Chapter 24: The Final Kill (Seeking Follow-up Reading)

The Lakers used up their last timeout. They needed to suppress the opponent's momentum and also arrange tactics to complete their offensive round.

There is still a gap of 2 points. No matter whether the Lakers score 2 points or 3 points next, as long as they score, the Mavericks will be two rounds behind them.

At that time, time will be the Mavericks' biggest enemy, and they will be sure to win the game.

The team currently has three Hall of Fame players. In the past, they were all the first choice for key shots in their respective teams. Now that they are gathered together, who should the ball be given to?

The right to decide lies in the hands of the Zen master.

"O'Neal, you are the boss of the team, I think you can definitely help your teammates attract defense.

Payton, please pass the ball to Malone, he will cut into the paint and hit the key shot. "

For the Zen Master, it is not important who plays the key ball. The most important thing is to calm O'Neal's emotions.

This team does have three Hall of Fame players, but don't forget that the leader of this team is O'Neal.

Even if Kobe is on the court, even if Kobe wants to be the boss, for now, the boss of the team is O'Neal.

So you have to respect him enough, or you have to coax him!
For the Zen Master, it is much easier to appease this shark than to appease a big tiger. After all, he will never cause trouble for you. He just wants everyone to pay attention to him and give him enough respect.

What's the value of respect? If he wants it, why not give it to him?

Therefore, the Zen Master's words sufficiently satisfied the Big Shark's vanity, and he grinned and patted his chest to assure him.

"Don't worry coach, I won't let anyone influence Carl."

Ma Long beside him also nodded.

"I'll put that damn basketball in the hoop."

The unhappiest person on the court should be Payton. O'Neal is the leader of the team, and Malone is going to execute this key ball, so what about him?
Is he responsible for passing the ball to them?
Have you ever seen a Hall of Fame player do something like this in a crucial moment?
He was unhappy, but he didn't show it very obviously. This was the first game of the season and for the championship, he needed to control his temper.

The Zen master, who had seen countless people, saw his emotions at a glance, but he didn't say much.

Nothing in the world comes out of thin air. If he wants to appease Payton like he appeased the shark, it requires Payton to show enough strength.

But Peyton, admit it, you're old!

Since you want to win a championship, then you should recognize your identity!

Of course you can be in a bad mood and ruin the atmosphere in the locker room, but don't forget that I already have 9 championship rings. My fingers won't be able to wear more.

But what about you?
How many chances do you have left to win the championship?
The Zen Master did not say these words out loud, but he hoped that Payton himself could understand that some words would not sound so good once they were spoken.

Players from both teams came on the court again, with George from the Lakers serving the ball and Payton receiving it, and then everyone's attention was focused on O'Neal.

Everyone thought that at the critical moment, the team would give the ball to O'Neal, even Zheng Yang thought so, so he moved towards O'Neal, ready to help defend.

But at this moment, Malone, who was originally preparing to set a screen for Payton, suddenly rushed inside, and Payton immediately passed the ball to him. Although the two veterans were working together for the first time in their careers.

But after so many years of confrontation, they actually developed a certain level of tacit understanding.

The fat monk who was defending him didn't have time to catch up, and Nowitzki was stuck in his position. Zheng Yang was too far away, and it seemed that no one could affect Malone.

But Finley appeared on the wing, rushed over, and hugged Malone directly. Although he staggered and fell to the ground due to the physical difference, Malone also lost his balance.

The basketball that he casually threw into the air did not fall into the basket as he wished, but the referee's whistle gave him another chance to make up for it.

If the Lakers had made any free throws, they would have been invincible today.

Although Karl Malone's free throw rate is not as good as that of guards, except for the first two seasons of his career when it was below 60%, the rest of the time it was between 70% and 80%.

It's barely good. Look at O'Neal. Except for last year when his shooting percentage exceeded 60%, the rest of the seasons have fluctuated around 50%.

So it was really luck that I made both free throws just now.

Looking at Malone standing on the free throw line, Zheng Yang put his hands on his hips and said to him with a smile.

"Hey Malone, this isn't 97 anymore, the postman is going to be out of a job!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the memories of the dead suddenly began to attack Karl Malone.

