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Chapter 283 Ineffective Provocation, Taking the Blame for the King
The Warriors, who secured the league's best record with 66 wins in the regular season, will face the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round of this year's playoffs. The Pelicans have abandoned their Hornets franchise history and officially changed their name.

This is a very interesting thing in the long history of the NBA.

What's so interesting about it?

Interestingly, after the Pelicans abandoned the Hornets' history, the Charlotte Hornets, which immediately changed their name from Bobcats to Hornets, not only inherited the old Hornets' history as they wished, but also transformed this team, which actually only joined the league in 2004, into a team with a legacy overnight.

On the contrary, the Pelicans themselves have theoretically become a new team in the NBA.

There are many reasons why the Pelicans chose to abandon Hornets franchise history this season.

Some say the Bensons are eager to rebuild the team culture in New Orleans.

Some say that after moving away from Charlotte, the Pelicans have always wanted to return everything that originally belonged to Charlotte.

There were even rumors that Jordan persuaded the Bensons with his heartfelt plea at a dinner party.

Regardless of the Pelicans' reasons for abandoning Hornets history, this team, which has chosen to turn a new page, is the biggest dark horse in the Western Conference this season.

Last summer, the Pelicans, who drafted "America's Son" Anthony Davis, let go of David West, who wanted to contend for the championship, but retained Rajon Rondo and Brook Lopez. They successfully took advantage of the current league's East-West imbalance and completed the glorious and arduous task of returning to the playoffs.

"I am very satisfied with the team's performance this year."

Pelicans owner Tom Benson said in an interview, "I just hope the team can play its own style of game in the playoffs."

In this lifetime, being able to reach the playoffs with his team in his debut season is undoubtedly a stroke of luck for Davis, whom Qin Yue remembers as the "leader of the NBA empty stats group".

However, AD, who is still growing by drinking milk, is also unfortunate.

Because in the upcoming playoffs, AD, who can't simply use injury as an excuse to stay out of the game, will have to face his inner demons in the matches.

During the regular season, in four matches against Qin Yue, AD averaged 11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 1 assist per game.

And what about Qin Yue?

答案是不给年轻人留半点活路的场均51分19篮板9助攻4封盖2抢断。

Despite this, the media showed great leniency towards Davis, given his age and the obvious gap between him and Qin Yue.

But the straightforward AD doesn't see it that way.

“I grew up watching Messiah’s games, and I remember when he first entered the league, people said that 20-year-old LeBron James was a player who could compete with him in the future.”

When interviewed by reporters, the young AD said: "But now? Eight years have passed, and LeBron has not only failed to catch up with Messiah, but has also been completely swept into the dustbin of history by Messiah."

Indeed, in just one season, AD realized the comprehensive gap between himself, the "Son of America," and the "Son of China" of yesteryear.

So, on the evening of the 16th, when AD and his teammates stepped onto the Oracle Arena floor, Qin Yue received a request that left him both amused and exasperated.

"Could you go easy on me later? Please, idol."

At the Warriors' halftime, AD, who had come over to chat with Qin Yue, looked aggrieved and said...

Qin Yue discovered that the young players in the modern NBA are all incredibly cunning.

Why do you say that?

Because now, these young players have clearly mastered the trick of how to go easy on each other in the game.

In other words, it's another version of the "Jordan Rules" that Byron Scott applied to Jordan during his playing days.

This differs from the old version of the Jordan Rules, which chose to target Jordan head-on.

As is well known, the Jordan Rules that Scott implemented on the court were mainly aimed at getting Jordan to play.

How to coax?

"Every time he scores, I ask him, 'Why is your shooting so cool?'"

"And without exception, Michael would always choose to go easy on me when he was matched up against me."

So now the question is, when the young Anthony Davis actively begs for mercy from the new GOAT by "playing the victim," will the new GOAT let him off the hook in the game?
The answer is that Qin Yue only scored 29 points on the night of the competition.

Of course, Qin Yue did not choose to go all out on the court, not because he had actually fallen into the trap that AD had carefully prepared for him, the trap called "sweet talk".

After all, Qin Yue, who had seen many storms, was unlikely to be swayed by AD's few words.
"Idol, why is your shooting so cool? Could you teach me sometime?"

"Idol, why is your dunking motion so smooth? I swear, it's the most elegant dunk I've ever seen."

