NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 785 The Last Playoffs? (Chapter without Main Character)
On Thursday, April 21, 2011, the Philadelphia Inquirer published a letter from Kobe Bryant to his hometown fans on its front page.

Tonight, the team faces a do-or-die game, and Mamba is giving it his all for their first playoff win. He's urging fans to come to the Wells Fargo Center to cheer for the team, and his letter is quite touching:
"Dear family members, please arrive at the Wells Fargo Center early. This is a crucial Game 3, and the game will determine the course of the series."

"Let's create the most exciting atmosphere on the court together. My teammates and I need this energy, and our opponents hate it!"

"United nation of 76ers! Let's fight together!"

Kobe has a significant influence in Philadelphia. After reading the morning newspaper, many 76ers fans took to social media to express their willingness to arrive early to support him.

The 76ers' official Twitter account also retweeted a photo of Kobe writing a letter, adding high praise:
"Take this letter to work, and maybe your boss will give you a day off."

Although it wasn't the weekend, Philadelphia was still buzzing with excitement because of Kobe's letter. Even fans in neighboring New York City wanted to go to the game after seeing the reports. The Mamba successfully demonstrated his influence.

However, this only applies to the fan base. Analysts had already declared this series a "death sentence," saying that Kobe, aside from his inefficient shooting, couldn't change the Bulls' defensive strategy at all.

Starting with Game 1, head coach Thibodeau employed the zone defense and double-teaming strategy that the Knicks used to employ.

In fact, this tactic is quite "retro." Going back to 98, the Knicks used this tactic to defend Michael Jordan in the conference finals.

This tactic became uncommon in the Eastern Conference playoffs and finals after that. In earlier years, some teams stubbornly allowed Li You to shoot, but since Li You's three-point shooting became increasingly outrageous, switching and man-to-man defense became the mainstream defensive strategies in the playoffs.

Thibodeau's "retro" adjustments worked this time. He proved that the Knicks' championship experience was still useful at this time, and the zone defense and rotation double-teaming brought Kobe Bryant back to his old ways.

In contrast, Doug Collins was very knowledgeable as a commentator, but his coaching ability was far inferior, as he "gave the ball to Kobe" in both away games.

The rotation players were largely ineffective. If Kobe hadn't played three quarters in two games, with the fourth quarter essentially being garbage time, his stats might have been even worse.
In the afternoon, during TNT's pre-game program, the trio did not have high hopes for Mamba's move, with Charles Barkley even shaking his head in disapproval:

"Kobe's first priority is to improve his performance. Right now, what he should do most is to change the opponent's defensive formation and thus break away from the opponent's rhythm of the game."

"But he didn't seem to be able to do it at all, especially in Game 2. Kobe seemed to have difficulty dealing with the opponent's double-teams, and the 76ers didn't have anyone to provide him with strong support."

"The playoffs are encouraging, but the 76ers need to continue to address the deficiencies in their roster."

Before writing the letter, most commentators were discussing Derrick Rose's performance in this series. Kobe, who had left the Lakers, was no longer sought after. Without those "big moves," the Mamba was not worth mentioning.

Not only Kobe was ignored by basketball commentators, but the Celtics' veterans were also affected. Injuries made them look uncompetitive, and the younger players have taken over the baton. The league has officially completed its generational change this season.

Kenny Smith, who also doesn't have a high opinion of the 76ers, subtly offered his opinion, citing Kevin Love, who recently won an award, as an example:

"The Timberwolves' Kevin Love won the Most Improved Player award. Many people may laugh at them, but the team did make the right choice based on the actual situation."

"Accumulate talent, complete the rebuild, and the 76ers should do the same. Kobe needs to realize one thing: he has now left the uncompetitive Western Conference."

"The Eastern Conference Finals have always been a battle between teams with 60+ wins. At this stage of his career, Kobe should play the role of 'mentor'."

Seemingly anticipating tonight's inevitable crushing defeat, Ernie Johnson spoke up for Kobe in advance, attempting to give him a final moment of respect:

"Kobe has done his best, and I believe 76ers fans will be patient. For Philadelphia, the team is on the right track now."

"Stay rational and give the team some more time!"

"."

TNT's pre-game program was mainly meant to "prepare the poor" Philadelphia fans, as the atmosphere on social media these past two days has been off, with some seemingly advocating for Kobe to lead the team to a comeback victory.

