NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 859 The Limits of Young People (7500 words)
On Monday, May 20, 2013, the Western Conference Finals kicked off. The Thunder made tactical adjustments, with Kevin Durant playing more at the power forward position on offense.

The Spurs had to reduce the playing time of their twin towers, but unfortunately Jeff Green was on fire from beyond the arc that night, and Harden's efficient isolation plays allowed the Thunder to establish an early lead.

In the rotation, Vince Carter remained in excellent form, and Reggie Jackson, who got his chance at the end of the bench, also fulfilled his role.

With home-court advantage, the Thunder dominated with a combination of shots and free throws, dismantling their opponents before the fourth quarter. Durant and Harden contributed 20 free throws, and at one point put Duncan in foul trouble.

At 92-105, Chesapeake Energy Arena erupted in cheers. Oklahoma City fans were especially happy, thrilled by Harden's performance.

On the bench, Westbrook, leaning on crutches, looked somewhat embarrassed. Harden was better than him in some aspects, especially in three-point shooting, where he couldn't match his teammate.

With a happy smile on his face, Westbrook kept yelling and high-fiving his teammates, but most people surrounded Harden, who was the star of the night.

The ESPN reporter, knowing what fans cared about, briefly discussed the game before asking again with a smile:
"Harden, we all witnessed your outstanding performance in this year's playoffs. What are your thoughts on the future? I think Oklahoma City fans certainly don't want you to leave the team."

Harden, sporting a beard, smiled again upon hearing the cheers from the crowd, then gave an affirmative answer to the camera:

“I want to stay in Oklahoma City. You know, we’re deeply connected to this city. This victory is for the people who were affected by the hurricane. The Thunder are with them.”

"As for the contract issue, that's not something I'm thinking about right now. Everyone wants to have a perfect career like Li's, where loyalty never fades."

Durant leaned over and hugged his teammate, beaming with joy after the victory. The young MVP was overjoyed and loudly cheered:
"I'll help this guy win an MVP trophy! No one can stop us in the future!"

"."

The surrounding staff and fans cheered loudly. Everyone believed in Durant. Not long ago, when Oklahoma City was hit by a disaster, the young MVP immediately donated $100 million.

This deep connection with the community has also made Oklahoma City fans more loyal. Unlike the 03 draft class, their core is younger. With the older players retiring, the Thunder have just reached their peak!
-

On Wednesday, May 22, after a two-day break, the Heat will host the Knicks tonight.

Because the Nets suffered four consecutive defeats, the Knicks were given ample rest time, and when the Heat were playing with all their might, D'Antoni even gave the team a day off.
Although it's the conference finals, commentators and casual observers are more interested in the Thunder's gossip, with several ESPN commentators dropping bombshells on Twitter:
"James Harden has proven his worth with his outstanding playoff performance, and the Thunder's management is exploring options to trade Russell Westbrook."

"."

This gossip sounds illogical, but an unnamed source revealed that the Thunder do not intend to pay the luxury tax, and upon seeing this reason, the general public believed it.

Only the Knicks in the league paid money to retain their roster despite being subject to a Level 2 penalty. The Mavericks, who missed the playoffs this season, are also dismantling, and Mark Cuban doesn't want to continue paying money.

Trading someone for being injured might seem heartless, but the market response has been very positive. The Rockets have made it clear that they are interested, and Morey firmly believes that the combination of Westbrook and Yao Ming can take things a step further!
The news has also sparked heated discussions across the ocean. As the youngest player in the league who most resembles Kobe, everyone feels that Westbrook and Yao Ming have a promising future together.

Mamba's die-hard fans were even more active, with related topics appearing on Weibo, and most of the discussions were unrelated to the game:

"The Thunder will regret making this decision sooner or later. After Kobe retires, it's Westbrook's turn to shine!"

As a well-known successor to the Mamba Mentality among active players, Russell Westbrook has a considerable number of fans across the ocean. In contrast, players like Kevin Durant and James Harden, who follow in Li You's footsteps, are not as popular.

After Kobe was traded, the "one man, one city" award was no longer the highest honor, and the two young men who kept talking about "loyalty" naturally faced resistance from die-hard fans.

