NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 858 Old Deng's "Last Dance"? (Chapter without main character)

Thursday, May 16, 2013, the Western Conference semifinals came to an end.

After Chris Paul got injured in Game 2, the Clippers went into a chaotic and disorganized state when they returned to their home court.

Despite both teams having a key guard injured, the Thunder have become increasingly dominant with James Harden taking over the ball, surprising many commentators. Westbrook's absence has not had a significant impact.

In Game 6 last night, Harden once again delivered a signature performance, teaming up with Durant to score 58 points, leading the Thunder to advance to the conference finals!
Photos of Harden and Durant shouting and high-fiving in celebration after the game appeared on several mainstream sports media outlets. At that moment, everyone understood why Harden demanded more dollars; the young man deserved a big contract.

More and more experts believe the Thunder will win a championship, and three members of the young team were selected for the All-NBA Team announced last week.

The five players selected for the All-NBA First Team are:

Chris Paul, Li You, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Tim Duncan;

The second lineup consists of 5 players:

Russell Westbrook, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Blake Griffin, Pau Gasol;
The third team consists of 5 players:

James Harden, Kobe Bryant, Paul George, Marc Gasol, Dwight Howard.

The Thunder's three young players have fully realized their potential, and it's rare to see a team with three All-NBA players in such a combination.

The team's management has done its best. As long as the contract extension is completed, the Thunder will be a championship-caliber team for the next 5 years. Considering the ages of the three players, once Li You retires, the three of them will most likely dominate the league.

Durant didn't think too much about what would happen in the future. Last offseason, he kept asking the Thunder to keep Harden and head coach Brooks, and it turned out he was right.

After returning to the conference finals last night, Durant updated his Twitter:
"I don't need to go to other cities to build a championship roster because the Thunder have their own 'Big Three' model! #YoungMVP #ThunderBigThree #GOATRecognitionOfTheFinals"

Durant was clearly mocking another young rival, James, as the Heat struggled.

With their rebounding problems being exploited by their opponents, coupled with their poor shooting, the Heat are likely to be dragged into a Game 7 by the Pacers tomorrow night.

That evening, the Spurs faced an important game. Unlike the Lakers, who were plagued by injuries, the Warriors, who had upset their opponents, were a tougher opponent.

The first game of the series went into overtime. Curry's three-pointer caught the Spurs off guard, and his distinctive tactical approach also made Popovich's eyes twitch slightly. The old man doesn't like opponents who shoot three-pointers!

However, the Warriors' small lineup also has huge problems. After losing a home game, Diaw entered the starting lineup and revitalized the Spurs' offense. They returned to their home court and successfully took the series lead, making the trend of the series increasingly clear.

At 7 p.m. that night, Oracle Arena turned into a sea of ​​gold once again, with Warriors fans believing that their team could drag the series into a Game 7, creating an exceptionally lively atmosphere.

TNT broadcast the All-Defensive Team again, highlighting Tim Duncan's "First Team and Second Team":
The five players on the All-Defensive First Team are:

Lee Yu, Chris Paul, LeBron James, Serge Ibaka, Joakim Noah.

The five players on the All-Defensive Second Team are:

Mike Conley, Tony Allen, Paul George, Tim Duncan, Marc Gasol.

Duncan has suddenly returned to his "peak" this season, and his performance in the first two rounds of the series was also outstanding. His defense against Howard in the first round was particularly impressive. The veteran Duncan seems to be more dominant than the young center.

In the Warriors' game against the Nuggets, Harrison Barnes played the power forward position for a time, but after facing the Spurs in the semifinals, Mark Jackson could only watch as the Warriors' interior defense was breached.

Carl Landry's playing time is decreasing, while Draymond Green is trusted but faces foul trouble in important games.

This series made it clear to commentators that not all pick-and-roll teams can counter the Spurs.

At 37, Duncan remains an excellent defender. As for why he struggled so much in the Finals when he was younger, there's only one reason—his opponents were simply too strong.

