NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 772 The "True Meaning" of Basketball (Daily Chapter)
On Friday, December 31, 2010, the NBA congratulated Li You on his 33rd birthday. Below the accompanying text, many humorous fans brought the "battleground" to the comments section:

"The legend continues!"

Aside from the Knicks fans who routinely boast, the majority of the comments section on Twitter is filled with overconfident Heat fans who feel that the value of their championship has diminished since they crushed Kobe in the Christmas Day game.

"If the Lakers were to be our opponent in the Finals all the time, the Heat could build a dynasty!"

"The Flash locked down the Mamba, and now I finally understand why Lee was able to set a new point difference record in the Finals for several consecutive years."

"Lee is a legend, but his rivals in recent years have been seriously overrated. Kobe is a joke; he's just a poor imitator of Michael Jordan."

"."

As if stepping on a championship guard would satisfy them, the Big Three's fans and a large number of winning fans have been mocking Kobe Bryant all week, establishing a strong sense of superiority through this comparison!

This situation is also related to the comments made by Coach Spoelstra and the Heat players during the Christmas Day game, especially Spoelstra's words, which were over-interpreted by many commentators:
“We envision this as a preview of the Finals. Leaving Kobe open is not a particularly good defensive option. In fact, his shooting percentage has consistently been below average in the intensity of the playoffs.”

"The data doesn't lie. We respect every player, and the zone defense didn't give Kobe any special treatment."

In order to protect the rebounds, the Heat began to swarm Stoudemire in the crucial third quarter. Bosh, playing center, relied on his teammates for help on the defensive end, so Kobe was left open for many possessions.

This was supposed to be a good thing, but Kobe was in a blacksmith's mood at the time. In addition to repeatedly diving into the paint and missing mid-range shots, he also airballed three-pointers.

In this crucial game, Wade excelled on both offense and defense, not only locking down Mamba but also driving to the basket and shooting from the outside, completely dominating the championship guard with his pick-and-roll plays.

McGrady, who came off the bench, dished out 7 assists, while Randy Foye, Dampier, and Ilgauskas also contributed to the scoring.
James and Bosh played with increasing ease, with the "Chosen One" making 5 of 8 three-pointers, dominating the fourth quarter.

104-84, Kobe lost the Christmas Day game, and his popularity plummeted again. All the commentators blamed the Mamba.

出场40分钟，16中6，三分线外4中1，罚球9中6，19分6篮板5助攻1抢断4失误，科比圣诞大战命中率不足4成，目前已经被开除“湖人籍”.
Social media has awakened more fans, and some have already seized the opportunity to start popularizing Kobe's performance over the years on YouTube!
Under the guidance of Dongqiudi (a popular sports betting platform), the comment sections of related videos are always filled with Heat fans. James and Wade fans are stomping on the Mamba, and Kobe's All-Star status is almost being revoked.

The more the analysis went on, the more outrageous Li You seemed; Excel was simply incredible!

The advanced data introduced in the past two years has dominated the charts in every aspect, with countless rounds of 5 vs 8, and even the art of officiating cannot withstand the rampant individual surge.

In contrast, Kobe, who reached the Finals seven times, was incredibly underwhelming when analyzed frame by frame. His field goal percentage in the Finals was less than 40%, and his advanced stats were among the worst on the team. He relied entirely on Kobe's MVP performance.

Under the recent deliberate manipulation of public opinion, fans of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have been frantically borrowing money, with many even finding justification for forming a super team:

"Against an opponent of Kobe's caliber, there's really no need to form a team. If we played in the Western Conference, we could reach the Finals for many years."

"."

Affected by external circumstances, Kobe's brilliant playoff performance became a joke, and the label that he could only score points and could not respond to the ball was spread wildly by fans.

On the last day of 2010, as Los Angeles fans once again called for a trade for Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson took to Twitter early in the morning to speak up for the team:

"We have never ignored the voices of the fans. Give the Lakers some more time and trust Coach Scott. The championship will definitely return to Los Angeles."

Jim Buss even stopped acting after the Christmas Day game, leaking information through the Los Angeles Times to assure fans that he would trade Kobe during the offseason, citing Kobe's lack of ability and his disruption of the locker room.

Jeanie Buss, as always, went against her brother, leaking inside information through an insider and shifting the blame for the loss onto Stoudemire and the new system.

