NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 226: An Unfriendly Away Game (8000-word chapter)
On June 2001, 6, the Knicks flew to Los Angeles, where the next three games would be played at the Staples Center.

G3 will officially start at 19:30 tomorrow night, leaving little time for the two teams to rest.

Most of the Knicks players who showed up at JFK International Airport were carrying a bunch of luggage, and all the staff were also dispatched, so a large number of people were blocked by media reporters.

Li You only carried a small bag, classic canvas shoes, light-colored jeans, and only wore a white printed T-shirt on his upper body. If it weren't for his eye-catching figure, a face-blind person would most likely mistake him for a traveling student.

Li You never refused interviews with reporters. A reporter from the New York Post took this opportunity to give the Lakers some eye candy:

"When it comes to the away game, the referees will definitely help. Lee, we all support you. The league will never make excessive calls. The championship belongs to New York."

There were also a bunch of New York Times reporters accompanying the team. Most of the errands were done by newcomers. Perhaps they believed that the NBA had no script. Several new reporters also responded:
"There is a high probability that the league will give the opponent some face, but the Lakers are not our opponent at all. If Grant can play the whole game, we can even sweep them!"

"."

The reporters surrounding Li You were all smiling. Some people have achieved four consecutive championships, but after 85, no team in modern basketball has achieved this achievement.

The closest thing is the Bulls led by Michael Jordan. If Michael Jordan does not retire, it is very likely to achieve this achievement. The "If" discussion has never stopped, but after this year, the topic may be ended.

The Knicks also have hidden dangers. After filling up their salary space with three maximum salaries, they can no longer recruit All-Star players.

There is a high probability that the young people in the team will have other choices when their contracts expire. After winning the championship, it is time to pursue other pursuits. Who is willing to sacrifice data and become a tool if he can be the boss?
The New York media also know that the window for winning the championship is getting smaller and smaller. When Li You's next maximum salary contract comes into effect, it will be difficult to maintain the three maximum salaries.

It is impossible to reduce salary. Based on Li You's current achievements with the Knicks, it is basically a maximum salary all the way until retirement.

No matter what the future holds, everyone feels relieved first. After all, there are too many uncertainties. Being able to maintain a high attendance rate in recent years is a blessing from God.

"Come on Bro! Don't worry about the game. Even if we lose the away game, we can still go back to Madison Square Garden."

Spike Lee came to Li You and hugged him. After watching football for so many years, this old fan had already expected that the away game would be extremely difficult.

Li You smiled and patted the opponent. He didn't talk about the game. Instead, he joked:
"If we win the championship away from home, you will definitely regret not watching the game with the team."

Everyone laughed again. No matter what the away result was, winning two home games was the biggest guarantee. Everyone was in a very good mood.

When boarding the plane, the camera didn't stop. Fans discussed it after casual reporting. The number of G2 viewers exceeded 2 million, and the finals was a carnival for the sports media.

After Jeff Van Gundy got on the plane, he quietly discussed the next game plan with the coaching staff.

The bald young coach has been in a state of ecstasy recently, with many sports media calling him the greatest head coach in modern basketball.

It seems that it is only a matter of time before Coach Qian Sheng surpasses the past. No one questions him anymore, everyone is singing his praises!

In the G2 game, the Knicks made 25 of 8 three-pointers from beyond the arc, making just over [-]% of their three-pointers. Their shooting was not satisfactory, and Li You alone contributed half of it.

Working hard on the defensive end will inevitably have an impact on the offensive end. The Lakers are more difficult to shoot from the outside. Whether it is production or number of hits, the Knicks are far ahead.

Assistant coach Thibodeau noticed that Van Gundy was a little absent-minded and reminded him in a low voice again:
"I have to make players pay attention to fouls, especially inside fouls, and the number of fouls must be controlled."

"Ben's rebounding is still very important. We have to prepare more interior rotations in advance."

Jeff Van Gundy came to his senses and nodded. In fact, he was already prepared to lose:

"There is no need to put too much pressure on the players. As long as we can win one game, we have a high probability of ending the series."

On the other side, assistant coach Don Chaney was a little surprised when he heard the confident tone of the bald young coach. With three consecutive away games, the further back the schedule gets, the harder it becomes. The coaching staff was afraid that the league would cause extra drama, but this guy didn't care.

