Chapter 421 Double Team + Finals

After winning two away games, the high-spirited Trail Blazers returned to Portland and were welcomed by countless fans.

That night, the Nets defeated the Bulls, and like the Trail Blazers, they both had a three-to-one advantage and match point.

The domestic media got excited and began to frantically hype the finals derby battle between Zhao Dong and Dayao.

Zhao Dong is the absolute core and leader of the Trail Blazers, and Dayao also occupies the most important tactical position in the Nets' offensive system, so the domestic media is not wrong.

On May 29, the G5 game of the Western Conference Finals begins.

On the verge of being eliminated, the Lakers launched a desperate counterattack with a fierce offensive.

Because the Trail Blazers were too excited, their state also experienced some fluctuations. Including Zhao Dong, their efficiency dropped somewhat. They were actually pulled back by the Lakers. The two teams tied at 3 to 2, and the Trail Blazers had one more game. Match point.

At this time, everyone including the boss Paul Allen became nervous.

The media began to advocate the power of the super center combination again, because in this game, O'Neal and Robinson scored 65 points together.

At noon on the 30th, the team arrived in Los Angeles. After lunch, they held a tactical meeting to clarify tactics, boost morale, and do enough pre-war mobilization.

That night, the Nets defeated the Bulls and advanced to the finals.

"Brother Dong, I'm waiting for you in the finals." Dayao called Zhao Dong after the game.

"Okay, see you in the finals." Zhao Dong smiled.

The next day, the last night of May, the G6 game of the Western Conference Finals began.

Barkley said in an interview with the media before the game: "I am optimistic about the Trail Blazers in the G6 game because the Lakers' main lineup can no longer play, especially O'Neal and David Robinson. Their physical fitness has collapsed."

In this game, Zhao Dong fired with all his strength from the very beginning, scoring 51 points in the first half and 33 points in the second quarter.

Under his overwhelming strength, the Lakers, whose main force was exhausted, were defeated at halftime. The Trail Blazers also successfully won the G6 game, eliminated the powerful Lakers, and reached the finals.

"I said it was up to me to decide whether David Robinson made the right choice or not."

After the game, Zhao Dong, who scored 81 points in the game and once again broke the highest score in a single game in the playoffs, said this.

"well!"

David Robinson, who was passing by, regretted it and sighed deeply.

He made a wrong decision. If he chose the Trail Blazers, then the Trail Blazers would definitely sweep the Lakers in this series, and he would also advance to the finals. The chance of winning the championship would be over 90%.

O'Neal walked toward the tunnel tiredly, with Kobe behind him.

The two of them stopped and turned around at the entrance of the passage, taking a look at the Trail Blazers who were surrounded by the media, feeling unwilling to do so.

Such a strong lineup has been defeated, and they are not sure whether this lineup can be maintained next season, and whether David Robinson, who wants to win a championship before retiring, is willing to stay.

After sending Paul Allen away, Buss called Jerry West and said, "Jerry, what are your plans for the future of the Lakers?"

West took a deep breath, got rid of the fatigue in his mind, and said: "O'Neal is still the only person in the league who can equal the efficiency of Feilong, and Kobe is also entering his peak. I mean, the team is still OK Combination is the core.

However, we must strengthen the construction of the bench lineup and increase the thickness. "

Old Bass immediately nodded and sighed: "You're right, Jerry, we lost somewhere, not with Feilong, but with the substitute lineup. We only have one main lineup, and they actually have Two sets.”

"But Jerry, if you want to strengthen, you have to invest." West said.

"No problem, no matter how much you strengthen, we must be like the Trail Blazers. The substitutes can be used as the main force." Old Buss said through gritted teeth.

With the Lakers' operating income, he can still persist.

In Los Angeles, the Lakers have no strong competitors, and the Clippers are vulnerable. As long as the Lakers maintain the strength of the championship, they will have excellent operational performance, then they will get a lot of broadcast revenue, and they will enter a virtuous cycle. There is nothing wrong with reinforcements.

As for the championship, it would be great if you can win it. If you can't win it, that's just fate. Who made a flying dragon appear in the league?

Time entered June 1, and the Trail Blazers returned to Portland.

The finals will start on the 5th, and there are still a few days of rest.

In fact, Zhao Dong does not want this rest time, because the Nets, like the Lakers, do not have as deep a bench as the Trail Blazers, who also have a physical advantage.

The Nets have the same super inside combination as the Lakers, but they are different.

The Nets don't have the absolute advantage at the basket like O'Neal, but they have better shooting ability.

Duncan's shooting percentage in the last two points exceeded 50%, and his offense at the basket exceeded 70%.

