One Guard

Westbrook unexpectedly became the most mentioned player today. His lack of composure at a critical moment in the game yesterday directly led to the end of the Thunder's season.

Although Durant claimed after the game that everyone was responsible for the loss, his disappointed expression at the end of the game did not escape the reporters' cameras.

Westbrook averaged 20.9 shots per game in the playoffs this season, but only made 8.8 goals. He averaged 5.8 three-pointers per game, but his shooting percentage was only 28.6%. After this shocking number was revealed by reporters, Westbrook was instantly labeled as a "cancer".

The whole world is blaming that No. 0. The whole world thinks that the reason why the Thunder have been ineffective for so many years is because of Westbrook's too "cancer" style of play.

But just when everyone's eyes were on the "Turtle Killing Conference", Yiyang and Carlisle were paying attention to the Spurs No. 21, who was taciturn and was rarely mentioned by reporters.

"A bunch of idiots, they only saw Westbrook's 4 consecutive misses, but didn't they see how terrifying Duncan's performance in overtime was?" Looking at the news on the Internet accusing Westbrook, Carlisle even said "Turtles" "Feeling worthless.

Indeed, Westbrook's shot selection is problematic. But the loss was really not caused by Westbrook alone. Without Duncan's divine assist in overtime, the younger Thunder might have dragged the game into a tiebreaker.

"Should we let Rudy defend Tim?" In the head coach's office, Yiyang and Carlisle were discussing how to deal with the Spurs. Being able to intervene in the team's tactical matters is considered a privilege given to Yiyang by Carlisle. Because he knows that Yiyang is not the kind of person who is unreasonable and only cares about his own performance. Sometimes the tactical advice Yiyang gave Carlisle found particularly useful.

"No, if Tim pins Rudy to the mid-range, then he will lose his maximum effect. It doesn't matter, let's let Dirk fight with his old rival." Carlisle rubbed his temples and used Nowitz When Key and Duncan face off, it's about seeing who can kill the other on the offensive end, or whether they can completely destroy each other.

For a legendary superstar like Duncan, it is impossible to find a way to completely contain him. Otherwise, after playing in the league for so many years, Duncan would have been restricted long ago.

Carlisle only felt a dull pain in his head, and every tactic Popovich made seemed so perfect. The execution ability of the Spurs players is also amazing.

No one wants to meet the Spurs. Since last year's failure in the Finals, Duncan, Parker and Ginobili seem to be a year younger. Not only did they reach the playoffs with the second-best record in the league, but they also defeated strong teams like the Grizzlies and Thunder in advance.

But there is no way,

If they want to reach the finals, the Spurs are the hurdle that the Mavericks have to overcome. Last year, they were stopped at the Spurs' feet. This year, I wonder if the Mavericks can successfully challenge again?

Yiyang watched the Spurs game video, and then looked at the Spurs players' playoff data. The more Yiyang looked, the more he felt that those guys were really not normal human beings.

Tim Duncan's gray beard reminds you that he is already a very old guy. At 38 years old, Duncan is no longer young even if he puts aside his status as a professional athlete. In a league where the average player career length is only four years, Duncan stayed with the Spurs for 16 years, four "career" periods.

At 38 years old, even if some stars can play to this age, they have definitely lost their dominance of the game. But what about Duncan? In the playoffs, he was still able to average 16.3 points, 2.0 assists and 9.2 rebounds per game. His data is even better than when he was 34 years old. This guy is like a stone forgotten by time, breaking the spell of time.

Tony Parker, the "French sports car" back then, is now almost a classic car. Parker, who will turn 32 in a few days, is long past his prime. But his averages of 17.4 points and 4.8 assists per game in the playoffs this season are no worse than when he was young. Facing Parker, Yiyang is destined to have no trouble.

Of course, how could we forget Manu Ginobili? From the long-haired "coquettish" young man to the bald-headed middle-aged uncle, Ginobili spent the best years of his life in San Antonio. At the age of 37, it is indeed not easy for an Argentinian whose physical fitness is not great to still be able to fight and help the team in the playoffs.

Ginobili still averaged 14.3 points per game in the playoffs this season, but everyone knows that Ginobili's value cannot be reflected by average data per game.

The Argentinian may have been "paddling" all season, but once Duncan and Parker cannot solve the game, then get out of the way and don't block Ginobili's way!

Even if he scores 40 points in a single game at the age of 37, don't be surprised at all. Because this is Ginobili, the "demon knife" that is always sharp.

These three old guys, whose combined age is 107 years old, have dominated the league since 2000. In the second decade of the 21st century, all I can think about is the championship!

