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Chapter 251 Just a Clumsy Defense (First Update, Requesting Monthly Tickets!)

After the first game between the Lakers and Warriors, the entire basketball world immediately began a major discussion about whether the Warriors could still beat the Lakers if Jordan and Qin Yue were swapped.

As a result, more than 70% of fans believe that the old GOAT could never single-handedly revitalize the team like the new GOAT.

As it turns out, the fans' judgment was spot on.

Indeed, Jordan at his peak was the ultimate offensive weapon that transcended history.

But facing this Lakers team, which has played together for many years, has excellent chemistry, and boasts a roster full of stars.
The majority of fans believe that only Qin Yue, who can single-handedly revitalize the team and also end the game for the Warriors in godlike form, can give people that kind of oppressive force that you simply cannot resist.

“I have no doubt that he is better than Michael Jordan was back then,” Oscar Robertson said. “I watched Michael play back then, and in my opinion, Messiah is the most dominant player in the history of basketball.”

“People say he’s the faster and stronger ‘The Dream’,” Hakeem Olajuwon said. “But I don’t see it that way, because his three-point shooting is better than mine, and his dribbling is better than mine.”

“I don’t like comparing Michael to Messiah,” Scottie Pippen commented. “However, I believe that if my teammate back then had been Messiah, I would probably be a top-ten player in history.”

"Top ten all-time? Scottie is being conservative," said Barkley, the number one Qin fan. "Scottie probably doesn't know that playing alongside Messiah, even someone like Kwame Brown can become a super center."

If Qin Yue's popularity was already surpassing Jordan's last season, then...

Now, the question of when Qin Yue will be able to knock Jordan off his throne has become when Qin Yue will be able to get his sixth championship ring.

Because, apart from the number of championships, in the eyes of fans who have experienced both the Jordan era and the Qin era, the new GOAT surpasses the old GOAT in almost every aspect.

In terms of offense, Qin Yue has not only been named the NBA scoring champion five times in his six full seasons so far, but he also holds both the regular season single-game scoring record and the playoff single-game scoring record.

In terms of defense, Qin Yue is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year.

Moreover, the sheer defensive impact of interior players alone meant that Jordan couldn't possibly emulate Qin Yue.

In basketball, it's common knowledge that, among players of equal skill level, interior players have a greater defensive impact than perimeter players.

As for the all-around abilities and leadership skills of the old and new GOATs, the old GOATs are simply no match for the new GOATs.

He led his team to a championship in his rookie season.

A regular season with 75 wins.

A regular season with 70 wins.

Excluding the season he missed due to injury, he led his team to the championship four times in his first five seasons.

And that NBA triple-double record, which will almost certainly become the new GOAT.

Unlike the "James-Jordan rivalry" in history, which would have sparked widespread controversy a few years later.

In this lifetime, facing Qin Yue, the new GOAT who has everything, even the most die-hard Jordan fans believe that it is only a matter of time before Qin Yue surpasses Jordan.

In addition, the "Big O" image that Qin Yue had established in the minds of the new generation of players during the "Dallas Incident" also gave him an extra advantage in comparisons with Jordan.

Klay Thompson, who was once shown four fingers by Qin Yue in an interview, said in an interview: "I don't mean to disrespect Messiah. It's just that on the court, I don't see him as someone I have to respect, but as an opponent I have to beat. But off the court, he is definitely a role model for me."

Kyrie Irving, the Rookie of the Year who would later be known as "The Wonder Man," said, "He successfully prevented the NBA from going into a lockout. You could say he's a savior in my eyes."

Why is GOAT called GOAT?

Of course, it is what the people want and what everyone hopes for.

Even though Qin Yue is 28 years old, he has only played six full seasons so far.

But in the NBA, where the longest-serving player isn't necessarily the GOAT, Qin Yue's brilliance over those six seasons is enough to place him above many of the gods in the pantheon.

Qin Yue fulfilled all the fantasies of post-Jordan era fans about the new GOAT in the league.

However, one day later
Even someone as strong as Qin Yue couldn't match the buzz he generated in the basketball world compared to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Because when the Pacers, who had struggled past the Heat, appeared in the Eastern Conference Finals...
The Knicks, who could have easily benefited from the game, unexpectedly lost their first game against the Pacers.

If you only watch the first 47 minutes of this game, you can't even find a reason for the Knicks to lose.

Because the Knicks held an 11-point lead until the very last minute.

球场上，攻防一体的詹姆斯在比赛前47分钟8投7中，其中三分球4投3中，罚球24罚18中，以惊人的爆罚力极为高效地为尼克斯砍下了35分8篮板8助攻3封盖3抢断。

It's no exaggeration to say that in the first 47 minutes of the game, James delivered a masterpiece of his Knicks playoff career.

However, in the final moments of the game...
Knicks fans at Madison Square Garden witnessed firsthand this incredible comeback orchestrated by LeBron James.

40 seconds left in the game.

Perhaps believing the victory was already secured, James decisively launched a tough three-pointer from the outside when there was no one interfering.

Then, the Pacers' comeback story began.

In the Pacers' paint, Hibbert, who had secured the rebound for his team, immediately passed the ball to Granger.

The latter swiftly struck, sinking a three-pointer.

