NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 456: One person and one city cannot win the championship (daily chapter)

ABC broadcasters held a grand awards ceremony for the 2005-06 season.

Last year's finals ratings declined, and even the award ceremony host Mike Tirico was replaced.

This year Dan Patrick did a great job in his task in the back studio, and with the cooperation of PTI's well-known host Michael Wilbon, the work of the finals was successfully completed.

On the morning of the 14th, ESPN's program was still reviewing last night's award ceremony, and many well-known media such as USA Today also praised the Knicks' 10th championship in their newspapers.

Unlike the fans, the NBA league staff were so confused about giving out awards.

The New York Post put a group photo of the Knicks on the front page. There were more people in the photo than last year, and all the team's legends were present.

Although the atmosphere of the photo shoot is very different from that of previous years, the only thing that remains unchanged in the photo is Li You, who is standing in the middle with a bright smile, holding two golden trophies.

On the Sports Center show at 23 p.m. that evening, Dan Patrick, who had returned to the Times Square studio in New York, talked about his feelings about hosting the awards ceremony.

"In the past, people always liked to talk about Michael Jordan winning the championship at the age of 28, but now, when people mention the championship, they only think of Lee!"

"The biggest difference between the two is that Jordan reached his peak at the age of 28, while Lee has become the biggest winner in NBA history at this age."

"Many years ago, people were still discussing that if Michael Jordan didn't retire, maybe he would win more championships, but Lee has surpassed that goal."

Dan Patrick, standing in front of the camera in a well-fitting black suit, simply waved his hand and the director immediately switched the camera.

Michael Jordan, crying while holding the trophy, and Li You, with two golden trophies in his arms and eight fingers raised, appeared in the same screen. It is obvious who is more dominant.

Since the evening show is two hours long, there is no need to read the news at a faster speed like during the day. Dan Patrick took this opportunity to tease the fans again:

"Lee has satisfied everyone's fantasy. We no longer need to discuss who is the best in history, because even if it is "if", no one can compare to him!"

"Eight championships, two four-peat titles, it will be hard for anyone to surpass such achievements in the future. In fact, Li's performance is far better than what we have seen."

"Mark, you're also a point guard, and you've played against Lee before. Tell me what you think now."

Mark Jackson smiled bitterly. He is not a champion defender. He just joined ESPN this year and is not thick-skinned enough to lie like TNT next door:
"Lee changed basketball. Ten years ago, if someone told me that a small guy would finish an offense from 10 feet, I would think he must be crazy!"

"Now, if a championship team lacks a good shooter, then they are likely to fail. Basketball games are sometimes also a math problem. After all, whoever scores more will win."

"Lee's emergence will change the technical characteristics of many young players. He has taken modern basketball to another level."

场均33.8分5.5篮板10.3助攻2.8抢断1.0盖帽1.5失误，靠着这份两双数据，李佑再次全票当选总决赛最有价值球员。

The director also reviewed the relevant data with the fans, shooting percentage was 65.3%, three-point shooting percentage was 52.4%, and free throw shooting percentage was 94.7%.

Although only four games were played in the finals and the data sample was too small, in the 4 playoff games, Li You's average points per game was 16, and the rest of the data remained largely unchanged.

Although Li You did not perform well in this year's playoffs, his statistics were indeed impeccable. Mark Jackson was completely convinced and he didn't know how to describe Li You's performance.

Dan Patrick chuckled. As the host of last night's awards ceremony, he knew the relevant data very well. When his partner stopped talking, he immediately added:
“从02~03赛季开始，连续三个赛季，李佑在季后赛的效率值分别是40.3、46.9、47.7、46.4。”

"No one in history has ever been able to do this. Lee has once again set a new record."

"In 10 seasons, Lee's total playoff points reached 5231, breaking many records and not far from Michael Jordan."

"Plus, his playoff win contributions have exceeded 4 for four consecutive years, which is also a feat no one has ever achieved in history. No matter how many times I see it, I still find it incredible."

With an expression of admiration on his face, Dan Patrick made no secret of his love for Excel, which is also a regular way of bragging on the show in recent years.
After a segment of highlights from the finals, the staff in the studio also showed excitement on their faces. As far as highlights are concerned, no one in the league can compare to Li You.

The ball-handling skills that integrate man and ball, exaggerated shooting distance, the impact of a striker, and extraordinary vision of the court.

With all these performances, Li You's highlights have always been the most popular segment of ESPN's program. Thinking of the speeches of the Knicks players in the finals, Dan Patrick asked again:

"Do the Knicks have a chance to win five consecutive championships? O'Neal has lost his best form and the Lakers have fallen out of the championship race."

