NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 877 The Inexplicable "Falling Behind" (Chapter without Main Character)

On Thursday, February 27, 2014, after the All-Star Weekend, the Pacers, who had made a major trade, continued their winning streak!

The trade of Danny Granger to the Cavaliers for Evan Turner has greatly angered many Indiana fans.

Many people believe that the team should not trade its captain, even if the veteran's physical condition is not what it used to be, it should be done with dignity. After all, the Pacers have an excellent legacy, and the "one man, one city" award should be given to loyal players.

Unfortunately, no matter how much they spoke out, the Pacers remained silent. When asked about the trade, team general manager Larry Bird simply responded calmly:

“We all remember Danny’s contributions; he was an outstanding leader.”

Danny Granger, plagued by injuries, was completely replaced by younger players this season. In the new tactical system, the veteran could not find his place and was eventually put on the trading block without much fanfare.

Selling out team captains is very common in the NBA. Cutting losses in time when a player's physical condition declines is a routine operation.

The Thunder traded Russell Westbrook due to injury. The young man recovered from his injury and played a few games after joining the Rockets, but soon went out of action again.

The new additions could only cheer on the bench in suits, and the Rockets fell behind early. But judging from the situation this season, keeping James Harden was clearly the right choice, and the Thunder are still a championship contender.

Unlike the Rockets, the Pacers seemed unaffected by the trade. Apart from a back-to-back road loss to the Timberwolves, Paul George led the team to a perfect 4-1 record in February.

Paul George's outstanding performance has made more onlookers believe what happened at All-Star Weekend, and he is still upset about losing the All-Star MVP award.

After defeating the Bucks at home, the young man continued his sarcastic remarks at the press conference:

"Some people get special treatment, and I don't want to enjoy privileges in basketball. That's why I chose number 24. You know, I've always been a Kobe fan, and basketball should be pure."

"."

With Li You's support, Kyrie Irving scored 31 points on 14-of-17 shooting in the All-Star Game, along with 10 assists.

With a score of 158-149, the Eastern Conference All-Stars secured another victory, and the youngsters brought the All-Star MVP trophy back to New York.

It was right after the game that Paul George went from being a fan to a hater. The team's top record in the Eastern Conference made him quite arrogant, and the upcoming max contract gave him even more confidence.

After blasting the locker room on social media and gaining support from Indiana fans, Paul George has become even more unrestrained. Local fans love star players like him, and this year the Pacers are determined to avenge Miller!
Two weeks after All-Star Weekend, the sports media continues their relentless gossip, and Paul George is enjoying the spotlight.

After suddenly becoming a die-hard Kobe Bryant fan, the young man also reaped considerable benefits, with his Twitter followers skyrocketing. This proves that not every sports fan likes the GOAT!

-

On Sunday, March 2nd, the Pacers finished their back-to-back game against the Jazz at home, and the winning streak made fans forget about Danny Granger who was traded.

Despite the hard-fought 91-94 victory, Paul George was in high spirits after the game. At the press conference, when asked about his inefficient 22-point performance (6-for-16 shooting), the young man responded casually:

"Basketball statistics are deceptive. Even though I had a cold shooting night, I was still able to help the team on the defensive end."

"This is how I play basketball, I play both offense and defense, and I can play from position 1 to position 5!"

His confident statement won over the sports media present, and soon an ESPN reporter asked him about the small forward's pure ability:

"Pau, this season LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony both scored 60+ against the Bobcats."

"The Pacers will be playing the Bobcats on the road on Wednesday. Will you be commenting on that game?"

Being ranked fourth is clearly not what Paul George is aiming for. Upon hearing about the 60+ statistic, the young man didn't immediately respond, but instead looked puzzled and asked curiously:

"How's the Bobcats doing? You know, I haven't been paying much attention to their later opponents."

"27 wins and 32 losses!"

Soon, reporters in the audience started jeering, and Paul George smiled when he heard the answer, shrugged, and continued to act cool:
"The answer is obvious. The Bobcats' defense has some issues. Scoring 60 points is not a difficult task for me. You can look forward to Wednesday's game."

Upon hearing the answer they wanted, the reporters in the audience were immediately delighted; the league needs young players like this!
With the team performing well, Paul George, who has become the absolute core player, is no longer demanding of himself. Tuesday's opponent is the Warriors, but the young man doesn't take it seriously.

