NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 885 Even the "Epic Offensive" Was Useless (Daily Chapter)
On Wednesday, June 4, 2014, in the crucial Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the San Antonio Spurs set an astonishing record in the first half:
"Scoring 71 points in the first half with a 76% field goal percentage, the Spurs have dominated their opponent for the first time in a series!"

On the ABC commentary booth, Mark Jackson loudly described the first half of the game to the director, while Jeff Van Gundy next to him looked delighted. The championship-winning coach excitedly added:

"Boris Diaw's championship experience has helped the Spurs! Compared to last year, the veterans are playing together much better."

"If they can maintain this excellent form, they have a chance to protect their home court, and the situation in the series will immediately turn around."

The atmosphere at the AT&T Center was getting increasingly heated, with many San Antonio fans standing up and shouting along with the music.

Those who bought snacks quickly returned to their seats. After so many years, everyone finally saw the game they had been looking forward to. The crazy offense successfully suppressed the opponent, scoring 41 points in the first quarter. This was a dream start!

Sports reporters at the scene were also excitedly updating their Twitter accounts: 55-71, the Knicks had never led once in the first half, shooting 7-for-10 from three-point range and 14-for-17 from the free-throw line. The Spurs were "going crazy."

The Knicks' performance was actually fine; it's just that their opponents were able to score and draw fouls on drives.

Under such circumstances, the defending champion, who was performing normally, was suppressed.

After the first quarter, head coach Mike D'Antoni, in an interview, expressed his amazement, genuinely praising the opponent's 86.7% shooting percentage:

"An incredible performance from the Spurs. They successfully stopped our transition offense and slowed down the game."

"Their shooting looked very confident, and I think the team performed exceptionally well in that situation."

"Perhaps this is a night for the Spurs, but we are still confident of winning this game. We will get the ball more into Lee's hands and launch a counterattack in the third quarter."

The usually AFK player, Li You, rarely revealed his "strongest tactics." At 36, Li You is already an older star, and the coaching staff rarely overuses him. If he were to get injured, neither the fans nor the management would be able to accept it.

When opponents rarely make mistakes and consistently make shots within 24 seconds, the Knicks are helpless.

The young players hadn't taken their opponents seriously before the match, and seeing such a ferocious attack, they were somewhat "questioning their existence."

Especially with players like Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris coming off the bench, Marion couldn't keep up with Leonard's pace, and the young players' presence didn't affect the opponent's explosive performance.

With 6 of 7 field goals, 3 of 4 from three-point range, and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line, Leonard scored an extremely efficient 18 points, making his performance on both ends of the court impressive in the first half.

Yang Jian, who was in the CCTV commentary booth above the stadium and had reviewed the statistics several times, sighed again:

"The Spurs were on fire tonight! They put on an epic offensive display, making shots both that they should and shouldn't have made. If they win, Kawhi Leonard will be the MVP of this game."

In Game 1, Marion went 8-for-10 from the field and 2-for-4 from three-point range, scoring 20 points. Tonight, the veteran suddenly slumped, going 0-for-5 in the first half and scoring only 1 point from free throws.

The young players who came off the bench also performed poorly, becoming a black hole in spacing and frequently missing shots when left wide open. The Knicks were forced to play retro basketball and rely on scoring inside.

Zhang Weiping chuckled upon hearing his partner's words. The old man had never lost confidence and began to unleash his full potential against the odds again.

"The Spurs were really playing strangely in this half! But it's hard to say whether they'll win the game in one go!"

"No one can keep making buzzer-beaters. Once the shooting percentage drops, the Knicks can launch a counterattack and the 16-point deficit can disappear in an instant."

"Tim Duncan, like Kobe, falters in crucial moments. We did some statistics on our previous show that both of them stopped scoring in the fourth quarter."

"This is what I mean by a pseudo-superstar. For a true superstar, you have to look to Li You; the accuracy gets better as the series progresses."

Yang Jian's lips twitched as he listened. He still wasn't used to the old man's straightforwardness. Seeing that Duncan and Kobe were about to retire, he directly classified them as pseudo-superstars.

Under Zhang Weiping's encouragement, the 16-point difference was just a matter of 5 three-pointers and 1 fast break. The old man firmly believed that the Spurs would definitely falter at the crucial moment!

