The rest is just noise

Chapter 1422 The moment of becoming a god

The Lakers once again entered the playoffs with the league's best record. The first opponent to challenge them was the Dallas Mavericks, who had finally succeeded after many years of rebuilding.

The Mavericks did two things last summer.

One is to select Dirk Nowitzki, and the other is to sign 35-year-old Hakeem Olajuwon with a three-year, $40 million contract.

Olajuwon played 64 games this season, averaging 18.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. He is indeed old, but as the top eight inside player in the Western Conference, he is completely adequate to guide the young Dirk forward.

However, the rise of the Mavericks is certainly gratifying, but they are destined to be no match for the Lakers.

In Game 1 of the first round, Kobe Bryant, who had excellent touch, scored 30 points in a single game, and the Lakers blossomed across the board. Seven players scored in double figures, scoring 135 points, which was a vivid education lesson for the newcomers to Dallas.

"They have the number one player in the league." Mavericks coach Don Nelson only realized how outrageous this team was after becoming an opponent of the Lakers. "If Tim Duncan is a center, he will be the number one center in the league. If he is

As a power forward, he will also be the number one power forward in the league. Kevin Garnett is also a top five player at the same position whether he is the fourth or fifth position. Dejan Bodiloga is like

A combination of Larry Bird and Magic. Honestly, it's an asymmetrical competition."

People have been talking about the asymmetry in strength between the Lakers and other teams for several years.

This is a rare era in NBA history with a super young team.

Even the Knicks dynasty in its heyday and the short-lived Super Heat team had no shortage of opponents who hindered them during their rise, but today's Lakers can look down on all teams, and the only thing that can stop them is personal selfishness.

.

After the game, Duncan expressed his feelings about being the best player in the game in a Versailles way: "It's not good at all. It will make me face a hundred cameras at the same time when I walk outside. I don't like it."

Being so arrogant will not impress people, but what Louis said is just a fact. There is really no need to pay more attention to their series with the Mavericks.

General Manager of the Year: R.C. Buford.

So in the first game of the semifinals, Kidd was embarrassed to find that he was completely left out.

If he bursts in with the ball, everyone will defend him symbolically, but Kidd is well versed in the principle of nine shallow and one deep, and every time he will try his best and never rush forward.

Jordan's shackles were released, like a hidden dragon entering the abyss, scoring 44 points in a single game.

All-Pro Second Team: John Stockton, Reggie Miller, Dejan Bodiloga, Chris Webber, Shaquille O'Neal.

In the second game of the semifinals, Louis decided to lower the pressure for the Blazers and no longer adopted the strong targeting tactics like the first game.

Kidd made 3 of 17 shots and scored 8 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in a single game.

Sixth Man of the Year: Charles Barkley.

They still have to solve a problem, which is who can share the pressure for Jordan as he gets older?

Kidd should have been that person, but his offensive ability is insufficient. As a core defender, he has the intangible assets to lead his teammates and make those around him better. However, the playoffs are a very realistic place.

Louis said matter-of-factly: "I'm already paying attention to my opponents in the next round."

Poor Jordan didn't get any help or support from his teammates. He fought alone throughout the game and scored 22 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists under extremely difficult circumstances.

"It's hard for me to imagine another player missing a triple-double in two consecutive games like Jason Kidd because he scored too few points."

What about the Trail Blazers? Kidd finally made up his mind and began to take the initiative to seize the open opportunities given to him by the Lakers.

Jordan also had a performance of 35+7+7, while Ryder always had Kidd feeding him, scoring 20 points in three consecutive games.

The game has become a show for the Lakers, and the Mavericks can't even let themselves lose decently.

Now facing the ultimate BOSS, the Blazers need a more aggressive Kidd.

It seems that he has become numb to failure.

Head Coach of the Year: Louis.

G3

Just like what Louis said, the Lakers, who didn't feel the pressure, went into battle easily.

129 to 81

In the first game of the semifinals, the Lakers defeated the Trail Blazers with a huge advantage of 48 points.

Louis, who was thinking about another thing, couldn't help canvassing votes for Wilson, "Anyone who says that only achieving 76 wins this year means the Lakers have regressed, so Benj shouldn't be the MVP, is a troll. If the best player on the 76-win team wins...

If he is less than MVP, just because his test result this year is 1 point less than last year, then there is no need for MVP."

And Kobe Bryant scored 25 points.

Unfortunately, the head coach of the Lakers is a pragmatic person. Even if he has an overwhelming advantage, he still has to make arrangements based on the opponent's weaknesses.

Louis said: "I want to watch "The Mummy" with my family. Of course, I also pay close attention to the first prequel of "Star Wars". For me, this is the time when youth returns. And basketball? It is put by me

In last place because there’s no pressure at all.”

