basketball never sleeps

Chapter 285 Then Call the Police

"is this real?"

The victory result was played on the big screen above the stadium. The lead at the end of the third quarter seemed like a dream, and the fans who were cheering for the home team in front also felt the same exhaustion as the Spurs players.

Basketball is nothing but entertainment for fans and nothing but work for players.

But when fans invest their hope and time, and players invest their sweat and health, then everything is no longer just entertainment and work.

The camera swept across the sidelines and easily found many Spurs fans' broken hearts and shattered tears.

Being behind 1:3 is not the end of the world, but looking at the figures remaining on the court to be interviewed, everyone who watched the last quarter carefully could not help but feel the fear and helplessness in their hearts.

Most teams can score 26 points in the final quarter, but if the subject is changed to an individual, one person, plus the prefix "playoffs", and the adjective "with the Spurs", then this sentence can only be described as magical.

"Are you really a devil?" Duncan pointed at the number on Mo Wen and said in a slightly helpless tone.

"If the devil can allow you to take a vacation early, then not many people will believe in God." Mo Wen patted Duncan and said with a smile.

After many twists and turns, the No. 21 rookie is already 30 years old. The increasingly advanced modern medical care and self-discipline allow Duncan to maintain a decent rate of decline, but he is still inevitably eroded by time.

Looking back at Duncan's gradually disappearing back in the player tunnel, Mo Wen vaguely saw flames dissipating from his body and then gathering and condensing in his palm.

future?

The future will be written by him!

Click. The beautiful reporter behind Mo Wen pushed the microphone away and poked it in front of Mo Wen.

"OK, Mo, it's time to get familiar with each other again, let's chat!"

Fuck, they forgot the pen was still in their hands.

Mo Wen's breathing stagnated, and he put on a professional smile.

At the post-match press conference, each reporter was extremely active and proactive, as if they had been injected with chicken blood.

There was no other way. The rice cake that had been simmered over low heat for three sections was completely burnt when it was cooked over high heat in the last section.

They did have some big news worth boasting about, but they had to add some truth to the emotions, interjections and exclamation marks.

"How did you do that in the fourth quarter?"

"Isn't it amazing? Maybe you have to thank my teammates. If they had shot more accurately, I wouldn't have had to explode in the fourth quarter." Mo Wen joked.

"Okay, this is all a joke. In fact, if it weren't for the hard work of our entire team, I wouldn't have played well in the fourth quarter. Every blooming rose is inseparable from the joint efforts of leaves, branches, and roots. Of course, it is undeniable that my personal efforts also played a big role in it. That's life..."

"Brother Mo, didn't you say that you simply didn't want to fight Tianwang Mountain?"

Milicic was whispering quietly nearby. His voice was not loud, but almost everyone present could hear it.

Mo Wen: ...

Is it so difficult for me to be a good person?

On the Spurs side, Popovich, who was at his wit's end, entered constipation mode.

Whenever reporters asked him questions, he would always open his mouth to say something, then close his mouth and start shaking his head.

The reporters asked for a long time, but they only got one answer: "Unbeatable, unbeatable." "Bruce is too important."

As for the Spurs players, their condition is pretty good, mainly because they have let it go.

If you can beat him, beat him. If you can’t, use the Gundam. What’s the point of resisting against such an opponent?

Oh no, resistance might make people more excited.

……

He roughly threw the ball bag aside, put on a fake smile and symbolically hugged his girlfriend who was waiting at the door, then the big white guy rolled over on the sofa tiredly.

The girlfriend thoughtfully brought him a glass of ice water, but Milicic just waved his hand and didn't want to say anything more.

The pressure of the playoffs and the fatigue accumulated from days of running around broke out in the familiar environment. Now he didn't want to do anything. He just wanted to lie in the Poké Ball and slowly recover his health, waiting for the call of the next battle.

"Honey, you know, you performed really well in the last game, especially the goal in the second quarter..."

"Are you tired? Either go to bed and rest, or wait for me to get some hot water for you. A bubble bath will be much more comfortable..."