The gossip from the outside world has no effect on the Heat's preparations. Head coach Spoelstra doesn't want to lose home court, and if Game 3 becomes a do-or-die game, he even suspects he might have to pack his bags and leave immediately.

At 20 p.m. that evening, the American Airlines Arena was still packed. Half an hour before the game was scheduled to start, some fans began to boo.

Nearly 2 Heat fans wore white cheering T-shirts with the words "We believe" prominently displayed on their chests. The slogan represented their belief that their team could win the championship and that LeBron James would fulfill his promise.

After the singing segment ended, TNT broadcasters focused their cameras on Kevin Harlan and Steve Kerr, who were sitting courtside. Kerr, commentating on a regional final for the first time, had a particularly bright smile on his face.
"I think modern basketball has far surpassed the past. More and more teams are starting to utilize the space on the court, and these are all changes brought about by Li."

"From the perspective of a superstar's individual ability, 35-year-old Lee is still in the best stage of his career. Although it sounds incredible, God just loves him so much."

Just as Kevin Harlan was about to chime in, his partner jumped off the high chair, beaming with a warm smile, and embraced Lee Yu.

"It seems the young men on the other side are in big trouble. They have no chance of winning tonight!"

"."

Dressed in a suit, Steve Kerr seemed to have forgotten the "beating" he suffered at the end of his career, and was now showering Li You with flattery. Li You didn't seem to mind, and chatted casually with his old rival:

"If you'd like to work at a university, feel free to contact me. The University of Connecticut would certainly welcome you."

Steve Kerr knew perfectly well that what Li You said was true, and he was so happy that his mouth almost stretched to the back of his head. He hugged Li You tightly and said enthusiastically:

"Thank you so much, I will definitely consider it carefully."

Since leaving the Suns, Steve Kerr has been working again with TNT, but he still wants to coach a team. However, he hasn't had a suitable opportunity yet, since the NBA doesn't really like rookie coaches.

Back in his seat, before his partner could even speak, Steve Kerr started bragging again:

"Michael Jordan was already declining at 34 years old. I know Michael Jordan may not like to hear this, but I have a strong impression of the 97-98 season."

"In comparison, I think Li has been improving over the past two years. His shooting has become more and more refined, and his defensive positioning and rebounding control are simply textbook examples for point guards."

"Perhaps it's more appropriate for us to revisit the topic of 'the next Michael Jordan,' since there won't be another 'Lee' in 100 years."

"That's what makes GOAT so great. We should really appreciate these last four years of competition."

"."

With his partner praising him endlessly, Kevin Harlan felt like he was in the ESPN commentary booth.

Even the teams next door aren't hyped up like this, no wonder TNT doesn't give Steve Kerr many opportunities to commentate on Knicks games.
Unlike the atmosphere of playing against the Pacers, during warm-ups, James greeted the Knicks players with a smile and didn't seem to care about Kyrie Irving's provocations, chatting and laughing while covering his mouth.

Seeing this, Wade felt a pang of sadness. He felt that his partner was prepared to lose, and thinking back to the Game 7 he had fought so hard to win, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh to release his frustration.

Bosh, who had a lackluster performance in the semifinals, was a little nervous. Heat fans had already given him a "meeting," and tonight he would face the "Twin Towers" again. At this moment, he could only keep whispering to himself to encourage himself.

"Let's go Heat!"

At 20:30 p.m., the roar of the crowd gradually filled the arena. The moment the game started, the Heat fans cheered loudly, and then shouted for defense.

Bosh quickly returned to his half and focused on defending Gasol, but found him to be out of form. Opponents always like to target the "easy target" first, and the Knicks were no exception.

Having learned a lesson from the Pacers, the Heat players paid more attention to help defense. When Li You came to the wing and threw the ball to Gasol, Wade immediately collapsed into the defense.

The feint defense didn't scare the Spanish big man, who decisively passed the ball to Wade for a post-up play. Noticing Wade move again, he threw the ball out this time.

Wade immediately rushed out to defend the ball, but noticed Gasol moving his feet and immediately turned to the side. Li You followed the defense and released the ball with his left hand, feigning a breakthrough. James at the top of the arc then tacitly collapsed to cooperate with his partner in the defense.

