novelhk Chapter 469 The entire alliance was silenced by Lin Tian! The most...
Chapter 469 The entire alliance was silenced by Lin Tian! The most...
The commotion caused by Lin Tian's 85 points this time was actually far less than when he scored 80 points last time. When Lin Tian scored 80 points last time, it shook the entire league, and countless fans and players couldn't help but sigh and praise.
At that time, the players all said they were awesome, but there were also a few stubborn, confident and arrogant ones who thought they could do it too. They thought, "It's just 80 points, right? When the time, place, and people are all right, we can do it too!"
This is actually why, after Lin Tian scored 80 points, all the star players in the league started scoring high points at the same time.
They genuinely wanted to try, and they were truly defiant!
It has to be said that Lin Tian's breakout performance made that month's NBA season truly exciting. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the most insane single-month scoring show in NBA history, with 50 and 60 points being scored repeatedly.
Don't even bother with a performance below 45 points! It's utterly unacceptable!
But it was during this period of insane scoring that all the star players realized just how terrifying Lin Tian was.
After scoring 52 points in the first three quarters, McGrady fought hard in the fourth quarter, but only managed to make 1 of 6 shots. He was so exhausted that he couldn't even make free throws, and in the end, he only scored 62 points.
Iverson had Garnett to screen for him, Cassell to pass him the ball, and the entire team's defensive system to protect him so that he wouldn't have to waste his energy on defense during the game.
Even so, Iverson's ceiling was only slightly over 60 points, and he could never break the 65-point mark.
Other players like Carter, Pierce, and Nowitzki couldn't even get past the 55-point mark; they struggled to reach just over 50 points, or even less.
If there's anyone in the league who's unconvinced by Lin Tian, believes they can do it, and gives fans the feeling that they have a chance to challenge Lin Tian, then it might be Kobe Bryant.
After all, Kobe scored 65 points, which is the closest anyone has come to 70 points. He is also known for his good stamina. In that game, he was still able to score wildly in the final moments after scoring 65 points, hitting consecutive shots. Kobe also scored 42 points in the first half against the Wizards and 56 points in three quarters against the Grizzlies.
These explosive scoring performances have led fans to believe that Kobe Bryant could definitely do it too! At the very least, he's the most likely candidate besides Lin Tian.
Regarding the fans' trust, Kobe said: I can't do that.
Yes, he knew his ceiling was around 60 points, at most 70 points, and anything higher? He really couldn't do it!
He has a very clear understanding of himself.
In the game against the Grizzlies, he scored 56 points in 3 quarters. If he had played in the fourth quarter, he could have easily scored 60 points. But if he played again? He would most likely become the next McGrady.
After scoring 65 points against the Trail Blazers, he felt like his legs were going to break after the game. In the end, he couldn't even drive himself home; he had to ask the team assistant to take him back because he couldn't press the clutch pedal anymore.
In short, Kobe knew very well that, at least for now, he couldn't touch Lin Tian!
Forcing it would be embarrassing.
For example, that game where he made 17 out of 47 shots was a product of being provoked by Lin Tian, wasn't it?
From this perspective, Kobe Bryant is arguably the first player in history to record 30 missed shots in a single game.
At the very least, Lin Tian has never missed 30 shots in a single game!
Hmm... it doesn't seem like something to brag about.
In short, after Lin Tian scored 85 points this time, the entire league was as quiet as a chicken.
Almost no one offered their opinion, almost no one expressed their thoughts on the game afterward, and no one said anything sarcastic like "the SuperSonics' defense is bad" or "the SuperSonics don't double-team."
Unless they are truly forced by reporters to give their evaluation, these star players will reluctantly say: "Great job! I admire you! I hope you continue to do well."
In other words, after this outburst, Lin Tian truly won over the entire league.
Even those who were secretly eager to try and take on the challenge disappeared; everyone behaved themselves.
You, Lin, are amazing!
You, Lin, are awesome!
No matter how powerful you are, Mr. Lin, you're only the eighth-ranked man in the East.
Go and challenge the top team in the East.
First in the East?
Yes, the competition for the top spot in the East is extremely fierce right now!
Or rather, it was an extraordinary show of courtesy!
After entering April, the Magic rested McGrady and Duncan, allowing these two absolute core players to rest and recuperate.
Then the Magic started April with three consecutive losses, a three-game losing streak that brought their record down to the same level as the Pistons, making the two teams tied!
