The Kings won G1 without a single blow, and two days later, the Kings also won G2 at home easily. The score was 2:0. "Should we start studying our opponents for the second round?" Malone suddenly said this inexplicably on the plane to Memphis.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Jake, who was sitting opposite Malone, quickly stopped Malone from speaking. "We're already studying our opponents for the next round when the score was 2:0? Do you like to put a flag on yourself?"
"You Orientals just like to do this kind of metaphysics." Seeing that his topic did not arouse Jake's interest, Malone also closed his mouth in disgrace. However, this kind of statement is indeed taboo in the league. The most famous example is the high-spirited McGrady's statement "I have already started preparing for the opponents for the next round." Then he was severely slapped in the face. Since that incident, many people have begun to be cautious in their words and deeds, fearing that they will be nailed to the pillar of shame if they say something wrong.
"So what do you think the series will be like?" Seeing that Jake ignored him, Malone thought for a moment and asked in a different way. "You have to talk about this, right?"
Jake took off the blanket on his body, sat up straight, and started to talk. "What else is there to talk about? San Antonio is now fully prepared to go for the championship, and the Dallas people have no chance." According to the league's playoff rules. The Kings are in the 3-6 division, and the winner will play against the winner of the 2-7 division. This year's Spurs can be said to be strong and powerful. In the regular season, they withstood the pressure of the 73-win Warriors and won 67 wins, the best record in team history. ESPN's previous predictions also clearly stated that only the Spurs in the West can cause certain difficulties for the Warriors, who are now in their heyday. As for the Kings, in the eyes of ESPN, there is nothing worth analyzing.
"Then do you think we still have a chance against the Spurs? Allen, that's your old club. Analyze it for me." Malone kept probing Jake's words, trying to dig out something.
Seeing Malone's somewhat anxious expression, Jake sighed helplessly. Jake knew Malone's current state too well. In fact, it was a performance of lack of confidence. Now anyone with a discerning eye could see that the Kings' victory in the first round was already a foregone conclusion. It's just that the opponent in the second round was too tricky. This year's Spurs are known as the strongest lineup in history. The Silver and Black Army, which failed to defend the title last year, is holding back a big breath to regain the lost throne. Now Malone keeps asking Jake about his old club, in fact, he is hoping that Jake can suddenly turn against the Spurs and expose the ultimate weakness of the Spurs and then lead the team over this mountain. Of course, Malone actually knows that this kind of thing is just his illusory beautiful fantasy.
Looking at Malone, who looked depressed, Jake sighed helplessly and sat up straight. "Sometimes I really want to call the police." Jake rubbed his still a little sore eyes and said. "I'm just a general manager, why do I have to give you psychological counseling? I can tolerate it for the players, but you, a head coach with thick eyebrows and big eyes, need me to counsel you?"
"Hehehe." Coach Malone smiled awkwardly. "Isn't it safer to chat with you?"
"Stop it!" Jake directly stretched out his hand to signal Malone to stop talking. "You are really easy to be misunderstood, don't you know!"
"Your only task now is to win this round of the series well. Don't let the Grizzlies have any chances." Hearing Jake's words, Malone waved his hand nonchalantly. "A Grizzlies with a weakened lineup is not a problem."
Jake smiled coldly at the confident Malone. "You'd better be."
...
"No! Are you really that strong?!" Malone stood on the sidelines and stared at the situation on the court with his eyes wide open. Unexpectedly to Coach Malone's expectations, the Memphis players showed extraordinary resilience. Even in the fourth quarter, they were still inseparable. In this game, the Kings' outside shooters collectively missed their targets, and the cold Memphis seemed to have frozen their originally hot hands.
"Dang!" Looking at the basketball that bounced out of the rim, CJ rarely cursed. "FXXK!"
"Don't get carried away!" Butler's unique voice rang in CJ's ears. CJ looked up and saw Butler, who was also sweating. "It's okay if you can't make the shot! Hurry back to defense!"
The biggest variable in today's game was that the aging Carter was actually young and wild! Although time has deprived him of the ability to fly, and his scarred ankles can no longer support his swift changes of direction. But time has given Carter other rewards. His defensive quality has begun to stabilize, and his outside output is increasing. After slowing down, Carter began to have more time to watch the games he didn't have time to watch before. His ability to read the game has also begun to increase exponentially. Carter, who knows his characteristics, has positioned himself correctly, just in time to encounter the Kings' outside failure today. The vicious Carter immediately seized the opportunity to attack the Kings from the outside and caught them off guard.
"What did I say!" Jake kept roaring in Malone's ear. "Don't think you are stable! Change the formation quickly! If you keep doing this, you will really lose!"
But Malone didn't care about arguing with Jake at this time. His forehead was already covered with fine beads of sweat. Malone himself didn't expect the Grizzlies to be so difficult. He was thrown off balance. "Jimmy, take over!" Malone shouted loudly towards the court without caring about his image.
Butler, who heard Malone's voice, turned his head to look at the coach's bench and nodded seriously. He turned his head and said to CJ. "From now on, I will handle all the balls until the end of the game!"
The last few minutes were completely superstar ball. Butler took over all the offensive ball rights of the Kings. He kept attacking the inside line to score. For Butler, who is old-fashioned, there are only two ways to score at the decisive moment: attack the inside to score or commit a foul, or bet on a three-pointer. So the last few minutes can be described as cruel. Butler threw himself into the inside again and again to fight for his life, and Randolph on the opposite side also ignored his injured left foot and carried Oden and Jokic in the inside to score a little bit. What's more, the Kings are still the final winner.
As the final whistle sounded, Butler panted and limped towards the Grizzlies' bench.
"Boss, we still have to be serious this time?" CJ walked to Butler and asked cautiously.
Butler really convinced himself in this game today. CJ examined himself and realized that he could not play such a strong confrontation at all, but Butler carried it.
"No need." Although Butler's physical strength has been completely exhausted, Butler's eyes are as firm as ever. "In today's game, we have broken the last bit of the Grizzlies' fighting spirit. There is no hope. They have been swept by us."