NBA: Miracle Workers

On Wednesday, May 27, 2015, the Western Conference Finals reached their pivotal Game 5. After both teams each won a road game, the series entered a heated phase.

Contrary to the expectations of many commentators, the game did not unfold as anticipated. Instead of a frenetic back-and-forth, both sides adopted a "retro basketball" style.

The Warriors' three-point shooting suddenly became extremely inconsistent, while on the Lakers' side, James and Kobe relentlessly targeted the MVP, causing the young players to underperform in three out of four games.
In Game 5 of the do-or-die game, Oracle Arena almost turned into a library. Curry only scored 8 points in the first half, shooting 2-for-10 from the field, 1-for-7 from three-point range, and 3-for-4 from the free-throw line.

Such a poor performance allowed the Lakers to take a 52-45 lead. With Nash's back injury recurring, Jack, who came into the starting lineup, performed well and showed no mercy against his former team.

During halftime, ESPN was still playing highlights of the defense Curry faced. The Lakers double-teamed him relentlessly, and both Jack and Kobe's defensive moves were extremely aggressive.

In this game alone, Curry was elbowed four times, while Kobe, who is about to turn 37, seemed to be on steroids, playing like a Defensive Player of the Year on the defensive end.

"Tripping rope", "Decapitation block", "Back elbow strike", "Ball protection elbow", "Layup flying knee", "Fadeaway flying kick".
In the footage, Curry is being relentlessly "beaten up" by Jack, Kobe, James, and Howard. The young man seems lost, offering no response during the confrontation and only gesturing to the referee.

The Warriors' illegal screens also lost their effectiveness in the high-intensity competition. After the three players with rich experience in "fighting GOAT" used their past defensive strategies, the new MVP simply couldn't withstand them.

On the ESPN commentary desk, Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, and Mark Jackson were still discussing Curry's performance, with the championship-winning coach reiterating:

"Curry is not Lee. I have always maintained this view. He has a historic shooting touch, but he still gets lost in physical play in the playoffs."

"Eastern Conference teams have been studying how to limit Lee for over a decade. The Lakers' defensive strategy is very old-fashioned; it's just some of the most conventional methods."

"Kobe played a key role in this series. He wore down his opponents to an extreme degree, and everyone could feel the pressure he exerted."

Van Gundy put it more tactfully, saying that the Cavaliers also went all out with their moves back then, but after James suffered a broken rib, he became completely docile and turned into a staunch "Lee fanboy".

As for the other provocative teams, none of them fared well. In the Finals, a big game, Artest didn't hold back and elbowed his opponent, sending him to the hospital. In comparison, the Warriors played far too "civilized."

Mark Jackson had mixed feelings seeing the Warriors struggling and barely managing to maintain their lead thanks to the referees. In fact, he also contributed to the existing system.

"What the Warriors need to do is to free up Curry on the defensive end; they've started to adapt to the intensity of the game."

"The team made 4 of 17 three-pointers in the first half, which is not the true strength of the Warriors. The shooting percentage will likely improve in the second half. What the young players need to do is keep shooting."

After repeatedly double-teaming Curry, Klay Thompson responded brilliantly, shooting 9-for-13 from the field and 2-for-5 from three-point range in the first half, scoring a whopping 20 points. However, the rest of the Warriors players were completely lost.

After a thorough analysis, the two concluded that unless Curry regains his touch, the Lakers will have to secure the victory tonight.
At the start of the third quarter, the Lakers took the initiative on offense, with James setting a pick-and-roll with Howard on the left wing once again.

With excellent teamwork, Howard set a simple screen and immediately accelerated down the court, forcing Bogut to retreat to defense.

Barnes was caught behind by James, who suddenly accelerated. The chosen one overpowered him and broke through to near the baseline, then calmly tossed the ball into the basket with a left-handed floater.

"Shh!"

Boos echoed throughout the arena, but James, retreating on defense, shook his head repeatedly. If it weren't for that illegal screen set by the referee, the series would have been over long ago.

When Curry dribbled past half-court to the right wing, he immediately passed the ball to Barnes at the top of the arc. Then, he ran off the ball to the right corner. Jack, who was chasing him, pulled and dragged him, and after encountering the wall, he immediately rushed to the top of the court to cut off the passing route.