"Damn it, those shameless bastards in Orlando! Cowards!" In the locker room of the Palace of Auburn Hills, Ben Wallace roared in anger after hearing that the Magic had lost to the Cavaliers again: "They just want to see us face Lin in the first round of the playoffs! Those cowards!"
Rasheed chimed in, "A bunch of trash! They deserve to not win the championship, no, they deserve to not even make it out of the East! Cowards! Trash! I despise them!"
"So, what do you guys think? Should we lose with the Magic, get a bad result, avoid the eighth-seeded Pacers in the East, and then look for a safer path to the Finals?"
Larry Brown successfully found a new job with the Pistons and met a group of teammates who were just like him. He stood in front of everyone, looking at his teammates.
"Of course not!" The two Wallaces, Billups, Hamilton, and others almost simultaneously denied it, showing an unusual tacit understanding at that moment.
"The boss will look down on me." Ben Affleck's reasoning was simple and direct.
"I'll never be a deserter in my life! I'm really looking forward to beating my good buddy Lin in the playoffs!" Rasheed was pretty much the same.
"I've been losing my whole life, always being traded," said Billups, the former third overall pick. "This year, I've finally got my chance. I'll go for it directly, instead of choosing some so-called rational, smart, and self-interested way to solve the problem."
"Isn't our goal the championship? Then we shouldn't be afraid of any opponent." The ever-calm and rational Hamilton added, "If we're going to win the championship, then we have to eliminate everyone! Whether we eliminate the Pacers first or later, it makes no difference."
"Very good!" Brown nodded in satisfaction. He really liked the atmosphere of the team now. It was united, tough, iron-willed, selfless, fearless, and without any top stars. This was the team he dreamed of, the perfect team he dreamed of!
"From today onwards, we will fight with everything we have to win! Our goal is to be number one in the Eastern Conference!"
"As for those rats in Orlando, let them rot in the sewers! That trash deserves to lie in the garbage dump!"
"Number one in the East!"
"Let's do a big, fucking job!"
"Championship!"
With this roar from the Detroit fans, at least one matchup in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs has been decided!
After all, the Cavaliers still maintain a significant lead over the Pacers after defeating the Magic. Unless the Cavaliers lose all their remaining games and the Pacers win all theirs, the Pacers will definitely not be able to overtake the Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers aren't even looking at the Pacers right now; their goal is fifth place!
They are currently one game behind the sixth-placed 76ers and two games behind the fifth-placed Hornets!
The Cavaliers still have a chance to climb higher!
Although the Pacers have no hope of catching up with the Cavaliers, they dare not relax.
Because the Celtics suddenly went on a winning streak after being overtaken by the Pacers, led by Pierce, keeping a close run against the Pacers.
If the Pacers make even the slightest mistake, they could hand over this hard-won playoff spot again!
The only two teams currently holding a stable position in the Eastern Conference are the Nets in third place and the Bucks in fourth!
The Nets have virtually no chance of catching up with the Magic and Pistons if they move up, and even if they lose all their games, the fourth-placed Bucks won't be able to catch them if they move down.
The Bucks are in a similar situation. Teams ranked fifth and below can't catch up with them, and they can't catch up with the Nets either. These two teams have secured their positions early on.
Apart from those two teams, the remaining seven teams in the East that still have a chance to make the playoffs are divided into three groups, creating a chaotic situation!
We'll likely have to wait until the last day of the regular season to find out the final outcome!
At this point, the Pacers, who dared not relax for a moment, finally stopped hiding their secrets and officially announced the news that all the fans were extremely worried about, but which they had not announced before.
Chris Webber and Manu Ginobili have announced they will miss the rest of the season!
No matter how far the Pacers go this season, neither of these two will ever return!
When this news came out, although the fans were prepared, they still let out a long sigh.
Without Webber and Ginobili, the Pacers' playoff run this season will be extremely difficult!
They have too few available players and too short a rotation, especially on the offensive end, almost all the heavy responsibility falls on Lin Tian alone.
Some of Lin Tian's fans even think: Should we put this season on hold for a while, or maybe we can talk about it next year?
Lin Tian did respond to this question.
When asked this question in an interview, his answer was very simple, clear, and resolute: "It's impossible to give up! Unless we are eliminated, we will absolutely not give up!"
"Giving up isn't in my dictionary, and it's not in Indiana's dictionary either!"
Lin Tian's remarks naturally boosted the team's morale to a new level, and the Pacers went on to win two more games, bringing their record to 3 wins and 1 loss in April!
