Chapitre 352: Chapter 352: You Guys Can Win the Championship This Year
The Trail Blazers also had a game tonight.
The Trail Blazers were facing the Spurs, and it was a close match. Barton and McCollum hadn't gotten any playing time yet, and suddenly, they received a notification from the team that they had been traded to the Suns.
Barton: "Huh???"
McCollum: "Huh???"
The news was certainly unexpected, and no one liked being informed of a trade in such a situation. However, McCollum was a rookie, and although Barton had been in the league for two years, he was still on the fringes of being a benchwarmer.
But when they suddenly heard that they were going to the Suns, their surprise was mixed with more joy than disappointment.
Especially McCollum, who was overwhelmed with happiness. He had just entered the league, and now he might get a championship ring without much effort.
The Trail Blazers and Spurs were at halftime.
Upon learning that McCollum and Barton had been traded, their teammates offered perfunctory congratulations, as the two didn't have a strong presence on the team.
If not for that 2016 first-round draft pick, the Suns might not have agreed to the trade.
On the other hand, when Lillard and Aldridge heard that Gortat and Frye were coming, they secretly rejoiced, as they needed a qualified center, and Aldridge needed a backup. Gortat and Frye perfectly filled these two positions, making them a perfect fit for the Trail Blazers.
Lillard even felt that with Gortat and Frye, they could have beaten the Spurs in this game.
...
The second half of the Suns' game began.
Curry, Dong, Durant, Gortat, and Frye were on the court.
"Gortat!"
"Frye!"
The fans cheered loudly for the two veterans who had played for the Suns for many years and had helped the team win two championships.
The fans also appreciated the Suns' team culture. If it were another team, players who learned about a trade during a game wouldn't be allowed to play. But the Suns were different; as long as you were still on the team, you were a part of the Suns family.
The Thunder attacked.
Westbrook drove to the basket, but Gortat defended him well. Westbrook passed the ball to Reggie outside the three-point line.
"G~~~"
Reggie's three-point attempt missed.
Gortat grabbed the rebound, and with this rebound, he had a double-double.
Dong dribbled to the frontcourt. Durant and Curry drew the defense, creating an open three-point opportunity for Frye, who received the pass from Dong and shot.
Swish!!!
The ball swished through the net.
Five minutes into the third quarter, Coach Gentry called a timeout. Dong asked Varaje, "How many points do I have so far tonight?"
Varaje replied, "Brother Dong, you shot 6 for 7 in the first half and haven't taken a shot in the third quarter. You have 15 points."
"I see."
Dong nodded.
Durant and Curry were substituted for Tucker and Green. This was the last chance for the players to play alongside Gortat and Frye.
After the timeout, Dong dribbled the ball and attacked. He dribbled past Westbrook, performed two crossovers in the air to avoid the defenders' blocks, and as he was about to reach the basket, he flicked his wrist.
Swish!!!
The ball dropped into the hoop.
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
The home crowd cheered.
Dong then made another three-pointer before asking Varaje to substitute him out.
Dong didn't plan to play anymore in this game; he wanted his teammates to spend more time playing with Gortat and Frye.
Moreover, Gortat and Frye were playing exceptionally well tonight.
Beep!!!
The final whistle blew, and the game ended.
Suns 121, Thunder 109!!!
The Suns defeated the Thunder at home.
The Suns almost got overturned in the fourth quarter when they played with their bench lineup.
Game Stats:
Dong: 20 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 1 block
Gortat: 27 points, 19 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 4 blocks
Frye: 23 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Westbrook: 37 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists, 3 steals, 1 block
Gortat had the best game of his career, with 27 points, 19 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks, performing like an All-Star center. Frye also played well, making 7 out of 12 three-pointers, with a three-point percentage of 58%, almost matching Dong's regular-season three-point percentage.
...
Post-Game Press Conference.
The Suns announced the trade, sending Gortat and Frye to the Trail Blazers in exchange for Barton, McCollum, and a 2016 first-round draft pick.
Barton and McCollum were potential newcomers, but their future performance was uncertain. Manager Tian insisted on the 2016 first-round draft pick in the trade negotiations with the Trail Blazers, and fortunately, the trade was eventually agreed upon.
Gortat's feelings were mixed tonight.
Although they had initiated the trade request, the moment they learned it was finalized, they felt a sense of sadness. However, knowing that going to the Trail Blazers would give them more opportunities to showcase their skills, they were also happy.
Gortat was excited about having the best game of his career, but as everything settled down and the game ended, he felt a sense of loneliness.
As for Frye's feelings, it was probably: "Me too."
"Brother Dong, I can't bear to leave you!"
In the locker room, Gortat suddenly hugged Dong tightly.
"Alright, alright," Dong patted Gortat's back. "It's just a transfer to the Trail Blazers, not a romantic breakup. Don't be so clingy."
"Brother Dong..."
After Gortat's embrace, Frye also came forward and hugged Dong.
Then, the two of them hugged each teammate and coach, bidding them farewell.
Next was the All-Star Weekend, giving them time to pack their things. After the All-Star Weekend, Gortat and Frye would report to the Trail Blazers, and on the first day, they would play against the Suns in the Trail Blazers' home court.
...
On the Trail Blazers' side, their game against the Spurs had just ended.
Spurs 103, Trail Blazers 97!!!
The Spurs defeated the Trail Blazers on the road.
Lillard had 31 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block, while Aldridge had 27 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. Despite their efforts, they still lost to the Spurs.
Losing the game didn't put them in a good mood.
But when they saw the Suns' game results, with Gortat scoring 27 points and grabbing 19 rebounds, and Frye scoring 23 points and grabbing 7 rebounds, Lillard and Aldridge became even more excited about Gortat and Frye's arrival.
"Guys, we're leaving."
In the Trail Blazers' locker room, Barton and McCollum said goodbye to their teammates.
The teammates weren't sad; instead, they joked, "We're so envious of you. The Suns are the top team in the league. Maybe you guys can win the championship this year."
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone