Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 716 - 249: Just a Clumsy Defense (First Update, Please Vote for Monthly Tickets!)

After the first battle between the Lakers and Warriors, the entire basketball world immediately started a major discussion on whether, if Jordan and Qin Yue switched places, the Warriors could still defeat the Lakers.

As a result, over seventy percent of fans believe that the old GOAT certainly couldn't light up a team single-handedly like the new GOAT does.

Facts have proven that the fans' eyes are sharp.

Admittedly, Jordan at his peak was the ultimate offensive weapon across history.

But facing this team that has played together for many years, with outstanding chemistry, and a galaxy of stars...

The broad fan base believes that only Qin Yue, who can single-handedly invigorate the team and finish the game for the Warriors in his Celestial God Form, can give people that oppressive feeling of being unable to resist his dominance.

"I have no doubt he is already better than Michael Jordan back in the day," Oscar Robertson said, "I watched Michael play back then, and in my view, the Messiah is the most dominant player in basketball history."

"People say he is a faster and stronger 'The Great Dream'," Hakeem Olajuwon said, "but I don't see it that way, because his three-point shot is more accurate than mine and his dribbling is better too."

"I don't like comparing Michael and the Messiah," Scottie Pippen commented, "but I believe if my teammate back then was the Messiah, I might have been a top ten star in history."

"Top ten in history? Scottie is still being conservative," Barkley, the leading Qin supporter, said, "Scottie might not realize that playing alongside the Messiah, even someone like Kwame Brown could become a super center."

If last season, Qin Yue was already overshadowing Jordan's influence,

Then now, the question of when Qin Yue can kick Jordan off the throne has become a matter of when Qin Yue can win his sixth championship ring.

Because apart from the number of championships, in the eyes of fans who have experienced both the Jordan era and the Great Qin era, the new GOAT's surpassing of the old GOAT is almost comprehensive.

In terms of offense, Qin Yue, in his six complete seasons so far, not only has been selected as NBA's scoring champion five times, but he also currently holds both the regular season single-game scoring record and the postseason single-game scoring record.

In terms of defense, Qin Yue is a three-time DPOY.

And solely based on the defensive impact of inside players, it ensures that Jordan cannot challenge Qin Yue.

Because for basketball, it is common knowledge that the defensive impact of inside players is greater than that of outside players, given the same level of defensive skill.

Regarding the comprehensiveness and team-leading ability of the new and old GOATs, there is no comparison between the old GOAT and the new GOAT.

The team won a championship in the rookie season.

Once a 75-win regular season.

Once a 70-win regular season.

Excluding the season ended due to injury, the team won the championship four times in the first five seasons of his career.

Plus, the NBA's triple-double record, which will certainly become a possession of the new GOAT.

Unlike the "James vs. Jordan" debate that might spark controversy in a few years in history,

In this lifetime, facing Qin Yue, the all-powerful new GOAT, even the most loyal Jordan fans believe surpassing Jordan is only a matter of time for Qin Yue.

Furthermore, Qin Yue previously established his 'Great Yellow-O' image among the new generation players during the 'Dallas Incident,' adding extra capital in his comparison with Jordan.

In the Lakers' squad, Klay Thompson, who had been compared to with four fingers by Qin Yue, said during an interview: "I have no disrespect for the Messiah, but on the court, I see him as an opponent I have to defeat, not necessarily one I have to respect. But off the court, he is definitely my role model."

This year's best rookie, Kyrie Irving, known in later years as the "Immortal Ou," said: "He successfully prevented the NBA from a lockout, it can be said, in my heart he is the savior."

Why is someone called the GOAT?

Certainly, it's because it's where people's hearts turn to, and what everyone expects.

Even at 28 years old, Qin Yue, having played only six complete seasons so far,

But in an NBA where longevity doesn't guarantee being the GOAT, the brilliance of Qin Yue's six seasons is enough to place him above many gods in the Pantheon.

Qin Yue has fulfilled all the imaginations of post-Jordan era fans for the league's new GOAT.

Only, one day later...

Even as strong as Qin Yue is, the heat he brings to the basketball world still doesn't match that of the neighboring Eastern Conference Finals.

Because when the Pacers, who trudged past the Heat, appeared in the Eastern Conference Finals...

The Knicks, who could have reaped the benefits as a fisherman, unexpectedly lost their first game against the Pacers.

If we only look at the first 47 minutes of this game, you can hardly find a reason for the Knicks to lose.

Because until the last minute, the Knicks were still holding an 11-point lead.

On the court, with both offensive and defensive prowess, James was 8 of 7 from the field in the first 47 minutes, including 3 of 4 from three-point range, and made 18 of 24 free throws, scoring an impressive 35 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 blocks, and 3 steals for the Knicks with an extremely efficient Explosive Punishment Power.

No exaggeration to say, in the first 47 minutes, James played out his representative performance of his Knicks playoff career.

However, in the last moments of the game...

Live Knicks fans at Madison Square Garden witnessed the shocking reversal directed by James in the game.

40 seconds before the end.

Perhaps thinking victory was secured, James first decisively shot an iron-willed three-pointer on the outside without interference.

And then, the comeback show for the Pacers began.