Lin Tian himself continued to deliver outstanding performances and play with almost no rest in these two matches.
这两场比赛，林天场均上场47分钟，分别拿下44分11篮板7助攻和40分9篮板12助攻。
But then Lin Tian had a poor performance in one game. In the next game, Lin Tian played the full 48 minutes, but only made 12 of 33 shots. Although he got a triple-double of 38 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, the team had no choice but to lose, and their winning streak came to an end.
Although his performance in this match was lackluster, Lin Tian continued his terrifying level of play in April, which he had during his winning streak at the end of March!
Everyone could see Lin Tian's exhaustion. This kind of play, where he plays the full game in almost every match, is really taking a toll on the player!
43 wins and 37 losses!
With only two games left in the regular season, the Pacers' record was in a reasonably good position.
More importantly, although the Pacers lost their last game, the good news is that the Celtics also lost!
Both teams lost this time, leaving their records at 43 wins and 37 losses and 41 wins and 39 losses respectively.
The Celtics failed to capitalize on the Pacers' loss to close the gap, missing their best chance!
Because the Pacers hold a 2-1 advantage in their three regular-season matchups, if the two teams have the same record, the Pacers will advance to eighth place over the Celtics based on their head-to-head record.
This means that with only two games left in the regular season, even if the Pacers lose all their remaining games while the Celtics win all theirs, the rankings of the two teams will not change!
The Pacers have finally secured the last playoff spot in the final moments of the season!
This is too difficult!
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers also won!
Their win has widened the gap between them and the Pacers to three games, making it impossible for the Pacers to catch up with the Cavaliers. Their position is now locked in as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference!
As for the final ranking of the three teams ranked 5th to 7th in the East, that's no longer relevant to the Pacers.
The Native Americans had no interest in that!
They are more focused on the battle for the top seed in the East, or rather, on the Pistons!
Because the Magic deliberately undermined their team in April by resting players, they only managed a 3-4 record that month, causing them to lose their top spot in the Eastern Conference, which they had held for almost half the season, and fall to second place.
The top team in the East is the Detroit Pistons, who acquired Ben Wallace this year, forming a "people's F4"!
The Pistons will also be the Pacers' first-round opponent!
As for the Pacers themselves, after securing the eighth seed in the East, Carlisle couldn't wait to announce that the team would rest players. In the last two games, the team's main players, except for Lin Tian, were divided into two groups to rest one after the other.
As for Lin Tian himself, although he did not rest, he only played for less than 35 minutes in each of the two games. In the final moments of the second game, Lin Tian did not even play and chose to rest in the fourth quarter.
Both Carlisle and Lin Tian displayed the same attitude: we don't care about the outcome of these two games! What we care about is the players' health and form.
Lin Tian's reason for playing these two matches was simple: he could lose these insignificant matches that didn't affect his ranking, but he couldn't lose them too badly!
If the team gets crushed by 3-40 points in each of the last two regular season games, it will affect the team's morale and performance!
So, Lin Tian did play in these two games, but his goal was to prevent the team from losing too badly. His own scoring in these two games was far below his season average.
After all, Lin Tian had already secured the league's scoring title, so there was really no need for an extra 1 or 2 points!
After losing these two games, the Pacers' record for the season has finally been finalized!
With a record of 43 wins and 39 losses, their winning percentage this season is only 52.4%! Without a doubt, this is the worst regular season performance the team has had since Lin Tian entered the NBA!
Although the team played poorly, if you only look at Lin Tian's individual performance, this year was definitely the best year of his career!
本赛季的林天一共打了70场，其中一场只打了半场比赛，总计休战12场，场均登场时间42.3分钟，拿下39.3分9.4篮板9.8助攻2.9抢断1.2盖帽！
Meanwhile, Lin Tian's three hit rates reached 48%, 41%, and 89% respectively!
He can score almost 40 points per game!
This number hasn't appeared in the league for over 40 years.
No wonder, after the regular season ended, all kinds of media were talking about this, discussing Lin Tian's terrifying scoring ability!
Countless fans worship Lin Tian, and countless media outlets wish they could exaggerate his fame to the heavens!
There's no way around it, his performance this year has been absolutely phenomenal!
As for the players, well... it's very quiet.
Just like after his 85-point performance, unless there was absolutely no other way to avoid it, no active player was willing to discuss Lin Tian's terrifying efficiency and unprecedented statistics.