“Can they continue to defend their title next season?”

At the award ceremony of the finals, James Dolan and others boasted as much as they could, and the Knicks were no slouch either. Perhaps it was because the finals were won too easily this year, and even Gasol got cocky.

This question is difficult to answer because there are other factors besides basketball. Mark Jackson pondered for a moment and finally said conservatively:
"It depends on the reinforcements of the teams in the league."

"In my opinion, everyone must now recognize the fact that it is impossible to defeat Lee with just one superstar. I respect Miller's point of view, but times have changed."

"If a team only has one core, then the Mavericks are the best example. I really can't imagine how a team with only one core can win against Lee."

ESPN programs have a greater influence than TNT. Not every fan likes Charles Barkley's big mouth. Rigorous data analysis is the favorite of most fans at present.

On Thursday, the 15th, the Associated Press first announced the news that Michael Jordan officially became a part-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats.

After team owner Robert Johnson, Michael Dunk became the team's second largest shareholder.

After being cheated by the Wizards, it was with the help of the African-American owner that Michael Dunk realized his long-cherished wish. The Bobcats also took the opportunity to hold a press conference in the morning, and the low-key Michael Dunk also appeared in front of everyone.

As the only African-American owner in the league, Johnson kept speaking well of Michael Dunk during the press conference:
"One of my goals since I bought the Bobcats has been to have Michael Jordan as my partner in running the franchise."

"I don't want to defend Michael's basketball expertise or his competitiveness as a player. His excellence is known to everyone around the world."

"I have absolute confidence in him. Michael will make this team competitive and I am excited to see my friend become a member of the Bobcats."

Johnson, with wrinkles all over his forehead, spared no effort to brag, and finally patted Michael Jordan, who was wearing a light gray suit, beside him. The latter also laughed out loud, showing his good mood from the bottom of his heart.

"I'm very grateful to Robert for giving me this opportunity. I've been looking for a chance to get back into basketball."

“I spent some of the best years of my life in North Carolina and it feels like God is bringing me back here, and I can’t wait to get started!”

Michael Jordan was indeed happy from the bottom of his heart, but his good mood was soon interrupted by the media reporters on the scene.

"Michael Dunk, 5231 points. After Lee wins his 8th championship in his career, his playoff scoring will surpass yours!"

"At 28, Lee still has a long career ahead of him. Do you think he can be called the best in history now?"

After being eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals in 98, Michael Jordan's playoff score was fixed at 5785 points, ranking first in history.

According to the current trend, Li You has a great chance of breaking this record when he is 30 years old.

The smile on his face gradually faded. Whenever he thought of Li You surpassing him, he felt particularly uncomfortable. He reluctantly put on the demeanor of a celebrity, straightened the microphone, and whispered:
"As for the best player in history, everyone has different candidates in mind. Lee is very successful and he even has a chance to break the record set by Bill Russell."

"He definitely dominated the era, but I was successful in the 90s."

"I don't want to talk about individual honors. Basketball belongs to five people. In my opinion, the 5 Bulls are the best team in history. Yes, we are better than this Knicks team."

Seeing the serious look on Michael's dark face, the media in the audience were whispering. The ESPN reporter quickly directed the topic to the current concerns of the audience:

"This year, the Knicks once again completed 16:0, showing an exaggerated dominance throughout the playoffs!"

"Michael Dunk, do you think they can continue to defend their title next season? If they want to compete for the championship, how would you build this Bobcats team?"

Although he hasn't appeared in front of the media for a long time, Michael Dunk has obviously been following the game. When he heard this question, he chuckled and answered confidently:

"I know how difficult it is to win a championship. This is not just a basketball issue. Injuries, the desire to win, etc. will affect the performance of the players."

"Whether they can continue to defend their title will largely depend on what kind of opponents they will face in the playoffs next season."

"The offseason is crucial, and what the Bobcats have to do now is to select talented players that are suitable for the team. I am confident that in a few years, we will enter the playoffs!"

With a confident smile on his face, Michael Jordan thought that everyone in the audience would agree with his answer, but when he took a quick look, he found that many people had puzzled expressions.

Kwame Brown did not live up to his talent with the Lakers, and his poor performance in the playoffs left a deep impression on basketball critics.

"Jordan's designated talent" failed in Washington, and the Wizards' trades that year were not very good.

