In the 2009-10 season, perhaps due to the butterfly effect, the Western Conference playoffs situation was basically clear. The Lakers and the Thunder were only one game apart, with both teams taking turns at the top of the Western Conference.
Teams ranked 2nd to 6th were at least 4 games behind the top two. The Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, and Denver Nuggets were all still striving for home-court advantage.
The Spurs were in 7th place, three games ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers, but two games behind the Denver Nuggets.
The 8th-ranked Portland Trail Blazers were quite secure, leading the 9th-ranked Rockets by 4 games. Barring any major surprises, the top 8 in the Western Conference were pretty much set.
The situation in the Eastern Conference was different. The Cavaliers led by LeBron James and the Magic led by Dwight Howard were at the top of the East. Excluding some weaker teams, the Raptors and Indiana Pacers still had a chance to make the playoffs.
The 8th-placed Chicago Bulls did not have a significant lead in games. With around 40+ wins being enough to make the playoffs, several teams in the East still had a chance to fight for it.
However, the playoffs were completely out of reach for the Nets. Towards the end of the regular season, the Nets currently had a record of 7 wins and 57 losses, firmly ranking last in the league.
The media in America naturally wouldn't pay attention to such games, but fans in China, across the ocean, didn't care about the outcome of the games. As long as Kayce and Yi Jianlian were on the court at the same time, they would happily watch the game.
The viewership for the games surged, and fans across various platforms were constantly discussing topics related to the two players.
Just over 4 minutes into the first quarter, Yi Jianlian successfully hit a three-pointer from beyond the arc.
The audience at Barclays Center was very supportive. As long as Yi Jianlian scored, huge cheers immediately erupted. Chinese fans were the most enthusiastic; they were happy to see Kayce and Yi Jianlian playing on the court.
"Yi Jianlian, keep shooting!"
"That three-pointer was beautiful! This ticket was worth it."
"Ah!! Ah!!"
Kayce heard the Mandarin with accents from all over the country and felt a strong sense of familiarity, which made him even more eager to showcase his skills.
Russell also knew there were many Chinese fans, so he wanted Kayce to perform more. As soon as they crossed half-court, he passed the ball to Kayce. At the 45-degree angle on the left wing outside the three-point line, facing Courtney Lee's defense, he did two quick between-the-legs dribbles to find his rhythm.
Holding the ball in his right hand, he dribbled with a crossover step and pulled back, pausing slightly with his left hand, suddenly slowing down his dribbling rhythm. Noticing Courtney Lee's defense had closed in, he quickly changed direction between his legs, accelerating with the ball in his right hand to drive through.
Noticing Lopez had already moved into a help defense position, he suddenly threw the ball off the backboard with his right hand while in motion, continued to accelerate, took two large strides, and then took off. In mid-air, he caught the rebounding basketball, glided briefly, and slammed the ball into the hoop with one hand!
"BANG!" The off-the-backboard dunk was successful.
"Ah!! That's f***ing awesome!"
"Kayce is amazing!!"
The audience at Barclays Center collectively switched their allegiance, all cheering wildly for Kayce's dunk. This was a show to the max!
Seeing such an amazing dunk, Russell excitedly chest-bumped Kayce, making strange noises.
"Roar, roar!! That was cool, Bro!"
Durant also came up to high-five Kayce. While appearing happy, he felt a pang of envy. He could also perform such a dunk, but the visual effect was far inferior to Kayce's; the power and aesthetic appeal were incomparable.
Coach Vandeweghe immediately called a timeout. The two teams were not on the same level; this game had almost turned into an exhibition.
In the subsequent game, Coach Brooks was very understanding, letting Kayce play the entire first quarter. During the second-quarter substitute phase, with strong support from his teammates, Kayce gained a large amount of ball possession.
By halftime, the Thunder had easily secured a 14-point lead, 66:52. Kayce had already scored 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists in the first half, leaving all the fans thoroughly entertained.
Although the outcome of the game was no longer in doubt, Kayce played until 5 minutes and 36 seconds remained in the fourth quarter before coming off the court. The audience immediately gave him a warm round of applause, thanking him for his energetic performance in the game.
Three-pointers, crossovers, post-ups, and explosive drives—Kayce displayed a dazzling array of offensive skills. Courtney Lee, who was guarding Kayce in this game, had only one thought:
"Coach, I really want to go to the bench and rest."
