NBA: Miracle Workers

"This is a matchup that many people have been looking forward to, with a new MVP challenging the greatest player of all time!"

"The Warriors, with 67 wins, and the defending champions, with 60 wins, the two strongest teams finally met in the Finals."

"After a 40-year wait, the atmosphere at Oracle Arena is electric tonight; the city is eager for a championship."

On the ABC broadcast, Mike Breen cheerfully touted the matchup, while Van Gundy, dressed in a "red scarf" outfit, nodded repeatedly and joined in the hype.

Of the three, only Mark Jackson's expression was slightly complicated, especially when he saw Steve Kerr and Mike D'Antoni chatting happily near the scorer's table, he still felt a little bitter.

As a former coach, he both hoped that the tactics he designed would shine in the Finals and did not want Steve Kerr to lead the team to success.

Mark Jackson knew that if the Warriors won, they would gain tremendous prestige, and a championship could even keep Steve Kerr employed for the next 10 years!
That's the appeal of a championship-winning coach; relying on past glories is a common occurrence in the league.
“When we talk about the Warriors, we always forget Steve Kerr’s championship experience. The Finals experience is completely different, and he can help the team’s young players adapt to this excessive attention.”

Van Gundy once again praised rookie coaches when talking about "championship experience," but quickly changed his tone and added:
"However, in my opinion, such help is extremely limited. No one knows better than Li how to win the finals!"

"To beat a young team, you just need to get off to a good start, and the Warriors may lose their rhythm under pressure."

"."

The difference in championship experience was obvious. During the final warm-up, Li You didn't forget to chat and exchange pleasantries with Cole and others. Many friends from the Bay Area were also present, and everyone was chatting enthusiastically in the front row.

The Knicks' young players were also relaxed; they were used to winning championships and didn't feel uncomfortable, but rather enjoyed it.

More importantly, despite the Warriors' 67 wins, no one in the locker room respected their opponents. In comparison, the Heat teams from the previous two years were more formidable.

The skinny Curry is completely different from the strong and powerful James and Wade. His baby face also makes him look easy to bully. Butler even mocked him in the locker room.
"Give this guy a punch, and he might cry on the spot!"

Judging people by their appearance is a normal phenomenon in the league. Although looking like a defensive stalwart doesn't necessarily mean he's good, a fierce look can sometimes be intimidating on the court.

Kyrie Irving, who has recovered from injury, will start again tonight. Pau Gasol is still affected by a hamstring injury, limiting his playing time. With both players returning from injury, the coaching staff can comfortably adjust the lineup.

Although the Warriors have an excellent record, the Knicks have more All-Star players, which is why the pre-game predictions were one-sided. With the development of their young players, the Knicks have a chance to make another run for an eighth consecutive championship!

CCTV Sports sent Yu Jia and Zhang Weiping to the finals, and during the pre-match live broadcast, they also interviewed champion forward Grant Hill.

As a well-known ESPN host and commentator, Hill has become very popular since retiring. He not only "realizes his talent" on television broadcasts, but also started working for the USA Basketball Association last year.

Hill's remarks to the Chinese sports media were relatively tactful, mostly praising the 67-win Warriors. However, after the interview, Zhang Weiping suddenly suffered a relapse of his amnesia, and the old man routinely rambled on:
"Grant Hill is right, the Warriors don't have many opportunities. Curry is like a 'bankrupt' version of Li You; besides being able to shoot, he's lacking in everything else."

Yu Jia, standing to the side, almost lost his composure. He had no recollection of Hill predicting the match result; the old man was just spouting nonsense with wide eyes, and he had to nod and agree with him.

"The start and third quarter are crucial. Even during the rotation phase, the Warriors couldn't gain an advantage. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks even had a regular 10-man rotation, which is an incredibly deep roster!"

"Hill believes that rhythm will be a key factor in deciding the game. Coach Zhang, what's your opinion on this?"

Forcibly changing the subject, Zhang Weiping chuckled again, and the old man continued to boast to the camera:

"The Warriors' transition offense is incredibly strong! But that's something the Knicks have been using for over a decade. Nobody understands fast breaks better than Li You!"