As a true leader, Paul George naturally had to take the lead. When the Pacers went to the strip club that night, almost the entire team showed up. As the top team in the East, they deserved to enjoy themselves!
The team's new signing, Evan Turner, initially appeared embarrassed, but as the girls on stage became increasingly scantily clad, and under the influence of alcohol, the young man quickly let loose.

Paul George was ecstatic from his teammates' praise and the girls' boasts, while the big guy Roy Hibbert was also getting hot from the alcohol. The two clinked glasses and shouted incessantly, and when they came to the dance floor together, the atmosphere became even more heated.

To the rhythmic music, Paul George and Roy Hibbert swayed their bodies freely and soon encountered a hot and charming female fan.

"That's cool! I've always been a Pacers fan! You're even more handsome on TV than you are on TV!"

Dixie, a dancer from the atmosphere group, swung her large ball and extended an invitation. The girl twisted her flexible waist and weaved between Paul George and Roy Hibbert. The frequent physical contact between the three made the atmosphere more and more ambiguous.

Paul George, with his small hands, wanted to improve his ball-handling skills. Facing a pair of large balls, after twisting and turning a few times, he simply stuffed a wad of cash into his hand, while simultaneously boasting:
Want to experience the power of an MVP?

The bright green dollar made Dixie's curly hair fly, and after giggling in response, she didn't forget to continue flirting with Roy Hibbert. Under the influence of alcohol, the big man also wanted to practice his back-to-the-basket technique.

"A 7-foot-2-inch height can send you flying to heaven!"

Roy Hibbert joked while simultaneously slipping a US dollar into Dixie's arms, causing Dixie to snuggle close.

After a lively dance session, the Pacers' two key players suddenly realized a problem: who would play with this girl tonight? They both wanted to practice extra!
Back at their booth, everyone quickly noticed that Paul George and Roy Hibbert were having a bit of a verbal altercation, with the young woman next to them constantly stirring things up, clearly enjoying being fawned over by the NBA star.

In the end, it was Lance Stephenson who came up with the solution. The champion swingman had seen it all before. He raised his glass to the two men, chuckled, and then exclaimed:
"Dude, what's there to argue about!"

"I think this beautiful lady won't refuse to spend a wonderful evening with us!"

Dixie, who had already exposed her breasts, rolled her eyes at the champion swingman and started to chime in with a coquettish smile. But after Stephenson threw out several rolls of dollars, the girl quickly took the money and immediately extended an invitation with a flirtatious look in her eyes.

Seeing that Stephenson was also going to have extra practice, Paul George and Roy Hibbert finally decided to unite against him, and amidst the teasing of the crowd, they left with the hot Dixie.

Seeing this, the champion swingman didn't mind at all, and continued to laugh and joke with everyone. Stephenson couldn't wait for the two to be exhausted from training, so that he could show off when facing an easy opponent later!
-

On Tuesday, March 4th, the Pacers hosted the Warriors at home. Before the game started, the atmosphere in the locker room was a bit strange.

Since Paul George and Roy Hibbert practiced together on Sunday, the two have been at odds. First, George refused to pass the ball during practice, then they had a verbal altercation, and now they are ignoring each other.

David West, a veteran in the locker room, was baffled. The team was still on the rise, and 60 wins shouldn't be a problem. He didn't want any changes at the end of the season.

However, getting the two back together is proving difficult. Stephenson, the "troublemaker," has fully utilized his experience in conflict, taking turns trying to persuade them, which only makes their tempers flare up more and more.

This morning, David West couldn't take it anymore and the veteran called a closed-door meeting in the locker room to try to clarify the conflict.

To everyone's surprise, Paul George and Roy Hibbert got into a heated argument over who should post up first.
When Luis Scola heard this explosive news, he was speechless for a long time. Evan Turner and the others didn't know what to say either. Was this really that important?
In the end, Stephenson demonstrated his leadership qualities, the champion swingman confidently promising:
"Guys, we have to play for each other. Next time, I promise there will be even hotter girls!"

Although the matter was brought up, a rift still appeared between the two. What made things even more embarrassing for Roy Hibbert was that his fiancée seemed to be having a close relationship with Paul George.

In the game against the Warriors that night, Hibbert was in poor form in the first half and repeatedly passed the ball to Draymond Green when he switched onto him.

