NBA: Miracle Workers

On Sunday, October 12, 2014, Chinese fans will witness the eighth NBA China Games, which also marks the tenth anniversary of the NBA China Games in China.

At this memorable moment, the league also prepared a matchup between the Rockets and the Lakers for fans across the ocean.

Yao Ming's final dance, Kobe Bryant's return to China, tickets for the Shanghai game sold out early, and fans showed tremendous enthusiasm for watching the game!
Not only the two teams, but O'Neal also joined Sina Sports this time, providing commentary for both games. The old shark started promoting the games at the beginning of the month, closely following his little brother every day.
This year's China Games were "full of star power," and Kobe's return has captivated many die-hard fans. He arrived in Shanghai two days early, and major portal websites began updating intensively with news about star players and off-court highlights.

Sports news dominated the page. To increase its popularity, the NBA spent a lot of money on promotion. The large amount of equipment that was airlifted alone impressed industry insiders with its professionalism!

Without comparison, there is no harm. Just a few days ago, the CBA preseason officially started, and Kobe Bryant even accepted an invitation to send a video blessing.

Unfortunately, the Nanchang International Sports Center Gymnasium, which can hold nearly 10,000 people, only had 500 fans in attendance. Media outlets were furious, criticizing the lack of ticket sales after so much hype.
Looking at the NBA's operations now, staff members compile the schedule for the games and detailed information on both teams into booklets and provide them free of charge, which the attending media can freely consult.

Not only were the media services outstanding, but the visiting stars were also very approachable. Kobe Bryant maintained a smile throughout his journey after getting off the plane and fulfilled all the fans' requests.

Especially when facing the fans waiting outside the hotel, Kobe spent an hour just signing autographs and taking photos. Finally, after being persuaded by Lakers staff, the Mamba made an apologetic promise to the waiting fans.

This performance deeply moved the die-hard fans, many of whom shed tears on the spot. In front of the media reporters, the crowd repeatedly shouted with excitement:
"Kobe! Kobe! Kobe!"

The events of Saturday have swept across major sports media outlets across the United States. To this day, no one questions Kobe's popularity in China. Even at the end of his career, he still completely outshines his teammates LeBron James and Dwight Howard.

At 12 o'clock, the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai was already packed. Half an hour before the game started, the entire stadium was in a frenzy.

Kobe Bryant was once again treated like a star during warm-up, while his teammates LeBron James and Dwight Howard were given the cold shoulder, with fans across the ocean showing little interest in the two.

This situation has left James and Howard somewhat frustrated. In the US, Kobe was truly a disappointment, and commentators criticized him at will. Apart from a few die-hard fans, the Mamba was synonymous with a clown.

But the situation is completely different in China. Kobe is a superstar here. His experience in the CBA has led to a surge in his fan base, and his comments about retiring and moving to China have made the Mamba one of their own.

Kobe has no negative news here. Last season, the 76ers had a poor record and missed the playoffs. Most media reports focused on his teammates being "in the CBA" (referring to his poor performance in the CBA).

Unable to comprehend this phenomenon, James and Howard had to restrain their emotions. They had no interest in offending Chinese fans; after all, they could endure it for a few days and return to the United States to continue their fierce attacks on the Mamba.

Shaquille O'Neal also sensed something was wrong. The old Shaq came to China hoping to have some fun, but after witnessing his younger brother's enthusiastic fans, he immediately backed down and started to cooperate with the sports media in saying nice things.

At this moment, in the Sina Sports commentary booth, O'Neal, dressed in a black suit, took a photo with Wang Meng and Yang Yi. All three were smiling happily and seemed to be getting along very well.

Where there is Yao Ming, there is Wang Meng. Unlike Yang Yi, the former still insists on reporting from the front lines.

After Yao Ming withdrew from the Basketball World Cup due to a foot injury, Wang Meng cherished his last performance of the new season even more. When the topic turned to the Rockets, O'Neal also started talking about their old rivals:
"Yao was the most dominant big man I've ever faced. When he received the ball in the low post, the defender could only pray to God!"

"I should speak up for Dwight Howard, but Yao was clearly the better player in the low post matchup."

"In modern basketball, traditional centers are dying out. I want to see Yao Ming lift the championship trophy. Big men need to make their voices heard."

Howard has performed quite well for the Lakers in recent years, but Shaq has always looked down on him and would always find an opportunity to make sarcastic remarks.