The two have fallen out over control of the team. Although Magic Johnson sold his stock, as a team legend, he did not want to see this situation and was a staunch supporter of Jerry Buss.

Perhaps due to overwhelming demand in the comments section, Magic Johnson quickly retweeted his own tweet, also briefly commenting on the Lakers' problems for the new season:

"Kobe is not the creator. His struggles in the new system show that he is still adapting. Amar'e needs to improve his defense. The team has a big problem when facing top pick-and-roll players."

"Everything will be alright, we still have time, please be patient."

By retweeting two tweets in a row, Magic Johnson did his best. The 10-11 All-Star Game was held in Los Angeles, and the legend wanted to maintain some dignity; being booed at home was too humiliating.
The NBA officially announced the results of the second round of voting for the All-Star Game this morning. As expected, Kobe Bryant, the host country's representative, still received very few votes!
In the Eastern Conference, Dwight Howard is temporarily the leader in votes with 118 million votes, followed by Li You with 112 million votes, James with 98 votes, and Wade with 96 votes.

In the Western Conference, Yao Ming received 91 votes, followed by Kevin Durant with 81 votes and Amar'e Stoudemire with 73 votes. Kobe's voting results were similar to Paul's, with both receiving 58.5 votes.

The aging MVP Duncan only received 33 votes in the first two rounds of voting. Considering his playing time and personal statistics this season, no one would be surprised if he was not selected.

As the host team, the championship forward has officially replaced Mamba as the Lakers' star player, and many are looking forward to the "show" at the All-Star Game.
That evening, the Lakers also played their last game of 2010, hosting the 76ers.

Affected by an Achilles tendon injury, Iguodala continued to be absent from the game. After the game started at 20 p.m., he sat quietly on the bench in a formal suit.

Watching the Mamba playing hard on the court, Iguodala couldn't help but think of his former teammate, Allen Iverson. In the twilight of his career, AI was forced to retire, which is very similar to Kobe's current situation.

Both were "anti-Lee pioneers," but Iverson has already fallen, becoming the Philadelphia clown, and Kobe is also on the countdown to leaving the team. Thinking about the Mamba's possible wandering at the end of his career, Iguodala covered his mouth and sighed:

"Kobe is finished; he'll become the next Iverson."

Having just returned to the bench, Elton Brand merely pursed his lips when he heard his teammate whispering. Having lived in Los Angeles, he knew the "nature" of reporters here:
"When Kobe leaves, those reporters will miss him. That's how it is in Los Angeles. Look at these ticket-buying audience members."

Because the lights in Staples Center were all focused on the court, leaving the stands dark, Iguodala turned his head to look behind him and noticed that many people had happy smiles on their faces.

For many fans, the outcome isn't really important, since the Lakers have been losing so many times. What's more interesting is the "locker room drama," with many hoping for an intra-team boxing match.

Thinking about the Philadelphia fans' attitude towards him after their defeat, Iguodala raised an eyebrow and remained silent. He had a premonition that he would be traded sooner or later.
The isolated Mamba barely touched the ball in the second half, seemingly detached from the system. Felton and Stoudemire frequently initiated pick-and-rolls, and the championship forward completely exploded tonight!

When Mamba was benched in the fourth quarter, Vujacic, who came off the bench, hit a crucial three-pointer, sending the Staples Center into a frenzy!

Ultimately, thanks to Stoudemire's consecutive free throws, the Lakers narrowly won the game 98-105.

On the commentary booth, Joel Meyers and Stu Lands watched Kobe get up from the bench and quickly leave, their feelings mixed.

"Perhaps we shouldn't have such high expectations of Kobe. In a few months, he will also be turning 33."

"Fans always hope that Kobe can beat Lee, but now we need to face reality. He can't do it. At the end of his career, we should be tolerant of this star player who gave his all for the Lakers."

With most of his forehead bald, Joel Meyers has witnessed the Lakers' struggles over the years. The old man adjusted his round-framed glasses, pursed his lips, and said nothing more.

Stu Lands's face showed a helpless expression. Every time he spoke up for the Mamba, he was met with resistance from the fans. At this moment, he could only continue to act as a "peacemaker," simply commenting:

“You’re right, Joel. Players aren’t robots. Their bodies decline. Even Lee needs to limit his playing time now so his body can recover.”

"Kobe should also learn to make peace with himself. He can't keep training like this. Hopefully, the coaching staff can develop a reasonable training plan for him."

