NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 479 Painful Basketball (Daily Chapter)

On Christmas Eve, the Lakers, who were preparing for this year's Christmas game, were in trouble.

After Odom was absent due to injury, the team's record fluctuated, and the consecutive road trips in the Eastern Conference also made the players tired.

Not only the game, but also the warm-up for the Christmas game by major sports media is a kind of pressure. The Lakers can clearly feel that Kobe is becoming more and more irritable.

After leaving the Lakers, many members of the atmosphere group usually complain about the atmosphere within the team. Not everyone likes training, and Kobe's high-pressure "rule" causes considerable problems in the locker room.

99:95, after a small away win over the Nets on Friday, Kobe Bryant did not show any joy in the win.

At the press conference after the game, Kobe even publicly criticized Parker for being a drag on the team:

"I don't know why someone who doesn't work hard always wants to get a starting position. Maybe he uses basketball as a tool to get attention, but I just want to win."

"I can see who works harder, and I don't like being teammates with people who are not focused."

The return of Fish changed the backcourt. Parker was pressed firmly on the bench. Whenever the Lakers performed poorly, he would come out and act sarcastic, and even formed a small group in the locker room with Bynum.

The sports media in Los Angeles were not polite either, and they reported the team gossip tirelessly. Some people even thought that Kobe's post-game breakdown was more interesting than his winning.
There were quarrels every now and then, and Kobe felt that there were traitors inside the team. He could not accept that the news from the locker room was leaked outside, which was why he was in a bad mood recently.

Phil Jackson did not compromise. Not long ago, O'Neal was dissatisfied with his absence from the Christmas game. Although he has not yet recovered from his injury, he complained publicly in an interview with the Miami Herald:
"The Lakers are just a fringe playoff team, they shouldn't be treated like this."

"Phil once wrote in his book that Kobe was uncoachable. I think now he regrets returning to the Lakers. Without me, they will only fail."

"."

These words did not anger the old man from KFC, but instead directly broke down Pat Riley, who had a poor record.

After defeating the Warriors on Saturday, the Heat's record reached 10 wins and 16 losses. They went from a division finals team to a bottom-ranked team, and Wade suddenly became out of fashion.

"We're going to be fine, Shaq has to lose some weight and we have to focus on our game!"

"I'm not interested in following other teams. The Christmas game gives us a few days off. I think this is a good opportunity for the Heat."

Pat Riley's words revealed his dissatisfaction. O'Neal's knee injury disrupted his rhythm and he has complained about the injury problem more than once this month.

Not every team feels conflicted and painful. After Saturday's big win over the Magic, the Cavaliers were extremely happy. It was the last game before Christmas, and the Gund Arena was already boiling.

出场40分钟，21中13，三分线外3中2，罚球10中4，32分7篮板1助攻4失误，勒布朗-詹姆斯轻松拿到全场最高分。

Howard contributed a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds. Infected by the atmosphere on the scene, he shouted loudly after the game and interacted passionately with the fans.

"I think everyone played very well. We had an absolute advantage in rebounding and we controlled the tempo of the game through defense."

"18 wins and 8 losses, I think the team can do better, this is not our limit, we can win more games."

LeBron James, who was interviewed, said this with confidence. He was a little dissatisfied with the record, but very satisfied with the ranking.

The excellent record has allowed the Cavaliers to firmly occupy the second place in the Eastern Conference, followed closely by the Bulls with 16 wins and 10 losses. With the Eastern Conference in a slump, the two teams are going against the current.

The joy of winning also made Howard swell up a lot. Unlike James's polite words, the newbie boasted with a big mouth:

"I think we deserve a chance to play on Christmas Day. The Lakers are no match for us."

"I know you guys always like to talk about Kobe and Bynum, but don't forget the combination of me and LeBron. We won more against the Lakers."

"This season, I will win the rebounding title. Remember, the Cavaliers have begun to realize their talent!"

Howard, who frequently scored double-doubles, seized every opportunity to show himself. He liked to be in the limelight and liked to see him in the news.

A victory is the best gift for Cavaliers fans. Jeff Van Gundy on the sidelines was also very pleased. Facts have proved that his coaching philosophy is still very useful.

Leaving the interview opportunities to the players, Van Gundy took the initiative to paint a rosy picture for Thibodeau and the coaching staff as he walked toward the player tunnel:
"As much as I love taking Christmas off, the league owes us a Christmas game!"

"Believe me, we have a chance to break out of the Eastern Conference this year, and the Cavaliers will always appear in Christmas games in the future."

Assistant coach Charlie Ward was very excited to hear these bold words. He believed in his mentor, but Thibodeau's response was mediocre. Looking at the bald man who kept giving him inspirational speeches, he began to sigh in his heart:
"We really don't have much time left!"

On Christmas Eve, the 24th, the Tarrytown Training Center was still in a joyful atmosphere. This year, the Knicks brought young fans and their parents here, and the warmth-giving activity went on as scheduled.