For the remaining time, both teams played at a fast pace. In the end, 118:98, the Thunder defeated the Nets on the road, returning to the top spot in the Western Conference.
Kayce played 40 minutes in this game, scoring 34 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, and 1 turnover, a near triple-double. This made the fans incredibly frustrated, and after the game, everyone complained wildly:
"I can't take it anymore! In the fourth quarter, I kept hoping Kayce would get 1 rebound and 1 assist, but after 5 minutes, besides his scoring increasing a bit, the other two stats were still at zero. Didn't he know he was going for a triple-double?"
"Ah, ah, ah! This is too frustrating, killing my OCD! He didn't even want a triple-double that was within reach. What's going on?!"
"It's all Thabo Sefolosha's fault! He missed both an open cut and an open three-pointer. Otherwise, he would definitely have gotten a triple-double."
"Yi Jianlian played really well, 18 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, and 2-of-6 from three-point range is also decent. But Kayce really doesn't seem to care about stats; what a great triple-double opportunity, completely wasted."
"He's a bit like my James! I really hope the Thunder can make it to the NBA Finals. I'm so eager to see Kayce go up against my James!"
"Rest assured, the Boston Celtics Big Three will teach your James a lesson. Don't let the Cavaliers good record fool you; they're paper tigers. The playoffs are all about superstars. I hope to see a yellow-green battle, and Kobe will surely get his revenge!"
"Here we go again, another one predicting a championship. Go spam your posts somewhere else, stop trying to find a sense of presence here."
On March 13th, the Thunder team returned to Oklahoma City. Tomorrow night, they would host the Utah Jazz. The Jazz were currently pushing for a top-4 spot to gain home-court advantage, and the Thunder were doing the same. Since the Lakers had lost, Coach Brooks also started calculating opponents.
If the Thunder could maintain their position as the top seed in the Western Conference, they would face the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, which would be an excellent draw.
Although the Portland Trail Blazers also had a strong inside player like LaMarcus Aldridge, playing against the Portland Trail Blazers was much better than facing the Spurs. A lean camel is still bigger than a horse, and the GDP was the Spurs' core. No one could confidently say they could consistently beat this experienced team.
"Brooks, it's better to prepare for the worst. Maybe we'll face the Spurs in the first round. The Lakers haven't relaxed recently; they want to thoroughly establish home-court advantage. The Cavaliers in the East are also catching up quickly in the standings."
Seeing Coach Brooks constantly looking at the playoff bracket, the assistant coach directly shattered those idle fantasies. Given the current situation, it would be difficult for the Thunder to avoid the Spurs.
"Sigh, I hope we can maintain our position as the top seed in the West. I really don't want to play against the Spurs. They are just too experienced, and I'm a bit worried about the boys. Our zone defense hasn't fully formed a system yet, and it might be difficult to limit Tim Duncan's performance."
Coach Brooks was not only worried about his players; facing an experienced coach like Popovich, he was even more concerned about his own tactical strategies going wrong and being exploited by the opponent, especially since he was also a rookie Head Coach with no playoff experience.
"But I have great confidence in Kayce and Kevin; they are definitely big-game players. The playoffs are their true stage. We just need to make the tactical arrangements; the rest is up to the players on the court."
Hearing the assistant coach's comfort, Coach Brooks gradually calmed down. There was no point in thinking too much now; everything was unknown. Thinking about the Thunder's perimeter talent, he couldn't help but secretly reassure himself:
"If the defense isn't great, we still have offense. We will definitely have an advantage in terms of physical conditioning!"
On the evening of March 14th, Oklahoma City fans flocked to the Ford Center early, many carrying large cutouts of the Thunder's trio, showing their support for the team in this way.
These large cutouts, similar to posters, were a new product launched by the team store. As soon as they were stocked, they received high praise from many fans, and by early March, they had even sold out.
Oklahoma City fans were no longer worried about the playoffs. The team currently had a record of 52 wins and 12 losses, virtually guaranteeing a Playoff spot. As long as the team performed normally, losing a few more games would have no impact on them.
Before the game, in the visiting team's locker room, Coach Sloan looked serious. The Jazz currently had a record of 44 wins and 21 losses, still three games behind the 4th-placed Mavericks. To secure home-court advantage, they had to fight hard in this game.
The Utah Jazz had some bad luck this season. At the beginning of the season, the team was smooth sailing, but unfortunately, the good times didn't last. Okur and Kirilenko both suffered consecutive injuries, which greatly affected the team on both offense and defense.
