Chapter 849: Popovich's Ambition and New Star Card Pool!

The 2008-2009 regular season was an extraordinary season.

But no matter how extraordinary this season was, the regular season of this season has all ended.

When the regular season of this season ended, although the whole world was still immersed in Yes's incredible five-double, many people had already begun to focus on the playoffs.

After all, no matter how extraordinary the regular season was, it was still the regular season.

The playoffs are what can really make a team and a player immortal!

And the end of the regular season means that the NBA playoffs are about to start.

The first shot of this year's playoffs was on April 18, 2009. The opening game was the second-ranked Heat in the East against the seventh-ranked Pistons in the East.

In addition to the opening game between the second-ranked Heat in the East and the seventh-ranked Pistons in the East.

There were three other games on April 18.

The second game was between the first-ranked Cavaliers in the East and the eighth-ranked 76ers in the East.

The third game was between the fourth-ranked Mavericks in the West and the fifth-ranked Grizzlies in the West.

And the fourth game was between the third-ranked Nuggets in the West and the sixth-ranked Timberwolves in the West.

The game between the Supersonics and the Spurs will be played on April 19, and it is also the finale of April 19.

In addition to the finale between the Supersonics and the Spurs, the other three playoff games on April 19 are the Celtics, the third in the East, and the Bulls, the sixth in the East, the Wizards, the fourth in the East, and the Magic, the fifth in the East, and the Lakers, the second in the West, and the Suns, the seventh in the West.

Most of the eight games between the East and the West are considered to be quite exciting by many experts and media.

Except for the Wizards, the first in the East, against the 76ers, the eighth in the East, the Celtics, the third in the East, against the Bulls, the sixth in the East, and the Spurs, the first in the West, and the Supersonics, the eighth in the West, which are predicted by experts and media to be a 4-0 sweep.

The remaining five games are quite suspenseful.

The Heat, second in the East, and the Pistons, seventh in the East, should have had no suspense, but who made the Heat directly imply in the last game of the regular season, and the Pistons led by Iverson really didn't know whether it was raining or sunny. Iverson was accurate, and his killing methods were no worse than Arenas.

So in this group of duels, many experts predicted that it would take seven games, and the most optimistic was six games, and the support rate for the Pistons to advance exceeded 30%, which was quite a tough player.

The matchup between the Wizards, fourth in the East, and the Magic, fifth in the East, was also quite difficult to guess. The Magic had no outside line to control Arenas, and the Wizards had no inside line to control Howard. These two teams really exploded inside and outside. It was also predicted by experts that it might take seven games, and the support rate for the two teams to advance was half and half.

There was also a duel between the Lakers, second in the West, and the Suns, seventh in the West. The two teams had wins and losses in the regular season. As for the historical records of the two teams, the Suns had the upper hand recently.

Therefore, when the experts and media in the United States predicted the matchup of this group, most of them still believed that this round would definitely be a seven-game matchup.

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Among them, the support rate for the Lakers' promotion was 60%, which was still quite close.

The Nuggets, third in the West, and the Timberwolves, sixth in the West, were a matchup between a veteran powerhouse and a newly rising team. In the second half of the season, the Timberwolves obviously looked stronger than the Nuggets.

Of course, this was the second half of the schedule. Overall, the performance of the two teams was comparable.

The Nuggets had more experience.

But the Nuggets also had a disadvantage, that is, the playoffs of this team were indeed not as good as the regular season. Last season, they were 3-0 ahead and were overtaken by the Supersonics 4-3,

creating the biggest shame in the playoffs in NBA history.

So for the Nuggets, many experts and media had the inherent impression that this team was a little unreliable.

Especially the head coach of the Nuggets, George Karl, and the star player of the Nuggets, Carmelo Anthony, although they were strong, they really gave people the feeling that they were not reliable people.

Generally speaking, as a veteran team, facing a playoff newcomer like the Timberwolves, if the team is not at a disadvantage, it will generally have a great advantage. However, these media experts dare not support the Nuggets too much because of the Nuggets' past.

The Mavericks, who are ranked fourth in the West, and the Grizzlies, who are ranked fifth in the West, are in a similar situation as the Nuggets.

As the second and third teams in the West in terms of record, the Mavericks and the Grizzlies are of course the most intense in the first round.

Therefore, many media experts also think that this matchup will last at least six games.

It's just that this time, these experts did not think that the top-ranked team has a higher chance of advancing.

