NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 878 "The Wild West" (Chapter without a main character)
On Saturday, April 19, 2014, the NBA playoffs officially kicked off. Unlike previous years, the competition for playoff spots was exceptionally fierce this year.

While many teams in the Eastern Conference are "lying down," the Western Conference is experiencing a frenzied infighting.

It's undeniably crazy to need around 50 wins to secure a playoff spot, which led to everyone's attention turning to this aspect towards the end of the season.

The Western Conference standings weren't finalized until the last regular season game on Wednesday, and after seeing the results, many commentators took to social media to exclaim:
"The era of the West being stronger than the East has arrived!"

The four teams in the upper half of the Western Conference are:

The Spurs with 63 wins, the Thunder with 61 wins, the Clippers with 58 wins, and the Lakers with 55 wins.
The four teams in the lower half of the bracket are:

The Trail Blazers with 53 wins, the Warriors with 51 wins, the Grizzlies with 50 wins, and the Rockets with 49 wins.

The exaggerated record shocked the general public, especially fans across the ocean who supported the Rockets. After Yao Ming recovered from his injury at the end of the season, the team's record fluctuated around 8th place.

The Suns won 48 games and almost overtook the Rockets. In such a competitive environment, it is already a success that Yao Ming was able to lead the team to a playoff spot on his own.

The fierce competition has also led some commentators to reflect on the Knicks' apparent decline, as they seem to have achieved 60 wins at the end of the season thanks to their opponents' poor performances.

The Eastern Conference first seed has fallen to third in the league, and with Kevin Durant winning the scoring title with an outstanding average of 32.0 points per game, commentators are forced to draw a conclusion:
"Li, at 36, has finally started to decline!"

The generational shift is perfectly normal. Considering that Li You will officially retire in two years, some commentators breathed a sigh of relief after looking at the data. The GOAT is still human and is affected by time.

Last season he became the all-time leading scorer in the regular season, and this season he has scored over 4 points in his career. Every game Li You plays sets a new record.

Under such circumstances, professional commentators and most casual observers alike are eagerly anticipating just how outrageous Li You's record will be when he retires in 2016!
This year, Li You averaged only 28.986 points per game, with a total of 2116 points in 73 games, a "significant" decline compared to other young players.

Even the "leftover" trophies have been won by young players, and many people are starting to look forward to the Thunder's "revenge". Durant has once again gotten a "script" similar to 98 this season.

At 18:30 PM, an hour before the game started, enthusiastic Oklahoma City fans were already cheering for their home team outside Chesapeake Energy Arena.

In the ESPN broadcast, Thunder fans were exceptionally enthusiastic. Although they didn't secure the top seed in the Western Conference, their 61-win record was enough to prove that the management's choice was correct.

There were also many fans holding up posters of Durant and Harden; nobody missed Russell Westbrook anymore.

Subconsciously, everyone felt that the former core player was useless in the Finals, after all, the impression of that game was too deep, and no one expected Westbrook and Li You to face off again.

Durant, who arrived at the arena early to warm up, was undoubtedly the star of the night. The young man is reaching the peak of his career, with an increase in shot attempts and only a slight decrease in efficiency, maintaining a 50.3% field goal percentage.
Although he failed to make it into the 180 Club again, Durant proved with his outstanding performance that his MVP trophy was well-deserved!

No one was paying attention to the Grizzlies players; the cameras were mostly focused on Durant. The young man, once again in the spotlight, was very pleased. If nothing unexpected happens, he will win his second MVP trophy in a few days.

The dazzling honors have also made basketball commentators forget about Durant's previous mockery of Perkins as "a nobody". Past criticisms have been seen as "true feelings", and an MVP should have some personality!
To show his focus, Durant did not give any interviews before the game. When he returned to the locker room, the Thunder staff greeted the young man warmly.

With no other sports leagues competing in the small city, the Thunder were Oklahoma City's only team, and Durant, with his close ties to the community, once again won a major honor, becoming a city hero.

After entering the locker room, Durant patted the somewhat nervous Asik on the shoulder. Achieving 60+ wins in his first season with the team was completely beyond his expectations.

"Don't be nervous, Bro. We're a 61-win team. The ones who should be nervous are our opponents tonight."

"Rebounding is very important. Neither Gasol nor Randolph will give up the rebounds easily. Just like the coach said, we have to fight hard tonight!"

As soon as Durant finished speaking, Jeff Green yelled and clapped for himself repeatedly. The Grizzlies were clearly an opponent they didn't want to face; nobody on the team liked physical battles.

Sapo Soflosa has declined significantly this season, with some issues in his recent regular season games. However, Kevin Martin off the bench has been in excellent form, allowing the Thunder to respond consistently.

James Harden, who officially became the starting point guard, also exposed some problems this season, but the young players performed better and better as the season progressed.

Harden was a little envious of his partner's MVP award. As the Thunder's second core player, he also wanted to improve his image through outstanding performance in the playoffs and lay the groundwork for winning trophies later.

"More pick-and-rolls, this is our showtime, don't let the Oklahoma City fans down."

