NBA peak Jordan template

Chapter 147 Finale, Lakers championship
"Now the Lakers are in foul trouble."

"At the end of the first half, Zheng Long had already committed 4 fouls, and Butler and Jokic also committed 3 fouls each."

"Although the Lakers now have a 45-point lead at 44-1."

"But if Zheng Long continues to commit six fouls, the result of today's game will be full of suspense."

In the Lakers locker room, Butler couldn't hold back his anger and kicked the door of the locker room hard: "Fuck! There are not five people on the other side today, but eight people!"

boom!
The wooden cabinet door was kicked open by Butler.

Jokic wailed. He squatted down to check the condition of the wooden door in disbelief, and turned to look at Butler: "Jimmy! Damn it! This is my locker! If you damage the locker room in an away game, you will be fined!"

The Lakers players, who originally looked angry, couldn't help laughing.

"I'll pay it for you!" Butler raised his eyebrows: "If we lose the game like this today, I will smash all the cabinets in their locker room!"

Zheng Long sat silently in the corner of the locker room, expressionless.

Wharton came back. He seemed to have had a quarrel with someone, and his face turned red.

Seeing Walton, the players immediately gathered around him.

"Head coach, this is not fair. I didn't foul at all at the end of the first quarter!"

"Those referees are calling me like that and I don't know how to defend myself!"

"It's so disgusting. Those referees are on the same team as the Cavaliers!"

Faced with the players' complaints, Walton gritted his teeth.

"Calm down, we must calm down. Only a clear mind can solve the trouble we are encountering."

Walton was also simmering with anger. He just went to the referee to argue, but the referee looked indifferent and said that if he had any questions, he could complain to the league after the game.

complaint?

Wharton is not stupid enough not to know whose arrangement this is.

These salaried referees don't have the guts to brag like this in the finals. The only reason is that they have the support of the league behind them.

Walton, who has been a player and was personally defeated by the Cavaliers with the Warriors last year, clearly understands the purpose of the league in doing this.

make money!

After all, this is a business alliance in itself.

The logic behind all actions is money!

But Walton was not prepared to give up this game. Although the team had already taken a 0-3 lead, every extra breath the Cavaliers were given meant that the team's winning rate dropped by [-]%.

God knows if the league will play another game, and then another game, and then it will be so disgusting.

"Long, what do you think?" Wharton looked at Zheng Long who was calm in the corner.

Zheng Long actually expected that he might encounter such a situation today. Although he had never played football in his previous life, he had seen pigs running away.

So what Zheng Long is thinking about now is how to win the game - even in this situation.

"I can't play in the third quarter." Zheng Long said, looking at his teammates: "I need you to resist the situation in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, I will go on the court to kill the game."

"Can you survive the third quarter?" Walton nodded, that's all. But in the first three games, Zheng Long played for 48 minutes. To be honest, Walton didn't know what would happen to the team if Zheng Long left the game. Will the Cavaliers open the score in an instant?

But that's all there is to it.

Because as long as Zheng Long plays in the third quarter, the referee will be more shameless and "create" two fouls in one quarter and send Zheng Long off the field.

That's it.

That is completely hopeless.

The third quarter of the game began. Walton replaced Zheng Long with Ingram, and repeatedly emphasized to the players: "What we have to do is to do our best on the defensive end, and wait until Zheng Long comes on the court in the fourth quarter!"

On the other side, it seemed that Walton was expected to replace Zheng Long, and Tyronn Lue replaced J.R. Smith with Korver, who has a more stable three-point attack.

Prepare to create a bigger lead in one go in the third quarter when Zheng Long is away.

Zheng Long did not sit down to rest, but stood beside Walton and watched the game.

Walton couldn't help but quietly asked Zheng Long: "Do you think we can win the championship at the Cavaliers' home court today?"

Zheng Long did not answer aloud, but silently made a "4" gesture.

There was only determination and firmness in his eyes.

Walton nodded and could only pray in his heart that the players could withstand the pressure.

"Korver, who played temporarily, only averaged 3 minutes per game in the first three games."

