When pride still matters

Chapter 453 I’m not here for second place
At the beginning of April, the Sonics were defeated by the Spurs and lost their ninth game of the season.

If they want to surpass the 96 Bulls, they can't lose again.

According to the usual practice this season, every time the Sonics lose, Yu Fei will perform bravely to boost the team's morale.

But this time, since the Sonics' opponent is the Cavaliers, the focus of Yu Zhan's matchup has invisibly added extra heat to the game.

Although the SuperSonics' record is unparalleled, James' Cavaliers are also one of the top three in the Eastern Conference.

In early March, the league revised the layup step rule, which directly enhanced James' already difficult to resist breakthrough.

The Celtics fell due to Garnett's injury, and the Cavaliers suddenly emerged with the new rules and became a strong team that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the Magic and Bucks.

Therefore, the situation between the two teams before the game was that the Sonics suffered a new defeat and were very eager to break the record, which would bring a psychological burden, while the Cavaliers were in excellent condition. James averaged 34 points per game in the past month. He scored 10 rebounds and 8 assists, and was undoubtedly elected as the Eastern Conference Player of the Week.

At the same time, this is also seen by many as James' last chance to defeat Yu Fei as a member of the Cavaliers.

Although James has emphasized several times that his dream is to lead the Cavaliers to win the championship, he will not leave before winning the championship. However, this kind of talk can only deceive Cleveland people. The media in big cities are used to seeing superstars go back on their words.

Gilbert began to suspect that "God hates Cleveland" might actually be true.

Therefore, this game is a summary of the six-year battle between Yu and Zhan.

It was they who led to the beginning of the bad relationship between Yu Fei and Jordan, so this is a curse from the god of basketball.

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert appeared in the front row distraught.

James' twenty-seven-game losing streak has become a more iconic underdog case than the number of consecutive Morning Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress that Susan Ruggies lost.

To the despair of the Cleveland people, in the last two minutes, the Sonics led by 12 points. Yu Fei blocked James' layup, then got the rebound alone, and dribbled to the left of the three-point line in the frontcourt at a -degree angle. Throw a chasing three-pointer that ignores the defense.

Gilbert was thinking wildly, and James played all he could for 46 minutes.

The SuperSonics' multi-point threat, smooth offense, a large number of three-pointers and deadly wing one-on-one offensive system are the most perfect carnival basketball in George Karl's mind.

"Shh!"

In the last five minutes, the Cavaliers fell behind by 5 points and felt a little frustrated, but the SuperSonics hit consecutive three-pointers.

It's not because they trusted anyone, but because after they selected Yu Fei in the 2001 draft, they personally sent him to Jordan's clutches.

However, Yu Fei has mastered more skills.

On this day, the Quicken Loans Center was packed.

This team, led by the number one player in the league, has concepts that are ahead of the times. Although Yu Fei is no longer the super ball-handling core with a high share of possessions during the Bucks era, he has turned into an invincible offensive player. Heavy artillery, while maintaining an average of 8 assists per game despite a sharp decline in ball ownership.

Once upon a time, James was regarded by Gilbert as a symbol of God's blessing.

But as James lost to Yu Fei again and again, the humiliating battle record continued to increase. With Yu Zhan's breakup, James was completely stepped on, and the mentality of regarding the king as God's blessing had disappeared.

That wasn't the sound of a goal, that was the sound of Cleveland people's hearts breaking.

When you personally trade away the incarnation of the basketball god, you cannot achieve anything on the basketball court.

It can be seen that after the changes to the layup footwork rules, James has been equivalent to an enhanced version. When the shooting feel is smooth, he can even compete with Yu Fei on the offensive end.

The game entered the final two minutes and the Sonics led by 15 points.

He exhausted James' touch from the low post, high post and outside.

He was dissatisfied with only two points.

Roy is not good enough as a point guard, and Durant is not swinging enough to get into the paint as a third or fourth position.

Other than that, there's really nothing to fault.

The Cavaliers played the best game they could, maintaining the suspense until five minutes before the end. Then, they just lost power and were bombarded by the SuperSonics.

"They're high, fast and accurate." Cavaliers coach Mike Brown accurately summed up the Sonics' game. "It's like a team from the future."

詹姆斯苦战46分钟，拿到39分14篮板11助攻，对面的于飞轻描淡写地刷下41分12篮板10助攻。

Judging from this data, they are evenly matched.

But just looking at the game, James has burned out, and Yu Fei obviously still has some energy left.

"I didn't lose."

