Chapter 1507 Who Can Understand Fate?
In the battle with the Lakers, Duncan refreshed people's understanding of his age. They didn't expect that he could perform so powerfully after bursting out with energy.
With the highest points and rebounds in the game, Duncan had the upper hand against the Lakers and Ji Feng for the first time.
In fact, old Duncan has indeed aged this season. Compared with when he was young, his dominance and stability on the court have declined to varying degrees. The most obvious one is his average data per game.
Duncan played 80 games last season, averaging 20 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.4 blocks per game, with a shooting percentage of 54.6%. His scoring average ranked 20th in the league, and his rebounding average ranked seventh. Proper superstar data.
Although it is far behind Duncan's peak season of averaging 25.3 points, 12.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.7 blocks and 0.7 steals per game, it is still the pinnacle of the league's power forwards. However, this season, Duncan is averaging playing time and Last season was the same, averaging 33.1 minutes. However, the average data per game was only 16.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 blocks, with a shooting percentage of 48%, which were all down to varying degrees compared to last season.
Don't underestimate the fact that this decline is only in single digits. This decline is already huge, which is enough to explain the problem for a star, not to mention Duncan, who has always been known for his stability.
However, in this game, Duncan proved that once he explodes, he still has the ability to play CRAAY, which also made the fans in the Holy City feel like they were celebrating the New Year after defeating the Lakers.
Even Popovich, who has always been low-key, couldn't help but praise his disciple after the game. He thought this was a crucial victory!
The Lakers who lost were naturally a little regretful, but it was not unacceptable. After all, this is the ability of a superstar. It is not shameful to lose to Duncan like this. What's more, the Lakers still fought fiercely with the Spurs to the end, but they just regretted missing the buzzer. If Kobe can hit it, that's another story.
Therefore, most of the media expressed regret for the Lakers. After all, the Lakers had lost 7 games before the All-Stars, which was the same as the total number of games lost last season. It also means that the Lakers officially missed the record of 75 wins.
"If Ji Feng had not been double-teamed at the last moment, and if Kobe had hit that buzzer-beater, everything would have been different." Some media said regretfully after the game.
However, there are no what-ifs in the story. The Lakers accepted all this. Jackson praised Popovich and Duncan during the interview. He believed that the Spurs are still the favorites this season.
"They played so well in this game. We thought we would win easily in the first quarter, but the Spurs made us miscalculate. We were a little relaxed after taking the lead, which led to our defeat."
"The Spurs are still very strong. Popovich has trained them very well. Tim is still the Tim I am familiar with. He is still so strong. I think the Spurs are still the favorites to win the championship. Isn't that the case every season?" After the star, they will power again and rush to the front."
Zen Master praised the Spurs and Duncan in front of reporters from all over the world, which made the reporters in the audience a little confused. Where are the mortal enemies that they promised...
However, many veteran reporters smelled it. Master Jackson took the poisonous milk to the maximum again. Although the Spurs won this game, the problem was still quite big. At least except for Duncan, GP was lost, and Master Jackson's move Obviously I just don’t want everyone to get into it.
In order to prevent the Zen master from continuing to deceive, a reporter directly asked questions about the records.
"As for us, we are very sad to lose. We missed the record, so we have to come back later. We will have a meeting tonight to sum up." Zen Master said.
Hey, hey, hey, what does it mean when you say something sad but the corner of your mouth is smiling unconsciously?
The reporters have finally discovered that Master Jackson really doesn’t want the Lakers to chase the regular season record...
Yes, that's what Zen Master thinks. What's the importance of records? The championship is king. Although it has been emphasized before, the players must still have ideas in their hearts. But now, any ideas are useless. It just happens that Let the players completely take off their burdens!
Is this a good thing that the Spurs did...
After playing the away game against the Spurs, the Lakers only have the last two games left before the All-Star Game. The opponents in these two games are not weak persimmons. The first one to bear the brunt is No. 9, facing the Trail Blazers away from home!
"Ravage the Trail Blazers now, you won't have a chance in three years." That arrogant fat man from TNT said in 2007.
As you know, Sir Charles's predictions have always been as unreliable as Webster's jump shot, the weather in Portland, and the Nets' record.
However, people would rather believe that this time it will be different.
After all, they have a leader who is as cunning and deadly as a poisonous snake but humble and calm, a twin tower as soft as water and as thick as earth, an exotic style, a powerful forward group, 11 players who must enter the rotation, and the depth of the league's lineup.
The two most important points are, first, the progress Oden showed in the preseason, and then the team gained Andre Miller in the summer, a man they can truly rely on.
This is their source of confidence, and the team's continuous progress in the past three years has given the team and fans more reason to believe that it is time for Together Everyone Achieves More.
To be honest, if everything goes well, the Trail Blazers will be the team that conquers the league before the Thunder. When Oden is selected in 2007, when the new contracts of Roy and Aldridge start to be implemented in 2008, when the last piece of the NBA is obtained in 2009 For the championship puzzle, the team should enter the great channel and embark on the road to championship.
But injuries ruined it all!
In July 2009, Mills, who fractured his right foot, underwent surgery and missed 4-6 months. In September of the same year, Pendegraf underwent hip surgery and missed 10-12 weeks. In October, Batum underwent right shoulder surgery and missed 5 months. , Outlaw, who fractured his left foot in November, underwent surgery and was out for 3-5 months.
The season had just begun, and their injury list was enough to fill a table of mahjong. However, they did not expect that the most fatal part had just begun.
On December 6, Oden, who finally made his comeback, suffered a fractured patella in his left knee and was ended for the season!
Emperor Oden falls again...
Subsequently, on December 12, McMillan underwent right Achilles tendon surgery and was reimbursed for the season, Rudy underwent back surgery on the 17th and missed 4-6 weeks, and Przbilla suffered a serious right knee injury on the 23rd and was reimbursed for the season...
At this time, there are only 8 players left on the Trail Blazers roster...
However, fate still did not let go of the pioneers, and their souls also fell...
After Oden fell, team boss Roy played the most incredible month and a half of his career. He was the most shining star in the Western Conference except Ji Feng. Kobe called him "Yellow Mamba" in amazement! ’
Then according to the usual script in 2009, Roy injured his right leg.
On January 23, Roy injured his right leg tendon and will miss at least 5 weeks of competition...
In other words, what is standing in front of the Lakers now is a Blazers with only 7 people on the roster, and only 2 of their starting 5 are left...
Imagine that you are Junyang Shota, one of my teammates. What would you think when you see your teammates and friends around you fall down one after another?
"who is the next…?"
Therefore, this originally watched duel did not take place. The Lakers defeated the Trail Blazers 107-78.
However, the Lakers did not celebrate after the game. After all, no matter how the Trail Blazers vets are, the guys on the court still deserve respect.
After the game, Kobe and others also sent blessings to Roy. To be honest, Roy is a real man.