Sensing everyone's expressions, Jeff Van Gundy adjusted his tone again and said seriously:

"When necessary, we can also increase Li's playing time. It is not a problem to play the whole game. In this year's playoffs, we used very little!"

The coaching staff looked at each other in confusion. They thought they had some clever ideas, but they turned out to be stubborn.

Assistant coach Thibodeau thought it made sense. He nodded subconsciously and began to admire in his heart:
"Sure enough, this is the strongest tactic of the champion coach!"

"."

Although TNT cannot broadcast the finals, it has not missed this hot topic in these programs. The topic the three of them have been discussing recently is why O'Neal is always swept.

After losing two games in a row, Charles Barkley has become a stranger, and the show made a surprising point:

"I insist that my point of view is correct. The era of super centers has passed!"

"McDunner defeated those big men, and Lee did the same. Modern basketball is improving, and the tactics of the past can no longer win."

"It's difficult for Shaq to defend pick-and-rolls. Unless he gets back to the size he was with the Magic, Lee can attack and consume him through pick-and-rolls. As the series progresses, he won't always be able to maintain a [-]% shooting rate."

Kenny Smith did not show any change of face. Hearing this theory, he asked again:
"Maybe you have a point, but there is only one Maidu in the league, and now, there is only one Li in the league!"

"Compared to big men, there are fewer outstanding perimeter players. What I mean is the core perimeter players who can lead the team to win."

"I respect the players who work hard in the NBA, but no one in the entire league can match Lee's efficiency."

"Lee broke into the 180 club this year. If that's your theory, it's not convincing at all."

"Imagine if Lee is replaced by other outside star players, can the Knicks still beat the Lakers? The result must be negative."

The three of them have discussed this issue many times in the past two days. Kenny Smith's so-called outside star players refer to those All-Stars with a shooting percentage of over [-]%.

In-depth conversations can easily offend fans, so host Ernie Johnson could only change the subject again and said:

"Basketball is round and everything is possible. This is why we like to watch the NBA. If the Knicks win four consecutive championships, will Lee become the best player in history?"

Charles Barkley wanted to continue discussing the previous issue, but at this time he could only say:
"I will still rank Li second in history. He is only 23 years old. As long as he plays for a few more years and accumulates some honors, it is only a matter of time before he surpasses McDuck."

"However, it is difficult for the Knicks to maintain their current lineup. They have indeed accumulated good talent, but the ball rights and data are limited."

"New York doesn't care about the luxury tax, but it can't solve the problem of tactical status. This is Lee's team and it will not change for many years to come."

Kenny Smith heard a low chuckle and asked angrily:
"Will Lee be a hindrance to the Knicks roster? I think a lot of people would love to play with him!"

Charles Barkley was not afraid of offending people. He grinned at the camera and continued with a serious expression:
"Lee's success is based on the compromise of others. I don't like to cooperate with strong players. I prefer to have the final say in the locker room!"

"The team only has one boss, why not me?"

"."

The Lakers team members who flew back to Los Angeles overnight were naturally not in the mood to watch TNT's gossip show.

Phil Jackson had some headaches, and it was indeed a "basketball reason." Kobe wanted to get a higher tactical status.

Li You's jokes during the game were not nonsense. The team's core players will not become defensive tools.

The coaching staff usually reduces the burden on superstars. Even if the core players perform well on the defensive end, at most they will take over the defense at critical moments.

Kobe didn't say anything during the game, but he already had his opinion in his heart. He hoped to get the right to shoot like he did in the Western Conference playoffs.

As for the Lakers coaching staff, most of the outside players in the Western Conference have enlarged hips, and the Spurs' outside players are a typical example.
Fisher dominated in the Western Conference Finals and even hit a career playoff high, but in the Finals, he immediately succumbed.

Phil Jackson would like to see O'Neal stably abuse him, and Kobe just needs to perform explosively. If the tactical status of the two changes, whether they can win the game will be a question mark for the coaching staff.

After the video session in the morning, Phil Jackson gave Kobe some more "chicken soup" in an attempt to appease the core perimeter player:

"Championship means sacrifice. We all know that the possession of the ball is limited. If someone focuses on offense, others will naturally focus on defense."

