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Chapter 89 - **Chapter 88: The Premier Power Forward! 

At the AT&T Center, it was the Spurs' offensive possession.

Parker, with a quick crossover dribble, blew past Davis, then fooled Murphy, who came over to help, with a pump fake, and scored a layup.

At this moment, ESPN commentator A. Smith, who was commentating on the game, said, "Tonight, we've specially invited Houston Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy to provide insights for us. Hey, Jeff, after the first four games, fans are really curious about the defensive adjustments the Spurs made in Games 3 and 4. Could you give us your analysis from a veteran's perspective?"

Van Gundy, after gathering his thoughts, replied, "To understand the Spurs' defensive changes, we first need to talk about their losses in Games 1 and 2."

First, Van Gundy brought up the much stricter officiating in this Western Conference Semifinals series compared to normal.

Smith asked, "Jeff, do you think the referee's officiating affected the course of this series?"

Van Gundy, who might be slow to react but isn't foolish, quickly shook his head and said, "I don't think so, but the officiating in this series did, to some extent, influence the Spurs' tactical choices."

Next, Van Gundy discussed the zone defense the Spurs used in Games 1 and 2.

Smith commented, "Zone defense can help the Spurs save a lot of energy on defense, which is especially important for Tim Duncan, who is already over 30."

Van Gundy nodded, "That's true. That's why Tim Duncan scored high for the Spurs in both Game 1 and Game 2."

Smith then asked, "So why did the Spurs suddenly adjust their defensive strategy in Game 3?"

Van Gundy explained, "Because they realized that under the strict officiating of this series, zone defense couldn't stop the Messiah from scoring or assisting teammates."

Smith chuckled, "I heard Mike Budenholzer even coined a term for it, 'explosive creativity'?"

Van Gundy laughed, "Mike has always been talented."

Then, taking a whiteboard from the director, Van Gundy patiently explained the Spurs' tactical changes to Smith and the audience.

"This is the defensive positioning of the Spurs when they use a zone defense. Tim wouldn't directly guard the Messiah on the court because that would be unwise."

After using the magnet representing Horry to stick to the magnet representing Zack, Van Gundy stated.

Smith nodded, "The Messiah has a wide array of offensive moves. Even Tim, once drawn to the high post, would become his prey."

"So the Spurs adjusted their defensive strategy, choosing to have Tim guard the Messiah directly in Game 3."

"Wait, Jeff, didn't you just say that would be unwise?"

Van Gundy, while moving the tactical magnets, said, "Remember what I said earlier? After the first two games, the Spurs realized that this type of defense couldn't limit the Messiah's 'explosive creativity'."

After a pause, Van Gundy continued, "So, they chose to make a drastic sacrifice. Look, this is the Spurs' defensive positioning in the last two games."

On the whiteboard, the magnet representing Duncan was isolated in a corner, while the other four magnets representing Spurs players were tightly sticking to the other four Warriors players on the court.

"From now on, no matter what play the Warriors run, no matter what offensive method the Messiah chooses, the Spurs will only use Tim to 'entangle' him defensively. Whether he runs a pick-and-roll with a teammate, a hand-off, or he wants to attack directly, the Spurs' players will ignore him. Instead, they'll charge his teammates and leave him for Tim to deal with."

Smith suddenly understood, "Are you saying the Spurs are using Tim Duncan like a supersized Bruce Bowen?"

Van Gundy nodded, "You could interpret it that way."

Van Gundy knew very well that the reason Zack could score so many points with Duncan guarding him in Games 3 and 4 was precisely because the Spurs deliberately "sacrificed" Duncan.

By aggressively closing out on Zack's other four teammates during the game, they completely cut off Zack's passing lanes to his teammates.

This was a defensive strategy the Spurs tailored for Zack, based on the officiating in this series.

"Can't the Spurs use other players to execute this defensive strategy?"

"No, because other players can't provide the level of physicality the Spurs need."

Duncan, protected by his superstar whistle, was the only player the Spurs could "sacrifice" in this series.

Because only his superstar whistle combined with his defensive ability would allow the Spurs to effectively wear down Zack's energy on the court.

