NOVEL WEB Chapter 288: As Long as I Can Appease Howard, I'll Go as Many Times as Needed! (Part 4)
The Clippers, now turned into the "Four Giants," already have a stronger paper strength than the Timberwolves, who only have the "Double Giants." And now, with an "emotional buff," they are even more...
Most importantly, LeBron James is the kind of "core player" who can't achieve success without the "Three Giants" on the team.
Apart from him and Howard, the Timberwolves' most famed and skillful should be Kevin Garnett.
But at this time, the "Wolf King" is even older than everyone thought.
During the regular season, he could at least average double-digit scores, but come the playoffs, he's completely exposed. He admits it, the brother really can't play anymore... his average points can't even hit double digits.
As for his rebounding skills, they have also visibly declined.
Now his only league-level ability is his help defense, but ever since the league announced the "vertical jump defense" new rule, his ability in this aspect has weakened significantly.
In this game, he even got called for a "vertical jump flagrant"!
With only two "giants," how can you expect to win the game!
So it's no surprise to Su Wan that LeBron lost...
And there's a high probability that the Timberwolves will be "overturned," falling in the first round.
The media in Minnesota thinks so too.
From extreme optimism to extreme pessimism, the Minnesota media experienced it all in just one "King Mountain Battle."
Before the game, they thought the officials were supporting them, and entering the semifinals should just be a matter of time, but now the Clippers told them with results:
"I've decided your fate, the officials can't help you!"
Now all they can do is pray for a miracle...
Unfortunately, the Clippers back in Los Angeles were even more high-spirited.
From the start, they secured the victory.
And the outcome of this game was actually decided from the beginning.
After all, for the Timberwolves, this was a must-win game, and for the Clippers, it was also their last home game of the series. If they lost, they would face away games next.
So really, both sides were under pressure...
Thus, whichever side can gain the advantage can lessen this pressure to the greatest extent, and ultimately convert that pressure into motivation.
The trailing side would have to endure continuous pressure.
Until...
They're crushed by pressure!
In the third quarter, the Clippers, with Carmelo Anthony hitting a shot, extended the lead to over 10 points. The Timberwolves were completely thrown into disarray, speaking bluntly...
LeBron was in disarray!
After pick-and-rolls with Howard, he stopped passing to Howard and instead kept driving to the basket himself, hitting "iron-blooded layups" repeatedly, increasing his score.
Howard noticed LeBron's attitude and said to him, "Hey, man, we can't win playing like this!"
LeBron remained silent, focusing all his attention on attacking the basket.
Unable to finish plays, Howard finally lost patience. No matter how LeBron called for picks, he just stood under the basket...
And that became the last straw that broke the Timberwolves' back.
With Howard no longer cooperating with LeBron, the Timberwolves' "dual core" played separately, turning their offense into a mess.
Even though the Clippers' offense wasn't much better than the Timberwolves, their individual attacking abilities were stronger. Without mentioning others, Carmelo Anthony's isolation ability was stronger than LeBron or Howard.
Eventually, the game ended with the Clippers defeating the Timberwolves 107 to 90, a 17-point victory.
A big score of 4-2!
Ranked fifth in the West, the Clippers defeated the fourth-ranked Timberwolves and advanced to the second round of the semifinals.
LeBron's final stats:
38 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists.
On the surface, looking like a "superman"!
Howard's final stats:
15 points, 7 rebounds!
Compared to his usual averages, tonight's stats can only be blamed for the team's loss!
Thus, his face was ashen.
Leaving this time, he didn't do as usual, comforting LeBron after a loss. Instead, he walked straight into the players' tunnel as if he didn't see him.
LeBron shared the same expression.
Both with serious faces, they went into the away players' tunnel.
Carmelo Anthony, watching his "good brothers" leave without a word, thought to himself:
"No wonder Dwayne had a fallout with you!"
With such a losing attitude, now he wants to have a fallout with LeBron too!
Brothers just won, can't you at least say congratulations?
Back when they faced off in high school, even though Carmelo Anthony lost, he didn't forget social etiquette and praised him for his skills.
Looking at this guy now...
Tui!
In the future, if I lose, I'll act like I didn't see this guy either!
Anthony cursed internally.
What he didn't know was, a group of reporters were already waiting in the away team's player tunnel to interview LeBron and Howard.
Before the playoffs started, no one expected the Timberwolves to be knocked out in the first round!
Most media believed the Timberwolves would endure a tough fight but eventually win 4-2 or 4-3.
Especially after the series tied 2-2 and the league changed the rules, they were even more convinced.