NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 882 The Sudden Appearance of the "Western Dividend" (Chapter without main character)

On Wednesday, May 21, 2014, before Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, TNT's pre-game program dropped another bombshell, with Tim Duncan making some incredibly revealing remarks:
"Stop asking me what the fans think; I have no obligation to play for them."

"I just want to compete quietly and give my all in every match. As for winning or losing, that's not important. Right now, I just want inner peace."

Duncan's new girlfriend has been appearing in the stands from time to time this season. After the Spurs made it to the Western Conference Finals again, some unfriendly voices prompted this somewhat famous woman to speak out.

After winning Game 1, social media was filled with criticism of Duncan for ruining the "script," with no one wanting to see the Spurs reach the Finals again, and some extreme fans even calling for Duncan to retire on the spot.

Vanessa Macias was furious with these online comments, and she couldn't understand why the usually low-key Duncan was being attacked so maliciously.

After TNT's official Twitter account updated its status, Vanessa Macias immediately retweeted the commentary, showing her support for her boyfriend:
"You guys are just like ESPN, you're all garbage in the sports world!"

"If a young player can't lead his team to victory against a 38-year-old veteran, he should send his trophy to San Antonio!"

Two consecutive comments quickly went viral on Twitter. Unlike LeBron James, Durant, who loves surfing the internet, didn't "retire" from the internet again. The young MVP quickly responded with a comment:
"Madam, perhaps you should take a look at what these guys did last year. Believe me, justice will come soon."

"."

After commenting and sharing, Durant also selected a few fans who spoke out for the Thunder and liked their posts. Of all the teams in the Western Conference, the Spurs are the team he hates the most!

At 18:30 p.m. that evening, half an hour before the game was scheduled to start, boos erupted from the AT&T Center.

After Game 1, James Harden publicly expressed his disgust at the press conference, revealing his true feelings to the media for the first time since the incident last year where he was fouled.
"Before entering the NBA, my most admired player was Lee, but in terms of playing style, I prefer Manu Ginobili."

“You know, we’re both left-handed players. I’ll watch more of Ginobili’s tapes, which really helps me. After all, my talent is limited, and I can’t play like Lee.”

"But after last year's Western Conference Finals, something outside of basketball changed my perspective. My opponents' behavior made me lose all respect."

"Fortunately, God has given us another chance. The Thunder will take one of the two away games."

In Game 1, the Thunder were outscored by the Spurs by 121 points and ultimately lost by 15 points. However, no one was optimistic about the Spurs after the game, which made the young Thunder players a little arrogant.

If it weren't for the away game, James Harden would have even planned to write a letter to the fans himself, the young man firmly believing that the team would bounce back in Game 2!
Durant's online performance was powerful, while Harden delivered a dominant performance offline. The Thunder's duo raised expectations for Game 2 to the max, attracting many casual fans who were eager to see the "uncrowned kings" have some fun.
As the game time drew near, the electrifying arena prompted the two commentators in the booth to chat about off-court gossip. Reggie Miller, facing the camera with a serious expression, said:
"I don't understand why fans have lost respect for veterans. Losing all eight Finals appearances sounds like a joke, but 90% of NBA players don't even have the chance to achieve that."

"Basketball is not just about winning a championship; often, the process of pursuing a championship is far more important than the result."

"If 38-year-old Tim Duncan can beat this Thunder team again, I urge everyone to stop attacking. Veterans deserve more respect."

With players' families speaking out, Kevin Harlan didn't expect so many onlookers to dislike the Spurs. Like his teammate, he didn't want to speak ill of the 38-year-old veteran.

"Yes, Tim Duncan also represents an era. When you think of Lee's achievements, it's hard not to think of Duncan's constant failures."

"The Finals are never an easy thing. Tim Duncan has done it to the best of his ability. He has truly given everything for basketball."

"."

Both players hyped up the game before it started, but neither mentioned the embarrassing record. Recently, only New York media have been calling for Duncan to play at Madison Square Garden again. Everyone wants to see the "9-time runner-up"!
The more Finals appearances Duncan had, the worse his reputation became. Nobody cared why he kept losing; most onlookers just wanted to witness history.

