NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 881 Champions Never Take the Blame! (Chapter without Main Character)

On Tuesday, May 13, 2014, the Western Conference semifinals between the Thunder and the Clippers garnered a huge amount of attention.

Besides the game itself, the Clippers, who recently experienced a racial discrimination incident, are also attracting attention. Just at the end of last month, even Obama publicly stated his views, expressing them frankly:

"Donald Sterling has offended all Americans!"

The NBA's swift punishment has not quelled the controversy, and who will take over the Clippers team has become a focus of public attention.

Chris Paul rallied his teammates to lead a protest some time ago. After entering the semifinals, the Clippers successfully defended their home court after losing two games in a row, bringing the series to 2-2. Tonight, they will face off in the pivotal Game 5!
With such a crucial game back in Oklahoma City, even MVP Durant felt the pressure. The Thunder didn't want to lose tonight, otherwise the series would be completely reversed.

At 19 p.m. that evening, half an hour before the game was scheduled to start, the Chesapeake Energy Arena was already buzzing with excitement as enthusiastic Oklahoma City fans unleashed their energy.

On the TNT commentary desk, Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller were still discussing the previous game. When talking about the Thunder's free throws, Miller chuckled and joked:
"I like what James Harden said: Don't foul! He just found some easy scoring opportunities, and the Clippers' complaints won't solve anything."

"It's just that the young players didn't perform well enough on the road. Harden made some basic mistakes at crucial moments when facing Paul's defense. He has to correct some of his bad basketball habits."

"The time has come to test the Thunder's rebounding. The young players can't afford to give up 10 rebounds like they did on the road. And don't underestimate their opponents; the Clippers also have a wealth of championship experience."

In the end, Miller couldn't hold back anymore. The Knicks players were still shining, and when the team encountered difficulties, the championship members were truly useful.

Noticing the serious expressions on the faces of the players from both teams warming up, Kevin Harlan, in coordination with the broadcast director, praised the MVP:

"Although he missed the game-winning shot, Kevin Durant is in great form! The young man has shown dominance in this year's series!"

出场42分钟，24中12，三分线外7中1，罚球18中15，40分7篮板3助攻2抢断2盖帽8失误，杜兰特在G4表现十分出色。

The director also focused the camera on the MVP walking to the center of the court. Wearing the Thunder's home white jersey, Durant clapped repeatedly to the music, showing the demeanor of the best player in front of the Oklahoma City fans.

Because of the fouls they drew, Harden and Paul had several verbal altercations during the series. Both of them looked sullen and were still very dissatisfied with the referees' calls in the series.

Head coach Denagro was also somewhat irritable. Opponents always seemed to find their rhythm through free throws, and he suspected the referees were targeting the Clippers. In four games, opponents averaged over 30 free throws per game, which really infuriated him.

"OKC! OKC! OKC!"

Amidst the deafening shouts that echoed through the arena, DeAndre Jordan jumped for possession, and Chris Paul, frowning, loudly reminded his teammates to get into position quickly in the very first possession.

Directing traffic from the top of the key, after several collisions at the baseline, JR Smith quickly bounced to the left wing, received the ball, ignored the defense of Soflosa, and confidently launched a long-range three-pointer!
"Shhh!!"

Amid boos, JR Smith brandished a gun with his finger and strode back on defense with an arrogant and passionate air. He is the Clippers' primary offensive weapon.

After two consecutive away games where the Thunder were completely outmatched by their opponents, the championship-winning guard returned home in exceptional form and was instrumental in the victory.

During a defensive possession, Chris Paul immediately went up to harass Harden. After the physical contact, the bearded man pretended to stumble, but the referee did not call a foul. Coach Brooks on the sidelines even spoke up for his player.

Prince relentlessly chased Durant for the Clippers but failed to receive the ball in time, and Jeff Green eventually came to the wing to receive it.

When Harden called for the ball again to organize the offense, Asik immediately stepped up to screen, his big body making a solid block. Paul, who was a step too slow, could only watch as his opponent blew the ball and stepped back, allowing DeAndre Jordan to score with a strong shot!
"what!!"

