NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 434: Physical decline? (Ten thousand words chapter)
On Sunday, April 2006, 4, the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia still erupted into bursts of boos after the game.

Nearly 19,000 Philadelphia fans broke through the defense again, and some people shouted "trade" angrily from the garbage time of the fourth quarter.
Head coach Cheeks had a fierce argument with Iverson and Webber after entering the player tunnel. Before the start of tonight's game, the two were late for pre-game training.

He was completely out of form during the game and was humiliated by the opposing substitute lineup. This was unacceptable to coach Cheeks. He ignored the dissuasion of the staff and roared loudly:
"Do you think I'm a fool? Damn it! Don't act miserable in front of the fans. What qualifications do you have to not participate in training!"

The 76ers staff looked at the unshaven, red-faced Cheeks and didn't dare to step forward to answer. Cheeks rushed into the locker room and yelled at the players:

"You should be thanking me for not being traded! You play like shit every night in the game!"

"Except for being miserable and letting the media speak for you, you haven't changed anything."

"."

Iguodala, who was sitting in his seat, lowered his head and remained silent when he heard the head coach's roar. He just wanted to play well and had no interest in participating in the "palace fight."

92:114, including the game at the end of March, the 3ers lost two consecutive games to the Knicks.

Weber looked impatient and didn't look at Iverson. He was only absent from today's warm-up, and the core was absent from the training session.

Since publicly criticizing his teammates, Webb has been attacked by Iverson fans, and with Stephen A. Smith speaking out for his little brother, the media has labeled him a "problem."

Iverson threw the hairband aside, sat on his seat, leaned on his knees and covered his face with his hands, with a trace of regret in his expression.

This year he ranked second in the scoring list, which can be said to be his best season in personal offensive condition. Iverson is also very proud of this. He is still the league's top scorer.

The trade rumors after the All-Star Weekend put him in a bad mood. Iverson began to confront the team and kept shouting to the media to express his willingness to stay with the team.

Fortunately, with the support of Philadelphia fans, everything was over. At the end of the regular season, the 76ers had a winning streak, only to relax and face two disastrous defeats.

"It's my fault, but we're going to make the playoffs."

Reluctantly apologizing to everyone, Iverson took the initiative to speak. After hearing this, head coach Cheeks almost exploded with anger. He kicked down the whiteboard and continued to yell:
"Now we have to see how our opponents perform! Why can't you fucking be nervous?"

No one responded to the coach's words. Iguodala sat up straight. When he thought about this question, an idea suddenly came to his mind:

"Maybe we never thought we could beat New York."

At the critical moment of determining a playoff spot, Iverson encountered an old rival and was in the mood to go to a nightclub when he returned home. This news was unacceptable to Philadelphia fans.

Li You, who attended the press conference, was not interested in knowing about the opponent's locker room problems. The 76ers, Pacers, and Bucks were all weak. No matter who ranked eighth, the outcome would be the same.

The reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer was no longer interested in asking questions. Many of them had the same mentality as the fans: they were looking forward to the playoffs but didn't want to face the Knicks.

As the regular season comes to an end, more and more people are beginning to act like ostriches, trying to bury their heads in the dirt and continue to sing praises for Iverson's scoring.
The reporters from TNT obviously preferred to have fun. Before the press conference, several people were discussing the Philadelphia locker room issues. They noticed that Li You was not interested in this aspect and changed the topic when asking questions:
"Lee, it is said that you helped Coach D'Antoni pay a fine of US$25000. Does this mean that you are dissatisfied with the referee's call?"

In the loss to the Heat a few days ago, Wade made 22 free throws alone. The Knicks encountered a foul crisis inside. D'Antoni was in a strange mood after the game:

"Maybe we should study the defensive rules. There are two standards in a game."

Li You has no idea about the new rules. In most games, he also enjoys star whistles, but at certain times, the whistles will focus on his opponents:
"I have never studied the issue of whistleblowing. I only paid the fine because I earned more. Although the coach also has a big contract, he does not receive many endorsements."

Hearing Li You making fun of D'Antoni, some Philadelphia sports media were a little envious. Why is the home team so full of problems?
ESPN reporters are more concerned about records. After winning this game, the Knicks have 62 wins and 10 losses, ranking first in the league. They still have a chance to win 70 games this season:
"We noticed that several teams have a chance to reach 60 wins this year. Lee, will the Knicks challenge for 70 wins? Your remaining schedule does not seem to be difficult."

