Kapitel 120: ‘Steady Buddha’ Tim Duncan
First quarter.
Carlos only chalked up 5 points, largely watching Curry's solo performance, but then, in just over half of the second quarter, he bursts forth with 17 points.
With 22 points for the half, coupled with Curry's explosive 23 points.
Together their combined onslaught reverses a 25-point deficit, beating the Spurs, the top team in the West, by a hefty 15 points.
This handed a considerable blow to the Spurs fans, as Carlos and Curry's terrifying scoring ability left them shuddering, facing adversity.
In the audience...
Wall watches the dreamlike progression of the game with a darkened expression, "How can this be, is that rookie Carlos really that strong?! Can't even the Western Conference-leading Spurs, the 'GDP', beat him?!"
Wall begins to question his life choices.
As for Griffin, he's got mixed feelings. However... the worry and joy are switched from before, worried that Carlos has finally erupted, but glad that the Spurs don't seem so invincible.
Tomorrow night...
He hopes to lead the Clippers to victory over the Spurs, ending their somewhat dire 3-game losing streak.
On the opposite side of the stands.
Lady Gaga arches an eyebrow and says, "Avril Lavigne, what do you think? I told you, Carlos just needed to get in the groove, he's really strong. Look, the Suns are ahead by 15 points now."
"Mm-hmm!"
Avril Lavigne nods, smiling, "Indeed, great skills, and a look that fits our aesthetic. I think... I'm starting to be a fan of Carlos."
"I'm already a fan!" Lady Gaga laughs.
And Roger Federer, who had long been a fan and came to watch the game again, became excited seeing Carlos's offensive explosion in the second quarter, thoroughly enjoying the match.
...
Halftime break...
In the Spurs' locker room.
At this moment, the atmosphere is somewhat subdued, going from a 10-point lead to a 15-point deficit, a 25-point swing, was hard to swallow.
"It's alright!"
Ginobili stands up and says, "Just 15 points, we have two quarters left. We're the best team in the West, we can catch up. Plus...
We've come back from a 15-point deficit before this season. So, everyone, don't lose confidence, believe in yourselves, we can do it. We've always been the power of the West, always one of the best teams in the league."
"Right!"
Parker also nods, "The opponent is young and fiery, but they are inexperienced. In the second half, we will use our experience to burst forth. We'll run a play to catch up and win the game, we can do it."
"Oh!"
Everyone nods their heads.
With the leadership of two members of the 'Big Three,' the Spurs players regain their confidence.
And tonight's posterized 'Big Fundamental' Duncan doesn't speak, but his calm eyes somehow reassure everyone.
...
Quickly...
The 15-minute halftime break ends.
The second half...
The teams switch sides and battle again...
Spurs with possession...
Parker brings it up, following Ginobili's screen on the right wing, he accelerates toward the basket. Before Carter can step up for the help defense, it's another floater from Parker.
"Swish!"
It's good...
And right after, the screen play between Parker and Ginobili gives the red-hot Parker another chance, again, before Carlos can step up to defend.
"Whoosh!"
Parker lets the floater fly.
The floater is one of the go-to moves for smaller players to avoid getting blocked, and Parker is one of the most precise in the league with it. However...
This time he's up against Carlos.
The long arms and astonishing leaping ability of Carlos are there to contest!
"Clang!"
Despite Parker's attempt, the ball hits iron, but... the offensive rebound is secured by Duncan who, while grabbing it, also jumps up, a slight shift in mid-air and a little hook shot facing the basket.
"Swish!"
It's good...
In the following play, Duncan calls for the ball in the low post on the left side, backing down Frye. With his back and hips powering through, offering resistance, he suddenly spins, creating a mismatch with Frye.
He deftly moves towards the baseline, leaning in for a bank shot.
"Swish!"
It goes in...
Next, still on the left low post, Duncan receives the ball. Frye fails to follow immediately under the basket, and Duncan opts for a jump shot, his trademark off-the-glass.
"Swish!"
He hits it again.
"Clang!"
Curry's attempt to keep his hot streak alive from the three doesn't fall, and Parker brings it up, once again finding Duncan in the same left low post position against Frye. One step, back down, contesting.
Half-turn, mid-range jumper.
"Bang!"
"Swish!"
The trademark bank shot connects again.
"Steady, really steady. Tim's bank shots are reassuringly consistent, so certain that as soon as he releases the ball, you just know it's going to score.
