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12th man to Cricket legend. It's a cricket book for cricket lovers only.
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***
On Saturday, April 28, 2007, the NBA announced this season's DPOY (Defensive Player of the Year):
Marcus Camby, the Denver Nuggets' block king, defeated all opponents and successfully won the award!
That night at 7:30 PM, at the Pepsi Center in Denver, witnessed by nearly 20,000 fans, Marcus Camby received the DPOY trophy, raised it high, and smiled brightly.
With the series tied 1-1, winning a road game was extremely important for the Denver Nuggets' fans.
They saw hope of winning the series.
"Thanks for my teammates' support, this trophy belongs to everyone. Allen's arrival has energized the team, and we will challenge for the championship!"
Marcus Camby made bold statements in front of the fans, and the director frequently focused the camera on Allen Iverson, who was completely past his prime.
He almost missed the playoffs this year, and the Son of Philadelphia's reputation once plummeted to rock bottom.
Fortunately, after winning a road game in the playoffs, the Denver Nuggets' fans forgave Allen Iverson again.
The 'Mr. Big Shot' seemed to be back, and everyone started to anticipate his performance again.
Wearing a white headband and fully equipped, Allen Iverson looked serious at this moment, clapping continuously as he heard his teammate's words.
In fact, he was also under immense pressure.
He had to prove that he was not a burden.
This season, fewer and fewer people were discussing him.
Allen Iverson knew that if this continued, he would be completely finished.
Being 'black and red' (controversial but popular) is still 'red', but when fans label a player a 'scrub', their attention will plummet.
Who would idolize a weak star?
Good 'looks' cannot solve the problem.
Carmelo Anthony's mood was complicated.
This season could be considered a failure for him.
He lost his All-Star spot and failed to win any individual awards.
Allen Iverson's arrival not only failed to garner more attention but also, due to the decline in performance, Carmelo Anthony also took the blame.
Commentators had high expectations when they teamed up, but by the end of the season, no one believed they could defeat the San Antonio Spurs.
Having a DPOY was useless.
In fact, the Denver Nuggets' Defense was not very good.
During pre-game warm-ups, the director also focused the camera on the increasingly low-key Tim Duncan, an all-time great power forward known for being unstoppable on both ends of the court, yet he had never won DPOY.
Unlike Clay Lee, this award always favors big men, but Tim Duncan failed to impress the voting media.
Perhaps it was too much expectation, or too much pressure, but Allen Iverson showed his 'scrub' true colors after the game started.
His repeated misses in the second quarter gave the San Antonio Spurs more opportunities.
Although Tim Duncan's offensive performance was poor, he limited Marcus Camby on the Defensive end.
43:40, at halftime, with Allen Iverson's assist, the San Antonio Spurs led by 3 points.
1-for-7 in the second quarter, and a furious 7 points on 3-for-10 shooting at halftime, Allen Iverson's performance dampened the atmosphere at the Pepsi Center.
Many Denver Nuggets' fans could not accept the fact that their backcourt had been destroyed by the opposing team.
In the visiting team's locker room, Gregg Popovich noticed Tim Duncan was in a bad mood.
Aside from winning an MVP last year, this core player had achieved nothing in his career so far.
4-for-12, 8 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks, and 3 turnovers at halftime, Tim Duncan delivered a less-than-ideal stat line.
The coaching staff was secretly pondering how to activate their core player.
"Tim, don't worry about those awards. What we need to do now is focus on the game. We have a chance to return to the Finals this year."
"…"
Gregg Popovich's comfort did not improve Tim Duncan's mood.
He was mentally prepared for Marcus Camby winning the award.
But the voting results showed Tyson Chandler ranked second, ahead of him, which made Tim Duncan unhappy.
He was a bust last year, but now he's getting recognition.
This kind of bullying vote was a bit too much.
Nodding expressionlessly, Tim Duncan said nothing.
Every awards season, he felt annoyed.
If he had a championship, he wouldn't care about these minor trophies, but unfortunately, he didn't.
After the coaching staff summarized the first half, Bruce Bowen proactively comforted his leader.
As a veteran whose reputation was getting worse, he loved San Antonio.
The fans here accepted him:
"We've been preparing for two seasons. We won't fail again, Tim. We will help you fulfill your wish."
