NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 836 Choices for the Future (Daily Life Chapter)
On Saturday, June 16, 2012, the frenzied atmosphere at Madison Square Garden left the dejected Thunder players somewhat bewildered.

As the buzzing sound rang out, Coach Brooks, who had been encouraging his players, was unable to get up for a long time. Ending his first Finals game as a coach in this way, the turbulent emotions in his heart were hard to calm down.

Despite the Thunder's young core, the NBA Finals are never an easy feat, and this stage is even more challenging for coaches, who cannot control the team.

"what!!"

During garbage time, Baron Davis, playing with great courage and determination, tossed the ball into the air and shouted loudly. Once he realized that his opponent was a rookie in the Finals, the veteran felt that the championship was in the bag!
Kyrie Irving, who had just entered the league, immediately looked at his father on the sidelines. Dredric Irving smiled and gave his eldest son a thumbs up, just as he had expected, coming to New York meant success.

The other rookies were also very happy, not because they understood how difficult it was to win a championship, but because the Knicks would receive a $380 million reward after winning the title.

This money is mainly distributed to the rookie rotation players and assistant coaches. The Knicks' veterans have all chosen to forgo their bonuses, so having an extra source of income is always a good thing.

Of course, there were also some players on the team who were not in a good mood. Lance Stephenson, who was suddenly injured, was unhappy with Butler, who was trusted by him, and the rookie also looked down on the last-round pick who always liked to show off in front of him.

The rotation during the Finals strained the relationship between the two, while Tobias Harris and Markieff Morris, who were relegated to supporting roles, had mixed feelings. Internal competition meant they weren't getting enough playing time, making playing in New York incredibly difficult.
The only rookie in high spirits was Nikola Vucevic, who also didn't get much playing time, but had almost no competition for the center position.

The big guy's smile grew even brighter as he waved to his friends and family, who jumped and cheered with joy.

While a championship is great, it's not that important for role players who have won multiple rings, which makes JR Smith unhappy.

The coach confidently assured that New York would offer a contract, but when the talks actually began, the team was very lukewarm. Even when Ray Allen was injured and unable to maintain his form, the current general manager, Allan Houston, did not budge.

Even in previous talks, Houston inadvertently revealed the coaching staff's intentions:
"Danny Green has the potential to become an excellent shooter, and most importantly, he works hard enough and rarely has any off-court troubles."

The thought of becoming a free agent at the end of the month makes it hard for JR Smith to smile. For a championship-winning guard like him, a big contract is far more attractive than a ring.
Every player has their own agenda. Although the Knicks' locker room is united, they always encourage players to pursue "maximization" when it comes to the distribution of benefits.

The expressions of the crowd after winning the championship varied, but Dior, who had recently gained weight again, was all smiles. After securing his last big contract, the Frenchman seemed to be taking it easy.

Soon to become a free agent, Diaw has already found a "replacement" and plans to bring his championship experience to help his friend. At the end of his career, he also wants to have a "brotherhood basketball" experience.

The venue was packed with reporters. Some couldn't even get close to Li You, so they simply gathered around the current MVP, Durant. The young man's dejected look was excellent material!
"I'm sorry, I will address some questions at the press conference."

The smiling faces of the Knicks fans stung Durant's heart. The surrounding sounds now sounded like a buzzing noise to him. The young man just wanted to give a simple greeting and leave this painful place as quickly as possible.

Westbrook, sitting blankly on the bench, stared wide-eyed at the chaotic yet orderly scene. Even now, he still couldn't believe that they had been swept out of the Finals.

The score was 94-123, not much different from the previous three games. They held on until the fourth quarter but still suffered a crushing defeat.
Li You was very happy to win the championship again. Although he was exhausted from winning, the fact that he had likely gained a piece of "talent" was something to celebrate!
The dejected young man opposite him had no interest in posing for the camera, but Li You maintained a polite smile throughout. When he finally high-fived Ray Allen, he put his arm around his friend and joked in front of the media:

"Fortunately, God has blessed us veterans who love basketball, otherwise the story of '98 would have been repeated!"

As a loyal fan of Michael Jordan, Ray Allen believed that God would take care of his idol, but his dunk attempt was thwarted, and he ultimately had to retire with regret.

Recalling the past, Ray Allen was both amused and exasperated. His decision to opt for conservative treatment after suffering bone spurs during the regular season made him think winning the championship would be difficult, but this time, God truly smiled upon the veteran, and the Knicks grew stronger with each game.

"It feels amazing to be a champion! Maybe I'll have a chance to win two more rings!"

The first Thunder player to squeeze onto this side was James Harden. While commentators were focusing their criticism on Westbrook, many people forgot about the invisible best sixth man.

Harden's performance in the two away games was lackluster, even sluggish. Now that the series is over, the young man doesn't seem as dejected as his two teammates. When he went up to hug and congratulate them, he even smiled.

"Incredible performance, congratulations Lee! It's an honor to face off against the greatest player of all time in the Finals!"

