NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 879 The True Eastern Dividend (No main character chapter)

On Monday, April 28, 2013, during TNT's pre-game promotional program, the four members of the team reached a rare consensus on camera:

"The Eastern Conference playoffs are really boring."

Compared to the "wild" Western Conference, the teams here are extremely polarized, with teams in the upper half having a strong dominance, while teams in the lower half don't even have much playoff experience.

Before each program begins, the director reminds viewers about the team's performance, explaining that it's not that the games were bad, but rather that the teams in the lower bracket were simply not strong enough.

Continuing to showcase the current progress of the series, the four also made predictions for tonight's match:
The Knicks, with 60 wins, are currently up 4-0 against the Bobcats, who have 41 wins. The defending champions have easily advanced to the semifinals.

The 57-win Heat are up 3-0 against the 43-win Wizards. If nothing unexpected happens, the "Big Three" will sweep their opponents after tonight's broadcast.

The 55-win Raptors faced the 44-win Nets. After losing their home court, the Nets lost their match point and are now down 1-3. Carmelo Anthony will most likely be eliminated in the first round.

The Pacers, with 54 wins, lead the series 3-1 against the Bulls, who have 48 wins. Derrick Rose is still recovering from injury, while Paul George is in better form and easily helped the team secure the match point.

The significant gap in strength resulted in low viewership for the games, a stark contrast to the intense competition in the Western Conference, where the Eastern Conference was mostly one-sided.

"I'm happy for Paul Pierce; he's earned the respect of young players on the Wizards!"

"Compared to my little brother Kobe, Pierce obviously knows better how to lead a team, and I believe he will re-sign with the Wizards."

As usual, O'Neal would seize any opportunity to make sarcastic remarks about the Mamba. During the regular season, the 76ers' "boxing match" was still a source of amusement for the old Shaq.
Upon hearing this familiar viewpoint, Charles Barkley had to turn around and remind him:
"Respect cannot be converted into victory. The fact is that after signing Pierce, the Wizards will not be a championship contender for the next few years."

“I respect Pierce, but given the current state of the league, veterans cannot raise the ceiling for a team.”

The Celtics' experience made many commentators realize that Pierce alone could hardly carry the team, while the infighting among the aging Big Three made more people understand that head coach Rivers was simply unable to control the locker room.

Both players are currently in a career slump, and Pierce doesn't have many options even if he wants to team up with a veteran. The veteran is destined to never win a championship ring.

"Why not give the young man some time? Bradley Beal has played quite well in the series. Don't forget that the rookie's matchup is Dwyane Wade!"

Kenny Smith, refuting his teammate's suggestion, continued to praise the young Wizards:
"I believe that the young players who lack playoff experience will soon be able to make a comeback. Failure is not a problem. This team has already shown great potential."

It sounds great, but after watching the game, it's not hard to see that James locked down Paul Pierce and Wade also dominated the rookie.

Chris Bosh, one of the Big Three, had a slightly less impressive performance. In the battles against the opposing big men, the "washed-up Dragon King" once again showed signs of having a cold shooting touch.

But Drew Gooden was outplayed in the first half of the game. The Chosen One knew his former teammates well, and the Heat won three games in a row by relying solely on pick-and-rolls and fast breaks.

"I think the semifinals will be the real test for the Heat. The frontcourt duo of David Lee and Tristan Thompson has been outstanding this season!"

"The Raptors' rebounding performance was a pleasant surprise, and Valanciunas on the bench is also more adapted to the current pace of the game compared to last season."

"Given Joel Anthony's injury, the Heat's rebounding is likely to be a major problem."

Ernie Johnson has high hopes for the Raptors. Although most of the players are playoff rookies, team leader David Lee is a player with a wealth of championship experience.

Although this young team is likely to be eliminated in the semifinals, everyone hopes to see the Raptors give the Big Three some trouble.

"The locker room is the biggest problem; the Heat are on the verge of falling apart."