With half an hour to go before the game, Duncan, who was trying to warm up, still had a blank expression. The near loss in overtime in Game 1 brought back painful memories of his three-point shooting.

Although Duncan didn't say anything, everyone on the Spurs team could tell that their leader didn't like the opponent. In the previous games, Curry's three-point shooting did indeed have a bit of Li You's flair.
In this crucial game, Ginobili, who started the game, was constantly reminded by Popovich on the sidelines that the veterans didn't want a Game 7 and they had to finish the game tonight.

On the TNT commentary booth, Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller were still discussing Duncan's physical condition this season:
"As long as he stays healthy, Duncan has a chance to reach his 8th NBA Finals appearance!"

"This is also an incredible achievement, which will tie Elgin Baylor's record. Considering he is 37 years old, I want to give Duncan the utmost respect."

Miller spoke these words with a serious expression, but Kevin Harlan then recalled an embarrassing record: Elgin Baylor's Finals winning percentage seemed rather poor.
"If the Spurs win tonight, they will face the Thunder in the conference finals."

"I have more faith in the younger players. Tim Duncan's stamina will be tested, which is too difficult for a 37-year-old veteran."

"."

Since the Spurs had figured out the Warriors' strategy, the two players spent more time discussing Duncan's physical condition before the game.

Popovich, with his years of experience against the Knicks, had taken the initiative in the series. With the same big man and four small men lineup, Diaw's championship experience was a great help, and the Warriors never had a good solution.

After the start of the first quarter, the Spurs, who fielded a twin-tower lineup, quickly gained the upper hand.

Duncan seemed to be 5 years younger, facing Draymond Green with face-up bank shots, fakes, and then forcefully attacking the basket. Midway through the game, Duncan even blew past the defender to complete an alley-oop.

"shush"

Duncan's aggressive play drew boos from the crowd. After a few explosive possessions, he started setting plays and screens on the perimeter, and several handoff passes gave Parker easy opportunities.

Klay Thompson's shooting touch was ruined by Ginobili's dirty tricks, and in his anxiety, he lost control of his emotions.

On the other side, Kawhi Leonard of the Spurs also performed well on both ends of the court. When the camera focused on Popovich, the old man had a rare smile on his face. The coach had broken up the opponent's pick-and-roll offense!

Despite the Warriors' tight defense on transition offense and three-pointers, they lost their offensive rhythm again. At the end of the first quarter, the Spurs led 26-19, successfully suppressing their opponents.

Curry limped toward the bench, having nearly suffered a foul in the first-round game against the Nuggets. Although there was no structural damage, the twisted ankle affected his performance.

Klay Thompson was also somewhat frustrated, going 0-for-2 and scoring no points under relentless pressure from his opponents.

Whether it was his off-ball cuts or catch-and-shoot jumpers, there were always Spurs players around him, which annoyed the rookie so much that he angrily threw his towel back in his seat, rendering the team's tactics ineffective.

"I respect Mark Jackson's coaching philosophy, but neither the Suns of yesteryear nor the Warriors of today are really suited to the Knicks' tactical system."

“Nash and Curry are a complete weakening of Lee, and Parker constantly attacks Curry during the game. This situation would never happen in the Knicks.”

"Coach George Karl's tactical strategy in the first round was sound, and he deserves the Coach of the Year award. Curry needs to respond more aggressively if he wants to win tonight's game!"

Miller expects Curry to have a breakout season, but Kevin Harlan doesn't have high hopes for the young players. In the games he's witnessed, there are very few players who can defeat championship-caliber teams on their own.

After the start of the second quarter, when his teammates were in a slump, Curry finally exploded, shooting 5-for-10 from the field and 1-for-2 from three-point range, scoring 11 points!
Oracle Arena erupted in cheers. At halftime, the score was 47-42, with the Warriors successfully narrowing the gap under Curry's leadership.

Compared to the somewhat excited young players, the Spurs remained very calm. Duncan seemed oblivious to the opponent's outburst, maintaining his expressionless demeanor.

As the second half began, the Warriors fans in the arena gradually lost their enthusiasm.