Hearing that the opponent opened his eyes and told lies, Li You just chuckled. In the final stage, 7 games in 5 days, two back to back:
"We don't want to pursue this record. You know, the championship is the most important thing, but everyone will go all out at home. After all, our tickets are not cheap."

If ticket prices continue to rise, the average ticket price will be close to $100. Starting from the 97-98 season, New York's ticket prices have led the league.

In comparison, the average ticket price for the Warriors this year is less than 30 US dollars, and the re-emerging Lakers have not reached 80 US dollars.
Locked in first place in the regular season, the reporters at the scene mostly exchanged commercial blows, until the reporter from Philadelphia finally asked the question:
"On the scoring list, your points per game average only ranks fourth in the league. Is this a sign of declining physical condition?"

The scene suddenly became quiet. Li You, who was sitting on the stage, did not expect that the other party would really "make up for himself", touched his chin, and finally said with a smile:

"Maybe you should check the data carefully. I think my physical condition is very good. Maybe you can witness it in the playoffs."

"."

The regular season is coming to an end, and the teams in the bottom half have recently started fighting for a spot in the playoffs.

In the Eastern Conference, the 76ers, Pacers, Bucks, and Wizards all have 34 wins. In the Western Conference, the Lakers, Clippers, and Kings have similar records and are also working hard for rankings.

Among the teams in the top half, the Knicks are far ahead, followed by the Pistons, and the Spurs and Mavericks are both fighting for their lives!

The two teams belong to the Southwest Division. If one team wins the division championship, the other team can only be ranked fourth in the Western Conference.
The Knicks continue their road trip on Tuesday, April 4th, and tonight they will challenge the Wizards.

In the afternoon ESPN program, Stephen A. Smith took the initiative to apologize to the fans. Not long ago, he angrily criticized Webber on his personal sports talk show, and was slapped in the face by Iverson.

"I swear! I will never say a good word for my little brother again. I'm very disappointed with these two games."

"Maybe it's not Webber who has the problem, but no matter what, I will bless the 76ers and I sincerely hope to see them return to the playoffs!"

In the studio, Stephen A. Smith apologized sincerely, but when he finally sent his blessings, Legler laughed low and didn't buy it at all:

"Return to the playoffs? You want to see the 76ers encounter Lee again! Philadelphia fans may not like your blessing."

Host Sanders also followed suit, teasing his partner in a unique black accent:
"Stephen A. Smith accepted Lee's money. I think the news is true. We all know that you are a Knicks fan. You have been exposed a long time ago!"

Li You's statistics this year are mediocre, but this does not affect Stephen A. Smith's explicit bragging in every program. If Charles Barkley next door is a brainless braggart, this one is a brainless braggadocio.
He looked humble when he apologized. After hearing the two people's questions, Stephen A. Smith immediately shouted:
"Listen, if you just look at the numbers, Kobe Bryant is a terrible scorer this year, but what's the record of the Lakers?"

"10 years, 10 conference finals, 9 finals! Lee has surpassed all players!"

This kind of loan statement has appeared on the show more than once. Legler really couldn't refute it, so he could only say a few words:
"It's a different time man, Lee is great, but you can't deny that the Knicks have a lot of good players."

"The Dolan family pays the highest luxury tax in the league, and tickets in New York are the most expensive. In comparison, many stars really lack helpers. Such a comparison is unfair."

Seeing that the two were still trying to argue, Sanders quickly interrupted to change the subject and talked about tonight's game:

"The 76ers challenged the Cavaliers away from home, and Dwight Howard at the end of the season was eye-catching. I have to say that coach Van Gundy's choice that year was the right one!"

With 44 wins and 29 losses, the Cavaliers have now locked in a playoff spot. If they want to rush to third place in the Eastern Conference, it depends on the Heat's face.

"Inside and outside, the two cores of the Cavaliers are indeed outstanding. LeBron ranks second in the scoring list. Maybe they can overthrow the defending champion this year."

Due to the attrition of the Knicks in the interior, Legler believed that the Cavaliers would have an advantage in the interior with three big men. Stephen A. Smith rejected this view when he heard it:
"Stop this ridiculous point of view, Lee is not an ordinary player. As a pick-and-roll master, he can easily punish the opponent's defense."

