NBA: The Basketball Miracle

Chapter 510: The Indispensable Inspirational Words

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As March Madness progressed, the hype around the 2007 Rookie class gradually increased, especially after the Dallas Mavericks lost their "strong vs. strong" matchup on the road, which significantly reduced public interest in the MVP race.

This season's MVP selection situation felt indescribably awkward.

The New York Knicks and the Dallas Mavericks had far superior records, but the dominance displayed by the two teams was quite different.

To achieve 60 wins, consistently beating weaker teams is an essential skill, and the Dallas Mavericks did this very well.

In some games, they could easily score 120 points.

However, in strong matchups, Dirk Nowitzki performed poorly, to everyone's surprise, and the Dallas Mavericks lost badly.

On the evening of the 20th, the Dallas Mavericks were crushed by the New York Knicks, 84:114.

After the game, Clay Lee, who checked out in the third quarter, revealed the team's defensive secret, and the topic remained hot for a week.

"We have an hour of footage on Dirk. He likes to drive left, likes to dribble twice with his left hand, turn, and shoot a fadeaway. His isolation plays are predictable. It's not difficult to defend him."

After Lee said this in a teasing tone at the press conference, the presumed MVP did not respond.

Nowitzki knew the assessment was spot on.

Of course, if it were just a direct conversation between the two, it wouldn't have caused such a huge discussion.

The Head Coach of the Warriors, Don Nelson, also publicly declared after the game:

"If the Warriors can get the 8th seed, we will defeat the Dallas Mavericks!"

"We've already figured out their tactics. Dirk is an excellent young man, but the Dallas Mavericks currently can't compensate for his weaknesses."

The former Head Coach's confident declaration pushed Dirk Nowitzki into the spotlight.

Combined with Lee's comments, the unstoppable power forward seemed to be turning into a "sieve."

Ultimately, the MVP showdown's buzz was stolen by Kobe Bryant.

On the 23rd, 111:105, after defeating the Hornets on the road, Kobe Bryant completed his fourth consecutive 50+ game!

Regardless of the strength of the opponents, this record is second only to Wilt Chamberlain, and the league's strongest scorer once again became the focus of fans' attention with his consistent high scoring.

Everyone was looking forward to Kobe Bryant's continuous record.

On Tuesday, the Lakers will host the league's last-place Grizzlies.

This game has no suspense in the eyes of the fans.

The 81-point scorer once again earned respect despite the locker room divisions, and his special name, Black Mamba, also gained recognition from the fans.

On Monday the 26th, the New York Knicks hosted the fishing Orlando Magic.

This game naturally had no suspense, but Raja Bell and Chandler both suffered injuries during the game.

Perhaps the New York Media hyped him too much.

In the late season, Chandler, who was exceptionally eager for awards, not only didn't relax his demands on himself but became even more invested in the game.

The coaching staff couldn't stop this, especially since Chandler was a "bust" in Chicago and transformed into a DPOY in New York.

Unlike Marcus Camby's statistical Defense, it was difficult for Chandler to improve his performance on the defensive end.

After a strenuous block in the third quarter, he fell out of bounds.

The big man could only fall to the ground in pain and reluctantly leave the court.

Raja Bell, on the other hand, suffered a hamstring injury in last week's game against the Cavaliers, and this week he could only watch JR Smith take his place and grow stronger with each game.

A screen on the left side of the restricted area gave JR Smith an easy scoring opportunity as he cut to the basket.

When Lee at the top of the arc threw the ball to the upper left of the rim, JR Smith grabbed the ball in mid-air and executed a reverse folding dunk!

"Ah!"

Grabbing the rim and swinging to release force, JR Smith shouted excitedly.

The flashy alley-oop dunk also ignited Madison Square Garden, and the New York fans present cheered loudly and praised him repeatedly.

At the MSG commentary booth, Walt Frazier also had to praise JR Smith's recent performance.

The 12th man played better than he expected:

"Smith's athleticism is outstanding. If he can change those terrible defensive habits, perhaps he can get more playing time."

"His catch-and-shoot ability is getting better and better. It's clear that he's more efficient when he partners with Lee in the backcourt. His performance from beyond the arc in recent games has been impressive."

This was the second game Raja Bell missed due to injury.

On the bench, this veteran player could only force a smile at this moment.

The NBA is like this.

Some people can always seize unexpected opportunities, and JR Smith is one such person.

His talent is also visibly apparent.

In the end, the New York Knicks did not disappoint the fans, 82:119, and their undefeated home record continued.

33 minutes played, 7 of 11 shooting, 4 of 7 from three-point range, 18 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover.

This was JR Smith's best game since joining the New York Knicks.

The cheers from nearly nineteen thousand New York fans were captivating, and the still-boiling Madison Square Garden after the game thrilled JR Smith.

Some fans in front of their televisions found it hard to understand JR Smith's emotions at this moment.

The 12th man almost cried during his interview.

He had been on the bench for almost a season and was finally breaking through.

Regarding tactical fit, JR Smith believed he was better than Raja Bell, but the coaching staff preferred veterans who were fully integrated into the team.

"This game means a lot to me. I know how good I am."

