NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 831 Even Young People Can't Hold On Anymore (Daily Life Chapter)
On Sunday, June 3, 2012, before Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the NBA announced a fine against LeBron James.

Because he refused to give an interview after the game, the "Chosen One" was fined $7. Following his good friend Carmelo Anthony, James also broke down.
Leaving aside the Hawks, who have been forgotten by everyone, both the Nets and the Heat were severely punished by the league during this year's playoffs.

The previous $25,000 has more than doubled, which made the media reporters who were stood up feel much better. After all, they are also an important part of the NBA, and even superstars have to respect the media!

During ESPN's pre-game show that evening, host Michael Wilbond and chief analyst Jon Barry watched the evening's guest performance, their smiles impossible to hide.

At 3:20 PM, Chris Broussard criticized LeBron James for "acting like a diva" on the 30-minute sports news program Outside the Lines. With plenty of time to spare, he unleashed his full barrage of criticism:

"Does LeBron think he's amazing for scoring 45 points? All the reporters wanted to hear his thoughts after the game, but we waited for 20 minutes, and then the Heat staff told us he wasn't going to show up!"

“Listen, man! I’ve been a sideline reporter for ABC’s nationally televised events for many years, and I’ve witnessed Lee’s amazing performances countless times, but he never refuses to be interviewed.”

"Even a guy like Yahoo Sports who only talks nonsense, Li wouldn't refuse."

Stephen A. Smith, who was watching the show, was already grinning. He interrupted his curly-haired old partner and said with a smug look:

"Maybe LeBron thought you guys would laugh at him! I can understand how young people feel."

"Mocking? No, LeBron James simply lost to the basketball god; his performance earned our respect!"

Chris Broussard immediately shook his head to show his "innocence." In fact, everyone was just having fun the night before, but this matter couldn't be brought up publicly, since mocking players can easily damage one's reputation.

With the series already decided, tonight the Heat faced a familiar "battle for honor." Jon Barry, no longer offering serious analysis, joined in with a cheerful gossip:

"Stephen, we noticed your comments on Twitter. In your opinion, LeBron James's pure ability has surpassed Kobe Bryant in every aspect? Everyone is curious about how you came to this conclusion."

The topic of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals exploded on social media, even reaching the top of Twitter's trending topics at one point. ESPN's viewership also broke records, and commentators naturally wouldn't miss out on this hot topic.

Stephen A. Smith tweeted multiple times during the game, essentially providing real-time updates from the live audience. However, after the game, this well-known commentator offered controversial opinions:

"A great matchup! LeBron James can't beat God, but he's reached a level Kobe could never achieve!"

"."

When the topic of Kobe came up, the comments section exploded. Kobe's die-hard fans immediately brought up his championship record to refute the claim, while James' fans mocked James as someone who was just riding on someone else's coattails.

While Kobe's popularity exploded across the ocean, on the other side of the world, the Mamba was an early clown and is now completely past his prime, so his popularity naturally can't compare to the Chosen One who is currently riding high this season.

Very satisfied with his operation, Stephen A. Smith had found the data password. Upon hearing the question, he resumed his serious demeanor and replied quickly:
"Statistically speaking, James is destined to surpass Kobe, and last night's Game 3 is strong proof of that!"

"Don't rush to refute me. Go look at Kobe's performance in the Finals. He has never been as efficient as James."

"James has already surpassed many veteran stars in terms of pure ability. What he lacks now is honors. Perhaps he will win the MVP next season, which is a height that Kobe could not reach."

Michael Wilbond nodded, but he wasn't interested in comparing LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. While the director reviewed the performances of Li You and James in Game 3, he briefly introduced them:

"The Mavericks defended their home court last night, and Game 5 will be played in Oklahoma City tomorrow night. If Durant can lead the team to win this crucial game, then the Thunder's young players will have a chance to enter the Finals."

"They will then face Li, who is in increasingly excellent form, which may be the most important test of their careers!"

The broadcast director then released the statistics again, and after a day of public discussion, Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals had become a classic match:
出场41分钟，26中19，三分线外11中7，罚球10中10，李佑砍下55分10篮板10助攻3抢断1盖帽2失误的三双数据；
出场46分钟，26中19，三分线外4中2，罚球9中7，47分13篮板3助攻4失误，勒布朗-詹姆斯扛起球队无奈败北。

The Heat lost 98-107, but the Chosen Ones did not lose.
When Broussard saw the stats of the two players again, he could understand James's helplessness. They couldn't win even with a shooting percentage of over 70%, no wonder he broke down defensively after the game.

