basketball player

Chapter 487 Chapter 485: To become a legend
NBA Finals, San Antonio Spurs, Popovich
These three words seem to be bound together by nature.When the Big Three of the Heat were formed, people were imagining that these three guys might build a terrible dynasty, but they never thought that the aging Spurs could reach the NBA Finals for two consecutive years.

But Popovich and his players once again interpreted the meaning of the phrase "veteran never dies", last season, they crushed the rapid rise of the Grizzlies.This season, the Spurs shut out the very champion-like Oklahoma City Thunder.

If it weren't for the fact that the league deliberately favored the Thunder in the Western Conference finals the year before, maybe the Spurs have reached the finals for the third consecutive year.

Prior to this, as long as the San Antonio Spurs reached the finals, it meant that they would definitely take the O'Brien Cup. Only Popovich's team can achieve 100% winning rate in the finals.

However, this magical record was broken by the Pacers last season.There is no doubt that Popovich does not want to lose the O'Brien Cup to the same opponent in a row.Neither the Spurs nor the Pacers have changed much in their lineups this season, so this year's finals can be seen as a rematch.

Will Popovich be able to seize the opportunity to beat Henson Joe when he gets another seven-game chance?And the Pacers, can they continue the "OK combination" at the beginning of the century and establish another incredible dynasty?

"If the Pacers finally establish a dynasty this season, then in the entire NBA history, this season of the Pacers can be called the greatest and most successful season, not one of them!"

"Coach Henson has created too many miracles this season, and I believe he won't mind creating one more."

"The Pacers are aiming to build a dynasty. They will not miss. It is difficult for the Spurs to stop the Pacers. This season's Indiana Pacers are unparalleled!"

Before the start of the finals, countless media were exaggerating the greatness of the Pacers.Popovich and his Spurs were once again underestimated.

But Popovich didn't care about that.The only thing he cares about now is how to end Henson.

He didn't know how much turmoil it would bring to the league when Henson announced that he was about to retire.He only knew that if they didn't play well with Henson this season, they might not have this chance in the future.

Although Popovich bet that Henson will definitely return, at that time, God knows whether the Spurs and Henson's team can reach the finals.

Yes, Popovich doesn't know if the Spurs will make it to the Finals.Duncan, Manu and Parker are all in their twilight years.And the most terrible thing is that the Spurs have not yet found a successor to GDP this time.

Once, Duncan's arrival allowed the Spurs to hand over the flag on David Robinson to the "stone man".But now, Popovich has no players who can continue to take over the banner.

Therefore, he knows very well that this game is likely to be the last chance for the GDP combination to hit the championship.It would be very, very sad to miss out on Popovich.

"Come on, you won't be scared by the media's remarks!? I know that the Pacers have created some incredible records this season. But you all remember, records are meant to be broken! And we are the team that will break these magical records in Indianapolis!"

The day before the finals, Popovich was very excited on the practice field.

"What's the matter with the boss? He seems to have returned to ten years ago."

"God knows if he was provoked. I heard that Henson Joe invited him to drink yesterday. The miracle is that the two of them didn't fight in the bar."

"It's not that the fight hasn't started, it's that the fight hasn't started yet. You see, isn't he just counting on us to beat up the opponent?"

"Manu, Tony, what are you two talking about!" Popovich's roar interrupted the whispering between the French defender and the Argentine defender.

It seems that Popovich is really strict this time.Regardless of whether he can win the championship, Popovich is determined to play a wonderful series with Henson.

On the other side, in the home team training ground of the Bankers Life Arena, Henson was surprisingly calm.

"Relax, I won't let you have physical contact in the confrontation training this afternoon. Run tactics, familiarize yourself with my arrangement. Adjust your mentality and body, so that you can perform well in tomorrow's game."

"Yes, boss!"

After Henson finished speaking, the players who were doing individual training answered in unison.

He didn't stay up late to watch the video, he didn't have a tense tactical meeting, and he didn't let the players have too intense training. Vogel has been with Henson for so many years, and it is the first time he has seen him so relaxed before the finals.

At first, Vogel worried that Henson would be too careless.But after that, he didn't think about it any more.This guy Henson does have a lot of flaws, but being careless isn't one of them.