"I want to thank Lee. He has always encouraged me. He lets me be myself on the court. It's amazing to play with him. I can hardly describe it in words."

"..."

JR Smith, being interviewed, instantly turned into a flatterer.

He didn't forget to brag when high-fiving passing teammates, which left Rajon Rondo, who had a mediocre performance, speechless.

Watching the other person hold the microphone and talk endlessly, Rondo, walking towards the player tunnel, secretly pouted.

Lee had no time to bother with players at the end of the bench.

These flatterers were all talking nonsense.

When everyone returned to the locker room, it was naturally all smiles after the win.

Lee didn't even break a sweat, leaning back in his seat and comforting the dispirited Raja Bell:

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. We need you in the Finals. You know, I don't want to see a Rookie get cold feet in a big game."

"I know. I'll be back for the playoffs. Maybe I shouldn't have done extra training. I've been unlucky since I got injured last year."

Raja Bell, wearing a black suit, spoke with a tone full of helplessness.

A hamstring injury was not a good thing, and the lively JR Smith put immense pressure on him.

Fortunately, Grant Hill had confirmed this was his last season, and Raja Bell felt he was also close to breaking through.

Next year, he would most likely get a starting position.

Chandler, who had just come out of the physical therapy room, was also a bit frustrated at this moment.

The team doctor told him he would miss at least a week.

Considering the coaching staff's arrangements, he knew it would probably take half a month to fully return.

"Damn it! It seems that fraud will definitely win the award this year."

Chandler rubbed his waist and grumbled softly.

The New York Media kept hyping DPOY so much that he himself believed it.

Getting injured at a critical moment in their competition would definitely lower his impression score.

Pau Gasol, as a veteran on the team, had long mastered the skill of coasting through the long regular season.

Hearing his new teammate complain, he shrugged and suggested softly:

"If you miss the award, there's always next year. Trust me, as long as you perform well in the Finals, this trophy will be yours next year."

Marcus Camby averaged over 3 blocks per game, and Chandler knew it was impossible to surpass his opponent in statistics.

Gasol's suggestion was good, but he still sighed regretfully:

"My performance in Chicago lowered my rating. Maybe I should have left earlier."

The New York Knicks had a post-game debriefing.

Hill was high-fiving everyone while distributing statistics.

Finally, when he sat next to Tayshaun Prince and Michael Finley, he chuckled and made a bet:

"I bet the coach will definitely encourage us to shoot more three-pointers. Sometimes I really think he's crazy."

Their excellent record allowed the New York Knicks to experiment with more tactics towards the end of the season.

In the last two games alone, Clay Lee and JR Smith combined for over 15 attempts from beyond the arc.

Shooting around 30 three-pointers per game gradually became the norm.

Regarding this seemingly wild shooting style, Tayshaun Prince could only raise his eyebrows after seeing the statistics, muttering:

"He's the Boss, he calls the shots. Anyway, we can still afford to lose."

"I think it's not bad, at least the mission is clear!"

Michael Finley responded with a smile.

He was a beneficiary of the current tactical system.

As long as he was healthy, he would get playing time and opportunities from beyond the arc.

Mike D'Antoni, whom the New York Media called the "greatest basketball coach of the 21st century," had also become a bit overconfident recently.

He patted Ron Artest, who was the last to enter the locker room, then loudly declared in front of everyone:

"We're playing better and better, but we need to be even bolder on offense."

"Remember, when Lee passes the ball to you, if you're open, shoot decisively!"

"If you miss consecutive shots, remember to cut off-ball. The opponent will focus on Lee. When you see Pau Gasol receive the ball at the top, seize the opportunity, everyone move."

"Tonight, we attempted 31 three-pointers and made 15. JR Smith did very well. We must maintain this confidence."

"..."

Ron Artest, who worked hard on Defense, also received praise.

Although he shot 4-for-10 tonight, 1-for-4 from three, and 2-for-4 from the free-throw line, only scoring 11 points, his willingness to shoot was commendable.

When Mike Malone took over the statistics and began to comment on each player, the locker room was filled with a joyful atmosphere:

"Lee only scored 32 points tonight. It seems he's not interested in the Orlando Magic, but that's okay. Tomorrow we'll play the Cavaliers, and he'll pick himself up."

"Boris only had 6 points. We want to see you regain your aggressiveness. Two consecutive games without free throws, be careful Mike stops your coffee!"

"Dan did a good job, but you still need to control your fouls. You'll have more playing time next, and we don't want to lower the lineup's height."

"..."

Diao and Gadzuric laughed and cheered after hearing the assistant coach's comments.

Since Mike Malone incorporated data, Rajon Rondo would get frustrated at this time.

"6 assists and 2 turnovers. Everyone will like this assist-to-turnover ratio. Rajon Rondo did a good job, you can play with more confidence."

The unremarkable comments left Rajon Rondo, sitting in his seat, a bit disappointed.

After several seasons of development, the New York Knicks had less and less 'chicken soup' (inspirational talks).

Data-oriented video sessions and post-game summaries made the Rookie uncomfortable.

