Chapter 894
"The Scapegoat"
On Sunday, December 14, 2014, the Miami Heat officially announced a major piece of news:
Chris Bosh is out of action indefinitely due to a hamstring strain.
After the news was posted on Twitter, the comment section was filled with criticism. With a record of 10 wins and 13 losses, the Heat's performance in the new season has not met expectations, and many fans have already begun to miss the Chosen One.
Bosh's injury, who had just signed a five-year maximum contract, would undoubtedly further impact the team's performance. That night, the home game against the Bulls suddenly became one-sided, leaving Miami fans heartbroken.
At the end of the third quarter, the score was 72-48. Some screaming fans in their seats had already started to leave. The team hadn't scored more than 20 points in the quarter, and their poor performance left no room for criticism.
"shush"
Fans in the back row left in an orderly fashion, while those near the front row began to boo loudly. With many teams scoring 120 points in a row, the Heat's 48 points in three quarters was simply too poor.
Before the start of the final quarter, head coach Spoelstra looked grim during a sideline interview. The Heat had already entered a rebuilding phase, and their roster lacked competitiveness.
Unfortunately, as the head coach, he still had to keep making empty promises, since the team was tanking right after James left, which would be embarrassing for the whole team.
“Mike Dunleavy scored 19 points in the third quarter, hat off to him, our defense did have some problems.”
"Chris's absence is a huge loss, and Udonis also suffered an injury early tonight. I don't want to complain about these things, but luck really wasn't on our side."
"Health is very important during the long regular season, and we have longer-term goals."
The fans at the stadium didn't buy into Coach Spoelstra's "long-term goals," and even though the Heat gradually found their rhythm in the fourth quarter, more and more spectators left the arena.
With 1 minute and 03 seconds left in the game, Wade was substituted out. By then, the American Airlines Arena was almost empty. Back in his seat, the Flash angrily threw down his towel, which was an insult to him!
Chris Bosh, dressed in a suit and sitting at the end of the bench, looked somewhat helpless at the scene.
Even though they were forced to leave early in the playoffs, so many people were still playing in the regular season. Miami fans were already being very kind. Bosh didn't know how to comfort his partner and could only watch as Wade covered his head with a towel.
The last minute flew by, and as the buzzing of the engines began, more and more fans got up and left the stadium. 96-76, tonight's game was really awful!
As the players from both sides shook hands briefly, only a few extreme fans continued shouting. Derrick Rose remained expressionless despite the jeers, while Luol Deng gloated and quipped:
"Guys, you're in trouble!"
Wade and his opponent bumped fists and then remained silent. Although this wasn't the first time this had happened, it was still embarrassing for someone to run away before the third quarter was even over.
Compared to the United Center, the Bulls' fans are extremely "loyal." Despite making so many contributions to the community, Wade was still insulted by some extreme fans, which made him furious.
At the post-game press conference, Wade didn't smile either, and as usual, a reporter asked a routine question:
"Wade, does LeBron James' huge success with the Lakers mean that the Heat's team culture is no longer suited to modern basketball?"
With a record of 20 wins and 3 losses, the Lakers are not only on a winning streak, but they are also providing fans with plenty of entertainment every few days.
James and Howard frequently exchange sarcastic remarks, making the Los Angeles stage particularly vibrant this season and showcasing its "Hollywood" appeal to the fullest.
Seeing his good friend achieve success again, Wade felt a pang of bitterness. Despite his poor reputation, the "Chosen One's" outstanding statistics were recognized by basketball commentators; on the Excel spreadsheet, he simply couldn't compare to his opponent.
"The Heat have made the playoffs for many years in a row. In recent years, we have experienced the conference finals and the NBA finals multiple times. In my opinion, this is a great success."
"I don't like this kind of boring talk. In your opinion, what kind of locker room culture does modern basketball need?"
"As long as basketball is a sport, some old-fashioned culture will continue to be passed down."
Why would anyone label the Heat, who have had multiple 60+ win games in the past, as "losers"? If our achievements mean failure, then what about teams that rarely make the playoffs?
"Hey buddy, stop pointing fingers at us. Basketball isn't just about winning championships."
After holding back for over a month, Wade, who had been somewhat on edge, finally erupted. The Flash, who became increasingly agitated as he spoke, left the reporters in the audience looking at each other in bewilderment. They were just there to stir things up and have some fun, and they never expected the person involved to react so strongly.
After the press conference, Heat staff tried to comfort Wade, but the Flash walked away quickly with a long face.
The thought of Heat fans holding another "criticism session" on social media tomorrow made Wade feel even worse.
The New York trend eventually reached Miami. With the championship out of reach, Heat fans began to "enjoy the process," finding endless amusement in praising their star players!
After all, the dollars earned by star players include "insult fees," meaning they have to hurl insults if they play poorly.
-
On Monday the 15th, LeBron James' fans on social media praised their idol's "decision," saying that if he had stayed with the Heat, he would definitely have been "bleeded dry" by the team!
