Salt Lake City, Utah, the Energy Solution Center, is known as one of the most terrifying devil's home stadiums in the league.
The fanaticism of Salt Lake City fans, coupled with the harshness of the plateau home court, makes every player who comes here suffer.
Michael Jordan suffered here, Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming also suffered here, leaving a shadow on Chinese fans.
But tonight, the Clippers players celebrated heartily at the end of the game, lifting Stephen Curry high and throwing him into the air.
There was a smile on the kid's face, and he was destined to make headlines tonight as he took the win and hit that damn 3-pointer.
In the Clippers' last attack, Dunleavy very boldly gave Curry the opportunity to shoot a three-pointer. Curry used two screens to find an opportunity at the top of the arc through exquisite movement, and he caught the ball and shot a three-pointer directly.
This time he didn't miss a good opportunity like he did against the Suns. He made a steady three-pointer and helped the Clippers overtake the Jazz!
The Clippers, who were behind for a whole game, completed a desperate counterattack at the last minute.
As the Jazz's last attack failed, the Clippers won the game!
The Clippers created a comeback miracle, and Stephen Curry was the architect of this miracle.
His performance in the first three quarters was mediocre, scoring only 2 points and sending 1 assist, with no performance.
But in the last few minutes, he hit 2 three-pointers and sent 3 very crucial assists.
With 8 points and 4 assists, he directed the Clippers' final comeback. The title of No. 1 pick is well-deserved!
Dunleavy stood on the sidelines and watched the players tossing Curry around, thinking: "Stephen really has a lot of energy in his body, but... he still needs to practice hard, and let him shoulder the burden too early. Not necessarily a good thing.”
Dunleavy had been optimistic about Curry's potential before. After three games, he gradually confirmed this and determined to slowly cultivate this young man.
However, Dunleavy still positions Curry as a comprehensive and excellent traditional point guard. Although he hit the winning three-pointer, his organization and passing in the last few minutes are also very important. His combination with Gordon is quite good. .
Dunleavy also noticed a person who is easily overlooked, and that is P.J. Tucker. Tonight is his first game.
It was originally just a formality, but the garbage time was over after a few minutes, and Tucker didn't score any data on the court.
But Dunleavy noticed that he defended very well twice when he was on the court. He was aware of it and worked hard to make up for it.
"The attitude is very good, but the talent is really lacking, but... he still has potential. It seems that Manager Smart has a lot of talent in selecting people."
At the beginning of the summer training camp, Min Congda and Dunleavy said that "everyone has a ball to play". Dunleavy didn't take it to heart at all. He felt that this kid was talking nonsense. Where did everyone have a ball to play and how to let the players be free? Development, do you think this is a university?
Professional teams are all about fighting for results and focusing on the present.
But as time went by, after three games, Dunleavy gradually understood a little bit of Min Congda's intentions.
In the past, the Clippers paid too much attention to record, only focused on the present, and were short-sighted. They even missed Kobe in the 1996 draft, and Kobe tried out for the Clippers at that time.
The Clippers' scouting team and management said that Kobe's talent is very good, but if they choose Kobe, "we will become a joke to the entire Los Angeles."
Because Kobe was too young at the time, only 17 years old, and there were too many uncertainties in the future. The Clippers needed immediate combat capabilities and more mature players.
The results of it? The Clippers who didn't choose Kobe still became a joke in Los Angeles, but Kobe became the real king of Los Angeles.
From 1996 to 2009, 13 years ago, Kobe has brought 4 championships to the Lakers.
As for the Clippers, a Western Conference semifinal appearance was their highest honor in 13 years.
Kobe cried bitterly after losing in the 2003 Western Conference semifinals.
Now, Dunleavy looks at Stephen Curry like a child and thinks: "Maybe this is the Kobe Bryant that Smart brought to the Clippers?"
Tonight is a joy for the Clippers players. Victory can take away the fatigue, the badness of the away locker room, the noisy stadium environment in Salt Lake City and the unprofessional service of the hotel.
