NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 854 MVP Takes Turns? (Chapter without Main Character)
On Thursday, April 25, 2013, the NBA announced the Sixth Man of the Year (SMOY) award for this season:
Kyrie Irving of the New York Knicks won the award with 44.65% of the vote, beating Jamal Crawford of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Kyrie Irving's stats this season haven't been particularly impressive, with only a slight improvement in his 16.2 points per game average. However, after watching the Knicks' games, it's easy to see that the rookie has indeed made significant progress.

His defensive performance is significantly better than last season. After gaining weight, Irving has reduced his fancy moves and is handling the ball faster.

Considering that rookies on the Knicks won't be double-teamed, some commentators still questioned his playmaking abilities, but in terms of efficiency, Irving's performance, which nearly made him into the 180 Club, was universally acknowledged.

In the race for the best sixth man, Crawford was actually at a disadvantage, since JR Smith reduced his stats in the first half of the season after joining the Clippers.

In the latter half of the regular season, JR Smith returned from injury and entered the starting lineup, and Crawford's stats only began to improve after he started playing alongside Barnes.

Losing the trophy, the veteran could only complain inwardly, as New York always seemed to come out on top when it came to awards selected by the media.

On Monday, the Defensive Player of the Year award was given to Marc Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies. After the results were announced, New York media began to voice their grievances for Serge Ibaka.

Miami's sports media were also speaking out for James, but New York's voice was the loudest, and for a time no one paid attention to the chosen one who had performed exceptionally well on the defensive end this season.
Even though the Knicks had three All-Stars this season, with Lee Yu and Serge Ibaka winning "Statistics Award" and Kyrie Irving being named Sixth Man of the Year, New York fans were still not satisfied.

Paul George, who won the Most Improved Player award, has recently run into bad luck. New York fans believe the trophy should have gone to big man Nikola Vucevic, arguing that he averages double-digit points per game.

After failing to win the trophy, the New York fans' club started "holding a meeting" with Paul George, with some even jokingly suggesting that New Yorker Lance Stephenson should punch his teammate a couple more times.
The reason why New York is so cheerful is mainly because there is no pressure in the playoffs. In Game 2 last night, the Knicks defeated the 76ers 86-127.

This Saturday, Philadelphia fans will face a familiar do-or-die game at home.
Many New York fans are planning a "long-distance raid" to occupy the away game and continue to watch the Mamba make a fool of themselves!
The 76ers' two 40+ point losses surprised many commentators, not because they lost too many games, but because they lost too few.

In the Eastern Conference, the games between the Knicks and 76ers, and the Heat and Bucks, were considered the least suspenseful, as the opponents were too weak compared to the two teams leading the league.

"Losing by 40 points is considered a win" is how many media reporters described the 76ers. Kobe Bryant's decision to play through injury without undergoing bone spur surgery is respectable, but in terms of team strength, the Knicks are absolutely dominant.

Philadelphia had no one to match up against the inside duo of Ibaka and Gasol, and that's how the game progressed.

In the two games, the 76ers lost the rebounding battle by 25, and many Philadelphia fans no longer planned to watch the games at home. Taking advantage of the New Yorkers' intention to take over, they sold their tickets one after another.

Even Kobe and Holiday's attempts to appeal through the community couldn't win back the fans' hearts. Hearing the team's appeals, some fans, numb from the losses, complained on Reddit:

"Who wants to watch two games that are destined to be lost? I don't want to see Kobe being limited by Lee to only being able to miss jump shots from outside the paint."

"."

While some fans were leaving the stadium before the game, others were attempting to take over the away game. Even before Game 3 started, mainstream sports media outlets were once again criticizing Kobe's leadership, with Stephen A. Smith even mocking him on his show:

"Ladies and gentlemen, since 96, Philadelphia has been ruled by New York!"

"Allen Iverson and Andre Iguodala couldn't change this situation, and Kobe Bryant was equally powerless."

"I urge 76ers fans to keep their tickets. It's a rare opportunity to see Lee in playoff form live!"