Whenever Kobe Bryant underperformed, Stu Lands would find an excuse for him: he trained too hard, which was his usual tactic.
Unlike the two commentators who offered kind words during the interview, the championship striker Stoudemire had already seen the light at the end of the tunnel and continued his relentless attack:
"Many matches have shown that as long as we execute the coach's tactical arrangements diligently, we can always achieve final victory!"

“Some people are disrupting the locker room and trying to continue enjoying privileges, but I will not compromise. I have learned a lot from Lee, and I will share real championship experience with the locker room.”

"Don't act like a superstar in front of me. I know how to win, and I'll take on the responsibility of leadership to make the Lakers better!"

Amar'e Stoudemire continued to praise his teammates, and seeing Barnes and the others gathered around with beaming smiles, the Fox Sports reporter also smiled and offered his congratulations:
"Come on, guys! Let's hope we can go one step further before the All-Star Game!"

Back in the locker room, Kobe seemed to still hear the boos from the fans in the arena. The Mamba sat down, covered his face, and looked pained. He didn't understand why his reputation had turned out this way.

Basketball wasn't like this in the past. Young people forming teams was something to be praised, while sticking to one team and one player was considered a real joke.

When Odom, completely exhausted, hurried back to the locker room, he saw his old teammate's distressed expression and couldn't help but whisper words of comfort:
"Bro, you should learn to enjoy life. Basketball isn't everything."

"You're almost 33, nobody will blame you. Even if you leave Los Angeles, all 28 teams will welcome you. Those articles are utter garbage."

Kobe's anger was reignited by his former teammate's words. Seemingly surprised that Odom also thought he would leave the team, Kobe immediately looked up, glared, and muttered in a dark voice:

"This is my team! Nobody can make me leave, and those bastards have no right to tell me what to do!"

"."

When Stoudemire and the atmosphere team returned, it took less than two minutes for the two sides to start another round of insults, with Felton, who had taken the initiative to side, grinning and mocking:
"Don't act like a superstar in front of us. Your greatest achievement is making those guys who don't understand football think you're on the same level as Lee!"

"Now everyone has woken up."

Watching Mamba argue with everyone, Odom shrugged and sat down with Vujacic until Coach Scott loudly stopped the argument, bringing the conflict to an end.

Winning is usually a good thing, and an 18-14 record is acceptable, but the out-of-control locker room left Scott feeling exhausted. He maintained a smile and continued to encourage his players, but inwardly he was frustrated and complaining.
"Let's end this boring farce quickly!"

-

On January 1, 2011, the first day of the new year, Li You, who had returned to the Peninsula Estate, unusually did not get up on time.

Due to a blizzard that struck the northeastern United States after Christmas, Fairfield County was covered in snow, and Peninsula Estate was naturally also blanketed in white.

For children on holiday, the thick snow is a natural playground. Yesterday was Li You's birthday, and he took the girls to play with him. As a result, they were all exhausted on the first day of the new year.
When Jin woke up on the large bed in the bedroom on the third floor, she found that Milinda was sleeping soundly next to her. She carefully pulled her arm out of her voluptuous embrace, but when she turned around, Li You pulled her into his arms again.

Fortunately, the blanket was big enough, and as her naked body warmed up, Jin opened her eyes and whispered:
"How about I stop using the private jet? I've heard that many members of Congress live in their offices."

He will officially take office at 12 noon on the 3rd. As a member of the House of Representatives, he will have to travel between Washington and his district. Considering the geographical location of New Mexico, this will be a considerable expense.

Perhaps because it was a completely new field, the usually confident Jin seemed somewhat hesitant and uncertain. Li You found this amusing, rubbed his fair skin, and said in a low voice:
"A congressman's annual salary is $17.9. I don't believe the nonsense the Hill is spouting."

"Regardless of which party you belong to, many people go to Happy Restaurant and don't pay. However, many people within the party will take care of you."

Looking at the restaurant's expenses, it has been losing at least $100 million a year since taking over part of Jack Abramoff's political legacy, and the figure would be even higher if it weren't for some respectable people.

Milinda, who was hugging Kim from behind, also closed her eyes and whispered. All three of them were in their thirties, but sometimes they still "relive old dreams":
"The house has been bought. Everyone knows that my dear is very generous. Anyway, supporting Liz Cheney's Senate campaign will cost a lot of money, so no one will care about the airfare."