"If the opponent chooses to double-team, and we have enough ball-handlers, most opponents can only pray that the Knicks miss open shots."

"But it is a pity that we have a top shooter in the league sitting on the bench. The veteran Finley has been getting better and better since March. He has no weaknesses. This is dominance!"

The other two partners were unable to refute, and for a while only Stephen A. Smith was left in the studio, making a triumphant X sound:
"I can't wait, I know Lee will respond in the playoffs, and all we have to do is sit back and enjoy the great performance!"

"."

The much-watched Cavaliers did not live up to the expectations of the fans. At the Gund Center Arena, with the excellent performance of LeBron James, the suspense was lost in the first half of the game.

At 50:69, the Cavaliers made 13 of 7 shots from outside in the first half, shooting % from the field.

During the intermission, Jeff Van Gundy was interviewed with a gentle smile on his face and confidently introduced to the media:
"Ronald Murray has integrated well into the team and we are getting closer to the championship!"

"I'm proud of the boys. We played the best defense in the league, and Dwight's growth far exceeded our expectations."

Since their beloved general Charlie Ward has retired, the Cavaliers exchanged members of the atmosphere team for the Sonics' backup No. 1 position during the All-Star weekend.

50 wins are within reach, and Howard can even compete for the rebounding title. Van Gundy is naturally very satisfied with this.

In the second half of the game, the Cavaliers did not relax. LeBron James continued his efficient performance, and Larry Hughes, who had just returned from injury, also performed well.

91:124, the 76ers were defeated again.

Iverson, who played 38 minutes, tried his best, shooting 25 of 10 and scoring a game-high 38 points. LeBron James, who almost clocked in three quarters, contributed 37 points.

After the game at Gund Arena, the atmosphere was boiling again. James laughed and high-fived his teammates in celebration. Although Howard had a smile on his face, he was a little depressed in his heart.

He didn't play much in the game and could only be called a rebounding tool. Howard was not very satisfied with his role. He said with a smile in an interview:
"I'm not a big man like Shaq who can drag people down. Sometimes I can do more away from the basket!"

"In some games, I want to play more like Garnett, hit some shots in the mid-range, participate more in help defense, you know, I can do that."

The sports reporter in Cleveland didn't think much of it. Howard was only in his second year, so his rookie wishes deserve respect!

James and Van Gundy hugged each other in greeting, turned to look at Howard who was chatting, and shook his head secretly. There was nothing to say about the opponent's rebounding, but the main attack was too rough:
"Coach, maybe we can squeeze into the third place in the Eastern Conference. The Heat lost."

Van Gundy was still waving to the enthusiastic fans. After walking into the tunnel, he smiled and cheered James:
"We have a huge inside advantage, and in terms of lineup configuration, New York has holes."

"LeBron, be more confident. You should trust your teammates. Remember, the playoffs are all about momentum. Don't say this in front of reporters. We can't show our weakness!"

James, who was following Van Gundy, nodded repeatedly and shouted in his heart, "He deserves to be a championship coach."
The defeated 76ers team continued to make excuses for their misfortune, but James and Howard, who attended the press conference, listened to Van Gundy's words and started to joke:

"Fourth place is no problem. I like this ranking. We can meet the defending champion in the semi-finals. Then you will see our strength."

"Dwight can dominate rebounds. No one in the league can match our inside strength. In this matchup, we are the dominant side!"

Hearing James' praise, Howard was elated and smiled from ear to ear for a while. Before the reporter could ask questions, he loudly said into the microphone:

"Yee! LeBron is right, why should we be afraid of the defending champion? We are the one with the advantage!"

"I know you want to talk about Lee's pick-and-roll again, but I'm not one of those bulky big guys. I'm faster, more flexible and very strong! I can freeze the league's scorers!"

Some sports reporters cheered when they saw Howard flexing his muscles. This is what they wanted to hear!
On Wednesday the 5th, everyone from the Cavaliers who beat the weak team flew to Manhattan. Both teams will have back-to-back games that night.

Compared with the 76ers, the Knicks' locker room is more harmonious. Toward the end of the season, role players have more playing time and their roles on the court begin to increase.

