NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 261 Redemption (Losing Chapter)
  On the night of June 2002, 6, Thibodeau ushered in his first victory in the Finals of his coaching career.

  After the game, the rookie coach was in a good mood when attending the press conference, and proactively said frankly:
  "Tonight's game went beyond our pre-game plans and Lee controlled the tempo of the game perfectly."

  "Lee is too good. Maybe the Lakers have some physical problems, but this is the Knicks' advantage. We will continue this game strategy in the following series!"

  95:113, a big victory that made the New York media rejoice. Although the fat man on the opposite side was still unstoppable, the Lakers did not achieve the dominance they imagined.

  The trend of the series is just as coach Thibodeau said. After G1, there is only more than one day of rest time, leaving little room for the Lakers to adjust.

  On the night of the 7th, at 97:104, the Knicks won another game. The number of possessions in two consecutive games reached 93. Although the team's shooting percentage was not high, the Lakers could not keep up with the rhythm of the game.

  On the night of June 6, in Game 14 of the Finals at Staples Arena, Lakers fans went wild as Robert Horry hit a three-pointer from the left wing.

  With 10.7 seconds left in the game and the score reaching 90:96, the Lakers finally hit this three-pointer as the attack time was about to time out.

  Coach Thibodeau reluctantly asked for a timeout. Everyone on the Knicks team who walked to the bench also looked up at the game, and then sighed depressedly.

  The Knicks used their last timeout, and Li You naturally knew that time was running out. Assistant coach Don Chaney was still drawing sideline ball tactics on the tactical board, but everyone didn't give up yet.

  However, the Lakers did not make any more mistakes. As the sideline ball was kicked out, Li You caught the ball. Kobe, who rushed to defend, immediately fouled. The referee blew the whistle, and Phil Jackson couldn't help but punch in the sidelines to celebrate.

  All the Lakers fans at the scene stood up and applauded Kobe who left the game after committing six fouls. In the NBC commentary box, Marv Albert also sighed with regret:
  "The Knicks were only 1 second away from completing their defense. Horry's big heart once again helped the Lakers!"

  Mike Dunleavy saw that the Knicks could only resort to foul tactics after Li You made two free throws, and he shook his head and added:
  "The Lakers took advantage of the opportunity at home, and O'Neal responded to the foul on him with a free throw."

  "The Knicks naturally still have a chance, and next is their home court. They should make it more difficult for O'Neal."

  At 92:98, Fisher also withstood the pressure at the last moment. As Li You missed a three-pointer, O'Neal hugged Horry at the end of the game and screamed unconsciously with excitement.

  Throughout the game, the Lakers made 25 of 6 three-pointers. Horry, who had dominated the series, played the role of a key player.

  The Knicks made 26 of 8 from beyond the three-point line, continuing their shooting style in the series.

  O'Neal, who was walking towards the tunnel, kept his arms around Horry and kept high-fiving the fans on both sides. Finally, he stopped, took off his jersey, and shouted happily:
  "Oh!!"

  Phil Jackson also kept high-fiving, with a smile on his face and very excited emotions.

  After winning the crucial Tianwangshan battle, the Lakers got the match point, and the championship was indeed waving to them.

  出场44分钟，24中15，罚球15中12，砍下42分14篮板4助攻1盖帽4失误。

  O'Neal, who no longer strained his hips after free throws, still couldn't calm down when he attended the press conference. When he came to the scene, he said loudly:
  "I won! I won G5, I love Robert, God has not abandoned me!"

  The free throw shooting percentage reached [-]%. In such a crucial game, O'Neal seemed particularly excited to not be held back by free throws.

  "Shaq, can you talk about the follow-up game? Now we have got the match point!"

  Reporters from the Los Angeles Times can’t wait to see the Lakers win the trophy!

  Sitting on his seat, O'Neill grabbed the microphone and immediately expressed his stance confidently in a deep voice:
  "Yes, we will end the series the night after tomorrow. I know what you want to ask. I don't feel tired. I have been waiting for this day for too long."

  "."

  Rediscovering the style of a championship coach, in an interview, Phil Jackson returned to his charming appearance in the early years:
  "What we have to do is keep the pace of the game and get the ball into Shaq's hands."

