In front of the championship, the promises Jas made to Howard in the past were simply irrelevant in Howard's eyes.
Moreover, the ceiling boost Durant provided for the entire Knicks team in the Eastern Conference Finals made Knicks coach D'Antoni fully aware of whom he should rely on to defeat the invincible Warriors in the finals.
Just...
When D'Antoni hoped Jas could be as selfless a team player as before, Jas' expression was noticeably resistant.
After all, it wasn't easy for Jas to get to where he is today, how could he just hand over his power?
But this ti, Jas had no choice but to give in.
Because Durant, who reclaid the crown of "Qin Yue's successor," said this to him: "Brown, in this finals series, if you don't want to play, you don't have to."
No feelings spared.
And no room for negotiation.
Within the Knicks, Durant issued an ultimatum to Jas in front of all his teammates.
Jas just didn't understand why Durant didn't learn the good things but instead decided to emulate that bastard Qin Yue?
At that mont, Jas couldn't help but yearn for the soft, easy-to-control Durant.
However, that version of Durant had long disappeared.
"'KD', can you promise one thing?"
On the day the team arrived in Oakland, Harden found Durant alone and said to him.
"What is it?"
"From now on, no matter what happens, you must maintain your current unruly deanor," Harden said aningfully, "In my eyes, you are the only player of this era who can approach the ssiah, in New York, no one deserves to stand shoulder to shoulder with you."
Hearing this, having suffered once, Durant laughed: "I promise you, from now on, no one will be able to take away anything that belongs to again."
...
June 7, 2012.
The first ga of the 11/12 NBA season finals premiered as scheduled in Oracle Arena.
When the Knicks stood once more as the opponent of the Warriors at Oracle Arena for the second consecutive year, the biggest change in this Knicks team compared to last year was undoubtedly the confidence they rebuilt after defeating the Pacers in the Eastern Finals.
Before the ga started, Durant, who always appeared as the younger brother image before Qin Yue in the past, proactively brought Harden to the Warriors' half-court.
Always skilled at reading people, Brown almost imdiately noticed the difference in Durant from before.
If, in the past, Durant gave Brown the impression of an underdog ntality hidden in a gifted big boy.
Then on this night, the firmness revealed in Durant's eyes...
It struck Brown with the impression of a Death God poised to swing his scythe.
Moreover, even Durant's manner of speaking this evening seed to Brown to be just like soone else.
"I will end your era with my own hands."
"Maybe not today."
"But before I end your era with my own hands, I hope you keep winning."
In the Warriors' half-court, looking at the confident Durant, Qin Yue said: "Since you said so, then my retirent ceremony will certainly be left for you to handle."
"He finally now truly looks like your successor." After Durant and Harden left, Brown said to Qin Yue.
In response, Qin Yue, who also noticed Durant's transformation, said: "You're right."
Even though Qin Yue had no idea what had happened within the Knicks before the finals began.
But in Qin Yue's view, the current Durant was obviously a worthy opponent to contend with him for the championship.
On the court, the warm-up ended.
The large screen at the venue imdiately displayed the starting lineups for the Knicks and the Warriors.
The visiting Knicks: Howard, Jas, Iguodala, Durant, Harden.
The ho team Warriors: Qin Yue, Wallace, Jamison, Green, Curry.
The Warriors retained their "one big, four small" lineup that defeated the Lakers in Ga Six of the Western Conference Finals.
Although the veteran coach Hollins believed that against the Jas-led Knicks, the Warriors should have Brown on the court to help Qin Yue protect the rim.
But Ma Long disdainfully replied: "I won't target a player who has never proven himself."
And after pausing, Ma Long didn't forget to add: "In my opinion, Larry Bird was right, no matter how flashy LeBron's stats may be on the court, he's not the type to influence the outco of a ga."
Ma Long hoped the Warriors' front line could complete defensive rotations more quickly on the court.
Why?
Because in Ma Long's view, Durant was the one worth pouring defensive resources into for the Warriors.
As for Jas?
In Ma Long's eyes, with Qin Yue guarding the paint, that was more than enough to deter him.
At center court, Qin Yue and Howard jumped for the ball.
On the court, as Howard leaped high, Qin Yue tapped the basketball to Curry's hands with superior height.
In today's NBA, there aren't many players who can suppress Howard in terms of absolute talent.
But Qin Yue is undoubtedly one of them.
Opening play, Warriors on the attack first.
Curry brought the ball past midcourt and executed a "1-5" pick-and-roll with the opponent as per Qin Yue's instructions.
The next mont, in the Knicks' half-court, an incredible scene unfolded.
Due to Harden being unable to bypass the towering presence of Qin Yue, Howard quickly maneuvered around the screen, and after delaying Curry, swiftly returned to guard Qin Yue.
This was the defensive prowess of peak Howard.
However, after receiving the ball and exploiting Howard's reluctance to guard him closely, Qin Yue easily located Wallace cutting from the flank.
Whenever matched up against Jas in the finals, players like Wallace, who excel in off-ball movent, find it difficult not to post star performances.
Under the Knicks' basket, Wallace dunked with one hand.
0 to 2.
Seeing this, Durant, who usually wouldn't compete defensively off the ball with Jas and would even encourage him, instantly raised his hands to question: "Brown, how did you defend that?"
Under Durant's questioning, Jas silently sent the ball from the baseline.
Next, it was the Knicks' turn to attack.
Harden brought the ball past midcourt and initiated the "Durant-Harden Screen" at the top of the arc with Durant.
The next second, with Curry failing to navigate the screen imdiately, he could only switch defensive assignnts with Green.
This season, Curry's defense has noticeably improved.
Only...
When it cos to defending peak Durant, "Golden State's Mountain" clearly isn't up to the task.
A bit left of the arc's top, the Death God's scythe swung for the first ti at Oracle Arena.
Swish—!
3 to 2.
Witnessing this scene, Qin Yue told Curry: "Stephen, next ti you can let him take a two-pointer, but don't let him shoot a three."
Curry nodded: "Understood."
Back on the court, it's the Warriors' turn with the ball.
This ti, Qin Yue asked for the ball and called Wallace to his side.
Don't ask.
The answer lies in that since in the NBA, soloing against a DPOY is extrely unwise, Qin Yue naturally wanted to find an easier opponent to exploit.
On the court, noticing Howard signaling a switch in defense, Jas's expression instantly soured.
Jas couldn't understand why Howard was willing to shield Harden but insisted that Jas himself should face Qin Yue directly.
Howard couldn't grasp why, as a forr first-team NBA All-Defensive player, Jas would act just as he did when he couldn't defend Harden, only focusing on making life difficult for himself.
Seriously, man, even if you can't guard Qin Yue, could you at least delay him a bit?
At the left-wing high post, noticing Qin Yue driving unimpeded into the paint, Howard panicked.
Underneath the basket, Qin Yue soared and slamd it ho.
3 to 4.
Simultaneously, Jas, who wanted to raise his hands to complain to Howard, once more drew Durant's displeasure.
"Brown, I'll say it again; if you don't want to play, you don't have to."
...
PS: Thanks to Harden, Ah Qiao finally got to eat! Thankful!
①Crash-Out-King: A verdict from TNT Television for LeBron Jas after this season's first-round playoffs, literally translated as "Little King of Crashing Out" in Chinese.
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