After scoring, Harden repeatedly pounded his chest and shouted passionately, showing his tough guy spirit. The Oklahoma City fans in the stadium were even more excited, and the cheers instantly grew louder.

The game started intensely. After a pick-and-roll, Griffin drove hard to the basket against Jeff Green and drew a foul. On the other end, Harden assisted Sefolosha for a mid-range jump shot.

JR Smith made another strong shot from the right wing, eliciting gasps from the Oklahoma City fans in the arena.
Durant drove hard to the basket from the wing and was fouled, drawing a barrage of insults from the crowd.

Unlike the pressure-free semifinals in the East, tonight's matchup was a thrilling spectacle for commentators, with many media reporters updating the game on Twitter, making it increasingly popular.

Led by their championship-winning players, the Clippers showed their true colors, with Durant and Harden frequently missing shots in the intense physical contact.

Maintaining this level of intensity also comes at a price. Chris Paul was fouled by Harden with 4 minutes and 12 seconds left in the first quarter. When the referee blew the whistle, head coach Denagro on the sidelines jumped up and down in anger.

DeAndre Jordan was also plagued by foul trouble, but fortunately, substitute Gazuric was in excellent form, and Chalmers also showed his championship guard skills.

During the rotation phase, the Clippers essentially became the Knicks' second team, with players like Chalmers, JR Smith, Matt Barnes, and Gadzuric all hailing from New York.

The championship team withstood the opponent's powerful free throws, 34-25. At the end of the first quarter, Chris Paul excitedly pumped his fist on the sidelines.

JR-史密斯单节6中4，三分线外2中2，砍下10分，巴恩斯4中2，三分线外3中2，罚球2中2，替补登场贡献8分。

Despite the Thunder making only 15 of 17 free throws in the first quarter, the outstanding performance of the two players prompted Reggie Miller to repeatedly exclaim in admiration:

"The championship-winning players stepped up! A truly outstanding performance; the Thunder must find their shooting touch as soon as possible."

Harden played the entire first quarter, shooting 1-for-4 from the field, 1-for-3 from three-point range, and 6-for-7 from the free-throw line, scoring 9 points in the quarter. The young man couldn't help but think of the Knicks' three-point barrage during the Finals, and he loudly encouraged his teammates during the break.

Durant was repeatedly "punched" by his opponents, going 1-for-4 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, scoring only 6 points in the first quarter. Trailing in the first quarter, even the MVP couldn't sit still and wished he could travel at a different time. Nobody wants to lose such a crucial game.

During the rotation phase, both Kevin Martin and Vince Carter contributed, but the Clippers' "championship roster" withstood the pressure, and as the score continued to rise, the Oklahoma City fans in the arena couldn't sit still any longer.

Just before halftime, JR Smith received an assist from Paul and hit another long-range three-pointer, turning Chesapeake Energy Arena into a library. The Clippers went on a rampage!
With the Thunder trailing by 10 points at halftime, 62-52, and having twice as many free throws as their opponents, the Thunder were down by 10 points.

The game unfolded in a way that surprised all the commentators. The MVP went 2-for-9 in the first half, and Durant lost his way under the relentless pressure from the championship team members, scoring only 13 points in the first half.

After the start of the second half, Oklahoma City fans hoped that their home team could explode in the third quarter. Unfortunately, the opponent withstood James Harden's individual surge, and the two sides were tied in the third quarter.

Durant went 1-for-8, scoring only 4 points in this quarter, almost knocking his own basket off balance. The pivotal Game 5 of the MVP series suddenly faltered.
With victory seemingly within reach, head coach Denagro became extremely excited.

Less than three minutes into the final quarter, DeAndre Jordan fouled out, infuriating Denagro who yelled at the referee, giving the Thunder free throws.

Soon Prince also picked up his sixth foul, the Clippers' defensive intensity dropped, and Blake Griffin started missing shots. The Thunder seized the opportunity to quickly close the gap.

JR Smith's magic failed him in crucial moments, and Jamal Crawford, who came off the bench, also missed shots.

