NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 871: It's all about bullying the "weak." (Chapter without a main character)

On Thursday, September 12, 2013, the controversy surrounding the basketball content of this week's Sports Illustrated issue continued to escalate, with more and more players taking to social media to voice their opinions.

"Twitter expert" Durant spoke out in defense of his new teammate, bluntly targeting Wade in his ranking of the top 10 active players:

"James Harden should be above Dwyane Wade. Technically, Harden is clearly the better player."

Kevin Durant, who enjoys engaging with fans on Twitter and constantly sharing his insights, is very popular. His updates have garnered widespread approval from fans, who also commented on his current form and how he's faring this season.
"31-year-old Dwyane Wade will be completely surpassed by James Harden in the new season! The Heat's 'supermarket' is about to open."

Dwyane Wade, who is preparing to attend his best friend's wedding, has been quite active lately. After seeing the post, he didn't immediately respond; instead, the Flash changed his "battleground," posting a picture on Instagram with a simple caption:
"Dude, are you talking about that guy who disappeared during the Finals?"

"."

The accompanying photo happened to be of Harden at a famous New York nightclub, and netizens were overjoyed after seeing the post. Miami fans also expressed their support, even bringing up Shaquille O'Neal's opinion again.

"100% shooting percentage and 40+ triple-double in the series? These guys are actually bragging about their abilities? Li Neng can score 100 points against James Harden!"

As the league's undisputed best defender against Li You, Wade's abilities have clearly gained wider recognition.

This is also why Sports Illustrated ranked Wade ahead of Kobe. As we all know, Mamba was terrible on both ends of the court in the Finals. In terms of pure ability, Flash was obviously stronger.
In addition to responding to Durant, Wade also posted a group photo of the Heat in San Diego. On Sunday, James will marry his longtime girlfriend Savannah Brinson, and the whole team attended the private wedding.

Sports media are always interested in the private life of the chosen one, but this wedding was very low-key and the secrecy was excellent. Only now have the media learned about the specific hotel.

Those invited to the private gathering signed confidentiality agreements, leading TMZ to jokingly refer to the ceremony as a "king's wedding."
The united Heat team doesn't seem to have fallen apart as the media had predicted. Pat Riley, who was also invited to the wedding, recently gave an interview discussing the new season, and the slick-haired player still expressed confidence:
"We still have the best talent in the league, and time is a friend of the Heat."

Despite the Heat only signing Michael Beasley, the "leaf expert," during the offseason and not making many other additions, the team's strength should not be underestimated.

In the Eastern Conference, the Celtics have completely dismantled. Just at the end of last month, new head coach Brad Stevens and Danny Ainge spearheaded a major trade:
"The Wizards traded Trevor Ariza, their 2014 and 2016 first-round draft picks, to the Celtics in exchange for their original leader, Paul Pierce."

Before the trade, Pierce boasted about his friendship with new head coach Stevens in an interview with the Boston Globe, the content of which now evokes sadness among many Celtics fans:

“I feel great. New coach, new system. I’ve talked a lot with Stevens, we’ve played golf together, and I’ve also discussed the team’s roster with Rondo.”

“As a Celtic, I am ready to hand over the leadership to Rondo and am capable of taking on more responsibility.”

"Regardless of how others evaluate it, I firmly believe that the 'Big Three' have not failed, the Celtics will not be defeated by difficulties, and we are ready."

"."

The trade was completed just as the article was published, and New York fans who saw it were overjoyed, mocking "Clown Pierce" for more than half a month.

This trade ushered in a new era for the Celtics, with Rondo and Brook Lopez becoming the team's core duo, and the championship-winning guard officially becoming a true leader both on and off the court!
While recovering from injury, Rondo did have dinner with the new head coach and discussed the team's future with management, but he remained silent on Pierce's comments until after the trade was completed, when the championship-winning guard finally responded on Twitter.
"Never criticize a championship guard, a new era has begun! #GOATRecognition #ChampionshipGuard #TheNewCeltics"

Clearly, Pierce's previous claim of relinquishing the leadership position was wishful thinking. Rondo didn't care about Harden's big mouth at all, a scene that left Garnett feeling uneasy.

Perhaps heartbroken by the Celtics, and seeing his good friend Pierce traded, Garnett, who had been keeping a low profile throughout the offseason, finally took to Twitter after observing the situation for two weeks:
"Business is business. Loyalty can sometimes hurt you because you can't 'turn back time'."

Shortly after the trade, some commentators predicted that new head coach Stevens would face protests from Boston fans, but as time went on, very few fans spoke out.