Yang Yi was pleased to hear this; the opponent's approval was important. As professional basketball commentators, everyone knew that the Rockets had no chance of winning the championship.

Leaving aside other opponents, the Knicks can easily overwhelm the Rockets with their pick-and-roll offense. In all his years in the NBA, Yao Ming has only won three games against the defending champions, two of which were when Li You was absent.

Chinese sports media dislike reporting embarrassing records; Li You averaged 40+ points per game against the Rockets.
"The Rockets added Josh Smith during the offseason and acquired Jason Terry and Trevor Ariza from the Kings and Wizards respectively."

From your perspective, what is the Rockets lacking in their pursuit of a championship? What areas can the Westbrook-Yao Ming combination improve upon?

Yang Yi asked Shaquille O'Neal a simple question, and the old shark, of course, wouldn't tell the truth, and at this point, he routinely boasted:
"You know, I have a special feeling for the Lakers and Kobe, but from a basketball perspective, the Rockets' pure strength has surpassed that of the Lakers!"

"Both Westbrook and Lin can handle the ball, and they can take turns controlling the team. As long as the pace of the game is slowed down appropriately, Yao can dominate the paint."

"The Rockets need to show their hunger for the championship. As long as they can fully commit to the game, no one in the league can beat them."

"."

Upon hearing this, Wang Meng blinked repeatedly. O'Neal seemed to have two completely different faces in China and the United States. If he didn't know the old shark's big mouth on TNT, he would have almost thought that the person in front of him was a fake shark.

Yang Yi was at a loss for words; the person beside him was truly giving him face, maintaining a smile as he continued to ask questions:
"What are your thoughts on the Lakers' new season? Steve Nash seems to have recovered from his injury, Kobe will return to his best position, shooting guard, and the starting lineup looks excellent!"

"The Lakers urgently need to address their locker room issues, and my little brother needs to adapt to his new role!"

O'Neal answered quickly, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his face when he mentioned the Mamba. Noticing the gazes of the two people beside him, he then suppressed some of his gloating and continued:
"If you want to win a championship, the locker room is very important; it's the foundation of the team."

“I’m not worried about LeBron’s ability, but he just joined the Lakers and obviously needs more time to fully take control of the team.”

"Kobe is not Lee. He has never been efficient in maintaining his stats. In this team, he only needs to play the role of a leader on the training ground. Hopefully, he is ready."

Upon hearing the answer, Yang Yi and Wang Meng exchanged glances. Both of them were aware of the gossip in the United States, and it seemed that the news of a conflict breaking out in the Lakers' locker room on Media Day was true.

At 12:30, the star-studded game officially began, and the entire stadium erupted in cheers once again.

Howard, who jumped for the ball, quickly ran to half-court. Steve Nash arrived at the top of the arc and immediately passed the ball to James, who received it in the right elbow area and initiated the attack.

After a baseline cross screen, Howard easily screened Josh Smith, who had switched to defend him, and then received a pass from James and banked the ball in for a layup!

"Yee!"

Howard immediately let out a loud yell after scoring the goal. Recently, the "Happy Beast" has rediscovered his feeling from his days with the Cavaliers, and the teachings of championship coach Van Gundy have come flooding back to him.

On the sidelines, head coach McHale loudly reminded him, and Westbrook slowed down his pace, just like in practice, waiting for his teammates to get into position after crossing half-court.

When Yao Ming successfully received the ball in the low post on the right side, he quickly shook his shoulder and turned into the paint, facing Howard who was reaching out to block, and made a fadeaway jump shot.

"Oh!!"

Cheers instantly filled the arena. Although the lighter Yao Ming could no longer dominate in the low post like he used to, his jump shot near the basket was still unstoppable as long as he received the ball in the sweet spot.

In the first half of the game, the center became the focus of attention on the court, which is very much in line with the preferences of Chinese fans. The alternating matchups between Yao Ming and Howard made the fans in the arena erupt with 200% enthusiasm!
However, once the official timeout ended, the Lakers suddenly sped up, and the Rockets quickly fell into a chaotic playstyle.

Nash easily assisted Boozer for a jump shot from the free-throw line, and on the other hand, Ariza's reckless drive was blocked by James.

After completing the defense, the chosen one seemed to have pressed the accelerator button and rushed forward at lightning speed. Nash's long pass found James near the basket, and the latter easily scored 2 points with an alley-oop.

