Chapter 567 The End
In April, Brandon Roy passed the inspection and was officially allowed to participate in training.
This is a big deal for the Sonics.
Under the leadership of Yu Fei, although the team still has hope of competing for the top three in the league, if Roy cannot come back, then five consecutive championships will be just a nice slogan.
No matter how amazing Irving is, he is only a fledgling rookie, and the intensity of the playoffs is completely different from the regular season.
Once entering the playoffs, how much strength can Irving show? Therefore, the Sonics need a second star.
Therefore, Roy carries great expectations from the outside world.
However, the reality gap soon sobered Seattleites.
"The scene of the savior falling from the sky will only happen once!"
Roy's first game back was against the Golden State Warriors.
Roy played 29 minutes and made 6 of 15 shots. It can be said that he was in a sluggish state.
It can be clearly seen that Roy does not dare to make moves and has little strength in his feet, which is far worse than before the injury.
This is a key position battle for third place, but for the Sonics, it is more important than winning third place to let Roy return to form.
Therefore, they spared no effort to give Roy a lot of the ball after his return. However, this aggressive choice also cost them a tough loss.
Warriors rising star Kawhi Leonard shines tonight. He is widely regarded as the next Ci Shiping, but Warriors head coach Mark Jackson believes that Leonard's defensive ceiling exceeds Ci Shiping's, and his offensive plasticity is far beyond that.
reason? Leonard successfully improved his shooting posture under the guidance of the coaching team, and followed Jackson's request to review Michael Jordan's game videos every day. For a genius who trains hard and has great understanding, as long as someone shows him the right path, he can make rapid progress.
Tonight, Leonard scored 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists. Such a performance against the GOAT can be called a career masterpiece.
After the game, when asked about his feelings about his wonderful performance, Leonard simply said: "This is just a game, we have more ambitious goals."
Leonard's performance made Yu Fei think a lot.
How much of a star player is cultivated, and how much is “born”? In other words, are there any star players who cannot perform well in another place after being separated from the same training environment? Does such an example exist?
Before tonight, Yu Fei was thinking hard, thinking that the players who might not perform well in a different environment were Leonard and Antetokounmpo.
But now it seems that this idea seems to place too much trust in the Spurs' development team and Jason Kidd.
The reason why stars become stars is not only because most of them have outstanding talents, but also a very important factor: their ability to learn and use their own advantages is far better than that of role players.
The most notable aspect of the rise of Leonard and Antetokounmpo is their strong learning ability.
If this holds true, then in theory, these two would be successful no matter where they go.
Because every NBA team has a theoretical school, they can design a rigorous future blueprint for every young player. However, most players can only complete a small part of the blueprint.
Only a player like Leonard who can make significant improvements every year can turn that blueprint into reality.
At the post-game press conference, a reporter from Golden State asked Yu Fei for his evaluation of Leonard.
Yu Fei said briefly: "He will definitely become a superstar."
This is an astonishing prophecy.
It wouldn't be surprising if Leonard becomes an All-Star because Leonard is already close to that level.
But superstardom is a whole different level.
Yu Fei's optimism about Leonard made the Golden State media extremely excited.
However, if they were counting on Leonard to lead the Cornfield back to the top, that would be impossible.
Once Leonard becomes a superstar, he no longer just represents himself, but represents the interests of the entire team. Every decision he makes must be made from the perspective of the team, which itself is naturally opposed to the team.
Yu Fei knows this very well.
He returned to the locker room and saw a frustrated Roy.
"Are you sure you have recovered?" Yu Fei asked, "If not, continue to rest."
Roy naturally came back after making sure he was completely healthy, but the decline in form caused by several months of absence cannot be made up for by a short period of resumption of training.
"I'm afraid I have to rely on you." Roy said playfully, "I'm just like Amare now."
Well, a star player who lives up to his name.
Yu Fei completely understood what Roy meant, but he couldn't help but joke: "Don't talk nonsense, Amare can't make 6 of 15 shots."
Roy couldn't refute, because his current state was indeed terrible.
