One Guard

The much-hyped "Yiyang's absence from training" incident has become a complete joke and a shame to the media. The reporters were originally waiting to see how Yiyang and Mavericks would be defeated, but in the end they discovered that they were the ones who lost everything.

As a reporter who had a good personal relationship with Yiyang, Mu Ran learned the whole story from Yiyang and wrote all of it in his column. Including details about how Carlisle played word games with the media, including how Yiyang left the hotel without being discovered.

As soon as this article was published, it immediately caused a huge sensation around the world. Sometimes, the game between the two teams even goes beyond basketball. I have to admit that Carlisle's "taking advantage of the situation" has indeed achieved good results. He successfully confused Brooks' tactical layout and made the Thunder relax their vigilance. When they discovered that it was all a scam, Yiyang had already widened the gap.

The media in Oklahoma have accused Yiyang and Carlisle of being shameless liars, but they seem to have forgotten that the news of Yiyang's absence from training was originally caused by them themselves.

3-0, many teams in NBA history have experienced a situation of falling behind 3-0. The only thing these teams have in common is that they all lose the entire series without exception.

3-0 is a curse, sentencing a team that has not yet been eliminated to death in advance. Even with both Durant and Brooks saying they'll do their best, the playoffs aren't over yet. But everyone knows that it is just a kind of self-comfort for them. After all, it's impossible for Durant to say "we have lost" in front of reporters' cameras.

The overall situation of the playoffs has been decided, and the only suspense now is whether the Thunder will be swept by the Mavericks. After all, there is no such word as mercy in Yiyang's dictionary.

The result was unquestionable. A day later, also at the American Airlines Center, the Thunder seemed to have given up resistance. With a huge 3-0 point difference, the Thunder players have lost their goal.

Durant only played one half today and never stood up from the bench again. In the second half of the game, Durant on the bench only had to do one thing, and that was to find a way to accept the fact that the season had failed!

Although he spent the entire half to communicate with himself, Durant still didn't hold back when the whistle sounded at the end of the game.

He sat on the sidelines and stared blankly at the court. Countless cameras gave close-ups of the three-time scoring champion's face. Durant shook his head, his eyes red.

60 wins in the regular season, aiming for the championship. Originally, all this was extremely beautiful. But sometimes, change comes faster than you think.

"The Mavericks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder as expected and advanced to the Western Conference Finals! After a year, the Dallas Cowboys will once again launch an attack on the Western Conference Championship!"

When Barkley announced that the Mavericks had advanced to the next round, the entire arena burst into cheers in unison. Last year, in the same Western Conference semifinals, they also faced the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Dallas Mavericks were eliminated.

But this year, the Mavericks defeated themselves and got their revenge. They have not lost to the same opponent twice in a row, and Yiyang, the MVP, has taken the Mavericks further as people expected.

Durant clenched his fists and walked down the tunnel with his head lowered. The feeling of being eliminated by the Mavericks is too familiar and too annoying!

From today on, Durant has become the lifelong enemy of Yiyang and the Mavericks. Originally, the Thunder had no mortal enemies in the league, because the original Thunder were harmless to humans and animals. But now, the name of the Dallas Mavericks has definitely been squeezed into the list of enemies of the Thunder. If these two teams meet again in the playoffs in the future, the scene will definitely be quite heated.

The Mavericks swept the Thunder with a total score of 4-0 to advance.

Became the first team in the league to enter the conference finals.

On the Heat and Bulls side, the Bulls still did not give up resistance. The Pacers and Knicks are also inseparable. In the West, the Spurs met the Nuggets, and Popovich faced George Karl. Naturally, the winner will not be easily produced.

As for who will be the Mavericks' opponent in the Western Conference finals, the Nuggets or the Spurs, there are different opinions.

But there is no doubt that Carlisle would rather face a "track and field team" like the Nuggets than run into the experienced Spurs. It's not that Carlisle looks down on George Karl's Nuggets, but that the Spurs have more experience in major competitions than the Nuggets. Because from the rise of the Spurs to now, their core bones have always been the three GDP players. These three guys have experienced too many storms, and their stable performance has made the Mavericks feel desperate. Therefore, Carlisle actually hopes that the Nuggets will win.

However, Carlisle does not have the final say on who will advance in the playoffs.

For today's basketball clubs, participating in the playoffs is no longer just about honor, it is more about a club's financial budget.

