NBA: Miracle Workers

On Wednesday, December 23, 2015, as Christmas approached, the festive atmosphere in Manhattan grew stronger.

Perhaps due to the warmer weather this year, more people are participating in "petition" activities in addition to celebrating the holidays.
The "STAY" event launched by the New York fan club at the beginning of the month attracted a large number of onlookers. Perhaps feeling the "respect" from fans in other regions, the pranksters have toned down their antics a bit this season.

The street parties continued, but most people were no longer in the mood for "mini-theaters." As time went by, more and more New York fans hoped that Lee Yu would stay.

The actions of New York fans have drawn strong opposition. On Reddit, fans from almost across the United States have flocked to the Knicks' subreddit, and whenever such a post appears, the comments section is filled with the same sentiment:
“You shouldn’t let your own ‘selfish desires’ hold Li hostage. At 38, the greatest of all time should return to his life.”

"Think of those adorable little ones. Lee needs to spend more time with his children. He has proven his dominance and built the Knicks into the best team in history. Now it's time for him to return to his family."

"The selfish people in New York shouldn't hold Lee hostage. I just hope Lee will be well in the future. It's hard to imagine the damage basketball has done to his body. The GOAT needs a rest."

"."

Perhaps Li You's decent form scared off some basketball commentators. On ESPN's side, Bill Simmons recently published several columns discussing the sacrifices the GOAT made for basketball.

The article practically portrayed Li You as the embodiment of basketball. Although it wasn't exaggerated to the point of training at 4 a.m. every day, the various efforts he made to maintain his physical condition were still enough to make onlookers' scalps tingle.

The sight of Li You eating healthy food alone is heartbreaking for fans. Many people never knew that Li You had actually sacrificed so much for it!
Industry insiders know that some of the content in Bill Simmons' article is pure nonsense, since no one can go to the training center in Tarrytown every day to watch the Knicks practice.

But these very articles praising Li You have actually made many fans feel sorry for him. A lie repeated often enough becomes the truth, and more and more die-hard fans are starting to sing his praises.
Every Christmas, the Knicks make it a tradition to send warmth and support. Although some councilors in the city hall complained that MSG "hijacked" the community after the change of mayor, the residents of the city always applauded it.

The proposal to relocate Madison Square Garden has completely disappeared. Everyone knows that the Knicks, who have won so many games, have become part of New York culture, and the basketball mecca cannot be without the Garden Arena.

This year, the number of tourists to New York has surged, leading to a sharp increase in sales of NBA official stores and related products.

Many people come here to buy tickets to watch the game and witness Li You's last season. After arriving in New York, they will basically go to the official store or the Knicks official store to make some purchases.

The NBA was pleased to see this phenomenon and released advertisements for The Last Dance almost all over the world.

Over time, Li You's fan base spans ages from 8 to 50, boasts significant spending power, and many are heads of households.

Even though the median price for tickets to the Christmas Day game has reached $749, many fans who couldn't get tickets are still willing to pay extra to buy them.

All the teams raised their hands to welcome Li You's final dance. Putting aside the championship, the ticket sales alone made them a lot of money.

The NBA extravaganza surrounding the GOAT continues, a multi-party celebration where every team is promoting themselves, ticket prices in major markets are doubling, and even smaller markets are getting a share of the profits.
Under such circumstances, even if Li You's "ball addiction" gets the better of him, he will be forced to retire. The stage has been set, and everyone wants the GOAT to say goodbye with dignity!

As a team from the same city, the Nets naturally want to give back to their fans on important holidays. Unlike the Knicks, Carmelo Anthony and others only cater to the "kids" of Brooklyn.

Despite his best efforts to keep a smile on his face, star player Carmelo Anthony almost couldn't hold back his laughter when he saw the disappointed looks on some of the younger players' faces.

When Anthony returned home that evening, he saw his eldest son looking unhappy, which made him feel even worse. Influenced by the New York fans, the kids here were also becoming a bit "abstract."
With the growing influence of social media and the internet, Anthony may not understand some of the "old jokes," but he knows that kids sometimes just rely on their parents' connections.

