On April 18, 2008, the long-silent Philadelphia fans erupted again, sending off their home team as they flew to New York.
At the beginning of the season, the 76ers had a poor record, and Coach Cheeks even showed a tendency to tank.
However, there were too many teams vying for the first pick, and by the end of the season, they found themselves just one step away from the playoffs.
Under the urging of local sports media and fans, the 76ers made a fierce comeback in the final stretch.
Although they were almost overtaken by the Pacers, they ultimately made it onto the last train!
In the last game, although the Pacers defeated the New York Knicks at home, their 34-win record still made their "efforts" futile.
Head Coach Rick Carlisle is highly likely to leave the team.
After missing the playoffs for several consecutive years, the management must give an explanation to the fans.
The 76ers players on the plane had varying expressions.
Louis Williams showed no joy, and Andre Iguodala, as the team's leader, did not encourage his teammates.
Both remained silent.
In contrast, the Rookie Joakim Noah was exceptionally excited.
Playing in the playoffs in his very first professional season was an incredibly valuable experience!
Feeling the dull atmosphere, the Rookie held back for a long time before finally complaining in a low voice to his leader, wondering why everyone looked so down despite it being a good thing:
"This is the playoffs! They say many players don't get to play in them many times throughout their entire careers. Why is everyone like this?"
Joakim Noah's excitement was hard to hide.
These past few days, he had been watching game replays and sending tickets to his relatives and friends.
What surprised him was that many players on the team gave him their tickets for free, and not a single one planned to invite their own family and friends to watch.
This left Noah a bit confused, but also secretly delighted.
After boarding the plane, he started flipping through the newspaper.
Andre Iguodala had good rapport within the team, and hearing the Rookie's question beside him, he patiently replied:
"You know, buddy, Philadelphia and New York are very close. There will be a lot of New York fans at our home games."
"This has happened before in the past. In short, it's definitely not a good experience! Enjoy the playoffs, Rookie. After a few times, you'll understand how we feel."
Louis Williams, sitting in front, turned his head.
He had witnessed Iverson getting "beaten up" firsthand, and he held no hope for the playoffs:
"Lower your expectations! You need to understand one thing: a team that can get 60+ wins will simply not lose in the first round!"
"Sorry, last year's situation was an exception. The Dallas Mavericks played like garbage, and their experience is not worth referencing."
These words largely cooled down the "boiling" excitement.
Joakim Noah muttered a few times in frustration, ultimately not refuting, but stubbornly adding one more sentence:
"Just win one game. We need to repay the fans' support."
Andre Iguodala stopped talking and casually put on his headphones.
The Rookie still had fantasies, but look at Dalembert.
The big man was already numb.
Everyone knew the playoffs were just a formality.
"8-Time Scoring Champion"
The Philadelphia Inquirer had, at some point, become "New York's shape," with many sports section news stories about the New York Knicks.
Seeing that the column articles were all meaningless praises for Lee, Andre Iguodala glanced at them and lost interest.
He didn't even get this kind of treatment in Philadelphia.
The basketball atmosphere in this city had been assimilated by the neighbor.
The NBA officially announced the leaders in various statistical categories for this season at midnight today.
The competition for the Scoring Champion was particularly fierce this time!
In terms of individual total points, Clay Lee ranked first with 2381 points, LeBron James was second with 2320 points, and Kobe Bryant was third with 2313 points.
Since Kobe played 80 regular season games, James played 77 games, and Lee played 79 games, Lee ultimately won the award again with a slight advantage in average points per game.
In the last few regular season games, James rested for one game and did not hesitate to shoot in most of the other games, but the basketball did not cooperate, and in the end, he actually helped his teammates solidify their rebounding advantage.
With an average of 30.1 points, Clay Lee won his 8th career Scoring Champion title.
With an average of 13.2 rebounds, Dwight Howard was elected Rebounding King.
With an average of 11.6 assists, Chris Paul won the Assist King.
With an average of 3.6 blocks, Marcus Camby won the Block King for the third consecutive year.
With an average of 2.7 steals, the Steal King was also claimed by Chris Paul.
For New Orleans fans, this season has been a happy one.
Paul's excellent performance made him the first "Hornet King" after the team's relocation, and fans have high hopes for the playoffs.
