NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 502: The Beginning of the Grand Drama of Forcing the Emperor to Abdicate (Daily Chapter)

On May 2007, 5, New York's 15 ESPN radio program invited a heavyweight guest.

Stephen A. Smith, as a radio host, was doing his routine of praising the Knicks when he suddenly connected with Kobe Bryant, who was fishing.

The onlookers who were listening to the radio were naturally very surprised. The special Mamba has always hated New York and even regarded Li You as his "archenemy". It is really hard to imagine him participating in the "Li Chuipai" program.

Most Knicks fans were preparing to celebrate next week's Eastern Conference Finals, until the content of the phone call with Kobe was leaked, and everyone became spectators.

As in previous radio shows, Stephen A. Smith first commented on Game 4 that just ended last night and talked seriously about Wade's performance:
"I won't lose like this again? Sorry, the Heat have been struggling to win in the playoffs over the years."

"I respect Wade. He's like Lee without a stable shot, but physically, there's a huge gap in talent between the two."

"If you want to achieve greatness in the league, you must have a strong body. Obviously Wade failed to do this. Just like what he described in the scout report that year, his knees are a time bomb!"

"BOOM! If this blows up, there is no doubt that Wade may start to go downhill like my little brother Iverson."

"."

Due to Wade's absence in Game 4, the Knicks won again with a score of 118:81. Li You played for only 30 minutes, and most of his shots were from beyond the three-point line. His 11-of-7 three-pointers were called off:
"I got a Miami Herald clip that said, 'Lee played golf all day and then attended a cocktail party in the evening. The next afternoon he returned to Miami and proceeded to beat up the Heat!'"

"The article ends by emphasizing once again that they were humiliated, but the old friend who wrote this article has not yet realized one thing: respect must be earned through strength!"

"I have a special Mamba here today, and considering his past run-ins with the Knicks, let me be the first to state that I have nothing but respect for him."

Stephen A. Smith and his staff, who host a radio station in New York, were still a little surprised. After the Knicks advanced last night, they received a call from their agent Pelinka.

It was not until now that it was confirmed that Kobe would appear on the show that the group began to make phone calls out of curiosity.

At this time, Kobe was still at his home in Los Angeles. Perhaps because he went fishing early, his frustration made Kobe look a little sloppy. He didn't shave, and there were some bloodshot eyes, as if he had been suffering from insomnia for a long time.

In the living room, Vanessa looked at the phone in front of her being connected with an uneasy look on her face. Pelinka next to her was also a little nervous. After all, most players who openly criticize others will end up with bad results.

"Hello, Kobe! From what I understand, you seem to be very angry about the Los Angeles Times report. Now you can tell the fans why on the show. I think everyone will believe you more."

Ever since the Lakers went fishing, the Los Angeles Times has been praising Kobe's performance for the past half month, and even made sarcastic comments on Li You's technical deficiencies, believing that Kobe is the league's strongest scorer.

However, these praises did not make Kobe feel better. Instead, he had another quarrel with the Lakers management. Fortunately, the relevant news did not come out, and Lakers fans are still unclear about what happened.

Perhaps Kobe's ungrateful attitude angered some people. Yesterday morning, a column in the Los Angeles Times gave Lakers fans a big surprise:
"As Lakers insiders have pointed out, it was Kobe's insistence on getting rid of Shaquille O'Neal that put them in their current predicament."

"."

The article basically states that during the F4 period, Kobe was jealous of O'Neal's achievements, caused the team to lose in order to compete for FMVP, and then pressured management to choose between the two during the offseason.

The blame for losing the championship and fishing in recent years was put on Kobe, which made Kobe even more angry. After connecting online, he could not control his emotions and angrily accused:
"I don't know why these newspapers deliberately slandered me. When I received the invitation from Dr. Bass, he clearly told me in the hotel that he didn't want to pay 3000 million!"

"It's understandable because the management thought Shaq was old and they chose me, who was better."

"After making this choice, Dr. Buss and I talked for a long time, and the Lakers promised to build the team around me, but the team became a mess."

"I wake up at 4:30 a.m. every morning, and whenever I'm on the court, a lot of the time I just play defense."

"I just wanted the team to get back to the finals, but everyone saw that the Lakers suffered another humiliating defeat. Now I have serious trust issues. The management misled me!"

Kobe's angry voice on the radio surprised Stephen A. Smith and others on the other end of the radio. They never expected that Kobe would directly fire back.

"Trust issue? Do you think the current Lakers management can lead the team to win the championship again? I am curious whether you have communicated effectively."