Most importantly, the vice-GOAT no longer has the halo of a successful person on his head. No one believes in Michael Jordan's basketball ability anymore. This statement even has the opposite effect.
Sensing everyone's questioning looks, Michael's face froze, and he quickly realized that he was really out of fashion:

"Shet!"

The Knicks' carnival continued. After pouring champagne at the American Airlines Arena, everyone flew to Las Vegas to spend money, and James Dolan paid for the whole trip.

Li You brought the girls back to Manhattan the next day to accompany Melinda and take care of her pregnancy. Girl Dabao has resigned from Sidley Austin LLP and is currently at home every day.

After driving Ivana and Kim to work at noon, when I returned to their home on 82nd Street, I saw them giggling around the computer in the study.

Scarlett, wearing only a black suspender, was reading the messages on Facebook with great interest, while Kristen Ritter beside her was laughing with her hair disheveled:

"Why do you live together? Love cannot be shared!"

“We slept in the same bed and it was fine.”

"WF!"

Ever since Scarlett uploaded some intimate photos taken at the American Airlines Arena, the crowd following Li You have been upset again. Even though registration was not open, there were still people coming here to fight.

Melinda sat back on the sofa, looking at Li You who had squeezed in beside her, and said lazily:

"This account has been ruined! It was supposed to be used for alumni communication, but now everyone is coming here to read the news."

The simple UI failed to arouse much interest in Li You. After registering, he shared some photos, but most of the time, Scarlett and her friends were there to have fun every day.

At this time, political correctness is not very important, and the simple Internet environment can indeed bring more fun to people.

The photo that shocked the onlookers was the one in which two young girls were kissing Li You, one on the left and one on the right. This kind of evil taste is Scarlett's favorite. The succubus-like little cow always likes to show her affection.

"It doesn't matter. Registration will be open soon anyway. This is the trend of social media. No one will care about the details. How is Odeo?" Milinda didn't quite understand why Li You paid attention to this video podcast company whose business was deteriorating, but she still shared the news she had received:
"Maybe they will disintegrate soon. There are already layoffs happening."

Li You touched his chin, but unfortunately he couldn't find the exact time in his mind.

He only knew that Evan Williams, as the founder of a blog, was already wealthy, and it was not easy for him to invest in Twitter:
"Let's try to acquire Reddit as a little gift to you. Once the baby is born, our venture capital company should be officially operational."

The big-breasted girl blinked. This was a plan that had been made a long time ago. Seeing that Li You still remembered it, she couldn't help but feel better:
"Scarlett, Alyce, stop teasing them. Let's go back to Peninsula Manor tonight."

Hearing Milinda's arrangement, Scarlett ran over barefoot, quickly squeezed into Li You's arms, raised her head and said happily:
"Let's take some nice photos at night. The night view of the coastline is particularly beautiful recently."

Halfway through her conversation, Scarlett leaned over to whisper in Li You's ear, her hands were not honest either, and the little follower who came over quietly rolled his eyes at her. It was obvious that this succubus wanted to make a movie and compete in the wild again:
"This cow isn't afraid of going bad!"

The 10th championship in team history has made New York fans excited. Everyone is looking forward to next week's championship parade, and some people are also discussing this year's draft picks.

In the afternoon, Li You drove to the Tarrytown Training Center. The new general manager Donnie Walsh has officially taken over the work and will be fully responsible for the Knicks' offseason this year.

James Dolan and some staff also returned to Manhattan early, but everyone met officially before the media conference.

After years of renovation, the Knicks' training hall no longer looks as simple as before. It now has two adjacent complete basketball courts with polished floors and championship flags on all four walls.

This is the place that best reflects the team culture. Champions don’t lie, and this is the best proof of success.

Donnie Walsh, with his slicked-back hair, glasses and gray hair, was wearing the Knicks' training uniform and was slowly circling the field with everyone else.

While walking, I listened to the staff explain the story behind the championship. How Li You was selected and how the championship experience was shared were all inside information of the team.

James Dolan is very proud. Although it was Charles Sr. who laid the foundation for the team, the son also contributed to his father's achievements:

"The outside world always likes to criticize us for playing utilitarian basketball. In fact, Pat didn't leave the team in the end. He is also the pride of New York. We will never forget his contribution."

"Whether it's salary or treatment within the team, the Knicks have never treated him unfairly. This is also our team culture. We will not easily send away the players we have selected."

The Curly-haired boss said this without blushing or getting angry, but the fact is that Ewing and the team have had several conflicts, and New York fans even booed the star player because of the finals that year.