In the Pacers' restricted area, Hibert, who was protecting the basket for the team, immediately handed the basketball to Granger.

The latter, with a flick of the hand, scored a three-pointer.

But even until this moment, the Knicks still led by 8 points.

However, who could have thought that James, responsible for inbounding the ball, would actually pass it directly to the Pacers' Kyle Lowry?

After intercepting the ball, Lowry immediately found Granger and assisted him for a successful three-pointer.

On ESPN, A. Smith, who was commentating the game, said, "The Knicks better be careful. Although they're just one step away from victory, they've clearly been playing a bit carelessly in these past ten seconds."

The Knicks players on the court obviously did not realize the seriousness of the situation.

Because of their carelessness, they were still giving the Pacers opportunities.

On the court, until James once again passed the ball to Lowry...

Suddenly realizing the gravity of the situation, James pounced like a fierce tiger towards Granger, who had already received Lowry's pass.

Although Granger subsequently made his third three-pointer in the last 40 seconds under James's somewhat clumsy defense,

During the landing process, James's suddenly appearing big foot at Granger's landing spot caused Granger to collapse to the floor in pain.

Granger, persevering with an injury, brought the score to within one point with a free throw after the referee called it just a regular shooting foul.

Immediately, the Knicks called a timeout.

After the timeout, perhaps still pondering over whether to forgive Granger or not, James clearly underestimated the world's difficult task of inbounding the sideline ball.

On the court, the ever-unpredictable Paul George intercepted the pass that James intended for Durant.

And it was at this moment that Knicks fans on site couldn't believe the Pacers actually had a chance to turn the game around.

At Madison Square Garden, George made a fast-break dunk and helped the Pacers overtake the lead.

Although, after George's dunk, the Knicks still had offensive time and one remaining timeout opportunity,

In the final offensive play, James, after three consecutive inbounding errors, opted to pass to Iguodala, who he thought was in a better position, even though Durant had cleared an open spot for him.

From the corner, Iguodala's three-pointer bounced off the rim.

So, the Pacers completed this impending historic comeback.

After the game, when a limping Granger was surrounded by his teammates in celebration, the protagonist of this comeback drama, James, stood dumbfounded.

"Who says it's impossible to overturn an 11-point deficit in the last 40 seconds? The Houston Rockets have Tracy McGrady, and we have LeBron James!" Reggie Miller, the Pacers legend on TNT TV station, shouted excitedly at the first moment after the game ended.

"The great LeBron James, he will forever be Indianapolis's King!" — The Indiana Star

"'Title-less' LeBron assists the Pacers in a stunning comeback!" — ESPN Post-game Headline

"Stupid mistakes! LeBron played well for the first 47 minutes, only to squander the team's efforts in the final minute." — The New York Times

Additionally, James's defense against Granger at the last moment on the court also sparked wide controversy after the game.

Pacers coach Vogel said, "That was definitely not a coincidence. Anyone who's played basketball should know that LeBron was deliberately targeting Granger!"

"Dan's condition is terrible." Compared to Vogel, the Pacers' medical team was anxious, "After being undercut by LeBron, it's likely he will miss the upcoming Eastern finals."

Now, here's the question.

How did James himself respond to gifting the Pacers this victory and his act of undercutting Granger?

In regards to the former, James said, "You know, everyone makes mistakes sometimes. I just made a few child-like errors consecutively."

As for the latter, James remarked, "Ridiculous! It was a normal defensive play. You can call me clumsy, but you absolutely can't say I did it on purpose."

Actually, does it even matter if James did it intentionally?

Since Granger doesn't possess the "legendary resilience" like the "King" Edwards of later generations,

the Pacers, who won the first game of the Eastern finals with James's help, had no choice but to regretfully announce the next day that Granger would withdraw from this round of the Eastern finals due to injury.

Furthermore, from the perspective of results, this astonishing comeback could be seen as both a win and a loss for the Pacers.

Although the Pacers indeed achieved the shocking comeback with James's assistance,

Losing Granger due to James's clumsy defense has cast a shadow over their prospects in the Eastern finals.

Meanwhile, Qin Yue couldn't have imagined that the heat he generated with all his effort would be stolen by James in such dramatic fashion.

Just asking, is this the operational ability of the acting deputy GOAT?

On May 21, the second game of the Western Conference finals continued at Oracle Arena.

Unlike in the Eastern Conference, where LeBron could get a free throw call by just raising an eyebrow and spreading his palms,

the league, deploying Dan Crawford, maintained the officiating standards from the first game of the Western Conference finals.

However, from the perspective of the game, this Western final, where everything short of being punched to death is considered slight contact, actually provided an unprecedented viewing experience for the wide audience.

Why?

Because when both the Lakers and the Warriors can execute high-quality offenses under each other's fierce defenses, how can such a defense-based offensive showdown not be captivating?

Yet, the slightly disgruntled Barkley hit the nail on the head at the end of the first quarter, saying, "I'm curious how many free throws LeBron would get playing under such defensive standards?"

...

PS: Hardcore James fan Ah Qiao couldn't eat after witnessing James's offensive and defensive brilliance at the last moment today, so an inspired Ah Qiao could only obediently sit down to write. (TnT)