NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 579 The Flood of the Times (Daily Chapter)

Saturday, June 2008, 6, is Father's Day, but the carnival for the sports media continues.

A large amount of news and columns appear on ESPN's several mainstream websites every day. Young sports fans even have the illusion that the news is more interesting than the finals!

On the morning of the second day after the finals, a video appeared on TMZ website showing O'Neal rapping and cursing Kobe with a group of girls. The explicit rap caused a strong reaction.

If it was just "Kobe can't do anything without me", it would not break the circle, but the old Shark was drunk and completely let himself go, even rapping freely on the spot:
"He said Shaq gave a woman a million dollars, but I'm not going to do that because my name is Shaquille O'Neal."

"I love them and I won't leave them. I had a tracheotomy and now I can't have children with them."

"Kobe Bryant ruined my marriage, say it with me, a**"

The content of the video on the website continued to spread, and "Shaq did it too" was mentioned again. At the same time, some feminists also began to participate in the topic, believing that O'Neal insulted women.
In Phoenix, a sheriff also condemned O'Neal in an interview with the media after watching the video:

"I can't believe O'Neill would act like this in public. If the video is real, I would like to take back the badge he was given. Federal public officials should not do this."

"."

On the noon Sports Center show, Stephen A. Smith connected with O'Neal, who seemed to have sobered up from his hangover and made a solemn promise on the show:
"I was performing at the time, it was all about the atmosphere, I just wanted to bring joy to everyone!"

"It's no big deal, if these lyrics hurt anyone, I sincerely apologize, I swear, I was just improvising."

"Don't forget that I released an album after I won MVP and FMVP. It was a platinum record. This is my rap style."

O'Neal seemed to be happier and happier on the phone. His voice, which was a little unclear after the hangover, soon became low and cheerful:
"You know, Koke will always be my little brother, we get along very well, I am also sad to see him lose the finals, if he needs anything, he can always call me!"

"."

Stephen A. Smith couldn't hold back. He didn't expect O'Neal to be so petty. He kept holding on to the past and never forgave Kobe in his heart:
"OK, if there is a chance, I would like to contact Kobe. Maybe I can get you to sit down face to face and completely resolve this feud."

ESPN programs are also undergoing reforms. Stephen A. Smith doesn't have many opportunities to guest host on weekends. Seeing his partner Grant Hill pretending to be helpless, he opened fire again after the connection ended:
"It's hard to imagine that Kobe's performance in the finals would be so bad! Note that I didn't deliberately belittle him, this is the fact, he ruined Tim Duncan's championship dream!"

"In contrast, Tony Parker and Lee did not hand over such bad data when they were matched up. What makes me even more incredible is that Kobe still insists that he is the best player."

"Is he kidding me? Kobe should bow down to God-Lee and be humble instead of playing a crap game and insisting that 'I'm the best player.'"

"In terms of points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, Kobe is lagging behind in every statistic. The only thing Kobe can do better than Lee is turnovers!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the biggest matchup I've ever witnessed in the finals!"

"Lee beat Kobe. Although he never said it, the fact is that the 'best' broke down at one point in the game."

Kobe's statistics were shown in the morning program, but the director was not afraid of repeating the content and once again popularized Kobe's performance in the four finals for the audience in front of the TV:
场均出场38.0分钟，场均拿到24.5分5.5篮板3.0助攻1.3抢断2.8失误；

The shooting percentage was 35.5%, the three-point shooting percentage was 15.0%, and the free throw shooting percentage was 78.6%.

Kobe's true shooting percentage is 23.5% with 44.9 shots per game. If you cover his name, it's hard to associate this data with the "best player".
In contrast, Li You was far ahead in all statistics, with a true shooting percentage of 87% that was particularly eye-catching. In the finals, he scored 40+10, and Kobe was completely beaten.

Grant Hill also participated in the broadcast of the finals. When he was in the back studio, the guests were more tactful, and no one was as straightforward as Stephen A. Smith.

Considering the strong fighting power of Kobe's die-hard fans, Hill, holding the prompter, had to play the role of a good guy again:
"I watched all four games on the broadcast, and Kobe looked a little nervous, like he wasn't ready yet."

"I don't know his specific physical condition, but I agree with Coach Van Gundy's point of view. Kobe has lost his most important explosiveness, which is why he has fallen behind in all aspects."

"Given his finger injury, I think there's a good chance Kobe is also suffering from a knee injury."

Kobe has not undergone surgery for a torn finger on his right hand and has insisted on conservative treatment for the sake of the finals. This is the only injury the Lakers have announced to the outside world.

With such poor performance in the finals, fans soon felt sorry for Kobe. News about Kobe suffering from a "knee injury" began to circulate, and the news was said to come from within the Lakers.

Not all basketball critics buy this reasoning, and Stephen A. Smith is apparently also actively surfing the Internet.

When die-hard fans firmly believed that Kobe could lead the team to win the championship after he got healthy, Li You's fans and the majority of fans of winning mocked him:
"He can't do anything!"