Pat Riley, this washed-up "old hand," should leave the management. Many fans are hoping that the Heat will falter this season, so that the role of the chosen one can be highlighted.
Tim Duncan's die-hard fans are "homeless," and on the Spurs Reddit forum, many fans are secretly hoping the team's performance will decline, thus highlighting their idol's greatness.
That night, in the away game against the Trail Blazers, Parker and Ginobili were both absent, and Boris Diaw quietly became the team leader.
Led by the Frenchman, the game went down to the wire, and the Trail Blazers suddenly erupted during the rotation phase, leaving the Spurs unable to respond.
With a score of 95-108, the Trail Blazers improved their record to 19 wins and 6 losses, taking a two-game lead over the Spurs.
Damian Lillard had an outstanding performance, shooting 8-for-18 from the field, 1-for-3 from three-point range, and 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, scoring a team-high 23 points, along with 10 rebounds and 6 assists.
The Portland fans at the scene were especially happy. They even had their own "God-Lee" meme. Many of Lillard's technical moves are very similar to Li You's, and those with poor eyesight could even mistake it for a GOAT performance.
Trail Blazers fans also contributed some memes on social media, to which Lillard not only didn't object but actively shared them.
When interviewed on the sidelines and asked about his playing style, Lillard smiled and responded enthusiastically:
"I started imitating Lee's playing style when I was very young. For me, Knicks game footage is the best coach!"
“The voices on social media don’t bother me at all; I only feel honored and I long to have all of Li’s skills.”
Lee Yu's influence among young players began to stand out. Starting with the 09 draft class, young people stopped talking about Michael Jordan, and the vice GOAT has been completely forgotten in recent years.
Lillard not only emulated Li You in every way, but he was also more candid than veteran players in accepting championship experience. When discussing the team's outstanding performance in the new season, he immediately praised them:
"Wesley's championship experience has helped us! He's had some injuries over the past few seasons, but he's instilled a winning culture in the team!"
"You know, this is very important; it's key to our success in the new season."
"."
After the game, a reporter interviewed Wesley Matthews in the home team's locker room. When talking about his championship experience, Matthews choked up as he spoke:
“I will never forget Lee’s help to me. For a role player, a championship run is an incredible experience.”
"Coming to the Trail Blazers, I wanted to inject championship experience into this young team. I see Lee's shadow in Damian; he's outstanding and has a killer instinct!"
Wesley Matthews's habitual boasting left the reporters feeling uneasy, with many even questioning their own memory, as Matthews seemed to have never spent more than a few years in New York.
When the rookie was bragging as if he used to play alongside Li You every day, and the topic of the GOAT's impending retirement came up, Matthews almost burst into tears, his dark face filled with excitement:
"This is a loss to the basketball world. I can't imagine the NBA without Lee's performance!" "Fans all over the world, like me, just want time to slow down right now. We need Lee."
Aldridge has seen Matthews' "performances" many times over the years, but witnessing this scene tonight still left him speechless.
From the perspective of the big man, more fans are hoping for Li You's retirement. Anyone who craves a championship hopes that the Knicks will falter immediately. New York has won too many games and it's time to bring in someone else!
-
On Thursday, December 18th, with Christmas approaching, the Chinese media in Houston were not happy, as Yao Ming's foot injury had recurred.
Although everyone knows that it is normal for Yao Ming, who is 34 years old, to suffer injuries, some reporters still blamed Russell Westbrook.
Regardless of the outcome of the game, Sina Sports would immediately hold a "slaughtering the turtle" meeting after the game, and the wave of criticism would spread from New York to the other side of the ocean. Sports communities like Hupu would often flood their pages after the game.
That night, the Rockets hosted the Pelicans. After changing their name, the team had a good record in the new season, and Anthony Davis began to realize his potential.
Facing the Rockets' frontcourt duo of Motiejunas and Josh Smith, the young Davis easily scored 19 points in the first half, shooting 6-for-9 from the field and 7-for-8 from the free-throw line.
Not only did he score the highest points of the game, the young man also delivered two impressive blocks, with Westbrook and Lin delivering blocks one after another, making the Chinese reporters at the scene frown.
Westbrook scored 14 points in the first half, shooting 5-for-14 from the field, 1-for-4 from three-point range, and 3-for-4 from the free-throw line. Although his performance was good, Davis stole the spotlight.
With the score at 49-39, trailing by 10 points at halftime, the Houston fans at the Toyota Center were somewhat demoralized.
Coach McHale made adjustments in the second half, but unfortunately, the team's inside game resulted in a series of missed opportunities tonight.
The point difference persisted until the very end, with the final score settling at 99-88. Boos erupted in the arena after the loss, and the team's 13-12 record clearly fell short of the fans' expectations.
Having spent so many years in the NBA, Yao Ming has developed a different perspective on the wins and losses of regular season games. Even after losing a game, he still greets his opponents with a smile and doesn't forget to comfort his disappointed teammates.