All-Defensive Team: Gary Payton, Jason Kidd, Benjamin Wilson, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan.

However, his great ability to make his teammates better allowed him to once again feed Leder with 27 points.

Defensive Player of the Year: Tim Duncan.

The young and limitless Rockets were repelled, but the Trail Blazers' predicament was not alleviated.

And Jordan was restricted by the Lakers' unreasonable defense. Looking at it, the Blazers found that the only reliable offensive point was Isiah Leder, who was famous for his strong nanny off the court.

After a few days of rest, the Lakers awaited their semifinal opponents.

Duncan, who was an outsider for two games, also enjoyed the game. He sent off the Dallas people with a performance of 25 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 blocks.

Kidd had 8 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Today, he still made his teammates better. With his support, Ryder scored a team-high 26 points.

The Mavericks were defeated again.

The strongest offense and the strongest defense are on the same team, which is why they won 77 and 76 consecutive wins.

All-Pro Third Team: Gary Payton, Kobe Bryant, Grant Hill, Kevin Garnett, Alonzo Mourning.

In the fourth game of the semifinals, the mentally and physically exhausted Trail Blazers lost their fighting spirit, and the game entered garbage time before halftime. The whole game was played, ending the season with a huge gap of 36 points.

Before the fourth game of the semifinals, the league announced the winners of the major awards in the regular season.

Before the G3 game, a reporter asked Louis what he wanted to do most after finishing this series.

But the feel didn't support his decision.

The 36-and-a-half-year-old Jordan averaged 40 minutes per game, scored 32 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists, and made a game-killing shot in the fifth game.

After the game that night, Jordan, with a towel on his shoulder, silently shook hands with Wilson and then walked into the tunnel alone.

But these selfish motives, suppressed by Legend Lu, are almost impossible to affect the Lakers.

The defender closest to him stands three meters away.

The Lakers double-teamed Jordan regardless of the cost, and played with intensity without the ball, putting Jordan in a high-pressure state at any time, while Kidd had a unique view at the top of the key.

Bodiloga contributed a large triple-double of 22+15+12.

All-Defensive Second Team: Mookie Blaylock, Michael Jordan, Kevin Garnett, Hank Gathers, Dikembe Mutombo.

G3

Kidd finally rebounded, scoring 20 points in the first game of the semifinals and dishing out 8 rebounds and 13 assists.

The Lakers' starting five were all selected to the All-NBA Team, and in addition, three others were selected to the All-Defensive Team, which to some extent reflects their strength.

Rookie of the Year: Vince Carter.

This is a sign of lack of aggression.

If you can only make the people around you better, but cannot make yourself better, it will look very useless.

“Portland’s top priority is to fire their shooting coach!”

In the first round against the Rockets, Kidd faced Marbury and Bibby, and averaged only 11 points, 8 rebounds and 12 assists per game, an economical near-triple-double. On the other hand, Marbury averaged 21 points per game.

He averaged 17 points per game. Although he is not as comprehensive as Kidd, his personal offense is full.

In the first round, the Trail Blazers played five fierce games with the Rockets, who ranked fifth in the Western Conference.

This was the closest game between the Trail Blazers and the Lakers, but the dominance of Duncan and Garnett in the paint caused the Trail Blazers to collapse in the fourth quarter.

For the Lakers, Wilson gave Jordan 44 points.

This year is a good year for the Lakers.

The next day, "Sports Illustrated" used the title "MJ Choked" to describe the fight.

G2

Benjamin Wilson scored 41 points in 30 minutes, Bodilloga scored a triple-double of 18 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in 25 minutes, Garnett scored 20 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, and Duncan

His 15 points and 12 rebounds didn't seem impressive at all. Kobe scored 16 points in the last quarter and finished the game with 27 points.

They are the Portland Trail Blazers, ranked fourth in the Western Conference during the regular season.

All-NBA Team: Penny Hardaway, Michael Jordan, Benjamin Wilson, Hank Gathers, Tim Duncan.

Winning this year's MVP means that Benj will become the only four-consecutive MVP winner in NBA history, and will also make his MVP count surpass Bird's.

Then, this hot new GOAT surpassed the old GOAT in all aspects of major honors.

This will be a perfect coronation ceremony. The judges can be exhausted next year, but not this year, because four consecutive MVPs are not only unprecedented, but also unprecedented, and Wilson is also very suitable to be the selected new candidate in terms of record and personal ability.

god.

At this historic juncture, it is unforgivable to cast the wrong vote for the damn reason of aesthetic fatigue.

(End of chapter)