NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 340 "Scoring twice" (daily chapter)

On the morning of May 5, ESPN reviewed last night's long Eastern Conference finals on the program.

The good news is that this game has reached a record high in ratings, but the bad news is that the NBA is preparing to issue fines. The irritable Detroit fans have completely forgotten the rules of civilized viewing of the game.

In response to the league's call, fans at Madison Square Garden will receive a simple viewing guide after entering the game. It is a basic rule not to throw debris at the venue or players.

There were more than 2 people in the Palace Arena of Auburn Hills. After some emotional fans launched an "attack", it was difficult to control the scene.

Of course, some sports media expressed their understanding. After all, this was the Pistons' first time in the conference finals after 13 seasons, and they were swept out. It was inevitable to be emotional.
The Philadelphia sports media, which considers itself New York's nemesis, is happy to see the excitement.

The Philadelphia Inquirer, as the largest local newspaper, has several NBA columns praising the bloody Detroit fans:
"Winning is not the only thing, Detroit fans show us the purest love!"

"."

Philadelphia sports reporters who had begun to believe in the process completely became the leaders of the "Anti-Lee Alliance" after eliminating the "traitor" Stephen A. Smith.

Even the Philadelphia Daily News was full of praise for Detroit's pure basketball, not mentioning the fans' racist abuse.

The accompanying picture is a photo of Li You beating his chest and roaring after completing a one-handed alley-oop dunk in the third quarter. The photographer captured the frustrated look of many fans in the auditorium on the left covering their faces.

"I'm not questioning Kevin Garnett, but Lee and Shaq are clearly the better players."

"Most fans are ordinary people working in all walks of life. They see the Knicks enjoying the joy of victory! They can enjoy Lee's superhero-like personal performance."

Noticing that Elliot started shaking his head again, Smith immediately raised his voice:

"If I were Artest, I would punch that bastard who poured beer on me and insulted me!"

Different media have different tendencies. The New York Times report is simple and crude:
"GOAT!"

Legler remained silent, and Smith began to mock sarcastically again:

In the morning show, with the addition of Tim Legler and Stephen A. Smith, everyone was noisy again.

One of the two people who spoke shook his head in denial, and the other looked serious and confused. When it was Stephen A. Smith's turn, he immediately gave a very personal answer:
"It's not the Knicks that are causing the league's ratings to decline, but those players who have no ability and are trying to find excuses to cover up their lack of ability!"

Legler, who has been a three-point shooter for most of his career, then started to change the subject:
"It's difficult for me to evaluate the current situation of the league. Just like the Knicks' unique tactics, no one can predict what the future will be like."

TNT's program replayed a scene of beer being thrown at everyone in the Knicks after the game. Compared to the quarrels between several people at ESPN, Charles Barkley simply responded to the anger:

"I swear, most fans really enjoy watching the Knicks, and don't forget, we just had a record-breaking viewership last night."

The New York fans who read the newspaper were in a good mood, and even praised Li You's "black silk" equipment!
In the away game last night, Li You wore a blue Knicks away jersey with a black tights.

"Ball don't lie!"

"They can pay players high salaries, and the luxury tax can't prevent the birth of super teams."

"Instead of talking about the Knicks' championship, we should be asking why other teams can't win it."

These words immediately made Elliott so angry that Mike Tirico pushed up his glasses. Seeing the Spurs star's face turning red, he immediately changed the subject and said:
"Now we should discuss tonight's game. Can the Lakers get back to their best form after returning home?"

"Don't tell me again that this is the best defensive team in the league."

"Don't blame your opponent for being too strong, think more about why you failed!"

"Magic Johnson did it, Lee and Patrick Ewing even completed four consecutive championships, but some stars failed."

"There's a good chance the Knicks will dominate the Eastern Conference forever, and I can't imagine what it would be like for fans to see the same games every year."

"This is how ordinary fans feel. They may not pay much attention to the NBA, but after watching Lee's performance, they will eventually fall in love with the Knicks."

"Obviously some players are overrated!"

After all, everyone has done it on the court to vent their emotions and yell, the NBA will impose penalties, and the sports media are only responsible for taking advantage of others.

In the G3 game, although they had the blessing of the home whistle and led at halftime, as Li You led the team to defeat the opponent with 22 points in a single quarter, the Pistons suffered another defeat.

