NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 793 Tears of Excitement and Frustration (Chapter without Main Character)

2011年5月18号星期三，当晚20点30点分，西部决赛G2开始前，ESPN也在同步转播今年的抽签仪式。

With 12 minutes to go before the draw ceremony, team representatives were already seated in the NBA offices in Secox, New Jersey, and staff members were discussing things in hushed tones.

Because it was being broadcast live across the United States, everyone was dressed formally, and some even brought their families along. Despite the large number of people, the atmosphere was relatively harmonious!
Tonight's draw ceremony is being hosted by NBA Vice President Adam Silver, who is currently exchanging pleasantries with everyone and reconfirming the ceremony's procedures with the staff.

The Knicks representative was Donnie Walsh, accompanied by management and Patrick Ewing Jr.

Patrick Ewing Jr., who has always publicly referred to himself as a "good nephew," is very popular in New York despite his lack of skill.

Ewing's charitable activities have never stopped, and his son often takes the lead. It is highly likely that his eldest son will take over the family affairs in the future. As for playing basketball, even if he doesn't have the talent, he can still join in the fun.

Among the group, Allan Houston, John Starks, and Larry Johnson were particularly noteworthy, having served on the team in recent years as championship members.

Charles Barkley's earlier joke on the show that Li You taking over as general manager wasn't entirely wrong, since Allan Houston is currently an assistant and is indeed highly likely to take over the position.

Larry Johnson is currently in charge of player commercial operations, which mainly involves advertising for MSG and the team's players, while Starks has been in charge of community activities and has been focusing on "giving back" for many years.

Even after retiring, Ewing still needs to work. After keeping a low profile for a few years, he has now returned to Georgetown University. After donating $300 million, he is expected to take over the team in the future.

Charles Oakley didn't come to the event; he went on vacation early. The old guy, who serves as an assistant coach, went on vacation after flying with the team for more than half a year. Currently, like the players, he's focused on his family.

Of the retired championship members, only Sprewell is not doing so well. After rejecting the Timberwolves' contract, the championship guard went bankrupt after a few years of living a carefree life, and he even had to rely on Li You's help to treat his family's medical expenses.

With normal development, the investment returns are enough for everyone to enjoy a comfortable life. For example, Ewing has two million-dollar residences in New Jersey and New York. Although they have depreciated, the monthly rent still adds up to tens of thousands of dollars.

Sprewell was extravagant; yachts and private jets were nothing to him, gambling whenever he felt like it was a regular occurrence, and he also funded relatives and friends. In the end, he went bankrupt after only a few years.

The draw ceremony was about to begin. As Donnie Walsh sat in front of the camera, Larry Johnson, unusually critical of the team's selection, whispered to the people around him:
"Four first-round draft picks, why not trade them up? Downey has been resting at home for the past few months, and nobody knows what he's thinking."

Although the old man's physical condition has improved, the Knicks gave him an early holiday this year, so Donnie went home to rest for a month and didn't even come to the game.

Allan Houston, dressed in a black suit, looked indifferent. In fact, he had already accepted the job as general manager. The reason the old man was sent as his representative was mainly because this was the other party's "last dance".

"Two max contracts and the rest are rookie contracts. We don't need to worry about the luxury tax for the next four years. This was planned long ago."

Seemingly sensing what his teammate was trying to say, Allan Houston unusually muttered a sarcastic remark about James Dolan, implying something:

"Who would refuse to earn more? Every team is the same."

Starks, who had gained some weight, stuck out his belly and joked with his teammates who had just taken over the team:
"Larry, when did you start caring about rookies? I don't think you can even name many of them!"

Larry Johnson grinned and didn't deny it, pulling over his "nephew" beside him, patting him on the shoulder, and saying with a smile:

"Damn rookies! The championship doesn't depend on them. Hopefully, these guys will be as sensible as Pat when they join the team!"

Patrick Ewing Jr. immediately flashed a harmless smile in front of the group. Although he was indeed not very good, he had won a championship ring and was selected as a G League All-Star this season.

Thinking of the special treatment he had received over the years, the "elder nephew" once again demonstrated his "loyalty," his dark face showing a solemn expression as he said:
"It's an honor for rookies to play alongside Uncle Lee!"

"."