A large amount of ticket revenue, TV broadcast dividends and bonuses for each game have made many clubs aim to make the playoffs. The longer you survive in the playoffs, the more exposure you get. This is good for both the team and the players.

It's the power of money, and it's the power of the playoffs. Therefore, everyone is willing to fight tooth and nail for a promotion spot. Not only for honor, but also for the real thing of dollar bills. The San Antonio Spurs probably won't give up the victory so easily.

Although they qualified early, Carlisle did not dare to let the players relax these days. Even the usual one-day holiday was canceled by Carlisle. If they were really facing the San Antonio Spurs, then let alone a day, even an hour would be wasted, which would be extremely fatal!

Even though the Spurs are currently playing fiercely with the Nuggets, maybe that guy Popovich has already studied the Mavericks thoroughly in advance!

The War between Cattle and Horses, the Texas Civil War... these names with special meanings have appeared in people's mouths more and more frequently.

Before Duncan and Nowitzki became the leaders of their respective teams, the Spurs and Mavericks, two neighboring Texas teams, had never met in the NBA playoffs. But when these two big men came out, everything was different.

Precisely because of these two seven-foot giants, the Mavericks and Spurs have become powerful NBA teams in the past 20 years. The two teams have won the championship a total of 5 times. In the first 10 years of the 21st century, they have been in the playoffs 5 times. Meet on stage.

On average, they fight once every two years, allowing them to understand each other, be hostile to each other, and respect each other. At the same time, it also made them each other's most difficult opponents.

The 2000-01 season was the first time the two teams met in the playoffs at this stage. The Mavericks at that time also had Nash, the future two-time MVP, and this was the first time the Mavericks entered the playoffs after ten seasons. , but they eventually lost in front of the powerful Spurs.

By the 2002-03 season, after several seasons of experience, the Mavericks had tied for first place in the Western Conference with the Spurs. They also successfully joined the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals this year, but they still failed to stop the Spurs' progress. Lost the series with the Spurs again 2-4.

In the 2008-09 season, the Mavericks, who entered the adjustment period at almost the same time, met the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs. This time, the Mavericks, who brought in Kidd, finally had the last laugh and won the series with the Spurs. But the following season, the two teams met again, and this time it was the Spurs who won.

Overall, the Spurs have beaten the Mavericks more often in the playoffs. The Mavericks have changed batch after batch of people, but the Spurs are still dominated by Popovich and GDP.

They know the Mavericks too well and they know Nowitzki too well. So if he meets the Spurs, Popovich will definitely play well.

Now, what Carlisle looks forward to every day is that the Nuggets can topple the Spurs and advance to the Western Conference Finals. He prayed that Iguodala could shoulder the heavy responsibility, prayed that Ty Lawson could defeat Parker, and prayed that Faried could put more pressure on Duncan on the defensive end.

But it was clear that God did not hear Carlisle's voice. On the basis of GDP, the Spurs have added two more firepower points in Danny Green and Leonard. They are strong enough to arm-wrestle with the Big Three! How can a mere Denver track and field team be a rival to the Spurs?

Just three days after the Mavericks advanced, the Spurs eliminated the Nuggets with a total score of 4-1, becoming the second team to reach the Western Conference Finals this year!

Seeing the Mavericks and Spurs meet again, fans of the two teams instantly started a scolding war on the Internet. It seems that the fires in the West this summer are destined to reach Texas.

Seeing the Spurs advancing at a leisurely pace and watching Popovich being interviewed by reporters, Carlisle felt tremendous pressure sitting in front of the TV. His players have to compete with the Spurs players, and Carlisle himself has to compete with the idol Popovich!

"Coach Gregg Popovich, congratulations on defeating your opponent and advancing to the Western Conference finals! What do you think of the Spurs' next opponent, the Mavericks?" A reporter's voice came from the TV. Carlisle stared at the screen. He really wanted to hear what Popovich would say about him.

Popovich looked into the camera, seemingly looking into Carlisle's eyes through the television screen. Carlisle gripped the armrest of the sofa tightly, he was actually a little nervous.

"What do I think? I'll just stand on the sidelines and watch."

The old man answered the reporter in his usual tone, and then left the reporter standing there dumbfounded.

Carlisle smiled. He admired Popovich's way of speaking and admired Popovich's coaching ability. But meeting this guy in person in the playoffs is not a good thing.

San Antonio Spurs? They are really not good opponents...