manynovel Chapter 230 Today is Sunday, the postman doesn't work!
Chapter 230 Today is Sunday, the postman doesn't work!
Chapter 230 Today is Sunday, the postman doesn't work!
Lin Tian and Barkley certainly couldn't play on the court for too long. Bird wouldn't trust Sloan. If the Jazz were to do something dirty at this point in the series and a player got injured, even if it didn't affect their chances of winning the championship this season, it would still be disgusting.
So, after another 4 minutes in the fourth quarter, when the score difference between the two sides reached 40 points, Lin Tian and his teammates were substituted by Bird.
Of course, Bird didn't forget his promise to Ben Wallace. Before Hoiberg, Dumars, and Ainge took the court, Bird called a timeout to give the players a lesson on the importance of family and the need to protect and support them.
To prevent them from getting too relaxed and failing to hold onto the 40-point lead, Bird would have a hard time explaining himself to Ben Wallace after the game.
Fortunately, the Pacers players, united in their determination to make the Jazz look bad, managed to hold on to the lead in the final minutes. They not only prevented the Jazz from narrowing the gap to within 40 points, but also extended the lead to 50 points at one point!
If it weren't for Shandon Anderson and Hornacek combining for two three-pointers in the final minute of the game, scoring 8 points and going on an 8-0 run in the last minute, the Jazz would have lost by 50 points instead of 42. But no matter how you look at it, whether it's 50 or 42 points, the Jazz were utterly defeated tonight!
There is no doubt that this year's Finals matchup will have the biggest point difference and the widest gap in history!
As the climax of the entire NBA season, and the ultimate showdown between the two teams representing the strongest level in the East and West after going through countless hardships to reach the finals, the NBA Finals were exciting and difficult to determine a winner for most of the time.
Although there have been quite a few sweeps in the NBA Finals throughout history, honestly, even those swept teams often put on some good performances, giving their fans some hope.
But a situation like this year, where the outcome of the series was almost decided after the first game and even the home fans left early after the second game, is truly a first in the more than 50-year history of the NBA!
No team has ever lost so badly and so decisively in the Finals.
The Jazz truly never put up any resistance in the game; they were completely dominated from start to finish.
The most lopsided NBA Finals in history has been decided! Were the Pacers too strong or the Jazz too weak?
When will the East-West dominance end? Why is it that only the Bulls can put up a good fight against the Pacers?
Lin and Jordan! The top two current NBA players!
After three games, the Pacers have set multiple records! They've humiliated the Jazz!
Who else can save the Jazz? A well-known coach says: Quickly sign Ares and Hercules!
One God isn't enough; the Jazz now need at least five Jesuses to save them!
Could the Jazz be torn apart by World War I? Insiders reveal internal strife within the team! Malone and Stockton may part ways!
Last Hope or a New Massacre? Game 4 Preview!
"The Jazz broke multiple records in one game, losing by 42 points—a feat unprecedented in history!"
"Malone's elbow sent the Jazz to the pillory of shame. Will he regret everything he brought to the team with his dirty play?"
"No resistance! The Nuggets making it to the Finals is a better joke than the Jazz!"
Even if the WNBA's Utah Jazz All-Stars came, they would play better than the Jazz! The girls played like tough guys, not a bunch of softies!
Celebrate now! Congratulations to the Indiana Pacers on winning their first-ever NBA championship!
Before you even started celebrating, I was already celebrating! Check out the Indianapolis' crazy celebration after their second consecutive road win!
Bringing his talent to Indiana! Lin's choice made him a city hero in Indiana!
Indiana, this is for you!
Indiana is not a super team! They fought their way up, game by game!
Indiana has done it too! Lin Tian is about to achieve his third consecutive championship!
……
All sorts of reports sprang up like mushrooms after rain, and no matter which media outlet it was, at this stage of the series, they were basically doing only two things.
1. Praising the Pacers.
2. He angrily criticized the Jazz team.
After all, at this stage of the series, analyzing lineups, tactics, comeback strategies, and game previews is completely useless. Fans, players, and media alike have lost all interest in such things and have no desire to study them!