"But today Tyronn Lue got him on the court early."

"Korver seized this opportunity and is currently 3 of 3 from three-point range, already 9 points!"

Zheng Long's absence has not only affected the Lakers' offensive end, but the entire defensive intensity has also declined.

The Cavaliers indeed overtook the score and continued to expand their lead.

The Lakers players really couldn't resist. But they resisted and didn't let the Cavaliers' lead expand to 2 digits.

At the end of the third quarter, the Cavaliers beat the Lakers 68 to 60.

The Cavaliers haven't had such an exciting scene at home for a long time. In their opinion, the team seems to have saved its last breath and won the game.

For the Lakers, they were also relieved.

Zheng Long patted Walton on the shoulder before taking the field: "Head coach, you can already notify General Manager Johnson to prepare for the championship interview later."

"That's not necessary. All the top executives of our Lakers team are here, and the boss is here too, but they are in the VIP viewing room." Walton smiled bitterly, because he still couldn't let go. After all, this was 8 Trailing by points: "If we lose today, they will sneak away."

Zheng Long spread his hands, walked onto the court, and stuffed his jersey into his shorts.

When the bald man wearing No. 23 returned to the court.

The Cavaliers fans looked at the man dryly, his calmness making them feel uneasy.

The same goes for James and others, with serious expressions.

Because this is the final moment of the decisive battle, after 12 minutes. Even if we win, we will still be behind 1-3 and cannot laugh. If we lose, we will have no choice but to leave this arena in tears.

Next, the Lakers changed their style of play again.

In order to prevent Zheng Long from fouling again.

Jokic and Oladipo successively organized with the ball, allowing Zheng Long to get a catch-and-shoot opportunity through off-the-ball movement.

Then there won't be those outrageous offensive fouls.

On the defensive end, JR Smith is back. He played very arrogantly against Zheng Long and kept playing singles. Zheng Long also tried hard to keep a distance between himself and JR.

This is still a very challenging job for a would-be DYOP.

To avoid giving the referee any chance to blow the whistle.

Avoid physical contact as much as possible.

Under this rhythm, Zheng Long still led the Lakers to constantly chase the score.

Even not through dribbling.

Just by simply getting the ball in hand and throwing it out directly, the Cavaliers still couldn't limit Zheng Long's scoring.

"I don't know if Zheng Long touched the ball for 20 seconds in total during his return to the court."

"But he scored 7 points on 6-of-12 shooting just by catching and shooting!"

"In the last 2 minutes, the Cavaliers beat the Lakers 85 to 84. The lead created by the Cavaliers before the start of the fourth quarter was gone!"

The countdown on the scoreboard seems to have become the countdown to this series and this season.

Service round for the Cavaliers.

After James came to the backcourt to receive Tristan's serve, he turned around and met Zheng Long's eyes in the distance.

His whole body shook involuntarily, and the basketball slipped from his hands.

He hurriedly swatted the ball again.

At that moment, James didn't expect that his hands were shaking after he had been playing basketball for most of his life.

Maybe he didn't even realize it, but it was a fear hidden deep in his bones.

James came to the top of the arc and took the initiative to let JR Smith cover for him, letting Zheng Long and Butler switch defenses and come to him.

He knew that the only way to win this game was to face his fear.

There is no way out!
Zheng Long readily accepted the challenge and got close to him, using his body to fight.

James' strength remained the same. After entering the three-point line, Zheng Long gritted his teeth and used all his strength to keep James out of the paint area.

It's time to attack the round.

James chose to turn around and shoot a fadeaway jumper!

Zheng Long took off immediately!

Instead of choosing to interfere and block James' vision, he actively chose a more difficult block!
Even if James leans back, the difficulty of blocking shots is infinitely expanded.

Snapped!
A loud bang!
James watched in disbelief as the basketball in his hand flew out by Zheng Longgai!
This ball!
It was covered!
Just when others were flying to grab the ball that flew out.

Beep----

The referee suddenly blew the whistle, signaling a foul to the thug!