The Spurs allowed Zack to break through Duncan's defense in various ways.

But the Spurs wouldn't allow Zack to take an unlimited number of shots like he did against the Lakers.

On the court, it was the Warriors' offensive possession.

Zack, after a hand-off with Artest, successfully created a window to drive past Duncan. Then, with the ball, he spun into the Spurs' paint and scored with Duncan still relentlessly pursuing him.

Seeing this, Smith, enlightened by Van Gundy, realized, "Is this why Tim was 'guarded' into oblivion by the Messiah in these two games?"

Van Gundy nodded, "In the NBA, no matter how good a defensive player is, they can't lock down an opposing superstar who can cooperate with teammates in a five-on-five game using only individual ability."

Smith laughed, "Looks like Charles Barkley will have to take back the crown he gave to the Messiah."

Take it back?

Actually...

Van Gundy thought Zack truly deserved the crown of the league's premier power forward.

Because pushing the Spurs and Duncan to such an extent was enough to prove Zack's worth.

---

On the court, after a few more possessions, Smith said, "Hey, Jeff, let me summarize for the audience now. In short, in Games 3 and 4, the Spurs, by turning Tim Duncan into a supersized Bruce Bowen and concentrating all their defensive resources on the Messiah's teammates, successfully cut off the Messiah's connection with his teammates. This way, the Messiah couldn't use his 'explosive creativity' to involve his teammates. And Tim, with his tireless defense, successfully limited the Messiah's individual scoring to a range the Spurs considered controllable."

Van Gundy smiled, "That's exactly right."

In Games 3 and 4, Duncan's stats dropped, yet the Spurs won. Zack's stats went up, but the Warriors lost.

Because once Zack couldn't sustain his offensive impact in the game, the easy shot opportunities the Warriors usually got would disappear.

After all, no matter how accurate the Warriors' three-point shooting was before, they first needed to create those shooting opportunities to make them.

In Games 3 and 4, among the Warriors, only Davis, besides Zack, had the ability to create shooting opportunities for teammates, delivering 6 and 7 assists respectively.

Purely looking at the stats, Davis's performance was fine, but he couldn't create explosive shooting opportunities for the entire team like Zack could.

Therefore, the Warriors ultimately lost both high-scoring games due to insufficient firepower.

---

At the AT&T Center, when it was the Spurs' turn to offense, Smith asked, "Jeff, while the Spurs' defensive strategy is certainly bold, could you analyze their offense for us?"

"..."

Offense?

At this moment, after scratching his head, Van Gundy said, "I won't go into a specific analysis of the Spurs' offensive tactics. I'll just say one thing: the on-court offensive core for the Spurs in Games 3 and 4 was actually their point guard, Tony Parker."

After changing their defensive approach, since Duncan had to conserve his energy to deal with Zack, the Spurs needed another core player to lead them in the high-scoring battle against the Warriors.

Parker was the choice of the Spurs' coaching staff.

During his prime, Parker's finishing efficiency at the rim was consistently above 60% (70.5% in the 05/06 season). He had an incredibly keen touch around the basket and often fooled opposing big men with his signature floater.

Additionally, in the playoffs, Parker had a nearly 50% jump shot percentage in his preferred two-point hot zones.

This made him even harder to guard in isolation.

Because the helping big man couldn't be sure whether he would choose to shoot a jumper or continue driving after beating his defender, this turned Parker into a sharp sword in isolation, piercing deeply into the Warriors' chest.

As the 2006-2007 NBA Finals MVP, Parker was also a player whose value on the court was difficult to reflect in stats alone.

After all, once your defense was disrupted by Parker, he, with his constant passing threat, could still facilitate teammates' offense with simple drive-and-kick plays.

The Spurs designed a large number of isolation plays for Parker in Games 3 and 4.

They truly found the defensive Achilles' heel of this Warriors team.

That is, even though Richardson and Davis had physical advantages, their defensive awareness and abilities had their own shortcomings.

In the game, under the carefully designed tactics by the Spurs' think tank for their shooters, and with Parker constantly dictating the pace through his individual rhythm, the Spurs got a lot of open looks from beyond the arc in the past two games.