"The 76ers should thank Lee. Without the GOAT, who would care about a 'minnow' team that only won 42 games?"

"Kobe should even give some of his endorsement fees in China to Lee, to thank Lee for not being able to match up against him in this year's playoffs."

The afternoon's First Take show, as always, featured Mamba, while on TNT's side, O'Neal went "crazy," constantly mocking his little brother since Sunday.

During the Heat's pre-game preview, Shaq was still sarcastically mocking Kobe:

"The Philadelphia Inquirer always likes to emphasize Kobe's ankle problem after the game, but they should realize one thing: in the NBA, once you're out there playing, don't make excuses after a loss."

"Kobe thought he had moved a lot of people, but the truth is that Lee had already lost interest in him. The GOAT knew that his opponent could do nothing."

Kenny Smith, not wanting to mock Kobe Bryant for playing through injury, changed the subject to Ray Allen's post-game comments about him:
"Towards the end of their careers, I believe more players will respect Kobe. Ray Allen is the best example. After getting older, players start to understand each other."

The director also replayed the post-game press conference from last night. Ray Allen, who had faced off against Kobe Bryant more often in both games, jokingly remarked with a smile when a reporter brought up "old stories":
"You can call me a prophet. I respect Kobe, but after O'Neal left, he did become 'selfish.' He won the scoring title but never won a championship."

"As for my assessment of the 81 points back then, I still hold the same view. That doesn't necessarily reflect his ability, and the record isn't very valuable."

"But these comments don't diminish the fact that Kobe is an outstanding player. He plays through injuries and will give everything to win. I have nothing but respect for that."

Li You, who hadn't even broken a sweat in the two matches, smiled and joked with the reporter:

"It's said that Kobe texted you saying he'd kick your ass, and you two were trash-talking each other during the game. What happened in the one-on-one afterwards?"

Recalling his time with the SuperSonics, Ray Allen shrugged, avoiding a direct answer and instead saying:
"That was really interesting, but it seems a bit naive now. However, Kobe is a tough guy, and no matter what his physical condition is, I will give it my all in the upcoming matches."

The director's footage ended with laughter, and in the studio, Charles Barkley curiously asked:

"They even had a one-on-one match back then? Shaq, who won in the end?"

Shaq, of course, was unaware of this, as he had been traded to Miami at the time, and their relationship was particularly strained due to Shaq's involvement. Without knowing the full story, O'Neal confidently asserted:
"As far as I know, in these two matchups, Kobe really likes to elbow Ray, you know, the kind of move where he aims for the chin."

"My little brother has a significant advantage in a one-on-one fight."

Seeing that the topic had veered off course again, Ernie Johnson had to remind his co-hosts that the focus of the show was tonight's Heat vs. Bucks game:

"We should pay attention to LeBron James' performance. There is no doubt that he deserves the DPOY award this season, and his defensive stats are better than Marc Gasol's."

"In this series, James was equally present on the defensive end, and the Bucks' frontcourt had no answer for him."

Charles Barkley, uninterested in discussing the topic, shook his head. The outspoken Barkley clearly didn't have high hopes for the Bucks' poor record, and immediately launched into his remarks about tonight's game:

"The backcourt pairing of Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis is a disaster!"

"I can't think of any other outcome. The Heat won the game in one fell swoop, taking a 3-0 lead in the series. James can start preparing for the semifinals."

"."

At 19 p.m. that evening, Bucks fans arrived early at the Harris Bradley Center. Despite the team being down by a large margin, the crowd remained enthusiastic and shouted loudly as soon as the game started.

The game started slowly, with Bosh missing several shots and Larry Sanders grabbing an offensive rebound and scoring on a second-chance opportunity.

During the close phase, Coach Spoelstra on the sidelines remained calm, occasionally shouting to remind his players to retreat quickly on defense. Even when Wade missed several shots, the coaching staff remained convinced that the opponent was only temporarily in the lead.