  "70 rounds? I don't care about that. We have a huge advantage in the paint and the Lakers will stick to this game strategy."

  After returning home, the Lakers' number of rounds dropped further, and they were more patient on the offensive end, passing O'Neal in every round.

  Phil Jackson had long realized that the Knicks were all paper tigers inside. After the "Shark Meeting", the Lakers completely unified their thinking.
  Although the media in Los Angeles were not overextended, anyone could see the joy on their faces.

  李佑今晚又出场了45分钟，27中16，三分线外14中8，罚球8中7，拿到了47分5篮板7助攻2抢断3失误的数据。

  He personally took all the three-pointers for the Knicks. This situation is indeed a bit embarrassing.
  The reporter from the New York Post was a little overwhelmed. When he saw Li You sitting on the stage, he immediately asked:

  "Lee, we noticed that in these games, there seemed to be problems with our shooting."

  "Everyone else shot 12-for-0 from beyond the arc tonight. Is that why we lost?"

  Realizing that the other party seemed to want to have a meeting, Li You did not say "teammate CBA", but replied seriously:
  "We lost just because the details of our game were not as good as our opponents."

  "Three-pointers are never the main reason for losing, because the opponent also has a low shooting percentage outside the three-point line."

  "We were 6 rebounds behind our opponents, and there were still some rounds where our defense was not in place and we were easily scored by our opponents."

  "That's the way the game of basketball is, it's all about response, and they did a really good job tonight and they shot the free throws really well."

  The reporter of the New York Times did not review these away games. Everyone is looking forward to the next games:
  "Li, how should we adjust for the next home court?"

  Li You thought for a while and continued to answer seriously:
  "We have to make it harder for O'Neal, at least let his free throw shooting rate be around [-]%."

  "Every possession is very important and we have to stick to our game strategy."

  On June 6th, the popularity of the Finals was still rising. Although many fans said they were tired of watching the duel between the two, when the Knicks were about to lose, the fun-loving people got excited.

  On the TNT show, Jeff Van Gundy is already amazing. The trend of the series is exactly the same as the bald young coach’s prediction!
  In the studio, the trio looked at Jeff Van Gundy with expressions of respect. The champion coach lived up to his reputation.

  Still wearing a black formal suit, a white shirt and a red tie, as the Knicks lost the battle at King's Mountain, Jeff Van Gundy seemed to have been refreshed and looked radiant recently.
  "The Knicks' perimeter defense is very good. In several games, Lynch Hunter, Fisher, and Devin George all missed three-pointers."

  "So far in the series, the Lakers' shooting percentage from beyond the three-point line has not exceeded [-]%, but the heavy pressure on the ball holder has also caused the Knicks' shooting percentage to further decline."

  "When the outside shooting of both sides returns to the same level, the test is scoring stability. This year the Knicks' interior defensive strength has dropped significantly. This problem can only be solved through trade."

  As soon as Jeff Van Gundy finished speaking, Charles Barkley, who was sitting on the sofa on the other side of the studio, asked with a serious expression:
  “Can the Lakers close out the series tomorrow night and what adjustments do they need to make?”

  Noticing the respectful gazes of the three people, Jeff Van Gundy felt particularly happy. Facing the camera, he answered loudly:

  "Head coach Phil Jackson only needs to stick to this game strategy and control the end of the game, and they will have a high probability of winning the game."

  "Lee is not a robot. When he finds his shooting touch, he can indeed hit consecutive shots from beyond the three-point line."

  "The Lakers chose to double-team and let others handle the ball. It was definitely the right choice. The closer it gets to the critical round, the more it will slow down the Knicks' offensive rhythm."

  "Coupled with the fact that the Lakers can also seize some long rebound opportunities to score easily, they have a great chance to win the championship this year."

  Kenny Smith nodded repeatedly when he heard this. He just thought that the bald young coach was amazing. The Knicks had won two consecutive home games, but this man predicted that the Lakers would counterattack, and the results were not bad at all:
  "Do the Knicks still have a chance? Or how can they adjust and push the series into a game seven?"

