NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 469: The Opponent in Reverse Driving (6000-word chapter)
On Tuesday, October 2006, 10, TNT began warming up for the two opening games of the day.

After the preseason, the most active player was Dwight Howard. The third-year rookie is entering his contract year and he is always talking big and good things to the Cavaliers fans:
“We’re going to the finals!”

"Cleveland can break the curse and we will win the championship."

In fact, fans all over the world are the same. Everyone just wants to hear what they want to hear. New York fans think the other side is daydreaming, but Cleveland fans fall in love with the positive "big boy".

In order to ensure his own image, whenever Howard was interviewed, he would show his white teeth and demonstrate his loyalty, as if he was born to break the curse.

This overly positive performance even embarrassed many fans, but the parties involved did not care. Howard even publicly stated:
"I don't mind signing a 5-year contract with the team. I will stay in Cleveland!"

Compared to LeBron James' short-term contract, Howard is more sincere in the eyes of Cavaliers fans, which has led to an increasing number of calls on the Reddit forum for "Howard to surpass O'Neal."

In mid-October, Reddit was officially acquired by Li You's Inno. The Wall Street Journal estimated the acquisition amount to be US$10 million, but in fact it was only US$1000 million.

After Facebook officially opened registration, Li You's number of fans skyrocketed, and a simple promotion before the acquisition helped Reddit attract huge traffic.

After the major revision of the website, NBA fans have finally found a professional online forum. With reference.com also being updated simultaneously, Excel fans are having a carnival moment!
Of course, there's more to Reddit than just football. Anyway, this open community has seen a surge in traffic recently.

ESPN is no longer the most professional data website, but the quality of their column articles is still the best in the industry, and advanced data models are still under development. Fans who like data are very much looking forward to it.

No one talks about PER anymore. It becomes obsolete very quickly.

The NBA has not yet officially introduced the plus-minus data, which is the best tool for single-game aligning. ESPN also issued a statement in the middle of this month that they will continue to improve the corresponding data model.

It is about to enter November and the temperature in Manhattan is starting to drop again. The Heat players who just flew here from warm Miami are in a bad mood. They only won one game in the preseason.

O'Neal did not play again afterwards, which made Pat Riley very dissatisfied, and there are some minor problems in the atmosphere in the locker room.

Participating in the opening game is a good thing, but for the Heat, a slow start is likely to lead to a "disaster".
There is not much news about the Heat in the New York Times. The public is discussing the fact that CNN founder Ted Turner introduced Li You to join the New York Yacht Club.

The big toy, which cost more than 3000 million US dollars, is currently docked in Brooklyn. The smiling face of "Happy" is printed on the hull. Gossip about wealth is much more interesting than discussing noobs.

If Howard was talking nonsense about his contract, then O'Neal, who had a big contract, was the one who started it.

The fat guy seemed to have completely lost his temper and his aggressiveness. Not only did he lose weight during the offseason to spend time with his family, but he also stopped making bold statements after the new season began.

No matter how much Pat Riley emphasized "hitting the championship", O'Neal never responded much.

The abnormal behavior also made many basketball commentators look puzzled, especially in the interview with Sports Illustrated. After Li You shouted "defending the title", O'Neal did not respond, which was beyond many people's expectations.

Madison Square Garden, this old arena is renovated every year. The huge Knicks poster outside the arena announces the arrival of the new season.

At 8 o'clock in the evening, the opening game officially began. The NBA league staff had been busy since the afternoon. They also had to prepare for the award ceremony and flag-raising ceremony.

Although he has renewed his contract with the team, Payton is not happy. He would make it clear every offseason, but the team he likes did not respond at all.

In Payton's opinion, the Knicks did not sign him this year instead of using a rookie, which is another humiliation to him!
When Payton arrived in Manhattan, he had a sullen face and seemed to be displeased with everyone. He did not actively accept interviews as before and fell silent early on.

TNT reporters observed from the sidelines for a while and soon discovered that the Heat players were in a bad mood and did not show any excitement for the opening game.