The Knicks staff member standing nearby twitched slightly at the corner of his eye, subconsciously looked around to confirm that Li You wasn't there, and was speechless for a moment. "Sycophants" are indeed everywhere!
The draw ceremony was about to begin, and the director began to remind Heather Cox, a well-known ESPN reporter in the studio.

At 20:40 p.m., Heather Cox, dressed in a black business suit, smiled at the camera and thanked Mark Jackson and Jay Bilas, who had been analyzing the broadcast from the studio behind her.

Then, changing the subject, he smiled and introduced Joe Lacob, the owner who had just taken over the Warriors. Lacob had received preferential treatment from the league since he arrived at the scene that afternoon, which could be considered a reward for taking over the Warriors.

"Let's welcome Joe Lacob to the draft!"

"You have master's degrees in biology and statistics, and I think many Warriors fans would like to hear your statistical analysis of the probability of getting the first overall pick."

Unlike the simple lottery ceremony of earlier years, the NBA lottery has become more like a variety show as it has evolved, and it has even become a favorite among gamblers.

Since arriving in New Jersey, Joe Lacob has been all smiles. Attending the draft lottery ceremony brought him considerable exposure, and he jokingly remarked to the camera:
"Statistics won't work tonight. I'm more hoping the Warriors' ranking won't drop. You know, it's like the principle of ping-pong!"

"I don't want to be blamed by my team. In fact, I've already prepared lucky charms for tonight."

Joe Lacob showed off his tie clip to the camera, eliciting good-natured laughter from the audience. He seemed to be having a great time. In the evening, he even chatted with Kyrie Irving for a while. He was definitely the star of the night.

To accommodate the new owner, Adam Silver first revealed the Warriors' draft picks, and fans watching on television were also able to see the Warriors' logo.

As the sound rang out, Joe Lacob smiled and clapped briefly in his seat.
"The Warriors were selected with the 11th pick."

The lottery process officially began, and Adam Silver announced the draft order on camera.

As the announcements rang out one after another, the Raptors, Wizards, Kings, and Pistons—teams that theoretically had a chance of finishing in the top three—were eliminated one after another, and gasps quickly rose from the crowd.

For industry insiders, the league has completely dropped its pretense this year, with the three remaining teams being the Timberwolves, Nets, and Clippers.

During the commercial break, some fans stopped paying attention to the Western Conference Finals and took to Twitter to accuse the NBA of rigging the game!

The Nets' draft pick is with the Nuggets, and the Clippers' draft pick is with the Knicks.
It looks like compensation no matter how you look at it; from a probabilistic point of view, this situation can be described as a "miracle."

The staff and onlookers at the scene were also discussing in hushed tones. The director began to call the three team representatives to the center position, and Heather Cox did not forget to give Donnie Walsh a warm hug.

Sitting in his seat, Joe Lacob witnessed firsthand the league's "style": the third pick went to the Nuggets, and the second pick to the Timberwolves.

The result was self-evident: to the sound of music, Adam Silver solemnly presented the team logo to the camera, and the cheers from the crowd were deafening.
"The first overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft belongs to the New York Knicks!"

"oh!!"

The Knicks entourage cheered loudly, with Patrick Ewing Jr. even pumping his fist in celebration, while his three uncles beside him beamed with joy.

Donnie Walsh, dressed in a black suit and orange tie, warmly embraced Adam Silver and others after receiving the team logo whiteboard. The old man looked very emotional and choked up during the interview, saying:
"God saw Lee's efforts! God blesses New York!"

"."

Seeing the old man crying with excitement and the cheering staff, Joe Lacob almost couldn't hold back. He had just entered the league and had already been "taught a lesson," no longer "acting" about behind-the-scenes manipulation!

Soon Joe Lacob noticed the wildly celebrating crowd on the other side. Kyrie Irving, dressed in a gray suit, and his father were also crying, while their friends and family were shouting excitedly.

The studio had become a giant "show," with everyone putting on an act. Joe Lacob was speechless, and had to keep smiling during the interview.
"A 2.8% probability? I think most people don't care about that. Like I said, it's the principle of table tennis!"

"I'm very happy that the Warriors got the 11th pick. Now all we have to do is select an outstanding player, and we're going to make a big splash."

