NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 880 The Great Completion of Winning Strategies! (Chapter without a main character)

On Friday, May 9, 2014, the Pacers were still in low spirits after returning to their home court. Most of the players were not motivated for tonight's "do-or-die" game.

For a veteran like David West, being eliminated in the semifinals for several consecutive years is disheartening. Approaching 34 years old, he really wants to reach the conference finals.

Faced with a divided locker room, David West used to hold player meetings, but with the playoffs' packed schedule, the veterans completely lost interest.

It wasn't that they were just lying down, but it was clear that the young players didn't take the loss to heart at all. The most obvious example was Paul George, who was all smiles after the loss. A true leader doesn't pretend anymore!
The reason they were happy despite losing was mainly because Paul George triggered his maximum contract. It's hard for a young player not to be happy when faced with a large sum of money.
Just yesterday, the NBA officially announced the All-NBA Teams for this season:
The five players on the All-NBA First Team are:

Li You, James Harden, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard;
The five players on the All-NBA Second Team are:

Chris Paul, Tony Parker, Blake Griffin, Kevin Love, Joakim Noah;

The five players on the best third team are:

Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, Paul George, LaMarcus Aldridge, Al Jefferson.

After being selected to the All-NBA Team, Paul George no longer cared about his poor performance on the road. Although he went 5-for-17 in two consecutive games, which was extremely inefficient, his performances of 14 and 15 points did not prevent him from getting a big contract!

The Pacers didn't have many options, and as one of the league's top-tier all-around small forwards, Paul George knew just how popular he was.

When James Harden retires, Paul George's career will have just begun. In another 10 years, who will remember his rookie season? After being persuaded by his agent, Paul George finally felt better.

Despite losing by 104 points in two games, the young players weren't ashamed; instead, they felt the team's performance was barely acceptable. Before returning to Indiana, Paul George even updated his Twitter account to boast:

"I should have been selected to the All-NBA Second Team, but I won't dwell on that. I'll get my dollars ready; the future belongs to the young!"

"."

As long as they lack the desire to win, young players who receive big contracts can be elevated. What does losing by 104 points in two games matter? Even if they lose two more games, according to market rates, they will still be offered a top-tier contract.

This behavior thoroughly enraged Indiana fans, but unfortunately, verbal attacks were ineffective, and an outburst was impossible. Paul George is prepared to remain out of the public eye.

Perhaps reminded by his agent, when Paul George arrived at the arena to warm up in the afternoon, he changed his demeanor again when facing ESPN reporters, solemnly assuring them on camera:

"Yee! You know, the playoffs always start with winning on the road, so what we need to do now is protect our home court."

"I know my performance was a bit poor. Today I will take on more offensive responsibilities. In such a crucial game, I will not back down and I will carry the team's offense."

Paul George's explanation left a group of sports reporters with strange expressions. Were the fans expecting him to go on a shooting spree? They just wanted to see their star player respond consistently in crucial moments.

Ignoring the questioning looks from the reporters around him, Paul George continued to boast earnestly:
"In crucial games, being afraid to shoot is the worst thing you can do. Listen to me, I'm a clutch player."

After his boasting, everyone understood the unspoken message: the young man would take the plunge, but whether the basketball would go in was up to God!
At 19:30 p.m., half an hour before the game started, Bankers Life Arena was already packed. Although some fans disliked Paul George's attitude, everyone hoped to defend their home court.

The biggest problem the Knicks have faced this season is injuries. Perhaps due to playing too many games, Ray Allen, Marion, and Gasol have been absent from time to time during the regular season.

With the team all healthy and ready for the playoffs, the injury problem remains unresolved, with Gasol missing Game 2 due to a shoulder injury and tendinitis.

Marion, who had strained his left calf, returned to the game in Game 2, but the veteran's playing time was still limited, and he didn't have many standout performances in the match.

Ray Allen has the fewest injuries, but the Knicks' pace of play is too fast, and his playing time is limited to 25 minutes. The 39-year-old veteran will find it difficult to sprint and break free on the court like he did when he was younger.

"New York sucks!"

Even before the game started, the shouts in the arena were incessant. Although the Pacers and Heat had played in the playoffs for the last two years, looking back further, it's not hard to see that the Knicks were the real arch-rivals.

After winning two home games in a row, members of the New York fan club went on a rampage, hurling insults at Reggie Miller. Some happy older fans even vomited from lack of oxygen.

TNT was responsible for broadcasting the first two games, and Miller only appeared in Game 1. As a result, he was so angry after the game that he kept complaining about the basketball environment in New York.