As Parker and Manu Ginobili also spoke up, Tim Duncan let out a long breath.
Being underestimated did not feel good, and he did not want to lose again:
"Don't worry about me, I'm fine. We will win the game and clinch the series on the road."
In the home team's locker room, Head Coach George Karl was almost fuming at Allen Iverson's misses.
He understood why the 76ers had always been unable to break through their ceiling.
Poor offense and unqualified Defense, once Allen Iverson couldn't make those 'response shots', the fearless little guard became a liability on the court.
"Don't overthink it, stay focused! We have the initiative."
Steve Blake, who partnered with Allen Iverson in the backcourt, sighed inwardly upon hearing the coach's pep talk.
He wasn't known for his Defense either, and being mocked as the 'double-sieve backcourt' had a reason.
In the second half, the San Antonio Spurs firmly suppressed their opponents.
Although Allen Iverson's form improved, the Denver Nuggets were consistently unable to narrow the gap.
Ultimately, 96:90, the San Antonio Spurs regained the initiative, and the series score became 2:1.
Boos gradually emerged from the Pepsi Center.
After the game, many Denver Nuggets' fans were still expressing their dissatisfaction.
Allen Iverson's performance was truly disappointing.
In 45 minutes of play, he shot 7-for-20 from the field, 0-for-3 from three-point range, and 6-for-9 from the free-throw line, totaling 20 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 turnovers.
With a field goal percentage of less than 40%, Allen Iverson's performance was unremarkable.
After the game, an ESPN reporter quickly found Allen Iverson, who was heading for the players' tunnel, and amidst the boos, once again discussed tonight's game:
"We have already received news that the New York Knicks have advanced."
"Allen, how would you evaluate your performance? Do you think the Denver Nuggets still have a chance to get revenge in the Finals?"
His earlier bold statements seemed to have turned into delusion.
Allen Iverson, in a bad mood, glared at the sports reporter in front of him, ripped off his headband, and responded expressionlessly:
"I don't care about the opponent's performance. Right now, I just want to play well in the upcoming games."
"You want to mock my stats, I don't care about any of that. The moment I step onto the court, I give my all. Say whatever you want, I only want to speak with my basketball."
This season, Allen Iverson averaged 26.3 points, a clear decline in his statistics.
Most sports reporters had already lost respect for him and immediately spoke up with another question upon hearing such a cliché:
"If the Denver Nuggets are eliminated in the first round, does this mean the failure of your and Carmelo Anthony's combination?"
"…"
Allen Iverson did not answer the question again and turned to leave.
He knew the reporter's tactics and had no interest in losing his temper with them again.
When attending the press conference, Tim Duncan's mood improved.
He shot 9-for-21 for 20 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 5 blocks, and 3 turnovers.
Although he wasn't entirely satisfied with his own stats, winning was a good thing.
Tim Duncan, sitting on the stage, did not talk much about tonight's game, as most reporters were still gossiping about the Dallas Mavericks, who lost last night:
"If the Warriors defeat the Dallas Mavericks, the San Antonio Spurs have a chance to enter the Finals again! Tim, how would you evaluate Dirk Nowitzki's performance?"
In the eyes of many commentators, the San Antonio Spurs were very lucky this year.
Once the Dallas Mavericks lost, other Western Conference teams were not competitive at all.
The Phoenix Suns could not stop them.
"I don't want to talk about other opponents. We just regained the initiative, and I just want to focus on the game the day after tomorrow."
"As for Dirk Nowitzki, he led his team to 68 wins, which is an incredible record. He's just too nervous. Playing under pressure has affected his performance."
"But I believe he will handle everything. I know his strength."
Tim Duncan spoke beautifully, but most reporters were not convinced.
91:109, the Dallas Mavericks were routed on the road.
A 68-win team losing by 18 points was an unimaginable situation.
On April 29, the New York Knicks had already flown back to Manhattan.
Since the Heat and the Toronto Raptors were still battling it out, they gained over a week of rest before the semifinals began.
In the first four games of the series, only Game 4 was somewhat difficult to win, 115:96, which was also the only game where their score didn't reach 120 points.
Upon arriving at the airport in the morning, a large group of sports reporters swarmed them.