Curry failed to maintain his efficient 7-for-14 performance in the first half. Under the pressure of the opponent's defense, his shooting percentage plummeted, and in the crucial final quarter, he went 1-for-5, scoring only 2 points.
As the buzzer sounded, the score was fixed at 96-82. The Spurs quietly secured the victory, eliminating their opponents 4-2 in the series and returning to the conference finals after five years!

Oracle Arena was still a bit noisy. Although they lost the game, Curry scored a game-high 22 points on 10-of-25 shooting.

Parker's performance in the second three quarters was even worse under constant defense, shooting 3-for-16 and scoring only 13 points. Comparing the two players' performances, Curry, playing with an injury, performed better, advancing to the semifinals for the first time in his career, a result that most fans were quite satisfied with.

Some people stood up and applauded, while others shouted the Warriors' name. Curry, who witnessed this scene, patted his chest and thanked the fans with a smile.

On the other side of the court, as Duncan hurried back to the locker room, Parker, who was being interviewed, started praising his friend again, pulling Diaw aside and saying with a smile:
"I knew Boris's championship experience would help the team! As for my personal statistics, they don't matter."

"Curry reminds me of Lee, but he still needs to work harder."

"As for the finals, we haven't thought about that yet. You know, we're only focused on the games right now."

Diaw, who had gained a lot of weight, really liked the Spurs' environment. Aside from the two quiet, reserved players, Duncan and Leonard, the Spurs weren't so competitive. Hearing his friend's praise, he shrugged and joked:
“I know the opponent’s tactics very well. You know, as a championship striker, I’ve been through a lot of games.”

“Tony is wrong about one thing. Stephen Curry is excellent, but he can never reach Lee’s level. That’s an absolute difference in talent. Lee is on another level.”

"I want to help the team get back to the Finals, and I can't wait to get back to Madison Square Garden."

"."

At the post-game press conference, most sports media outlets no longer cared about Curry's elimination. It was good that he was eliminated in the semifinals, but no one believed the idea of ​​him being "the next Lee" after watching the game.

Compared to the "past their prime" young people, Duncan, who returned to his "peak" at the age of 37, has once again become the focus of attention.

In his second year back with the team, he reached the conference finals. Although he benefited from injuries in the first and second rounds, Duncan didn't dwell on it.

"Tim, congratulations on returning to the regional finals. We all know what happened in the past two years. Talk about your journey."

The Yahoo Sports reporter didn't press the veteran, but Duncan shook his head when asked the question, ignoring Ginobili's wink, and replied seriously:

"Meditation saved me; those failures no longer bother me, and I found inner peace!"

"At 37, I won't take any chances. I will treat this season as my last gamble."

"Maybe I won't be the core of the team next season. I want to fulfill my promise and bring a championship to Antonio before the end of my career!"

"."

The familiar "bold words" energized everyone in the audience. Garnett, who had been boasting not long ago, had been eliminated by Li You, and everyone was eager to see Duncan's eighth game.

-

On Sunday, May 19th, the Eastern Conference semifinals reached Game 5. In Game 6, the Heat failed to capitalize on their opportunities and suffered a crushing defeat on the road.

Wade went 3-for-11 and Bosh 1-for-8, combining for 15 points. This performance left Miami fans stunned. Is this still a "super team"?

Throughout the series, Pacers center Roy Hibbert performed exceptionally well. After winning Game 6, the big man even made an arrogant statement after the game:
"I am the best defensive player in the league, and I should have received more votes in the DPOY voting!"

After losing the rebounding battle by 18 points on the road, Heat fans couldn't hold back when they returned home, with Reddit filled with complaints about Bosh's rebounding issues.

Head coach Spoelstra also took the blame, as Brand's playing time decreased. In the eyes of the fans, players who didn't play were always the best.

What fans found most unacceptable was that Lance Stephenson, despite missing many shots, grabbed 11 rebounds, and the rookie directly addressed the issue after the game:

"That's championship experience! Even if I miss a shot, I can still help the team!"