Many are convinced that it will be difficult for anyone to break Tim Duncan's new record even a century from now.
"Go Spurs go!"

The game was about to begin, and led by the DJ, a huge roar echoed throughout the arena. Spurs fans wearing white cheering T-shirts stood up and shouted, cheering for the veteran!

Tony Parker and Gary Neal had different expressions; the former looked serious, while the latter had a smile on his face.

The Spurs' path to the semifinals was not smooth. In the first round, they had to fight hard to defeat the Rockets after a pivotal Game 5. In the second round, they faced the Trail Blazers, who had made a comeback to reach the semifinals, and they had to go through an intense Game 5 to secure the victory.

Damian Lillard's game-tying three-pointer in Game 5 nearly turned the series around, and the matchup was hailed by fans as the most exciting game of this year's playoffs.

The veterans have no interest in handing over the victory. Having returned to the Western Conference Finals, they know how much effort everyone has put in to achieve this goal. Now, all they want to do is protect their home court.

Vanessa Macias, wearing Duncan's number 21 jersey, was also shouting loudly in the front row behind the basket, making the atmosphere even more heated.

Despite being provoked into speaking out by an unscrupulous reporter, Duncan maintained a poker face on the court. The 38-year-old stared intently at his opponent, his resolute gaze causing Asik to instinctively look away.

"Oh!!"

Amidst cheers that echoed throughout the arena, Duncan jumped for possession. Parker quickly dribbled across half-court, and Leonard immediately received the ball on the left wing.

Jeff Green didn't dare let Duncan cut to the low post after setting a screen, and didn't force a delay, which allowed Leonard, who was placing the ball with his left hand, to handle the ball calmly and move it around widely under the interference of the defender chasing him from the side.

The basketball flew quickly to the right corner. Splitter's off-ball screen in the right elbow area forced the chasing defender Soflosa to be a beat too slow, and Gary Neal caught the ball and quickly made a jump shot!
Popovich hit a three-pointer right at the start of the game, but he didn't relax on the sidelines. The old man shouted loudly to remind his players to retreat on defense as soon as possible. The coaching staff all hoped to win the game in one fell swoop.

Harden, who received the ball on the baseline, was also quick to advance. The Thunder used the same tactic as before. After Durant moved to the left side near the baseline, Asik stood in the same side's blocking area and immediately accelerated outward.

Leonard, who was chasing the defense, was briefly screened, and Harden quickly passed the ball to Durant, who only dribbled once before responding with a jump shot from the left elbow.

"shush"

The boos didn't affect Durant's mood; the young MVP didn't believe his opponent could maintain his high-efficiency performance tonight.

Like the Knicks, the Spurs have largely abandoned their low-post tactics this season. After Splitter receives the ball on the right side of the court, Leonard and Parker actively make back cuts, moving quickly.

Finally, the Frenchman received a bounce pass from his teammate and broke through to the basket. He was surrounded, but immediately accelerated along the baseline to the left corner.

Facing Jeff Green who switched onto the defense, Parker pushed the ball and changed direction to shake off the defender, then pulled up for a jump shot that missed. A scramble ensued under the basket, with Durant trying to protect the rebound, but Duncan still managed to grab the ball amidst the crowd.

Duncan successfully faked out Asik, and from the lower right side of the basket, he tossed the ball out at an angle. The basketball, with its deliberately high arc, just passed Durant's fingertips, and bounced off the backboard into the basket, sending the entire arena into a frenzy once again.

"what!"

Duncan, who fell to the floor, roared loudly. Faced with the malice of countless fans, this was the only way he could respond.

After making the free throw, the crowd roared even louder, but the Thunder's offense remained unaffected. Durant made several adjustments at the top of the arc using screens, and finally broke through the middle with the ball in his left hand.

Harden, who was caught off guard by help defense and passed the ball out early, faked a drive and then put the ball out with his left hand on the left wing. He then suddenly stepped back and hit a three-pointer over Parker.

With the score at 5-6, both sides displayed excellent competitive form from the start, a stark contrast to the Eastern Conference Finals.