If the atmosphere within the Lakers is depressing, then the Knicks is completely the opposite, with most players being very happy.

JR Smith's form has been up and down. After returning from suspension, it was not until this week that he regained the trust of the coaching staff and his playing time began to increase.

With more and more rotation players, D'Antoni is in a happy trouble again. Fortunately, Li Youhe gave up a lot of data and playing time in the starting lineup, otherwise many people would have to continue sitting on the bench.

It is not easy to get into the 12-man activation list. There are too many players. It is okay to encounter back-to-back games, but if there are three games in a week, then the winner must be decided on the training ground first.
Dio was taking photos with the kids at this time. The kids who were visiting the training center were very happy. When they saw the photos in the exhibition hall, they couldn't help but shouting:

"Sir, you seem to have gained a lot of weight!"

The Frenchman felt a little embarrassed when he heard the kid's words, but he had indeed become heavier, and even though he trained hard, he couldn't keep up with the speed of weight gain.

"I need to play the power forward position. This is a necessary sacrifice for the championship! You will understand when you grow up!"

Pointing at the golden O'Brien Cup, Dio leaned over and chatted with the black kid. Fortunately, the fat black mother noticed the embarrassment, patted her son, and agreed with a smile:
"I know everyone thanks you for helping the team through the injury period!"

Michael Finley was explaining the contents of the photo to the kid in a serious tone. Although he had not been there for long, as a veteran, he was very familiar with the Knicks' championship experience:

"Every championship requires unremitting efforts! If you want to play professional basketball in the future, you must remember this sentence."

“Excellent talents also need a lot of time to practice, and success is the result of countless hard work!”

The photo shows the changes in Lee Woo's body shape over the past 10 years. His visibly strong figure made Finley's words very convincing, and the young fans watching all exclaimed:

"Incredible! It must have taken incredible effort to achieve this level."

"Those news are really fake. Lee is the hardest working player in the league. It turns out that what the book says is true!"

The atmosphere group members naturally wouldn't spoil the show. Li You did train hard, but he rarely practiced extra. The more he understood, the more desperate he felt. This was a difference in talent, and acquired efforts didn't have much effect.
Rondo felt uncomfortable when he heard the fans' praise. After coming to the Knicks, everyone had high expectations for him, but his shooting problem could not be solved.

"Who practices the hardest on the team? Me?"

"Who goes home every day to study tactics? Me!"

Rondo, wearing a training suit, roared loudly in his heart. No matter how hard he tried, he could not meet the requirements of the head coach. This feeling made him despair.

Li You and others who were being interviewed by ABC talked about this year's All-Star Game. Michelle Tafoya, who had just finished her maternity leave, giggled.

"I think at least seven Knicks players should be in the All-Stars this year, Michelle, I'm serious!" "7 wins and 29 loss, we played absolutely dominant in the intensive schedule, I'm proud of my teammates."

The Knicks' starting lineup was sitting in a row at the training ground. After Li You, who was sitting on a high chair, finished speaking, Artest took the microphone and started boasting:
"Lee was right, we deserved it, Grant's votes should not be behind, we all sacrificed for each other to win."

"You know, in the league, no one will refuse to join the Knicks. We don't play for statistics, we only play for winning here."

"Greg Arenas scored 60 points against the Lakers. Look at the scores he scored against us. I don't remember him scoring more than 30 points a time."

"That's why we won eight championships, while Kobe only got one ring thanks to O'Neal."

Despite his singer wife's help in canvassing votes, Hill still lost to Wade in the first round of voting. Times have indeed changed, and the new generation of stars are more popular:

"The All-Star Game in Las Vegas is great. At the end of my career, I hope to respond to the fans' support again!"

"Ron is right. We only fight to win. The number of rounds and data are limited. Lee made the first sacrifice."

"Maybe Kobe will get some good numbers in the game, but this Lakers team doesn't have any chance right now."

Hill, who rarely brags, has a smile on his face. He has no pressure about tomorrow's game. The whole team thinks this will be an extremely easy battle against the weaker opponents.

"We'll limit his scoring to 20 points or less, Kobe can only shoot jump shots, and he'll learn what a no-fly zone is!"

"This is our Christmas gift to Lee. To be honest, I don't want to see those boring news anymore. I always think that Lee is unique!"

Whether his skills have improved is still to be discussed, but Chandler's flattery skills are no less than David Lee's. He brags without changing his expression, as if he is really the DPOY.
Michelle Tafoya heard a few people talking about tomorrow night's game and couldn't get a word in for a while. Seeing Gasol smiling, he took the opportunity to ask again:

"Pau! After returning from injury, you got a big double-double of 16 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks in the game against the Bulls. Is your body back to its best condition now?"

The only challenge they encountered last week was the games against the Pistons and the Bulls. Thanks to fierce rebounding and suffocating defense, the Knicks finally clocked out after three quarters.

