Super Evolution of Basketball

Chapter 470 I still need to save some character
In the 2016-2017 season, in the first round of the playoffs, the Lakers led the Clippers 3-0 and got the match point.

Paul can't accept this result a little bit, and he will miss the Western Conference Finals again this year.

In fact, as early as when the Clippers and the Rockets made the big deal in February, Paul should have been able to predict that the Clippers management would give up the season.

He was just unwilling to accept it, so he worked so hard to bring the team into the playoffs.

However, their ranking in the regular season is too low, and they met the Lakers in the first round. If it was the Thunder, Spurs, or even the Rockets, maybe it would be different.

In short, the fourth game of the first round is just around the corner.

If you win, you need to win three more games to advance.

If you fail, you will go home to fish.

In history, there has not been a team that has fallen behind 0 to 3 and can still come back.

Rivers is already thinking about the draft, and the management is even more so, and has already taken out the list of big fish for the summer.

The Clippers returned to Staples Center with unspeakable affection.

Fans, whether they are Clippers fans or Lakers fans, seeing the game now, they are a little sad. After all, Paul is also one of the stars and heroes of this city.

Seeing the tragic figure leave with their own eyes, the fans are still very sad.

The fourth game, the critical battle on the surface, is actually a farewell battle.

The game started normally, Jordan and Whiteside jumped the ball.

Jordan beat Whiteside for the fourth time and won the first possession for the Clippers.

Paul advanced very smoothly, and JJ Redick seemed to be unaware that tonight was a battle of life and death, and was still running desperately.

Jordan and Whiteside rolled in the penalty area, waiting for the pie Paul fed to their mouths.

Ryan Anderson was in ambush outside the three-pointer, and Towns only dared to put one step away.

Mbah a Moute was bullied by Paul George to the point of collapse, stuck on the wing, in a dilemma.

Paul's mind gradually became blank, whether to shoot or break through, whether to shoot a three-pointer or a two-pointer, whether the breakthrough is a layup or a pass.

All these thoughts disappeared, and Paul suddenly took a step back at the top of the arc, and then shot a jumper.

This round was very bad for Paul.

The ball, of course, didn't go in.

This goal not only exceeded Yuan Qingshan's expectations, but also exceeded the expectations of the Clippers players.

Jordan didn't have time to take off, and Whiteside grabbed the rebound.

This time he did not hand it directly to Yuan Qingshan, but to Paul George.

Mbah a Moute wants to stick to the defense, but facing Paul George, his defense is better than nothing.

Paul George took the ball to the frontcourt for Yuan Qingshan, and then immediately returned it to Yuan Qingshan.

Yuan Qingshan originally wanted to take a step-back three-pointer against Paul, but after thinking about it, he forgot it. After all, it is the Los Angeles Derby, and the Clippers are also a local team, so they still need to save some character.

Yuan Qingshan made a false pass and gave the ball to Murray.

Murray hits a [-]-pointer with JJ Redick guarding him.

The ball goes in.

The Lakers scored three points first.

Rivers hugged his shoulders, his face was expressionless.

In other words, his brain is also blank, and he may have crashed.

Regarding the Clippers' offense, Rivers was extremely vague before the game, and he didn't say whether he should play inside or outside, fast break or position.

Instead, it filled a bowl full of chicken soup for the soul.

When they got to the court, the players suddenly realized: the coach didn't say how to play.

So the pressure is all on the head coach on the court, the commander on the court, Chris Paul.

Paul advances and Yuan Qingshan comes to defend. Paul has no room to break through. If he is good at shooting super long-range three-pointers like Curry, he may still have some opportunities.

Too bad he doesn't have that habit.

And Paul still pins his hopes on his teammates. Even if he can [-]v[-] like Westbrook in this game, if no one else stands up, he will still lose.

Because the Lakers' firepower is too strong, they can't support themselves.

Paul gave the ball to Jordan Jr.

Jordan jumped high and wanted to make an alley catch, but the takeoff height was not enough, so it became an alley catch, and he had to adjust his feet after landing.

Paul George took advantage of this opportunity, sneaked into the basket without anyone noticing, and pulled the ball out of Jordan's hand.

Wharton yelled, "Fast break, fast break!"

He just opened his mouth, and before he could make a sound, Yuan Qingshan had already activated.

Paul George's pass was on point, and Yuan Qingshan made a three-step basket lightly and skillfully before the Clippers had time to return to defense.

If JJ Redick was responsible for defending himself at this time, he might have dunked him hard.

Since Paul is here to defend, then...

Can dunk, but not necessary.

The steal and fast break at the beginning seemed to take away all the energy the Clippers had.

Next, the Clippers are basically sleepwalking. When Paul is there, he can sort out the team's offense and defense. Once he is off the court, the entire Clippers will fall apart.

After the first half, the Lakers led by 37 points.

This is also a huge point difference, only halftime.

Rivers didn't know what to say when he returned to the locker room, and the Clippers players looked at each other in blank dismay.

It seems that only Chris Paul is unwilling. He rests his elbows on his thighs and covers his face with his hands, preventing the coach and teammates from seeing his expression.

The intermission was actually very short. Rivers poured chicken soup as usual, and asked before ending his lecture: "Chris, do you have anything to say to everyone?"

The coach pointed to himself.

Paul stood up all of a sudden, looked around, and said to his teammates: "Hey, we haven't lost yet!"

JJ Redick, Jordan Jr., Mbah a Moute, everyone found that Paul's eyes were red.

Then, Paul tried to make his voice sound calmer, talking about his feelings this season and his outlook for the future.

No matter how it sounds, it sounds like saying goodbye to this season.

The game continued in the second half. The Clippers tried to counterattack in the first half of the third quarter. Their focus was on the outside, Paul and JJ Redick.

In the end, Yuan Qingshan and Paul George jointly suppressed him.

After the third quarter, everyone in the Clippers, including Rivers and Paul, knew that the game was over.

This season is also over.

After 5 minutes of the fourth quarter, the two sides replaced the main lineup. Before leaving the field, Yuan Qingshan walked to the front of the Clippers bench, hugged Paul tightly, and tried to comfort him.

Paul was really in a bad mood, thanked Yuan Qingshan, and then talked about his helplessness with the current situation of the team.

The Clippers have begun to rebuild, and Paul still has a two-year contract. If there are no other variables, he may have to accompany the Clippers to rebuild for a while.

However, the player's sports career, even the peak period, is very short. Two years later, in 2019, maybe Paul has fallen sharply.

(End of this chapter)