It's not common to judge whether a team has the "championship potential" at the beginning of the season, as teams like the Pacers last year often collapse in the second half of the season and suffer consecutive losses.
Every season he aims for the championship, a recurring theme in an interview with Sina Sports. Accustomed to the "big wins" narrative of American sports media, Yao Ming adopted a relaxed attitude and jokingly responded to a familiar reporter:
"A championship? Maybe joining the Knicks halfway through the season is the only way to achieve that goal."
"That's a joke. I'm not leaving Houston. This might be my last season. The doctor told me that continuing could have serious consequences, and I need to go back to my family."
Many sports reporters were somewhat disappointed by Yao Ming's decision, subtly shifting the blame when interviewing Westbrook. However, the young man didn't seem to think anything of it, smiling broadly as he expressed his support to Chinese fans.
"I love the enthusiastic fans in China. You know, my knee injury has been bothering me a bit, and I'm still adjusting to my new physical condition."
"The new tactical system will not affect the Rockets. I have talked to Yao about this, and I hope he can be himself."
"."
The other party's answer was naturally unsatisfactory, and many reporters at this moment unanimously recalled Zhang Weiping's usual commentary:
"Westbrook, like Kobe, sometimes plays recklessly. If he doesn't change this habit, the Rockets have no chance of winning a championship!"
-
On Tuesday, December 23, in their last game before Christmas, the Lakers successfully avenged their loss at home, ending the Warriors' 10-game winning streak.
In back-to-back games, Klay Thompson was severely off his game, and James and Howard, with their extensive experience against the GOAT, successfully shut down the Warriors' engine, Stephen Curry.
Double-teaming star players has proven effective, and constantly wearing them down on both offense and defense is the right game strategy!
As for why it failed on Li You, it can only be because GOAT's pure strength is too great.
James and Howard, who successfully increased Curry's intensity, were both in high spirits after the game, hugging everyone they met. "Happy Beast" even chatted and laughed with Andre Iguodala, while Mamba was once again ignored by everyone.
Due to Steve Nash's recurrence of his back injury, LeBron James played point guard tonight. The Chosen One performed exceptionally well, much to the satisfaction of head coach Byron Scott.
In fact, early in his career, Van Gundy had already transformed James into a point forward, and after going around in circles, James returned to where he started.
Kobe was relegated to the bench again tonight, and the Mamba's three-point shooting was ineffective. James prefers to play with players like Ellington and James Jones.
When asked about the starting lineup for the Christmas Day game in a sideline interview, James shrugged and smiled knowingly, subtly shifting the blame:
"I love playing at Madison Square Garden, and the Christmas Day game will be a gift we give to the fans together."
"As for the outcome, I don't think it's important. You know, Lee is about to retire. I cherish the experience of playing against the greatest player in history more."
"We will indeed make some changes to the starting lineup. New York fans love Kobe, and the Lakers will not let them down."
It's as if the loss is solely due to Kobe starting. With a record of 23 wins and 4 losses, the Lakers are leading the entire league, and sports reporters are well aware that the Mamba's contribution is a significant factor.
Ordinary reports are no longer enough to attract more attention. Influenced by the Knicks, more and more fans are no longer focused on the championship, but instead look forward to the "fun" of each season.
Reports of Mamba being sidelined and the Lakers' locker room conflict found an audience, with Los Angeles sports media all compromising and playing along with James and Howard's performance.
"LeBron, does the team have any plans to strengthen the team? Our defensive stats are only ranked 10th."
Howard, who had come closer, grinned widely and yelled before his partner could answer the question:
"Andrei should have stayed!"
Inside the Staples Center, some spectators, enjoying the spectacle, were also cheering for Iguodala.
Although the "F4" team's performance did not meet expectations, Iguodala did his best. Unlike the injured players, he played every game for several consecutive seasons and excelled on both offense and defense.
Kobe, who returned to the locker room early, was in a bad mood. Back in his seat, he watched Boozer, Clarkson, and others swaying and humming along to the music, which made him even angrier.
Channing Frye and James Jones joined in the cheers and applause. The league's best record and outstanding performance made the locker room incredibly joyful.
Hearing everyone starting to plan their Christmas getaway to New York, Kobe couldn't help but retort with a stern face:
"We need to get serious! Listen, I don't want to lose in New York."
You've never won before.
Ellington had been muttering something under his breath, but the locker room suddenly fell silent. Finding everyone staring at him, he could only awkwardly scratch his head, shrug, and continue:
"Even if we lose, we're still number one in the league. Lee always performs exceptionally well in nationally televised games. Don't expect me, a minimum-salary player, to limit the GOAT!"
Hearing their teammates' words, everyone joked about James and Howard, who were still beaten by Li You despite winning 2000 million. No one mentioned winning the game; everyone had already assumed defeat.
Kobe, with his dark complexion, was once again ignored. The Mamba grew increasingly angry and could only mutter a curse under his breath:
"A bunch of damn cowards!" (End of Chapter)