Chapter 340: Popovich Doubts Life
"Duan Li, don't be too arrogant!"
"Isn't it just that your alma mater won a championship? What does it have to do with you!"
"Even if Yes, it's not like you!"
At the end of the NCAA finals, Yeez and the Sonics players returned to Seattle after a short one-day vacation.
Although the NCAA finals are over, the atmosphere across the United States is still shrouded in the story of the NCAA finals.
In the United States, the center of the universe right now is the NCAA.
Whether it's Oden, Florida or Leafs, all their news revolves around the NCAA.
The Sonics are no exception.
David Lee is a senior at the University of Florida, and Noah and the others are all juniors led by David Lee.
After the NCAA finals, he was the proudest and proudest person on the Sonics team.
I was called short and short every day, and my self-confidence was almost gone.
I feel proud now, and I want to feel more comfortable.
The juniors are very capable, and he lived up to his expectations as he served as an undercover agent for Noah and the others in the SuperSonics for most of the season.
It’s just that it’s so exciting that you get beaten easily.
"Everyone is in a good mood right now."
Nelson is very satisfied with the current atmosphere within the Sonics.
The pressure on Sonics players was too much before.
"It's good to have a little distraction, but focusing too much on one thing can easily lead to huge stress."
Ye Si, who was standing next to Old Nelson, nodded in agreement.
In the sprint phase, Sonics' concentration was too concentrated, to the point of breaking the tight strings.
It can make a strict head coach like Nelson think that the Sonics players can distract their attention. You can imagine how focused the Sonics players were before.
Everyone understands the principle of relaxation.
But there are some truths that are useless even if you understand them.
Only if you can do it.
The battle for the top five is so fierce now that even veteran teams like the Spurs can't relax. What do young players like the SuperSonics want to do?
Dreaming.
Well now, the external force of the NCAA finals has allowed the Sonics to relax.
The Sonics will get a day off after returning to Seattle.
The rest time on this day is precious, and coach Nelson did not make any special tactical arrangements.
Logically speaking, at the critical moment of the sprint, every minute and every second is important and cannot be wasted.
But for the current Sonics, urgency is the enemy.
Urgency could see the Sonics collapse from the end of the regular season all the way into the playoffs.
This is not alarmist.
Put all your energy and hope into the fight for five. The tired mentality generated after failing to win five will swallow up the young SuperSonics team whole!
Before the NCAA finals, the Sonics suffered two consecutive losses and their ranking dropped from fifth in the Western Conference to eighth in the Western Conference.
The SuperSonics are now on the verge of collapse!
In this year's NCAA finals, the NCAA also invited Nelson.
Nelson's status is quite high whether in the NBA or the NCAA.
Faced with the invitation of the NCAA, Nelson did not go to the NCAA finals.
When the Seattle SuperSonics players went to watch the NCAA finals, the entire SuperSonics team knew that coach Nelson was studying the three Western Conference gods.
Especially Mavericks.
Nelson has no problem taking the time to study the Mavericks.
The SuperSonics players are rushing five, but it doesn't happen that Nelson is studying the Mavericks and just looks down on their prospects of rushing five and pours cold water on them.
For most players on the SuperSonics, the reason why they work so hard to reach five is not because they believe they can definitely be fifth.
They are just trying their best to give Ye Si as good a result as possible.
Fourth place in the Western Conference is where the Sonics players want to be!
Only by reaching fourth place in the Western Conference can Yes win the regular season MVP.
So, other teams are competing for five.
The other Sonics players are actually competing for the fourth place in their hearts!
Of course, whether competing for fourth or fifth place, the Sonics' hopes are slim, and they know this.
Try your best to get the regular season MVP for Yes!
Try your best to help Yes break through the first round of the playoffs!
These are the two biggest wishes of other Sonics players now.
One is the regular season and the other is the playoffs.
Sonics players are now working hard to compete for the regular season.
They don't have the ability to prepare now for their playoff aspirations.
The Spurs can't prepare and stay strong for the playoffs, can they?
Of course not!
Nelson is now studying the Mavericks. Not only will it not make the Sonics players feel distrustful, it will even make the Sonics players feel more at ease when sprinting.
This seems to be telling other Sonics players.
