NBA: Start by torturing Jordan and add points to upgrade

Brown was already somewhat desperate. At this point in the game, the opponent scored another goal, widening the gap to two goals. It wasn't quite a death sentence, but it was close enough.

The Cavaliers are now like someone has kicked them off a cliff, with only one hand barely clinging to the edge, barely managing to avoid falling completely.

If they want to turn things around, they not only need to have the protagonist's halo, but they also need the villains' anti-intellectual halo from the Lynx team to come along!
Unfortunately, they are not destined to be the main characters tonight.

Even if they are the main characters, the Lynx team under Lin Tian's command will not give them any chance.

Although Brown called a timeout, laid out tactics, and brought in the team's best shooters, their tactics still failed to work. Under the Bobcats' relentless defense and tight marking, they finally managed to get Wade to score a layup after a full 15 seconds.

But clearly, 2 points weren't enough, and 15 seconds were too long; this goal only barely delayed their demise.

Lin Tian then called a timeout, and the ball was passed to Rose on the sideline. Rose was fouled and made both free throws. Without a timeout, the Heat quickly advanced and took a shot immediately after crossing the center circle.

Even if the three-pointer had made it, it would have been difficult to change anything, and it ultimately failed to go into the basket. With a muffled thud, the basketball bounced off the rim.

The Bobcats won!
They rallied to defeat their opponents in their second consecutive round series, and they won their second consecutive Game 7 victory on the road!
They've made it to the finals for the first time in their team history!
Of course, they have already set countless team records this year!

Everyone on the Bobcats' bench except Lin Tian rushed onto the court and excitedly hugged each other.

Even sharp-eyed observers noticed that at the very last moment of the game, a small man with a head like a light bulb rushed out of the players' tunnel and joined in the celebration.

Needless to say, Van Gundy, who hadn't even returned to the locker room, was secretly hiding near the players' tunnel, just waiting for the game to end so he could rush out and celebrate with everyone.

The opposing Cavaliers and the entire Quicken Loans Arena are naturally the complete opposite of the Bobcats.

Some players lay motionless on the floor, unwilling to accept reality, while others covered their heads and lowered their heads, seemingly lost in thought.

The fans remained completely silent, watching everything unfold on the field, unable to accept it all.

They are the best team in the league, they have an MVP on the team, they also have a top All-Star scorer and an All-Star caliber big man, and they have many other very strong players.

They are number one in the league, they broke team records, and they have led 2-0 and 3-2 before.

But in the end, they fell on their home turf.

Cavaliers fans are devastated.

This is even more upsetting than when Kemp and Webber joined the team at the same time, only to find that one loved to eat and the other loved to drink, and both became overweight.

"This night is destined to be filled with sorrow and pain for Cleveland. We hope they can look forward because they still have a bright future and hope. They still have the healthiest and most complete roster in the league."

"They're only two points away from the Finals, and we hope they can start all over again next year!"

Jackson's comforting voice rang out as he reassured the Cleveland fans.

Miller's voice followed closely: "Cleveland played their hearts out tonight, especially their twin stars. Although Anthony's performance in the fourth quarter was average, he still scored 40 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. He gave it his all in the 48 minutes he played!"

"Of course, there's also his partner, Wade, who also played the full 48 minutes. Tonight, Wade racked up 45 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks. His performance was nothing short of perfect! They were just a hair's breadth away from advancing to the finals!"

"The perfect knight met an even more perfect lynx! You can only say it's fate, and also luck!"

Jackson continued, "Yes, the Bobcats won narrowly tonight, but their performance absolutely deserved the victory!"

"Yao Ming scored 29 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, while Boozer added 36 points and 15 rebounds. The twin towers in the paint delivered a dominant performance tonight! And then there's Odom, who stepped up off the bench and showed his experience in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter, racking up 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists!"

"The Bobcats' performance tonight was truly astonishing. They once again played their signature game, especially head coach Lin's player deployment and tactical application, and his flexible substitutions were very impressive!"