O'Neal's emotions did not affect Wade. After signing a short contract, he and his good brother had prepared for the worst. Time was on his side. After all, he was younger.

"Yes, we may be slow to start, but it doesn't affect the team."

"We have made it to the Eastern Conference Finals for two consecutive seasons. This year our goal is the Finals. Therefore, the most important thing in the regular season is health. Shaq will adjust well."

Wade, with his hands on his hips, had beads of sweat on his head. He smiled during the interview and took the initiative to cheer up his big brother.

Perhaps not taking the win or loss so seriously, Wade even talked about family plans, confirming that he will soon have his second child, and took the initiative to say that he wants to have more children while he is still young.
The thinner O'Neal does look healthier. He even joked during an interview:

"During the offseason, I heard Marbury say he was the best point guard, which only shows his ignorance."

"Lee in the playoffs is in a different state, which he has never experienced before. In the finals, Lee will improve his level again. Most players in the league can only look at the data and cannot imagine it at all."

Without giving the TNT reporter a chance to interrupt, O'Neal paused and then laughed at the clowns of the offseason in a low voice:
"Let Marbury live in his own world. He has never been close to championship players like us!"

In recent years, O'Neal would show off his championships from time to time and step on other players. If someone used Kobe to question the value of his championship, the fat man would be sarcastic.

MVP+Championship+FMVP are the most important achievements of O'Neal's entire career. Now lying flat, the fat man has gradually become the most determined "Li Youfan".
Perhaps he already had a bad premonition in his heart, Pat Riley only talked briefly for a few words during the interview and didn't say anything more. When facing an old opponent, sometimes all you can do is pray.

The Heat players were in a bad mood, but the Knicks were not affected. Michael Finley, who flew to Japan to visit his old friends during the offseason, has been in a good mood after being "forgiven".

Nowitzki did not object to his plan to return to Dallas to share the championship experience, which greatly reduced the veteran's guilt.

Different from the silent warm-up atmosphere of their opponents, the Knicks players were laughing and talking. The injured Gasol was also practicing free throws. The scene was very harmonious.

“I think the team is stronger now, and when we have a full lineup for the playoffs, no one can match us.”

"The new players joining the team are also very talented. I even feel the pressure of competition. JR Smith will get better and he can gain a foothold here."

Michael Finley smiled with a dark face and sent his blessings. The New York media believed that JR Smith would leave the team soon, but Finley, as a competitor, did not add insult to injury.

The body that was hollowed out by the big-butt girl is gradually recovering, and JR Smith's performance in the training class is better than at the beginning. As for the future, it is unknown.

Rajon Rondo has been unhappy recently. He has been regretting that when Li You asked him during the training session, he should have said "yes", but he ended up backing down.
Thinking of what happened yesterday, Rondo secretly cursed himself as a "softie" and said he should have taken the initiative to speak up in the team.

Looking at Li You surrounded by the media, Rajon Rondo continued to practice and warm up silently. While paying attention to the situation on the other side, he looked around at the happy faces of the people around him and began to cheer himself up in his heart:

".Try harder!"

At 19:30, half an hour before the game was to start, Madison Square Garden was already boiling with excitement. All the Heat players stood in front of the basket on the other side, watching their opponents come on the court.

The Knicks don't have a mascot, but the atmosphere in the stadium is far better than most teams. The familiar scenes and familiar shouts made Pat Riley feel even worse.

O'Neal, who had his hands behind his back and a straight face, couldn't help but twitch his eyes when he heard the phrase "owner of eight championships."

If Li You showed 8 greater than 1 in front of the media, the fat man would most likely break down on the spot. This is also the reason why O'Neal insisted on bragging in recent years. You don't need too many championships, just one is enough.
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

The shouting became louder and louder. Although such scenes only occur once every few years, New York fans still never get tired of watching it.

Due to winning the championship for many consecutive years, the Knicks' championship rings have begun to curl in shape. This year's octagonal ring face appears for the first time. Although it looks a bit strange, the meaning is good.