现场的步行者队球迷看得莫名其妙，绝对优势点竟然毫无进攻欲望，半场4中1，怒砍2分2篮板1盖帽1失误。

Although Paul George rallied in the final moments of the fourth quarter, getting several free throws, Klay Thompson was on fire, responding repeatedly, and the Warriors ultimately held onto their lead. The Pacers' winning streak ended 98-95, and a collective sigh rippled through the arena.

In the fourth quarter, Klay Thompson went 6-for-10 from the field, 2-for-3 from three-point range, and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, scoring a clutch 16 points in the quarter and becoming the Warriors' true star player in this game!

After winning this game, the Warriors' record improved to 36 wins and 24 losses. If they can maintain this momentum, they will be able to enter the playoffs with ease.

Thompson and Curry, who attended the press conference, were both very happy, as the victory over the top-ranked Pacers in the East gave the young players a great boost.

When Yahoo Sports asked about the team's goals, the usually low-key Thompson smiled and proactively responded:
"I want to compete against Lee on a stage like the finals. I'm a huge fan of Lee, and this has been my dream since I was very young!"

"You know, my father is a staunch supporter of the Lakers. We even had a few arguments when we were kids. Lee will be retiring in two more seasons, and I will continue to work hard towards that goal."

Curry, standing to the side, laughed along with the crowd below, then looked at his partner and joked about himself:
"Yee! We have the same experience. When my father played in Charlotte and Toronto, I often went to watch games, but back then I only supported the Knicks."

"After experiencing the All-Star Weekend, I also want to reach the Finals. I think that would be a completely different feeling, and the feeling of a dream coming true must be wonderful!"

No one would laugh at young people chasing their dreams, and of course, the main reason is that the media reporters don't have a high opinion of this young Warriors team.

While Curry isn't inefficient, he can't display the same outrageous efficiency as Li You, and people aren't optimistic about the ceiling of this kind of shooter.

In the eyes of most professionals, Kevin Durant has already begun to realize his potential, and the Thunder will likely dominate the Western Conference in the next few years.

-

On Wednesday, March 5th, the "Small Forward Battle" was held in Charlotte as scheduled. The Bobcats were all holding their breath, as they had shed their bottom-feeder status this season and their opponents had no right to look down on them!
Thanks to ESPN's promotion, this nationally televised game garnered even more attention, with fans eager to see if Paul George could also score 60+ points.

After the game started at 19 PM, the Time Warner Cable Arena gradually erupted in cheers, with over 15000 fans constantly exclaiming in surprise. No one expected the Pacers, the top team in the Eastern Conference, to perform so poorly.
A cycle of turnovers and missed shots continued, and from 7 minutes and 02 seconds onwards, the Pacers' score remained at 6 points.
By the end of the first quarter, head coach Frank Vogel was completely stunned. He roared angrily, and everyone seemed to be sleepwalking. He had the illusion that his players had all bet on the game!

At 8:28, the highly anticipated "small forward battle" ended with the first quarter's outcome decided.

Paul George, who received special attention from the opponent, went 0-for-5 and scored zero points. When the team needed him most, the young core chose to keep missing shots.

Such a poor performance is bound to lower the critics' impression of him. Without a doubt, after tonight's game, Paul George will be out of the MVP "race".

"Unbelievable! I don't know what's been going on with the Pacers lately, but their performance doesn't look like that of a championship team."

Jeff Van Gundy had high expectations before the game, but after the first quarter, the championship coach was dumbfounded and didn't say a word for two minutes. He simply didn't know what to say, so he just went ahead and said:

"An MVP wouldn't perform like this! I know it's just a regular season game, but can you imagine Lee leading his team to 8 points on a nationally televised game?"

"As MVP, you have to meet the expectations of the fans. Paul George still has a lot to learn. His pure basketball style now looks like a joke."

Mike Breen also felt that Paul George's MVP chances were completely over, as he had lost all his goodwill in the first quarter of tonight.

When a player performs well, commentators might forget about the young man's dirty secret of paying hush money to a stripper, but if his performance falls short of expectations, the media will definitely bring up the old story again.

"Perhaps we can focus on the post-match interviews; the tight schedule may have caused injuries to the young players."

Hearing his partner's excuse, Van Gundy didn't bother to respond. The league was promoting young players, but unfortunately, Paul George failed to live up to expectations.