Hill's words saved Kobe's face, and Stephen A. Smith did not say anything more, but when he gossiped about the Lakers' internal news, his tone revealed gloating:
"Tim Duncan boarded a plane to San Antonio this morning. It seems that the former Spurs MVP is also very disappointed with the finals."

"."

In the afternoon, the Lakers management gathered at the Toyota Center training hall. Old Buss did not show up after the game. He was almost furious with the team's performance.

From the second floor, you can see the specific situation in the training ground. Kobe Bryant is constantly shooting from outside the three-point line. This situation has continued since this morning.

After taking over the Lakers, Buss developed a habit of being "dictatorial". He would also listen to advice and give certain preferential treatment to meritorious members of the team.

The only special thing is Jerry West. He played a trick on Magic Johnson when the other party was still the head coach of the team. The two had different views on Magic Johnson, and the conflict has accumulated since then.

In fact, most of the management are family members. Phil Jackson is also Jeanie Buss' boyfriend. Looking at the old Buss walking around and looking a little irritable, no one dared to offend her.

"Who can tell me! Why didn't we win a game? Why did Tim Duncan leave? How much more money do I have to spend to win the championship!"

"Damn, is the Los Angeles Times crazy? I'm going to sue them. These reporters with the word 'female' in their names are licking O'Neal's black cock. Fuck."

Digging up old issues is the media's favorite thing. This morning, the Los Angeles Times published a column article revealing that Buss decided to trade without notifying O'Neal.

The content was still the same as before, complaining about the management's lack of vision and reluctance to spend money. Finally, the view that "it is impossible to win the championship relying solely on the current lineup" further irritated old Buss.

The old man was in poor health. After complaining for a while, he returned to his desk panting. He sat on the chair and wanted to light a cigarette, but was finally stopped by Jenny Buss, who quickly winked at her boyfriend.

Kupchak frowned secretly. The old man from KFC has always wanted to gain more power. After this loss, there is a high possibility that the opponent will dominate the offseason.

"We are behind the times. Although I don't want to admit it, the fact is that if we want to win a championship, we have to play like New York."

"The days of big, low-post offense are over."

Phil Jackson's voice was a little low and he spoke slowly. He seemed to have regained his confidence and was no longer depressed.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had a somewhat strange temper when he played for the Lakers, but after retiring, his personality improved a lot, and as a member of the championship team, he also gained the respect of the Buss family.

As soon as the old man from Kentucky finished speaking, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar added in a deep voice, allowing Old Buss to understand where the problem lay:

"A faster pace, more three-pointers, and more off-ball offense."

"Phil is right, whether it's getting the ball into the basket from outside the three-point line or getting it closer to the basket, we have to play that way too."

As he got older, old Buss became more and more annoyed the more he listened. He only knew that he paid 7500 million US dollars but didn't win the championship. When the two stopped talking again, he sighed helplessly and asked:
"Tell me, how much more money do we have to spend to win the championship next season?"

As the general manager of the team, Kupchak naturally had to answer the boss's questions. Jim Buss hesitated to speak and finally chose to wait:

"After signing Tim Duncan, we can't continue to sign big-name stars in the free market. At the same time, there are restricted free agents in the team, and we have to consider the offer issue." "To break the existing lineup, the team must make a trade. Odom is the best trading partner. We haven't discussed this matter yet."

Lack of salary cap space is a big problem. The Knicks built their team through the draft, and only recently have premium contracts appeared. Although the Lakers also selected outstanding talents, they all gave them to the Spurs.
"Why not consider offering a player from New York? I know it will cost more dollars, but it's the best option!"

"We can disrupt their roster, and maybe we can make a few calls to other teams and there will be interest."

"What do you think, Phil?"

Jim Buss, dressed in a black shirt and jeans, suddenly interrupted and turned to look at Phil Jackson. The old man from KFC knew that the other party didn't like him interfering in the free market, so he didn't give a definite answer:

"This may be a good plan. We need to communicate with the core players. Now the team must complete the contract extension with Tim Duncan."

"."

Several people had some disagreements on the team lineup, and Buss felt overwhelmed. Perhaps he was still a little dissatisfied with Kobe's betrayal, so he suddenly interrupted:
"If we trade Kobe, will it be easier to win a championship?"

This bold suggestion made several people silent again. Phil Jackson noticed that the old man was looking at him, and finally shook his head slowly, giving a "cruel" fact:

"If there is no Lee in the league, Kobe is the best perimeter player right now."

"Those reporters only cater to the fans, but they cannot deny that Kobe is the best shooting guard in the league right now, and the team made the right choice that year."

The best shooting guard was defended to a shooting percentage of less than 40% in the finals. This fact was too cruel. Old Buss let out a long sigh, stopped participating in the discussion, stood up and walked away:
"Then make an offer to the New York players as Jim said, and contact old friends. I don't want to see anything about trading Kobe in the newspapers."

"."

Jim Buss got the answer he wanted, looked at his sister, felt a little happy, and raised the corners of his mouth. He quickly spoke again:

"Artest, Raja Bell, JR Smith, and the players on the New York bench are also our targets."