Not only that, recently on the Celtics subreddit, someone even dug up old grievances and launched a scathing attack on the Rivers, Pierce, and Garnett "gang":
"A coach who only knows how to give motivational speeches paired with a big-mouthed softie is the worst combination in Celtics history."

"The 'Big Three' is a joke. We've never played a good offense. Compared to modern New York basketball, the Celtics have been living in the 90s."

The cursing of the three players resonated with many Boston fans, while some lamented the loss of Rondo and Ray Allen's championship backcourt duo. Some extreme fans even left comments in the Harden comment section:

"Rondo should have punched your 'softie' right back then!"

-

On Sunday, September 15th, LeBron James was filmed by a CBS helicopter while holding his wedding in San Diego, and the released photos have sparked heated discussions among netizens.

The most discussed topic wasn't how happy James' marriage was, but rather whether the chosen one would make a fortune after his divorce like Michael Jordan did a few years ago.

Forbes also released the "Forbes 400 - 400 Richest Americans" list, which includes 14 NBA owners.

However, most of the insider analysis articles focus on Li You, and he is also the cover of the latest magazine issue.

In the five years following the financial crisis, Li You's personal wealth steadily increased. In a previous Forbes ranking of sports clubs by market value, Manchester United topped the list with a valuation of $35 billion.

In addition to this club, hotel resorts, shopping malls, stocks of well-known companies, and some fixed assets have also been exposed.

These visible riches are dazzling, while the deeper layers of funds remain only a figment of imagination.

Darren Lowell, a columnist for ESPN, used a simple analogy that's easy for the average person to understand:
"Orlando Magic owner Rich DeVos has a net worth of $68 billion on the list; multiply that by 3 to get Lee's wealth."

Everyone knows that Amway's founder has extremely large assets. The figure of ×3 is obviously an exaggeration, after all, some valuations cannot be compared with those of established companies.

Unfortunately, even with the media frenzy, they couldn't get an interview with Lee Woo himself, and no one complained about the ticket price increase at MSG after the related news broke.

Many New York fans posted photos of their season tickets on social media, and fans from other regions followed suit by posting photos of their home games against the Knicks. Li You once again single-handedly boosted ticket sales in the Eastern Conference.
That evening, a reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer suddenly broke a bombshell on Twitter:
"Lamar Odom is in rehab for drug abuse and alcoholism."

Not long ago, after Lamar Odom was arrested for drunk driving, he was found to be in possession of drugs. To the astonishment of onlookers, the famous star was unable to pay his bail, and Kobe Bryant ultimately paid for his former teammate's bail.

Lamar Odom separated from her husband when he went to Cleveland to play basketball, and she also revealed on a reality TV show that her family was in financial crisis.

Divorce is only a matter of time. Odom's time in rehab is the end of his career, and his new contract is likely to fall through. The 76ers will definitely not let the drug addict play.

On Monday, Odom broke down in tears during an interview, saying that during the lowest point in his life, no one cared about him except Kobe, who offered him comfort.

Perhaps knowing he was completely finished, Odom started shifting blame as he talked, attributing his "ice skating" experience to his upbringing:
"I just can't control myself. My father struggled with heroin addiction back then, and now I suspect I'm fighting my father's demons." Possession by evil spirits is obviously nonsense. Kobe looked disappointed during an interview after visiting his teammate. He thought Odom would really change, but the other party deceived him and continued to numb himself with alcohol and drugs.

"I respect the team's decision. What Lamar needs now is not to return to the league to play, but to quit alcohol and drugs."

"Doug told me that the team will continue to use the same tactical system as last season, and we will do better in the new season."

The 76ers are basically out of the running. Fortunately, Kobe has resolved his inner conflict after his time in the CBA and last season, and now, like the team, he "believes in the process."

Philadelphia media outlets are no longer calling for an end to the losing streak like they did last year. After so many losses, everyone is numb. 76ers die-hard fans have reached a consensus: they no longer have any expectations.
"We'll settle accounts with New York after Lee retires!"

-

On Thursday, September 19th, the Thunder finally completed a trade with the Rockets, and fans across the ocean were thrilled when they saw the news, as Yao Ming gained a new teammate.

The league officially approved the application this morning, and Russell Westbrook, who is still recovering from a knee injury, arrived in Houston.

The Rockets traded Kevin Martin, Omer Asik, rookie Jared Sullinger, 2014 and 2016 first-round draft picks, and 2014 and 2015 second-round draft picks.
They eventually acquired Russell Westbrook and rookie Perry Jones from the Thunder.

After the trade, the Thunder immediately expressed their gratitude to Westbrook on social media, and Durant, Harden, and Jeff Green also sent their best wishes to their good friend.

