On sunday, May 11, 2008, several Detroit newspapers simultaneously reported the news that several veteran Detroit Pistons players were preparing to retire.
In San Antonio, after Bruce Bowen announced his retirement, Robert Horry also announced his farewell to basketball this weekend.
The sudden wave of retirements in the playoffs caught many old fans off guard, and Horry's comments during an interview once again sparked heated discussion:
"Nobody likes playing in an environment where you only lose and never win. San Antonio is great, but the several NBA Finals failures still hurt me."
"I understand Tim. I'm honored to have witnessed his San Antonio Spurs era, but the league's environment has changed. As a veteran, now I just want to leave and start a new life."
Compared to Bruce Bowen, Lindsey Hunter, and others, Horry was still fortunate.
At least he had won championships.
Although his experience with the San Antonio Spurs was a complete failure, compared to most role players in the league, Horry could definitely be considered a success.
For such a successful player to express such a view, many basketball critics began to reflect: the New York Knicks seemed to be winning too much?
That night, two Western Conference Semifinals games drew significant attention.
Among them, the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz battled into overtime, and the shouts of over 19,000 Utah Jazz fans at EnergySolutions Arena made Kobe Bryant somewhat lost.
Perhaps affected by his finger injury, Kobe Bryant's shooting became increasingly erratic during the game, forcing Phil Jackson to call a timeout in overtime.
"Oh!!"
The excited shouts wouldn't stop.
With 2 minutes and 59 seconds left in overtime, the Los Angeles Lakers missed four consecutive shots and also committed a turnover.
108:112, the Utah Jazz seized the opportunity and took the lead again.
At the ABC commentary desk, Mike Breen and Mark Jackson were still discussing Kobe Bryant's form.
After coming to the road, the Los Angeles Lakers failed to show the expected dominance:
"Tim Duncan played very well, but now it seems his stamina might be an issue."
Mike Breen's words were more subtle, while Mark Jackson, beside him, had fewer reservations.
Taking advantage of the timeout, he once again aimed at Kobe Bryant:
"If they want to win this game, Kobe Bryant must step up now. He needs to find his shooting touch quickly, or pass the ball to Tim Duncan in time."
"They still have enough time. I hope Kobe Bryant makes the right choice."
The joyous shouts of the fans on site were as if they had already won the game.
Sitting back on the bench, Kobe Bryant couldn't help but pant heavily.
He hadn't expected his shooting touch to be so poor in the fourth quarter.
If it weren't for Odom's offensive rebound with 2.5 seconds left and Fisher's last-second block, the Los Angeles Lakers would have already lost the game.
"Calm down, the opponent will also make mistakes. What we need to do is make them nervous, then seize those easy scoring opportunities!"
"Three minutes, we have enough time to win the game!"
Phil Jackson, sitting in front of everyone, spoke slowly and loudly.
The Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man surveyed everyone and, seeing them all nodding, revealed a satisfied smile.
Duncan, playing at the center position, was also constantly taking deep breaths.
Missing a close-range layup made him somewhat regretful.
He also wanted to win the game as quickly as possible, so he actively pointed twice on the whiteboard:
"Raise the screen position. We need to get their big men away from the basket. If possible, use free throws to stabilize the game's rhythm."
Duncan gave simple instructions, and soon the assistant Head Coach and the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man expressed their agreement.
They then looked at Kobe Bryant's face, who gave an affirmative reply, and the timeout quickly ended.
On the first offensive possession back on the court, as Andrei Kirilenko blocked Kobe Bryant's drive, EnergySolutions Arena erupted again!
The offensive rebound was grabbed by Duncan, and the Los Angeles Lakers reorganized their offense.
Then Kobe Bryant missed another jump shot from beyond the arc, and the cheers grew even louder as the Utah Jazz began a transition offense.
For several consecutive possessions, both sides missed shots.
When Kobe Bryant finally made a long two-pointer, Deron Williams assisted Andrei Kirilenko for a 2+1 play under the basket.
Watching Deron Williams celebrate with a fist pump in front of him, Kobe Bryant's face darkened further.
For the remaining time, the special Mamba completely took over the game!
Ultimately, with Kobe Bryant's 1-for-7 shooting and 5 points in overtime, the Utah Jazz once again defended their home court, tying the series 2-2 with a score of 115:123.
Duncan only attempted one shot in overtime, and the entire team scored 7 points.
Losing in this manner, he quickly left through the player tunnel after the game.
At EnergySolutions Arena, Utah Jazz fans were cheering for their home team.
Deron Williams played exceptionally well tonight, and after the tough win, he repeatedly chest-bumped his teammates in celebration.
When interviewed, Deron Williams, having protected his home court, was a bit overconfident.
