Chapter 831: Chapter 276: No One Can Lay a Hand on Su Wan Before Me, Not Even David Stern
Originally, after advancing, their opponent was the San Antonio Spurs...
Their opponent in the semi-finals was indeed the San Antonio Spurs... but Tim Duncan sprained his ankle in the first round of the series against the Jazz Team!
It couldn’t be helped. With Battier gone, and the Spurs not getting Leonard as they originally planned, the team’s defense faced a gap, forcing Tim Duncan to manage both interior and perimeter defense, while also having to cover Hayward’s impacts on the wing and defend Al Jefferson in the paint. After enduring four to five games, his old knee injury flared up.
Because of this, even though the team eventually made it to the semi-finals, they lost Tim Duncan.
Without the "Stone Buddha," the Spurs couldn’t withstand Little Si and Griffin in the paint. The two combined for an average of 50 points, directly crushing the Spurs’ interior.
The Clippers also achieved their first trip to the Western Conference Finals in franchise history.
This was a height not reached even during the Brand era.
Griffin managed to do it in just three seasons with the team, making him the best player in the history of the Clippers.
Hmm...
Leading the team to the Western Conference Finals makes you the "best in franchise history," that’s the awful history of the Clippers!
No wonder all of Los Angeles are Lakers fans.
It’s not just because the Clippers came later, but mainly because compared to the history of the Lakers, the history of the Clippers makes dogs shake their heads. How could anyone in Los Angeles choose the Clippers over the Lakers?
That’s just impossible!
However, for the Clippers, the chance to make a name for themselves and surpass the Lakers in Los Angeles is right in front of them...
The other semi-final in the Western Conference has the Thunder Team facing the Lakers.
If the Lakers fall in the semi-finals, then this season, the Clippers will have better results than the Lakers. Even without winning the championship or making it to the Finals, it would be enough to write it into their franchise history: Summer 2012, the Clippers made it to the Western Conference Finals, with a better record than the Los Angeles Lakers.
But currently, it looks difficult for the Lakers not to make it to the Western Conference Finals.
The score on both sides is currently 2-1.
The Lakers are the leading side.
There’s no choice. With Chris Paul teaming up with Yao and Kobe, as long as they are healthy, they are incredibly unstoppable, what team could beat them!
Even a team with unlimited talent like the "Thunder Team" can’t do it.
The Lakers entering the Western Conference Finals seems almost certain now!
However, this is obviously better!
For the Clippers, if they can step over the Lakers to reach the Finals, this will be their most remarkable season in franchise history.
Of course...
If possible, they still hope the Lakers don’t make it to the Western Conference Finals!
After all, they’ve lost all 3 regular-season games against the Lakers this season!
Come on, young Thunder Team guys, beat the Lakers!
Who knows if their prayers worked.
Surprisingly, the Thunder Team did win the next two games.
But the process of winning was different from what the Clippers had imagined...
In the 4th game of the series, the Thunder Team was trailing by nearly 10 points in the third quarter. However, in the last 30 seconds of the third quarter, Yao inadvertently got injured during a confrontation that resulted in a foul by Perkins. He was helped off the court by the team doctor, but then returned to make the subsequent free throw with determination. Yet after the interval, he sat on the bench the entire time, watching helplessly as the team lost the lead.
His face was full of helplessness.
Then the public learned Yao had a fractured foot, and it was confirmed he would be sidelined for the season again.
For the second time in three years, the external media largely believed the free throw he made might be the last point of his career.
After the game, Yao couldn’t hide his depression: "I’m sorry to my teammates!"
He knew clearly that his season-ending injury meant the Lakers were very likely to lose the series against the Thunder Team.
And indeed, in the fifth game, which shifted to Oklahoma, the Thunder Team focused on the paint and won what was known as the "King Mountain" clash, rewriting the score to 3-2.
Su Wan wasn’t surprised to hear about Yao’s injury.
After a stress fracture, more injuries are bound to happen.
And the original Yao had already played 8 years in the League, now in his tenth year, any injury is possible.
The demands of the National Team, combined with Yao’s height and weight, hardly make a longer career lifespan possible.
After losing King Mountain, Kobe’s eyes were full of unwillingness.
But he also knew that injuries are part of the journey... you can only call it bad luck when they happen.
And he couldn’t blame Yao either. - Despite being an injury, Yao’s situation was completely different from Shaquille O’Neal’s. There’s no questioning Yao’s professional attitude.
Most media in Los Angeles felt distressed.
But some media have already turned their support to the Los Angeles Clippers.
For the Clippers, it seems the "Fate battle" has arrived.
Game 6 of the series between the Thunder Team and the Lakers.
Even though it was at the Lakers’ home court.
The Thunder Team didn’t let their rising momentum be broken, taking down the 4th game victory in the series with incredible toughness.