Chapter 782
Philadelphia Celebration
Chapter 782 Philadelphia Celebration (Daily Life Chapter)
On Friday, April 1, 2011, NBPA Executive Director Billy Hunter openly criticized President David Stern in front of the media.
Witnessed by onlookers, Billy Hunter, his dark face contorted with anger, angrily shared stories from his childhood:
"I don't know where the president and management team grew up, but I lived with rats when I was a child."
“I used to kill rats when I was a kid. We had a rifle at home, and we would lie in the kitchen and shoot them from the floor!”
“One thing my grandmother taught me is that if you trap a mouse, you must leave it a way out. If it can’t find a way out, then it will fight you.”
"The situation is the same now. If you don't give us a way out, if you don't give us a chance to compromise, you will face a war!"
"."
This strong stance is much tougher than that of players' union president Fisher. During the All-Star Weekend, Fisher spoke on behalf of the players at the routine meeting, and everything was agreed upon, which only made the owners more arrogant.
Later, at an internal player meeting, Billy Hunter made an extremely strong statement to the players, even directly announcing a lockout.
The veterans, led by Li You, didn't care and continued to express their support as always, but the young players, experiencing such a scene for the first time, were taken aback.
Derrick Rose no longer has a blank expression; he even talked about it in an interview:
"Honestly, I was shocked at the time. I won't reveal any information, but the union will always be on our side."
At the time, the sports media didn't understand what Rose meant. Now, looking back and seeing Billy Hunter's "if it doesn't work out, we'll break up" attitude, everyone finally understands that compromise is impossible.
This is not the first time David Stern has been criticized. In fact, during offseason meetings, representatives of the owners also expressed dissatisfaction with the league.
At the time, rumors circulated that several owners angrily denounced the league for lacking competitiveness, and that the monopoly of championships was unacceptable to everyone.
However, after the president and James Dolan held two more meetings, the news about this topic stopped. Looking at the new season, the effect is indeed significant, and the Knicks will miss the playoffs.
A lockout is no small matter for most players. The Mavericks have been on a roll lately, and even former NBA star Jason Kidd, in an interview, publicly commented on the situation:
"I don't mind the lockout. Although my goal is to play until I'm 40, I can accept retiring now!"
"I will give it my all in this year's playoffs. This may be my last dance. I am willing to give everything for it. This is also the attitude of the entire Mavericks team."
The Celtics, mired in injuries, also showed great resilience. Garnett even laughed out loud when talking about the lockout, jokingly saying:
"I'm too old. If I can take a season off, it would be a good thing for me!"
"If it weren't for the championship, I might already be in bed. Every morning when I wake up, I can hear my knees screaming. Maybe resting for a while can solve my physical problems."
With both Jermaine O'Neal and Shaquille O'Neal sidelined with injuries, Kevin Durant had to play center for half a season. Kendrick Perkins, returning from injury, wanted to help his teammate, but unfortunately, his physical condition had declined significantly.
In order to achieve a better ranking, Garnett gave it his all, and Rondo played through injury. Coach Rivers' eyes welled up with tears when talking about the team's situation, and he emphasized this more than once on camera:
"This is the best team I've ever coached, and the Celtics deserve a championship trophy."
With only a few games left in the regular season, the competition in the Eastern Conference continues, with the Cavaliers and Celtics fighting tooth and nail for home-court advantage and both recently going on winning streaks.
The Heat didn't let their guard down either. The Big Three never expected the Bulls to have such a strong finish. Coach Thibodeau didn't consider resting players at all at the end of the season, and the starting lineup played their maximum minutes!
Coach Spoelstra looked on with a puzzled expression. Even someone as "iron-willed" as James was starting to conserve his energy, yet Rose had managed to play 42 minutes in just a few games.
This coaching style is hard to empathize with; Spoelstra even doubted that Thibodeau came from the Knicks, saying that the defending champions wouldn't play like this.
