Zack's incredible streak of scoring 40+ points in consecutive games finally came to a halt at ten.
In Denver, Kenyon Martin, the Nuggets' defensive anchor in the paint who'd just returned from injury this season, was left looking like Enel from One Piece after Zack went to work on him. Even after countless trips to the repair shop, Martin's athleticism wasn't what it used to be, but his mouth, which had offended countless people in the past, was as trash-talky as ever.
Before the game, this notoriously cocky big man, who once called Kevin Garnett "a Chihuahua with a Doberman's physique," said to Zack, "If I hadn't been injured last year, you and your team wouldn't have even made it past the first round."
And then... Martin paid the price for his big mouth.
Right from the start of the first quarter, Zack used a 4-5 pick-and-roll to switch Martin onto him. Zack, who'd somehow thought Martin's game would be as tough as his talk, effortlessly shook him off with a sudden burst, a quick turn, and an abrupt stop.
In the latter half of his career, Martin's strength lay in using his defensive experience to help teammates with rotations. However, out on the three-point line, he simply couldn't handle Zack's guard-like offense.
WHAM!
With a Carter-esque windmill dunk that shook the Pepsi Center in Denver, Zack landed and looked back at the late-arriving Martin. "You should be glad you dodged a bullet last year," he sneered. "You're just a yapping watchdog, and for me, crushing you is easier than drinking water."
Martin, at the absolute worst moment to talk trash, successfully riled up Zack, who was already in a foul mood.
So, on the very next possession, Zack used a screen to post up in the low block. He led with an "iron elbow," then brutally muscled Martin out of the way before leaping up for a powerful two-handed slam.
CRASH!
And as he delivered physical pain to Martin with a talent-fueled poster dunk, Zack didn't forget to keep verbally attacking him. "You leg-breaking bastard, is that all you've got? Bark! Why aren't you barking now?"
On the Nuggets' next possession, Martin had a chance to get some revenge after receiving a pass from Carmelo Anthony's drive and dish. But Zack had already seen Anthony's passing lane, beating him to the spot. In an era before the verticality rule was modified, and with the body contact currently allowed in the NBA, Zack used his despair-inducing leaping ability to flat-out swat the ball out of Martin's hands.
BOOM!
As he landed from the block, Zack didn't hesitate to step right over Martin to maintain his balance. Martin, furious, got up to confront Zack, but Zack, who never even considered dodging, simply charged head-first into Martin's forehead with a powerful "iron headbutt."
BANG!
"You'd better get back to your teammates before I really get mad!" Zack, who received a technical foul for the headbutt, aggressively told Martin, who was nearly knocked unconscious.
Seeing this, Anthony and Chauncey Billups quickly stepped in to calm things down. As for Martin? For the rest of the game, he was practically a victim of Zack's one-sided on-court bullying. Even Big Ben, who came in as his substitute, had to share Zack's wrath.
Throughout the game, Zack relentlessly attacked the Nuggets' paint, not even attempting a single three-pointer. He shot 17-of-26 from the field and 11-of-14 from the free-throw line, like a Titan God unleashed, tallying 45 points, 18 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 steals.
Nuggets head coach George Karl later commented on Zack's performance, "Tonight, I felt like I saw a Shaq O'Neal who could shoot and dribble like Kobe." In Karl's eyes, Zack was a combination of "Magic Shaq" and Larry Bird. When a player like that gets angry in a game, they're bound to deliver devastating blows to the opposing defense.
The Nuggets, thanks to Martin's big mouth, unfortunately became Zack's outlet.
---
And then, back at home... the visiting Cavaliers, due to Allen Iverson's outstanding performance, successfully triggered Zack's Thanos mode. Jack, who put intense physical pressure on Iverson, could only look on with helplessness as Iverson hit one clutch shot after another for the Cavs. Old AI scored 19 points in the first quarter, shooting 7-of-11 from the field.
Zack's "surface brother," LeBron James, also had a strong showing. While Iverson was carrying the scoring load for the Cavs, James, despite having to endure constant back-and-forth running on the court, managed to rack up 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists on 2-of-4 shooting (plus free throws) in the first quarter. Not only did he do an excellent job as the team's hype man, but if you hadn't watched the game, you'd have thought James was the one scoring those clutch baskets, not Iverson, given his enthusiastic celebrations.
However... as Drew Gooden got into foul trouble later in the game, the Cavaliers' decision to let Varejão go last summer began to show its weakness. To avoid Zydrunas Ilgauskas being frequently switched onto Zack, Cavs coach Mike Brown had no choice but to put James on Zack.
Last summer, James had gained even more strength by adding weight, and he could certainly match Zack physically. But Zack, who had been described by Karl the previous night as being able to play like Shaq, was determined to prove with his technique that he was nothing like O'Neal.
