NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 513 Is this also a win-win situation? (Daily Chapter)
Among NBA venues, only three have named media studios.

The media studio at Boston's TD Garden is named after Boston Globe sportswriter Will McDonald;

The media studio at Staples Center in Los Angeles is named after Chick Hearn, the “Voice of the Lakers”;

The sixth floor of Madison Square Garden is named "John Condon Media Studio" in honor of John Condon, the game announcer who worked at the Square Garden for forty years.

The AT&T Center doesn't have that many fancy things. Although the Spurs have performed well in recent years, they have not won their first championship in team history until now, and the media studio is just an ordinary room.

Compared to Madison Square Garden, the new arena has wider passages, better lighting, and fewer messy pipes.

But the New York reporters who came here had an inexplicable sense of superiority, and many of them had a look on their faces saying "how many championships do you have?" and they had no respect for this old rival.

Richard Oliver, sports editor and senior columnist for the San Antonio Express-News, had mixed feelings, as many of the reporters at the scene were "old acquaintances."

In 96, he was still covering the NFL for the New York Daily News, when the Knicks were not so popular.

In the first year that Li You joined the team, the team lost the Eastern Conference Finals, but a group of arrogant New York reporters were delighted by the news and began to brag wildly and paint a rosy picture for the fans.

Richard Oliver understands New York sports. Compared to basketball, which has lost a lot of ground, football and baseball are more popular because New York teams can win, and winning brings attention.

Even though the New York Times took the lead in hyping it up, Richard Oliver had no intention of changing his career path. As a result, the Knicks won the championship the following year, and then they kept winning. Until now, they have been so successful.
Many sports editors seized the opportunity to keep up with Li You and got better treatment by bragging all the way, but Richard Oliver failed to get a promotion and a pay rise just because he was a step slow.

In the highly competitive New York, even blowing X requires competition. In the end, Richard Oliver chose to change jobs and accepted the invitation from the San Antonio Express.

That year, Tim Duncan joined the Spurs. He was the second player after Li You to shout "Big Win, Big Win" to the fans. Richard Oliver witnessed this moment on the spot.

In his writing, the high-spirited Tim Duncan will lead the Spurs to win the first championship in team history, the promising big man will reap various honors and eventually create the "Spurs Dynasty"!
As for the Knicks who beat the old men, it was a flash in the pan. How could the small guys dominate the game? Within a year, the teams would come up with a solution.

But as time went by, year after year, Richard Oliver helplessly discovered that the New York media's exaggerated boasting had actually all come true, and the fans were almost overwhelmed by the hype.

In contrast, his professional analysis and detailed reports on the Spurs every year have become a joke. Richard Oliver still cannot accept such a result. How can a basketball game be like this?
At 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 12, the award ceremony had ended and a group of San Antonio reporters gathered in the media room, quietly waiting for the arrival of the protagonist.

Richard Oliver, who was sitting in the audience, was dressed in a black suit and had his short gray hair neatly combed. He was in no mood to chat with his colleagues. When he saw the three people enter the room, many reporters began to whisper.

Unlike Li You who always wears a three-piece suit when attending major press conferences, Duncan always wears loose casual clothes, with his shirt collar open, and his trousers and leather shoes are inappropriate, making him look casual.

This kind of dress was called "true nature" in the past, but after losing the finals for the fourth time, Duncan still dressed like this. Many reporters began to frown, which was a clear lack of "respect."

The NBA staff didn't say anything, but they didn't give Duncan a good look either. The ratings of this year's finals dropped compared to last year, and Duncan, the "fake star", took the blame.

“Everyone can start asking questions.”

After seeing Duncan, Parker and Ginobili take their seats, the Spurs' press officer made a dull sound and looked at the reporters in the audience with a bad mood.

"Why did the Spurs lose to their opponents by 53 points tonight? Setting a record for the largest margin of victory in the Finals. Duncan, how would you evaluate your performance?"

The ESPN reporter asked the first question, and the question was very sharp, almost accusing Duncan of poor performance by name.
128:75, G4 was another nightmare game for Spurs fans. Most of the fans left before the end of the fourth quarter, and the screaming seats were empty when the awards were presented.

心态炸裂的邓肯今晚17中7，罚球8中3，怒砍17分7篮板1助攻1抢断4失误的拉胯数据，球星的逼格彻底掉光。

He covered his face on the bench several times during the game and went straight to the player tunnel after the game. When he heard this question, he calmed down and answered expressionlessly:
"I played like shit, I let down the fans and my teammates, and now I just want to say sorry, I could have played better."

