NBA: Start by torturing Jordan and add points to upgrade

Perhaps the only good news for the Mavericks is that after losing Game 3, they will have a full three days of rest. It's the conference finals, and the league is giving both teams ample rest time to ensure the games remain exciting.

Three days is enough time for the Mavericks to rest and recover.

Of course, it's mainly about the mind; they need to forget the unpleasant parts, forget the pain of narrow defeats and being eliminated, and then rediscover their fighting spirit and hope.

Only when they regain their confidence will they have a chance to win the next game and continue to move forward.

From the league's perspective, with both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals temporarily suspended for a very short break, they couldn't allow the league to completely quiet down.

We also need to find something to keep the league's popularity going.

At this time of year, besides the games, the only thing that can really ignite the fans' enthusiasm and generate the most discussion among them is the NBA draft lottery!
The 14 teams that did not make the playoffs will be able to participate in a lottery to compete for the draft order in the June draft.

In addition, 2012 was a well-known draft year, with Anthony Davis, known as the "Brow," the son of America and the hope of the new generation of American big men, and his Kentucky teammate, the awesome-sounding Michael Kidd Gilchrist.

These two players, who just led Kentucky to the NCAA Tournament championship, are widely regarded as the top two most talented players this year.

Other examples include Bradley Beal, nicknamed "Little Iverson," a small scorer known for his incredibly fast shooting, and Dion Waiters, nicknamed "Little Wade," another small scorer known for his explosive athleticism and strength.

Of course, there are also veteran rookies like Damian Lillard, the new generation North Carolina's "Black Hawk" Harrison Barnes, Austin Rivers who was once considered one of the two top rookies of the 12 draft alongside Davis, and the massive and exceptionally talented Andre Drummond...

Some say this class will be just as good as the 03 and 96 classes, producing multiple MVPs and All-Star caliber players; others say that this class's achievements will never be lower than those of the 99 class.

Many others said: If you have a top-ten draft pick this year, you can pick an All-Star prospect even if you close your eyes and just randomly pick one!

There's a consensus on the talent pool of the 12 draft class, with Anthony Davis standing out as the next generation's face of the league. So, who will get the number one pick is something to look forward to!
This is the team's hope for the next ten years, a cornerstone figure who can carry the team and directly complete its rebuild.

This year, there's an additional point of interest regarding who will ultimately receive the top draft pick.

Many conspiracy theorists claim that the number one draft pick will definitely go to the Hornets! They argue that the Hornets were just sold, the league will compensate them, and they'll get Anthony Davis. Some even confidently assert that this year's number one pick will definitely go to the Hornets.

Because when the team's new owner bought the team, this clause was already included in the contract!
The league, of course, remained silent on this matter and did not respond under any circumstances.

Such things are hard to explain, so of course you can't admit them, and you can't deny them either, because if you deny them, you'll only face more problems and unfounded suspicions.

On the day of the draft lottery, the representatives from each team displayed their unique talents, with a dazzling array of magical artifacts, spells, trinkets, or lucky stones on display.

Almost every guy who draws lots on behalf of a team does something, more or less.

There are a few exceptions, such as Popovich of the Spurs. The old man is expressionless at this moment, as if he doesn't care about being in the top three anyway, so he's just here to make an appearance.

The most extravagant preparation belonged to Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets. This guy wore a bright red suit, and when the buttons were undone, the inside was covered with a dense array of emblems, totems, and other such things. According to him, these were all mysterious shamanic powers.

At least two-thirds of the televised broadcast of the draft lottery is spent introducing the various "superstitious" methods used by the participants.

Of the remaining third, one-third should be used to briefly introduce this year's newcomers and the rankings of each team, and another third should be used for Stern to say some nonsense.

The final third is where the real event takes place, when the draw results for each team are finally announced.

All I can say is that this talent show lottery was all hype, but the actual content was pitifully little.

There's nothing we can do about it. After all, it's just a matter of a few ping-pong balls. How much real content could he possibly have?

Soon, after the previous nonsensical segment that had fans impatiently swearing, the results for tonight's game were announced.

The fourteenth... The thirteenth...
The first two names that appeared were unremarkable, and they were the teams with the lowest probability of being drawn into the top three in this year's draw.

When the Timberwolves, the twelfth pick, appeared, Popovich jumped up, pumped his fist, and roared, "FUXX! FUXX! FUXX!"

The old man, who had been nonchalant and lazy just moments before, was now as excited as Fan Jin, making one worry that he might just collapse from sheer excitement in a moment.

A senior executive from a Western Conference team next to him, who wished to remain anonymous, even thoughtfully pulled a bottle of nitroglycerin from his pocket, to see if he might need it later.

Because the team that should have been here was the Spurs.

The fact that the Spurs didn't appear here means that the Spurs have hit the jackpot; they will get at least a third pick!
With the third-lowest probability of being drawn into the top three, no wonder Popovich is so excited.

Meanwhile, it wasn't just Popovich who was excited; cheers and shouts echoed throughout San Antonio, and countless fans began discussing where the Spurs would ultimately be drafted and who they would select.

As the discussion intensified, the lottery process continued smoothly and efficiently.