Midway through the first quarter, the Bucks' three-point shooting suddenly "exploded." First, Ersan Ilyasova hit a shot from the top of the arc, and then Jennings seized the opportunity, successfully punishing his opponent from beyond the three-point line after a pick-and-roll.

In the final minutes, the Heat realized something was wrong, and substitutes JJ Redick and Mike Dunleavy started hitting three-pointers.

After the two combined for 9 points, the entire arena erupted in cheers, and Jim Boylen on the sidelines was so excited that he kept giving high-fives.

At 21:30, both Wade and Bosh went scoreless, shooting 4-for-6. James, who efficiently scored 11 points, didn't care about that and returned to the bench to loudly encourage everyone.

In the TNT commentary booth, Kevin Harlan was somewhat surprised after looking at the stats; Bosh's 0-for-5 performance was unexpected.
"With a surprising first quarter and facing a tall interior player, does the Heat's roster pose a significant threat in the playoffs?"

Reggie Miller, who has never liked the "super team model," nodded seriously and commented after seeing the Heat suffer a setback:
"The Heat are in trouble when Bosh can't punish the opponent's big men on the perimeter!" "The Pacers made a lot of people realize this last year, and although the Heat have added some excellent interior players, I don't think this situation will change much."

"You know, in the playoffs, the number of possessions decreases, and once the Heat can no longer execute that kind of lightning-fast transition offense, they lose a significant advantage."

"."

During the rotation phase, the Heat's Ramon Sessions and Dwyane Wade increased their defensive intensity from the start of the game.

After Wade blocked Mike Dunleavy's layup, the Heat launched a furious transition offense. With Sessions assisting Chris Anderson for a layup and a free throw, the bench erupted in cheers.

The Bucks ultimately failed to capitalize on their opportunities, with their three-point shooting percentage plummeting and Samuel Dalembert and Ekpe Udoh unable to gain an advantage in the paint.

As the main lineup gradually returned, the previously invisible Brand also managed to score easy baskets. Thanks to his excellent defense, the Bucks, who were constantly missing shots, could only watch as their opponents completed successive transition attacks.

In the commentary booth, Miller was unhappy again. Despite leading by 9 points, the Bucks collapsed before even half a quarter was over.

After seeing Wade chase down and block Jennings' shot after a Heat turnover, Kevin Harlan immediately praised him:
"Brilliant defense! Wade is getting better and better after losing weight, which reminds me of his defensive prowess against Kobe in the regular season. He deserves more votes in the Defensive Player of the Year voting!"

"."

After blocking his opponent's shot, Wade ignored the boos from the arena, strode across half-court, and arrived at the left wing. Taking advantage of Haslem's stance, he made a large in-and-out motion with his left hand as he moved.

Wade, suddenly accelerating, easily gained a significant lead, overpowering Monta Ellis and driving past him. He immediately caught the ball when the opponent pulled him, tossing it out as the referee blew the whistle.

"And one!"

Wade yelled as he watched the basketball bank into the basket and immediately clenched his fist in celebration. His good friend winning the MVP award had really motivated him, and he was much more aggressive in this series than in the regular season.

James, seemingly unaffected by the gossip, grinned and immediately went over to high-five Wade.

As he walked toward the free-throw line, a smile appeared on Wade's dark face, but then he suddenly remembered that the Heat should have been his "horse," and felt a little annoyed.

When everyone else had nothing, Wade never felt that way. He said it was easy to give up the trophy, but when he actually saw his good friend win, a different kind of emotion would surface:

"Maybe I should try for it next season too."

As Wade retreated on defense after making the free throw, he considered that taking turns winning the award was the best option, and he believed that James would also support him.

At halftime, the Heat had taken the lead 52-48.

Considering the Heat's tendency to explode in the third quarter, Miller stopped defending the Bucks and instead made a helpless comment:
"The reason I don't like the 'super team model' is because it gives the team too much room for error!"

"The Bucks made a few basic mistakes and the game was completely turned around. Hopefully, this situation can be changed in the future."

"."

At 22:30 PM, the Heat's trio appeared at the press conference with smiles on their faces. The Bucks had only played one good quarter, leading 107-90, and had taken the series lead, effectively ending any suspense in the series.

