NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 832 Giving Old Deng a "Lesson"? (Chapter without main character)

On Thursday, June 7, 2012, with the conclusion of the Western Conference Finals last night, the NBA also ushered in its final showdown.

Unlike New York, who were complacent with their victories, the Thunder won their first conference finals title, sending Oklahoma City into a frenzy.

After the championship was won in Dallas last night, many fans rushed to the airport to greet the team, just to be among the first to share in the joy of victory!
In the morning, Oklahoma City fans spontaneously organized online celebrations on social media, and the Reddit forum also dedicated a special section to the Thunder, with local fans discussing the upcoming NBA Finals like crazy.

In Game 6, Durant played the full 48 minutes. Although commentators criticized Coach Brooks for "overworking his starters," the MVP himself took the initiative to express his opinion after the game:
"I'm only 23 years old! 48 minutes won't tire me out at all!"

"I am very grateful to the coaching staff for their trust in me. I am in very good physical condition, and everyone is ready for the finals."

Durant said he doesn't laugh when he's tired. Although he almost led his team to collapse with a 1-for-7 shooting performance in the third quarter, he regained his form in the final moments and ultimately ended the series in Dallas.

Westbrook played 41 minutes. Like his teammate, the young man grinned when reporters questioned his playing time, and even boasted a bit:
"The Thunder are young! Even if we go through two more overtimes, they won't pose any problem for us!"

"Reaching the finals has swept away everyone's fatigue, and everyone can't wait to welcome the game back to their home court."

On Saturday night, the Thunder will face their first-ever NBA Finals, leaving the young players only two days to rest, while the Knicks, after sweeping the Heat on Sunday, have been given five days of rest.

When a reporter asked the question, both men laughed, with Durant even confidently joking:

"Too much rest might prevent us from getting back into match form quickly. You know, for a young team, two days is enough!"

"Everyone will be in top form for the championship on Saturday."

The Thunder actually had a tight schedule, as they still had to cooperate with ABC to complete some filming and interviews. The Finals needed to be packaged, and all of this was an incredibly novel experience for the young players!
The Knicks have won so many games that these pre-game interviews are unlikely to excite veterans like Lee Yu, so ABC is focusing more on promoting Durant, the new MVP, this year.

After that moving speech, Durant's mother, Wanda, also became the focus of media attention.

During the afternoon interview, when an ABC reporter asked about Durant's upbringing and current achievements, Wanda teared up again in front of the camera, but spoke with pride about her eldest son:
“I knew Kevin was talented when he was very young, but I never thought he would win MVP, especially at the age of 23. God! It’s incredible!”

"For the Finals, I just hope he can show his full potential. Kevin has been following the Knicks since he was very young, and this encounter is very meaningful for him."

"As for the result, I certainly support the Thunder to win the championship. Oklahoma City needs this trophy, and it would be the best gift Kevin could give to the city."

The recollection of past hardships brought tears to Wanda's eyes, and Kenyon Martin, a veteran player for the Thunder, also had tears in his eyes during the interview.

He was once one of the best power forwards in the league, but his career declined after leaving the Nets. This experience is difficult for Martin to recall, and he spoke candidly in an interview:

"Many people have forgotten the Nets team that was able to compete with the Knicks back then. I know that most commentators will just laugh it off when this experience is mentioned, but I think that's disrespectful to us."

"To be able to return to the Finals at the end of my career, I just want to express my gratitude. Thank you to everything in Oklahoma City, thank you to everyone for accepting me."

ABC loves these emotional moments. When interviewing Carter, they didn't forget to reminisce about the "Black Mamba Wars," which made the fading dunk champion reminisce, and he finally sighed:
"That was definitely an unforgettable experience, but if I could go back, I would tell myself to play in the Western Conference."

“This is not about running away. You know, the vast majority of players in the league have never had Finals experience, and in the Western Conference, the chances of achieving that goal are obviously much greater.”

"I don't regret the choice I made back then. It's an honor to receive Lee's approval. I really love the title of Black Mamba!"

"."

Veterans love to reminisce about the past, and Fisher is no exception. Returning to the Finals, Fisher once again began to boast about his championship experience.

No one questions his age or leadership anymore. Oklahoma City fans believe that Fisher can still step up in the upcoming games and help the team win the championship!
When the coaching staff was also interviewed, head coach Brooks appeared somewhat excited in front of the camera. When asked about the team's tactical system, he proudly introduced it:

"While many teams are still clinging to outdated basketball philosophies, the Thunder are the most determined team in the league to make changes."

