blogombal Chapter 488 The Real Finals Arrive! The Ultimate Showdown, One Match
Chapter 488 The Real Finals Arrive! The Ultimate Showdown, One Match
"That's how it is, we've all been tricked! It's my fault, I didn't discover those Pacers bastards' plan and dirty tricks in time, which led to our current predicament."
"My thinking is simple: if we continue to field our full team and go all out in this match, we will most likely lose even worse than in the last one! And we will also suffer a lot of unnecessary losses."
"So, we're giving up on tonight's game! We accept being down 2-0, and we'll start our comeback from the road! We'll start on the road, go all out, and beat the Pacers!"
"I know this is difficult! I know it's a tough road, and I know this decision will push us to the brink."
"But if we want to win, this is our last chance! Perhaps our only chance!"
"Whether you support me or want to fight in this match, it's up to you to decide."
Well, Sanders' last sentence was actually nonsense.
At this point in the game, they are down by 27 points.
Fight? What's the point of fighting?!
So, Sanders didn't actually give the Timberwolves players a choice at all; he simply gave them this one path!
In this game, the Timberwolves' starters only played one quarter, so the exertion was negligible. The third and fourth games will be separated by two days because they will have to fly from Minnesota to Indiana. If we add the night of the second game and the daytime of the third game, the Timberwolves will get a full three days of rest!
Adding the two days between the first and second games, and taking into account all the spare time, the Timberwolves can get about 5 days of rest!
That's enough!
That's enough time for the players to get back into shape and go all out against the Pacers!
Sanders believes that his team can unleash unparalleled strength in dire situations, and even if they are down 0-2 away from home, he believes his players will not give up!
If the Timberwolves can win two of their next three road trips, they can bring the series back to Minnesota!
Then we'll definitely win the series!
Sanders was full of confidence when the second half started!
He believed he had found the only viable path out of his predicament! Even if it was a thorny road, Sanders was confident he could do it!
He even had another idea!
In the second half, seeing the Timberwolves surrender without their starters, will the Pacers be enraged? Will they go berserk? Will they launch a furious attack, relentlessly attacking and winning by 40 or even 50 points to vent their anger?
That would be ideal!
Yes, Sanders really hopes that the Pacers can lose their temper and play their own game to the death, even setting a new record for the biggest point difference in history!
Now, it's your turn, Pacers, to wear down yourselves, and then we'll be waiting in comfort!
Then, in the second half, when a confident Sanders sat in his chair and saw the opposing lineup with his incredibly wise eyes, he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.
Shameless!
Shameless!
Surprisingly, there were five substitute players on the field!
Even Parker and Howard, two key substitutes who played a significant amount of time in the first half, were absent!
The Pacers have started tanking too!
They were even more thorough than the Timberwolves!
At the very least, Sanders' idea of having the Pacers' starters expend energy on the court was directly thwarted.
All I can say is: the Pacers have Bird, Carlisle, and Lin Tian, three generations of sleazy kings, that's for sure. When it comes to dirty tricks, no team in the league can compare to them!
This kind of psychological filth can sometimes inflict more damage on an opponent than physical filth!
After both sides fielded their pure reserve lineups from the very beginning of the third quarter, the most furious people were not the fans in the stadium, nor the fans watching on TV, nor even Barkley and Kenny.
The angrier person was Stern!
This is fucking tarnishing my reputation! How can my alliance tolerate such blatant favoritism?
He was absolutely furious!
Without any hesitation, Stern picked up the phone and called both of their bosses, launching into a tirade!
At this moment, the enraged old man didn't care whether you were a billionaire or a bigger tycoon; he was going to curse both of you today!
Although Stern, this little old man, is usually cheerful, those big bosses often embarrass him for no reason, acting as if they don't take him seriously.
But at this point tonight, both sides are very clear that the old man is truly angry and has really lost his temper.
At times like these, top-tier bosses who have reached this level and rank certainly won't give Stern face. They know all too well when they can stand up to him and when they should back down and submit.
For example, during the lockout, the reason why both sides were able to successfully resume the season in February was not only because both labor and management were somewhat unable to withstand the pressure, but also because Stern's anger and the threat of ending the league season completely with a lockout were important triggers for the compromise between the two sides.
This old man still commands a great deal of respect.
Therefore, at this point, both bosses chose to obey.
Whatever you say, we'll do it!