As time went on, the score went back and forth. Jeff Green finally found his shooting touch tonight, hitting two consecutive three-pointers midway through the first quarter, immediately forcing a timeout.

The young men shouted with passion, and Durant went up to celebrate with his old teammates. They were indeed unable to break through their opponents in the low post, but as long as they could make these shots, James Harden was not a threat!

Popovich, who had requested a timeout, began to frown again. During the regular season, the Thunder had a 0-4 record. Although some key players were rested in two games, it was clear to everyone that the younger team had stronger firepower.

With defensive statistics ranking only eighth in the league, the Thunder are strong on offense but weak on defense. As long as their three-point shooting keeps going, they can beat any opponent.

Noticing that both teams had started rotating their players, Kevin Harlan chuckled and joked:

"When Kevin Martin comes on, the Spurs need to be careful with their defensive moves. Although many people won't believe it, I think Duncan is still the core of this Spurs team on both offense and defense."

Duncan didn't make the All-Defensive Team like he did last season, but many commentators still highly praised the veteran's defense. Reggie Miller is no exception; he has repeatedly spoken out in support of Duncan during broadcasts, and now he reiterated his call:

"I hope that after the selection mechanism is reformed, media professionals who hold the vote will not focus too much on the data."

"Often, the impact of a game cannot be reflected by data. If you have watched the Spurs play, you will definitely see Duncan's role in the team."

"."

In the first year after the reform, the alliance attaches great importance to the selection process, and the results will be officially announced in early June. During this period, advanced data will once again become the standard for evaluation by mainstream media.

Nobody watches that many games, and the advanced data models that Lee Yu and ESPN have been promoting have gained widespread recognition in recent years.

Basketball commentators can vote objectively based on data, which can prevent situations like Kobe Bryant's poor performance and selection based solely on "coach impressions" from recurring in the All-Defensive Team selections.

In the first quarter, James Harden missed several shots after hitting a three-pointer, and the Beard couldn't get free throws. The referees didn't blow the whistle even after physical contact.

With his partner struggling offensively, Durant withstood the pressure, driving to the basket and shooting from outside, leading the team to stay close in the score.

At 28:29, George Hill, who came off the bench, made a buzzer-beating layup, and the cheers in the arena never stopped.

In the second quarter, Harden and Carter both had a breakout performance, while Gary Neal, George Hill, and Ginobili responded for the Spurs.

The score continued to go back and forth, with neither side giving an inch. The efficient attacks kept the San Antonio fans extremely engaged, and every goal generated a huge roar.

At halftime, the score was tied at 60. The intense game prompted Kawhi Leonard to say a few more words during his interview. When asked about his defensive duties, the young man responded earnestly:
"As everyone has seen, I can only try my best to disrupt Durant. He handles the ball too quickly, and many times I don't have a good solution."

"Aside from Lee, this was the toughest matchup I've ever had. In the second half, we had to protect the long rebounds, which gave the opponent too many opportunities."

"."

Durant has become a super isolation scorer this season. Although he can't match Li You's absurd 1.41 points per possession, his MVP-caliber 1.30 is equally impressive.

The relevant statistics have not yet been cited by mainstream sports media, but well-known commentators use them as an important reference for evaluation, which is also an important reason why Durant was able to beat James to win the trophy.

During halftime, Reggie Miller and Kevin Harlan both thought the second half would be a fierce battle, but Durant had an accident at the beginning of the third quarter.

After securing the rebound, Durant passed the ball to Harden, but after only two steps, he suddenly sat down on the floor.

Seeing this, Coach Brooks was heartbroken, and veteran Carter on the bench hurriedly helped his teammate back to the sidelines.

"There seems to be a problem with my right foot, but I feel pretty good."

After undergoing the examination, Durant shared his feelings, and out of caution, the medical team still did not allow the young man to return to the court.

When the San Antonio fans saw Durant being carried towards the player tunnel, the arena became exceptionally noisy, and many people even showed expressions of surprise, as if God was on their side again!
The game continued, and James Harden failed to withstand the pressure at crucial moments. Frequent double-teams neutralized the young players' shooting touch, and after a series of missed shots, the Thunder collapsed in a single quarter.