"If you miss a three-pointer and keep hitting the bricks, the game is over. In the finals, sometimes the referees have to listen to Li You's opinion before they can make a call."

"The methods used against Kobe, James, and Howard didn't work."

Hearing Zhang Weiping's increasingly outrageous claims, Yu Jia could only smile awkwardly, nod repeatedly, and then change the subject again. Even if it were true, he couldn't just say things like that. The old man was indeed getting old!
The two teams had completely different auras. The Knicks, wearing their away blue jerseys, seemed more like they were at home, while the Warriors, playing at home, looked serious during warm-ups, and the young players appeared extremely nervous.
At 21 PM, Oracle Arena erupted after the jump ball. Most Warriors fans, wearing gold cheering T-shirts, stood up and chanted, quickly transforming the noisy shouts into a unified chant of support for the defense.
"Defense!"

After Gasol won the jump ball, the Knicks did not seem to change their playoff game plan, still relying on Irving to lead the offense.

Seeing Lee Woo stroll to the left corner, the three commentators on the ESPN panel had different expressions. Mark Jackson realized the GOAT's attitude; his opponent still couldn't muster any enthusiasm.

On the left elbow, after Ibaka received the ball, Irving first feigned a cut into the middle and then accelerated back.

As Irving moved laterally to receive a handoff pass from his teammate, Li You had already moved to the other corner and directed Butler to receive the pass at the top of the key.

Facing Curry's pursuit defense, Irving, who was accelerating with the ball in his left hand, paid more attention to Draymond Green's movements and decisively delivered a bounce pass when the opponent switched on defense.

Ibaka received the ball at the free-throw line and didn't pass it to Butler to organize the offense. With the defense not in place, he decisively made a mid-range jump shot!
Serge Ibaka, who helped his team open the scoring, clapped his hands repeatedly, his dark face beaming with excitement.

This tactic had been used too many times and offered no surprises, but Zhang Weiping still praised it loudly, the old man routinely exclaiming:
"The score should be attributed to Li You. Look at his positioning. He directly drew away most of the opponent's defense. Harrison Barnes stayed close to the sideline and was aiming at the corner."

"That's the GOAT's gravity; even if the Warriors have to assign two tall defenders to guard the corner!"

"."

Yu Jia was momentarily speechless. His American counterparts were really making money; the old man was a "self-proclaimed advocate," his hype getting more outrageous every year. Left with no other choice, he could only focus on the competition. Suddenly, he shouted:
"Curry didn't play, then passed the ball after a pick-and-roll, Green made a bounce pass, wow! That's some physicality!"

Thompson cut in from the left baseline and was almost blocked by Irving when he received the ball, but Irving's height allowed him to force his way to the basket.

Gasol blocked Gasol's reverse layup, drawing gasps from the crowd. The big man grabbed the rebound and threw it back to half-court.

When Li You received the ball near the logo, Steve Kerr on the sidelines shouted for his players to retreat on defense.

The Warriors' excellent defensive discipline allowed them to match up with each other in a timely manner, with Green even attempting to double-team Curry early to prevent him from facing one-on-one situations.

"Oh!"

Amid the gasps of nearly 2 Warriors fans at the scene, Li You paused slightly on the right wing, lowered his center of gravity after the dribble, and quickly gathered the ball as he cut in, rushing through two defenders to the basket.

Curry could only stand still and turn to look at the basket. Green, who hurriedly slid back to defend, realized it was too late when Li You took a big step. He barely managed to jump into the air and then involuntarily opened his mouth wide.

Li You jumped off his left foot, ignoring the defense, and swung his left arm to the side in mid-air, dodging the block and quickly swinging his arm to slam the dunk!
A seemingly ordinary layup suddenly turned into a powerful dunk over someone, and some front-row fans covered their mouths as they watched Draymond Green stagger out of bounds.

On the Knicks' bench, the cheerleaders started shouting again, and Ibaka, who had come to the basket, joined in the celebration, ignoring the referee's intervention and glaring at Green while yelling loudly.

When Green straightened up, he merely raised an eyebrow at the provocations from Ibaka and others, took two steps back, spread his hands, explained a few words to the referee, and then made no further moves.