Because of his explosive performance in the crucial game, his "full-power mode" didn't become a joke. Judging from this performance alone, James is indeed the second-best player in terms of pure ability!
Jon Barry felt sorry for the Heat's young players, but what he regretted most was Dwyane Wade. Under Li You's relentless defense, the Flash once again delivered a performance of 6-for-17 shooting, racking up 17 points.
At 30, Wade looked much older than his age. When clips of their matchups were shown, Jon Barry could only offer another tactful comment:
"I don't want to blame Wade, but he certainly didn't take on more responsibility in this series."

"I hope to see Wade explode in Game 4. Even if he can't turn the series around, winning a game would be a huge encouragement for the Heat."

"."

Although no one mocked the Heat players before the game, once the game started at 20:30 p.m., the young players, back in their familiar arena, lost their winning spirit.

Wade, attempting redemption, repeatedly threw himself towards the basket, but Li You always managed to disrupt him. Apart from two pick-and-roll jump shots at the start of the game, the Flash started missing shots again.

With 2 minutes and 53 seconds left in the first quarter, Wade received the ball again on the left wing with a fierce expression. As the game progressed, Li You's defensive position also began to move back. At this point, he simply raised his right arm to block the left hand's breakthrough.

After a series of probing steps and finding his old rival unmoved, Wade simply unleashed a sudden three-pointer, which was met with cheers from the arena as the Flash missed again.

In the transition offense, Marion grabbed the rebound and quickly passed the ball to Ray Allen, who had crossed half-court. After receiving the ball, Allen slowed down on the left wing, changed direction in front of his body to his right hand, and then accelerated all the way to the basket.

James, who was chasing after the defense, was also impatient and made a mistake in his prediction, allowing Ray Allen to draw fouls and make him pound the basketball hoop in anger.

The Heat took the opportunity to make a substitution, with Bosh returning to the court. Haslem, who was substituted out, looked dejected, and Coach Spoelstra patted the locker room leader on the shoulder with a helpless expression.

"Young players need to be patient. Shane Battier hasn't had a chance for several possessions after hitting two three-pointers. They need to maintain their momentum from the start."

Van Gundy hoped the Heat could win this "battle for honor," and the young players really gave it their all. The "tragic" loss in Game 3 was truly pitiful.
"Oh!"

At 17:26, Ray Allen made both free throws, reigniting the cheers. The New York fans in the arena were overjoyed, as it was a rare opportunity to witness their team lift the division championship trophy at home!

After failing to score in three possessions, James took over the offense again. He drove hard to the basket on the right wing after a pick-and-roll, and the referee quickly blew the whistle, drawing a foul on Gasol. Gasol responded with two successful free throws. James continued to encourage his teammates, who, sticking to zone defense, left the two corners wide open, hoping their opponents would miss.

Battier actively helped defend, and Marion, who was in the right corner, received a pass from Li You and immediately accelerated along the baseline to break through. Bosh successfully protected the rim, but Gasol snatched the rebound.

James, who was still desperately trying to box out Ibaka, could only watch as his opponent's long arms released the ball.

The Knicks' strategy tonight is the same as the last game: after help defense, either shoot decisively or attack the basket directly.

Although Marion is currently 1-for-3 in shooting, his several drives have created rebounding opportunities for his teammates.

Gasol, who scored again, celebrated passionately with his teammates. The Knicks have now successfully suppressed their opponents!

"The fourth offensive rebound! Compared to Game 3, the veterans were more aggressive tonight!"

Mike Breen praised Li You, saying that he scored half of the team's points in the last game, while the others performed only so-so. Tonight, the team was full of energy from the start, and there were very few instances of passing the buck.

The Heat players naturally sensed this as well. James Harden on the other side seemed to be on steroids, completely different from his performance in the previous game.

After setting a screen and getting into position, James found Battier, who was left open in the right corner. Battier failed to live up to expectations, missing his jump shot, and Li You grabbed the long rebound.
Anxiety showed on his dark face as Wade relentlessly engaged in physical battles with him, successfully delaying the transition offense.

Just as he crossed the center line, Wade, too engrossed in the play, was knocked down by Gasol's sudden screen and fell flat on his face.
Although Bosh tried to control his center of gravity after switching onto the defense, he could only slide when faced with Li You's push and change of direction. When he got close to the left wing, Wade, who had straightened up behind him, shouted to his teammate that it was too late to call a foul.

With a sudden stop in motion, Li You, holding the ball in his left hand, disregarded the distance, blew the ball away, took a step back, and drifted to the left sideline to release a jump shot.

Bosh instinctively opened his mouth wide as he made the save, and upon landing, he saw the New York fans celebrating happily in front of him, knowing that the three-pointer had gone in again.

