NBA: Miracle Workers

On Monday, June 8, 2015, before the Warriors players even flew to the away game, New York fans had already held four championship parties in a row.
Starting on the 4th, the free street party area outside the arena was packed with fans hours before the game. It was a gathering point for Knicks supporters after the game, and there were celebrations that stretched for several blocks afterward.

The most popular spot is the giant viewing screen between 33rd and 34th Streets, which usually opens two hours before the game as a cheering rally, along with prize giveaways and appearances by the champions.

Street parties have become increasingly popular in New York in recent years, allowing not only sports fans but also casual fans who come to the city to experience the joy of winning.

These parties and gatherings also serve as a source of "material" for New York fan clubs, providing much entertainment for many onlookers on YouTube and Reddit.

In earlier years, the gatherings weren't this big, and there were even away team supporters who wore their jerseys to provoke the team. However, after the Knicks' many years of winning streaks, now wearing away jerseys is all part of the script.

Nobody wants to "play" with the crazy guys in New York anymore. It's gotten to the point where they can only go crazy and have fun on their own. Of course, the weekly "mini-theaters" can't stop. With all sorts of creative antics, the New York fan club is thriving!

This week's mini-drama star is the newly crowned MVP Stephen Curry. As if witnessing firsthand what happened in the Warriors' locker room, Curry's imitator "cried his eyes out."

What made the onlookers most uneasy was that at the end, "Curry" was still holding his MVP trophy and said something with a touch of reluctance:
"I will fly to New York with this trophy. I don't deserve it. I will leave the MVP award in the holy land of basketball."

"Guys, stop targeting me one-on-one. I'm a coward, I don't have the courage to stand in front of the GOAT. I'd even give up my ** if it would help me get a few more points."

"."

The comments section became incredibly lively again. In the two games, the Warriors scored 95 points in Game 1 and 93 points in Game 2. Such a performance has caused most fans to lose respect.

It's worth noting that the Warriors averaged 110 points per game in the regular season, and they led the entire league in limiting opponents per 100 possessions with 101.4 points.

While their offensive and defensive statistics appear dominant, the Warriors exposed some weaknesses in the Western Conference Finals, and their performance in the NBA Finals was even worse.

Now it's that familiar "do-or-die" game again. Coupled with a lackluster performance, the Warriors' reputation has plummeted after winning 67 games, and Curry's MVP award has become a joke.

Even professional basketball commentators didn't expect the Warriors to make a comeback, given that they lost by a total of 45 points in the two home games, a clear sign of their deficit.

What left media commentators speechless was that Stephen Curry looked extremely disheveled on the defensive end. If the Knicks' outside shooting hadn't been a bit off, the Warriors would likely have lost by even more.

Starting with ESPN's morning program, the predictions became completely one-sided, and the bettors on Twitter went crazy praising Curry.

Having achieved a career milestone this season, Curry's public image has suddenly collapsed. He has remained silent, and at the press conference, the young man simply uttered a muttered remark:
"The series is not over yet, and we will not give up."

At 10 a.m. sharp, First Take airs, and the annual finals are always a highlight for Stephen A. Smith.

He had been relentlessly criticizing Kobe and Duncan for years, and fans were tired of it. Now that he had some new material, the big mouth was overjoyed.

Not only did he continuously post abstract dance videos at home, but he also provocatively released a posed photo of himself holding a magazine at Oracle Arena, along with the caption on Instagram:

"The loudest arena in the league? Why does it feel more like a library to me?"

The show had just begun when the female host, Kari, in accordance with the director's routine review of the new MVP's lackluster performance in G2, highlighting how his repeated targeted one-on-one attacks had become a memorable moment in this year's finals.

18中5，三分线外12中2，罚球8中6，18分4篮板5助攻6失误，库里垃圾时间都没能敢打敢拼，表现得比G1更差！

Given the current pace of the game, it will be difficult for Curry to regain his form in the next two games, as Madison Square Garden's offensive power is superior.

"I think many fans are wondering why Curry's magic has faded? Currently, he doesn't seem to be showing MVP-level performance on either offense or defense."

Black female host Carrie had a very good impression of Curry, and the love story in her MVP speech made many women feel very positive about the young man.

Skip Bayliss looked dejected. Before the series began, he was very confident that the Warriors would win at least one game, but now they've been crushed in both. Thinking about Curry's performance, he said sarcastically:

"Amazing? Anyone who has been following the NBA since 96 would not think that Stephen Curry has any amazing performances."

"All the league records for three-pointers were set by Lee. Most people who are optimistic about Curry are just hoping that he can reach the level of Lee when he was young."

"Before the series started, I didn't think the expectations were high. After all, Li will be turning 38 in six months, and age is a huge advantage for Curry!"

"But unfortunately, Curry became a coward when facing the greatest player in history, and he even became a defensive liability for the team."

"Li has once again defeated the MVP. Perhaps next season we should return the trophy to the greatest player of all time. The voting results are a joke now."

Curry's performance in the Finals at 27 was disappointing. Even without comparing him to other players from the same period, Li You, in his rookie season, never looked as bad as the new MVP.