At 18:33, the score difference suddenly reached 15 points, and the joyful shouts in the AT&T Center were unstoppable.

Harden had a poor quarter, shooting 2-for-9 from the field and failing to make any free throws, scoring only 4 points.

When the broadcast camera focused on the young players, the bearded man looked bewildered, seemingly unable to believe that the Thunder were behind.

Despite Martin and Carter's consecutive responses in the final quarter, the score difference remained within 10 points until the buzzer sounded, at which point the veterans had no choice but to accept defeat.

With a score of 105-114, the Spurs successfully defended their home court for the second time, taking a 2-0 lead in the series. Like the Heat, the Thunder will now face a do-or-die game at home.

蒂姆-邓肯今晚表现出色，14中6，罚球4中4，16分13篮板1助攻2盖帽2失误。

Just like in the previous games, the 38-year-old veteran did not give any interviews. He quickly walked to the player tunnel, gave his girlfriend a brief hug, and then headed towards the locker room.

When Sager approached Popovich, the old man couldn't hold back his smile. A victory had fallen from the sky. Although the league had given them preferential treatment, as long as they won one more away game, the Spurs would once again enter the NBA Finals.

"Congratulations, Greg. Tell us about your away schedule. It's the perfect start to the final for San Antonio fans."

Hearing his old friend's question, a cheerful Popovich began to joke about the team's situation again:
"I don't want to talk about these things because most people would be unhappy if they heard about our plans."

"Nobody likes an older team, but the Knicks are an exception."

"Right now, I just want to wish Kevin Durant all the best and hope he can get back on the court healthy. God bless him!"

-

Thursday, May 22nd, was a day with no games scheduled, but the injury information the Thunder posted on their official Twitter account that morning was particularly distressing for Oklahoma City fans.

"MVP Kevin Durant suffered a fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot and will miss the remainder of the playoffs."

After the injury news was announced, many players immediately sent their best wishes. On Reddit, Thunder fans criticized James Harden of the Spurs, and some fans could not accept this result.

During the afternoon's TNT program, the four-person group also kept up with the hot topics, talking about the lucky Spurs and 38-year-old Tim Duncan.

"I feel sorry for Kevin Durant. He had a chance to get revenge this year, but a sudden injury ruined everything."

"God has smiled upon Tim Duncan once again. There is no doubt that this is his last chance. If he can win the championship, all the controversy will disappear."

As O'Neal spoke in a low voice to the camera, Charles Barkley on the other side immediately said "no," responding confidently with his big mouth:
"Stop misleading the audience, Shaq. We all know that Tim Duncan is completely finished."

"He will set a new record, losing all nine Finals appearances. That's a great achievement, but fans are destined not to give him a fair evaluation in the future. He will become the biggest loser in NBA history."

Kenny Smith's expression turned strange upon hearing this. The connection between "the strongest" and "loser" seemed inexplicably abstract, and he instinctively retorted:
“I prefer Lee’s assessment of Duncan, ‘The Uncrowned King,’ which sounds more respectful.”

Ernie Johnson felt that the three men's words were a veiled insult to Duncan, and he still wanted to maintain a degree of respect for the 38-year-old MVP.
"I agree with some of Shaq's points. This could very well be the last time Duncan comes to the Finals as a core player."

"Perhaps winning or losing isn't that important. Duncan has already proven his dominance, leading his teams to the Finals with both the Spurs and the Lakers."

Not wanting to kick someone when they're down, O'Neal stopped dwelling on the championship issue. The old Shaq suddenly changed the subject, chuckling and jokingly saying:
"I think this injury will have a ripple effect, and there may be vacancies in the Western Conference next season."

"LeBron will seize this opportunity, and I can't wait to see his 'decision'."

-

On Friday, May 23, the Heat will return to their home court for a crucial Game 3.

The Miami Herald has been cheering on the team for the past few days, but this morning their sports front page headline changed its tune and proactively broke the news:
"LeBron James' departure countdown: Will he return to the NBA Finals in Los Angeles next year?!"

"."

(End of this chapter)