  Jeff Van Gundy smiled slightly, appeared more confident, and said firmly:
  "Being able to perform like this has exceeded my expectations. It is difficult for Gasol and Thomas to score efficiently on offense."

  "The integration of offense and defense is too demanding for them."

  "Back at home, the Knicks should continue to attack the inside. This can ensure that there will be no problems with their response to the ball."

  "I believe Lee can still get good data, but in this series, defense is the focus, and the Knicks still need time."

  The on-site director gave the data of Pau Gasol in 5 games in a timely manner:

  场均13.1分7.8篮板3.6助攻1.8盖帽2.2失误，投篮命中率为42.0%，罚球命中率为80.0%。

  With an average of 11.2 shots per game, the rookie's efficiency has plummeted compared to before, and he has problems eating cakes under the basket.

  Ernie Johnson was also completely convinced by the bald young coach’s comments, and he also asked:
  "Jeff, do you think the Knicks' role players are going to explode when they return home?"

  Pretending to reflect on the player's performance, Jeff Van Gundy responded confidently again:

  "From a technical style perspective, it's difficult for Hill and several other starters to break out."

  "The Knicks' problem is their defense, they haven't been able to completely wear down their opponents."

  "The Lakers' role players have the same problem. Maybe Kobe will break out, but in this series, opportunities are getting fewer and fewer, and he has made sacrifices for the team."

  "Victory still depends on details and defense. I am looking forward to the G6 game."

  The on-site director also quickly gave Grant Hill’s data:
  场均19.8分6.6篮板4.2助攻1.2抢断2.4失误，投篮命中率为49.0%，罚球命中率为81.0%。

  Averaging 15.2 shots per game, Grant Hill is stable and efficient, but overall, as Jeff Van Gundy commented, he lacks explosive scoring power.

  Especially on the road, the Knicks' entire team began to take fewer free throws, and Grant Hill seemed even more mediocre.

  In the studio, the four people quickly began to discuss the performance of the Lakers. At the end of the show, Jeff Van Gundy did not forget to make some weird remarks to the Knicks management:

  "This offseason, if the Knicks want to continue to compete for the championship, they also have to re-plan their bench lineup."

  "Over-reliance on the starting lineup is also a problem exposed in this year's playoffs. With limited playing time, it is difficult for substitute players to find game status."

  "The Knicks are still in the rebuilding period, which is good news for the Eastern Conference teams. They also have a chance to reach the Finals next season."

  In the end, the bald young coach did not forget to remind the general managers of the Eastern Conference teams about the threat of the Knicks.

  The trio on the side didn't feel anything was wrong. Jeff Van Gundy was in an even happier mood, showing a slightly proud look, and made a tactical retreat:
  "What is a champion coach!"

  On June 6, after the Knicks returned to their home court, their shooting also recovered a little bit.

  In the last quarter of the game, when O'Neal, who frequently stood on the free throw line, made steady free throws, the boos couldn't stop for a while.

  At the free throw line, O'Neal once again put the ball into the basket. Coach Thibodeau asked for a timeout. The shark jumped with joy and trotted back to the bench.

  106:102, with 11.8 seconds left in the game, the Knicks used their last timeout.

  The referee, who obviously wanted to add drama, looked at each other in confusion at this time. He rarely called O'Neal for a foul, but the opponent actually made two free throws.
  The Lakers no longer had a timeout at this time, and the game was not over yet. Phil Jackson was still very nervous, his eyes widened, he put the tactical board aside, squatted in front of everyone and said loudly:

  "Foul, time is on our side! The opponent fouled immediately after releasing the ball!"

  Seeing the head coach's cannibalistic eyes, everyone on the Lakers also calmed down their excitement. O'Neal was replaced and they kept clapping on the sidelines and loudly reminding their teammates.

  The Knicks huddled together at the free throw line. Li You did not choose to move up the line. Instead, after the referee blew the whistle, he used the screen and suddenly ran to the far left sideline.

  Gasol, who kicked off from the baseline, successfully dumped the ball, while Kobe, who was chasing after him, gritted his teeth and defended after being reminded by his teammates.

  In the left corner, the moment Li You caught the ball, Kobe jumped on him, and the referee immediately blew the whistle.