Don't worry about the playoffs while you're sprinting.
Coach Nelson is here to take precautions for you.
You just need to try your best to move forward!
It would be better to rush forward.
It doesn't matter if you can't make it, coach Nelson is already preparing for the playoffs.
Why more preparation for the Mavericks?
Of course, it's because the most likely opponent for the Sonics in the playoffs is the Mavericks.
Nelson was telling the Sonics players that he was not just pretending.
He is serious!
Based on the Sonics' current ranking and future schedule, the Sonics' opponent entering the playoffs will be the Mavericks.
Eighth in the Western Conference is even the expected ranking of the Sonics in the future!
At the end of the regular season, the SuperSonics' record is likely to be eighth in the Western Conference.
But the SuperSonics haven't given up their efforts yet!
NBA sprint schedule continues!
The NCAA finals are not only a relief for the Sonics, but also a good relief for the current top eight in the Western Conference.
Before the NCAA finals, the seven teams in the Western Conference looked like their bows were fully drawn.
Some of these seven teams look like they're about to collapse.
Of course, the team that collapsed is not talking about other teams, but the Seattle SuperSonics.
Before the NCAA finals, the Sonics lost to the Utah Jazz and rival Nuggets.
The SuperSonics, which suffered two consecutive losses, gave up their fifth position in the Western Conference and dropped to seventh in the Western Conference.
Even the seventh position in the Western Conference seems to be in danger!
The current ranking of the top four in the Western Conference.
The Spurs' record is 53 wins and 22 losses, ranking fifth in the Western Conference.
The Nuggets also have a record of 53 wins and 22 losses, ranking sixth in the Western Conference.
The Sonics have a record of 52 wins and 23 losses, ranking seventh in the Western Conference.
The Lakers' record is also 52 wins and 23 losses, ranking eighth in the Western Conference.
The SuperSonics now have the same record as the Lakers at 52 wins and 23 losses.
As long as the SuperSonics lose another game and the Lakers win, the SuperSonics will drop from seventh to eighth!
A week ago, the SuperSonics were fifth in the Western Conference, and now they have dropped to eighth after losing just one game!
This shows how fierce the competition for fifth place in the Western Conference is now.
Not only the SuperSonics, but also the other three teams in the Triple H.
As long as you lose one game, the rankings will fluctuate drastically!
The only difference is that the opponents of the Spurs, Nuggets and Lakers are relatively weaker and less likely to lose!
It's definitely not like the Sonics seem to be in danger of collapse now.
"Losing one more game, the SuperSonics may collapse!"
When efforts and rewards are not directly proportional, that's when the mentality of these young players breaks down!
Old Nelson finished speaking somewhat quietly, but Ye Si's face remained calm.
Looking at Ye Si's now extremely calm expression.
Old Nelson also secretly admired it in his heart.
The Sonics, who have lost two consecutive games, can no longer afford to lose.
As long as you lose, you will collapse!
So who will be the opponent in the next game that the Sonics cannot lose?
Spurs!
This year's ranking is not very good, but the Spurs have been the top team in the league for the past ten years!
This is a team that no team can say is bound to win!
Facing such a team, it is really rare to still have the calm and confident temperament that Yes has now!
April 4, 2007, San Antonio, AT&T Center.
The Seattle SuperSonics challenge the San Antonio Spurs, fifth in the Western Conference, away from home.
The Spurs are in great form right now.
After losing to the Sonics before, the Spurs are on the fast track to a winning streak.
The SuperSonics, on the contrary, encountered great trouble after defeating the Spurs.
The Spurs and SuperSonics are currently competing for fifth place, but it seems that the Spurs have a tendency to stabilize fifth place again, while the SuperSonics seem to have a tendency to fall behind!
Just like many experts and commentators said before this game, if it weren't for the NCAA's continuous rescue, it would be a huge loss.
I'm afraid the Sonics have fallen behind!
Has it finally reached the point where Yes can’t save it?
"If the SuperSonics continue to lose according to their previous trend, they will completely lose the possibility of competing for the top five!"
"If the SuperSonics can defeat the Spurs in this game, they can still maintain the suspense of competing for the fifth place. Otherwise, they will have to play the Mavericks, Rockets or Suns in the first round!"
Mavericks, Rockets, Suns...