If we were to list the most famous trash talk in the NBA, Pippen's "The Postman Doesn't Work on Sundays" would definitely have a chance to make the list.

The 96-97 season was the year when Malone had the best chance of winning the championship. In the first game of the finals that year, with the two teams tied in the last half minute of the fourth quarter, Malone stood on the free throw line.

If he could make both free throws, the Jazz would take the initiative.

Just like today's game!
But Pippen uttered the classic curse to Malone: ​​"The postman doesn't work on Sundays."

As a result, Malone, whose free throw shooting percentage this season was as high as 75.5%, actually missed both free throws, and was ultimately defeated by Michael Jordan in the final buzzer beater.

Those two free throws were Malone's lifelong regret.

And at this moment, Zheng Yang said a new version of this sentence.

“The postman is going to lose his job!”

This is in line with the advent of the Internet age, when the demand for postmen has dropped dramatically. It is also in line with Karl Malone, who is in the last years of his career and is about to retire.

"Shut your stinky mouth, kid!"

Payton yelled at him, noticing something was wrong with Malone.

When the referee threw the ball to him, he was actually a little dazed.

He thought of the game in 97, which was the pain of his life. He was willing to exchange all the honors in his career for another chance.

But that is impossible, what is gone is gone!
He thought again about his current situation.

Now he is almost 40 years old, much older than Payton. His legs and feet are beginning to become less obedient, and he has to sit on the ground for a long time after every game to recover.

There is really not much time left for him. If he fails to win the championship this year, that trophy will be away from him forever.

Can he win the championship?

There was a hint of loneliness in Ma Long's eyes, as if he was a hero in his twilight years.

"Hey Carl, shoot the free throws!"

O'Neal reminded that Malone had been standing at the free throw line for too long, and if he didn't take the free throw, he might be called for a foul.

Malone, whose mind was already wandering elsewhere, missed his first shot, and his second shot hit the backboard and was caught by Nowitzki.

"Go to hell!"

Payton really wanted to curse. He wanted to curse that foul-mouthed kid and also curse that stupid Malone.

He was actually affected by a rookie's words. What on earth is he doing? Does he still want to win the championship?

There were 22 seconds left in the offensive time and neither side had called a timeout. With a two-point difference, the Mavericks had to shoot a three-pointer if they wanted to win the game.

If you want to go into overtime, you have to score two points.

What will they choose? The audience at the Staples Center has stood up to watch the game. They have to admit that this is an extremely exciting game today, and both players played well.

However, the process is important, and the outcome is also important.

They didn’t want this victory to be stolen from right under their noses, they wanted this victory.

So, can they win?

What they say doesn’t count, and what the Lakers say doesn’t count either, because now the fate of both teams is in the hands of the Mavericks.

Was it a three-point buzzer-beater, a two-point tie, or a missed opportunity?
The answer will appear in 22 seconds.

Nash dribbled the ball across half court and Payton began to defend him closely. The veteran no longer cared about his rotting thigh.

Since Malone is useless, let him use defense to win the game.

He will never admit defeat, he is Glove Payton, a man who is not afraid of even God!

Nash is 29 years old, still relatively young. He has never played in the finals, but has seen many big scenes, and Payton's defense did not panic him.

He faced his butt towards him, but his eyes were constantly observing the positions of his teammates. This posture was not elegant and did not show the demeanor of a strong man, but it could ensure that your ball would not be snatched away by your opponent.

As time passed, the Mavericks players kept running, trying to find open opportunities.

But at such a critical moment, everyone's attention is so focused, how could they be easily thrown off by you?

Nash's brain was working at high speed, and he also didn't know what to do with this ball, should he make a two-pointer or a three-pointer?
He glanced at the timer above his head, which was already counting down from ten.

He started to recite silently in his mind, and suddenly he saw Nowitzki in the inside had pushed O'Neal away with one hand and asked him for the ball with the other hand.

At a forty-five-degree angle on the left, Zheng Yang also pushed Lao Yu away with his butt and looked at him!
Who should I give the ball to?

But he can hesitate, but time will not stop for him.

The next second he passed the basketball in his hand, and judging from its trajectory, it was passed to Zheng Yang.