"I know what you're trying to say, but basketball doesn't lie!"

"As an ordinary fan, when I see Lee scoring 22 points in a single quarter under the tight defense of the Pistons, I will shout with excitement."

The gear dogs are all planning to update their outfits. They have tights, and “black stockings” are also indispensable!
The New York Post, as always, satirized its opponents in a sly way:

At this time, Smith once again tilted his head and looked at the Spurs legend opposite, and said loudly in a superior tone:
"You know why? It's simple, the Knicks won the game!"

"Why did Tim Duncan enter the Finals twice without winning a championship, but O'Neal finally got the ring?"

"But one thing I agree with is that the ability of today's players has indeed declined a lot. They are just ordinary star players, and only a few players have reached the level of past MVPs."

"In the history of the NBA, when rookies and veterans partner up, there will always be a wonderful chemical reaction, and they will win the championship."

Of course, the topic discussed by several people was not the outcome of the series. After all, the Knicks had already secured the victory. What everyone was arguing about was the development of the league.

"The Pistons are a bunch of cowards! They were scored by Lee with 50 points and a % shooting percentage!"

When ESPN enters the playoff broadcast stage, the midfield team in the studio is host Mike Tirico and guest Sean Elliott.

As a Spurs legend, Elliott doesn't like the Knicks and has no feelings for Li You. He took this opportunity to denounce:
"There is no doubt that the emergence of the Knicks has affected the development of the league!"

"Basketball doesn't lie," Rasheed Wallace's signature phrase, which Wallace would yell at the free throw shooter after the referee made some controversial calls.

He is wearing a black arm guard on his right arm, and his left leg is wrapped in protective "black silk". Coupled with black and orange away sneakers, the photo looks full of oppression.

At 112:93, the series score reached 3:0, and New York fans had already begun to celebrate that the home team had reached the finals again.

"After Lee scored 50 points in the game, I wanted to share my favorite superstar with my friends!"

出场42分钟，28中17，三分线外11中6，罚球11中10，50分7篮板10助攻3抢断2盖帽2失误；

With a 50-point double-double, Li You also took the five best goals in the Sport Center program.

Even though Billups made 17 of 8 shots and efficiently scored 26 points, Hamilton made 18 of 9 shots and scored a team-high 28 points, but they didn't get a single praise after the game.

The reason is simple. In the second half of the game, the Pistons only scored 32 points. In the most critical third quarter, the two misfired.
Throughout the whole day on the 25th, football commentators who found the material discussed it repeatedly, and the rising popularity attracted many Yun fans.

As the most outstanding "highlights star", Li You quietly harvested another batch of winning honeys against the backdrop of his opponents' "poor" performance.

It wasn't until the start of G3 of the Western Conference Finals that night that everyone turned their attention to this game.

At 89:100, the Lakers crushed the Timberwolves throughout the game and successfully protected their home court. The series score reached 2:1.

After many sluggish games, Gary Payton finally had a dumpling!
出场36分钟，11中8，三分线外5中2，高效砍下18分5篮板9助攻1抢断2失误的数据。

Karl Malone made 12 of 4 shots and contributed 11 points. Although the statistics were mediocre, he restricted Garnett well on the defensive end.

新任MVP全场21中9，拿到了22分11篮板7助攻4失误的数据，输球后，加内特早早球员通道。

Gary Payton, who performed well, started to brag again in the post-game interview and made a high-profile statement to reporters:
"The Lakers don't care about those boring comments at all, because we know how to win!"

Payton was in a particularly bad mood after being criticized continuously. Thinking of the doubts from the outside world, he finally held his head high and said in a thin voice:
"You have no idea about my desire for a championship! The Lakers will keep winning, and we will win the O'Brien Cup this year!"

Kobe has been keeping a low profile recently and was criticized after taking a lot of shots and losing in the last game.

今晚12中5，三分线外6中2，罚球11中10，砍下22分2篮板6助攻4失误的数据。

After congratulating Gary Payton, he noticed that the TNT reporter ignored him, so Kobe turned around and left.

At present, his relationship with the media is very stiff. ESPN is always weird every day and gossips about his personal life from time to time. This makes Kobe feel disgusted with these sports reporters.