"This is inseparable from the efforts of the coaching staff and management. We have built our own 'giant model'!"

Coach Brooks wasn't lying; the Thunder have the most pick-and-rolls and three-pointers in the league, and their stats on both ends of the court are better than the Knicks'.

Especially the bench players, Harden, Fisher, and Carter, frequently exploded from beyond the three-point line, which was one of the reasons the team was able to defeat the Mavericks.

The young teams making their first appearance in the finals were also a hot topic on TNT, but unlike ABC's traditional interview style, the four preferred to approach the topic from a different angle.

"After the game, Westbrook mentioned the Finals matchup, claiming that he is not Wade without a meniscus!"

"I agree with that view. Westbrook may have a hard time gaining the upper hand, but his excellent physical attributes also allow him to have an impact on Lee on the defensive end."

Charles Barkley chuckled and fanned the flames, saying that while there is indeed a gap in skills among young players, in terms of physique alone, the outspoken Barkley believed that Westbrook was on par with 34-year-old Li You.

Perhaps because Wade's performance in the Eastern Conference Finals was too poor, and he announced that he would undergo knee surgery after the series ended, many basketball commentators felt that Westbrook could have performed better, or at least be better than the Flash.

Kenny Smith, unfazed by the outspoken opinions, took advantage of the director's presentation of the two teams' key players to further analyze the data:
“4场比赛，李场均拿到44分6.8篮板10.0助攻2.8抢断，投篮命中率高达64.9%，三分球命中率则是53.8%。”

“凯文-杜兰特场均29.5分7.5篮板5.3助攻1.7抢断，投篮命中率是53.2%，三分球命中率为35.7%。”

"The MVP is excellent, but the gap is very obvious. I'm curious what kind of defensive strategy the Thunder will use, which will determine the course of the series."

Although Ernie Johnson has seen countless outrageous statistics from Li You over the years, he still feels a sense of absurdity at this moment. The description of "inhuman" is very apt; this is simply not the performance of a 34-year-old.

"Shaq, as Lee's longtime opponent in the Finals, what are your thoughts on Saturday's first game?"

Old Shark hadn't spoken much since the show started, and his most frequent gesture was shaking his head. Upon hearing his partner's question, he immediately responded in a deep voice:
"If the Thunder continue to use Westbrook or Sefolosha for one-on-one defense, then the series will end in four games!"

Seeing that Barkley was about to retort, O'Neal immediately sped up his speech and added with reason and evidence:

“I know how good my little brother is. Wade may not be at his best, but he is still the best player in the league to guard Lee.”

"If you watched Kobe's Finals, you should know that Lee's shooting percentage in this matchup would be over 70%."

"The Thunder's backcourt is good, but they haven't reached Wade's level yet. I respect Oklahoma City, but they have no chance." "However, I'm glad the young players witnessed Lee's performance in the Finals. After this series, they'll understand how I feel. The GOAT is invincible!"

Every time a similar question was asked, the old Shaq would launch into a long, enthusiastic explanation. After listening to this for a whole season, Barkley couldn't take it anymore and turned around to retort:

"Basketball is a team sport, and the Thunder's young players are not like the Knicks' rookies!"

"On the bench, players like Kyrie Irving struggle to even earn the coaching staff's trust, while Carter and Fisher consistently contribute in every game."

Upon hearing his teammate tout the team's depth, O'Neal immediately flashed a mocking smile, retorting as if he'd heard a joke:

"Most of the Thunder players have never experienced the Finals, and their roster depth is a joke. In a game like this, the core players will decide everything!"

"."

The two resumed their usual debate, which Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson couldn't get a word in edgewise. However, they were also curious to see if a non-bust MVP could surpass his "predecessor" in the Finals.

-

On Friday, June 8th, with intensive promotion, the hype surrounding the finals began to rise sharply.

When casual fans saw the familiar Knicks team, most immediately switched sides, and no one believed that the young players could win the championship.

The betting odds also indicate that analysts favor New York. In fact, since the start of this season, the Knicks have been a favorite to win the championship. No matter how much commentators tout the young players, the market believes in veteran James Harden.

On the Finals media day, ABC also released some footage taken in the past two days showing Oklahoma City fans boycotting the Knicks, a situation that has become very rare in recent years.

The promotional video also included player interviews, with Kendrick Perkins standing out as a young player with extensive experience.