"I think that after tonight, Lin will have a brand new nickname: Professor X!"

"If I could, I'd even call him an upgraded Professor X! This guy really hits the bullseye every time he changes tactics or makes a targeted move, achieving miraculous results!"

"Next, Lin will face the Dallas Mavericks led by 'Little General' Johnson. I wonder if Lin can continue his magical performance in the finals?"

"After all, both Brown of the Cavaliers and Rivers of the Celtics are considered to be the type who are not good at adapting and perform poorly in the game, but Johnson has many years of professional experience and is an excellent point guard."

"At the same time, after becoming the head coach, he was also known for his flexible and varied playing style and tough and fierce style! He is definitely a top-notch head coach!"

"Now, let's see if he can stop Lin and the Lynx!"

"But whether he can do it or not, a brand new champion team will emerge after this year's finals!"

"Neither Charlotte nor Dallas has ever won an NBA championship. Let's see who can bring their city to the top!"

"You played well, I really mean it." On the court, Lin Tian finally walked over to Anthony, patted him on the shoulder as he lay on the floor, and asked, "How are you feeling?"

"It's so good to have you by my side, boss." Anthony, lying on the floor, gave a wry smile. "It's so hard! I've given it my all, I really have."

"Have you ever seen the streets of Cleveland at 4 a.m.?" Lin Tian asked, then suddenly added, "I mean after waking up, not before going to sleep."

Anthony was about to ask what the difference was, but he shook his head first and said, "I do sometimes not sleep at that time, but I have never gotten up at four in the morning."

“Except for when I’m checking up on Lara Croft, I’ve even seen the streets of Cleveland at 2 a.m..”

"Alright, stop talking." Lin Tian wasn't interested in how Anthony and his wife maintained their relationship. Instead, he quickly said, "Then think about why you're so weak physically. Why Devin can keep going, but you can't."

Is it because you're really worse at German?

At this point, Lin Tian patted Anthony on the shoulder, signaling him to think it over carefully, then stood up and walked towards Wade.

"You lost to me again." Lin Tian smiled and gave Wade a high five.

"This time it was just a little bit short." Wade's tone was full of undisguised regret.

"I haven't even played yet. If I do, the gap between you will only widen!"

"Is that so?" Wade looked at Lin Tian and said, "If you were to play yourself, I definitely wouldn't lose to you! At 40 years old, you can only hold me back!"

"If you were this tough on the court, we wouldn't have come back to defeat you." Lin Tian rolled his eyes and said, "Or if your three-pointers were a little more accurate, you might have won too."

"Practice hard during the offseason, at least practice your shooting a little bit, the most basic stuff."

"I've been practicing!" Wade clearly didn't like being told he wasn't working hard, and he stubbornly insisted that he hadn't been slacking off.

"If I were you, and I shot like that, I would definitely tell everyone that I've never practiced shooting, that way I would seem better."

"You're so proud of yourself for practicing like this every day?"

After chatting briefly with two players he knew, Lin Tian turned around and joined the players in their excited celebration. He and his players celebrated and cheered excitedly, having made it to the finals!

This is his first time as a coach!

Although he didn't seem to have to wait too long, this kind of thing still deserves a celebration, doesn't it?

After arguing with the players for a while, the league set up the podium and began the most pointless, useless, and unpopular division championship award ceremony in NBA history.

Lin Tian really couldn't be bothered to participate in this award, since if you didn't win the final championship, it was like mocking you for being second place.

If you win the overall championship, then nobody really cares about this stuff. Overall, this awards ceremony is basically just a little celebration for the young guys who are winning their first regional championship.

The veterans, unless they're old men who've played their whole lives without ever reaching the finals, have absolutely no interest in this stuff. They'd rather go back, take a shower, go to bed early, and prepare for the finals.

However, the Bobcats clearly meet these requirements.

