NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 844 A Blessing from Across the Ocean (Chapter without Main Character)
On Monday, October 8, 2012, the NBA preseason games proceeded as scheduled. The two teams participating in the China Games also departed on the same day and will spend the next few days in Beijing and Shanghai giving back to fans across the ocean.

Li You will miss the entire preseason due to family matters, so the league ultimately adjusted the teams for the China Games, with the 76ers replacing the Knicks, and Kobe Bryant becoming the biggest star of this year's China Games!

Not only did Mamba make an appearance, but the 76ers also placed great importance on the market across the ocean after changing owners. As a 76ers legend, Allen Iverson also traveled with the team to further meet the needs of the fans.

The related activities began to be promoted after the Olympics ended, and veteran fans were thrilled to see their familiar idols!
Only Li You's fans were somewhat unhappy. Throughout the entire off-season, there was no news from across the ocean, and even when they accessed mainstream media across the border using VPNs, there were few related reports.

Apart from The Washington Post, Li You is virtually invisible in mainstream media.

Of course, the Albuquerque Daily was ignored by fans; New Mexico doesn't have much influence, so no one would care even if they beat someone to a pulp.
Besides the 76ers, the Heat also participated in the China Games. Although LeBron James' popularity on the other side of the ocean is not as high as that of the Mamba, his outstanding performance in the Eastern Conference Finals has attracted many fans.

Although the "Chosen One" has an awkward style and is not loyal enough, Excel is exceptionally attractive, which has made many "strength-oriented" fans fall in love with James.

After all, with Li You's retirement, Excel fans also need a home, and James has perfectly taken over in this regard. In terms of statistics, he is already the undisputed second person, and it's only a matter of time before he becomes the leader.

Upon arriving in BJ, the 76ers received a warm welcome as they checked into their hotel. Kobe, who had been largely ignored during the Olympics, once again became the center of attention, with the Mamba smiling and waving enthusiastically.

"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

At the hotel entrance, the gathered fans shouted excitedly again. Hearing these shouts, Nick Young couldn't control his expression, and his dark face showed surprise again. This scene was truly unbelievable.

Back in the US, Philadelphia was so close to New York that decades of relentless pressure had numbed even the most die-hard 76ers fans.

Even though Kobe made a solemn promise, fans only offered their support verbally without taking any real action, and scenes of chanting "MVP" were extremely rare.

"Unbelievable! Kobe really has 6 million fans in China? Yao Ming might not even be as popular as him."

Nick Young, dragging his luggage and searching for his room, stared wide-eyed at his teammates for advice. Thaddeus Young was equally surprised that the media reports were true; the Mamba's popularity in China was explosive, completely different from that in the United States.

"6 million? That sounds like fake news, but 6 million is probably true. Many people came specifically to watch these two matches; it's truly unbelievable."

Upon hearing Thaddeus Young's words, Jrue Holiday nodded. He had also read the previous reports and, after feeling the enthusiasm of the fans at the stadium, believed that 6 million was a real number. He also looked shocked at this moment.

In contrast, Kwame Brown, Mamba's former teammate, remained remarkably calm. He merely pursed his lips as he listened to the group's incessant discussion, his dark face displaying a knowing look.

"Guys, discussing this won't help us at all. We're definitely in big trouble next season!"

"trouble?"

Jrue Holiday turned and asked a question, while the latter stopped at his room door, shrugged, and introduced:
"Kobe can't keep his promise. We can't win. If we lose, our good days will be over."

"The locker room will become a mess. Don't expect Kobe to lead the team. If he could, he wouldn't have been traded by the Lakers."

"."

Upon hearing this, Jrue Holiday was speechless. In terms of team roster, even if the Knicks' starters were a year older, the 76ers would still be no match.

In the Olympic Games, Kobe's shooting percentage was only slightly over 40%, his individual ability was the worst among the starters, and his physical condition was visibly declining. He didn't look like a core player for the championship at all.