Right after Stern hung up the phone, Bird, who was watching the game with the team, received a call from owner Simon. Simon warned Bird on the phone that this situation could not happen again!
Of course, Simon's tone remained calm; he was mainly relaying information.
After all, this competition is being held at the Target Center, not at our Conseco Center.
The damage to your reputation is Minnesota's doing, it has absolutely nothing to do with Indiana!
When we get to our home ground, we'll play well, bring out the intensity and excitement of the game, and have the whole team play beautifully. Wouldn't that solve everything?
Bird didn't face much criticism; the owner only told him to be more careful in the next game. But the Timberwolves weren't so easy to talk to.
The team owner was indeed sitting in the VIP box, but he wasn't watching the game at all. As for what he was doing in the VIP box...
It cannot be spoken! It's a secret.
Anyway, if Stern hadn't called, he wouldn't even have known that the team hadn't fielded their starters in the second half. So after receiving the call and being inexplicably scolded, he immediately stormed onto the field in a fit of anger, heading all the way to the back of the bench.
"Philip, you have to give me an explanation! Or bring Allen and Kevin on the field right now!"
Sanders glanced back and saw it was his boss. Undeterred, he declared firmly, "Even if we go, we can't win. We need to conserve our energy for the next game; we were too exhausted in the Western Conference Finals!"
"We've given up on this game, but we'll go all out in the next one; it's our only chance to win the championship!"
"What about our fans? They'll protest! They'll be angry!"
"They won't be angry if we win the next game, and they won't be furious if we win the championship trophy." Sanders remained unyielding, saying, "I don't want to say any more. That's how it is, it's that simple. Whether you can accept it or not, tonight's game can only end like this."
"Even if you want to fire me, you'll have to wait until after this game. No matter what happens, Allen and Kevin won't be playing tonight!"
Seeing Sanders' resolute and unquestionable expression, the team owner simply snorted and said, "You said it."
"If we don't win this series and don't get the championship trophy, I'm asking you to resign this offseason!"
"It's a deal!"
The Timberwolves' owner vented his anger, then turned and left, returning to his private room to call Stern.
As for Sanders?
He didn't take the team owner's words to heart at all.
He knew perfectly well that the old man was just bragging.
What boss would fire a coach who just led the team to the finals and had a good relationship with the players?
Is he mentally ill?
The boss just came, clearly just trying to save face and have some fun. Nine times out of ten, the league found out about the game and came to intervene!
After this minor incident where the league intervened but the game situation remained unchanged, the match continued rapidly.
Both sides played at a very low quality, at best at the level of a preseason game. There were countless basic mistakes and missed shots on both sides. Apart from the number of turnovers and fouls rising rapidly, the rate of increase in other technical statistics was quite limited.
The substitutes from both teams traded blows throughout the second half, with neither gaining a clear advantage.
Finally, when the final whistle blew, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's finally over!" Barkley cheered the moment the game ended!
The second half of this game was an ordeal for anyone.
For other people, they can turn off the TV, leave early, or use other methods to escape this round of the game.
But Barkley and Kenny won't do!
They can't just abandon their responsibilities and leave, can they?
They had to stay in the studio and provide commentary for the game.
When the game was so lackluster that there was nothing to commentate on, Barkley and Kenny could only make wild connections, talking about everything from the weather in Minnesota to its history, from their team's performance and draft picks every year since its inception to their team-building philosophy.
Finally, the story returns to the local customs and culture of Minnesota and the interesting experiences the two had when they played away games there years ago.
Just as the two had been awkwardly chatting for almost the entire second half, and were about to start analyzing which nightclub in Minnesota was the most fun, the final whistle blew.
"I really hope it doesn't happen again in the next game," Kenny said, looking shaken after Barkley's comment. "I never want to commentate like this again! Once in a lifetime is enough!"
"God bless me so I never have to commentate on these kinds of matches again, and may my colleagues never have to experience such terrible nights."
Barkley added, "I can't believe this is the Finals! I can't believe both teams are putting up such a performance in the Finals."
"But on the other hand, the next match is sure to be very exciting!"
While Barkley was complaining, he suddenly heard instructions from the director through his earpiece. They told Barkley and Kenny to give a good preview of the next game, preferably describing it as a game of the century.
Otherwise, based on the ratings of the second half of this match, the ratings for the next final match will most likely drop significantly!
We must retain the audience as much as possible and provide them with some gimmicks!