Looking at the players in front of him, Coach Sloan gave a final reminder of the tactical requirements for this game:
"The opponent will very likely play a zone defense at the start. In this situation, our offense needs to focus on ball movement, from one side to the other, and the speed must be fast. When an opportunity arises, shoot decisively."
"Paul Millsap, you and Carlos Boozer will take turns facilitating near the free-throw line. According to our tactical arrangements, others with opportunities should pay attention to baseline cuts. Deron, run the pick-and-roll as usual, and shoot when an opportunity arises."
"Try to win this game. The Denver Nuggets are chasing closely, and we need home-court advantage in the playoffs."
"Oh!! Everybody, let's go!"
In the Thunder's locker room, Coach Brooks tapped the whiteboard and said with a serious expression:
"It's time to test the results of our training, guys. In this game, we're going to stick to our zone defense. Don't think about winning or losing. We need to find our defensive flaws and adapt to this defensive system."
"After the All-Star Weekend, we've been practicing defense to go further in the playoffs. Pay attention to communicating and responding to each other on the court!"
"One, Two, Three, Family!"
After returning to the top spot in the Western Conference, the home commentator Twin's emotions were also exceptionally high. Before the game, he went on a solo tirade, praising the Thunder, which delighted the Oklahoma City fans. "If you can talk, you should talk more!"
The game was about to begin. Hearing the director's prompt from the back, commentator Twin pouted, still wanting to say more. He was in the middle of an exciting monologue when he was interrupted. However, upon seeing the Utah Jazz's starting lineup, he immediately began introducing the opponent's situation.
"Okur and Kirilenko are still on the Utah Jazz's injury list and cannot play in this game. Coach Sloan has put out a small lineup. The starting five are Deron Williams, CJ Miles, Wesley Matthews, Paul Millsap, and Carlos Boozer."
"Boozer will play at the center position. It seems our rebounding won't suffer in this game. Go, boys!"
As the playoffs approached, Kayce felt the increasingly boisterous home atmosphere and nodded in satisfaction. The Oklahoma City fans were truly enthusiastic, it was just that the team made his poster look a bit fierce. It was a shot of him roaring after a dunk, captured by the photographer.
During the final warm-up phase before the game, Kayce took off the Thunder's white and blue training jacket, flamboyantly showcasing his attire for the night.
Underneath his home jersey, Kayce wore a set of white high-stretch compression shirt and pants, a white arm sleeve on his right arm, and two white knee pads. He essentially wore everything he could.
The fans in the front row naturally noticed Kayce's change of equipment. Seeing Kayce's handsome appearance, many girls waved at him frequently.
Seeing Kayce dressed almost identically to him, Russell immediately perked up and stepped forward to tease him:
"Kayce, didn't you say before that wearing all these things was useless? Why the sudden change of heart? You should pick a few more wristbands, that would look cooler!"
"These aren't the common gear from our equipment department. These were custom-made for me by Tony and Meg. The materials are completely different, and they can also prevent some injuries and relieve muscle soreness. Don't they look good?"
Russell was speechless and thought, "You just want to show off." However, seeing Kayce in his white and blue striped home jersey, paired with his muscular physique, he did look incredibly handsome. Secretly feeling a bit jealous, he said sourly:
"Many people have no taste. I look good in white gear too. Anyway, Kevin is the ugliest."
If you don't show off when playing basketball, you lose a lot of fun. Durant had also tried wearing these flashy protective gears before, but unfortunately, his personal aura was too strong. Compression shirts and pants were fine, but with arm sleeves, he looked truly awful.
It wasn't until the referee signaled Kostić and Boozer to prepare for the jump ball that Kayce realized the Utah Jazz's lineup was so short today.
"An easy jump ball! Kostić tipped the ball to us! Oh! Kayce fires directly from beyond the arc at the start!"
After Kostić tipped the ball, Kayce controlled possession, quickly dribbled past half-court, and faced Miles' defense at the 45-degree angle outside the three-point line.
A sudden In and Out with his right hand, followed by a quick between-the-legs crossover. Noticing Miles stumbled back, he pushed off his feet, stepped back, and shot a jump shot.
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly.
"OKC! OKC! Ah!!!"
The Ford Center crowd's chant was only halfway through when they saw Kayce quickly sink a three-pointer at the start, and they immediately began cheering loudly for the basket.