Before the two could close in, Li You passed the ball to Ray Allen, who was a step away from the three-point line at the top of the arc. Without hesitation, Allen took the shot over James's defense!

"shush"

The basketball swished through the net, and Ray Allen, chewing gum amidst boos, shook his head. Just like last year, the opponent stuck to the same old tactics on the defensive end.

Amid cheers, Sessions, who had brought the ball across half-court, immediately passed it to Wade at the top of the arc. Wade received the ball, and Bosh set a screen with his foot on the three-point line.

Although Bosh briefly delayed Li You's pursuit, Wade, who accelerated laterally, did not shoot immediately after the opportunity arose.

When Gasol delayed and retreated, Wade, who had the ball in his right hand, was once again chased down by Li You. He decisively drove past the defender and drew the defense, then immediately passed the ball to Bosh near the top of the arc.

On the other side, Marion made a symbolic step and reached out his hand. Bosh still didn't shoot immediately. After hesitating, he chose to put the ball in his right hand and then break through.

With Li You interfering, Bosh used Gasol to do a spinning turn and dodge the defense, but he didn't control the distance well. When he squeezed into the paint, his left-handed one-handed shot was interfered with by Ibaka.

"what"

With a shout, Bosh tried to find the whistle, but Ibaka grabbed the rebound immediately, and the rest of the Heat players quickly retreated on defense.

Ray Allen, who had run to the left wing early, received the pass and stood still. Serge Ibaka, who sprinted to the left elbow area, immediately screened for Lee Woo, who was passing the ball.

In a standard "starting move," James watched as Marion bounced out to the top of the key in the paint to receive the ball and immediately called out to his teammates to switch on defense.

As Li You moved laterally, circling through the paint area to the other side, Gasol's screen briefly displaced Wade, prompting Bosh to quickly close out and defend.

Wade also joined the double team, but Li You flicked his wrist the moment he received the ball, and the basketball went through Bosh's legs as he moved.
"Oh"

Amidst the low cheers of the Heat fans in the arena, James reacted extremely quickly and almost intercepted the ball, but ultimately missed. Gasol, who bent down to catch the ball, turned around and scored with a right-handed layup off the backboard.

"Incredible timing, which is why Wade's impact on the game is not as great as Lee's."

"Combo guards need to pass the ball more, and of course, this also requires some talent."

Kevin Harlan noticed his partner was "uncomfortable" from the start of the game, but Steve Kerr didn't seem to notice. Seeing Haslem make a back pass error under Ibaka's pressure, he immediately yelled:

"Lightning speed! Lee shook off Wade the instant he made the steal!"

At the top of the arc, Wade stumbled and Li You was gone. The fast break was fierce, and the Flash gave up halfway through the chase. Noticing that his old rival was glancing back at him, he cursed under his breath in anger:
"Shet!"

With no one guarding him, Li You spun 360 degrees and slammed the ball down with one hand, sending the Knicks' bench into a frenzy. It was 7-0, and the opponent didn't seem as strong as the coaching staff had described.

The Heat players remained calm. On the offensive possession, James immediately called for the ball with his back to the basket near the left side of the court, and Sessions, who was crossing half-court, immediately threw the ball out.

Ray Allen didn't interfere much, and James, who successfully received the ball, began to use his ball-handling skills to compete with Marion.

The veteran held firm, and when Ibaka helped defend, James successfully found Wade on the right wing. Wade received the ball and immediately passed it to Bosh, who faked a move near the baseline on the right side.

After several attempts to probe, seeing that Gasol hadn't moved, Bosh pulled up for a jump shot and made the shot.

Cheers immediately filled the arena, and Coach Spoelstra clapped along with him. The Heat also noticed Gasol's declining lateral speed, and theoretically, this matchup was more advantageous.

On the defensive possession, Haslem made a timely delay, allowing Ibaka to easily receive a pass from Li You near the free-throw line. Ibaka took a step and drove straight to the basket, where Bosh watched as he made the layup.

The Heat executed the same tactic. Wade once again broke through to the right baseline and passed the ball to the top of the arc. Bosh received the ball, faked a shot, released it with his left hand, took a step, stopped abruptly, and scored a long two-pointer.

