NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 833 "Sewer" Tactics (10,000-word chapter)
On Saturday, June 9, 2012, at 8 p.m., Chesapeake Energy Arena once again turned into a sea of ​​blue as Oklahoma City fans poured tremendous energy into their home game.

Before the game, the entire city was mobilized. As the only team representing one of the four major sports leagues, the Thunder were undoubtedly the favorite of local sports fans, and they responded positively to all kinds of arrangements.

From ABC's perspective, the atmosphere in Game 1 of the Finals was just as intense as in New York. The uniform blue cheering T-shirts and the principle of only sitting down after a goal made the entire arena erupt early on!
However, an awkward moment occurred at the start of the game. It took a full two minutes for Durant to break the Thunder's scoring drought, and only then could the loyal Oklahoma City fans sit down and watch the game in peace.

After opening the scoring, the young Thunder players breathed a sigh of relief, but they soon discovered that the opposing veteran, James Harden, was incredibly accurate, prompting head coach Brooks to call a timeout early on.

With eight minutes remaining in the first quarter, Durant once again helped the team break their scoring drought. The slow-starting Thunder forced D'Antoni to perform a fadeaway jumper, a moment captured by the broadcast cameras.

"Oh"

The more than 18,000 Oklahoma City fans in the arena once again let out low cheers. Kenyon Martin, who was helping on defense, kept sliding and cooperating with Westbrook to block Li You's breakthrough. As a result, Ibaka, who cut down the middle, received the ball and immediately slammed it down with one hand!

The Thunder called another timeout after scoring so easily. Coach Brooks on the sidelines looked serious as he glanced at his players, who were panting heavily, and a sense of impatience began to creep into his heart.

In contrast, the Knicks' rookies, led by their veterans, were excitedly shouting and cheering. Ibaka even gave everyone high-fives repeatedly, and everyone's spirits were high.

The camera remained focused on Lee Woo, who was smiling. The boos from the arena didn't seem to affect the GOAT's good mood, and Mike Brin in the commentary booth was also loudly praising him.

"All five starters scored, and Li's performance was particularly incredible. Tonight, he seemed to be influencing the game in a different way, which made the opposing young team very embarrassed."

With 3 out of 3 shots, all from beyond the three-point line, Li You easily filled the stat sheet with 9 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, looking completely relaxed.

The Thunder, who have only scored 13 points so far, have indeed performed poorly. Van Gundy naturally saw the problem and reiterated his previous comments:
"Whether it's Perkins or Martin, they both need to control their defensive positions when defending pick-and-rolls."

"We also need to pay attention to where the long rebounds land. Lee has already grabbed two offensive rebounds, and these second-chance points are the points the Thunder gave to the Knicks."

Van Gundy, who had previously coached the Knicks, was well aware of Li You's "nose" on the boards, but this aspect of his game was often overlooked due to the lack of statistics.

Martin, who had a poor performance, was once again substituted by Perkins. The Thunder continued with their rotation of one big man and four small men, with Harden and Westbrook continuing to pair up in the backcourt.

Before going on the court, Carter encouraged his teammates again, giving them several high-fives and then pulling everyone aside to say loudly:
"Stay focused, don't worry about the score, the game has just begun."

If the Knicks take a double-digit lead, the game is likely over. This is almost a consensus among veterans in the league. Carter was worried that the young players' emotions would be affected, so he repeatedly emphasized the time issue.

"OKC! OKC! OKC!"

Despite the home team being at a disadvantage, the Oklahoma City fans remained enthusiastic, their cheers even growing louder. Harden, dribbling past half-court, slowed down, looked at Ray Allen, and began executing the play as instructed.

On the right wing, when Durant came to the perimeter to set a screen, Marion immediately stepped up to delay him, while Harden quickly passed the ball to his teammate who had made the screen.

Ibaka quickly stepped in to help defend, and Durant, who received the ball, immediately delivered a bounce pass during the defensive rotation, finding Perkins unguarded under the basket.

The pass was too low, forcing the big man to adjust his position after receiving the ball. He intended to box out and lay it off with a reverse layup, but Jimmy Butler, who had just entered the game, was faster and swatted the ball away.

With a successful help defense, Ibaka twisted and controlled the ball. Durant, who was retreating on defense, angrily scolded himself for "spitting out" the ball. The new MVP was starting to lose his composure.