“I don’t like LeBron James’ ‘Decision’, which is why he lost the MVP race to Durant. Nobody will vote for a softie who avoids challenges.”

Charles Barkley, as always, continues to criticize and belittle the "Chosen One," making it almost certain that Durant will soon lift his second MVP trophy.

With Durant's "One Man, One City" award, James was no match for him. If the chosen one hadn't kept a low profile lately, there would obviously be even more commentators mocking him.

"Seriously, is it the right choice for LeBron James to stay in Miami?"

“Listen, I understand the Heat’s team culture; I’ve spent several seasons there, but I still stand by my previous opinion: Pat Riley shouldn’t be involved too much in the training program.”

“Someone told me that James was deprived of his snack privileges and that he couldn’t even eat the cookies he brought on the plane.”

When the topic turned to rumors, Shaquille O'Neal chuckled in his deep voice, and noticing the curious looks on his teammates' faces, he continued:

"This is the Heat's team culture. Don't tell me this is Coach Spoelstra's rule. I respect him, but as a young coach, he wouldn't demand that of the team's superstars."

“A player like James should enjoy the privileges of a superstar. If the Heat don’t respect him, he will naturally choose to leave after fulfilling his contract.”

Upon hearing this news, the three suddenly realized that the old shark's words made sense. After confirming twice and receiving a positive reply, Kenny Smith couldn't help but shake his head and sigh repeatedly:
“I understand James’ choice, but I believe it would be a better ‘decision’ if he could leave with a championship.”

At 19 p.m. that evening, the Verizon Center was still packed to capacity. With the team returning to the playoffs, the Washington fans showed tremendous enthusiasm for the game.

With the support of his teammates, Paul Pierce remained in excellent form, hitting consecutive three-pointers early in the game.

However, as the game progressed, the Heat's quick defensive rotations soon suppressed the Wizards' offense, and John Wall continued his poor form from the first three games, missing shots even when left open.

With 7 minutes and 02 seconds left in the first quarter, Bradley Beal's three-pointer from the right wing went wildly off target, the buzzer-beating shot hitting the backboard squarely.

The basketball bounced back to James, and the Heat launched another fast break. Pierce tried to foul him, but his opponent seemed to have pressed the "accelerator button" and rushed across half-court in the blink of an eye.

Amidst the low cheers of the fans, James completed the pass and accelerated again. As Wade drove into the basket, he tossed the ball high into the air, and the Chosen One caught it in mid-air, completing another aerial connection!

"boom!"

The rim slammed open, and Bradley Beal, on defense, watched helplessly as his opponent celebrated with a chest bump. Throughout this series, they had been unable to find an effective way to counter the Heat's relentless counterattack.

Dressed in a smart black suit, head coach Randy Whitman paced back and forth on the sidelines with his arms crossed. The young man had done his best.

Wall's shooting deficiencies were magnified, and Trevor Booker and Gooden struggled to gain a significant advantage in the paint.

What frustrated the coaching staff even more was that the opponent defended the pick-and-roll very well, which further limited the performance of the backcourt.

Wade personally led the defense against Wall, but the pick-and-roll was ineffective. The young man tried to use his talent to "outplay" the old man, accelerating at full speed after a crossover at the top of the key.

Wade, with a calm slide and consistent control of the defensive distance, once again cornered Wall near the free-throw line. After the young man slowed down, James on the wing immediately helped defend and interfered. When Pierce received the ball, the Chosen One quickly returned to defense.

Feinting, he placed the ball with his right hand, and Pierce attempted to break through on the right wing. However, under defensive pressure, the veteran quickly dribbled behind his back and forced a step back near the blocking area.

A difficult shot was disrupted by James, and Haslem forcefully boxed out to secure the rebound. Sessions, who was receiving the pass, saw the opponent complete the retreat and decisively made a tactical hand gesture.

Despite losing the MVP race to Durant, James, who has lost weight this season, feels he is in excellent form. He calmly directs his teammates to move, cuts laterally to the right elbow area, and calmly calls for the ball.