His reaction made Yu Fei feel bored. The matter of being mean-mouthed is like some erotic shows that require a safe word to proceed smoothly. The more violent the passive party reacts, the more fun the active party can find.
Roy now looked resigned to his fate. Yu Fei felt bored, so he stopped laughing at him and said seriously: "Okay, from today on, you can be a transparent person on the court."
"Transparent person? Do nothing?"
"Not really." Yu Fei said narcissistically, "You can cheer me on hysterically. This may be the only thing you won't mess up now."
Roy is the only person on the Sonics who can make Yu Fei tease him freely.
Looking at the entire league, only one or two players can enjoy this special treatment.
The reason is simple: their relationship is close enough that teasing won't ruin the friendship.
As for the others, they are either enemies or friends, but they are not as strong as Roy and cannot achieve such a tacit understanding. Yu Fei always kept a slight distance from these people and seemed a little distant.
The relationship between Kwame Brown and Yu Fei is strong enough, but the direct consequence of holding on to their friend's lap all year round is that their so-called self-esteem and personality are no longer independent in front of each other.
No matter what Yu Fei wants him to do, Brown will not ridicule Yu Fei like Roy. At most, he will make fun of Yu Fei.
Roy was glad to have someone to support him when he was too weak.
However, his current situation means that the SuperSonics' possibility of defending the title has dropped to a minimum.
In mid-April, the regular season ends.
The Sonics ranked second in the Western Conference with a record of 58 wins and 24 losses and successfully advanced to the playoffs.
In this season full of twists and turns, Yu Fei played full time again, averaging 33 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal and 1 block in 36 minutes per game. He won the scoring title this season and was almost locked in for a while. However, besides being selected to the first team, he probably will not have other honors. Wade's second consecutive MVP call is very high. Apart from the MVP, the only thing left is the championship. However, with the current situation of the SuperSonics, no one except themselves believes that they can still defend the title.
The only one ahead of them is the Spurs.
In the East, the Heat lead the league with a record of 70 wins and 12 losses, followed by the Nets with 62 wins and 20 losses, the Bucks with 55 wins and 27 losses ranked third, followed by the Cavaliers with 52 wins and the Bucks with 50 wins. Knicks.
Since the new century, the alliance has been showing a pattern of "strong in the west and weak in the east". There are usually only a few teams in the East that can compete for tickets to the finals. Now, there are four or five top teams in the East. This is a rare situation. On the contrary, the situation in the West is changeable.
After the Sonics, only the Mavericks and Warriors have won more than 50 games, and no other team has reached 50 wins.
The Sonics, ranked second in the Western Conference, will face the Lakers, seventh in the Western Conference, in the first round.
This is really a narrow road between enemies.
After the disintegration, the Lakers relied on Kobe and Gasol to support the inside and outside, and barely managed a record of 45 wins and 37 losses. This result is enough to maintain qualification for the playoffs, but when it comes to competing for the championship, the Lakers can only pay lip service.
However, what gives Lakers fans some comfort is that the Sonics dynasty that once stopped them seems to be coming to an end this year.
With Durant being traded, Bosh and DeAndre Jordan leaving the team, and Roy recovering from a serious injury, the Sonics have lost their competitiveness in competing for the championship.
Just the prospect of seeing the Sonics fail in the final moments is enough to make Angelenos happy.
As for whether it was the Lakers who defeated the Sonics, it doesn't matter. What matters is that the Sonics' era seems to be coming to an end.
Yu Fei was happy to meet the Lakers in the first round. Four years ago, he eliminated the Lakers in his first playoff appearance with the SuperSonics. Since then, they have always faced each other for several consecutive seasons, and he has won every time.
If this is indeed his final season in Seattle, opening the playoffs against the Lakers would be a fitting start to the finale.
In the first game of the first round, Kobe came to Key Arena again.
He hates it here.
Perhaps what he really hates is the owner of this arena.
The GOAT is here.
"How many more seasons will it take for you to break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's scoring record?" Yu Feixiao asked.