"Oh"

A low murmur arose again. Li You, who received the ball, accelerated along the right sideline. As he approached the three-point line, he made a large in-and-out motion with his right hand, instantly lowering his center of gravity and accelerating again.

Westbrook, his body twisting instinctively, widened his eyes involuntarily, realizing he had lost his defensive position and desperately slid to the left and right.

The seemingly successful defense completely collapsed in the right-side blocking area. Li You, who was accelerating, suddenly spun around, leaving the young man frozen in place, and ultimately watched as his opponent scored with a left-handed layup.
"Shet!"

A frustrated Westbrook cursed under his breath as he inbounded the ball. It was as if James Harden could predict his movements and always easily outmaneuver his defense. With no way to use his strength, the young man became increasingly anxious.

"Incredible! Lee seems faster than everyone else on the court. Westbrook seems to have no answer for him on the defensive end!"

The biggest impression of commentators who watched the Western Conference Finals was that the Thunder's young players were too fast. Mike Breen was impressed by this, but after playing against them, the situation was completely the opposite of what he expected.

The second acceleration left the Thunder's bench stunned, and Fisher could only loudly remind his teammates to be patient, as losing home court could very well result in a gentleman's sweep.

At the crucial moment, Durant stepped up again. Using the same tactic, this time the new MVP didn't pass the ball, but instead received it and immediately accelerated to drive into the box.

The opponent's huge stride prevented Ibaka, who was helping on defense, from keeping up with the offensive pace. As Durant leaned forward and shot off the backboard with his right arm outstretched, the referee immediately blew the whistle.

"Durant! Count it! And a foul!"

The basketball bounced into the hoop, and Mike Breen raised his voice, eliciting a long-absent cheer in the arena, which made Durant, who had fallen out of bounds, clench his fist in celebration.

Taking advantage of the free throws, Coach Brooks made another substitution. Westbrook, who only scored 2 points on 1-of-5 shooting in the first quarter, was replaced by Fisher. The young man was extremely frustrated and angrily threw his towel back at his seat.

The Thunder made the free throw, bringing their total to 16. Fisher, who had just entered the game, shouted repeatedly and then pounced on Ray Allen near the right sideline.

The veteran's defense was exceptionally hard-working. Seeing Ibaka standing still near the blocking area, he hurriedly moved up to try and squeeze past the defender, but Ray Allen suddenly accelerated and bounced outward, causing Fisher to immediately lose his position.

Arriving at the right wing three-point line, Ray Allen hadn't even settled near the sideline when Li You's pass was already halfway through.

By the time Fisher came out to defend, Ray Allen, who had caught the ball, was already in the air, stretching out his body and not being disturbed much, and easily made the jump shot!
"Shh!"

The noise in the arena didn't bother the veteran on defense. Ray Allen, chewing gum, adjusted his arm brace. Tonight's game was easier than he had expected.

The same tactic failed to work. Durant started too early, but his pass was a beat too slow, almost resulting in a turnover. He could only pass the ball back to the top of the arc, allowing Harden to reorganize the offense.

When Carter received the ball on the left wing, Butler immediately closed in on him. Facing the veteran's left-right feints and drives, the young man made a smooth breakthrough without losing his defensive position.

Under intense pressure, Carter ultimately opted for a sudden stop and step-back at the free-throw line, executing a difficult drifting jump shot that found the net, sending cheers echoing through the arena once again.

"Defense!"

Amid cheers from the defenders, Ray Allen changed direction and failed to shake off the defense this time. At this moment, Li You, holding the ball on his left at the top of the arc, suddenly accelerated and broke through with a crossover dribble.

Harden, who had been fully focused, quickly slid. The young man moved his feet, and Li You suddenly stopped, using a crossover step to pull back and instantly switch to his left hand to feign a breakthrough.

The tricked Harden tried to shift his weight, but before he could move, Li You had already changed direction in front of him. The sudden increase in dribbling speed turned the young man into a sitting duck, and he could only watch as Li You took a step-back jump shot.
"Bang! Lee with the step-back three!"

After another easy one-on-one score, Mike Breen's tone became increasingly cheerful. Harden was gone after just two crossovers. Visually speaking, the Thunder's young players' defense wasn't very good.