When Jeremy Lin stopped the ball at the free-throw line and was interfered with by Kobe, resulting in a turnover, Nash promptly put the ball back in, and in the transition offense, James scored again with Ariza on the dribble.

Westbrook used Yao Ming's screen to pull up for a jump shot in the right elbow area but missed. Howard secured the rebound, and Nash quickly pushed the ball up the court again.

James received the ball on the right wing, laid it down with his right hand, and made a quick drive. He then suddenly used a crossover step to pull back and shake off Ariza. Without any hesitation, he decisively jumped and shot from beyond the three-point line. The basketball swished through the net!

A 7-0 run prompted head coach McHale to immediately call a timeout, eliciting gasps from the arena as the lead widened too quickly. James, suddenly erupting, smiled and high-fived Nash in celebration. While the veteran couldn't tear apart the defense with his drives like his good friend, his playmaking was still excellent.

"I like the current pace. We'll run more pick-and-rolls from now on. Carlos, I think you can improve your screen positioning."

As James walked toward the bench, he talked with his teammates. All four of them were laughing and chatting, except for Kobe, who was playing the role of "defensive vanguard," whose face darkened.

Boozer loves pick-and-rolls, Nash is responsible for feeding him the ball, Howard likes the low post, and when an opportunity arises, James immediately "passes the ball to the basket".

James monopolized the offensive opportunities, leaving Kobe completely isolated; nobody wanted to share stats with him.

Coach Byron Scott was naturally aware of the situation in the locker room and did not comment on Kobe's situation. After all, the Mamba only earns $500 million, and veterans also pursue stats, so his current role is very suitable.

In the following games, Channing Frye and James Jones also had outstanding performances, and Howard and James completely brought the Cavaliers' system to Los Angeles.

With everyone working in perfect harmony, the Lakers quickly unleashed a barrage of three-pointers. Kobe, sitting on the bench, remained expressionless, while the cheerleaders joined in with loud cheers, leaving Kobe with a long, dark expression.

It wasn't until the latter part of the third quarter, when the fans in the arena were chanting "Kobe," that Mamba finally got some offensive opportunities.

Watching Kobe make strong back-to-the-basket attacks in the left and right restricted areas, head coach Byron Scott on the sidelines frowned slightly. After missing a shot, he quickly gave instructions, signaling Mamba to move more and complete the catch-and-shoot.

"Kobe should focus more on defense and reduce his playing time during the regular season. This will help him maintain his physical condition."

O'Neal, sitting in the front row, grew increasingly happier. If it weren't for the feelings of Chinese fans, he would have cheered even when Kobe missed a shot. After a brief comment, he added:
“My little brother is not Li; he has never been a ‘driver’ throughout his entire career.”

“This is common in the league. At 36, he doesn’t need to force himself to change his career path. I would prefer to see him retire healthily.”

"."

In the latter part of the fourth quarter, both teams began to make extensive substitutions. With an 18-point lead, the Lakers had already secured the victory. James and his teammates, who had returned to the bench, were in high spirits and were chatting with each other.

Kobe, who remained on the court, hit a series of difficult jump shots, and cheers once again resounded throughout the arena. Die-hard fans finally witnessed their idol's signature offense.

Ultimately, the final score was 116-102, with the Lakers easily defeating their opponents despite Westbrook's explosive 34-point performance.

After the game, Howard didn't make things difficult for Mamba, giving the veteran the interview opportunity. After exchanging greetings, the group quickly left the court.

Attentive fans noticed that Kobe was being isolated, and during interviews, many people excitedly shouted:

"Deduct coins! Go home!"

When Yang Yi translated the shouts from the fans behind him with a puzzled expression, Kobe showed a touching look, and Mamba pursed his lips, patted his chest, and turned to greet the fans.

The cheers from the crowd grew louder and louder, and an emotional Kobe finally responded loudly:
"I will return!"

-

On Monday, October 20th, the Lakers returned to Los Angeles after completing two games in China.

The opening game is just a few days away. James and Howard have returned to the game and stopped pretending. The two of them have joined forces to strip Kobe of his tactical role, forcing the Mamba to become a "defensive spearhead" at the age of 36.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the "Chosen One" appeared excited when discussing the team's changes, earnestly praising them:
"Kobe made sacrifices for the team, you know. He never played for stats and honors, and was willing to take on more defensive responsibilities."

"."

