There is one player on the field who must have watched the ceremony, and that is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA was a legitimate suitor if Hector wasn't so unreasonable this season. The Canadian had 32 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks.
He would have been a beautiful MVP. Before the game started, he congratulated the MVP: "The next one is mine."
Hector knows what he is talking about and replies, "Everything is in its own time."
***
The Thunder are a fake 5th. They are more robust than the standings, with the excellent Josh Giddey and SGA, Holmgren in the paint, and two big defenders, Dort and Jalen Williams. All have been on the team for over three seasons and have a collective experience.
Holmgren, after a blank season, turned the Thunder's defense into the top 10 NBA. OKC is equipped to do damage, and the Kings are the only team that media reports say are favorites against them.
Kings: Fox, Duarte, Barnes, Murray, Herrera.
Thunder: Giddey, SGA, Dort, Williams, Holmgren.
Hector knows he is expected today. As the new MVP since this morning, he does not allow himself to miss his game. He will waste no time imposing his tyranny.
He scored the game's first points on a layup and made a steal by anticipating a pass. He couldn't stop Williams from performing a jumper but blocked a layup from de Giddey. The Thunder has been warned.
After a dunk by Hector, the Thunder lead but today is MVP Day. Hector's performance starts here. He made an alley-oop assist for Fox, grabbing a defensive rebound. De'Aaron Fox missed the layup, but Hector grabbed the rebound behind and threw the ball into the basket.
After a missed three-pointer by Murray, he made the putback dunk with both hands. He grabbed another defensive rebound that slowed the game and gave the ball to Fox. After a catch-and-shoot missed by Duarte, he grabbed the offensive rebound. Holmgren hindered him enough to miss the tip behind, but he rebounded offensively.
"I don't know why, but the Kings seem confused. Without Hector, the Kings would be well behind. Is the MVP scene too heavy for them? »
Doris Burke exaggerates a little, but it's not wrong. The Kings, except Hector, are pasty and give the feeling of being adrift. »
But Doc Rivers refuted: "No, the Kings haven't played in a week. They need to get back on their feet. The intensity of the playoffs is different from the intensity of training. »
Indeed, the Kings last played a week ago, but he also thinks the other Kings players are absent. Hector does his job as MVP.
Moreover, the MVP stole the ball after a layup attempt and bullied Williams at the low post with an up and under. Despite this, the Thunder are still ahead, but Hector has already grabbed 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and now 2 blocks with a block on Holmgren's floater.
With three minutes left in the first quarter and the Thunder lead 27:19! The Kings, except Hector, are not there.
But the Kings' revolt is lightning. It starts with a dunk from Fox, then he misses a layup, but Hector grabs the offensive rebound and throws the ball into the basket. He made a steal and recovered a defensive rebound before making way for Moses Brown.
The Kings' second unit was mainly on the court, and Vezenkov shot from deep to tie the team, and he allowed the Kings to take the lead with two free throws.
Malik Monk and Moses Brown's pick-and-roll worked well and allowed the Kings to score. Moses Brown is Hector's replacement. They both measure the same height and have a similar level of athleticism.
Moses is the profile of the typical rim runner. Hector has a Moses Brown in every arm, both offensively and defensively. He does not have the level of a starter in the NBA, but he does great service to the Kings and is a real upgrade to Neemias Queta or Alex Len.
De'Aarox Fox with a dunk, Malik Monk with a layup, and the extra free throw will close out the quarter. The Kings, after a slow start, lead 29:35!