NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 794 Overwhelming Talent (7000 words)
On Thursday, May 26, 2011, the fervor surrounding the "behind-the-scenes manipulation" of the draft dissipated, and under the guidance of the NBA league, mainstream sports media began to hype up the Finals on Sunday.

Unlike previous years, this year's finals are earlier, and the schedule remains 2-3-2.

For the Heat, Pat Riley reiterated the need to reinstate the 22111 formation, noting that teams with home-court advantage face considerable pressure in the current schedule.

The Miami Herald, however, was more optimistic, already eagerly "loaning" money to the home team in their morning column:

"The finals are a stage to showcase talent! The boys will crush their opponents."

More than one columnist holds this view: by simply looking at the Mavericks' path to the finals, it's easy to see that they didn't encounter any particularly strong opponents.

There isn't even a team with 60 wins in the entire Western Conference. In this environment of "weak teams fighting each other," the Mavericks' strength is definitely not that great, and luck won't always be on their side.

Within days, the topic of "East being stronger than West" was brought up again by basketball commentators. Meanwhile, Nowitzki's 24 free throws and Jason Terry's crazy three-pointers became the epitome of "lucky breaks".

The label of "softies" made fans look down on the Germans and even less believe in their pure ability.

Even though Norwich's stats this season are impressive, most fans intentionally ignored his outstanding performance, and instead, many felt that the 38-year-old Kidd would definitely get "beaten up".

Throughout the Western Conference playoffs, Jason Kidd's performance was subpar, with an abysmal shooting percentage. In a crucial game like the Western Conference Finals, he went 1-for-7, prompting fans to chant for his retirement.

At 38 years old, Jason Kidd has set a new record, becoming the oldest guard to start in the NBA Finals!

ESPN has repeatedly reminded fans of the Mavericks' age structure, in contrast to the Heat's much younger starting lineup. The gap in strength between the two teams on paper is significant, especially considering that both James and Wade are strong MVP candidates.

In the afternoon TNT program, Shaquille O'Neal, who had already bid farewell to basketball on Twitter, reappeared in the studio as an invited guest. The old shark seemed to be in a great mood and appeared completely unaffected by the loss.

As Wade's former teammate, O'Neal has never been stingy with praise. After the director showed the content of his column from the past few days, the old Shaq raised his eyebrows at the camera, revealing an approving expression, and said:

"I basically agree with that view. If you watched the Eastern Conference Finals, you would understand how strong my little brother is!"

“Looking at the stats, while I respect Derrick Rose, his performance in the conference finals reminded me of Kobe.”

"35% field goal percentage and 23.3% three-point percentage, Rose's individual performance was terrible."

"In the Finals, Lee was able to crush Kobe, but now Wade is crushing Rose. Core players shouldn't make excuses; it's a matter of ability. Flash was underestimated in the past."

The newly crowned MVP was swept in the regional finals, with extremely poor individual statistics. Even his fans couldn't defend him. If it weren't for the fact that everyone was used to the MVP's poor performance, the Windy City Rose would probably be criticized to the skies right now.
"Do you think the Mavericks will have a hard time limiting Wade's performance? Will this be a matchup with a clear advantage?"

Seemingly surprised by the high praise from the veteran Shaq, Kenny Smith asked a couple more questions. O'Neal didn't hide his reaction, turning to the other side and nodding in agreement.
"Of course, no one can match Wade. He will be unstoppable in this series!"

Charles Barkley grinned upon hearing the affirmative response, seemingly not believing the explanation at all, and then solemnly reminded the camera:
"Rebounding is the key to winning the game! The Heat don't have enough height, and Bosh relies too much on jump shots. I don't believe the Heat can easily defeat their opponents."

“Look up LeBron James’ stats; his offense isn’t very efficient either.”

"Averaging 25.8 points per game, with a 44.7% field goal percentage and a 38.9% three-point percentage looks good, but as the team's leading scorer, he still falls short."

"The Heat are not a hopeless opponent. You know, Lee has had a playoff shooting percentage of over 65% for many seasons. I think the Mavericks should be grateful!"

导播列出了去年李佑季后赛的数据，出场的16场比赛中，平均40.2分5.6篮板10.2助攻2.8抢断1.2盖帽1.3失误；

His field goal percentage was 67.8%, his three-point percentage was 55.8%, and his free throw percentage was 95.8%.

