NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 867 "Never Retire." (Daily Chapter)

On Wednesday, June 12, 2013, the San Antonio Express-News continued to praise Tim Duncan's performance in this year's NBA Finals.

Several columnists and sports journalists not only cheered him on in newspapers, but also actively updated their social media, constantly praising the 37-year-old team leader:

"We can't ask more of Tim Duncan; he has given everything for the team and for San Antonio."

Tim Duncan, who is about to tie Elgin Baylor's eight NBA runner-up finishes, has seen his reputation "rebound" after losing Game 3. After all, it's a record for a veteran to lose a game, so we can't ask for more.

Although Duncan didn't score a single field goal in the fourth quarter and overtime of Game 3, no one gave the veteran a "talking session" after the game. Everyone could understand that the 37-year-old was physically exhausted.

However, Kobe Bryant's tweet in support of Duncan after the game sparked huge controversy:
"Championship rings are never the standard for measuring a superstar. Tim Duncan doesn't need anyone's approval; history will ultimately give him true respect."

"."

Kobe had already made these remarks during the CCTV broadcast, but with the support of his die-hard fans across the ocean and the lack of rebuttal from sports media, most people accepted this view after watching Game 3.

In the United States, however, the situation is completely the opposite. Kobe's latest actions have been described as "clown behavior" by many fans, and his Twitter comment section has been "invaded".

Almost all well-known basketball commentators in the United States were on the opposite side of Kobe, and Shaquille O'Neal even openly mocked his younger brother on TNT's show:
“If Li had said these words, I wouldn’t have commented on them. He is the real winner and has the right to define all of this.”

"My little brother has had a great career, but 'passengers' are not qualified to participate in superstar discussions. Just watch the game quietly and don't point fingers at MVP-caliber players."

"Your ring won't speak for you, because everyone knows who the 'driver' is."

With viewership declining again and little discussion about the game, Kobe's statement has benefited many, as bored onlookers have joined the "meeting."

The hype surrounding Game 4 that night plummeted. As always, 37-year-old Duncan faltered in crucial moments, and no one had any unrealistic expectations. This year's Finals were destined to be the most boring series in recent years.

At 19 p.m. that evening, an hour before the game started, the league and Knicks staff began their final "rehearsal" for the awards ceremony that night.

Kobe, who witnessed this scene yesterday, was in a bad mood. When he learned that CCTV wanted to interview Li You before the game, the Mamba took the initiative to avoid it. He had no interest in exchanging pleasantries with his old rival in front of the camera.

Many familiar faces appeared at the AT&T Center, with retired Chauncey Billups arriving early to congratulate Li You.

Players from the University of Connecticut were also present, along with Chris Paul from the Clippers and members of the New York championship team, creating a massive gathering of family and friends that completely transformed the atmosphere.

For Li You, at the end of his career, championships are no longer that important.

Especially against a mediocre old rival like the Spurs, his motivation dropped drastically. He had little interest in competing with Harden, and the Spurs weren't going to "explode" any money in the game.
However, industry insiders believe that Li You's performance was "selfless." He averaged 18 shots per game in the three games, even with overtime. The GOAT clearly doesn't care about personal statistics.

Since last season, every playoff game has set a new record.

ESPN tirelessly touts Excel and even follows up on the development of advanced data, but other mainstream sports media are losing interest. People are more interested in watching "NBA shows," where evaluating opponents is a "big deal."

When selecting the 50 greatest NBA players, Li You was a rookie when he first entered the league, so he naturally didn't make the list.

As retirement approaches, many sports commentators have begun discussing the future 75 greatest players. However, several issues have arisen during these discussions, the most awkward of which is:
"After 96, under Lee's rule, no new generation of American superstars ever won the 'Driver' championship."

After much discussion, the German emerged as the biggest winner. Regardless of whether the media agrees, Nowitzki's championship is undeniable; he is the only player among the new generation to win a title as a core member of the team.

Ultimately, the topic was shelved. There's still some time until the 75th anniversary. Once Li You retires, a new champion will surely emerge, and it will be better to discuss it then.
Inside the arena, Li You took photos with the visitors. Ben Wallace, who had retired quietly, looked a bit old, with his beard turning gray.

Dressed in a well-fitting black casual outfit, Ben Affleck, while posing for photos with the media, didn't forget to mock his old rival:
"The Spurs have held more championship ceremonies since moving to their new arena than they have at Madison Square Garden!"

"San Antonio fans should thank Lee; they are luckier than fans of other teams in the league to witness this great achievement in person."

"."

Although it may not sound very respectable, it is true that San Antonio and Los Angeles have witnessed many more championship award ceremonies, and from a purely "return on investment" perspective, ticket buyers at least did not lose money.

Every member of the New York championship team would boast about it in front of the media, but when it came to Duncan, they didn't show much respect.

Artest, who has been keeping a low profile all season, looked disdainful when asked about the issue, and the championship striker didn't forget to bring up old grievances to mock:
"A team like the Spurs with such egregious behavior shouldn't be in the Finals. Nobody likes watching them play, and we all know how these guys got to the top."