"Idol, do you know that in my heart, even Michael Jordan at his peak is only fit to carry your shoes?"

Actually, Qin Yue chose to "throw the game" in this first game of the first round of the playoffs mainly because he needed to give up the shooting opportunities to let his little brother Curry vent his frustration.

In this Game 1, Qin Yue scored only 29 points but also recorded 18 assists.

During Curry's absence, Qin Yue didn't want to say that his consistently low assist numbers were the main reason he had to exert himself to score on the court.

But judging from the course of this Game 1 match
Curry's return has indeed allowed Qin Yue to experience the joy of passing the ball to his teammates again after a long time.

During the regular season, Curry only played one and a half games due to injury, but delivered an outstanding performance of 41 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in his playoff debut this year.

Thanks to Curry's outstanding performance, the Warriors scored 141 points in Game 1 of the playoffs against the Pelicans.

In the post-game interview, Brown, who made all 7 of his shots in the first game and also contributed a lot of assists to Qin Yue, said: "You know, although I really enjoy watching 'Da Qin' score high on the court, I still prefer to play 'Da Qin' with the pass button on."

It's fair to say that the defending champions made the outcome of their series against the Pelicans a foregone conclusion with just one game.

As one of the best point guards of the new generation, even Rajon Rondo, who is expected to be selected for the All-Defensive Team, could not effectively limit Curry on the court.
"Restrict? His teammate is the Messiah, how can I restrict him?"

At the press conference, when asked by a reporter why he was outplayed by the "ninth-best point guard in the league," Rondo simply retorted, "If you're so good, then you do it."

In Rondo's eyes, regardless of Curry's actual star quality.

Take this game as an example. It may seem that Curry only completed 3 assists on the court, but in reality, as long as Curry runs over to set a screen for Qin Yue, the Pelicans' defense will immediately collapse.

why?
Because of an incredibly accurate Curry and a Qin, who you might not be able to handle even if you double-team him, they can always achieve a "1+1 is greater than 2" effect on the court.

In Rondo's view, the most terrifying thing about the fully-formed Warriors is that Qin Yue can amplify Curry's own strengths, and Curry can in turn create the space that Qin Yue needs most.

no doubt.

This is an inside-outside combination that left Rondo feeling utterly hopeless. And it's different from the "OK" combination of yesteryear.

Qin Yue and Curry not only act like a loving couple on the court.

Furthermore, Curry, who knows that Qin will eventually hand over power to him personally, is far more obedient than Kobe was back then.

Now, let's rewind to that victory celebration last season, and you'll find...
Qin Yue's decision to share his career plans with his teammates at that time nipped many potential team conflicts in the bud.

In fact, Qin Yue, who has been through it all, knows better than anyone else that ESPN's seemingly nonsensical evaluation of Curry this season was entirely the league's intention to provoke a war between him and Curry similar to the "OK" war back then.

Unfortunately, Qin Yue is not the Shaquille O'Neal who always clung to power.

Curry, who was proud and arrogant, accepted the title of "crown prince" bestowed upon him by Qin Yue after he learned the details of Qin Yue's career plan.

"Don't even think about trying to sow discord between me and the Messiah."

At the post-game press conference, facing numerous reporters' insinuating questions, Curry simply said, "Maybe the Warriors will become my team in the future, but until 'Da Qin' retires, the Warriors can only be his team."

In competitive sports, the transfer of power has always been a major challenge.

But faced with Qin Yue's great wisdom and Curry's high emotional intelligence, the league's attempt to create trouble for the Warriors off the court has clearly chosen the wrong opponent.

The Warriors, who easily crushed the Pelicans in Game 1, scored another high of 138 points at Oracle Arena two days later.

Qin Yue didn't take many shots in this game, scoring only 27 points.

However, in this Game 2, Qin Yue's rebounding and assist numbers were dazzling, with 24 and 21 respectively.

It's worth mentioning that this is the second time in Qin Yue's career that he has recorded "20+20+20" in the NBA playoffs.

TNT, ever since bringing his talent to the commentary booth, has had a particular fondness for guards who excel at shooting. Shaquille O'Neal, speaking out for Curry, said: "I don't agree with ESPN's assessment that this Warriors team can win with or without Stephen, because the facts prove that the Warriors with Stephen are the undisputed super team."

In O'Neal's eyes, the Qin general with Curry by his side was clearly the most terrifying Qin general.

