Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 642 - 220: Basketball Never Lies! (First Update!)

Led the team past the Lakers, the defending champions, under Qin Yue's leadership, have reached the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive year with an unstoppable momentum.

On the other side...

The Mavericks did not keep them waiting long.

The Dallas People, after battling the Supersonic for six games, conquered KeyArena in Game 6 and knocked out the Supersonic with a 4-2 score, meeting the Warriors in this year's Western Conference Finals.

From the game process, it was quite a classic series.

Supersonic, with Yao Ming, had an absolute advantage on the inside.

Yet this season, the Mavericks, echoing the Warriors in average three-point attempts, smiled till the end with more accurate outside shooting.

"In the past, we thought shooting couldn't win championships."

On TNT TV Station, Barkley reviewed this year's Western Conference Semifinals and said: "But the fact is, winning a championship without shooting is only because you're not accurate enough."

Since entering the playoffs, the Mavericks' team averaged 31 three-point attempts per game and managed to hit close to 12 threes each game.

Although in past matchups, Qin Yue had repeatedly teased Mavericks coach Mike Woodson for not resembling Larry Brown's disciple.

But this season, under the active influence of "Three-Point Maniac" Woodson, this Mavericks team has evolved into a standard small-ball team.

Among them, Dirk Nowitzki's changes are the most obvious.

One must know, in history, "King Nowitzki" averaged about two to three three-point attempts during this period.

But now...

Nowitzki's numbers have soared to more than seven times a night.

Woodson's crazy usage of Nowitzki...

Even former Mavericks coach Don Nelson lamented: "I have no doubt, under Mike's guidance, Dirk is in the most efficient phase of his career."

It's well known that although early in his career, Nowitzki had proven to be a sharpshooter who could take nearly five threes per night and maintain a near 40% three-point shooting percentage.

But due to era concepts and game environment factors...

To avoid being called soft for shooting too many threes, Nowitzki significantly reduced his three-point attempts after entering the peak of his career.

Until Woodson took charge of the Mavericks.

And crazily instilled in Nowitzki the idea that "50% two-pointers aren't bad, but 40% three-pointers are more cost-effective." Under Woodson's rectification, Nowitzki found his younger self again.

"I don't understand why every night shooting around seven threes makes Messiah a symbol of toughness and iron-blood," Woodson said, "And the same seven threes make Dirk labeled as 'soft,' anyway, I like seeing Dirk shoot threes on the court, if possible, I even wish his average three-point attempts exceed ten."

When two three-point teams meet in this year's Western Conference Finals.

When Three-Point Maniac Woodson drives the more efficient German War Chariot toward the Bay Area.

When the Mavericks players, having gone through hardships, stand before the defending champions with a champion's heart.

On the evening of May 18.

Oakland.

This eagerly anticipated first game of the Western Conference Finals premiered at Oracle Arena.

The night of the game, Brown, returning to the Warriors' starting lineup, almost clashed with Chandler during the jump ball preparation.

The reason being, Chandler, who always looked down on Brown, said right away: "I heard you averaged only 5 points and 5 rebounds last round? Is this the strength of a Western Conference All-Star center?"

At the center court, faced with Chandler's objective statements, Brown immediately lost his composure, pushed Chandler, and then hid behind Nash.

This made Chandler speechless, who usually had a fiery temper.

At that moment, Chandler looked at Brown, feeling like Qiao Feng looking at Murong Fu from Shaoshi Mountain — why is this kind of guy considered one of the best sweep-type centers in the West today alongside me?

And on the court, after this little episode, the big screen showed tonight's starting lineup for both teams.

Mavericks: Chandler, Nowitzki, Marion, Stevenson, Parker.

Warriors: Brown, Qin Yue, Wallace, Bell, Nash.

Opening jump ball, Chandler, with his exaggerated wingspan, won possession for the Mavericks with a belly full of resentment.

Parker brought the ball past half-court and executed a pick-and-roll with Nowitzki near the high arc.

Although considering Nash's defense made it hard to keep up with the peak-career Parker, the Warriors deployed Bell to guard this French sports car tonight...

But when Parker increased his dribbling speed, old Bell could only hope Qin Yue could help with the delay timely.

The next second, Qin Yue's delay was just right.

But Nowitzki, bouncing outside swiftly, gained space to shoot from the outside.

This was exactly why Woodson, after last season's sweep by the Warriors, was determined that the Mavericks must find a top-level shooter to possibly beat this Warriors team.

Qin Yue's defense in recent years had shown a leading gap trend for sure, but even the strongest Qin Yue couldn't cover every play for teammates.

Especially for this play.

Outside, receiving Parker's pass, Nowitzki didn't hesitate, promptly scoring an accurate high-arc three to draw first blood for the Mavericks.

3-0.

On the Warriors bench, after several rounds of tentative opening plays, Lionel Hollins suggested to Mike Malone: "Mike, should we change our defensive strategy?"

As a defensive specialist, Hollins noticed that the Mavericks repeatedly moved Qin Yue out of the interior and clearly understood the Mavericks' intent tonight to use Nowitzki's range to diminish Qin Yue's defensive impact in the Warriors' Forbidden Area.

Moreover, under the Mavericks' back-and-forth deployment, the workload Qin Yue had to bear in defense was noticeably more than usual.

To Hollins, this was obviously not a good sign.

"Leon, how do you think we should adjust?" Malone asked Hollins.