Apart from coaches Lin Tian and Van Gundy, and substitute Barnes, the entire team combined had never won a conference finals game, and none of them had ever reached the NBA finals.

Well, many of them hadn't won a single series before this year, and this year is their first time making the playoffs.

So, at this awards ceremony, the young players, led by Rose, were particularly excited, shouting and yelling to celebrate their hard-won first playoff honor.

Even after almost everyone from the quick loan center had left, they were still incredibly excited as they spoke, expressing and showcasing their boundless excitement.

Arrogant soldiers will surely be defeated!
Looking at this group of young people, Lin Tian knew it was time for him to make a move.

When the microphone was finally handed to Lin Tian, ​​his expression, while not exactly ugly, was devoid of any smile. It was certainly much uglier than when he was chatting with Wade and Anthony earlier.

"Lin, you seem unhappy?" The host asked a question that sounded rather silly, but Lin Tian needed that kind of silliness right now.

"Why should I be happy? The work isn't even finished yet, what's there to be happy about?" Lin Tian said with a gloomy face, and his words silenced the Bulls players in the arena.

Odom, who was still touching and rubbing the trophy next to him, had to be slapped by Boozer before he realized he needed to be quiet.

"If we lose the upcoming Finals, the more excited we are tonight, the more ridiculous we'll be. So why should we be happy? Just because we've already beaten two teams with 60+ wins in a row, does that mean we can beat a third one?"

"Or do you think you're amazing for coming back from two desperate situations to win a Game 7 on the road?"

"Regardless of the purpose or reason, I only have one thing to say."

"The competition isn't over yet, and the work is still ongoing."

"We can celebrate all summer long, but not now!"

After Lin Tian finished speaking, he handed the microphone to the host, then took a step back to indicate that he had finished speaking and asked who agreed and who disagreed.
The Bobcats players were now completely silent. Not only did no one dare to object, but no one even dared to agree that Lin Tian was right.

Regardless of Lin Tian's usual attitude towards them, once this NBA's greatest player in history and notorious figure showed his true colors, these youngsters were genuinely afraid.

After a moment of silence that resembled a performance mishap, the host finally snapped out of it and chuckled, saying, "I can feel the Bobcats players' joy, as well as their tension and anticipation."

"Then let's share their anticipation and head towards the finals! That concludes tonight's live broadcast! See you next time!"

The host ended the live broadcast as quickly as if fleeing a disaster. After confirming that the cameras were really off, he let out a long sigh of relief like a deflated balloon, and then looked at Lin Tian with a mournful expression.

Lin Tian: What the hell are you looking at! If you were a pretty girl looking at me, Lin Da Guanren, with such a mournful expression, then I might have a way to give you an injection to cure your illness.

But you're a grown man, a middle-aged man at that.

No, no matter what age or appearance a grown man is, Mr. Lin can't help you.

Go ahead and lament your situation; we need to prepare for the finals!

"Lin, that bastard! He's a complete bastard!" Miller laughed heartily in the ESPN studio. He knew Lin Tian all too well, and he understood perfectly why Lin Tian was doing this.

Miller would bet that if the Bobcats were all silent and yelling seriously right now, Lin Tian would jump out and say: "What are you guys doing, you little Mavericks? Beating them is as easy as a cowboy pulling a calf. Get ready to have some fun!"
This is Lin Tian's style.

But clearly, this tactic is quite effective.

Regardless of whether Lin Tian plays the bad cop or the good cop, given his status and position, the players will definitely support him as long as he steps forward!
Of course, it is worth mentioning that although the battle in the east was fierce and chaotic, the battle in the west had already been decided much earlier.

The Hornets, leading their team to the conference finals for the first time, did not pose much of a challenge to the powerful Mavericks. Deron Williams and his men put up a fight for only five games, winning only one of them in the fourth game to avoid being swept.

1: 4!

The Hornets were decisively defeated, ending their season.