When Barkley mentioned these three names, he felt extremely toothache!
There are still a few games left in the regular season.
These three teams have all reached 60 wins!
What kind of magical scenery is this? !
In the past history of the NBA, only the Western Conference in the 1997-98 season achieved such a miracle!
That season, Malone's Jazz, Payton's SuperSonics, and O'Neal's Lakers all reached 60 wins in the regular season.
And unlike that season when the Jazz, SuperSonics, and Lakers barely reached 60 wins, the Mavericks, Rockets, and Suns all reached 60 wins early.
The Mavericks, Rockets and Suns are much more dominant now!
That year, the Jazz, SuperSonics and Lakers all advanced to the first round.
Will the Mavericks, Rockets and Suns be hacked this year?
What are you thinking!
Now the whole world knows.
If Yes and the SuperSonics cannot be ranked fifth in the West.
The fate waiting for them will be to be kicked out in the first round!
Played an epic regular season, but ended up being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs!
What an irony.
Just like Kobe last season.
Did Kobe get respect last season?
Yes, unlike Kobe, fans won't mock him for his first-round exit.
But there is no doubt that Yes' legendary performance in the regular season this season will be greatly compromised by his first-round exit!
Fifth in the West!
This is the only chance for Yes and the SuperSonics to break through the first round this season!
To be honest, Barkley feels that the fifth position in the Western Conference is actually very unfriendly to the Sonics!
This season, the SuperSonics have been beaten five times by the Jazz, who are fourth in the Western Conference!
If they really meet the Jazz again in the first round of the playoffs, what are the chances of the SuperSonics advancing?
It won’t be that big!
This is the current state of the Sonics.
Compared with direct competitors such as the Lakers, Nuggets, and Spurs, the SuperSonics' performance against strong teams this season is worth complaining about.
This season, the Sonics have faced the top four teams in the Western Conference, the Rockets, Mavericks, Suns, and Jazz, and have not won a single game!
Facing the Celtics, who are No. 1 in the Eastern Conference, the SuperSonics have never won a game!
If it weren't for Yes's strong victory over the Pistons.
Killed the Spurs three times this season.
I'm afraid many people will say that Yes is just bullying the weak and fearing the strong!
Barkley knows very well that some voices are already saying this.
Many Cavaliers fans on the Internet are now saying that the Sonics' victory over the Pistons was due to luck.
Winning three games against the Spurs was an accident.
In the NBA, there are not many black Yes fans.
Most of them are Cavaliers fans.
Cavaliers fans are so die-hard.
Faced with their darling being snatched away from the title of Chosen Son by Yes.
Before James was anxious, Cavaliers fans were anxious first.
However, some Cavaliers fans are actually right.
The game between the SuperSonics and the Pistons was indeed lucky, after all, it was a buzzer beater!
And it was Yes's decisive blow against Prince.
Just like that kind of killer shot, if Yes throws it a hundred times, can he score once?
Maybe in a hundred games, the Pistons can win 99 games, but they just encountered the one where they lost!
The game between the SuperSonics and the Spurs was said to be an accident by Cavaliers fans online. This was not what Cavaliers fans said.
This is what Popovich of the Spurs said himself.
When Popovich was interviewed yesterday, he was asked about the possibility of being killed four times by Yes this season. Popovich's face was not so pretty.
Have the Spurs been swept by any team in these seasons?
Sweeped across!
But getting swept by a Western Conference team?
No!
Even the Mavericks, who have suffered the Spurs in the past two seasons, have never beaten the Spurs so badly!
During the pre-game interview between the Spurs and SuperSonics, those reporters really started to stir up trouble.
With Popovich's character, how could he be so subdued as to say, "I really can't beat Yes?"
Even if it’s true, I can’t say it out loud!
What's more, Popovich's reasons sound quite good!
In the first game, he was studying Yes, and he was so busy studying that he forgot to close the game.
In the second game, Bowen underestimated the enemy too much, and he also underestimated the opponent too much.
In the third game, the rhythm was interrupted by special factors.
What this special factor is, Popovich cannot say it in order not to be fined.
But the whole world knows it.
Because of Crawford!