In the 97 playoffs, facing the Bulls, rookie Lee Yu-neul was not a defensive liability, and even used his shooting and speed to cause great trouble for the defending champions.

In his first NBA Finals appearance against the Jazz, Li You led his team to break the then-record for the largest point differential in a Finals series, completely shattering Stockton's historical standing.
When the director showed Li You's Finals stats from 98 and compared them with Curry's, the new MVP was still at a disadvantage.

As a point guard, Li You committed a total of 3 turnovers in the first two games of the Finals, while Curry committed 6 turnovers in Game 2 alone.
Seeing the data comparison, Stephen A. Smith was greatly encouraged. A staunch supporter of Excel, he bluntly presented his conclusion:

"God-Lee's performance during his rookie season will be Stephen Curry's ceiling!"

"Can Curry score 40 points in the remaining two games? Can he hit nine three-pointers in a single game? He can't do any of that, not only now, but he'll never reach the level of the GOAT rookie season!"

"In my opinion, Curry is not even as good as Kobe. He doesn't have the aggression of a superstar. Can you imagine Kobe giving up on facing the greatest player of all time?"

"This would have been unthinkable in the past. Dwyane Wade is better than Curry on the defensive end. Obviously, there is something wrong with our selection mechanism. We all know who this trophy should belong to."

No one in the studio objected, and Skip Bayliss also lost faith in Curry; the gap was simply too large. Even the outspoken, usually dissenting voice agreed.
"I feel sad for Kobe. This season should have been his last dance in the Finals, but in the end, he had to end his career with a devastating injury."

"Kobe might be very disappointed to see Curry's performance. Perhaps his 'Detail' show this week can offer some advice to the young players."

"No one knows better than him how to match up against Lee, which might help Curry."

Compared to younger players, Kobe's reputation has rebounded. Everything is subject to comparison, and putting aside the results, Kobe's presence on both offense and defense is much better than Curry's.

Although both games ended in defeat, Kobe's performance now appears to have been "dignified."
Stephen A. Smith wanted to remind his partner that the record for the biggest point difference in the Finals was set by Mamba, but in the end he didn't say anything.

Kobe fought to the very end to win, even rupturing his tendon. He demonstrated his Mamba Mentality with his actions, and now his reputation has improved. No one will mention those embarrassing records at this time.

In later episodes, the two began to "offer advice" to the Warriors!
Skip Bayliss advised the young players to go all out and shoot three-pointers, while Stephen A. Smith suggested that the Warriors use a small lineup from the start and fight hard for four quarters to lose with dignity.

The two continued to make sarcastic and mocking remarks about the MVP, but in the end, it was female host Carrie who spoke up for Curry, offering sincere advice on the show:
"Curry has already been very successful. Losing in the Finals is not a bad thing. He just needs to stay true to himself."

"The Warriors still have a few years in their championship window. With patience, Curry has every opportunity to lead the team to create an era of their own."

On Tuesday, June 9th, when the Warriors arrived at the arena by bus to warm up, the team members looked serious. Curry, who had been criticized all weekend, kept his head down under the watchful eyes of sports reporters.

Trailing 0-2 in the series, the finals have lost most of their suspense, and the "game for the championship" continues.
Madison Square Garden was packed with sports media, and the Warriors were under close scrutiny during their warm-up.

Completely different from the atmosphere at home, the reporters seemed to have a different look in their eyes after arriving in New York. Everyone had an aggressive look in their eyes, and their gazes toward the Warriors players were scrutinizing.

During his time with the Bulls, Steve Kerr experienced firsthand the somewhat distorted media environment in New York, where fake news was rampant, writers were all psychologists, and whatever the fans wanted to see was what was reported there.

During the interview, Steve Kerr was mentally reminding himself to smile, but the reporters around him were acting inhumanely, staring at him and asking random questions:

"From averaging 110 points per game in the regular season to less than 100 points in the Finals, did the Warriors, with 67 wins, receive special treatment? Why is your 67 wins not dominant at all?"

By immediately denying the regular season record, the media has already begun to criticize the Warriors. Steve Kerr was somewhat annoyed by this and looked at everyone again, reminding them:
"The beauty of the playoffs lies in their targeted nature; it's a completely different style of play from the regular season."

"Our lads were outstanding in the regular season, but that doesn't mean they won't face difficulties in the playoffs."

"That's basketball. There will always be a night that doesn't belong to us, but what we have to do is persevere and stick to the game plan we've made."

Unlike her colleagues, Doris Burke, a reporter on the sidelines of the Finals, didn't make things difficult for Curry. After practice, she encouraged the young player during a sideline interview before asking her question:
"Stephen, we all know you've always looked forward to playing at Madison Square Garden. How does it feel to be in New York this time?"

The championship party in New York has been going on for days. Curry used to think the city had a strong basketball atmosphere, but as a Finals opponent, the young people here only felt it was "abstract."
"They were very enthusiastic, you know. There were Knicks fans everywhere in Manhattan, and the whole city seemed to have turned orange and blue."

"You can only truly appreciate why this place is called the holy land of basketball during the Finals; it all seems so crazy."

