NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 855 A Die-Hard Fan Sheds Tears (Daily Life Chapter)
Saturday, April 27, 2013, the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia was filled with laughter and cheers. Despite it being a crucial Game 3, the atmosphere was unusually relaxed.

The arena, which can accommodate more than 19,000 fans, was basically "overrun" with more than 8000 New York fans in attendance tonight, plus online fans who came to watch the excitement. The 76ers' home game turned into an away game.

On the ESPN commentary booth, Jeff Van Gundy expressed some sympathy for Kobe, saying that leading the team to the playoffs was already a remarkable achievement, but most fans were not convinced.

There was shouting and cursing during halftime; Philadelphia fans were extremely dissatisfied. 58-30, a nightmarish first half.
"I don't want to make excuses for Kobe, but his ankle injury and bone spurs have made him lose his former explosiveness and speed."

"With only 30 points in the first half, the other players on the 76ers need to step up. Basketball is ultimately a team sport."

Van Gundy was still making excuses for Kobe, and he felt somewhat speechless at Li You's "heavy-handed" behavior, but there were some things he really couldn't say in front of the camera.

The sudden change in defensive matchup, with Li You, who had been slacking off in the previous two games, now guarding Kobe Bryant the entire away game, perhaps caught him off guard, resulted in Kobe suffering a groin injury.
Kobe scored 11 points on 4-of-16 shooting, 0-of-4 from three-point range, and 3-of-5 from the free-throw line, nearly accounting for half of the team's total points.

With only a little over a minute of rest at halftime, Kobe's efforts failed to earn the respect of the fans in attendance, leaving Mike Breen with nothing but a sigh of regret.
"Although Lee is 35 years old, he is still the most dominant guard in the entire league on both offense and defense!"

"It will be difficult for the 76ers to turn the game around, but I hope everyone can give Kobe some respect. The more difficult the situation, the more support the home fans need."

"."

The two commentators didn't discuss the game at all; it was too brutal. Under Li You's tight defense, Kobe's scoring depended entirely on "God."

If the Knicks hadn't been so offensively weak from beyond the arc tonight, the point difference would have definitely exceeded 30 points by halftime.

The home team's locker room was unusually quiet at this moment, except for head coach Doug Collins, who was still giving pep talks.

Many people secretly glanced at Kobe, who was covered in sweat. With a 28-point deficit, the crowd felt that they should go on the court early; there was no need to continue the game.

With wide eyes and gulping down water, Mamba remained silent, wrapped in a towel, while Jrue Holiday stood beside him with mixed emotions.

Even though he took on the defensive responsibilities and relieved the pressure on the leader, Kobe still couldn't break through Li You's defense in the first half of the game. Apart from a few difficult shots, he couldn't even make simple shots.

"No matter how many people come, we need to give the 76ers fans an explanation in the second half!"

"If you're planning to give up early, then don't even go on the field."

Kobe's face darkened, and after he looked around at everyone and said those words, no one in the locker room responded.

Nick Young and Thaddeus Young no longer "devised strategies" like they did during the regular season; they simply stood up silently and applauded repeatedly. At this point, no further explanation was needed.

Dorell White, who was brought into the starting lineup tonight, looked embarrassed. He was also invisible in the first half, and his rebounding was also problematic.

Dorell White was quick to respond; he had no other thoughts than to lose gracefully tonight.

As everyone arrived at the player tunnel to prepare for their entrance, Kwame Brown glanced at Kobe and noticed his limping gait. He then whispered a suggestion:
"It's over, Kobe, you should rest now."

"Li obviously won't 'go easy' on you. He has every reason to embarrass you. Get off the field early and rest. No one will blame you."

Just as this "flop" number one draft pick said, no one will criticize Li You for "going all out" in such a crucial game as Game 3; the commentators will only praise him because giving it your all is the best form of respect.

However, the opposing player usually doesn't have a "good ending." Allen Iverson is the best example. Back then, he also played with injuries and was "beaten" up all over, and was even ridiculed by fans in the end.

"You blind old woman!"

"Only a coward would make such a choice. You don't need to play in the second half. I don't want to work with a softie!"

Kobe glared at him and unleashed a torrent of words before turning and walking away. Kwame Brown was furious. He only said those things out of respect for his old teammate; he wouldn't have been so open with anyone else.

Witnessing this scene, Spencer Hawes patted the draft bust on the shoulder, a helpless expression on his face, and said in a low voice:

“I understand you, Bro, but that’s Kobe. The result of the game isn’t that important. We’ve already accomplished our mission by making it to the playoffs.”

"."

As the players from both teams took to the court, the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia erupted in cheers. The New York fans, eager for some entertainment, began to shout loudly, while those holding up whiteboards let out a series of strange noises.

"STOP BUILDING, KOBE!"

"MAMBA MISSING AGAIN!"

Li You continued to taunt Kobe from home to away, and he didn't disappoint. Kobe was especially "cooperative" tonight, which made the ticket buyers even happier.