Vogel smiled and looked at the players sweating on the court, the league's top point guard Chris Paul, the top scorer Paul George, the top perimeter defensive gate Kawhi Leonard, the all-around insider West and Horford, Jimmy Butler who was selected to the second team of the best defense, Stephenson, who was called "one of the most talented players in the league" by Barkley, the cold-blooded killer Ray Allen, Danny Green, who can always play a role as soon as he comes on the court, can always catch the opponent off guard Antetokounmpo, a solid Livingston, Yi Jianlian and a hard-working Chris Anderson.
Yeah, what else does Henson have to worry about?The Pacers have been made into such a terrifying appearance by him.Even for the San Antonio Spurs, it is difficult to leverage the army led by Henson.

Henson is not arrogant, but his strength is really too strong.

※※※

On June 6th, Indianapolis, like last year, experienced heavy rain.

The city is a rainy city, of course, which also created Indianapolis' agricultural development.But even in the downpour, many fans still gathered outside the arena wearing raincoats.

Some fans stood outside the arena waiting for the ticket check-in, but most of them didn't buy tickets at all.They just want to gather at the gate of the organ and witness Henson and the Pacers create legends through the big screen outside the arena.

What's the point of heavy rain?
Because of this, traffic control has been implemented within two kilometers around the Banker Life Arena.Popovich sat on the team bus, walking among the crowd of fans on both sides.

Unlike fans elsewhere, fans in Indianapolis didn't have any cards ready to attack the other side.Because they, like Henson, were full of absolute confidence.They don't even bother to use those trivial skills.

It wasn't until the bus drove to the entrance of the arena that Popovich realized that today's Bankers Life Arena is so different.

Last night, the arena staff had replaced the arena poster overnight.Today, the huge posters outside the arena were replaced with golden yellow, with makeup photos of every Pacers player on it.And under each poster, there is a line of small characters written.

"Become a legend!"

Yes, before you know it, Popovich and his Spurs have come to a crossroads of history.

They won, and they became legends themselves.If they lose, the Pacers will be one of the greatest teams in NBA history.

The championship, the battle of legends, Henson's last finals. Popovich thought of the night he drank with Henson the day before yesterday. This time the finals really had too many special meanings.

Changing clothes, warming up, making final deployments, players playing, after a set of procedures, the time has come to [-] pm.The eyes of the world are here, in a stadium where no one was paying attention.

Since today is the first game of the finals, the Pacers officially prepared a player introduction ceremony.

Popovich has participated in this ceremony countless times.But generally speaking, the protagonists of the player introduction ceremony are the players.Although the head coach was the last to be introduced, he was often only mentioned in one sentence.

However, the introduction ceremony at the Bankers Life Arena was very different. After the introduction of the leading point guard Chris Paul, the climax was not over yet.

At that moment, flames erupted from both basketball hoops, and various shots of Henson coaching the game appeared on the big screen at the scene.

He thought calmly, yelled angrily, and celebrated with gestures. The Pacers even put up the scene of Henson arguing with the referee.

At this point, everyone knew who was about to appear.Thus, the cheers in the Bankers Life Arena reached its peak!
When the coach came out, the cheers were louder than the players. Popovich had never heard of it before!

"Now, let us welcome the King of Indianapolis, the legendary creator of the Pacers, and the greatest swordsman in the league. Coach, Henson~~~~~~Joe!"

The lights came on suddenly, and Henson raised his right hand high to challenge the fans.Immediately, all the fans in the stands wearing corn yellow T-shirts bowed slightly to welcome their "His Majesty the King"!
Popovich shook his head with a smile, and looked around.If you just retire completely like this, you must be very unwilling!

After the wonderful player introduction ceremony, players from both sides stepped into the designated positions.Seeing that Henson didn't make any lineup changes, Popovich let out a sigh of relief.But he is also very clear that this "safety" is only temporary.

And Henson sat back on the bench directly, crossing his legs.He whispered a few words to Becky Harmon and Vogel, and then said nothing.

Seeing this situation, commentators from various countries and regions all over the world spoke a sentence in different languages.

"It looks like Coach Henson Joe is full of confidence!"

Yes, he is full of confidence!Just like the slogan outside the court, he wants to become a legend!

(End of this chapter)