  Although the shot was taken after catching the ball, after the referee made two free throw gestures, Thibodeau and the atmosphere team on the sidelines began to complain loudly.

  "Shh!"

  The fans at the scene also cooperated with Li You to put pressure on the referee. Fans from both sides surrounded the linesman and complained at the same time.

  After dilly-dallying for a few minutes, I finally looked back from the technical table and saw that the referee still signaled two free throws.

  In the NBC commentary box, Marv Albert was a little disappointed:

  "The two sides have no timeouts. If there are only two free throws and the Lakers make no mistakes in the next round and hit the free throws, then it will be too late."

  Mike Dunleavy took a look at the technical statistics and briefly commented:

  "Even if the game goes into overtime, for the Knicks, Wright has already committed 6 fouls and left the game, and Gasol has also committed 5 fouls."

  "O'Neal controlled the number of fouls very well tonight. Of course, I want to praise his free throws even more!"

  After making both free throws, the score reached 106:104.

  The Lakers reluctantly took a sideline kick, and finally Li You sent Fisher to the free throw line.

  There were 8.2 seconds left in the game. "Little Fish" was so nervous that he was sweating. He had thrown his hairband aside long ago. He kept batting the ball at the free throw line for a long time. Under the boos of the New York fans, the basketball finally fell into the basket. .

  After ensuring not to lose, Felscher obviously relaxed and made the second free throw steadily.

  At the last moment, the Lakers pounced on Li You and made another free throw. The New York fans in Madison Square Garden booed wildly.

  Although they were prepared to lose, the New York fans watching the game were naturally not in a good mood when they saw everyone on the Lakers bench celebrating wildly.

  In the penalty shootout, neither side missed a free throw. At the last moment, Kobe made two free throws, and Li You missed a three-pointer from far away. The Lakers rushed to the court and hugged each other.

  110:106, in the end, the Knicks lost the game.

  O'Neal burst into tears after hugging Phil Jackson and screaming. In the two most critical games, he finally redeemed himself through free throws.

  After Kobe raised his hands in celebration, he sat in the middle of the court, covered his face with his hands, and couldn't stop crying.

  Li You was not in a good mood at first, but when he saw the Lakers suddenly burst into tears, he looked weird for a moment. This was obviously his script.
  Fisher was the first to step forward and hug Li You in greeting.

  "Xiaoyu" hugged Li You first, and then started to cry before he could say anything. Li You looked at the other person hugging him and crying loudly. He pushed him twice without pushing him away, and comforted him helplessly:

  "Congratulations, Bro! You guys played a perfect game!"

  Realizing that the sports media had gathered around him, Fisher awkwardly bumped his fist at Li You:

  "I was so excited. I thought we were going to keep losing. Sorry, Lee, I was so excited."

  On the Knicks bench, Artest shut himself up.

  尽管对手今晚三分线外15中4，投射依旧拉胯，但科比21中10，罚球11中11，砍下了31分6篮板5助攻1失误。

  In a key game, his opponent regained his shooting touch, but he showed that his hips were stretched. Artest, who was about to be selected by the team, felt extremely uncomfortable.
  Stephen Jackson on the side comforted his good brother. This way of losing only one or two rounds is really depressing.

  The players from both sides shook hands briefly. O'Neal, with red eyes, bumped fists with Li You, and finally laughed and said:

  "It's my turn to win! I will defend the title next year, no one in the Eastern Conference can be our opponent!"

  "Congratulations, Shaq! We look forward to our rematch in the Finals and enjoy your victory!"

  Li You simply sent his blessings. He didn't know the specific situation of the Lakers. It was still unknown whether the Lakers could break out of the Western Conference.
  Soon O'Neal began to hug everyone he met, and Kobe, who had adjusted his mood, saw his "mortal enemy" look calm, and his mood was no longer beautiful.

  In the finals, his statistics were naturally not as good as O'Neal's. It would definitely not be his turn when it came to FMVP. After getting excited, Kobe had some more thoughts.

  "Congratulations, Bro! It looks like you've mastered how to get into the white-hot space, and it's great to see your growth."

  Li You patted Kobe, who felt even less beautiful when he heard "White Hot Space".