Before the game began, ABC broadcasters released halftime statistics for both teams. Apart from some off-target shooting from three-point range, the Knicks' field goal percentage was also over 5%.

"Defense!"

The AT&T Center erupted in cheers once again, as the double-digit lead kept the fans on the edge of their seats.

The Knicks were immediately met with tight defense when they took the inbounds pass. George Hill, who had been equally efficient in the first half, continued to lead the defense, constantly using sliding steps to disrupt Li You's advance.

Before Yang Jian could even speak, Zhang Weiping began his rapid-fire "analysis" from the CCTV commentary booth, the old man transforming into a "psychologist" and adding his own interpretation:

"Duncan is starting to feel 'fear' at this point. Look at this pick-and-roll, it's designed to target him!"

"He knew he couldn't defend against him; Leonard's help defense speed was really fast."

"That's the right move, Marion, pass the ball back."

After the ball was split up, Gasol, who was receiving the ball at the free-throw line, was immediately met with help defense and passed the ball to his teammate on the right wing. Marion, who received the ball, immediately returned it, and Li You received the ball again near the logo.

Duncan was taken away by Gasol who cut the ball to the basket, and Popovich on the sidelines yelled at Leonard to quickly double-team him.

The young man followed the instructions and moved quickly. Li You, who had been dribbling behind his back for several minutes, switched to his left hand and began to accelerate laterally.

Leonard first cut off the passing lane and then circled out to try and close out the defense, but George Hill sensed something was wrong. Li You seemed to be moving faster, making his sliding defense increasingly difficult.
Just as the three arrived near the left flank, Li You took the initiative to confront them, suddenly taking a large step back to the side.

Amid the gasps of the fans, George Hill jumped up to contest the play, while Leonard, who was chasing after him, stopped beside him. The young man maintained his distance and symbolically extended his hand to indicate to the referee that he had not made any other move.

"Here it comes! That's amazing! Li Youqiang's shot went in!"

Seeing the basketball swish through the net, Zhang Weiping immediately beamed with joy. The old man, not giving his partner a chance, instinctively added:

"That's what a true superstar is! It's not about being able to throw the ball out; it's about making the shot."

"The reason Duncan and Kobe failed was because they couldn't make their shots. In the second half, the rim was blocked."

Yang Jian glanced behind him subconsciously. Although he knew that not many people here understood Chinese, he was still worried about encountering Spurs staff. The old man was completely letting loose and harassing the star player at home.

The Spurs maintained their patience on offense, successfully suppressing their opponents with fewer possessions and a higher shooting percentage. Popovich did not change his tactical strategy in the second half.

After receiving the ball at the top of the key, Diaw quickly passed it back to Parker on the right wing. Duncan tried to set a screen, but Li You immediately went around to defend him, and the Frenchman did not shoot when he had the opportunity.

Leonard received the ball again on the left wing, and with his right hand, he broke through. Near the free-throw line, he was surrounded by Marion and Ibaka. After a physical collision, the young man flicked the ball back to the top of the arc.

Diaw was still looking for an opportunity, and passed the ball to George Hill on the other side. Hill received the ball and made another strong breakthrough. Ray Allen slid in and out, and together with his teammates, jumped up to interfere in the paint.

"Oh!"

Amid cheers, George Hill barely managed to find Duncan under the basket in mid-air. Faced with this excellent opportunity, the veteran was a step too slow and was interfered with by Gasol, who turned and raised his hand.

The layup attempt was wildly off-target, missing the rim and bouncing into Ray Allen's hands, prompting the Knicks to immediately launch a fast break.

Popovich on the sidelines was jumping up and down in frustration, while George Hill chased the veteran back quickly on defense, not quite hearing what the coach was saying.

Li You, who was trailing behind, suddenly accelerated after crossing half-court and received a handoff pass at the top of the arc. Parker, who was chasing, shouted a warning, but it was too late for George Hill to react.

Unable to form a double team, Li You once again pulled up and dribbled from the same spot on the left wing, forcing a step-back jumper over Parker's defense. "The counterattack is on!"

"46 seconds left, 6-0, Popovich calls a timeout immediately, the Spurs are doomed."

