NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 884 A "Great" Defeat! (Daily Chapter)
On Monday, June 2, 2014, the NBA officially announced the revamped All-Defensive Teams:
The five players on the All-Defensive First Team are:

Lee Yu, Chris Paul, Paul George, Serge Ibaka, Joakim Noah;

The five players on the All-Defensive Second Team are:

Andre Iguodala, Tony Allen, Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, Roy Hibbert.

After the roster was announced, Celtics fans were the most dissatisfied. Tony Allen's defensive ability is obvious to all, and Rondo is not bad either!
This season, this backcourt combination led the team to miss the playoffs. On the contrary, Pierce has had a "second spring" after leaving Boston. This situation has made old fans start criticizing the young head coach again.

Nobody is really thinking about the offensive issues; most fans are just venting their frustrations. They can't stand Pierce's sarcastic remarks about his former team, and they think he should be unhappy after leaving Boston.

Perhaps to finally resolve his inner conflict, Pierce posted several updates on Twitter after Game 1 of the Finals, commenting on the match.

The veteran's departure from Boston suddenly turned him into a "Li fanboy," with some even digging up old photos of his "brotherly bond" with Li You.
This demeanor really infuriated the "old Bostonians," no wonder the Celtics have never been able to rise to prominence. Look at the temperament of this "original leader," the Celtics should have traded away this softie Pierce as soon as possible!

Not only Pierce, but also Antoine Walker, a veteran who played for the Celtics for many years, "turned against" his former teammate, making no mention of the beating he suffered in the past, and instead praising him on social media:

"Li raised the level of all players in the Class of '96; he is everyone's pride!"

Not only did he post about it, but Antoine Walker also got "tears in his eyes" when he talked about the past on HBO's Real Sports program. Pierce, who was also on the show, was stunned. His old partner could talk even more than him!

The change in the two men's stance made Boston fans uncomfortable, while Philadelphia fans, on the other hand, proudly puffed out their chests.

Even now, Iverson has not "turned against" his former team; the son of Philadelphia is a true "tough guy."

Regardless of statistics, accolades, or head-to-head records, Allen Iverson never compromised; if he couldn't win, he would retire.
This year's All-Defensive Team was selected by sports media across the United States and Canada. Without the head coach's "impression vote," only Lee Yu remained as a player for the veteran.

Although some fans still have doubts about this list, the data doesn't lie. Advanced data makes it impossible for "slackers" to hide. The era of data-driven basketball analysis has officially arrived!
At 10 a.m., ESPN's First Take program aired as scheduled.

During the Finals, it's natural to talk more about the games. The show's hype for the Western Conference Finals backfired spectacularly, as there was no pivotal Game 5, James Harden dominated, and the Thunder were swept.

The young players' poor performance infuriated Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayliss, who unleashed a torrent of criticism. This "script" went terribly wrong, resulting in them being heavily criticized by gambling fans on social media.
Stephen A. Smith had already celebrated the championship after Game 1 ended last night.

The big mouth also showed off a "dance" at home, the abstract behavior leading onlookers to believe he had joined the New York fan club.
Host Kari had done her homework for this episode, but the Black woman underestimated Stephen A. Smith's ability to create hilarious moments; his outburst almost made everyone in the studio burst out laughing.
"Tim Duncan, if you still consider yourself a superstar, then retiring after the Finals is the best option!"

"Like my little brother Allen Iverson, retain your last shred of dignity."

Wearing glasses and dressed in a black striped suit, Stephen A. Smith looked like a data expert, and he had several technical statistics on hand as he made these remarks.

Skip Bayliss's serious expression made his partner's eye twitch slightly. Being forced to retire after being beaten was considered "dignified"? He hadn't wanted to argue further, but he couldn't hold back any longer and immediately retorted:

Why did Tim Duncan, who led his team to the NBA Finals, retire? Just because he lost again?

“Regardless of age, Duncan has surpassed 99% of the players in the league; he only lost to Lee.”

"Just like Elgin Baylor back then, even without those honors, he is still a great superstar of all time."