While ensuring top-tier output in history, Lin Tian also ensured top-tier efficiency in history!
Throughout NBA history, there has only been one player who could combine the efficiency and output of Lin Tian's caliber... well, there's only one!
Wilt Chamberlain!
What's most astonishing is that the Pacers only managed one win in the 12 games Lin Tian missed!
With or without Lin Tian, the Pacers are two completely different teams!
He single-handedly carried the team!
So this time, although almost none of the active players have made any statements, choosing to remain silent to preserve their last bit of pride, the retired legends have come out one after another.
There's no way around it; active players can use training and preparation as excuses to avoid interviews, but legends can't find a reason not to accept interviews!
However, they probably don't want to avoid interviews. After being silent for so many years, these older folks are still very interested in cameras.
Magic Johnson: I initially thought Lin would just become the greatest point guard of all time, but I underestimated him. I really didn't expect Lin to be this good!
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: The era of big men and centers is over! I used to think that Earvin's dominance at the point guard position was unchallenged, but now it seems that Lin is the one who is truly unchallenged!
Dr. J Irving: Charles has talked to me about Lin many times, but honestly, it wasn't until this season that Lin really pulled away from everyone else!
Oscar Robertson: Averaging almost 40 points, along with nearly 10 rebounds and 10 assists! Incredible, absolutely incredible! I really hope Lin can average a triple-double someday! What about next year?
Isaiah Thomas: I always knew Lin could do it, and I've been waiting for this day, but honestly, his performance still exceeded my expectations! By the way, I'm looking for a job! If anyone wants a general manager or head coach who has a really good relationship with Lin, feel free to contact me.
Jordan: My team has completed all the formalities! We will participate in this year's draft and also build our initial team through the expansion draft! I hope we can have a perfect start! You mean Lin? Sorry, I'm only answering questions related to Charlotte today.
Bernard King: My door is always open, and I welcome you with open arms! New York welcomes you!
Willis Reed: If Lin really wants to come to New York, I'm willing to give up my number 19 jersey, if he wants to wear it.
Ewing: Lin is my best buddy! The doors of New York are always open for him!
Earl Monroe: Lin will become a true pearl of New York City!
Walter Frazier: Lin will lead the Knicks to create a new dynasty that far surpasses the 60s!
Dick Barnett...
Okay, let's leave it at that.
Kick all the Knicks legends who came for team building away.
Let's get back to the main topic.
For example, it is worth mentioning that Lin Tian became the scoring champion by a huge margin, leading everyone else in the league.
Kobe Bryant ranks second on the scoring list with 29.3 points, while Tracy McGrady ranks third with an average of only 27 points per game.
The scoring champion leads the second-place player by a full 10 points! In the entire history of the NBA, only Wilt Chamberlain's two seasons with averages of 50 and 44 points per game were better than Lin Tian's!
Second only to Chamberlain, that monster, he ranks third in history!
Meanwhile, Lin Tian's 9.8 assists also ranked first in the assists list this season. He narrowly beat Kidd, who averaged 9.4 assists per game. This is the second time in his career and the third time in NBA history that he has won both the NBA scoring title and the assist title in the same year!
Lin Tian's average of 2.9 steals per game also makes him the NBA's steals leader this season!
Once again in his career, he became the league's leader in three statistical categories!
Furthermore, Lin Tian's 9.4 rebounds per game this season rank 17th in the entire league, placing him in the top 20! If we only consider players under two meters tall, Lin Tian easily ranks first in the league!
Of course, Ben Affleck claims to be 2.00001 meters tall without any clothing, so he wasn't included in the comparison.
For a center to compete with a guard in rebounding is clearly a shameless act!
Besides these basic average statistics, Lin Tian has only scored less than 30 points in 5 games this season, including the two games he played passively at the end of the season and the game he left due to injury!
他一共25场比赛砍下40+，14场比赛轰下50+，7场比赛爆砍60+以及那2场让无数人疯狂的80+！
His scoring consistency and explosiveness this season are absolutely among the best in history!
Or rather, apart from Chamberlain, that ancient beast, there is no other person who can match Lin Tian's performance this season!
Even if we only look at the NBA's all-time scoring average rankings, only one person has scored more than Lin Tian's 39.3 points this year in two seasons.
It's still Wilt Chamberlain!
这个怪物在1961-1962赛季场均50.4分，在1962-1963赛季场均44.8分！
Aside from Chamberlain in the last two seasons, the third-highest average points per game in a single season is Lin Tian this season!