For a moment, Barnes could only pass the ball to Klay Thompson again, who immediately closed in on him. Green, who was setting a screen, stuck to Mamba and tried to push the defense away.

While Kobe was being blocked by his teammates, Thompson immediately passed the ball with his right hand and drove to the basket. Although Boozer reached out to block the shot near the restricted area, the young man pulled up and made a jump shot despite the defense!

Mamba looked at the referee with obvious dissatisfaction, and after receiving no response, he grumbled. Draymond Green, however, perked up at this moment, no longer silent as before, and grinned, mocking:
"I know you can't keep going, old man, take a break! Stop complaining like a spineless coward."

Kobe didn't even look at the young man, only showing his opponent the back of his head, and that disdainful expression made Green a little angry.

The Lakers started with a pick-and-roll, using the same tactic. This time, James didn't find a good opportunity and decisively passed the ball back. Jack at the top of the key received the pass and immediately passed it to Kobe on the right wing.

Kobe received the ball and signaled to Boozer that he didn't need a screen. Kobe, who placed the ball on his right hand, forced his way through and immediately backed down near the restricted area. At this moment, Boozer had already moved to the vicinity of the free throw line, and the Lakers cleared one side for a one-on-one attack once again.

After switching to his left hand, Thompson continued to post up and attack. Facing Kobe's constant collisions, Thompson held on tenaciously. After a series of collisions, Mamba suddenly turned and shot towards the baseline. Amid shouts of surprise, the basketball swished through the net once again.

The bench erupted in cheers, and Kobe, retreating on defense, bared his teeth with a fierce expression. Facing such a weak three-point shooting team as the Warriors, Mamba was particularly enthusiastic!
Curry attempted to attack Boozer, but was quickly double-teamed on the left wing. Green, left open, received the ball in the elbow area and attacked the basket, delivering an alley-oop that was almost disrupted by Howard. Bogut eventually put the ball back in for a putback.

As time ticked away, the referees started blowing their whistles again. Byron Scott kept pressuring the referees, and the Warriors' screens became increasingly excessive. Steve Kerr also turned red in the face, dissatisfied with the defensive actions against Curry.

After the Lakers traded Channing Frye, they continued to miss open three-pointers. As the opponent's defense shrank back to the paint area, Kobe's three-point attempts still missed.

Both sides started running back and forth again. The Warriors tried to speed up their offensive pace, but Curry's transition three-pointer bounced off the rim. On the other hand, James' fast break layup was pulled, but the referee did not call a foul.

Ultimately, Thompson's free throws broke the Warriors' scoring drought, and Kobe frowned slightly as Howard missed both free throws.

No one could completely relax. At a crucial moment, James's breakthrough was blocked by Bogut. Oracle Arena gradually boiled over until Kobe forced his way through and made both free throws, and the Warriors fans fell silent again.

Perhaps worried about the Warriors' potential explosion in the third quarter, head coach Byron Scott chose to stick with his starters tonight, making few adjustments other than substituting the underperforming Boozer.

Towards the end of the third quarter, Kobe was also covered in sweat. The Warriors' two backcourt players frequently cut and ran, and the young players' stamina completely outpaced the veteran!

The score was 16-16 in the first quarter, and after three quarters, the Lakers still led by 7 points.

Before the start of the fourth quarter, Steve Kerr, in an interview with ESPN, was completely expressionless. There was no fluid offense, no crazy scoring runs; tonight, James Harden taught them another lesson.
"We performed very well, but we just didn't capitalize on those opportunities!"

"I told the boys to keep shooting, and that their hard work would eventually pay off at this moment."

No longer touting their own tactical system, nor boasting that Curry could play the "GOAT" role on the Warriors, retro basketball shone brightly in this series. Even without their shooting, the Lakers were still able to dominate the game.

During the rotation phase, the Lakers only allowed Kobe to rest for a little over two minutes, while James and Howard remained on the court the entire time. The Warriors did the same, with their backcourt duo returning early. Neither team wanted to lose Game 5.