The above data was obtained with an average of 19.8 field goal attempts per game. Anyone who sees this would exclaim that it's outrageous; it's beyond the realm of human capability.
It's no wonder New York fans are always complaining about Kobe, and it's no wonder Los Angeles fans dislike him. Kobe's shooting percentage was halved, which is his true level. The gap between the two is just too big. He was crushed in series for many years.

Although Ernie Johnson had reviewed Li You's stats multiple times, he still found them outrageous and began to understand why New York fans showed no respect for Rose, the MVP.
"I think this is Nowitzki's best chance yet, the Western Conference Finals, he's in excellent form, with 180 Club stats!"

"Shaq may think the Heat have a huge advantage, but the Mavericks also have matchups that their opponents can't solve."

Seeing the old shark shake his head, Ernie Johnson gestured, and the latter took over the conversation again, explaining earnestly:
"The Western Conference perimeter players will go cold in the Finals. Jason Terry and his teammates will get lost in the high-intensity physical contact!"

“I’ve said it before, Wade is far better than you think. He’s not Kobe. He’s been going up against Lee ever since he entered the league.”

"Of all the active players, Wade is the best matchup against Lee. In the past, commentators only talked about Kobe because the Flash didn't appear in the Finals."

"LeBron is the same. They've already succeeded. I wouldn't say that if their opponents were five years younger; young players will take over the league."

"."

After the show aired, at 17:30 PM, Mark Cuban, a guest on ESPN's PTI talk show, angrily criticized the old shark.

Led by Michael Wilbond and others, the outspoken owner began sharing his "championship experience":
"The Finals are completely different from the playoffs! We only need to win one away game to turn the tide of the game!"

"More importantly, the Mavericks have a wealth of championship experience. We have too many big-game players. Kidd is indeed 38 years old, but we also have the young Barea."

"Listen, we're the ones with the advantage. The rookies in the finals should be more worried about themselves."

Both sides claimed to have "won," and while commentators focused on the Heat, the Dallas Morning News also "borrowed" in the morning.

While touting talent, they also firmly believe in championship experience. As for who has the advantage, even commentators are unsure. Michael Wilbon even joked at the end of the show:

"In the past 14 seasons, fans and commentators have never had this question!"

"Li killed the suspense of the Finals. Over the years, he has shown us the highest level of basketball!"

"It's time for a change of pace. Watching Earthlings play is still pretty good. At least we can't predict how the game will go. The unknown will attract more fans."

-

On Saturday, May 28th, the Champions League final took place as scheduled that evening. Although British sports media held a pessimistic view, their coverage could not be stopped.

Before the match, Wembley Stadium was already bustling with activity, with 1000 security personnel and more than 300 reporters gathered there, along with a ring of cameras with long lenses and microphones.

Even though no one believed Manchester United could beat Barcelona, ​​the stadium, which held 86,000 people, was mostly filled with British fans, and with Messi fans from all over the world, the atmosphere was noisy.

Sky Sports once again launched its usual 90-minute pre-match program, but this time, it was slightly different from previous years, with five people seated in the studio.

Jeff Sterling, the well-known host sitting in the center, couldn't stop smiling. The old man deliberately brought up things related to Giggs, asking Li You to recount how the two met in their early years.
As is widely known, the intense clashes between Giggs and his sister-in-law Natasha were made public this year. Although gossip is an open secret in Manchester, the explosive news still left onlookers exclaiming how outrageous it was.

"03! God! I thought you two didn't have much of a relationship in the past."

Jeff Sterling's deliberate emphasis on the year 03 was so striking that Jamie Redknapp and Graeme Souness, sitting to his right, couldn't help but chuckle.

Gary Neville, on the far left, sighed in exasperation; he knew these guys would definitely make fun of Manchester United's gossip.

Neville, who only retired in February of this year, doesn't want to be a mole, so he keeps quiet and pretends to know nothing.

Li You, dressed in a "red scarf" outfit, spent more than half a month in the UK. Under the "dressing up" of the girls, he no longer looked like an athlete.

At the start of the program, the director noticed the Patek Philippe 5002P on Li You's left wrist. This watch is worth £100 million in the UK. While not expensive considering Li You's wealth, the people in the studio still showed considerable awe.
Although no one knew the price of his black suit and some inconspicuous accessories, they couldn't be cheap. It was understandable that Neville became a "sycophant" in the first half of the show.

"Many of the players in the team are my old friends, but even the best stars can't beat time. Manchester United has been very successful this season."

Li You continued to subtly comment on the team's central axis, and the British sports media gossip that Manchester United's plan to retire Ferguson was not false, with the board and management already beginning to probe.

