The Basketball Court Swordsman

4:30 in the morning, Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Oklahoma City Thunder players arrived in Indianapolis. As soon as they got off the plane, they saw the publicity advertisement of the Pacers team in the airport. The billboard was full of Pacers and Henson Joe sat in the middle as always.

And at the bottom of the billboard, there is a short but clear kid.

"Where72happens."

72 wins. Among the incredible records in the NBA, the Bulls’ 72 wins record has always been considered the least likely to be broken.

Think about it, only lose ten games in a season. Maybe this is really only a player like Michael Jordan can do. But no one thought that now 18 years later, another Eastern Conference team would begin to approach this record.

What Westbrook could not think of was that he and his team, under the publicity and hype from the outside world, instantly became the so-called "only hope of the league".

"Damn back to back, I hate back to back!" When Westbrook stared at the Pacers poster in a daze, his good brother Kevin Durant yawned and walked up from behind.

"I hate it too, and it's a back-to-back game that spans east and west!" Westbrook shook his head in agreement and followed the team toward the airport exit.

Now, at 4:30 in the morning, the Thunder players have just arrived, and the sky in Indianapolis is still dark. And just six and a half hours ago, the Oklahoma City Thunder just ended their game with the San Antonio Spurs at home.

Spurs VS Thunder, as a direct dialogue between the first two in the West, the Thunder, who is eager to rush to the first place in the West, are naturally not to be outdone. Coupled with Scott Brooks, the main madman, the Thunder players will naturally not be too easy.

Especially Durant, in the game against the Spurs, Durant played a full 45 minutes, and his energy was almost drained. However, he didn't have time to rest at all, so he boarded the plane with the team, experienced more than four hours of long flight, and landed here at 4:30 in the morning.

So now Durant will yawn forever. Counting the game last night until now, he has not had a good rest. And in a few hours, he must return to the training ground to prepare for today's game with the Pacers...

The Indiana Pacers, for Durant and Westbrook, this is an opponent that makes them sad. In the summer of last season, when they were so close to the championship, they have not forgotten who blocked their dream and blocked their dream of winning. Now, the game between the Pacers and the Thunder has been given a whole new meaning.

The only hope of the whole league!

If there are any two teams in the league who want to see the Pacers achieve 72 wins, it must be the Thunder and the Heat!

The Miami Heat is quite legendary this season. Since the Pacers’ 25-game winning streak, the Heat immediately returned a wave of 27-game winning streak! The Pacers' record for the league's second-longest winning streak was only maintained for a month before being ruthlessly broken by the Heat. If the Pacers cannot win 72 wins, there is no doubt that the biggest winner of the regular season this season will be the Heat themselves. But if the Heat won 72 wins, the Miami's 27-game winning streak would be eclipsed.

For the Oklahoma City Thunder, this is a better understanding. Since the Finals last season, the Thunder have been eager to regain a chance to compete for the championship. Although the victory of today's game does not play any decisive role in the final ownership of the championship. But there is no doubt that the Thunder must be very hopeful to prevent their old rivals from achieving great achievements. As long as they can block the Pacers today, they will lose 9 games in early April. Then their probability of winning 72 will be greatly reduced! In addition, they can re-prove themselves to avoid the tragedy of being double killed by the Pacers this season.

Unfortunately, the Miami Heat will no longer meet the Pacers during the regular season of this season, and they have no chance to stop the Pacers personally. But the Thunder are different. Although they are very tired, although they are still walking on the street at 4:30 in the morning, although they only finished a tough battle with the Spurs yesterday.

But none of these will be an obstacle to them. If they can use their own power to destroy the Pacers to create great possibilities, there is no doubt that they will be very happy!

Just like last season, the Pacers also personally prevented them from achieving greatness!

"It's getting bright." Sitting on the team bus, Durant tilted his head and looked out the window. Below the horizon, the hot sun was slowly rising.

"Yeah, it's almost dawn. When the sun touches down again, that's when we go to the Pacers to settle accounts." Westbrook closed his eyes, he needs a good rest.

"Come on, buddy."

"Come on."

The fists of the Thunder Gemini lightly touched each other.

"72 wins! Audience friends, this incredible miracle has reached the most critical turning point!"

At 7:30 in the evening, Indianapolis, Bankers Life Arena. It was only 15 hours before the Oklahoma City Thunder landed in the city. At this time, T.NT's famous sideline reporter "Caiyi Man" Sage stood in front of the camera wearing an orange suit. He was holding a copy of Sports Illustrated magazine published in 1995. This issue of the magazine On the cover, it was the Chicago Bulls, who had just achieved a record of 72 wins at the time!

