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Chapter 260 When the Heroic Young Man of New York Has Traversed All the Detours in His Life
On the evening of June 3, the Pacers, who were just one step behind, were ultimately stopped by the Knicks from reaching the NBA Finals.

In Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden, Durant, refusing to believe that the long night was coming, gripped the torch tightly in his hand.

This is an extremely important game for both Durant personally and the Knicks.

Although since last year's Finals, thanks to his excellent off-court management, James once stole the Knicks' leader's throne and regained his former glory as the second-in-command.

But in the NBA, where anything is possible
When Durant, who was completely outmatched by James off the court, once again donned the crown known as "Qin Yue's successor".

Another side of Durant's personality made the entire Big Apple realize overnight who the player could save the Knicks.

Unlike Durant, who tends to run away from problems.

When Durant chose to face the challenge head-on, he probably didn't even know how strong he truly was.

In the previous six games, regardless of wins or losses, the Knicks were always the team that received preferential treatment from the referees on the court.

In this game where the Pacers rarely had the upper hand in free throws, they surprisingly lost to KD, who was the center from start to finish.

Throughout the game, Durant made 18 of 31 field goals, including 6 of 10 three-pointers, and 8 of 8 free throws. Unstoppable, Durant not only scored a career-high 50 points in the playoffs.

Furthermore, in the decisive moment, Durant, whose gaze was far more resolute than usual, put on a spectacular performance, scoring 14 points for the Knicks.

ESPN's post-game assessment of this decisive Game 7 was: "Welcome back the King of New York, 'KD'!"

TNT's Barkley commented, "Compared to that 'Crash-Out-King,' I think 'KD' has proven with his actions who is the undisputed absolute leader of this Knicks team."①
"This is my team."

During a press conference and interview, Durant stated in a tone that left no room for James to play word games: "It was true before, it is true now, and it will be true in the future."

Since LeBron James stole the team's leader position through off-court maneuvering, this is definitely the most defiant moment Durant has shown in public.

Durant's domineering presence stems from the arrogance he feels as the "successor to Qin Yue."

It also stemmed from the long talk Harden had with him before Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

“'KD', as long as you want to attack on the court, I will pass the ball to you immediately.”

Before the game against the Pacers, Harden, unwilling to see his team eliminated, said to Durant, "In games like this, I don't trust anyone but you."

Harden's unconditional trust, coupled with the frustration Durant had endured off the court over the past six months, finally made the former Knicks hero realize that in this competitive world, if he wants to reach the top, there are some things he is destined not to back down on.

It can be said that Durant is lucky in this life.

Compared to Durant at the same stage of history, with James' help, Durant only needed the past six months to overcome all the detours in his life.

The young hero of New York has returned.

As for the young hero who led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals last year, shortly after Qin Yue's time travel?

Of course, we can only wish Luka Doncic, who has already been labeled as a "CBA teammate" and "the most overrated player in the NBA," good luck.

After all, when you're playing alongside someone, if you don't take the blame for them, do you expect them to take the blame for you?
In short, on this night when the Knicks advanced to the Finals for the second consecutive year, some people were crowned again, while others felt as miserable as if they had eaten chocolate that tasted like shit.

It must be said that life is indeed a wonderful thing.

Before the Eastern Conference Finals began this year, James, who was crowned again off the court, had already begun to imagine the Knicks defeating the Warriors in the Finals.

When you struggle against fate and keep climbing upwards until you finally reach the summit—James believes that in recent years, there has probably been no more inspiring individual or story in the sports world than his.

In James's view, as long as the Knicks can succeed once under his leadership, no matter how many times he has lost to Qin Yue and the Warriors in the past, he will be remembered by the world forever because of this victory.

However, James' disastrous performance in this year's Eastern Conference Finals not only gave Durant a chance to make a comeback, but also, compared to Durant who has roots in New York, James cannot use the famous "Green Formula" to exclude Durant like Green did in later years.

