NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 786 "Sending the MVP Home!" (Daily Chapter)

On Tuesday, April 26, 2011, the NBA presented the season's Kennedy Citizenship Award:
Pau Gasol of the New York Knicks won this award for the first time in his career.

The rebuilding Knicks are more focused on connecting with the community than ever before, and this season they've been "giving out help" at a record high!
Although many community fans cannot afford the expensive season tickets, the screaming seats are reserved for them. From another perspective, maintaining an excellent home atmosphere is inseparable from the contributions of these fans.

In the easiest season of his career, Gasol got more playing time, but ended up breaking up with his girlfriend and becoming single again.

Spanish media first broke the news that Gasol did not immediately return to Spain after the regular season ended, and spent the time cheering for his brother at the stadium.

Making the playoffs is definitely something to celebrate for the Grizzlies, a team that moved from Vancouver to Memphis and had a lot of bad luck, taking many years to rebuild before getting back on track.

However, the Grizzlies' first-ever playoff encounter with the Thunder was not a good experience. The Thunder's "double refereeing" almost broke the Grizzlies fans' nerves, and the game was really ugly!
Durant hadn't yet unleashed his "killer move" during the regular season, but in the playoffs, his "swinging motion" received the referee's approval.

In Game 4 last night, the Grizzlies almost took a 3-1 lead, but Randolph fouled out early in the fourth quarter, and Marc Gasol was dragged around throughout the game.

Unlucky Michael Conley suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Westbrook, losing a 13-point lead and bringing the series to 2-2. Game 5 will now be back in Oklahoma City!

This once again proves that not every team can easily dominate 5 against 8. The Knicks' experience cannot be replicated, and the role of the referees has been underestimated.
After the controversial Game 4, Derek Fisher, whose reputation has recently plummeted, revealed his true feelings in a post-game interview:

"This is the NBA! Fans, referees, injuries are all part of the game. Kevin played very well, and I kept encouraging him to be himself. I'm glad he got through this tough game."

The interview was met with fierce criticism from Grizzlies fans on Reddit, who felt that James Harden was "no longer pretending" and even had a sense of superiority in his tone. After a night of heated discussion, the Thunder faced even more condemnation from fans.

At 2 PM, First Take invited Pau Gasol, who had just won an award. Today's program was an NBA special because the NFL season was suspended.
Players in the four major sports leagues always have to contend with the owners. Although football is temporarily gone, the show still has to go on. Considering the ratings, the Knicks were ultimately chosen.

Dana Jacobson is considered to lack "aggressiveness" as a host, and there are reports that the show's producers are planning to replace her with someone more "energetic."
As always, when asked about the season, Gasol shared with a smile:
"In our view, this has been a very successful season. You know, after winning eight consecutive championships, everyone lacks the desire for more titles."

"I don't want to lie. It's like reaching the finish line. After achieving such extraordinary success, I feel a bit lost."

"The Knicks have won too many games. I haven't even experienced the feeling of having a break in April since I entered the league. Every year I can't go on vacation until the end of June."

"But I'll only get a month off at most, and then I'll probably have to go back to the national team. That's my life before. Now it's a completely new experience; I can go and cheer for Mark."

Stephen A. Smith listened with a smile, not seeing anything wrong with it, but Skip Bayliss's eye twitched slightly. Although what Gasol said was true, it sounded like he was showing off!

Gasol wasn't lying; he has indeed been busy ever since he entered the league. Unlike Li You, he hasn't missed a single game for the national team.

The Spanish giant was overjoyed to take a break in April, and coupled with being single again, he truly enjoyed a wonderful period of life.
“Pau, I know you’ve been following the Western Conference games. Just on Sunday, Kobe became the only player to be swept in the first round. What are your thoughts on the future of this old rival?”

Stephen A. Smith calmly and loudly announced that the Mamba had been swept, a smug smile on his face. He had always believed that Kobe was a stat padder, and now that had been proven true.

Gasol didn't seem too concerned about his old rival's situation. Since leaving the Lakers, Kobe's popularity had plummeted, and New York had always viewed Philadelphia as a clown, which also affected the Spanish big man.

"I think Kobe can play a good mentor role on the team! His attitude towards training is beyond people's imagination, which can help the young players of the 76ers."