39.3 points!
Absolutely unparalleled in its brilliance! Enough to make it stand out from the crowd!
The explosiveness and terrifying consistency of this score are absolutely epic!
In every sense, Lin Tian's performance this season absolutely deserves a place on the list of candidates for "the strongest individual single-season performance in history"!
Perhaps the only two things that can be questioned about him this season are that he only played 69.5 games in the regular season and the team only won 43 games. Apart from that, there is no reason to question Lin Tian's dominance and terrifying explosiveness this season!
At the same time, Lin Tian has a very high probability of winning the MVP award this season, and will become the MVP with the lowest team winning percentage since the current MVP selection rules were implemented!
But clearly, the team's low winning percentage cannot overshadow Lin Tian's brilliance this season!
However, although the team's winning percentage dragged him down, Lin Tian had other statistics to support his MVP award, such as the team's abysmal winning percentage when he was not in the team.
Also, besides Lin Tian, the rest of the Pacers players.
The team's second-highest scorer is Ron Artest, who averages 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals per game. Tony Parker ranks third with 11 points and 4 assists per game. If we don't count Manu Ginobili, who was injured early in the season and didn't even finish a third of the season, averaging 10.1 points per game, then the Pacers only have these three players scoring in double figures!
The team's offensive firepower was extremely weak. No one could attract or distract the opponent's defensive attention for Lin Tian. It was an absolutely one-man team, yet Lin Tian single-handedly carried the team and the team's offensive firepower. Facing the opponent's relentless pursuit and interception, Lin Tian delivered such a brilliant and epic season.
It's fair to say that without Lin Tian, the Pacers would definitely be a bottom-tier team!
In conclusion, if Lin Tian doesn't win the MVP award this season, who will?
Who would dare to take it?
Not only will he be jokingly called the most undeserving MVP in history, the most unworthy MVP in history, and the number one master thief MVP, but he will also be resented by the petty-minded Lin Tian.
Just think about how badly the Bulls fared this year and the Wizards fared last year!
Offend Lin Tian?
What kind of person would do something like this!
Anyway, the few contenders for MVP are all trembling a little.
I'm so scared!
However, Lin Tian himself seemed quite indifferent.
At least on the surface, he seemed indifferent.
In interviews, they all said they would congratulate whoever won MVP and send their sincere blessings, and that it would be perfectly acceptable if they didn't win MVP.
Well, not a single person in the entire alliance believed Lin Tian's interview!
Anyone who believes that is truly a fool!
However, the MVP award will not be determined until the playoffs begin, and now is not the time for teams to worry about it.
Right now, for all the teams in the top eight of the Eastern and Western Conferences, the most important thing is definitely the playoffs!
How will this epic season end? Who will emerge victorious, and who will be the dark horse?
Everything will be revealed over the next two months!
With the regular season now officially over, the rankings of the top eight teams in the East and West have been finalized!
east:
1. Detroit Pistons: 61 wins, 21 losses.
2. Orlando Magic: 59 wins, 23 losses.
3. The New Jersey Nets have a record of 57 wins and 25 losses.
4. Milwaukee Bucks: 49 wins, 33 losses.
5. New Orleans Hornets: 46 wins, 36 losses.
6. Philadelphia 76ers: 45 wins, 37 losses.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers: 45 wins, 37 losses.
8. Indiana Pacers: 43 wins, 39 losses.
Although the final standings in the Eastern Conference may seem complicated, in the last few days of the season, no matter what strategies each team adopts, the final result remains unchanged!
The teams will be in the same position at the start of April as they are at the end of the regular season!
Of all the teams, the one most looked down upon is undoubtedly the Magic, who threw the game in April and avoided the Pacers!
This team, which has been a top powerhouse in the league for the past few years, has always had a poor playoff record for various reasons, and has never even made it to the conference finals. This year, it has been ridiculed in a completely new way.
The Pistons vs. Pacers series, with the series at 1-8, is the most anticipated and watched matchup in the entire Eastern Conference!
After all, even disregarding the personal grudges between the two teams, just looking at their goals and slogans this season, one can tell that this series is a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals this season!
Yes, a rehearsal!
Both of these teams were shouting and yelling before the playoffs started, saying they wanted to become champions and were fighting for the championship!
Yes, in that sense, it was indeed a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals.
As for the other matchups, they didn't attract as much attention. It's generally believed that the Magic and Nets would win easily, and while the outcome of the Bucks vs. Hornets matchup is uncertain, no one seems particularly interested in the result.