Bosh and Wade forced a defensive delay at the three-point line, and under Coach Spoelstra's loud call, Bosh quickly retreated to defend near the top of the arc.

The offensive was disrupted, and Wade continued to press. James, near the left baseline, also raised his position, and soon there were two players closing in. Li You's bounce pass found Marion cutting along the baseline.

With a diving tackle, Haslem's desperate interference sent the basketball bouncing off the rim, but Ibaka grabbed the rebound and tossed the ball to the right corner. By then, Sessions had no time to turn and defend.

Ray Allen hit another open three-pointer, and the boos just kept coming.

"Let's go Heat!"

Amidst the deafening roar of the crowd, after a series of passes, James finally began his attack, dribbling with his left hand and driving to the basket. He stopped abruptly in the left elbow area and then accelerated with a powerful stride, seemingly crushing the defender. Just like in the regular season, Marion couldn't keep up with the chosen one, but when he reached the basket, James's attempt to overpower him missed.

The ball was scrambled for again, and in the chaos, James jumped repeatedly and successfully put the ball in.

Both teams, familiar with each other, were attacking each other's weaknesses relentlessly. The Heat displayed a frenzied defensive approach, with three players aggressively closing in on any screen, no matter how far from the three-point line.

In the latter part of the first quarter, James showcased his versatility, first by going up to the perimeter to coordinate with double teams, and then quickly returning to defend the rim.

Even after landing, he didn't forget to actively position himself, and after winning the rebound, he drove forward at full speed. The performance of this chosen one made the fans in the arena cheer loudly.

At the top of the key, James, holding the ball in his right hand, didn't hesitate like his partner. The moment he got rid of the defense, he saw Gasol huddled outside the three-point line, immediately gathered the ball, and quickly jumped and scored!
The chosen one, whose breakthrough attempt was somewhat unsuccessful, responded with a shot and continued his hard work on defense, a performance that prompted the two commentators in the TNT booth to exclaim:

"James has demonstrated MVP-caliber ability! The Heat responded under his leadership."

"."

At the end of the first quarter, the score was 30-25. The Heat withstood the initial onslaught with a furious defensive effort.

The director thoughtfully provided the technical statistics:
一记扣篮，罚球4中4，李佑首节拿到6分3篮板6助攻1抢断；

Wade didn't attempt a shot, and his stats show only one turnover; the Flash has disappeared again.
Despite the fact that this has happened many times in the past few years, the record of zero shots taken was broken. The camera focused on Wade on the bench, who was covered in sweat. The Flash, who played the whole first quarter, looked exhausted.

The rotation was shortened starting from the semifinals, and when Battier and Chris Anderson came on, James and others were still on the court.

Bosh was also sitting in his seat, panting heavily, as the opponent had grabbed four offensive rebounds in the quarter.

Compared to their opponents, the Knicks continued with the rotation they used in the last two minutes of the first quarter, with only Ibaka remaining in the starting lineup, while rookies like Vucevic also got opportunities in important games.

During their regular season matchups, the relatively tall Ramon Sessions was more effective defensively than Norris Cole. However, he may have been too exhausted tonight, as he was easily outmaneuvered by Kyrie Irving on the ensuing backcourt after making a jump shot.

Without any screen, Irving dribbled behind his back at the top of the key and stopped abruptly. Switching to his right hand, he accelerated forcefully, drove past his opponent, stopped abruptly again at the free-throw line, dribbled behind his back to shake off the defender, and responded with a pull-up jumper.

When Battier missed a three-pointer from the left corner, the Knicks transitioned quickly. Facing James's accelerated defense, Irving faked a pass and found Danny Green, who was following up in the right corner.

"Oh"

Amidst a chorus of gasps, Danny Green, still drifting, sank a three-pointer.

James dribbled hard and scored 2 points on the lower left side of the basket after a strong drive to the basket. Then, with the help of a teammate's fake screen, Irving suddenly accelerated, got past Sessions, and missed a mid-range floater. He then went on a scramble for the rebound.

James, who was actively positioning himself, was grabbed by Ibaka and watched helplessly as Butler rushed into the paint and put the ball in. Then, several Knicks players jumped and celebrated happily.