All the players, including the Cavaliers, were stunned for a moment. The ball had been flying for a long time before a foul was called?
The referee who blew the whistle wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.

Again, the hand gesture indicates that the beater has committed a foul.

The Lakers players clenched their fists unconsciously, especially Butler, whose eyes wanted to kill the referee.

When Walton was angry, he was worried that the players would lose their minds and come forward to argue with the referee or beat him!
In this way, it is not a hitter foul. At least it will be accompanied by a technical foul, or even a player.

"Calm down." Zheng Long's cold voice made the Lakers players stand still and hold back their tempers. Then Zheng Long looked at James again with a playful look. "James may not be able to make free throws anyway."

James avoided Zheng Long's eyes, walked to the free throw line, and took a deep breath.

Just as Zheng Long said.

Free throw shooting has never been his strength.

But today, I have no choice.If he makes these two free throws, he can give the team a 3-point lead at the last moment, and every point may determine the final outcome.

Cavaliers fans didn't dare to make a single sound for fear of affecting the "King's" free throws.

The first penalty, bang!Pop out of the box!

James had tried hard to adjust, but unexpectedly he missed. There was a sigh from the audience, and James himself took a breath.

I must hit the second ball!
James slowly raised his hand, almost trembling, and sent the basketball out!

The basketball hit the front edge of the basket and flew out!
But flying to where James was, James had no time to sigh. He opened his hand and reached for the flying basketball.

As long as this rebound is taken down, even if two free throws are missed, the ball can be won this time.

then.

James suddenly saw a hand in front of him, intercepted the ball in the air, and pulled the ball back into his arms.

"Dramatic scene!!!"

"James missed two free throws!"

"This is too deadly!"

“It’s good to get even one!”

"And Zheng Long grabbed this rebound!!!"

The commentator shouted out the aspirations of all the fans present.

The King of Cleveland!

Let the fans down!
On the court, James led the Cavaliers to retreat in a hurry, but Zheng Long had already started. James originally wanted to stretch out his hand to block it, but Zheng Long savagely knocked over his hand.

Then, Zheng Long rushed to the Cavaliers' frontcourt and slammed the basketball into the basket!
"The score is ahead!!!"

"Cavaliers 85 vs. 86 Lakers!"

"At the last moment of the game, the Lakers, who were once behind, completed a comeback!!!"

Zheng Long's dunk completely dampened the Cavaliers' momentum.

James slowed down in a daze and watched Zheng Long trotting back from his side to defend.

"We are only 1 point behind, just 1 point behind." James said to himself, seeming to be a psychological hint to himself: "We still have time, we still have time."

In the next minute and a half, both the Cavaliers and Lakers suddenly started to strike.

They exchanged fast breaks continuously, but failed to send the basketball into the basket.

It seems that God also wants to keep the suspense of the game until the last moment.

When there were only 24 seconds left on the timer, the Cavaliers still led the Lakers 85 to 86, and the Lakers had the ball!

During the serving phase, the Cavaliers chose to fight to the death. They came to the backcourt to block the Lakers' serving and marked one-on-one.

As long as the Lakers make a serving error or steal, they will ruin the Lakers' offense from the source.

JR Smith clings to Zheng Long.

His mission is not to let Zheng Long touch the basketball.

Whenever the ball reaches Zheng Long, the Lakers have to choose to foul, and sending Zheng Long to the free throw line means sending Zheng Long to get 2 points.

Beep----

When the referee blew the whistle, Zheng Long moved. One second, JR Smith had Zheng Long stuck behind him. The next second, Zheng Long instantly moved away from JR Smith.

In this short gap, Jokic tacitly threw the ball to Zheng Long.

JR Smith hurriedly stepped forward and reached out to Zheng Long. Since the serve could not be blocked, he could only foul - even if Zheng Long would score 2 points.

But Zheng Long didn't even give JR Smith a chance to foul.

He took the ball with long strides, passed by JR Smith, and went straight to the frontcourt.