The eight teams that made the playoffs in the Western Conference are:
The 56-win Los Angeles Lakers, the 55-win Charlotte Hornets, the 53-win Phoenix Suns, the 52-win Utah Jazz.
The 52-win Houston Rockets, the 50-win Dallas Mavericks, the 48-win Denver Nuggets, and the 48-win San Antonio Spurs.
Although the Warriors also had 48 wins, the San Antonio Spurs still squeezed into the playoffs when comparing head-to-head records.
The competition in the Western Conference is extremely fierce.
The eight teams that made the playoffs in the Eastern Conference are:
The 69-win New York Knicks, the 63-win Boston Celtics, the 58-win Cavaliers, the 56-win Detroit Pistons.
The 40-win Washington Wizards, the 38-win Toronto Raptors, the 37-win Atlanta Hawks, and the 36-win 76ers.
If they were in the Western Conference, a 36-win record would place them after the Sacramento Kings, at 13th place.
However, the competitive environment here is polarized, with both the strongest and the weakest.
The worst team in the league this season is the 15-win Miami Heat.
Pat Riley announced his departure from the Head Coach position immediately after the regular season ended.
As for his successor, it has not yet been announced.
After the minor awards were announced, some were happy and some were sad.
Sports Illustrated will extensively report on Chris Paul in their next issue.
As a flagship star of Lee's training camp, the Hornet King is red-hot this year!
Dwight Howard won the Rebounding King with the help of his teammates' tip-ins.
Cleveland sports media were happy but also felt regret for LeBron James.
He was just a hair away from winning a "heavyweight honor."
The Cavaliers' first-round match will be against the Toronto Raptors.
This is a battle between friends, and Chris Bosh and the Italian, who were not selected for the All-Star, are both desperate to prove themselves.
Canadian sports reporters have already started mobilizing fans.
Entering the playoffs for two consecutive years, considering Vince Carter is past his prime, they've won big this time!
For this year's playoff first-round games, TNT is responsible for broadcasting the Eastern Conference, while ESPN is responsible for the Western Conference.
The broadcasters started their warm-up early.
For two days, the most discussed topic was the matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs.
After Duncan left the team, he will face his former team in the playoffs, returning to San Antonio.
Will the local fans "forgive" the star player?
On Saturday, April 19th, there were 4 games scheduled for the day.
Fans wanting to watch the grudge match would have to wait another day.
Besides the Los Angeles Lakers, the three teams in the upper half of the Western Conference will make their appearance tonight.
NBA Countdown will still bring fans the latest information an hour before the game, and also analyze and predict the games for the evening.
ESPN moved its studio back to its headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut, this season.
The program's personnel were also adjusted, reducing the number of loudmouths, and the invited analysts were more cautious in their commentary.
Hannah Storm is considered a veteran female reporter and basketball commentator.
Her show's ratings have been good this year, the only drawback being that she sometimes finds it difficult to control the studio atmosphere.
Chris Mullin and Jalen Rose were invited that day.
The two were teammates on the Pacers and also experienced tough losses against the New York Knicks together.
They were supposed to talk about the Charlotte Hornets and Denver Nuggets matchup, but the two kept veering off topic.
When Allen Iverson was brought up, they inevitably started talking about Clay Lee.
"Chris Paul uses some techniques very similar to Clay Lee, but he lacks a killer instinct. Rookie Paul has not yet reached Lee's level."
"Can you imagine Paul hitting a buzzer-beater against that Chicago Bulls team? He couldn't even lead his team to Game 7. He would be taught a harsh lesson by those old guys. Michael Jordan would break him!"
"Break him down both mentally and physically!"
Jalen Rose, shaking his head and wearing glasses, rambled on without a script.
Perhaps the highlight of his career was playing until Game 7 against the Chicago Bulls.
Chris Mullin, with his graying hair, didn't give the host a chance.
After his old teammate finished boasting, he continued, also skilled at recalling the past:
"Defense in the past was very different from now. I acknowledge Chris Paul's leadership ability, but in terms of absolute skill, he still has a gap compared to Clay Lee in his second year."
"He can't make those exaggerated three-pointers. His pull-up jumper isn't even as good as Lee's in his Rookie year."
"We rarely discussed one thing before: that shooting accurately is also a talent. Clay Lee demonstrated this in his Rookie season, and now he has completely changed the sport."