Who cares about Reed vs. Baron Davis!
It's so boring to think about.
west:
1. The Los Angeles Lakers have a record of 60 wins and 22 losses.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves: 59 wins, 23 losses.
3. Dallas Mavericks: 55 wins, 27 losses.
4. Sacramento Kings: 51 wins, 31 losses.
5. Seattle SuperSonics: 50 wins, 32 losses.
6. Utah Jazz: 48 wins, 34 losses.
7. Portland Trail Blazers: 44 wins, 38 losses.
8. Houston Rockets: 40 wins, 42 losses.
The Western Conference standings are not much different from the preseason predictions. The Lakers and Timberwolves, two powerhouse teams, are ranked first and second respectively. The Mavericks and Kings, who have been Western Conference powerhouses for the past few years, are close behind, followed by several traditional Western Conference strong teams!
It's worth mentioning that after acquiring LeBron James, the Spurs' winning percentage has skyrocketed this season, rising from just over 20 wins last season to 40 wins this season! They have the same record as the eighth-seeded Rockets in the Western Conference!
Unfortunately, the Spurs were down 1-3 in the four games between the two teams, which put them in ninth place and prevented them from making the playoffs!
Of this year's top rookies, only Dwyane Wade of the Cavaliers and Chris Bosh of the Trail Blazers made it to the playoffs with their teams.
As for the legendary duo of LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, who were highly anticipated before the season began, the Knicks fell behind early on, ultimately finishing only 11th in the East, while the Spurs were extremely disappointed, finishing only 9th in the West, just one step away from the playoffs!
Although the results of both teams were somewhat regrettable, the statistics of James and Anthony are absolutely worthy of being called the best of the best!
安东尼场均22.4分5.5篮板2.3助攻，詹姆斯场均20.3分5.4篮板5.6助攻！
James is more versatile, while Anthony has a stronger offensive firepower!
Even if they both play at the highest rookie level, the Rookie of the Year award may not necessarily be given to one of them.
Because the Cavaliers also have Dwyane Wade, who averages 19 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists per game. Although his stats are not superior, he has successfully led the team to the playoffs.
Although the Nuggets missed the playoffs, their fourth overall pick, Darko Milicic, struggled to adapt at the beginning of the season but then put on a stellar performance in the second half. Ultimately, he only averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds per game for the entire season, but his performance from February to April was absolutely brilliant.
With an impressive average of 18 points and 9 rebounds per game over two months, and given that he exploded in the second half of the season, he has earned a lot of extra points for himself. Many people think that the Serbian might become a dark horse in the race for Rookie of the Year!
Watching the outstanding performances of these top rookies, one can't help but marvel: the 03 draft class truly was an epic year! Each of these rookies possesses a unique skill!
Of course, no matter how good or skilled these rookies are, they are not the main characters of this league this season.
They might stir up some waves, but in the end, the main protagonists will definitely be the top players from those established powerhouse teams!
The NBA playoffs officially begin on April 14th!
This series also marks Lin Tian's first year in his professional career to start his playoff journey on the road! In his previous career, his teams had always finished at least in the top three of their conference! They had never fallen to fourth place, but tonight, the Pacers will start their playoff run on the road!
And it's not just an ordinary away game.
The Palace of Auburn Hills, located in the suburbs of Detroit, is widely recognized as one of the dirtiest, roughest, craziest, and most difficult arenas to breach in the league. It is filled with blue-collar workers, auto mechanics, and ruthless lumberjacks, and perhaps not as many guns and firearms as Texas.
But here you can see muscular men everywhere, as well as wrenches, hammers, and logging machines scattered all over the place.
A team that exudes toughness, ferocity, rudeness, and iron will from the inside out!
In any case, for Detroit fans, the current Pistons team, composed of the two Wallaces, Billups, and Hamilton, is far better than the Pistons team led by the gentleman Hill 4-5 years ago!
It's not just because of their good results, but also because this Pistons team is more in line with the style of Motor City!
This is the kind of basketball we Detroiters should play!
Not some effeminate elegance!
We're in Detroit, and we want elegance? What good is it?!
This series will be incredibly difficult for the Pacers!
Their two away games, in particular, will undoubtedly be incredibly difficult!
This is the best team in the league this year! This is the best defensive team in the league!
This is also widely recognized in the league as the team most likely to defeat Lin Tian! (End of Chapter)