Unfortunately, there were no more upsets or comebacks. Apart from the lucky Spurs, most of the other teams ended up where they were supposed to be.

Aside from prodigies.

The Wizards, full of confidence and ranked second to last, were one of the strongest contenders for the number one pick. However, with a scream from the lottery representative, Wall, they only managed to get the fourth pick.

Oh no, so incredibly unlucky.

At this point, the top three picks are completely decided!
Third pick... San Antonio Spurs! The biggest winner of this draft!

Second pick... New Orleans Hornets!
Conspiracy theorists considered him a shoo-in for first place, but in the end he could only settle for second.

Then, as soon as the Hornets' name appeared, Irving excitedly jumped onto the table, took off his suit jacket, and laughed as he showed off all the emblems on it and those things that ordinary people couldn't understand at all.

The Nets emerged as the biggest winners!
The Brooklyn Nets got the number one draft pick!
Judging from the current situation, Kyrie Irving could even shout a welcome message to Anthony Davis right there on the court!

This is an almost 100% certain choice and a result that will definitely occur.

The Nets also completed their rebuild overnight.

The future of the Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis duo, both former number one draft picks, is full of promise!
This inside-outside combination, with the point guard and the center/power forward pairing, is reminiscent of those incredibly successful teams in history!
For example, the team that won the championship last year was Rose + Yao Ming, and the teams that won championships in previous years were Lin Tian + Stoudemire, Lin Tian + Webber, Lin Tian + Ben Wallace, Lin Tian + Schmitz, Lin Tian + Barkley, Lin Tian + ...
No, Lin Tian doesn't have that many inside partners either.

In short, the combination of Irving and Davis is something to look forward to!
Las Vegas is known for its ability to keep up with the times; the moment the draft rankings were announced, they significantly increased the Nets' odds of making the playoffs next season.

Its main selling point is timeliness.

The Nets, a New York-based team that had been dormant for many years since the departure of players like Kidd, have finally regained a lot of attention at this time!
Especially with the New York dynasty next door now almost completely disintegrated, the wealthy Russians in complete control of the team, and the Nets' fans even more prepared to seize power!
We will become the kings of New York!
We have money and top rising stars, so why can't we become the kings of New York?
Of course, the uproar caused by Nets fans and the draft lottery is destined to be temporary.

Now that it's the conference finals, after a few days of celebration and discussion, fans quickly calmed down and refocused their attention on the ongoing conference finals.

So far in this year's regional finals, both matches have ended 2-0.

However, the fans did not find the divisional finals boring despite the seemingly large score difference.

The main reason, of course, is the western region!
Although the Mavericks lost two games in a row, both were due to game-winning shots. These two games were absolutely perfect in terms of content, excitement, and the thrilling and dramatic endings.

However, the East was somewhat less intense than the West's ultimate showdown.

The young Heat team was almost powerless against the experienced Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers displayed their terrifying dominance as the Eastern Conference champions at home, leaving the Heat in a state of utter misery.

In the two games, the Heat lost by 14 and 13 points respectively, which may not seem like much. However, the latter part of the fourth quarter in both games turned into garbage time.

In both games, the Cavaliers dominated the Heat. One reason for this is that the Heat's journey to the conference finals was largely due to luck.

Firstly, the Bobcats were hampered by injuries, with both their star player and second-best player missing the game, which allowed the Heat to pull off a 'Black 6' upset.

Then, their second-round opponent, the Celtics, was embroiled in internal strife, and now everyone believes that the Celtics will break up the team and rebuild in the summer.

This means that although the Heat will face two opponents on their way to the next round, they will be the champions of the past three years and the core of their championship teams.

However, the opponents they fought were all incomplete versions.

The Heat's path to the finals was indeed somewhat unfair.

Of course, a game is a game, and the Heat have the ability to reach the conference finals.

But when they reached the conference finals and faced the Cavaliers, who played a team-oriented style, the Heat's various problems were immediately exposed!
Curry was physically weak, lacked absolute talent, and had poor athleticism. He was almost completely overwhelmed by Wade's absolute advantage in physical qualities. This rising star, who had performed brilliantly in the first two rounds, seemed so helpless on the stage of the conference finals.

Then there's Beasley, the team's nominal leader, who once again exposed his weakness of not meeting the standard in any aspect except for individual one-on-one scoring. He can score in one-on-one situations, but not many, and the gap is obvious compared to the opposing team's one-on-one kings, Anthony and Wade.

Love, a skilled white center, was even more overwhelmed and almost completely suppressed when facing two skilled veterans like Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Pau Gasol.

In short, the Heat were completely outmatched and thoroughly suppressed.

Many people think that the Cavaliers might just enter the Finals undefeated!

Their performance in the first three rounds was truly outstanding and dominant.

This year will be their big day to win the championship!
However, many others argue that while the Cavaliers are indeed strong, they have consistently played against weaker teams throughout their journey.

They didn't even encounter a team with 50 wins. The teams they played against along the way were either weak or extremely weak, all of which were teams that couldn't even make the playoffs in the Western Conference.

This level of strength is really not worth mentioning.