"We should have Kwame match up with Dirk and have Messiah fall back and play the five," Hollins said.

Upon hearing, Malone quickly made a decision: "Let's do it as you suggest!"

On the court, it's the Warriors' first defensive possession after adjustments.

Brown excellently helped Bell on the outside with a delay task and quickly returned to stand in front of Nowitzki.

But...

The experienced Nowitzki still dribbled at the flank, lifted Brown off balance, and, after driving into the long two-point area, scored with a Dian Tou.

That night, Nowitzki gave Qin Yue a distinctly different feeling from before.

It wasn't that his skills had become more mature, but the failures of the past had quietly forged a steel ambition in Nowitzki's heart that was unparalleled by anyone.

Furthermore, with protection from Chandler and Marion inside and outside, Qin Yue's tactics of using 4-5 and 3-4 pick and rolls to switch Nowitzki into isolation were no longer as effective as before.

Although to ensure Nowitzki wasn't isolated by Qin Yue, the Mavericks inevitably had to concede some shooting opportunities to other Warriors players during defensive rotations.

But with intense physical opposition off the ball and shortened shooting windows for the Warriors through rapid rotations, the Mavericks successfully controlled this defensive loss to an acceptable range.

It must be said, this Maverick team has abundant experience in resisting the Warriors.

For the past several seasons, the Warriors with Qin Yue had been their natural nemesis.

So in today's league, if you had to ask which team understands the Warriors the best, it has to be the Mavericks without a doubt.

At Oracle Arena, by the first official timeout, the visiting Mavericks led 16-12.

After the timeout, the Warriors made two personnel adjustments.

Jamison and Curry replaced Brown and Nash respectively.

This was a predetermined strategy for the Warriors before the game.

As early as the last regular season encounter between the two teams, Qin Yue and Ma Long had already keenly felt the Mavericks' crazy dedication to "protecting our King Nowitzki."

Therefore, to target Nowitzki in offense, the Warriors' best strategy wasn't to force the Mavericks to switch defenses with Qin Yue using pick and rolls, but to deploy a lineup where Nowitzki would inevitably be exposed to the Warriors' offensive focal points.

Like now.

When Nowitzki had to choose a player to defend between Qin Yue, Jamison, and Wallace, with Nowitzki choosing Jamison, Qin Yue immediately commanded his teammates to clear half the court for Jamison.

This was a tactical treatment Jamison hadn't enjoyed since leaving the Wizards.

Not to mention, at this moment, assisting Jamison was the world's recognized new GOAT, Qin Yue.

Back in Cleveland...

Jamison, who was either taking the blame or on the road to taking it, never had the chance to hold the ball for such a long time as he does now.

From the high left wing, Jamison took one step past Nowitzki and scored on a layup.

16 to 14.

On the court, hearing the cheering of the fans and seeing the golden waves rising and falling in the stands, Jamison, who was once highly anticipated by Warriors fans early in his career, instantly felt a sense of returning home.

At that moment, Jamison had an unprecedented desire to redeem himself for the disappointment he once caused in the Bay Area by making a significant contribution to the Warriors.

Back on defense, Nowitzki missed a Dian Tou in Jamison's aggressive defense.

Qin Yue grabbed the rebound and immediately noticed Jamison sprinting toward the Mavericks' half.

Upon seeing this, Qin Yue quickly launched a fast break with a long pass.

In the frontcourt, Jamison scored another layup, providing an immediate 4-point run for the Warriors after coming off the bench.

Meanwhile, on the Mavericks' bench, Woodson turned his gaze towards Qin Yue, who had yet to attempt a single shot that night.

From Woodson's understanding of Qin Yue, the defensive restrictions placed on him by the Mavericks that night were definitely not the main reason why Qin Yue was primarily creating opportunities for his teammates.

After all, in last year's finals, Qin Yue exploded for 70 points against the Celtics' strict defense.

Although Qin Yue couldn't have such heroic performances every night,

his overly low-profile presence in this game caused Woodson to feel an inexplicable panic in his heart.

So now the question arises.

Why is Qin Yue so low-key in this game?

The reason is quite simple.

Qin Yue, not believing the Warriors could easily advance in this round of Western Conference Finals, chose the way he most wanted to win the game after fully feeling the pressure given by the Mavericks.

On the court, Parker drove to the Warriors Forbidden Area and scored a floater.

Returning, Jamison stepped back for a three-pointer from the flank and missed, but Qin Yue grabbed the ball over Chandler's head and scored with a putback dunk.

"Keep going, Antoine." While retreating, Qin Yue encouraged Jamison, "Dirk can't stop you, your shot choices were just fine."

Upon hearing this, although Jamison merely nodded,

he could once again feel the difference between one franchise player and another.

Throughout the entire season...

Jamison had deeply realized why this Warriors team was so strong.

Because they have a true King.

A King who enables his teammates to fully flourish on the court and will step up during critical moments.

"He never passes the buck to teammates on crucial possessions, nor does he wear the Emperor's new clothes, living in a fantasy world with a nonexistent crown!"

On the court, looking at Qin Yue's increasingly towering back, Jamison was certain this was the leader he should follow at all costs.

As for that former Chosen One who nearly relegated him to a "CBA teammate?"

In the next play, after shooting through Nowitzki's defense on the outside, Jamison suddenly roared, "Basketball never lies!"

...

PS: First update!