Harden gave his teammates a simple reminder, and the young man was very happy to receive a response. Coach Brooks' pre-game plan was for him to dictate the pace of the game, and the coaching staff paid special attention to him.

Everyone was reminding each other, and Jeff Green was clapping and shouting with great enthusiasm. He was indeed difficult to defend against the opponent's low-post offense, but as long as he stood outside the three-point line, the big black guy on the other side had a hard time dealing with him.

Veteran players Kevin Martin and Vince Carter formed a circle with the crowd in the player tunnel. After repeated reminders from the two, Carter finally shouted a word of advice:
"Protect our home ground, don't underestimate our opponents, and don't give them any chances!"

"."

As the home team players ran out of the tunnel and onto the court, Chesapeake Energy Arena erupted in a huge cheer. The stadium had turned into a sea of ​​blue, with almost everyone wearing blue cheering T-shirts.

Every time a player's name was called, the Oklahoma City fans cheered enthusiastically, and the excited shouts were even louder after Durant was introduced.

Rudy Gay was very envious of this scene. After compromising for the team's tactics, the young man became even more envious of Durant's achievements.

The electrifying atmosphere at the event also affected the two commentators in the ESPN commentary booth. Mike Brin felt a sense of déjà vu and couldn't help but exclaim on camera:
"This Thunder team reminds me of the Knicks' rise to power, 61 wins, an amazing record!"

"25-year-old Kevin Durant is so outstanding, his talent is more like a gift from God."

Durant's performance this season, focused solely on scoring, has been phenomenal. His catch-and-shoot after screens and his consecutive crossovers are simply unstoppable. He has also shown excellent defensive skills.

Jeff Van Gundy, who has been closely following the Western Conference, had to admit that the current situation is one of "West power and East weakness." Under these circumstances, leading his team to 61 wins is an impeccable achievement.

"I believe that more and more young players will emerge in the next few years! These people have been influenced by Lee since childhood and have grown up in the modern basketball environment."

"The environment is a very important factor because it determines a player's basketball habits."

"Perhaps many traditional coaches don't like this kind of player, but a new era has arrived, and Durant's success also represents the continuation of New York basketball culture, and loyalty still exists."

Unlike some well-known stars, Durant also has the highest honor, the "One Man, One City Award," which allows him to easily overshadow LeBron James, who plays "business basketball."

Many basketball commentators believe that Durant will lead the next era. When Li You retires, the young man will only be 27 years old, and he will have enough time to create his own "miracle" in Oklahoma City.

The two commentators went on a spiel to promote Durant's MVP nomination, while the Grizzlies were almost completely ignored.

At 19:30 p.m., as Asik jumped for possession, the roar at Chesapeake Energy Arena instantly intensified, with chants of "OKC" never ceasing.

Durant didn't keep the Oklahoma City fans waiting long. Using a screen, he moved to the left wing, received the ball, and immediately drove to the basket with his left hand. Carrying Rudy Gay to the left side of the court, Durant, who was actively engaging in contact, suddenly stopped, then took a large step back, instantly shaking off the defender, and easily scored 2 points with a mid-range jump shot.

"Oh!!"

Cheers echoed throughout the arena as ecstatic Oklahoma City fans settled into their seats. The defense repeatedly double-teamed Zachlan Dolph as he attempted to receive the ball in the low post, but the big man missed his jump shot, sending the entire arena into a frenzy once more.

Head coach Dave Joerger shouted loudly, reminding the players to get into position as soon as possible.

The Grizzlies, well-prepared, successfully limited their opponent's transition offense, but James Harden's pick-and-roll at the top of the key caused the Grizzlies' coaching staff to frown.

The big man's high-quality screen allowed Harden to get rid of Mike Conley's entanglement, and Marc Gasol's quick screen forced the opponent to the right wing.

When Conley came back to defend, Harden, who was holding the ball in his right hand, faked a drive and then suddenly dribbled behind his back. The moment he switched to his left hand, he immediately increased his speed and dribbled between his legs.

Harden quickly faked out his opponent's balance and then suddenly stepped back. Conley rushed to defend, but was a beat too slow and ended up falling on top of Harden.

The basketball swished through the net, and two players fell to the ground beyond the three-point line. The moment the referee blew the whistle, Chesapeake Energy Arena erupted in cheers.

"what!!"

Harden, who was sitting on the floor, sat up and yelled, then pounded his chest, showing his tough guy image.

On the Thunder's bench, veterans cheered happily, with Reggie Jackson almost throwing his towel away – this was the start everyone had been hoping for.

Harden's 3+1 play quickly activated the team. The Thunder's tactics were not complicated: screen for Durant, isolate on the wing, set screens for Harden, attack the opponent's big men, and find open teammates.

On the defensive end, Jeff Green also fought hard to box out, constantly harassing Randolph who was trying to attack in the low post, with the help of his teammates.

With 8 minutes and 01 second remaining in the first quarter, Harden quickly used a Euro step to dodge Courtney Lee's retreating defense during a transition offense, and then scored with a layup off the backboard with his left hand. The Grizzlies immediately called a timeout.