Yiyang doesn't know if his career will be as long as theirs, but he knows very well that these may be the most difficult old men in the world to deal with.

In addition to the three GDP players, Leonard, who has performed more prominently this season, has become Popovich's trump card. The equally taciturn forward is a good player on both offense and defense.

The more he stared at the Spurs game videos and statistics, the more Yiyang felt that his dream was very real.

Although the Mavericks have reached the Western Conference Finals ahead of the Spurs, even Yiyang must admit it. The "old friends" Spurs can't be compared to the teams they faced before!

Carrar and Yiyang made things difficult for the Spurs in Dallas, and Popovich didn't have it much easier in San Antonio.

During the regular season, Popovich prayed in his heart every time he met the Mavericks. Don't ever meet them in the playoffs this season! The two teams met four times during the regular season, and the Spurs only won one. Among them, Yiyang's 53-point night was scored on the Spurs' head.

Judging from the regular season record, the Spurs are slightly behind. It's understandable that Popovich doesn't want to meet the Mavericks.

God indeed lived up to Popovich's "expectations". Not only did he allow the two teams to meet in the playoffs, but he also met in the crucial Western Conference finals!

It's not that enemies don't get together. In the past 13 years, the Spurs have collided with the Mavericks in the playoffs seven times. Popovich shook his head. If anyone in the entire West could stop his Spurs, it was the Dallas Mavericks. I don’t know who will rule the West this year.

Between the conference semifinals and the conference finals, the league gave each team two days of rest. The Mavericks, who are playing at home, don't have to travel back and forth, so their work becomes much easier instantly.

The scene in Yiyang's dream that day has been lingering in Yiyang's mind. When Duncan wiped the board for the winning move, Yiyang seemed to really feel the atmosphere of despair.

People say that dreams come true. But Yiyang doesn't believe in fate, he only believes in his own hands.

On May 19, the morning of the competition day, Yiyang got up at 6:30. In fact, Yiyang couldn't sleep at all. When he thought about the important game at night, he felt very energetic.

However, even if Yiyang is "energetic", he must sleep well. In order to prevent Yiyang from "scheming evil" during the playoffs and affecting his body and condition, Vignali, who lives in Yiyang's house, deliberately did not talk to Yiyang. Yang sleeps in a room.

So when Yiyang woke up the next day, there was no sexy Italian girl next to him, but dazzling sunshine and a big red circle on the calendar.

Even though Vignali was wearing a lace dress and pajamas and making breakfast for herself, she was still very tempting. Even though "little Yiyang" was already bloated and thirsty, Yiyang still drank all the milk in the glass in one gulp and held back.

The Western Conference Finals are no joke.

On the way to the arena while driving the car, Yiyang specially turned on the car radio. This year, no one seems to think the Spurs can win a lopsided game in Dallas. But again, no one thinks the Mavericks can get through it easily.

"The Spurs advanced with a score of 4-1 and a 4-2, while the Mavericks advanced with a score of 4-0 and a 4-1. It can be said that these two teams have not encountered too much in previous games. Big trouble. During the regular season, the Mavericks and Spurs are first and second in the league respectively. What else can I say? This series may even be more exciting than the finals!"

"Indeed, this is a veritable strong dialogue. The Western Conference... can even be said to be the two best teams in the league, will decide a place to reach the finals. If I can, I would even I want to see a match like this in the finals.”

"Although the Spurs lost to the Mavericks three times during the regular season, we all know that the playoffs and the regular season are two different concepts. We can also score 53 points against the Spurs in the regular season, but this kind of That never happens in the playoffs! So, this series is so suspenseful that I can’t even make a prediction."

On the radio, the guests and hosts of the program undoubtedly did not praise the Mavericks and Spurs. Yes, the two best teams in the league had to meet early.

Last season, it was the Spurs who stopped Yiyang, the MVP. This year, Yiyang will once again serve as MVP and break the Spurs' dominance of the Western Conference for so many years!

The collision between young forces and old-school forces will begin again. Yiyang drove to the entrance of the American Airlines Center Arena. The poster at the entrance had been updated specifically for the Western Conference Finals last night.

An extra-long poster is posted on the front of the arena. On the poster, there are photos of every Mavericks player in their makeup. Yiyang naturally stood in the middle, holding a basketball in both hands.

"Defend your home court!"

Below the poster, a simple but powerful sentence is written in white fonts.

Yiyang looked at the teammates on the poster who got along with him day and night. They have come so far, and they must not fall to the same score as last year!

Yiyang increased the accelerator and drove towards the underground parking lot of the arena. Leave it to me to defend the home court!