This scene amused Jeff Van Gundy in the ESPN commentary booth. During the Western Conference Finals, Draymond Green wasn't like this at all. Taking advantage of the free throw opportunity, he jokingly remarked:

"This is a smart choice; Green clearly recognizes his importance in the tactical system."

"He needs to stay calm, set screens for Curry, and if he can hit another three-pointer, the Warriors can break through from there."

Mark Jackson felt helpless. He knew Draymond Green was a smart guy, but the game needed to be more intense. A "fight and retreat" approach would only lead to a situation like the Western Conference Finals.

When Li Youga made the free throw, the Warriors made an adjustment on their offensive possession, immediately having Thompson set a screen at the top of the key.

The Knicks immediately switched on defense, with Irving chasing Curry as he moved laterally with the ball in his right hand. However, Bogut's second screen at the top of the key forced Irving to move backward, forcing Gasol to switch onto Curry on the wing.

On the right wing, Curry made a sudden stop, dribbled between his legs, and quickly in and out with his left hand. Then, he decisively gathered the ball, ignoring Irving's pursuit on his side, and forced a jump shot that missed.

"Oh"

With a sigh, Li You secured the long rebound, and the Knicks launched another fast break. Irving, who received the pass, forced his way in from the left wing, pushing Curry aside.

When Bogut broke through to the basket, he could only raise his hand to defend, and the ball bounced off the rim due to the interference. Before the Warriors could secure the rebound, Ibaka rushed into the paint and tipped the ball away.

When Gasol received the ball at the top of the key, Thompson, who had just turned to look at the basket, hurriedly chased after him, but was still a step too slow.

Li You received the ball hand-off, briefly shook off the defense, dribbled one step at the top of the arc, and calmly sank a three-pointer with no one interfering.
"shush"

At 8-0, boos erupted at Oracle Arena. This was clearly not right; anyone could see that the Knicks hadn't even started playing aggressively yet, and Kyrie Irving was still the primary offensive weapon.

When Irving retreated to defend after failing to capitalize on his chances, he waved his hand in frustration. Butler, who had returned to his half of the court early and was leaning on his knee, gave his usual sarcastic remark.

The two exchanged a few words, a scene that left many Warriors fans wide-eyed; the defending champions were truly putting on a show.

The Warriors' offensive pace slowed down noticeably. By the time Thompson pushed Li You away, half the shot clock had already passed. When Curry came to the left wing, Bogut's screen also took up some time.

Curry cut in with the ball in his left hand, faked a move against Gasol, then quickly switched to his right hand and hit a mid-range pull-up jumper to break his scoring drought.

Cheers erupted instantly throughout the arena, with many Warriors fans clapping excitedly. Steve Kerr on the sidelines breathed a sigh of relief; he would have called a timeout if the team hadn't scored.
The young man still looked very nervous, and Curry, who scored the goal, failed to get past the screen immediately when faced with the same tactic.

As Irving cut in again from the left wing, Green hurriedly shouted to Curry to interfere with Ibaka who was receiving the ball.

Faced with a rapidly rotating defense, Ibaka didn't try to outplay his opponent. Instead, he moved the ball back to Butler on the right wing and immediately cut to the basket.

Curry quickly returned to his position, and when he turned to look again, Li You moved from the right baseline to the top line. Butler suddenly received the ball quickly and decisively cut in while Barnes was not paying attention to him.

In the blink of an eye, Curry could only watch as Barnes, scrambling to his feet, committed a foul.
Upon hearing the whistle, Butler, who casually tossed the ball towards the basket, wore a look of regret on his dark face, as if that wildly off-target shot was guaranteed to go in. As he stepped to the free-throw line, he didn't forget to shout loudly:

"I shouldn't have wasted the opportunity the Boss created for me!"

"Hey, you rookies in the Finals, you should feel honored to be playing against the greatest player of all time."

"Don't forget to say thank you after a loss; this experience will be a valuable one in your basketball career!"

The referee almost laughed when he heard Jimmy Butler's flattery extended into the game. The young players who can secure a starting position all have their own unique strengths!

