NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 835 Basketball always brings tears to my eyes. (7000-word chapter)
On Friday, June 15, 2012, ESPN’s morning Sports Center program revisited the conflict that erupted in Game 3 of the Finals.

Unlike the hasty reports from major sports media outlets last night, it was indeed "understandable" that Leonard Westbrook got into a fight with New York fans as he left the court, as the extreme fans had provoked him first.

In another video replay, leaving New York fans surrounded Leonard, chanting "Westbrick," while onlookers laughed and joked around.

When the two started arguing, not only did no one try to stop them, but there were even more provocations, which eventually escalated into a physical altercation that turned into a post-match "boxing bout."
However, according to the New York media, Leonard Westbrook "brought it on himself." He could have taken another route or comforted his brother after the game, but instead chose "the most difficult path."

Most of the reports were just for fun; New York fans and local media were practically "nickname masters," with all sorts of humiliating slogans and reports popping up one after another.

In response, fans in neighboring Philadelphia rallied in support of Oklahoma City. As a neighboring city, they felt "persecuted" for a full 16 years. The Philadelphia Inquirer published an article early this morning criticizing New York's basketball environment, and even Kobe Bryant joined in the discussion.

"This shouldn't happen in the Finals. In basketball, there are things more important than winning, and the losers deserve respect."

When the neighboring newspaper quoted Kobe, New York fans immediately perked up and flooded the 76ers' Reddit section early in the morning, also mocking Kobe along with the rest of the team.
"A coward who would only join a championship team in the CBA has no right to point fingers at the greatest team in history!"

"Go on to be Westbrook's mentor and spiritual leader, and teach him how to hit the bricks more efficiently."

"Westbrook will inherit Kobe's Joker crown in the future."

"."

On social media, Oklahoma City fans were silenced and joined forces with New York fans who were also fans of the win to launch a massive attack, which at one point made Kobe and Westbrook trending topics.

Hannah Storm, though already aware of the New York fan club's antics, was speechless after seeing the video from this new angle; these guys had completely gone mad.

"Hill, what are your thoughts on tomorrow night's game? After the crushing defeat in Game 3, can the young team secure their first victory in the Finals?"

The Thunder suffered a crushing 82-132 defeat on the road. If the fourth quarter hadn't become garbage time, the young team might have set a new record for the biggest margin of defeat in the NBA Finals.
Wearing a blue suit, Grant Hill shrugged after hearing the question and responded cheerfully to the camera:
"Judging from the content of Game 3, the Thunder's young players are completely lost!"

"Playing under immense pressure is indeed very difficult. To win games, the most important thing is to solve the problems with defense or ball response. At present, it seems difficult for the Thunder to make any changes."

"But I agree with Li. Young people deserve encouragement; they have already shown their talent to everyone."

The director also reviewed last night's post-match press conference. With a 3-0 lead, most sports reporters were fawning over him, and most of the questions they asked were still about the triple-double record.

Only the ABC reporter remembered the dejected young man, and when talking about the ridiculed Thunder team, Li You earnestly offered some words of encouragement:
"For young people, how to face failure is actually more important than how to win!"

"When faced with a large deficit, some players may be looking forward to leaving the court as soon as possible, while others will continue to fight with all their might, try to narrow the gap, and still pursue victory."

"The Thunder guys belong to the latter category. Perhaps many people are criticizing Russell Westbrook, but he is the kind of player who perseveres until the very end."

"Shooting percentage isn't important at this point. Kevin won the MVP this year, and Westbrook has a chance to win it in the future. I see the great qualities of a great player in him!"

"."

虽然威斯布鲁克昨晚22中5，三分线外6中0，罚球10中7，低效砍下17分6篮板4助攻4失误的数据，但赛后却得到了“李佑认可奖”！
Because of Li You's praise, many basketball commentators began to re-evaluate Westbrook's increasingly poor shooting. After a night of discussion, they finally concluded:
"Westbrook is a true disciple of the Mamba! He has the opportunity to follow in Kobe's footsteps in the future."

Of course, some people interpreted these words as a form of sarcasm, but Grant Hill firmly believed that Li You was indeed praising the young man, after all, apart from missing shots, Westbrook was indeed the most hardworking player in the game!

Besides their willingness to take responsibility, the young man's talent is also evident. He remains energetic even while playing hard defense, and his raw talent alone surpasses that of many players.

The show concluded by discussing veterans who might retire, noting that Fisher and Carter performed exceptionally well in the game, helping the Thunder hold onto their last line of defense.

