NBA: Starting with Jokic template

Chapter 219 Visiting the scene in person
This sixth man, who has always been called a nervous knife by the public, kept trying three-pointers in the current warm-up session.

but……

JR took a three-point shot, and the ball happened to hit someone else's shot when it hit the frame and was knocked aside.

Lin Chuan was counting silently in his heart. This seemed to be his eighth consecutive three-pointer that he had missed.

From this perspective, this guy's touch is really terrible.

But JR Smith has a very good mentality.

Although he didn't score a goal during the warm-up session, he still looked confident, as if everything was under his control.

Lin Chuan would like to call this self-confidence superstar level.

After all, didn't Kobe say, "I'd rather go 30-for-0 than 9-for-0. 9-for-0 means you've beaten yourself, you've lost all confidence, and you can't continue to play."

What he said made sense, and JR obviously listened to it. Even after missing so many shots in a row, he still confidently stood outside the three-point line and asked the staff for the ball to continue shooting, without any fear at all.

But Lin Chuan felt that if the Knicks wanted to win this life-and-death battle, it would be better not to give the ball to JR.

Otherwise, with his shooting percentage, the Heat could have opened champagne at halftime.

This game is of great significance.

New York is the largest city in the United States.

The commercial value is unparalleled.

Even though the team has not achieved decent results for many years, their team market value still ranks first in the league.

This year it has even reached 11 billion, making it one of only two teams in the league with a market value in the tens digits.

The other team is none other than the top Western Conference powerhouse, the Los Angeles Lakers.

But even though the Lakers are located in Los Angeles, a top metropolis like New York, and as the league's most prestigious team, they even just won the championship three years ago and have a roster consisting of the top ten star players in NBA history, Kobe Bryant and three other All-Stars.

But its market value is only 10 billion, and it is still surpassed by the Knicks, a team that has no achievements at all, and ranks second in the league.

The last time they were at the top of the league and lifted the championship trophy was in 1973.

Many younger Knicks fans weren't even born at the time and can only hear the story from their family elders who experienced those times firsthand.

Listen to the beautiful scene when the team won the championship.

The last time this Knicks team reached the finals was in 1999.

At that time, the team was still led by Patrick Ewing. As the eighth team in the Eastern Conference, they overcame all obstacles in the first round and made it to the finals, facing the strongest team in the West, the Spurs.

But in the final, due to Ewing's injury, the Knicks, who were missing their strongest player, could not continue facing the twin towers of Duncan and David Robinson. They were swept by their opponents with a score of 1:4 and fell at the last step again.

Since then, until today, my grades have been up and down.

But they had already completely withdrawn from the championship race when their last soul figure Ewing left.

They made the playoffs from time to time, but no one ever thought they could make it to the finals and win the trophy again.

Before Anthony came to this Knicks team, they hadn't even made the playoffs for seven years.

Even with such results, New York City fans are still extremely loyal and support the team with their actions.

And today, they finally made it to the Eastern Conference Finals again.

They even fought the Miami Heat, who reached the finals last season, until the seventh game.

As long as they can overcome their opponents, they will be able to reach the finals again after 14 years.

There is even a chance to win the championship after 40 years, allowing the Knicks to enter the ranks of three championships and make its status as a wealthy team truly worthy of its name.

The Knicks fans had been looking forward to this game for too long. Lin Chuan was surrounded by fans cheering for the team.

Some of them even have gray hair and look shaky, but they still stay in the stands, hoping to see the team make a breakthrough again.

Not only that, if the Knicks can make it to the finals again, it will not only increase the market value of their team, but also allow them to remain firmly in first place.

At the same time, it can also help the entire NBA league gain greater visibility.

After all, allowing the most popular team in the largest city in the United States to achieve excellent results and breakthrough results in the new century can effectively promote the development of this locally based league.

It can be said that there are only advantages and no disadvantages.

Today, league commissioner David Stern also came to the scene to watch the game.

This is also one of the rare times he has attended a competition in person this year.

This also caused many fans who were nearby to exclaim.

"It seems that our Knicks team has really done a good job and was able to attract the league president to watch the game."

"Yes, but he seemed to have brought someone with him. He looked very tall and had a bald head."

That’s right, the fans were talking about the person sitting next to him, who is also hailed as the next designated league commissioner, Adam Silver.

He pushed his glasses and frowned, expressing his dissatisfaction with the fans behind him calling him "Bald".

"Alas, for this kind of competition, we are very biased when we arrive at the scene, Adam."

Beside him, David Stern sighed.

He has heard many discussions among fans around him, such as this signal must be that the league is ready to ensure they enter the finals, and they will definitely win the championship this season.

Such remarks as these.

For Stern, who attaches more importance to the fairness and justice of the entire league, hearing these words made him feel a little uncomfortable.

As the league's commissioner, he should have avoided suspicion, but Adam Silver insisted on inviting him to watch the game in person.

He also said that this game is of great significance and will only benefit the league.

Even though he was extremely reluctant, the decisions made by the man in front of him had helped the league grow, and Stern gradually came to trust him unconditionally.

This forced him to follow to the competition site.

"Mr. President, I've already said it before. If the Knicks can win this game and advance to the finals, it will be very beneficial to us. The hottest team in the US defeats the former public enemy. How meaningful it is."

Adam Silver smiled.

"But what if we lose? Wouldn't it be the end of everything?"

"Lose? That only means that the Knicks are too disappointing. Besides, I don't think the Knicks will lose."

Adam Silver's tone seemed a little indifferent.

"As long as it doesn't involve refereeing scandals, it's fine. We can't have that kind of scandal again in our league."

Stern's tone was somewhat heavy.

As soon as Silver heard it, he knew that Stern was referring to the top refereeing scandal in 02.