However, the Knicks still led by 8 points at this point.

But who would have thought that James, who was responsible for inbounding the ball to the baseline for the team, would pass it directly to Kyle Lowry of the Pacers? After stealing the ball, Lowry immediately found Granger and assisted him to make another three-pointer.

ESPN's A. Smith, who was commentating on the game, said: "The Knicks need to be careful. Although they are now just one step away from victory, they have obviously been playing carelessly in the last ten seconds or so."

The Knicks players on the court clearly did not realize the seriousness of the problem.

Because of their carelessness, they are still giving the Pacers a chance.

On the court, it wasn't until James passed the ball to Lowry again that the game ended.
Suddenly realizing something was terribly wrong, James pounced on Granger like a tiger in an instant.

Although Granger then hit his third three-pointer with 40 seconds left, despite James's somewhat clumsy defense.

But as the shot landed, James's large foot, which suddenly appeared where Granger landed, caused Granger to fall to the floor in excruciating pain.

Despite playing through injury, Granger made the free throw for the Pacers, narrowing the gap to just one point after the referee ruled it a regular shooting foul.

Immediately afterwards, the Knicks requested a timeout.

After the timeout, perhaps still pondering whether or not to forgive Granger, James clearly underestimated the world-class challenge of inbounding the ball.

On the court, the elusive Paul George intercepted a pass that James was originally intended to pass to Durant.

Even at this point, the Knicks fans in the arena couldn't believe that the Pacers had actually gotten a chance to take the lead.

At Madison Square Garden, George drove to the basket and slammed home a dunk, putting the Pacers ahead.

Although the Knicks still had offensive time after George's dunk, and even had one more opportunity to call a timeout.

But in the final offensive possession, James, who had committed three consecutive turnovers on the inbound pass, chose to pass the ball to Iguodala, who he believed was in a better position, even after Durant had set a screen for him to get open.

Iguodala's three-pointer from the corner bounced off the rim.

With this, the Pacers completed this incredible comeback that was destined to go down in history.

After the game, as Granger, limping, was surrounded by his teammates, James, who had orchestrated this comeback, was stunned.

"Who says it's impossible to come back from an 11-point deficit in the last 40 seconds? The Houston Rockets have Tracy McGrady, and we have LeBron James!" Pacers legend Reggie Miller, who had been holding back all game, roared immediately after the game ended on TNT.

"The great LeBron James, he will be the King of Indianapolis forever!" — Indiana Star

"LeBron James, the 'Championless', leads the Pacers to an incredible comeback!" — ESPN post-game headline
"A foolish mistake! LeBron played brilliantly for the first 47 minutes, but squandered the team's efforts in the final minute." — The New York Times

In addition, James' defensive play against Granger in the final moments of the game also sparked widespread controversy afterward.

Pacers head coach Frank Vogel said, "That was no accident. Anyone who has played basketball knows that LeBron was going for the man!"

"Dan's condition is bad." In contrast to Vogel, the Pacers' team doctor was in a state of panic, "After being fouled by LeBron, he will likely miss the upcoming Eastern Conference Finals."

So now comes the problem.

How did James himself respond to the victory he handed to the Pacers in the game, and his act of tripping Granger?

Regarding the former, James said: "You know, everyone makes mistakes. I just made a few childish mistakes in a row."

Regarding the latter, James said, "Ridiculous! That was a perfectly normal defensive play. You can call me clumsy, but you can't say I did it on purpose."

Does it even matter whether James did it on purpose or not?

Because Granger did not possess the "legendary resilience" of the later "King" Edwards.

Therefore, the Pacers, who won the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals with the help of James, had to regretfully announce the next day that Granger would withdraw from the Eastern Conference Finals due to injury.

Furthermore, from a results-oriented perspective, you could say the Pacers won this incredible comeback, or you could say they lost.

Although the Pacers did pull off an incredible comeback with James' help.

But now, with the loss of Granger due to James' clumsy defensive play, their prospects for the Eastern Conference Finals have been clouded.

Meanwhile, Qin Yue never expected that the popularity he had created with all his might would be stolen by James in such a dramatic way.

Asking questions when you don't understand—is this the creative ability of the Executive Vice President (GOAT)?

On May 21, Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals continued at Oracle Arena.

Unlike the Eastern Conference, where a mere frown or a shrug from James can result in free throws, the officiating standards in the East are different.

That night, the league that sent Dan Crawford to officiate continued the same officiating standards they used in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.

However, from the perspective of the game, this Western Conference Finals, where every action is considered minor contact unless someone is killed, has given fans an unprecedented viewing experience.

why?
Because when both the Lakers and Warriors can complete high-quality offenses under the opponent's bloody defense, how can this offensive battle built on defense not be fascinating?
However, Barkley, whose life was somewhat unsatisfactory, inadvertently brought up a sore spot at the end of the first quarter: "I'm curious, if LeBron played under this level of defensive intensity, how many free throws would he get?"

……

P.S.: Die-hard LeBron fan A-Qiao couldn't eat because of LeBron's outstanding offensive and defensive plays in the final moments of the day. So, with inspiration flowing freely, A-Qiao had no choice but to obediently write this. (TnT)

(End of this chapter)