After losing three games in a row, neither Carter nor Kenyon Martin wanted to talk much about the game or the future. Only Fisher spoke frankly in the locker room:
"Yes, it's enough to use my championship experience to help the Thunder reach the Finals. I'm almost 38 years old, and I'm sure this is my last season."

With fewer and fewer players of the same generation available, Li You has outlasted wave after wave of excellent players. Thinking about the remaining four years, Hannah Storm felt a pang of sympathy for the young players. Grant Hill echoed this sentiment, adding:
"Li Tong showed us in this year's finals that age is not an obstacle to great achievements!"

In the afternoon, the Thunder players, who were at Madison Square Garden for their routine practice, discovered that their opponents had already started setting up confetti.

NBA and ABC staff are finalizing the awards ceremony proceedings, and Stuart Scott, as the host, is chatting happily with Knicks staff on the sidelines.

Seeing everyone's happy faces, the young man felt uneasy. Harden, who was shooting, looked sleepy, his mind already on the big-butt girl.

Westbrook, who shed tears at halftime in Game 3, regained his energy after exchanging text messages with Kobe. He showed no signs of frustration and even became more determined!
On the contrary, Durant looked listless, and with the team down 0-3, the new MVP was completely hopeless.

I had trouble sleeping last night and was surfing the internet. I saw myself being ridiculed and mocked on social media. Durant went on a crazy online battle, but after venting his emotions, he felt empty because it didn't help with tomorrow night's game.

Perkins, who had previously maintained a "tough guy" image, has now lost his temper, and the burly black man is no longer speaking out in the locker room. At this point, even he himself doesn't believe in a comeback.
In the somber atmosphere, Coach Brooks clapped his hands in exasperation, gathered everyone together, and once again offered a pep talk:

"Listen, miracles are created. We are facing the toughest moment of the season, and everyone needs to stay focused."

"Remember, respect is not something that can be given away. If you want to earn respect, then show the results of our training in the upcoming matches."

"Don't be discouraged by being down 0-3. Forget about the score and think about the Oklahoma City fans who have always supported us."

The head coach's words did have some effect on the young players: winning at least one game in this "battle for honor" would earn them respect, and even if they ultimately lost the series, they could leave New York with their heads held high.

With wide eyes, Westbrook clapped his hands repeatedly and took the initiative to go up to his teammates to communicate with them. Perhaps the mental victory method really worked, because Sefolosha, who was infected by it, also began to loudly remind everyone.

"Listen, Bro, whether we lose by 1 point or 50, the result is the same. Don't pay attention to what the media says; they don't understand basketball!"

Westbrook, leaning close to Durant, loudly shared his "insights," but his words didn't hold up to scrutiny. The new MVP seemed a bit flustered and suddenly turned to ask curiously:

"Is this Kobe's advice to you? Bro, you don't need to listen to the advice of a loser, unless you want to keep losing the Finals like him in the future!"

"A superstar who doesn't even reach the league average field goal percentage? We all know Kobe is overrated, and that's not the style of basketball we're looking for."

Since winning the MVP, Durant has looked down on Mamba. He has entered the ranks of superstars, while Kobe has completely faded into obscurity. The two are not players of the same level.

Durant was subtly reminding his teammate to stop missing so many shots, but Westbrook shook his head and glared at him, retorting:
"I firmly believe that the next shot will hit the target. I must take on more responsibility; this is what I should do!"

"Kobe is right. It's cowardly to be afraid to shoot out of fear. If I can't change the series, I'd rather lose the game the right way."

"."

Upon hearing this, Durant put his hands on his hips, his face showing a hesitant expression. In the end, he couldn't say anything directly and turned to look at Fisher.

Old Fish naturally overheard their conversation. As Mamba's former teammate, he knew very well that this theory was useless. After all, Kobe had led his team to create the biggest point difference in the Finals back in the day by shooting like crazy:
"Bro, we need to move the ball faster, just like the coach said!"

“Looking back at the video, it’s not hard to see that Li’s outbursts are usually concentrated in a short period of time. To respond to the ball, you can’t rely on individual ability alone. To be honest, no one in the league can do that.”

"Faster ball movement, more aggressive rotation, and getting Li to play the ball earlier will give us a chance to win tomorrow night's game."

Carter, who had joined in, wanted to add more, but Westbrook, determined to be himself, shook his head again, responding resolutely:
"I can make those shots! I can do it!"

"."