The series wasn't even over yet, and many commentators were already "lending" Duncan to lose. Stephen A. Smith was a well-known "lender," and when his partner objected, he immediately raised his voice in response:
"Since we can't win the championship, Duncan should make way for younger players."

"Nobody likes to see him in the Finals. Can Duncan average 40+ points per game? Can he respond when the team needs points the most?"

"We all know the answer. Duncan is just like he was when he was young. He can't do anything, so retirement is the best option."

"Making this choice actually took a lot of courage. Back then, many people laughed at Iverson. Looking back, perhaps we should apologize to the son of Philadelphia."

114:96，G1的比赛中，邓肯表现出色，14中7，罚球8中5，砍下19分12篮板1助攻1盖帽3失误的两双数据。

Such a performance is comparable to some young big men, so retirement is clearly out of the question. Stephen A. Smith is just routinely humiliating this MVP.

"I support Duncan continuing to fight for championships! Even Kobe didn't give up, so there's no reason for the MVP to leave the league."

Skip Bayliss then brought up the Mamba again, noting that Duncan clearly performed better than his former partner, prompting host Kari to add:

"The Spurs still have a chance. They made 12 of 26 three-pointers in Game 1, a 46.2% success rate, continuing their excellent form from the conference finals."

"."

Stephen A. Smith didn't want to say much about the Spurs' overall excellent performance, but the Knicks' defensive performance had indeed declined somewhat, and they could no longer easily defeat their opponents as they used to.

When Skip-Bellis realized his partner didn't respond immediately, he perked up and continued bragging:
"Li may be able to take away the victory, but he won't affect Tim Duncan's heart to chase the championship!"

"Regardless of the outcome, with nine NBA Finals appearances, Duncan Duncan has been etched into history. He is the true uncrowned king."

"When people look back at basketball in the early 21st century, they always think of Lee's dominance, but Duncan will not be forgotten in the process either; as a superstar, he lost 'greatly' enough."

In the studio, both hosts, Carrie and Stephen A. Smith, looked strange. It seemed like Bayliss was some kind of "troublemaker," as his words sounded awkward no matter how you looked at them.

Losing makes one great; Tim Duncan truly is the greatest of all time!
-

On Tuesday, June 3rd, the Spurs continued their closed training session. The schedule was relatively favorable, with two days of buffer time between Games 1 and 2, allowing the losing team to adjust in time.

Unlike their less talkative opponents, the Knicks, as in previous years, were open to all, with reporters from ABC and ESPN even able to cover the entire practice session. Doris Burke, who had previously worked as a beat reporter for the Knicks and had been a Finals sideline reporter since 09, found some of the scenes quite abstract despite being very familiar with her team.

With so many players on the team, and none of them wanting to leave New York, the young players waiting to "take over" naturally have to work hard to get playing time.

Determining the rotation players fairly and impartially sometimes gives D'Antoni a headache. He's not God, and he can't predict which player will have a breakout game.

Fortunately, Lee Woo is considerate of his younger teammates. To prevent the locker room from collapsing, he simply adopted a "one-on-one match" this season.
In theory, big men have an advantage in one-on-one situations, but in reality, Markieff Morris stood out, with the young player earning a lot of playing time during the regular season.

There weren't many training sessions during the finals, so a group of sports reporters witnessed the "brutal" one-on-one matches. Everyone present had the impression that some players seemed to be really playing with passion.

Sweating profusely, Jimmy Butler hit consecutive step-back jumpers in the left-side restricted area. Amid cheers from the crowd, the young man began his "performance" once again:
"You can't beat me!"

"The hardest working person is me!"

"I deserve to be on the All-Defensive Team; those clowns don't deserve that honor."

Jimmy Butler always plays exceptionally well during nationally televised games, becoming extremely aggressive in practice. Kyrie Irving, however, is somewhat annoyed by this, as the last overall pick always seems to be trying to "usurp" his spot.

"Those clowns are better at three-pointers than you. You should look at your terrible BPM!"