In the Western Conference Finals, the Kings played against the Lakers. It was an ugly game with five against eight and they were defeated by free throws.

"Of course not! Mr. President, you have to know that if our alliance wants to develop healthily, we can't do these dirty and unfair things!"

Xiao Hua's tone was very serious.

But beneath the glasses, a faint light flashed.

How could they lose? You know, the Knicks have more physical strength than their opponents.

Not to mention, he already had a backup plan. No foul play?
It's really funny. When will there be no black whistle in this league? Even in the regular season, abstract penalty standards are common.

The two were seated far away from Lin Chuan. He didn't know that the most powerful person and the next most powerful person in the alliance were also present to watch the game. His eyes were on the first row of seats not far away.

A few meters away, Lin Chuan suddenly saw a familiar figure.

A short black man, wearing an outfit full of Knicks elements and colors, sat in his exclusive seat in the first row.

It was Spike Lee.

Previously, when the Thunder was striving for the longest winning streak in the NBA regular season, they faced the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

And Spike Lee mocked them a lot at the time.

Of course there is no doubt that he was slapped in the face and it felt great.

If the verbal bet counts, Lin Chuan believes that Spike Lee's face will definitely become a swollen face that no one can recognize after the game.

But Spike Lee doesn't care about being slapped in the face.

After all, given his die-hard loyalty and the team's long-standing poor record, he has been slapped in the face countless times for his big mouth and the disappointing Knicks team.

After supporting the team wholeheartedly, watching the team suffer a crushing defeat has become a common occurrence for him.

But he still persists in supporting his home team.

It is no wonder that he is known as the Knicks' most loyal fan.

He sat in his own seat with some excitement, praying for the Knicks to win the game.

"James was so funny just now. Is he sick?"

"Indeed, if the ball is not played well, headhunters will come to our home court to recruit players, such as the ever-changing LeBron James."

"He even poached players from his sworn enemy. How shameless of him to think that Lin Chuan would accept the invitation? He just won the championship with the Thunder, while his Heat is so old. Would Lin Chuan go over to help his chosen one?"

"Yes, that's what James thought: I thought he was here to assist me. He might really think that he can get the league's top center to help him with just a few words."

"That's right. Not everyone is Wade. It's not smart to believe him when he's your brother."

"No wonder Wade is so good. Who can stand this cuckoo occupying the magpie's nest? I can only say that this brother is not worth making friends with."

? ? ? ? ?

Spike Lee listened to the idle chatter of the people around him with some confusion.

What did James recruit?

What Lin Chuan?
Why did James recruit Lin Chuan?

This one is a player who is ready to play a life-and-death battle.

The other is the Thunder's star player who just finished the Western Conference Finals.

How did these two people suddenly connect?

And from the way people around were discussing it, it seemed like this was what had just happened.

Could it be that something wonderful happened during the time he was late?
"Brother, what are you talking about? Can you talk to me about it?"

Spike Lee immediately turned his head and asked the person behind him.

The fans in the second row were a little angry at being suddenly interrupted in their conversation, but after looking carefully, they suddenly realized that the person asking the question was their team's die-hard fan, the famous director Spike Lee.

I was so excited that I was a little incoherent.

"It's you! Mr. Spike Lee!"

Li waved his hand and continued to ask,

"Let's talk about what you just talked about."

The fans immediately told the great director everything that had just happened.

The dramatic elements in it were so outrageous that even this director, who actually made the movie, found it outrageous.

He couldn't help but open his mouth and said slowly,

"Isn't it that James has a brain problem?"

The fans nodded their heads like pounding garlic.

"Yeah, not only do I think so, everyone thinks so."

Spike Lee murmured,
"It seems that people really need to go to college... If you don't go to college, your cultural level is really not good... No wonder he compares himself to a king all day long... I can suddenly understand many of his actions now. This is not hypocrisy, but the truth..."

At this moment, he also felt the gaze from not far away as if with spider sense, and suddenly turned his head.

Lin Chuan is extremely recognizable due to his unusual height and his face that has appeared in the news countless times.

Not to mention that the two of them once had an argument during the game, which left Spike Lee with an even greater impression of him.

Seeing the person coming, he was stunned at first, then sneered.
"Why don't the Western Conference players train properly and come to our Madison Square Garden?"

"It's none of your business, just watch your game."

Lin Chuan didn't tolerate him and directly retorted.

The team's biggest fan was scolded, but the others did not join in the scolding. Instead, they watched the old man and the young man with interest.

"Clean your neck and wait to be defeated by us in the finals!"

Listening to Spike Lee's big talk, Lin Chuan sneered.
"What a humor! What you said is hilarious."

"It's still a question whether you can make it to the finals. Don't lose to the Heat first, or you'll just be crying later."

"Oh, by the way, if you really cry, I can lend you some paper."

After saying that, Lin Chuan touched his pocket, actually took out a pack of paper and gestured in the air a few times.

Spike Lee laughed in anger.

"Just wait and see how we beat the Heat, and then we will beat you in the finals in the same way!"

The weak and non-aggressive provocation made Lin Chuan lose the interest in fighting him.

Not to mention, the game is about to start.

"It's good that you make it. Even if we beat you 4-0, we can still help you sell two more tickets. This is my last mercy to you."

After saying that, Lin Chuan ignored Spike Lee's continued provocation, put his hands behind his head, and dozed off, waiting for the seventh game to officially begin.

A few minutes later, as the lights suddenly dimmed and then brightened again, the stadium entered the game state.

The game officially started.

Lin Chuan also sat up straight and began to pay attention to the performance of the players on the field.

As the referee threw the ball high, the game entered the jump ball phase.

The two big centers jumped up like giant beasts.

Chandler undisputedly defeated Haslem and won the first offensive right of the game for the Knicks.

(End of this chapter)