Ahead of the midterm elections, the Democratic Party’s Congressional campaign committee announced that it would no longer allocate resources to moderate MP Harry Teague, which was also related to the funding behind Kim.

Although it wasn't announced publicly, there was no upper limit to Li You's demands. Steve Pierce compromised during the party primary, mainly because of the dollar and Cheney, among others.

Jin wanted to continue expressing his worries, but soon he could only groan twice. Faced with the double encirclement, he couldn't hold on and was defeated in less than half an hour.

Around 8 o'clock, Happy, the senior dog, was unusually energetic. After reawakening his husky instincts, he kept circling around the table while everyone was having breakfast.

Today, we're going to continue building snowmen with the little ones. The chubby Elizabeth Olsen blushed even more when she saw Li You handing hot milk to Scarlett and the others but not drinking any himself.

Our eldest son, Evander, was named by his father. He hasn't had much milk in the past few months; most of the time, it's ended up in Li You's stomach.
Catherine, assuming the young woman had a poor appetite, had just finished feeding her eldest son, Vsevolod, and turned to whisper:
"Are you feeling unwell?"

Shaking his head, young Olsen quickly whispered something to Li You, which made the blonde girl immediately roll her eyes at him. She had come to understand that men sometimes never grow up.

After a quick breakfast, the twins started circling the senior dog again, and soon the whole house became lively. It wasn't until Christen Ritter whispered a warning to Ivana that she was coming that the little ones obediently listened.

After breakfast, the succubus picked up the group and cheered. The old dog also barked a few times. Li You smiled and patted the dog's head. It was time for another "ordinary" time to take care of the kids!
In a few years, the football team's daily training will also be on the agenda. In order to promote unity and friendship among the team members, Li You has already planned a "basket" of training programs.

-

On Sunday, January 2nd, unlike Li You who was busy taking care of his child, the young players were still striving to compete for the "number one in the league" position.

After easily defeating the Warriors 97-112 last night, the Heat's record has improved to 29 wins and 5 losses. Apart from games that were strategically abandoned due to injuries, the Big Three's dominance is off the charts!

Thanks to the coverage by the Miami Herald and ESPN, LeBron James's tireless training has become widely known. After defeating the Lakers, the "Chosen One" made a declaration that deeply moved his fans:

"I want to apologize to Savannah and Brownie. I may not have much time to spend with them in the next few years. I'm still young, and I want to focus on winning championships!"

After forming a super team, their reputation actually improved. James inadvertently discovered the "true meaning" of basketball: victory can solve all problems.

The trio was immersed in the joy of winning, and the entire Heat team was exceptionally united, prompting commentators to sing their praises.

On the same day of the new year, the Thunder dominated the Spurs on the road last night, winning 101-80. With multiple players contributing, the Thunder continued their good form, bringing their record to 25 wins and 9 losses, still firmly holding the top spot in the Western Conference.

Kevin Durant, who is leading in the second round of All-Star voting for Western Conference forwards, made a bold statement after the game, despite his recent disappointment:

"We've already started to realize our potential! We won't let our guard down before the All-Star Game; our goal is to be number one in the league!"

"."

In the 10-11 season, with the passing of veteran players like James Harden, the league did indeed take on a new look, and many fans finally felt the transition between generations.

Of course, not every young player is as driven to win as James and Durant.

On the evening of the 2nd, the Pacers visited Madison Square Garden. After three quarters, rookie Paul George took the opportunity during garbage time to chat with the Knicks' bench.

In their last encounter, the Pacers played exceptionally well at home, and Paul George didn't get a chance to play. But tonight, in the holy land of basketball, the rookie couldn't hold back.

As the buzzing sound rang out, the score was fixed at 92-110. Despite the loss, Paul George maintained a constant smile and was the first to step forward and hug Li You in greeting.

ABC was broadcasting the game. Paul George, who had quietly asked for an autograph in front of the camera, yelled and shouted. Lee Yu took off his jersey, signed it, and gave it to the rookie, adding words of encouragement:
"You'll become a superstar, Bro. I see huge potential in you. Keep your passion for basketball."

"I will do it, God! I don't know what to say, I'm so excited!"

A somewhat incoherent Paul George excitedly showed off his gift to the camera, completely ignoring his teammates' stares, and shouted with a wide grin:
"Li's autograph! GOAT's endorsement! God! I've achieved my dream!"

"."

(End of this chapter)