Of course, the board of directors is all Li You's people. The team is about to be listed again, and if they want to make money, they still need to make promises and create hype.

Redknapp, with his buzz cut, stopped joking. He sensed that Li You didn't have high hopes for the midfield and defense, and even implied a "major overhaul." So, when the conversation turned to the Brazilian talent again, he asked seriously:

Will Neymar replicate Ronaldo's success? Many people are concerned about his future.

The broadcast took the opportunity to showcase Neymar's brilliant goal in the previous semi-final match against Schalke 04, in which he dribbled past four players on a counter-attack, passed the ball to them, and then pushed it into the corner of the net with his left foot inside the penalty area.

This "advanced" technique dazzled fans, and this year's Puskás Award was even hailed by the British media. Neymar was competing with Rooney for the bicycle kick goal in the city derby.

“Every team has players who are not for sale, and there is no doubt that Neymar will be as successful as Cristiano.”

Graeme Souness recently saw Manchester United's advertisements and external plans, but as a former player, he is not optimistic about the somewhat temperamental Brazilian, and once again criticized him:

“I don’t like Neymar’s attitude in some games. He does work hard, but he’s mostly just showing off.”

"Considering he's only 19, I believe he'll change these bad habits. In football, he should learn from Messi instead of showing off in those ridiculous T-shirts!"

Neville quickly refuted these remarks, and the show turned into a war of words again, with one side touting Manchester United's future while the other praised Barcelona's dominance.

Jeff Sterling is very concerned about the future of British football, but the old guy prefers the atmosphere of these episodes, where Li You always manages to subtly "stir things up," which greatly satisfies the audience.

At 19:25 p.m. that evening, the match was about to begin. Barcelona fans, who occupied a large area, had already formed a square formation. In comparison, the British "motley crew" was utterly inferior, and their antics were no match for their opponents.

When the players from both teams came on the field, the camera not only focused on the Champions League trophy, but also paid attention to the "ordinary" Messi and the "outlandish" Neymar.

Before the kickoff, Ferguson and Guardiola shook hands. Although the old man smiled, the smile disappeared as soon as he turned away.

Many people did not support his game strategy, and even some at the club questioned it. Ferguson was uncomfortable, but he still insisted on fielding a 4-4-1-1 formation, hoping that the opening three-pronged pressing would work.

Unlike veterans like Giggs, Neymar was already smiling and greeting his opponents while captain Vidic and Xavi were flipping a coin in the center circle.

Just as Messi said in a pre-match interview, he wasn't taking his opponents seriously. Tonight, he felt no pressure and was simply looking forward to scoring against a Premier League rival. Many Manchester United fans watching on television were anticipating a clash of talents, but the result wasn't important; the team had already secured their future.

-

On Sunday, May 29, mainstream American media also began reporting on the Champions League final. As Ferguson said, it was indeed the most "exciting" Champions League final in the next 10 years.

Manchester United's initial three-pronged attack really worked, with Neymar's through ball allowing Rooney to pounce on the loose ball and score in the 16th minute.

In the 34th minute of the first half, Giggs assisted Neymar to score with a shot from just outside the penalty area. Although the goal was offside, it still stood.

The unexpected start made Ferguson's hands tremble with excitement, and today the front pages of major sports media outlets are all about the old man's excitement, although most of the articles are mainly sarcastic.

Just before halftime, Manchester United lost possession on the left flank during a counter-attack, and Pedro scored with a single shot, but a furious Guardiola continued to argue with the referee.

Enraged, Barcelona displayed absolute dominance in the second half. For most of the game, Manchester United could only launch long balls. After conceding two goals in the 60th and 69th minutes, the game suddenly collapsed.

Van der Sar failed to extend the lead, but Manchester United, relying solely on rough individual connections, ultimately failed to launch an effective counterattack and could only watch as their goal was repeatedly threatened.

Ultimately, the score was 3-2, and Wembley Stadium once again became Barcelona's lucky ground. This team is almost being called the "Dream Team" by fans.

Lee Yoo only received half of his bonus, and ESPN couldn't resist joking that it was a good thing.

"The rolling Neymar" is how Spanish media described him. In the second half, after Messi scored, the Brazilian genius disappeared, and his dropping back to receive the ball disrupted the team's plans.

In short, most Manchester United fans were satisfied, after all, they never thought they could win. Expecting the aging midfield to compete with the opponents was like being possessed by God; two goals were enough.