Unless you're a die-hard Jazz fan or an idiot who insists on arguing at this point, no one will believe the Jazz can turn the game around.
This series is almost destined to go down in history.
The series will be forever etched with the titles of the most predictable finals in history, the most boring finals in history, and the finals with the biggest skill gap in history.
The Jazz are destined to be nailed to the pillar of shame.
The final suspense of this series is how many points the Jazz will lose in the four games. So far, they have lost by a full 90 points.
They could very well become the first team in NBA history to lose by more than 100 points in the Finals.
If they really lose by more than 100 points in a single series, they will truly become the biggest joke in Finals history.
……
Before Game 4 of the Finals, Bird did not relax his management of the team. He still issued a curfew order to everyone, forbidding anyone from going to nightclubs at this time. He also moved up the training time, requiring everyone to arrive at the training facility before 6 a.m. to sign in.
Of course, Bird wasn't planning on any large-scale, high-intensity training. He just wanted the players to stay home and not cause any trouble at this time.
Once they arrived at the training ground, Bird would simply smell whether they smelled of alcohol and whether they were energetic enough, and then let them do whatever they wanted.
At this point, the most important thing is for the players to stay healthy, maintain good form, and avoid getting involved in any extraneous or unnecessary things!
As for training, it's no longer useful except for making players more tired and increasing the risk of injury.
As a result, the entire Pacers training facility became a sea of joy, especially after Bird left. Some people were playing cards, some were bragging, and some were even dancing and rapping at the same time.
Barkley was the most audacious. He went to the tactical analysis room, pulled out Bird's TV used for analyzing games, connected it to his PS, and started playing NBA LIVE with Miller. One of them used the classic Pacers, and the other used the classic 76ers. They didn't pass the ball at all and just scored like crazy.
He was hitting and cursing at the same time; it was incredibly lewd.
As for Lin Tian, he found a sunny spot, lay down casually, closed his eyes, and prepared to catch up on sleep.
Meanwhile, in the Jazz's hotel, their morale and atmosphere were nowhere near that of the Pacers. After losing three games in a row, and each one so decisively, the Jazz's morale had already plummeted to rock bottom.
The night before the game, Sloan gathered all the players in a conference room. Having exhausted all his methods, Sloan was now very confused and didn't know what to do.
But he knew he had to do something before Game 4 of the Finals.
So he bought all the sports newspapers he could find, and then distributed them to the players after they arrived.
But less than three minutes later, Malone threw the newspaper on the table and said, "Coach, we've seen so much of this stuff in the last two days. We really don't need to be discouraged by this anymore."
When his star player said that to him, Sloan, who was known for his iron-fisted discipline, opened his mouth but couldn't say a word. Then he lowered his head and remained silent for a long time.
When all the Jazz players looked at him curiously, they noticed that Sloan's body was trembling slightly. When the awe-inspiring Iron Coach raised his head again, all the Jazz players realized that he was now in tears.
"I'm sorry, it's my fault. I'm not good enough, I'm not good enough. I couldn't beat Phil Jackson last year, and I can't handle Larry Bird this year. You've done your best. You've done everything I asked you to do, and even better than I asked."
"But we still suffered a humiliating three-game losing streak because of my incompetence, which led to us being completely outmatched. Because of my incompetence, we are destined to be etched in the pillar of shame and ridiculed by everyone. It's my fault. I ruined a perfect season."
At this point, Sloan bowed again. This tough, unyielding coach, who had never backed down in his life, bowed his head and admitted his mistake to his subordinates and his players.
This shows how much of a blow this series has dealt him.
"I will resign after this series ends. I will leave the position of head coach. I cannot lead you to a championship. Men, tomorrow night will probably be the last game we play together. What I want to say is: I was able to coach you and be your head coach."
"It is the greatest honor of my life, and the pride of my entire life!"
After finishing his speech, Sloan gave the players no chance to object or try to persuade him to stay. He turned around, walked out of the meeting room, and went into the corridor.
Then, Sloan glanced back at the conference room and, finding no one had come out, immediately wiped away his tears. Gone was the dejected look from before. He straightened his back and walked towards his room, taking out his phone to make a call.
"Phil, will this trick you told me about really work?"