But the Lakers, who are right across from them, are the real powerhouses!
In the first round, the Lakers faced the Suns, who had a championship-caliber roster. Facing the veterans' last stand, the Lakers gave them no hope and easily swept them 4-0.

The second round was also highly anticipated, against the Grizzlies, a team known as the league's best defensive team with a tenacious and ruthless style of play. The Lakers gave them no hope, easily sweeping them 4-0.

Two 4-0 victories, against two teams with completely different styles.

From a high-scoring offensive battle that brought down the Suns to a balanced offensive and defensive victory over the Grizzlies, the Lakers have demonstrated their strong adaptability and ability to perfectly balance offense and defense.

No matter what type of opponent they face, they can find their own rhythm and always find a way to win the game.

In the conference finals, facing the star-studded new generation of super team Mavericks, the Lakers showed no mercy, relentlessly chasing and attacking, and coming back from the brink of defeat to win two consecutive games, taking a 2-0 lead into Dallas.

In this round of games, the Lakers demonstrated their terrifying resilience and ability to play from behind.

This team has too many players who can score, and too many players who can step up in adversity.

This Lakers team is clearly stronger and more intimidating than the Cavaliers.

Their strength is even more terrifying.

The Cavaliers' three opponents weren't even qualified for the Western Conference playoffs, while the Lakers' three opponents in the Eastern Conference might all be formidable opponents.

But obviously, Cavaliers fans don't think that way; they don't believe they're incapable.

So, before the finals even started, and even before the regional finals were decided, fans of the two teams started arguing online.

Neither side would yield to the other, and the fans of both teams started exchanging insults very early on.

Because the Lakers have more star players and higher popularity, the Cavaliers were initially completely overwhelmed and had almost no chance to fight back.

Until the third game of the Eastern Conference Finals kicked off, the Cavaliers players seemed to know about the online discussions. They brought a terrifying intensity from the very beginning of the game, raising the bar for everything from physical confrontation and defensive intensity to game focus.

Their further improvement left the Heat completely bewildered.

If the Heat were able to put up some resistance in the first two games and create some problems and opportunities for the opposing team, then in the third game, they were truly powerless to fight back.

The gap between the two sides exceeded 10 points in the first quarter and exceeded 20 points by the end of the first half.

Although the score difference was only 23 points at the end of the third quarter, the Cavaliers' starters were the first to rest in the fourth quarter.

The entire fourth quarter was garbage time!

The Cavaliers are showing their opponents, and even those online who don't support them, that we are strong! We are much stronger than you think.

The reason we swept aside opponents with over 40 wins is not because we can only beat them.

It's because they were the only ones who appeared before us! We had no choice.

The Cavaliers' strong performance naturally gave their supporters a boost of confidence. Fans felt as if they were receiving support from the team and players remotely. Suddenly, Cleveland fans went wild and even engaged in a back-and-forth battle with Lakers supporters online.

而他们最佳的论调就是：我们已经3：0了！我们季后赛已经11连胜了！现在该你们了，你们来啊！展示啊！你们也打3：0啊！
This issue has put Los Angeles residents at a disadvantage to some extent.

It's not that they lack confidence, nor are they afraid of the Mavericks' home court.

The key is that if something hasn't happened, no matter how confident you are, you can't be as convincing as the other side when they're presenting facts as evidence, right?

Lakers supporters are now eagerly anticipating and impatiently waiting for Game 3 of this series to begin!
Only if the Lakers also defeat the Mavericks and take a 3-0 lead can they launch their ultimate counterattack online!

Fans' expectations for this game are at their peak; they're just waiting to see the Lakers perform and teach the Mavericks a lesson.

After you guys teach the Mavericks a lesson, we'll go teach those country bumpkins from the Cavaliers a lesson online!
On the other side, although the Cavaliers' supporters had a brief advantage and were blasting their opponents, they were actually quite uncertain about the outcome, so they were also paying close attention to the game.

They need to receive the news as soon as the game ends, or even deploy in advance if they anticipate the outcome before the game ends.

If the Mavericks win, they win too, and they'll spit out all the Los Angeles fans!
If the Lakers win, then they'll have to come up with some tactics and strategies, fighting and retreating, and then verbally attacking the Los Angeles fans.

In addition, there are a large number of neutral fans and people who are just looking for fun. They are also quite looking forward to this game. They want to see how the Lakers and Cavaliers fans will react and who will come out on top in the end.

With this in mind, the game's popularity and viewership skyrocketed!
The number of viewers in North America for the previous game was 1600 million, but for this game it skyrocketed to 2300 million!

This is just the warm-up and commentator analysis time before the game starts.

Once the competition officially begins, the viewership will only increase! The level of attention will only rise!
"It has to be exciting! Don't let it be a blowout! Nobody should let the game be a blowout!" This was David Stern's heartfelt and sincere prayer after seeing the first-hand data.

In high-profile matches like these, the more intense the competition, the better; the better the star players perform and the better their stats, the better!
Come on!

This time, Stern was sincere, without any bias or position, and cheered for both teams.

He desperately wanted both teams to deliver the most brilliant performance of their careers tonight! (End of Chapter)