Anthony was aware of his reputation in New York and had spoken with teachers at the school, but he still couldn't change the overall situation.

MSG has its own broadcasting team, and during the Christmas period when there are no Knicks games, they report on team news and gossip.

Anthony rarely watched these things, but in Li You's last season, he became a little curious. Coupled with the distorted basketball environment in New York, as a competitor, he also wanted to take this opportunity to find some sense of superiority.

"One family has been holding season tickets for many years and is also a staunch supporter of Lee. This Christmas, we witnessed another heartwarming moment."

On the television, MSG's camera focused on this white fan's entire family, from their teenage years to their marriage and children, and now watching Li You's games with his 7-year-old son.

This loyal fan was extremely excited by Li You's appearance, and even shed tears in public during the interview:

"Li accompanied me through my growth. Whenever I encountered bad things in life, watching the Knicks' games always helped me find that pure joy again."

"To me, Li is like family; it's hard to describe how I feel right now."

On the television, Lee Yu kept hugging members of the Garden Foundation family, and the little ones shouted excitedly. The die-hard fans who visited the Talidon Training Center all had tears in their eyes, and everyone looked deeply moved.

Together, they experienced the GOAT recipe, completed some basic training, and finally talked about the Knicks' championship culture. In this atmosphere, many fans shed tears at the end of the event.

MSG was clearly showing off their training facility, with countless division and championship banners, the jersey numbers of championship players, and double rows of gold Larry O'Brien Trophy all demonstrating just how successful the Knicks were.

Unlike other teams' brand-new training facilities, the Tarleytown Training Centre, which has been renovated several times, still retains some of its past "shadows".

In his final Christmas Day game, the Knicks faced the Warriors. The result of the game was not important; what mattered was Li You's performance.

Li You, who was being interviewed by Tina Servasio, also looked deeply moved, praising the loyal New York fans once again:

"Loyal fans are the Knicks' most valuable asset. We've spent many years building a championship culture, and we need our fans to carry it on!"

"Great players will eventually retire, but basketball culture will never disappear."

"These loyal fans are my family. I will always be with you all, and I hope this year's Christmas gift will bring joy to every fan."

"."

Tina Salvaccio, with her long, wavy hair, nodded repeatedly. The female reporter, who had worked at MSG for many years, eventually shed tears and buried her face in Li You's arms.

Carmelo Anthony, witnessing this scene on television, stared wide-eyed. Are all New Yorkers "drama queens"? Everyone seems to cry on cue; their emotions are just too rich.
"That woman! Everyone knows she's always enjoyed this kind of performance, showing how close she and Li are!"

"She even dyed her hair blonde when she was younger! She'll definitely leave MSG after Lee retires."

Lala squeezed next to her husband and started her usual rant. The New York television scene isn't very big, so gossip spreads very quickly.

Seeing Salvador put on a show before leaving his job, Lala finally couldn't hold back anymore. She clearly remembered all the reports that Salvador had made over the years, which were sarcastic and defamatory about her husband. Now she just wanted to see him suffer.

Anthony felt a surge of anger as he thought about the smear campaign against him, and the thought that Stephen A. Smith still routinely mocked him as a "cancer" made him involuntarily join in his wife's complaints:

"In six months at most, we'll see them make a fool of themselves!"

"I swear, I'll teach those damn little black guys a lesson, and then no one will be able to point fingers at me again."

"."

The Nets are "beyond saving" this season. Anthony now only wants to help the team build up talent so they can get revenge next season.

-

On Friday, December 25th, at 5 p.m., Madison Square Garden erupted once again, and the visiting Warriors players were taken aback by the frenzied atmosphere.

Just a few months after the Finals, New York fans seem to have "evolved" again, with many now showing signs of being "moved to tears".

Shortly after the game started, Curry saw a fan in the front row shouting and crying at the same time, and he thought to himself, "This is outrageous!"
Every time Li You touched the ball, it triggered shouts; every point he scored was met with cheers that echoed throughout the arena. No one cared who the opponent was, or even the performance of the other Knicks players.