"What do you think?" Jackson's soft, frivolous voice came through: "Jerry, you've sincerely asked for my help, so of course I'll tell you the trick I've used and that works really well. Don't worry, I won't lie to you!"
"But seriously, did you really cry using that trick? Did you take any pictures? I'd love to see what the famous Jerry Sloan looks like when he cries."
"Go to hell!" Sloan cursed and hung up the phone.
If he hadn't truly been driven to desperation, if he hadn't been pushed to the brink, he really wouldn't have wanted to ask Jackson for help, a guy he had always disliked and hated.
But in the current situation, his desire for victory outweighs his pursuit of face.
Now, Sloan has delivered a performance worthy of a Hollywood Oscar. Now, let's see if the players can be moved by Sloan and put on a great performance, at least creating some suspense in the fourth game!
"The coach can't leave!" After Sloan left, Malone stood up and said, "No matter what, this team can't be without Jerry! We need some fire, we need some manly spirit! We have to show our skills and attitude!"
"I'm the first to apologize to everyone. I was too soft-hearted. I have to admit, I was afraid of Lin! I was afraid of being pinned to the ground and beaten by him like before. I went soft, I chickened out! I apologize!"
Malone paused briefly at this point, then continued, "But the fourth game won't be like that! I won't continue to be weak. I will show everyone my toughness, and I will let everyone know that the tough guy Malone is still here!"
"I know we're down 0-3 in this series, and from any perspective, we have almost no chance of winning the series or the championship. Even I don't think we can come back. But I think we have to win at least one game!"
"We have to win Game 4. I don't want to be swept. I don't want to become the team with the biggest single-round Finals loss in NBA history. I don't want to be mentioned again and again just because I lost badly."
"In the fourth game, we fought with everything we had and won! For our honor, for the honor of Salt Lake City, and so that Jerry can continue coaching us!"
As soon as Malone finished speaking, Stockton stood up and said, "I played terribly in the first three games too. In the fourth game, I'll be aggressive from the start! I'll find a way to beat Lin, and I'll get a lot of points off him!"
"I won't give up! I'll take down Lin! I'll find a way to defeat him!"
After the team's two leaders spoke, the remaining Jazz players were naturally filled with indignation. The last bit of pride and the instinct to never give up that they had were successfully ignited by Sloan's self-inflicted injury!
Regardless of the outcome of Game 4 of the Finals, the Jazz will be in top form to face this game!
They were all determined: even if the series was already decided and they had almost no chance of a comeback, they had to win at least one game! If they couldn't win any, they would put on an incredibly exciting game that would move and impress all the fans, and put enough pressure on the Pacers!
They must make the Pacers realize that their opponent is no pushover; their opponent is the Utah Jazz!
You want to kill us?
you can!
But never expect to win easily!
Step over our corpses! Be prepared for a Pyrrhic victory that will leave you bruised and battered!
It must be said that the Jazz's resilience and team spirit truly live up to their nickname, the Salt Lake City cockroaches. These guys are almost never giving up, and they can really muster up some fighting spirit and drive in desperate situations to fight their opponents to the death.
Down 0-3, in a desperate situation, the Jazz team had truly fallen off a cliff, with only one hand holding onto the edge and temporarily preventing them from falling. But at this point in the series, they rekindled their fighting spirit!
"They seem a little different." As the Jazz walked onto the court and the whole team quietly warmed up, Barkley stroked his chin and said curiously, "These guys seem ready for battle."
"Charles, if you're scared, how about I find you a bulletproof vest and a helmet?" Miller never missed an opportunity to mock Barkley.
"Go to hell, Reggie, you country bumpkin who's never played in the Finals. I just wanted to warn you guys to be careful and not be too careless!" Barkley raised his middle finger without hesitation.
"We Chinese have a saying: 'When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it!'" Lin Tian said, standing between the two guys. "No matter what their condition is, let's just go all out against them!"
"But I think they're going to fight tooth and nail tonight," Barkley said, still somewhat worried.
"They want to fight me to the death? Do they even have the strength?" Lin Tian snorted. "Only when the strength is evenly matched is fighting to the death worthwhile. If the strength difference is too great, fighting to the death is a joke!"