In the crucial fourth quarter, the Warriors' backcourt finally found some opportunities. With Thompson and Curry hitting consecutive three-pointers, the cheers almost broke out of the arena.

When the Lakers called a timeout, Curry and Thompson shouted excitedly. After being suppressed for the entire game, the suspense of the game returned in just a few possessions!

Steve Kerr also lost his composure at this point. Losing Game 5 and trying to turn things around on the road was a nightmare for the young team, as he knew how tough veteran James Harden was.
"We're going to fight! Listen, ignore the referee, if your opponents put pressure on you, show them with your fists that you're not to be trifled with."

"Believe in yourself, believe in your teammates, think about all the hard work we've put in this season, we must win this game."

Without discussing tactics, Steve Kerr delivered a pep talk at a crucial moment. After the referee signaled the end of the timeout, he continued to loudly reprimand Kerr after getting up.

The Warriors gradually regained control of the game with faster movement and passing, but James and Kobe always responded in crucial moments.

With 2 minutes and 01 second remaining in the game, the Warriors players grew increasingly anxious. The opponent's calm and composed demeanor made the young players feel inexplicably uncomfortable.

When Barnes' drive was disrupted by Howard and missed, Bogut and Green failed to get the rebound. "Happy Beast" still wanted to show off, but before he could swing his elbow to protect the ball, he suddenly felt a pain in his crotch.

When Draymond Green rushed to the basket to grab a rebound, he not only pulled on Howard's shorts but also pinched them, causing Howard to bend over in pain. The referee immediately blew the whistle.

With his hands raised, Green looked completely innocent, and under the protection of his teammates, he shook his head and made sarcastic remarks:
"I swear, I didn't do it on purpose!"

When the pain in his groin subsided, an enraged Howard immediately tried to confront him, but Kobe blocked him, and James also pulled his partner away, resulting in a free throw.

Oracle Arena erupted again, and Warriors fans joined in the commotion. As the players walked towards half-court, Green, standing in front of Howard, suddenly turned and taunted him once more.
"Hey bro, how's Kobe's? The one without balls."

Before he could finish his trash talk, Draymond Green was knocked to the ground by a straight punch from an enraged Dwight Howard.

"Oh!!"

Amid the gasps of the fans, players from both sides swarmed forward again. Howard, already somewhat weakened by the opponent's dirty tricks, completely lost his temper and continued shouting even after being pulled back by staff.

"Fuck you! You piece of shit, you dare talk trash to me?"

Howard, whose ball possession was taken away by Kobe during the series, completely forgot the coaching staff's pre-game instructions, and Byron Scott was so angry that his face turned dark.

This technical foul not only ejected the rim protector, but also, with his accumulated technical fouls, Howard will be suspended for another game.

It was an opportunity to extend their lead, but with Kobe making one of two free throws and Curry making both, the two teams were back to square one in the final moments of the game.

After being "knocked down," Green went all out, ignoring his opponent's reaction and talking nonstop with a wide grin.

James delivered several crucial passes that broke through the defense, but Channing Frye and Jack failed to capitalize on the opportunities, and the Warriors continued to miss shots. Green and Curry's layups also failed to score.

With 38.2 seconds remaining in the game, the Warriors fans in the arena all stood up and shouted:
"Defense!"

Amidst cheers from the defense, half the shot clock had passed. Kobe received the ball again on the left wing. The nearly 37-year-old veteran was already sweating profusely, biting his jersey to signal Channing Frye to set a screen. In the crucial moment, Thompson nimbly squeezed past him, forcing Kobe to slow down. As Bogut attempted a sliding block, the Mamba tried to accelerate, but his left leg suddenly lost power under the contact, and he fell to the ground in the struggle.

"Oh!"

When Kobe Bryant clutched his left foot in pain, the fans in the arena gasped in shock, and the Warriors players gathered around him. After a brief examination, the team doctor shook his head and signaled for him to leave the court immediately.

After being helped to his feet by his teammates, Kobe realized what was happening. Despite the excruciating pain, he limped towards the free-throw line, turned around, and said earnestly:
"At least let me finish the free throw."