Discussing the team's performance in overtime, he jokingly teased the reporters:
"We knew Kobe Bryant wouldn't pass the ball. He likes to be a hero, but he's not Clay Lee. Our team's strategy tonight was successful!"
9-for-13 shooting, 3-for-4 from three-point range, 8-for-8 from the free-throw line, 29 points, 3 rebounds, 14 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 4 turnovers.
When asked about his stats, Deron Williams appeared very humble:
"In my opinion, I still had too many turnovers. Head Coach Jerry Sloan showed me a lot of Clay Lee's footage, which helped me a lot!"
"As the team's point guard, I should control my turnover count. Next game, I'll do better."
The roaring arena had the Utah Jazz players waving continuously to the fans.
As they walked towards the player tunnel, Boozer high-fived fans on both sides while muttering incessantly:
"I'm going to end this game! To hell with Los Angeles!"
The Utah Jazz staff felt the same way.
No one had reported on them in recent days.
Most basketball critics were discussing the Los Angeles Lakers' return to the NBA Finals.
Winning this game made everyone feel relieved.
Those who "teamed up" shouldn't get attention!
When attending the post-game press conference, Kobe Bryant's expression returned to his usual stoicism.
Tim Duncan, beside him, also looked calm, as if the loss had no effect on him.
"Kobe, why did you continue to shoot frantically in overtime after your field goal percentage dropped in the fourth quarter? The Los Angeles Lakers had better options."
13-for-33 shooting, 1-for-10 from three-point range, 6-for-10 from the free-throw line, 33 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers.
Kobe Bryant's stats were good, but his field goal percentage was less than 40%.
Hearing the ESPN reporter's question, Kobe Bryant stared directly at him, once again displaying his absolute confidence, and seriously replied:
"Because I firmly believe the next shot will go in! I've said it, I never consider stats. This is how I play, and I will continuously attack my opponent on offense."
"..."
Such an answer left many reporters speechless.
"I just shoot" was basically unanswerable.
The Fox Sports personnel understood Kobe Bryant's personality, so they simply asked Duncan beside him:
"Tim, should you have gotten more shot opportunities in overtime? We noticed you were mostly involved in screens."
Duncan did not directly answer the question, but instead raised an eyebrow at everyone and said with great confidence:
"There are many ways to win a game. This is just an attempt. Losing in the Semifinals is better than losing in the NBA Finals. In the upcoming games, the opponent will have no more chances."
Some Los Angeles reporters were delighted to hear such an answer.
They sometimes didn't want to see Kobe Bryant miss shots, and it was clear Tim Duncan would shoot more later!
Kobe Bryant answered the subsequent questions routinely.
At the end of the press conference, seeing his new partner's calm expression, he ultimately took the blame:
"Bro, I messed up. You know, sometimes I make some wrong choices in games."
Duncan, however, did not blame his teammate.
As they walked towards the locker room, he seemed to recall past experiences and finally looked at Kobe and said seriously:
"The team needs someone to step up in crucial moments. I believe you can make those response shots."
Kobe Bryant didn't immediately respond to this trust.
He pulled out a smile and patted his new partner, and thinking of his terrible performance in overtime, he secretly began to cheer himself on:
"I can definitely do it."
In the simultaneously played game, the Phoenix Suns once again protected their home court.
The Charlotte Hornets' perimeter shooting collectively faltered, scoring only 82 points in total, while the Phoenix Suns poured in 118 points.
Facing Chris Paul's offense, Steve Nash finally unleashed his full firepower, displaying the style of a core point guard.
There were rumors that Alvin Gentry had conflicts with the new general manager, Steve Kerr, and was likely to leave the team next season.
A TNT reporter wanted to gossip about this issue, but Nash, who was being interviewed, denied it outright:
"Every Phoenix Suns player supports Head Coach Alvin Gentry. We performed well in the playoffs, and this can definitely be called a successful season."
When Nash said these words, he was naturally sincere.
It's just that most sports reporters looked down on him.
The Phoenix Suns were "copy-pasting" and didn't have their own tactical system.
After routinely answering questions, Nash smiled amidst the cheers of the fans, signed autographs for fans on both sides, and then walked into the player tunnel.
"I can score an average of 35 points over Tim Duncan! These damn reporters only make random comments!"
In the locker room, Amare Stoudemire, who had taken off his jersey, was loudly boasting.
As Duncan's old teammates retired, more and more media began to pay attention to the San Antonio Spurs' former star.
Amare Stoudemire became outdated before he even had a chance to share his championship experience.
No one cared about him.
The "Double Leak Duo" was simply an insult.
Smiling widely after the win, O'Neal quickly took over the conversation in the locker room, putting on a boss-like demeanor.
Looking at the stats and game results in his hand, he loudly mocked:
"Look at their news. My little brother is the most overrated player. No one cares about his inefficient performance. Reporters sometimes only watch highlights."