"Once the game starts, you guys spread out. I'll show them how ridiculous their desperate efforts are!"
After Lin Tian finished speaking, he turned around and clapped his hands, gathering everyone on the team together.
Strategically despise your opponent, but tactically take them seriously!
No matter how relaxed Lin Tian speaks, that's just the attitude he's showing to his teammates. He's trying to make them feel at ease. But if Lin Tian and the Pacers maintain that attitude on the court, then that's just foolish!
Tactically, we must take our opponents very seriously!
"Once the game starts, everyone spread out! The Jazz are going all out, and I'm in charge of taking their lives! Then, I have another plan." Lin Tian looked at his teammates and said, "How about we grab all the drinks and ice buckets on the sidelines and surprise Larry at the end of the third quarter?"
"How about we celebrate him becoming the first bastard in history to win a Super Grand Slam in his rookie season?"
"I'll take charge of the ice bucket!" Miller said with a mischievous grin, eager to try.
"I'll hold Larry down and keep him from running around!" Barkley also looked like he had thought things through carefully.
"During halftime, I'll bring a few more buckets of drinks and ice to the bench," Dumars said, displaying his cunning nature and indicating he was going to escalate the situation.
"Want some hot water? How about a hot and cold experience?" Da Ben rubbed his afro and asked a very insightful question.
"Okay, go prepare a kettle of boiling water and see if Larry will kill you." Lin Tian gave Ben a thumbs up, indicating that the idea was very interesting.
"Alright guys, to ensure we execute our plan perfectly before the fourth quarter starts, we're going to crush the Jazz in the first three quarters! Any questions?"
"No problem!"
"Send the people of Salt Lake City on their way!"
"Let them die!"
Become!
Lin Tian stretched out a big yawn; he knew the Jazz were finished.
Soon, Game 4 of the series began on time!
By this point in the series, both teams had a thorough understanding of each other's strengths, rosters, and strategies. Of course, the Pacers knew better how to beat the Jazz, while the Jazz, although they knew the Pacers, had no idea how to defeat them.
Neither coach changed their starting lineup today; there was no need.
They all know who can make a difference on the field and who can only have a negative impact.
Lin Tian, Miller, Christie, Barkley, Schmitz.
Stockton, Russell, Hornacek, Malone, Fookie.
When the ten players, whom everyone knew so well, stepped onto the court, the fans at City Square Stadium unleashed their first wave of enthusiasm for the night!
All the fans were incredibly excited and thrilled; in fact, their anticipation and excitement even surpassed that of the players!
After all, the Pacers have been waiting for over 20 years since they joined the NBA! But the Pacers players haven't been waiting that long.
They were all eagerly anticipating the championship award ceremony to be held at the home stadium after the game!
And the fans shouted their first chants as soon as the game started.
"Stop making David run back and forth! Let him finish his business tonight and go back to New York for vacation!"
Well, that's why they say Native Americans are of high quality.
People started to worry that the CEO's workload might be too heavy and that he might be too tired.
Get some rest!
We Native Americans are just that thoughtful!
On the court, during the Pacers' first offensive possession, Lin Tian, holding the ball, looked at Stockton, who was standing in front of him, ready to go and clearly extremely nervous. He said casually, "John, haven't you realized yet? Unless you use a flagrant foul to pin me down, you have no way to stop me."
"But unfortunately, you can only use this move twice per match."
"Try it, Lin! Try it and see if I can stop you tonight!" Stockton was still being stubborn, but before he could finish his sentence, Lin Tian flashed past him!
Having become so familiar with each other, Lin Tian knew that against Stockton, he didn't need any fancy tricks, just go for it! He directly accelerated and could wipe Stockton out in one step!
This is a complete and utter defeat in terms of physical fitness!
No matter how hard you try, how seriously you work, or how determined you are, you can't change or solve this problem.
After getting past Stockton, Russell's help defense came quickly. He was in front of Lin Tian almost the instant Lin Tian rushed into the three-point line, blocking his attack. Obviously, although this guy did not directly double-team Lin Tian, he had been paying attention to Lin Tian and was always ready to help defend.