Rajon Rondo felt he performed well on Defense, but unfortunately, this was rarely praised.

After the summary, everyone laughed and gathered in a circle, shouting "Family!"

Ron Artest, bare-chested, seemed to remember something and gossiped again:

"Those two guys are really crazy, they haven't lost muscle even at the end of the season..."

Dwight Howard's physique was becoming more robust.

Van Gundy originally wanted to transform the top draft pick into a low-post core, but now it seemed he had become a super role player.

The atmosphere group used this as a starting point to gossip.

Dwight Howard had a chance to win the rebounding title this year, which was a rare honor for a big man.

Clay Lee was now talking about his "armand de brignac."

Sales of this champagne had been impacted, and Jay-Z was leading his black brothers in a counterattack.

Talking gossip, talking data, talking life, Rajon Rondo still couldn't fully integrate.

He hoped the coaching staff and Lee could give him more positive feedback, but unfortunately, no one offered any 'chicken soup' until everyone left.

David Lee saw off the older teammates.

Since the next game was still a home game, he had to help the staff organize the locker room.

Novak and Barea had long been sent down by the team.

Rajon Rondo getting stable playing time every game made David Lee feel a bit sour.

Noticing the Rookie's lack of a smile, he self-deprecatingly said:

"This is my second season with the team, and now I can only play garbage time. You should feel lucky!"

"Although the New York Media always likes to criticize you, at least the coaches are still willing to give you a chance."

Rondo, packing his clothes, didn't say anything.

Stable playing time was the reason for jealousy.

He knew this, but thinking of those cold statistics, he still yearned for more:

"I just want more recognition."

On Monday, March 28th, the Cavaliers challenged the New York Knicks on the road.

After losing at home last week, LeBron James spoke out after the game:

"The Cavaliers must make more three-pointers!"

Zone Defense was the Cavaliers' winning weapon.

With a 51-20 record, having secured a playoff spot, LeBron James had already shifted his focus to the upcoming playoffs.

There was a disagreement between the core player and the Head Coach.

Jeff Van Gundy continued his consistent stance throughout the season, remaining the same after the loss:

"Our Defense wasn't good enough. When the opponent scores 112 points, it's hard for us to win the game."

112:88. Last week, the New York Knicks defeated the Cavaliers for the third time, and incidentally, they held LeBron James to 6-for-20 shooting, with him getting 24 points mostly from free throws.

The reason the The Chosen One publicly complained about three-pointers was mainly because he himself had become the most reliable shooter on the team.

His 2-for-6 from three was surprisingly the best performance on the entire team.

At 7:30 PM that evening, Madison Square Garden was already buzzing.

On the Cavaliers' bench, LeBron James, in a brown suit, frowned as he watched his teammates repeatedly clank shots.

Due to a toe injury, LeBron James was out for the game tonight.

Dwight Howard became the true core of the team, and the game content became eerily familiar, seemingly no different from last season's playoffs.

The New York Knicks fielded a twin-tower lineup.

Dwight Howard's low-post offense was not as efficient as Zydrunas Ilgauskas's jump shot.

Erik Snow and Larry Hughes were frequently left open, and Donyell Marshall became the Cavaliers' only floor spacer.

With 6 minutes and 42 seconds left in the first quarter, Dwight Howard continuously backed down from the left low post.

After a jump step, he squeezed into the paint directly in front of the basket and attempted a right-handed hook shot, but the ball clanked off the rim again.

The rebound was tapped out by Gadzuric.

As Hill snatched the ball ahead of Larry Hughes, the New York Knicks initiated another transition offense.

Dribbling the ball behind his back to his right hand, Hill sped up through the middle.

Just after crossing half-court, he noticed Larry Hughes about to catch up beside him and, while on the move, naturally passed the ball behind his back.

"Move!"

On the Cavaliers' bench, LeBron James stood up with his teammates and shouted, but Erik Snow's retreat Defense was still a beat too slow.

Two steps beyond the three-point line, Lee, who received the pass, immediately stopped and gathered the ball, quickly jumping up to shoot from near the left sideline!

"Swish!" The three-pointer swished through the net.

10:18. The somewhat slow-starting New York Knicks pulled away, and Jeff Van Gundy immediately called a timeout from the sideline.

Cheers echoed through the Madison Square Garden.

Watching the New York Knicks' atmosphere group rush onto the court to celebrate happily, LeBron James returned to his seat expressionlessly, listening to his Head Coach's instructions with his teammates:

"I don't want to emphasize this again, don't worry about the distance, all you have to do is stick to Clay Lee!"

"Move, fight through those screens!"

Jeff Van Gundy stared at everyone, repeatedly emphasizing.

Before going back on the court, he passionately clapped his hands, constantly shouting:

"Let's go!"

Van Gundy, with dark circles under his eyes, seemed to have lost the demeanor of a Champion Coach.

The Cavaliers' management consolidating power made the coaching staff realize something was wrong.

LeBron James sat in his seat, watching the Champion Coach passionately directing the game, shaking his head inwardly.

Every timeout was about Defense and 'chicken soup.'

He even had a "I can do it too" illusion:

"Perhaps the team needs clearer instructions..."

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