Van Gundy saw Harden use his left hand to accelerate and drive after a screen on the left wing, and before the young man could even attack the basket, he started criticizing him:

"Terrible offensive choice! Harden has fallen into Lee's trap again!"

When Harden arrived at the lower left side of the basket, he noticed that Li You did not jump immediately. The physical contact suddenly disappeared, which disrupted the young man's rhythm. With Ibaka's help defense, his layup, which was close to the basket, bounced off the rim.

Perkins, who was trying to grab the rebound, could only watch helplessly as Li You's tomahawk rim rebounded; the reaction was ridiculously fast, and the ball had barely left the rim when...
As the basketball flew across the center line, Marion, who had successfully caught up with the ball, also noticed Durant and Carter striding behind him. Ultimately, the Thunder successfully contained the transition offense.

When Li You received the ball again on the left wing, Harden kept interfering. Noticing that his opponent was getting increasingly impatient, he calmly made a tactical hand gesture again.

As Ray Allen slid across the baseline from left to right, Butler set a simple screen near the baseline on the left side. Seeing Ibaka signal to bounce out in the elbow area, the rookie quickly moved.

Carter, on the chase, didn't expect his opponent to cut so decisively around the screen. With a successful anticipation, he was outmaneuvered by the rookie in the paint, took a step and made a layup to put the ball in the basket.
"what!"

Jimmy Butler, with his buzz cut, fell to the floor but immediately got up and yelled at Carter. If Stephenson hadn't sprained his ankle during practice, he wouldn't have had a chance to play tonight.

With the rookies coming off the bench scoring, Coach Brooks on the sidelines had to shout his dissatisfaction and keep reminding his players to be tougher. They finally made it through the last minute.

Fisher's buzzer-beating free throw sealed the score at 34-20, and Chesapeake Energy Arena grew increasingly quiet; the point difference was simply too large.
Davis, the bearded man, was all smiles. The conference finals were quite intense, and he didn't get much playing time, but with a huge lead tonight, he's sure to make an appearance!
While Irving and his teammates were still shouting and laughing, Davis, dressed in his training gear, had already stepped forward to receive his virtual coronation.
"God is unstoppable!"

As if possessed by a charlatan, Davis shook his head and shouted loudly in front of the camera, while Ben Wallace did the same, reminding the rookies while yelling to the audience, "God is unstoppable."

The two veterans' unified message ignited the atmosphere on the bench, while on the Thunder's side, only Coach Brooks was loudly explaining the tactics, and everyone else looked serious, completely destroying the joyful atmosphere before the game.

At the start of the second quarter, the visiting team's head coach was interviewed. Doris Burke asked about Durant's outstanding performance, and D'Antoni chuckled and praised the opponent.
"Unlike other players, Durant is tall, and when he finds his touch from beyond the three-point line, it's difficult for us to make many effective defensive plays!"

"His talent is outstanding, but we cut off his connection with his teammates in the first quarter. 11 points, which is the expected score."

Durant went 4-for-6 from the field, 2-for-3 from three-point range, and 1-for-1 from the free-throw line, scoring 11 points and committing 1 foul. He remained highly efficient, only his teammates were playing like they were in the CBA (Chinese Basketball Association).
Playing the entire first quarter, Li You went 5-for-5 from the field and 4-for-4 from three-point range, totaling 14 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. His stat line was exceptionally impressive, and he was heading straight for a triple-double tonight!
At the end of the interview, when discussing the performance of his team's key players, D'Antoni couldn't stop smiling and joked to the camera:

"I don't think Li was at his best in the first quarter!"

"."

Facing the Thunder's Martin and Nick Collison duo, Gasol started by partnering with Ibaka in the paint, while the perimeter trio consisted of Davis, Irving, and Butler.

Carter hit a three-pointer from the left corner at the start of the game, and captain Nick Collison followed with a fist-pump celebration;

The Thunder shrunk their lineup, and Davis made a bounce pass to Ibaka at the free-throw line. Ibaka then took a step forward and drove to the basket, scoring despite the defense.

After a series of passes, Fisher received a pass from Carter on the left wing and made another three-pointer, igniting the atmosphere in the arena.
On a defensive possession, Collison could only watch helplessly as Harden lost his position, and Irving responded with a three-pointer from the top of the arc after a solid screen following a handoff pass from Gasol.