"They did it on purpose," Barkley said, then added, "They're all conserving their energy, waiting for the final showdown! After all, the Timberwolves went through such an epic Western Conference Finals series, and everyone on them is exhausted."
"They chose to rest tonight, to conserve their energy so they can give it their all in the match two days later!"
"Yes! That's it! Absolutely! So I think the next game will be the most exciting Finals game of the season, even the century! At the very least, it will be among the most exciting games to be discussed!"
The suffering that Barkley and Kenny endured is essentially the suffering endured by everyone who watched the game tonight.
So boring!
Even the key players on the bench felt that this match was an ordeal.
It's so boring.
That terrible feeling left most of the players on both sides with a sense of guilt.
It's that feeling of guilt you get when you feed someone shit and make them vomit.
People who feel this kind of guilt are still salvageable and still have a conscience.
But there are always a few heartless exceptions.
For example, Lin Tian.
This guy didn't feel embarrassed at all; he just felt a little disappointed.
The Timberwolves reacted surprisingly quickly.
If they can fight hard for another half in the second half today, the Pacers will basically have the victory in the next game.
such a pity!
It's such a pity that Iverson and Garnett both only played one quarter today before going to the bench to rest.
However, at this moment, Lin Tian also felt a sense of excitement!
Both of these matches were really boring.
Given that both teams are destined to be bombarded with criticism and face a barrage of attacks, both the Timberwolves and the Pacers will gain extra motivation and morale, and will unleash their best performance!
So Barkley wasn't wrong.
In the next match, both sides will most likely deliver the best performance of their careers!
A true battle of titans!
It could also be the only real duel left this season!
Lin Tian didn't care what kind of energy the Timberwolves could unleash at this moment.
He's going to win anyway!
After using so many strategies and tactics in the first two games, they managed to take a 2-0 lead. But if they can't withstand the Timberwolves' firepower when it comes to a real head-to-head battle, they'll really lose face!
This is a face that Master Lin can't afford to lose!
We must sweep them all!
I, Lord Lin, want both direct confrontation and intrigue!
If you're going to win, you have to win completely!
That night, both Sanders and Carlisle knew what their disciples would experience and what they would encounter.
Therefore, both of them fulfilled the responsibilities of a head coach.
Protect your players.
Instead of having their players attend the press conference, they went out themselves to face the media's questioning and ridicule, to be judged by them.
As for the players from both sides, the two head coaches not only excluded them from the post-match press conference, but also helped them decline all interview invitations. They both strengthened the team's security, preventing reporters from having any opportunity to interview their players in any way.
They all knew very well that at this time, the best way was to protect the players, isolate them from the world, and prevent them from being disturbed by outside voices!
Only in this way can we ensure that our players are in the best condition to face the upcoming Game 3 of the series, which will be the ultimate battle between the two sides!
As it turns out, the two head coaches were quite right in their approach.
That night, the entire basketball community across the United States and even the world expressed all sorts of opinions about the game.
Many people can analyze that both teams are conserving their energy and then unleashing a burst of power in the third game to fight it out.
While this claim has a market and many people believe it to be true, believing does not equate to accepting, nor does it mean that people can forgive these two teams for putting on such a tanking performance at this time and on this stage.
This crossed the line for many fans.
For a time, the entire public was filled with criticism of both teams, with all sorts of things being said, some of the most offensive!
Meanwhile, as the public launched a furious barrage of attacks against the players of both teams, both teams boarded planes bound for Indiana at the same time.
None of them spent the night in Minnesota; instead, they all chose to fly to Indiana overnight and get some rest there!
They will be able to rest for about 70 hours in Indiana, which is the last rest time for both teams in this series!
After the third battle, regardless of the outcome, neither side will be in the mood to rest.
They all agreed that the third battle would be a duel!
In the past two days, neither team's players have engaged in any intense training; their sole focus has been on recovery!
To restore physical fitness, regain form, find their rhythm, and maintain their game sense, neither coach devised any new tactics or prepared many new strategies for the upcoming match.
As I said before, everyone has already revealed all their cards!
In the next match, it will be a battle of performance and sheer willpower! Whoever has the longer and stronger will win the game!
.........
Two days later at Conseco Arena, Indiana fans were clearly not deterred by the poor performances of both teams in Game 2 of the series, and the arena was packed to capacity early on.
Aside from the fans' undiminished passion, both teams' players remained indifferent and quiet tonight.