"Defense!"

The cheers in the arena grew louder and louder. Inspired by the atmosphere, Pierce gave it his all. The veteran was eager to win this battle for honor and thanked everyone for their support.

Under pressure, James raised his receiving position slightly, turning around almost on the three-point line near the right wing. The chosen one, facing the basket, released the ball with his right hand and then overpowered the defender.

Ignoring his opponent's sliding movement, James quickly spun around on the move, and upon entering the paint, immediately drifted to the left and launched a jump shot! "Whoosh!"

Amidst boos, the basketball swished through the net, and James retreated on defense with a light step and a smile, proving that Harden had no way to contain him.

On the TNT commentary desk, Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller were also discussing LeBron James' offense. At this stage of the series, it's clear to everyone that the Chosen One has "evolved" once again.

"A perfect blend of speed, power, and skill. Although the Heat didn't reach 60 wins, there's no doubt that this is the best performance James has had since joining the team!"

"He can score from any position and find open teammates. Compared to scorer Durant, James is more like an all-around leader."

Hearing his partner's words, Miller wanted to retort, but considering James's shooting percentage of over 50% in this series, he could only sigh in admiration.
"Without the Knicks, the Heat might have succeeded. After losing in the Finals, James has transformed."

"But that's the NBA; even great players sometimes can't win a championship."

"."

As the two exclaimed in dismay, Gooden of the Wizards made a jump shot from the free-throw line, only to be "faced" by James on the left wing on the defensive end.

James's pick-and-roll jump shots have increased significantly, reminiscent of the Van Gundy era. After going through a long and winding road, the value of the championship coach's guidance continues to rise.

At the end of the first quarter, the Wizards trailed by a small margin, 31-22, but the fans in the arena felt that the game was familiar, as they had lost the previous three games in the same way.

Pierce's focused performance was touching, but the veteran simply couldn't contain James. When the Wizards started their routine double-teaming, the Heat's three-point shooting exploded again.

In the first half, the Heat made 7 of 13 three-pointers, demonstrating the strength of the "Eastern runner-up" and easily suppressing their opponents with a score of 63-48.

Despite his conflicts with management, James remains the most popular player in the locker room, with James Jones, Anderson, and Norris Cole all being supporters of the chosen one.

After returning to the locker room at halftime, the group started chatting again. Lewis shrugged as he watched, and the veteran began sharing his championship experience:
"That rookie on the other side grabbed 5 offensive rebounds; let's teach him a lesson in the second half."

Haslem noticed the veteran looking at him and immediately became displeased. Ever since James announced he would not play the power forward position, he had been under increasing pressure. He always felt that the old man was stirring things up, and in his anger, he immediately glared at him.

Seeing the atmosphere turning sour, Michael Beasley, who was just there for show, once again acted as a peacemaker. "Leaf Master" was still very grateful to Pat Riley for giving him the opportunity, and as the mole, he didn't want to see infighting during the game.

"Man, we're up by 15 points, don't worry about those boring stats."

The mid-game incident did not affect the Heat's performance. In the third quarter, led by James, they went on a 12-2 run, and Pierce could do nothing but angrily rant at the referees.

In a battle for honor, the Wizards' 25-point deficit forced them to bring in their reserves early in the fourth quarter. When Pierce was substituted, many Wizards fans in the arena stood up and applauded.

This scene deeply moved the veteran. In all his years in Boston, Celtics fans had never treated him like this. In his past memories, those fans would only "hold a meeting" with him like the crazy people in New York.

Pierce patted his chest repeatedly and said "thank you" several times. The young players on the bench also came forward to hug and encourage him. When the veteran returned to his seat, his eyes were red again.

Time flew by, and when the buzzer sounded, the score was 116-98, with the Heat easily sweeping their opponents.

Pierce scored a team-high 22 points, shooting 9-for-14 from the field, 3-for-7 from three-point range, and 1-for-2 from the free-throw line. During the interview, Sager noticed the veteran's emotions and offered a few words of comfort.