None of the three objected. Thaddeus Young glanced at Holiday, who seemed hesitant to speak, a smile spreading across his dark face. He casually shifted the blame, saying:
"Don't overthink it, Bro. Losing is Kobe's problem too. We just need to do our jobs."

"Remember, we didn't take more than 2000 million!"

Nick Young chuckled, grinning broadly as he patted his good friend on the shoulder and teased him:
"You didn't win a single game last season either. Whose fault was that then?"

"Of course it's Elton's problem. He earns the most. Although I'm the team leader, I'm not the highest-paid player on the team!"

Thaddeus Young stared intently and responded seriously. Nick Young, who had been laughing, stopped, blinked, and thought for a moment, suddenly realizing that what he said made a lot of sense.

Jrue Holiday, whose explanation sounded completely off, was about to bring up the "family theory," but Thaddeus Young puffed out his chest and added:
"That's my championship experience! Lee was on a max contract with the Knicks, so we just gave him the ball and solved the problems."

"We can't let those of us who earn less bear the responsibility for losing, otherwise what's the point of having superstars? Man, if you want to win a championship, you need to have a clear mission. Only losers run away from things!"

"."

Speechless once again, Jrue Holiday stared blankly, feeling extremely awkward yet unable to refute. Thinking about the upcoming season, he couldn't help but feel sorry for the Mamba in advance.

-

On Thursday, October 11, after the charity event concluded, the MasterCard Center was packed to capacity that evening, with tens of thousands of Chinese fans cheering enthusiastically from the start of the game.

Kobe's fans cheered excitedly whenever their idol touched the ball, and the fervent atmosphere remained undiminished even as Kobe kept missing shots.

With the 76ers' starting frontcourt consisting of Spencer Hawes and Kwame Brown, Wade and James frequently attacked the basket, and the Heat easily took a double-digit lead in the latter part of the first quarter.

While Kobe Bryant was still using his retro style of play to relentlessly attack the basket with his back to the basket, LeBron James had already begun using pick-and-roll three-pointers and pull-up three-pointers.

Once Wade started assisting outside shooters in succession, and Battier and others began to score, the game was already decided before halftime.
The two teams were not on the same level at all. The intensity of the game was too low. The Heat, who were raining down three-pointers, played more and more smoothly, which truly made the fans in the arena feel the charm of modern basketball!

The halftime score was 62-43. The "Big Three" showed no mercy and combined to crush the Mamba.

During halftime, fan activities kept the atmosphere electric. While some of Kobe's die-hard fans were unhappy, commentator Zhang Weiping was all smiles, transforming into a Kobe fan himself.
"This game is like a playoff game! It's quite intense. Don't be fooled by Kobe's 4-for-14 shooting performance in the first half; he made only four baskets, but every offensive play was well-executed!"

"Doug Collins is one of the few coaches in the league who still insists on the triangle offense, so it's expected that he won't play well. The 76ers still need to work on their chemistry."

Yu Jia still held onto a sliver of hope before the game started, but after watching half the game, he felt that Kobe was truly getting old. He had noticed the signs during the Olympics, and watching the NBA matchup, the difference was clearly visible.
"Just like Coach Zhang said, Kobe, who has just returned to the team, still needs some time. The preseason is about finding problems."

"."

After the start of the second half, the 76ers had more and more problems, and Doug Collins on the sidelines didn't look too good either. The opponent's three-point shooting became more and more accurate, and the game was completely over.

Rashard Lewis showcased his championship-winning forward prowess, hitting consecutive difficult jump shots from the left and right corners, much to the delight of LeBron James, who provided numerous assists and celebrated with high-fives during timeouts.

In contrast, Kobe's teammates on the 76ers side kept missing easy baskets. Although the cheers from the crowd never stopped, the smile on Kobe's dark face gradually disappeared.

The game entered garbage time in the second half of the third quarter. Kobe scored 20 points on 7-of-20 shooting, 1-of-6 from three-point range, and 5-of-8 from the free-throw line. He sat on the bench, pursing his lips and not saying a word. The gap between him and the opponent was just too big.

