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Chapter 299 What is a Hero? (It's been updated!)

Halftime
Although his tactics were suppressed by Malone and his rotation relied solely on overusing his starters, D'Antoni, as a renowned coach, still keenly sensed Durant's change in mentality and took the initiative to counsel him.

D'Antoni doesn't want Durant to clash with the player who has already been expelled from New York.

And what about Durant?
After gradually calming down
Durant is furious that he, at such a young age, has made the same mistake twice.

I'm so stupid, really.

Why is it such an obvious tactic?
How could someone as smart as me be tricked twice?
At that moment, Durant was thinking this.

Immediately after reassuring Durant, D'Antoni reminded his players, "The officiating in this game is in our favor. As long as we can keep the score close, the game will definitely turn around."

At this moment, D'Antoni's reminder was less about motivating the players and more about reminding everyone that the Knicks still had three "foreign players" on the court.

However, in competitive sports, how to grasp and utilize advantages, including off-field weighting, is also a skill.

After all, if a dragon's charge guarantees a win, how could the Chinese national football team possibly be reversed by the "Middle Eastern Camel" when they have an extra man and take the lead at home?

Therefore, D'Antoni's reminder at halftime was crucial.

For example, Kevin Love, who was the first to realize that this Finals series was either going to be dominated by Qin Yue or on its way to being dominated by Qin Yue, echoed D'Antoni, saying, "The Messiah is indeed very strong, and stronger than we usually think, but the coach is right. At least for now, the advantage is still on our side. And as long as we can fight and win this game, the balance of this Finals series will inevitably tip in our favor again."

After halftime, the Warriors faced their real test that night.

At the start of the third quarter, after receiving a pass from Harden, Love hit a crucial three-pointer for the Knicks from beyond the arc with an attitude that screamed "I'm not afraid."

It has to be said that Love, who always kept a very low profile in front of Qin Yue during this Finals series, was the Knicks player who impressed Qin Yue the most, besides Durant and Harden.

Even looking at the head-to-head statistics alone, Love can only be described as being completely outmatched by Qin Yue.

However, it should be noted that there are different kinds of "explosions" on the basketball court.

For example, when a player is "exposed," it means that he is beaten so badly that he has no chance to fight back and can only lead his team to surrender.

However, some players, even when exposed, can still find ways to mitigate the damage to the team through their contributions.

On the court, Love, who always launches surprise attacks from various angles, is undoubtedly the latter.

Even someone as strong as Qin Yue couldn't completely stop "Love God" Love's underhanded tactics.

After all, it's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark.

During the game, Qin Yue, who is responsible for the entire team's defensive operation system, cannot choose to withdraw from the front line in order to stop the opponent's "hidden arrows".

It's the Knicks' halftime, and the Warriors' turn to attack.

Curry, who was on fire in the first half, missed a layup under strong pressure from Iguodala.

In this game, Curry was subtly pushed by Iguodala.

Unfortunately, Curry, who didn't know how to amplify his opponents' fouls with exaggerated body movements, failed to receive fair treatment from the referees.

As soon as he returned, Harden, who has a good personal relationship with Curry, personally taught Curry how to draw a foul.

Even in the Warriors' paint, there was no physical contact between him and Curry, who was responsible for chasing him.

But Harden still delivered an Oscar-worthy performance that gave people the illusion that Curry had given him a push.

With referee Scott Foster already favoring the Knicks tonight, Harden glanced back at Curry's extremely aggrieved expression and walked to the free-throw line without changing his expression.

This is James Harden, whose ability to draw fouls is unparalleled, even when viewed from a historical perspective.

It's not that I can't make two-pointers or three-pointers.

Playing point by point is more cost-effective.

Harden made both free throws.

68:68.

Then, the Warriors had possession of the ball.

It was still Curry's single-point explosion.

However, this time, the elementary school student still couldn't find his finishing touch, and his mid-range floater missed.

In the Knicks' paint, Love secured the defensive rebound ahead of Brown.

And Iguodala, who had been quiet for the entire first half, hit a three-pointer during a fast break for the Knicks to give his team the lead.

Seeing this, and with the team having a poor start to the second half, Qin Yuexuan switched from command tower mode to Gundam mode.