Everyone was sending their best wishes to the Knicks players, and Donnie Walsh was all smiles. In an interview with Heather Cox, he even laid his cards on the table:

"Trading? No, our target audience has always been young people!"

"Under Lee's leadership, the Knicks have won eight consecutive championships, 12 titles in 15 seasons. Before retiring, my last task is to instill in the team the desire for championships once again."

"No one would refuse to play alongside Lee. If young players want to pursue a championship, then the Knicks are the best choice. In New York, you can achieve everything you want!"

"."

In the studio behind the camera, Mark Jackson and Jay Bilas naturally didn't refute the old man's words. Bilas, who had served as a teaching assistant at Duke University, even took the opportunity to praise Irving on camera:

“I’ve talked to Mike about Kyrie, and he’s a true talent! If he can spend his rookie season with Lee, he will quickly realize his potential.”

The director began showcasing the Knicks' draft picks for this year:
1st pick (from the Clippers), 14th pick (from the Knicks), 17th pick (from the Trail Blazers), 26th pick (from the Celtics).

Even before the regular season ended, the league conducted a random draft lottery for teams with the same record, and the Knicks were "lucky," receiving almost all of the top picks.
As his partner continued to rave about the team, Mark Jackson nodded slightly, feeling that the league had "done its best." Without the twin towers, the Knicks would become a rookie team in the next few years.

Although it was a behind-the-scenes operation, it did balance the strength of the popular teams. Thinking of Donnie Walsh's tears, Pacers legend Mark Jackson chimed in with a sigh:
“We’ve received information that the 76ers are planning to make an offer for Thaddeus Young. Many people think Donnie should refuse, but I trust his choice.”

"He discovered Reggie Miller. Many young fans have forgotten how great Donnie was. I don't think the Knicks will trade up. Obviously, they're ready!"

Soon, the studio connected with Kyrie Irving, who had already undergone foot surgery and was in high spirits. When asked about his draft promise, he smiled broadly and tried to cover it up by saying:

"I haven't thought about those things yet. You know I'm still recovering!"

"The tryouts won't bother me. I've been playing in the Bronx since I was a kid, and I love competition."

The scene was very noisy, and more and more reporters surrounded Irving. Everyone knew that the Knicks would definitely choose this rookie.

The Spurs kept a low profile. David Robinson looked at Irving, who was surrounded, and felt uneasy. The league had really given New York a big gift.

Despite relinquishing his head coaching position, Budenholzer remained with the team. This trusted assistant coach, who seemed to sense David Robinson's frustration, offered words of comfort:

"We got a good pick at 13th overall. Believe me, Leonard can definitely help the team."

The Spurs desperately need a small forward. They've had bad draft picks in the last few years, and the Lakers' first-round picks didn't accumulate any talent. They missed the playoffs this season, so the 13th pick is just right. The team has been planning for this for a long time.

Thinking of the young man who openly admitted he didn't like the Knicks, David Robinson finally smiled and said in a low voice with anticipation, "I hope so. I really hope the team can return to the Finals."

-

On Thursday, May 19th, there were no games scheduled for that day. In the afternoon, TNT's regular program began by reviewing the regional finals.

In the Eastern Conference, the Heat's trio completely dominated the newly crowned MVP Rose, bringing the series score to 2-0, and the Bulls are about to face a do-or-die game.

In the Western Conference, the Thunder narrowly won a game. Russell Westbrook, one of the "three referees," went 3-for-15 in Game 1, but finally bounced back in Game 2, stopping his shooting slump and helping his team secure the victory in the final moments.

The Mavericks nearly pulled off another comeback last night, ending 102-107, but unfortunately, Artest and several other players missed open three-pointers in the final moments.

Basketball commentators are hotly debating which players the Knicks will draft today, and Yahoo Sports has even reported that the 76ers plan to trade their 16th overall pick for Thaddeus Young.
If the news is true, the Knicks will have five rookies next season, which is an outrageous number, an excessive number of newcomers.

Isaiah Thomas announced his roster on ESPN this morning. The legend seems to really think of himself as a general manager and even has plans for subsequent trades.

Charles Barkley, of course, had to make a sarcastic remark. He didn't believe James Dolan would actually hire the other party. As soon as the camera returned to the studio, he blurted out:

“I understand Lee’s style. He doesn’t like veterans and has preferred to work with rookies throughout his career!”