"The 75 Greatest Players? How many championships does Tim Duncan have? We're more deserving; the Knicks achieved a miraculous back-to-back championships under Lee's leadership."

Artest, after a long chat, revealed his purpose: the 75 greatest stars should include a successful person like him!
While each of the champions present wasn't as outspoken as Artest, they all shared the same goal in making their appearance: to remind the media of one thing.

"Champion members deserve to be included in the future list!"

Lee Yu naturally offered his full support for his former teammates' veiled comments. The ABC reporter, not wanting to discuss this awkward topic, could only bring up tonight's game again.

"The Knicks have a lot of young players, but we also have the most championship experience in the league."

"That's how basketball games are. There will always be a night when you miss the ball. What we need to do is stay patient and stick to the game strategy set by the coach."

“We may face the same situation again tonight, but after experiencing Game 3, I think the younger players will perform better.”

Li Youyi, as always, has high hopes for the Knicks' young players. The situation where everyone tries to shoot after missing a shot will no longer occur frequently, and the rookies will become more determined in executing tactics.

The Fox Sports reporter nodded, but the question he asked was somewhat sensitive, causing everyone around to strain to hear him:

"Li, the Knicks' luxury tax should be over $7000 million this season. Will the team continue to keep the starting lineup?"

Gasol's max contract looks a bit of a loss, while Li You, who will turn 36 soon, will also trigger the veteran clause and sign a new contract.

Luxury taxes will only increase, but Li You's attitude on this issue remains the same as before:
"The luxury tax is also part of the team culture, and in my opinion, salary is more about respect."

"At this stage of my career, statistics and honors have lost their meaning for me. Pursuing championships is more about giving back to the loyal fans who have always supported the Knicks."

"Seventeen years is a long time. Many fans are like family to us. The Knicks will not let everyone down."

"."

The New York reporter, who had witnessed the Knicks' growth, was deeply moved. The Dolan family raises ticket prices every year; for the sake of their family's expectations, this luxury tax cannot stop!
As the interviews concluded, the San Antonio media representatives felt a pang of bitterness, realizing that their rivals had paid more luxury tax in recent years than the Spurs had ever paid in their entire franchise history.

That's the frustrating thing about small-market teams; Tim Duncan and David Robinson were both "held back."
"Under the new labor agreement, the viewership of the finals has declined again, and advertisers are definitely not satisfied!"

"The Spurs' presence in the Finals always causes ratings problems; the league should give more opportunities to Oklahoma City's young players." "Kevin Durant and James Harden definitely deserve to be in the Finals."

"I've said it before, the Knicks' championship is more valuable; even if the Spurs win, it won't mean anything."

A group of sports reporters came to the media room and gossiped about the Spurs, infuriating the Spurs staff, especially the New Yorkers, who practically threw their eyes up at the sky and looked down on San Antonio.

Reaching the Finals only to be criticized, the Spurs have become notorious "clowns" in the league in this winner-takes-all era.

Game 4 of the Finals kicked off promptly at 20 PM. A large number of Knicks fans were present at the AT&T Center, which disrupted the home crowd atmosphere, with blue areas appearing in the "sea of ​​white".

"Go Spurs go!"

Duncan jumped for the ball, and the Spurs took the lead in the attack. Parker passed the ball to George Hill on the right wing early on, and the regular season tactics still started with a pick-and-roll.

Ray Allen squeezed through the screen, allowing George Hill to immediately pass the ball across to Leonard on the other side. As Diaw made a fake screen, the rookie put the ball down with his left hand and forced his way in.

Just like in the previous games, Marion struggled to keep up with the younger players, but Ibaka's timely retreat and help defense forced Leonard to slide across the baseline while bearing the weight of the defense.

The paint was too crowded, and Leonard almost made a mistake with his pass. Parker received the ball in the right corner and was immediately pressured by Li You's defense. The Frenchman could only put his head down and play the ball, then accelerated to break through with his left hand.

During the confrontation, Parker was pushed away from the basket by Li You. When he accelerated diagonally to the vicinity of the blocking area, he hurriedly passed the ball to the top line.

Diaw, who was left wide open, didn't hesitate and received the ball on the left wing, but his jump shot missed.

"Oh"

As Li You effortlessly secured the long rebound in the paint, a low murmur rippled through the arena, and the Knicks launched a fast break offense in the very first possession.

George Hill, who was quickly retreating on defense, hesitated at this moment. Ray Allen had already begun to slow down, and his teammates near the top of the key were being overwhelmed and broken through.

Unable to make a timely decision, George Hill ultimately watched as Li You knocked Parker out of bounds and slammed home a dunk!
Cheers suddenly erupted in the arena, only to be drowned out by boos. ABC turned its cameras to David Stern and James Dolan behind the basket, the two whispering to each other, seemingly having a pleasant conversation.

Everyone was certain that the Spurs would lose, and the performance of the players on the court did not disappoint the spectators.