On the court, facing Zack's unpredictable offensive rhythm, a struggling James quickly realized that even with his strength, he was ineffective against Zack. Zack's triple-threat dribbling often only needed one jab step to put the "young LeBron," who lacked defensive experience, on high alert. Moreover, James didn't dare to apply high-intensity physical pressure on Zack from the perimeter because, after gaining weight, James's speed had inevitably declined. If he pressed too high, Zack could immediately use his signature three-step drive to get into the Cavaliers' paint.
Nevertheless, if you only consider James as Iverson's Pippen for this night, then "young LeBron" still had an excellent performance. He finished the game with 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists on 7-of-12 shooting (1-of-3 from three, 7-of-10 from the line) and only two turnovers.
Although James couldn't completely shut down Zack on defense, allowing him to put up a phenomenal 47 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists, 3 blocks, and 1 steal, a "young LeBron" willing to play serious defense still helped his team drain a significant amount of Zack's energy.
Unfortunately, in the fourth quarter... Iverson's heroics weren't as efficient as in the first three quarters, shooting only 2-of-8 in the final period. In the end, with a score of 101-108, the Warriors sealed the victory thanks to Zack scoring 11 consecutive points at the crucial moment.
Since Zack entered the league, including last year's finals, James had now lost ten straight games to Zack, and his mood after the game was undoubtedly complex. Through this game, James discovered that when he stopped dominating the ball so much and willingly assisted his teammates, even if he was assisting an aging Iverson, the Cavaliers could still go toe-to-toe with the defending champion Warriors.
But... the idea that he might be better suited to play Scottie Pippen than Michael Jordan was a reality James absolutely couldn't accept. Even though many games had already proven this point, he, who only wanted to be the main star on the court, would never choose to simply accept it.
After the game, James shared his thoughts with Rich Paul, who always understood him best. Paul listened and then said, "Bron, I won't allow you to be so pessimistic." After a pause, Paul added, "You're the Chosen One, your talent is unparalleled in the history of the NBA." In Paul's opinion, James and Jordan were fundamentally different types of players. So... James had no reason to feel so anxious just because of one game's loss.
"Bron, your court vision, your basketball IQ, are definitely far superior to Michael Jordan at the same stage of his career," Paul said after some thought. "You just need a top-tier scorer who is willing to assist you. Only then can you fully unleash your playmaking talent."
At that moment, under Paul's patient guidance, James felt as if a door to a new world had opened for him. A top-tier scorer willing to assist him? "Exactly!" he thought. Even if he really was better suited to play Pippen, as long as he found a Jordan who was willing to follow his lead, then why should he care that he couldn't dominate games with individual scoring like Zack?
James had an epiphany. After three consecutive years of beatdowns from Zack, James had finally come to terms with himself and found a shortcut back to the center of the basketball world.
---
Meanwhile, in March, Zack, who single-handedly dragged the Warriors back into the upper half of the Western Conference, delivered a legendary performance with monthly averages of 45.4 points, 15.1 rebounds, 8.1 assists, 4.0 blocks, and 1.5 steals, earning his third Western Conference Player of the Month award this season (two other awards in December and January were omitted).
As April began, the Warriors' schedule eased up, giving Zack, who had been leading the team at full throttle, a much-needed break. During games, Zack took the opportunity to switch to "health preservation" mode. While his scoring average in April dropped to only 30 points, if he didn't catch his breath, the Warriors might as well give up on the upcoming playoffs.
Ultimately, the Warriors concluded their 2007-08 regular season with a comfortable four-game winning streak. In a season plagued by injuries, Zack played all 82 games, averaging 37.4 points (3067 total), 14.4 rebounds (1181 total), 8.4 assists (689 total), 3.9 blocks (321 total), and 1.5 steals (124 total). He almost single-handedly elevated this underdog defending champion team to a height they otherwise wouldn't have reached. With 57 wins in the regular season, the Warriors entered the playoffs as the Western Conference's fourth seed.
Zack, who won the scoring title for the second consecutive year, not only shattered Michael Jordan's 1986-87 season record of 37.1 points per game (since complete statistical tracking began), but by also winning the rebounding and block titles for three consecutive years, he reignited the debate among fans: who was greater, Jordan or him?
Despite the inherent advantage of a big man in rebounding, many fans now considered the more well-rounded Zack to be just one dynasty away from definitively ending the debate. Of course, in interviews, Zack, who couldn't accept that two or three championships would surpass Jordan, wasn't swayed by his temporary achievements.
"I never doubted my potential to become the NBA's new GOAT, but until my total championship count surpasses Michael Jordan's, I'll always refer to myself as the Deputy GOAT."
Now, with the regular season concluded, Deputy GOAT Zack and the Warriors will face the playoffs, which will determine their chances of defending their title, after a brief few days of rest.
---
### Western Conference Playoff First Round
The Seattle SuperSonics, claiming the league's top spot with 63 wins, will face the San Antonio Spurs, who finished eighth in the West. Last summer, the addition of "White Chocolate" Mike Bibby finally shored up the SuperSonics' weakest link. The Spurs, always looking to save money, managed to secure a playoff spot thanks to strong performances from Tony Parker and Al Jefferson.