"As for the 76ers' record, I don't have high expectations. Kobe is not Lee, and his inefficient style of play is not suitable for modern basketball."

"Of course, I'm judging him by Lee's standards. After all, Kobe's goal is to win championships. If we only talk about statistics, he is still relatively efficient among star players."

Li You's standard is simple: the 180 Club. Even if you slack off this season, you can easily maintain this level of stats, while Kobe never reached this level in his entire career.

"Yee! I completely agree with that. Kobe was never a leader; he could only play alongside MVPs!"

"Leading the team to the first round is his limit."

After picking up the thread, Stephen A. Smith launched into a long, scathing attack, once again belittling Kobe as an inefficient stat-padder who only knew how to ride on other players' coattails. Skip Bayliss sighed helplessly and slowly added:
“I have to apologize to Derrick Rose, who completely dominated Kobe in this series.”

"Rose showed his clutch gene in Game 3, and that jump shot was really impressive. I think a lot of the media people who voted were happy for him at that moment."

"After leaving the Lakers, Kobe is no longer a top star. Like many great players in history, he has retired from championship contention at the end of his career."

Before the series began, Skip Bayliss confidently claimed that Kobe could teach Rose a lesson and even lead his team to a upset victory!

结果G3罗斯18中3，三分线外6中2，罚球17中14，22分6篮板7助攻1抢断2失误带队赢球，彻底打脸。

Kobe's defense was indeed effective, but with such a poor shooting performance, Rose still managed to hit the crucial shot, showcasing his superstar quality. In contrast, Mamba missed several shots at critical moments, creating a stark contrast with the younger player.

"This is related to the 76ers' roster. Kobe always has problems reading the defense in some possessions, and this becomes more and more obvious in the fourth quarter."

Gasol began sharing his analysis of the Knicks' internal situation, and the Spanish big man, seemingly unconcerned about saving face for the Mamba, continued to add with a smile:

"We've used this in many past matches; after such intense exertion, we're even more eager to see Kobe take the shot!"

"That's also the difference between him and Lee. Lee doesn't miss those good opportunities; he can complete attacks from anywhere in the half."

"Coach Thibodeau also discovered Kobe's weaknesses, so he definitely deserves the Coach of the Year award. I see a familiar system in the Bulls."

Stephen A. Smith burst out laughing after hearing this, and for the next hour or so of the show, he relentlessly attacked Mamba, repeatedly emphasizing his past views.

Without any intention of refuting, Skip-Bellis also joined the condemnation, even asserting at one point:
"If Kobe doesn't take a pay cut, the 76ers' best chance will be reaching the first round of the playoffs for the next few years."

In the final segment of the show, the four chatted about the draft. Gasol wasn't deeply involved, but he offered a different perspective on recommending the newcomers:
"If rookie players want to pursue a championship, then playing alongside Lee is the best option!"

"You get to experience the big moments you've been waiting for and witness the dominance of the GOAT, which is incredibly important for rookie players. Championship experience will pave the way for their success."

"."

After the show ended at 4 p.m., Kobe, who lives in West Philadelphia, had a long face at home. He controlled his emotions and didn't text Stephen A. Smith, that big mouth.

Mamba was shocked that Gasol would be so disrespectful to him, even categorizing him as an "inefficient player," which he found unacceptable.

Choosing to settle in Winnefield Heights is naturally due to its proximity to the Philadelphia College of Orthopaedic Surgeons, where the 76ers' practice facilities are located.
Vanessa is not satisfied with the high-rise apartment she is currently renting, but she still maintains the decorum of a husband in front of Rod Thorn, the president and general manager of the 76ers, and greets the team's management with a smile.

As a veteran with a rich resume who drafted Michael Jordan, Rod Thorn still held a high position in Kobe's heart, and the Mamba trusted his judgment.

Having worked with the Nets for the past few years, Rod Thorn is already used to the basketball environment in the Eastern Conference, and he sees First Take's kind of bashing as routine.

Back then, Kidd and Iverson were attacked even more severely, and even a "totem-like" player like Reggie Miller was humiliated by New York commentators. It was impossible to expect commentators to say good things about Kobe.