The players' energetic performance kept the atmosphere heated until the final buzzer. When the buzzer sounded, the score was 129-89, with the Heat crushing their opponents and showcasing the prowess of the "runner-up team".

The three Heat players, who had been overshadowed by Kobe's popularity upon arriving in China, all smiled.

James raised both hands and gave a series of high-fives, while Wade, who had just signed with Li-Ning, also gave an interview with a warm smile. Bosh actively interacted with the fans in the front row, and the three of them finally stole the spotlight tonight.

At the post-game press conference, James, Wade, and Bosh smiled even more broadly, believing that this game would make fans realize which team is the true championship contender. The media reporters present first asked Wade about his experience signing with Li-Ning, and then inquired about Bosh's injury recovery.

When looking ahead to the new season, James remained humble as always, until a Sina reporter asked a question:
Will Kobe's 76ers become a major rival to the Heat?

Although it was a warm-up game, the 40-point difference already spoke volumes. When James heard the question, he suddenly fell silent, pondered for a moment, and then responded tactfully:
"The Eastern Conference is very competitive, you know. Besides the Knicks, the Nets, Pacers, and Bulls are all strong opponents."

"The 76ers are also a great team, and Kobe has had a respectable career, but their goal should be to return to the playoffs."

"Of course, we will not underestimate any opponent."

Although James' answer was relatively tactful, everyone present still understood the underlying message: the Heat had not considered the 76ers, and Kobe posed no threat in the Eastern Conference.

-

On Sunday, October 14th, the second leg of the China race took place as scheduled, and the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai was packed to capacity that evening.

The interaction between Bill Russell and Kobe before the game made die-hard fans cheer. The former "Lord of the Rings" recognized Kobe's presence, and the Mamba was still the star of the night.

Perhaps not understanding why Kobe was so popular, the Heat's Big Three once again went all out in the game, starting strong in the first quarter and even directly helping to defend the Mamba in some possessions.

Whenever Kobe wanted to finish an attack near the restricted area, he never had a good option other than receiving the ball and shooting quickly.

The Heat's highly flexible defense held the 76ers to just 4 points in the first half of the quarter, while the Heat frequently launched transition offenses and showcased numerous alley-oop connections. The tireless performances of James and Wade once again "turned the tide."

Towards the end of the first quarter, Kobe was still entangled with Wade after a pick-and-roll at the top of the key and was unable to shake off the defense. The Mamba was really on fire.

After making a one-on-one gesture, Kobe started dribbling between his legs repeatedly in an attempt to shift the defender's focus. Unfortunately, Wade remained unmoved and was able to block Wade's driving lanes even after being briefly shaken off.

Fans who watched the Eastern Conference Finals live finally felt the defensive pressure from Dwyane Wade. Li You's ability to easily get past the defense wasn't due to Wade's lack of skill.
Ultimately, Kobe's face-up isolation play turned into a back-to-the-basket shot in the elbow area. Despite Wade being elbowed twice, he still managed to contest the jump shot.

"Oh"

Amidst sighs, Kobe's jump shot missed again. The 76ers players retreated aggressively on defense, but Wade received a pass from James at the top of the arc and drove straight past the "traffic controller" Mamba in the blink of an eye.

Drawing help from the defense, Bosh completed an alley-oop, and cheers erupted again. Wade, who was retreating on defense, smiled again on his dark face, waving his arms and interacting passionately with the fans in the arena.

The Heat, launching a powerful attack, once again ended the suspense of the game before halftime. Kobe's attempts to inspire his teammates were met with no response, and his temper flared up during the game.

After Wade was elbowed down during another drive, the two almost came to blows. But when Wade swung his arm and blocked Kobe's shot in the third quarter, causing Kobe's nose to bleed, the arena erupted.

Amid the cheers of the fans, Kobe, who was trying to confront his opponents, was "besieged" by Haslem, Anderson, Norris Cole, and Mike Miller.
Seeing their "leader" surrounded, only Jrue Holiday rushed forward to block him, while Nick Young and his teammates stood behind him with grim faces, their faces showing schadenfreude.