The only thing in the entire arena was the DJ still shouting energetically, while half of the Philadelphia fans silently watched the offensive possessions as the opposing team chanted "Defense!"

The 76ers stuck to their triangle offense. When Holiday came to the top of the arc, Kobe had already slipped across the baseline and started calling for the ball with his back to the basket in the left-side defensive zone.

The ball was lobbed to the leader, Holiday, who immediately accelerated and cut inside, trying to get rid of the defense with Hawes' screen, but the Knicks chose to switch defense immediately.

As Gasol moved toward the basket, Ray Allen moved to help Li You surround Mamba.

Even though he sped up his ball handling, Kobe was surrounded before he could reach the baseline after turning and placing the ball with his right hand. He didn't want to pass the ball, but had no choice but to pass it to Hawes, who had moved to the wing to receive it.

Another wide-open shot appeared, but Hawes' jump shot still missed. Ibaka blocked Thaddeus Young, who was trying to drive to the basket, and Marion also positioned himself near the top of the arc.

When the basketball bounced into the paint, Li You had already arrived at the landing point, grabbed the rebound, and charged forward.

"Oh!!"

Cheers erupted once again throughout the arena. Hawes, retreating on defense, couldn't catch up with Li You, who was charging forward. He shouted for his teammates, but Dorell White, who had returned to his half of the court, was completely numb.

Unable to predict whether Li You would pass the ball, and seeing Kobe grit his teeth and chase after him, Dorell White could only meet him near the paint.

Before he could fully jump, his opponent was already airborne. Kobe, who was behind him, tried to fly into the air to block the shot, but Dorell White raised his right arm.

Surrounded by the two defenders, Li You, in mid-air, slightly crouched down and extended his right arm, ignoring the collision. He glided to the lower right of the basket, then twisted his wrist and threw the ball out.

Cheers and whistles rang out at the same time. Kobe, who stumbled and went out of bounds, became increasingly silent as he looked at his teammates who had already fallen to the ground.

Without much skill, Li You simply jumped higher and flew farther, with a longer hang time. This disparity left the veteran feeling hopeless.
"MVP! MVP! MVP!" As Li You stepped to the free-throw line, the cheers in the arena grew louder and louder. Some Philadelphia fans in the front row seemed to have seen through the future and were already covering their faces in advance. Perhaps "fishing" was the better option.

At 61:30, Kobe made the free throw. Coach Doug Collins on the sidelines stopped yelling; he knew Kobe had done his best.

Kobe, who was trying to receive the ball in the low post on the right side, was again half-fronted by Li You's defense. He hurriedly turned and cut to the basket, but his teammate did not risk passing the ball.

Frustrated, Kobe clapped his hands and squeezed to the left low post. After passing the ball at the top of the court, Kobe tried to continue calling for the ball, but was eventually "squeezed" to the top of the court by Li You.
The continuous physical contact caused Kobe's legs to go weak when he received the ball in the left elbow area. He couldn't generate power in his first step after putting the ball down with his left hand, and his shoulder was blocked by Li You, causing him to stop the ball directly.

This embarrassing scene got the audience excited, and the shouts grew even louder. Frustrated, Kobe faked a shot and forced a jump shot, only to have it blocked by Li You.
After landing and falling out of bounds, Kobe got up, spread his hands, and complained loudly to the referee, while Scott Foster jogged along, signaling for the game to continue, and followed Li You to the halfway point.

"Shet!"

Kobe, baring his teeth, still wanted to chase and defend, but his left foot was a bit unresponsive. When he forced his way across half-court, Li You took advantage of the opponent's lack of timely matchup and found Ray Allen, who was following up on the left wing.

Kobe Bryant hit another three-pointer in transition, sending the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia into a frenzy. Seeing the furious Kobe yelling, commentator Jeff Van Gundy kindly suggested:

"Maybe Kobe should take a break and calm down. In the second half, they couldn't find the right rhythm."

"."

Stubborn Kobe ignored the coach's concern and insisted on staying on the court. On the offensive possession, the Mamba used Hawes' screen to drive hard down the middle with the ball in his right hand.

Li You, who decisively circled behind, did not rush to chase and defend. He only increased his stride and sprang up after seeing Kobe rush into Gasol's arms with three big strides.

Mamba, who had cleared a path with his elbow, took off and swung his arm for a powerful dunk, only to be firmly pressed down by Li You's outstretched left arm.
In the instant the two clashed in mid-air, Kobe lost control of his body and, amidst the low cheers of the Philadelphia fans, slammed to the floor with a thud.

Li You, who had control of the ball, didn't even look at his opponent. He threw the ball hard, and Marion, who had started early, had already crossed the half-court. With no one guarding him, he glided and slammed the ball down to score another 2 points!
At 66:30, head coach Doug Collins finally couldn't hold back any longer and immediately called a timeout.