Although New York fans don't like to see Artest's stiff breakthroughs, in recent games, quasi-DPOY has always shown off his dribbling, and from time to time he will make a three-point conversion.

Hill also fulfilled his promise. Since March, his playing time has fluctuated at 3 minutes, and he was replaced after scoring 25 points in each game.

If you look at the Knicks' technical statistics, they usually have five starting players, all of whom score in double figures, with substitutes Siddio and Finley taking turns to explode.

Fisher takes 7 shots from beyond the three-point line in every game, and the same goes for Laga Bell. Coupled with Li You's three-pointers, the Knicks will throw at least 25 three-pointers in a game.

For back-to-back games, the team canceled its afternoon training session, and everyone just came to Madison Square Garden three hours in advance to warm up.

With the first place in the league locked in, New York reporters have begun to predict the playoffs in advance, and most of the questions revolve around the first-round opponents.

"The 76ers are a joke. You know, everyone likes to watch the news about Iverson. He has no leadership. Maybe playing in the Western Conference is the right choice."

Artest held the ball and played in front of reporters. He grinned and laughed when he was talking. He didn't take the opponent to heart at all:

"Compared to the 76ers, maybe the Pacers should enter the playoffs more. We all love Stephen. He is a championship forward and he brings championship experience to the Pacers."

"Reggie Miller should play another season. He should ask Jackson for advice on how to win a championship!"

The reporters in New York burst into laughter. Although everyone applauded Miller after he came to New York during his retirement season, respect has disappeared since the opponent was possessed by lemon essence and it was dark every day.

Fisher, who was being interviewed on the other side, was sending his best wishes for the Lakers to return to the playoffs:

"It's great to see Kobe's growth. From a pure scorer to a team leader, this is a huge change!"

Perhaps in order to pave the way for returning to his old club, the old fish put his hands on his waist, showed a confident look on his face, and boasted very naturally:
"I have learned a lot from Li in the past two years and have a deep understanding of the meaning of a leader. We have been communicating recently and I will share the experience I have learned with him."

"If he encounters difficulties in the playoffs, he can call me at any time, and I am willing to resolve the grievances between him and Lee."

As we all know, ever since Li You knocked down Kobe Bryant and stepped over his opponent's leg in the finals, the two became "mortal enemies."

Fisher is obviously bragging about his personal connections. As for Kobe and Li You shaking hands and making peace, it is impossible to happen unless the Lakers step on the Knicks and complete four consecutive championships.

After entering the arena against the clock, Li You remained the same, never being late or leaving early.

After completing the warm-up, he greeted his teammates and then Li You accepted the interview. The team has entered the preparation stage in advance and only needs to stay healthy for the rest of the regular season.

"Coach Van Gundy believes that the Cavaliers' inside strength leads the league. Lee, if we meet in the playoffs, will the other side cause trouble to us?"

The New York Post reporter has never forgotten the championship coach. Li You didn’t watch the news, but after the video class in the morning, he also had a new impression of the Cavaliers:
"They've done a really good job this season, but we have a lot of experience dealing with super centers."

"Basketball belongs to five people. Don't forget that Pau is also an All-Star. When comparing overall strength, no team can match the Knicks."

A reporter from the Washington Post got some inside information and took this opportunity to suddenly ask Li You:

“Pharmaceutical company Biovail alleges year-long surveillance of two stock analysts at Akers Capital.”

"They believe you and BofA Securities' David Maris sabotaged the company by distorting analysis to drive down the stock price to benefit short sellers."

The sports reporters who heard the news were a little surprised, but Li You was very calm and let the other party finish what he said, and then said nonchalantly:

"You know, I'm just an ordinary athlete, but the news I got is that the other party is seeking US$46 billion in compensation!"

"So, leave this matter to the judicial department and our team of lawyers will restore the truth. By the way, no one can monitor our traders and our security measures are very complete."

The number of 46 billion shocked many people. Competition is no longer the focus.
At 19:30 that night, LeBron James was still very active. Facing the Knicks' retreating defense, he decisively completed the attack in the mid-range.

Perhaps it was because of the early outbreak of the last game. Tonight, James was possessed by a shooting blacksmith. He stubbornly went 6-for-1 in the first quarter, which made everyone on the Cavaliers bench lose their mood.

At 14:30, they dug a hole in the opening game, and the Knicks' mediocre offense easily defeated their opponents.