The Warriors players were stunned, experiencing this scene for the first time. They felt like they were in a movie, but looking at Butler's serious expression, they hesitated for a long time, unsure of what to say.

Butler celebrated by clenching his fist after making both free throws, and when the Warriors attacked again, he didn't forget to share his "championship experience" with Barnes.
Unfortunately, the opponent started with a pick-and-roll between Curry and Green again, leaving Butler to watch from the other side as Ibaka chased down the basket and made a block.

"what!!"

Green screamed in pain as he was about to be fouled, the whistle was delayed, and Coach D'Antoni went up to the referee to complain for a moment.

Irving made both free throws, which once again brought cheers from Oracle Arena. On the other hand, Irving quickly advanced the ball, forced his way past Curry, stopped in the left side of the court, and then took a step-back jumper after a contest, which he made.

With the score at 12-4, the Warriors had no choice but to call a timeout. Steve Kerr frowned, and Curry once again became a defensive liability in the series.

Back on the bench, everyone took a deep breath. Steve Kerr, who had been frowning just moments before, smiled as he sat down in front of them, speaking in a relaxed tone:

"Everyone seems very excited. It's normal to feel nervous. This is the Finals, the highest stage in the NBA!"

"But we need to find our rhythm, think about what we discussed before the game, and show your energy in the first quarter."

"When a shooting opportunity arises, take it decisively, Andrei, you know what to do."

Having already taken off his jacket, Iguodala was a bit overwhelmed. Once on the court, he had to defend his old rival, which involuntarily reminded him of the days when he lost to henpecked husband in Philadelphia.

As the team's senior player, Iguodala nodded confidently, while Bogut, who was substituted early, was somewhat unhappy, having not received a single opportunity in those few minutes.

The timeout was still used to give Curry some instructions. The new MVP patted his chest before going on the court, he had to step up.

“Warriors”

During the offensive possession, the Warriors, who had switched to a smaller lineup, noticed that their opponents were also shorter, and Tobias Harris, wearing a blue headband, replaced Gasol.

Although he couldn't secure a starting position due to insufficient flattery skills, the coaching staff still chose to trust the data. In the playoff game sample, Harris's scoring was more consistent, and his defense was relatively agile.

After the pick-and-roll, Green drove through the middle and passed the ball to Barnes, who received it in the corner. Barnes didn't have a chance to immediately pass the ball to the top of the court. After a quick rotation, the play failed to go through, and most of the offensive time was wasted.

When Curry received the ball on the left sideline and drove to the basket, gasps erupted in the arena again.

"Oh!"

Curry, who was trying to hold off the defense, was eventually blocked by Li Youzheng at the bottom left of the basket. The referee did not blow the whistle again, and the Knicks launched a fast counterattack.

In a three-pronged fast break, Irving finally passed the ball to Harris, who had just entered the game. Iguodala, who was tracking back to defend, committed a foul as soon as he entered the game. The veteran put his hands on his hips and looked at the big screen, realizing that the rhythm of the game was very wrong.

After making both free throws, the point difference widened again. The somewhat impatient Warriors began to move frequently along the perimeter, but the Knicks did not give their opponents any good opportunities.

Thompson's tough shot from the left wing missed, and after Butler grabbed the rebound, Oracle Arena fell silent.

Before he could get close to the right wing, Li You, who received the ball, suddenly stopped. Iguodala rushed to defend, but the 37-foot jump shot was too far away, and his careless interference had no effect.

"Bang! God-Lee from downtown!"

Every year during the Finals, Mike Breen seems to cheerfully shout this phrase, and this year in San Francisco, with a brand-new arena, his tone became even more relaxed and cheerful.

Most Warriors fans have only seen such long-range three-pointers in transition offense in the past, and witnessing it live just seems incredibly absurd.

Iguodala stared at the back of his old rival's head, his emotions churning. He glanced instinctively at the floor beneath his feet, then turned to look at the three-point line and the basket. Seeing this, Irving seized the opportunity and loudly cheered:

Don't pray to the basketball god! God-Lee won't answer any of your requests.

"." (End of this chapter)