The old man adjusted his glasses, put down his cup of red tea, looked at Kobe's pale face, and smiled as he comforted him:
"Don't pay attention to what they say. We all know the weaknesses in our roster, which is why we kept this year's draft pick!"

"Returning to the playoffs in the first year of our partnership is a great start, Kobe. Philadelphia supports you. This isn't the volatile New York. 76ers fans believe in the process."

Rod Thorne kept saying nice things, almost to the point of flattery, mainly because the team wanted Kobe to re-sign with his contract.

Regardless of his record, Mamba is an absolute master at selling tickets. After joining the team, he saved the sluggish ticket market, and the boos at home games disappeared.

When Kobe heard that the team planned to draft a rookie to fill the small forward position, he frowned slightly. Even if he was very confident, he knew that he was on the decline. Even his idol's stats declined in the twilight of his career, so he was not blindly optimistic.

"Should we pick a rookie striker?"

Hearing Kobe's doubts, the old man nodded. "16th pick," he said, "as long as things go smoothly, a decent starting position shouldn't be a problem." Seemingly sensing Kobe's dissatisfaction, Rod Thorne added with a chuckle:

"Of course, we can continue to make trades. What do you think of Thaddeus Young? New York welcomes offers. As a restricted free agent, we have a chance to get him."

Thaddeus Young has been outstanding this season, winning the Sixth Man of the Year award. He has experienced big games and is definitely a worthy piece of the championship puzzle. Several teams are already eyeing the championship forward.

The thought of players from the Knicks made Mamba uncomfortable, but he couldn't show it on his face, since they were indeed a great addition.

Trying to recall, Kobe realized the other party seemed quite low-key and hadn't done anything outrageous. Ultimately, he didn't refuse, and after a moment's thought, he responded with a relaxed expression:
"I trust the team's decision. As for the contract, Rob will be here in the next couple of days. Just like I promised, I want to keep playing for my hometown."

Having received Mamba's assurance once again, Rod Thorne was completely at ease. After arriving at the pre-booked restaurant for dinner, he began sharing anecdotes from his past experiences in the league.

It wasn't until they were driving home that Vanessa whispered a question to her husband:
"Can we still go back to Los Angeles?"

Having been kicked out of his original team, Kobe's "one-city player" award was completely gone. Considering the attitudes of Jim Buss and Jerry Buss, Kobe remained silent for a moment before responding:

"My children can go to school in Los Angeles, and I will end my career here."

— Wednesday, April 27th. The Peninsula Estate was quiet and deserted. The little guys had all returned to Manhattan recently, and the senior dog Happy was sleeping soundly in his little bed.

In the master bedroom on the third floor, Elizabeth Olsen woke up, glanced at her phone by the bedside, and realized it was only 7 o'clock. She immediately withdrew her arm.

The Tribeca Film Festival continues this week. Hardworking Kathleen stayed in New York with a few others, while the young woman decided to enjoy some alone time and quietly stayed in Greenwich.

However, the plan failed. The clingy succubus filmed another embarrassing "movie" last night. Looking at the white dress scattered on the bedside, the young girl felt her body temperature rise.

The main reason for choosing this theme is that Prince William and Kate Middleton are getting married soon. While New York has nominally put the "crown" in the trash long ago, the general public is still enthusiastic about royal culture.
Due to the time difference, "Prince fans" are planning to celebrate late the night after tomorrow, making the British pubs in New York especially lively these two days.

On the occasion of the prince's wedding, many Americans proudly stood tall and shared in the joy!
Scarlett, her red hair disheveled, was woken up by the girl beside her. She'd been so engrossed in filming last night that it was well into the night. She snuggled into Li You's arms a couple more times before whispering in a slightly hoarse voice:
"Lilibet, what time is it?"

Upon hearing this nickname for Elizabeth II, the young Olsen fully sobered up, blushing as he buried his head in Li You's arms without uttering a sound, seemingly recalling the scene of his "acting" explosion last night.

Li You, who was being roughly handled by the two, opened his eyes and found the young girl looking at him with a flushed face. He immediately chuckled. After the blanket covered the three of them, the succubus also giggled.

After a brief surge, Olsen quickly let out a soft exclamation, clearly satisfied with the new theme. Li You even praised it in a low voice:
"You guys always come up with some new ideas!"

"."

