Chapter 1219: Chapter 386: The Demolition Team of the Human Soul
The intense defensive pressure caused Carter to lose his shooting touch beyond the three-point line at times. He managed to hit five three-pointers today, but in the final half-quarter, he didn’t make a single long-range shot.
In fact, Carter didn’t score at all in the final half-quarter because Tayshaun Prince pressed him tightly on every play, preventing him from taking shots and forcing him to drive.
Carter is an excellent dunker, but after a major injury, he is no longer a top-tier finisher at the rim.
He is still better than most players, but against a team like the Warriors, Carter’s finishing ability at the basket is far from enough.
With his three-point shot denied and his finishing at the rim ineffective, Carter seemed to disappear in the final half-quarter.
After all, he’s not as versatile as Roger, and his impact on offense can’t compare to that number 14 on the other side.
Still, with Dirk and Shaq’s offense, the Mavericks kept the score tight until the last moments.
With 21 seconds left in the game, there was still no winner between the two sides.
At this point, the score was already 121 to 120, with the Warriors leading by one point, which speaks volumes about the style of this game.
Roger scored 39 points and made 12 assists, Vince Carter had 31 points.
The game continued, the Mavericks on the offense, Jason Terry dribbling, looking to run out the clock.
Due to a rule change, the Warriors couldn’t intentionally foul Shaq off the ball, so the hack-a-Shaq tactic was temporarily unavailable. Thus, Shaq remained on the court as an inside deterrent.
With 10 seconds left, Dirk Nowitzki held the ball, pump-faked, and then moved to drive to the basket.
But in the instant that the German put the ball down, Amar’e Stoudemire stripped it away, the basketball was disrupted, and no one had control. Finally, Vince Carter picked up the ball near the left-side corner.
This position made Carter and all Mavericks fans nervous because it might be the most special spot for him.
In Game 7 in 2001, it was precisely from missing a shot at this position that the Raptors lost that most crucial match in team history, marking the beginning of Vince being criticized by Toronto fans.
Carter wanted to pass it, especially since he hadn’t scored in the last half-quarter.
But 0.1 seconds later, he changed his mind.
He wouldn’t be trapped by any curse; this position would not curse him, nor would Roger!
Seeing Carter deciding to shoot from that spot, Mike Breen jumped up: "Vince, long two... Bang!!! Vince Carter!!! He made that shot, he won the game! The curse of 2001 is courageously pierced by Vince at this moment! This is a game for the brave, and today Vince is the bravest warrior!"
Carter arrogantly revved the motorcycle throttle as he ran past Roger; the game had 2.1 seconds left, and Spoelstra called a timeout.
Mavericks coach Avery Johnson yelled: "Don’t you dare start celebrating, keep your heads up, what’s next might be the most important defense of your lives!"
The Little General Avery Johnson had played against Roger as a player back in the 90s, losing like a dog, even with the Admiral also losing like a dog. He never liked the soft Admiral and has always felt this way. So, he despises any acts of weakness.
He has constantly instilled a tough attitude in the team in the locker room, and now it’s time to show that toughness on defense.
With 2.1 seconds left, even if Roger was as fast as lightning, he couldn’t break through. So the Little General set all the defensive strategy on the perimeter, focusing on Roger’s jump shot.
What nonsense about the greatest offensive player in history, he can’t handle this!
The game began, Vince Carter personally defended Roger.
The Frenchman Boris Diaw was sent up to inbound this sideline ball, one of the Warriors’ most reliable passers.
The referee put the whistle to his mouth; the battle to the death was about to start.
The confrontation had already begun, with Stoudemire and Camby taking hits to screen for Roger, and several arms draped over Roger.
Before everything began, Roger turned his head to Vince: "Don’t be too happy just yet, Vince, I told you."
"Toot!"
The referee handed the ball to Diaw, Stoudemire and Camby blocked the chasers, but Carter still squeezed in, sticking close to Roger.
Roger’s shooting threat was on the mind of every Dallas fan, everyone knew what would happen if he got the ball.
But Roger didn’t catch the ball; he suddenly cut inside!
At the same time, the Frenchman boldly lobbed the ball high into the paint.
The Warriors were going for an alley-oop!
Who knows if the Frenchman had too much wine or if Spoelstra had too much, because Mike Breen thought it was an exceptionally bold strategy, one you wouldn’t conceive of without drinking.
O’Neal immediately ran back to the basket, and Carter followed Roger into the paint.
The three men almost jumped at the same time, but Diaw’s pass was very precise, just in Roger’s reach.
But the airborne confrontation was unavoidable; with Shaq and Carter colliding, Roger lost his balance. Ultimately, while his body tilted, he softly finger-rolled the ball toward the hoop.
He not only had the most threatening jump shot in history.
He also had the most threatening finish at the rim.
He is the greatest offensive player in history.
"Beeep!"
"Swoosh!"
Vince Carter might be able to break the curse of the left corner.
But he couldn’t break Roger’s curse.
After an inspiring near-game-winner, what awaited him was an unforgettable counter-game-winner.
Extreme anger led to extreme disappointment, leaving Carter sitting on the ground in extreme pain. The red light seemed like blood gushing from his chest, spilling over the court.
The knocked-down Roger was the first to stand up, walking over to the defeated Vince Carter amid deafening cheers.
"You won’t get past the second round, not this year either."
Shaquille O’Neal shook his head.
Once cursed, it’s not easy to escape.
You will live in the pain created by Roger, year after year.
Until one day you let go of your hatred.
Or...
Be tormented by him until you lose all hope.
Carmelo Anthony watched the TV, goosebumps all over.
Previously, he had said Roger was the engineer of the human soul, building a boy’s basketball dream.
But now, feeling a chill down his spine, Sweet Melon hugged his girlfriend Lala tightly.
"This bastard is simply the demolition team of the human soul!"