The Clippers' sudden scoring drought thrilled the Oklahoma City fans, who felt this wasn't the "script" of the Finals and that they still had a chance.

With 44 seconds left in the game, the Thunder inbounded the ball, and Durant, using a screen, received the ball on the right wing and made a fadeaway jumper!

106-102, Durant, who scored the goal, pumped his fist and roared in triumph.

In the Clippers' most crucial offensive possession, Chris Paul was heavily guarded, and Jeff Green quickly double-teamed him after the pick-and-roll. Griffin, who received the pass, hesitated at the crucial moment and passed the ball to Gadzuric, who almost committed a turnover.

With little time left on the shot clock, the ball was passed around for a long time before finally returning to JR Smith's hands. He dribbled between his legs repeatedly on the left wing and then took a step-back shot, which bounced off the back of the rim and flew out of bounds.

With 23.6 seconds left, Chesapeake Energy Arena erupted again, and Soflosa, who had secured the crucial possession, also clenched his fist in celebration.

During the Thunder's timeout, Miller, the veteran commentator, started bragging again in the TNT commentary booth:
"Kevin Durant has redeemed himself, and the Thunder still have a chance to win this game!" "The Clippers, lacking a superstar like Lee, struggled in crucial moments. They performed well in the first three quarters tonight, but ran into big trouble in the final moments."

Kevin Harlan didn't expect the game to go this way. He scored 60+ points in the first half and, used to the Knicks' pace, he didn't expect the game to go so far.

After a long chat, the two agreed that Durant would take over the game. After the timeout, the MVP received the ball on the sideline again, took a step, stepped out of bounds, and made a long two-point jump shot!

The Oklahoma City fans in the arena were chanting wildly, but Durant, who was retreating on defense, clapped his hands in frustration. 106-104, with 20.1 seconds left in the game, the Clippers still held the initiative.

Without a timeout, Paul quickly dribbled across half-court, Griffin attempted a high screen, but Harden shot from behind.

Paul made a steal after being pulled and pulled, and while complaining loudly, he chased back hard. Harden made a sudden stop on the left wing and the referee blew the whistle. The Clippers coaching staff couldn't hold back anymore.

"What do you want! Damn it, open your eyes!"

Denagro, the head coach, rushed to the scorer's table and started ranting. Chris Paul, sweating profusely, was also annoyed and complaining, repeatedly gesturing that the opponent had fouled by pulling the ball too early. Unfortunately, after a few minutes of this, the referee upheld the original decision.

The Oklahoma City fans in the arena cheered excitedly, and when Harden stepped to the free-throw line again, many people closed their eyes and prayed.

Withstanding the pressure, James Harden made all three free throws, making it 106-107. On the Thunder's bench, Vince Carter and others celebrated wildly with the fans.

"Defense!"

With 11 seconds left in the game, cheers echoed throughout the arena as the Clippers still had a chance to win the game.

Chris Paul, looking furious, took the inbound pass and ran down the clock. With 8 seconds left, Reggie Jackson moved in to double-team him.

Despite the opponent not pressing hard, Paul still passed the ball to JR Smith on the wing. The championship guard seemed unprepared and watched the ball fly out of bounds.

"Oh!!"

Cheers echoed throughout the arena, and the Clippers players were all stunned. JR Smith even shrugged directly at Paul. In the final moments, the team suddenly collapsed.
When Durant made both free throws and Paul missed a long three-pointer, the buzzing sounded, the score was fixed at 106-109, and the cheers never stopped.

The Thunder's entire bench rushed onto the court, with Durant and Harden hugging their teammates and shouting wildly.

The controversial call in the final moments brought the Clippers coaching staff to the scorer's table, and Denaglow, who was shouting and cursing, was eventually pulled away by the crowd, a scene that made Oklahoma City fans even happier.

"It's hard for me to comment on this matchup, but the Clippers made a series of mistakes in the final moments, and Chris Paul had a chance to close out the game himself."

"Paul lacks some killer instinct. The series isn't over yet. Back in Los Angeles, they have a chance to drag the series into a Game 7."

