Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 668 - 229 Justice Shall Prevail! (2 consecutive updates completed, begging for monthly tickets and subscriptions!)

After the second game of the Finals, unlike James, who was busy with locker room politics.

Qin Yue, who had roughly gauged the quality of the Knicks through the first two games, didn't forget to earnestly remind each teammate before leading the Warriors to New York: "A 2-0 lead doesn't mean we've won this Finals series. It's only when everything is settled that we can celebrate this great season as the number one winners."

Qin Yue didn't want the Warriors to lose this Finals series by underestimating the opponent and being careless, even though they had the upper hand.

Indeed, even after the first two games, the Warriors had proven to be the more dominant side in this Finals series.

But in the upcoming three consecutive away games...

The Warriors were by no means immune to being overturned and defeated by the Knicks.

Because ever since entering the playoffs, especially in games at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks averaged 33 free throws per game.

And their opponents?

The answer was only 18.

In other words, under similar free throw percentages, the Knicks had a home-court advantage of 15 extra points each night.

Due to this home-court advantage, the Warriors had to face a group of refereeing experts on the road.

So Qin Yue knew better than anyone that the Warriors absolutely couldn't afford to be careless at Madison Square Garden.

Otherwise...

With the other side's refereeing expertise bearing down, even a team as formidable as the Warriors could only gasp and marvel at the prowess of such officiating masters.

On the night of the 9th.

The third game of the Finals between the Warriors and the Knicks took place at Madison Square Garden.

Compared to previous visits here, with the Knicks returning to the Finals after twelve years, Qin Yue could no longer enjoy the home-playing treatment he used to in New York.

During the entry ceremony.

As boos filled the entire arena, Barkley, on TNT TV Station, laughed and said: "I don't even need to watch the broadcast. Just by hearing the sound, I can guess that the player entering now is the Messiah."

Returning to their home court, the Knicks continued with the starting lineup from the second game—Mozgov, James, Igoda, Durant, Harden.

On the Warriors' side, it was still—Brown, Qin Yue, Wallace, Bell, Nash.

In the first quarter, as the game started, Wallace, having been called for fouls in two consecutive defensive possessions, first felt Durant's untouchability at Madison Square Garden.

However, if possible...

Durant might have preferred Wallace not to have committed those two defensive fouls.

Because after Jamison replaced the foul-troubled Wallace, Warriors' coach Mike Malone didn't have Jamison play small forward against Durant.

Instead, Brown and Jamison formed the inside duo, with Qin Yue taking over the defense on Durant.

The fact proved...

As long as the chief referee wasn't someone inexperienced like James Williams before, even in New York, referees didn't dare to whistle biased calls during Qin Yue's defense.

The result...

When Durant met someone who could match up with him, and who was much stronger, like Qin Yue, under intense pressure, this "New York Messiah" immediately lost himself on the court.

Durant's offensive malfunction was a very terrifying problem for these Knicks.

But James unexpectedly enjoyed the benefit of Qin Yue moving away from the inside to match up with Durant.

After all, in New York, it's not just Durant among the refereeing masters.

On the court, when Brown was also substituted by Big Ben in the first quarter due to two fouls, this historically second-ranked center exclaimed discontentedly: "With this kind of calling, the Knicks simply can't lose at home!"

Could the Knicks really not lose at home?

Qin Yue said: Not necessarily.

Unlike the previous two games where he only showcased dominance during key moments.

In this game, as the situation was very unfavorable for the Warriors from the start, Qin Yue almost took over the game from the first quarter.

And Iguodala, who thought that Qin Yue in the first two games was already terrifying enough, truly experienced the Qin Yue who played at full capacity for the Warriors that evening.

Madison Square Garden, Warriors' offensive possession.

First, he forcefully pushed past Iguodala from the perimeter, then dribbled into the paint, shouldering the massive Mozgov to score. At that moment, regarding Qin Yue's dominance, what could Iguodala do besides kneel and sing his surrender?

Next possession, it was still Qin Yue executing a high-post iso-play.

Explosively dribbling, changing direction.

On the court, when the wind-like Qin Yue approached like a gentle breeze, Iguodala almost instantly knelt before Qin Yue's incredibly stunning Human-Ball Integration ability.

In the entire first quarter, Qin Yue tallied 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.

And on the scoreboard, the Warriors, playing away, led by 35 to 31.

In the second quarter, Qin Yue, who carried the team for an entire quarter, was the first to receive artillery support from Curry.

This might very well be the pinnacle moment of Curry's career so far.

Because in a total of 10 minutes and 45 seconds of playing time in the second quarter, shooting 9 for 7, including 6 for 8 from three-point range, and making 2 of 2 free throws, Curry pulled off an astounding act by scoring "20+" in a single quarter of the Finals.

In the history of the NBA Finals, never before had two players from the same team achieved "20+" in a single quarter.

But on this night, drawn by the gravity of Great Qin, the three-point god from Qin Yue's memory began to shine.