NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 874 Old Deng Doesn't Seem So "Weak" After All. (Chapter without Main Character)

On Saturday, December 7, 2013, ESPN did a lot of hype for the game between the top teams in the East and West that night, and even casual fans started paying attention to this clash between the number one teams.

Contrary to many people's expectations, the two teams that topped the list in just one month were the Pacers with a record of 17 wins and 2 losses and the Spurs with a record of 15 wins and 3 losses.

The Heat, Thunder, Knicks, and Nets did not demonstrate absolute dominance in the first month of games, and the favorites were eventually pushed behind.
Paul George, who calls himself one of the "top 4 small forwards in the league," has shown his strength. Apart from a few poor performances in a few games, the young man's performance was impeccable!
Paul George, who lets his basketball skills speak for themselves, won the Player of the Month award, and the young man earned respect with his own strength.

The Spurs' two-guard system shone brightly, with the backcourt duo of George Hill and Tony Parker completely exploding, and Kawhi Leonard, who had experienced the Finals, also growing rapidly.

With the twin towers lineup, Splitter helped relieve a lot of pressure on Duncan, and the veteran, who will be 38 in a few months, was in better form than the pundits expected at the beginning of the season.

Before tonight's game, Pacers legend Reggie Miller raved about his former team, even asserting on a show a few days ago:
"Indiana has a chance to win the championship within three years!"

"."

The Pacers' hot streak is also inseparable from the guidance of their championship experience. Stephenson takes every opportunity to brag in front of the media. If it weren't for his poor stats, the young man could have portrayed himself as a leader on the court.

In the locker room, although Danny Granger was the nominal leader, Lance Stephenson spoke more, and with another new addition, Lars Butler, also having championship experience, the two hit it off and boasted about it every day.
Fortunately, everyone embraced the championship experience, and David West even took the initiative to express his desire to learn from the defending champion. With everyone united, they achieved their best result since the start of the season.

At 19 p.m., half an hour before the game started, the atmosphere at the AT&T Center was electric, and the outstanding performance made the San Antonio fans very satisfied.

During the final warm-up, Mike Brin and Jeff Van Gundy discussed Tim Duncan's physical condition again:
"I don't like the current superficial basketball atmosphere. With eight NBA Finals appearances, Tim Duncan has no need to prove his ability."

"There aren't many tall players in history who can perform so well at the age of 37."

"We should lower our expectations for veterans over 35. There are no superhumans in reality, and even the greatest players will be affected by time."

Van Gundy really didn't expect Duncan to continue his good form from last season. In an era where the pace of the game is getting faster and faster, it is really not easy for a veteran to perform like this.

"Age is indeed an issue that cannot be ignored. Seeing Paul George's outstanding performance, I think more fans have felt the impact of younger players."

Picking up where the conversation left off, Mike Breen couldn't help but sigh, noting that compared to these two teams, the Knicks' starting lineup was indeed too old, and their energy was clearly lacking for the new season.

"It's said that Roy Hibbert consulted Duncan on many basketball skills and meditation methods during the offseason, and it seems his extra training paid off!"

Hearing his partner gossiping with a smile, Van Gundy also smiled and joked along:

"This reminds me of Phil Jackson's sage and meditation techniques. Back in the day, our staff would get annoyed every time the Lakers came to Madison Square Garden."

“Perhaps this special training method is indeed useful, but I suggest that Hibbert lose some weight. He still needs to continue to improve his lateral speed.”

"."

Since the departure of the former coach, no coach has resorted to such "mystical" methods. Coach Frank Vogel is the only coach in recent years to have adopted meditation techniques, which has sparked considerable discussion.

In nationally televised games, young players usually give it their all, and Paul George is no exception; he loves being the center of attention.

More importantly, if he makes the All-NBA Team this season, the new contract amount will increase. The young man doesn't want to miss out on tens of millions of dollars. As an adult, he wants both the attention and the money!

Compared to the confident smiles of the young men, the bald-headed Duncan maintained a perpetually expressionless face. Since losing the Finals, the former MVP has become increasingly silent.

The leader's mood also affected the Spurs' locker room atmosphere. Fortunately, Diaw and Gary Neal shared their championship experience from time to time, and Parker fully supported his good brother, which eased the awkward moments every day.