Undeterred, Zhang Weiping continued to speak rapidly, not giving his partner a chance to interject:
"After halftime, the Spurs were no longer effective. Their superstars would try to close out the game by forcing shots, and the coaching staff had no way to stop them."

"You see, just like I said, when it comes to crucial moments, even stars like Duncan and Kobe can't respond. That's the difference. Making excuses is useless; it's simply a matter of lacking the ability."

Yang Jian, worried that the second half of the game would turn into a criticism session, quickly changed the subject, saying:

"The Knicks relied entirely on Li You tonight, shooting 11-for-14 from the field, 6-for-9 from three-point range, and 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. He had already scored 35 points at the start of the third quarter."

"If this continues, it will be another 40+ point night. The Spurs will have no choice but to continue their tight defense like they did in the first half, which will be a huge test of their stamina."

At 61:71, the AT&T Center suddenly became unusually noisy, and for many veteran fans, painful memories began to flood back.

Popovich, his face flushed, ignored the referee's warnings and continued to shout instructions even after the timeout ended.

"Go Spurs go!"

In the crucial moment, the cheers that echoed throughout the arena rang out again. Parker, who had dribbled past half-court, immediately set a pick-and-roll with Duncan at the top of the key, as instructed by the tactics.

After setting the screen, Diaw ran to the right corner. All the Spurs players spread out on offense. Once Gasol was back on the perimeter, Parker quickly passed the ball across the court for safety.

George Hill passed the ball with his left hand and made a quick drive, shaking off Ray Allen as he entered the defensive zone, just as Duncan and Gasol were squeezed together under the basket.

Realizing he hadn't followed the tactical instructions to pass the ball to the low post, George Hill immediately jumped up and passed it back, allowing Parker to receive it again at the top of the key.

By the time Duncan moved up to set the screen again, most of the offensive time had passed. Facing Gasol, who had switched onto the wing, the Frenchman decisively pushed the ball and changed direction, then stopped abruptly near the free-throw line and pulled back with a crossover step.

Parker dodged the defense and made a quick stop-and-shoot shot that missed. Duncan, who was under the basket, was kept behind by Li You. He tried to use his long arms to grab the rebound, but his old rival suddenly launched a "tomahawk rebound".
"Oh"

Upon landing, Li You quickly moved forward to receive the ball, and amidst the gasps of the San Antonio fans, he seemed to have pressed the accelerator button, instantly shaking off Duncan under the basket.

In the blink of an eye, he had already rushed to the mid-court line. Leonard took big strides and quickly retreated to defend, reaching the three-point line by the time he caught up with Li You.

The young man immediately pulled and committed a foul, but Li You suddenly spun around and caught the ball, instantly dodging the defense, and then threw the ball out with his left hand in the paint!

"squeak!"

The referee immediately blew the whistle, and the basketball swished through the net. Leonard looked at Li You's jersey, which had been torn off, and awkwardly scratched his head. The third foul came sooner than expected.

The Knicks' bench erupted in cheers, the young players shouting again. D'Antoni, seeing Lee Woo-ga make the free throw, immediately returned to his seat. With a 7-point lead, he executed a fadeaway jumper.
Popovich kept signaling to his players to stay calm, and when Leonard passed the ball to Parker near the right baseline under Popovich's direction, the Spurs spread out again.

With a patient pick-and-roll, Parker seized the moment of the switch and successfully passed the ball to Duncan in the low post on the right. Facing the mismatch opportunity, the veteran smoothly placed the ball with his left hand and powerfully backed down the ball.

Li You didn't budge from the collision. Duncan immediately gathered the ball, attempting a high-reaching pass. Just as he raised the ball to his chest, the veteran staggered and cried out:
"what!"

Without any instructions from the referee, Marion quickly regained possession of the ball, and the Spurs players hurriedly retreated on defense.

"Duncan can't play! Unless he just shoots the ball as soon as he gets it. Li You's defense is amazing, this is a superstar moment!"

Zhang Weiping, beaming with joy, couldn't stop praising Duncan. Under the old man's influence, Yang Jian also began to question Duncan. Could the pseudo-superstar theory really be reliable?
Before even crossing half-court, Leonard double-teamed, sparing no effort in his defense, closing in quickly and fiercely. When Marion received the ball on the wing and cut in, Duncan rotated in time, forcing the veteran to pass back to the free-throw line.