The pace of the game suddenly quickened, with Harden and Fisher seizing opportunities to drive to the basket, and Davis and Irving doing the same, pushing forward at full speed whenever the opponent missed a shot.

After scoring consecutive baskets, the Knicks missed several shots, but they once again dominated the boards. Gasol's putbacks and offensive rebounds prevented the Knicks from narrowing the gap.

When Carter and Fisher were substituted off the court, they both looked rather grim. The two veterans knew very well that if they didn't try to catch up when they missed shots, Li You would get enough rest and the game might be over.

"Oh"

Amid gasps of surprise, Danny Green, who had just entered the game, missed a three-pointer, and the rebound that bounced out was picked up by Li You. Westbrook seemed to have lost his way, unable to even protect the rebound right next to him.

With 5 minutes and 22 seconds left in the first half, Soflosa received instructions from the coach to double-team again. This time, Li You found Marion at the far left corner, and the veteran received the ball and scored with a low shot.

Durant stared wide-eyed, a pang of regret creeping in; he should have rushed out to defend.
Westbrook, who received the ball at the baseline, was pressed and slowed down. After crossing the midline, he saw Li You had created space and immediately passed the ball.

Just as Durant stopped on the left wing and was about to turn to receive the ball, he saw Li You suddenly appear in the passing lane and easily steal the ball.

"What the hell!"

Durant, who was rushing back to chase, was helpless to find that the two in front of him were moving very fast. Westbrook, who was chasing, jumped high and pulled Li You, who was rushing in the paint, to the side with his right arm.

Amid the gasps of Oklahoma City fans, the two hovered in mid-air, colliding, and in the blink of an eye, Westbrook was sent flying backward.

The rim slammed shut as Li You slammed the ball down and then pulled off a dunk to deflect the force. Westbrook, who had fallen to the floor, slid into the sideline camera's view. The young man was stunned by the fall and only came to his senses after being photographed up close.

"My God! Lee completed an amazing dunk! And he even made a free throw! It's hard to believe he's 34 years old!"

Mike Breen shouted excitedly, which seemed to startle the Oklahoma City fans in the stadium. Many fans in the front row instinctively covered their mouths as they watched Li You pound his chest in front of the camera.

The Knicks' bench erupted in cheers. The rookies stared wide-eyed at the dunks and roared wildly when opponents fell to the ground. When boos filled the arena, Van Gundy added:
"A reckless pass; such a basic mistake shouldn't happen in the Finals."

"Fortunately, Westbrook seems to be alright. Young people need to be patient; they still have time."

After being helped up by his teammates, the physically fit Westbrook just grimaced in pain, rubbed his back, and shook his head to indicate that he was fine. Amid the cheers of the fans, the young man even jumped a few times.

Davis was secretly astonished by what he saw. Putting aside technique, his physical attributes were truly top-notch; he was incredibly resilient and had amazing stamina. Even Wade in the Eastern Conference Finals showed signs of fatigue by halftime.
Wearing a white headband, Martin loudly encouraged his teammates on the court, and fought hard for offensive rebounds during offensive possessions, but he soon found that the opponent was fiercely boxing him out.

Westbrook's strong drive to the middle for a layup missed, and as he turned his head, he saw that Li You, who had just finished interfering, had taken the rebound.

For the Thunder, SofLossa quickly retreated on defense, but Li You, who was charging faster and faster, ignored the defense and continued to accelerate.

Seeing Li You about to take off again, Durant, chasing behind, desperately pulled him down, committing a foul. When the referee blew the whistle, Sefolosha jumped to interfere, but unfortunately, the ball flew to the very top of the backboard.
With a sigh, the basketball bounced off the backboard and swished through the hoop. Li You, who had been rushing out of bounds, slowed down, walked in front of the camera, stretched his shoulders, and shook his head, shouting at the lens:

"There's still plenty of time; it's going to be a long night!"

"."

Before halftime, the impatient young players tried to respond from beyond the three-point line, but Westbrook's shots became increasingly inaccurate, and Durant lost possession after being double-teamed.