Wow—
It's Tim again. He catches the ball and immediately goes into action, slamming home a sideways dunk over Frye's attempted block.
Tim is impressive.
Despite being down by 15 points, despite being posterized by a rookie in the previous quarter, he remains unfazed as if the mountain crumbles before him.
'Big Fundamental' Duncan, steady as Mount Tai, attacks five straight times, scoring 10 points.
In times of adversity, the 'Steady Buddha' steps up, unleashing a 12-3 counterattack storm back at the Suns, closing the gap to just 6 points. In prosperity, a race car; in adversity, a Buddha. With Parker and Duncan, these two Spurs workhorses, how could they not be formidable?"
Mark Jackson praises while commentating, and Jon Barry chimes in, "Don't forget 'El Contusione' Ginobili. The 'GDP' are all tough competitors.
A 6-point gap with more than a quarter to go, the victory for tonight's game is uncertain, the fierce battle between the Western Conference's first and second. It's not going to end so simply."
Indeed...
Just as Jon Barry says, after the 'Steady Buddha' Duncan goes on a tear, the game falls into a tense and heated exchange of offense. Neither team giving an inch.
Until the end of the third quarter, neither side is able to pull off an offensive surge or counterattack climax.
The score remains within a 5-point margin.
Three quarters down...
The Suns lead by 5 points, but with a whole quarter to go, this lead can only be considered just that, not yet an advantage.
During the break between quarters...
In the commentary booth...
Jon Barry says, "After the Spurs fell into adversity at halftime, Tim, as the team leader, bravely stepped up to take responsibility, using his low post scoring ability as steady as the 'Big Fundamental' to help the team close the gap."
"Exactly..."
Mark Jackson laughs, "Like he's made for adversity, 'Big Fundamental' Tim Duncan always manages to score when the team is behind, providing his teammates with a dose of reassurance! The 'Steady Buddha' reputation is well deserved!"
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Kapitel 121: Curry and Carlos
A 5-point difference.
Under the steady offense of the 'Adversity Buddha,' the Spurs stabilize the situation, and the suspense of the game continues.
Quickly...
The final quarter begins.
First, it's a contest between the bench players, both sides field their reserves, with a simple purpose: to give the starters a rest, and to warm up for the final showdown!
Even without Ginobili playing.
Hill, Neal, Bonner, and the other players – the Spurs' bench depth is superior to that of the Suns.
However... George also steps up tonight. On offense, his performance is relatively average, but on defense, facing Hill and Neal in succession.
He repeatedly halts the offenses of these two guards.
The future 'General George,' his defensive capabilities underpinned by formidable physical qualities, begin to show promise in his rookie season.
4 minutes and 22 seconds of rotation.
Under George's defense, the Spurs' bench only manages to claw back a point, reducing the gap to 4 points.
"Beep—beep!"
Gentry calls a timeout.
The starters return for the last 7 minutes of the showdown.
"Slap!"
Carlos and the departing George high-five, Carlos lightly smiling, "Good job, George!"
"Mm!"
George nods vigorously, smiling, not sure if it's because he played well or because Carlos complimented him. In any case... George is very happy at the moment.
On the court...
The game continues...
Suns' possession...
Nash controls the ball at the top of the arc, then passes to Curry, who curls out using a screen set by Carlos, a feint shot to engage Parker, accelerating past Parker to the left side of the key.
"Stomp!"
Duncan comes up to cover.
"Whoosh!"
Curry tosses the basketball into the air, and the following Carlos instinctively jumps up, stretches his arm to catch the ball with one hand, and then...
"Boom!"
An alley-oop connection, a thunderous dunk ensues!
"Wow—"
"The Sukur Connection!"
The arena vibrates with excitement—
Though it's just two points, the connection between Curry and Carlos greatly boosts the team's morale and elicits a louder cheer from the fans.
But...
Parker takes the ball forward, using a high-quality screen set by Duncan up high, he penetrates the basket, spinning like a top, finding his way through the narrowest gaps.
"Swish!"
Twisting among the crowd to find his spot, he gently scoops the ball into the basket.
A swift response.
Curry advances the ball, Carlos again comes up to screen, drawing back to the top of the arc. Even with Curry holding the ball, Jefferson has to keep an eye on Carlos.
"Swoosh!"
And Curry, who likes to shoot threes, opts for a drive again, surging to the right side of the key. Seeing Duncan step up again, he doesn't pass but instead goes for a floater.