Drive and kick.

The Spurs matched the Warriors' offensive firepower relying on these two trump cards.

Therefore, in this pivotal Game 5, the Warriors' coaching staff chose to increase the offensive firepower of their starting lineup to win the game.

This choice was direct and crude.

But on this night, it had an effect beyond the Warriors coaching staff's expectations.

On the court, it was the Warriors' offensive possession.

Zack, after a hand-off with Murphy at the high post, suddenly cut down.

During the hand-off, Zack didn't dribble the ball.

As a result, since all five Warriors players on the court now had shooting ability, and Murphy had already hit a three-pointer, Duncan, seeing his teammate out of position, had no choice but to rotate over.

The next second, Murphy quickly fed the ball, and Zack, after receiving it, easily scored a layup.

In this possession, Murphy, who already possessed some playmaking ability, helped Zack successfully break the Spurs' defensive rule that had been strictly applied to him.

At this moment, Smith asked, "Hey, Jeff, since Troy Murphy and the Messiah are partnering so effectively, why didn't the Warriors give him more opportunities in the first two games?"

Van Gundy instantly felt what it was like to be a...

Monday morning quarterback.

In fact, in the NBA, many brilliant plays have a certain element of serendipity.

For example, in Zack's memory, the Cavaliers-Warriors series in the 2014-2015 season.

Steve Kerr initially disagreed with the Warriors playing "Death Lineup," because when facing a team with LeBron James, generally, having two interior anchors on the court was the optimal solution.

Since Troy Murphy's weaknesses were as obvious as his strengths, how could the Warriors possibly start him at the beginning of this series?

And what's more, the Warriors had won the first two games.

In the NBA, the consensus among many head coaches is also not to randomly change tactics or personnel when winning.

However...

After the Spurs tied the series 2-2, and in the face of the Spurs' current defensive strategy, Troy Murphy successfully became a surprise weapon tonight.

In the first quarter, he was the golden chess piece that the Golden State Warriors played on the chessboard of this Western Conference Semifinals.

---

At the AT&T Center, the first quarter ended 35-28.

The Golden Wave, after two quiet games, surged again.

In the second quarter, Zack, whose energy consumption was much lower than in the previous two games, perfectly showcased his ability to score tough baskets.

On the court, during a Warriors offensive possession, after Zack posted up Horry, who had replaced Duncan, he suddenly turned and went strong to the basket.

Horry jumped at the same time to try and block him, but to his astonishment, Zack, who had jumped before him, was still flying in the air with the ball in one hand even after Horry had landed!

This was another one of those shots that would make Jordan sigh in frustration.

On the sideline, seeing this, Duncan immediately pulled off the towel from his shoulder and walked towards the scorer's table, not accepting any dissuasion from the Spurs coaching staff.

It's well-known that different levels of defense and different defenders consume completely different amounts of energy from offensive players.

If Kobe's "81-point game" had been guarded by prime Michael Jordan, even if Kobe could still score high against Jordan with his hot hand, he would never have taken forty or fifty shots.

Because before he took forty or fifty shots...

He would have been exhausted from the high-intensity confrontations with Jordan.

The same applied to Zack.

Because in the previous two games, no matter how Zack ultimately scored, Duncan always defended with all his might. As a result, in the early parts of the second quarter and the late parts of the third quarter, Zack would inevitably hit two energy walls.

Before safely getting through these energy walls, no matter how diverse his offensive arsenal was, he could only provide limited help to his teammates on the court.

Warriors head coach Don Nelson had considered adjusting Zack's playing time, opting to sub him out to allow him more rest.

But after nearly collapsing in the early second quarter of Game 4, how could Nelson dare to sub Zack out again?

This Warriors team couldn't do without Zack at any time.

Even when he needed to get through his energy walls, he could still use his own gravity to draw the opponent's defense.

Tonight, Murphy, this surprise player, reduced Zack's energy consumption, allowing Zack to remain energetic in the early second quarter.

Duncan knew this well.

So he had to get back on the court.

On ESPN, Smith described this scene as tragic the next second.

Van Gundy, who felt this scene was eerily familiar, then fell silent.