At lunchtime, Olsen, wearing a white nightgown, had a rosy complexion. She glanced at the succubus on the other side of the table, who was eating meat with her breasts exposed.

Since the birth of her eldest son, her figure has begun to "expand," and Scarlett seems to have a lot of experience with this, always taking extra care of her fair skin.
It's rare to start enjoying life in April. The succubus, who had no interest in work, watched Li You devour his steak and exclaimed in admiration:
"If only we could rest all year round! Kim and Melinda are so tired. If we had known the senators were so boring, we shouldn't have left New York."

Scarlett had long wanted Li You to give up basketball and "play" with them every day. She thought that once her son grew up, he wouldn't be cute anymore, and even Happy couldn't stand it. The succubus just wanted to focus on making "movies."

Olsen, with his blonde hair styled in a bun, rolled his eyes and once again displayed his "considerate" side:
"I support whatever you want to do, honey. I plan to go back to NYU."

The two started planning their future together, chatting away. Li You, who had only eaten half a meal, secretly shook his head. Basketball had to continue; his stamina wasn't yet sufficient to comfortably take on eight opponents at once. He desperately needed new talent.
However, since they were going to Washington in two days and would be living in Manchester for a while afterward, Li You didn't want to spoil the mood and immediately suggested:
"This afternoon we will accompany Her Majesty the Queen on an outing; the yacht is ready!"

The succubus cheered and immediately sat in Li You's lap, kissing him while glancing at the blushing young woman. Olsen lowered his head in embarrassment, but ultimately didn't refuse, instead asking in a low voice:

"Should we prepare a few more dresses in other colors?"

-

At 19 p.m. that evening, the American Airlines Center was filled with jubilation. The game had just begun, and Miami fans were already celebrating their victory.

The Pacers, who won Game 4, started off shooting poorly, and Danny Granger, who was heavily guarded, failed to capitalize on several of his passes.

Darren Collison missed a three-pointer on the right wing, and Tyler Hansbrough and Roy Hibbert were both boxing out for position under the basket.

To address the rebounding issue, Bosh and Joel Anthony partnered in the paint tonight. Although they were in better positions, they didn't immediately fight for the rebounds, instead actively boxing out to allow Wade to grab them back in the paint.

"Oh!!"

Amidst the cheers that echoed throughout the arena, James, who had just been entangled with Granger, charged forward at breakneck speed. Paul George tried his best to defend him, but for a moment he couldn't catch up with the chosen one.

Wade delivered a long pass across half-court, the basketball flew to the upper left of the basket, James leaped into the air to catch the ball, hovered briefly, and then used his left hand to catch the ball and bank it in for a layup!
The Heat's signature fast break drew loud praise from commentator Kevin Harlan in the stands:

"Incredible talent! The Heat's counterattacks are unstoppable, and they seem to be even faster than the Knicks' past 8-second offense!"

Reggie Miller, standing to the side, was in a bad mood. The Heat had been crushed by their opponents in this series. If it weren't for James and Bosh taking turns missing shots in the previous game, the Heat would have only scored 86 points and the Pacers would have been out of the game by now.

Taking advantage of the away team's half-court offense and their cross screens inside, Reggie Miller began to comment:

“I think Chris Bosh is the key player in this series! When he comes to the center position, this team is simply unstoppable.”

"It's worth noting that Pau Gasol didn't take a lot of three-pointers in the past, and Tyson Chandler only focused on the paint. The Heat have changed their interior game, and the twin towers seem to be a thing of the past."

The Heat then set up a zone defense, with only Wade and Randy Foye in the elbow areas, and Bosh, Joel Anthony, and James on the perimeter.

Since entering the league, the Chosen One has been implementing zone defense under Van Gundy's tutelage. Coach Spoelstra introduced this system to help the team develop chemistry more quickly, which completely revitalized the team.

At this moment, Roy Hibbert received the ball in the low post on the right and attempted to turn and attack the basket. James, who was on defense, immediately cooperated with his teammates to interfere, and the big man ultimately missed the layup.

James grabbed the rebound and accelerated, passing the ball to Randy Foye near the midline. Foye continued to accelerate along the left sideline.