The Knicks did not stop it at the time, and Starks, another player who played poorly in the finals, was almost driven into autism by the fans.
Donnie Walsh has worked for the Pacers for many years and naturally knows what the old rival, the Knicks, was like in the past.

Without exposing the boss who boasted about the team culture, Donnie stopped and smiled, then turned to ask Li You:

"Li, do you think the team can successfully defend the title next year? I want to hear your honest opinion."

Looking at the championship banners surrounding the arena, Li You, wearing the Knicks' white championship T-shirt, did not make bold statements like he did at the award ceremony. Instead, he said seriously:

"It depends on the league's refereeing and our condition. In fact, the injuries that occurred this year are not accidental. We will also encounter the difficulties of the championship team."

The recurrence of Kurt Thomas' old injury is a sign that his body can't take it anymore. Even substitute Raja Bell suffered a strain, which means that many players have reached their limits.

"There's no reason for the league to restrict the team. We pay the most luxury tax, and we guarantee the ratings."

James Dolan feels good about himself and what he said is true. The Knicks are currently the most popular team and are the only team in the Eastern Conference.

The staff around did not say anything. In fact, everyone has been lying low in recent years. Apart from renewing their contracts, there has been no action. It is better to do nothing anyway, so just cling to the thighs.

Feeling a little surprised, Donnie Walsh thought Li You would be arrogant and boastful, but he didn't expect the young man to still have a clear understanding:
"You're right, Lee! But I don't think there's much to think about. The competitive environment in the Eastern Conference is very favorable to the Knicks."

"We just need to keep the squad healthy and hungry to win."

When the staff heard this, they knew that the new general manager’s goal was to reach the finals, which was the best explanation to the fans.

"The team can indeed trade for another All-Star. This is our opportunity, and I will make it happen."

Donnie Walsh knew that New York wanted to pursue Ray Allen, so he simply made a promise.

He doesn't care about cleaning up the lineup. There is a huge gap between role players and All-Stars, which he experienced with the Pacers.

Li You just smiled and didn't say much. James Dolan also directly passed the blame. He hired an outsider to do this. If the results did not meet expectations, he would not be the one to take the blame.

The Knicks only have big man Wright on a premium contract, but his contract ends this year, and the good salary situation allows them to move freely.

Continuing to follow everyone to visit the Tarrytown Training Center, Donnie Walsh began to look forward to the upcoming draft and free market. The time to show his talents has come.

On the morning of the 16th, the Knicks officially announced that Donnie Walsh would serve as the team's general manager and held a press conference.

The New York media naturally praised the news fiercely, which made the people next door who were just watching the show feel jealous.

Since Li You won the championship again, Philadelphia has become more active in trading Iverson. No 76ers fans protested or stopped it this time. The team has indeed reached a time of needing to break down in order to build up.

As the draft approaches, Paul Pierce has been very active recently. Every time he is interviewed, he expresses his wish that he needs All-Star level helper!
ESPN believes that a single core cannot win the championship. Many players who love face refused to express their opinions. Only Pierce admitted this point of view in an interview with the Boston Globe:

"Basketball is a game for five people. Look at the Knicks' lineup. Only a super team can defeat a super team!"

Kevin Garnett, who is deeply involved in trade rumors, has recently been cooperating with the team to recruit players and participate in the draft. In an interview with the St. Paul Pioneer, Hardt gave a different point of view:

"Super teams can be defeated, and I won't join any other team!"

"Like I promised, I will stay in Minnesota. I won the MVP here. Now all we have to do is to pick ourselves up again. I am confident that I can lead the team to win the championship."

The Timberwolves, who are in a slump, hold the No. 5 pick. Garnett expressed his confidence because he is about to get a talented helper.

Kobe, who is also busy recruiting players, has been in a bad mood these days. He was very happy that O'Neal was eliminated, but he felt desperate when Li You won the championship again. His "mortal enemy" is getting stronger.
Lakers general manager Kupchak has also been very active, with the Los Angeles Times frequently throwing out smoke bombs, claiming that the Lakers want to trade up.

Only local fans believe this kind of pie-in-the-sky operation. The last place in the first round will be promoted? It will only deceive the online fans who don't pay attention to the team.
Perhaps Fisher's return gave Kobe more confidence. When he and Kupchak were interviewed by the Los Angeles Times, they subconsciously talked about their recruitment results:
"Like I said, a lot of players called me and everyone wanted to come to Los Angeles to play!"

"I need to keep it a secret now. I believe the team will return to the finals next season."

