When pride still matters

Chapter 420 There can only be one

115 is better than 97
It should be said that the Celtics' efforts were not fruitless.

They should have lost by more than 20 points, but ended up losing by "only" 18 points.

This is the result of persistence, this is the reward of hard work.

Garnett finally realized in the fourth quarter that he was the most powerful big man in the series and that he should be fighting in the paint instead of counting on jump shots from ten feet away.

Therefore, he grabbed a lot of offensive rebounds and alleviated the Celtics' poor offensive performance, but it was too late.

But it at least gives Doc Rivers a direction to focus on in a crucial Game 5.

"Doug, so far, you have suffered 11 consecutive road losses in the playoffs, and Game 5 in two days will be your last away game of the season." ESPN's David Aldridge asked, " What do you think you should do to reverse the poor away performance?"

"Good question, David." You can really get some insight in Rivers' interview as to why he's always been praised and had a stable coaching job as a tactically inept, slow-witted head coach. "In my opinion, this is not a basketball issue, this is a psychological issue."

Rivers talked about it: "You know, it's like "The Shawshank Redemption". We all wish we were Andy, but in the end, most of us are Reed. We are used to being in a familiar place. Playing in a system, in professional basketball, that’s the difference between home and away. We’re an institutional team, so we’re better at home, and that shouldn’t be disparaged. I’m proud of my players!”

Are the Celtics an institutional team?
really?
However, not everyone in the media agrees with Rivers.

this is too scary.

This kind of thing must never happen!

Aldridge's negative opinion of Rivers disappeared. He no longer paid attention to the Celtics' lack of wins on the road. Instead, he was amused by Rivers' metaphor.

There is also an away game.

Yu Fei sarcastically said, "There are only a few games left in the season, and you are still looking for ways to win away from home? Cool!"

At the end of the game, Yu Fei's ridicule made Simmons almost go crazy: "Is the great Celtic glory restored by a team that has lost 11 consecutive away games? This is what you call 'a lifetime' The team'? It's really admirable and I'm looking forward to Game 5 more and more."

Although David Aldridge and others feel that the Celtics' poor performance on the road is a problem with the coaching staff.

For a moment, Simmons hated Rivers' coaching staff.

Simmons was furious and wanted to refute Yu Fei, but the fact that the Celtics suffered an eleventh consecutive away defeat was shameful.

In order to support the home team, Bill Simmons, who spent high prices to buy front-row tickets at Key Arena for two consecutive games, ate two shits in a row. His patience with Rivers was about to reach its limit.

The Celtics still have a chance to prove they can win on the road.

Many people say that LeBron James is like an outlier among black people in terms of his behavior. He is clean, focused, frugal, and has a considerate heart, but you have to know that James cannot please everyone. Not to mention that he has far more anti-fans than other players, but his treatment of the media is actually quite criticized. Both foreign media and local American media believe that James is "too big" and is always the last to be interviewed and the quickest to leave.

This group of incompetent people has become an obstacle to the Celtics' rise.

If we don't win the championship this year, the sweetness of the regular season, the suffering of the playoffs, and the piles of away excrement that are forced to be swallowed by Celtics fans will become a nightmare.

But not Rivers.

He smiled at the media, established good relations with every reporter, and was willing to spend a lot of time answering their questions and satisfying all their curiosity.

Simmons decided to endure it.

"Damn it, Frye!" Simmons shouted, "Don't be too happy, the Celtics will definitely find a way to win on the road!"

But the interview with Rivers was a breath of fresh air.

But he quickly put that idea aside because Rivers' coaching staff couldn't be a problem. If they become a problem, things could get pretty weird in the Finals. This means that their coaching staff cannot reverse the situation and must rely on the subjective initiative of the players.

"KG, Pierce, Reed, and damn Doc, please, win the damn Game 5!"

The Celtics' away problem is becoming a cultural phenomenon as the media forces behind Yu Fei publicize it.

In today's sports world, if a team struggles on the road, they will be said to be "suffering from the Celtics-style away curse", or even worse, they will be said to be "like the Celtics on the road." Nothing can be done”.