New York media didn't think there was anything wrong with the fans' reaction; in 20 seasons, Li You brought 17 championships to the city.
Twenty years is a long time. During this period, everyone was influenced by "winning theory," to the point that they felt uncomfortable if they didn't win for a day.
All New Yorkers know that the Knicks may win again in the future, but they will never win as decisively again. The era of winning so much that they're numb with defeat is about to officially end.

Not every Lee Woo fan can afford the expensive tickets, so those who come to New York to watch the games during Christmas are 100% committed.

The atmosphere was even more electrifying than during the Finals a few months prior, with fans from all over the world unleashing their energy. During a timeout, Steve Kerr even abandoned his tactical planning. "Just enjoy this game. It's a rare experience; many players don't have the chance to experience such a great moment!"

"."

Steve Kerr raised his voice, loudly encouraging the Warriors players. This was Li You's final Christmas game of his career, and the league was giving the opportunity to Curry and others – a form of recognition, in itself.

Both teams were on fire in the first quarter, displaying fluid offense. However, in the second quarter, influenced by the fervent atmosphere, the Warriors suddenly went cold scoring against the Knicks' energetic rotation lineup.

He went scoreless for over three minutes, while Danny Green went on a shooting spree, hitting two consecutive three-pointers and even delivering a powerful one-handed dunk after a drive.
When both teams' starting lineups returned, the Warriors still couldn't withstand the onslaught. By the end of the second quarter, the young players could only stand with their hands on their hips.

"God-Lee! God-Lee! God-Lee!."

Li You's move to the free-throw line drew wild cheers from the crowd, the roar growing louder and louder. In the ABC commentary booth, Van Gundy, witnessing this moment, also spoke with great emotion:

"This is Lee's last Christmas gift to New York fans!"

"A truly magnificent performance. Even a century from now, we'll likely find it difficult to find 'the next Li,' and perhaps we'll soon begin to miss him."

Mike Brin also seemed deeply moved, and influenced by the atmosphere, he unconsciously raised his voice:
"Lee set multiple Christmas Day records, which are the best gifts he can give to the fans!"

"The greatest player of all time played his final Christmas Day game in the holy land of basketball; no one will forget this moment."

Seeing his two teammates enthusiastically celebrating, Mark Jackson felt somewhat helpless. Although he respected the GOAT, he could never become a supporter of the Knicks.

For many fans, the NBA in recent years has been a nightmare. Even now, Mark Jackson still occasionally uses the "IF" term to refer to the Pacers from back then.

Without Li You, the Pacers might have already made it to the NBA Finals.
仿佛回到了前几个月的总决赛，半场比赛库里手感冰凉，7中2，三分线外3中1，罚球4中4，仅拿到9分2篮板3助攻1失误的数据。

The Warriors trailed by 13 points, 45-58.

As the young players walked toward the players' tunnel, no one on either side laughed at them anymore; everyone cheered loudly. During halftime, there was also a fan event reviewing Lee Woo's Christmas Day record.

"This is insane! This is the craziest match I've ever experienced, even surpassing the recent Finals."

Draymond Green gave a wry smile and made a sarcastic remark.

Iguodala could only shake his head helplessly at this. No one was discussing the Warriors' recent 24-game winning streak; most of the new season's games have become Li You's exclusive "exhibition games."
"We just need to stick to our own rhythm, and the championship will come soon."

Encouraged by the veterans, the Warriors' young players perked up again. They still have a long window of opportunity to win the championship, and if they maintain this good form, winning the championship is not a problem at all!

In the second half, the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden became even more frenzied. The fans who had traveled from afar seemed to be assimilated by the New York fans, and many began to shed tears.

Towards the end of the game, led by fans holding up whiteboards that read "STAY," more and more people began chanting "Stay!"
As the buzzing sounded, the score was 89-115. Some excited fans, completely disregarding the outcome, continued their frenzied shouting.

"God-Lee! God-Lee! God-Lee!."

Security personnel had to enter the venue early. Amidst the shouts that echoed throughout the stadium, Li You did not actually agree to stay. He simply patted his chest, smiled, and waved to express his gratitude.