No matter how much the league emphasizes it, New York will still be "Fucked" in the playoffs. Now it's the Pacers' turn to unleash their fury; regardless of the game's outcome, they'll start cursing first.
Such a "enthusiastic" atmosphere even made Jeff Van Gundy in the commentary booth look nostalgic. Seeing that neither side had changed their starting lineups, the championship-winning coach could only sigh:

"Losing two away games is not surprising. What worries me is that the Pacers play at too slow a pace."

"They tried to establish an advantage inside, but their perimeter players were just playing terribly!"

"Coach Frank Vogel tried to slow the game down, but the Knicks are not the Heat. The defending champions prefer to overwhelm their opponents with offense."

The broadcast showcased the stats of the Pacers' best player in Game 2, highlighting Roy Hibbert's dominance against rookie center Nikola Vucevic:
出场33分钟，13中10，罚球8中8，28分9篮板1助攻1盖帽，没有失误。

Compared to Paul George's 5-for-17 shooting and Stephenson's 3-for-12 undercover performances, big man Hibbert is indeed more like the core player.

Unlike his partner dressed in a "red scarf" outfit, Mark Jackson, who returned to the commentary booth, still looked worried. The Warriors were eliminated in the first round, and the head coach lost his job!
Mike Breen steered the conversation toward the Knicks, and Mark Jackson immediately chimed in, boasting:
"Li's performance is still incredible! His energy drives the whole team."

"The Pacers have had a hard time changing the pace of the game in the last two games. Back at home, perhaps Paul George should give up some defensive duties and respond on the offensive end."

"When the opponent has 15 more possessions, it is very difficult for any team to win."

Over the years, almost all basketball commentators have reached a consensus: "Offense wins championships." Now that the Pacers are trying to decide the game with "retro basketball," no one is optimistic about their chances.

As the game was about to begin, Rasul Butler and Lance Stephenson, both wearing practice gear, went up to Li You on the Pacers' bench and gave him a friendly fist bump – a testament to the bond between championship members!
"New York sucks!"

Indiana fans were furious at the sight, and their shouts grew louder and louder. Even after Hibbert jumped for the ball at 20 p.m., the shouts still didn't stop.

Just like in the previous two games, CJ Watson passed the ball to David West at the top of the key early on, and then made an off-ball run to the right elbow area to set a simple screen.

When Paul George received the ball on the left wing, CJ Watson accelerated and made a back-run to the top of the arc.

After passing the ball, David West ran to the right near the baseline. Seeing his teammate pass the ball across the field, he cut along the baseline and immediately prepared to set a screen off the ball.

Stephenson was also actively moving, switching positions early to the left wing. When Paul George received the ball on the right wing and was defended by Ibaka, he immediately bounced a pass to West.

Marion's chase was a beat too slow, but Serge Ibaka, who won the block title this season, returned to position very quickly and immediately interfered from the side. Vucevic under the basket also raised his hand to disrupt the passing route.

Hibbert was anxious to catch the ball, but to avoid a mistake, West had no choice but to throw the ball to the other side.

The hurried pass prompted Stephenson to jump and receive the pass. He attempted to break through with his left hand, but was blocked by Ray Allen. The young man then made another wide cross pass.

"Oh"

Amid gasps of surprise, Li You, near the top of the arc, seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, suddenly accelerating and moving to the left and back, intercepting the ball before Paul George could reach it.

CJ Watson and Paul George were stunned for a moment as they watched the basketball fly towards the frontcourt before they hurriedly chased after it. But Li You was faster and his fast break was as fierce as a tiger. In the blink of an eye, the two of them were left behind.

The young man who chased to near the three-point line gave up in frustration, watching as Li You easily completed a gliding dunk.
The cheers grew louder, and Coach Vogel on the sidelines shouted a reminder to his players to stay calm. On the offensive possession, David West once again came to the top of the key to set a screen, and the Pacers continued to slow down the pace of the game.

Seeing Li You circling around the baseline, CJ Watson didn't choose to jump shot decisively. Instead, he pulled Ibaka to the side at the top of the arc and immediately passed the ball straight to the veteran.

With his shoulder clearing the way, David West noticed Vucevic's positioning and tried to pass the ball to the big man under the basket.

The moment the ball was released, Ibaka, who had twisted his body, almost stole it. The basketball changed direction and flew into the air. Hibbert stretched out his arms, about to grab the ball, when Marion suddenly tipped it away from behind.