As of this season, Kobe has a total of 29,484 points. Because the butterfly named "The Traveler" flapped its wings, Kobe did not rupture his Achilles tendon in order to bring the Lakers into the playoffs as in the original timeline. Although the Lakers are no longer competing for a championship, he doesn't have to overexert himself, so he remains healthy. This season, he averaged 27 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game. Judging from the data, there is no obvious sign of decline. Based on an average of 25 points per game, Kobe only needs to play four and a half more seasons to break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's scoring record.
Since the Lakers no longer have any big goals, perhaps their theme in the next few years will be to let Kobe free his hands and feet to rack up points and enter the playoffs every year.
But neither Kobe nor the Lakers will admit this.
Therefore, Kobe did not answer Yu Fei's words, "I heard that your new arena is about to be built, but it seems that you may not have the opportunity to play there as a member of the SuperSonics."
The new arena in downtown Seattle will be put into use as early as the 2014-15 season.
Kobe did hit on Yu Fei's weakness, and this may indeed become his biggest regret.
What else can Yu Fei say? We can only send Kobe home as soon as possible. The old guy's words are too hurtful.
When the Lakers' internal and external dual-core faced the SuperSonics, only Kobe could still maintain some advantages. However, Kobe is old after all. Even if he can still fight to the end physically, his personal advantage will hardly affect the overall situation, because Yu Fei's suppression power on the wing is even better.
In the four games against the Lakers, the game process was almost the same: the Lakers went all out in the beginning, barely maintained a stalemate in the second quarter, but were taken away by the SuperSonics in the second half.
The Lakers' fighting will could not last until the end of the game. This was due to the gap in hard power between the two sides.
In the end, Kobe and the Lakers were swept out by the SuperSonics 0-4 in the first round.
Inadvertently, Kobe set an embarrassing record: in the past few years, he was eliminated by Yu Fei's team in the first round, semifinals, conference finals and finals.
Just before the semifinals started, the league announced the winners of major awards in the regular season.
Yu Fei, Wade, Durant, James and Yao Ming were selected to the All-NBA first team.
At this time, Yao Ming has completely transformed from a traditional center into a space-based fifth position. Although this may not be Yao Ming's peak state, it is definitely the most abstract. The "abstract" thing about Yao Ming is that if the young Yao Ming saw himself now, he would probably not be able to help complaining: "Na, what else will you do besides shooting three-pointers? My face has been completely embarrassed by you! ”
However, this is Yao Ming. In a 70-win team, he averaged 18 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2.4 blocks per game with terrifying efficiency, surpassing the 37-year-old veteran Duncan and becoming a team leader. center.
At this moment, Yao Ming finally understood the meaning of what Yu Fei said to him back then: "As long as you play long enough, anything will happen."
In the next semifinals, the Sonics faced the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavericks today are a bit like the Lakers back then. With the league's restrictions on wealthy teams and the pressure of the super luxury tax, Cuban has no intention of spending any more money. They tried their best to form a team without exceeding the tax. A few years ago, they were lucky enough to acquire Tony Parker, which continued the Mavericks' competitiveness.
This season, Parker's personal state reached its peak. The Mavericks he led competed with the SuperSonics for second place in the Western Conference for a season, and finally met in the semifinals.
On one side is the defending champion who is eager to win five consecutive championships, and on the other side is the Mavericks who want to show off with the Spurs again. The two teams fought fiercely in the semifinals.
In the first four games, both sides defended their home court and ended in a draw. When it came to the battle at Tianwang Mountain, the two teams showed real fire, turning the game into a street-style crazy confrontation, as if there was no referee on the field.
In such a high-intensity game, Nowitzki was injured, Stoudemire's back injury recurred, and Roy also sprained his ankle. Although it seems that the Sonics have suffered greater losses, Stoudemire and Roy are no longer as strong as before. On the contrary, Nowitzki is the core of the Mavericks' inside. His fall caused Dallas' inside firepower to collapse instantly. .
Yu Fei played a full 48 minutes in this game, scoring 46 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, leading his team to win the match point.
In the sixth game, Nowitzki forced his comeback, but the Dallas people were unable to recover.
Yu Fei once again hit a 40+ triple-double, leading the team to defeat the Mavericks and advance to the conference finals 4-2.