At 19:30 p.m., shouts echoed throughout the arena as the Pacers won the jump ball and gained possession. CJ Watson dribbled across half-court and immediately passed the ball to Paul George on the left wing.

David West immediately set a screen, Leonard forced his way through, and chased down the opponent who was driving with the ball on his right hand.

Near the left elbow, Paul George, unable to shake off his defender, elegantly pulled back with a crossover dribble, then immediately gathered the ball, ignoring Leonard's long arms, and gracefully attempted a jump shot that missed.

After landing, Paul George struck a pose and, as he began to retreat on defense, turned his head and complained about the opponent's foul. On the other side of the court, Parker quickly advanced along the left sideline and had already rushed into the three-point line before his opponent could match up with him.

Parker accelerated down the wing, spinning around Watson who was retreating on defense, and instantly shook off the defender to the lower left of the basket. The Frenchman easily made a layup!
"Oh!!"

Cheers immediately filled the arena; Parker's fast breaks and pull-up jumpers looked more reliable in the new season.

The Pacers' next attack was initiated by Paul George on the wing. Using the same tactic, George, who switched to his left hand to place the ball, still couldn't shake off Leonard.

But after noticing his teammates' split positioning, Paul George found David West in the left elbow area in time, received the ball and decisively jumped to shoot, easily helping the Pacers complete their response.

When the Spurs attacked again, George Hill initiated the play with a pick-and-roll with Duncan, using a similar tactic, but the difference was that the shot was finished by a guard.

As the game progressed, many fans noticed that the two teams seemed to be "mirror image" of each other, with their ball movement being remarkably similar under numerous pick-and-rolls.
As the score fluctuated, Van Gundy, the ESPN commentator, began his routine analysis:

"I like the Spurs' backcourt. The stats don't lie. Guards have an advantage over forwards when it comes to setting pick-and-rolls."

“Parker and Hill can take turns challenging the Pacers’ defense, which is somewhat similar to the effect of the Knicks’ Lee and Kyrie Irving pairing this season.”

"The Pacers are having some trouble; they're currently relying too much on their forwards' offense on the wings."

"."

When the Spurs visited New York last month, their tactical system was not yet clear, but as the regular season progressed, more and more commentators found that Popovich seemed to be "copying and pasting".

Professionals haven't offered any opinion on this. In recent years, driven by New York basketball, almost all teams have been increasing their pick-and-roll numbers, and the proportion of three-pointers with the ball has also increased significantly.

Like New York fans, Mike Brin doesn't like being imitated. Although he doesn't shout "copycat" like the New York fans do during commentary, he still jokingly remarked when his partner explained something:
"It is indeed a familiar tactical system, but while both are driven by guards, Lee and Kelly are clearly 'upgraded versions'."

Van Gundy's laughter stopped Mike Brin in his tracks, and as a neutral commentator, he added one last thing:
"Of course, George Hill is better than Kyrie Irving in terms of playmaking, and the young player needs more games to continue honing his basketball skills."

Stephenson was invisible in the first quarter, and Paul George, who took over more ball possession, suddenly found that the opponent was stronger than expected, especially Duncan's help defense in the pit, which made him very present on the court.

Hibbert was the standout performer, with his jump shots in the left and right elbow areas and his strong drives to the basket helping the team respond.

However, during the rotation phase, Ginobili and Diaw's outstanding performances completely overwhelmed their opponents.

At 22:28, after the first quarter ended, the AT&T Center erupted again. Both teams were in first place, but the Spurs were clearly stronger.

On the bench, Patty Mills and Marco Belinelli perked up after being called upon by the old man. Popovich didn't care about the "copy and paste" instructions and continued to give directions with his whiteboard:

"I believe you won't be affected by those bullshit reports. Let's pass the ball around more and win this game in one fell swoop!"

"."

Paul George was in excellent form for the Pacers, shooting 6-for-9 from the field, 2-for-2 from three-point range, and 3-for-3 from the free-throw line in the first half, scoring 17 points efficiently.

Despite their excellent performance, the team failed to narrow the gap, and the Spurs' barrage of three-pointers nearly ended the game.

With the score at 48-62, Paul George's smile faded as he walked towards the player tunnel. Tonight, he seemed to be out of the spotlight, as the opponent's strength was completely different from what he had anticipated.

