up when the team needed points the most."

"I have no interest in shirking responsibility. As the team leader, it's my job to make those responses. I will perform better in Game 6!"

"."

After years of development, the league's atmosphere has completely changed, and it is almost impossible to make role players take the blame.

-

On Wednesday, May 23, major sports media outlets once again became fickle, praising the Heat's performance in Game 5 early in the morning.

Back at home, despite Bosh's continued absence, James and Wade both exploded, dominating the Pacers in three quarters with their absolute strength.

Playing for 33 minutes, Wade scored 28 points efficiently, shooting 10-for-17 from the field, 1-for-2 from three-point range, and 7-for-13 from the free-throw line, turning around his lackluster performance on the road.
出场36分钟，19中12，三分线外5中2，罚球4中4，詹姆斯砍下30分10篮板8助攻1抢断1盖帽4失误的全能数据，展现了自己的统治力。

Controversial play also occurred during the game when Danny Granger fell after landing during a three-pointer, and James failed to pull his foot back in time, resulting in the Pacers leader only playing 20 minutes that night.

However, winning can cover up everything. Apart from Miller still complaining, most commentators are praising the Heat's rebound.

That night, with only one game, the Spurs, who had narrowly eliminated the Grizzlies, flew to Dallas for Game 5, which would determine the final outcome of the series.

The Spurs defeated their opponent 4-3 in the first round, an upset, but the game didn't generate much discussion.

The main reason is that Duncan performed poorly against the "Grit and Grind" duo, with Randolph even dominating the formerly MVP at one point.
If OJ Mayo hadn't gone 1-for-11 in Game 7 and acted as a double agent, allowing Gary Neal to explode from three-point range, the Grizzlies wouldn't have been eliminated in the first round.

Some commentators attributed the Spurs' victories to luck, but in the semifinals, facing their old rivals, Duncan's form rebounded unexpectedly, and he became stronger and stronger as the series progressed!
Popovich lauded the mature Kawhi Leonard, and George Hill was similarly praised to the skies by the veteran. The San Antonio sports media went so far as to proclaim a return to the NBA Finals.
Against this backdrop, Duncan remained unchanged, refusing interviews and mostly keeping silent.

Before the pivotal Game 5, facing persistent questioning from ESPN reporters about the game and the MVP award, Duncan finally gave a response without any expression:
"The young players on the team performed very well, I just did what I was supposed to do."

"As for the MVP, that might be a curse. I don't like the trophy; it brings me more pain."

"In the league, every MVP eventually finds a home. You've all witnessed what's happened in the past. I just want to wish Durant all the best. Although he's still young, I would suggest he learn meditation."

"."

The reporters exchanged bewildered glances, all thinking that Duncan was acting somewhat neurotic. Considering Novak's previous revelations, they suspected that this former MVP might be in the late stages of "Jade Syndrome."
The game at 19:30 p.m. that night was not as intense as the previous night. The pace of the game was not fast for either the Spurs or the Mavericks. They started slowly in the first quarter, and the veterans were missing a lot of shots.

Inside the American Airlines Arena, Dallas fans remained enthusiastic, and in the final minutes of the first half, Artest, who had been sluggish for four games, suddenly erupted.

First, he made a strong three-pointer from the left wing, then stole the ball from Leonard and drew a foul on the fast break. When Parker missed a mid-range jumper, Kidd grabbed the rebound and found the championship forward again.

Just past half-court, on the right wing, ignoring Leonard's defense, Artest hit another three-pointer!

After an 8-0 run, Popovich immediately put on a "pain mask," and certain memories began to surface uncontrollably in his mind.
Mark Cuban celebrated passionately from the front row behind the basket, proving that a championship forward can always make a contribution as long as he can tolerate Artest's slump.

Chandler, walking toward the bench, grinned broadly, put his arm around his former teammate, and shouted loudly toward the fans:
"Don't doubt our championship striker! Meta will handle those softies."

Nowitzki, back in his seat, grinned, while Jason Terry waved his arms repeatedly. In this atmosphere, some fans wanted to apologize on the spot, arguing that they shouldn't have questioned the hero who made the game-winning shot in Game 7 of the Finals!
In the second half, Chandler's defense became crucial. His excellent rim protection greatly limited the Spurs' offense. Although Ginobili and Parker took turns driving to the basket, they couldn't get free throws on most possessions.

Duncan suddenly erupted in the final quarter, but Nowitzki responded continuously, leaving Popovich helplessly watching the clock tick away from the sidelines, surrounded by the joyful shouts of Dallas fans.

At the end of the game, with a score of 101-110, the Mavericks' veterans celebrated happily.

During his interview with TNT, Artest noticed that Duncan and Popovich both left quickly, and for a moment, he became arrogant and sarcastic, saying:
"I started losing weight after I heard Popovich praise that rookie as the next Bruce Bowen."

"Everyone knows what happened when Bruce Bowen messed with us in the Finals back then. I know how to deal with those softies in San Antonio!"

"When facing the Spurs, Li will always be there to protect me!"

Amidst Sager's bewildered expression, Artest, having finished the interview, didn't forget to wave his big elbow, drawing cheers from the fans in the arena.
After losing the crucial game, Duncan was unable to attend the post-game press conference, and Parker and Ginobili could only offer perfunctory remarks.

When a Sports Illustrated reporter asked whether the Spurs still had a chance to return to the NBA Finals, neither player responded immediately. Finally, Ginobili said with a sigh:
"We haven't thought about this. You know, the league is getting younger and younger, and the 23-year-old MVP is the best proof of that."

When asked about recruiting Diaw by an ESPN reporter, Parker readily admitted that the Frenchman wasn't as averse to championship experience as Duncan, and had always had a good relationship with Gary Neal.
"Bores is an excellent player, you know, he played exceptionally well for the Knicks!"

"I think the Spurs need more championship experience right now! That would be key to our return to the Finals."

-

On Thursday, May 24th, the NBA announced the All-Defensive Team for this season, and major sports media outlets once again praised the GOAT's dominance!

The five players on the All-Defensive First Team are:

Chris Paul, Li You, LeBron James, Tyson Chandler, Dwight Howard;
The five players on the All-Defensive Second Team are:

Rajon Rondo, Tony Allen, Luol Deng, Kevin Garnett, Joakim Noah.

Lee Woo has been selected to the All-NBA First Team 15 times and the All-Defensive First Team 12 times in his career, breaking his own record!

As the primary platform for Li Yu's fandom, ESPN once again dominated headlines that day, with the website's front page continuing to feature his loan advertisement.
"The greatness continues!"

(End of this chapter)