"I bought some really nice clothes a few days ago. I also bought some for you. Now that you've had a good rest...do you want me to wear them now?"

When his girlfriend came up to him and tried to talk to him, he just squinted his eyes and hummed like a pig, as if he was a child who got up early and stayed in bed to deal with his parents.

Seeing that he didn't respond much, his girlfriend gradually lost her enthusiasm, and instead took a thin blanket and gently covered him with it.

"I'll go make you something delicious. I tried to make the hometown dishes you mentioned last time when you were not around. They're pretty good. I'll let you try them later."

Listening to his girlfriend's leaving footsteps, Milicic raised a sarcastic arc at the corner of his mouth.

If it weren't for the same face, he would hardly recognize that this was still his spoiled girlfriend.

The girlfriend who spends his money and emphasizes equality every day, gets angry for no reason, relies on the housekeeper to do all the housework, and has nothing good except her delicious body and excellent skills.

As for the reason why my girlfriend changed, there is no need to say more.

He's going to sign a big contract.

He is about to become a true billionaire with an annual income of tens of millions!
He was supposed to sign a contract extension last summer, but it was delayed due to a change of ownership.

He played well in the new season, but the owner and management wanted to lower his price by citing his injury last year. As his agent, Heuman believed in his employer's ability and simply postponed the contract renewal negotiations with the Supersonics.

As Milicic's performance gradually stabilized, the supply and demand relationship between the two sides slowly reversed. The team began to seek communication with Heuman, but they were always unwilling to offer a third-in-command the maximum salary contract he deserved.

Mo Wen's contract accounts for 35% of the salary cap, Ray Allen accounts for 30%, and Tyson's annual salary of tens of millions accounts for 20%.

Logically, he could ask for a maximum salary of 25% of the salary cap, but in that case the four of them would be over the cap. Such a situation and salary structure are the first in the entire NBA history.

In 97 and 98, the Bulls' starting lineup seemed to be over the cap, mainly because Danny's exceptional $3000 million contract directly filled the salary cap.

The Supersonics are already close to hitting the luxury tax line this season. With the renewal of Milicic and salary increases for others, the team's salary expenses next season could skyrocket to nearly $1 million.

You should know that the current valuation of the Trail Blazers is only 2.3 million.

So the matter came to a standstill.

When the SuperSonics began to show their championship-contending qualities, the media suddenly changed their tone and began discussing his whereabouts next season, as if the countdown to his departure had already begun as the playoffs progressed.

Because everyone knows that it is really difficult for the Supersonics to renew Milicic's contract. It would be fine if they didn't win the championship. In order to win the championship, Bennett might have to spend a lot of money. But if they really win the championship...

Milicic was very upset. He finally got the chance to play with Mo and he was used to the environment and life in Seattle. Why should he leave just for a few bucks?
To be fair, he is already very satisfied with this kind of life. The team is strong, the team atmosphere is good, it is easy to play, and he can win games. He also gets an annual salary of tens of millions. This is a life he never dared to dream of before.

At one point, he wanted to agree to a first-level management contract to stay with the team.

But everyone around him, including Mo Wen, advised him not to give in on this matter.

Fans can be moved by the packaged brotherhood and loyalty, but players cannot, because for players, basketball is a job, and the meaning of work is to make money.

Capitalists and workers are naturally in opposition. Even after the disintegration of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Milicic understood these basic principles.

He still remembered what Heuman said to him that day.

"In fact, if you two are on the same team, I can save a lot of trouble. I can help you negotiate millions more every year, and my 3% commission won't be much more. But since you are my client, I must be responsible for you. It is my job to identify your value and bring out your value."

"You can be the perfect third player for the Sonics, you can be the pillar of the inside line here, you can be a future All-Star regular, but everyone can see that your potential is far more than that."

"Two years ago I said you would become a billionaire. Do you know why I was so sure? Because at that time the average salary of the league's starting inside players was almost twice that of the outside players. As long as you can become a starter, a long-term contract with an annual salary of tens of millions is really just the beginning for you."