In the upcoming Finals, James will have to join the Knicks as Durant's sidekick to challenge the Warriors once again.
Without a doubt, this is the episode that James is most unwilling to accept.

According to the schedule, the first game of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and the Warriors will be played on June 7.

As the team finished Game 7 and prepared to head to Oakland, James noticed that even Howard, whom he had spent half a year trying to win over, was unconsciously leaning towards Durant.

Why did Howard side with Durant?
Because in the Knicks' complicated locker room, Dwight Howard, who is not stupid enough to not know who the team's true star is, is eager to win a championship to prove the Magic's management wrong for putting him on the trading block last year, while making his first NBA Finals appearance.

Faced with the championship, the promises James made to Howard in the past were utterly insignificant in Howard's eyes.

Furthermore, Durant's contribution to raising the Knicks' ceiling in the Eastern Conference Finals made Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni realize who he should rely on to defeat the seemingly invincible Warriors in the Finals.

just
When D'Antoni hoped that James could be as selfless as he used to be, James' expression clearly showed resistance.

After all, James has worked hard to get to where he is today, so how could he possibly give up the power he has gained?
But this time, James has no choice but to give in.

Because Durant, who has once again been crowned "Qin Yue's successor," said to him: "Brown, if you don't want to play in this Finals, you don't have to."

Show no mercy.

And there is absolutely no room for maneuver.

Inside the Knicks, Durant gave James an ultimatum in front of all his teammates.

James just doesn't understand why Durant doesn't learn from the good things, but instead chooses to learn from that bastard Qin Yue.
At that moment, James couldn't help but miss the timid and easily controlled Durant.

However, that Durant is gone forever.

"KD, can you promise me something?"

On the day the team arrived in Oakland, Harden approached Durant alone and said something to him.

"what?"

"From now on, no matter what happens, you have to keep this rebellious spirit you have now," Harden said meaningfully. "You are the only player in this era who can come close to the messiah in my mind. In New York, no one is qualified to be compared with you."

Upon hearing this, Durant, who had already learned his lesson once, laughed and said, "I promise you, from now on, no one will be able to take anything that belongs to me from me."

……

2012 6 Month 7 Day.

The first game of the 11/12 NBA Finals was held as scheduled at Oracle Arena.

When the Knicks stood at Oracle Arena for the second consecutive year as the Warriors' opponent, the biggest change in this Knicks team compared to last year was undoubtedly the confidence they regained after defeating the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Before the game started, Durant, who usually appeared as a younger brother to Qin Yue, took the initiative to bring Harden to the Warriors' half of the court.

Brown, who is always good at reading people, noticed the difference between Durant and the past almost immediately.

If the Durant of the past gave Brown the impression of an extraordinary young man with a loser's mentality.

That night, Durant's eyes revealed a resolute determination.
The image that left Brown with was that of a Grim Reaper holding a scythe, ready to strike.

Moreover, Durant that night, even the way he spoke, seemed so much like someone else to Brown.

"I will personally end your era." "Perhaps not today."

"But I hope you keep winning until I end your era myself."

At halftime, looking at the confident Durant, Qin Yue said, "Since you've said that, then I'll definitely leave my retirement ceremony to you."

“Now he truly looks like he’s going to be your successor,” Brown said to Qin Yue after Durant and Harden left.

Qin Yue, who had also noticed Durant's change, said, "You're right."

Although Qin Yue had no idea what had happened inside the Knicks before the Finals began.

But in Qin Yue's view, Durant is now clearly the one who is qualified to compete with him for the championship.

On the field, warm-up is over.

The starting lineups for both the Knicks and the Warriors were then displayed on the big screen.

Away team Knicks: Howard, James, Iguodala, Durant, Harden.

The home team, the Warriors, consists of Qin Yue, Wallace, Jamison, Green, and Curry.

The Warriors used the same "one big and four small" lineup that defeated the Lakers in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals.

