NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 864 This competition seems "familiar". (Chapter without main character)

On Wednesday, June 5, 2013, Game 1 of the finals kicked off as scheduled. In order to better broadcast this year's game, CCTV Sports sent a live commentary team from across the ocean.

According to the previously planned schedule, CCTV also wanted to invite two-time champion Kobe Bryant, but unfortunately, the Mamba really didn't want to go to New York, so his official debut would have to wait until San Antonio.

However, losing Kobe is also a good thing. Zhang Weiping enjoys his own "stand-up comedy." As a well-known "Zen fan," he feels a bit restrained when paired with Mamba.

Above Madison Square Garden, the broadcasting teams from major sports media outlets were all gathered. During halftime, Yu Jia and Zhang Weiping naturally had to comment on the first half of the game:

"The first half must have surprised many Spurs fans. Judging from the content of the game, they did not seem to continue their good form from the Western Conference Finals."

"Duncan didn't attack aggressively at the start of the game like we expected. Such scenes are rare. Both sides seemed to be testing each other."

As soon as Yu Jia, wearing headphones, finished speaking in front of the camera, Zhang Weiping, also dressed in a black suit, immediately chimed in, the old man agreeing with her:
"Yes, I think both sides are very well prepared. You can see that the Spurs are ready both mentally and tactically."

"The game looked uneventful, with the Knicks leading by 8 points at 50-58. They didn't really have any dramatic offensive surges during the game."

"The real test was in the third quarter. Li You alone could have crushed the game. He didn't really exert himself in the first half, but he still grabbed 9 rebounds and had 6 assists, which was quite impressive."

"The triple-double is a foregone conclusion, but Duncan really had a tough time. He rebounded in the second quarter, making 4 of 7 shots and contributing several brilliant defensive plays while on foul trouble."

Yu Jia, standing to the side, nodded repeatedly. Leaving aside the "injury bonus," he genuinely admired the 37-year-old veteran for being able to perform at such a level, and added:
"Speaking of Duncan, in the playoffs, this MVP seems to be playing like he did in his younger days, with high-post playmaking, mid-range jump shots, and strong low-post attacks."

"This offensive style is a huge improvement compared to last year. Why do you think Duncan has exploded again this season?"

Zhang Weiping, who was nodding repeatedly, smiled again, and the old man chuckled and teased:

"I think this is like an old tree blossoming again!"

"Rejuvenation?"

"Yes, that's definitely true. He's accurate on defense, anticipating and blocking shots, and he's got everything going on offense. Duncan is in exceptionally good form this year."

"But this condition is probably related to the progress of modern medical technology. American colleagues also reported that Duncan went to see a psychologist, which really helped."

Seeing that Zhang Weiping was about to veer off-topic again, Yu Jia quickly and discreetly reminded him. The old man, realizing what was happening, didn't mind and chuckled as he gave an example:

"Technological advancements allow players to recover faster. Just think about Kobe's knee; in the past, he might have already retired. After receiving treatment in Germany, he came to the CBA and won a championship."

"Duncan is the same; he needs both meditation and technology to make the All-NBA team again."

"But Li You is different from these star players. He maintains his dominance by eating a balanced diet, training rigorously day after day for ten years, and having absolute self-discipline!"

"Look at him, after shaving, he looks like he's in his late twenties. It's true that Black players on the court tend to look older, but without self-discipline, you really can't maintain this level of performance."

"."

As the old man chatted, he routinely started using double standards, saying that Duncan and Kobe relied on technology, while Li You was purely self-disciplined. Yu Jia was somewhat helpless for a moment, and he could only be thankful that Kobe's Chinese wasn't very good.

The broadcast then showed the New York night view, with the camera focusing on Times Square, a sea of ​​black people, and loyal New York fans shouting at the camera. ABC, prepared in advance, immediately muted the noise.
The third quarter began with Madison Square Garden erupting once again. The Spurs started with their twin towers again, with Splitter continuing to partner with Duncan.

