NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 774 "It's Our Turn Too!" (Daily Life Chapter)

On Thursday, February 3, 2011, TNT announced the reserve roster for the Los Angeles All-Star Game during its pre-game program:

The seven Eastern Conference All-Star reserves are:

Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Carmelo Anthony, Paul Pierce, Chris Bosh, Pau Gasol;
The seven Western Conference All-Star reserves are:

Russell Westbrook, Deron Williams, Kevin Love, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Amar'e Stoudemire.

After the director presented the roster, the three people in the studio started discussing the controversial topics surrounding the selected players, something that happens every season:

"Team performance should be more important than individual statistics. I don't really like this roster. Some players deserve more attention."

Charles Barkley's outspoken remarks were directed at Carmelo Anthony in the East and Kevin Love in the West.

Carmelo Anthony has a great chance to win the scoring title, but the Nets' record is not good. After defeating the 76ers last night, they are currently 23 wins and 26 losses, failing to squeeze into the top 8.

Kevin Love is currently putting up impressive numbers, averaging 20.4 points and 15.8 rebounds per game, easily contributing double-doubles in many games. However, the Timberwolves' record is exceptionally poor, with a record of 11 wins and 36 losses, and they're losing non-stop.
The reason he was selected is mainly because his game against the Wizards at the beginning of last month was too impressive. Love's huge double-double of 43 points and 31 rebounds shocked many basketball commentators!
Kenny Smith didn't seem to care much about how the coaches voted; when discussing the list, he focused more on the individual performance of past MVPs.
"Averaging 11.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, although Duncan's form has improved recently, his personal statistics are still showing a sharp decline."

"The young perimeter players in the Western Conference have failed to make a name for themselves, and I have received confirmation that Brandon Roy will miss the remainder of the season indefinitely."

"I think many fans will feel regretful about this."

Brandon Roy, who was plagued by injuries throughout the new season, was ultimately brought down by his injuries. After receiving the "Kobe Recognition Award," Roy failed to fully realize his potential, and it was only a matter of time before he was put on the trading block.

The absence of Western Conference perimeter stars on this roster is reminiscent of the East's dominance over the West.

Recently, some basketball commentators have even analyzed the Lakers' Finals journey in recent years, and their conclusions have surprised many:

"If the Western Conference had outstanding perimeter players, Kobe would hardly have achieved what he has today; he's been overrated far too much."

Thanks to the tireless efforts of basketball experts, Kobe's inefficient basic stats and lackluster advanced stats have been amplified, and more and more people are realizing that the Mamba benefited from the Western Conference!
Some of Wade's supporters even openly mocked him, saying that Kobe would at most reach the semifinals in the Eastern Conference, and might even be eliminated in the first round every year.
In the "IF" scenario, Kobe had already been surpassed by Iverson and Carter. If McGrady hadn't consistently been eliminated in the first round in the Western Conference, perhaps the "washed-up second-best" would have surpassed the Mamba by now.

Balancing the league's strength was not on Ernie Johnson's mind. As the host, he proactively shifted the topic, continuing to preview the games for fans watching at home:
"Tim Duncan will miss tonight's game, marking his return to Los Angeles."

"We have received confirmation that Duncan did not travel with the team here. Coach Popovich believes that the star player needs more time to recover from his physical and mental trauma."

In the new season, Duncan missed games in Los Angeles and New York, and also missed some back-to-back games, making it seem like he's nearing retirement.

"Tactical absence" has become the choice of many players, just like Wade, who has missed two of the three games against the Knicks so far, and also missed the back-to-back games a while ago.

More and more teams are starting to extend their rotations, sacrificing some wins, which has led many fans to complain that star players are getting too little playing time.
During the pre-match video call, head coach Byron Scott smiled politely at the camera. When discussing tonight's opponent, he didn't express high expectations, offering only a brief assessment before praising the championship striker:

"Health is our only goal right now, and I must commend Stoudemire for his leadership in the locker room. He doesn't care about his own stats and has earned playing time for many players!"

"This is the most harmonious locker room I have ever experienced, and the rumors from the outside world will not affect us."

"."

This statement is almost a blatant lie. In many games, Kobe and Stoudemire almost came to blows on the spot, and everyone knew that the two had already fallen out.

Harmony is impossible, and some onlookers have even started speculating about when the boxing match will take place. The champion defender has "beaten" Harden, and it's time for the champion forward to show his strength!
After the pre-game video call, reflecting on the Spurs' and Lakers' lackluster records, Charles Barkley, unusually, refrained from criticizing the players and instead sighed with a sense of helplessness:
"Perhaps the championship window for these two teams has already closed, and it's hard to imagine them returning to the Finals stage."

-

Because Duncan's departure from the Lakers was not amicable, although Los Angeles fans acknowledged the MVP, a few short seasons were not enough for a former MVP to become a team legend.

Most fans at Staples Center were indifferent to the Spurs' return visit that night, as everyone was focused on the internal drama within the team.
Perhaps the boos affected Kobe, as the Mamba played hesitantly in the first quarter. Coupled with a lack of passersby and being detached from the system, he only managed to score 2 points on one of his three shots.