Amidst the harmonious sentiments, only Kendrick Perkins, burning with anger, unleashed a tirade on Twitter:
"The Thunder will regret making this decision. Durant and Harden are both softies. These two guys simply cannot lead a team to a championship."

While onlookers were still wondering why Perkins was "furious," the Thunder quickly announced several more pieces of news, including layoffs and the clemency of the chubby player.

Durant, who had long disliked Perkins, once again showed his true colors, retweeting his former teammate's tweet and adding a sarcastic comment:
"Partnering with a nobody like you, we can't possibly win a championship. You can't even average 10 points per game, so don't point fingers at us!"

"."

While the two were exchanging heated words on Twitter, the Rockets held a grand press conference to announce their new star player.

Witnessed by the Houston media, Westbrook, holding up his number 0 jersey, smiled despite his dark complexion.

Since Westbrook has not yet received clearance from his medical team and there is currently no timetable for his return, the sports reporters on site are most concerned about the injury status of their new core player.

Sitting next to the young man, Mo Gou appeared confident after hearing the question, and gave a cheerful and affirmative answer:

"Injuries won't bother Russell. We have confidence in him. Whether it's Coach McHale or Yao, everyone is focused on the future of the Rockets."

After being injured and abandoned by his former team, Westbrook felt a surge of resentment. He knew that the trade was actually related to his experience in the Finals, since his performance at that time was disastrous.

Receiving this affirmation again, the young man was somewhat moved. Noticing the expectant gazes of the reporters below the stage, Westbrook earnestly stated:

I will come back stronger!

“I’m trying to take it one day at a time, trying to find a way to strengthen myself and make sure I’m ready to go when the time is right. Injuries won’t defeat me, and I will bring a championship to Houston.”

Chinese media reporters remaining here paid particular attention to the young players, and when asked about playing alongside Yao Ming, Westbrook happily responded:

"Being able to partner with the best center in the league is something every guard dreams of!"

"Yao can dominate the paint, he belongs to a higher stage, we will succeed, just like the 'OK combination' back then."

"."

This answer satisfied everyone, and Sina Sports praised Westbrook to the skies in its news report that day.

After reading the report, Yao Ming's fans perked up, hoping that he could go even further in the twilight of his career.

American sports media are more optimistic about the new Thunder team in this trade. Kevin Martin had an extremely high true shooting percentage last season and can shoulder the team's rotation off the bench alongside Vince Carter.

While Asik's stats are unremarkable, he's a young big man who can fill in for Perkins in rebounding. Jared Sullinger also seems to have more talent than Perry Jones.

More importantly, the contracts of these new recruits are not expensive, and the Thunder still have room to maneuver in the next offseason. Including draft picks, they are definitely a team with a promising future.

The reports from across the ocean are completely different, and the fans' focus is also different. At the end of Kobe's career, die-hard Kobe fans have also found a home in this trade, and will now focus on Westbrook!
Although the combined fanbase of the two sides still can't compare to the fans who support the Rockets' win, the Rockets' new star's reputation has skyrocketed on social media.

James Harden became the target of fans' attacks, and news that he went to a nightclub to have fun immediately after the Finals was dug up again, causing the bearded man's reputation in China to plummet.

On Monday, September 23, Patrick Beverley, a relatively unknown figure on Twitter, launched an attack on the Rockets:
"If you keep pandering to that brainless idiot, Houston will never win a championship."

The Rockets quietly waived Beverley, not for basketball reasons, but because a minor player had a falling out with the new core player Westbrook. To make the star player more comfortable, Beverley was "sacrificed".

From Miami to Houston, Beverley has been earning a minimum salary, and despite his best efforts for the team, it's clear that nobody cares about his departure.

Among the Rockets, only Jeremy Lin sent his best wishes. He had received similar treatment when he was with the Warriors. Although there were some unpleasant moments during the competition last season, he still had to put on a show.

Interestingly, Beverley didn't appreciate it and instead criticized Jeremy Lin, leading to a heated argument between the two on Twitter that kept onlookers entertained.

Westbrook will likely miss most of the new season, but with training camp about to begin, the new core player has been actively engaging with his teammates to show that he is with them, winning the hearts of Houston fans.

In the afternoon, while Westbrook was replying to fan comments, Kobe Bryant tweeted a "challenge" to the younger generation, showing that the Mamba, no longer chasing championships, had become a mentor:

"Russell Westbrook, I challenge you! Return from injury in the next two years, win the MVP and the championship! #ChasingGreatness #Mamba'sRecognition #Mamba'sChallenge"

"."

(End of this chapter)