The backcourt was now occupied by Parker and Ginobili, while Gary Neal, who had missed shots in the first half, was benched.

"Defense!"

Amid cheers from the defense, Parker dribbled the ball quickly across half-court and immediately passed it to Leonard at the top of the key, then led Li You to the right corner.

As Parker drove along the baseline, the Spurs players moved towards the baseline to screen for their teammates. However, Li You, who was chasing him, stayed close by, dodging the ball nimbly and forcing Parker to move laterally when he received the ball at the top of the line.

The Frenchman had a chance to pass the ball to Duncan near the baseline in the left elbow area, but under Li You's cover and Ibaka's delay, he could only jump and pass back to his teammate on the right wing.

Leonard, who received the ball again, did not take the initiative to attack against a veteran like Marion, but instead bounced the ball back to Parker.

After a series of maneuvers, with 8 seconds left on the shot clock, the Spurs' two big men had no choice but to set a double screen. As Parker accelerated laterally with the ball in his right hand, Gasol immediately coordinated with Li You to close him down.

Under the tight defense, the Frenchman was unable to pass the ball to Splitter who was cutting down the court, and could only helplessly pass the ball to Duncan at the top of the key to receive it.

Ibaka, who had just retreated to help defend, quickly got into position and remained unmoved by the old man's feint. In the end, Duncan could only dribble the ball with his left hand, take a step, and force a jump shot with his body tilted to the side, but missed.

Marion easily grabbed the rebound under the basket, and cheers erupted again as the Knicks launched a counterattack.

The ball was moved upline at lightning speed, and Ray Allen, who received the ball at the top of the arc, immediately passed it to Li You on the right wing.

Before Ibaka could set up a screen, Li You lowered his center of gravity and passed the ball with his right hand, making a quick breakthrough.

Facing Duncan's help defense, before any physical contact could be made, Li You suddenly made a large in-and-out maneuver while moving, swaying left and right, accelerating twice, and instantly completing a low-altitude flight.

Amid the joyful cheers of the New York fans, Duncan stood rooted to the spot like a wooden stake, shook off Li You's defense, faced Splitter under the basket, changed his rhythm, and scored with a reverse layup!

"Wow, that's amazing! There's no way to defend against it. One fake and a change of rhythm and you're past the whole defense! At that point, you have to drive to the basket; jump shots are just a waste of breath."

"Li You's basketball skills have really improved; we should cherish this opportunity, because in a few years we'll only be able to watch videos of him play them."

Zhang Weiping launched into another round of enthusiastic praise, ignoring his partner. Seeing the Spurs attack again, and after a series of rotations, Parker drove to the right corner for a pull-up jumper, only to have it blocked by Li You, he immediately shouted:
"coming!"

"The intensity has increased! Parker's speed is useless now, a solid block!"

Despite having shaken off the defense, Parker's pull-up jumper near the basket was still blocked. Parker, who was retreating on defense, couldn't help but complain to the referee, but he quickly had to focus on the situation at hand.

Li You accelerated along the right sideline and dribbled across half-court, giving his opponent no chance to get into position. During the dribble, he suddenly made a behind-the-back dribble and was intercepted by Parker. When the two collided, he simply took the initiative to stop abruptly and step back.

Watching Li You drift as he threw the ball, Parker instinctively raised his right arm and hurriedly turned around. When he saw the basketball swish through the net, he couldn't help but recall the many times in the third quarter of the Finals when the team was swept in one go.
"Oh!"

With the score at 50-63, cheers echoed throughout the arena. Popovich on the sidelines could only remind him to switch defenses. Leonard had accumulated too many fouls in the first half, but at this point, all he could do was pray that the rookie didn't get his fourth foul too early.

It was Ginobili's free throw that helped the Spurs break the deadlock. The Argentine drew a shooting foul on Ray Allen and was met with a barrage of boos as he stepped to the free throw line.

