Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 660 - 226: He’s Anxious, He’s Anxious Again, He’s Both Angry and Anxious (Two-in-One - !)_4
Swoosh!
On the court, as Jamison, who came on as a substitute in the latter half of the first quarter, scored his 14th point of the game...
This former star forward, always ahead of the West's semifinals, reached the peak of his emotions in an instant.
"Antoine!"
"Antoine!"
"Antoine!"
This was a scene Jamison, who once held high hopes from Bay Area fans, had never witnessed — the golden wave in the arena rose higher and higher, fans madly shouting his name, teammates one by one coming forward to bump chests in celebration with him.
"Welcome home, Antoine."
On the Warriors' bench, Deng Liwei, who once worked with Jamison for a season, opened his arms and said.
Upon seeing this, embracing Deng Liwei tightly, tears swirling in his eyes, Jamison said proudly, "Yes, this is my home!"
Meanwhile, James, who had been outmatched by Jamison in half a quarter, returned to the bench physically and mentally exhausted.
And regardless of whether Westbrook did it intentionally or unintentionally...
The remarks made by Big Westbrook during the break severely stung James' already battered heart.
"Damn it! 'KD' has already scored 14 points in the first quarter, but we let that substitute on the other side score 14 points too!"
Westbrook was dissatisfied with the Knicks' first-quarter defense, saying, "If we keep playing like this, we'll never be able to beat the Warriors!"
What do you mean by letting the substitute on the other side also score 14 points?
That was Antoine Jamison!
A former All-Star forward who once scored 51 points against Kobe!
At this moment, James, who believed he had given his all on defense in the first quarter, initially wanted to retort to Big Westbrook.
However...
Feeling that these words somewhat slapped his own face, James ultimately chose to stay silent.
Simultaneously, as James felt exhausted in body and soul...
Iguodala suddenly added, "When Antoine was with the Knight, I often matched up against him, and he shouldn't be that hard to defend."
Shouldn't be that hard to defend?
On the Knicks' bench, James, aware of the underlying message in Iguodala's words, could guess the implication even if he wasn't a fool.
Yes.
James admitted that there were issues with his defense on Jamison tonight.
But weren't Jamison's field goals facilitated by Qin Yue's screens and Nash's passes?
Why is it all now becoming his responsibility?
So basically the implication is...
The Knicks, who trailed 29-39 at the end of the first quarter, didn't lose, only James did?
"Brown, you need to pull yourself together."
After both Big Westbrook and Iguodala pointed out the Knicks' first-quarter problems, Durant, who studied how Qin Yue led the team every night, stepped in to mediate.
Only...
In Durant's consolation, James felt no warmth.
Because Durant, similar to someone else, always maintained a superior attitude, which only annoyed James.
James didn't understand what was wrong with the world.
To think, before being upset by the Bobcats last season, he was the unrivaled King James!
Yet in just one year...
Has he fallen to such a state?
"In any case, to win, we must defend well in the next quarter."
Before the second quarter started, Iguodala concluded, "Russell is right; if we continue to let their substitutes perform like this, we will absolutely have no chance of defeating the Warriors."
Substitution players, defense...
At this moment, looking at Iguodala, who was again implying fault with him, James felt as though something was clogging his chest.
Moreover...
This feeling of obstruction was evidently getting worse under Durant's 'comfort.'
"Brown, you know, Russell and Andre always focus on the matter, not the person."
Durant patted James on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry. Even if the whole world doubts you, I'll trust you without reservation."
Doubt? Trust?
At that moment, James felt as if Durant truly regarded him as his little brother.
Fortunately...
As per usual, in the second quarter, the Knicks would typically be led jointly by James and Harden.
James was fully aware that with plenty of game time remaining, he still had ample opportunity to prove himself.
Moreover, compared to Big Westbrook...
Harden, who was gentle by nature and always willing to pass to him, had always been James' soothing presence on the court.
But just as James was about to stand up and head to the court...
His mood suddenly plummeted to the depths.
Because on the opposite side, Qin Yue also stood up and headed to the court.
F**k this ridiculously stupid world!
James didn't understand why Qin Yue, who usually rested in the first half of the second quarter, would be playing again tonight.
But actually....
The reason Qin Yue could play consecutive quarters this night was mainly thanks to James.
After all...
The entire first quarter...
Due to the excellent performance of Brown, Wallace, Jamison, and others, Qin Yue was cruising.
Therefore, considering that slacking off too much could affect the judges' decision for FMVP, Qin Yue had to continue playing and try to make his stats look more impressive.
Only, by doing this, since the Knicks chose to rest Iguodala...
During the lineup rotation phase, even if James really didn't want to match up with Qin Yue, he had to take on the responsibility of facing Qin Yue.
Thus...
A furious and anxious James broke down.
Because since Qin Yue hadn't exerted much effort in the first quarter, then in the second quarter, James would naturally be directly in Qin Yue's line of fire?
James knew clearly that as long as Qin Yue went wild in the time when Iguodala was resting...
Then what awaited him would undoubtedly be a storm of criticism post-match.
Just think about it...
In the first quarter, it was his failure to stop Jamison that caused the Knicks to fall behind.
In the second quarter, it was his failure to stop Qin Yue that prevented the Knicks from catching up.
At this moment...
James even felt a faint pain in his groin starting to emerge.
Indeed, he wanted to escape.
But in the finals, where could he escape to?
...
PS: A slightly longer combined chapter delivered!