Witnessing this, Steve Kerr couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, then was the first to step forward with a bright smile and hug Li You.

"A perfect Christmas game! I think all your fans will love this Christmas gift!"

"It was truly an impressive match; I love this kind of basketball."

Li You was only halfway through his sentence when Steve Kerr involuntarily became nervous, as if worried that the next sentence would be, "I want to play for another two years."

Fortunately, Li You only sighed and then went on to the usual business compliments. Steve Kerr's smile grew even brighter, and he could already see the Larry O'Brien Trophy beckoning to him again!
-

On Thursday, December 31, the NBA and mainstream media across the United States unanimously sent their best wishes to Li You on his 38th birthday.

Commentators from neighboring Philadelphia and Boston were leading the charge in praising Li You, seemingly genuinely worried that he would be moved by the New York fans. Columnists from both sides went all out, listing various records and practically wishing Li You would retire on the spot.

Some 76ers and Celtics fans even came to New York to celebrate Li You's 38th birthday with fan club members, and the whole event was exceptionally harmonious.

Good Morning America also reported on this grand fan event, and one Philadelphia fan, while being interviewed, shed tears of "joy" as he spoke to the camera:

"I've been watching the NBA since 96, and the matchup between Iverson and Lee is the most beautiful game I've ever witnessed!"

"I don't care about the current record of 0 wins and 77 losses. Lee's departure is also a loss for Philadelphia."

The Philadelphia fan, wearing a 76ers jersey with the number 3, started to cry as he spoke, but then, amidst cheers from the crowd, an exaggerated smile returned to his face, and he began chanting along with the New York fan club members:
"God-Lee!."

Perhaps genuinely happy, this Philadelphia fan even joined in by stomping on Iverson's jersey. This outlandish scene was broadcast on news programs, and many imitators appeared on social media.

Each team had die-hard fans who spontaneously wrote long essays and made videos recounting the great rivalry between their team and Lee Woo. These videos, filled with both laughter and tears, swept across YouTube.

During TNT's pre-game show that afternoon, the four-man group also discussed the abstract behavior of fans. O'Neal looked puzzled, pondered for a moment, and then faced the camera and said in a deep voice:
"Lee made the New York Knicks the greatest team in NBA history, but he also created those crazy New York fans."

"Without a doubt, Madison Square Garden is a basketball mecca, and for the past 20 years, it has been a nightmare for visiting teams."

"But next season will be completely different, and I believe many players are looking forward to facing the new Knicks."

Charles Barkley, always eager for drama, smiled and, unusually, spoke up for the 76ers.

"This is an insane record. If nothing unexpected happens, Li will maintain an 80-0 regular season record against the 76ers, which perfectly illustrates what dominance is!"

"But this record will soon be broken, Philadelphia and Boston will launch a counterattack, and New York is in trouble."

Neither of them discussed the championship, automatically ignoring the Warriors' excellent form. Kenny Smith shook his head helplessly and reminded them again:

"Tonight, the Warriors will face the Rockets on the road. Hibbert has yet to regain his former form this season. If the Warriors win, their record will be 30 wins and 2 losses!"

"Only the Knicks have achieved such a record in the past few years. At the current rate, the Warriors even have a chance to challenge the best record in history."

"I know everyone is more focused on Lee's performance, but the Warriors' young players might have a chance to replicate the experience of '98."

Ernie Johnson nodded. With a record of 30 wins and 2 losses, and a win tonight, the Warriors have perfectly ended 2015. Their outstanding record speaks volumes about the strength of this young team.

"Guys, what do you think of Kenny's point of view?"

Before his partner could speak, a disdainful smile reappeared on O'Neal's dark face. The old shark confidently assured him:
"Even if the Warriors achieve an 80-2 record, they still cannot beat Lee. Even if the greatest player of all time is 38 years old, the younger players will have no chance!"

"Those who haven't experienced the Finals will never understand the true dominance of 'Finals Lee'."

"If I can play for the team with the best record in history in the final year of my career, I think that would be the perfect farewell for the GOAT!"

"." (End of this chapter)