At that moment, there were many reasons for Van Gundy's silence.

But most importantly, Van Gundy suddenly found that he couldn't quite understand the sport of basketball anymore.

From the Warriors winning this series to Zack's powerful finish at the basket just now...

Van Gundy felt there was a clear thread connecting them all.

Why couldn't the Spurs' zone defense stop the Warriors' offense?

Why could Parker's isolation plays thrive in the Warriors' half-court?

Why was Zack's tough scoring so dominant?

Why could Murphy's presence break the Spurs' defensive rule?

When replaying these scenes in his mind, if Van Gundy's current thoughts were translated, it would roughly be:

"Wall-facer Jeff Van Gundy, I am your Wallbreaker!"

"Three-pointer!"

"Hey, Jeff, why the sudden mention of three-pointers?"

"Three-pointers tilted the balance of this series. The Spurs' tactics, the Warriors' offense... they were all ultimately aimed at getting easier three-point attempts."

Van Gundy, feeling like he'd discovered a new continent, excitedly flipped through the box scores of the previous four games and got a satisfying result.

In this era, the three-point attempts by the Warriors and Spurs in this series were undoubtedly insane.

More three-pointers led to wider offensive spacing, and wider offensive spacing would inevitably lead to easier shooting environments...

After the league abolished the hand-check rule, a brand new world had emerged in Van Gundy's mind.

Perimeter superstars' drives would only become harder and harder to defend.

In response, the defending team would be forced to shrink their defensive area.

As a result, the importance of the three-pointer would inevitably increase significantly.

Because the better you shoot, the easier it will be for your penetrators to get opportunities directly at the basket.

The abolition of the hand-check rule not only changed the ecology of basketball, it also changed the environment of basketball.

Van Gundy felt he had already foreseen the future.

And that future, at this very moment, was right there in this arena!

---

At the AT&T Center, the Spurs put Duncan back on the court.

---

It was the Spurs' offensive possession. Ginobili's ghostly drives were still hard to guard, but the Warriors were no longer as fixated on a single possession as they were in the first two games.

Murphy's presence had inspired the Warriors' coaching staff.

In the first half of the second quarter, the player partnering with Zack in the paint was no longer Brown and Biedrins, but Ron Artest.

This is the difference between the playoffs and the regular season.

For success, once a team finds what they believe is the right approach, they will stick with it.

On the court, as Jack crossed half-court and passed to Artest, Zack immediately drew the re-entered Duncan away from the low post.

Seeing this, Artest, like a future "Draymond" Green, drove into the Spurs' paint with the ball and scored.

This was an offense Artest completed by relying on "Zack Gravity."

As long as all five Warriors players on the court could shoot threes, it would be difficult for the Spurs to continue enforcing their defensive rule on Zack.

After all, as long as Zack tirelessly set screens for his teammates, his teammates would always find opportunities.

Therefore, only when one of Zack's teammates couldn't shoot threes or had no mid-range or long-range shooting ability at all...

could the other Spurs players timely close out on any potentially open Warriors perimeter shooters through switches.

On ESPN, Smith asked, "Jeff... in a possession like that, how should the Spurs defend?"

This question played right into Van Gundy's expertise.

"Give me five wing players, and switch on every screen."

"You mean, infinite switching?"

"Infinite switching plus infinite zone defense."

Tonight, the Spurs' defense, in Van Gundy's eyes, resembled the "one-man-to-man, four-man-zone" defense he had seen in high school and some amateur games.

But once this defensive scheme was successfully cracked by the Warriors, it instead amplified Zack's explosive creativity.

That's right, Zack was the future in Van Gundy's eyes.

He was different from any previous NBA superstar; he could score tough shots with the ball and without it.

If the league maintained this series' officiating standard throughout the playoffs this year, Van Gundy even believed the Warriors had a very high chance of becoming this season's NBA champions.

---

At the AT&T Center, halftime score: 65-52.

Zack contributed 20 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal in the first half.

The Warriors shot 10-for-18 from three-point range in the first half, a three-point percentage over 50%.

On a night where both teams combined for only 10 free throws in the first half, the three-pointer became the key for the Warriors to break through.