Seeing his teammate miss a shot on the left wing and the rebound bounce directly into Li You's hands in the paint, Durant, who had been making repeated sprints back and forth, couldn't hold on any longer and gave up on chasing back.
When Westbrook committed another foul, he sent Li You to the free-throw line. When Li You was substituted by Carter, Coach Brooks hugged and encouraged him, but the young man was still in low spirits.

As Westbrook sat back down, a look of confusion appeared in his eyes as he covered his face with his hands. His performance was even worse than Wade's, who had lost his meniscus. He was completely outmatched in the matchup and seemed to be full of holes.

In the end, Fisher and Harden responded one after another, with three-pointers and free throws in transition offense allowing the Thunder to break 20 points in a single quarter.

At halftime, with the score at 67:42, Chesapeake Energy Arena had turned into a library.

Many Oklahoma City fans looked bewildered. Before the Finals began, they, like many sports commentators, were mocking the Lakers and Spurs, who had lost by a large margin in the Finals years before.

But after experiencing the first half of the game firsthand, many people felt the same way. The Thunder played like a joke, with only 7 assists and 8 turnovers in the first half.
"A powerful display of dominance! There's no doubt that Lee taught the young team a lesson tonight; the youngsters were completely lost in the first half."

"The Thunder's signature fast breaks were rare, but Lee's transition offense in the final minutes shattered their opponents."

Mike Brin chuckled as he summarized, while Van Gundy, standing nearby, felt a pang of regret for the young man, yet still offered praise:
"Points, rebounds, assists, steals—Li was unstoppable tonight!"

"This reminds me of Kidd back in the day. In fact, triple-doubles are not difficult for Lee. He had eight triple-doubles in the playoffs, five of which occurred in the Finals."

"This year, Lee has a chance to surpass Magic Johnson and become the leader in triple-doubles in the Finals. Perhaps we will witness the birth of a new record together in just a few days!" Since the game was almost out of suspense, Jon Barry, Magic Johnson, and Chris Broussard in the ABC studio also joined in the hype.

Host Michael Wilbone joked that Magic Johnson's records had been "broken" over the years, but the latter just grinned and continued to boast:
"Records are meant to be broken, and it's an honor to witness 34-year-old Lee still dominating this league!"

"."

Although the Thunder's young players sensed Harden's intentions during halftime, they were powerless to stop him once the second half began.

In less than two minutes, thanks to the efforts of Gasol and Ibaka, Li You had double-digit rebounds. Then the pace of the game changed again, with Harden starting to frequently take one-on-one shots.

Midway through the third quarter, Li You, making an off-ball run, easily received a cross pass from Ray Allen on the left wing. Facing Westbrook's close defense, he protected the ball on his left side and took a series of jab steps with his right foot.

The young man knew what Li You was going to do, but facing the step-back fadeaway jumper after the ball exploded, Westbrook, worried about giving away another 3+1, didn't even dare to go all out on defense.

"OH! That's unstoppable!"

The three-pointer swished through the net, and Mike Breen seemed to be back at Madison Square Garden. In his excitement, he stopped pretending and started bragging frequently.

Lee You scored 10 consecutive points, forcing the Thunder to call a timeout and change their defensive strategy. In the following game, whenever Ray Allen stepped up to screen, regardless of who was guarding him, he would coordinate with Westbrook to double-team him.

The veteran missed the first two shots, but Durant, in his rotation, stopped defending in his haste, and Ray Allen quietly made another shot.

Kenyon Martin and Perkins tried to grab the offensive rebound, but they found that as long as the ball didn't bounce too far off the court, Li You would most likely be in the right position.

Westbrook can still fight hard for the ball, and if he's a step slower, he can still disrupt the defense. In contrast, Fisher and Harden basically just watch helplessly, and in almost every possession they can only manage a quick retreat on defense.

"shush"

Amid boos, Gasol completed another alley-oop under the basket. Watching his opponents celebrate joyfully, Harden, sporting a beard, looked dejected. The game had fallen apart.

The Thunder finished the quarter 36-24, and although their form improved, the point difference continued to widen.

Oklahoma City fans didn't leave early, but Li You's stats continued to rise during the limited playing time of the starting lineup in the fourth quarter, a scene that made many fans feel bittersweet.

Despite his agile maneuvers in the air, Westbrook was still blocked. Falling to the floor, he didn't chase back aggressively this time. The young man stood up, staring blankly at his teammate's foul.