Kyrie Irving, who had been losing points in a row, got angry and immediately started taunting him. The two began shoving each other again, and continued the tee shot amidst shouts of "Nick!"
Improving one's advanced stats is also a skill, and three-pointers and free throws are the best ways to achieve this. In this respect, Kyrie Irving, who likes "pretty plays," and Jimmy Butler, who is good at "flopping," are natural opposites.

While most people were used to such scenes, the sports reporters present were quite surprised.

People couldn't help but think of the previous rumors. According to an unnamed source within the Knicks, the two had even arranged a boxing match.

After offering a few comments with a smile, Li You stopped paying attention to the energetic young people, saying that this kind of competition was good for passing most of the boring time.

As for what might happen in the locker room in the future, that's beyond his control.
ESPN reporters immediately surrounded the sidelines. Previously, everyone thought that the news reported by the New York media was "fabricated out of thin air," but now, it seems that the relevant information is true!
Before Doris Burke could even ask a question, Stuart Scott eagerly inquired:
"Li, could there be problems with this training activity? Everyone seems a bit agitated."

The outrageous gossip from the New York Times turned out to be true. The surrounding sports reporters looked on expectantly, but Li You, wearing his away training uniform, chuckled softly and said casually:
"There aren't that many 'leaders' on the Knicks. We're a 'family,' but that doesn't mean there's no competition between us."

"If you just want to do your job, you don't have to participate in this kind of training. Don't worry that the competition will affect the game. The pursuit of victory is a consensus among everyone."

The special training session was indeed a bit abstract, but after Li You further explained the Knicks' locker room culture, no one questioned it anymore, after all, the 60-win record didn't lie.

Soon after, a Yahoo Sports reporter asked Duncan whether he should retire. Yesterday's First Take program sparked considerable controversy, with most onlookers not expecting Iverson to become the "hero."
As always, Li You gave his old rival high praise, sincerely commending him:
"For us veterans, playing in the league is more about our love for basketball!"

"We enjoy competition and the challenge of meeting young players."

"Modern basketball is improving every day, and more and more outstanding players are appearing in the league. Being able to compete with these people only brings us heartfelt joy."

"Tim is the same. In the world of basketball, there are not only winners, but also great achievements in losing."

"Retire? He just led his team to the finals, he deserves to enjoy the fun of basketball."

Some of the young reporters stared wide-eyed, almost thinking they had misheard. Could losing a game really lead to greatness?

Li You spoke so eloquently and sincerely that no one dared to ask the same questions again. Ray Allen's shouts from the court interrupted the interview, and the veteran stopped the younger player, repeatedly reminding him:

"Hey, let them solve their own problems, don't cause trouble here."

Jimmy Butler and Kyrie Irving, who have truly broken out of their shells, have already started playing "Kung Fu Basketball." The young players all want to be true leaders, and their time is running out.

-

On Tuesday, June 3, major sports media outlets across the United States began promoting Game 2 of the NBA Finals, with ABC, as the broadcaster, continuing to release interview clips produced for the Finals.

In the latest promotional footage, Popovich shed tears again in front of the camera. Speaking of Duncan's ordeal, the veteran cried bitterly, answering questions with a choked voice:
"Most people simply cannot imagine what Tim has gone through over the years."

"I don't understand why the basketball environment has become like this. It seems that all the fans just want to find people who share their views, and nobody cares about the truth."

"Tim Duncan is the most humble and selfless leader I have ever witnessed. He gave everything for basketball and he should not be ridiculed or humiliated."

"."

When talking about the unfair treatment Duncan has suffered over the years, Popovich became very agitated. The old man couldn't understand why making it to the Finals would cause his reputation to plummet.

Two hours before the game started, Tim Duncan, who had arrived at the arena early, was still the focus of sports reporters' attention. As the 38-year-old veteran was about to make his final performance, some people were still hoping for a miracle.

A reporter from the San Antonio Express-News felt that both Li You and Stephen A. Smith were humiliating their team leader, and spoke out before entering the locker room:
"Tim, we believe in you!"

The sudden loud shout drew surprised glances from the surrounding reporters. Duncan, dressed in a loose-fitting suit, maintained a resolute expression and, without offering any pleasantries, responded in a deep voice:

"I will help the team win tonight's game."

"."

(End of this chapter)