For a team that has great ancestral glory and aims to revive the glory of its ancestors, this is a great shame and humiliation.

But in addition to the anger that comes with this shame, there is also stress.

Especially after tonight, the Celtics only have one chance left to prove themselves.

The battle at Tianwangshan is not only about match points, it also determines what kind of team the Celtics will be.

If they win, although they still can't hide the embarrassing situation of the previous 11 consecutive losses, they will at least avoid becoming the first Finals team in history to not win any away games in the playoffs.

If they lose, even if they return home to win the championship, the label of not winning on the road will remain on them like a sting.

This will put their championship in long-term doubt.

Therefore, for the Celtics, in addition to match point pressure, there is additional pressure in Game 5. They cannot lose.

Compared to the Celtics, the SuperSonics' military morale is much more stable. Two consecutive wins at home, a big score tie, and the Celtics' two consecutive defeats gave the SuperSonics a feeling that as long as they can win on the road, they can win the championship.

That's how Game 4 builds the confidence of young players.

George Karl had a premonition that the Celtics would counterattack fiercely in Game 5, but the young players on the team were mentally prepared.

On that day, the Sonics' training time was only half of the usual time.

Because there are also some community activities that players need to participate in.

After the training, Yu Fei met Durant again for one-on-one time.

Durant's confidence increased in the fourth game, and the specific reflection in this one-on-one was that he did many more actions that he dared not do before.

In an 11-goal duel, Durant would usually score 3 to 5 more points, but today, he scored 7 points.

"Good fight." Yu Fei said, "You can be more calm."

Durant nodded and said, "Yes, I can."

"Another one?"

Durant responded: "No problem."

In Durant's heart, a seed has fallen.

Last night's game made him realize that even if he reaches the finals, he will not be reduced to a supporting role.

Even in front of Frye, he has the ability to show off his talent.

In his wildest fantasies, the words of Nike executives suddenly echoed in his ears.

"Learn him, catch up with him, surpass him, defeat him."

Before the start of this year's playoffs, the NBA entertainment department invited many superstars to shoot promotional videos for the playoffs.

Many current superstars faced the camera and said some exciting words.

Yu Fei also shot this promotional video.

His lines are simple.

But everyone remembered what he said.

“There can only be one, only one can.” Then, smiling at the camera, he adds unquestionably: “That’s me.”

The lines were arranged in advance and were a stunt specially arranged by the alliance. Only Yu Fei could say this. When he was the only one who said this, no one would find it strange.

Before the finals started, Durant just watched from afar.

But after last night, he suddenly had a bold idea, a wild idea.

"If only one person can reach the top, it can be Frye, Kobe, or even LeBron." Durant was defeated 11-6 by Yu Fei in the second one-on-one duel. He looked at the ground. That ball that stopped rolling, thinking to myself, “Why can’t it be me?”

Game 6 between the SuperSonics and Celtics will be held on June 15, which is Sunday.

It is already a holiday. Except for a few institutions including hospitals, most companies and stores in Seattle have declared this day a holiday.

The bar has already started promoting it.

Supersonic posters were posted in the streets.

The Mariners and Seahawks were the most popular local sports clubs for a long time, but now, the Sonics are leading the pack because of the magic of their stars.

When Yu Fei appeared in the city center on behalf of the Sonics to hold an event, tens of thousands of people gathered here.

They chanted the slogan that made Yu Fei decide to return.

"Save our Sonics!"

Today's SuperSonics no longer need saving, but this slogan remains unchanged.

It's like an agreed upon thing.

The whole city is screaming for this, they are looking forward to the fifth game, and even more looking forward to the final championship.

One day later, on the day of Game 5 of the Finals, the Seattle Times headlined: "Seattle, Seattle, forever Seattle, Frye tells us we don't have to wait any longer. That was once a wish, but now , it has become infinitely closer to reality. If you are a Seattleite, you must pay attention to this game, because you may only have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the Chosen One saving our team. Get ready to fight, Seattle!”

(End of this chapter)