Facing Russell, Lin Tian didn't hesitate at all. With a quick one-handed crossover and a 360-degree spin, Lin Tian easily bypassed Russell and drove to the edge of the three-second zone. Facing Fergi, who was ready to help defend and protect the rim, Lin Tian once again took off and raised the ball with both hands!
The two seemed to be having a jump contest, both rising towards the sky. Just as Faki spread his arms, confident that he could definitely block Lin Tian's shot, Lin Tian suddenly pulled the ball back with both hands, and then passed the basketball out from under Faki's armpits again.
"Whoosh!"
After a crisp sound, Lin Tian dribbled past three players and scored a layup after taking on three opponents!
After scoring, Lin Tian shrugged and chuckled, "Is this all the level of effort you guys put in?"
This outrageous scene was captured on the big screen, and the entire arena erupted in a frenzy of cheers! This is exactly what the fans wanted to see!
The Jazz's offense, at least on the surface, showed that they were well-prepared tonight. Hornacek was dribbling up the court, while Stockton had already spread out and stood at the other end of the court, preventing Lin Tian from applying full-court pressure on Hornacek.
At this distance, if Lin Tian were to defend Hornacek, he would absolutely not have time to come back and defend Stockton. The player inbounding the ball could pass it to Stockton on the other side.
Through these games, the Jazz have figured out how to quickly advance the game when Lin Tian is marking Stockton closely.
The Jazz's ease only lasted until they dribbled the ball up the court.
As soon as Hornacek stepped up to the three-point line, Christie's tight defense came right up to him! Although Christie's defense wasn't particularly physical, his defensive skills were absolutely top-notch in the league. His size was enough to cover most of the angles and spaces for Hornacek's offense and drives, making it very difficult for Hornacek to play!
On the other side, Stockton was tightly marked by Lin Tian. Even if the ball was passed to Stockton, it would just mean that someone else would be locked down by the Pacers.
Left with no other option, Hornacek had to pass the ball to Russell, who was facing slightly less defense. Russell knew that of the team's three perimeter players, only Miller, whom he was facing, was not a top-tier defender. So, he faked a move with the ball, then lowered his head and drove into the paint!
Yes, very easily, Miller was completely out of the question in one step!
But less than two seconds later, Russell realized he was wrong!
He had just reached the edge of the three-second zone when Barkley and Schmitz surrounded him at the same time. He hesitated for a moment, just about to look for Malone or Fergi, who were probably left open, to pass the ball out, but Miller had already rushed up behind him.
"Snapped!"
Miller snatched the ball from behind Russell's back, and it immediately slipped out of Russell's control and fell into Barkley's arms.
Barkley immediately passed the ball to Miller, who launched a quick counterattack from the middle.
Miller dribbled the ball once before passing it to Lin Tian on his left. Lin Tian didn't dribble the ball at all, but instead made a behind-the-back pass, sending the ball to Christie on the right. Christie then spiked the ball to Miller, who was following up in the middle.
When Miller received the ball, he was less than 2 meters from the three-point line. Without hesitation, he made a one-handed bounce pass, and the basketball flew towards the basket.
Just as the basketball was about to go out of bounds, Lin Tian grabbed it, jumped, slid, and moved from one side of the rim to the other. Then, he suddenly straightened his back and slammed his hands down on the rim behind his head.
"boom!"
After a loud bang, the Pacers' signature three-line fast break was executed! Throughout the entire sequence, Miller dribbled the ball only once when initiating the fast break; the Pacers didn't dribble once at all!
The Jazz's prized defensive system, which they relied on for survival, appeared so powerless and so pale at this moment.
They can't keep up at all!
We can't keep up in any aspect at all!
Then the Jazz's offense resumed, and the ball finally came into Malone's hands. This guy truly deserves to be recognized as the best power forward in the league today, and he may even be the best power forward in NBA history before Duncan's rise. He pushed past Barkley, knocked down Schmitz, and scored 2 points with a tough and fierce shot!
"Come on, guys! Remember what we said before the game! Crush them! For dignity, for..." Malone's words of encouragement after scoring the goal suddenly stopped there.