Only with Curry's presence can Qin Yue further unleash his offensive influence on the court with his unpredictable passing.

Especially with the NBA playoffs reinstating the "Qin Yue Law".

If the Warriors really rely solely on Qin Yue's explosive performances in every game to win, then when they encounter teams that can rival the Warriors, Qin Yue will eventually be exhausted.

Smith, who shares the same view as O'Neal, said, "Perhaps Stephen's star quality still needs more games to be tested, but he is indeed an indispensable member of the current Warriors team."

Curry, who had two great games in the first round of the playoffs, continued his hot streak in the third game.

How can we describe Curry's performance that night?

In short, Curry, who made 10 of 14 three-pointers, not only broke the mentality of the Pelicans players on the court, but also turned New Orleans into the Warriors' home arena.

From the start of the second half, whenever Curry received the ball, the home fans would spontaneously rise and cheer for him.

This was precisely the innate magic that Curry possessed in Qin Yue's memory.

However, even so.
ESPN still attributed the Warriors' victory in Game 3 primarily to Qin Yue, who easily scored a 30+ point triple-double for the team that night.

Furthermore, ESPN offered a reasoned assessment: "Without Stephen, Messiah is still Messiah. But without Messiah, can Stephen still be the same Stephen?"

It must be said that ESPN's tactic of sowing discord is brilliant.

However, since his comeback, Curry, who has clearly noticed that major media outlets that have long cooperated with the NBA are trying to sow discord between him and Qin Yue, has not fallen for the same trick as Kobe Bryant did back then.

"'Da Qin' is definitely our number one contributor to the victory, because all our tactics and all our offenses revolve around him," Curry said in an interview after Game 3.

In this series, Curry's composed handling of the media has made those media outlets that tried to sow discord between the Warriors' top two players look like clowns.

As for Anthony Davis, who is about to be "shaved" by Qin Yue in that forgotten corner?
Before Game 4 against the Warriors, AD, feeling powerless to change the Pelicans' impending sweep, could only say...
Why does he have to face a boss of Qin Yue's caliber right after leaving the beginner village and needing time to develop and grow?

Although Qin Yue reduced the intensity of his "big pressure" on AD after AD pleaded for mercy, he did so in this series.

But in the eyes of the young AD, the world had no idea what kind of harm Qin Yue's "big penis" had caused to him when he was still young.

So, after the fourth game, which was still a foregone conclusion, Davis could only vent his anger by fighting over Qin Yue's jersey, shorts, shoes, and even socks.

“'AD,' you have to leave me a pair of underwear. After all, you can't let me go back to the locker room naked.” After Game 4, in the player tunnel, Qin Yue looked at Davis, who had practically stripped himself naked, and said with a wry smile.

"Promise me you will win the championship."

When AD met Qin Yue's gaze, he made a sincere request.

At this moment, AD was hoping that Qin Yue could sweep away one opponent after another in the upcoming matches.

Because as long as everyone gets "shaved" by the Qin Dynasty.
In AD's view, it was as if he had not been "shaved" by the Qin Dynasty.

“You’ve traumatized this kid.” Brown said to Qin Yue after Davis left.

Upon hearing this, Qin Yue nodded and said, "But he is indeed an honest child."

“How come you see?”

"Because he could have easily shifted the blame for the team being swept to his teammates, but as a rookie, he still took the responsibility for the team's elimination without hesitation."

Why do I always feel like you're subtly criticizing someone?

Who is being implied?

"Didn't you see the news?" Brown said, looking at Qin Yue, who had recently become obsessed with playing Dota. "Randy Mims, LeBron's close associate, just said yesterday that the Wolves shouldn't blame LeBron for the team's bottom position."

"So who does he think should bear the responsibility for Wolves finishing last?"

"In his view, at least players like Yi should also bear some responsibility."

"Yi Jianlian?"

It's incredible.

At that moment, Qin Yue felt that Yi Jianlian was also getting better.

Because he was used by Wolves as a role player to attract the Chinese market.
Who can think of
How could Yi Jianlian, who was teammates with LeBron James, have a day when he had to take the blame for James?
……

PS: Update delivered. (To be honest, Rick Carlisle truly lives up to his reputation as one of the designated bosses in every book I write. Frankly, I'm starting to believe Carlisle's theory that "ball-dominant big men only hurt the team.")
(End of this chapter)