Of course, there are also advantages to using players in this way. As the team's record continues to improve, Rose's MVP campaign is gaining momentum, and the NBA is also working to promote him.
Another candidate, Durant, was anxious inside, but on the surface he had to pretend to be indifferent. However, his playing time also increased in several games at the end of March, and the young man was really "restless".
On Sunday, April 3rd, the Knicks will have another home game, facing the Cavaliers led by Deron Williams.
Howard, who was also pursuing the MVP award, had to drop out of the team due to a back injury. However, head coach Mike Brown did not switch to "farmer's basketball" mode and has been controlling the playing time of the core players since the All-Star Weekend.
Tonight, Howard was completely absent from the game. The "Happy Beast" sat on the bench with a smile on his face. With a two-game lead over the Celtics, their third-place position in the East should be secure!
Raja Bell is also out tonight due to a wrist injury. In contrast, the Knicks have a more complete roster. Li You even arrived at the arena early to warm up, which is unusual for him, and he seems to value this game very much.
After the game started at 20 p.m., Deron Williams gradually went cold. If the Jazz have always adhered to a strict tactical system, then the Cavaliers are just "going all out".
Mike Brown relies more on the performance of star players, but unfortunately, key players are injured, and Deron Williams and Arron Afflalo have not yet developed chemistry, with the two having little interaction in most possessions.
The backcourt was completely dominated, and rebounding was also problematic. When Ibaka once again grabbed an offensive rebound and drew a foul, the cheers from the crowd were unstoppable!
The rookies who entered the starting lineup were more aggressive than before. Their mid-range jump shot was still not very consistent, but they could also see significant improvement in terms of big data analysis.
Ibaka smiled as he stepped onto the free-throw line, repeatedly high-fiving his teammates. He took deep breaths while shooting the free throws, and immediately clenched his fists in celebration after making both shots.
At 11:17, seeing the home team take the lead, Mike Brin in the MSG commentary booth started gossiping again, talking about the good news he had received in the past two days:
"Kyrie Irving, who came to New York for treatment, has resolved an injury to his right toe, reportedly caused by an extra piece of sesamoid bone. This injury has actually resolved some potential problems."
"The young man was eliminated in the round of 16. Although he suffered an injury, he still plans to attend our trial."
Injuries have lowered Kyrie Irving's draft stock somewhat, but head coach Krzyzewski still strongly supports his player. He genuinely admires Irving's basketball talent, and even asserted after the game:
"The injury will not affect Kyrie's future. He has not yet fully realized his potential and will become even better after experiencing the NBA."
Noticing that Li You hit another long-range three-pointer after a pick-and-roll at the top of the key, Walter Fred excitedly shouted and then added gossiping:
"We will definitely still select Irving. He can learn a lot from Lee. It's a bit of a pity that his explosiveness doesn't seem to reach the top level, but fortunately his ball-handling skills have solved some problems."
"."
New York-based basketball commentators have been providing in-depth analysis of Kyrie Irving's technical characteristics, and MSG's draft feature has been very well received.
Not every fan cares about the NCAA. In New York, people prefer to "hold meetings." Carmelo Anthony is practically "paddling" his stats, so everyone is busy cracking down on stat-padders.
For the Cavaliers, JJ Hickson received consecutive assists from Deron Williams to help the team score, but Gasol quickly responded as well.
The defensive intensity dropped, and the score quickly went back and forth. With two minutes left in the first quarter, Deron Williams, who had been substituted out, shook his head helplessly, high-fived "Happy Beast" in celebration, and then muttered something under his breath as he sat down in his seat:
"Injuries? Lee looks stronger. After a season of rest, I feel like he's 20 again."
The Knicks' medical team has been producing research reports this season, though the specific technical details are hard for most people to understand. But the general idea is that 33-year-old Lee Woo will also decline in the future.
Controlling playing time is to slow down the decline; in short, resting or missing some games is the right choice.