Only mindless fans would believe such an impossible thing. Mamba is clearly not doing well anymore; losing by a small margin is a win!
At 19:30 p.m. that evening, half an hour before the game was scheduled to start, the Wells Fargo Center was already bustling with activity, with most of the fans wearing cheering T-shirts.

The slogan "Trust the process" has been brought up again, which shows the team's attitude towards Kobe. Winning or losing is not important; everyone is more focused on the future.

The two teams began their final warm-up. Derrick Rose, wearing the Bulls' away red jersey, maintained his poker face as he faced the cameras, exuding the aura of a superstar.

Tonight's game, broadcast by ABC, was the most anticipated of the three matchups. The newly crowned MVP garnered significant attention from casual fans, all eager to witness Derrick Rose's brilliance.

Kobe Bryant, whose reputation is extremely poor, is considered completely washed up by casual fans. Many have even accepted ESPN's view that the Mamba was a brainless, inefficient stat-padder who only knew how to imitate.
Kobe returned to his home court with a sullen face. He wouldn't be too angry if the commentators didn't think highly of him, since he's been like this for so many years.

But what Mamba couldn't accept was the neglect; no one discussed whether he could win, and no one cared about his performance.

Some sports media outlets even started following the San Diego University rookie, because he rejected New York and was a fan of Allen Iverson.
There was even more discussion about how the Knicks were rebuilding than about the 76ers' playoff run. Even Carmelo Anthony was more talked about than Kobe. This was the first time Kobe had received such treatment, and he felt particularly bad.

As the game was about to begin, head coach Tom Thibodeau was surrounded by the Bulls players on the sidelines, seemingly prepared for a tough match. He then reminded his players once again:
"This is an away game! We need more patience!"

"Remember, you are the more talented ones. Don't think about destroying your opponents immediately; play to your strengths."

Before returning to the court, Thibodeau pulled Rose aside and gave him another instruction:
"Don't underestimate your opponent. If your shooting touch is off, I want to see your aggressiveness! An MVP needs to stay calm at all times."

Rose, who had great faith in the head coach, immediately nodded in agreement. Finally, Thibodeau, dressed in a black suit, tugged at his red scarf, believing that Kobe would respond when he returned to his home court.

After the game started at 20 p.m. and the jump ball was successful, the cheers from the Philadelphia fans in the stadium never stopped.

In the first possession, Kobe calmly assisted Spencer Hawes, who bounced out to the right wing, for a long two-pointer!
Mamba, retreating on defense, revealed a "fierce" expression, clenching his fist in celebration while loudly reminding his teammates to be careful of their matchup.

"Oh"

Amidst low cheers, with Boozer providing cover on the left wing, Rose, holding the ball with his left hand, suddenly lowered his center of gravity, quickly in and out, and with a sudden burst of speed, shook off Holiday.

Spencer Hawes followed up on defense, blocking the left side, but before two players could close in, Rose had already passed the ball back to his teammate.

Kobe attempted to defend two opponents, sliding towards his left elbow area, but Boozer responded decisively with a jump shot.

When the 76ers attacked again, Brand received the ball on the left low post but did not rush to attack. After scoring and then getting the ball back, he turned around over Noah and scored with a strong attack under the basket!
On the defensive end, Kobe led the defense against Rose, forcefully squeezing through the screen and chasing him relentlessly, forcing the opponent to pass the ball in the right-side defensive zone.

Amid cheers, Luol Deng missed a pull-up jumper on the left wing. Unfortunately, the 76ers failed to capitalize on the transition offense, and head coach Doug Collins on the sidelines could only loudly signal to his players to stay calm.

Under Mamba's direction, Jrue Holiday suddenly cut through the middle and easily scored two points under the basket, causing the arena to erupt again. The 76ers looked like a strong team!
As time ticked away, the three commentators noticed that Kobe wasn't immediately firing on all cylinders like he had in the previous two games. Van Gundy, noticing Rose's missed shot against Kobe, couldn't help but exclaim in admiration:
"It's clear that Kobe has figured out Rose's game rhythm. The young man underestimated the championship guard!"

"The 76ers only need to add a small forward to complete their transformation, which I think is even better news for Philadelphia fans."

Halfway through the quarter, Kobe hadn't even taken a shot, and Mark Jackson noticed the 76ers' adjustments, but he offered a different perspective after hearing his partner's comments:

"If they want to win the championship, it's not enough to just add a qualified small forward; they must increase the depth of their roster."