"My stats in the Olympic Games were very good, but at that time, I was surrounded by great stars. For Lee to put up similar numbers in the playoffs, any professional player would find it incredible."
Chris Mullin, who participated in the Dream Team, had a 61.9% field goal percentage and a 53.8% three-point percentage, though this was only based on two starts.
The old guy inadvertently bragged about himself, and someone unaware of the situation might be quite startled to hear it.
Hannah Storm, as the host, had to interrupt their bragging and bring the topic back, asking a question that fans cared more about:
"The difference between the Hornets and the Nuggets isn't significant. Facing Allen Iverson, do you think Chris Paul can lead his team to victory?"
Passing the topic to his partner, Chris Mullin pondered for a moment and then, without hesitation, gave his answer:
"I believe the key to victory lies in the Nuggets' ability to limit the Hornets' pick-and-roll. As for the matchup between Paul and Iverson, both have their advantages."
"The Nuggets' Defense is concerning. They give up 107 points per game, which ranks 29th in the NBA."
"Only the Warriors perform worse than them on the defensive end in the NBA, and the playoffs are often about Defense."
"…"
The game that night, just as the commentators predicted before the game, saw the Nuggets display extremely poor performance on the defensive end.
106:116, the Hornets easily defeated their opponent at home, winning this highly anticipated match.
Iverson and Anthony both scored 30 points, but they couldn't stop the pick-and-roll of Paul, Delonte West, and Kurt Thomas.
Even Anderson Varejão, who came off the bench, was able to score frequently.
When the game ended, New Orleans fans were cheering for the home team.
The first playoff win after moving was definitely worth celebrating!
Watching his younger brother accept an interview on the sidelines with a joyful expression, Anthony felt a pang of bitterness.
After his idol joined the team, the Nuggets had not transformed.
Instead, there were signs of decline.
"This is only the first game! We need to stay focused, Bro! Don't doubt yourself, OK?"
After entering the locker room, Iverson stared wide-eyed and loudly reminded everyone.
Losing to a Rookie made him lose face, and he clapped his hands repeatedly while offering constant encouragement.
Anthony, back in his seat, quietly glanced around and found that his teammates were all in low spirits.
Marcus Camby seemed to be lost in thought.
He was 3 for 9 and the shot-blocking champion only managed 8 points tonight.
Regarding this series, a sense of foreboding always surfaced in his heart.
Anthony looked at his idol, who was continuously giving pep talks, and the thought that had appeared during All-Star Weekend resurfaced in his mind:
"Maybe the problem isn't with me?"
On sunday, April 20th, in the four games that ended last night, all the upper-bracket teams won without exception.
Due to Yao Ming's back injury, he was unfortunately absent from the rematch against the Utah Jazz.
Tracy McGrady played 41 minutes, shooting 7 of 21 from the field and 1 of 5 from beyond the arc, scoring 20 points with all his effort but still losing the game.
Bobby Jackson starting was a nightmare, and Dikembe Mutombo also struggled to support the Houston Rockets' interior.
If nothing unexpected happens, the Utah Jazz will easily advance.
The Phoenix Suns, reinforced by O'Neal, also gave their old rivals, the Dallas Mavericks, no chance, winning 91:109.
Western Conference's top center, Erick Dampier, was completely suppressed by Old Shark.
In the Eastern Conference's only game, the Washington Wizards surrendered in the third quarter.
The regular season intensity even made some fans in front of their TVs drowsy.
Fortunately, there were still major attractions tonight: the "The Big Four" and the "grudge match" were both worth watching.
As for the New York Knicks' game, old fans knew that waking up the next day would definitely mean a big win!
The 76ers, who had stayed in a hotel for a night, once again felt the familiar disdain.
No one reported on them.
Apart from routine interviews, the newspapers were gossiping about the first playoff game in the neighboring city.
Since the "super team" began, Lee's reputation had risen at an exaggerated rate.
His perfect "one-person, one-city award" was a role model for modern players.
However, sometimes there would be situations where "one fan is worth ten haters."
The New York Media's questions were always unfriendly, even making people uncomfortable.
When Andre Miller arrived at Madison Square Garden again for warm-ups that afternoon, he encountered a problem: the New York Media, who loved to dig up old stories, started gossiping about past events:
"Miller, you refused Lee's recruitment back then. Do you regret it now? You had the chance to achieve something great."