Coach Sloan was clearly very dissatisfied with Miles' defense, shouting loudly from the sidelines, reminding his players to concentrate.
When the Utah Jazz attacked, the Thunder played a 3-2 zone defense, mainly to limit Boozer's mid-range jumpers and low-post strong attacks. At the same time, the zone positioning was also to limit Deron Williams' penetration.
Deron Williams ran a pick-and-roll with Boozer at the top of the three-point arc, then accelerated to his left for a drive. The Thunder's defense immediately collapsed. Noticing an open opportunity on the perimeter, Deron Williams immediately passed the ball to Matthews outside the three-point line.
The latter caught the ball and, without hesitation, immediately shot a jump shot.
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly.
The Thunder didn't mind, quickly inbounding the ball. Russell dribbled past half-court, used Kostić's high pick-and-roll, accelerated with the ball in his right hand for a drive. Noticing that Boozer hadn't completely lost his position, he faked a shot and made a real pass to the trailing Kostić.
The latter caught the ball and, using his height advantage, steadily put the ball into the basket.
"After half a season of training, Russell has become much more composed in games. Many times, he can deliver exquisite assists. This assist to Kostić shows his excellent offensive vision."
Home commentator Twin also noticed Russell's improvement. His ball handling was significantly more rational, and he rarely lost his temper. Compared to last season, he had truly improved a lot.
However, on the next possession, the Thunder's defense collapsed too much, and Miles also fired directly from beyond the arc, hitting another three-pointer.
Kayce felt something was wrong. The opponent was shooting too decisively, and they had a very good touch at the start. He looked at Coach Brooks on the sideline, noticed the coach nodded at him, and understood that they were to continue with the zone defense strategy.
In the ensuing game, the scores went back and forth. Compared to their previous encounters, the Utah Jazz changed their offensive strategy. They didn't use the tactic of continuous low-post strong attacks from Boozer and Millsap, but instead chose to break the zone defense with three-pointers.
Shooting immediately when an opportunity arose, the Utah Jazz shot with an extremely high accuracy in the first quarter, leading 31:29. In the offensive battle, the Utah Jazz still held a two-point advantage.
During the quarter break, Coach Brooks was still quite satisfied with the team's defense. The Utah Jazz found it difficult to penetrate the Thunder's paint to complete their offense. Although the opponent's outside shooting was accurate, there were still three quarters left in the game, so there was no need to change the defensive strategy for now.
"In the second quarter, protect our defensive rebounds. When the opponent's outside shooting percentage drops, we must control the long rebounds and launch our transition offense!"
Coach Sloan naturally wanted to win this game at all costs, so the Utah Jazz's rotation was very short. They only made a few positional substitutions: Kyle Korver for Miles, and 216cm Kyrylo Fesenko for Millsap.
After the second quarter began, using Fesenko's height, the Utah Jazz constantly moved the ball in and out. The Thunder's defense collapsed too little, and Korver, after receiving the ball outside the three-point line, shot a jump shot without adjustment.
"Swish!" The open three-pointer went in steadily.
The Thunder attacked. Kayce demanded the ball with his back to the basket at the left elbow. After a triple threat, he quickly put the ball down with his left hand, drove two steps while shouldering Matthews' defense, then suddenly gathered the ball for a pump fake, making Matthews jump. Using his left foot as a pivot, he made a nimble turn and shot a mid-range jump shot.
"Swish!" The two-pointer went in cleanly.
"Excellent footwork! The defender can never guess Kayce's offensive intentions!"
While commentator Twin was still gushing, the Utah Jazz had already quickly inbounded the ball. Deron Williams, using Fesenko's large frame, ran a high pick-and-roll outside the three-point line, shook off Menor's entanglement, and pulled up for a jump shot.
"Swish!" Another three-pointer went in.
A bad premonition immediately arose in Kayce's heart. The Utah Jazz were on fire in this game. After Jeff Green missed a shot from the outside on the next possession, Kayce activated his scoring mode.
But Coach Sloan was also well-prepared. He expanded his defensive coverage on Kayce, starting to guard him a step beyond the three-point line. He switched on screens, allowed two-pointers, but absolutely denied three-pointers.
About 7 minutes into the second quarter, Kayce had already scored 10 points in the quarter, using his exceptionally high shooting percentage to withstand the Utah Jazz's three-point barrage. When Durant and Russell came on the court, both sides played back and forth.
At halftime, the score was 65:60, with the Utah Jazz still holding a 5-point lead.