"If you stay in the SuperSonics, you will only be the third in command before Ray gets old. However, there are teams outside that want you to be the boss... not as many as Mo, but there are three teams that have expressed clear intentions to me. You are far more popular than you think."

"What does Mo mean? Mo just means don't let me affect your mentality in the future. As for the rest, he can help you ask the boss to raise the price, but he will never let you lose money in order to keep you. According to their words, brothers are brothers, and money is money." "Besides, have you really never thought about being the only one?"

Be the only one?

Milicic shuddered.

……

5 month 17 day.

The series returns to Seattle.

The Spurs are still shouting the old slogan "Never give up".

3:1 is not the end of the world, it’s just three games, win one with a hard effort, win one with a loan, and then dream of winning one.

But the reason why a miracle is called a miracle is because you probably already know the outcome of the matter.

Just like that unsent love message several years ago, there is still a miracle before receiving the wedding invitation.

Bowen, who was longed for by Popovich and many Spurs fans, finally broke the seal and made a reluctant comeback.

Bowen was not in good condition. Ray Allen didn't kill him, but he punched him on the head many times. The honest man's punches were quite strong. Even if he was not suspended by the league, the mild concussion and broken nose would not allow Bowen to continue playing after the game.

Sonics fans were even more excited because Ray Allen had reconnected.

In their eyes, if Bowen hadn't meanly used his head and face to butt Ray Allen's fist, this series might have ended in San Antonio.

"Let Ray move around more today. He'll get rusty if he doesn't move around after two games. We'll go back to the outside shooting today. Not only Ray, but everyone else should be more resolute if they have a chance from the outside. If we're ahead by a large margin, Dak can try a few more three-pointers. They'll definitely focus on defending me today. Stay focused. Yellow Chocolate's pass will be delivered to you at any time. Whoever can't catch the ball should stick his butt up and wait to be kicked after the game!"

As usual, he gave a speech in the locker room before the game.

"Are you tired? Why don't you let me control the ball and you run around?" Hearing a lack of enthusiasm in Mo Wen's voice, Ray Allen teased.

"Don't even think about it. Controlling the ball is a complicated matter. You can't grasp it. Just wait for the chance to score." It's not that Mo Wen didn't want to share the ball. Ray Allen only played half the game in the entire series. He was not used to the rhythm and was bound to make mistakes when he was allowed to control the ball. He would have to clean up the mess later.

Milicic wanted to say something, but then he closed his mouth. Throughout the series, he had been playing in mismatches, pulling out for mid-range and long-range shots, and making transition fast breaks. He hadn't faced Duncan head-on for many times. He wanted to try out the DPOY title, but felt a little willful.

The atmosphere in the Supersonics locker room was not tense. Mo Wen's burst in the final quarter of the last game and Ray Allen's return made them full of confidence in this game.

But the league promoted Bavetta to the position of referee today.

The Spurs players had already started to waste time in a routine and decent manner, but they found themselves again under the encouragement of the whistle.

Yes, the referee didn’t give up, so why should we give up on ourselves?
Mo Wen used his status as a superstar to try to communicate properly and then helplessly spread his hands, but he was unable to change the direction of the whistle.

Bavetta: I don’t care about what you say, just blow it!

I have to admit that the power of script killing is really strong. In the first half, the Sonics' inside players received a total of 8 fouls, Milicic and Tyson 3 each, and Francisco 2.

A ghost, the ghost of capitalism, is haunting the stadium.

But Tim Duncan is just a stone Buddha after all. He has no story of "the greatest individual heroism" to bless him. There is no initiation, no party, no departure... He can't make Bavetta lose face by sending off the main player of the Supersonics in the first half.

However, Ray Allen and Mo Wen, who were very clean, were not affected much by the calls on the outside, and were even afraid of another conflict. Bowen was also closely watched.