"The pace of the game between the two teams is very slow right now, which seems a bit 'retro' to me. Kobe needs more help, and they have a lot of work to do in the offseason."

Unlike the previous two games, Rose seemed to be possessed by a bricklayer tonight, missing his first three shots.
The official timeout didn't solve the problem, allowing the 76ers to gradually widen the gap. Even after Kobe Bryant hit his signature turnaround fadeaway jumper in the right-side paint, head coach Thibodeau made no comment.

It wasn't until late in the first quarter, when Rose hit a three-pointer from the right wing, that the Bulls' bench erupted in cheers. Tonight, they seemed to be completely dominated by their opponents. At the end of the first quarter, the score was 21-27, with Rose going 1-for-5. Only Luol Deng's efficient performance of 3-for-4 kept the deficit from reaching double digits.

Even during the rotation period, Kobe didn't leave the court to rest. He only took one shot in the first quarter, as the Mamba was conserving his energy for the game!

The Philadelphia fans at the stadium remained enthusiastic, but they soon noticed that Rose's form had improved. Although his finishing was still a bit off, he was unstoppable from beyond the three-point line.

The 76ers, who brought back their starting lineup early, managed to weather the toughest part of the first half. Mamba was particularly calm and efficient, going 3-for-3 in the quarter and contributing 7 points!
At halftime, with the score at 43:51, chants of "MVP" echoed through the Wells Fargo Center.

Kobe, covered in sweat, finally smiled. Even as he entered the player tunnel, he didn't forget to encourage his teammates. Holiday and Brand had scored 10 and 13 points respectively in the first half, and he followed suit with a smile.

"This is just the beginning! Guys, stay focused, we can win this game!"

Brand clapped repeatedly as he entered the locker room, and Holiday also high-fived Kobe in celebration. The rookie's face was full of admiration, which made Mamba very pleased.

Head coach Doug Collins regained his confidence as he stood before everyone. The assistant coaches had already prepared the tactics on the whiteboard. The veteran coach tapped it twice, without even looking at the details, and directly offered some motivational words:
"We played exceptionally well! Keep up this pace!"

"Rotate faster, everyone get moving, don't give the opponent any chance."

The 76ers' atmosphere-building members, known to New York fans as "the guys whose names you can't remember," also got into the spirit of the game after Marreese Speights and Tony Battie, who had been largely absent in the first two games.

The two big men were shouting and yelling, and even the injured forward Andres Nocioni started sharing his thoughts on facing his "former team," while also showering them with compliments:

"That's Rose for you. His jump shot is nowhere near Kobe's level. Believe me, he'll have a tough time finding his rhythm tonight!"

"We have the best clutch player in the league, guys, let's give it our all."

These words pleased Kobe greatly. He hadn't experienced such a harmonious locker room in many years. This was what a normal team dynamic should be like. There was no mole inside. The Mamba felt that he had found the key to winning again!

After the start of the second half, the united 76ers quickly discovered the problem: the Bulls were relentlessly attacking the basket!

Rose seemed to wake up instantly, spinning around in the first possession while being double-teamed by Mamba, almost instantly shaking off both of them, and drawing a foul from Brand in the paint.

Then Keith Bogans stepped up, receiving a pass from Luol Deng after a drive and responding with a three-pointer.

In contrast, Kobe, who tried to take over the game, missed several crucial shots, and in less than two minutes, the point difference was narrowed to just two points, causing the fans in the arena to gasp in surprise.
The 76ers seemed to have no answer to the Bulls' outside shooting. Even when Kobe complained to the referees, the opponents still went to the free-throw line from time to time.

In the latter part of the third quarter, Boozer suddenly regained his touch, and Noah completed consecutive second-chance points, allowing the Bulls to successfully take the lead.

When ESPN's camera focused on Thibodeau on the sidelines, the championship assistant coach had already returned to the bench and was leaning back tactically. His thinning hair could not hide the aura of a famous coach!
Kobe missed a turnaround jump shot, his drive to the basket hit the rim and missed, and he was even stripped of the ball face-to-face by Luol Deng. Although he was still able to deliver assists, the chants of "MVP" in the arena gradually faded away.

It wasn't until the end of the third quarter that Kobe hit consecutive long two-pointers, but the momentum of the game had already been completely reversed, and the Wells Fargo Center fell silent.

With a quarter score of 29-18, the Bulls completed a comeback, finishing the third quarter with a score of 72-69.