His poor performance drew boos that wouldn't stop, and fans holding up whiteboards that read "Kobe Out" jumped and danced around as if attacking the Mamba would guarantee a win.

In contrast, Stoudemire, who is in increasingly better form, has completely carried the team. His mid-range jump shot is accurate, and his dunks show his talent. The championship forward has broken through the opponent's interior and has a strong presence on the court!

Towards the end of the first quarter, when Stoudemire stepped to the free-throw line again, the cheers grew louder and louder:
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

After being substituted off the court, Kobe sat on the bench with a dark expression. Betrayed by fans, disrespected by teammates, lost the trust of the coaching staff, and with management publicly stating that they wanted to trade him, this was the worst season of his career.

At 18:30, the Lakers fans in the arena cheered loudly with a 12-point lead, and everyone saw the dawn of victory again.

On the bench, head coach Popovich looked rather grim. In the past, he would have already yelled at the sleepwalking Parker, but the team atmosphere was off, so the old man could only suppress his displeasure and continue to encourage him.

"Listen, we need to speed up the ball movement, pay attention to our movement."

Tonight, Thiago Splitter and DeJuan Blair teamed up in the paint, and the two rookies couldn't contain Stoudemire, who plays the center position. I was stunned by what I heard.

George Hill glanced at Parker, who was lost in thought, and muttered a couple of complaints to himself. The Frenchman had ruined the previously harmonious locker room.

Only Ginobili was still encouraging everyone. Due to a lack of qualified small forwards, the Spurs had been playing with three guards recently. The 12-point difference wasn't a big one, and the Argentine firmly believed there was still a chance.

In the following game, Kobe's disappearance failed to help the Spurs narrow the gap. As Felton, Barnes and others hit three-pointers in succession, Odom completed several transition offenses, and the gap widened.

Late in the third quarter, Stoudemire's second-chance opportunity reignited the atmosphere. After the final buzzer sounded, the champion player slammed the ball into the basket and roared at the camera:

"This is my house!"

After pounding his chest and pointing repeatedly at the floor, Stoudemire displayed his leadership qualities, prompting the front-row fans to cheer passionately.

He made the free throw, and the champion forward continued to impress on defense, occasionally yelling "Mamba!" to solidify his position as the leader.

The fourth quarter turned into garbage time, and Popovich made substitutions early. The old man missed the spirited Duncan more and more. Without a star player, the Spurs' playoff hopes are not even secure.

Ultimately, in this nationally televised game, the Lakers defeated the Spurs 86-113, bringing their record to 29 wins and 20 losses.

The Spurs' record fell to 23 wins and 24 losses, unfortunately dropping out of the top eight.
TNT reporter Sager saw the Spurs players leave quickly and didn't try to interview them. When he approached Stoudemire, Kobe quietly left the court behind.

"Boo!!" With 5 of 16 shots made, Kobe scored an inefficient 16 points tonight, drawing constant boos from the crowd.

Ignoring Mamba behind him, Stoudemire smiled at the camera during the interview and confidently stated regarding the recent three-game winning streak:
"I'm glad we were able to get back into form before the All-Star Game. This isn't our limit. In the second half of the season, we'll give it our all and try to get into the top half of the bracket!"

"."

In the game played simultaneously that night, LeBron James had a career-high night!
The Heat narrowly defeated the Magic 110-105, with their star player contributing explosive statistics in 43 minutes of play.

25中17，三分线外7中3，罚球17中14，51分11篮板8助攻1抢断1盖帽3失误，差点三双的詹姆斯赛后接受采访时只是面带微笑，谦虚回应道：

"Yee! I'm in pretty good shape, thanks to all my hard work in training!"

"This season I reread several of Lee's books, and their contents have guided my direction. I have also gained a new understanding of basketball."

"The statistics don't matter. What matters is that we all stepped up tonight. Basketball is a team sport, and I'm glad we won this tough game."

At this moment, many fans in the Amway Center were cheering for James's explosive performance. He drove to the basket and scored from outside the box; tonight, the chosen one seemed invincible.

When a happy Wade and Bosh came over, they didn't forget to give them an "ice water bath." The young people shouted excitedly, and the league's best record made everyone extremely satisfied.

With a record of 39 wins and 9 losses, the Heat are currently far ahead, and their outstanding record has also put LeBron James at the top of the MVP rankings.

Rashad Lewis, who has been plagued by injuries, has recently recovered and returned to the court. As a championship forward who has signed a big contract, Lewis' career has been very successful.

At the post-game press conference, Lewis and Carter were also asked about the MVP award. ESPN's rankings this year are dominated by younger players, and both veterans spoke candidly about the topic.
"I don't really like the way the MVP is selected. In my opinion, Lee should have won more trophies. Some players are clearly not up to his standards."

Although Lewis didn't mention any names, the media reporters present clearly knew he was referring to Nowitzki, Duncan, and Garnett.

The 34-year-old Carter, while talking about young players, didn't forget to joke about himself, saying with a helpless smile:
"If I had to pick one from these players, I would vote for LeBron James. Although I don't like the way he puts his team together, he is humble enough not to 'steal' this honor."