"Bruce's playing time did not decrease in that game, but his movements and defense on the court would definitely be affected due to too many fouls. Then we only lost by 4 points in that game. If Bruce had even one less foul, , we will be the ones who win in the end!”
"Of course, I don't want to deny Yes' performance in that game. Yes is a great player, but the SuperSonics are not qualified to be the team that beat us three times, and the SuperSonics are not qualified to be the team that swept us!"
Based on Popovich's remarks in interviews before the game, any fool can see how resentful Popovich is for the past three games.
How much emphasis is placed on this home game against the Sonics.
Based on what Popovich said, he almost shouted that the Spurs must win this game!
"There will be no more surprises in this game!"
"The Spurs will never lose again!"
"Bruce won't have so many fouls. He will stay close to Yes for the whole game!"
In fact, it didn't even take a day before Popovich still shouted out his victory declaration at the press conference that day.
Barkley didn't see how confident Popovich was when he said this.
But Popovich does have the capital to be confident.
The Spurs, who went all out, never lost again after losing to the SuperSonics!
This is a team that still maintains championship competitiveness!
Maybe the Spurs' season dominance is not as good as before, but in some games, the Spurs can still show championship strength!
Yes' touch was very good in the last game, and he was able to score so many points against Bowen, who was already extremely defensive.
But in the end, the Sonics only won by 4 points!
Just like Popovich said, as long as Bowen doesn't commit so many fouls in this game, as long as Yes doesn't feel so good in this game.
The Spurs can win, and they can win easily!
In the last game of the season between the SuperSonics and the Spurs, it is possible that the SuperSonics will be beaten to hell with one blow, giving up the fight for fifth place and settling for eighth place.
Therefore, the Dallas Mavericks are really looking forward to watching how their rival Spurs send the SuperSonics to them in this game.
In the eleven games at the end of the SuperSonics season, the Mavericks felt that even if they didn't take action personally, the Sonics would not be able to hold on and would already be in eighth place.
But unexpectedly, the Sonics just won't fall!
It should be that he fell down and was picked up by Yes, and fell down and was picked up by Yes again.
After losing to the Nuggets and Jazz in the previous two games, they encountered the desperate Popovich again in this game.
The Sonics are finally going to collapse!
No matter how strong Yes is, they can't help the Sonics!
"Popovich said there will be no surprises in this game!"
"Popovich said Bowen was ready to fight for 48 minutes!"
There will be no surprises!
There will be no surprises in this game!
As an old friend for so many years, the young general Johnson knows very well what Popovich is like.
Without absolute certainty, he would not have said so many words before the game!
Popovich said there were no accidents in this game, so there must be no accidents!
Since Popovich said that Bowen will play with Yes for 48 minutes, it means that Popovich has already made the most difficult preparations!
No one knows better than him how terrifying the well-prepared Popovich is!
However……
Looking at the score on TV, in the Bulls locker room, young general Johnson's eyes went straight!
92 to 99!
The home team goes first, the away team goes last!
Spurs lose again? !
Didn't you agree that there would be no surprises? !
Did you say you won't be swept away? !
What about being fully prepared as promised? !
Not to mention the Mavericks in front of the TV.
Even Popovich at the AT&T Center looks dull now!
Facing Bowen's almost perfect defense, Yes scored 10 points in the last three minutes and took away the Spurs? !
Popovich suddenly found that he couldn't understand the game? !
He is a champion head coach who has won three championships in the NBA. He was a little skeptical after this game!
"The Sonics still haven't fallen!"
"As long as Yes has not fallen, the Sonics will never fall!"
"The Spurs got swept!"
"Bowen played 44 minutes in this game and couldn't prevent the Spurs from being swept!"
"The Spurs were really swept!"
Barkley roared.
Kenny Smith on the other side was staring at the SuperSonics No. 9 on the court in stunned silence.
The place was extremely quiet!
When has the AT&T Center ever been so quiet? !
Can the SuperSonics win this game? !
Kenny Smith has been in the NBA for so many years, and this is the first time he has seen the AT&T Center drop a needle like this!
Just as Kenny Smith was stunned, the assistant's voice sounded in the headset.
"The Lakers defeated the Nuggets at home!"
"In another game at the same time, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Nuggets at home with a score of 116 to 111!"
