Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters-Chapter 1068 - 604 Supernova Explosion

Chapter 1068: Chapter 604 Supernova Explosion Chapter 1068: Chapter 604 Supernova Explosion The third game’s defeat was devastating, not just because of a 0-3 deficit, but more so because of the way they lost.

Kobe’s game-winner gave the Lakers a glimmer of hope, but left the Clippers with 1.4 seconds, which led to Fei stealing the victory with his own buzzer-beater.

In the fourth game, the Lakers had lost their spirit.

The result was a complete collapse.

4-0

The Clippers effortlessly sent the Lakers packing, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals with a perfect record.

Kobe appeared untroubled, no longer the reckless young man who’d shoot his team out of the playoffs with one too many misses.

On the other hand, Anthony was particularly enraged, as if they had lost by 3-4.

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“Since you’ve won, you have to keep going,” Kobe told Fei. “Don’t be like last year.”

Fei asked, “Am I the most gracious person among those who have beaten you in the playoffs?”

“Believe me, I’d love to bite you,” Kobe responded with a cold joke, “but I can’t do that.”

Fei smiled and moved on to the next person.

Anthony originally intended to make a harsh statement, but remembering they were swept 4-0, he realized anything he said wouldn’t be convincing.

“Big Fei, just you wait for next season!”

Yet Anthony still made his fierce declaration.

Fei shrugged, indicating indifference: “Say whatever you want.”

After acquiring Anthony, the Lakers were stronger than before, but this strength was only temporary.

Next year Kobe would be 38, and Anthony isn’t a star with a particularly long shelf life. Any minor issue, and the Lakers’ competitiveness could falter.

So, despite the Lakers thriving this year, they might completely fall off next year.

The Clippers once again won the Los Angeles derby.

This result was a heavy blow to the Lakers’ fans in the city.

The Clippers had beaten the Lakers for two consecutive seasons, progressing straight to the Western Finals, and this year, they had a chance to advance to the Finals.

The other Western semifinal was extremely fierce.

The Warriors and the Spurs were tied 3-3 after the first six games.

They had to go to a Game 7 decider.

The Spurs, as the only team from the past era still strong in this era, had seen their peak years end.

Since 2008, the Spurs had begun transforming; Popovich gradually removed Duncan from his core role, trying to transfer more ball handling to the perimeter.

Then, luckily drawing Paul George and Kemba Walker as draft picks, the rise of these two young talents fueled the Silver-Black Legion’s strong performances in 2013 and 2014.

They also used these boom years to polish their records against the floundering GOAT.

The Spurs are the only team in history to have beaten Fei twice in the playoffs.

But this strength, besides the growth of their young players, also came from the seasoned Duncan and Ginobili.

Ginobili was now old enough that his level had stabilized; there would be no further significant decline or improvement.

Meanwhile, Duncan, who had to end his prime early due to plantar fasciitis, relied on his basic skills and his efficient style to hide his significant decline – visibly, he seemed no different from his younger self.

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Because at his young age, he could maintain production with just 70% effort. Affected by injuries and aging, he now had to give his full effort to maintain that 70% production level. It appeared the same, but his endurance was lacking.

Now further aged, Duncan couldn’t play like he used to even if he exerted all his strength.

This season, Duncan averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds per game, a 5-point drop from the previous season. Spurs fans believed this was because George and Walker were sharing the offensive load, and Duncan no longer needed to bear so much scoring responsibility. However, the semifinal against the Warriors proved otherwise.

The Warriors, after years of building, saw their young core mature, and with the addition of Blake Griffin, they addressed their interior weakness. New head coach Steve Kerr boldly promoted Draymond Green to the starting lineup, fully unleashing the team’s potential.

In the climactic Game 7, Duncan, reminiscent of Kobe in the Clippers’ third game, rejuvenated, scoring 15 points in one quarter, and 22 by halftime. This was his best performance of the semifinals; he overcame the effects of aging and played extraordinarily well.

However, following were Lillard’s three-pointers, Leonard’s tight defense on George, Griffin’s impact inside, and Joe Johnson’s almost unstoppable solo plays which overwhelmed the Spurs in the third quarter, causing a rapid collapse.

This was not a heart-stirring classic Game 7. The Spurs held on for half a game thanks to Duncan’s heroic effort, but the young players failed to step up, Ginobili’s magic didn’t work, and facing the Warriors’ youthful talent, the situation quickly turned to the opponent’s favor.

The final score was 117-99, the Warriors eliminated the Spurs 4-3, advancing to the Western Finals.

ESPN’s Mike Breen exclaimed, “This is the eve of a new era!”

Indeed, a new era is approaching. It’s 2015.

Even players who entered the league in 1999 have now battled for 16 years. This era no longer belongs to them.

Nowitzki fell in the first round, Kobe and Duncan in the second. Other once-celebrated veterans of the golden 1996 generation either didn’t make the playoffs or had become irrelevant.

The Eastern situation was similar.

The Miami Heat officially promoted Curry as the new core mid-season, revitalizing the team. In the semifinals, facing an isolated Knights, the Heat swept 4-0, advancing to the Eastern Finals to meet Durant-led Knicks.