With a dull ache in his abdomen, Bosh, playing with an injury, was particularly downcast. The thought that even winning this battle for honor couldn't change the course of the series kept creeping into his mind as the Knicks took the lead.

In the final two minutes of the first quarter, the Heat struggled dramatically, struggling with rebounding and relying solely on James' free throws for offense.

When substitute Mike Miller missed two open three-pointers in a row, the "Chosen One" finally snapped. At the end of the first quarter, he stared blankly at the ceiling.
At 23:37, the Knicks' rookies jumped for joy, and with a double-digit lead, everyone would get more opportunities.

Both teams use roughly eight players in their rotation. McGrady has had limited playing time in the past few games, but in this game of honor, Coach Spoelstra is no longer limiting the veteran.

Wade didn't rest; the joyful atmosphere in the arena made him feel incredibly uncomfortable. Mike Miller and James Jones also pursed their lips and remained silent, quietly following Bosh onto the court.

With a double-digit point difference, the Heat clearly needed to intensify their offense, but Davis and Danny Green were the first to erupt at the start of the second quarter.
The former scored with a strong layup during the transition offense, while the latter, with Vucevic's screen, came to the left corner and hit a three-pointer!
Bosh made consecutive jump shots near the baseline on both sides, but Stephenson's sudden drive almost knocked him to the ground.
"what!!"

Seeing Bosh stagger and almost fall to the ground, Stephenson shouted as he moved closer to his opponent, his dark face full of smugness, which infuriated Wade.

Amid the jeers from the front-row fans, Stephenson, separated from the referee, continued to loudly provoke:
"You guys can't win a single game, you idiot!"

"."

McGrady's magical performance from the previous series also disappeared at this point. His height did not bring him an absolute advantage, and his turnaround jump shot from the right side of the court missed.

Ibaka grabbed the rebound again, and in the transition offense, Davis's layup attempt missed, resulting in the Heat losing the defensive rebound once more.

Seeing Ibaka suddenly erupt from the crowd, Bosh could only commit a foul. The commotion in the arena grew louder and louder. James, on the bench, stood up expressionlessly; he had to get back on the court early.

On the ESPN commentary desk, as the Knicks' role players returned to normal, Van Gundy, sensing the game was lost, lamented again:
"Losing in the Eastern Conference Finals this season is a bit cruel for the youngsters."

"Many times, we forget that Wade is already 30 years old, and LeBron James, who will soon be 28, is no longer young either."

With the Knicks winning, Mike Breen was in high spirits and, taking advantage of the free throws, chimed in with words of encouragement:
"Michael Jordan won his first championship at the age of 28. I don't think age is a problem for James. Seeing his performance this year, I believe he can achieve great things!"

"Injuries have affected this young team, but I believe they will perform even better next season."

Van Gundy didn't say anything. If he remembered correctly, since entering the league, James had struggled to win against Li You. If he hadn't left Cleveland, he might have been able to catch up with the record set by the 76ers in the future.
James made two jump shots in two possessions, and the Knicks immediately called a timeout. D'Antoni shook his head slightly, the coaching staff had no interest in making things more difficult for the opponent by letting them into the zone.

After both teams' starting lineups returned, the game became lukewarm, with the Knicks responding every time the Heat narrowed the gap to 10 points.

After several minutes of back-and-forth play, the young players lost their composure. James lobbed the ball out of bounds, and Bosh looked at the backboard in frustration.

Despite a rare defensive success, Wade's turnaround jump shot after a strong back-to-the-basket attack on the right side was blocked by Li You.
Losing his balance, Wade fell directly out of bounds. His movements seemed to have been read, and no matter how much he struggled, he could hardly shake off Li You's defense.

With just over a minute left in the first half, Bosh was blocked by Gasol during an offensive play and fell to the ground, clutching his abdomen in pain. This made James and Wade, who rushed over, feel disheartened.

When the team doctor checked him and waved for the stretcher to be brought onto the court, Pat Riley, who was sitting in the front row behind the basket, also looked dejected.

When the opponent is certain to lose, New York fans always show the demeanor of a basketball mecca. Everyone stands up and applauds, while Bosh, lying on a stretcher, covers his face with his hands and silently sheds tears. This is not the result he expected.

Amid cheers, the halftime score remained 50-64, after a tense quarter, the point difference was unchanged.
Wade, sweating profusely, walked towards the player tunnel. Under pressure, his stamina was rapidly depleting. Thinking of Li You, who hadn't even broken a sweat, he could only mutter helplessly:

"Why isn't he declining?!"

(End of this chapter)