In this series, Nowitzki was the team's leading scorer. He completely destroyed the inside combination of Yi Jianlian and Chandler, putting up a top-tier average of 33+11 per game in the series and was the number one contributor to the team's easy advancement.

His good friend LeBron James also had a very good performance in this series, averaging 27 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists with a 56% field goal percentage. James is still the super all-around superstar who can destroy any defensive formation.

Both Nowitzki and James are fully prepared.

Striving for their first championship of their careers!
Judging from public opinion, the Mavericks still hold a clear advantage.

They won more regular season games, their path to the playoffs was easier, their star players were more outstanding, and their experience and years of playing time were also an advantage.

In particular, they also have home-court advantage. Although the American Airlines Arena in Dallas is slightly less formidable than the Cavaliers' Quicken Loans Arena, it is still the number one most intimidating home court in the league this season, and one of the most difficult fortresses to breach.

Their roster this season is nothing short of terrifying.

James has returned to the point guard position this season, becoming the team's primary ball-handler and the most important initiator of their offense.

The team has two players who have played the starting shooting guard position this season: Jason Terry, who is more famous and stronger, and DeShawn Stevens, who has a solid playing style and a fierce approach.

As the season progressed and the team gelled, considering the issues of team cohesion and compatibility, the team gradually began to bench Terry and promote Stevens to the starting lineup.

In addition, their starting small forward is Caron Butler, one of the former Wizards' Big Three. This season, he has toned down his offensive firepower, with his average points per game dropping to the lowest level of his career since his second year. He focuses on defense and, together with James and Stevens, has become the team's perimeter defensive trio.

The Mavericks' overall defense is somewhat different from other teams.

In today's league, or rather, in the traditional basketball world, no matter how fierce their perimeter players are, or how much they are known as defensive anchors, their core defender must be their center or power forward. Only when a reliable big man guards the paint can the team's overall defense stand up.

But the Mavericks are different. They don't have a truly reliable big man. Nowitzki is known for being strong on offense but weak on defense, and the team's starting center, Haywood, is only so-so, barely reaching the average level of centers in the league.

His true skill level is quite similar to that of Isiah Thomas of the Bobcats. When the two were teammates on the Wizards, they even had a joke about how the coach couldn't decide who would start, so they agreed to fight and the winner would become the starter.

This shows that Heywood might be better than Thomas, but only by a tiny bit.

What great abilities could someone who's only slightly better than Thomas possibly have?

Therefore, the Mavericks' interior defense is not very reliable. Their defensive core consists of LeBron James, who can switch on any position and guard positions 1 through 5, and Brad Stevens and Jimmy Butler, two strong perimeter defenders who can guard positions 1 through 3.

The high-pressure, high-intensity defensive combination of these three players on the perimeter is the Mavericks' biggest guarantee of being among the top five in the league in defense and leading the league in fast break scoring this season!
And that’s not all.

On the Mavericks' bench, they also have Shawn Marion, the former defensive stalwart of the Suns, who was signed on a mid-level exception contract in free agency.

Marion is now plagued by injuries, his age is increasing, his physical condition is declining, and most importantly, without Nash by his side, he is no longer the monster who averaged 20+10 double-doubles. His three-point shooting percentage has also plummeted from around 37% at his peak to now he hardly shoots any because he can't make them.

Even though he has degenerated so much, he still has a perfect physique and a monstrous wingspan, and his defensive abilities remain comprehensive and powerful.

The Mavericks' overall defensive system and perimeter-based pressure defense are a nightmare for most teams in the league that rely on perimeter players!
In addition to their formidable starting five, the Mavericks also boast a strong bench with top-class sixth man Jason Terry, Puerto Rican guard J.J. Barea, and sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic and young center Marc Mahinmi, all acquired from the buyout market before the trade deadline this year.

The current Mavericks team is absolutely strong, with considerable strength from the starters to the bench!
This is the real reason why they were so highly regarded before this series even started!

On paper, the lineup is overwhelmingly superior! (End of Chapter)