Shaking his head, O'Neal even stood up to mimic Kobe Bryant's posture.
After sitting back down, amidst laughter, he mocked again:
"If a true superstar's field goal percentage doesn't reach 40%, they'll likely face more criticism, but Kobe won't experience that because he's the team's second option."
"It was like that before, it's like that now, and in a few days, I'll personally end them!"
As Old Shark boasted, flattery erupted in the locker room, and Barbosa also belittled Kobe.
He was heavily guarded in the Americas Championship and now just wanted to strike back.
Nash, who had returned to the locker room, did not participate in this discussion.
The Phoenix Suns' situation was not as good as he described.
This acquisition had created a rift between the coaching staff and management.
Many basketball commentators were saying that the current NBA belonged to "veterans," but few remembered that Nash was also from the '96 draft class.
"The NBA Finals?"
Quietly listening to his teammates brag and talk about the NBA Finals, Nash also felt a longing.
He was no longer young, and experiencing it once would be enough.
On Monday, May 12th, ESPN's morning show once again helped fans review the NBA's All-NBA Teams announced for this season:
The five players on the All-NBA First Team were:
Clay Lee, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, and Dwight Howard.
The five players on the All-NBA Second Team were:
Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Pau Gasol, Tim Duncan, and Amare Stoudemire.
The five players on the All-NBA Third Team were:
Steve Nash, Manu Ginobili, Carlos Boozer, Dirk Nowitzki, and Yao Ming.
The Cavaliers' dual All-NBA selections were affirmed by commentators, who also praised Van Gundy's team-building strategy back then.
The "The Big Four" seemed to be no match for them.
The show heavily hyped the Cavaliers, while also continuing to warm up for tonight's Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The Cavaliers currently led 2-1 in the series, and by defending one more home game, they could eliminate their opponent!
The team's excellent performance had Cleveland buzzing.
At Quicken Loans Arena, Cavaliers fans gathered outside early, with increasing calls to eliminate the "The Big Four" and make a run for the championship.
Before the game that night, the worries on Jeff Van Gundy's refreshed face had disappeared.
He appeared incredibly confident and was exceptionally assertive when facing reporters:
"Basketball games aren't won by simply stacking up superstars! The Boston Celtics' roster is excellent, but they've had too little time to gel."
"If we only talk about playoff experience, our young players are not inferior to our opponents. Absolute talent combined with rich game experience—that's why we can defeat our opponents!"
"Tonight's game, we will not miss this opportunity. I see the incredibly passionate Cleveland fans, and they are the Cavaliers' best Sixth Man."
When it came to speaking formally, Van Gundy grew more confident with each word.
As long as they won tonight's game and secured match point, the series would be over.
As a Champion Coach, he would not give the opponent a chance to come back!
The Cavaliers' locker room atmosphere was also getting better and better.
LeBron James greeted his teammates warmly.
Although his offensive efficiency was low in the series, he successfully limited his matchup, Pierce.
In the defensive battle, Howard became the focus.
His excellent physical qualities overwhelmed the older players, and with Zydrunas Ilgauskas's central support, the Cavaliers had completely gained the upper hand.
"They're finished! Guys, we're going to end those old guys across the court! The entire city is supporting the team, we have no reason to lose tonight!"
LeBron James, who had changed into his practice uniform, enthusiastically gave a pep talk in front of everyone, his face showing excitement as he spoke.
Daniel Gibson and others naturally responded positively, and Howard also let out shouts, even humming out-of-tune tunes, laughing loudly with a wide grin:
"Dual All-NBA! Let these old guys taste our strength!"
In the chaotic atmosphere, everyone's emotions grew even higher.
When Assistant Coach Thibodeau entered the locker room, seeing the confident look of the players, he breathed a sigh of relief:
"No turnovers! Attack the rim resolutely, remember, this is our home court, go and embrace victory!"
"Oh!!"
Under the dual encouragement of fans and pep talks, in that night's game, Drew Gooden and Gibson, from the Cavaliers' bench, both exploded.
Relying on suffocating Defense, they secured another home victory.
75:87. The moment the game ended, cheers almost broke through Quicken Loans Arena.
With a 3-1 lead in the series, they had already secured the win!
Many fans were shouting Van Gundy's name.
The Champion Coach suppressed his excitement, came to the scorer's table, and shook hands warmly with Head Coach Rivers:
"That was truly a wonderful game!"
Although there was a home-court advantage, the 12 points in the fourth quarter alone darkened Head Coach Rivers's face.
This was completely different from what he had expected; the Cavaliers' Defense was ridiculously strong.
"Congratulations, but the series isn't over yet."
Forcing a smile, Head Coach Rivers responded assertively.
Seeing Van Gundy smirk triumphantly, he eventually turned and left in a huff.