James turned and drove into the paint from the left low post, but Vucevic pulled him down just as he was about to lay up.
Excited Heat fans unleashed a barrage of comments, and after James made one of two free throws, he slapped his thigh in frustration. On defense, he directly took the lead in guarding Irving.

It was expected that the rookie would just go for the basket, but after a quick ball movement, Butler made a smooth drive on the right wing, got past Battier, and successfully drew a foul from Chris Anderson under the basket.

Seeing Li You stand up and applaud on the sidelines, Butler, standing at the free-throw line, flashed a bright white smile, leaned on his knees, and loudly teased the Heat players:

"Hey guys, why aren't you shooting threes anymore? I know you're scared, but we're not some idiots who just blow air in your ears!"

Don't pray to the god of basketball, because Lee doesn't have time to answer you.

James initially didn't want to talk to the rookie, but he almost lost his composure when he heard Butler's flattery and his joking remarks about Stephenson.

Lewis told him that the locker room in New York was incredibly united, which now sounds a bit off.

"Show some respect, you idiot!"

Near the paint, Haslem, hearing the flattery, started glaring again, while Butler, receiving a pass from the referee, ignored it, curled his lip, and began to mock again:

"I won't disappear like you during the finals. Don't point fingers at me, you idiot who doesn't even dare to pursue a big contract."

When the two started exchanging insults, the referee had to intervene, leaving Vucevic, who was positioned in the paint, completely stunned.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, experts will provide analysis tomorrow, and more people will understand why Butler's on-court "flattery" will become so prominent. Vucevic will then finally understand why Stephenson is no match for him.
The veterans weren't as "hostile"; nearly 10 years had smoothed out their rough edges. But the Knicks' young players wanted to make a name for themselves and gave it their all when they got on the court.

To extend their lead, D'Antoni glanced at the bench. Tobias Harris and Markieff Morris both looked at him, but ultimately the more physically imposing Morris got a little over two minutes of playing time.

The Heat also began their rotation, with James finally going to the bench to rest. Norris Cole replaced Ramon Sessions, and Coach Spoelstra hoped that Wade and Bosh could hold on a little longer.

With 7 minutes and 42 seconds left in the first half, Li You returned to the court, and Wade, who had just scored 2 points on a fast break, resumed his defensive duties.

In the first defensive possession, Wade sensed something was wrong. Before Gasol could even get into position, Li You, who was pushing the ball and changing direction, accelerated directly.

"Oh!"

Amid exclamations of surprise, Bosh, who was still in the paint area, seemed to have turned into a wooden stake. As he moved his feet, Li You had already shaken off the two players and leaned out to lay the ball up.

"Lightning speed! Chris Bosh was still observing the defense when he was instantly out of position. It's time to test the Heat's defensive consistency!"

Steve Kerr exclaimed excitedly, and as Wade found Bosh at the right baseline for a jump shot that missed, Kevin Harlan quickly added:
"It's clear that Li has found a way to deal with defensive help defense."

On the left flank, when Li You slowed down, Bosh was ready to help defend, but he didn't expect Wade to be blown past again. With a sudden lean and acceleration, the Flash who was chasing from the side was still left behind.

As Bosh quickly returned to the vicinity of the basket, he had just stretched out his arm when Li You leaped into the air and crashed into him. Reacting quickly, Li You tried to pull him away, but his opponent remained motionless and continued gliding through the air.

"squeak"

The baseline referee blew the whistle, and Li You happened to be at the lower right side of the basket. He threw the ball towards the backboard, and the basketball bounced high off the backboard and fell into the basket.

The American Airlines Arena suddenly fell silent, visibly quickly, and Wade had no way to deal with it.

"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

The sudden shouts broke the unusual atmosphere, and soon the Heat fans booed. Coach Spoelstra immediately substituted James in, with no time for rest.

Li Youga made the free throw, and James, who had just entered the game, also got to shoot free throws. After making both free throws, cheers erupted again.

James shouted instructions as he retreated to the left elbow area, but Chris Anderson was a step too slow. Ibaka, who had just entered the game, briefly delayed Wade, allowing Li You to make a long run down the right wing.

Anderson's switch on defense did protect Bosh, and Li You was fouled when he attempted a wide Euro step.