However, this is not good news for the Warriors.

Because GOAT should have focused on conserving their strength in the third quarter.
If GOAT takes on too many challenging tasks at each stage, its efficiency in overcoming challenges will inevitably be affected when the decisive moment arrives.

However, considering that this Knicks team also has the ability to go on a run and take the game at certain points, this is a crucial stage where the Warriors must keep the score close.
Qin Yue, who couldn't possibly blame his teammates, could only try to push himself to his limits.

In times of crisis, only responsibility matters.

In the first half, the Knicks swiftly broke through Howard's defense, and the mighty Qin then opened the scoring account for the Warriors with a powerful one-handed dunk.

Barkley told TNT, "That's what a star player means to a team. In real life-or-death moments, you can't always expect your teammates to step up."

O'Neal chimed in, "This is also a crucial moment that distinguishes superstars from role players. Forget about basketball IQ and court vision. In plays like this, superstars have to do it themselves if they get the ball!"

On the court, Qin Yue, who scored 8 consecutive points for the Warriors, temporarily led the team to repel the Knicks' first counterattack in the second half.

At the scorer's table, D'Antoni immediately called a timeout.

After the timeout, Iguodala took over the ball at the edge of the penalty area to organize the attack.

As it turns out, under Qin Yue's positive influence, Durant, who did not become overly obsessed with one-on-one shooting, was the theoretically superior scoring machine.

In his past life, Qin Yue might have been hallucinating from playing against someone in the Finals. After leaving the Warriors, Durant even gave the impression that he had forgotten his off-ball skills.

However, it should be noted that even the "Egg Superman" who was once the best at breaking through defenses wouldn't dare say that he could win the championship by relying solely on singles.

Compared to one-on-one where you have to challenge the opponent's defense every round, isn't it better to rely on the occasional open shot created by tactics?

On the left wing high post, after a crossover run with Harden.
Using Harden's obviously supermodel-like buttocks, it was clear that when Durant received a pass from Iguodala, the player appearing in front of him was none other than Stephen Curry.

At this moment, the Knicks perfectly demonstrated the significance of tactics in basketball.

Although both are singles matches.

However, unlike before, with the guidance and support of his teammates, Durant not only got a better position for one-on-one play, but the Warriors player responsible for guarding him was Curry.

In this play, Curry inevitably got "requested" a pass. Because in front of Curry, Durant, who didn't even bother to make any extra moves, practically just pulled up for the ball as soon as he received it.

If you don't understand, just ask: how should Curry defend a shot like this?
Swish!
On the court, after Durant's pull-up jumper swished through the net, Qin Yue immediately turned to comfort Curry and said, "Don't be sad, Stephen. Even if you were replaced by LeBron, you couldn't stop a shot like that."

hear the words
Curry knew perfectly well that Qin Yue was trying to comfort him.

But I don't know why.
Curry always felt that Da Qin was subtly venting his dissatisfaction with him through his words.

Then the problem is coming.

Is Qin Yue really dissatisfied with Curry?
The answer to this question depends mainly on Curry's performance on the court.

For example, in Qin Yue's mind, Curry in the first half could only be described as an omnipotent three-point god.

As for the second half?
Excuse me.
when!
On the court, after Curry missed an open three-pointer, Qin Yue, who was fortunate enough to make the putback for the team, said to Curry: "It's okay, shoot with confidence. It'll give me a chance to grab a few more offensive rebounds."

"."

As everyone knows, when dealing with Qin Yue, the GOAT who always likes to be sarcastic and cryptic, if you don't understand his unspoken meaning, you might end up being sold out by him and having to count the money for him.

At the moment Qin Yue reprimanded him, Curry's expression became more serious than ever before, in addition to realizing that he had to do something to repay the GOAT.

Because Curry knows it better than anyone else.
Qin Yue's reprimand of him had another layer of meaning.

That is the GOAT, which cannot violate the objective laws of basketball.
Now more than ever, we need support from our teammates.

Yes, throughout the third quarter, GOAT, who had been dragging the Warriors to the brink of defeat, is now experiencing an astonishingly rapid decline in his physical condition.

So, in the next possession, Curry, who had been playing for almost half a quarter, didn't hesitate to take the damn basketball.