Kobe, who only rested for 2 minutes, seemed completely exhausted in the final quarter, and the Mamba could only drag his heavy steps to continue sending Rose to the free throw line.

Fortunately, the Chicago Roses' shooting was really off tonight, which allowed the 76ers to keep the score close.
With one minute left in the game, the Bulls were still leading by three points, 92-89. Two minutes had passed, and the fans in the arena were getting tense.

Time flies. Amid cheers and encouragement, Kobe, jersey in his mouth, with a determined expression, received a handoff pass on the left wing and immediately accelerated laterally before pulling back between his legs at the top of the key.

After shaking off Luol Deng, Kobe, now on his left, accelerated again and drove to the basket. He crashed into Deng's arms but couldn't shake off the defender. He stopped abruptly near the elbow and then faked a move with the ball.

By deceiving his opponent's center of gravity, Kobe quickly turned around and made a stylish but missed shot near the free-throw line. Noah grabbed the rebound and immediately found Rose.

"Defense!"

Amidst the deafening cheers of the defense echoing throughout the arena, Kobe, gritting his teeth and chasing down the ball, allowed Rose to miss a crucial shot on the next possession. On the offensive possession, Holiday's pull-up jumper also missed, and the Bulls, having secured the rebound, began to control the clock.

Panting heavily, Kobe, with his shorts rolled up, pressed the ball at the top of the key, immediately returning to his position after interfering, always maintaining a defensive distance.

Everyone spread out, and Rose didn't even try to pass the ball. Although he was currently 2-for-17, he didn't falter in the decisive moment. After a series of crossover dribbles, he switched to his right hand and suddenly accelerated.

The young man flew close to the ground in an instant, almost blowing past the Mamba in one step. Amid gasps, Kobe tried to provide resistance, and in the instant of the concealed pull, Rose suddenly stopped, dribbled behind his back, and took a large step back.

Rose, who had reached the top of the arc, found Kobe standing still. He stretched his body in the air, confidently took a jump shot, and immediately twisted his body after landing.

"What a shot! Derrick Rose!"

The quiet arena seemed to be filled only with Mike Breen's passionate shouts. The moment the basketball swished through the net, the entire Bulls team rushed to Rose's side to celebrate joyfully.

The 76ers called a timeout, and the atmosphere-building team lost their spirits. Everyone pursed their lips and gave each other a silent high-five.

With the score at 94-89 and 17.4 seconds remaining in the game, the 76ers still have a chance.

"I'll make the shot!"

Sweating profusely, Kobe interrupted the head coach's instructions, loudly stating his position while starting to devise tactics. Doug Collins did not stop him, letting the Mamba do his thing.

After the timeout ended, cheers echoed through the arena again. After the inbound pass was taken, Kobe, who received the ball at the top of the arc, immediately released the ball with his right hand and accelerated laterally. Noticing that Rose was also closing in, the Mamba continued to increase his stride.

On the right wing, a sudden stop and feint, Mamba twisted his body amidst two defenders and forced a jump shot. As the basketball arced through the air, bounced off the back of the rim and out of bounds, the Wells Fargo Center fell completely silent.
The Bulls called a timeout, and Thibodeau boldly substituted Ronnie Brewer. After the ball was put back on the line, Brewer was incredibly fast, taking more than two seconds to get to the free-throw line.

The rookie didn't disappoint the coach's trust, making both free throws and celebrating with his teammates by bumping chests, his dark face beaming with an exceptionally bright smile.

The 76ers' final timeout couldn't save the game. As Kobe missed another three-pointer from the left wing, the screaming Philadelphia fans in their seats quietly left the arena.

When the buzzer sounded, the score was 97-89, and the Bulls ended the series suspense, taking a 3-0 lead.

出场45分钟，16中8，三分线外4中0，罚球1中1，科比高效砍下17分3篮板9助攻1抢断2失误的全能数据。

Mamba pursed his lips and walked quickly toward the player tunnel with a blank expression. The 76ers players also lost their composure. Brand sighed silently, and Holiday also came to his senses.

Watching Rose and his teammates high-five and celebrate their victory, Holiday felt a pang of sadness. As he entered the player tunnel, the rookie couldn't help but whisper:

Will we make the playoffs? They say the Knicks are coming back soon.

"."

No one answered the question. Rose could win even with 3 out of 18 shots. Everyone was completely outmatched. In crucial moments, the leader really couldn't be relied on. In the end, it was Brand who comforted him:
"Everything will be fine in the first season of this partnership."

(End of this chapter)