During halftime, Coach Brooks was also a bit hesitant, as their previous losses to the Phoenix Suns and Mavericks were due to the opponent's three-point explosion. However, thinking about the team's 3-2 zone defense's perimeter coverage, which was still decent, he immediately reaffirmed his conviction.
"Our rebounding was excellent in the first half. We will continue with this defensive strategy in the second half!"
The Thunder players also fully obeyed their Head Coach's instructions. Boozer and Millsap were both somewhat muted, which was good news for the Thunder. Although the opponent's outside three-point shooting was a bit accurate, there were still two quarters left in the game, and all the Thunder needed to do was wait patiently.
Although Kayce had some different opinions, he would not question the Head Coach's decision, because the Thunder had indeed played well in the first half. They were behind only because the opponent's outside shooting was too accurate.
When the third quarter began, both teams shot with extremely high accuracy, which greatly surprised Kayce. The Utah Jazz's response shots always seemed to go in. This phenomenon continued until the fourth quarter, when the Thunder finally paid the price for their stubbornness.
119:113, the Utah Jazz's outside shooting was insane. Matthews had a feast, shooting 9-for-11 from the field, 6-for-7 from three, and 5-for-6 from the free-throw line, scoring 29 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 turnovers.
The Thunder's Big Three once again scored 75 points, but it couldn't change the outcome of the game. Facing Kayce's suffocating defense, Matthews still maintained an exceptionally high shooting percentage. After the game, watching the opponent excitedly jumping around, Kayce could only shake his head helplessly.
"This is the NBA. Every player, before entering the league, was the Michael Jordan among their peers."
The Lakers coaching staff was also following the Thunder's game tonight. Seeing the Utah Jazz win, everyone was delighted; they were back in the top spot in the Western Conference.
Coach Phil Jackson looked at the remaining schedule, calculated carefully, and immediately decided to go all out in the remaining games to secure the top spot in the Western Conference, and also strive for the league's best record. The Lakers could not afford to lose home-court advantage.
Coach Gentry frowned upon seeing the Utah Jazz win. The gap in wins was narrowing. If it really came down to a Game 7, he didn't want the Phoenix Suns to play in Salt Lake City. After thinking about Nash's condition and looking at the remaining schedule, he reluctantly decided to go all out!
With more than 10 regular-season games remaining, the top teams in the Western Conference could only grit their teeth and strive for victory, as no one wanted to lose home-court advantage.
In contrast, the Eastern Conference teams felt much less pressure. Coach Rivers even took the opportunity to adjust the Boston Celtics players' condition, beginning to prepare for the playoffs.
After the Thunder lost this game, everyone remained undeterred. Coach Brooks also made up his mind that they still needed to continue practicing their zone defense.
After two days of tedious training, on March 17th, the Thunder will challenge the Charlotte Bobcats on the road. The Bobcats, with a 34-32 record, are currently ranked seventh in the Eastern Conference, two games ahead of the Chicago Bulls.
In this game, the Bobcats naturally also need to strive for victory. The Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors behind them are both catching up, so they absolutely cannot relax at this time.
Before the game, Stephen Jackson delivered a speech in the locker room:
"Guys, before the All-Star, many people didn't think we could make the playoffs. The media and reporters thought we were a loser's league, and they wouldn't say anything good about us."
"But we proved them wrong with our performance. After a month of hard work, we've reached the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference. This is a remarkable achievement. If we can hold on for just 16 more games, the fans in Charlotte will be proud of us!"
Gerald Wallace, who was out due to injury, felt a pang of discomfort as he saw everyone in the locker room shouting excitedly:
"Have I become the team's second-best player?"
But reality remained very cruel. The united Bobcats were effectively defended by the Thunder's zone defense. Their constipated outside shooting allowed the Thunder's defense to shrink further and further.
Coupled with Kayce's defensive restriction on Stephen Jackson, the Bobcats only lasted two quarters before completely collapsing.
Coach Larry Brown was furious. The Thunder had switched to a 2-3 zone defense in the second quarter, giving the Bobcats many open looks from the outside. However, Raymond Felton, Graham, Jackson, and Diaw all missed, shooting a dismal 4-for-21 from three-point range.
110:96, the Thunder easily defeated the Bobcats on the road, maintaining their second-place position in the Western Conference.