However... as the only respectable low-post center in American basketball for the next few years, Jefferson clearly couldn't anchor the Spurs' defensive system like Tim Duncan.
This year, the Lakers, who didn't take the regular season as lightly as last year, secured the Western Conference's second seed with 60 wins and will await the seventh-seeded Phoenix Suns in the first round. This well-rounded Lakers team is undeniably a super team. When they start Shane Battier at small forward, they even have Lamar Odom and Monta Ellis coming off the bench to lead units.
The Suns, on the other hand, were somewhat unlucky, having been violently dismantled by general manager Steve Kerr's "idiotic" moves. Josh Howard, who struggled to adapt to Phoenix, only averaged 12 points and 4 rebounds in his Suns career, with his overall and three-point shooting percentages even worse than his rookie season.
The biggest beneficiary of Kerr's "idiotic" moves, the Mavericks, who went on a winning streak after a coaching change, were undoubtedly fortunate. With Kerr's indirect assist, they ultimately secured the Western Conference's third seed with 58 wins and will face the Denver Nuggets in the first round.
As for Zack's Warriors? They'll face Chris Paul's Jazz in a direct showdown in the first round. In the regular season, the Warriors and Jazz each won two games. The shorthanded Warriors no longer found facing the Jazz as easy or comfortable as before. In games, veteran coach Jerry Sloan often deliberately sent Andrei Kirilenko to draw Zack's attention, and by doing the opposite with a fast-paced offense, he aimed to further exhaust Zack. If other Warriors players couldn't step up, the Jazz had already proven in the regular season that they had the ability to upset the Warriors.
---
### Eastern Conference Playoff First Round
Compared to last year, this year's Eastern Conference first-round matchups are even more exciting. The Boston Celtics, with 60 wins in the regular season, will face the Toronto Raptors, led by the new "Trash Bros" duo of LaMarcus Aldridge and Chris Bosh. The surging Orlando Magic, under the command of "Peak Dwight Howard," will go head-to-head with the Miami Heat, who also battled injuries this season and only got Jermaine O'Neal back at the very end of the regular season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, who plummeted from the Eastern Conference's top spot last year to sixth this year, were undoubtedly the biggest surprise of the regular season. After all, with a former MVP theoretically assisting him, James shouldn't have led the Cavaliers to the lower half of the Eastern Conference.
However... if you carefully examine the rosters of the Eastern Conference powerhouses, including the Hawks, whom the Cavaliers will challenge in the first round, you'll find that most Eastern powerhouses have equipped themselves with the type of sweeping big men that have always given the bulked-up James trouble. Although these teams primarily added these sweeping bigs to ensure they wouldn't be helpless against the Deputy GOAT who has dominated the league for two years if they made it to the Finals, James was clearly collateral damage in their efforts to counter Zack.
In the regular season, the Cavaliers only won one of their four games against the Hawks. The good news is that in their sole win, old AI exploded for 42 points and 8 assists for the Cavaliers, proving he still had gas in the tank. But the bad news is... in the other three games the Cavaliers lost, Deron Williams almost consistently abused old AI like he was Paul. And the only game Iverson went off, Deron was actually out with an injury.
For the Cavaliers, this is undoubtedly a brutally tough playoff series. On the perimeter, the Hawks have Deron and Joe Johnson. In the paint, they have two formidable big men in Tyson Chandler and Josh Smith. Zack had already experienced the intensity of this Hawks team firsthand in the regular season, playing against James. Simply put... if James can't play like a god every single game, the Hawks are very likely to send him fishing early this year.
---
Meanwhile, in a corner nobody was paying attention to, the Charlotte Bobcats, who achieved their best regular-season record in franchise history and will enter the playoffs as the Eastern Conference's fourth seed to face the Pistons, really gave Jordan something to brag about.
On the day the regular season ended, Jordan, who immediately "ran into" reporters, furiously blasted Charles Barkley: "Didn't that fat guy say my team-building strategy was incredibly stupid? But now? Not only did we make the playoffs, but we also have a good chance of getting past the first round. It just proves that fat guy's commentary and basketball judgment are nothing but a pile of stinking dog crap!"
After ranting at Barkley, Jordan, feeling much better, even enthusiastically joined as a practice player for the Bobcats before the playoffs.
And then... there was no "then"... because during practice, he unfortunately broke a rib after colliding with Ron Artest. A joyful Jordan will now likely be watching the Bobcats' playoff games from a hospital bed.
In response, Barkley, after magnanimously accepting Jordan's criticism, gleefully said, "I heard Michael broke three ribs this time after colliding with Ron? Oh, I'm just so sad and sorry for Michael! As the owner of the Bobcats, he'll actually miss the team's first-ever playoff appearance, tsk tsk..."