Completely unaware of the Knicks' collapsing defense, Hibbert, who lost the ball, was furious and shouted at the referee for an explanation. Ray Allen received the ball and accelerated forward.

"shush"

Amidst the deafening roar, Li You easily received the ball on the left wing. Paul George, who had spread out his defensive stance, immediately stepped forward to interfere, occasionally glancing behind him and loudly directing his teammates.

As soon as the players took their positions, Li You, who was shielding the ball to the side, looked like he was about to organize an attack. Paul George immediately took a step back, trying to defend by stepping on the three-point line.

He sensed something was wrong as he moved his feet, and hurriedly adjusted his center of gravity. Paul George, who was trying his best to defend, could only watch helplessly as Li You suddenly exerted force, took a side step, and jumped to shoot near the sideline.

5-0, the basketball swished through the net, and the boos subsided considerably.
Stephenson, who received the ball early, suddenly accelerated and, using the screen at the top of the key, moved to the right wing. Facing Ibaka, who was switching, he quickly pulled back with a crossover step. His swift movement drew loud cheers from the fans in the stadium.

Ray Allen, who was chasing him down, interfered from the side, and the ball quickly returned to David West's hands.

West received the ball on the lower right side of the basket and attacked the unsteady Ibaka. When he squeezed into the paint, his feint didn't work, and he eventually passed the ball to Paul George on the wing.

With his left hand, Paul George made a quick drive to the basket, drawing help defense but not passing the ball. He spun and weaved in the air, forcefully tossing the ball towards the backboard under pressure.

"Shet!"

After standing under the basket for a long time, Hibbert was so angry that he cursed after watching the ball bounce off the backboard without touching the rim. Paul George, who had just gotten up after falling out of bounds, had already crossed half-court.

CJ Watson, who was quickly retreating on defense, was numb. He barely managed a slide on the left wing and was pushed to the vicinity of the blocking area, where he instantly lost his position. Lee Yu-gyo spun around, shook off the defender, and laid the ball with his right hand in the paint, scoring another 2 points.
Hibbert and West sprinted from the baseline to the free-throw line, and upon seeing this, they glared angrily at Paul George, who had given up on retreating. The coach's words seemed to go in one ear and out the other, and the team continued to give the opponent opportunities to counterattack from the start of the game.

"Terrible shot selection! Maybe Paul George should have opted for a jump shot."

Mark Jackson could hardly bear to watch. The slower the opponent went, the simpler the Knicks' offensive options became. No sooner had he finished speaking than Paul George, who was calling for the ball on the left wing, began to face up and isolate.

Paul George dribbled between his legs and switched to his right hand, lowered his center of gravity, changed direction in front of his body to move the defense around, and then dribbled behind his back.

Marion maintained his defensive distance throughout, and Paul George, observing this, immediately changed direction dramatically the moment he switched to his right hand, ignoring the defense, and launched a drifting jump shot.

A smooth, effortless move, a graceful release, and with a resounding "thump," the basketball bounced off the rim and flew out of bounds.
Hibbert was battling for position under the basket with the rookie, watching helplessly as Ibaka grabbed the rebound again.

The Pacers' defense faltered, and amidst gasps, Ray Allen missed a three-pointer on the left wing, leaving no chance for a fast break. The long rebound was then picked up by Li You.

When Li You arrived at the top of the arc to reorganize the attack, Coach Vogel on the sidelines couldn't hold back any longer and loudly instructed his players to double-team him in advance.

As the ball moved quickly, Marion easily broke through from the left corner, but his layup under pressure missed. Hibbert didn't have time to jump again, and Vucevic grabbed the rebound. Then the referee blew the whistle.

David West clapped his hands in frustration. Ibaka looked innocent; he hadn't actually jumped, but his arms had just been stretched together while he was positioning himself.

"New York sucks!"

Amid the shouting and cursing, Li You, who was inbounding the ball from the baseline, easily found Ray Allen, who had shaken off his defender and moved to the left wing. Allen received the ball and made a strong shot over Stephenson's defense, and the Knicks' bench erupted in cheers.

Hibbert, who was desperately calling for the ball, finally received it in the low post on the right side. The Pacers spread out and watched as the big man put the ball in his left hand and made a strong back-to-the-basket attack.

Vucevic, relentlessly pressing from behind, pushed his opponent into the paint, giving him no chance to turn around, forcing Hibbert to twist his body and attempt a left-handed jump shot that missed.

"what!!"