Many fans who traveled from across the ocean to witness Kobe's first playoff home game since his return were stunned. Kobe, who is invincible in the CBA, almost knocked his own basketball hoop askew tonight.

There were excuses for the two away games, but Kobe's performance tonight was disappointing. Against Li You, he had no reliable offensive methods other than back-to-the-basket moves.

Some die-hard fans who got up to watch the game covered their mouths when they saw Kobe limping towards the bench; this was not the game they were expecting.

"Just like Jeff said, the 76ers need more players to step up."

"Lee anticipated all of Kobe's offensive options. Many people have forgotten one thing: the person in the league who understands Kobe best is actually Lee."

Mike Breen, unusually, didn't make any sarcastic remarks. Kobe had a really tough time tonight, with all his offensive tactics failing him.

Kobe, showing great resilience, did not choose to leave the court to rest, but on the offensive end, he was consistently unable to receive the ball at the sweet spot immediately.

Seeing Mamba receive the ball at the top of the key and attempt to break through without using a screen, Thaddeus Young in the right corner simply retreated to defend early.

Completely covered by Li You, Kobe suddenly stopped, his body drifting to the right and back, but his two-point attempt still missed.

The large point difference allowed the Knicks' shooting percentage to start to rise, and Marion, who was left wide open, hit a three-pointer from the right corner, making the veteran jump for joy.

Kobe finally stopped forcing the attack, and Holiday drove and passed the ball to Thaddeus Young in the left corner, who responded from beyond the three-point line.

Although the 76ers finally broke their scoring drought, many die-hard fans still couldn't muster any enthusiasm.

As the game progressed, everyone felt that watching Dorell White miss was less satisfying than watching the Mamba smash the rim out of shape.

It wasn't until midway through the third quarter that Kobe broke his scoring drought. He dribbled past his opponent with the ball in his left hand at the top of the arc, stopped abruptly, turned and faked a shot, then quickly twisted his body and hit his signature long two-pointer with difficulty.

Each round involved a lot of physical contact, and under the tireless pursuit and defense of Li You, Kobe even made some basic mistakes.

Kobe, attempting a back-to-the-basket move from the left side of the court, failed to reach the paint and was blocked as he turned towards the baseline, his dribble hitting his foot.
"oh!!"

The shouts and jeers enraged Kobe, who waved his hand and tried to regain his pride by directly challenging the defender.

Before even crossing half-court, Li You kept sliding and actively competing. Kobe played aggressive defense, but in the eyes of the fans, he was constantly being toyed with by Li You.

Accelerate, stop abruptly, pull the ball and turn, lean against the defense and accelerate again. Li You's sudden behind-the-back dribble instantly puts Kobe out of position.
There were several opportunities to easily get rid of the defense, but Li You still gave his old rival face and allowed Mamba to chase him to the top of the arc.

Kobe's repeated adjustments to his center of gravity caused him to take a deep breath and stare intently at the ball. However, as Li You, holding the ball with his left hand, suddenly raised his center of gravity, the Mamba was caught off guard and lost his position again.

Li You's quick change of direction allowed him to create space in an instant, and he stopped abruptly outside the three-point line to catch the ball and quickly release a jump shot.

While the basketball was still in the air, Li You, who had just landed, shook his head, spread his hands, and strolled back to defend with a smile.

"Oh!!"

As the three-pointer swished through the net, Kyrie Irving, Danny Green, Jimmy Butler, and Markieff Morris rushed to the sidelines, shouting excitedly.

Tobias Harris, who was squeezed to the back, looked helpless. Even the atmosphere team has to "compete"!
-

On Monday, April 29, 2013, the 76ers played a game of honor that night, but unfortunately, many seats in the Wells Fargo Center were empty.

129:69, Game 3 was a crushing defeat; Philadelphia fans couldn't muster the will to support them in this battle for honor.

Kobe missed the game that night due to soreness in his left Achilles tendon and could only watch from the bench as the Knicks wreaked havoc.
The 60-point loss in the do-or-die game was inseparable from the efforts of the rookies. Danny Green, who got more playing time tonight, was even hotter with his shooting touch, hitting three three-pointers in the second quarter alone.

During halftime, Kobe, dressed in a suit, returned to the locker room but did not urge everyone to continue "fighting" as he had done before. At this moment, the Mamba was expressionless and silent.

The second half continued to be one-sided, with cheers from New York fans filling the Wells Fargo Center. The players were ecstatic!
Kobe, who had been sitting on the bench, didn't come to his senses until the last quarter. Behind the basket, fans from across the ocean held up Guangdong jerseys and shouted "Deduct coins!"

Perhaps it was the sight of their idol's dejected expression that broke their hearts; when Kobe waved goodbye, his die-hard fans shed tears.
Witnessing this scene, Kobe was deeply moved. He patted his chest forcefully, ignoring the astonished looks from the bench players, and shouted loudly towards the fans:
"I won't let you down again! I'll be back!"

"."

(End of this chapter)