Defeating the Washington Wizards, who were missing key players, was not a big deal.
Tonight's Game 4 between the Dallas Mavericks and the Warriors was the focus of everyone's attention.
Before boarding the bus outside the airport, Clay Lee, dressed in a gray compression shirt and athletic wear, was once again surrounded by the crowd.
The script was falling apart.
If the Dallas Mavericks lost again tonight, all the previous hype would turn into a complete joke.
Just thinking about this situation energized the sports reporters.
The Yahoo Sports reporter couldn't wait to publish an article about the Dallas Mavericks losing.
Seeing Lee take off his headphones, he immediately asked,
"Clay, if the Dallas Mavericks lose tonight, will you be disappointed? What are your thoughts on losing the MVP race to such an opponent?"
The Washington Wizards were clearly forgotten, and Gilbert Arenas's bold declaration of "I will not stop in the first round again" received no attention.
Lee understood the public's mood and chuckled, teasing,
"It's just one road game loss. I believe Dirk Nowitzki will explode tonight."
"As for the MVP, that's a regular season award. The Dallas Mavericks got 68 wins, and they deserve a trophy."
"I'm not interested in winning awards every year. Players also need a goal, and this trophy is the best encouragement. Compared to winning it myself, I'd rather see my opponent appear in the Finals with the trophy."
"..."
Thinking of the honors Clay Lee had previously received—3 consecutive MVPs, unanimous MVP—most sports reporters were speechless.
He had indeed won too much.
"Lee, which team do you favor to win tonight? It's said that Monta Ellis received a text message from you. Does this mean you favor the Warriors?"
The TNT reporter also hoped for the German to stumble.
Lee noticed everyone's gloating expressions and raised an eyebrow helplessly, simply responding,
"Challenging a 68-win team and not falling behind in the game—regardless of the outcome, that's worth encouraging."
"Bynum, Stephen, and Matt are my good brothers. I'm very happy to see them getting attention with the Warriors."
Ron Artest, passing by, didn't forget to make sarcastic remarks before getting on the bus.
With no one discussing the first-round game, he wanted to add some drama for himself:
"Stephen and Matt have championship experience. Don't underestimate them. They know how to win better than most players in the NBA."
"The German is already scared. He's not Lee. He can't play under this kind of pressure. Many players know that this year's MVP is a joke!"
Hill smiled wryly and pushed his teammate, as Finley was still on the team.
After the interview and getting on the bus, the New York Knicks team also started to gossip:
"Don't mind Ron's words. The current public opinion is like this. Losing one game feels like losing the entire series."
Finley, sitting next to Hill, had no smile on his dark face.
He had sent a text message to his former teammate but received no reply.
It seemed the Dallas Mavericks players were having mental issues:
"I'm just wondering if they'll still accept my return if they lose the game."
"You know, many teams don't like New York Knicks players. It's said that Kevin Garnett and Hassell had a falling out."
Before the Minnesota Timberwolves' fishing trip, Kevin Garnett and Hassell, who was sharing championship experience, had an argument.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press didn't report it in detail, but NBA rumors suggested they exchanged punches.
On the other side, Pau Gasol almost burst out laughing when he heard this topic.
Basketball commentators sometimes compared him to Kevin Garnett.
Due to frequently handling the ball in the high post in the past two seasons, Pau Gasol's reputation sometimes suffered.
Kevin Garnett, with a similar playing style, fared better, as the Wolf King was more adept at showcasing himself:
"Don't worry, Michael! I think the Dallas Mavericks won't be stingy with a mid-level contract. They need the help of veterans."
Finley forced a smile on his dark face, nodded, and then looked at Lee, who was sitting with the coaching staff in front.
Although Lee kept praising Nowitzki, he always felt awkward:
"Is this another form of mockery?!"
"..."
At 7:30 PM that evening, the G4 game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Warriors, broadcast by TNT, achieved the highest viewership of the first round.
Everyone knew that if the Warriors secured a match point, the "Black Eight" upset would no longer be a dream.
Over 20,000 Warriors fans screamed desperately in Oracle Arena.
Most home arenas in the NBA rarely have such an atmosphere.
