Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 713 - 247: One Sword Chills 50 States_2

Compared to Qin Yue...

Acknowledging his usual disdain for Brown, who always boasted about being a superstar center without the skill, O'Neal said, "This is what LeBron James envies, the teammates Messiah owns.

Let's make a hypothesis. If the Warriors proposed a straight swap of Kwame Brown for Dwight Howard, would the Knicks management agree to this trade?"

Brown for Howard?

Don't be ridiculous. Even if Knicks GM Donnie Walsh were possessed by the spirit of the universally recognized biggest idiot in GM history, Nico Harrison, Walsh would never agree to such a trade.

No doubt about it.

This is a game to test the caliber of the stars on both sides.

Under the tacit approval of the referees, the defense level in this West Conference Finals far exceeds the norm.

This means the Lakers and Warriors' championship pieces are bound to struggle to show their original competence.

Only the superstars can maintain their usual high-level performance on such occasions.

As for Kwame Brown, who only shed the "bust" label thanks to Qin Yue's aura?

Halftime, the home team's locker room.

You can see Brown, who always knows who is the real asset at such moments, having already taken the place of the Warriors' physical therapist, eagerly taking on the duty of massaging Qin Yue's legs and shoulders.

"All I can do is this." Brown said dejectedly to Qin Yue, "You know, that brother duo is really hard to defend."

Hearing this, Qin Yue nodded: "Indeed, they are tough to guard."

What's difficult about defending the Gasol brothers?

The fact that both of them developed three-point shooting abilities this season.

This means, whether matched up with Little Gasol or Big Gasol, Qin Yue would be drawn away from the inside. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

In the regular season, the Warriors tried ignoring the brothers' three-point attempts and keeping Qin Yue in the paint.

But in that game, the duo managed to hit a total of 8 threes from the outside.

Moreover, since the Gasol brothers possess strong facilitation skills and the ability to create scoring opportunities for teammates through screens.

Even when the Warriors manage to prevent the duo from getting the ball in certain plays, they would use their active screens to help the team complete their offense.

To Qin Yue, this is definitely a "1+1 far greater than 2" inside combination.

Thus, watching Brown once again get toyed with by the Gasol brothers tonight, Qin Yue not only didn't have any complaints but even comforted him proactively.

"Kwame, don't dwell on the first half." Qin Yue said to Brown, "As long as you can perform your role well, leave the rest to me."

Qin Yue knows very well...

Even if they could deploy Big Ben like in the regular season to enhance their low-post defense.

The Warriors' current lineup can't solve the Gasol brothers.

After all, when Big Ben is on the court, the Warriors essentially lack an offensive player.

Also, given Big Ben's current age, his playing time in each game is limited.

This ensures that in this West Conference Finals series, the Warriors can't use Big Ben as a regular weapon.

Hence, with this route not feasible, the ever-pragmatic Qin Yue sees Warriors' primary task in the second half as stopping Chris Paul.

So, after halftime, the Warriors adjusted their starting lineup for the second half.

On the court, Brown, Qin Yue, Wallace, Green, Butler lined up.

While the team's original starting point guard, Steve Nash, was left on the bench by Warriors coach Ma Long.

Admittedly, this might break Nash fans' hearts.

But tonight, 38-year-old Nash is indeed unable to match the intensity of this game.

TNT TV Station, Barkley bluntly said: "Steve really needs to consider retirement; this season, his contributions on the court for the Warriors are getting smaller."

In Barkley's view, if the Warriors need offense, they can pair Curry and Qin Yue without concern.

But in situations where defense is paramount, like now?

Sorry, even in Nash's peak career phase, defense was never his forte.

Third quarter, Warriors took the lead on offense.

This defensive lineup lacking space means Qin Yue must take more scoring responsibility.

Left high post, Qin Yue throws a fake to shake off Gasol, then quickly runs into Lakers' multilayered defense without passing to Butler near the baseline.

In the regular season, Butler's corner three-point shooting percentage is merely 22.5% and 24.5% from both sides.

What does this shooting percentage mean?

It means even if Qin Yue passes, should Butler dare to shoot, the Warriors will likely grant the Lakers rebound opportunities.

But on the court, as Qin Yue's forward path is effectively barricaded by Lakers players, he also faces the most precarious moment in this offensive possession.

CCTV, Coach Zhang nervously sweating bullets said: "This is bad, this is bad, Qin Yue's going to lose the ball!"

Did Qin Yue really lose the ball, Coach Zhang?

In the heart of Lakers' defense, a figure with low presence over the past two seasons suddenly offered Qin Yue a passing lane only he could perceive.

Indeed, this is a game where only superstars can sustain high-level performance.

But in such a game, players adaptable to the intensity and capable of relieving pressure for superstars are often hailed by fans as:

——Clutch Players.

Clutch Player Green stood out in this possession.

At the top of the arc, scraping past Klay, receiving Qin Yue's assist, despite his body center still airborne, Green hits a three!

When the ugly duckling truly turns into a swan.

TNT TV Station, Smith the most empathic towards role players smiled: "Lakers better be careful; since entering 2012, Dan's shooting percentage from three is an astonishing 47.5%."

Coming back, Lakers on offense.

Green again.

On the wing, accurately anticipating Paul's pass to Klay, Green steps forward and deflects the basketball toward the frontcourt.

Then, dashing like mad towards the ball's drop point.

A culmination of two and a half years of incubation, Warriors' patience awaiting Green abruptly transformed into the Grimm's Fairy Tales Qin Yue has been yearning for.

Northern Cal Captain Danny Green single-handedly dunking in.

57 to 64.

At the technical table, Mike Brown, worried the Warriors might gain momentum, called a timeout right as the second half commenced.

Warriors bench, Brown, who once thought Green was only NBDL caliber, immediately apologized to Green: "Dan, please accept my kneel!"

In the stands, until last year, the Warriors President Larry Riley, who still considered cutting Green, fiercely slapped himself.

Who said minor players couldn't prove themselves on such a stage?

Timeout ends, Kobe assists Little Gasol for an inside score.

Warriors' offensive possession.

As Green sprints around under Brown, Wallace, Butler's screens.

Oracle Arena's live atmosphere even ignites thanks to this role player.

Run!

Keep running!

Get that opportunity, Dan!

Slightly left of the top of the arc, Green brilliantly navigates into what only the Warriors consider an "open" opportunity.

Truthfully, even as Green receives the ball, Klay didn't lose his position.

However, Green resolutely completes the shot from outside the arc in the next moment.

Because, over the past two and a half years, Qin Yue continually reminded him, if he wants to survive in the Warriors, he must complete the shot.

Jump, levitate, flick the wrist.

Swish——!

TNT TV Station, seeing Green's effortless three land in the net, Smith shouted: "Whoa, whoa, whoa, who could have thought, amid speculations on which superstar from two teams will step up, Danny Green, this humble figure, shifted the game's momentum?"

A sword's drawn cold over fifty states.

On court, watching Green score 8 consecutive points for the Warriors, suddenly dashing towards Qin Yue like a madman.

Then, after chest-bumping, with tears in eyes, Green said: "Give me the ball, boss! I promise, I won't miss a single shot next!"

Upon hearing, Qin Yue nodded.

"No problem, Dan."

...

PS: Just had a C-section yesterday, today I can only kneel unforgivingly to all godfather readers in a soulful state.