"…"
Andre Miller looked at the New York Times reporter with a puzzled expression.
How many years ago was this?
He didn't want to play off the bench, so was it wrong for him not to go to New York?
"No one would refuse a starting position. I just want to win a championship through my own efforts."
"But you have nothing now. Whether in Denver or Philadelphia, you haven't achieved the expected results."
His eye twitched slightly upon hearing these words, and Andre Miller began to suspect that the other party just wanted to make things difficult for him.
For a role player, making the playoffs could be considered a success!
At 8:00 PM, with half an hour left until the game, Madison Square Garden instantly erupted as the home team players entered the court.
The low-key Andre Iguodala, with a serious expression, began his final warm-up.
However, upon noticing a New York fan in a white T-shirt holding a whiteboard near the front row, he couldn't help but curse under his breath:
"Shit!"
"Welcome To New York!"
Large groups of fans holding whiteboards with colorful lettering swayed happily.
For loyal fans, Philadelphia was definitely a good opponent.
It only took a little time to easily travel to the away game.
What made Andre Iguodala even more unable to hold back was that when Lee came over to greet him, he also showed a look of recollection, as if recalling those "exhilarating" games from back then.
Near mid-court, Lee, in a training uniform, greeted his familiar old friends, showing no signs of nervousness:
"Coming back to the playoffs and meeting the New York Knicks again, I think you all must also remember our past confrontations. That was truly a time worth reminiscing about!"
Louis Williams saw Lee coming over, dribbled the ball, and ran away.
His idol was broken down back then, leaving a deep impression on him.
Andre Iguodala forced a smile, extended his hand for a fist bump, and said:
"We're going to double-team you! You know, miracles always happen in the playoffs!"
"No, look at the banners above. For so many years, only we have created miracles. Enjoy the game, Bro!"
After saying this, Lee raised an eyebrow and smiled as he left.
The speechless Andre Iguodala felt even worse.
He just had a feeling something bad would happen tonight.
Three days of rest were enough for both teams to recover their physical strength, but the gap in strength could not be bridged.
The 76ers hadn't won a game since 1996.
At the TNT commentary desk, after receiving the starting lineups for both teams, Doug Collins instinctively began to complain:
"How will Dalembert and Reggie Evans limit the pick-and-roll? This lineup has consistently lost by large margins in the regular season, and Andre Miller will struggle to limit Clay Lee."
"Perhaps Coach Cheeks should try to lower the height. Every game is very important, and there's very little room for the 76ers to make mistakes."
Looking at his serious partner, Kevin Harlan was speechless, as if asking, "You don't actually think the 76ers will win, do you?"
He also subtly stated when introducing the lineup:
"If Willie Green can find his game form quickly, then the 76ers have a high probability of dragging the game into the fourth quarter."
"I respect this team, but unfortunately, based on regular season data, Philadelphia is comprehensively behind. Perhaps they should try to give the Rookie more playing time. This is a rare opportunity."
Although commentators are required to be neutral, everyone knows the situation in the Eastern Conference.
Speaking meaningless platitudes would only make fans feel verbose.
At 8:30 PM, the game started on time.
Chandler, filled with frustration, jumped higher and tipped the ball back to his own half.
The familiar cheers for the 76ers followed:
"Let's go Knicks!"
New York fans also had rich playoff experience.
Fans on one side wore white cheering T-shirts, while those on the other side wore orange T-shirts.
The shouts seemed to pierce through the old Madison Square Garden, and the roar made the retreating 76ers uncomfortable.
They hadn't played in the playoffs for several years.
At the top of the arc, Andre Miller had just stopped, noticed Chandler settling behind him, and instinctively shuffled forward.
The moment he shifted his weight, Lee suddenly accelerated.
Dribbling with his left hand, Lee accelerated and broke through.
Chandler followed, cutting to the basket.
The fake screen left Dalembert, who was ready to help defend, unprepared.
The big man's indecisive defensive position made Coach Cheeks shout loudly from the sidelines, but the players on the court couldn't hear the warning.
Clay Lee instantly broke through to the free-throw line.
As the basketball was tossed, Dalembert finally turned around, only to watch Chandler, who had cut to the basket, catch the ball in the air and dunk it with both hands!
"Ah!"
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)