The five-shooter lineup allowed Zack and his teammates to be closely connected, and through Zack's strong scoring, tough finishes, and pick-and-roll playmaking, the Warriors' shooters got far more outside looks than in Games 3 and 4.

The Spurs' shooters couldn't match the Warriors' insane three-point output. Although they also attempted 14 three-pointers in the first half, they only made 5 of them.

---

During halftime in the locker room, watching Biedrins diligently serving water to his teammates, Brown instantly felt what it was like to be innocent and naive.

Having experienced the ups and downs of life during his Wizards career, Brown's mood after the first half of tonight's game was undoubtedly anxious and unsettled.

Historically, it was his fear of losing his spot on the Lakers that made Brown readily agree when the Lakers coaching staff suggested he gain weight in the future.

This season, this former top draft pick had finally secured a place on the Warriors, but now...

As the Warriors' five-shooter lineup showed its might, Brown subtly felt that he might be eliminated.

Zack noticed Brown's internal struggle.

So, after patting him on the shoulder, he said, "Don't worry, tonight's tactical arrangement is just a temporary measure. As long as you listen to me and lose weight, there will definitely be a place for you on this Warriors team."

Hearing this, Brown looked at Zack, saw his sincere gaze, and exclaimed joyfully, "I'm not worried about my position on the Warriors. Anyway, you're my boss, whatever you tell me to do, I'll do it."

Actually, in Game 3, Zack had already noticed that the Spurs were using a defense similar to a "one-man-to-man, four-man-zone" against him.

It's just that...

Compared to breaking traditional zone defenses, because the Warriors had never encountered a similar defense, Zack's tactical reserves couldn't support him in breaking the Spurs' defensive system for a while.

In this life, Zack's tactical knowledge was mainly acquired during his college career from Proser and Paul, and after entering the NBA, through humbly learning from Montgomery.

There was no way around it; no matter how high Zack's basketball IQ was, in his previous life, he was just an ordinary basketball enthusiast, and who would constantly study tactics and fantasize about becoming an NBA head coach one day?

However, on this night, after successfully breaking the Spurs' "one-man-to-man, four-man-zone" defense, the Spurs instead reminded Zack...

In the NBA, there are actually many advanced tactics to break a "one-man-to-man, four-man-zone" defense.

And the five-shooter lineup is actually one of the most unstable among them.

Because the premise for a five-shooter lineup to be effective is that you have to make those damn shots when you get the opportunity.

Otherwise, you'll end up like the Houston Rockets, who famously missed twenty-seven consecutive three-pointers in the playoffs.

Will Brown be eliminated by this era that is about to explode?

Definitely not.

Zack knew very well that this Warriors team was just a team with the nascent signs of the small-ball era.

His so-called "explosive creativity" couldn't fully unleash its power because the Warriors hadn't yet completely built the corresponding tactical system.

In the future, with the support of corresponding advanced tactics, the Warriors' offensive spacing will be incredibly vast, fully accommodating Brown, the "non-shooter."

Moreover, in the coming era, the more perimeter stars drive inside, the more important players like Brown, who have the potential to become elite rim protectors, will become.

---

In the second half, the Spurs actively adjusted their defensive setup, no longer using that "one-man-to-man, four-man-zone" type of defense.

Because as the Golden Wave began to surge, the Spurs had to bring "GDP" together.

In the game, Davis still couldn't stop Parker.

But Brown, who was put back on the court by the Warriors, used his energy advantage to repeatedly block Parker's drives after switches.

On the court, during a Warriors defensive possession, facing Parker, who was attempting to use a pump fake to get past him, Brown, who had arrived at the right time, didn't fall for the fake and stayed tightly on Parker. The moment Parker attempted a floater, Brown directly swatted it away!

On the sideline, Popovich, completely ignoring Parker's 18 points for the Spurs in the first half, furiously yelled, "I knew that damn French softie couldn't be relied on!"

Parker couldn't be relied on...

Popovich then turned his gaze affectionately towards Ginobili.

But Ginobili, who had been on a superhuman run for four and a half games, couldn't find his "Vulture's Descent" switch in the second half.