  玩命训练的科比其实一直没感觉到什么“空间”，只是每次看到李佑的数据，又会相信这一理论。    出场46分钟，29中17，三分线外15中7，罚球12中10，51分6篮板8助攻2抢断3失误。

  In the entire series, Li You only shot less than 3% in G[-]. The more critical the game, the more shots he takes, the higher his shooting rate.
  Kobe was speechless when he thought of this, but on the surface he acted like "I'm also entering the space" and responded confidently:
  "Yes, I did it! Soon I will catch up with your achievements, and I will keep winning. Sorry, it will be my time later!"

  After adjusting his mood, Kobe smiled, tilted his head and joked. After some business exchanges, Li You patted the other party's shoulder again and blessed him:

  "Come on! Bro, the future belongs to you!"

  "."

  Phil Jackson is in a good mood, without the smug face of Jeff Van Gundy, and he has become a championship coach again.

  After the game, he congratulated everyone on the Knicks team very gracefully. The "KFC" old man has proved himself again this year.

  The poisonous chicken soup from "Kentucky Fried Chicken" made Li You sick for a while. Although he didn't like Van Gundy, as a famous star of the Knicks, he also had some prestige in New York.

  After finally getting rid of the Lakers crowd, when Li You walked towards the tunnel, the fans on both sides were still shouting his name loudly and giving continuous applause.

  James Dolan stood by the entrance of the player tunnel, and he also had some regrets in his heart. If O'Neal missed the free throw in the end, there might have been a tiebreaker:

  "Don't worry, Lee! In less than two seasons, there will be All-Star players on the team, and we can win the championship again soon!"

  The curly boss hugged Li You, and the staff on the side also started delivering chicken soup.

  In Madison Square Garden, New York fans will naturally not leave the stadium. Everyone continues to boo the Lakers. As long as the other side is unhappy, everyone will feel comfortable.
  David Stern also felt a little regretful. If it could be delayed until the tiebreaker, the ratings would definitely increase dramatically!

  NBC will most likely broadcast it for the last time. After subsequent broadcasters take over, it is still unknown whether the communication effect can maintain the status quo.

  Smiling and chatting with the Lakers boss, Old Buss was particularly excited. If there was no one around, he would just want to lift the trophy at this time.

  The "OK Combination" finally won a championship after 6 seasons. The Lakers management also breathed a sigh of relief. If they lose again, the team will have to rebuild.
  Watching everyone in the Lakers remembering the bitter experience, the New York fans continued to boo, but Buss was not affected and raised the O'Brien Cup high amidst the cheers of the players.

  Soon, O'Neal got the trophy. Thinking of his experiences over the years, he couldn't help but cry again, holding the trophy without letting go.
  Phil Jackson also applauded on the sidelines. He had achieved his sixth championship trophy. 6 was greater than 6, beating Jeff Van Gundy. He felt very happy.

  Kobe Bryant, wearing a Lakers championship hat and a championship T-shirt, looked at the trophy eagerly, especially after seeing the golden spherical FMVP trophy, his eyes showed longing.

  What he expected did not happen. Kobe heard David Stern holding the microphone and saying happily:

  "Entered the finals for three consecutive years, and finally won the championship after losing consecutively!"

  “场均37.7分13.8篮板3.3助攻1.5抢断1.5盖帽，无与伦比的表现，01~02赛季总决赛FMVP属于沙奎尔-奥尼尔！”

  After scoring 40+ points in two consecutive key games, shooting 6% from the field and 57.3% from the free throw line in 63.8 games, O'Neal finally achieved redemption through free throws.

  Holding two trophies, O'Neal finally showed a happy smile and shouted emotionally to the sports media in the audience:
  "Yee!!"

  Tonight, the visiting team's locker room will naturally be filled with the smell of champagne. When Li You returned to the locker room, he noticed that Artest was still in a state of isolation, and finally spoke to give him reassurance:

  "Okay, Ron, if you lose, you lose. We don't lose because of your performance."

  "We defended very well, and our opponents' shooting percentage from the outside never exceeded [-]%."

  "Team options will be implemented during the offseason. No one will give up a DPOY. Of course, what kind of contract you can get depends on your data next year."