On the contrary, in this round of confrontation, 80% of the media experts think that the Grizzlies will eventually advance!

The Mavericks and the Grizzlies also fooled around in the regular season this season.

The Mavericks' record is even better than that of the Grizzlies.

Logically speaking, two teams with similar regular season performances should have the same support rate for advancement.

It's not as bad as 20-80, right?

I can only say that if the league experts' inherent impression of the Nuggets is not that good, then their inherent impression of the Mavericks is even worse.

Black eight, and a sweep of black eight, just two years ago!

If the Nuggets' 3-0 lead is a shame, the biggest shame, it's because such a thing has never happened before.

But to pursue the essence of shame, the biggest shame is that the No. 1 team in the league was swept away by the No. 8 team in the league!

"A 3-0 lead reversal will never happen again in the future."

"The No. 1 team in the West was swept away by the No. 8 team in the West, and it will never happen again in the future."

"In comparison, the Nuggets won at least three games in the first round. The No. 1 team in the West didn't even win a single game against the No. 8 team in the West. Nowitzki's existence has injected puff-like energy into any seemingly strong team."

"Scott, what kind of energy is puff-like energy?"

"A kind of energy called 'soft'. A team with such energy cannot go on in the playoffs, which belongs to tough guys and strong men."

After the playoff matchups were released, the Mavericks really became the object of ridicule by experts and celebrities.

The black eight from two years ago was dug out now and reported extensively.

To such an extent, even many NBA players and coaches couldn't stand it.

Although everyone in the NBA looked down on the Mavericks' 2007 black eight sweep.

But one thing is for one thing, the Mavericks this season are really strong.

However, no matter what, the tinted glasses have been worn. If they can't be broken, I'm afraid Nowitzki will have to wear such tinted glasses for the rest of his life.

As the playoffs approach, the current debates and controversies in the NBA have nothing to do with the match between the Supersonics and the Spurs.

The other five matches are all suspenseful, and the match between the Supersonics and the Spurs is really no suspense.

April 17, 2009, San Antonio, Spurs training hall.

The first playoff game against the Supersonics will start on April 19.

Logically speaking, the Spurs should be nervous.

After all, the two teams have played against each other for a total of 16 games recently, and the Spurs have won three of them. This record is indeed a little worse.

But it is obvious that there is no such tense atmosphere in the Spurs' training camp.

It's not that the players don't want to be nervous, or that they can't get nervous.

But as the head coach of the Spurs, Popovich doesn't want the Spurs players to be nervous.

"This series with the Supersonics is just an ordinary series that can't be more ordinary. I don't need you to be nervous or take this series too seriously, because this game is a series that you can't lose as long as you play at your normal level."

"In the past three years, we were too nervous when facing Yes. No, more importantly, I was too nervous when facing Yes. We took Yes too seriously, which led to our inability to perform well every time we faced Yes. The final result was continuous mistakes on the court."

"Tim, Tony, Manu, if you don't take Yes too seriously and aren't too nervous when facing Yes, you will be like the first few games of this season. , constantly appearing on the battlefield where Yes and Bruce are fighting, and finally being caught by Yes, will you make trouble for Bruce? "

"No, as long as you treat Yes with a normal heart, and don't treat Yes as a superman who can get 100 points and get a quadruple-double or a five-double, you won't make trouble for Bruce, and we will win!"

"Boys, leave all Yes to Bruce, you have to get used to one thing now, in front of Bruce, Yes is not the Yes who can get 100 points or the Yes who can get a five-double!"

"In front of Bruce, Yes is just a superstar who is slightly stronger than an ordinary superstar!"

This is what the Spurs head coach Popovich said to all the players during the team training.

Treat Yes with a normal heart.

Don't treat Yes as a superman, treat Yes as an ordinary person.

Popovich's training and requirements were recognized by the Spurs.

They lost when they met Yes before, and they made trouble for Bowen every time and helped Yes go undercover to pit Bowen, because they valued Yes too much.

Even Duncan himself thought that it was because he valued Yes too much, and thought that Bowen would not be able to defend well, so he ran over to help.

But the final result, according to the technical statistics after the game, when he did not help, Yes's efficiency against Bruce alone was lower than when he helped in the past.

That is to say, when Bruce defended Yes alone, his efficiency was higher than when he and Bruce played together.