Fifth in the West: Seattle SuperSonics, 53 wins and 23 losses.
Sixth in the West: Los Angeles Lakers, 53 wins and 23 losses.
Seventh in the West: San Antonio Spurs, 53 wins and 23 losses.
Eighth in the West: Denver Nuggets, 53 wins and 23 losses.
Looking at the subtitles printed on the TV, Nowitzki's mouth was open and speechless.
He was already prepared for the Sonics to be sent to him by the Spurs and Popovich.
But in the end, not only did the Sonics not be pushed to his lips by the Spurs, they even climbed to fifth place in the Western Conference!
"The SuperSonics climbed to fifth place in the Western Conference again?!"
Even Barkley, who was roaring, was shocked and speechless after receiving the news that the Lakers defeated the Nuggets at home!
After the Sonics fell from the fifth position last time, the whole world believed that it would be impossible for the Sonics to return to fifth place in the Western Conference!
But now, the SuperSonics are back fifth in the Western Conference!
"Incredible!"
Barkley can only be described as unbelievable and incredible!
He doesn't know how long the Sonics can stay in fifth place in the Western Conference under the devil's schedule.
But now, the SuperSonics are indeed in fifth place in the Western Conference again!
How long can the SuperSonics stay in fifth place in the Western Conference?
On April 5, 2007, the Spurs, who lost to the SuperSonics at home, went to the court to challenge the Dallas Mavericks, now second in the Western Conference.
92 to 105!
The Spurs lost again in back-to-back away games!
On the same day, the Nuggets, who lost to the Lakers, challenged the Mavericks back to back on the road, 75 to 81!
The Nuggets lost two games in a row!
On April 6, 2007, the SuperSonics returned to their home court to face the Lakers, now fifth in the Western Conference, 88-80!
The SuperSonics defeated the Lakers who were not feeling good at home!
80 to 88!
Looking at the score next to Key Arena, Kobe looked unhappy.
Lost again!
In a game that would place fifth in the Western Conference if we win, we lost again!
He has lost many such games this season!
It feels like this again!
It’s the same feeling again as when I played against Yes for the first time!
That feeling of being completely seen by Yes and not having any secrets at all!
Kobe is incredible!
Why is Yes so familiar with him? !
Obviously including this game, they have only played against each other three times!
Kobe didn't know why, but he really didn't want to lose such a crucial tie-break battle again!
It’s so uncomfortable!
SuperSonics, 54 wins and 23 losses!
The other three villains, 53 wins and 24 losses!
After the SuperSonics defeated the Lakers at home, the United States was in an uproar!
"The supersonic speed actually widened the gap with the other three murderers first!"
"Not only can the SuperSonics return to fifth place, but they can also maintain their fifth position?!"
They lost back-to-back away games to the Lakers on April 7th.
On April 9, they lost to the Rockets at home.
It wasn't until they lost to the Suns in an away game on April 11 that the Sonics fell from fifth place!
53 wins and 27 losses!
At this time, 80 games of the NBA regular season have passed!
“I didn’t give up fifth place in the Western Conference until the 80th game!”
"In such a devilish schedule, Yes didn't give up the fifth spot in the Western Conference until the 80th game!"
Looking at the Sonics Nine on TV who has given his all.
Nowitzki and the Mavericks players have shock on their faces now!
The Supersonic collapse they expected has finally arrived!
Eleven games of devilish schedule!
Although they didn't predict as frantically as those experts that the Sonics would lose 11 games in a row.
But I would never have thought that the SuperSonics would collapse with only 2 games left in the regular season!
"The Sonics are finally down!"
"Yes finally fell!"
The SuperSonics, which has lost three consecutive games, not only conceded fifth place in the Western Conference.
At the same time, it also dropped to eighth in the Western Conference!
Little General Johnson really felt a sense of relief!
The next two games for the SuperSonics are the Pistons and the Mavericks!
Fall down and stand up again, Fall down and stand up again!
This time, the Sonics finally couldn't stand up anymore!
During this week, the Sonics occupied fifth place in the Western Conference.
It was really a torture for him and Mavericks!
They don't know how they spent this week with two things in mind!
Now, the ordeal is finally over!
Yes?
Coach Nelson?
"God still loves us!"
"Our destiny is already in our hands!"