"We also need help from other teams. If we can bring in a third All-Star, we can also trade Odom."

Jeanie Buss glanced at her boyfriend, and Phil Jackson quickly expressed a different opinion. While they were still discussing, old Buss came to the training hall on the first floor and watched Kobe shoot silently.

"Dr. Buss, I'm sorry I couldn't win a championship for the team."

Kobe, who was sweating profusely, found that old Buss came up to him and whispered guiltily with a sad look on his face.

"You did perform badly! I watched TV and your three-point shooting percentage was less than 20%? Damn it! Why can Mr. Li always make the shot?"

Thinking of Li You's performance at Staples Center, Buss cursed in anger. After the game, he had to act like the Lakers were successful. These two days really pissed him off.
"If you don't want to participate in the Olympics, get the surgery as soon as possible! Of course I don't want to interfere with your choice, this is just my suggestion."

"I will consider it. I promise that my body will be back to its best condition before the new season starts."

Old Buss patted Kobe on the shoulder and said nothing more. The medical team hopes that Mamba will undergo surgery as soon as possible. As for the Olympics, he will naturally refuse it. Playing with an injury is not what everyone expects.

Looking toward the second floor, Kobe could still vaguely see the golden trophy by the window. He naturally understood what his boss meant, but he had received too few honors over the years, and he really wanted to win a gold medal.

At 4 p.m., Phil Jackson and his team finished their discussion. The old man from KFC saw Kobe gasping for breath on the sidelines, sweating all over, and immediately stepped forward to comfort him:

“It’s not a bad thing to find out the problem after failure!”

"Next season, we will adjust our triangle offense. If we want to win the championship, we must embrace this era."

"I hope the team can start training camp early. If possible, I hope you can stay here."

Coach Krzyzewski hopes that he can serve as "Captain America", and the old man at KFC hopes that he can undergo surgery as soon as possible and train with the team in advance. Kobe can hardly give a positive answer to this:

"Sorry, Coach, I think I need to think about this some more."

On the morning of Sunday, June 6, Father's Day, the Los Angeles Times broke the news that Kobe was "drinking" after Game 15 of the Finals.

The relevant news comes from the Lakers. Perhaps it won’t be long before fans will see the drama of “catching the traitor”.

At the same time, well-known basketball commentator Bill Simmons also criticized Kobe's lack of leadership on his blog, and pointed out that D'Antoni's tactics during the finals completely defeated Phil Jackson:
"The Knicks' pick-and-roll system makes basketball simple, and the Lakers' triangle offense can no longer adapt to this era."

"Three-pointers will become more and more important in the future of basketball. All teams will emphasize offensive space. Lee makes basketball more pure, and the core guard will dominate the game."

ESPN's program this morning also aired a video of Kobe yelling at his teammates in Game 4. Combined with Li You's post-match comment that Kobe was a "Good man," it seems like the Mamba is destined to be ridiculed again today.

Due to the rain in New York on Saturday, the Knicks team only returned to Manhattan this afternoon. Before they even got off the plane, the golden trophy made the fans who greeted them at the airport excited.

The USA Basketball Association has announced the invitation list, and Chandler and Prince have confirmed that they have accepted the invitation.

They will have to report to the training camp in mid-July. After being included in the roster, they will travel with the team to Macau, Guangzhou and other places to start warm-up exhibition matches.

Although Prince doesn't talk much, as a "family member" selected by the Knicks, he also has a large number of supporters in New York, and fans are very concerned about his journey with the national team.

After being surrounded by New York reporters, Prince took off the blue championship hat on his head and talked about his choice with a smile:

"It's an honor to be invited. If I can make the roster, don't worry. There are too many big-name players in the national team and my playing time won't be too much."

"If necessary, I will share my championship experience. I don't want to lose the gold medal."

As a tough guy of the Knicks, Chandler is also very popular. The big man is very happy to be selected for the national team. This is also a huge affirmation for him:

"I'm still not sure who will lead the US team. You mentioned Kobe, I don't think he's a good choice! He didn't get along well with everyone in the America's Cup."

"Like Tayshawn, I want to bring championship experience to the national team, and I think this can help everyone."

Although this statement was a bit arrogant, the New York reporters did not think it was wrong. With Kobe as the captain, they were the first to stand up and refute it!

After getting off the plane, Li You waved to the fans and continued to chat with D'Antoni about matters related to the draft.

The father of the rookie Gallinari was the teammate and roommate of the mustache in Italy for many years. Now that he has become rich, the old friend naturally comes to him for help.

"I'll talk to Matt about this. Don't worry, coach! It shouldn't be hard to play in a big city."

Li You, still wearing his championship T-shirt, put his arm around the mustache man's shoulders and assured him that Gallinari didn't want to go to Milwaukee and Memphis, which would require a little manipulation.

D'Antoni was relieved. In fact, as a champion coach, his influence was limited. In this matter, he was not as good as Li You's agent:
"Please thank Matt and his friends for me. Times have really changed! Kids nowadays like big markets."

"."

(End of this chapter)