TNT TV Station, Barkley said: "This is the significance of a franchise player to a team. In true life-and-death moments, you can't always rely on your teammates to step up."

Beside him, O'Neal agreed: "This is also an important moment to distinguish superstars from role players. Forget basketball IQ and big-picture thinking; in moments like this, a superstar should just take the ball and go for it!"

On the court, Qin Yue, who scored 8 consecutive points for the Warriors, temporarily led the team to fend off the Knicks' first wave of counterattack in the second half.

At the tech table, D'Antoni immediately called for a timeout.

And right after the timeout, Iguodala was put in charge of organizing from the top of the arc.

It turns out, under Qin Yue's active influence, Durant, who didn't overly indulge in isolation plays, was theoretically the ultimate scoring machine.

In Qin Yue's past life, maybe a future finals appearance made him hallucinate… After leaving the Warriors, Durant even gave the impression that he had forgotten the skill of playing off the ball.

Yet, even the resilient "Bald Superman" of the past, who could solve any defense, didn't dare claim he could win a championship by isolation alone.

Because compared to the challenge of isolation against defense every possession, isn't the occasional open shot created by tactics more appealing?

Left wing high post, after a crossover with Harden...

Leveraging Harden's distinctly oversized hips, Durant received a pass from Iguodala, only to find Stephen Curry in front of him.

At this moment, the Knicks perfectly illustrated the significance of tactics in basketball.

Although it was still isolation.

What was different was that, with the guidance and support of his teammates, Durant not only got a better isolation opportunity, but the player defending him was Curry.

This play, Curry inevitably got "picked."

Because in front of Curry, Durant, who didn't even bother with extra movements, almost immediately took the shot upon catching the ball.

If you don't get it, how is Curry supposed to defend a shot like that?

Swish!

On the court, after Durant's clean jump shot swished through the net, Qin Yue immediately turned to comfort Curry: "Don't be upset, Stephen. Even if you were LeBron, you couldn't have stopped that shot."

Upon hearing this...

Even though Curry knew Qin Yue was comforting him.

But for some reason...

Curry sensed that Qin Yue was subtly venting his dissatisfaction towards him.

So here comes the question.

Is Qin Yue really dissatisfied with Curry?

The answer to this question mainly depends on Curry's performance on the spot.

For example, in the first half, Curry in Qin Yue's mind could simply be described as the omnipotent God of Three-Points.

As for the second half?

Sorry...

Brick!

On the court, after Curry missed an open three-pointer, fortunately, Qin Yue tipped in for the team and said to Curry: "It's okay, keep shooting, it'll just give me more chances to rack up offensive rebounds."

"..."

As everyone knows, dealing with Qin Yue, who always has a sarcastic undertone, if you don't understand the implied meaning, you might end up selling yourself and counting money for him.

And at the moment Qin Yue nudged him, apart from realizing he must do something to repay this GOAT, Curry's expression became unprecedentedly serious.

Because Curry knows better than anyone...

Qin Yue's nudge had another layer of meaning. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

That is the GOAT, who cannot defy the objective laws of basketball....

At this moment needs his teammates' support more than ever.

Indeed, throughout the third quarter, the GOAT has been leading the Warriors against the odds, and his stamina is clearly depleting at an unimaginable speed.

Thus, in the next play, Curry, who had been drifting in the game for almost half the quarter, unhesitatingly called for that damn ball.

Since the Warriors need a second scoring point to share Qin Yue's offensive burden.

That person can only be Curry, and only Curry.

After all, as O'Neal and Barkley said.

In such crucial moments, you can't always count on role players in the team to step up.

In the NBA, there is only one kind of star player who would choose to test his teammates at such times.

And usually, this kind of leader is often called a "non-stick pan leader."

On the court, Curry, who faces the options of scoring or missing—never shirking—handled the pressure this time.

At the top of the arc, after shaking off Iguodala with a double behind-the-back dribble, Curry's "instant-release shot" traced a magnificent arc above the firmament the next second.

Swish——!

And immediately after...

During the transition defense...

Despite saving his energy, the GOAT even started talking less.

But at the moment when the GOAT's big hand rested on his head, Curry couldn't help but smile brightly.

In the second half of the third quarter, Curry, who had started showing signs of becoming a "Milan bricklayer," took over the banner from Qin Yue and then took over the game.

This half-quarter belonged to Stephen Curry.

Madison Square Garden.

Curry, who scored 14 consecutive points for the Warriors, used his dual swordsmanship with the GOAT to change the on-court score to 97-91 in favor of the Warriors by the end of the third quarter.

And with the Knicks' push repelled again by the reigning champions...

TNT TV Station, Barkley couldn't help but sigh: "What resilience is this? Facing various adverse situations, now, the Warriors enter the final decisive moment with a 6-point lead."

Meanwhile, on the Warriors' bench...

As his gaze turned to his teammates set to play in the fourth quarter, Qin Yue uncharacteristically made a request to his teammates: "Listen, give Stephen and me a four-minute rest, and then we can prepare to win the championship back home."

Four minutes.

The GOAT said he and Curry just need a four-minute rest, and the victory in this game would belong to the Warriors.

At this moment, the Warriors' substitutes, who usually only request from the GOAT but have never been asked by him like this, instantly ignited with burning spirit.

However, Warriors head coach Ma Long was not optimistic as he murmured to Qin Yue: "Is four minutes enough?"

Qin Yue nodded: "Four minutes is enough, Mike."

After the interval break, the game continued.

The Knicks still fielded their starting five.

While the Warriors were led by JR Smith, Ray Allen, Livingston, Jamison, and Vallejo.

Main lineup vs. substitutes.

Although in terms of endurance, the Knicks' starting five were not optimistic either.

But in this game, with refereeing decisions favoring the Knicks and their historically unique lineup level, Qin Yue had to head towards the tech table with 9 minutes and 57 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

"Aren't you going to stop him?" Assistant coach Hollins asked Ma Long, confused.

"Stop?"

Upon hearing this, turning towards Qin Yue's firm and undisputable gaze, Ma Long replied: "We have no way out now, Leon."

At this moment, Ma Long knew better than anyone that on a night when the Warriors' substitutes were not able to give Qin Yue a chance to play while resting like in Game 3...

The Warriors had reached the moment to go all-in.

Maybe an extra minute of rest for Great Qin could provide more energy.

But in the ever-changing arena, only God knows, on a night when the Knicks' home-court advantage couldn't simply be described as "biased," whether this minute would become the turning point in this game, or even this series.

Rowing upstream, falling back is not an option.

In this game, despite the fatigue, Qin Yue, always leading the Warriors upstream, indeed was.

But likewise...…

Even if the Knicks' starting five could reduce their energy expenditure through mutual cooperation..…

They had long entered a state of exhaustion.

On the court, dead-ball substitution.

Qin Yue, Curry in.

Vallejo, Livingston out.

In response, TNT TV Station, Barkley pondered: "In the world of basketball, where only results matter, maybe years later, we will still criticize this game's officiating. But I believe, facing more injustice, the Warriors led by the Messiah will still inspire us. True heroes never complain about fate, because heroes are born to challenge destiny!"

...

PS: Oops, I promised to make up for two updates today, but only managed to piece together one chapter, so shamefully, I owe one for now...(Freaking LeBron-breaks-his-word! RNM, refund!)