"What Shaq can't do, everyone can only rely on you, Kobe. Believe me, if you win the championship, the doubts from the outside world will disappear."

"Now all we have to do is play for each other. After watching the tape, I believe you also found that we are capable of winning."

"."

The champion coach talked a lot and even quoted the example of McNugget. Although Kobe felt a lot better after being deceived, he finally put forward his own conditions:
"I hope to take over the game in the 2nd and 4th quarters. I don't worry about the opponent's fouls. As long as I stand on the free throw line, I guarantee that I will make all the free throws."

Looking at Kobe's serious expression, Phil Jackson finally nodded slightly. This arrangement of the game is not bad, and it can indeed make up for O'Neal's shortcomings.

The boss was frequently targeted by opponents on the court and led the team to lose games. After O'Neal returned to Los Angeles, he was naturally questioned.

Combined with the experience of being frequently swept in the past few years of his career, ESPN has cooperated with Lakers stars to continuously gain popularity in the past two days.

After Magic Johnson joined ESPN, he also had the potential to be a loudmouth. O'Neal, who was often ridiculed, was a little unable to hold back at this time.

The Lakers' afternoon training session was still focused on stretching and recovery. After it ended, Kobe did not accept an interview. He didn't like these idiots who didn't understand the game to evaluate him over and over again.

Many sports media surrounded O'Neal, and ESPN reporters were not polite. They immediately asked about tomorrow night's game:
"Shaq, if G3 loses at home, the Lakers' trip to the Finals will be over."

Halfway through the question, O'Neill interrupted impatiently:

"We will win three home games and then get the match point. Although I don't like to receive the award on the road, the championship must belong to the Lakers."

A reporter from the Los Angeles Times asked a much friendlier question:

"What adjustments will the team make in the next home games? Shaq, can you talk about the video class in the morning?"

Hearing this question, O'Neal remembered Phil Jackson's instructions, and then thought about giving the ball to his younger brother, and felt a little uncomfortable:
"That's Phil's job. You can ask him. I give my all in every game. In order to win, I accept any arrangement from the coaching staff."

Before the crowd could continue to ask questions, the Lakers staff took O'Neal away. The Yahoo Sports reporter was a little unhappy and couldn't help but complain to his colleagues around him:

"Lee would never refuse our interview. The Lakers always like to put on airs!"

"."

On the afternoon of June 6, the Knicks began to warm up in advance at Staples Arena.

The media in Los Angeles did not miss this opportunity and followed everyone to watch Li You's warm-up activities.

They say we have Kobe, but the Los Angeles media also likes Li You who has a relatively flashy playing style.
Also in the warm-up, Li You can always come up with some new tricks, and occasionally show off his logo three-point shot.

Seeing Li You throwing the ball into the basket near the players' tunnel, the media reporters on the scene exclaimed, and then chattered non-stop.

Grant Hill, who was being interviewed on the sidelines, had become accustomed to Li You's ultra-long shooting range. At this time, he even joked with a smile:

"I wouldn't be surprised if one day I see long-range three-pointers become Lee's regular offense!"

"In training, Li's shooting rate was close to [-]%."

Hearing everyone whisper, Grant Hill said seriously again:

"I'm not exaggerating. Lee is a cross-generational athlete. He provides future small players with another way to play."

Grant Hill, who has a mustache, is still loved by the media. Even if he doesn't have much playing time, everyone still prefers to interview him.

Although Artest performed well on the defensive end, except for the New York media, most sports reporters did not pay attention to this rookie.

Ben Wallace also received the same treatment. There was no criticism or praise. "Little Ben" was unhappy about this, but he was unable to change his inherent impression.

He is still labeled as being an undrafted player, a short inside man, and a tool man.

After arriving in Los Angeles, Ewing did not forget to continue to show off, acting as an assistant coach during the warm-up, shouting loudly in the arena, and sharing his low-post moves with the young big men in the atmosphere team.
Alan Houston, who was also being interviewed on the other side, suddenly transformed into an upright boy. When asked how to defend O'Neal, he said generously:

"We have exhausted our methods, but Shaq can always score. In this case, we can only choose to do our best to defend the perimeter players."