On the bench, hearing the fans loudly shouting his old partner's name, Thibodeau felt no jealousy.
Instead, he breathed a sigh of relief.
It was the best outcome that Van Gundy could continue to lead the Cavaliers forward.
"Tom, do you see? Our tactical system has never had a problem. In just a few more years, we'll break the Cleveland curse!"
Entering the player tunnel, Van Gundy couldn't wait to brag to his partner.
He was incredibly excited.
His persistence and effort had paid off.
Thibodeau patted his old partner's shoulder, a smile involuntarily appearing on his face.
In the current coaching staff, only he could understand this feeling.
The Cavaliers' success gave both of them an immense sense of accomplishment:
"Yes, we made the right choice!"
"..."
The atmosphere at Quicken Loans Arena was electric.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference Semifinals happening simultaneously, fans had already started leaving Auburn Hills Palace, which could accommodate over 22,000 spectators.
The attendance for Game 4 was somewhat disappointing.
Ever since Rodney Stuckey's "poor performance" in the previous game, most Detroit Pistons fans had become disheartened, feeling the team was completely finished!
The Detroit Free Press and several mainstream media outlets were still "singing the praises" of General Manager Joe Dumars.
Columnists who had been paid had already blamed Head Coach Saunders.
In fact, this tactic had already been overused by Philadelphia.
The slogan "Trust the Process" had become a meme for New York Knicks teams to mock their opponents.
With 1 minute and 20 seconds left in the game, Auburn Hills Palace was already silent.
Hamilton, who had just made another free throw, was substituted out, and the game entered its countdown.
"It's regrettable that the Detroit Pistons, who had an excellent regular season record, can only stop at the Semifinals again this year."
"Injuries became the turning point of the series. I'm not sure about the future direction of this team, but at this moment, I just want to show them my respect."
At the TNT commentary desk, Doug Collins made his final remarks with a serious expression.
In his opinion, these two home games were simply a nightmare for Rodney Stuckey.
"Lee dished out 13 assists and grabbed 7 rebounds personally. His performance on the defensive end tonight was impressive!"
Kevin Harlan commented on the individual performance with a light tone, double-checking the statistics, almost laughing out loud on air.
After adjusting his emotions, he continued:
"Fouling out in three quarters, 2-for-8 shooting, getting 8 points from free throws. I believe Rodney Stuckey will grow rapidly after experiencing this series."
"..."
Detroit Pistons fans in front of their TVs had most likely already changed the channel.
At Auburn Hills Palace, the seats behind the bench were already empty, and the entire arena seemed to only have the New York Knicks bench cheering and celebrating.
As the final buzzer sounded, this free-throw battle finally ended.
113:84, the New York Knicks decisively defeated their opponent, sweeping the Detroit Pistons 4-0 to easily advance.
"Boo!!"
Seeing the small guard J.J. Barea throw the ball into the air, the angry Detroit Pistons fans in attendance erupted in another round of boos.
Many had already started cursing.
Lee, who had changed into his practice uniform early, celebrated with a smile, high-fiving his teammates on the bench.
Rajon Rondo, wearing an orange headband, was a bit excited.
He was going to play in the Conference Finals again.
After a series of flashy gestures, the smile on Rajon Rondo's face could no longer be contained.
He proactively hugged Lee and expressed his gratitude loudly:
"Right now, I just want to say thank you, Boss. Although I'm a rookie, I know how difficult the Conference Finals are, and I've learned so much!"
Lee thumped the rookie's chest, then turned to look at the Detroit Pistons fans behind the bench who were starting to vent, and chuckled, teasing:
"If you can guarantee a 33% three-point shooting percentage, you'll collect four rings in your four rookie years!"
"Don't feel pressured, man! Even if you can't reach that level, I can still make you the best point guard in the NBA!"
Unlike when he first entered the NBA, Rajon Rondo instinctively nodded seriously after hearing these words.
He completely believed Lee's words and was absolutely sure that no team in the NBA could defeat the New York Knicks.
Every member of the atmosphere group received warm encouragement from Lee.
After all, everyone had worked hard for a quarter, and they deserved some "pep talk" after the game.
On the Detroit Pistons bench, Rasheed Wallace sat slumped in his seat, draped in a towel, his hands resting on his knees, looking completely withdrawn.
"Do you still want to play in bloody New York, Bro? I've had enough. If they keep winning this year, I swear I won't follow any NBA games for the next 3 years!"
Lindsey Hunter completely broke down, his dark face filled with anger.
Rasheed Wallace looked up at his teammate and said self-deprecatingly:
"Go to New York? Do you think Lee welcomes old guys? Hell, he's an old guy's nightmare!"
Lindsey Hunter, who had thought more than once about riding coattails, lost his temper immediately upon hearing this exposed truth.
He looked incredibly dejected:
"Why am I going through this?"
...
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)