"Donnie isn't Michael Jordan. He always takes Lee's opinions into full consideration when he's in charge of the draft. Five rookies, that's the Knicks' plan."

"If Isaiah Thomas really takes control of the team, I think he will make a mess of the team just like Michael Jordan did."

“Man, a great player isn’t necessarily good at managing a team. I’m a prime example. I prefer the studio; this is my territory.”

Kenny Smith wasn't interested in teasing Michael Jordan; with Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals just two days away, he started gossiping about the Knicks' tryouts instead.

“Although almost all the rookies were invited, it’s quite an interesting situation. If I remember correctly, Leonard is a big fan of Iverson.”

Mentioning Iverson brought a smile to Ernie Johnson's face, who was sitting in the middle. Recently, the "Son of Philadelphia" and the "Mamba" teamed up to make promises to 76ers fans:

"If the 76ers draft Leonard, he might not need to consider a trade."

“I’ve seen his draft report. His shooting is worrying, but he has the potential to become a player as good as Meta World Peace!”

"Kobe seems to admire him a lot, and perhaps this will be a legacy for Philadelphia."

YuYu's Iverson is completely past his prime, and the outspoken Charles Barkley has no interest in discussing two washed-up stars. Since the Mamba went to Philadelphia, he has stopped paying attention to them.
"Discussing rookies is not very meaningful; it's difficult for them to realize their potential as soon as they enter the league!"

"The star players are still the ones who decide the game. Look at what happened to Derrick Rose. He played terribly. If he continues to slump in Game 3, the Bulls' journey will be over."

"."

Soon, his two teammates joined the "meeting," and the prelude to Game 3 was to hold a "criticism session" for Rose. Everyone could see that the new MVP was really not good enough and his elimination was a foregone conclusion.

-

On Saturday the 21st, before the game started that night, most sports reporters interviewed head coach Spoelstra and said they were "borrowing" the Finals.

Neither the Thunder nor the Mavericks can compare to the Heat, who have a deep roster. McGrady, who is in excellent form, has finally had his moment in the spotlight this year, and no one is mocking him for being a "first-round pick" anymore.

When discussing the good form of the substitutes, Coach Spoelstra was generous with his praise, commending the players once again:

"This is the state we've always been striving for: everyone can carry the team!"

“Tracy has demonstrated leadership qualities; like Udonis, she is a locker room leader.”

The on-court leaders are the young trio, the locker room leaders are McGrady and Haslem, and the training ground leaders are veterans Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Juwan Howard.

The Heat are in excellent form right now, and most reporters believe whatever Coach Spoelstra says unconditionally, which is one of the charms of winning!

After the game started at 20:30 p.m. that night, a nervous head coach Thibodeau kept loudly reminding the players on the court that they must control the pace of the game in the first quarter.

The roar of boos in the United Center was deafening, and as the game progressed, the boos became incessant. Bulls fans not only booed the visiting team but also expressed their dissatisfaction with the home team.

Rose, who had been missing shots, finally made a pull-up jumper in the right elbow area. On the other end, Joel Anthony handed the ball to James at the top of the key. The chosen one dribbled to the side, pulled up and shot, and it went in!
"Shhh!!"

The Bulls called a timeout. Amid boos, James thumped his chest, then strode forward with an arrogant air, pressing his hands down to signal the crowd to be quiet.

In the subsequent game, Rose and Boozer, seemingly channeling their inner blacksmiths, led the Heat in consecutive fast breaks, and Mike Bibby, coming off the bench, also hit a fast break three-pointer, drawing cheers from the Heat's bench.

McGrady, who was throwing a towel around, came off the bench with one minute left in the first quarter. After delivering two assists, he posed for the camera, waving his arms and drawing boos from the crowd.

28:16，双位数的分差让现场安静了不少，8中2的罗斯和5中0的布泽尔回到替补席上都露出沮丧神色。

On the TNT commentary desk, Reggie Miller, flipping through the stats, was also exasperated. This MVP award was simply undeserved; the team was completely outplayed by their opponents.
"4 points, no free throws! Derrick Rose needs to keep attacking the basket instead of relying on his jump shot."

"Being down 0-3 is the worst-case scenario, and this is a game the Bulls cannot afford to lose."