Deron Williams' assessment was correct; Li You's muscle definition is more pronounced this season, and he appears more agile after losing weight. Some of his three-pointers no longer employ the two-stage release technique of the past, and his release height has been adjusted, resulting in a longer shooting distance.
Stretching his strong arms, Howard felt a pang of envy when he heard his partner complaining. He had been searching for years but hadn't been able to find out what technologies Li You was using.
The side effects of the medication are already starting to appear; the back injury shouldn't have been this severe. "Happy Beast" remained silent for a while, then covered his mouth and whispered:
"Bro, you can talk to Li about your health sometime!"
Seeing his partner winking and making faces, Deron Williams immediately shrugged. "Drug Man" thinks everyone is "on drugs." If there really were a "miracle drug" that could improve shooting percentage, the Knicks would never have monopolized the championship.
At the end of the first quarter, the score was 24-38, a familiar margin that sent Madison Square Garden into a frenzy as New York fans began celebrating their victory ahead of schedule.
Li You played the entire first quarter, contributing 24 points on 8-of-9 shooting, including 6-of-7 from three-point range and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line, tying the game against the Cavaliers.
On the bench, as soon as Stephenson got up, he was pushed behind by the crowd. The sycophants grinned and rushed forward to high-five him, as if they themselves had scored 24 points.
The rookie was incredibly envious when he saw Danny Green chatting with the team's leader. Since Stephenson joined the team, he hadn't been able to get the "honorable" job and hadn't had much interaction with Li You.
But this effortless scoring ability, as if drinking water, completely impressed the newbie, who wanted to flatter him, but was quickly instructed by the veteran:
"Rookie, go get the energy drink! Don't just stand there like an idiot!"
Gazuric and others stared intently as they gave instructions, and Ben Wallace waved after taking off his training uniform. Stephenson could only jog over to take drinks from the staff and begin serving everyone.
In the remainder of the game, the Cavaliers surrendered early, and the game became garbage time after halftime.
D'Antoni used a fadeaway jumper throughout the game; he's currently busy with the draft, and Mike Malone is handling the team's affairs.
The lead assistant coach, also dressed in a black suit, finally waved to Stephenson with a serious expression halfway through the fourth quarter. The rookie, excited, sprinted forward with all his might, nearly sliding into the assistant coach.
When the rookie fell to the floor, the New York fans in the arena burst into laughter. Even a poor performance by a home team player can lead to a "criticism." This last-round pick doesn't seem like a smart player at all!
Thaddeus Young, who was substituted out, looked unhappy. He was having a great time racking up points. He came to the scorer's table, forced a smile, gave the rookie a high-five, and whispered a warning:
"Don't embarrass yourselves again! We don't want to see people laughing at us after the game!"
"."
Facing a completely relaxed Cavaliers team, Stephenson performed well in his first home "debut," even seizing a transition opportunity to complete a gliding dunk.
However, the rookie wasn't thick-skinned enough and failed to celebrate passionately, which upset some fans.
When the buzzing sound rang out, the score was fixed at 102-123, and both teams' players had a great time.
After the game, the players from both sides shook hands. When Howard heard Li You praise him for winning the MVP, he grinned from ear to ear and for a moment forgot about the "technology" incident.
“Deron will succeed. He is very strong, which will help him establish himself in the Eastern Conference backcourt battles.”
"Cleveland fans need to be patient. It takes time to build chemistry, and this duo has a chance to win a championship."
After every match, Li You would routinely shower his teammates with praise, especially the younger players, for whom he was never stingy with compliments. Tina Cervasio listened, nodding repeatedly, leaning closer, tossing her blonde hair, and winking as she asked:
"It's said that the White House has invited you to this year's gala dinner. The President hopes to make up for your championship win, Lee. What are your thoughts on this?"