As a team leader, Kobe has also learned to paint a rosy picture for the fans. As for whether he can get more powerful helpers, he actually has a question mark in his mind.
Kupchak did not insist that the Lakers would definitely strengthen their team, and he was vague in the interview:
"If there is an opportunity, we do plan to trade for an All-Star. Of course, I believe in our draft vision and Kobe will not disappoint the fans."

"."

The team that the spectators are most concerned about is actually the SuperSonics. There are more and more news about the team's relocation, and rumors about Ray Allen's trade are flying all over the place.

The SuperSonics hold the No. 9 pick, which can bring a talented player to the team.

During the finals, Ray Allen did not watch the game live. Since fishing, he has plunged into the training hall and has also been deeply involved in the team's draft work.

While the New York media was clamoring to "come to my arms", reporters in Seattle were also surrounding Ray Allen, trying to get the news from him personally.

Ray Allen was waited for by sports reporters just after leaving the stadium at noon. Apart from being concerned about which new players to invite for tryouts, the rest of the time was spent digging deep into big news.

"Ray! The Knicks won the championship again this year. If you leave the SuperSonics, will you choose to go to New York?"

The weather in Seattle was great, but Ray Allen, who was surrounded by media reporters, looked even darker. He didn't like this statement:

"I don't know why you guys keep talking about trades, we were hurt and we just weren't playing well enough."

"But don't forget, we have also reached the conference finals. Our talent is enough to support the team to win the championship. At present, I am fully focused on training."

The Yahoo Sports reporter who was following the melon didn't care about the Sonics' draft pick. He noticed the impatient expression on Ray Allen's face and quickly asked again:
"Can a super team be defeated? You and Lee are very familiar with each other. How do you think the SuperSonics should supplement their lineup in order to defeat the current Knicks team?"

Ray Allen still took his face into consideration, put his hands on his hips and spoke politely:
"Super teams can lose, and games are often about details. If you've been following this year's playoffs, you'll know that the Knicks have also been in trouble."

"As far as filling out the roster, that's not my job, I just want to focus on basketball."

After saying this and apologizing, Ray Allen walked towards the arena again. The label of "cocky" still bothered him. These reporters were becoming more and more explicit, and the voices mocking him were increasing.

On Saturday, the 17th, the Boston Herald broke the news that the Celtics were interested in Allen Iverson and also wanted to pursue Rashard Lewis.

Interestingly, after seeing the news, Celtics fans spontaneously boycotted and did not welcome Iverson's arrival. Apparently, the reputation of this former All-Star in the Eastern Conference has fallen to the bottom.

Iverson, who had not been seen for a long time, was photographed having fun in a nightclub with his followers that night. After the Philadelphia Inquirer broke the news on Sunday, 76ers fans were particularly angry:
"Is Yuyu syndrome all fake?"

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman that night and fired back when talking about the Finals:
"The stupidest thing I've ever done is to believe James Dolan's lies! If you follow the NBA, you should know that the Knicks are the biggest beneficiary of the league's new rules."

"In the past, many teams only played savagely. The new rules make the game more interesting. More players can contribute good statistics in the regular season."

“But in the finals, the new rules made it impossible for us to defend Lee!”

There was laughter in the studio. David Letterman, the old man, looked at Cuban, whose face suddenly turned red, and made another joke at the right time:

"Didn't you try to get the blonde to attract Lee's attention? By the way, congratulations to Lee. In addition to his 8th championship, he will also have his 3rd child."

Mark Cuban clapped his hands, not caring about the wrinkles on his suit, and sat up straight again, taking this opportunity to express his opinion again:
"David, as sports fans, we should all feel the same way. Super teams are ruining the league."

"I am against the Knicks trading for Ray Allen. The troubled SuperSonics also need star players at this time."

"If the SuperSonics eventually change owners, it will require our consent. I won't make the same mistake a second time. Everyone will thank me for my decision!"

"."

Ray Allen, who was watching the show at home in Seattle, frowned as he watched the TV show. Shannon, who was pregnant with her second child, noticed her husband's expression and suddenly whispered:
“It doesn’t matter that we’ve always been in Seattle!”

It's not a pleasant feeling to passively become the center of attention. Although Li You greets him from time to time, the gap in their achievements still makes Ray Allen feel a little jealous.

Putting his arm around his wife, they watched the show on TV together. Although Mark Cuban praised Li You harshly, he also did not forget to mock the Knicks for enjoying the benefits.

Ray Allen suddenly felt bored. He was not the protagonist, and the loudmouthed boss had no respect for him. Thinking of the potential trade, he began to struggle again:
“What choice should I make?”

(End of this chapter)