As a combo guard, Randy Foye's playmaking ability is not very good, but he has not had the same problems with the Heat. In transition offense, he can pull up at the three-point line and shoot over Darren Collison!
The American Airlines Center erupted once again as the three-pointer swished through the net. The Heat found their shooting touch right from the start tonight!

Excellent defense made it difficult for the Pacers to form effective combinations. Danny Granger could only respond with one-on-one attacks in the elbow area. Although Tyler Hansbrough drew fouls, he could not change the opponent's defensive strategy.

With 3 minutes and 12 seconds left in the first quarter, the Heat had already substituted Haslem in. His old teammate set a screen at the top of the arc, and Wade, facing the switch-defender Hansbrough, lowered his center of gravity, pushed the ball in a different direction, and easily passed through.

Roy Hibbert cut in from the middle, still hesitating, but noticing that Bosh was ready in the right corner, the big man ultimately chose to help defend the basket.

Bosh delivered a pass in mid-air over the defense, and as he caught the ball and jumped to shoot, sinking another three-pointer, the roar from the crowd almost broke out of the arena!

In the final minutes, Wade repeatedly used pick-and-rolls to attack the big men, causing problems with the Pacers' defensive strategy, allowing the Flash to score 6 consecutive points.

With an easy one-handed dunk, Wade landed on the baseline, facing the camera with his arms crossed, nodding and posing confidently before pounding his chest and shouting loudly:

"It's over!"

The Heat's bench erupted in cheers, with McGrady joyfully waving a towel. His usual sleepy look was gone; he was about to break through the first round!
At the end of the first quarter, the score was 23-36, with the Heat scoring from multiple positions, making the fans in the arena excited.

The rest of the game was completely one-sided. McGrady, who had been sluggish in Game 4, regained his touch, showing off his signature one-handed ball-handling skills and hitting several long two-pointers in isolation plays.

James Jones and Zydrunas Ilgauskas also showed good form, with the former successfully seizing three-point opportunities and the latter no longer having problems with rebounding.

Mike Bibby missed a few shots, but led by James, the Heat still widened the gap during the rotation phase. The Chosen One at the power forward position scored both inside and outside, successfully dominating the game.

By the end of the third quarter, the score was 65-86, and the game was in garbage time. The camera focused on the Pacers' bench, where everyone looked serious.

In his first playoff appearance of his career, Paul George was somewhat frustrated, unable to capitalize on his height advantage. Despite having a significant height advantage, he simply couldn't convert it into points.

"What a damn game! The Knicks have always had a height advantage."

Hearing Paul George's muttered complaints, Danny Granger, the team's leader, remained silent, only glancing at head coach Frank Vogel on the sidelines. In this series, they had been completely dominated.

In the final stages of the game, McGrady remained very active on the court. He pulled up between his legs at the top of the key and hit a pull-up jumper. On the way back on defense, he immediately showed off, holding up three fingers to the camera while muttering:

"I'm back!"

In the end, amidst the joyful atmosphere of American Airlines Arena, garbage time quickly came to an end, with the Heat defeating their opponents 87-116, taking a 4-1 series lead and sweeping the Pacers.

McGrady clenched his fist in celebration, cheered loudly, and his dark face was full of excitement. He had broken his "first-round curse".
Tonight is also the pivotal Game 5 between the Nuggets and the Rockets. McGrady was all smiles, thinking that he had made it to the semifinals earlier than his former teammates, and kept hugging and greeting everyone on the court.

In contrast, James and Wade were not so excited. Both of them had experienced the conference finals, so the first round was naturally "a piece of cake." Bosh was equally happy, but he tried to control his smile in front of the camera.

TNT also interviewed McGrady after the game. As a veteran of the team, his smile grew even brighter when Sager asked him how he felt at the moment:
“I’m really happy. You know, I’ve been battling injuries for many years. I’ve given everything for the team, and now God has seen my efforts!”

"Thank you to the Heat family. This was the best decision I ever made. LeBron and Wade were outstanding. They brought everyone together and deserve the MVP award!"

James and Wade, laughing and joking, showered the veteran with ice water, while Haslem joined in, hugging the veteran and shouting:

"It's okay, next we'll send the MVP home!"

The Heat players cheered excitedly, even veteran Mike Bibby got carried away and dragged Randy Foye into the commotion, shouting:

"Send them home!"

"."

(End of this chapter)