With Leonard returning to defend and interfering, Gasol also made a safe pass, but the high-low post play failed, and Ibaka moved laterally along the baseline.

Under the opponent's repeated defense, the Knicks began to pass the ball around the top line repeatedly, just like in the first half. After Ray Allen's breakthrough was blocked by Parker, the ball returned to Ibaka's hands in the left elbow area.

Without making any mistakes or having any particularly good opportunities, Ibaka had to find Li You to take the blame for the Spurs' successful defense.
With the attack time about to expire, Ibaka's handoff pass failed due to interference. Seeing Li You suddenly accelerate and make a run, the big man simply threw the ball to the left corner.

The ball wasn't fast, but it had some curve. George Hill, who was rushing to defend, failed to intercept it and immediately jumped up to defend when he reached the bottom corner.

Upon receiving the ball, Li You made no adjustments, drifting and catching it alley-oop beyond the three-point line, then pushing the ball into the air. As the buzzer sounded, George Hill rushed in.

"Oh"

Another gasp arose, and after a moment's hesitation, the referee blew the whistle. The basketball, flying through the air, traced a huge arc before plummeting precisely to the bottom. As the ball swished through the net, only the commentators in the arena shouted excitedly:
"Lee for three! Puts it in!"

Oh my goodness!

In the ABC commentary booth, Mike Breen and the other two commentators exclaimed in surprise. When the referee signaled that the goal was valid and a penalty would be awarded, Van Gundy also raised his voice and exclaimed loudly:

"Lee has once again dominated the Spurs! Incredible shooting touch, the basketball god has descended once more!"

"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

Suddenly, heart-wrenching screams erupted from the AT&T Center, which had been transformed into a library. Knicks fans in the back seats were celebrating wildly, and a miracle had occurred once again.

After Lee Woo-ga made the free throw, the score reached 68-71, and the Spurs called another timeout.

Standing beyond the three-point line, George Hill stared blankly. The nightmarish three minutes had passed, and the game was progressing so fast that he couldn't comprehend it. The score difference was now down to just 3 points.

Sweating profusely, Tim Duncan was completely numb. He couldn't hear a word Popovich said. After putting up an incredible offensive performance, he couldn't accept that his efforts in the first half of the game had been wiped out in just a few minutes.

"Go Spurs go!"

The cheers echoed through the arena once again. The Spurs almost made a mistake in a crucial possession after the timeout, and the Knicks' defensive intensity returned.

Leonard's drive was blocked, and the young man could only circle along the baseline from left to right. By the time he passed the ball back to Parker, half of the shot clock had already passed.

Instead of choosing the low post, Parker pushed the ball and changed direction to shake off Gasol. He then made a strong drive down the middle, but was immediately stopped by Ibaka's help defense. He then passed the ball to Diaw, who was unguarded in the left corner.

The championship forward missed a shot, and Li You grabbed the long rebound, leaving George Hill to desperately chase and defend.

Li You accelerated along the left sideline, and as he crossed the halfway line, he suddenly circled the ball behind his back and then quickly changed direction with a crossover.

The fans in the front row seemed to realize something, and those who stood up to watch the game instinctively covered their mouths.
Just as they expected, Li You accelerated again and suddenly stepped back to shoot, leaving George Hill unable to even make a defensive move. He stopped abruptly and stood there dumbfounded.

Seeing Li You land and turn to retreat on defense, the Spurs players who had chased him to half-court all stopped for a moment and watched the basketball fall into the net.

At 71-71, the AT&T Center was transformed into a library, and the fans, jolted awake from their "dream," fell silent.

The fewer than 2000 Knicks fans roared through the arena, and everyone knew that the GOAT would bring victory back to New York.
The game continued, but Popovich stopped shouting. The referee's whistle came too late, and the Spurs went completely silent, no longer displaying the same accuracy they had in the first half.

In the CCTV commentary booth, Yang Jian was completely convinced, and couldn't help but show a look of admiration. Zhang Weiping truly understood football. The old man also showed a smug expression and continued to promote his views:
"This game is over. A pseudo-superstar can't carry a team! Duncan is really no good!"

"."

(End of this chapter)