At the end of the second quarter, Ronald Murray still strictly implemented the instructions of the coaching staff and continued to double-team in advance when facing the pick-and-roll.

The New York fans at the scene were very dissatisfied with this defensive choice. While booing, they also did not forget to yell:
"Put up your damn defense and let Li beat you!"

"."

The noisy arena atmosphere did not affect the Cavaliers' defensive strategy. Following Gasol's move, Howard moved ahead of time, and worked with Ronald Murray at the top of the key to double-team Li You.

Holding the ball in his left hand, he used the screen to accelerate laterally. When Li You moved closer to the left wing, Artest had already run to the left corner.

After a brief pull on the defense, Li You lobbed the ball to Gasol, who caught the ball at the free throw line. Gooden, who was near the baseline on the right, immediately moved toward the paint area.

Howard also ran to the right wing in time, trying to cut off the passing route. Several people cooperated closely, but they still missed Diaw in the right corner.

Without waiting for the defense to be in place, Gasol threw the ball directly into the hands of the open Diaw. When Howard rotated to help defend and tried to defend, Diaw, who was feinting with the ball, suddenly released the ball with his left hand and broke through with a cross step. Gooden shrank towards the basket again, while Howard was also chasing after him. Before the two could form a circle, the basketball had already flown to Gasol's hands in the middle.

Being continuously pulled to defend, when Gasol attacked the inside, James in the left corner also followed to help defend. When he saw the basketball flying to the left corner, he gave up defense completely.

Completely unguarded, Artest took the ball and threw it away. As the three-pointer hit the net, Madison Square Garden boiled again.

At 32:50, there were only 3 minutes and 28 seconds left in the half, and the point difference was still widening.

"You should double team me!"

Artest jumped back to the half court and didn't forget to provoke him as he ran towards the half court.

James, who had just hit a three-pointer, ignored his opponent. He asked for the ball in advance before his teammates passed halftime, and then initiated a pick-and-roll on the left wing.

Although Howard's screen quality was good, Artest went around the line to defend, and James decisively stopped the ball to complete the change of direction.

On the left wing, observing that the opponent was shrinking in defense, James combined the ball from the three-point line and immediately made a jump shot.

"Oh!"

The basketball bounced off the top of the backboard and finally flew out of the baseline. The stadium burst into cheers. In the commentary box, Mike Breen also chuckled:
"It seems that LeBron's shooting still needs work. Although coach Van Gundy has adjusted the Cavaliers' defensive rotation very well, there is still a gap between them and the defending champion."

Walter Frazier did see the shadow of the former Knicks. The opposing team's rotation reminded him of the 96-97 season:

"Compared to that Bulls team, our core is at its peak. Coach Van Gundy should be a little distressed at this time."

"In fact, he hasn't led a team to defeat the Knicks since he left New York!"

Van Gundy on the sidelines didn't hear the two men's teasing, but at this time he was frowning and seemed to have difficulty understanding the changes in Li You.

After being attacked easily, the coach did not ask for it. For a while, the Cavaliers turned into a 32 zone defense, with two wings, James and Hughes in the same position, ready to shrink at any time.

After turning his back continuously, Li You carried Ronald Murray through the half court, who was leading the defense. The latter kept interfering and switched to another defensive method.

Li You, who was holding the ball in his left hand and protecting the ball sideways, leaned on the defense and suddenly leaned forward to accelerate. When his opponent slid to the right, he immediately stopped and dribbled behind his back to complete the change of direction.

The moment Li You touched the ball with his right hand, he didn't make any move, took the initiative to increase his stride, and accelerated with his shoulders down when facing the defense.

Despite making correct defensive predictions, Ronald Murray, who was sliding, seemed to have been hit by a car. His exaggerated body leaned backward, staggered, and fell directly to the three-point line.

"Oh!"

Amid the cheers of the fans, Li You easily broke through to the front of the basket and shot an arrow on horseback. After decelerating, he threw the ball to the basket slightly casually.

Deliberately adjusting the arc, the basketball flew high into the air, passed Howard's fingertips and entered the net.

Looking at Li You shaking his shoulders and smiling, Van Gundy finally realized a terrible fact on the sidelines:

"He got stronger, faster?"

Howard frowned and looked at his teammates, spreading his hands, as if questioning why his defense was broken with just one poke.