In the Lakers' locker room, Nash didn't participate in the "struggle," James' arrival didn't affect his control of the ball, and as for Kobe not getting any stats, that was none of his business, since even the coaching staff tacitly approved of it.

Mainstream media have noticed Kobe's "dilemma," and the situation is now somewhat "complex." Don't ask, the answer is that the Mamba isn't playing for stats and accolades, while Howard is competing for MVP and needs more support.

Kobe, as the person involved, has not officially responded. Under the leadership of James and Howard, even rookies like Clarkson have begun to ignore the Mamba.

Everyone knows that Kobe was there to sell tickets; there was no place for veterans in Jim Buss and Kupchak's future plans.

On Thursday the 23rd, the Knicks also completed their final preseason game against the 76ers at home, with the atmosphere as heated as ever.

The Knicks recently played two games in Germany and Türkiye. Kyrie Irving performed well, and Tobias Harris and Chandler Parsons, who received more playing time, also had impressive performances.

Jimmy Butler's playing time has been limited due to a groin injury, and his lackluster performance quickly drew criticism from New York fans, who have now "evolved" into a "one-quarter mentality."
今晚巴特勒状态回暖，带着怒火打球的年轻人12中7，三分线外4中2，罚球7中6，怒砍22分10篮板6助攻4抢断3失误的数据，
After the game, Holiday looked puzzled, feeling that the intensity of tonight's game was close to that of the playoffs.
The Knicks seemed to be playing with real intensity, not targeting the 76ers, with the young players competing against each other, and in some possessions even giving the impression that they were about to throw punches at each other.

MSG's sideline reporter, Tina Salvaccio, didn't seem to notice anything amiss. Dressed in a business suit with long, wavy hair, Tina continued to stir things up when interviewing Butler:

"Jimmy, this is your best game since you came back from injury! New York fans are very curious about what role you will play in the new season?"

"Will you focus more on the defensive end, like Kobe Bryant of the Lakers?"

While Los Angeles media outlets have been touting "defensive ace" lately, New York media isn't going to be outdone, directly proclaiming Jimmy Butler the Defensive Player of the Year.
When the topic of his role came up, Jimmy Butler, who had started growing his hair out, almost got so angry that his hair turned into an afro. It was all a rumor spread by Kyrie Irving, who was subtly belittling his offensive abilities!
Although Butler tried to control his emotions, his answers still carried a hint of anger:

"I never slack off on the defensive end, you know. I want to be a player like Lee who has a huge impact on both ends of the court."

"But that doesn't mean I won't pursue statistics. I don't want to deceive the fans. Statistics, honors, and fans' praise are my motivation to play."

"Given more playing time, I just want to seize every offensive opportunity."

"Li will never narrowly define us; I will be more honest about my own desires!"

"."

Butler was merely responding to internal Knicks matters, but the following day, New York newspapers and several sports media outlets simultaneously published articles on similar themes:

"Jimmy Butler of the Knicks thinks Kobe Bryant is a hypocrite who can't be honest with himself."

The related content went viral on social media, with people on Twitter celebrating and everyone showing their support for Butler in the comments section.

The atmosphere at the Tarryton training center was a bit strange that afternoon. The young Knicks players all knew that Butler was actually mocking Irving, who liked to show off and talk a good game even when he couldn't get free throws.

Those who read the newspapers were speechless; the new season hadn't even started yet, and the sports media were already creating a rivalry between the East Coast and the West Coast.
After practice, Gasol and the others chatted about dinner. Danny Green, who had temporarily secured a starting position, was in good spirits, greeting everyone. Seeing Butler's pained expression, he jokingly offered some words of comfort:
"Jimmy, the boss won't care about this boring news. Maybe you should be careful of Kobe's retaliation!"

As Danny Green spoke, he mimicked Kobe's angry elbow swing. Jimmy Butler glanced at Kyrie Irving, who was chatting and laughing with his teammates on the other side, and curled his lip in disdain, saying:
"That hypocritical old man isn't worth paying attention to! We have no rivals this season, so we should seize more opportunities in the game!"

Paid stats are a skill, and soon Jimmy Butler pulled Danny Green aside to study the schedule. Facing a weak team, they had to go all out and increase their efficiency and average points per game.

The thought that management hadn't officially discussed the contract with him yet gave Butler a silent pep talk:
"As long as I have excellent stats, I'm sure I can stay here!" (End of Chapter)