Miller was hoping the Bulls would mount a comeback, but unfortunately, just as the second quarter began and time was running out, his teammate Kevin Harlan exclaimed in alarm:

"Chris Bosh! Amazing performance, Noah had no answer for his drives!"

Bosh, who had a mediocre performance in the first two games, suddenly exploded. He faked a shot near the baseline on the right side, then released the ball with his left hand, accelerated and drove to the paint, spinning around like a gyro. Noah was completely outmaneuvered and ultimately watched as his opponent scored a layup.

"what!!"

Bosh, pounding his chest and roaring, threw his head back and howled after scoring 3 out of 3. Tonight, he finally found the feeling of being a "god of war when things are going well".

Thanks to Chris Bosh's 13 points in the second quarter, the score was 58-38 at halftime. The United Center was getting quieter and quieter; their MVP was really not up to par.

-

On Tuesday, May 24, Oklahoma City fans lost their energy at Chesapeake Energy Arena that evening.

In the third quarter, Durant struggled against the Mavericks' defense, going 1-for-7 in the quarter and putting the Thunder down by double digits.

In the final quarter, Artest, who had been struggling for several games, finally exploded, while Kidd, channeling his inner bricklayer, focused on rebounds and assists, repeatedly finding the championship forward.

Durant went from watching the shot go to raising his hand to interfere, and then to sticking to the ball like glue, eventually having no choice but to foul.

After making both free throws, Artest pounded his chest in celebration, and during the opponent's timeout, he even bumped chests with Chandler and others, roaring loudly as he walked towards the bench.

"Softies! Here I come to the finals!"

With three minutes remaining, the Thunder refused to give up. Nick Collison was stripped of the ball by Artest in a crucial possession, and Durant committed another foul while retreating on defense, after which the arena fell even quieter.

With the score at 99-92, Artest made both free throws, leaving only 17.8 seconds remaining in the game.

Fisher's missed three-pointer signaled the end of the game. As time ticked down, the Mavericks rushed onto the court to celebrate their team's advancement to the NBA Finals.

Unlike the Heat who swept their opponents yesterday, Jason Terry and Jason Kidd both had tears in their eyes and were too excited to speak.

After embracing his opponent, Nowitzki covered his face with his hands, ignoring the reporters and league staff around him, and quickly walked towards the player tunnel, his forehead covered.

Before entering the locker room, the German player burst into tears. Cuban, who had chased after him, hugged the aggrieved star player and kept comforting him:
"We won! We'll keep winning, and everything will be alright!"

Seeing the boss, who had a big mouth, excitedly clench his fist in celebration, the staff cheered and kept comforting the aggrieved Nowitzki. Everyone could understand at that moment that anyone would feel uncomfortable being called a softie for years.

On the other side, Durant, walking into the player tunnel, also had red eyes from frustration. In Game 3, Nowitzki made all 24 of 24 free throws. In Game 4, Jason Terry exploded again, sinking 7 more three-pointers.

The Western Conference's top seed was swept by the gentlemen, and with fans constantly mocking his free throws, Durant had a lot of grievances to vent. One bad game, and he became a "softie".

The young players gradually returned to the locker room. By then, the division champions' award ceremony was already underway at their home stadium. It was the first time anyone had experienced such a scene, and everyone was feeling uncomfortable.

Jeff Green's eyes widened in disbelief. He had been completely outplayed. Apart from fouling, he hadn't contributed much in the series, and his contract had been wiped out!

While Coach Brooks and Westbrook were still comforting everyone, Durant, looking down at his phone, saw Twitter and became even more depressed.
"Wembley Stadium, Champions League Final!"

Tian Tian prayed for victory to his goddess every day, but the other party didn't pay any attention to the regional finals. This month, Tian Tian and Li You showed off their affection in the UK.
"Guys, we'll win next season! I swear, I'll do even better!"

Westbrook and his teammates kept high-fiving and loudly expressing their support, which finally improved the atmosphere a bit. Harden, on the other hand, was lost in thought, already planning his "nightlife" ahead.

Inside Chesapeake Energy Arena, the Oklahoma City fans didn't boo. After reminiscing about their past struggles, the Mavericks cheered continuously, with Artest being pushed to the front to hold up the trophy.

"Champions! Here we come!!"

"."

(End of this chapter)