"Swish!"
And there's...
Ginobili taking the baseline inbound, advancing with the ball, positioning on the left side of the arc, Parker making a mad dash along the baseline, Duncan setting screens.
This time the Spurs' tactical core is Parker.
But...
"Whoosh!"
Ginobili, with Carter in front marking him, suddenly unleashes a quick shot, catching Carter off guard, who can only twist around to watch.
"Clang!"
The shot is a tad short, bouncing off the rim.
"It would've been a morale-boosting good shot if it had gone in, but it was just a bit unlucky."
Frye secures the rebound and passes to Carlos, who advances the ball himself. A center dribbling upcourt, with small forward Jefferson closely following but not daring to try for a steal.
"Thump, thump, thump!"
On the right wing...
One meter beyond the three-point line, Carlos positions himself, with Jefferson watching him intently from the three-point line.
"Should I press further on defense? From this spot, if it's Carlos, he could shoot a three."
His thought lasts but a moment.
The next instant...
As he decides to step forward to tighten the defense, at that moment, one meter outside the three-point line, Carlos, just like Ginobili had done, raises his hand to unexpectedly launch a shot.
"Ah!!"
The anticipating Jefferson roars in a rush to block, but he's too late, the basketball flies over his fingertips, far too high to touch.
"Don't go in!"
Jefferson prays internally.
But the basketball, spinning through the air, seems to be equipped with a homing device, heading straight, without deviation, to the hoop and plunging through the net, splashing a spray of net.
"Swish!"
Nothing but net...
The more you don't want something to happen, the more it does. Jefferson, tonight, gets blasted by a center from the perimeter, and it's a rookie, even though he's aware of Carlos's strength.
But with a bitter face, his heart still doesn't taste good.
"Tsk, tsk..."
"With the Suns' starters back in, Curry+Carlos combine for a 7:2 run, and in the blink of an eye, the lead has stretched to 9 points.
And with that three-pointer.
Carlos has already scored 34 points tonight, and it's worth mentioning... Curry has also tallied 30 points, the team's absolute core and second-in-command. This pair of perimeter guns have combined for 64 points. Impressive!"
Jon Barry exclaims.
"Indeed!"
Mark Jackson nods, then adds with a chuckle: "Jon, Carlos isn't really an outside player, he's a bona fide center with a height of 215 cm."
"Haha!"
Jon Barry also laughs, slapping his forehead, "My mistake, my mistake, sorry, Carlos's drives and three-point shots are just not typical of a center."
"True, aside from his height, Carlos doesn't quite fit the center mold!"
On the court...
During the commentary banter.
While the Spurs players focus on Curry and Carlos, Carter hits a three-pointer from the left corner. Also... Nash takes Ginobili one-on-one.
Driving into the basket, he scoops the ball up with one hand, a high bank shot connects.
In less than 3 minutes, the Suns explode with a 12-2 run, adding 4 points, abruptly widening the lead to a hefty 14 points.
Just 4 minutes and 38 seconds remain.
A 14-point difference.
"Beep beep!"
Popovich quickly calls for a timeout.
"It's over!"
In the stands, Wall shakes his head repeatedly, "Less than 5 minutes left, 14 points behind, and both Curry and Carlos are in good form. The Spurs are done for! Ah... can't even the Spurs contain Carlos?"
Back at the commentary desk...
Jon Barry speaks confidently, "Since Curry arrived at the Suns, he's been playing even better than he did with the Warriors. His rookie season's lackluster performance was really due to the overlap with Monta Ellis.
Moreover...
This rookie, Carlos, has capabilities even more terrifying than Curry. With these two newcomers, I believe it won't take long for the Suns to become a championship-contending team. No, even this season, they still have the strength to win the championship!"
"Yes..."
Mark Jackson agrees, pausing for a moment before bringing the conversation back to the game, "Only 4 minutes and 38 seconds left, yet a full 14-point gap, the Spurs have mysteriously collapsed. They're in a dire situation tonight, it's going to be tough for them."
"No!"
Jon Barry shakes his head in disagreement, smiling slightly, "I actually think the Spurs still have a chance. A Spurs team with 'El Contusione' Manu Ginobili won't go down so easily."
"Oh?"
Mark Jackson is momentarily surprised, then realizes what he means and slowly says: "Yes, after all... in prosperity a race car, in adversity a Buddha, and in desperate times, the devilish blade cuts through all demons!!"
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