  After hearing Li You's words, Artest felt relieved. His relatives and friends were here, and it was convenient to pretend to be X. He didn't want to leave Manhattan.

  "I'm going to throw myself in the gym this offseason and I swear I'm going to hit those open spots next year."

  Artest hurriedly expressed his position. He was very aware of the consequences of his decline. Even without Li You speaking up, the fans in New York would hate him first, and then the management would trade him away without hesitation.
  Gasol, who became a "paper man" in the series, was also depressed. His performance naturally did not satisfy the fans in Spain who paid attention to him.

  Soon everyone began to think about the future, and Li You didn't care. He never expected new talents to become popular, nor did he expect role players to save the team in key games.

  Grant Hill's mood is also not beautiful, but he can't do such a shameful thing as complaining about his teammates after losing:

  "Li, will you accept an invitation from the national team during the offseason?"

  Hill's words attracted everyone's attention. Li You pointed to the scars on his body and shrugged:

  "I plan to take a good rest. I have played too many games and my body is also worn out. These guys are not easy to attack!"

  The Lakers' desperate double-teaming naturally resulted in a lot of physical collisions, but Li You mostly ignored some of the injuries. He had no interest in playing in the World Championships during the offseason.
  Grant Hill also received the invitation. He was hesitant before, but after hearing Li You's words, he made up his mind to refuse to play.

  Instead of participating in the training camp, it is better to continue to polish his shooting. Even O'Neal's free throw percentage can exceed [-]%, and Grant Hill feels that he can also throw an average three-pointer.
  When head coach Thibodeau came to the locker room, he could naturally sense the uneasiness of the atmosphere team.

  In this year's finals, the Knicks rotated almost seven players, fighting against the main force. Thibodeau did not believe in the rookies, and the main lineup's playing time was directly filled up.

  As a head coach, he should encourage everyone and appease the emotions of role players, but Thibodeau doesn't know whether he can continue to be the head coach, so naturally he can't paint everyone's pie:
  "Thank you for your hard work. Although we lost the game, there is still a bonus this year. Lee and Hill gave up their share. Don't forget to thank them!"

  Hearing that there were still US dollars, the atmosphere team became active again, and then there was a strong sense of reluctance in their hearts. If they were traded and changed to another team, they might not be able to get this treatment.

  "I'm afraid that my brother will have a hard time, and I'm also afraid that my brother will drive a Land Rover." Li You, who lost, received a lot of text messages. Contrary to his expectation, his brother actually returned.

  Attending the post-game press conference, Li You had already changed into a dark gray formal suit. When he sat on the stage, the press officer nodded to the Los Angeles Times reporter:
  "Li, your winning streak has been ended. How do you feel now?"

  The sports media in Los Angeles were in a happy mood. After asking the question, several people still had smiles on their faces. Li You just responded calmly:
  "Basketball is round. If you lose, just win back. The team is still young and time is still on our side."

  The ESPN reporter could also feel Li You's relatively calm mood. At this time, he quietly asked:
  "Lee, is the loss related to your offensive choices? The Lakers got a lot of opportunities to score easily in transition."

  6场比赛场均出场时间44.2分钟，场均拿到42.2分4.8篮板7.5助攻2.0抢断2.8失误；

  The shooting percentage was 53.6%, the three-point shooting percentage was 44.3%, and the free throw percentage was 91.4%.

  The sports media obviously noticed Li You's outrageous statistic of 12.7 shots per game from beyond the three-point line.
  "A large number of three-pointers will definitely give the opponent an opportunity to switch offense, but I will not change my style of play."

  "Because more and more teams choose to double-team me, in the playoffs, there are fewer and fewer opportunities to hold the ball in pick-and-rolls, and it is also difficult to face singles."

  Li You held his chin in thought for a moment, and finally added seriously:
  "The probability of losing is because my shooting is not accurate enough. I plan to increase my shooting range, which should give me opportunities to score easily."

  The sports media in the audience were confused after hearing this and increased the shooting range. Everyone thought that Li You would say to increase the mid-range.
  The TNT reporter looked at the serious-looking Li You and felt that this was not a joke. He could not comment on this matter, so he simply changed the subject and asked:

  "Lee, after losing to the Lakers, how do you think the team should adjust in the offseason? Will you seek a trade?"