Faced with leading questions, Kobe chose to continue to speak. He was so frustrated that he became even angrier when he thought of the lazy guys in the locker room:

"I can't be sure. I won't deny that there were problems in the Lakers' locker room after the Christmas game. I respect Kupchak, but he failed to fulfill his promise."

"Head coach Phil Jackson has been asking me to share the ball, and I tried my best to do so, but the team still lost. The losing streak before the All-Star Game made me particularly painful."

"If possible, I would like to see Mr. Jerry West return to the team."

When Pelinka heard this, his face suddenly changed and he waved his hand at Kobe, which made the big employer stop complaining, but Stephen A. Smith took the opportunity to continue guiding:
"Am I to understand that if Jerry West is unable to return to the Lakers, you will seek a trade?"

The agent was still whispering dissuasion at this time, but Kobe couldn't stop. Faced with this deliberately pointed question, he gave an affirmative answer without hesitation:

"Yes, I'm waiting for them to make a change. I'm the best scorer in the league, and I should be competing for the championship in my prime!"

"Sometimes I have no choice. I really don't want to leave, but I won't allow the Lakers to be eliminated like this again. We are missing the championship puzzle and everything has to start all over again."

Stephen A. Smith on the other end of the radio almost laughed out loud. This news was so explosive that Kobe actually publicly stated that he would give up the "One Man, One City Award".

Without this highest honor, Kobe's newly improved reputation would undoubtedly plummet again, and news of league superstars publicly seeking trades has not happened often in the past.

The rest of the broadcast was filled with explosive content, with Kobe, under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith, accusing his teammates of lack of professionalism.

When talking about the title of "Black Mamba", Kobe believes that he should have it alone because he is the most deadly scorer in the league.

When asked about his favorite team, Kobe once again said that his idol is Michael Jordan. He considered joining the Bulls a few years ago and the same is true now.

Talking about the determination of the trade, Kobe also added that they are ready to go to Chicago to look for a house.
After the call ended, Kobe, who was far away in Los Angeles, hung up the phone expressionlessly. Vanessa, who was standing beside him, was stunned. Were they really going to move?
Pelinka, who was walking back and forth, was a little bit annoyed at this time. He didn't expect Kobe to not play according to the plan. He was slightly guided and started to output:
"We shouldn't have made it so clear! Kobe, you will completely piss off Buss! This is not a wise decision, especially with West's problem. Kupchak will cause us trouble."

Noticing the anxious look on his agent's face, Kobe felt relieved. He had wanted to do this for a long time. Continuous fishing was definitely something he could not tolerate:

"What does it matter! We have the right to veto a trade, and I'm not interested in continuing to play with that bunch of lazy bastards. If I have to choose between the two, I'll win!"

"The Lakers need me. Kupchak is a liar. He didn't trade for Kevin Garnett!" "Don't forget that he promised us to trade Kidd at first. He knew I didn't like playing with Parker, who was shit, but he still couldn't make the deal."

"I've had enough. The players should be in charge of the team! If it was Lee who asked to trade the players, what would the Knicks do? James Dolan would pack up and send the target away overnight!"

"."

Hearing Kobe's sudden and incessant complaints, Pelinka was completely confused. In his opinion, these were two different things. After all, Li Youying was stupid, and his big employer had not reached that level yet.

After a serious discussion, Kobe was unable to change his decision, and Pelinka had to leave in a hurry. He had to clean up the mess. The sports media in Los Angeles would probably go crazy at this time.

Vanessa didn't interrupt. Ever since she was deceived by her good brother Karl Malone, she rarely participated in team gatherings. Seeing Kobe covering his face, she could only whisper:
“Are we really leaving Los Angeles?”

Looking at the tangled expression on his wife's face, Kobe suddenly regretted his reckless output. After all, moving is not a trivial matter. They have long been accustomed to the sunny life here:

"Don't worry, we will most likely stay in this city."

After the afternoon broadcast, as the news spread, the entire NBA community went crazy. First, Garnett agreed to be traded, and then Kobe forced the management to resign.

Compared to the crushing playoffs, this kind of fierce battle is much more interesting!
When ESPN's TV program connected with Kobe again in the evening, he was asked again whether he would seek a trade. Kobe gave an affirmative answer without hesitation.

This is completely confirmed, Kobe really gave up the highest honor of "one man, one city".

On Wednesday, the 16th, the Knicks players, who had already returned to New York, continued to enjoy their vacation.