Lin Tian, who had just returned to the baseline to receive the ball, spotted Ma Long's position, slapped the basketball towards Ma Long, and slipped the ball between his legs. At the same time, Lin Tian immediately accelerated, grabbed the ball behind Ma Long, and launched another counterattack!
No matter how thick-skinned Ma Long was, he couldn't possibly open his mouth to encourage the team after being dribbled through the legs once. He could only quickly shut up and turn around to try and stop Lin Tian.
But his speed was nowhere near that of Lin Tian. Especially when Lin Tian decided to launch a fast break, Malone had barely returned to the three-point line when Lin Tian had already driven to the Jazz's basket, and with Hornacek and Russell both on his shoulders, he pulled up for a powerful layup and scored again!
Not only did it go in, it also drew a foul from Russell!
We're going to be fierce! We're going to keep chasing after your Jazz team and beating them up!
After the ball was shot, Lin Tian, who was on the free-throw line, looked at Malone and chuckled, "Give up, Karl, it's Sunday, the mailman doesn't work!"
"Whoosh!"
Before Ma Long could respond, Lin Tian made the free throw with pinpoint accuracy, scoring 7 points in a row at the start of the game!
Turning back, the Pacers' defense against Malone became even more aggressive. The ball hit Malone twice, but he didn't get a chance to shoot and passed the ball out both times. Unfortunately, apart from Malone, none of the other players on the Jazz team could step up at this time.
Hornacek and Stockton were tightly marked by Lin Tian and Christie. The remaining players, whether it was Fergie or Russell, were function players with no independent offensive ability. With the Jazz's offensive system completely ineffective and their tactics exhausted, the two of them really had no scoring ability.
As for those off the field...
Let's not even talk about it! If they were reliable, Sloan would have put them on the field long ago!
"Buzzing!"
A buzzing sound suddenly rang out. Stockton, who was still holding the ball outside the three-point line and fighting against Lin Tian, hoping to find some offensive opportunities, glanced at the timer in despair. The timer had already reached its end.
The Jazz were defended by the Pacers for a full 24 seconds!
"Defense! Defense! Defense!"
"Kill these Salt Lake City bastards!"
"Send them to hell!"
"Championship! We're going to win the championship tonight!"
The Pacers fans erupted in deafening cheers and shouts around the court. Compared to the team's unstoppable offense in the last few possessions, their defense in the last two possessions was what excited them even more!
They were initially worried that the Pacers might become complacent and play too lazily on the court because they were on the verge of winning the championship.
But now I realize I was overthinking it!
Our team has never been one to relax too much just because victory is in sight!
The closer they get to victory, the harder they'll play!
Because most of the people on this team have really waited too long!
Although the Pacers started strong under Lin Tian's leadership, their offensive success rate dropped slightly after Lin Tian scored 7 points in a row at the beginning of the game, and they missed several shots in a row.
Fortunately, Barkley and Miller, the inside-outside duo, immediately stepped up when the team needed them, each hitting a basket from the inside and a shot from the outside, scoring 5 points together.
With just over half of the first quarter gone, the Pacers had scored 12 points, which wasn't a lot, but the Jazz were clearly in a worse situation! The Pacers' defense had them almost completely unable to score.
They've played so far and still only managed a pitiful 2 points!
At this point in the game, Sloan was truly desperate.
I tried everything, every method, even resigning in tears, but I couldn't salvage the game at all.
What made him even more desperate was that it wasn't the players' fault at all, or even his. This game, this series, really felt like a crushing defeat for Sloan.
The Jazz and the Pacers seem like they shouldn't even be in the same league! Their abilities are simply too different!
There's no way around it. The Pacers are warriors who fought a seven-game series against a Bulls team even stronger than Lin Tian remembered, and a Jordan even stronger than him. They've risen from the ashes! In terms of mentality, how to deal with difficulties, preparation for adversity, and so on, the Pacers are far superior to the Jazz!
More importantly, the Jazz's strengths are matched by the Pacers' strengths, while the Pacers' strengths are something the Jazz are powerless to counter!
In addition, the Pacers' scoring options are spread across almost the entire team, while the Jazz, apart from Malone, don't have another reliable and trustworthy player to score.