  This question made everyone prick up their ears. Li You didn't think too much and answered immediately:
  “This is everyone’s first year as a team and I think everyone has done a really good job this season.”

  "If you want to succeed in the NBA, you should take advantage of it. Our perimeter defense is very good, and the big men need time to grow."

  "Of course, the team will replenish the rotation in the offseason, which can increase the fault tolerance rate."

  Hearing this answer, the sports media in the audience felt a little regretful. They thought a big melon would appear.

  Later, when O'Neal appeared in front of everyone smelling like champagne, holding two trophies, and laughing, the Los Angeles media began to flatter him again.

  O'Neal, who was already so high, felt that he was going to heaven tonight. He placed the two trophies in front of him happily, straightened the microphone, and said loudly with a big grin:

  "From this moment on, Shaq's era has arrived!"

  "I fulfilled my promise and the MVP went home this year!"

  Losing makes the record meaningless, but the New York media likes to amuse themselves and continue to praise and have fun.

  The feud between young fans has just begun. Fans who say "the Knicks lost, but Li You didn't lose" have decided to fight to the death with the inflated Lakers fans this offseason!

  On June 6, the Lakers also held a grand championship parade when they returned to Los Angeles.

  The whole city was boiling, but O'Neill was still in a state of expansion.

  When he finally gave a speech at the finish line of Nanjing University, Shark did not forget to give his promise and mocked Li You by the way:
  "I know you are not satisfied. The era of the Lakers has just begun!"

  "I promise everyone that I will always stay in Los Angeles, I love it here!"

  "We will continue to win championships!"

  "Not one, Not two, Not three"

  The Los Angeles fans in the audience also shouted in joy until Not until Seven
  On the other side, Kobe and his teammates looked at the shark who started rapping, with different emotions.

  "Little Fish" was very happy. He would also be a champion point guard in the future. Fox, Horry, and Brian Shaw also couldn't stop laughing.

  Only Kobe didn't seem happy. Even though Vanessa was hugging him and laughing non-stop, Kobe still didn't feel the happiness he imagined after winning the championship.
  The "Kentucky old man" also kept laughing, won the championship, and Phil Jackson regained respect!
  The Lakers are busy celebrating, and the Knicks are naturally busy with the draft at this time.

  Since the Gold Club was completely shut down by the FBI, Kaplan could not escape the sanctions despite his efforts to donate money.
  The chain reaction was that Ewing, who once engaged in high-profile prostitution, also got into trouble.

  As a loyal fan of the Knicks, Kaplan often introduces girls to Gorilla. Others go and play in a low-key manner, while Ewing invites friends and has a big party.

  Fortunately, after winning the championship, Ewing's reputation in New York has reversed. Otherwise, the New York media, which likes to watch for fun, will most likely start a group mocking mode.

  On the morning of the 21st, at the Tarrytown Training Center, although Ewing was not able to join the coaching staff as scheduled due to public criticism, as a recently retired team star, he naturally participated in the construction of the team at this time.

  In General Manager Glenfield's office, the fat Ewing sat on the sofa and complained about the Finals:
  "As long as O'Neal's free throw percentage is around [-]%, I can guarantee that we will be the ones holding the championship parade now!"

  "It doesn't matter if we can't hit the shot. What's important is that we also have to make our opponents lose their shooting touch."

  "Pau Gasol is still too young. Except for fouls, it is difficult for him to restrict the super center. Kurt has to help him defend. This led to the Lakers' role players performing well."

  "In this year's draft, we should select a big man and let Gasol play power forward. Maybe that's the best choice."

  "He has good skills and can easily launch attacks from either the left or right side, so he needs a tall interior defender to partner with him."

  Gorilla put on an expert look, and general manager Grunfield nodded secretly, but felt helpless to complain.

  Ewing complained that Gasol was a bit soft, but based on his playoff experience, he was actually not tough either.
  "Lee, what do you think? Let's pick a No. 5 position. There are indeed some good big men this year!"

  After hearing the general manager's inquiry, Li You looked at the information in his hand, frowned slightly, and said helplessly:
  "With the 8th pick, these big players are not available."