At 2:14, the Oklahoma City fans in the stadium went absolutely wild; their opponents were simply no match for them!
They missed all their open looks after drawing double teams, with only Mike Conley managing a layup for 2 points. The Grizzlies didn't look like a 50-win team in those few minutes.

"A fantastic performance! In my opinion, James Harden is still underestimated by many people."

"I wouldn't be surprised if Harden wins an MVP award in the future; his control of the game is becoming increasingly adept."

Van Gundy didn't hold back his praise, saying that there aren't many guards in the league who can execute pick-and-rolls well, and Harden is currently showing an outstanding playing style.

Completely different from the Thunder team that finished in the Finals, the growth of the young players is clearly visible, and even Mike Breen couldn't help but marvel:
"A new era may have arrived. Just as Li has always said, the future belongs to the young people!"

-

On Sunday, April 20th, ESPN's morning Sports Center program praised the Thunder's two stars, saying that the young team has shown a ferocious dominance.

88-115, Oklahoma City fans celebrated wildly after the game as the home team secured a winning start.

22中13，三分线外7中3，罚球6中4，杜兰特拿到全场最高的33分；
19中10，三分线外8中3，罚球7中7，詹姆斯-哈登贡献了30+10的两双数据。

Kevin Martin, coming off the bench, also had an outstanding performance, contributing 16 points efficiently, and the veteran did not disappoint the Oklahoma City fans.

In another Western Conference matchup, Chris Paul dominated Stephen Curry 99-113, and the Clippers successfully defended their home court.

Compared to the inexperienced Warriors players, the championship members JR Smith, Tayshaun Prince, Mario Chalmers, and Matt Barnes have shown consistent and outstanding performances.

Especially JR Smith, who started the game, impressed with his three-point shooting and fast breaks as a championship guard. He even contributed a few highlight-reel moments against Curry, which excited Los Angeles fans.

Despite rumors that the management wanted to change coaches, Chris Paul and others strongly opposed Rivers, the motivational coach, and the criticism of Denaghero as head coach gradually decreased.

Paul, who was squeezed out of the All-Star starting lineup by Curry and Harden, frankly admitted his "competitiveness" at the press conference:
"Our strategy is to attack Curry and render him ineffective on both ends of the court!"

"The team's locker room has a wealth of championship experience. We are well aware of the impact of an excellent three-point shooter like Curry, and we will not give him any easy scoring opportunities during the game."

When asked again about losing his All-Star starting position, Paul didn't forget to joke about his age:
“I’ll be 29 in a few days. I can’t maintain my excellent form like Lee did after I turned 32. In terms of age, I’m already an old player.”

"Curry is excellent, and it's not surprising that fans voted for him. Everyone likes players who play like Lee, and in some technical aspects, he is indeed better."

As a renowned star player from Li You's training camp, Paul certainly had the upper hand in his contest against Curry, his "imitator."

Shooting 5-for-16 from the field and 2-for-6 from three-point range, Curry only managed 12 points in Game 1 against targeted defense. Although he contributed 7 assists, he also committed 7 turnovers.
After just one game, Curry's popularity has started to decline, with social media filled with doubts, since Li You wouldn't perform so poorly in the playoffs.

Mark Jackson also faced criticism. No one cared about Bogut's injury; commentators saw the Warriors as having an "inside-outside" offense, failing to demonstrate their regular season strength.

Chinese fans across the ocean are more concerned about the Rockets' games. In the first round against the Spurs, many people are hoping that Westbrook and Yao Ming can pull off a "black eight miracle".

The CCTV broadcast team also arrived in San Antonio. Although Yao Ming, who will soon be 34 years old, still has two years left on his contract, he has stated more than once that his physical condition is declining year by year.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Yao Ming will retire from the NBA when his contract expires. Although he has never experienced the NBA Finals in his career, no one will question the success of the Eastern Giant.

From the moment he entered the NBA, Yao Ming aimed for the championship every year. Initially, he wasn't used to it, but after reading a lot of "winning news," he felt that his hometown media was still too conservative.
When they arrived at the arena to warm up in the afternoon, Yao Ming was not the only star; Russell Westbrook, who had recovered from injury, received more attention.

After joining the Rockets, Westbrook entered a new phase of his career. The fans across the ocean were incredibly enthusiastic, which deeply moved the young man.

Jeremy Lin isn't as popular as Russell Westbrook. Westbrook's explosive playing style naturally attracts attention, but Zhang Weiping, that old man, occasionally offers some disappointing opinions.

After a brief pre-match interview, Yu Jia tried to change the subject, but the old man seized the opportunity to make another sarcastic remark:
"The Spurs' 63-win record is truly remarkable! But the Rockets also have a chance. If they really get into a half-court offense, the opponent won't be able to stop Yao Ming."

"This game depends on how Westbrook controls the pace. If he gets carried away and plays recklessly like his idol Kobe, then it's hard to say."

"Point guards need to watch more of Li You's videos. I've talked to McHale; Westbrook needs to change his playing style. It's not too late for young players to learn."

Watching Zhang Weiping cheerfully spout off, Yu Jia was speechless and could only silently complain in his heart:

"The Rockets don't have that many chances."

(End of this chapter)