Harden, with his beard, even resembled Davis in his flattery. Li You, feeling a strong sense of familiarity, patted the young man on the shoulder with a sincere smile and offered encouragement:

"You have shown everyone your talent. The Sixth Man of the Year award is just the beginning. Don't underestimate yourself. I believe you will win the MVP award."

Harden grinned broadly after receiving the "Li You Recognition Award." The MVP award is a bit far off, but he likes the goal.

The Knicks' veterans were equally generous with their praise. After a brief exchange, Harden had already put the loss behind him. New York's nightlife was still waiting for him, and there was no time to be frustrated!

Carter salvaged the Thunder's "record" in this series, consistently contributing off the bench.

After the loss, the veteran seemed somewhat relieved. O'Neal wasn't lying; he witnessed the "full-power GOAT," who had already surpassed most players in the league.

In front of the camera, Carter gave a wry smile, and Li Youyi praised him as always. The name "Black Mamba" was once again dug up from the memories of a group of sports reporters. It turned out that Kobe was the "knock-off".

As he weaved through the crowded streets, Durant kept his head down. Unlike Harden, as the MVP, he actually had high expectations for this series.

The young man didn't seem prepared for defeat. Li You noticed that he was trying to control his emotions, so he patted Durant on the shoulder and offered some words of encouragement:
"MVP is not your end point. You have surpassed many players and entered the ranks of superstars."

"The future is yours, and success after failure is all the more worth remembering!"

"."

Durant, who managed a forced smile, was speechless. After witnessing Li You's inhuman performance, he felt that this future would be postponed for at least 4 years.

A frustrated Durant ignored the cameras and sports reporters around him and strode toward the players' tunnel. When he saw his mother, Wanda, he could no longer contain his overwhelming emotions.

Wanda knew how New York fans mocked their son, and when she hugged Durant, he was already sobbing uncontrollably, which made her cry as well. She choked back tears as she comforted him:

"It's okay! You're only 23 years old. At this age, you've already performed exceptionally well. You'll always be our pride."

Durant, who had been controlling his emotions, cried especially hard. How come his opponent had a 100% shooting percentage while his partner kept missing shots?
The series shouldn't have turned out this way. He would have felt better if he had won just one game. This wasn't the Finals he had envisioned.

Westbrook had no idea what his partner was thinking. Although he was channeling his inner blacksmith, he firmly believed that he was playing the right kind of basketball.

After composing himself, the young man regained his energy. The loss didn't bother Westbrook; after squeezing in front of Li You to hug him, he immediately responded earnestly:
"I will come back here, and next time I will definitely lift the trophy in New York!"

In front of the surrounding media, Li You, upon hearing these words, instead showed an expression of appreciation, patting the young man encouragingly:
"Great players play with conviction. You've learned how to face failure, keep going, and you'll definitely achieve something in the future!"

"Don't listen to what others say, believe in yourself! You can do it."

There were no sarcastic remarks or polite words. Feeling Li You's sincere blessings, Westbrook's dark face showed a deep sense of emotion. The recognition from the GOAT strengthened his belief.

Ignoring the jeers from the New York fans, Westbrook walked away with his head held high. Thinking of Li You's triple-double in the Finals, the young man's expression once again turned longing, and he secretly made a resolution:
"That's what I should be pursuing!"

Urged on by the New York fans at the scene, league and Knicks staff quickly set up the podium, while Stuart Scott was already in position on ABC's side.

At this moment, many fans were looking up at the arena, where the Knicks officially announced that a large number of two-tone ribbons had been set up, and championship merchandise had also been updated accordingly.

In the visiting team's locker room, most of the young players had their heads down. Coach Brooks, who had just received a pep talk from D'Antoni, clapped his hands upon seeing this and looked at everyone, encouraging them again:

"Don't forget the 'family and friends' who came to the away game. Face the defeat with composure and express your gratitude to your family!"

"The finals are just the beginning. Now get some rest. You are all the pride of Oklahoma City."

Kenyon Martin could already smell the champagne; clearly, the Knicks staff had already begun celebrating.

The veteran couldn't help but think back to his time with the Nets. So many years have passed, but New York is still his "nightmare." After this Finals, he is convinced that his window for winning a championship is completely closed.

Fisher returned last. After chatting with his old teammates for a long time, he joined the coaching staff in clapping and encouraging them, continuing to paint a rosy picture:
"Guys, it's better to fail at 23 than at 32! Time is on your side. Trust me, everything will be different after Lee leaves the league."

"Before that, just like the coach said, we need to train hard, play for each other, stick to the right basketball, and the Thunder will definitely win back the championship!"

These words touched many people. Indeed, Li You retired in 16. Compared to his contemporaries, the young man was obviously lucky.

Durant, having regained control of his emotions, breathed a sigh of relief. The future truly belongs to him!

"Oh!!"

The cheers in the arena came in waves. It was a rare occasion to witness the award ceremony at Madison Square Garden. When the golden Larry O'Brien Trophy was brought out, the New York fans instantly went wild.