"."

With Paul George, who is equally boastful, the Pacers had already drawn a lot of "hatred" even before Game 7 began.

While many commentators expected Game 7 to be a closely contested battle, the Pacers, playing away, faltered early on.
The score at halftime was 37-52, with James and Wade both exploding, and the Heat's excellent defense forced the opponent into 15 turnovers.

On the ESPN commentary desk, Jeff Van Gundy had a lot of prepared comments but couldn't utter them. His pre-game analysis turned into a joke, and the Pacers' "basic mistakes" were truly disappointing.
"The more important the game, the more it tests the team's execution."

"The Pacers still have a chance, but Paul George needs to perform better. He has to step up and finish plays on some possessions when the opponent defends West's pick-and-roll tightly."

Paul George, who went 2-for-8 in the first half and boasted that he was one of the league's top forwards, completely underperformed tonight. Mike Breen, reviewing the stats, was also somewhat incredulous, adding:
“Lance Stephenson performed better in his playing time, scoring 8 points on 3-of-6 shooting.”

"Hopefully, the young players' championship experience will be helpful to the team during halftime."

American Airlines Arena turned into a sea of ​​white joy. After the start of the third quarter, the Pacers went into a scoring drought, and the fans cheered every time the Heat launched a counterattack.

When James was missing several shots, Wade stepped up. As the team's original leader, he fought hard tonight, frantically grabbing offensive rebounds and creating second-chance opportunities for the team with his individual performance.

The Pacers failed to mount a comeback, and after the quarter ended with a score of 18-24, the game was essentially over.

Wade, visibly excited, walked towards the bench. Amid cheers from the fans, he pounded his chest before stopping near the baseline and shouting loudly at the camera:
"This is my house!"

He scored 9 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in the quarter, shooting 3-for-7, including 4 offensive rebounds. When James missed 1 of 5 shots, Wade stepped up and helped the team close out the game.

With a large lead, Norris Cole, who replaced Ramon Sessions, also exploded during the rotation, driving to the basket for a layup and then hitting a three-pointer, igniting the entire arena with his amazing performance.

Coach Spoelstra didn't relax until the last two minutes. When the hum started, everyone excitedly hugged and celebrated.

Lance Stephenson was immediately unhappy after losing the decisive Game 7 with a score of 78:100.

Stephenson had originally planned to reach the conference finals to prove himself to his former team, but he still lost despite having an advantage in the paint. He began to miss last year's conference finals, when the game was not like this at all.

The semi-final was fiercely contested between the two teams, with several players receiving technical fouls. After a brief handshake, both sides turned and left.

When Lance Stephenson returned to the visiting team's locker room, he saw Paul George sitting blankly in his seat. The "fake brother" looked completely bewildered, which made the championship-swinging team even more furious.

"What the hell! You put on such a piece of garbage performance in a crucial game?"

"Top small forward? You should share your salary with me. In New York, if you go 2-for-9 for 7 points in an important game, the fans might just send you a bullet!"

"."

Stephenson, grinning widely, unleashed a torrent of abuse. Ever since he earned his teammates' "respect" with a punch last time, he had been playing the good kid. Now that they had lost, he couldn't hold back anymore and started bringing up old grievances again.

Danny Granger, whose season was over due to knee surgery, tried to persuade him, but Paul George, regaining his composure, stood up and retorted angrily:
“Damn! Now you’re playing for Indiana, and New York traded you, you idiot, for a first-round pick. That’s your worth.”

"Don't talk to me about championship experience, you're just a 'passenger.' Shit!"

Paul George was shoved by Stephenson halfway through his sentence, followed by a jab. The two exchanged insults and fought, and even as David West pulled Stephenson away, he still managed to shout:
"A piece of shit like you will never have a chance to get a ring in your entire life."

Hibbert, who had just been in low spirits, now looked strange, barely suppressing a laugh. His face darkened further. Seeing Granger about to speak, he grabbed the boss and whispered:

"Maybe this is just how they get along; everyone needs to vent."

-

(End of this chapter)