David Stern continued to smile and giggle, James Dolan handed the last ring to Li You, and after the two hugged and greeted each other, the cheers from the audience became louder.

Kurt Thomas, who came to attend the award ceremony, couldn't let go of the silver ring after putting it on, and Valanciunas smiled as he looked at the huge ring face.

Fisher hugged Barnes, and both of them were in a good mood, whispering to each other from time to time.

Wright, who has become the leader of the Eagles, is full of energy and sharing his championship experience, which is indeed a pleasant thing.
"I'm very happy to witness Charles' jersey retirement ceremony at this moment. I hope he doesn't blame us for stealing his limelight!"

Li You's words made Charles Oakley on the sidelines grin. His No. 34 jersey will then be raised above the stadium to accompany the championship flag. The old guy was in a very good mood about this.

"Year after year, I love the feeling of winning, seeing championship banners flying over the arena. I think this is everyone's favorite gift."

"We will challenge the historical record again. This time, we will not waste the opportunity. The future championship will still belong to us!"

Gary Payton, who wanted nothing in return, watched the Knicks players wearing the rings and cheering. His emotions were boiling and he almost cursed out loud. He felt more and more that Li You did it on purpose.

It was just that they won a few more games against the opponent in their rookie season, but the "stingy" Li You still remembers it. Payton is feeling more and more upset because the championship is clearly just around the corner!

When the Knicks' 10th championship banner was raised into the air, the cheers almost broke through the arena.

Charles Oakley then did not give a long speech. After expressing his gratitude, he took a photo with Li You and his old teammates, and watched the No. 34 jersey rise into the sky with tears in his eyes.

On the Heat bench, Mourning was in low spirits, looking up at the jersey that was slowly rising, and his thoughts were all over the place. Mutombo also had a ring, and he was the only center in Georgetown who didn't have a championship.
The chicken soup of the greasy boss is no longer fragrant at this time. For the veterans, the championship will not improve their historical status. They just want to fulfill their obsession.

In the TNT commentary booth, watching the familiar award ceremony, Doug Collins could only sigh:
"We will witness the most successful team of the 21st century. In fact, this season the Knicks only need to maintain their championship lineup and they will be a strong contender for the championship!"

"I don't think anyone in the Eastern Conference can cause them trouble. The Pistons have disintegrated and the Bulls are too young." "Seeing O'Neal's preseason form, I can only be cautiously optimistic about the Heat. This is Lee's best chance. Unlike the last four consecutive championships, his teammates are young but experienced."

Kevin Harlan also feels that the Knicks are so dominant that the Eastern Conference's competitiveness has declined again. Currently, only the Cavaliers are going against the tide:

"This is indeed a great opportunity. Perhaps the only thing that can stop them is their health, but Li obviously hasn't relaxed his demands on himself!"

"Muscles don't lie. Now no one doubts his efforts. In the past 10 years, Lee's passion for basketball has remained unchanged."

"."

Before the game started, Wade secretly looked at Li You's body. He had been following the news and had not seen any news about Li You's training. Although his friends said that Li You was in good shape, seeing it with his own eyes was believing.

The muscle lines are visible to the naked eye. Unlike Howard's technological shoulders, Li You only has large muscles, which looks very natural.

Wade was a little jealous of this. Becoming stronger requires a price. His cheeks felt swollen. He didn't believe that Li You could maintain a good condition every year.
Dior gained weight in the month after returning to New York. The French alone supported the French bakery in the small town of Tarrytown. At this time, looking at Prince taking off his coat, he laughed and cheered:

"I bet we can win by 30 points tonight! Don't be soft, I don't want to help the rookie carry his bag!"

Facing a competitor who moved a coffee machine into the locker room, Prince, who won without effort, had nothing to say. He had heard that D'Antoni was conducting a training camp in France, which made him feel a little jealous. Now he just wanted to laugh:
"Don't worry, Bro! I know my old rivals, they don't stand a chance!"