奥尼尔倒是乐于看到老将的发挥，10中7，罚球22中8，拿到22分17篮板4助攻4盖帽1失误。

Once again delivering a double-double, O'Neal shouted loudly as he walked toward the tunnel with Payton in his arms after the game:
"We will send MVP home soon!"

The Lakers took 66 shots in this game and made 43 of 25 free throws. There were few rounds and many free throws. The game was not pleasant.

After the game, commentators were more discussing whether Payton could continue this game.

On May 5, the NBA and the Pistons jointly announced the penalties for disruptive fans.

"Permanently ban the opponent from entering the Palace of Auburn Hills to watch the game!"

"The Pistons were fined $2, and the fan who made the racial slur published an apology in the newspaper."

The Detroit Free Press lacked sincerity and devoted only a small space to describing the punishment.

Artest mocked him again in an interview at noon:

"These losers only use these little tricks, and in fact, they can do nothing but watch the Knicks win."

"I don't like it here, and I don't have time to discuss these little things because I have to prepare for the finals!"

The Knicks got the match point, and Artest's mood stabilized again. He sat on the bench for a long time in the fourth quarter last night, and the excellent lineup depth helped a lot.

Grant Hill has some mixed emotions, after all, he also spent a good time in Detroit at the beginning of his career.

Fans here loved him then, but now, more people hold up white boards and call him a "traitor."

However, Hill did not argue with the fans. After the league imposed penalties, he expressed his stance very generously:
"The fans' emotions will also be affected when watching the game live. I can understand those who vent their emotions and curse, but they should not say those racist words."

"That's not what should happen in a basketball game. I'm happy to see the Pistons appear in the conference finals. They are very talented and I believe Detroit will usher in a championship."

Hill, who is about to become "Captain America," naturally won't say anything exaggerated.

After the Knicks reach the Finals this year, Hill will receive more publicity resources.

After last night's game, Li You returned to the hotel and was busy replying to text messages from his brothers.

Although he showed a hostile attitude on the court and in front of the media, in private, most players would show kindness to Li You.

Many friends and many paths. If one day he goes bankrupt, maybe Li You can help.
Of course, there is no Iverson among the superficial brothers. It is difficult for this outdated All-Star guard to become friends with Li You.

Before going to the arena to warm up in the afternoon, Li You also accepted an interview. He said hello to Hook, and the sports reporters did not talk about anything else. They only talked about the game:

"Li, in this year's playoffs, your playing time exceeded 40 minutes for the first time. How do you feel physically today?"

"It feels great! After these two rounds, I feel like my rusty body has been fully activated!"

"I like to play in confrontations. Although I have to control my movements a little on the road, I enjoy the defense I encounter on the offensive end."

Li You, who had changed into a black printed T-shirt, patted his chest vigorously. Everyone was speechless when they looked at the muscle lines exposed by the stretched clothes:

"rust?!"

The reporter from ESPN was better at flattering people. At this time, he smiled and asked:

"Lee, Gary Payton performed well in last night's game. If he encounters the Lakers again in the Finals, how do you think he will perform?"

Payton had a meal of dumplings, which sparked discussion among the sports commentators. Everyone still has great expectations for this veteran All-Star.

Li You pretended to think for a while, and then replied unceremoniously:
"I will limit his scoring to single digits! Offensively, I will also keep scoring on his head."

"I respect this veteran, but the fact is that his physical condition is not as good as before, and his current defense is definitely not as good as Kidd and Billups."

"."

The reporter from the Los Angeles Times was unable to refute. They watched Li You wave and board the car with a smile. They realized that everyone agreed with Li You's answer, and several people secretly sulked:
"Peyton's condition will definitely get better and better!"

Detroit fans do not like Li You very much, let alone the Knicks, but this does not mean that they will reject Li You's signature sneakers.

As the current No. 1 hook brother, all new materials and high technologies are concentrated on Li You.

The first-generation sneakers repeatedly cut leeks and relied on the shiny color scheme. This thing is the favorite of many black fans!
Except for AJ, Li You's shiny sneakers all sell well. Therefore, every time political and racial issues are involved, Hook will immediately remind Li You to be careful.

This is also true for Michael Jordan. The big brother who took the lead acted like that, and Li You just kept a low profile and didn't say anything.