Only Gasol played more minutes, and the coaching staff hopes that the Spanish big man can fully recover before the All-Star Game.

"My body feels great, and the large number of games over the years has given me a deeper understanding of basketball."

"Thank you for your concern. Tyson is right. We have to limit the Lakers' scoring in the Christmas game. Victory is the best Christmas gift for the fans."

Gasol smiled brightly. In fact, he didn't take the Lakers seriously at all. Considering the injuries of the opponent, he even felt that he could destroy the opponent's inside line by himself.

The whole team exuded infinite confidence. Michelle Tafoya continued the interview with a smile, but she also felt sorry for the Lakers:
“It seems that this is destined not to be a close game.”

Since the Lakers were on an away trip in the Eastern Conference recently, after finishing their game with the Nets, they simply stayed here for the holidays.

Manhattan is filled with a strong Christmas atmosphere, and the players who met with their families also began to integrate into the joyous atmosphere of Christmas.

On the afternoon of Christmas Eve, Robert Pelinka saw an unhappy Kobe in the hotel. Vanessa's arrival did not put him in a good mood, and he still had a sullen face.

In an interview not long ago, O'Neal talked about the inside story of leaving the Lakers. When asked about this, Kobe also said casually:
“I did consider moving to Chicago, and we’ve even started looking for a house there.”

I thought there wouldn't be any problems, but ESPN exaggerated the news and said Kobe wanted to leave the team and his target was the Bulls!

As the news spread over the past two days, more and more people have become interested in it, and even people within the Lakers team are discussing it.

"Kobe, we can take this opportunity to put pressure on the Lakers. I have talked to the Bulls and they welcome your arrival very much."

"But I don't recommend you to leave Los Angeles. Maybe the competition in the Western Conference is very intense, but believe me, it's even harder to get to the finals in the Eastern Conference."

"We have to get involved in the team's operations. You need help. If the playoffs don't go well, this is a great opportunity!"

Ever since Mark Bartelstein and Schwartz successfully handled the transfer, Robert Pelinka has also developed more desire. Kobe is the Lakers' favorite, and they should be given more power.

ESPN's program would brag about the Knicks' dominance every day. Kobe stared at the TV screen without saying a word. After a long silence, he spoke:
"Even if Kupchak really agrees to us, how should the team recruit players?"

"Don't lie to me, Garnett doesn't want to join forces with me at all!"

"These damn programs never mention roster issues. They have the best big man in the league, the best perimeter defender in the league."

"And I'm stuck with a couple of lazy bastards who know all this but never report it."

"Triangle offense? I even think this offensive system is a thing of the past. They have twice as many attempts from beyond the three-point line as we do!"

Robert Pelinka fell silent as he watched Kobe become more and more emotional. The two actually had different goals, but at this point he could only offer some simple comfort:

"It will get better, at least we have to take the initiative to make changes."

"Several rookies from the 03 class have signed short-term contracts. We cannot control the future. The window to win the championship again is only in the next few years!"

Age is also a problem. Li You is about to turn 29 and Kobe is only a few months younger. They are already veterans, and perhaps in a few years their physical condition will decline and they will no longer be competitive.

"I know that if we lose in the playoffs this year, I promised you that I would put pressure on management."

"I can't wait any longer."

Robert Pelinka was delighted when he heard Kobe's words. It was his turn to be the focus. Thinking of the Bulls' reaction, he immediately responded confidently:
"Believe me, this will definitely help us win the championship again!"

Kobe nodded silently, feeling a little painful. If he really put pressure on the management, his reputation would definitely drop further, and the "One Man, One City Award" would also be flawed.

On Christmas Eve, Li You and the girls enjoyed a delicious dinner at his home in Manhattan. Basketball really made him happy, and no one could deny the feeling of victory.

Kristen Ritter, who just celebrated her birthday two days ago, has an increasingly noticeable swelling on her waist. However, the young girl, who exercises regularly, has no major reaction during pregnancy and instead has a better appetite.

"Scarlett's photos are beautiful! Honey is right, beautiful advertising has a great effect, but it's a pity that the Super Bowl ones are too expensive."

While eating the nutritious meal, Kristen Ritter was a little envious of the radiant Scarlett. The latter was too young. She recovered quickly after giving birth and her temperament changed a lot, becoming both youthful and mature.

"It doesn't matter. I've made a lot of money so far, and I don't want to share the profits."

Scarlett, who had deliberately dressed up in a slim red dress, ate heartily while making inarticulate complaints, which ruined her temperament.

Melinda recovered well and regained her curvy figure. She thought of some information and said meaningfully:

"Kim, I remember Jay-Z had another allegation a few years ago?"

"Hip-hop stars don't care about this at all, at least not in a serious way."

Jin shook her ponytail, stepped on the seat again, and in response, she did not forget to roll her eyes at the dishonest Li You:
"Don't worry about these boring things. The little ones are not here. Let's have a good rest tonight!"

(End of this chapter)