Lin Tian and Christie completely overwhelmed Stockton and Hornacek!
No, it would be more accurate to say they were utterly crushed!
In the second half of the game, Bird didn't rush to widen the score gap. He let Barkley and Miller rest early and then began to rotate the lineup.
The Jazz finally started scoring during the Pacers' rotation breaks.
Malone, Russell, and Hornacek scored in succession, preventing the team's score from becoming too embarrassing.
Although the Pacers' two veterans were absent, Lin Tian was still on the court. With him there, not only did Stockton seem to have disappeared, but Lin Tian's own offensive power was still unstoppable for the Jazz.
In the first quarter, Lin Tian scored 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists, easily defending Stockton, who went 0-for-2 from the field, scoring no points and only providing one assist. Fortunately, Stockton didn't dribble much tonight, so he didn't commit a single turnover in the first quarter.
Stockton played a bit better tonight than in the previous games.
In previous games, he was always the side effect of being an undercover agent. Tonight, he finally managed to contribute nothing and not act as an undercover agent, only slightly disappearing from the game.
27: 15!
The Pacers still led by 12 points after the first quarter!
"I've never seen Stockton so badly defended in my entire life! He was completely helpless against Lin. I've never seen such a lopsided matchup!" During the break, Smith looked at Stockton, who was sitting on the bench panting heavily, as if he had played the entire game, and couldn't help but sigh.
「这轮系列赛打到现在为止，斯托克顿场均只有5.3分6次助攻，场均命中率更是低到27%，11%和80%！而他的失误数更是达到了5.6次！他的助攻失误比几乎就达到了1：1！」
"Aside from his still-consistent free throw shooting, Stockton really has nothing to praise in this series. Even his free throws, despite a high percentage, only had a total of 5 attempts in the first three games of the series."
"With so few free throw attempts, even if he makes 100% of his free throws, it's completely impossible to help the team win."
Marcus followed up with an even more direct comment: "I think after this series, Stockton will be permanently removed from the ranks of the league's top point guards. His performance has been just too terrible! Even his once-proud defense has been so awful!"
"34.3 points, 9.7 assists, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.0 steals! Add to that his 57%, 44%, and 91% field goal percentages and only 2.3 turnovers per game, and Lin can't even be said to have dominated Stockton in this series."
"If you ask me, Stockton should just retire. Lin was basically aiming to force him into retirement this series! It was brutal!"
On the Huaxia Sports side, Su Qun was so excited that he was almost carried away. He shouted, "I think after this series, the question of who is the best point guard and who is the best point guard in the NBA, or even the world, will no longer need to be discussed."
"Lin Tian! He's the current world's number one point guard! Anyone who disagrees with this answer is either stupid or malicious!"
"Payton, Stockton, Kidd, Strickland, Hardaway... these point guards who are still at their peak have either been completely outmatched by Lin Tian in the playoffs, or they haven't even had a chance to face him!"
"I think that after winning this championship and his first Finals MVP, Lin Tian's goal shouldn't be any other point guard in the league anymore. His goal should be Jordan, O'Neal, David Robinson, or other top stars in the league who are currently at their peak! His goal should be the best player in the league right now!"
"I agree with Coach Su!" Sun Zhengping said with a smile. "Moreover, I think Lin Tian has a very good chance of leading the team to establish another dynasty! A dynasty that will dominate the league for several years, following the Bulls dynasty! This Pacers team has a very promising future!"
"Barkley and Miller are indeed getting old, but don't forget, the Pacers still have several draft picks from the Raptors! Given the Raptors' current situation, the Pacers could complete a perfect rebuild even with just those draft picks!"
"If the Pacers can draft one of those two talents from North Carolina this year, they'll immediately have a significant boost in fresh talent!"
"Regarding the draft in two weeks," Su Qun suddenly smiled and said, "Basketball Pioneer will be publishing a supplement this week, featuring a special analysis of the rookies and draft predictions. Everyone is welcome to check it out!"
"But now, let's see, the game has resumed!"
After brazenly and boldly giving up on the game during the live broadcast on China Sports, Su Qun quickly knew when to stop and steered the conversation back to the match.
(End of this chapter)