After hearing this answer, the reporter from Yahoo Sports suddenly asked:

"In the next series, how will the team restrict Kobe? He scored 30 points in the last game!"

Alan Houston touched his chin, as if thinking about the answer, and then answered casually:

"Kobe is very good, but we don't have a special defensive plan. He can score, but he can't change the situation on the court."

"The Knicks are not the Spurs, our perimeter defense is better!"

"Maybe he can score 40 points in a game, but from the perspective of the series, such an explosion is within the team's acceptance range." "We have played against McQueen. With Kobe's current efficiency, it will not be possible." Change our defensive strategy.”

Alan Houston laughed and commented on the Lakers' perimeter, which made the Los Angeles reporter furious:
"Too deceiving!"

President David Stern also flew to Los Angeles. Before the game started at 19:[-] that night, the Staples Center was already full.

Mr. President had a constant smile on his face, and he sat in the front row with Old Bass, chatting and laughing.

The league is naturally very satisfied with the ratings of the first two games. Although NBC seems to be withdrawing from the next broadcast contract, as long as the current ratings are maintained, the receiver will offer a big contract.

High-value broadcast contracts will also improve player treatment, which is a win-win result.

Before the game even started, the noise at the scene was getting louder and louder.

As usual, NBC broadcasters will show the city scenery outside the arena before the game, but this shot is almost the same as last year. The audience in front of the TV will only complain about too many advertisements.

In the live commentary box, Doug Collins kept talking to the camera:

"The Lakers must defend this home court and warm up before the game. Lee is in very good condition. If they want to win the game tonight, someone must step up in response to the ball!"

"The Knicks' outside shooting status has declined in G2, but they will still take decisive shots. How to defend three-pointers is also a huge test for the Lakers."

Marv Albert noticed that Li Youzheng was greeting the fans in the front row without a trace of nervousness, and immediately added:
"Rotation is also very important. Under a seven-man rotation, O'Neal always had some physical problems in the fourth quarter."

"Back at home, coach Phil Jackson may make adjustments again."

Nicholson, who was sitting in his exclusive seat, was extremely devoted to the game. After the appearance ceremony, he chatted loudly on the sidelines:
"Don't even think about accepting the award in Los Angeles. The Lakers will win three games in a row! Three games!"

Li You had just said hello to Denzel Washington, and when he turned around, he saw this die-hard Lake honey yelling at him.

"Don't worry, I don't like to receive the award in the away game, I prefer to hear the cheers of the fans!"

Li You joked and fist-bumped with the Oscar-winning actor. There were a lot of "Hu honeys" here tonight, and there were even more people who chanted sutras.

Jeff Van Gundy was posing on the sidelines in a smart black suit. Although he expected that there might be a home whistle in tonight's game, he couldn't help but say during the final warm-up period:
"Guys, stay calm. As long as the opportunity arises, we will take action decisively!"

"Don't worry about the referee's whistle, this is my job!"

Perhaps thinking that he would get match point by winning one more game, the bald young coach suddenly became nagging. He was only one win away from the legendary coach!
When the Lakers came to the center of the court, everyone on the Lakers had a grimace. O'Neal even stood at the midline early, waiting for a jump ball with Ewing.

The fans at the scene also stood up and shouted, and the sound of cheering filled the stadium for a while.

O'Neal, who succeeded in jumping the ball, quickly rushed across the half court. Fisher immediately gave the ball to Kobe, and then ran towards the left corner with Li You.

In the first round, O'Neal no longer asked for the ball with his back in the low post. He came to the right elbow area and took the initiative to pick and roll.

Kobe, who quickly changed direction in front of his body and switched to his left hand, briefly escaped Alan Houston's pursuit, and then stopped near the free throw line for a jumper.

The rebound popped up and was immediately collected by Ewing who retreated to the basket. Lakers fans sighed and watched the Knicks launch a transition attack.

After receiving the ball, Li You accelerated and rushed forward, catching up with the retreating Lakers. Fisher tried his best to fight physically and noticed that the Lakers had completed their position. Only then did Li You slow down at the top of the arc.

"Defense!."

The defensive shouts became louder and louder. Realizing that no one was double-teaming him, Li You lowered his center of gravity slightly, dribbled the ball with his hips, switched to his left hand and immediately accelerated.