*Clang!*

*Clang!*

On the Spurs' bench, watching Ginobili's erratic fadeaway misses, Popovich roared, "I knew the Argentinian couldn't be relied on!"

With Parker and Ginobili both losing their way, Popovich's last hope rested solely on Duncan and the other role players who had stepped up for the Spurs time and again in the past.

Duncan, who had been voluntarily "sacrificed" by the Spurs for two and a half games, frequently ran the floor in transition in the second half.

He scored many brilliant baskets, but he was powerless to turn the tide.

As for the Spurs' other role players?

Were Artest, Richardson, Davis, Dunleavy, and Murphy just slacking off for the Warriors?

On ESPN, even Van Gundy could feel how potent this Warriors offense was. "The Warriors broke through with threes. Now the Spurs can't stop the Messiah from impacting this game with his explosive creativity."

---

Final score: 120-101.

Zack, who tallied 38 points, 18 rebounds, 14 assists, 3 blocks, and 1 steal for the Warriors, once again led them to conquer the AT&T Center.

Now, they would return to Oakland with a 3-2 series lead.

After the game, in Van Gundy's opinion, the league really should award Zack the regular season MVP this year.

Because that way...

at least he could study how Zack, who played under the Spurs' tough defense, exerted his explosive creativity.

Unlike the Van Gundy who always seemed far-sighted when commentating, as soon as the game ended, Van Gundy would immediately revert to his anxious, perpetually frowning self.

Van Gundy didn't know if Zack's explosive creativity would be effective in even tougher games. He was curious, but also skeptical.

And this skepticism and curiosity, even after he had already identified Zack as the future, made him start overthinking again in a daze.

However, unlike Van Gundy, reporters and fans wouldn't overthink.

While this series undoubtedly had many objective factors influencing its balance, at this moment, no fan would doubt that Zack had personally ended the Tim Duncan era.

---

One day later.

Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Warriors and Spurs moved to Oracle Arena.

The desperate Spurs immediately came out strong with Parker setting the tone.

In this series, Parker, who had averaged 26 points in the previous five games, was getting criticized every night, yet every night he tortured Davis's knees.

Before the game, Brown, who had been comforted by Davis during a previous game, reassured the original "Big Fundamental," "Don't worry, Baron, next round you'll be facing Steve Nash in the Western Conference Finals."

Brown's pre-game reassurance showed the Warriors' determination to advance to the Western Conference Finals, and it also highlighted the cheerful and joyful atmosphere within the Warriors team at that moment.

---

A more relaxed mindset quickly allowed the Warriors' perimeter shooters to find their rhythm in Game 6.

On the court, Richardson fired first.

Since Tom Izzo had promised to come watch his former protégé in the Western Conference Finals, Richardson undoubtedly had an added belief that his shots would go in, hoping for a reunion with his mentor.

Then, Artest hit a three-pointer on the Warriors' next offensive possession.

Compared to Richardson, Artest didn't have as much of that "must-make" conviction.

But he, who always prided himself on being "Zack's Pippen," wanted more than anyone to escort Zack to his coronation.

In the months he had spent with Zack, Artest had come to fully understand Zack's character. He knew very well that assisting this new king in ascending the throne would likely be the most glorious chapter of his professional career.

In the first quarter, the hot hands of the Warriors' two wing players completely broke Popovich on the sideline.

Actually, in this series, the Spurs still had one way to advance.

It was just that Popovich never dared to use that method, let alone try it.

---

At Oracle Arena, Zack didn't waste the valuable space his teammates provided. On the court, he either shot jumpers or drove to the basket, completely disrupting the Spurs' half-court defense.

On this night, Parker's opening floater was the Spurs' only lead in the game.

In the game, the Warriors practically shot the Spurs to death.

Duncan, no longer "sacrificed" by the Spurs, recorded 27 points, 18 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, and 1 steal in this game.

Parker had 28 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, plus 27 Popovich咆哮 (Popovich's roars).

Ginobili also found his rhythm, contributing 21 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists.

But the "GDP" trio, who combined for 75 points, unfortunately became the backdrop for the Warriors' seven players scoring in double digits.

