The strongest champion puzzle

Chapter 98 The end of the regular season

In the match against Thunderclap, Zhang Xiaotian scored 15 points, his performance was definitely not bad, but after losing the game, the whole team was criticized by the outside world, including him of course.

It just so happened that the team that he started also lost the game, and some guys who feared that the world would not be chaotic even accused him of being a cancer of the team and stealing the ball on the court.

The Spurs were ridiculed by the so-called experts as the heroes of the regular season, saying that their old arms and legs can no longer fight tough battles. Even if they are No. [-] in the Western Conference, it is impossible to stop the young Thunder in the playoffs.

In fact, this kind of argument is suspected of being deliberately led by the league, just to add more grievances and enmity, to increase the focus of the playoffs, so as to attract more attention.

"Nonsense, I've finished my school work, and now I'm just waiting for the graduation ceremony. You can hire me to scold these bastards, and I promise to scold them to death." Yang Feiyu said angrily after reading those black Zhang Xiaotian's posts.

Zhang Xiaotian was speechless, "You have started to panic again."

Yang Feiyu directly admitted, "Yeah, what do you think I will do after graduation? I will definitely not do part-time work for others. My family asked me to go back to work and I didn't agree. Starting a business has a psychological shadow."

"Then take a good rest first, take care of yourself, and get rid of your psychological shadow."

"That's right, student Zhang Xiaotian still has advantages. If I were the team owner, I would definitely give you a high salary."

Zhang Xiaotian despises it very much, "Come and work out with me, you will become a pig if you stay at home all the time eating snacks and playing games."

"Okay, how dare you despise me, hmph... I'm going to open a post to scold you too."

Basketball, going home, Zhang Xiaotian's life is very simple, everyone's pursuit is different, this is what he likes.

Parker's injury is actually not serious, but the Spurs will definitely not take risks before the end of the regular season. Popovich still let him take care of him to prepare for the playoffs.

On April 4, the Spurs played at home against the Eagles, who are hitting the top four in the Eastern Conference.

In fact, at this time, the Eagles have no plans to confront the Spurs. The playoffs are not far away. Players who have no suspense in the playoffs are afraid of injury. Only the teams that hit the top eight will try their best.

The two giants of the Eagles, Josh Smith and Al Horford, did not play. Duncan and Leonard completely suppressed their opponents as if they were in no man's land. The Spurs quickly established a double-digit lead.

Popovich began to give other players a chance. In the second half, the main player 99 went through the motions. Unexpectedly, the Hawks' substitute suddenly broke out. John Jenkins hit 100% of the three-pointers, and young players like Mike Scott and Shelvin Mack The characters also hit consecutively.

In Popovich's black face, the lead of more than ten points actually allowed the opponent to catch up with the substitute lineup.

Uncomfortable or uncomfortable, Popovich just let Leonard play with a substitute lineup, not even Zhang Xiaotian.

Leonard did leave. He was omnipotent in scoring, stealing, and blocking shots. He suddenly stabilized the team. Zhang Xiaotian compared himself, and was a little bit shocked.

It was not until the last few minutes of the fourth quarter that Popovich replaced Duncan and Zhang Xiaotian, securing the victory in one fell swoop.

On April 4, the Spurs went to the Nuggets away game. Popovich didn't bring Parker, who was almost recovered, with this kind of difficult bone, and didn't let Old Stoneford play more when Duncan was in good condition.

The Nuggets didn't show mercy at all. They were competing with the Grizzlies and Clippers for rankings, and when they had the opportunity, they fought hard and wiped out the Spurs.

Zhang Xiaotian was very depressed. It is fine for a player to train a role player, and it would be good to bring him to brush up his statistics, but Popovich is not willing to let him play more in these few games.

The old man doesn't want to lose the No. [-] in the Western Conference, but the Thunder are still a few games away from them, unless the Spurs release all the water in the last few games, there is no need.

Back at home to meet the underdog Kings, the Spurs finally let Parker play.

In the first quarter, the Spurs played Leonard, and Leonard also successfully defeated veteran John Salmons, giving the team a double-digit lead, and then the Spurs began to replace a large number of substitutes.

The king also had no desires, and they also went to the bench to spend time together.

Both sides did not defend, and all shots were thrown randomly. This scene is also a bit eye-catching.

Zhang Xiaotian originally wanted to shoot three-pointers as well, but after thinking about his three-pointers, he was still not very accurate. Anyway, the opponent didn't defend much, so he hurriedly broke through to increase the success rate, and honestly got some points first.

The communication between the two sides was pleasant and beautiful. Seven Kings scored in double figures, eight Spurs scored in double figures, and easily won the game. Popovich was very happy.

On April 4, the Spurs went away to play the Lakers.

The Lakers with a scary lineup are really having a headache for the playoffs. It was reported that the Spurs deliberately lost in order to avoid the Lakers.

At this time, as long as the Spurs play according to the Lakers, there is hope that the opponent's eligibility for the playoffs will be cut off.

But Popovich is still a wave, probably not on purpose, but just didn't want to fight hard with others before the playoffs. As a result, the Lakers Howard and Gasol fought desperately, and the Spurs couldn't win the rebounds at all.

Kobe was injured in the last game, and the Spurs almost gave the opponent a victory, so the Lakers also kept the eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

After the game, the media criticized the Spurs for being shameless, saying that they saw that Kobe was injured and unable to play in the playoffs, so they deliberately lost to face the Lakers.

Well, earlier the Spurs lost and said they didn't want to play against the Lakers, and now the Spurs lost and said they wanted to play against the Lakers, Popovich was aggrieved in an interview, "Our players are getting older and we have suffered injuries. I am responsible for the players, don't tell me that other teams are not ready for the playoffs, you are very wrong for an honest person like me."

Popovich honest?Everyone else quit, and then the honest Popovich let the players rest again. Parker, Duncan, Leonard, and Zhang Xiaotian all stopped playing.

So Curry and Klay Thompson teamed up to dominate the Oakland Arena and won the Spurs in despair.

Dare to spray him for deliberately losing, Popovich will lose for everyone to see.

Then Manu Ginobili announced his return, and the Spurs' plastic surgery was neat again. If you thought that the Spurs would do their best, you were wrong. Popovich continued to train, rotating 12 players per game, and playing more time off the bench.

So the Spurs ended the regular season with a four-game losing streak, and the Thunder had a four-game winning streak. The seemingly impossible to reverse the win-loss gap was wiped out like this. The Thunder ranked first in the Western Conference in the last game. They themselves thought it was incredible. .

Now everyone understands that the Spurs are avoiding the Grizzlies.

Popovich was criticized for treachery by countless people. The old man was very wronged. He just wanted all the players to meet the playoffs in the best condition. Is there something wrong with this?

(End of this chapter)