Tony Parker, who was standing by, saw his teammate so frustrated for the first time. Thinking of the chain reaction caused by Bruce Bowen's absence, the Frenchman subconsciously explained to Duncan:
"There is a problem with the team's defensive system. Bruce has always been an indispensable member of the team. You know, this shouldn't happen!"

Parker tilted his head and said "You know", but Ginobili on the other side remained silent. The brutal elbow from the opposite side made everyone calm down. He was not surprised to lose in this way.

"Duncan, has the Spurs' championship window closed? We know that you signed a seven-year contract with the team. Will you seek change after this defeat?"

The contract will last until 2010. If Duncan actively seeks a trade like Kobe did, most teams in the league will choose to take him over. In three years, he will be exactly 3 years old, which is the tail end of his peak.

The scene immediately became quiet after the Yahoo Sports reporter asked the question. Someone had started the trade during the contract period, and Duncan might follow suit.

Not only the spectators were concerned, but the Spurs staff were also a little nervous. Fortunately, Duncan did not disappoint them. After a moment of silence, he responded seriously:

"The fans of San Antonio have always supported me. I have spent most of my career here and I want to fulfill my original commitment."

"At 31, I don't think I'm old. Tony and Manu are both excellent players in the league. We will return to the finals again."

After hearing this, the San Antonio sports media breathed a sigh of relief, but after thinking about it carefully, they felt that it sounded familiar, as if they had heard such a promise several times.

"We have been more successful than most teams in the league, and reaching the finals has proven the strength of the Spurs."

Ginobili, who couldn't stand it anymore, added that the Argentine was a little angry. He couldn't understand why he was ridiculed for reaching the finals.

Thinking of these people still making sarcastic remarks during the offseason, Ginobili frowned and quickly said:
"You should question the stars who go on vacation early instead of blaming the team leader who gave everything to win in the finals."

"."

Richard Oliver never raised his hand to ask questions. He just listened quietly to the three people's speeches. Looking at the big man on the stage with frustration overflowing, he somewhat understood what Duncan said.

For the Spurs, not paying the luxury tax, reaching the finals, and making extra money are already wins!

For individual players, there are not many options in the league. Duncan is already good enough with two All-Star teammates around him. Can he win in a different environment? No one can guarantee it.

In the dull atmosphere, Duncan answered all the questions frankly, and soon the sports reporters lost interest in him. It turned out that the "fake star" was not a hot topic.

Popovich seemed to have shed tears. When the old man appeared on the stage, although he controlled his emotions, his wrinkled suit made him look a little embarrassed.

The head coach naturally had an unshirkable responsibility for the loss in the finals. Although Richard Oliver had been reporting on the team for many years, he showed no mercy this time and was the first to ask:
"This is the fourth time the Spurs have lost the finals. Is there something wrong with our team building ideas and core tactics?"

Noticing that it was a local sports reporter, Popovich didn't say anything polite. The old man felt guilty and frustrated with the team's investment: "I can't ask you to do better! Because our opponent can be called the strongest team in history."

"Stop denying them. The Knicks with Lee are far ahead of the league. He has completely changed modern basketball."

"."

It's not that we are not good enough, but that our opponents are too strong. In response to Popovich's answer, the sports reporters in San Antonio were silent. This is indeed the fact, they are simply bad.

Most reporters lost interest at once. There was nothing to talk about. The opponent admitted that "he was not good enough" and the "fake star" was not as good as the real GOAT.
When the staff placed the two golden trophies on the stage, Grant Hill and Li You, both soaking wet, appeared in front of everyone.

The smell of champagne filled the room, and only the New York media applauded and cheered. For them, the four games were extremely exciting!
The best team in the West is nothing compared to the Knicks.
In the last game of his career, although the game entered garbage time early, Hill still played for 40 minutes.

For a championship team to be harmonious, reasonable "distribution" is very important. With the victory secured, Li You frequently passed the ball to the veteran tonight and managed to give him a triple-double.

16中9，三分线外3中1，罚球6中5，24分10篮板10助攻1抢断1盖帽3失误，收获总决赛三双数据的希尔笑得合不拢嘴：

"I almost snatched the FMVP from Li. Thank you very much for your support! Yes, I have no regrets in my career."

"I will continue to work in the sports industry in the future, and I want to share my championship experience with more young players."

Without waiting for reporters to ask questions, Hill smiled and shared his future, and his ESPN colleagues immediately welcomed him.

Li You, who was standing by, did not look at the trophy, but placed a bottle of golden Ace of Spades on the table. Soon, the New York reporter asked in cooperation:
"It is said that Mr. James Dolan spent more than $50 to buy nine 9-liter bottles of Ace of Spades to celebrate the team. Lee, we are all curious whether this news is true."

