The Basketball Court Swordsman

"...Tonight is our night of honor! I know, the Phillies are eager for us to lose the game, they want to end it all at our home court. But I want you to go and tell them, these guys Just wishful thinking! For the honor of victory, for the fans who are still waiting for you off the court under the rain. For yourself and for this team. Go and fight, fight to the last minute! Let the guys in Philadelphia know who exactly He is the real Eastern Overlord!"

Toronto, the home team changing room at the Air Canada Center Stadium. Raptors coach Nick Nas is doing pre-game mobilization, and today's game is absolutely not to be missed for him. Because this is a game to win or go home, this is a tiebreaker!

When the Raptors easily advanced to the first round and ran into the Philadelphia 76ers led by Jimmy Butler, he expected that this round of the series would definitely not be easy. Like himself, the guys in Philadelphia are also going to defeat the Pacers. So the two teams played together in the series and eventually had to go to the tiebreaker.

Fortunately, the tiebreaker was played at the home court of the Raptors. What makes Nass most gratified is that he has Leonard, the best player in the league.

Many people have forgotten that this guy won the FMVP on the best team when he was 23 years old. This taciturn guy has been nurtured by two great coaches, Henson and Popovich.

Nas believes that no one can be stronger than Leonard on this court.

After Nas made his impassioned pre-game speech, almost all the Raptors players clamored to go out and defeat the enemies from Philadelphia. But only Leonard, the leader, had no expression on his face, as if he had no emotions.

This guy stood up silently and walked to the court. He knew that it was not the time to be excited yet.

Stepping into the court, what awaited Leonard was the overwhelming cheers. Last summer, when the Raptors basketball operations chairman Ujiri traded Toronto fans' favorite star DeMar DeRozan, Ujiri undoubtedly became a national enemy.

After all, Leonard didn't play much for the whole season at that time. Toronto fans didn't understand how Leonard was in the end. Moreover, Leonard is carrying a one-year contract that expires. If Leonard pats his **** and leaves, the Raptors will have lost DeRozan in vain.

But now, almost all Raptors fans love the taciturn guy on the court. Ujiri made a choice that was scolded at the time, but afterwards made the fans shout "really sweet".

This year, the competition in the east is very cruel. Had it not been for Leonard, it is estimated that the Raptors would have quit the "group chat" long ago.

In the cheers of the fans, Leonard began to warm up. This season, Leonard's statistics are very impressive.

In the regular season, he averaged 26.6 points per game, a career high. Previously in the Pacers, Leonard was not the first choice on the offensive end. Under Popovich, Leonard is naturally unlikely to get an average of 18.8 times per game.

After breaking free from Popovich this year, Leonard soared into the sky and became one of the league's best scorers in one fell swoop.

And entering the playoffs, Leonard's data is even scarier-31.2 points per game!

In such a fierce playoff game, it is not ordinary people who can average more than 25 points per game. And Leonard's scoring data in the playoffs was even worse than the regular season.

People say that if the Raptors really advance, even if the Pacers use Antetokounmpo or George to defend Leonard, he will not be afraid.

Just as Leonard was warming up, Jimmy Butler walked to the middle circle and yelled Leonard's name.

Leonard turned his head silently and walked over, still expressionless.

"How do you feel?" Butler asked casually. Although he left the Pacers at the beginning, it does not mean that he has a bad relationship with the Pacers' former teammates.

In fact, after experiencing the two "live treasure" teammates of the Timberwolves, Jimmy Butler cherished the teammates who once fought side by side in the Pacers.

"Well, good." Leonard replied casually, still not much.

"You know, the boss must be watching us on TV today." Butler looked around. He knew that Henson must be looking at them through a certain camera.

The 76ers and the Raptors reached the tiebreak here, but the Pacers and Celtics resolved the battle in 4 games. This result was expected by Jimmy Butler, he knew very well Henson's style, that guy would not leave any chance to his opponent.

"Yeah, he must be watching us."

"Whichever of us advances, we have to face his threat. I didn't expect that we all left the East at the beginning, but now we will come again. Do you know? I even think this is a bit like a training game. From the Eastern half At the beginning of the finals, all the players were playing. You can't beat him, Kawai. And my team and I beat him once."

"We'll talk after you win, Jimmy."

"So, is this your attitude? Instead of letting the boss take one more head, let us advance to be the Pacers."

"I will let you advance, Jimmy. The premise is that you have to win before we talk."

Leonard was still expressionless, but Jimmy Butler felt the guy's anger.

"Well, I will win."

Butler nodded, then turned and left. He was right. Almost one of the core members of the East Big4 has played for the Pacers.

The Celtics are Stevens and Horford, the Raptors are Leonard, and the 76ers are Butler himself. The players and coaches of the "Henson Department" almost carve up the entire Eastern Conference. But the points come and go, but in the end the Pacers are the biggest.

Butler wants to break this balance, he thinks Leonard is not cruel enough. So in any case, he must personally advance, and then personally win the Eastern Championship!

"Who do you think will win? Jimmy still Kawai?"

In Indianapolis, in the general manager's office of The Banker's Life Arena, Bird and Henson are closely watching the live broadcast of the tiebreaker. As Jimmy Butler said, Henson was watching them.

"I don't know, Bird."

"I don't know?" Byrd smiled, it was hard to hear the word "don't know" from Henson.

At the beginning of the season, Henson thought he could sweep the Celtics 4-0. As a result, the Pacers really swept the Celtics a few days ago. In Bird's mind, Henson had foresight to do anything.

But today, facing the 76ers and the Raptors, Henson said something he didn't know.

"I don't know, because I'm not sure if Leonard can take the heavy responsibility. As long as he can do it, the Raptors can do it. If he can't, the 76ers will win. And if Leonard wins the series If you match..."

Henson slowly turned his head and looked at Bird, "He will become very scary, very, very scary."

Two hours later, in the final 4.2 seconds of the game, the two sides tied for 90 and the Raptors performed their final attack.

Leonard, who had already scored 39 points, faced the "Emperor" Embiid's strict defense and stepped on the three-point line in the right bottom corner to make a difficult throwback shot. Just after the small card was released, the timer was reset to zero and the regular game time ended. In other words, the success of Leonard's goal will directly determine the success of the Raptors.

Henson was right. Leonard will do, Raptors will do. This guy, who had been expressionless all day, also cast the last ball without expression.

The ball bounced above the basket, and a sigh of regret sounded from the Toronto Scotiabank Arena! Leonard squatted on the ground, ready to accept fate's approval.

However, basketball made a big joke with everyone! I saw the basketball jumping on the hoop, once, twice, three times, four times... and then rolled into the hoop as if reluctantly!

Lore! The Raptors defeated the 76ers 92-90 and narrowly defeated their opponents in the tiebreaker, and advanced to the Eastern Finals with a total score of 4 to 3!

Leonard's final 4.3 seconds of the final shot made the NBA the first time in the history of the tiebreaker to appear a lore! He made up the gap in history!

Looking at the shaking ground of the Air Canada Center Arena, Henson's scalp numb. He and Bird glanced at each other, but no one could speak, their throats seemed to be stuck in something!

Afterwards, Leonard stood up and let out a big breath, not laughing much. Because he knows very well that it is not yet time to laugh. When he defeated Henson to reach the finals, he might only slightly curl his lips.

Cold-blooded, strong, calm, not giving up easily...This is Leonard, either destroyed in silence or erupted in silence.

On a hot summer day in May, Henson rubbed his hands to keep warm, and he felt a chill on his back.

"We ran into big trouble, Bird, big trouble."

Big trouble, like "don't know", Bird hasn't heard Henson say this word for a long time.