Although veteran coach Hollins believes that against a Knicks team with LeBron James, the Warriors should send Brown to the paint to help Qin Yue protect the rim.

But Malone dismissed this with a dismissive tone: "I won't specifically target a player who has never proven himself."

After a pause, Malone added, "In my opinion, Larry Bird is right. No matter how spectacular LeBron's stats are on the court, he's not the kind of player who can influence the course of a game."

Malone hopes the Warriors' frontcourt can rotate defensively on the court at a faster pace.

why?
Because Durant is the player Malone sees as worthy of the Warriors' defensive resources.

As for James?
In Malone's view, the Warriors' presence in the paint is enough to intimidate their opponents.

In the center of the court, Qin Yue and Howard jump for the ball.

On the court, at the moment Howard leaped high, Qin Yue, standing above him, tipped the basketball into Curry's hands.

In today's NBA, there aren't many players who can surpass Howard in terms of absolute talent.

But Qin Yue is definitely one of them.

The Warriors took the initiative at the start.

Curry dribbled the ball across half-court and, following Qin Yue's instructions, executed a "1-5" pick-and-roll with the opponent at the high post.

The next moment, a scene of reversed power occurred in the Knicks' half.

Since Harden couldn't get around Qin Yue's high wall, Howard quickly went around him and, after delaying Curry, quickly returned to Qin Yue's side.

This is the defensive ability of peak Dwight Howard.

However, after receiving the ball, taking advantage of Howard's defensive strategy of not daring to closely guard him, Qin Yue still easily found Wallace cutting from the flank.

If a player like Wallace, who excels at off-ball movement, can match up against LeBron James in the Finals, it would be difficult for him not to put up star-level numbers.

Wallace slammed home a one-handed dunk under the Knicks' basket.

0:2.

Seeing this, Durant, who usually wouldn't argue with James about off-ball defense and would even encourage him, immediately spread his hands and questioned him: "Brown, how did you defend that?"

Under Durant's questioning, James silently inbounded the ball from the baseline.

Next, it was the Knicks' offensive possession.

Harden dribbled the ball across half-court and initiated a "Durant-Harden pick-and-roll" at the top of the key with Durant.

The next second, Curry, who failed to get around the screen in time, had no choice but to switch defenses with Green.

Curry's defense has improved significantly this season.

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"One mountain in Golden State" is clearly not enough to stop a prime Durant.

Slightly to the left of the arc, the Grim Reaper's scythe swung for the first time at Oracle Arena.

Swish-!
3:2.

Seeing this, Qin Yue said to Curry, "Stephen, next time you can let him shoot two points, but don't let him shoot three points."

Curry nodded and said, "I understand."

Back to the point, the Warriors have possession of the ball.

This time, Qin Yue took the initiative to ask for the ball and called Wallace over to him.

Do not ask.

The question is, since in the NBA, it is always extremely unwise to try to take on the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) one-on-one, Qin Yue naturally wants to find an easy target to bully.

On the court, James' expression immediately turned ugly the moment he noticed Howard signaling for a switch.

James didn't understand why Howard was willing to set screens for Harden earlier, but when it came to him, Howard asked him to face Qin Yue directly.

Howard, on the other hand, couldn't understand why James, a former NBA All-Defensive First Team player, would focus solely on tormenting himself, as if he were not good at defending Harden.

No, brother, even if you can't defend against Qin Yue, could you at least delay him a little?

On the left wing, Howard panicked the moment he noticed Qin Yue dribbling straight into the penalty area.

Under the basket, Qin Yue soared and slammed home a dunk.

3:4.

Meanwhile, James, who was about to complain to Howard, once again drew the ire of Durant.

"Brown, I'll say it again: if you don't want to play, you don't have to."

……

P.S.: Thanks to Dengzi for finally letting Aqiao have a meal! Grateful!
①Crash-Out-King: This was the verdict given by TNT to LeBron James after the first round of this year's playoffs. The direct translation is "Crash-Out-King".

(End of this chapter)