In the afternoon, ESPN released more pre-game interviews for the Finals. The short videos mostly featured role players, with the most eye-catching being Tracy McGrady, who was making his first appearance in the Finals.

In front of the camera, McGrady was still very excited, and when commenting on his opponents, the once-famous star once again showed his "domineering" side:
"I will never forget the 05 playoffs, and I want to get my revenge tonight!"

"Injuries have taken away my athletic ability, but they will not diminish my desire to win!"

"."

He showered McGrady with compliments, making him appear as if he were the "winner," as if the trophy was only a matter of time. Anyone could see his disdain for his opponents.

In contrast, Dampier and Juwan Howard, who were only playing minor roles, were much more low-key. The former congratulated Nowitzki, while the latter praised the Mavericks' outstanding performance in the conference finals.

However, when discussing the championship, Howard didn't mince words, speaking with the same confidence he had when the slick-haired guys were interviewed before:
"No one wants a championship more than us! Basketball is constantly evolving, and the Heat are on the right track."

Howard recently gained popularity due to a documentary, which reminded many fans of the "Michigan Five". After the short film aired this afternoon, many fans started complaining on social media again.

In a Finals interview, Pat Riley firmly stated that "five forwards are the future," a completely different approach from the Knicks' past "twin towers" strategy.

Opinions among fans are divided. Some believe the slicked-back hairstyle, but many more think the Heat have become arrogant, given that they haven't won a single game against the Knicks this regular season.
Fans are arguing fiercely on social media, and many retired veterans are also trying to stay relevant. Heat legend Tim Hardaway updated his Twitter, offering a reasoned and well-founded commentary:
"Even Lee would find it difficult to put on a dominant performance against the defense of Wade and James! This is the greatest perimeter duo in NBA history!"

"."

This tweet stirred up a hornet's nest, and was bombarded by New York fans yesterday. The Knicks fan club even dug up old grievances, bringing up Hardaway's embarrassing performance against Li You during his rookie season.

After several attempts, Tim Hardaway fell silent. The tactic of "dredging up old grievances" was unsolvable, as most perimeter stars in the league could be edited into highlight reels of their embarrassing moments.

Only Gary Payton had any class. The SuperSonics did indeed sweep the Knicks twice back then, and the old Payton would bring it up every time he appeared on a show. This was the last bit of dignity the old Payton had left.

At 20:30 p.m. that night, half an hour before the game was scheduled to start, the American Airlines Center was already in a frenzy, with Heat fans wearing white cheering T-shirts shouting wildly.

Just now, LeBron James tossed magnesium powder in front of the scorer's table, completely igniting the atmosphere. Dwyane Wade, who was doing his final warm-up, smiled broadly and chatted and laughed with his teammates.

Coach Spoelstra was a little nervous, but Haslem and the others were completely in the zone, laughing and joking around, and the coaching staff gradually relaxed.

On the other side, head coach Carlisle was still loudly giving instructions. The Mavericks players looked serious, and veteran Kidd even frowned slightly as he stepped forward, constantly reminding his teammates.

"Neither team changed their starting lineup. The Mavericks want to limit their opponents with zone defense, but that won't be easy."

As the players from both teams took their places in the middle, Jeff Van Gundy, on the ABC commentary desk, subtly commented on the Mavericks' likely defensive strategy.

Mark Jackson, however, had a different opinion. A review of the statistics clearly shows that the Heat's three-point shooting was inconsistent.

"If the Heat can't find their shooting touch quickly, the Mavericks will have a chance to take the initiative. I still believe Nowitzki has a huge advantage in the interior matchup!"

"Let's go Heat!!"

The cheers echoed throughout the arena in waves, and the Heat fans who stood up kept shouting loudly. In the front row, Wade's current girlfriend, Union, dressed in a revealing outfit, even blew a kiss to the camera when she saw him.

Rick Rose, the well-known rapper who has become quite overweight, also stood up and shouted, which further fueled the enthusiasm of even more fans.

Wearing his away blue jersey, Chandler flicked the ball to his half, and soon defensive shouts rang out.

In the first possession, Kidd found Chandler cutting to the basket with a pick-and-roll at the top of the key, but unfortunately the pass was too strong and Joel Anthony successfully disrupted the attack.

"Oh!!"

Cheers erupted instantly as James, receiving the ball, sprinted along the left sideline, crossing half-court, and continued to accelerate, ignoring the retreating defense of Artest.

As Kidd and Beaubois retreated to their defensive positions, James attempted a speed-based drive to the left wing.