Seeing that both free throws were made, Yu Jia was about to speak when Zhang Weiping started "borrowing" again:
"If the Spurs play like this, they're doomed. Relying solely on individual ability won't work. They need to move the ball around and try to force their way through. Kobe has already proven that it's not going to work."

"This second-year player is undefendable; we can't keep up with his speed."

In his first appearance in the Finals, Leonard suffered greatly in the first half. He picked up two fouls early in the first quarter and was forced to leave the game. Midway through the second quarter, he was fouled out by Li You, committing his third personal foul. The young player no longer dared to stick close to the defense or try to block shots. Just as the coaching staff had instructed him, he simply used his footwork and wingspan to cover the defense.

At the top of the key, Leonard, without being reminded by his teammates, couldn't help but look behind him. Realizing there was no screen, the young man instinctively tried to close in to prevent his opponent from getting any space to start.

As Li You, holding the ball in his left hand, suddenly shifted his weight slightly and started moving the moment his opponent moved. Leonard quickly adjusted and slid sideways.

The crossover step back at the three-point line left the young man standing still. Before Leonard could even reach out to defend, Li You had already gathered the ball and calmly launched a jump shot.

The basketball swished through the net, sending the crowd into a frenzy. The familiar scene delighted New York fans. Although a few unfamiliar faces were present, the game remained as exciting as ever.
"That's incredible! Just like our American counterparts predicted, one-on-one defense is a guaranteed score, every shot goes in!"

Yu Jia also started praising the old man. Unlike the opponent's back-and-forth attack, Li You, who had focused on passing in the first half, started to "attack as soon as he got the ball" as in previous years, and the game's appeal improved dramatically.

While the old man was still bragging, the Spurs continued to move the ball quickly along the perimeter. Unlike the previous possessions, Leonard stopped the ball on the left wing this time.

Duncan saw the young man's intention and immediately waved for the others to pull him away, then stepped forward to provide cover.

Without using a screen, Leonard released the ball with his left hand and then accelerated forcefully, breaking through Marion's sliding motion.

"Oh!"

Amidst low cheers, Leonard approached the basket for a dunk, leaping into the air to block Ibaka's pursuit with his right arm, gripping the ball firmly with his left, and involuntarily letting out a shout as he slammed the ball down:
"what"

Li You, who was defending the basket from the baseline, arrived first and made a strong interception in mid-air. The two briefly struggled, and Leonard, who lost his balance, landed sideways and fell out of bounds.

However, the young man's large hand did have an effect, sending the ball and the player out of bounds, giving the Knicks no chance to counterattack.

Popovich on the sidelines couldn't hold back any longer. Returning to the Finals, the old man felt like he'd been hit over the head. The Knicks seemed stronger than ever, a completely different team from the regular season.

Even as he retreated to defense, Duncan didn't forget to encourage the young players, and Leonard, who usually maintains a "stoic" expression, rarely showed any signs of impatience.

"Let's go, Knicks!"

Amid cheers, Li You, having dribbled past half-court, noticed that his opponents still hadn't double-teamed him, so he deliberately stopped the ball with his back to goal near the right sideline.

Leonard didn't hesitate and immediately stepped forward to interfere. The young man tried to push Li You out of bounds, using his body to exert force while constantly making hand movements.

With his back to the goal, amidst the cheers of the front-row spectators, Li You, holding the ball in his right hand, suddenly blasted the ball with great force, then quickly turned around, and as he caught the ball with his left hand, he accelerated forcefully while defending.

Leonard, who was desperately trying to catch up with the defense, was completely out of position before he even got to the free-throw line. Watching Li You take off in the paint, the young man couldn't help but widen his eyes.

Although Splitter and Duncan collapsed under the basket, Li You was too fast. Just as the two jumped and reached out, the basketball was slammed into the basket!