Durant even wanted to yell, "You can't do anything, give me the ball," but the young MVP wasn't a ball hog after all, and he held back for a long time without saying a word, only able to watch his partner practice free throws.

Having completely given up on the championship, Carter patted the young leader on the shoulder, reminding him of a game from years ago when he also took a lot of shots, but it didn't help the team at all.

"Kevin, failure isn't a bad thing. You're only 23. Stay healthy, and I believe you can win the championship."

"You'll only understand after experiencing it. Enjoy the game tomorrow night!"

Carter's words of comfort only made Durant feel more bitter. He even felt that he would not have a chance to pursue a championship for the next four years. Li You's condition was simply inhuman. Basketball should not be like this!
-

On Saturday, June 16, Manhattan was in a celebratory mood from early morning, with many businesses displaying Knicks logos to celebrate tonight's championship.

G3再次以百分百命中率爆砍46分10篮板12助攻4抢断2盖帽后，这份三双数据也让李佑追平了魔术师约翰逊的纪录。

MSG's program took this opportunity to go on a spending spree, constantly promoting that a new record would be witnessed tonight. Coupled with the rare home-court award ceremony, New York fans were in a frenzy!
At 7:30 a.m., on a rare weekend, Li You's home was still bustling with activity. Ever since the little ones started school one after another, the townhouses in Manhattan had never been quiet.

The "house-destroying state" even made Scarlett, who had been taking care of the child for the past six months, unable to hold back. Knowing that she was easy to talk to, she would "relentlessly nag" anyone who made a mistake.

Although she was already 28 years old, unlike other girls, the succubus who had been by Li You's side for a long time was not mature. After outwitting and outmaneuvering each other, the younger Olsen won the hearts of the little guys.

"Mommy!"

Hearing the shouts downstairs, Scarlett, who had just woken up, immediately covered her head. Just as she had expected, less than 10 seconds later came the sounds of laughter and playfulness.

Olsen, her ample bosom exposed, chuckled softly in Li You's arms. Since deleting all her social media accounts, the young woman has been enjoying this life more and more.

At this moment, seeing the succubus angrily biting Li You's shoulder, Olson lazily whispered:
"It's a rare weekend, and we promised to go out and have fun, including watching the game tonight."

Scarlett, feeling comforted by the tight embrace, nuzzled twice, then, hearing the young woman start playing the role of a confidante again, immediately said in an annoyed tone:
“I didn’t agree to let them go to the Bronx. There are homes around the Yankees, and Manhattan is not safe at all.”

Scarlett, who rarely paid attention to the news in the past, wanted to move after reading The New York Times. Although the crime rate had dropped, there were still shootings every day, and the Bronx was frequently featured in the newspapers.

In comparison, the environment in Greenwich was actually better. Unfortunately, the little ones had had their fill, and only the senior dogs loved Peninsula Manor. Li You listened without offering any opinion until the succubus climbed on him and complained, at which point he leaned back on his arms and laughed in response:

"Let Alvin take his brothers, one at a time, with priority given to the obedient ones. There are security personnel, and the neighborhood is relatively safe."

The compromise satisfied the succubus, who leaned down. Despite having practiced many morning exercises, Olsen was still somewhat embarrassed and whispered in her ear:
"Isn't there a match tonight?"

"Honey, that was at 20 PM!"

At 20 p.m. that night, Game 4 of the Finals was held as scheduled. Unlike the previous games, in order to relieve the pressure on Westbrook, Sefolosha took over the defensive responsibility after the start of the game.

Clearly, Coach Brooks was hoping Westbrook could bounce back. In the first half, the young player withstood the pressure and took several shots, but missed them all. The score was 46-60, trailing by only 14 points!
After the start of the second half, the Thunder's bench regained some energy, with the veterans standing together and cheering loudly for their teammates.

As he accelerated past half-court, Westbrook saw Durant and Marion entangled on the right wing. He immediately signaled to Kenyon Martin at the top of the key to pass back and set a screen.

Receives the ball on the left wing, and before his teammates can get into position, Westbrook, who is placing the ball with his left hand, suddenly lowers his center of gravity, quickly moves in and out, pulls the ball laterally, and immediately accelerates to break through.

Unable to shake off Li You, Westbrook, arriving at the left defensive zone, simply stopped abruptly, dragged Ibaka back to defend the basket, circled back to the top line, and with the help of Kenyon Martin's screen in the elbow area, decisively attempted a long two-point jump shot that missed!
Seeing this, Durant, who was retreating on the other side, was so anxious that he wanted to slap his thigh, while Li You had already received the backcourt rebound that Ibaka gave up.

