After years of painstaking efforts, finally piecing together a championship-contending team for the Pacers, if you must ask what Bird feels is still lacking in this team.
Bird would certainly tell you that this team clearly lacks a fearless winner's heart.
Judging by the team's record and performance on the court so far, the Pacers have indeed beco a championship contender.
But if this team lacks the courage to strike at the divine...
How can they possibly laugh until the end?
Bird hopes that the team he personally built would at least have the courage to punch the divine.
Thus, upon arriving in Oakland, Bird imdiately expressed to the dia, "We ca here to defeat God."
"Larry, you're just putting unnecessary pressure on the players," Pacers head coach Frank Vogel complained to Bird, "Oaklanders will never allow their deity to be desecrated by outsiders."
Upon hearing this, Bird shrugged and said, "So what?"
"Frank, if we want to go all the way, then the Warriors are the opponent we must defeat."
"Our players must learn how to face pressure."
"You know, as long as it's an away ga, the Warriors' number 77 faces overwhelming boos."
"But instead of being crushed by the pressure, he grows stronger day by day."
"I know, not everyone can deal with pressure as effortlessly as he can."
"But if we are a team aiming for the championship, we must learn how to handle pressure."
Vogel hadn't expected Bird to intentionally "turbocharge" the entire Pacers team.
However, after seriously pondering it in his mind, Vogel soon understood Bird's well-aning intentions.
After all, how can a phoenix achieve rebirth without the fire?
Oracle Arena.
On ga night, the Pacers ca with their strongest lineup to defeat God—Hibert, Boozer, Granger, George, Lowry.
As for the Warriors, with Nash and Bell resting, Curry and Green appeared in the starting lineup that night.
Before becoming "Brother Silky," the tall and firm Hibert crushed Brown in the opening tip-off stage thanks to his height advantage, before injuries and NBA changes to the vertical jump rules turned him into "Gao Yuanyuan."
Lowry dribbled across half-court.
George, not yet elevated to "Brother Silky," used Boozer's screen to circle to the left high post to receive the ball.
Though the next second, George's post-up was exceptionally decisive.
But forced to jump pass under Green's physical confrontation, George ultimately chose to pass the buck to Granger.
At this mont, from breakthrough to passing, George might not be identical to soone, but at least he can be said to have a remarkably similar style.
Near the arc top, Granger receives the bailout and shoots a three-pointer.
3 to 0.
Back cos the Warriors' offensive possession.
As soon as Qin Yue descended to the free-throw line with the ball, George and Granger on the wing quickly surrounded him.
However, gesturing to pass single-handedly, Qin Yue successfully fooled Granger and George.
Following this, a fake pass and breakout, ball accelerated in motion.
In the paint area facing Hibert's exaggerate defensive range, one could only see Qin Yue hitting a hard shot.
On TNT TV, Barkley shook his head repeatedly and said: "This possession shows what it ans to dance on the edge of a knife."
"If ssiah's fake pass did not deceive Dan and Paul, in that mont at that spot, caught in the opponent's three-man trap, he likely would have committed a turnover."
Smith agreed, "That's why he's unstoppable on the court, his calmness and ability to handle the ball, far exceeds all current era players."
On the court, it's Pacers' turn to attack.
An increasingly mature and steady Lowry made a 1-5 pick-and-roll with Hibert at high positions.
The latter rolled down and cut into the Warrior Forbidden Area, and upon receiving Lowry's pass, he pressed Brown and delivered the ball into the basket.
"Is this the strength of a Western star center?"
Retreating on defense, staring at Brown with disbelief, Hibert couldn't believe how weak and unable his opponent's defense seed.
Only, Hibert's doubt towards Brown lasted a re few seconds, conversely, Brown utilized Qin Yue's attraction, scoring an Answer Ball shot before Hibert could return to defense.
Setting aside that "Nightmare Dance" comparable to Jas, Brown's ability to feast on pass has indeed improved significantly these years.
Like the previous possession.
Knowing Hibert's movent speed is far behind his own, Brown chose in advance the attacking route that Hibert couldn't follow while executing a ghost screen.
As for the next offensive possession of the Pacers, how should one describe Brown who got devoured by Hibert low in the post again?
"I'm an offensive-oriented center."
In the Warrior Forbidden Area, Brown's face remained calm and heart steady as he addressed Qin Yue's death stare: "You know, offense is my specialty, I'm inherently not good at defense."
Seeing this, Qin Yue kicked Brown and said, "Give him more physical confrontations; the guy isn't as strong as you think."
In the NBA, finishing under the basket is far from as easy as the public imagines.
Since, compared to other areas, the basket area is always filled with physical encounters.
It's been a technical task to consistently feast on passes below the basket.
Before crossing over, Qin Yue watched Hibert in his peak play gas.
Qin Yue understood very well, despite Hibert's massive physique, once he encountered strong confrontations in matches, his basket finishing would frequently make rookie mistakes.
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