After the regular season awards were announced, more and more commentators firmly believed that LeBron James was about to win his first MVP award. After discussing the game, a Yahoo Sports reporter congratulated him, saying:
"LeBron, you won the MVP at 28, and many fans want to know your thoughts on this trophy."

"God! I swear, I haven't been notified yet. You know, there are a lot of players who performed exceptionally well during the regular season."

“If I remember correctly, Lee has recorded 34 triple-doubles this season, just shy of breaking Oscar Robertson’s record of 41.”

"Kevin has entered the 180 Club, and this guy is still averaging 28.1 points per game, which is equally impressive."

"I just led the Heat to a good record, which is inseparable from the support of my teammates. As for trophies, I have never deliberately pursued them."

James smiled and humbly expressed his opinion, and the reporters in the audience immediately showed their admiration. Putting aside honors and achievements, just in terms of leadership qualities alone, the chosen one surpasses many veteran stars.

To cooperate with the interview, Wade and Bosh also had to show their "brotherly bond," both smiling and congratulating the chosen one. Although the award has not yet been presented, everyone is used to commenting on the game with a "loan" (a metaphor for a casual, informal tone).

After easily finishing the first round of the competition and winning the first major trophy of his career, James was in a great mood. He couldn't contain his smile as he left the media room.

It wasn't until James noticed Wade's emotions that he gradually suppressed his smile, and with Bosh as witness, the chosen one made a promise:
“Bro, we all know the sacrifices you’ve made for the team. You know I don’t like Pat Riley’s control over us, but I have no problem with the locker room.”

"Next season, I will fully support you in winning an award, an MVP trophy, which you deserve."

Despite some initial reservations, Wade was deeply moved by his good friend's promise. He momentarily forgot about James's future plans and patted his friend on the shoulder, saying:
"I don't care about any of that, you know, I'd rather get back to the Finals!"

"Bro, we need to get serious and finish the semifinals as soon as possible. If we can get into the finals, no team in the West can beat us."

The two were chatting away, and Bosh happily joined in the conversation, imagining the future as well:

"Maybe I can win an MVP award in the next few years. After Lee declines, I really can't think of anyone who will be our opponent in the future."

After a brief silence, James and Wade avoided discussing Li You's condition and instead chatted jokingly about the trophy, suggesting that the three of them should take turns winning the MVP award.

Once the Heat players were all on the bus, Coach Spoelstra immediately announced that training would continue, which immediately drew complaints from the passengers.

Juwan Howard and Haslem worked together to calm everyone down, and James stopped arguing as he had before. The Chosen One looked at the silent Wade ahead and thought to himself:
"If we suffer a defeat, an MVP trophy might be the best compensation."

"Bro, I tried my best."

In another Eastern Conference game that night, the Hawks, back at home, successfully pulled one back. Although they were down 1-2 in the series, they could very well make a comeback if they won another game.

Carmelo Anthony played very efficiently tonight, shooting 11-for-24 and scoring a game-high 34 points, but he didn't have a smile on his face when he attended the press conference.

It's not just the loss; whenever Anthony thinks about James winning the MVP, he feels a pang of bitterness.

Despite being in New York, Anthony doesn't enjoy any media attention. Not only that, but he's also ridiculed for winning at home. This basketball environment is terrible.

When an ESPN reporter asked about the MVP award and discussed LeBron James' efficiency, Anthony immediately felt that the reporter was mocking him.

"LeBron is excellent, congratulations on winning the MVP, but I value the championship more. You know, I came to New York to fight for the championship!"

"I don't care about efficiency. As the team's leading scorer, my job is to score and lead the team to victory."

He paused slightly, and seeing the mostly indifferent expressions on the faces of the reporters below, Anthony's mood worsened, and he couldn't help but add:

"Maybe this year's Eastern Conference Finals will be an 'internal battle between brothers,' and I think it will be a very exciting series!"

You will witness the transformation of the Nets.

(End of this chapter)