When Li You took Kristen Ritter to Lenox Hill Hospital for a physical examination in the morning, he also felt Kobe's "influence."

New York has four major sports leagues, and the city has always had a good sports atmosphere, but such large-scale spectator watching can be traced back to when Michael Jordan announced his retirement after being eliminated.

The staff and several nurses were all old acquaintances of Li You. Perhaps they wanted to hear some gossip in the industry, so the plump black female nurse asked in a low voice:
"Kobe is going to Chicago? Is this true? My husband is expecting the Knicks to play the Lakers in another Finals."

"Lee, do you think he will really leave Los Angeles?"

The simple happiness of many middle-aged men is to watch sports games, scold the referees and players during the game, and make a small bet if they have the financial strength.

Li You thought that this family member must have participated in the gambling again. Noticing that everyone wanted to hear gossip, he simply revealed the truth and reminded them jokingly:
"Don't forget that superstars have the right to veto trades. It's useless for the Lakers to be angry. Kobe can decide whether to stay or go."

"Don't listen to Stephen A. Smith talking about the Bulls being a tough opponent for New York again. Maybe there will be another challenge next season."

The white nurse who had dyed her hair blonde blinked. She didn't care about that. She looked at the bulging gray striped shirt on Li You and changed the subject in a disgusted voice:

"Ms. Ritter is so lucky. There are so few boyfriends as considerate as Lee!"

The older female nurses all glanced at the confused silly girl in silence. Li You's children are about to form a basketball team.

After completing the examination and confirming that the due date was at the end of June, Kristen Ritter, wearing a loose white T-shirt, hugged Li You and whispered the good news.

The middle-aged white female doctor sighed in her heart. She had rarely seen such an outrageous life. She looked at the two happy people and reminded them again:
"Lee, remember to keep Miss Ritter moving."

Li You agreed immediately. Christen Ritter at the side took the initiative to squeeze into his arms, a smile appeared on her plump face, and she raised her head and whispered happily:
"Honey, it's a boy!"

That night in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Cavaliers returned to their home court and gave the Pistons no chance, once again defeating their opponents with their defense at 82:86.

With a big score of 4:1, the Cavaliers advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, and nearly 2 Cleveland fans at the Gund Arena were celebrating wildly.

Jeff Van Gundy was also very excited at this time. At the end of the game, he turned around and hugged his old partner, and said to Thibodeau excitedly:

"Tom, we did it! We're back in the conference finals again!"

After being eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals for two consecutive seasons and being accused by pundits of playing "ugly basketball," and with management revoking the trading rights, Van Gundy was under a lot of pressure this year.

The heavy dark circles under his eyes and the baldness with only the temples are enough to describe Van Gundy's situation. He knows that even the core of the team has been questioned, and this is what makes him frustrated.

Thibodeau was also a little excited. Leading the team into the divisional finals during the rookie period of the core players could buy them more time.

In addition, the current "shooting and grabbing" and "counterattack" savage basketball was his idea. After eliminating the Pistons, Thibodeau felt a great sense of accomplishment. He patted his old partner and encouraged him loudly:

"Jeff, everything is going to be fine! We made no mistake in our decision!"

The two old men hugged and greeted each other, very excited. The Cavaliers fans at the scene cheered loudly and celebrated. The divisional finals were only one step away from the championship. They were on the right track.

Billups and Hamilton were in low spirits after the loss. Facing LeBron James, who hugged everyone he met, they could only wish him the best:
"Congratulations, Bro!"

James was so happy that he could not hold back the smile on his face after entering the conference finals for the first time in his career. He responded in a low voice with a hint of pride:

"A wonderful game! I hope we can continue to play against each other in the future!"

出场46分钟，27中9，三分线外8中2，罚球14中10，30分11篮板8助攻2抢断2盖帽4失误，詹姆斯今晚交出一份准三双数据。

Unlike the past few seasons, this year under the guidance of Van Gundy and Thibodeau, James began to focus on attacking the basket and shooting three-pointers in the second half of the regular season.

It doesn't matter if he misses the shot. If Howard breaks into the basket and misses the shot, he will fight for the rebound. This simple and crude tactic is surprisingly useful in the playoffs.

"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

There were uniform shouts in the arena. James, who was being interviewed, was in a better mood and didn't notice Howard's envious look on the other side.

Being completely deprived of the tactical position of low-post offense, Howard has been pretending not to care because of the contract year, but when he heard the "MVP" resounding throughout the arena, he felt a little sad:
“Maybe I can do better”

(End of this chapter)