Fortunately, in the next round, Gooden attacked Diaw in the low post on the left to get a free throw, and the Cavaliers finally responded.

"Be tough, Bro! You have to give me some time to prepare!"

While taking advantage of the free throw, Howard pulled over a few people on the outside and whispered. As the core of the team's defense, he can also be considered a leader.

James didn't have much expression on his face. He encouraged his teammates but also felt a little unhappy. If they could defend alone, they wouldn't miss so many three-pointers tonight.

As Gooden made his second free throw, Gasol protected the rebound. Li You, who responded, suddenly increased his speed, shouldered Hughes' defense, and rushed to the left wing.

The steal king had just returned from injury, and his physical condition had not yet returned to its best. Seeing Li You start to slow down, he decisively stepped on the three-point line to establish a defensive position in advance.

Hughes had just turned his body sideways, and Li You, who was holding the ball in his left hand, lowered his center of gravity and pretended to break through while quickly changing direction.

The moment he was attacked and his supporting foot in front of the defense was attacked, Hughes had no time to twist his body, nor did he forcefully slide. He stayed on the spot and watched Li You speed up and squeeze past him.

"what!"

The fans in the front row seemed to anticipate what was about to happen. They all stood up and shouted happily. Howard, who returned to the basket, looked at Li You who rushed in front of him and immediately jumped to block the shot.

The left front of the basket was close to the paint area. Li You took off with both feet and jumped high. He grabbed the ball with his right hand and pulled back his arm. He knocked away Howard in front of him from a high position and swung the ball into the basket!
"OH——!"

Seeing Howard flying out of the baseline, the two people in the commentary box shouted together with the fans at the scene.

Howard's mind went blank when he fell under the basket. It wasn't until the camera hit his face that he realized he had thrown himself on the street.
Under the basket, several members of the Knicks team rushed to Li You and shouted excitedly. The sudden dunk completely ignited the atmosphere.

Li You, who was standing on the free throw line, looked at Howard who was pulled up by his teammates and returned to the paint area. He patted the ball and teased the opponent:

"When the train is moving at full speed, remember to get off the train tracks!"

"."

The extra free throw hit, and the shouts of MVP appeared again in the arena. James, who was catching the ball from the baseline, looked at Li You's back with envious eyes. He also wanted to pretend like this!

After two consecutive rounds of strength, Li You suddenly returned to his normal state in the subsequent game, which made Van Gundy a little confused on the sidelines.

When encountering a double-team, the ball was thrown out and Gasol was invited to attack in the low post. He fed Hill the ball in a semi-transition attack. Artest made a stiff breakthrough on the wing.
It wasn't until two consecutive rounds that Diaw took the pie hand-in-hand and hit a shot from the outside. Van Gundy came to his senses and realized that the point difference had exceeded 20 points.

Relying on Donnell Marshall's outside shots and consecutive free throws, the Cavaliers did not let the point difference continue to widen.

At the last moment of the half, James seized the opportunity, and in the semi-switch attack, he completed 2+1 against Artest who was returning to defense, and finally regained face.

At 41:62, the game basically lost its suspense.

Howard, who followed his teammates to the tunnel, was still confused. He had watched videos of the Knicks too many times, but he felt completely different when they played against each other.

After returning to the locker room and just sitting down, Howard couldn't help shouting loudly:

"The media are talking nonsense! Lee seems to be getting stronger physically, he hasn't declined at all!"

Howard, who likes to watch TNT programs, was probably deceived by the brainless Charles Barkley. He really believes that Li You can't win because of his declining statistics.
Hearing his teammates' words, James subconsciously looked at Ilgauskas, who was absent tonight due to injury, and then sighed secretly in his heart:

"Sure enough, there is still a gap."

On Thursday, April 4, when TNT reviewed last night's game, the moment when Howard was dunked was repeatedly played.

At 92:120, the Cavaliers possessed by the blacksmith suffered a disastrous defeat.

LeBron James, who has been shining brightly recently, also performed mediocrely. Perhaps due to the impact of back-to-back games, he went 6-of-1 from beyond the three-point line, and his shooting seemed to suddenly disappear.

In the studio, Charles Barkley smiled happily, he just likes to have fun:
"If I were Dwight Howard, I would knock Lee out of the air instead of letting him dunk easily!"