On March 18th, the Thunder departed early, flying to Canada, where they would challenge the Toronto Raptors on the road. On the plane, Durant, bored, looked at a gossip magazine in his hand and casually said:
"I don't like playing in Toronto. I always feel like in Canada, the referee's officiating standards are a bit off."
"Kevin has been complaining about this since we lost in Toronto last year, but I can understand it. The Raptors enjoy a higher level of treatment in Toronto than even a home-court whistle. Perhaps this is the advantage of foreign teams."
Jeff Green also joined Durant in complaining about the Raptors' home-court issues.
"Eastern Conference teams are so lucky. This season, 40 wins might be enough to make the playoffs. Derrick Rose is really too lucky; if he were in the West, he'd definitely be fishing by now!"
Russell had been following Derrick Rose's situation and, seeing that the Bulls might also make the playoffs, immediately felt a bit unbalanced. After all, 40 wins in the West would definitely mean no playoffs.
"It can only be said that the 5th to 8th placed teams in the East are relatively lucky. The Cavaliers and Magic also have decent records. Because the strength gap between the Eastern Conference teams is relatively large, this phenomenon has occurred. Don't envy Rose; he's highly likely to be a first-round exit."
Kayce still favored the Boston Celtics to emerge from the East this season. Only after facing them directly would he understand how troublesome the Big Three were. The old guys were experienced, and their advantage grew larger the deeper into the playoffs it got.
After getting off the plane, Kayce was warmly greeted by DeRozan. Seeing him act like a local boss, Kayce immediately smiled and said:
"It looks like you're doing very well in Toronto! I feel like you've completely adapted to life here."
"Of course, there's actually not much difference between here and America. It's just that the locals prefer ice hockey, but the Raptors are also very popular, and many fans really like me!"
"Let's go, Kayce, I'll take you to try some local food. The taste here is on the sweeter side, you should really like it!"
DeRozan chose a famous local restaurant in Toronto. He also wanted to show off his popularity there, as he couldn't help but feel a bit envious when he saw the treatment Kayce received in Oklahoma City earlier.
"OMG! Kayce, it's really you! Oh! I know, you're here to play a game, right? God, I'm your loyal fan, 'Shape of You' is simply timeless!"
The waitress with long wavy black hair exclaimed when she saw Kayce, which also drew the attention of those around them.
"It's really Kayce!" "Kayce is here to eat?" "Shit, I have to go take a picture!"
Kayce's arrival still attracted attention from the people in the restaurant. After all, this was just a specialty restaurant with a slightly higher price point, and most of the diners were ordinary people.
The restaurant owner naturally noticed the commotion. The slightly balding white owner's eyes lit up when he saw Kayce; an opportunity to get rich had arrived!
"Oh!! Kayce, I didn't expect you to come to my restaurant. I swear, I am absolutely your loyal fan. Of course, I occasionally watch NBA games, and the Thunder are playing great this year."
"Thanks for the support. Everyone, please continue your meal. I'm just here for lunch with a friend today. I'm really sorry to have disturbed everyone."
Before Kayce could finish speaking, the wavy-haired girl clinging to Kayce immediately chimed in:
"Kayce, can you sing a song live? You rarely come to Toronto for promotions, and we really want to hear you sing!"
When the owner heard this, he was overjoyed. This employee is good, she definitely deserves a raise!
"Ah!! Kayce, one song, please! We all want to hear 'Shape of You'!"
"Yes, Kayce, just one song. We rarely go to America, and we really want to hear you sing live!"
Kayce saw the atmosphere getting increasingly heated and suddenly felt a headache. How did a meal turn into a fan meeting?
"Uh, I'm here to play basketball, I didn't bring my guitar..."
"I have one!!"
Before Kayce could finish, the restaurant owner had already taken out a guitar, leaving Kayce speechless. My god, you came prepared, didn't you?
"OK, since we've met by chance today, I'll dedicate 'Shape of You' to everyone. I hope you like it."
When Kayce, wearing a tracksuit and a guitar slung over his shoulder, stood in front of the small bar and began his showy performance, the atmosphere in the restaurant became uncontrollable. As the lively melody started, the crowd erupted in cheers, and DeRozan was pushed into a corner.
"Shit!! Next time, I definitely won't come to this restaurant again!"
On the evening of March 19th, the Air Canada Centre was packed. Probably influenced by Kayce's performance yesterday, a group of female fans also came tonight, allowing ticket scalpers to make a small profit.