Sitting in the seat next to him, Curry forced a smile as he answered the question. He understood why Anthony was unhappy here; the city showed no respect for other star players.

Seemingly sensing Curry's thoughts, Doris Burke didn't embarrass the young man further and asked seriously:

"Before Game 3, many people were discussing the matchup. Your small lineups were getting more playing time, but the 'death lineup' just couldn't gain the upper hand."

"As the team leader, where do you think the problem lies? Will the team change its matchups for tonight's important game?"

When the specific matchup was mentioned, Curry's smile vanished completely. After the Game 1 loss, the coaching staff had been discussing how to respond.

The Knicks seemed to be several versions ahead of their time, using a similarly low-height, spacing-oriented lineup and a strategy focused on individual scoring to completely overwhelm them.
As of this morning, Steve Kerr hadn't offered a good solution. Curry was aware of the coach's predicament; he was dragging the team down on defense, and the young man's spirits were low whenever he thought about it.
"We didn't play well in the first quarter of both games; everyone got lost in the physical battle."

"Just like the coach said, we need to find our shooting touch as soon as possible tonight and help each other on both ends of the court."

"."

When he won the MVP award not long ago, Curry was visibly confident amidst the media hype. However, after two Finals games, Doris Burke felt that the young man had been largely ruined by public opinion.

When all the sports media in the United States are criticizing a player, fans who lack independent thinking will simply follow suit and mock him, while also venting their emotions.

Mainstream media influences a player's reputation, and Curry is clearly not Kobe, persisting in believing he is the best shooting guard amidst a chorus of ridicule.
Not particularly concerned about tonight's Finals, Doris Burke, who has worked in New York for many years, knows that the GOAT won't waste an opportunity; she's more curious about Curry's future.

Will Stephen Curry become like Derrick Rose and deny his MVP award?

At 8:30 p.m. that evening, half an hour before the game was scheduled to start, a large number of New York fans had already gathered in front of the giant observation screen between 33rd and 34th Streets. Two hours earlier, several blocks had already been in an uproar.

Tickets to Madison Square Garden are getting more and more expensive, and going to the bars around the stadium isn't cheap either. In comparison, the championship parties on the street are more exciting, and New York's abstract thinkers love them!
ABC reporters only dared to film from a distance, and staff with years of broadcasting experience knew how crazy these people were when watching the game.

As for interviews, those are even worse. They act like they're on drugs when they face the camera, and they start angrily cursing their opponents as they talk. This has happened frequently in the past two years.
Some of the tourists who came to the scene were also unfamiliar with New York's winning culture. When they saw a young black man wearing a Curry away jersey being pushed and surrounded, they all exclaimed in surprise.

Knowing that New York fans would go to great lengths to entertain the crowd, there were street performances before each game where everyone loved to humiliate the MVP!

Why is this "Curry" so dark-skinned?

"Shit! Find someone with fairer skin to come over here."

"."

Hearing the "audience's" dissatisfied complaints, members of the New York fan club grinned and started arguing back. These days, even extras are getting paid more, so they also have to control filming costs.

Soon, "Curry" began his self-deprecating performance. Amidst the cheers and shouts of the crowd, the young black man pulled out a trophy model and yelled:

"I'm willing to return the MVP trophy to New York; only God-Lee deserves it!"

"But I have one condition: don't play me one-on-one anymore."

Unlike the previous small theater performance, after saying this, the young black man took off his jersey, threw it on the ground, tilted his head back, and excitedly shouted:

"Lee is my father!"

Soon, the surrounding area was filled with joyful shouts of "Lee is my father," and one member couldn't help but shout "For Lee, for our father!" The crowd then surrounded the jersey and stomped on it.

Everyone wanted to squeeze to the front and stomp on him, and strange noises filled the air. The "recognizing a father" trend was triggered by the growth of the "Li Family Football Team," as Li You had far too many good sons.

Unable to comprehend the abstract nature of the event, tourists caught up in the atmosphere and began shouting incoherently. Several nearby blocks, though less abstract, also chanted "God-Lee" in unison before the event.

This grand spectacle is a testament to the basketball culture that has developed over many years: cheering "Li" when winning, and cursing the opponent on the spot when losing.
When the sound of "God-Lee" came from the big screen, the entire neighborhood erupted in cheers. The game hadn't even started yet, and New York fans were already celebrating their victory.

After the game started at 21 p.m., the arena was briefly quiet, but just a few seconds later, when Li You hit a three-pointer against Curry on the left wing with a crossover step and pulled back to meet the defense, several blocks erupted again.

Amid cheers, a giant, dirty, abstract Curry figure suddenly appeared in front of the big screen. Everyone went wild at the sight of the prop; before the New York fan club members could give any instructions, people were already shouting:
"For Li!"

"God-Lee!!"

"."

In an instant, everyone rushed to the front to beat up the mascot, and the champion's party officially began!
Warriors fans who traveled from San Francisco didn't dare wear their home team jerseys before the game because they knew about the situation in New York. However, after seeing the mascot being beaten, some of them started arguing and fighting like they were on drugs, leaving everyone stunned.
"New Yorkers are all crazy" (End of Chapter)