Hibbert yelled and tried to get to the free throw line, but his second attempt to steal the ball failed, and Vucevic twisted to secure the rebound. The Pacers players, who had just retreated on defense, completed their matchups, and David West, following the play's instructions, executed a pick-and-roll double-team, ultimately watching as Li You's bounce pass found Ibaka at the free-throw line.

With no one interfering, the young man made a mid-range jump shot, making it 12-0. The Pacers immediately called a timeout, marking another nightmarish start to the game.

Hearing his teammates' complaints, CJ Watson walked toward the bench with a helpless look on his face. He was just playing according to the tactics, and the first offensive option was to give the inside.

"Give me the ball, and only attack after 14 seconds every time."

Paul George, who had been hiding, looked at his teammates and loudly complained. After returning to his seat, he continued to ramble on. He had always opposed this tactical strategy and believed that he should lead the offense.

Stephenson is the same. If he were with the Knicks, he would just take the shot if he got a chance after shaking off the defender. Now the ball has to be passed to the inside first, which makes it impossible for him to unleash his offensive talent!
The two argued for a while and were scolded and warned by Vogel. Hibbert also started to shrug and complain until the coach explained the low post tactics, at which point the big man nodded in satisfaction.

Regardless of Paul George's dissatisfaction, in the first possession after the timeout, Hibbert scored steadily with a post-up move on the right side, helping the team break their scoring drought.

The big man retreating on defense didn't forget to glance at his teammates. As long as he could get the ball comfortably, he was confident he could dominate the rookie on the other side!
The Pacers finally found their offensive rhythm, and in the next few minutes, Hibbert and David West took turns scoring in the low post, increasing their score, but the atmosphere in the arena cooled down.

The low-post beast didn't perform well on the defensive end. Perhaps it was because Vucevic's screens were too high quality, and Paul George couldn't get past him most of the time.

Watching Li You slip through the crowd again, Van Gundy, in the commentary booth, chuckled and made sarcastic remarks:
“Paul George should be more aggressive in protecting his teammates, otherwise I can’t think of any way Hibbert can limit Lee except by fouling him.”

The big man stood like a wooden stake, watching Li You take a step and launch a shot in the paint. West could only stare awkwardly, unable to quickly provide help defense.
By consistently scoring inside, the Pacers did slow down the pace of the game, but the point difference didn't narrow; instead, it widened.

At the end of the first quarter, the score was 34-19. Indiana fans had already put aside the outcome and were all shouting and cursing wildly.

Although a 15-point difference isn't large, veteran fans know that in the playoffs, a double-digit point difference against the Knicks usually means a loss.

希伯特6中4，罚球2中2，轰下10分，大卫-韦斯特3中3，罚球1中1，砍下7分。

With their two key inside players leading the way, the perimeter players all disappeared, and Paul George, who was expected to be a star, went 0-for-3, scoring only 2 points from free throws.
As with the previous two games, there was no star-studded matchup. Paul George played like a role player, with minimal impact on the game except for his smooth jump shot.

After the second quarter began, watching the Pacers continue to miss shots, the three commentators lost interest. The game was simply too ugly to watch, not at all like the intensity expected of a semifinal.

"In my opinion, the era of big men dominating the offense is over."

"This system might yield good results in the regular season, but it's difficult to make a breakthrough against an opponent like the Knicks in the more targeted playoffs."

Mark Jackson, as usual, complained that although the Warriors were swept by the Clippers, he didn't think there was anything wrong with their tactics; it was just that Curry couldn't play like Li You.

As if sensing his partner's thoughts, Van Gundy, taking advantage of Irving's free throws, chuckled and continued the conversation:

"More and more teams are starting to integrate into the Knicks' offensive system, and the Clippers are doing the best in this regard, with their championship members playing a significant role."

"In this league environment, I still admire the Pacers' perseverance. A diverse tactical system is what creates exciting games."

"The league needs teams like this. Win or lose, the clash of systems in this series has been incredibly exciting."

The Knicks, who had long abandoned their low-post tactics, indeed had a hard time limiting their opponents' strong inside attacks, but the Pacers also had a hard time getting the ball to their big men. The defending champions performed exceptionally well in defending catches.

Luis Scola scored repeatedly during the rotation, while Paul George, who didn't pass the ball, was benched for half a quarter. After returning to the court, he only took one shot and was completely invisible once again.

At 62:40, the first half ended, and the outcome of the game was no longer in doubt, with the shouting and cursing growing louder.

