230: The ending the alliance wants
In the sixth game of the Western Conference finals, the San Antonio Spurs, who advanced by sweep in the first two rounds, are very likely to hit the championship again this season. In the end, in Oklahoma, with a score of 99-107, he lost to the young "Thunder Three Less".
The loss of this game also means that the Spurs' championship dream is completely shattered. With an aggregate score of 4-2, the experienced Spurs were unable to withstand the youth storm of the Russian city in the end.
But...... Did the San Antonio Spurs really just fall to the storm of youth?
After the game, San Antonio's icon, one of the league's greatest power forwards, Tim "Stone Buddha". Duncan, speaking to reporters in the tunnel of the players.
Who is Duncan? Regardless of the well-known personal honor and strong strength, the most talked about thing about this guy is his low-key and introverted personality. His "paralyzed" expression, which has been the same for decades, can scare the referee into giving him a technical foul with an occasional smile...... That's why Leonard is often thought of as similar to Duncan.
Such an off-the-field news is almost non-existent, and the usually taciturn super striker. Today in the players' tunnel, he did something that he had never done in 15 years - complaining about the referee's blowing scale.
"Obviously it's disappointing, but Oklahoma can get all the credit. We played very well in the first quarter and we controlled the game. They continued to fight, and they were back in game, and their talent was impressive. I don't think we lacked effort, I think we did everything we should have done, but they were the better team. At first, Duncan's speech was very "official", but "Stone Buddha" may know a Chinese idiom called "salute before soldier".
After praising the Thunder's performance and accepting the Spurs' elimination from the tournament, Duncan, who had finished the "salute", "In the final stages of the game, it looked like they were getting every possible blow and it really changed their momentum." We defended very hard and tried to stop them, but the whistle kept blowing and they went to the free throw line again and again. It's really disappointing and I think it's our chance to get back to the finals and win another title, that's our ultimate goal, but obviously we're finished here. ”
Duncan's face did not change, and his tone was calm. After finishing speaking, he nodded very politely to the reporter before leaving.
But the reporter was stunned by Duncan's remarks, because he was probably the first reporter in the world to hear Duncan publicly complain about the referee! But from another level, it can also be seen that Duncan can't help but complain about how serious the league's favoritism is for the Oklahoma City Thunder!
Did the San Antonio Spurs really just fall to the storm of youth? Duncan has given his own answer.
When Duncan returned to the locker room, he found Mr. Popovich throwing a tantrum. Unlike Duncan, Popovich never knew what it meant to be restrained and low-key. His Spurs team may be low-key, but he himself is not at all.
openly scolded the referee, openly made nonsense in front of reporters and the media, openly opposed the league, and rested the main team in key games...... These are all routine operations for Popovich. Therefore, after eating such a big deflate, the old man was naturally very angry.
"Fuck the Alliance, this whistle is literally blowing us and me to death! They simply don't make the playoffs and just let the two most eye-catching teams advance! ”
No one was talking in the locker room because Popovich was standing in the middle of the locker room and cursing at the air.
"Alright, Pop. Don't get so angry, it's not good for your health. "Duncan was the only player who dared to walk up to Popovich and pat him on the shoulder when he lost his temper.
We may all have the experience of looking at a Chinese character and staring at it for more than 20 seconds, only to suddenly find that we don't recognize the character.
Just like now, Popovich, who is upright, suddenly failed to remember the name of the big guy in front of him.
"Who the hell are you!?" Popovich half-jokingly shook off Duncan's hand.
"My name is Tim. Duncan, from Wake Forest University, has been playing under you for 15 years. As everyone knows, Duncan answered this question with a serious face.
This inexplicable seriousness usually makes the atmosphere very comical. Several Spurs players held back their laughter, and by the end, Popovich couldn't hold back his thoughts. After a few seconds, a slight smile finally appeared on the old man's face.
"You bastard, Tim." Popovich shook his head, suddenly realizing that he wasn't so angry, "But I still have to say that the league is indecent about this. In the most crucial game, they did too much! Later in the press conference, I'm going to slam out at those whistle-blowing mongrels! ”
"No, I already complained to the reporter just now." Duncan waved his hand, still serious.
"You?" Popovich looked at Duncan in surprise, "Okay, maybe you've finally got the hang of it." Even the great, taciturn Tim. Duncan has spoken, the face of the alliance must not be able to hold back, and that group of mongrels must be gritting their teeth in anger now! That's right...... Not to mention, Henson. Joe, that bastard, hasn't spoken yet......"