There were hardly any people joking or playing around during warm-up, and no one went to greet or chat with the opposing players.
Both sides were trying their best to get into the zone and adjusting their feelings in every detail.
Are the insoles comfortable? Are the shoelaces tight enough? Are the leg wraps thick enough? Are the angles and tightness of various protective gear just right? And so on.
The silence between the two sides added an extra layer of tension and tension to the match!
Even the fans on the sidelines, the commentators in front of the TV, and everyone watching the game could feel an invisible pressure hanging over the stadium.
Everything points to this game being incredibly exciting! It's sure to be a top-tier spectacle, on par with the Western Conference Finals and the Pacers' first-round upset!
After both teams finished warming up, the Pacers did not change their starting lineup, sticking to their traditional two-big-three-small lineup.
The Timberwolves made a change to their starting lineup tonight, replacing starting center Nesterovic with their leading scorer off the bench, Szczerbiak!
Generally speaking, the Timberwolves' so-called "strongest lineup" is only brought out in the fourth quarter or the more crucial latter part of the fourth quarter!
At least when they faced the Lakers, they never used this starting lineup against them!
Sanders' substitution tonight also demonstrates his determination!
We are determined to fight tooth and nail tonight to win the game!
If the score is 1-2 after tonight, the Timberwolves still have a glimmer of hope.
If the score is 0-3 after tonight, the Timberwolves can book their vacation tickets in advance. Although it's not a win-or-go-home game, its importance and influence are definitely no less!
"We know what tricks you guys played in the first two games!" When both teams' players stepped onto the court to prepare for the tip-off, Iverson couldn't hold back and became the first person to speak to the opposing players that night.
"You're not getting any of that tonight!"
"Is that so?" Lin Tian curled his lip and said disdainfully, "You were able to discover our conspiracy, that's impressive! So impressive that you're now down 0-2."
"Anyone who didn't know better would think you were so amazing! Our plan had already succeeded perfectly, and you only just discovered it? What's the point? You only remembered you didn't bring an umbrella that wonderful night after your 'bone-flesh' got pregnant—does that help?"
Lin Tian's words left Iverson speechless, and he could only resort to his signature swear word: "F*** you! Don't think you can keep winning with this kind of underhanded stuff!"
"We'll keep winning, Allen." Lin Tian bent over, supporting himself on his knees with his hands. "No matter what it takes, we'll keep winning!"
"And you, you will experience an incredibly painful offseason! You will spend your entire offseason in pain, regret, and disappointment!"
"We'll see! Let's see who suffers all summer!" Iverson once again accepted the reality that he was no match for Lin Tian in a verbal battle, and decisively turned away to prepare to receive the ball and attack.
If I keep talking, I'll break down!
It's best to keep quiet!
The referee stood in the center circle, looked at Miller and Garnett on either side, nodded, and then put the whistle in his mouth.
"Beep beep!"
With a whistle, the basketball soared into the air. Garnett, who had switched to center after Nesterovic went down, immediately displayed his unparalleled talent, easily securing the first possession for his team.
"Kevin, you're so good at jumping the ball, why don't you usually jump the ball and play center? Is it because you're selfish?" Garnett had just landed when he heard a voice that made him almost slip and fall.
Garnett looked up and saw Lin Tian grinning at him with a smug grin. After cursing under his breath, he ignored Lin Tian, turned around, and left to prepare for an attack.
The first key to the Timberwolves' victory tonight: Don't talk to Lin Tian too much! It's good to maintain a balanced and stable mindset.
Iverson was tricked before the game even started; Garnett absolutely cannot repeat the same mistake.
Cassell slowly dribbled the ball up the court. This time, he didn't rush to pass the ball to Iverson. Instead, he let Iverson make an off-ball run. Then, Cassell had Garnett come up and set a screen for him before facing Miller.
Facing Miller, who wasn't fast enough, Cassell pulled up and hit a mid-range jump shot!
Although the Timberwolves haven't made any major changes to their roster, their tactics at the start of the season are completely different from before.
Unlike the Timberwolves, who no longer rely on superstars, the Pacers' offense is still initiated by Lin Tian!
They don't have as many offensive initiators and ball handlers as the Timberwolves. All season, they only have Lin Tian!
While dribbling, Lin Tian waved to signal everyone to make way for him. Then, facing Cassell, Lin Tian suddenly accelerated and cleanly passed by Cassell. He had only taken one step towards the three-point line when Garnett's tall figure was already there!