"From 1995 to 2013, we have experienced countless players coming and going and witnessing the birth of more than a dozen championships. But there has never been any team that can break or tie the Bulls with 72 wins in a single season. Record. But today, as I said, this incredible miracle has reached the most critical turning point. If the Oklahoma City Thunder cannot beat the defending champion Pacers on the road, it will never be the next schedule. No one can stand up and stop the walkers!"

The game has not yet started, the players have just warmed up, and Sague has already mobilized the atmosphere of the game on the court.

That's right, Sager used the word "stop". After all, in addition to the local Indianapolis fans in the entire league, most fans do not want to see the enemy in their eyes achieve great achievements. This is true even for the Chicago Bulls.

At this moment, there was a commotion in the stands. You don't need to look at it to know that the visiting team must have entered the field.

"Oklahoma City Thunder's warm-up time is really early. They were still fighting at the Chesapeake Energy Arena 24 hours ago." On the commentary stage, Kenny Smith couldn't help being surprised when he saw the Thunder come out early. .

"Although they only finished the game with the Spurs 24 hours ago, the lads of the Thunder are definitely still excited. First, if they win this game, the Thunder will surpass the Spurs and become the number one in the West. Second, if this game is If the Thunder can win, the Pacers’ chances of 72 wins will be much smaller. So no matter how tired they are, Kenny, the Thunder will definitely show all their skills today." Charles Barkley licked his lips , With a smirk on his face. He can't wait, and wants to see this grand battle begin earlier.

"Sometimes, excitement can't make up for the physical decline. The Thunder just flew from the West Coast to the East Coast, and the Pacers took a full four-day break after defeating the Clippers! And, if Coach Henson didn't continue to fool people. , Then the Pacers will play with a neat lineup today! To me, the Thunder have no advantage at all." Kenny Smith spread his hands, this game is too difficult for the Thunder.

"Yes, the Thunder are almost in desperate situation. But it is in this way that they will be more bloodthirsty and more violent! The length of the break can indeed affect the outcome, but it cannot play a decisive role. Even Henson The coach once said this: If rest can determine the outcome, I would have invited Larry Bird back to play. Because he has rested for decades."

Barkley was right, it was precisely because the Thunder were driven into desperation, they might burst into greater power. And this is what Henson is worried about. So today, he didn't tell his players "that group of guys are too tired". Telling the players this will not have any effect, it will only make them underestimate the enemy.

When interviewed by Sager before the game, Henson was also uncharacteristic. He highly praised the Thunder, believing that they are superior in strength and willfulness, and they are well-deserved Western teams, and he paid tribute to them.

His words undoubtedly surprised Sager, who was used to hearing Henson's mouthful of the train.

????Henson Joe was kidnapped by aliens last night? Why did you suddenly change sex?

Of course Henson was not kidnapped by aliens. In fact, if he wanted to, he could immediately give a few hilarious humorous answers. But Henson didn't want his players to feel that he was relaxed. In today's game, in the face of such a big advantage, what he needs to do is to make the players nervous and seize the advantage, rather than relax their vigilance.

He was killed by the Thunder in a back-to-back match spanning east and west, and Henson couldn't afford to lose this person!

"Don't let your guard down, and don't listen to the nonsense of the media! If the Oklahoma City Thunder will be knocked down by a mere back-to-back schedule, then they will not be second in the Western Conference! Give me my best to make this Play this game as the finals!"

Before the game began, Henson also deliberately gave a brief speech in front of the players. As the referee urged, the frowning players stepped onto the court. Although the game has not officially started, the eyes of both sides seem to have sparked!

?? The atmosphere of the scene was brought up by the fans, and all the Pacers fans were cheering. Before the game started, they already let the Thunder players fully feel what an "away game" is.

?? Henson stood on the sidelines with his hands around his chest from the beginning of the game, very satisfied with the home atmosphere. He is very grateful to God for giving himself such a group of loyal fans. These cheers are like a pair of powerful hands, supporting his back and allowing him to stand upright in front of all his opponents.

Here comes, the key battle of 72 wins in the legend, the most important game in Henson's plan, is finally here!

The plan is just the last step. He will not allow the Oklahoma City Thunder to become a great stumbling block for the Pacers.

? If it is really a stumbling block, kick it away!

"Beep!" The referee whistled and threw the basketball into the air.

The grand battle began.