The Warriors players who witnessed this scene stared wide-eyed. When Kobe made both free throws, a roar suddenly erupted in Oracle Arena:

"MVP!"

The cheers grew louder and louder. Kobe, who was helped up by his teammates and returned to the player tunnel, had slightly red eyes. The long-awaited cheers stirred his emotions, but he knew that his professional career had come to an end.

Thanks to Kobe's free throws, the Lakers regained the lead in the final moments. Steve Kerr called a timeout and quickly set up the final offensive play, giving the Warriors another chance.

With 29.6 seconds left in the game, after inbounding the ball, the Warriors failed to execute their planned play, and the Lakers displayed remarkable defensive flexibility.

As time ticked away, Green's screens became less effective. With nearly 24 seconds left, Curry's drive down the middle and floater missed, and Oracle Arena once again turned into a library.
At a crucial moment, Green rushed to the basket and miraculously grabbed the offensive rebound. Before stumbling and falling to the ground, he flicked the ball to the left corner.

At this moment, Curry had just arrived beyond the three-point line. After receiving the pass, he quickly jumped and shot despite his teammate's defense.

"Curry... for three—BANG!"

On the ESPN commentary booth, Mike Breen shouted excitedly, and the Warriors fans in the arena went completely wild. 90-91, a comeback from the brink of defeat, and Steve Kerr on the sidelines was so excited that he pumped his fist in celebration.

With 2.7 seconds left, the Lakers called a timeout, and the broadcast camera focused on LeBron James, whose face was dark with anger.

Curry, who was helped up by his teammates, looked up and shouted. At that moment, the young man felt that he had been elevated.

The Lakers called a timeout, naturally planning for James to receive the ball and finish the final possession. The roar of the crowd at Oracle Arena grew louder and louder.

"Defense!"

Amid cheers from the defense, James, using a screen to reach the left sideline near the baseline, successfully received the inbound pass. Just as he turned to jump shot, Iguodala, who was chasing him, precisely stole the ball.

James yelled as he "took off" in mid-air, but Iguodala grabbed the ball and charged forward. The game clock expired instantly, and the Warriors all rushed to the veteran's side to celebrate wildly.

"what!!"

Curry was the most excited, while Draymond Green and Thompson hugged each other. The young men knew that the series had turned in the Warriors' favor, and they had a chance to advance on the road.

Despite his defensive lapse, James was still demanding an explanation from the referee. Even after being restrained by Lakers staff, he continued to shout angrily. The Chosen One knew that he would face a truly desperate situation in Game 6.

Oracle Arena was unusually lively at this moment, as if the Warriors had already won the championship, and everyone was celebrating happily.

During an interview with ESPN on the sidelines, the camera specifically focused on the scratches on Curry's arm, showing that the newly crowned MVP had been badly beaten in this series.

“I don’t want to shirk responsibility. I played terribly in 5 games, and I feel I’ve learned a lot after going through these matches.”

"Right now, I just want to wish Kobe all the best. He's been underestimated, and he's better than anyone thinks."

"Don't forget he's almost 37 years old; this performance is simply incredible. I hope everything goes well for him."

When talking about the Mamba, Curry changed his previous somewhat dismissive attitude. The scene of him standing at the free throw line was so shocking, it was like a scene from a movie.

More reporters were crowding outside the visiting team's locker room, and experts on social media had already made their assessment that Kobe's left foot might have suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon!
Given Mamba's frustrated mood at the time, everyone wanted to see Kobe at that moment.

It wasn't until the Lakers finished their post-game meeting that reporters were allowed to interview Kobe. Kobe seemed to be in tears; his eyes were still red, but his emotions remained very stable.

"Kobe, how does your left foot feel now?"

When asked a simple question by a Fox Sports reporter, Kobe shook his head, looked at the crowd, and joked:
“You all know what happened. Yes, my career is completely over at this moment. If I were 27, I would have persevered, but I’m about to turn 37.”

"For me, it's all over. I'll lose my explosiveness, and my physical fitness will decline after I recover. At 38, I can't help the team at all."

"I didn't want to play like crap and still be on the court. This is probably the best outcome. At least when I left the court, I still helped the team take the lead."