"This is my 9th O'Brien Cup in my career. I want to thank Mr. Dolan for his blessing. The cost is not important. As long as everyone is happy!"

Li You answered the question with a smile, and thinking of the people who were still shouting and celebrating wildly in the visiting team's locker room, he added a simple sentence:
"Thanks to our opponents, we have presented a wonderful finals to the fans together! Did you see Duncan? I want to show respect to my old rival."

Richard Oliver saw that his colleagues around him were silent and didn't know what to ask for a moment. Duncan's behavior in the "player tunnel" was indeed inappropriate.

"Lee, what would you say about the Spurs' claim of 'pure basketball'?"

The Fox Sports reporter was obviously taking the opportunity to laugh at San Antonio's remarks, but Li You did not add insult to injury. He glanced at Hill beside him, then leaned back in his chair and said casually:

"There's nothing wrong with pure basketball. The league also needs diversity. Not every team will pay a high luxury tax."

"The Spurs showed us a way to build a team, and they were very successful. After selecting Tim Duncan, they made it to the finals four times!"

"It is this kind of diversity that allows the league to develop healthily. I think this is a win-win situation. The Knicks won the championship and the Spurs once again proved their team-building ideas."

"."

This answer left many reporters speechless, "Is this also a win-win situation?" The Spurs lost no matter how you look at it.
No one asked about the statistics anymore, and no one reviewed the game anymore. In this season full of surprises, Li You leading the Knicks to win five consecutive championships was a result that many people had long expected.

Duncan returned to the locker room and felt much better with the comfort of his teammates. However, when he got up to leave, he saw Li You again.

A large number of reporters gathered in front of the home team's locker room. At this time, Li You had already changed his clothes. The white shirt and black striped vest made him look like something other than a player.

Holding a bottle of exquisitely packaged Spade Ace in his hand, the black bottle indicates that this champagne has not yet been officially released.

Duncan knew that he shouldn't leave the court so early. Seeing Li You appear in front of him with a smile on his face, he could only force a smile as well. Amid the "click" sounds, he took the initiative to step forward and greeted him:

"I'm sorry, Lee, I was wrong. I have nothing but respect for you! Congratulations to the Knicks for winning their 11th championship in team history."

The flash lights all around almost made Duncan unable to open his eyes. After he said this, the onlookers began to make a low noise and boo again.

Li You laughed, handed the champagne to the Knicks staff, and then stepped forward to warmly hug his old rival:
"It's okay, Bro! I understand how you feel. Don't pay attention to those boring reports. You are only 31 years old!"

"We are both at our peak and we will meet in the finals in the future. Maybe next time you can win the O'Brien Cup, the first championship in team history. I believe you can do it."

These words almost made Duncan so angry that he left on the spot. He reluctantly exchanged a few words of greeting, then took the "Champion Champagne" from Li You. The two took a photo together, which satisfied the curiosity of the onlookers.

Holding a bottle of champagne, Duncan simply greeted the coaching staff and then left quickly. He wanted to return to his car and stay quietly for a while.

As he sat in the silver Toyota Land Cruiser, Duncan put down his champagne and noticed that there was a card on the box. With the help of the light, he quickly saw the contents:

"The future belongs to you - Li, the eternal rival"

Duncan's eyes twitched at the sight of the flamboyant letters, and then he became furious. He wanted to smash the champagne, but in the end he glared and tore the card to pieces:

"Shet!!"

At this time, Li You had already boarded the bus with his teammates, preparing to go to the nightclub arranged by the team to continue celebrating.

Although there were still die-hard fans of the Spurs cheering outside the bus, no one on the Knicks paid any attention to that. JR Smith, whose clothes burst as soon as he got on the bus, even started singing at the top of his lungs.

Dio and his friends, who were drunk, started howling and screaming, and the staff on the bus also celebrated with them.

D'Antoni, who was sitting in the front, had a red face, the "red scarf" on his chest was tied crookedly on his body, and his mustache was soaked in cold water, but his heart was burning:
"8 consecutive championships, Li! This is the first time I feel I'm so close to my goal!"

"Now no one is questioning our tactics anymore. They can only admit our strength. Pure basketball? Who cares about that?"

Doubts have arisen from time to time over the years, and the statement "give the ball to Lee" has made many basketball commentators feel that "I can do it too", which of course makes D'Antoni unhappy.

The bus started moving, and the demons were dancing in the car. Facing D'Antoni who kept talking to him, Li You just patted the tactical master on the shoulder and comforted him with a smile:
"Yeah, no one will care because we'll keep winning!"

"."

(End of this chapter)