Since the Knicks missed the playoffs, Obama, a basketball enthusiast, took the opportunity to tease Lee Yu while attending an event in Washington, claiming that he was the luckiest president to have hosted another championship team during his term.
Every year on the last Saturday night of April, the White House holds a dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel. Li You hadn't had time in the past, but this was the first time he had been invited.
With a smile on his face, Li You pretended to be an "old man" and joked along with the topic:
"I'm getting old! Thank you, Mr. President, for remembering the 'past champions,' but I think the Knicks will still be at the White House for the next few years, you know, our goal is not yet achieved."
At the end of the interview, when asked about Billy Hunter's tough stance, Li You also expressed his support:
“None of us want the season to be suspended, but we won’t compromise either. Billy did the right thing, and everyone will support him.”
"If the season is suspended, I might go to England; watching Neymar play is something every fan looks forward to."
Manchester United have a chance to go further in the Champions League this year, and Neymar, who has successfully made it into the starting lineup, has shown his talent as a player, earning high praise from the British sports media.
This trend even reached New York; if Ferguson hadn't been worried that the young man would become the next Beckham, Neymar would have already arrived in the United States.
Ignoring Tina Cervasio's finger, Li You turned and went to the sidelines. Ivana and Georgina were whispering to each other when the two little ones were quickly picked up.
Ivana was no longer surprised by Aurelius's calling out "Daidi." Ivana, her blonde hair styled up and dressed in a white dress, kissed the little guy twice. Seeing Li You's inquiring gaze, she smiled and whispered in his ear:
"We talked about the dinner again, and Georgina told me that there's been a 'Hollywood-ization' trend in recent years."
Unlike Ivana, who wanted to attend the dinner party, Georgina, dressed in a white T-shirt and jeans, winked and said proactively:
"I've been there a few times, and it's so boring! I really wish you could turn down this invitation."
The two men, still chatting about the topic, watched the blonde woman's happy expression. Li You sighed inwardly; Donald had also been invited, and this year was likely to be a good show.
"After dinner, we'll head to Manchester. I'll take you guys to play football!"
Upon hearing that they didn't have to go to class, the little ones cheered. It wasn't until Ivana secretly pinched Li You a couple of times in annoyance that the blonde girl regained her smile.
The New York reporters who witnessed Li You and his group were numb; now they've "completely stopped pretending," and nobody cares about their "family-friendly" news anymore.
-
On Friday, April 8th, Kobe, still striving for a playoff spot, once again rallied his team in the locker room before the game.
After losing two consecutive games to the Knicks, Kobe's authority had declined somewhat. Fortunately, there were no traitors in the locker room, and after dominating everyone on the practice court, Kobe regained their trust.
Eighth place is an awkward position, with a very high probability of being eliminated in the first round. Kobe naturally wants to avoid this. The second-place Bulls are led by a rookie, and he's determined to pick them off!
"Don't relax, listen, our goal isn't just to make the playoffs, the championship is what we should be pursuing!"
"We need to win every game. It's time to test our focus. The Philadelphia fans are watching us."
"."
Entering April, Kobe would give a pep talk before each game, which fueled the 76ers' desire. After all, the Mamba seemed very confident, and it seemed like upsets against the Bulls were not a problem.
Despite not being highly efficient against the struggling Raptors, Kobe still led his team to dominate the game, winning 90-98 and maintaining a three-game lead over the Pacers.
On Monday the 11th, in the Battle of the Mamba, Kobe led his team to a hard-fought victory over the Magic, securing their seventh-place position in the Eastern Conference.
On Wednesday, the 76ers played their final game of the regular season, and Mamba finally got a rest, with the cheers from the Philadelphia home crowd never stopping!
Despite losing to the Pistons 104-98, Kobe's impressive record of 44 wins and 38 losses sent the crowd into a frenzy. He celebrated with gritted teeth, and in the post-game interview, his expression was resolute as he loudly proclaimed:
"The playoffs are my stage!"
(End of this chapter)