The plump Dio returned to his seat and wanted to drink a sports drink. Charles Oakley, who was sitting behind the bench, snatched the Gatorade away and whispered a reminder with a frown:
"I want to see your muscles in a month!"

"."

The on-site director will also focus the camera on Artest and Gasol. The former is full of energy and the latter has protective boots on his feet. The two are currently the only two sick players in the team.

Raja Bell has fully recovered. This tough guy who underwent surgery after vacation has won the recognition of New York fans.

"Let's go Knicks!."

Amid the cheers, Payton, with a sullen face, looked at Li You who was exercising on the opposite half of the court, and walked to the center of the court with a frown.

Chandler, who was preparing for a jump ball, was extremely excited. He ignored his opponents' emotions and bumped fists with them one by one, which made Haslem so angry that he glared at them. He didn't like the DPOY on loan.

As the referee threw the ball, Chandler pushed the ball to half court, and the shouting in the stadium increased a few points.

Pat Riley, with his arms folded on the sidelines, began to shout at Payton to establish a defensive position. On the other side, D'Antoni, wearing a red scarf, was smiling and hanging up the phone.

As a familiar old rival, O'Neal quickly realized that this was a high pick-and-roll as he watched the Knicks players move out one by one and Chandler run to the free throw line and start moving.

Although the lineup became smaller, Prince, who was lurking in the left corner, and Hill on the left wing both had the ball, and Artest in the right corner was able to show off his stiff dribbling skills.

Antoine Walker was in a bad mood and had to loudly remind O'Neal to pay attention to his help defense position.

Payton, who was on the line, saw Li You holding the ball in his right hand and suddenly lowered his center of gravity. Without waiting for the screen, he suddenly lowered his shoulders and accelerated, and subconsciously slid to the left and rear.

When approaching the three-point line, Li You, who was almost flying close to the ground, suddenly stopped, crossed his steps and pulled back, easily getting rid of the defense, and Chandler also stood on the three-point line.

Seeing Li You raising his center of gravity, Payton hurriedly squeezed through the screen, trying to delay the breakthrough. However, just as he got in front of him, Li You increased his dribbling speed again and changed direction in front of his body.

With two bangs, the basketball disappeared in front of him. Payton wanted to squeeze through, but bumped into Chandler. This made O'Neal, who frowned, slide helplessly, delaying Li You's breakthrough.

Amid the cheers of the fans, Li You lowered his shoulders and accelerated again, rushed across the three-point line and threw the ball into the basket at will. O'Neal could only watch the basketball draw an arc and slowly fly over his head.

After the screen, Chandler accelerated and ran down the court with no one to defend him. He strode into the paint area, jumped up and easily scooped up the ball in the air, then dunked it with both hands!

"what!"

After completing the dunk, Chandler grabbed the rim with one hand to relieve the force, landed on the ground and screamed, his emotions becoming more and more excited.

On the bench, feeling the boiling atmosphere of the stadium, Rajon Rondo couldn't help but reveal his longing as he cheered with everyone. This was indeed different from college games.

The defense was easily penetrated. O'Neal and Payton looked at each other and said nothing. Only Pat Riley on the sidelines was very dissatisfied and turned into a "grumpy old man" in one round.
In the Heat's offensive rounds, Wade still liked to receive the ball in the left half court. The screen near the right baseline did not play any role, and Prince switched out directly.

There was a mismatch between Haslem and Hill under the basket, but Payton still passed the ball to O'Neal who kept asking for the ball in the low post on the right side.

The moment the pass was sent from the right wing, Li You followed the ball and pretended to assist in defending the inside. O'Neal, trying to save his face, did not choose to pass the ball. He took the ball and immediately turned towards the baseline.

Chandler, who was well prepared, raised his hands high. When O'Neal passed the ball, Hill also came to assist from the other side. Finally, he made a hasty shot and the basketball hit the rim and bounced out.

Seeing O'Neal unable to break through the defense, Doug Collins once again expressed his concerns in the commentary booth:

"This is why I am not optimistic about the Heat. In last year's Eastern Conference Finals, O'Neal's scoring ability declined. If they expect Wade to carry the team alone, it will be difficult for them to break through the defending champions."