"We lost two home games, and I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise."

"But I am still proud of everyone on the team. I believe this year's playoffs are just the beginning. You know, I will stay here and witness everyone's growth."

"Honors and statistics cannot define basketball; I have been reborn in this city."

Pierce made these remarks with a determined look on his face, and the Wizards' young players crowded around the veterans. Despite being swept, they believed the team would be better next season.

"Oh!!"

Hearing the shouts from behind, James turned his head to look at Pierce, who was being doused with water by the crowd. The chosen one quickly turned back and continued walking towards the player tunnel with a smile on his face.

The press conference was handled by Wade and Haslem, while James, who stayed in the locker room, still had to give some interviews.

Without discussing the series, when asked about the MVP by a Yahoo Sports reporter, James responded with a smile:

"I wouldn't be surprised if Kevin wins the trophy. 61 wins, I know how difficult that is."

"Congratulations to him on winning this trophy again; it's a well-deserved reward."

When a TNT reporter pressed him on the upcoming games, James smiled broadly, seemingly having shaken off some of his worries. When the topic turned to their old rivals, the Knicks, the "Chosen One" began his usual boastful remarks:

"I cherish every opportunity to play against Lee. You know, it's an honor to be a part of Lee's great career!"

"Winning or losing doesn't matter to me. I'm 29 years old. At this age, I have no interest in deceiving myself. My career is destined to never catch up with those historical superstars."

"If people think of me when they talk about the Li era in the future, that will also be a success!"

"You know, I still have time. I will continue to chase the championship. I will set a goal for myself: to return to the Finals, one step at a time."

More and more sports reporters are losing interest in interviewing the "Chosen One" because James isn't "genuine" enough; when they hear his answers, they just find them boring!
Fortunately, the Knicks' opponent in the semifinals will most likely be the Pacers, and everyone is starting to look forward to the "genuine" Paul George. Young people should dare to show themselves.

-

4月29号星期二，当晚回到主场步行者队也没辜负吃瓜群众的期待，89:95，大比分4:1绅士横扫对手。

Indiana fans were ecstatic after the game. Despite their poor performance in the final stages of the regular season, they firmly believed it was a "strategic concesion" by the team!
With the entire team healthy and fit for the playoffs, and Paul George showing signs of improvement in his form after five games, everyone is hoping the home team can crush the Knicks. After waiting for so many years, it's time for them to get revenge on James Harden.
Paul George scored a team-high 24 points, shooting 7-for-18 from the field, 1-for-6 from three-point range, and 9-for-10 from the free-throw line. Although his performance wasn't as good as in the previous four games, many fans still cheered loudly.

"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

Paul George was actually a little unhappy about losing to Durant in the trophy race. If they could maintain their momentum, the Pacers would have had no problem getting 60+ wins.

During a sideline interview, an NBA TV reporter routinely asked about the semifinals. Paul George, who led his team to an easy victory over the Bulls, started bragging again when asked the question:

"Although I don't like the commentators' view that 'the West is stronger than the East,' the first round games were definitely a warm-up for me. You know, I need to get myself into playoff mode!"

"The Knicks are strong, but they only secured 60 wins at the end of the season, while we gave up some wins to make the playoffs."

Paul George's answer was rather tactful, but anyone could tell he was referring to the Knicks padding their win totals at the end of the season.

Under the reporters' admiring gazes, and infected by the atmosphere, Paul George, hands on his hips, continued to swagger and added:
"We are the more dynamic team, and I want to use this series to show everyone that basketball should be pure, and special treatment doesn't translate into strength."

"As the team leader, I will contribute on both ends of the court. The Pacers are the best defensive team in the league, and we will not underestimate ourselves!"

"Those who don't believe in us can check the stats. We limit our opponents to under 100 points per 100 possessions, which is the only thing we do in the league!"

"."

(End of this chapter)