Yes, at the critical moment of the game, he chose to trust the rookie, who had just hit a crucial three-pointer there just a minute ago.

But right now, this three-pointer is more important.

He determined the team's effort for the entire game.

Zheng Yang only had three seconds left after receiving the ball.

He noticed out of the corner of his eye that Payton was coming towards him to assist in defense. In front of him, Fisher opened his arms, lowered his center of gravity, and made all preparations for defense.

He was not panicked. His mind was also blank, but it was not the kind of panicked blankness. Instead, it was a kind of calm and confident blankness.

He's going to make this shot.

He suddenly broke through to the left, and Fisher quickly followed and tried to block his advance, but Zheng Yang suddenly pulled back and retreated to the three-point line.

He wasn't going to score two points, he was going to end the game with a three-pointer.

There was really not much time left, but he even lowered his head to see if he had stepped on the line. Then, an action that could be engraved in his bones appeared again. He lifted the ball above his head, exerted force with his legs and arms at the same time, and with a flick of his fingers, the basketball flew out.

Payton's defense was too late, and Fisher was also unable to catch up. He could only look at the young face helplessly.

His eyes were deep and calm, and he was like a cold-blooded killer, swinging the knife in an ordinary way.

But that blow could be fatal to the Lakers.

Old Fish has also seen this expression on other players, that player is Kobe, called Jordan...

But one of them is a true basketball god, the other is a superstar in the league at the moment, and he is just an 18-year-old rookie.

But he was exactly like them!
He didn't need to look back. Just from the reaction of the Mavericks players, he knew that the ball went in, and it was a buzzer-beater. The Lakers had no time left!

Fat Monk, Nowitzki, Nash, Finley, Big Ugly and Second Ugly...all the Mavericks players rushed towards him.

As for Zheng Yang, he just stood there, raising his arms and shouting!

This is the feeling he loves!
His name is Zheng Yang, a man who is determined to win the championship and build his own dynasty!
This is just the first surprise he brings to people, but it will definitely not be the last!
Old Nelson on the bench has never been a rational person. He will not be as calm and unfathomable as the Zen Master.

He just likes to use his loud voice and shout those vulgar swear words.

"Fuck Shaq, fuck Malone.

The best players are here today!"

The fans in the stands looked dejected. It was not a pleasant feeling to watch their home team being defeated in their own home stadium.

But that's how competitive sports are. If you like the joy of victory, you have to endure the bitterness of defeat.

O'Neal pouts and hugs the Mavericks players.

Malone and Payton returned to the locker room first, one dejected and the other furious.

Will this defeat make them better or worse, no one knows!
"I have to say, that three-pointer was really cool! Keep up the good work. Between you and LeBron, I support you."

After hugging Zheng Yang, O'Neal patted Zheng Yang on the shoulder and said with a smile that his smile was not forced, it was just his personality. Unless he lost a crucial game, he would not be depressed for long.

Zheng Yang smiled and shook his head.

"He was never in my sight."

"Haha, you're so arrogant, but I like you even more!"

After hugging and greeting the Lakers players, Zheng Yang accepted an interview with ESPN. Today's reporter was still his old acquaintance, Erin Angelus.

She was wearing much cooler clothes today, and from Zheng Yang's perspective, she could see everything clearly.

Of course, Zheng Yang was being interviewed, so he took a quick glance and stopped looking around. He still had to pay attention to his personal image.

"Hey Zheng, we meet again! It seems like every time I come to interview you, good things happen to you."

Irene Angelus said with a smile that she really liked this tall, thin, humorous young man. She was in a good mood every time she came to interview him.

"Indeed, it would be nice to see you every day."

Zheng Yang flirted with the other person lightly, and Irene Angelus was not shy at all, and then began a serious interview.

“First of all, can you share with us how you feel at the moment?

I mean, it was your first game as a pro, but you had 24 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and a buzzer-beater.

I'm curious about how you feel now."

　I wrote until four in the morning yesterday, and today I updated 1.8 words.

　　Everyone who has a ticket, please vote, thank you! I need to have a good rest today, so tomorrow should be a single update, there will be no update in the early morning.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)