After the Knicks inbounded the ball, Li You dribbled between his legs at the top of the key and quickly changed direction, leaving Westbrook like a wooden stake, watching his opponent fly low to the ground in the middle.

Perkins, who had just been directing the defense, lost his tough-guy demeanor and hurriedly moved away from the paint, watching Li You step in and dunk alongside Durant.
"Oh!!"

The Thunder called another timeout. The game was over, and the Knicks' rookies cheered loudly, celebrating their first Finals victory of their careers.

Watching Li You repeatedly high-five his teammates in celebration, Westbrook's emotions surged as he walked toward the bench. If he remembered correctly, he had only made 3 of 17 shots in this game, practically knocking his own basket askew!
With 6 minutes and 12 seconds remaining in the game, both sides substituted their reserve lineups, and ABC broadcasters began announcing the "records" to viewers.

出场35分钟，15中15，三分线外7中7，罚球9中9，46分12篮板13助攻5抢断2盖帽，李佑迎来总决赛第6次三双！
Although a growing number of basketball commentators believe that Li You has entered an "inhuman" stage in the basketball world, Van Gundy was still deeply impressed after witnessing such a game in person.
"God! I can't think of any way the Thunder can contain Lee in the upcoming games!"

"Perhaps all they can do is pray to the god of basketball, and pray that Lee's performance will decline in Game 2."

Although the championship-winning coach didn't directly state his opinion, Mike Breen, as his longtime partner, understood the underlying meaning and immediately added:
"What the Thunder need to do right now is forget about tonight's game and focus on Game 2 the day after tomorrow."

“I think the next home game is very important. If we lose, Game 3 could be a nightmare for the young players. They will feel the immense pressure of playing the Finals at Madison Square Garden.”

"."

Game 1 isn't even over yet, and on social media, some extreme commentators are already planning a "game of honor" for the Thunder, saying that after losing like this, they don't even have a do-or-die game left.
During garbage time, the Knicks played with increasing vigor, even breaking the defense of veteran Vince Carter, who almost had a boxing match with Ben Wallace, who was just "playing a minor role".

Nick Collison was completely dumbfounded. Not only was the opponent's fast break fierce, but their defensive intensity also increased. The rookie, who looked like Jordan, had terrible shooting, but he was frantically fighting for rebounds.

After a chaotic brawl, Harden, who was leading the team, completely collapsed. When the buzzing sound started, Chesapeake Energy Arena was unusually quiet.

The Thunder suffered a crushing defeat at home, losing 131-88.

"what!"

Harden, sitting slumped on the floor with vacant eyes, was trying to compose himself when he suddenly noticed Jimmy Butler across from him looking up and shouting, bursting into tears of joy.
The scene before them left the Thunder players dumbfounded. Those who suffered a crushing defeat didn't complain, while those who won by a large margin seemed to feel a bit aggrieved.

The arena became noisy again, and Doris Burke, who was on the sidelines, saw this and, during an interview with Li You, couldn't help but ask curiously:

"A triple-double night after returning to the Finals, Li, congratulations on winning this game!"

"We noticed that Jimmy Butler was particularly emotional when he came off the bench tonight. Could you share with the fans about his preparations for the Finals?"

Li You would never say that the rookie was brought to tears by the internal competition within the Knicks. During the previous ABC interview, Butler only had two sentences on screen, indicating that the "backup" had no say in the team.

"We did go through some difficult moments. Many of our young players lack championship experience, and we need to consider more when developing defensive strategies."

Since preparations mainly consisted of holidays and routine training, this question almost stumped Li You. Seeing his old friend nod, he immediately smiled and changed the subject, saying:

"Young players are the team's most valuable asset; they will be the backbone of the Knicks in the future!"

"Jimmy works very hard, and I believe everyone has seen his love for basketball!"

"."

While it might seem strange to be so passionate as to cry tears of joy, Doris Burke chooses to believe that a late first-round pick's consistent rotation on a championship team can indeed be considered a success.

Although the Thunder lost, the newly crowned MVP Kevin Durant "did not lose"!
In 38 minutes of play, Durant scored 32 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, dished out 2 assists, and committed 2 turnovers, shooting 11-for-19 from the field, 4-for-8 from three-point range, and 6-for-7 from the free-throw line. He remained highly efficient and showcased his MVP caliber.