Popovich remembered yesterday's Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, when the Pacers and Spurs had a similar encounter, and couldn't help but smile.
First the Spurs and then the Pacers? David. Stern, this time, you've got two tough opponents to mess with at the same time!
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"my grandma's bear!" Meanwhile, in Indianapolis. As Popovich had anticipated, Henson. Coach Joe is already close to going berserk.
It's just that no one present can understand what he is scolding.
"What nonsense are you talking about? I'll tell you, Henson, it's over, and we still have a chance to tie seven. Don't make a fuss, if you're banned from the league for inappropriate remarks, you're playing into their hands. Vogel knew that Henson was very angry right now, and he kept calming him down.
The current situation has to start with the miraculous resurrection of the Pacers in Game 3.
Ever since the Pacers defeated the Heat in Game 3 of the series, their momentum has been out of control.
In the fourth game of the series, Paul exploded and scored 40 points to help the Pacers miraculously win two consecutive victories in Miami, turning the series total score into 2-2.
In the fifth game of the series, the game returned to Indian Presspolis. With the home bonus and badge bonus, the Pacers fans played an all-in-one performance, and everyone was in good shape.
However, the Miami Heat also knew that they were fighting with their backs and played very hard. LeBron. James went on a rampage, and even Leonard, who had strengthened his attributes, couldn't stop him. Wade, despite a knee injury, also played his best performance of the series except for Night 41.
Originally, the Heat had hopes of winning the game, but tragedy occurred in the third quarter. Chris. Bosh's injury retreat made the Heat instantly confused.
Although the statistics of the "Dragon King" have declined to a certain extent after coming to Miami, he is indeed the least existential member of the Big Three. But it would be a mistake to judge the value of Bosh on that basis alone.
There is still a big difference between a game with Bosh and a game without Bosh for the Heat. In the second half, there was suddenly no Bosh's inside containment point, and Henson grabbed the Heat's inside line with a hammer, and finally was stunned by 4 points, creating a miracle of three consecutive wins in the series against the Heat!
The overall score was 3-2, and the Pacers took the lead to get the match point!
As a result, the Eastern Conference Finals were dragged to Game 6, which was the one that made Henson extremely angry yesterday.
In the face of the Heat, who lost Bosh, the Pacers obviously have a big chance of winning. But the process of the game made Henson so angry that he was late for a technical foul on the spot because of the angry referee.
And what Duncan just said in the tunnel can already sum up what happened last night.
'It looks like they're getting every possible blow and that really changes their momentum. We defended very hard and tried to stop them, but the whistle kept blowing and they went to the free throw line again and again. Duncan's words simply spoke to Henson's heart.
In yesterday's "win or go home" battle of life and death, the league favored the Heat to the point of shamelessness.
The Pacers' defense is known to be tough. But as long as the physical contact was a little intense in yesterday's game, the referee would definitely blow the whistle!
Of course, statistically, the Heat's free throw count doesn't seem to be an exaggeration. But this is actually because the Pacers were also blown a lot of inexplicable offensive fouls!
The referee's role is not limited to penalty kicks. A penalty for the ownership of the ball, an offensive foul or not, these are not related to free throws, but they also have a significant impact on the direction of the game. So balancing the number of free throws alone can't hide the league's ugly operation of G6.
Henson originally thought he was unlucky enough, but he didn't expect that 6 was interfered with by a wave of the league, and the Spurs went home directly. The Pacers still have a chance to steal seven.
But the league has been meddling since G6, will he let you go if he grabs seven? So the situation of the Pacers is not much better than that of the Spurs.
"Grab seven!? I'm afraid that my player will graduate with 6 fouls in the first quarter! Henson waved his hand, indicating that Vogel's pacification was ineffective.
At this time, the TV was playing footage of the post-game press conference between the Spurs and the Thunder. Old man Popovich angrily denounced the league on stage, using all the sharp words, and Stern estimated that now he has the heart to ban Popovich for life.
Henson also wants to hold a press conference tomorrow and then lash out at the capitalists like Popovich who only know how to count money. But on second thought, what was the use?
Now that Popovich has finished scolding what he wants to scold, he doesn't have to wade into troubled waters.
Doesn't the league just want to see the Thunder vs Heat, watch 35 vs. 6?
Okay, you won't let me win, and I won't let you get your wish!
"Frank!"
"What?"
"Let's go home early, I'll have to get up early tomorrow to train." Henson said, turning off the TV. It seems more enjoyable than scolding the alliance and not letting them get their wish......