On the offensive possession, when Parker immediately passed the ball to Duncan, who was backing down to receive it in the left flank, Li You immediately came over to help defend, and Gasol also pushed hard from behind.

With the two players double-teaming him, Duncan could only dribble up the court and try to pass the ball back, but Li You's position made him hesitate.

When Duncan saw an opportunity and tried to pass the ball back to George Hill at the free-throw line, Li You, who had retreated again, poked the ball away before he could even pass it.
Above the stadium, in the CCTV commentary booth, Zhang Weiping saw Li You rush forward after intercepting the ball and immediately raised his voice:

"The difference in reaction speed between the two is obvious! Li You's physical condition is truly remarkable, he's bursting with energy!"

"Here he comes! Chasing after Duncan, he unleashed another thunderous dunk! Amazing!"

"."

Duncan, receiving the ball in the left elbow area, tried to find Parker cutting in, but the Frenchman's back-cut after passing the ball failed to shake off Li You, and the Spurs' offense stalled again.

While Duncan was still raising his ball, he was suddenly tackled by Gasol. Almost losing the ball, he could only pass it to George Hill at the top of the key. Hill received the ball and immediately drove to the basket.

He shook off the defense, pulled up for a jump shot in the right elbow area, George Hill missed, and Ibaka grabbed the rebound. Li You, who received the ball near the baseline, accelerated again.

Near the logo, Li You, holding the ball with his left hand, slowed down slightly, then suddenly pushed the ball to change direction, accelerating twice to instantly get past Parker who was retreating to defend.

Amid the gasps of the San Antonio fans, Li You drove straight in, ignoring Duncan who jumped up to defend under the basket. After taking three big strides, he pulled his right arm to the side, made contact in the air, and slammed the ball down with his arm!

When Duncan landed and fell into the camera's view, the Knicks' bench erupted in cheers, with young players who had gotten up to watch the game shouting excitedly.

Yu Jia suddenly thought of Allen Iverson from before, and after a brief comment, asked Kobe a question:

"As Kobe said, even the 'rejuvenated' Duncan couldn't defeat time. These two dunks really show the difference."

"Kobe, do you think Duncan will suddenly decide to retire after the Finals, like some other stars?"

Kobe, who hadn't greeted Li You since arriving in San Antonio, had mixed feelings upon hearing the familiar name. Among the 96 draft class, Iverson could be considered the biggest "victim":
“Tim won’t be defeated. I know him. Even if he loses the finals, he will just continue to adjust his form and return to the top stage next season.”

"How a player faces failure determines his ceiling, regardless of age. As long as he maintains that desire, I believe he can fulfill his promise."

"."

A solemn expression appeared on Mamba's dark face, but Zhang Weiping, standing beside him, subconsciously made a sarcastic remark. The old man chuckled and said:
"Kobe is right, but Duncan has long reached his ceiling; his MVP award is no small feat!"

"But I think retirement is also an option. If we come back to the finals next year, we might break the record. The reputation gets worse and worse with each game, and most people can't stand that."

Hearing the old man start rambling again, Yu Jia quickly changed the subject and continued commentating on the game, but the Spurs were missing many shots at the start, so there was no need for tactical analysis.

Popovich substituted the inconspicuous George Hill early, allowing Ginobili to enter the game sooner.

After breaking his scoring drought with a tough three-pointer, the Argentine quickly went cold, missing several shots from beyond the arc. The Spurs then had to rely on Leonard and Duncan's strong offense.
The game was fast-paced, but the Spurs went cold after scoring 11 points, and even the substitute Gary Neal couldn't save the team.

With 3 minutes and 05 seconds left in the first quarter, Diaw made both free throws, bringing the score to 26-15, and the AT&T Center was almost silent.

Danny Green, who came off the bench, didn't miss any open looks. After hitting consecutive shots from both wings, the entire arena became increasingly quiet.

Ibaka made a jump shot from the free-throw line after a pick-and-roll, and the young man looked at Duncan and shouted passionately, pounding his chest repeatedly, showing his tough guy spirit!

Popovich on the sidelines was red with anxiety. All of the old man's timeouts were ineffective. In the last few minutes, the Spurs just couldn't score until the referee gave Leonard free throws, and the young man made one of two.
With the score at 38:16, the first quarter ended, and the visiting New York fans celebrated wildly, the game was no longer in doubt.

The Spurs couldn't even withstand the first blow, and Zhang Weiping sighed repeatedly. The old man, ignoring Yu Jia's gaze, swayed the conversation again, asking with a smile:
"Duncan won't retire early. After seeing his partner return to the Finals this year, Kobe, what are your plans for the future?"

Kobe, however, didn't notice anything amiss. Thinking of his die-hard Chinese fans, the Mamba's mood improved considerably, and he took advantage of the holiday break to begin his "exclusive scoop":
“This year’s finals also inspired me. Tim proved that age is not an obstacle to pursuing the championship.”

"The result isn't important; I enjoy the process of chasing the championship more. I will persist until at least 2016."

(End of this chapter)