Many black fans always complain that Michael Jordan does not speak for black people, but most people are very envious of Michael Jordan's achievements. Black fans may not like Li You's skin color, but every time they read the income rankings published by Vanity Fair magazine and Forbes, they will also yearn for Li You's life.

With the blessing of a large number of beautiful knifes, skin color has become unimportant, and many black girls even took the initiative to express their opinions:
"Lee is the sexiest man in the world!"

Before the start of the G4 game that night, Larry Brown had a long face. During the interview, he no longer spoke grandly:

"We used a lot of defensive strategies, but that's how basketball is sometimes, and it doesn't go according to plan."

"I've seen Lee change the game with his personal ability. I thought we were ready, but now that the series is going on, I just want to say that the team still has a lot to learn."

Instead of emphasizing the importance of reversing the series and reaching the Finals, Larry Brown did not deceive sports reporters. He was already prepared to lose.

In essence, what the Knicks have played in the last two games is "four guarantees and one", giving the ball to Li You while defending hard.

Although he lost the series, Larry Brown still remains skeptical about the coaching level of rookie D'Antoni who always smiles.

As the team leader, Ben Wallace did not admit defeat when interviewed in the locker room:
"Miracles are created and I don't think the series is over."

"We'll stick to our defense and I hope to win the game at home for our fans."

Ben, who has an afro, has always been a favorite among Pistons fans and local sports media. His tough style of play is very consistent with the team culture.

In the Eastern Conference semifinals, facing the Pacers' O'Neal Jr., Ben also performed very well, even limiting his opponent's shooting percentage to less than 40%.

Although the Pistons averaged only 75 points per game in the semifinals, fans firmly believe that defense can win!
But now that the Eastern Conference finals have progressed, Detroit fans have begun to doubt the previous basketball philosophy. Ben's somewhat hip-breaking offense seems to be holding the team back.

When a pick-and-roll is initiated, Billups will always be double-teamed in advance. A large part of the reason is because Ben has some problems with finishing at the basket.

After expressing their opinions, the local sports reporters did not become as emotional as before. Instead, they nodded silently and stopped talking about this topic.

Wallace seemed to be ready to lose, and he did not talk about the result of the game during the interview. He repeatedly emphasized that this was the first year of their cooperation, and by the way, he loaned money for the future:

"We don't play for data. In the Pistons, everyone sacrifices for each other. I feel the purest basketball here. It even reminds me of my college days!"

With an expression of nostalgia for the past, Wallace quickly continued:

"This is my first season joining the team. Our chemistry is getting better and better. I believe the Pistons will be successful."

"."

The league's punishment did not affect the emotions of Detroit fans.

After the game started at 20 o'clock that night, boos and curses were still heard in the Palace Arena of Auburn Hills. Civilized viewing of the game did not exist here.

After the game started, the Pistons completely gave up zone defense and double-teamed Li You early.

The well-prepared Knicks team cooperated with the response, taking advantage of the opportunity of playing more and less to quickly pass the ball and look for easy scoring opportunities.

Larry Brown, who was sitting on the bench, did not ask the players to slow down, and soon the game entered the Knicks' favorite offensive rhythm.

When Hamilton's shooting touch was not good, Wallace began to ask for the ball more, and he decisively shot three-pointers after pick-and-rolls.

Every time a long rebound pops up on both sides, they will launch a transition attack, and the two sides play lively.

Wallace, who was left open, scored easily in the paint. Looking back, with a simple pick-and-roll, Kurt Thomas succeeded in a jumper near the free throw line.

Hamilton quickly hit the ball after receiving the ball. Artest recovered and picked up the rebound in the right block and quickly launched a transition attack.

Encountered a double-team after halftime, Li You immediately gave the ball to Artest who followed up, and the latter made a jump shot from the left block.

The offensive rebound was picked up by Kurt Thomas near the free throw line. He attacked the basket and missed the basket. Gasol hit the rebound and finally made up the ball.

After repeated scoring and hitting, nearly 24 seconds later, Billups made a strong three-pointer from the right wing!
The Knicks made consecutive handoffs. Li You received a pass from Gasol on the left wing and responded with a cold arrow away from the three-point line.

Although the Pistons worked hard to speed up, they gradually failed to keep up with the ball in individual rounds, and the point difference widened unknowingly.