Miller briefly commented that the whistle did affect the game, proving once again that playing 5 against 8 is not an easy task.

Looking at the chaotic scene, Kevin Harlan was speechless. This year's Western Conference playoffs first round saw multiple Game 7s, and the league seems to have tasted success with it, repeating the same pattern in the semifinals.
"Faced with such a defeat, perhaps the Clippers' championship members will miss Lee."

"This game could very well completely change the course of the series."

"."

In the away team's locker room, Griffin's smile vanished completely, and Crawford and Jordan were also covering their faces.

Paul and the head coach attended the press conference, but no one was in the mood to be interviewed. When the Los Angeles team reporters gathered around the championship-winning guard, JR Smith and Chalmers were still whispering to each other.

"Can you talk about the mistake at the very end? That round completely changed the outcome of the match."

JR Smith glanced at the young reporter and pursed his lips, seemingly unwilling to talk more, but after thinking for a moment, he very naturally shifted the blame:

“Dude, I’ve never considered last-minute choices before, because that’s not my job.”

"Li can handle everything. Of course, we rarely encounter such situations. You know, we can usually finish off our opponents in three quarters."

"Within the team, I have a mid-level contract, and my championship experience tells me that whoever earns the most has to shoulder more responsibility!"

“Pau wasn’t ready yet, but he will grow after experiencing a competition like this.”

The championship-winning guard played well in the first half, but his shooting percentage plummeted in the second half. His smooth-talking excuse left the young reporter stunned, and Chalmers, standing nearby, didn't forget to add insult to injury:
"Our mission is to lead the opponent in the third quarter and then give the ball to Pau in the end!"

"Championship experience doesn't lie. Back at home, everyone will still stick to the mission. You know, the game is never decided by role players. That's not our job."

"."

When a team loses, the team is the team; when a team wins, the team takes the credit. In a crucial game, the championship team immediately shifts the blame. Griffin felt frustrated, but his 0-for-4 shooting performance in the fourth quarter, scoring only 1 point, left him speechless.

When the reporter got close to him, Griffin, after holding back his anger for a while, said after hearing the question of whose responsibility it was:
"Danger, family! I just want to forget about tonight's game. We'll prove ourselves again when we get back to our home ground!"

-

On Thursday, May 15th, the Staples Center was packed to capacity. After the Lakers were eliminated in the first round, the Los Angeles crowd couldn't help but start paying attention to the Clippers' games.

In the crucial Game 6, the Clippers once again got off to a perfect start, 16-31, as if the Knicks had possessed them, and their "first blow" knocked down their opponents again.

However, the subsequent course of the game amused many Lakers fans. Despite leading by 11 points at halftime, the Thunder suddenly erupted in the second half and staged another comeback.

With 9 minutes and 17 seconds left in the game, the score was tied. In the final minutes, Chris Paul scored repeatedly, but the championship member missed several shots, leaving coach Denagro speechless.

With 33 seconds remaining in the game, Durant stepped to the free-throw line again, and shouts suddenly erupted throughout the Staples Center:

"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

With the score at 101-94, Durant, who made both free throws, beamed with pride and patted his chest in celebration.

Paul's three-pointer couldn't save the team. With the opponent making all their free throws, the score came to 2-4 amidst the cheers of the fans, and the Clippers were eliminated.

Paul, clinging to the ball, got into a verbal altercation with Harden in the final moments, causing both teams' players to crowd into the center circle, resulting in chaos on the court.

When Durant arrived at the sidelines for his interview with ESPN, the young MVP, hearing the cheers behind him, waved triumphantly again and confidently responded to the question:
"This was definitely a tough series, and at times it reminded me of the 11 Finals!"

"Fortunately, Chris isn't Lee. You know, I respect everyone. Right now, I'm just stating my true feelings."

"The Thunder have transformed, we will return to the Finals, Oklahoma City fans deserve the championship trophy, and even if we face the Knicks again, we are still confident of winning the championship."

"The future belongs to the young people, and the Thunder will usher in a new era!"

(End of this chapter)