When reporters asked James what he thought about being captured 28 times by Yu Fei in the past six years, his answer was surprising.

"I just can't win here."

This sounds quite subtle.

James was also aware that his words could have a negative impact on him, and immediately added: "You know, we can't control everything. Like. Yeah, like Michael was never in the season in the beginning of his career. Like beating Larry Bird in the playoffs. But what does it matter? That's life, you know, we can't win at every stage of life. I can't win, that's God's plan."

The Sonics didn't show any mercy.

"I wouldn't be surprised if LeBron leaves Cleveland this summer in the name of God," Carr said, "because God always shows up when he needs him."

DeAndre Jordan, who played 10 minutes as a substitute for the SuperSonics, was even more direct. "If he really knew the will of God, he would have known that God had decided that not just this period, but his entire career, he would not be successful."

Little Jordan said cruel words carelessly.

Then the reporter asked: "Does the God you speak of wear No. 44?"

"Oh, man!" Jordan laughed, "You're on track!"

The game against the Cavaliers was the first focus game for the Sonics in the closing stages.

From now on, every game they play will be scrutinized by the basketball world.

Because they shoulder the mission of surpassing the 96 Bulls.

With every win, they get closer to the record.

Starting from this day, media across the country will follow up the SuperSonics' record with fans in addition to reporting.

On April 4, the fourth to last game of the season, the Sonics faced the Bobcats for the last time this season.

Currently, the Bobcats rank last in the league with a record of 15 wins and 63 losses.

Considering this is Jordan's team, the game is much more interesting to watch.

However, the SuperSonics showed no mercy, beating their opponents with a 40-point advantage on the road and winning 70 games.

At this point, the SuperSonics tied the Bucks' second-highest record in history in the 2006-07 season.

There were only 96 bulls left in front of them.

One day later, the Sonics faced the Bucks in a back-to-back game.

Since the Bucks have secured the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, perhaps to avoid injuries, or perhaps to improve their appearance, they rested Danny Granger, Kevin Martin and Pau Gasol.

The Sonics naturally won easily, winning 71 games.

There are only two games left in the season.

The remaining opponents of the Sonics are the Trail Blazers and Clippers. Neither of them are playoff teams. Among them, the Trail Blazers are competing with the Timberwolves to become the leader of the Western Conference.

"Given the quality of Seattle's opponents, the only thing other than God that can stop them from breaking the record is themselves."

Seattle’s basketball craze came early this year. ,

Last year's explosive basketball season took place in June, when championships were won.

Now, the Bulls' 96 wins, surpassing their 72, have become the most concerning thing for the public.

Because the team that became the biggest footnote of the 96 Bulls was the 96 Supersonics.

4 April

于飞全场10投10中，以100%命中率砍下30分10篮板10助攻，这是他职业生涯的第140个三双，同时也使超音速追平了96公牛的历史最佳战绩。

"Thirteen years," George Carl told reporters. "The only way I can get out of that nightmare is to use the heavy rain in Seattle to make it history forever."

June 2009, 4

Los Angeles, Staples Center.

It's the biggest game day in franchise history for the Los Angeles Clippers, who will face the SuperSonics in their season finale.

If they miraculously win, the Sonics can only tie with the 96 Bulls as the best in history.

If they lose, they will go down in history with one of the most iconic record-breaking nights in recent history.

The miracle did not happen. In fact, the game lost suspense from the opening five minutes.

In the first quarter, the Sonics seemed to have never won, scoring 40 points in a single quarter, while the Clippers only scored 19 points.

From then on, everyone understood that a new record was about to be born, and the 96 Bulls would die forever.

As a team that is 13 years old, it will be mentioned again and again just because of their record. It's like the difference between a championship and a runner-up.

The best will be remembered, the second place will be nothing.

In this season when the ownership of the GOAT in the basketball world is no longer so certain, the change of ownership of the best record in NBA history has undoubtedly decomposed part of the Chicago Phantom's divinity.

In the last game of the season, the SuperSonics scored a season-high 156 points against the Clippers, while their opponent only scored 89 points.

This 67-point massacre was not to humiliate the opponent, it was just a symbol, just like the king's announcement to the world.

I'm not here for second place, I'm here to sweep you into the trash heap of history.

This is the nature of competition.

“Now, ladies and gentlemen,” ESPN’s Mike Breen exclaimed after the game, “there’s a new team on the NBA’s all-time list, and let’s welcome the 2008-09 Seattle Sonics!"

(End of this chapter)