Durant was surprised when Kayce entered the arena and a considerable cheer erupted. Does Kayce have fans in Toronto now?
Tonight, many Chinese fans from Canada came. Everyone had been looking forward to this game for a long time. Looking around, many fans were wearing the Thunder's No. 10 jersey, and Kayce actually felt like he had come to a home game.
"This is so cool! Kayce, do you think the fans here will cheer for us?!"
Russell, who was always excitable, was particularly happy at this moment. It was incredible to encounter so many Thunder supporters while playing abroad.
"If you can deliver some spectacular shots, I believe the fans might actually cheer for you."
Kayce felt secretly pleased as he observed the situation on the court.
After the game began, Chris Bosh, who was inwardly consumed with jealousy, went all out. This was his territory, but now it had turned into Kayce's home court, which made the small flame in his heart flare up rapidly.
In their last encounter, Chris Bosh was out due to injury. After winning the opening tip-off, he immediately posted up in the low block after crossing half-court. Starting point guard Calderon, seeing his team's leader full of drive, immediately threw a lob pass.
After Bosh received the ball, he put it down with his right hand. Jeff Green desperately defended him in the low post. Kayce seized the opportunity and immediately came over for a double team. Bosh was also prepared, raising the ball high, quickly gathering it, and turning for a jump shot.
"Swish!" The two-pointer went in steadily.
Kayce noticed Bosh's movement and immediately realized that his timing for the steal was a half-beat too late.
Thunder offense, Jeff Green moved from the top of the key to the right corner. Kayce first executed a screen with Jeff Green, then, using Kostić's back screen, easily received the ball at the top of the arc beyond the three-point line.
Hedo Turkoglu, who had switched onto him, had just found his footing when Kayce executed a crossover dribble, easily blowing past his defender, and accelerated with the ball in his left hand.
Two steps past the free-throw line, he pushed off with both feet, soaring into the air. Disregarding Chris Bosh's block in front of him, his body arched like a bow, his left arm pulled back, and he powerfully slammed it down with one hand!
"Slam!" The ball went in, and Bosh was dunked out of bounds by Kayce.
"Ah!!" "Boo!"
The Air Canada Centre erupted in a mix of gasps and boos. Kayce's poster dunk completely ignited the atmosphere.
Kayce didn't celebrate much, just gave a relaxed smile and quickly returned to defense. After all, it was the Raptors home court, and it wouldn't be worth it to truly provoke them.
Chris Bosh was furious and immediately shouted at Hedo Turkoglu:
"Pay attention to defense! Man, shit! You can't let him drive into the paint that easily!"
"My bad, I'll pay attention!"
Hedo Turkoglu, plagued by injuries, was no longer the versatile forward who dominated the Eastern Conference last year. He truly had fallen on hard times.
Coach Triano also didn't want to give up this game easily. They were only one win away from the 8th spot in the East, so they naturally had to go all out for the victory. He had also prepared for the Thunder's zone defense.
But unfortunately, plans change faster than they are made. The Raptors themselves were not a team known for their three-point shooting, and the temporary deployment was not fully executed after the game started. Chris Bosh was a bit hot-headed, and he began to frequently post up in the low block, seemingly trying to get back at them.
But this was not a good offensive choice. The Thunder's 2-3 zone defense was very compact. Kayce also learned from the first possession and, seeing Chris Bosh with the ball, quickly collapsed to help Jeff Green on defense.
After about 6 minutes of play in the opening quarter, the Thunder's counterattacks came in waves. The Chinese fans were ecstatic. Kayce, Russell, and Durant fully showcased their athletic talent, converting on consecutive fast breaks.
However, the Raptors' offensive rhythm had problems. Although Chris Bosh could hit shots in the low post, their outside shooting never found its touch. DeRozan was still hesitant to shoot, and Calderon's touch was also poor at the start.
By the end of the first quarter, it was 39:25. Amidst the cheers of the audience, the Thunder players went wild!
For the rest of the game, it almost completely turned into a personal show for the trio. The Thunder scored 92 points in three quarters, leaving the Raptors completely stunned.
When the game ended, the score was 119:89. The Thunder won by 30 points on the road against the Raptors.
"MVP! MVP! MVP!!!"
After the game, when Kayce waved to the audience, everyone chanted "MVP!" Kayce efficiently scored 36 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in this game, making him the Thunder's highest scorer. The MVP title was well-deserved.
Seeing the enthusiastic audience, Kayce smiled triumphantly.