The game between the Trail Blazers and the Spurs was temporarily scheduled to be broadcast live across the United States.
why?
It's not because at the beginning of the season, no one expected that the Trail Blazers would be able to reach this point and become the current second record in the league.
The battle between first and second in the league makes this game no less popular than the annual Christmas battle.
In the live broadcast room.
Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith, Reggie Miller and Charles Barkley, who lay dead at home for several days, were all brought in to commentate on the game.
This is a four-person working system that can only be used during the Christmas game and the playoffs, which shows how much TNT attaches importance to this game.
"I think everyone knows why this national live broadcast was temporarily added." Kenny Smith, the longest-serving person, took the lead in breaking the embarrassment.
"Of course, because My King is about to win this game and win the previous bet for the great Shark." O'Neal said with great excitement.
"Shaquille, the game hasn't started yet!"
Buckley on the side responded in a neutral tone.
The reason why he agreed to commentate on this game was not only because the team gave him too much, but also because Barkley firmly believed that the Trail Blazers led by Wang Zelin could never be a match for the veteran Spurs.
"Tch, to use a Chinese saying, you are just a dead duck. You are almost dead and you still have a hard mouth!"
As a rare black player in the NBA with extremely high dual intelligence, O'Neal was sensitive to the importance of the Chinese market early on and made a lot of effort in private to learn Chinese dialect.
I accidentally learned Mahjong, the quintessence of the Chinese nation.
"Who doesn't know that although young people aged 18 or 19 are very motivated, they lack stamina. The Blazers are still too young and their explosive period has passed."
"But don't forget, young people are also very resilient. I believe they will soon have an explosive period again."
Seeing that the words of O'Neal and Barkley seemed to be getting more and more wrong, Reggie Miller quickly stopped the two of them.
"Ahem, guys, the game is about to start. Let's return our attention to the field."
…
"Beep beep beep!"
The referee's whistle sounded again on the court, and the players from both teams officially entered the stadium.
"Beep!!!"
The basketball was thrown high, and the young and strong Wang Zelin won the ball for the team.
The Trail Blazers' ninth game of the season officially begins.
After the start, all the high-spirited Blazers were beaten by the Spurs and lost their temper.
Whether it's offense or defense, the Spurs are very organized.
Especially on the offensive end, the Spurs, led by three coaches, can always find holes in the Trail Blazers' defense.
You must know that the Trail Blazers averaged 104 points per game this season and are still fifth in the league. The firepower of this youth army shocked the other 29 teams.
Its average points allowed per game is 98.3, ranking 15th in the league, in the middle of the pack. Although it cannot be said to be very good, it is definitely not bad.
However, it seemed full of loopholes in front of the Spurs. The Spurs' large number of off-ball screens, high pick-and-rolls and air cuts made it difficult for the Trail Blazers to defend.
After the first quarter of the game, the Trail Blazers were beaten 31:16 by the Spurs. Whether it was offense or defense, the former was completely blown away.
Wang Zelin, who has attracted much attention, was completely lost under the defense of Duncan Shifu. He was blocked twice in a single quarter and only got 4 points, 3 rebounds and 3 turnovers.
This old man, who will be 37 in more than 4 months, has averaged 2.7 blocks per game this season, which is the second highest in his career, second only to the 2.9 in the 2002-03 season.
An almost 37-year-old veteran ranks second in the blocks list, averaging 2.7 blocks per game!
You must know that Duncan's athletic ability has already declined, and what is left now is his pure shot-blocking talent and years of rich experience.
Looking at Warcraft next door, despite the interference of injuries, his physical talent is still ranked among the top five insiders in the league today, and his average number of blocks per game is only a "mere" 2.4.
The 27-year-old Peak Spark's frame-protecting ability is actually no better than that of the nearly 37-year-old Duncan. Who can I talk to to explain this kind of thing?
Is this how the Spurs get older year after year?
Go to hell!
As time went on, the Trail Blazers' morale reached an unprecedented low.
16 points in a single quarter!
This is their lowest score in a single quarter this season, which is simply shameful.
On the other hand, the Spurs, even though the score was almost double the lead over the Trail Blazers, everyone on the bench had a dull expression, as if these scores were effortless.
Plain, low-key, simple... these are all in line with the tradition of Marxism and the urban culture of San Antonio.
However, in the eyes of Wang Zelin and others, the Spurs are like an endless sea, calm on the surface but turbulent on the inside.
In the live broadcast room.
The four commentators looked at the score on the big screen and looked at each other, not knowing what to say.
"horrible!"
“This Spurs team is so scary!”
It was Kenny Smith who took the lead again to break the awkwardness.
There is something called champion appearance, which can also be called champion temperament.
Now, the four of them have seen this seemingly mysterious but real thing in the Spurs.
"Charles, I was wrong about this game."
As the former star of a dynasty team, O'Neal secretly compared the Spurs team in front of him with the original OK team.
The result was even more shocking to him.
Except for the Lakers in the first year of the new century, O'Neal was sure to open 46, and in the other two years, his evaluation in his heart was always 55.
"It's really rare. I didn't expect you to surrender one day."
Buckley's tone seemed ridiculing, but the other three were keenly aware of the solemnity contained in it.
Trailblazers are in trouble!
The four people gave a unanimous evaluation.