Since the Warriors need a second scoring option to relieve Qin Yue's offensive pressure.

That person can only be Curry, and it can only be Curry.

After all, as O'Neal and Barkley said.

In these crucial moments, you can't always expect the role players on the team to step up.

In the NBA, there's only one type of star player who would choose to test their teammates in this situation.

Generally speaking, this type of star player is often referred to as a "non-stick leader".

On the court, there's only the option of scoring or not scoring; there's no room for blame-shifting. Curry withstood the pressure in this play.

At the top of the arc, Curry used a double back dribble to shake off Iguodala's defense, and in the next second, Curry's "instant shot" drew a beautiful arc in the sky.

Swish-!
And then
During the withdrawal process.
Even GOAT has started talking less in order to conserve his energy.

But the moment the GOAT's big hand pressed down on his head, Curry smiled especially brightly.

In the latter part of the third quarter, Curry, who had already shown signs of transforming into the "Milan Blacksmith" on the court, took over the reins from Qin Yue and subsequently took control of the game.

This is Stephen Curry's half-quarter.

Madison Square Garden.

Curry scored 14 consecutive points for the Warriors, and with his duo of Curry and GOAT, the score was 97-91 by the end of the third quarter.

On the court, the Knicks' comeback attempt was once again thwarted by the defending champions.
TNT's Barkley couldn't help but exclaim, "What resilience! Facing all these unfavorable circumstances, the Warriors are now going into the final decisive moment with a 6-point lead."

Meanwhile, the Warriors' bench
Turning his attention to his teammates who were about to take the court in the final quarter, Qin Yue made a rare request to them: "Listen, give Stephen and me four minutes of rest, and then we can prepare to go back to our home court to win the championship."

Four minutes.

GOAT said that he and Curry only need four minutes of rest before the Warriors will win the game.

At that moment, the Warriors' substitutes, who were usually the ones asking for the GOAT and had never been asked for it before, were instantly filled with fighting spirit.

However, Warriors head coach Malone, with a pessimistic outlook, whispered to Qin Yue, "Is four minutes enough?"

Qin Yue nodded and said, "Four minutes is enough, Mike."

The break ended and the game continued.

The Knicks are sticking with their starting five.

The Warriors are led by JR Smith, Ray Allen, Livingston, Jamison, and Varejao.

The starters versus the substitutes.

Although the Knicks' starting five are not in good physical condition either.

However, the officiating standards in this game were more favorable to the Knicks, and the Knicks' historically unparalleled roster level still forced Qin Yue to walk to the scorer's table early with 9 minutes and 57 seconds left in the final quarter.

"Aren't you going to stop him?" Assistant coach Hollins asked Malone, looking puzzled.

"bar?"

Upon hearing this, his gaze turned to Qin Yue, whose eyes were firm and unwavering, and Ma Long said, "We have no way out, Leon."

At this moment, Malone knew better than anyone that this was a night when the Warriors' bench wouldn't always provide Qin Yue with opportunities to play and rest on the court, unlike in Game 3.
The Warriors have reached a point where they need to go all in.

Perhaps, by taking an extra minute of rest, Da Qin could gain even more energy.

But on the ever-changing court, only God knows whether this minute will become the turning point of the game, or even the series, on a night when the Knicks' home advantage can no longer be simply described as "black".

Traveling against the current, retreating if not advancing.

It's true that Qin Yue, who led the Warriors against all odds throughout the game, was exhausted.

But the same
Even though the Knicks' starting five could reduce each other's physical exertion through teamwork.
They had already reached a point of exhaustion.

On the field, a substitution is made when the ball is dead.

Qin Yue and Curry are on stage.

Valejo and Livingston (below).

In response, Barkley of TNT pondered, "In the basketball world where only the result matters and not the process, perhaps many years later we will still condemn the referee's calls in this game. But I believe that even in the face of injustice, the Warriors, led by Messiah, will still move us. True heroes never complain about fate, because heroes are born to challenge fate!"

……

P.S.: Oh no, I promised to update twice today to make up for it, but I only managed to get one chapter out, so I'll have to shamelessly owe you one for now (Damn LeBron - you broke your promise! RNM, refund me!).

(End of this chapter)