Because Westbrook played terribly tonight, only Durant attended the press conference. Unlike before the game, the young man noticed that the reporters in the audience had all changed their expressions.

"Kevin, if you lose both home games, you'll be swept by the Knicks. As the MVP, how would you rate your leadership skills?"

The ESPN reporter didn't hold back, immediately asking Durant about loans. This malicious question infuriated the young man, who promptly responded with a dark expression:
"You're not God, how can you be so sure we'll lose the game the day after tomorrow!"

"Listen, this series has just begun. The Thunder have home-court advantage. You should know what that means. I don't want to hear such stupid questions!"

Fox Sports reporters chuckled to themselves. If the Knicks' opponent was a team led by an MVP, this was almost a given in the Finals, something the veteran reporter had actually anticipated.

"100% shooting percentage in the finals, a triple-double of 40+ points, and no turnovers!"

"Kevin, after seeing Lee's outstanding performance, do you think the opponent deserves the MVP trophy more?"

TNT reporters also started making sarcastic remarks, bringing up the Finals performance in relation to regular season awards. Although it was a low-level attempt to incite conflict, Durant was still angered and immediately responded angrily:

"Go check my regular season stats! Listen, I'm the best of the younger generation of players, and the trophy is mine to keep questioning."

"If you still want to ask these stupid questions, come find me again the night after tomorrow!"

As Durant stormed off, the reporters in the audience were initially stunned, then many began to mutter complaints, and some even directly tweeted criticisms of the MVP.

"Even the greatest player in history who has won two three-peats of MVP awards doesn't refuse post-game interviews. Who does Kevin Durant think he is?"

-

On Tuesday, June 12, 2012, CCTV Sports on the other side of the ocean continued to broadcast Game 2 of the finals in the morning.

In the pre-match studio, Yu Jia and Xu Jicheng were discussing Li You's "super triple-double," proving that the hype from American sports media had finally reached this side.

"Li You, at 34, has indeed completely surpassed Michael Jordan in his prime. After watching the Eastern Conference Finals, I believe many fans realized this!"

As usual, Xu Jicheng, a longtime fan of Mike, started by mentioning his idol. Seeing Yu Jia nod, he added with a smile:

"In the past, many professional media outlets ridiculed the Lakers and Spurs for setting the record for the largest point difference in the Finals, but now that the Thunder are on this stage, the result may not be much different."

"Although both are MVPs, Durant seemed more inexperienced than O'Neal and Duncan. Game 1 reflected the huge gap in championship experience, and the young players were taught a lesson by the veterans."

17中3，三分线外5中0，罚球6中3，威斯布鲁克在G1仅拿到9分4篮板3助攻4失误的数据。

The director showed a comparison picture of Yu Jia and Li You, which looked "horrible." Yu Jia adjusted his glasses, stopped talking about the young players, and instead asked about something that Chinese fans were concerned about:
"We all know Russell Westbrook is a Kobe fan. Now that the young man has reached the Finals, fans are wondering if Kobe will have such an opportunity again in the next few years?"

Mamba's popularity in China is explosive. Although he can't compare to the vast number of fans who support him, his die-hard fans always "speak up" for their idol. Xu Jicheng is also aware of the trending topics on Weibo, but he doesn't know how to answer them.

After a moment's thought, not wanting to offend the fans, Xu Jicheng still offered a tantalizing suggestion, commenting tactfully:

"If the 76ers can strengthen their roster in free agency this year, Kobe will indeed have a chance to return to the playoffs."

"Of course, his opponent might not be the Knicks. The Heat will perform better next year. Without injuries, the young players will very likely still be ranked first in the league in the regular season."

"."

The discussions in the studio were relatively tactful, but Zhang Weiping, who flew to Oklahoma City, let loose after the competition started, leaving his partner Yang Jian unable to get a word in edgewise.

The first quarter had just begun when Zhang Weiping, watching from above the arena, chuckled and remarked as he saw Li You's tomahawk rebound push and fast break offense.

"Yeah, that's fast! Look how fast the ball flies! That's how you pass it!"

"Marion is really bad, he wasted an assist."

Seeing the Thunder secure the rebound, Westbrook received the pass and charged forward with his head down. Zhang Weiping, noticing how fast the young man was going, immediately added:
"That play was a bit like Kobe's, all over the place. We need to pass to Durant sooner!"