The Thunder's defensive retreat was incredibly fast, while Soflosa tried his best to control the defensive distance, constantly shifting his weight along with Li You's movements.

When Ray Allen faked a screen and bounced out, Westbrook, who was chasing, immediately moved forward to double-team him with his teammates, while Durant started moving up the left side of the defense.

Despite being outmaneuvered by two defenders, Durant still chose to leave Marion open in the left corner when Ray Allen received the ball and faked a shot. As a result, the veteran was in particularly good form tonight and immediately scored after receiving the ball!

"What the hell!"

Durant muttered angrily. In previous games, Marion could only make one three-pointer per quarter at most, and his open shot percentage was not good. But tonight, when he was left open, he always responded.
On offense, the Thunder continued to speed up the pace. After Perkins set a screen, Westbrook, holding the ball in his right hand, immediately cut into the middle, only to be blocked by Li You. He then passed the ball to the big black guy who was cutting down the court.

Perkins received the ball on the lower left side of the basket, pushed hard against Gasol's long arm, and launched a right-handed one-handed floater.

"Oh!"

Amid cheers, the basketball bounced off the back of the rim and rebounded. With the help of his teammates, Li You grabbed the tomahawk rebound first, forcing the aggressive Westbrook to retreat quickly on defense.

When Kenyon Martin quickly double-teamed the player after a pick-and-roll at the top of the key, Serge Ibaka received a bounce pass from Li You at the free-throw line and made a decisive jump shot, sending cheers back through the arena.

"The rest of the Knicks players were in excellent form tonight! This cost the Thunder's defensive strategy dearly."

Seeing Li You's stats rise steadily, Van Gundy could only praise the team's performance. The championship coach couldn't help but recall the "God of War" from years past, where the Knicks responded best in games with less pressure.

Finally receiving the ball in the right-side blocking area, Durant attempted a forced breakthrough with his right hand, and immediately spun around when Marion blocked him at the bottom of the line.

Upon entering the paint, Ibaka and Gasol provided cover for Durant, who, despite being surrounded, did not pass the ball but instead forced a floater while still under defensive pressure.

The basketball miraculously bounced off the backboard and went into the basket, prompting the referee to blow the whistle, which made Durant, who was lying on the floor, clench his fist in celebration.

"Great shot! Kevin Durant has been outstanding in this year's Finals, and it seems he has recovered from the Game 3 loss."

"Jeff, what are your thoughts on the future of this young MVP? Will Durant have a chance to return to the Finals next season?"

With the outcome of tonight's game largely decided, Mike Brin began cheerfully discussing the future. Van Gundy, not wanting to disappoint Oklahoma City fans, once again offered rosy promises:

"Without a doubt, 23-year-old Durant is not yet at his peak, but getting to the Finals is never an easy thing. The most important thing for the Thunder in the offseason is to maintain their roster."

"Westbrook, Harden, and Jeff Green will all be important pieces in the championship puzzle!"

Durant, who made the free throw, wanted to continue his attack, but in the following minutes, Westbrook became the protagonist on the court, missing several pick-and-roll jump shots, which made the New York fans in the arena count with joy.

Although the Knicks wasted some opportunities, the point difference gradually widened, and Gasol's pick-and-roll layup forced the Thunder to call a timeout.

With an angry expression, Westbrook returned to his seat and began glaring. Coach Brooks instructed him to slow down the pace of the game, and he immediately nodded in agreement.

However, after the timeout, Durant found that his partner had not executed the play. When the ball returned to the top of the arc, Westbrook, far from the three-point line, accelerated and drove hard again, stopping abruptly at the free-throw line for a jump shot.

"what!!"

After making the shot, Westbrook pounded his chest, glared, and shouted passionately. He made 2 of 7 shots, finally hitting another field goal in this quarter!

After scoring, Westbrook became more aggressive on defense. He followed Ray Allen along the baseline and when he came to the right wing, he saw that Sefolosha at the top of the arc had been faked out in advance. He subconsciously moved his foot and reached out.

Before even reaching the right elbow area, Li You had already delivered the pass while on the move. Westbrook, out of position, managed a weak defense, and Ray Allen's three-pointer swished through the net.

During the defensive transition, Ray Allen shook his head repeatedly, even as a veteran, he noticed the opponent's positioning issues. The young players still have a lot to learn.