  "Let's stick to the team's original plan!"

  The two big men, Nene and Gooden, don't have a chance to play with the Knicks. The other team is not active in trial training. It is obvious that they have already received a commitment.

  Ewing has some disdain for high school rookies, and Gorilla always believes that there is a high probability that he will not play in the NCAA:
  "Lack of tactical literacy, I even doubt whether this little guy can understand those tactics."

  "Basketball is not just about physical fitness. A big man who can only dunk cannot survive in the league."

  Li You was dressed casually today. Seeing Ewing acting like a boss again, he couldn't help but joked:

  "Pat, maybe this guy is not a good fit for the Knicks, but talented people are going to be favored more."

  "Just like Kwame Brown, even though he performed very poorly with the Wizards this season, everyone still has expectations for him."

  "My agent told me the Wizards have a lot of options if traded."

  Ewing shook his head slightly. Although he has been very low-key recently, he still pays attention to the league's gossip:
  "Michael Knuckle is not suitable for coaching rookies, and neither are you. Gasol has played in professional leagues, and high school students don't have so much game experience."

  "But the environment of the Knicks is indeed different, and this is also a good try."

  When General Manager Glenfield heard the two chatting, he remembered Boss Curly's advice and suddenly felt that this newbie had no bright future.

  If you fail to show immediate ability, you will eventually be traded away.
  On June 6, the 26 NBA Draft was held at Madison Square Garden.

  That night, Li You, Ewing, and general manager Glenfield appeared at the scene.

  Caron Butler, the newbie of the Huskies, did not forget to say hello to Li You.

  Every rookie who goes through the draft is very nervous, but Butler's college statistics are very good, his physical fitness is excellent, and there is no pressure in the lottery.

  Perhaps it was because he had a poor record in his first season back, and the number one pick he picked failed, that there was no McDunner on the Wizards tonight.

  After saying hello to the familiar staff, Li You saw Jeff Van Gundy on the other side pulling Ewing and talking non-stop.

  The bald young coach has been enjoying great success recently, and tonight he will cooperate with the TNT broadcaster to interpret the rookie.

  Jeff Van Gundy had just said hello before, but general manager Glenfield was a little dissatisfied with the opponent's performance. At this time, he whispered beside Li You:
  "Jeff seems to want Pat to join his coaching staff. You know, Lee! The boss doesn't like Ewing's recent troubles. It will affect the team's image."

  Of course I can't admit it even to death if I go to whoring in a group. It's really very negative.
  Noticing the beaming looks of the Rockets staff at the scene, Grunfield started gossiping again:

  "It is said that the big man from across the ocean asked to be drafted first before he came to play in the NBA."

  "The Rockets made a promise, and then a miracle happened!"

  Such gossip has long spread to the American sports circle. Of course, limited by the domestic environment, there are naturally other "unequal treaties".

  "Yao Ming deserves the No. [-] pick. Hasn't the league been looking forward to completely opening up the international market? This is a good thing."

  Li You replied casually, and then noticed the depressed expressions of several people on the Suns team.
  Just like in my memory, when David Stern announced that the Rockets selected Yao Ming from the Shanghai Sharks of China with the first overall pick, the broadcaster cut the scene to the other side.

  The young Yao Ming and his family, wearing Rockets hats, hugged each other, and the NBA staff behind them also applauded.

  With the second pick, the Bulls selected Duke's Jay Williams;

  With the third pick, the Warriors selected Duke University's Mike Dunleavy Jr.

  As expected by the Knicks team, the Grizzlies selected Drew Gooden and the Nuggets selected Nene Hilario.

  In the end, the Knicks selected Amare Stoudemire with the eighth pick.

  Upon hearing that he had been selected, the rookie took the stage and put on a Knicks hat, smiling from ear to ear for a moment.

  Li You greeted this newbie at the McDonald's National High School League held at Madison Square Garden not long ago.

  The Florida Mr. Basketball player was mobbed by the New York media as he walked off the stage.

  General Manager Glenfield noticed that Li You just waved to the newbie with a smile. Then he thought about the Knicks' internal competitive environment and the rough skills of high school rookies, and thought to himself:

  "Good luck, boy!"

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