Chapter 739 The Last Battle

Li Liang's words still make sense, and this is indeed good news for the Pacers.

It is indeed exciting to win the championship at home. There is nothing more desirable than this. Amidst the cheers of the crowd, you will reach the pinnacle of the NBA.

Since 1984, when the format of the Finals was changed from 22111 to 232, it has been difficult for the team with fewer home games to win the championship at home.

On the one hand, teams with fewer home games will have a lower percentage of championships. Second, teams with fewer home games will find it difficult to eliminate their opponents within five games, and there is a high probability of being eliminated by their opponents.

From 1985 to 2013, only the Houston Rockets in 1995 and the Detroit Pistons in 2004 were able to win the championship at home. The Lakers won the championship in 2013, all of which were enthroned in Miami.

By 2014, the 232 game system was abolished and changed to 22111, which is more fair for the home court advantage team and does not need to experience the devil's three-game streak. For the Pacers this time, they have to seize the opportunity of the sixth game. Win the championship.

Li Liang's words boosted morale. After participating in the press conference and accepting the post-match interview, the Pacers rushed back to Indiana by special plane immediately.

They had a day off to adjust the time, and Bird decided to give the players a day off, and he asked everyone to go back and sleep well, rest well, and forget about everything.

"Tomorrow will be your first game after joining the NBA. Do your best, boys."

Regarding the tactical arrangement for the sixth game, to be honest, there was nothing to arrange. Both sides had used all possible moves.

In the fifth game, the Pacers had many opportunities, but the players couldn't make the shots.

So it's entirely a matter of player status, not tactics.

A battle like this that decides the title of the champion really depends on one breath.

Li Liang followed Bird's instructions and took a good rest and relaxation on the 15th. He also went fishing with Zhu Shu in the suburbs for an afternoon.

Fishing can make people calm down, but it is impossible to say that Li Liang is not nervous.

A key step toward a three-peat, most likely his final performance in Indianapolis, also has pressure on his shoulders.

[Lucky Hand] has been used up, and the Warriors are still very strong. In the last game, he has to rely more on his own performance and state.

Also, he needs his teammates.

On this day, all Pacers players followed Bird's instructions to take a good rest and relax.

JR-Smith went shopping with his wife, Finson played games at home, McGee watched a movie at home for a day, Kevin Garnett went to Minnesota to have a gathering with friends, Danny Granger participated in a local community event A donation event, George Hill went to pick up a hair, for a new hairstyle.

The whole of Indianapolis also looks very calm, other sports events as usual, people talk about the finals in private, but no one wants to say more.

Because in fact, everyone is very nervous, looking forward to winning at home, but also worried about losing, and going back to Oakland, then they will be in trouble.

On June 16th, it was a very good day for Li Liang. He got up very early, and Zhu Shu rarely made him breakfast at home. He ate ten fried eggs and a large glass of milk in one go. Bread and six sausages.

Li Liang's appetite is still astonishing. If it weren't for the good salary of playing in the NBA, the originally wealthy family would become less wealthy. This guy is too good to eat.

After getting up, Li Liang drove out for a stroll and said hello to the neighbors.

He is located in an upscale community in Indian City, surrounded by many Pacers fans.

He saw that the gates of some family courtyards had already planted pedestrian flags.

At noon, Li Liang went to the team's training hall. He was not late today and had a simple shooting training with his teammates.

The atmosphere in the team was very relaxed, but everyone was a little silent, as if they didn't mention the word "champion".

In fact, everyone was waiting for Li Liang to say something. After he said something, everyone dared to say it.

It has nothing to do with authority, it's just because of superstition, because everyone is afraid that if they talk about the championship, they will lose the game.

People always have this kind of mentality, the more they want something, the less they dare to say it clearly, especially when they are about to get it, they are afraid that they will lose it.

On the contrary, it's the kind of people who don't have any chance of being a champion at first glance, "My goal is the championship, I want to win the championship" with a big mouth, which is basically farting, you just want to take money.

The Pacers are different, they are really within reach, but this last touch is the most thrilling.

Finally, after the training, everyone got together, and Li Liang said, "After winning the championship tonight, we'll go to Larry's house for dinner. Everyone remember to bring something to eat. Larry's house doesn't have enough food."

Everyone laughed, Bird was speechless, why did he go to my house for dinner? Why? This trip won't make the family poor?

But Bird still said: "I called my wife right away and asked her to start preparing."

Everyone laughed again, and their minds were completely relaxed.

Confidence is especially important at times like this.

Of course, tonight's game against the Warriors will definitely not be easy.

...

At seven o'clock that night, at the Conseco Arena, it may be the last game of the NBA season.

Players from both teams arrived at the arena early to warm up, and the opening ceremony was particularly enthusiastic.

Flames rose on both sides of the court, and a large-scale projection system projected a promotional film on the field. On the wooden floor of Indiana, the glorious history of the Warriors and Pacers appeared in front of people.

Nate Thurmond, Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry, George McInnis, Reggie Miller, Jermaine O'Neal...

In the appearance introduction, when Li Liang came on stage, the decibels reached the maximum.

No matter where he goes in the summer, he's a basketball hero in Indiana right now.

On the sidelines near the players' tunnel, where the O'Brien Cup is placed, waiting for the owner to pick it up.

Li Liang looked at the O'Brien Cup, he already had two, this kind of trophy, the more he wants to take it, it will be addictive.

The starting lineups of the two sides are the same as in the previous game, Wuxiao VS Wuxiao, Li Liang is getting more and more comfortable in the center position.

After the victory in the last game, the mentality of the Warriors players has adjusted a lot.

Li Liang is indeed terrifying, but he can still be defeated.

On the Pacers side, the players' eyes were extremely determined, and their morale was extremely high and united.

Tonight, the Conseco Arena did not distribute yellow T-shirts to the fans, and everyone wore their own clothes, otherwise the yellow would be too much like the atmosphere of the Warriors' home court.

Outside the arena, many, many fans gathered to watch the scene on the big screen.

As for China, I don't know how many students skipped class to watch football.

The game started, Li Liang took the lead in the jump ball, dialed the ball, and the Pacers started their offense.

The scene was very noisy, and the noise was unbelievably loud. As a player of the home team, Li Liang felt that it was too fucking noisy.

But for the first ball, after Li Liang received the ball on the left side, he held the ball and overtook Iguodala. Facing Green, who came up from the supplementary defense, he made an emergency stop jumper and hit two points!

Li Liang leaned back a little bit, avoiding Iguodala's block, and hit it steadily.

feels good!

This is the rhythm that Li Liang likes.

Then, the Warriors blundered on offense, their pass was smart, but under high pressure, the last pass went wrong and hit the baseline.

Subsequently, Smith missed a layup, but the Warriors also missed a three-point counterattack.

Li Liang got the rebound from the backcourt, counterattacked quickly, and went straight to the basket to attract the defense of three people. He sneaked a missed ball to Danny Granger who followed behind, and Granger dunked with both hands!

Li Liang, who can pass the ball, is terrifying.

At this time, Cole called a timeout, and Cole called a timeout after only two minutes of the opening.

Still a little slower than Popovich, the old man dared to call a timeout with one ball.

This also shows that Cole is very, very cautious, they can't afford to lose at all.

But Li Liang felt that the more he felt that he couldn't afford to lose, the more likely he was to lose completely.