Li You, wearing a champion's hat, was not at the front. His older children surrounded him, chattering excitedly. The lively atmosphere made the little ones especially happy.

Scarlett, standing beside him, looked at her suddenly obedient son with a bit of helplessness, but when she saw the ABC camera, the succubus still tiptoed to give him a kiss, completely disregarding the opinions of others.

On the contrary, Elizabeth Olsen, who was hugging Li You, seemed a little embarrassed. Like the succubus, she was wearing jeans and a white T-shirt. When she saw her "sister's" teasing look, she bit her lip and kissed her cheek.

Some onlookers noticed that this scene wasn't accompanied by the strange screams of previous years. Living in Manhattan, this kind of scene is common; as long as he's not married, Li You is a "faithful" man.
James Dolan, standing ahead, beamed with joy. Although his salary expenditures were high, his income was equally substantial.

The curly-haired boss no longer gives long speeches like he did in previous years. Since facing resistance at the board meeting, he has become much more low-key, pulling D'Antoni aside and giving up the main seat.

"Mike, congratulations on winning another championship trophy!"

"After a season's absence, the Knicks returned to the Finals, welcomed a large number of rookie players, and faced a tight schedule. How did they overcome these difficulties to return to the top?"

Host Stuart Scott launched into a "bitter memories" mode on stage, asking very friendly questions that prompted D'Antoni to respond with a smile:

"Past championship experience has allowed the Knicks to build an excellent team culture! This has helped our rookies integrate perfectly into the team."

"Our regular season record was indeed not ideal, and the team also suffered injuries, but God still favored the Knicks, and Lee has remained healthy."

"I still have to praise Lee's performance; he is a perfect leader! He has once again shown us what the greatest of all time is!"

"Of course, I also want to express my gratitude to Lee on behalf of the coaching staff. Great players always make the game easier. Giving the ball to Lee will remain the Knicks' strongest tactic in the future."

"."

Mike D'Antoni, who is now making self-deprecating remarks, is responding to the commentators' assessment that he "won by doing nothing." The mustache guy is no longer pretending; he not only wants to coach for 16 years, but he also wants to continue using the strongest tactics!
Amid the laughter and cheers of the New York fans, lead assistant coach Mike Malone smiled bitterly. He had always intended to "take over," but the old man simply wouldn't give him the chance.
While winning a championship is great, assistant coaches don't get much of a raise or much spotlight. Looking at D'Antoni talking eloquently ahead of him, Mike Malone secretly made up his mind:
"I should change my position too."

Everyone was thanking Li You, and veteran Marion even shed tears again. Gasol's eyes also reddened when he talked about his slump, as his body was unable to recover to its best condition due to the tight schedule.

When Stuart Scott asked Ray Allen about his bone spurs, the latter simply shrugged and then went on to say:
"I will handle the injury issues, and in my last two years, I want to end my career with a championship in New York!"

New York fans cheer loudly whenever they can "get a loan," and some loyal fans even feel that two championships are not enough, joining in the chant of "Not three."
Winning the championship at home was a rare treat, and every player had a chance to speak. Davis, as always, showered the players with compliments, while Kyrie Irving and the other rookies expressed their gratitude.

Jimmy Butler was still the most emotional. He didn't gain the coaching staff's trust until the Finals, and after a whole season of hard work, the rookie had already learned a lot.
"Nothing can compare to playing alongside the greatest player of all time. This is an opportunity given to me by God!"

"Thank you Li, thank you to the coaching staff and my teammates, thank you to my family, God bless us forever!"

"."

Butler, revealing his true feelings in front of so many people for the first time in his career, was still a bit green, while Ben Wallace's performance was "perfectly natural".

As soon as David Stern took the microphone, Ben Affleck began waving his arms wildly at the back of the crowd, cheering and shouting loudly while raising his head:
"God-Lee!."

Soon, the sounds from Madison Square Garden became unified, and surrounded by the crowd, Li You walked to the front with a smile on his face.

Although Stern preferred the series to go to seven games, when the old man looked at the stats in his hand, he could only sigh inwardly, and an expression of conviction involuntarily appeared on his face as he loudly proclaimed:

"An incredible performance! This year's Finals saw one of the most dominant 'performances' in NBA history!"

“场均45.5分11.0篮板13.0助攻4.0抢断2.3盖帽，李在4场比赛保持百分百命中率，在打破总决赛三双纪录时，又创造多项纪录！”

"The 2011-12 NBA Finals MVP is God-Lee! The greatness continues!"

"Oh!!"

When Li You opened his arms to display the two trophies, the cheers from the crowd were deafening. After Stern once again declared the Knicks the champions, orange and blue ribbons were thrown into the arena, bringing the atmosphere to a climax.

"Yee!"

The Knicks players cheered and shouted with joy on stage, and Li You, after many years, finally received a response, his face beaming with the brightest smile he had shown in recent years.

Russell Westbrook's extraordinary energy

(End of this chapter)