Hill grabbed the rebound and then launched a counterattack. Kevin Harlan was also in high spirits as he watched the Knicks accelerate:

"It seems that the Knicks are fully prepared. Their counterattack is too fast!"

Hill kept accelerating with big strides, easily shook off Haslem behind him, rushed across the center line, and made a side pass with his right hand.

Payton, who was retreating, was watching Hill cutting into the basket and loudly called out to Antoine Walker. He wanted to establish a defensive position on the three-point line, but he saw Li You stop immediately after receiving the ball, then throw the ball!
A 29-foot jumper?
Looking at Li You who turned around and slowly retreated, Payton stared with his eyes wide open and an idea flashed through his mind, and then bursts of excited shouts rang in his ears.

"Incredible shooting distance, this three-pointer seems to have become Lee's regular weapon! It's incredible!"

Kevin Harlan no longer questions the irrationality of Li You's shots like he did in the past. After watching so many times, he even thinks that he should throw the ball when no one is defending him.
It seemed to have triggered painful memories for all the Heat players. This time the offensive tempo was significantly accelerated. There was no screen for Wade. The ball moved to the left wing, and Payton immediately made a high pass.

Although the ball was safely delivered to O'Neal, the speed of the ball was too slow, causing Li You to complete the card-swiping assist defense again.

O'Neal, who was in the low post on the left side, immediately threw the ball back to Payton amid the fans' cheers. The veteran learned from the lesson of last season and did not dribble through again, but instead missed the jump shot decisively.

"Oh!"

After Li You picked up the basketball in the paint area right in front of the basket, cheers rang out again. Payton cursed and quickly slid to delay. He felt a chill in his crotch and Li You rushed past from the right side of his body.

Unable to pull the ball, Payton just turned his head subconsciously after being penetrated in the crotch. Seeing that Li You had already rushed across the center line, he completely gave up on defending.

Although Pat Riley on the sidelines was still yelling, no one on the Heat team chased him. Everyone watched Li You soar into the air in the paint area, stretching his body in the air and changing hands between his legs.

Li You grabbed the ball with his right hand and held it in the air for a short while, then swung his arm and slammed it, and Madison Square Garden was boiling again!
0:7, the familiar rhythm is back.

After landing, Li You kept shaking his head with a smile on his face. When retreating to half court, he high-fived the fans in the front row to celebrate.

As soon as the game started, the Knicks launched frequent transition attacks. Wade missed a jump shot and sent Hill to the free throw line.
O'Neal missed the shot in front of the basket. In the semi-transition offense, there was a pick-and-roll on the left wing, and Li You assisted Prince, who cut into the basket from the baseline, to make a layup.

The Knicks didn't give their opponents any chances by switching defenses. Antoine Walker missed the three-pointer, and the Heat's atmosphere team watched with wide eyes.
On the right wing, Li You took advantage of the fact that the Heat players had just completed their defensive positioning and instantly got rid of Payton after changing direction forward.

He immediately slowed down after passing the three-point line, and when the opponent came up to defend him again, Li You dribbled the ball behind his back, took a step sideways, raised the ball in the right elbow area and faked a shot, and finally shot with his left hand hanging over Payton!

"squeak!"

The referee blew the whistle and the basketball went into the net. Payton spread his hands in frustration and looked helplessly at the greasy-haired guy on the sidelines.

"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

Amid the happy shouts of New York fans, Li You made the free throw, and the Heat finally requested a timeout, and the stadium was filled with jubilation.

At 0:14, the game seemed to be over just as it began.

"Winning or losing doesn't matter, just enjoy the game, man!"

Payton, who was lagging behind, subconsciously stopped when he heard Li You's words, stared with his eyes wide open and wanted to say something, but finally walked to the bench in silence.

Wade was also confused when he returned to his seat. He could clearly feel that the team's strength had declined:

"Why is this happening!"

(End of this chapter)