There was no argument, no insistence as in the past; Kobe was completely at peace at this moment. But the media reporters watching had mixed feelings; this way of leaving was rather cruel.

When discussing the Warriors' victory, Kobe didn't mention the refereeing issues again. In fact, the Mamba knew that many Finals games were 5 against 8, and this was just a repetition of the past.

"Curry hit the go-ahead three-pointer, this guy deserves the MVP trophy!"

“We did a lot of work to limit his scoring, but Curry responded in the end.”

"LeBron will not give up. Back at home, we still have a chance. If the series goes to a seventh game, I firmly believe the Lakers will return to the Finals."

"."

When talking about the Finals, Kobe still had a longing look on his face. He had always hoped to return to the highest stage, but now it was all over.

As the interviews ended, seeing Kobe slowly walk away on crutches without assistance, most reporters lost their previous schadenfreude. The Mamba had given everything for basketball.

-

On Friday, May 29th, with the Hawks suffering heavy defeats in every game of the Eastern Conference Finals and being swept out of the playoffs by a depleted Knicks team, more and more onlookers began to focus on the dramatic Western Conference Finals.

At 19 p.m. that night, when the DJ called out Mamba's name again, the Staples Center echoed with cheers for the first time in many years.

"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

Kobe fought so hard for the team that he ruptured his Achilles tendon, and finally won back the respect of Los Angeles fans. People no longer believed the bullshit reports from unscrupulous media. The Mamba was the real Laker.

Unfortunately, Kobe could only witness this scene from the hospital. Shaquille O'Neal, who came to the scene, no longer had the usual teasing smile on his face. The old Shaq stood up and applauded with the fans.

Basketball brought tears to people's eyes, and many die-hard Mamba fans shed tears at this moment.

The Lakers' lineup for this game can be described as the "Seven Jedi Knights," with only James Jones and Clarkson making it into the rotation, leaving James to lead the team single-handedly.

Despite the poignant loss of Kobe Bryant, the Warriors made no attempt to waste the opportunity. Head coach Steve Kerr deployed a small lineup early on, unleashing a fluid and exhilarating offensive display for the first time in the series.

Stephen Curry was in full swing, and at halftime the score was 58-48, with the Warriors holding a double-digit lead.

During halftime, on the ESPN commentary desk, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson again discussed Kobe Bryant's career, with the championship-winning coach giving his affirmation:

"Kobe is clearly a severely underrated player. As a championship-winning guard, he has never received the respect he deserves."

"It would be commendable to fall behind in a matchup against the greatest player of all time, but many people overlook that Kobe has been the dominant force in the Western Conference in the past."

"He fulfilled all his potential, and his passion for basketball far exceeded people's expectations. It's a pity that his career has come to an end."

Mark Jackson felt a pang of regret as he thought about the veterans who had left the league in the past two years:
"It's hard to find another player like Kobe. Even at 37, he never let up on his demands!"

"As he said, how you face failure is the key to achieving greatness, and Kobe did that. Even at the end of his career, he was still able to help the team with his outstanding performance."

"."

After the start of the second half, James' teammates once again "played poorly," and the Chosen One, who was supposed to have the ball, was no longer efficient, frequently missing shots. As a result, the Warriors' transition offense once again extended their lead.

In the final quarter, even with the referees' help, the Lakers couldn't stop the Warriors' three-point barrage. After Iguodala hit three consecutive three-pointers, the Warriors celebrated wildly on the bench.

When the final buzzer sounded, the score was 108-96. James pursed his lips and strode quickly toward the player tunnel. The chosen one could not accept being defeated by a "rookie" team like the Warriors.

At the subsequent awards ceremony, amidst boos from the entire audience, the Warriors received the Conference Finals trophy from Adam Silver.

Warriors owner Joe Lacob had a particularly bright smile on his face. He had a feeling that the team would win the championship under his leadership!
Iguodala tried to control his excitement, as the Los Angeles fans respected him and he didn't want to be held back by them. However, when everyone took turns raising the trophy and cheering, the veteran couldn't resist joining in the celebration.
"champion!!"

"." (End of this chapter)