…
"Coach, did the Spurs opposite us really only win one more game than us?"
Hickson looked at the Spurs bench and then looked back at his head coach, his eyes a little numb.
The underlying meaning is self-evident.
This gap is too big!
Are we really a team of the same caliber as the outside world says?
"This...come on!"
Coach Terry opened his mouth to say something, but in the end he could only choke out two words: "Come on!"
That's right, at this time, faced with the gap in absolute strength, what else can you do except work hard?
At the beginning of the second quarter, Wang Zelin insisted on following Aldridge and others on the court despite the objections of Coach Terry.
Even if he loses this game, he will lose clearly.
The Trail Blazers still have their full lineup, while the Spurs follow their regular lineup.
The troika only left the young and strong Tony Parker to lead the bench, and the other two did not play again.
The remaining four became Gary Neal, Stephen Jackson, DeJuan Blair and Matt Bonner.
After passing the first quarter of the competition, Simawei no longer regarded the young Blazers as a potential opponent.
The two are not the same team!
Facing the Spurs' bench, the Trail Blazers were on full fire, scoring 17 points in the first half of the quarter and finally returning to their familiar offensive rhythm.
But the Spurs, led by Tony Parker and relying on extremely tacit cooperation, scored 13 points in the first half.
In other words, the Blazers' main lineup only scored 5 more points against the opponent's substitutes.
How helpless and desperate this is!
The Spurs, who were in the lead, took the lead in calling a timeout. Everyone knew that Simavici was ready to replace the main lineup.
"King, we must rest, otherwise we..."
"Do we still have a chance?"
Wang Zelin, whose face was red from exhaustion, interrupted the coach.
Yes, do we still have a chance?
Wang Zelin's question left the surrounding teammates and coaching staff speechless.
"Even if it means death, please let me die on the battlefield. I want to fight for myself and the team in the end!"
It was the first time in his life that he lost so humiliatingly. Wang Zelin felt too much unwillingness but was not desperate because his fighting spirit was still burning.
Failure is not terrible, what is terrible is not having the courage to face failure.
Others don’t know, so doesn’t Wang Zelin know?
The Spurs team in front of them has not actually reached their peak yet, and they will be even stronger next year.
If he can beat the current Spurs and lose all his energy, then how will he have the courage to face the stronger Spurs next year.
Therefore, Wang Zelin knew that he could never retreat, and his heart would not allow him to retreat.
"Um!"
Coach Terry nodded and said nothing.
"Beep beep beep!"
The whistle blows, the timeout ends, and the game continues.
49:33!
The Trail Blazers are still 16 points behind.
"Oh, what a tenacious boy!"
As a master of psychology, Duncan can be said to be a psychological expert.
After re-entering the field, Duncan suddenly had the ecstatic No. 36 kid who was abused by him in the first quarter of the game. At this time, his eyes were no longer confused, but instead filled with unyielding fighting spirit.
Moreover, Wang Zelin's other four teammates also have high-spirited and unyielding fighting spirit in their eyes.
It’s great to be young!
Although he didn't know what happened to the Trail Blazers during the timeout, Duncan probably guessed the reason, as if he was thoughtful.
When she was swept out of the playoffs 4-0 by the popular OK team at the beginning of the century, Duncan was filled with despair and unwillingness, but she quickly adjusted back.
In addition to the confidence in his own strength, he also has the unique courage to fight and perseverance as a young man.
"Tim, the Trail Blazers seem to have a new change."
Ginobili, who was next to Duncan, also noticed something was wrong with the Blazers.
"Whatever they do, it's time for us to take the game away."
Tim Duncan replied expressionlessly, just like his nickname "Stone Buddha". When he gets on the court, he will not talk nonsense and focus on the final victory.
"That's right, it's time to harvest the fruits of victory."
Tony Parker on the other side tightened his shoelaces, stood up and stretched.
More than ten years of ups and downs have brought the tacit understanding between the three members of GDP to its peak. Now, neither victory nor failure can disturb their mentality.
The game continued, and GDP's return led the Spurs to a 9:0 offensive. The game once again returned to the familiar Spurs rhythm.
But soon all members of the Trail Blazers burst out with unyielding fighting spirit.
First, Lillard from the outside took over the offensive banner, scoring 8 points in a row, including two three-pointers.
After Tony Parker responded quickly, Aldridge beat Diaw several times and succeeded, continuing the team's offensive momentum.
The two sides began a long period of fighting.
Three minutes before the third quarter, Wang Zhelin completely got rid of the shadow cast by Tim Duncan and repeatedly asked for strength. The No. 1 power forward in history helped the team launch a 12:6 offensive.
Trail Blazers 71:79 Spurs, the score finally came within 10 points.
At the end of the quarter, all Blazers paid for their indiscriminate bombing in the first three quarters, and everyone began to lose their physical strength.
Even Lillard, who has always been known as an iron man in the team, has been affected by his physical strength, resulting in a decline in offensive efficiency.
In the end, the Spurs defeated the Trail Blazers 112:95. While defending their home court, the Spurs also brought the team to 9 consecutive victories.
After the game, Duncan suddenly walked to the Trail Blazers bench.
"Young man, you are very good, the future is yours!"
"ah!"
Wang Zelin was stunned for a moment. This was the first sentence Duncan said to him after the two faced off for a whole game, and it was still so familiar.