Such data is amazing, so amazing that Duncan was unwilling to believe it, and even thought that this data was fake.

But in fact, this data is so real.

"Guys, I think you have all watched the news recently and the miserable situation of the Mavericks. The reason why the Mavericks were swept by Yes two years ago was because they valued Yes too much. They could have ignored Yes and just used their own strength to crush him, and they could have won. But in the end, they fell into a vicious circle of having to defeat Yes. Because they couldn't defeat Yes, their mentality finally collapsed, and they were swept by Yes in the end."

"We are very clear about the strength of the Mavericks two years ago. They are definitely not as useless as the media portrays them to be now. Even the powerful Mavericks eventually lost in nervousness and anxiety."

"So, guys, put down your nervousness and anxiety, don't think about winning or losing, because we will definitely be the final winner. If that's the case, why bother thinking about winning or losing!"

"Bruce, do you think what I said is correct?"

"Yes, the outcome of this series is already determined!"

Popovich's training, coupled with Bowen's confidence, calmness and arrogant reply, laid the foundation for the Spurs' unique aura this time.

Popovich was quite satisfied to see the team's relaxed aura.

The Supersonics without Durant are not a concern!

As long as Yes is held up by Bruce, there is no reason for the Spurs to lose!

It was indeed shocking that the Supersonics defeated the Heat in the last game, but Ibaka's two shots in the last two shots against the Heat would not happen when facing the Spurs.

Yes's helpers are really very limited.

Moreover, based on the news reported by the media recently and the videos of Durant's training and competition, if Durant can make a contribution, it will be even better news for the Spurs.

"We are the strongest team in the West and are considered impossible to win the black eight. We are not the Mavericks two years ago. We can't make any mistakes!"

This season, our goal is the championship!

This is what he said to his players.

He didn't say the next half sentence.

If we can't win the championship!

Then...

Popovich's hawk-like eyes swept through the other players except Duncan and Bowen.

He was soft-hearted and changed his style of play this season, not letting those who dragged Bruce and Tim leave.

If he can't save these people by changing his tactics and playing style, then these people are not worthy of his pursuit with the Spurs, Tim and Bruce!

Bruce and Tim are not that young anymore.

He doesn't have enough time to waste.

Even if he has time, Tim and Bruce don't have time.

Feelings are feelings, but...

Thinking of this, Popovich narrowed his eyes slightly.

Of course, he is a kind person. If the team wins the championship this year, everything will be fine, right?

"I believe that they will eventually realize all the ambitions of me and the Spurs!"

"This season is the most glorious season for me and the Spurs!"

Popovich and the Spurs are already thinking about the championship.

And for the Sonics, old Nelson is really a headache.

Durant is really not suitable for the Spurs to come back.

But after Yes was held up by Bowen, the Sonics really have no other reliable strengths.

This round of series is really difficult to play!

Old Nelson and the Sonics are actually quite solemn.

And what about Yes?

Yes is also a little solemn now.

The tenth ring of the superstar completion task: five double superman

Task requirements: In a regular game, get a super five-double data, and the total sum of the highest four double-digit data exceeds 80.

Task description: The host has completed the first nine rings of the completion task with excellent completion, and obtained a guaranteed five-star ten-draw fragment. The tenth ring task automatically matches the excellent difficulty task, and the total number of original tasks is not less than 70 to 80.

Task progress: In the game against the Miami Heat, he scored 42 points, 10 assists, 10 rebounds, 10 steals, and 10 blocks, with a total of 82 five-doubles. Completion: Excellent.

Task reward: A guaranteed five-star ten-draw fragment 10 (10)

Yes's current guaranteed five-star ten-draw card coupon has been integrated.

Of course, the ultimate task of the completion task has also been refreshed.

But what made him frown was not the newly refreshed ultimate task.

Rather, he was wondering whether he should use this guaranteed five-star ten-draw now.

Because the current card pool has changed.

Before, it was Chamberlain's six-star card pool.

After he completed the ten tasks of the completion task, the card pool changed...

And the change made him very speechless.

"The strongest veteran in the universe, the grandpa team of Harvard Westlake High School in Los Angeles, a sporadic card, 58-year-old Lin Han is awesome!"

Yess rarely swears.

But looking at the guy in the card pool who doesn't look like 58 years old at all, and is obviously a bad villain...

Fuck the strongest veteran in the universe!

Fuck Lin Han!

Rajan, let me borrow your idiom for now.