Fisher blocked the breakthrough route in time and kept sliding to the right.

The two of them had just reached the free throw line when Li You suddenly stopped and pulled back with his crotch. The ball protector slapped away the opponent's tug, leaving room for his shot and immediately combined the ball.

What Li You didn't expect was that Fisher fell backwards in an exaggerated manner and slid 2 meters on the floor. Finally, he rolled backwards and fell next to O'Neal under the basket, shouting in pain:

"what!"

The referee immediately blew the whistle and gestured to signal Li You for an offensive foul.

"Wow!"

The Lakers fans at the scene cheered loudly, but Li You was amused by Fisher's exaggerated acting. This "disgrace" seemed to indicate the level of confrontation in this game.

Jeff Van Gundy on the sidelines didn't hold back and took such an exaggerated dive. He immediately complained loudly to the linesman:
"He flew two meters away. Li just slapped his arm off without any pushing action. This was definitely a flop!"

Naturally, the referee didn't say anything and the game quickly returned to normal.

There seemed to be no change from the first two games. After Kobe hit the iron in the opening game, he honestly fed O'Neal the ball.

The Lakers still focus on the inside and rely on sharks to score points.

For the Knicks, Li You still suffered a lot of flanking attacks, forcing him to play the ball early to slow down the offensive rhythm.

The score rose alternately, and the game seemed ordinary, but soon Ewing received his first personal foul-an illegal screen.

The referee's whistleblowing standards were extremely strict. Before the half of the game, the Gorilla was off the field early.

With 1 minutes and 3 seconds left in the first quarter, Li You had just hit a three-pointer from the right wing in the previous round. In the defensive round, Fisher slipped from left to right and cut into the baseline and was blocked. Li You received a personal Second offense.
Jeff Van Gundy replaced Billups dejectedly. Despite the boos from the audience, Li You walked to the bench with a relaxed look and was not affected by the referee in any way.

The bald young marshal patted Li You on the shoulder. When he returned to his seat, Ewing complained in a low voice:

"The foul came earlier than I expected, and I knew the league would take care of the Lakers."

At 17:18, Li You looked at the scoreboard, but his mood was not as bad as that of the gorilla. He covered his mouth and responded in a low voice:

"Unless the opponent finds a touch from beyond the three-point line, relying on the current scoring efficiency, even if the game goes to the last moment, the point difference will still be within the catchable range."

In a life-and-death battle, as the game progressed, O'Neal's free throws on the court also became accurate.

The Lakers thought they would establish a huge lead after Li You came off the court, but as Billups and Artest came on the scene and threw in three-pointers, the point difference could never be widened.

At the end of the first quarter, the score was fixed at 24:25, and the Lakers only led by 1 point.

O'Neal performed the best, making 6 of 4, 7 of 6 free throws, and efficiently scored 14 points in a single quarter.

In the second quarter of the game, it was Kobe's turn to explode again. He hit two consecutive "inefficient" points to help the Lakers continue to score points!

Kobe greatly changed his direction at the top of the arc, switched to his left hand, took a step, stopped one step away from the three-point line and made an emergency jumper!

"Wow!"

The Staples Arena was also in a state of complete excitement. Kobe, who was hitting consecutive shots, bared his teeth and pumped his fist vigorously to vent his excitement.

The Lakers played lively, and the Knicks responded well to the ball. They seized the opportunity and responded from the outside.

At the end of the half, the score was fixed at 50:55, with only a 5-point difference. The enthusiasm of the Lakers fans at the scene diminished.

15 of 9, Kobe scored 22 points in the half, and Phil Jackson also showed a happy smile.

In the NBC commentary box, Marv Albert commented euphemistically:

"Lee needs to pay attention to fouls. Unnecessary fouls will affect his playing time and thus his game status."

"The Lakers showed determination to win at halftime, and Phil Jackson made timely adjustments!"

Doug Collins didn’t want to say too much, but his whistle was a bit flexible tonight:
"A five-point difference is not safe. For the Knicks, it may only take two rounds to overtake the score."

"The most important thing is the response in the final stage of the game!"

The two discussed it for a while, without mentioning the outcome of the game. They just analyzed the players' status.