The Spurs were in good shape, with the highest half-time shooting percentage in the series, plus nearly 20 free throws in the first half, as if they had regained the feeling of winning.

But the Supersonics' three-pointer was off.

Well, it’s not that the vote was opened, it’s opened.

He made 19 of 11 three-pointers in the first half, turning the plot-killing CG into a game between the dog and the dog.

Why are referees becoming more and more outrageous in the small ball era?
Because if you don't do something extraordinary, you really can't suppress it!
The referee had to blow five whistles amid boos to get 5 free throws, and then he had to spend all his brain cells writing the referee report. As a result, the three-point team got in good form and caught up with the score with three three-pointers without much contact.

Is there still a king's law? Is there still law? !

In the second half, Mo Wen's touch was back, and he shot a long three-pointer from the edge of the logo. It was just a warm-up, but in the next round, Bowen didn't believe it and let him go two steps...

Swish!
Popovich glared at Bavetta and pointed his finger sideways. No, this is not a foul?
Bavetta: Then call the police.

Mo Wen doesn't want to start the small ball era too early, but he has to admit that three-pointers are sometimes really useful!

After two long three-pointers, the Spurs players' eyes became much clearer.

"Guys, keep an eye on the basketball!" Ginobili clapped his hands and called out to his teammates.

Duncan raised his eyebrows. As expected of Manu, he was still so motivated even when faced with such a situation.

"I must cut that ball after the game. There must be some kind of guidance and positioning device inside it. How could a human being make two such shots in a row?!" Feeling the injury on his ribs, Ginobili's expression changed again. "Tim, last time you said that The Terminator was actually a documentary, that couldn't be true, right?"

Duncan was silent.

After the glorious moment, the game continued and the dedicated Bavetta continued to perform his duties conscientiously, but the Spurs, who had calmed down, could no longer find their momentum.

"After you finish this job, you can get another contract extension when this one ends."

"The team advances, and San Antonio will retire your jersey when you retire."

Popovich is still making a final effort while pulling Bowen. Ray Allen's ankle has a weakness. As long as Bowen can break it and take Mo Wen away with him, the Spurs still have hope in the series.

However, this time, Bowen chose to drown out Old Deng's PUA with silence.

It wasn't because he was beaten by Ray Allen and turned over a new leaf, but because he was really beaten.

The fist landed on his head, and he knew how painful it was.

Mo Wen's big elbow made his ribs tremble when he was defending normally. If he had tricked Ray Allen, his relatives would probably have to cry and wipe their mouths.

As for retiring his jersey and all that, he was just a second-round pick, the pie was too big, the story was too fake.

The Supersonics pushed hard in the third quarter and widened the gap to 16 points.

In the fourth quarter, Tyson got 6 fouls shortly after the start of the game, and one minute later, Milicic got 1 fouls.

But this move successfully liberated Milicic.

Do you dare to consecutively send off the two main inside players of the Supersonics?

Milicic, who was fearless, seized the opportunity to defend Duncan with two consecutive big moves, and then we knew that Bavetta was really brave!

However, with time remaining in the second half of the quarter, the Spurs were unable to make up the 15-point gap.

What's more, Mo Wen and Ray Allen can always provide stable firepower.

As usual, the Spurs tried to gamble with three-pointers. Perhaps influenced by their historical luck in winning championships, they made several three-pointers.

However, what was despairing was that Mo Wen stood up again and made continuous breakthroughs to keep the score close.

A three-pointer earns one more point than a layup, but in reality the Spurs don't have time to catch up point by point.

As the game drew to a close, almost no one left the KeyArena.

As the time slowly returned to zero, everyone stood up one after another.

96 years have passed since the end of the 11 playoffs, and the Supersonics finally stepped onto the Western Conference Finals again.

Mo Wen, who had played countless Western Conference Finals games in the copy, jumped involuntarily.

Western Conference Finals floor?

You know what, it’s quite sturdy.

At the end of the game, the Supersonics defeated the Spurs 110:101, strangling the historic champion in the second round.

(End of this chapter)