Paul George was booed a few times by fans on both sides as he walked toward the player tunnel, but the young man didn't care at all. He played as required and firmly carried out the coaching staff's instructions!
Hibbert scored a team-high 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting in the first half, but he was furious when he saw Paul George's indifferent expression.

Back in the locker room, the big guy didn't even wait for everyone to sit down before he started glaring and yelling:

"What are you doing? Did that bitch drain you dry?"

Stevenson, who hadn't gotten many opportunities, immediately chimed in when he heard the big man erupt, making sarcastic remarks:

"Bro, I knew it! I told you the three of us could solve problems together. Look at your garbage performance now, the team might be considering trading you."

The Pacers can only offer a maximum of three $10 million contracts. After Hibbert and West take up the spots, the third one can only be given to Paul George.

This greatly displeased the championship swingman, who was being pressured by the team to lower his price, but he hoped to use the playoffs as an opportunity to get rid of his teammates so that he could have a chance to land a big contract.

Paul George shook his head at the two sarcastic individuals, responding simply with an indifferent expression:
"Say whatever you want. I gave it my all on defense, and I played exactly as the coach instructed for the first half. Don't try to tell me what to do!"

The three started arguing again, and no one else could get a word in edgewise. West even covered his face in pain, showing no regard for his feelings. At this moment, he missed Danny Granger terribly.

When Vogel returned to the locker room, Paul George was still loudly boasting:

"I'm an All-NBA player! Why isn't anyone voting for you?!"

"You blind old woman!"

Vogel was furious, his face flushed. He had noticed something was wrong in the locker room when the team fell behind towards the end of the regular season, but the situation was worse than he had imagined. The core players were refusing to pass the ball to each other!
After muttering a couple of curses, Coach Vogel barely managed to control his emotions and began to reorganize the tactics. With such a large point difference, the team needed to go all out.

-

On Sunday, May 11, the Indianapolis Star broke a major story early in the morning: during yesterday's practice, the Pacers had another internal conflict that almost broke out into a boxing match.

The Pacers' beat reporter went deep into gossip about Paul George's affair with a stripper, while columnists collectively criticized Vogel's rubbish tactics in three games.

Even if Hibbert and West performed well in Games 2 and 3, but the outside shooting went cold, the coach is to blame for the loss!
With Li You playing for less than 30 minutes, the Pacers played poorly throughout the game, losing the match point decisively.

Before Game 4, a game meant to bolster his reputation, Paul George, who had consistently contributed 15 points in the previous game (4-for-13 shooting, 1-for-6 from three-point range, and 6-for-10 from the free-throw line), started boasting again, confidently responding in an interview:
"I'm willing to take on any role in order to win! You know, the coach wants me to focus more on defense, and I love that challenge!"

"."

The young man's self-aggrandizement left a group of media reporters speechless. Ignoring statistics and the outcome of the game, Paul George unilaterally "won" again.

Don't ask, the answer is that I made sacrifices for the team!

Perhaps influenced by the "Winning News," Paul George genuinely felt that the Pacers had lost, but he hadn't, and the young man couldn't resist continuing to boast:
"You know, we were also affected by injuries. If Evan could have returned sooner, the series wouldn't have turned out like this!"

After spraining his ankle late in the regular season, Evan Turner fell out of the main rotation. After recovering from his injury, Coach Vogel wanted the young man to play as the sixth man because Stephenson performed better, which led to a disagreement between the two sides.

Paul George's blatant lies still managed to fool some sports reporters who were unaware of the team's internal affairs. The excuse worked very well, and the young man successfully saved face.

With an hour and a half to go before the game, head coach Vogel suddenly announced a change in the lineup for tonight's honor game, with Evan Turner returning to the starting lineup.

CJ Watson, who was exhausted from the loss, had no objections. Playing as a substitute would reduce his matchup against Lee Woo, which was obviously a good thing in a battle for honor!
Paul George was stunned when he heard the coach's new decision; this was not the "script" he wanted.

At 19 p.m. that night, Pacers fans at Bankers Life Arena were still irritable, regardless of the outcome of the game; they just wanted to "vent their frustrations."

Paul George's strong support paid off. In this game of honor, point guard Evan Turner no longer strictly followed the tactics and frequently passed the ball to his good friend early in the game.

This situation is completely different from the previous three games, and Paul George has no choice but to accept the "gift" and turn on his "scoring mode".

As the game time went by, the irritable Pacers fans began to turn around and yell at their star player.