The Cavaliers players panicked, Tyronn Lue panicked, and the fans panicked. Zheng Long was unmarked at this time. If Zheng Long chose to hit a three-pointer at this time.

Although it is only one point more than two points, it is equivalent to sending the knight directly to hell!

On the sidelines, Walton could not conceal his excitement and nervousness, raising his hands high in anticipation of Zheng Long's goal.

At this time, the only defensive players in the Cavaliers' frontcourt are Tristan and Love.

Tristan chose to guard the basket, while Love chose to stand outside the three-point line to block Zheng Long.

Attack this time!
Zheng Long, in front of Love, suddenly chose a major disguise, leaving Love behind.

When Tristan saw Zheng Long coming to kill him.

Fear gripped his heart.

He didn't know that he really didn't know what to do!

He didn't understand why the teammates who blocked Zheng Long in the frontcourt were able to let Zheng Long over and let him bear this most critical defense.

If Zheng Long takes off and dunks again, can I prevent him?
The only thing Tristan could find comfort in.

Even if Zheng Long hits this shot, the team will have the last time to tie the score.

thought here.

Tristan quietly took a half step back.

You can give 2 points, but you can't give a foul!

Tristan felt that he made the most correct judgment in an instant.

but.

Zheng Long suddenly braked and stopped outside the paint area.

Tristan froze.

Because Zheng Long didn't make any shooting moves.

At this time, James, who finally rushed back to his hometown with Irving and JR Smith, yelled at Tristan: "Foul!!! You are about to foul!!!"

Tristan wakes up from a dream!

Zheng Long is stalling for time! ! !
He rushed forward in a hurry, and when he was very close to Zheng Long, he saw Zheng Long throwing the basketball behind him with a smile.

The Cavaliers have their eyes on basketball.

The basketball was passed by Zheng Long to Jokic who was three points away from the wing!
Everyone's attention on the Cavaliers was originally on Zheng Long, but they didn't expect that Zheng Long did not choose to shoot at the last moment when no one was guarding him. Instead, after teasing Tristan, he passed the ball to his teammates. !

Even Jokic, who connected to the ball, was in a daze.

"Shoot!" (Shoot!) Zheng Long shouted to Jokic.

then.

He turned around, turned his back to the basket, and slowly walked towards James, who was looking up at the basketball thrown by Jokic.

Zheng Long patted James on the shoulder.

"I learned this trick from you. It's not bad to hand the ball to your teammates at the last moment."

Swish!
Zheng Long didn't need to look back, he only needed to know the result of Jokic's shot from James' dull expression.

Then he looked at the timer on his own basket.

Countdown to 1 seconds.

Although there is still 1 second left for the Cavaliers, the Lakers are now 4 points ahead.

Everything has been settled.

This last second was not an opportunity for the Cavaliers, but a naked mockery.

When a Cavaliers player mechanically serves the ball, the end-of-game whistle sounds almost instantly.

Colorful ribbons all over the sky fell from the sky.

A lot of Lakers staff and management appeared out of nowhere and rushed onto the court like crazy.

Countless cameras flashed onto the court.

this moment.

It seems like the whole world is rushing towards me.

Before Zheng Long was surrounded, he pulled up his jersey and covered his face.

Because he didn't want the camera to capture him crying.

Zheng Long muttered to himself.

"I won."

His legend begins to truly begin at this moment.

----------------

Hawaii beach, sunny.

A muscular, bald man wearing sunglasses was lying comfortably on the beach and taking a nap.

after awhile.

The girl holding the mobile phone came to the man's side.

"Long, you left your phone in the hotel again. The team called and asked you to call them back as soon as possible."

"I just want to lie down for two days and enjoy my vacation with you! Damn it, if it's Walton, I will definitely take a few more sick days next season to make him anxious. What's the emergency!"

The bald man reluctantly took the phone, and it turned out to be a call from Wharton.

"What's wrong, Mr. Walton, you're not going to let me rush back to training or play in the summer league right now, are you?"

"What, you are joking!"

"Durant really wants to join our Lakers?!"

(End of the book)

(End of this chapter)