David West seemed to sense what the young man was thinking, and after returning to the locker room, he patted George on the shoulder to comfort him:

"Read less of those bullshit reports. He led his team to the Finals eight times. If his opponent hadn't been Lee, Duncan would have won at least three championships."

"We played well, but everyone's shooting was off in the first half."

"Fortunately, Duncan won't have a chance to be nominated for MVP, so don't worry about the old guy competing with you for the trophy."

Upon hearing his teammates' teasing, Paul George immediately retorted with a smile, instantly dispelling the tense atmosphere in the locker room, except for Stephenson, who was unhappy.

The champion swingman had wanted to show off against his former team, but was instead dominated by Harden. This greatly displeased the young man, and Stephenson, increasingly angry, stood up, puffed out his beard, and glared, encouraging him:
"Only 14 points! Listen to us, guys, we just need four rounds to turn things around!"

Coach Vogel noticed the players were full of energy during halftime but didn't give them much advice. After watching for a few minutes at the start of the second half, he shook his head helplessly.

Clearly, this wasn't a night for the Pacers. The Spurs' Parker hit consecutive three-pointers, and the clash between the top teams is likely over.

-

On Thursday, December 19th, the Spurs played their last away game before Christmas, facing the Warriors, whose form has been inconsistent.

Stephen Curry's performance has become increasingly controversial recently, mainly because the young player has completely let himself go and his attempts from beyond the three-point line have steadily increased.

Tonight's game was the same; no matter how much the commentators criticized him, Curry stuck to his offensive choices.

With 29 seconds left in the game, the score was 102-102. The Spurs, who had rested Duncan, almost suffered a comeback. The Warriors then exploded in the second half.

Controlling the offensive clock until the very end, Parker drove to the basket but was interfered with by Draymond Green's help defense, and the ball bounced off the rim. Diaw accurately anticipated this and poked the ball into the basket immediately.

A collective sigh erupted at Oracle Arena. A 50-50 game ended in defeat, and Warriors fans, who had witnessed similar games before, prematurely declared their team's loss.

Just as everyone expected, with 6 seconds left, Stephen Curry's step-back three-pointer bounced off the rim, and the young man immediately covered his head, looking dejectedly at his celebrating opponent.

Although Mark Jackson was unhappy, he shook hands with Popovich with a bright smile after the game.

"Nine straight wins! Congratulations! The Spurs were definitely the better team tonight."

Having won four consecutive away games, the old man, in high spirits, raised his eyebrows and joked:

"I thought we were playing the Knicks for a moment. Fortunately, Curry didn't explode from beyond the arc tonight. Hopefully, there won't be any reports making fun of us tomorrow."

The Warriors have also been dubbed "copycats" by the New York media. With their starting lineup gradually losing its vitality, Knicks fans are increasingly disliking the imitators in the league.

The two head coaches praised each other, but Curry, who attended the press conference, was once again questioned by the sports media. Even reporters in the Bay Area began to waver, saying that the young man's playing style seemed too aggressive.

28中12，三分线外16中6，没有罚球，库里砍下30分2篮板15助攻4抢断5失误的大号两双！
"Can you talk about your shot selection in the final moments? With six seconds left, a three-pointer might not be the best option."

When a Yahoo Sports reporter asked a question, Curry seemed a little unhappy. He felt that if other players had put up those numbers, there wouldn't have been so much post-game criticism.
"I felt fine. I shook off the defender and got a good shot. The jump shot felt great, but unfortunately the ball didn't go in."

"This is our tactic. There is no help defense or double-team. My teammates trust me. If I encounter a similar situation again, I will still take the shot without hesitation."

Noticing a reporter raise their hand, Curry immediately frowned and added:
"As the team leader, I don't think there's anything wrong with this shot selection. In fact, many great game-winning shots come from three-pointers, and Lee proved that to us a long time ago."

The audience fell silent. Many sports reporters exchanged glances, noticing the smiles in each other's eyes. Finally, a Sports Illustrated reporter succinctly expressed what everyone was thinking:
"Stephen, that's different!"

“We admire your confidence, but Lee is special. One of the reasons Lee is called ‘God-Lee’ is that he has never missed a game-winning shot.”

"If you can't break through, maybe you should shoot closer to the basket."

They were all shooting three-pointers, but Li You had even more outrageous offensive choices in his career. Curry felt increasingly frustrated as he listened to everyone's "guidance," thinking that these guys were all "double-standard"!
-

On Saturday, December 21st, in their last game before Christmas, the Spurs' winning streak was ended at home.