In this highly anticipated game, not only did Paul George underperform, but Roy Hibbert also slumped, his big man playing so softly it was unbearable to watch, and he couldn't recover in the second half.

As the buzzing sound rang out, the "Small Forward Battle" officially came to an end, with the Bobcats winning 87-109, successfully proving their defense!

出场34分钟，9中0，三分线外4中0，罚球2中2，保罗-乔治怒砍2分7篮板1助攻1盖帽5失误。

The entire arena was filled with the excited laughter of the fans. At this moment, the Charlotte spectators finally felt the joy of the New York fans. Watching the stars underperform was much more interesting than scoring high points!

-

On Friday, March 14, after a five-game losing streak, Paul George finally led his team to end the losing streak against his idol.

After the game ended with a score of 101-94, Paul George did not go to the player tunnel after the game, but instead smiled and hugged his opponents.

"shush"

Boos filled the arena, and Philadelphia fans were looking for some entertainment, but Kobe and Thaddeus Young played their own game, missing crucial shots and completely dampening the enthusiasm of the fans.

With a record of 24 wins and 40 losses, the 76ers are essentially out of playoff contention, and fans no longer need to worry about suffering another humiliation at the hands of New York.
Facing fans he hadn't seen for many years, Kobe still managed a smile and patted the young man on the shoulder in a friendly gesture of encouragement:

"Don't worry about what others think! Just be yourself. Every team experiences ups and downs at the end of the season. Keep training hard and you can get through this."

The enigmatic Paul George was deeply moved by the encouragement. Everyone else was just watching him make a fool of himself, but Kobe genuinely offered his support. A pang of guilt welled up in the young man's heart; he shouldn't have spoken ill of the Mamba.

"I'll do it!"

The young man responded and then pulled his idol for a photo. Both men smiled brightly for the camera, and Paul George even added a final shout:
"Kobe is the kind of role model that young players should learn from."

"Don't bring your circus habits to Philadelphia! Clowns aren't welcome here!"

Thaddeus Young taunted him loudly from behind, which angered Paul George so much that he immediately charged forward, but was quickly grabbed by the grinning Stephenson, who even tried to calm him down:
"Give me some face, Bro. I swear, Yang isn't targeting you. We just don't like Kobe."

Mamba had initially intended to let things go, but after hearing these words, he was enraged and ignored the cameras, prompting Kobe to launch an attack.

It's rare to see a boxing match continue after the game, and Philadelphia fans were screaming wildly until security had to intervene to separate the crowd.

Even as his teammates pulled him away, Stephenson didn't forget to make his presence felt, shouting loudly:
"I've won championships too! Show some respect!"

-

On Wednesday, March 19, the Pacers secured their third consecutive win thanks to the poor performances of the 76ers and Pistons, but suffered another blow when they visited New York that night.

Although Lee Yu was absent due to family matters, he still dominated his opponent throughout the match.

Late in the first quarter, substitute Ron Artest elbowed Paul George to the ground while battling for a rebound, and was ejected from the game in 18 seconds.
Stephenson, who was eager to show off a while ago, has become invisible since arriving in New York. The young players know the true nature of the Knicks' locker room culture, while the veterans have been boxing for over 10 years.

The Pacers only scored 11 points in the first quarter and ultimately lost 78-136, suffering a humiliating 58-point defeat to the top team in the East.

保罗-乔治没能上演“王者归来”的戏码，顶着纽约球迷的疯狂叫骂，全场18中2，三分线外9中1，罚球6中3，怒砍8分8篮板2助攻4失误
Although Kyrie Irving's performance did not meet fans' expectations, his double-double of 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting was still respectable.

During Kyrie Irving's interview with MSG, Jimmy Butler and others behind him were shouting loudly, making the atmosphere even more joyful.

"To be honest, I didn't really care about the AMVP award, but in the locker room, Uncle Lee thought Knicks fans would love the gift, so I brought the trophy back to New York."

Kyrie Irving boasted and swaggered, confidently exaggerating again when discussing his opponent's poor performance tonight:

"The regular season isn't over yet, and we'll get 60 wins. First in the East? We've never taken an opponent like that seriously!"

"We hope Ray can end his career with a three-peat; that would be the best gift we could give him."

(End of this chapter)