Dayao's shooting percentage is a bit lower, but his offensive range reaches as far as the three-point line, and his tactical position is more important.

The two of them join forces and are no less threatening than the Lakers' super center combination.

In the next few days, Zhao Dong played with his sons at home in the morning and went to the team for training in the afternoon. The time passed quickly.

The quadruplets are almost ten months old. Their bodies are strong and they can already walk. They can speak quite fluently and have a frightening amount of energy. It is very tiring to have four little guys together. They have to be waited on by a large group of people and they can't pay attention. , something will happen.

No, Zhao Dong just answered a phone call, and in the blink of an eye, the second brother was crawling on the ground, and the fourth brother, Zhao Rongxing, rode up on him. He kept talking about driving, riding his second brother like a horse, and then he was ridden by the second brother. It fell to the ground, and the two immediately started to quarrel. Finally, the eldest and the third got involved, and the four of them became a quarrel.

"Youngest, have you been beaten again? You keep bullying the three older brothers." Zhao Dong didn't bother to care. He just watched the fun and made sarcastic remarks.

At this time, the phone rang again. When I saw it was a call from home, I quickly connected it.

"Dongdong, your sister-in-law has given birth to a boy." Li Meizhu said over there.

"A boy too?" Zhao Dong said with some disappointment.

"It's only five pounds and six taels, which is too light. Xu Qing is picky about what he eats, and he doesn't listen." Li Meizhu said with some dissatisfaction.

"Forget it, the child is fine. The fourth brother Rongxing is now bigger than the three brothers. Listen, he is the one who screams the loudest." Zhao Dong advised.

"Oh, it's been half a year. It was only three months when I left. It's been ten months now. I really want to kill some good grandchildren. Dongdong, come back soon after the game. The old man and the old lady are talking about it." Li Meizhu warned.

"I know, I know, I'll go back after the game." Zhao Dong said quickly.

On the morning of the 4th, the league officially announced the best lineup.

The best defensive team was announced first. The second team was Bowen, P.J. Brown, Kobe, Gary Payton, and O'Neal. The first team was Zhao Dong, Duncan, Garnett, Kidd, and Mutombo.

Zhao Dong was selected to the All-Defensive First Team as a point guard. He should have squeezed out Payton's position, and Payton could only go to the second team.

The best lineup was then announced.

The best third team Mutombo and Karl Malone, Dirk Nowitzki, Ray Allen, Gary Payton.

Seeing this lineup, Zhao Dong immediately called Dayao: "Dayao, congratulations, you were selected for the best second team."

"Brother Dong, is the second formation coming out?"

Dayao, who is looking forward to the best lineup, is a little nervous.

"You'll see it soon." Zhao Dong smiled.

Sure enough, ten minutes later, the All-Defensive Second Team was announced, consisting of Yao Min, Garnett, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, and Kobe Bryant.

Three of the four major shooting guards were selected for this lineup. Zhao Dongcai could guess that Iverson would definitely be selected for the first team.

As for Yao, there is still O'Neal in his prime. It is not bad to be selected for the best second team this year.

Sure enough, Iverson's name was included in the list of the best first team announced subsequently.

Zhao Dong, Iverson, Chris Webber, Duncan, and O'Neal are the best team this year.

He and Duncan are the biggest winners, and were selected for the double first team at the same time.

In terms of performance, Dayao is not weaker than Duncan in the Nets, but because Duncan is considered a power forward, he takes advantage.

At around three o'clock in the afternoon, the Nets arrived in Portland.

Zhao Dong treated the Nets' three giants to dinner at the hotel where the Nets were staying.

While the four of them were eating, they talked about the Lakers.

Zhao Dong said like a magic stick: "I bet that it will be difficult for the Lakers to maintain this lineup."

Dayao said doubtfully: "I heard that the Admiral joined with a low salary. With the Lakers' financial resources, it should be no problem."

Marbury said: "He stays with the Lakers. If he wants to win the Finals, he must surpass the Trail Blazers. It depends on what he chooses. If the Lakers choose to strengthen, he may also stay."

"Is it so easy to reinforce?" Zhao Dong said disdainfully.

"If you want to dig people, let's dig them from the Trail Blazers. With your two main lineups, as long as the Lakers are willing to give you a big contract, someone will definitely want to leave."

Marbury said with a smile.

"Pfft!"

Dayao and Duncan laughed.

Zhao Dong glared at Marbury and said, "Maybe he can be hired from your team."

"Our bench has nothing." Duncan laughed.

"Tim, can you stop laughing?" Zhao Dong said dissatisfied.