Curry participated in the post-game interview. He could not hide his happiness, smiled like a squirrel, and said: "I missed a key three-pointer in the last game. I blame myself very much. I have been thinking, If I have such an opportunity next time, I will definitely seize it. Fortunately, I have such an opportunity tonight. When Coach Dunleavy said that he wanted me to shoot the last ball, I secretly made up my mind. I must make the ball!"
This goal and this victory are crucial to Curry. His confidence will be built at critical moments. What the big heart needs to hone is both innate and the result of continuous accumulation.
When Michael Jordan defeated Georgetown in the 1982 NCAA finals, he was destined to be a super killer.
And Chris Webber called the non-existent timeout in the 1993 NCAA finals, causing the Michigan Five to lose the championship. From then on, Webber always fell short in NBA games.
After the interview, the whole team returned to the hotel, and Curry couldn't sleep at all.
He first called Ayesha and confided in his excitement and joy after succeeding in the game. Then he received a call from his father Dell Curry. In addition to congratulating his son, Dell Curry also reminded him: "You should Give Mr. Smart a call, he'll be delighted with your victory and performance."
Curry said: "I know, after I got off the phone with you, I called Mr. Smart right away."
As a result, after Curry hung up the phone with his father, he dialed Min Congda's mobile phone number, but it showed that the other party's mobile phone had been turned off and was forwarded to voicemail...
"Why did Mr. Smart turn off his phone? Is his phone out of battery? Nothing will happen to him in Los Angeles, right?"
So Curry called Ada, but Ada said that Smart had gone home from get off work very early and wanted to watch the game at home.
Hearing that Min Congda's cell phone was turned off, Ada called Min Congda's apartment and got a busy signal. Could something have happened to Mr. Smart?
Ada was worried and drove out to Min Congda's apartment late at night. She knocked on the door several times and the door opened with a "click".
Min Congda stood at the door calmly, with a bit of surprise on his face, "Ada? Why are you here?"
Seeing that Min Congda was fine, Ada breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Stephen called me and said that your mobile phone was turned off. I called your home again, but the signal was busy. I was a little worried, so I came over to take a look."
Min Congda smiled awkwardly. After Curry beat the Jazz with a three-pointer, he knew that many people would call, either to congratulate or congratulate him, so he turned off his phone and unplugged the phone line at home, wanting to have some peace and quiet.
Think about what is going on with the Clippers now, why do they always win!
"I'm really sorry. My phone is out of battery. The phone... maybe the phone is in arrears, right? Haha, come in, do you want a drink?"
With a suspicious look on Ada's face, she poked her head into the apartment and said, "Are you the only one here? Is your secretary, Miss Daddario, not here?"
Min Congda smiled bitterly and said: "She is not my secretary, you are my secretary. She has gone back to New York and has work to do."
Ada then entered the apartment and sat down on the sofa. She saw that Min Congda was about to talk about tonight's game, but Min Congda said: "Don't congratulate me! Don't talk about tonight's game! It's over, don't mention it again. "
Ada took back what she wanted to say, and Min Congda poured her a glass of beer and said, "Driving here? Can I drink?"
Ada nodded and said, "A glass of beer, no problem."
Min Congda handed the wine glass to Ada and said, "Ada, I want to ask you a few questions. You must answer me truthfully."
Ada took the cup and felt a little nervous. What kind of questions would Manager Smart ask herself?
Min Congda asked: "Do you think there is anything worth improving in the team's current management?"
Ada didn't expect Min Congda to have this problem. As a personal assistant, how could she talk about these things?
"Uh... I... I think the Clippers are doing pretty well in all aspects now. Under the leadership of Mr. Smart, we are doing pretty well, especially with the big salary increase for everyone. But..."
"but what?"
"But I heard Mr. Rosser say that our ticket revenue is not very good and we are financially unable to support it..."
"Very good!" Min Congda took a sip of beer, looked at Ada's doubtful eyes, and hurriedly explained: "I mean, it's very, very good that you can convey Mr. Rosser's opinions to me."