Inheriting the spirit of his good brother Garnett, the fierce-looking Perkins spoke of his Finals opponents with a hint of anger on his face:

“I respect Lee, he is the greatest of all time, but any player who has spent a few years in the Eastern Conference will hate New York just as much as I do.”

"Many fans don't really love the sport; they love the winner's identity more! Basketball has been distorted to some extent, and that's how I felt back in Boston."

“Oklahoma City is completely different. The fans here are more genuine, and the Thunder's locker room is incredibly united. We're like family!”

"I don't want to talk too much about the past, but coming to Oklahoma City is really great. After my injury, I lost my love for basketball for a while, but the environment here helped me find myself again."

"No matter who the opponent is, I am willing to give everything for this city!"

Reaching the Finals is also a form of publicity. Compared to New York, Oklahoma City definitely needs more exposure, and all the Thunder players expressed their gratitude to the city in interviews.

In the interview clip, the ABC reporter clearly brought up the issue of his performance against Westbrook. Westbrook smiled broadly on camera, seemingly unconcerned about his performance, and even made sure to identify himself when answering questions.
"At UCLA, I started with defense! Defense is my instinct, and I will complete the tasks assigned to me by the coach."

"You know, I was a Michael Jordan fan when I was very young, and when I went to college, I became a huge Kobe fan!"

“The two of them have always inspired me. Since entering the league, I have never relaxed in training. I know how hard I work. It will be fun to match up against Lee, and I will enjoy this matchup.”

"."

In interviews, Westbrook repeatedly mentioned his identity as a "Mamba disciple." Although he did not explicitly express his dislike for Li You's basketball views, it is not difficult for onlookers to see that young people do not recognize the GOAT.

Dwyane Wade, a die-hard fan of Allen Iverson, has "fallen" and announced that he would be undergoing surgery after the series ended, even withdrawing from the US team for it.

Now Kobe's die-hard fans have reappeared, and after seeing the interview clip, netizens are jokingly praising Westbrook's courage on social media, saying that there aren't many people as "brave" as him.
At Chesapeake Energy Arena, the Thunder players were practicing shooting. Compared to the Knicks' situation that morning, there were not fewer cameras and reporters, but rather more.

In high spirits, Durant, dressed in a blue training uniform, greeted every reporter on the sidelines with a smile. The upcoming Game 1 of the Finals in Oklahoma City tomorrow night had largely dispelled the young man's nervousness.

When training was halfway through and the media had finished taking photos, the players flocked to the interview area to check in. As the MVP, Durant was naturally the most popular, and as soon as he stood there, sports reporters eagerly asked him questions.

As the broadcaster, ESPN naturally had priority, and taking advantage of Durant's good mood, they asked the sensitive question again:

"KD, after LeBron James' loss in the Eastern Conference Finals, he felt the team needed more players to step up. If the Thunder face a similar predicament, how would you approach the upcoming games?"

Before the Finals even started, ESPN predicted the Thunder would lose their home court. Durant, upon hearing this, was immediately displeased, but maintained his MVP composure, responding seriously:
"As the MVP, I won't pass the responsibility to my teammates. Isn't that the basketball philosophy I've always adhered to?"

"The Thunder are a young team, and we may indeed face similar difficulties, but with the support of the Oklahoma City fans, I believe we can overcome all obstacles!"

"You know, playing with conviction makes a difference. Tomorrow night we'll fight for Oklahoma City."

Inadvertently, he once again highlighted his loyalty. With the MVP award, the "One Man, One City Award," and the "Li You Recognition Award," Durant has seemingly surpassed James to become a true leader of the new generation.

When a Yahoo Sports reporter asked about his championship experience, Durant looked somewhat unhappy, but still maintained a smiling and firm stance:
"If basketball games always win because of the experience of the team, then Lee would never have beaten Michael Jordan's Bulls in '98!"

"Young people will always have to take over the championship trophy, and we have everything we need to win."

On the sidelines, Westbrook, leaning back in his chair, grinned broadly. The local Oklahoma City media adored him, and their questions were naturally very friendly.

Amidst the mutual flattery, the question of matchup still came up. Perhaps because he'd been asked so many times in the past few days, Westbrook abandoned his modesty and responded arrogantly:
"I won't use injuries as an excuse! Many people like to compare me to Dwyane Wade, but our situations are completely different!"

"In the league, I can keep up with anyone's pace. Speed ​​and power are my advantages. If you still have doubts, then watch tomorrow night's game."

"In this matchup, I will prove my strength with my actions!"

"."

(End of this chapter)