Kobe, who made 11 of 8 shots in a single quarter, did not reduce his desire to attack after the start of the second half.

After missing consecutive jump shots in several rounds, watching Li You who picked up a long rebound succeed in a one-stop counterattack, Phil Jackson on the sidelines couldn't help but remind him loudly:

"Pass the ball! Give the ball to the inside!"

It's just that at this time, Kobe has entered the state, and the timeout is useless. He just keeps taking shots, and the two of them still attack the basket.

Unreasonable offensive choices made Li You suddenly enter a "fast break as fierce as a tiger" state, easily counterattacking and scoring in several consecutive rounds.

The point difference narrowed step by step. With 3 seconds left in the third quarter, Lewis succeeded in a two-handed dunk on the fast break, and the score reached 12.3:76.

As Fisher missed a three-pointer, the Staples Arena suddenly fell silent, with only the Knicks bench cheering loudly.

Jeff Van Gundy pumped his fist excitedly and gave out chicken soup during the break!
But after the game started, the bald young coach first complained angrily and loudly, then folded his arms and remained silent, and finally returned to the bench, helplessly calling Longley and Kukchi to come on.

The game was not decided until the final moment, and when the final buzzer sounded, the Staples Center was filled with excitement again.

100:104, the Lakers successfully protected their home court, and the series score came to 1:2.

"Yeah!"

Kobe hugged O'Neal excitedly, and his performance in the second half was so awkward that he almost collapsed the game.

Fisher followed suit by pumping his fists and hugging his teammates to vent his excitement.

Although Li You played sparingly, he did not argue with the referee after the game. Instead, he handed over the game ball with a smile and waved to the Knicks fans who were present.

出场37分钟，25中12，三分线外12中5，罚球8中6，35分4篮板10助攻2抢断3失误。

The efficiency declined, but Li You still handed over a double-double.

After the game, Jeff Van Gundy was no longer interested in shaking hands with Phil Jackson. He was hugged by Li You and others and walked to the tunnel, still shouting excitedly:
"Ugly victory! You stole our victory! I want to report back to the league! The referee team must give me an explanation!"

"."

After the game, Jeff Van Gundy refused to be interviewed, apparently angry.

When Li You and Ewing attended the press conference, the gorilla also had a bad face and took the opportunity to answer and sarcastically said:
"Close to Hollywood, this is Lakers basketball!"

The reporters in Los Angeles didn't care, as long as they won. The reporters from TNT noticed that Li You didn't seem to have much emotion, and took the initiative to ask:

"Lee, how would you evaluate tonight's game? The Knicks seemed to be affected by the scale of the call?"

Li You shook his head, not paying attention to the eyes of everyone in the audience, and replied in a relaxed tone:

"Penalty scales and injuries are all part of the game. As a team leader, what I consider is how to win away games."

"."

After the G3 game, the commentators never talked about the issue of whistleblowing. The sports media shouted "The Lakers are starting to fight back." The NBA announced that the number of viewers has increased again, and the discussion of the finals has also increased.

After more than two days of rest, on the night of the 8th, in G4 of the Finals, shortly after the game started, Jeff Van Gundy angrily criticized the referee.

It seemed that the right way to defend was found. With 1 minutes and 4 seconds left in the first quarter, Fisher caused an offensive foul and allowed Li You to leave the game early.

"Wow!"

There were endless cheers at Staples Arena. In the commentary box, Doug Collins looked at Fisher who was pumping his fists in celebration and also smiled and praised:
"Excellent defense, Fisher performed so well in these two games!"

"He always appears in the right defensive position. It seems that the Lakers have found the secret to winning."

Groom Albert felt a little unhappy, so he didn’t explain the round too much, but made a tactful suggestion:
"The referee should relax some of the standards of confrontation. After coming to Los Angeles, the referees seemed to be too cautious. The Knicks should also adjust in time."

Returning to the bench, Li You briefly fist bumped with everyone. Ewing felt that the past two days of video lessons were in vain, and he covered his mouth and complained in a low voice:

"The opponent had a few more people on the court than we did, and I knew the league wouldn't let the series end easily!"

Li You patted the gorilla and did not respond. He touched his chin and watched the game in deep thought:
"Perhaps a blind shot would be more effective?"

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(End of this chapter)