After 2 hours and 20 minutes, the Thunder won this high-stakes matchup 113-109, thanks to Durant and Harden's steady free throws in the final moments.

With a record of 22 wins and 4 losses, the Thunder are still ranked second in the Western Conference, but their two young core players are confident that they will soon surpass their opponents and take the top spot in the league.

Even after the game ended, the AT&T Center was still noisy, with some San Antonio fans cursing the referees and the "Thunder three referees," saying that the opponent had made 48 free throws tonight and that they couldn't win the game.
At the post-game press conference, Durant, wearing a pink cap, and Harden, wearing two layers of hoodies, were all smiles.

As usual, the two boasted, with Durant, who had forgotten his former teammate, once again praising his partner in front of reporters:

"Sports Illustrated should update its rankings of current players. James Harden's name should be in the top 10. I swear, he's an MVP-caliber player, a natural-born floor general!"

"Go look at his pick-and-roll; a lot of his teammates are benefiting. Asik had another double-double tonight. This guy is making everyone better and better."

Compared to Westbrook, Harden is indeed a better fit as the starting point guard. He can also change the formation by breaking through defenses, and the Beard perfectly fits the definition of a modern combo guard.

Harden was all smiles at his partner's boasting, but the young man quickly composed himself when asked a question by an ESPN reporter:

"As the regular season progresses, many fans are questioning your playing style. Has the Thunder received more preferential treatment from the referees regarding free throws?"

"Dude, free throws are also an efficient way to score!"

A somewhat annoyed Harden immediately responded, but Durant, noticing his partner's displeasure, reached out to stop him, then straightened the microphone and replied seriously:

"Just don't foul us! It's that simple. Don't foul us, and we won't get free throws."

"If you question how the Thunder won, you can edit out the foul plays. I don't mind if the opponent mails the videotape to the league."

-

On Monday, December 23, the Heat played their last game before Christmas at home.

With Dwyane Wade, Udonis Haslem, James Jones, and Joel Anthony all sidelined due to injury, the Hawks capitalized on the opportunity to force overtime.

Ultimately, thanks to free throws from Michael Beasley and Chris Anderson, the Heat narrowly won the game, bringing their record to 21 wins and 6 losses, maintaining their second-place position in the Eastern Conference.

Bosh was in a bad mood after not getting many opportunities during the game, and the split in the locker room created a strange atmosphere for the whole team.

Despite the continued wins, everyone fell silent. After Wade's knee injury recurred, conflicts between the coaching staff and the players also erupted.

James has called for fewer training sessions within the team on more than one occasion, but Haslem and others have firmly opposed it and have always stood with Pat Riley. As a result, not only have the number of training sessions not decreased, but the rotations have become shorter and shorter.

"LeBron!"

Many fans are still chanting the name of the "Chosen One." After a winning streak, more and more Miami fans hope that James will renew his contract with the team.

After signing a few autographs, James tossed his headband to the fans in the back row, waved briefly, and then quickly left.

28中16，三分线外9中4，罚球6中2，38分8篮板6助攻2抢断2失误，不论球评人如何质疑，拿到全场最高分的天选之子依旧是球迷的心头好。

During a sideline interview, Bosh deliberately avoided questions about the locker room, but when asked about future reinforcement plans, the once-mighty star instinctively shook his head, put his hands on his hips, and muttered:

"I don't know. In my opinion, our lineup is excellent, and Ramon is getting better and better at the point guard position."

"After several seasons, we don't deliberately pursue wins and losses in the regular season. I think it's more important to play for each other and trust each other like family."

"."

Wade, who had returned to the locker room early, sat in his seat watching James chatting and laughing with James Jones and others. He had mixed feelings. As the original leader, he didn't want to leave Miami.
"Bro, I'll talk to Riley about the training plan before Christmas."

"That's not the point. 46 minutes. I'm still playing power forward tonight."

James shook his head in response, and soon the two began to express their opinions again. When Haslem also joined the conversation, Michael Beasley, who witnessed this scene, sighed with little interest.

"Leaf Master" had no interest in participating in this debate. After being traded repeatedly, he had lost his desire for the championship. Looking at the silent Bosh, Beasley suddenly said:
"Hey buddy, maybe we should light one up..."

(End of this chapter)