"Today's big men are so soft. They seem to have forgotten their size advantage."

Kenny Smith could naturally see that Howard had already jumped up hard. He always felt that his partner had lied so much that he began to believe it:
"Forget it, Chuck! Look at Lee's figure. He is no longer the slightly thin defender he was before 00."

"Li's body has gotten better and better over the years. He must have put in a lot of hard work behind it. Muscles don't lie."

Ernie Johnson didn't want to listen to his partner's nonsense anymore, so he took the initiative to let the director play a post-game interview with Ronald Murray:
"I didn't perform! I was trying to defend every round. You have no idea what I was facing. Some collisions made me feel like I was hit by a truck."

He once served as the atmosphere team for the Sonics. After coming to the Cavaliers, he gained more attention. Ronald Murray had an aggrieved look on his face. He worked very hard but was laughed at by many people.

After seeing the interview, Charles Barkley curled his lips, as if he was dissatisfied with such a scene, and immediately took over the conversation:
"This is not what a tough guy should say. He is showing weakness to his opponent. You must know that the Cavaliers may encounter the Knicks in the playoffs. He should not say these things!"

Although he agreed with this view in his heart, Ernie Johnson still said from the perspective of a player on the show:
"We shouldn't laugh at players who work hard. The truth is, no one in the league can limit Lee one-on-one."

"This season, more and more teams have begun to double-team early from beyond the three-point line, and big men have also begun to participate in delays after pick-and-rolls. Lee changed modern basketball!"

No longer giving Barkley a chance to mess around, Kenny Smith simply changed the subject and took the initiative to talk about the rising Lakers:
"Kobe's performance continues, and he has a chance to surpass Elgin Baylor, and he has already established a huge advantage in the scoring list."

Since the teams in the Pacific Division are actually close in strength, the Suns don't lead by many wins. Everyone is working hard to rank, and Kobe is taking shots one after another.

"If the Lakers are ranked fifth, they have a high chance of encountering the Mavericks and Spurs in the first round."

"Maybe Phil Jackson should think differently and they can avoid this position."

After hearing what Ernie Johnson said, Barkley immediately expressed his disapproval and even directly shouted to Kobe on the show:

"A true superstar should not shy away from challenges. Kobe should seize this opportunity and prove to us his ability to lead the team!"

"."

That night, the Lakers challenged the Nuggets away. Compared to before, Denver fans booed less. The two sides went through overtime to decide the winner.

At the end of overtime, Kobe grabbed an offensive rebound and missed a tip-in under the basket.

With 13.6 seconds left in the game, Carmelo Anthony hit a long two-pointer from 19 feet on the left wing to complete the game-winner.

108:110, in the end the Lakers unfortunately lost, with a record of 40 wins and 36 losses.

科比出场45分钟，32中13，三分线外7中3，罚球14中13，拿到了全场最高的42分。

After the game, Kobe had a long face as he watched his opponents celebrate wildly. Now every game is very important and he didn't want to lose his playoff spot.

Parker, who was in the Lakers backcourt, shot 9 of 2 tonight and only contributed 6 points. When he walked to the tunnel, everyone pointed the back of their heads at Kobe.

Losing in this way, Kobe missed his former partner Fisher. Thinking of the recent communication between the two, he felt relieved:

"It's better to be an old partner."

If the outcome of the game is not considered, Kobe deserves praise for scoring 40 points again. At the post-game press conference, a reporter from the Los Angeles Times took the initiative to boast:
"Kobe, you scored 40+ points again. You have the opportunity to break Elgin Baylor's 40-point record. How do you feel about this?"

He is about to win the scoring title, and Kobe is also a little proud of this. He has suppressed Iverson, Li You, and James, which gives him a great sense of accomplishment:
"I never thought I would be able to achieve such an achievement. I feel very honored to be alongside great players."

"But our work is not done yet. I don't want to calculate the ranking problem. I am confident that I can beat any opponent in the playoffs."

Kobe's answer made the Los Angeles sports media smile. A true superstar should face the difficulties!

On Sunday, April 4, the Knicks came to Boston to start the final seven days and five games.

According to league regulations, stars are not allowed to miss games without reason. Even if he locks in the first place in the league, D'Antoni has to continue to let Li You play for three quarters.