At the end of the first quarter, at 27:21, the Pistons were still 6 points behind.

Hamilton, who performed well in the last game, scored 5 of 1 and only scored 4 points, all of which were difficult jump shots.

After the start of the second quarter, the two sides played faster and faster, almost entering a state of stabbing each other.

Grant Hill just completed a quick counterattack and scored 2 points;
After a quick baseline pass, Billups used a simple pick-and-roll at the top of the arc and passed the ball to Wallace on the left wing. The latter hit the ball with his open hand from outside the three-point line!
Li Youqiang broke into the basket and caused a foul and made two free throws. Billups continued to attack quickly, and after a pick-and-roll at the top of the arc, he made a jumper from outside the three-point line.

Pick-and-roll three-pointers, strong shots with the ball, and pick-and-roll breakthroughs, Billups completely let himself go, trying to keep up with the Knicks' offensive rhythm.

Players on both sides ran back and forth, the yelling and cursing in the arena became smaller and smaller, and the Knicks had no time to pay attention to the fans.
The Pistons ended up taking 45 shots in the half, but the score was fixed at 52:43.

The reason for falling behind is also very simple. Everyone on the Pistons couldn't make a shot.

In the live ESPN commentary box, taking advantage of the intermission, Bill Walton began to brag about Li You again:
"The difference between superstars and ordinary players is that they can't be contained."

"I like the Pistons' defense very much. They protect the rim very well, but it's a pity that Lee can solve problems outside the three-point line."

"Lee will expand the offensive space. Some teams have not realized how terrible this is. He can support the Knicks' offensive system alone and also change the opponent's defensive system."

"The Pistons lack a true superstar. They are excellent, but at critical moments, they need players like Lee to take over the game!"

Being double-teamed frequently, coupled with the good offensive efficiency of his teammates, Li You actually did not attack hard in the half.

As a result, this performance was still criticized by Bill Walton, and Nessler finally knew why the other party was able to gain a foothold in the commentary world:

"The key to the playoffs is to respond. If the Pistons continue to strengthen during the offseason, I think they have a chance to win the championship."

The two began to give chicken soup to Pistons fans. As usual, the Knicks will exert their strength in the third quarter, and the series will most likely be over.

After the start of the second half, the game lasted more than four minutes. The Knicks made the first substitution, and Laja Bell came on.

D'Antoni paced the sidelines with his arms folded, and soon the substitution had an effect.

After several rounds, Li You found Laga Bell who was left empty. The latter hit three-pointers one after another, and the point difference reached double digits again.

In this round of the series, the Knicks' outside shooting was not good, and the tough defense prevented the pitchers from finding their sights. However, after the intensity of the game dropped, Laja Bell took the lead to strike hard!

At the end of the third quarter, Prince also fired in the right corner after coming on the court. Looking at the home team that suddenly fell into a scoring drought, the Pistons fans at the scene began to yell and curse again.

After three quarters, the score was fixed at 82:63, and boos resounded throughout the arena.

In the fourth quarter of the game, the Pistons' main lineup was still there, but the fans didn't buy it. It was really unacceptable to fall so far behind in just one run.

In the commentary box, Nessler was very honest and analyzed the game seriously:

"This is the dominance of 72 wins. Lee leads the rotation and can still play a smooth offense!"

"Knicks general manager Glenn Field deserves the award. Many people overlook the terrifying depth of this team's lineup."

"On the other hand, for the Pistons, it is difficult for veterans Campbell and Lynch Hunter to get playing opportunities, and Okur also performed poorly in effective playing time."

"The Pistons have a big problem with their rotation to defend pick-and-rolls!"

Bill Walton is no longer analyzing the game. He can clearly feel that the atmosphere in the arena is getting more and more violent, and the fans at the scene seem to be unable to hold back.
In the second half of the game, the substitutes came on, and time flew by.

In the end, the Knicks narrowly defeated the Pistons at 106:90, sweeping their opponents 4:0 and reaching the Finals again.

"Shh!"

The boos almost broke through the arena. Li You, who was wearing training clothes, high-fived his teammates who walked to the bench to celebrate. Everyone had smiles on their faces. They would be on the highest stage again.