The rim slammed shut, the referee blew his whistle, and Madison Square Garden erupted in cheers. Even before Li You stepped to the free-throw line, the shouts echoed throughout the arena.
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

Splitter, who was covering for his teammate's foul, looked incredulous. The regular season and video footage had given him too many illusions, and he was not quite up to the intensity of the game.

At 52:69, Li Youga made the free throw, and the Spurs finally called a timeout. Popovich, unusually, didn't blame the players; instead, the old man kept clapping and encouraging them.

"Scoring 11 points in a row, and only a few minutes into the third quarter, Li You is about to end the game!"

"I don't think calling a timeout would have made a difference. We've already given our dues tonight; consider it tuition for the young people."

Zhang Weiping chuckled and made sarcastic remarks, but fortunately, there weren't many Spurs fans across the ocean, so Yu Jia didn't have to worry about the old man getting complaints from fans.

"An indescribable shock! The combination of speed and power, I can't imagine how the Spurs should adjust their defensive strategy."

"."

After the timeout, the Spurs opted to start from the low post again. Duncan repeatedly pushed Ibaka up and down, but found no one to help defend him. He then turned and made a floater from the right low post.

In the defensive possession, under early double-teaming, Li You passed the ball out early. With the opponent's active rotation, Jimmy Butler, who had just come on as a substitute, did not rush to attack after receiving the ball on the right wing.

With 24 seconds left, the Knicks still resolutely ran a play, with Leonard pulling and chasing the defense from the left side of the court.

When the two squeezed to the other side of the paint area, Ibaka's screen was ineffective. Li You suddenly concealed himself, pushed the defense aside, and accelerated outward. Duncan hurriedly shouted a warning to Splitter near the top of the arc.

Leonard, a step too slow, saw Butler "dealing" on the wing and tried to continue his defense, but Gasol moved a step in time, and the rookie unfortunately crashed into the screen.
"Oh!"

Cheers erupted again. Li You caught the ball, turned to face the basket, and was still a step away from the three-point line. He took the ball and threw it at the last moment.

While the basketball was still in the air, most New York fans, like Li You, had already raised their arms in joyful celebration.

The basketball that fell into the net silenced the Spurs' bench. George Hill, who hadn't gotten many opportunities tonight, stared blankly. In less than four minutes, Li You had already scored 14 points.

At that moment, the young man finally understood why the Knicks' opponents in the video always looked listless. Faced with such shots, he could only pray to God that he would miss.

As time went on and the point difference widened, the Knicks' defensive intensity began to gradually decrease, and the Spurs responded with some plays.

What Popovich found regrettable was that the rim seemed to be covered tonight, and Leonard, left wide open beyond the three-point line, was still missing shots.

What frustrated the Spurs coaching staff even more was that double-teaming in advance was useless. The opponent's big men were using the "loopholes" in the rules to screen, and Li You could always score easily with the same tactics.

With 3 minutes and 36 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Leonard picked up his fourth foul. After a rear-end collision, the young man flicked his wrist, giving Li You a 2+1 play at the free-throw line.
The Spurs once again fielded a three-guard lineup. Leonard, visibly frustrated after being substituted by George Hill, was embraced by Popovich as they walked to the bench, where Popovich offered words of comfort.
“Listen, Kawhi, this is your first Finals game in your career, and you played very well!”

"We need you to maintain this form. The Finals also start with winning on the road."

"."

Leonard nodded repeatedly at the old man's words. They also encountered difficulties in the Western Conference Finals, falling behind 0-2 and winning four consecutive games. The Spurs started their run by winning Game 4.

Back in his seat, Leonard took several deep breaths and was about to reach for a towel when Gary Neal suddenly whispered something to him:
"Dude, congratulations! You witnessed Li's single-quarter scoring record up close tonight!"

"Don't forget the championship experience I shared with you before. Remember to praise Li after the game, and it would be best to express your gratitude several times."

"."

(End of this chapter)