The basketball bounced twice on the rim before falling into the net. Bosh looked at his teammate who was being substituted off the court with his hand raised, looking helpless.

In the final minutes of the first half, Li You continued to score with drives and free throws. As the Heat's help defense increased, the Knicks' big men started to score easy baskets again.

Even though their three-point shooting percentage dropped and the Heat capitalized on several fast breaks, the point difference still reached double digits at halftime.

At 61:48, American Airlines Arena is almost turning into a library again.

The 13-point gap wasn't a big one, and the Heat fans in the arena were eagerly hoping that the home team could explode in the third quarter to close the gap. However, after the start of the second half, an unexpected situation made everyone's hearts sink.

Midway through the game, during a defensive possession, after a full-fledged chase, James suddenly collapsed in pain, the game was paused, and the chosen one was even unable to walk, eventually having to be carried off the court by the crowd.

TNT tracked the incident to the changing room immediately, and soon their reporters on the scene provided the medical team's diagnosis:
"LeBron James appears to be overworked and is currently experiencing leg cramps."

"."

The unexpected situation seemed to disrupt the Heat's rhythm. Battier, who came off the bench, was completely out of sorts. Every time he helped defend, the player he was guarding would make a three-pointer.

During the rotation phase, even Jimmy Butler, who came on the court, made a shot. Before the third quarter was over, Li You's assist count had reached 12.

When Ray Allen received the ball on both wings after a screen and made consecutive strong shots, the boos from American Airlines Arena disappeared.

After seeing Li You make a reverse cut at the top of the arc, shake off Wade, and easily drift and shoot a three-pointer near the left sideline, some Heat fans in the back row who were screaming got up and left the arena.

It'll be too late if we don't leave now; nobody wants to get stuck in traffic in the middle of the night.
Before the start of the fourth quarter, James was stunned when he was helped back to the bench by staff. Within minutes, there were open spaces in the back row, and the score made him stare blankly.

The score was 97:72, and the game suddenly "ended".

When head coach Spoelstra heard the team doctor indicate that James' back was also uncomfortable, he could only nod helplessly and voluntarily substituted the bench players, no longer bothering Wade and the others. The Heat conceded defeat early.

Seeing this, more Heat fans began to leave in silence, and laughter gradually filled the arena. The few hundred New York fans who remained started to mock them.

"James should share the trophy with Lee! New Yorkers won't vote for him!"

"Where did the Flash go? It's too late to switch to jersey number 1 now."

"LeBron is going to Los Angeles next year, the MVP has abandoned you!"

"."

Fortunately, the security personnel were prepared in advance; otherwise, another boxing match would have broken out. By the time the game was completely over, the American Airlines Arena was half empty. Irving, handing the ball to the referee, shrugged and joked:
"Sir, it seems like we're walking even more than last year."

On the other side, Jimmy Butler kept yelling at Haslem and his teammates. The Knicks won 126-98, securing an easy away victory.

After a break, Li You, wearing his away blue training uniform, was still "not even sweating." Sager, who came to the sidelines, wanted to congratulate him on getting a triple-double tonight, but he stopped himself from saying it.

The old man shrugged at the camera, looked at Li You, and sighed:

"God loves Lee! I can't describe how I feel. Lee dominated the whole game again."

"It was a team victory. I just did my job. The statistics aren't important. What's important is that I saw progress in our young players."

"."

Li You humbly expressed his opinion in front of the camera, while Irving and his friends, having finished showing off, rushed over shouting and trying to squeeze in front of the camera. Jimmy Butler shouted loudly:

"Remember, stop praying to the god of basketball, because Lee won't answer your opponents' expectations!"

Danny Green, who was pushed to the back, was furious. When Butler first joined the team, he acted like a tough guy, but since Stephenson left, the "tough guy" has let loose, and even seasoned sycophants have to admit defeat.

Tobias Harris, who was not in the shot, also looked helpless. He wanted to "try hard," but he just didn't have the "talent."

Seeing Butler's excited expression after being slapped twice by Li You, the rookie could only silently leave the court with the veterans, wondering to himself:

"Am I not suited to play in New York?"

(End of this chapter)