During the first away trip, after warming up in the afternoon, Mustache did not talk about his record during the interview, but took the initiative to praise Diaw's performance in the past two months:
"Burris has a great basketball IQ. He's not perfect, but we've all seen tremendous improvement."

"His passing is underestimated. I would call him a French magician!"

With so many scorers on the Knicks' bench, Diaw stands out because of his compatibility.

When he was at the fourth position, no one competed with him, which gave Diaw more opportunities, while Prince had to compete with Finley for playing time.
Fortunately, the veteran Finley is easy to talk to. Knowing that Prince is in a contract year, the opponent will take the initiative to give up his position if the opponent is in good condition. If the player were to change, the locker room might have exploded, and the data would be a beauty.

D'Antoni is also aware of the situation in the locker room, but his job is only to balance playing time and not care about other things. If he misses consecutive shots, everyone will be replaced.

During warm-ups, David Lee usually gathers around Li You.

I thought I would get more opportunities by being familiar with Thigh, but I didn't expect that Li You was so "ruthless" that he couldn't even be included in the activation list in some games.
"Li, you should really respond to the media more. You averaged 30+10 per game, but you actually said it was a decline. They are all crazy!"

David Lee, who picked up the ball, looked like he shared the same hatred with the enemy. Li You, who kept catching and shooting from outside the three-point line, glanced at Mengxin and said in a brisk tone:
"Everyone is improving, but I am standing still. Isn't this a decline? I think they are right."

"The opponents are getting stronger, which is a good thing!"

The sports media in Philadelphia called this year's Iverson "the best in his career." Li You likes "powerful dialogue." When they meet in the first round, he must hit hard and win praise.
Due to the lack of big men, Varejao has recently had the opportunity to study Fisher's flattery skills and learned a lot:
"The playoffs are Lee's stage. The scoring champion may be eliminated in the first round!"

Fisher, who came to join in the fun, couldn't get a word in for a while. The Knicks' internal competition was really fierce, and the job of flattering him was getting more and more complicated!

In the game that night, the Celtics surrendered early and had already determined their fishing quota. Pierce didn't even want to play.

110:86, with extensive rotation, the Knicks still won easily.

On April 4th, at the Continental Airlines Arena, the Nets, who were still striving for playoff rankings, struck hard, and the main lineup persisted until the fourth quarter of the game.

The New York fans who came to celebrate the Knicks' first record in the league were not affected. Near the end of the game, they were already enjoying themselves in their seats!
As the final buzzer sounded, the score was fixed at 101:110, and the Nets gained a victory.

Li You, who was wearing a blue Knicks away training uniform, stood up and applauded. He kept high-fiving his teammates and waving to the fans in attendance.

"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

The shouts got louder and louder, and Li You smiled and patted his chest to express his gratitude to the fans.

TNT reporter Craig Sagel felt the lively away game and congratulated him with a smile:
"68 wins and 14 losses, Li, congratulations to you, this is really an amazing record! I even think you have a chance to break the record of 73 wins."

Hearing the compliment, Li You bumped fists with everyone on the court and replied with a smile:
"The final schedule is not easy. You know, everyone is working hard for the playoffs. 68 wins. I am proud of my teammates!"

Finley didn't expect that his thighs were so thick and he could achieve such a record in fishing in April. After the game, he hugged everyone he met. When he came to Li You, he even shouted at the camera:
"No. 1 in the league! We want to win the championship!"

A happy smile appeared on Hei's face. Finley stepped forward and hugged Li You in greeting. Sagar naturally saw the joy in the other person's heart. When the two celebrated, he joked again:

"Li, you lost the scoring title this year. Is there something wrong with your physical condition, as the football commentator said?"

Li You nodded with a smile. Thinking of the recent public opinion, he took the initiative to admit:

"No one can improve all the time. I am very happy to see more excellent players emerging in the league and they realize their talents!"

“I’m really excited about this and I’m looking forward to playing against them!”

Sagar was a little surprised, but thinking about the explosive statistics of many players this season, he also felt that Li You's words made sense.

The two exchanged business blows. Amidst the cheers of the fans, Li You kept waving and slowly walked towards the players' tunnel. Thinking of the Atlantic Division championship that he had already won, an idea immediately came to his mind:
[LeBron James’ extraordinary physique]

(End of this chapter)