"This is why you are the GOAT!" Irving bumped shoulders with Yu Fei to celebrate when he won, "With you here, we will definitely win!"
"What GOAT?" Yu Feixiao asked, "Kaili, what are you talking about?"
Irving shouted: "GOAT! You are my GOAT! You are all of us GOAT!"
Everyone longs to be freed from the shackles of their own hearts. Yu Fei doesn't regard Seattle as a shackle, but he does want to know what will happen this summer.
In fact, he already knew.
"Don't call me that, Kaili." Yu Fei said, "I'm not the GOAT, no one is."
Owen couldn't understand, because in his eyes, Yu Fei was the GOAT, recognized by everyone as the GOAT.
When Yu Fei walked to the sidelines, countless people shouted "GOAT".
He must fight until the last game for these calls, even if he doesn't think he is the GOAT in their eyes.
Wade successfully won the MVP title.
The four teams in the East and West conference finals are exactly the same as last year, but the ending this year is destined to be different.
The Spurs took the lead at home, winning two games in a row. Returning to the away game, the desperate SuperSonics began to go all out and entered the GOAT mode.
Yu Fei started to play the whole game.
In the third game, they narrowly defeated the Spurs and kept their hopes of defending the title alive.
However, in the crucial fourth game, a battle that will continue the season, the Sonics are missing Roy, Stoudemire, and the stars who have made great achievements in this dynasty. They only had Yu Fei left, and the young players shrank in this oppressive atmosphere. Irving had no touch, and the result was not only a failure, but also a disastrous defeat - a 24-point defeat that pushed the dynasty to the edge of the cliff.
The media started building momentum.
The fall of a dynasty?
No, this is more like the end of an era.
Frye Yu's reign since 2006 appears to be coming to an end this year.
Will that moment come in Game 5?
The fifth game was extremely intense. The Spurs led by 7 points in the last two minutes, and it seemed that victory was just around the corner.
However, Yu Fei in front of San Antonians reminded them of 2003, 2007 and every moment after that.
Yu Fei reversed the game with three three-pointers, and the Sonics continued to survive at 2-3.
For Game 6, they returned to Key Arena.
This is the third time in the past four games that Yu Fei has played the entire game. In the first half, he criss-crossed the court like a flying dragon, shooting from the outside and breaking through inside. He was almost omnipotent. The Spurs were once suppressed and the game seemed to be dragged into a tiebreaker. However, the pressure of playing the entire game showed up in the second half, and his right calf began to cramp. Although he returned to the court after only a five-minute break, the tables had turned.
The Spurs saw the light of victory.
They seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
At the Sonics' weakest moment, the Spurs struck a fatal blow.
In the fourth quarter, the Spurs' outside three-pointers rained down, scoring 37 points in a single quarter, sounding the death knell of the dynasty in an irreversible way.
"Beep——!"
The final whistle blows.
119 to 106.
4 to 2.
The Spurs eliminated the Sonics.
At that moment, Popovich shook his fist in the air and shouted excitedly.
Duncan and Ginobili hugged each other and cried, and all the Spurs players were moved.
The exhausted Yu Fei patted Irving on the head and said, "You played well, Kyrie."
After saying that, Yu Fei walked towards other teammates.
This was his last duty. He still maintained his leadership posture, encouraged his teammates one by one, and then moved on to defeat his opponent.
Duncan shook hands with him with a red nose: "See you next season."
"Is this worth your tears, Tim?"
Yu Fei thought to himself, isn't he the one who should cry the most? Five consecutive championships, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, was lost like this.
"You won't understand."
When Duncan saw Yu Fei, he became excited again. This man has enveloped the entire league like a nightmare. How does he know the significance of defeating him in the playoffs?
For him, this was only the third defeat in his career.
But what about others?
They defeated the greatest player of all time, and an all-time superstar had to admit he lost tonight - to them!
Yu Fei may never understand, so he uttered the last trash talk of the season: "Okay, I don't understand, but if you shed all your tears on my corpse, how many tears are left for Orb?" What about the Ryan Cup?”
(End of chapter)