Chapter 1778 After 5 Years, the Old Driver Is Finally Coming Back (Part 1)

Of course it is worth looking forward to. The young Thunder youngster has already proven his strength. In this game, Durant scored 34 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists, shooting 54% from the field. Westbrook also scored 25 points and 6 assists efficiently. With 6 rebounds and 2 steals, Harden, who came off the bench, scored 17 points with 4 of 4 three-pointers in only 9 shots.

These all prove the potential of the three of them, and what the general public ignores, Ibaka has 8 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks, and Sessions has 7 points and 4 steals. These young people used their full strength to perform a performance for the fans. A classic showdown.

Although it was a pity that Ji Feng, who had no solution, was finally overturned, their strength deserves to be praised and recognized.

Take this game as an example. Except for Ji Feng, only Kobe's 20 points and 5 rebounds can be considered a good performance, but his 38% shooting rate just confirmed Sessions' excellent defense against Kobe.

The Lakers Twin Towers, who have more experience inside and are more famous, did not take advantage of this game. Bynum was suppressed by Perkins. He played only 23 minutes and only scored 7 points and 5 rebounds. There were 5 fouls and 4 turnovers, and Gasol did not get any advantage from Ibaka. His 13 points and 6 rebounds were only passable, and no one else scored in double figures.

This is of course related to the feel and state, but we have to admit that the Thunder played well enough. They brought out everything and caused huge trouble to the Lakers. If it weren't for Ji Feng, it would be difficult for the Lakers to win this game.

Just as Ji Feng said when facing reporters after the game: "They are really strong. This series is far from as easy as it looks. They have caused us enough troubles. They just lack some experience. Maybe Another summer and they will be even more different."

Outside public opinion also agrees with Ji Feng's point of view. Although this series is 4-0, except for the second game, the other three games were pretty exciting, especially the first and fourth games. The Thunder just lacked. A little bit of experience and a little bit of luck.

The reason why the outside world thinks so highly of this 4-0 series is entirely because of the foil next door.

While the Lakers took the lead in advancing to the conference finals, the other three groups of matchups also completed the first four games. However, as predicted before the game, no team has been able to sweep the promotion like the Lakers.

First of all, of course, Lakers fans are most concerned about the Western Conference. This matchup between the Mavericks and the Grizzlies is also related to the Lakers' opponent in the Western Conference Finals. The fierce competition in the Western Conference can also be seen from the Western Conference Finals in recent years. In addition to the Lakers' standout performance for 4 consecutive years In addition to reaching the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers' four opponents were different teams.

It was the Spurs at first, then the Nuggets, and last year it became the Suns. This year, the opponents in the Western Conference Finals in the past three years have all been eliminated in the first round or simply did not make the playoffs. The Mavericks and Grizzlies will become the Lakers. The next potential opponent.

Well, of course, after four games, this potential opponent is infinitely closer to the Dallas Mavericks.

Are the Mavericks strong?

Let’s not say he’s not strong.

Since billionaire Mark Cuban bought the Mavericks from Ross Perot Jr. on January 5, 2000, the Mavericks have never missed the playoffs. In today's Western Conference, they are the only team except for the Spurs. Another team that has yet to miss the playoffs in the new century.

Their regular season record is also very good. From the 2000 season to the present, their regular season record has never been less than 50 wins, and they have won 60 games three times. The 67 wins in the 2007-2008 season also created the best record in the history of the Mavericks at that time. The seventh record in league history at that time, and in the 2005-06 season, the Dallas Mavericks also went all the way, winning the first Western Conference championship in team history and reaching the finals. The Dallas Cowboys have also been the best in the Western Conference in recent years. Team representative.

But let’s just say the Mavericks are strong…

In the 2000-01 season, the Mavericks' regular season record was 53 wins and 29 losses, and they entered the playoffs for the first time since 1990. Dirk Nowitzki became the team's mainstay. After the start of the playoffs, they won 3 consecutive games and eliminated the Jazz. But lost to the San Antonio Spurs 1-4 in the second round.

In the 2001-02 season, the Mavericks moved to a new arena, the American Airlines Center Arena. The team's record improved to a higher level, winning a record-setting 57 wins in team history. Head coach Don Nelson became the head coach of the Western Conference in the NBA All-Star Game. , in the playoffs, the Mavericks defeated the Timberwolves 3-0 in the first round, but lost to the Sacramento Kings 2-4 in the second round.

In the 2002-03 season, the Mavericks formed a lineup with Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley and Steve Nash as the core. The team's strength greatly increased, starting with 14 consecutive victories, and finally won 60 games and entered the playoffs. After defeating the Trail Blazers and Kings 4-3 twice, they reached the Western Conference Finals again, but were eliminated by the then-champion San Antonio Spurs with a total score of 2-4.

In the 2003-04 season, the Mavericks achieved a record of 52 wins and 30 losses, but were eliminated by the Kings 4-1 in the first round of the playoffs.

In the 2004-05 season, the Mavericks scored 58 wins and 24 losses. In the first round of the playoffs, they eliminated the Rockets with Yao and Mai combination 4-3. However, in the second round, they lost 2-4 to former player Steve The Suns led by Nash.

If these four years are still in the early stages of the Mavericks' rise, after the troika headed by Dirk, Finley, and Nash proved to be a failure, the 2005-06 season was a turning point for the Mavericks.

This season they successfully counterattacked and reached the Finals, leading 2-0 in the Finals. However, the story also changed from this point on. After 0-2, Wade broke out, the league also broke out, and the Mavericks were defeated by a historic team. Comeback, lost this crucial championship 4-2.

This also opened up the tragic memories of Mavericks for the next five years...

In the 2006-07 season, the Mavericks posted the best record in team history of 67 wins and 15 losses after four consecutive losses at the beginning, and created the sixth best record in league history. Dirk Nowitzki won the regular season MVP, becoming the first player in the history of the Mavericks to win this award and the first player in European history to win this award. However, the Mavericks were eliminated 4-2 by the Golden State Warriors led by Don Nelson in the first round of the playoffs, achieving the opponent's "Black Eight Miracle."

This thing has been said to be bad, but I still have to say that the Mavericks at that time would not have thought that Black Eight was just the beginning.

Next season is an adjustment period. The Mavericks sent half of their team in exchange for Kidd. However, finishing seventh in the regular season and being eliminated by the Hornets 4-1 in the first round of the playoffs is obviously not satisfactory.

But at that time, everyone could understand that after all, everyone needs time to calm down after being hacked.

Sure enough, the Mavericks made a comeback the next season and eliminated the Spurs 4-1 in the playoffs. However, they encountered the Denver Nuggets with Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups in the second round and were eventually defeated 1-4. disuse.

In the 2009-10 season, that is, last season, the Mavericks acquired Caron Butler and Brandon Haywood through a trade. They eventually ranked second in the Western Conference at the end of the regular season, but met their old team again in the first round of the playoffs. The enemy San Antonio Spurs lost 2-4 and achieved the opponent's "Black Seven Miracle".

He was hacked eight times and seven times in three years, which created a new history in the NBA at that time.

The most memorable thing about the Mavericks at that time was what Barkley said after the game: "I have never seen such a weak team..."

The implication is obvious, and the fans also gave the Mavericks a very "kind" name: Buffalo.