On the offensive possession, Paul George attempted a back-to-the-basket attack from the right side near the baseline, but under Li You's defense, he turned and shot towards the baseline. Paul George knew he was going to be in trouble from the start, as the ball didn't even touch the rim.
Paul George went "ghostly" from the start, dribbling between his legs repeatedly, then attempting a fadeaway jumper after a crossover, only to miss again when he received the ball in the blocking area and tried to turn and shoot using his height advantage.

Unable to say "Don't give me the ball," Paul George tried to increase pick-and-rolls midway through the first quarter, but David West and Hibbert completely ignored him.

Even if he moved up, it was just a perfunctory effort; under Li You's relentless pressure, Paul George could only "cook" at the top of the key.
Stephenson actively screened and occasionally brought the defender over to double-team his teammates, but Paul George preferred to attack hard rather than give the "troublemaker" an easy chance to score!

With more than half of the first quarter gone, Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller in the TNT commentary booth were staring wide-eyed; something was very wrong with the game.

In an attempt to "become one with the ball" and squeeze through the gaps in the crowd, Paul George, holding the ball in his left hand, suddenly shifted his weight to lower and push the ball in a different direction. Li You easily squeezed past the screen, and after the physical collision, the young man immediately lost control of the ball.

Paul George fell flat on his face and yelled angrily as he landed on the floor. Ibaka didn't even look at his opponent and threw the ball forward.

As Li You crossed the half-court line, he turned around and saw that all the Pacers players were standing still. Feeling bored, he made a "commoner's layup," which caused the entire arena to erupt in chaos once again.

It was impossible to tell who the excited fans were actually criticizing. For most of the quarter, Paul George went 1-for-6, scoring only 4 points through fast breaks and free throws. His individual performance was truly "eye-watering".

On the offensive possession, after a series of passes, Evan Turner ignored Hibbert's call for the ball and gestured for Paul George to receive it in the left elbow area.

Even star players are looking to get their revenge. Paul George gritted his teeth and tried to shake off Li You after a series of shoves, but unfortunately, he was immediately marked closely by the defender the moment he received the ball.
The young man had already noticed that "Old James" on the other side didn't control the defensive distance at all. Without thinking too much, he quickly swept the ball laterally after facing the basket, and the moment he released the ball with his left hand, Paul George made a full-force breakthrough.

The thud of the ball being dribbled was enough to show how strong the young man was. Paul George, who was gritting his teeth and charging forward, was blocked by Li You at the baseline amidst shouts of surprise.

Unable to get close to the basket, the young man was thrown off course by the physical collision and was pushed away.

"Shoot!"

The Knicks' bench was shouting loudly, and the fans in the front row were also yelling angrily. Paul George was surrounded by Li You and forgot about the shot clock. He forced a turn and made a series of feints before the 24-second shot clock expired.

Stevenson suppressed a laugh as he encouraged his teammates, while Evan Turner clapped repeatedly, indicating that he would pass the ball again if given the chance in the next possession!

Paul George, who values ​​his image, naturally wouldn't say "no." However, in the final three minutes, he stopped backing down his opponent and stopped attacking the basket aggressively. Instead, he made full use of his height advantage, executing his moves only to miss with a flourish.

Reggie Miller's eyes twitched slightly. Li You disrupted the opponent's dribbling rhythm almost every possession, and under such circumstances, Paul George was still throwing up recklessly. He was so angry that he didn't hold back in criticizing him:
"This is the worst offensive option I've ever seen! Maybe Paul George left his brain in the locker room."

Hearing his partner's continuous output, Kevin Harlan had no choice but to take over the conversation and forcefully change the subject, commenting:
"Kyrie Irving, who started tonight, performed exceptionally well. The young man has grown rapidly this season, and we can see Lee's influence in him!"

荣誉之战在半场就没了悬念，59:38，真核心保罗-乔治今晚强势接管比赛，半场15中2，三分线外5中1，罚球4中2，爆砍7分4篮板1助攻3失误
During TNT's halftime routine interview, Paul George initially looked dazed in front of the camera, but after answering a question, the young man regained his confident demeanor.

When asked about his poor shooting performance in the first half, Paul George looked up, put his hands on his hips, and responded seriously:

"Li's defense was outstanding! But in this matchup, I still took 15 shots in the first half, three more than Li!"

“You know, data isn’t important; what’s important is the ability to develop and implement it. I did very well in that regard and passed Li’s test.”

"."

Stephenson, who had initially planned to watch the game unfold, was dumbfounded. Paul George staged a remarkable comeback in the first half through an interview, leaving the championship swingman standing there dumbfounded, with only one thought in his mind:
"They can win like that?!"

(End of this chapter)