He slowed down in the left-side blocking area, then immediately jumped up and passed the ball. Wade, who was following up, received the ball in the middle and ignored both Kidd and the other player. He took a step and immediately accelerated, making a big looping motion to gather the ball, and finally made a left-handed layup over Kidd in mid-air!

The basketball bounced off the backboard and went into the basket. Wade immediately smiled, patted his chest vigorously in front of the camera under the basket, and then quickly retreated to defend.

On their second attack, the Mavericks successfully passed the ball to Nowitzki in the right-side defensive zone. The German player used his left hand to push the ball towards the inside, then leaned against Bosh and turned towards the baseline.

As he attempted a fadeaway jump shot, Wade switched positions with his teammate and suddenly shrugged off, jumping up and extending his long arm to interfere.

The basketball bounced off the rim. Although Joel Anthony tried to pull and tug at the ball, Chandler, who was prepared, still managed to grab the ball behind his head and drive to the basket, only to be caught by James' help defense.

Seeing the rebound secured by James after a second jump, head coach Carlisle on the sidelines shouted for his players to retreat on defense, but Randy Foye at the top of the key had already shaken off Kidd, and the chosen one immediately delivered a long pass.

Ultimately, Kidd had no choice but to foul, giving the opponent free throws.
"The Mavericks need to take control of the game as soon as possible. It's clear that the Heat are planning to leave Kidd open on the defensive end. Their zone defense has been excellent in these two possessions."

Van Gundy knew the play was over when he saw Wade help defend; clearly, Spoelstra had watched a lot of Knicks-Cavaliers game footage, as this kind of rotation was very common in both teams.

Making both free throws sent the arena into a frenzy. Mark Jackson also saw through the Heat's strategy: the opposing team was betting on Kidd, Artest, and Beaubois's offensive struggles, and focusing their defense on the German.
"Coach Carlisle can consider rotation in advance, and now they need to respond as soon as possible."

After a series of attacks, Nowitzki, who received the ball in the low post on the left, started to move up again. On the left wing, Kidd moved laterally and found that Wade was actually defending behind him, leaving a huge space. He immediately caught the ball outside the three-point line and took a jump shot, but missed!

Bosh grabbed the long rebound, and the Heat launched another counterattack. Wade was incredibly fast, pausing slightly near the three-point line to change his pace before accelerating and charging forward again.

Brushing past his opponent in the paint, Wade ignored the smaller player's interference and scored another layup.

"Oh!!"

The cheers were deafening. 0-6, a fantastic start that thrilled the Heat fans in the arena. Just as predicted before the game, the Mavericks were no match for them.

When Artest missed a three-pointer from the right corner, the Heat's bench was already cheering. When Bosh, who was assisted by James, dunked, Haslem jumped up and down and shouted loudly.

"what!!"

Seeing James and Bosh celebrate with a chest bump and shouts, Mike Breen in the commentary booth instinctively raised his voice and loudly praised them:

"The Heat completely overwhelmed their opponents with their athleticism! Their energy tonight was simply incredible!"

-

On Wednesday, June 1st, ESPN reported on the Heat team boarding the plane, with all three members looking happy and smiling.

Both matches on Sunday and Monday were resounding victories!

In Game 1, the Heat held the Mavericks to just 17 points in the first quarter and dominated the game throughout, winning 82-104 and easily securing their home victory.

In Game 2, although the first half ended in a tie, the Heat went on a run to take the game away after the start of the third quarter. James exploded, making 4 of 9 three-pointers and contributing a game-high 30 points.

Heat fans have already started debating the Finals MVP. Wade scored an efficient 28 points in Game 1, and his individual performance in the two games has been no less impressive than that of the chosen one. Fans are all speaking out for their idol.

Because the score of G2 was 98-109, the post-match press conference lacked substance, and all the reporters present were just talking nonsense.

The interview segments reviewed by the director were also quite interesting. Wade and James weren't modest about winning the Finals MVP award, both expressing their opinions in front of everyone:
"I said a long time ago that we can take turns lifting the trophy, and it won't bother us at all!"

Wade chuckled and "drew up old grievances," while James grinned broadly, as if he had already won the trophy, and happily said:
"I don't care about the stats, you know that. I'm only focused on the Larry O'Brien Trophy!"

"The trophy is a recognition of everyone's efforts. I don't care who wins it. For me, I'd rather celebrate the Heat's first championship with the fans at American Airlines Arena!"

(End of this chapter)