Chapter 1114: Chapter 355: You Will Meet an Opponent Who Can Save You, But That Person Is Not Me
Before Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, the Spurs players sat in darkness, their expressions gloomy.
Bruce Bowen thought he deserved the award, but he lost out due to a lack of strong media resources, leaving him unwilling to accept it.
Tim Duncan looked at Roger raising the MVP trophy, recalling his own experience last season. He thought it was the beginning of glory, but he lost to the Pistons in last season’s finals. This season, he’s embroiled in a hard-fought Western Conference Finals. Has his brilliance not even begun before it’s about to fade once more?
David Robinson gazed at Roger, feeling like Roger had been dominating the league for what seemed like forever. From his prime to the twilight of his career, Roger was always there, unstoppable. People often said he was lucky to have met Tim Duncan, but in Roger’s era, was there truly any luck?
Gary Payton looked at the DPOY trophy, his mind drifting back to his peak in 1996. Thinking of himself back then, and now, it’s truly a sigh. Like Karl Malone, he too was a victim suppressed by the Magic Dynasty in the ’90s, longing to grasp a sliver of hope in the 21st century. Yet Roger once again shaded that light, manipulating everyone’s fate.
Manu Ginobili glanced at the man basking in cheers at the top, unable to help but think about this summer’s Olympics. How would such a person rampage on the FIBA stage? What kind of shock would he cause? It’s really beyond imagination.
The Spurs players hadn’t realized that they were already looking up to Roger.
The series’ Game 2 soon began, and the Spurs players, who were already overthinking their failures, played a game so disastrous it nearly left Popovich breathless.
Tony Parker shot 4 for 12, scoring only 8 points, while Hedo Turkoglu, gaining Popovich’s trust and more playing time, went 1 for 7.
David Robinson shot 3 for 9, but what Popovich found most unacceptable was Tim Duncan, known for his stability, putting up a Kobe-esque 4 for 14 shooting performance!
Tonight, the Warriors’ defense on Duncan was executed to perfection.
Marcus Camby was in charge of fronting and harassing, while Amar’e Stoudemire was always ready to help and double-team.
This forced Duncan to start battling physically from the moment he received the ball, draining his stamina and shooting touch amidst the muscle clashes. Just as he managed to get the ball, Amar’e Stoudemire would immediately apply pressure with a double team.
Thus, Duncan made lots of passes today. However, the rest of the Spurs failed to respond.
The shooting woes of Parker, Bowen, and the Admiral dragged the Spurs into the abyss.
In the end, Duncan had no choice but to attack by himself, yet his efficiency was similarly low.
On the other hand, Roger put up 33 points with 10 assists today.
Amar’e Stoudemire also added 23 points.
During the second quarter, Popovich briefly allowed Stoudemire to take mid-range shots to test his touch, and his 10-point single quarter performance made Popovich abandon this strategy altogether.
The final score was 105 to 78, the Spurs were pushed into garbage time for two consecutive games!
Roger stripped Duncan of victory and the MVP. Finally, tonight, it was his turn to have his dignity.
As a superstar, Duncan’s performance tonight was an absolute disaster.
Roger showed the entire world how embarrassed he could force Tim Duncan’s team to be.
On the contrary, Roger and his partner Stoudemire once again put on an excellent performance, combining for 56 points, which Al Michaels described as: "Roger is a master at making victory cakes, and Amar’e is the cherry on top!"
After the game interview, Roger pointed at the camera: "I’ve arrived, Lone Star State."
On this land tainted by Spanish accents, the last piece of the United States’ incomplete puzzle, the San Antonio Spurs once again failed to seize victory.
Game 3, Duncan was unusually suppressed for two consecutive games.
Tonight Duncan scored 20 points with 11 rebounds, which seemed normal at first glance.
But the 38% shooting revealed all those beautiful appearances.
The Warriors’ defensive strategy was identical to before, plunging Duncan into hardship with fronting and double teams.
While the Spurs’ weak response ability wasted Duncan’s outstanding facilitating.
Popovich realized that his team might be a bit outdated.
In the past, defense was the key to everything. In the ’90s, Pat Riley was able to rule the league with the infamous New York Gang. At the turn of the century, Larry Brown’s Philadelphia 76ers also experienced short-lived glory through extreme defense.
But now, defense is no longer the only key.
The Spurs’ ability to respond with open shots was too poor, and when Duncan was caught in a stalemate, the Spurs couldn’t find a second consistent scoring option.
Whoever received Duncan’s pass for a shot felt like gambling.
The Spurs lacked shooters, lacked a second scoring option. They were too classical, to the point where even their defense wasn’t at the top level.
After the third game, the series was already deadlocked.
Facing this Golden State Warriors team, they were utterly powerless, completely abandoned by the times.
At the post-game press conference, Popovich wryly laughed: "Maybe next time I should watch more of the Warriors’ game tapes."
In Game 4, the Spurs did not give up on their home court, making their final desperate resistance.
Although Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili both exploded, in the last 38 seconds, Robert Horry’s crucial tying shot missed the basket, and San Antonio Spurs’ 03-04 season had basically come to an end.