Madison Square Garden took nearly 11 years to transform into a "Devil's Home Court," and the Warriors fans, about to witness a "Black Eight" upset, went completely wild tonight.
At the end of the third quarter, the score was tied 77-77, and the game was exceptionally intense.
Before the fourth quarter even began, Dirk Nowitzki, sitting on the bench, constantly wiped sweat and took deep breaths to calm his emotions.
Even after blocking out most interviews, he still felt immense pressure.
Head Coach Avery Johnson also struggled to control his emotions.
The small coach stared at his players, shouting at the top of his lungs,
"Forget the score! We are the stronger team. Everyone needs to fight!"
On the other side, Head Coach Don Nelson was also desperately cheering on his players.
The unpleasant breakup in the past made him only want revenge now:
"They're done! They're completely finished! Now the Dallas Mavericks only have fear in their eyes. We are only 12 minutes away from victory!"
"..."
Affected by the atmosphere, Bynum Davis felt full of energy.
Stephen Jackson and Jason Richardson also roared loudly before coming onto the court.
In the most crucial quarter, Dirk Nowitzki, who had only rested for one minute after the start, failed to maintain his previous efficient performance, missing crucial shots at critical moments.
With 23.9 seconds left in the game, Matt Barnes hit a crucial three-pointer, and Oracle Arena instantly erupted.
The New York Knicks' former hype man roared repeatedly after the shot, mockingly shouting at Dirk Nowitzki,
"You pathetic clown, I'm a champion!"
93-99, a 6-point difference. The Dallas Mavericks players felt despair.
Although Dirk Nowitzki hit two consecutive three-pointers from beyond the arc in the final moments, the Warriors stabilized the situation with free throws from Jason Richardson and Bynum Davis.
Devin Harris's turnover in the final moments completely ruined any chance of a comeback.
When the final buzzer sounded, Oracle Arena exploded, and everyone celebrated wildly.
99-103, the Warriors protected their two home games, bringing the series score to 3-1. Victory was beckoning to them.
Stephen Jackson didn't hold back in the fourth quarter, shooting 2-for-3 from the field, 1-for-2 from three-point range, and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, scoring 7 points.
Tearing off his headband and celebrating wildly with his teammates, Stephen Jackson noticed Dirk Nowitzki staring intently at the scoreboard.
With a disdainful smile on his face, he rushed over and yelled,
"Soft!"
"Give the trophy back to Lee, you don't deserve this award!"
Dirk Nowitzki immediately broke down, yelling and rushing over to argue.
Jerry Stackhouse and Jason Terry also lost control of their emotions, swarming the Warriors players and getting into a brawl.
Oracle Arena erupted again.
The Warriors fans in attendance felt their blood boil, wishing they could rush onto the court and join the melee.
Referees and the coaching staff also rushed onto the court.
Escorted by security personnel, Dirk Nowitzki walked with his head down, surrounded by his teammates, towards the player tunnel.
"Softie!"
Warriors fans on both sides jumped and cheered, screaming their lungs out. No one wanted to miss this spectacle.
9-for-3 from the field in a single quarter, 5-for-2 from three-point range.
Although Dirk Nowitzki scored 8 points, his performance in the fourth quarter was subpar.
Kevin Harlan, on the commentary desk, looked at the statistics and sighed helplessly:
"It's a shame. Dirk Nowitzki couldn't convert the pressure into motivation tonight. I think his offensive choices in the final quarter were problematic."
"Playing 47 minutes, perhaps his physical stamina limited his performance."
Doug Collins, feeling the fervent atmosphere on site, was influenced and suddenly added fuel to the fire:
"I don't want to make excuses for the MVP. I can't imagine Clay Lee performing like Dirk Nowitzki in such a crucial game."
"Throughout this series, Dirk Nowitzki's field goal percentage has never exceeded 50%. He has no dominance in the low post, and the weaknesses Clay Lee pointed out are still being exploited."
"Clay Lee averaged 34.8 points in the first round, and these are his stats in 31.5 minutes of play. It's worth mentioning that despite tight Defense from opponents, his field goal percentage is 64.4%."
"If the Dallas Mavericks are ultimately eliminated in the first round, Dirk Nowitzki will make the MVP a joke. He has failed Clay Lee's expectations!"
"..."
.....
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