Fortunately, the referee intervened quickly enough, but many fans in the front row still stared wide-eyed at the scene, and everyone could clearly hear the "Dog".

The game entered garbage time early again. On the Heat's bench, the players were unaffected. Wade was seen covering his mouth and laughing with his teammates in front of the camera.

On the 76ers' bench, Kobe Bryant stood there with a long face as the team doctor stopped his bleeding. Few of his teammates showed any concern for the Mamba, with Thaddeus Young and others whispering amongst themselves, keeping their distance from their leader.

At the end of the game, the score was 126-81, and the 76ers suffered another crushing defeat. Head coach Doug Collins couldn't hold back and quickly shook hands with the coach before leaving.

Despite Kobe's loss, the Mamba was still the star of the show tonight. After the game, a special fan event was held, with die-hard fans displaying their well wishes for their idol on the big screen.

"Stay healthy, and hopefully Kobe can continue chasing championships!"

"The Mamba Mentality helped me out of a difficult situation. I will always support Kobe!"

"I'll follow Kobe wherever he goes; you're the best role model."

"."

Witnessing this scene, Kobe was once again moved by the fans. Surrounded by his Guangdong teammates, the Mamba took the microphone and said with some emotion:

"I don't know how to express my gratitude. I swear, I will do everything in my power to repay your support!"

Fans on the other side of the ocean are completely different from American fans. They had previously doubted ESPN's report, but after witnessing this scene, Wade was so envious that his eyes widened.

Even in Miami, after years of being overwhelmed by the winning fans, even the die-hard fans have lost their confidence. Forget about sending blessings; not giving them a "meeting" is considered a sign of support.

James was equally envious. Since losing the "one man, one city" award, his popularity has been declining year by year. If it weren't for his performance in this year's Eastern Conference Finals, which regained the fans' recognition, he would almost have become a "laughing stock".

As he entered the player tunnel, the chosen one could still feel the fervent atmosphere in the arena. Remembering his team's advice, he made up his mind once again:

"Going to play in the West is the right choice."

-

On Thursday, October 18th, after the successful conclusion of the China Games, American basketball commentators began to reflect again, still unable to understand why Kobe was so popular.

Yahoo Sports, riding the wave of popularity, once again discussed Kobe's role in the championship. This article garnered recognition from many industry insiders, but Shaquille O'Neal once again lost his temper, directly attacking the unscrupulous columnist on Twitter:
“A bus without a ‘driver’ simply cannot operate. Stop clown-like hype about the role of ‘passengers’!”

"."

The new season will start on the 30th, and TNT's program will also return. O'Neal can't wait to get back to the studio. Seeing his little brother so popular on the other side of the ocean makes him feel particularly sad.

Not only was O'Neal unhappy, but McGrady, who was preparing to make a big splash with the Qingdao team, also made sarcastic remarks on Twitter. If it weren't for brotherhood, he probably would have given Mamba a "meeting".

Compared to the two, it was Stephon Marbury who broke through the defenses. Ever since losing the CBA Finals, New York fans have been particularly hostile towards him. Not only did he lose his "New York citizenship," but they even wanted to revoke his "American citizenship."
The more successful Kobe became on the other side of the ocean, the more jealous Marbury became. But no one cares about losers, and no matter how much he mocked him, no one cared what he actually said.

The preseason continues, but casual observers are already paying attention to the Associated Press report. Fans who haven't followed the China games are confused after reading the newspaper, with many suspecting they've read fake news.

"Kobe Bryant plans to renounce his U.S. citizenship and intends to move to China in the future."

The related reports stunned onlookers, and discussions on Twitter skyrocketed. Just as the few Kobe supporters were hoping for a clarification, Kobe's long-dormant Twitter account suddenly updated:

"China has the best fans in the world! I want to contribute to Chinese basketball!"

"."

(End of this chapter)