"He got a huge block! Li You is really something!"

Yang Jian almost scratched his head when he heard this. This old man turned into a "Kobe hater" as soon as he arrived in the United States. He has now gotten into the swing of things and, after holding back for more than half a year, has resumed his normal routine.

As if knowing what his young partner was thinking, the old man quickly commented as Li You found Ray Allen on the right wing:
"This pass was obviously a must-have! I'm not the 'Kobe hater' that fans say I am; Kobe really wouldn't pass a ball like that in a game!"

“Shooters all have their own shooting rhythm, and Li You is just able to pass the ball to that exact moment.”

Compared to the last game, after a day of adjustment, the Thunder played at a faster pace tonight, and the most significant change was that Westbrook's shots became more decisive!

"OKC! OKC! OKC!"

Amid rhythmic cheers, Durant received the ball on the left wing and made a quick breakthrough, finding Perkins under the basket just in time before being surrounded.

The latter tried to get up, but was blocked by Gasol. However, the big black guy was desperate and managed to grab the second rebound after being blocked. He staggered and hurriedly threw the ball to the three-point line.

Westbrook received the ball again and did not hesitate. He immediately released the ball with his right hand and accelerated to break through. Noticing that Li You was retreating very quickly, he simply took a crossover step back at the free throw line and then decisively jumped and missed.

Martin and Perkins were still tug-of-war under the basket, watching the ball bounce into Li You's hands, and the two cursed under their breath.
"Whoa! Another counterattack!"

Zhang Weiping was enjoying the spectacle and ignored the Thunder fans' feelings. Seeing Li You slow down as he charged forward and skillfully evaded Westbrook's defense with a dramatic Euro step, he couldn't help but loudly praise him again:

"That was beautiful! That's championship experience; the youngsters have no way to deal with it."

Yang Jian, who initially hoped the Thunder could bounce back, even made excuses for the team's young players. However, as Westbrook, seemingly channeling his inner blacksmith, kept missing shots, he eventually couldn't help but complain.
"Forced breakthrough! No, Westbrook can't play like that! Li You anticipated his offensive choice."

With 3 minutes and 17 seconds left in the first quarter, Li You launched another counterattack. This time, he broke through to the vicinity of the paint and started doing some fancy tricks. He quickly circled the ball while moving, then twisted his body and struck the ball with his left elbow. The moment the ball struck the ball, gasps echoed throughout the stadium.

Danny Green, who had just come off the bench, received the ball in the right corner and, without hesitation, launched a drifting jump shot before he had even fully regained his footing!

The basketball swished through the net, and the Knicks' bench erupted in cheers. The beautiful basket also brought a broad smile to Zhang Weiping's face from above the arena. Without hesitation, the old man commented:

"That was a beautiful pass! Not just Kobe, no one in the NBA could make a pass like that!"

"It's all about the rhythm of the shot. Westbrook's passing is the same as Kobe's; it's all hard passes, and whether it goes in or not is up to fate."

"."

Unable to refute, Yang Jian suddenly felt that the old man's words made a lot of sense. The Thunder had only scored 6 points so far, and the game was going to collapse again!

When Westbrook, who was shooting terribly, was substituted off the court, Durant secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He wondered what his teammate and Kobe had talked about in a text message, as his performance was even worse than in the previous game.

Harden, having regained possession of the ball, calmly set a screen and hit a three-pointer over the sluggish Gasol. The Knicks immediately called a timeout, which prompted Coach Brooks on the sidelines to mutter angrily.

With a score of 27-9, Zhang Weiping glanced at the stats and noticed Westbrook was 1-for-7. He then chuckled and commented:
"Point guards should watch how Li You controls the game. Kobe is really bad. He's just playing recklessly. This game is over tonight."

"Sometimes head coaches just can't handle players like this. The MVP can't get the ball, and the tactics can't be executed. It's not surprising that we lost this game!"

The pre-match hype about a "do-or-die" game was gone. Yang Jian, who had been full of anticipation, nodded helplessly after hearing the old man's words. He finally understood why his American counterparts had fast-forwarded to a "battle for honor":

"If we lose tonight, it will be a do-or-die game in New York. This is too difficult for the young players!"

"."

(End of this chapter)