On this night, the seven players who scored in double digits for the Warriors were:

Davis with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals.

Richardson with 18 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists.

Artest with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 1 steal.

Dunleavy with 12 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist.

Murphy with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists.

Brown with 10 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 steal, 1 assist.

And Zack, who put up a dominant 34 points, 17 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 blocks.

---

Final score: 108-125.

After being tied 2-2 by the Spurs, the Warriors won two straight games, eliminating the defending champions with a 4-2 series victory and incredibly advancing to the Western Conference Finals.

This year's Western Conference Finals was undoubtedly the matchup David Stern most anticipated.

Because after the Suns eliminated the Jazz 4-1 to reach the Western Conference Finals first, this year's Western Conference Finals would feature two teams that championed offense.

Furthermore, the Warriors fans who had previously cried foul about conspiracy would now directly confront "trophy thief" Steve Nash in this series.

Since the NBA's conference finals had been dominated by defense-first teams, the Western Conference Finals had never seen such an entertaining matchup.

Yes, after the Warriors eliminated the Spurs, people already foresaw that this upcoming Western Conference Finals would be a highly entertaining showdown.

The Phoenix Suns, who had swept the league with their run-and-gun style for two seasons.

And the surprising Golden State Warriors, who had successively crushed the Mavericks and the Spurs.

After Game 6 against the Warriors, Popovich, who was still trying to defend Duncan's status as the premier power forward, said in an interview, "Although we lost this Western Conference Semifinals, I don't believe this means Tim's era is over. He merely made a sacrifice for the team due to our tactical needs."

However, at this moment, no one cared about Popovich's post-game defense.

Because now, people only cared about the upcoming Western Conference Finals and whether Zack could lead the Warriors to continue their advance.

---

Tim Duncan's era had already ended with the conclusion of Game 5.

Compared to the regular season trophies, which were far from being collectible, regardless of the truth, Zack's trophy room now contained a valuable piece named "Duncan's Wicked Smile."

This was a playoff trophy!

It was extremely valuable and highly collectible!

Adding to that the "Dirk's Robotic Heart" trophy he had previously obtained by defeating the Dallas Mavericks.

Zack, this legendary rookie, had, through his outstanding performance in this year's playoffs, become the de facto premier power forward in the NBA!

---

"...Chris Paul's rookie season officially concluded with the Jazz's 1-4 loss in the Western Conference Semifinals. Reflecting on his performance in the Western Conference Semifinals, Chris Paul choked up, saying that if it weren't for that damned ankle sprain, he believed he could have done better." – *The Salt Lake Tribune*

"After leading the Pistons to a hard-fought 4-3 series victory over the Cavaliers, Ben Wallace, the former Defensive Player of the Year, stated that they proved they are still the most outstanding defensive team in the league with a perfect defensive performance in Game 7. And Rasheed Wallace believed that if the league's officiating was as fair in every game as it was in Game 7, the Cavaliers would never have made it to Game 7, and their average score would never have exceeded 70 points." – *The Detroit News*

"After finally knowing their Eastern Conference Finals opponent this year, Pat Riley said in an interview, 'Does anyone really enjoy watching that defensive battle between the Cavaliers and Pistons with a final score of 61-79?' This wasn't the first time Pat Riley expressed his dissatisfaction with so-called 'tough defense' this season, because when he led the Heat to score over a hundred points per game against the Nets, Pat Riley once said, 'You know, I've always hated defense; I've always been an offensive coach.'" – *The Miami Herald* (Note ①)

"When asked how he would face his biggest competitor for this year's regular season MVP in the upcoming Western Conference Finals, Steve Nash frankly admitted that if he were a league judge, he would definitely award the regular season MVP to the Warriors' Messiah." – *The Phoenix New Times*

"Regarding Steve Nash's honesty, Zack stated in an interview that he thanked Steve Nash for speaking out, but he believed Steve Nash also deserved the trophy. And he stated, 'The trophy that belongs to me, I will get it myself in the future.'" – *The San Francisco Chronicle*

---

Note ①: Does Riley really hate defense? The answer is clearly no. As for the reason, it's obviously to champion offense to get more superstar calls for Wade.

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