At the end of the series, everyone from the Pistons could not go to the player tunnel early. Everyone lined up in front of the technical table and stepped forward one by one to shake hands with everyone from the Knicks.

Li You, who was at the front of the queue, first hugged and comforted Hamilton, whose eyes were red.

Both came from the University of Connecticut and played under head coach Calhoun, so there is no grudge.

Billups and Ben-Wallace were in bad moods and forced a smile to accept Li You's comfort.

Wallace, who was wearing a red headband and pursed his lips, had an unhappy expression on his face. The shouts and curses from the fans seemed to irritate him, and he took the initiative to bump into Li You while shaking hands.

The two bodies collided, and Li You moved back slightly, not paying attention to the other party's actions, but instead showed a meaningful smile.

Shaking his shoulders, Li You shook hands with the Pistons atmosphere team and walked slowly towards the tunnel without looking back.

After the on-site director captured the two people's actions, the staff carrying the camera quickly came to Li You and filmed his face.

Wallace proudly pouted at the camera on the side, turned to look at Li You behind him, and wanted to continue pretending, but when he came to his senses, he was first hit by Artest, and then received an old punch.

"Fake Squid!"

Matt Barnes, who was following behind, punched and cursed before rushing forward. Dan Gazulic rushed forward and tried to throw him.

Before everyone on the Pistons could react, Artest pretended to be arrogant, shouting "calm down" and hugging Wallace tightly.

The Knicks' atmosphere team swarmed forward and knocked Wallace to the floor.

Players on both sides immediately became confused. Wallace did not choose to fight and retreat. He roared and tried to stand up, and several players were torn into a ball on the floor.

The sudden appearance of overtime once again stimulated the Detroit fans at the scene. Snacks and beers were thrown into the field, and the yelling became louder and louder.

Players on both sides kept pulling and pulling, and the referee rushed into the crowd to try to separate the two sides. The stadium was in chaos.

Li You, who had already reached the entrance of the players' tunnel, did not look back. Instead, he smiled at the camera in front of him, ignored the yelling fans on both sides, and walked into the players' tunnel calmly.

The Auburn Hills Palace Arena was in chaos, and security personnel rushed into the venue again. In the commentary box, Bill Walton burst out laughing. Regardless of the live broadcast, he immediately said loudly:

"The guys are great! I love how the Knicks are doing!"

"."

The post-game press conference took a long time to prepare, and the conflict that broke out after the game caught the league staff off guard.

Billups and Ben Wallace looked very ugly when they attended the press conference. Wallace, who was caught off guard, not only suffered a big loss, but his roar could not prevent him from being punched.

The league had just issued penalties, and conflicts broke out again between the two sides. ESPN reporters were still blaming each other for fear of chaos:
"Is this conflict related to your failure? We noticed that Rasheed Wallace seemed to have made a provocative move?"

Da Ben glared at the other party and said this as if they couldn't afford to lose:
"I don't think it was a provocation. It's not terrible to lose. This is our first season after reorganization."

“We’re here in the Eastern Conference finals and I’m so proud of my teammates!”

Billups didn't want to talk, but the New York Times reporter didn't forget him:

"Chauncy, you continued your performance in the semifinals in this series. Why do you think the Pistons failed?"

Billups's face turned dark when he heard the question. Even if it was true, he shouldn't have asked it so ruthlessly:
"We will watch the video carefully when we go back. Like Ben said, this is our first season after reorganization and we are confident of winning the championship!"

"."

Completely different from the treatment given to the two of them, when Li You appeared at the press conference, there was another burst of applause and cheers from the audience.

Soon a reporter from the New York Post couldn’t wait to ask:
"Lee, if we reach the Finals again, will the Knicks start a new round of dominance?"

"Of course, through two rounds of high-intensity competition, we found the game state!"

"With 72 wins, the Knicks will continue to show their dominance, and we will win the O'Brien Cup again!"

Li You, who had already changed into a dark blue formal suit, answered very naturally, and his confident attitude made the New York media elated.

Turning on the commercial mutual bragging mode, Li You smiled and accepted everyone's compliments. He did not lie. The high-intensity competition seemed to have caused some changes in his body.

While talking about the situation, he moved his wrists and felt the bulging sensation in his body. Li You secretly planned:

"Attribute changes? It seems that I have to continue training when I go back!"

"."

(End of this chapter)