"Why?" Duncan didn't know what he meant.

"Smile again." Zhao Dong said.

"..."

Duncan was confused, but he smiled obediently.

"Look, how silvery your smile is!" Zhao Dong looked disgusted.

"Pfft, haha..." Marbury and Dayao laughed.

"..."

Duncan's face was dull, neither smiling nor not smiling.

After dinner, Zhao Dong left and went to the Rose Garden, while Dayao and the other three also returned to the team, preparing to go to the Rose Garden.

"Yao, can we do it this time?" Marbury asked eagerly.

When Dayao and Duncan heard this, they immediately became excited.

Ever since Zhao Dong entered the league, he has been controlling the championship. If they can win the championship this time, the status of their three core players in the league will be greatly improved, so they can't help but be excited.

After the excitement, Dayao calmed down and said with a wry smile: "Brother Dong even killed the combination of O'Neal and Robinson. We...the difficulties are too great!"

"But I believe we have a chance." Duncan said firmly.

"Um."

Dayao and Marbury nodded and said nothing. The pressure from Zhao Dong made them feel very heavy.

In fact, all three people knew that their chances would not be great, but they just couldn't say it out loud. Saying it would only disrupt the morale of the army.

Especially Yao and Duncan, they know that the team's defense, especially the outside defense, cannot withstand the powerful impact of the Trail Blazers from the outside.

Back then, Jordan and Pippen, the two top perimeter defensive superstars, were unable to guard Zhao Dong. Marbury and the other perimeter players were scumbags in front of Zhao Dong.

If the outside line cannot withstand it, the two inside lines will directly face the impact of the Trail Blazers' outside line.

As soon as they thought of this, the excitement and excitement in their hearts disappeared, leaving only huge pressure.

At half past seven, the Rose Garden Arena was packed.

All home fans received a grand finals gift package prepared by the team. They wore uniform championship jerseys distributed and the atmosphere was extremely fiery.

In the home team's locker room, Larry Bird announced the starting lineup, which was the same as the Lakers game, no changes.

Brian Grant is very excited. At the beginning of the season, he lost his position as the main power forward. However, as the team determined the inside-out style of play, his main position returned. Now in the finals, he is still assigned Playing as the main force, if he wins the championship, as the main power forward in the finals, his status will skyrocket.

Equally excited, or even more excited, was O'Neal.

From being a marginal substitute last season, he has undergone a magnificent transformation this season, and now he has even become a center in the finals. His status transformation can be said to have been promoted to three levels in a row.

It's a pity that he just signed a new contract, otherwise after winning the championship, his status will definitely increase significantly, and he might be able to sign a maximum salary.

Now his new contract is three years and US$19 million, which is not even as good as the one-year contract of the boss Feilong. It is too small. The next contract after two years must be signed with a maximum salary.

After the starting lineup was announced, the substitutes would appear immediately. At this time, Zhao Dong stood up and walked to the middle of the locker room.

As soon as his teammates took a look, they knew he had something to say, and their eyes immediately came over.

Zhao Dong glanced at his teammates and said with a confident smile: "Everyone, the finals will start in the morning. Let me put some pressure on you."

"Boss, be careful, don't crush Jermaine." Fordson shouted immediately.

"I don't know how." O'Neal Jr. was afraid of losing his main position and shouted hurriedly.

"Okay, listen to me."

Zhao Dong greeted and then said: "We played two regular season games with the Nets this season, winning one and losing one. But we all know that it was just the regular season, just to find out each other's details. Now it's time to see the real deal. Yes. Do you have confidence in the Nets?"

"Yes, boss."

It was Fordson again, shouting immediately, and then Marion.

Zhao Dong looked at the others and nodded, then he smiled and said: "As long as you have confidence, then listen carefully. The pressure I am putting on you is that in this finals, I hope we can..."

At this point, determination appeared in his eyes, and then he uttered a sentence: "Sweep them!"

"Swiss Sweep?"

Everyone was shocked.

Not to mention the players, even the coaching staff and management including Larry Bird were shocked.

"Are you stressed?"

Scanning the crowd, Zhao Dong said with a smile.

"Boss, I can still stand it."

shouted Fordson and Marion.

Zhao Dong laughed and said: "As long as you can withstand it, it's just the Nets. Their lineup is not even as good as the Lakers. If we don't sweep them, our strength cannot be reflected. Only sweeping, and only sweeping, can we reflect our strength."

"Follow the boss and sweep the Nets!"

Fordson raised his fist and roared with all his strength.

"Follow the boss and sweep the Nets!"

In the home team's locker room, blood-heated shouts erupted.