After resting for so many days, Garnett's speed and defensive intensity have indeed improved by at least one level!
At the same time, the Timberwolves have changed more than just Garnett!
Just as Garnett moved up to defend Lin Tian, the opening he created in the paint was immediately covered. Cassell had already moved to Christie's side next to Lin Tian. The entire Timberwolves' defensive lineup was like it had gone around in circles, with no weaknesses, no gaps, and no players left out!
That's interesting!
Facing Garnett's tight defense, Lin Tian first dribbled and quickly took half a step back, making everyone think that Lin Tian was going to step out of the three-point line to reorganize. Then, in the instant that Garnett relaxed slightly, Lin Tian suddenly lowered his center of gravity, accelerated suddenly, and flashed past Garnett!
Even though Garnett's agility was already unparalleled among all 7-foot tall men, he was still no match for Lin Tian's speed!
He could only manage a barely manageable turn, and then tried his best to take a step forward to chase after the pursuer, but it was too late!
He simply couldn't catch up with Lin Tian!
Just as Garnett reached the edge of the three-second zone, Lin Tian had already completed a one-handed dunk, sending the basketball into the basket!
2: 2!
"Too slow." After scoring, Lin Tian couldn't resist turning back to taunt him.
It wasn't to make Garnett lose his temper, it was just that it felt good to say something!
"To stop me, you'd need at least Allen's speed plus your height and wingspan to barely catch my exhaust fumes!"
Garnett ignored Lin Tian's trash talk. He silently returned to the baseline, then passed the ball to Cassell to continue dribbling forward.
This time, neither Lin Tian nor Christie opted for full-court press, nor did they begin close marking of Iverson and Cassell from the frontcourt.
Because they all know that this game is a tug-of-war, a real duel! That kind of defense that goes all out from the start will only exhaust their own energy first.
This evening, we must take it slow!
After Cassell came up to the frontcourt, he once again did not pass the ball to Iverson or Garnett. This time, he passed the ball to Sprewell, who was blocking Artest in the low post and asking for the ball.
The "madman" backed down the "beast," then suddenly spun around and charged straight at Artest towards the basket. But who was Artest? Apart from Lin Tian, no one in the league could subdue him!
This guy was going all out, going head-to-head with Sprewell in the low post!
The sounds of muscles colliding echoed. Sprewell tried several times, but found himself unable to penetrate the paint. He quickly changed tactics, suddenly taking a step back to create distance, then straightening his knees, raising his head, and looking as if he was about to shoot.
His somewhat clumsy prayers, of course, did not fool Artest!
Artest remained unmoved, maintaining his balance and continuing to closely guard Sprewell.
But his goal wasn't to shake Artest up at all. Instead, he suddenly made a one-handed bounce pass to Cassell, who was cutting in from the other side. After receiving the ball, Cassell took three steps, drew the defense again, and then passed the ball to Szczerbiak at a 45-degree angle on the other side.
The Timberwolves' top three-point shooter was poised to unleash his arrow, taking a direct shot at Haslem as he rushed out from the paint!
The three-pointer arced through the air and swished perfectly into the pocket!
"Whoosh!"
The Timberwolves played a truly team-oriented game on that play!
Apart from the two top stars, the other three all had opportunities to handle the ball and take shots!
This can be considered a change for the Timberwolves tonight!
Let Iverson and Garnett, the ace duo, make a feint attack to draw the Pacers' defensive focus, while the rest of the team goes on the offense!
As for the firepower and stamina of the two stars, there is no doubt that Sanders will be saved for more important moments!
Compared to the Timberwolves' changes, the Pacers' style of play remained very simple and straightforward.
Lin Tian!
They're going to beat up Lin Tian!
The Pacers' offensive possession still involved Lin Tian's one-on-one breakthrough after creating space. This time, he dribbled twice in the Timberwolves' territory, then attracted a triple-team from the Timberwolves before suddenly making a no-look, one-handed bounce pass near the free-throw line.
The basketball flew between Sprewell's legs and straight to the basket.
Miller received the ball, stood still, and slammed it down with both hands for another 2 points for the team!
Although only two rounds have passed since the start of the game, the tactics and main strategies of both sides in the opening phase have already become clear!
One word can explain the difference in tactics between the two sides!
Team vs. Individual! (End of Chapter)