"Compared to my less-than-successful career, young people may have made the right choice."

"."

Some reporters in the audience chuckled softly; Carter had always been resentful about having his "Black Mamba" nickname taken from him.

Kobe's reputation is now tarnished, and the Slam Dunk King is finally being remembered. This guy is the real Mamba!
The three Heat players at the press conference joked with each other when the MVP question came up. Wade was very satisfied with the current results, and finally responded seriously:

"We haven't achieved anything since we entered the league! If LeBron wins the award, Chris and I will just wish him well."

"Because it also represents recognition of the Heat! The trophy won't bother us at all. Shaq and I have shared his experiences with the Lakers. I'm not Kobe, I won't be jealous of my brother!"

Bosh, whose public image had been turned around, laughed heartily and, without waiting for questions from the reporters in the audience, joined in the banter:
"This year it's LeBron, next year it's The Flash, and then it's my turn! God, maybe I should prepare my speech in advance."

James, who was standing nearby, listened with a broad smile and took the microphone to crack a joke:
"Yes, Bro! We can take turns winning the prize."

-

On Sunday, February 6th, the 76ers will face the Knicks in a rematch, having just suffered a heavy defeat at home on Friday.

Andre Iguodala, who was recently injured and returned to the court, has only made Philadelphia fans angrier. They wondered how the defending champions could still lose when they were supposedly "tanking".

Since 96, the 76ers haven't won a single game. After being beaten so badly for so many years, Philadelphia fans have given up on the idea of ​​a championship. They'll celebrate wildly if they win even once.

With the thought that "it's our turn too," some die-hard 76ers fans made a special trip to Manhattan to watch the game this weekend. After all, the two cities are not far apart, and witnessing a "historic moment" would be a great opportunity.

Less than 20 minutes after the game started at 20 p.m., Philadelphia fans in the back seats wearing white 76ers jerseys with the number 3 were stunned, surrounded by mocking voices.

At the end of the first quarter, Mike Brin, in the MSG commentary booth, couldn't stop smiling and exclaimed loudly while looking at the statistics:
“22分2篮板2助攻2抢断，李再次粉碎了费城的幻想！今晚我们将迎来常规赛对76人队的58连胜！”

Walter Frazier couldn't hold back either, especially seeing Iguodala's bewildered expression, and chuckled as he commented:

"The 76ers seem to be adjusting after Doug Collins took over the team. Their pick-and-roll defense in the first quarter was a disaster. Hawes and Brand could only watch the shot go in."

7中7，三分线外4中4，罚球4中4，首节只打了9分46秒的李佑提前下班了.
At 14:40, the Knicks had secured the victory, and after returning to their home court, they won another big win!
With such a large lead, D'Antoni didn't even bother to devise a strategy and hung up again. He watched as assistant coach Mike Malone kept reminding him about the rotation. At the start of the second quarter, Malone started with a fadeaway jumper.

The chants at Madison Square Garden never stopped, and the New York fans holding up signs with "58" were overjoyed. They just love to "humiliate" the team next door.

During the rotation, the Knicks' height dropped significantly, and their frontcourt of three forwards—Marion, Thaddeus Young, and Ibaka—sometimes lost rebounds, but they performed exceptionally well tonight.

Lou Williams attempted to pass the ball to Elton Brand, who had the advantage, but his repeated fronting and stretching of the defense stalled the 76ers' offense.

Finally, Iguodala received the ball at the top of the arc and passed it to Evan Turner on the right wing, but Danny Green intercepted it. Seeing the referee signaling for possession in the backcourt, Doug Collins on the sidelines roared angrily.

On the defensive end, substitute Tony Battie also failed to protect the rebounds. Thaddeus Young missed a three-pointer from the left wing, then grabbed the rebound himself and stole the ball.
When Marion cut into the middle and drew a foul, standing at the free-throw line, Iguodala, leaning on his knee and looking pained, helplessly raised his hand to indicate that he was feeling unwell.

Chalmers, standing beyond the three-point line, clapped enthusiastically. His stats have been rising sharply this season, and he has great passion for every game.

Back on the bench, Iguodala naturally noticed his teammates' "shut-up" state. As the team leader, he had taken the initiative to defend Li You in the first quarter but was "beaten up," so he couldn't say anything at this moment.

Everyone watched the game in silence, the point difference showing no sign of narrowing. During the official timeout, Jrue Holiday walked dejectedly onto the court, high-fived his teammates, and couldn't help but mutter a complaint under his breath:

When will we win a game?

Limping, Iguodala watched his old rivals celebrate joyfully, and after a moment of silence, he whispered a word of comfort as he walked toward the bench:

"Maybe we can win the next game."

最终，76人队早早投降，83:117，赢球的尼克斯队战绩来到26胜23负稳居东部第8。

After the match, Li You, who hadn't even broken a sweat, didn't forget to comfort his old rival. When he hugged and greeted Iguodala, he patted him on the shoulder and offered his sincere congratulations.
"Bro, don't be discouraged. Great achievements always involve failure! You will make a name for yourself in the league."

(End of this chapter)