The two teams played at an increasingly faster pace in the remainder of the game, with some possessions even becoming chaotic and reckless.
Harden, who came off the bench, failed to become a "metronome" and instead played faster and faster alongside Westbrook.

Nick Collison's consecutive shots in the paint helped the Thunder stay close. At the end of the third quarter, it was 70-87. Coach Brooks on the sidelines breathed a sigh of relief. This was the best three quarters of the series!

ABC转播方开始提醒电视机前的球迷李佑即将打成三双，10中10，三分线外3中3，罚球5中5，28分9篮板14助攻2抢断，距离新纪录只差一个篮板球！

Madison Square Garden also began to stir, with impatient New York fans even starting to shout:
"Lee! Lee! Lee!."

Seeing this, the Thunder players all looked rather grim. The point difference was still within a manageable range, but once the main lineup came on, Li You's stats would rise.

Westbrook, who had already taken 22 shots in three quarters, ignored the booing fans, looked at Coach Brooks, glared at him, and shouted:

"Don't make me rest, coach, I want to play the whole game!"

"."

Durant, who hadn't rested for a minute either, was already starting to feel the strain. He looked at his teammate, panting heavily, seemingly wanting to say something but ultimately swallowing his words.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Vince Carter's three-pointer brought the Knicks' lead back to 11 points, but Kyrie Irving's consecutive free throws helped stabilize the situation for the Knicks.

Westbrook then hit two consecutive jump shots, and the pace of the game was very fast. With 8 minutes and 48 seconds left in the game, Durant and Li You returned to the court.

With his stamina limited, Durant was clearly unable to keep up, and as the game progressed, Westbrook turned on scoring mode, repeatedly helping the Knicks launch transition offenses!

"Oh!"

Amid cheers, Li You completed a triple-double after grabbing the long rebound. The New York fans in the arena shouted wildly. When they saw Li You push the ball across half-court, change direction, get away from Westbrook, and suddenly stop, everyone raised their arms.

Durant, who had just returned to his half, watched in despair as the long-range three-pointer swished through the net. Madison Square Garden erupted in cheers, the shouts never ceasing.
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

The pace of the game changed again. In the next few minutes, Westbrook and Sofolosha continued to play hard on defense, but as long as the ball returned to Li You's hands, he could always score in one-on-one situations.

With two steps to the three-point line on the left wing, Li You, who had received the ball again, quickly took a probing step with his right foot. Westbrook moved slightly and then watched as his opponent pulled up for a jump shot.
Another three-pointer went in, and seeing Li You slowly retreating on defense with a smile on his face, the young Thunder players once again "questioned their lives." Everyone began to doubt their previous efforts, and at this moment, Old James "stopped pretending"!
"what"

Westbrook, who rushed into the paint and screamed, lost the ball again. Li You, who made the steal, did not rush to advance the ball. He waited until the young man complained to the referee before calmly dribbling the ball across half-court.

Coach Brooks on the sidelines seemed to sense something was wrong and immediately turned around to call a timeout. In front of the logo, Westbrook made a desperate attempt to defend, but Li You's step-back jumper after the ball bounced off the ground still went in!
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

Shouts echoed through the arena once again as the Knicks' rookies rushed onto the court and crowded around Li You to celebrate.

On the other side, Carter put his arm around Westbrook, whose eyes were glazed over. This kind of game pace was indeed a bit cruel. It was as if the opponents were toying with them, giving the young man a sliver of hope, only to quickly crush it at the last moment.

With a score of 86-113 and only 2 minutes and 18 seconds left in the game, the Thunder were unable to turn the tide, and this young team was swept in the Finals.

"It's a pity that we didn't win the championship this year. I think everyone realized the huge gap during the game."

"But we still have a long way to go, and we must not be discouraged by this."

Coach Brooks made no further adjustments, looked around at the young players, and then, with a serious expression, loudly encouraged them:
"Now hold your heads high, go back and train as hard as ever, become stronger this summer, and you can do it!"

"We must continue to fight for each other on the field and support each other like brothers."

"The Finals are over. When the buzzer sounds, go and thank the best player in history on the other side, and pay your respects to Lee."

"In this fair competition, Lee showed us why he is the GOAT, to take him as our goal, to learn from him, and to eventually surpass him!"

"."

When the timeout ended, Durant, with his arms around Carter and Fisher, stared intently at the opponents sprinting across the court. The newly crowned MVP subconsciously glanced around and saw his goddess cheering with the little one, his eyes welling up with tears again.
"I swear, I will come back."

(End of this chapter)