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Chapter 505 - 218. Someone will always win.

Chapter 505: 218. Someone will always win.

Starting off 0-1, losing the pivotal Game 5, suppressed for five games, then winning two straight for a 4-3 comeback to enter the finals, the Bobcats showed a deeply impressive reversal that left a lasting impression on the fans, and both the coach and players saw their reputations soar.

A month and a half ago, Bickerstaff received both Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year, and while the reasons for the awards were acceptable, there were still many sarcastic and critical voices.

After this Eastern Conference Finals, the media’s evaluation of him turned into fully deserved praise.

Of course, there were those who criticized his coaching style as being too reliant on luck.

After Game 6, commentators, experts, and fans had been discussing the Bobcats’ overall play in the series, analyzing Bickerstaff’s strategies in great detail.

If the Bobcats had been slightly less lucky in either Game 2 or Game 4, they wouldn’t have made it past Game 5.

But Bickerstaff won his bet, and the criticisms were drowned out by praise, bolstering his reputation as a ’legendary coach.’

He had faced off against one of the top five coaches of the era, Philip Saunders, who in ’03 led a team with a formidable threesome to the top of the West and into the Western Conference Finals, and might have gone all the way had Szczerbiak not been injured early on; in ’05, he took over a Pistons teetering after two years of mismanagement by Larry Brown and led them to their best record ever. Last season, after Larry Brown took the Knicks to an inglorious first-place finish from the bottom of the East, many thought that if Saunders had instead plucked Carlisle’s peach back in ’03, the Pistons, with his protective style of player management, could have built a dynasty.

With this battle over, Bickerstaff’s place in history had greatly ascended.

Domestic media used a familiar descriptor—Bickerstaff had slowly built up momentum and suddenly burst forth.

The Bobcats’ key players also received much praise.

The most lauded, of course, was Zhang Yang. Before the Eastern Finals, the media and fans didn’t favor the Bobcats to win, but they had high expectations for Zhang Yang’s individual performance.

Some media even lavished exaggerated praise, likely waiting to trample on him if the Bobcats lost.

However, Zhang Yang exceeded expectations with an average of 27 shots and 13 baskets per game in 7 games, scoring an average of 36 points with a 48.1% field goal percentage, plus 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.3 steals, and over 40 points in Games 1 and 6... an amazing performance!

The highest prediction at the time was an average of 25+ points, and he ended up averaging over 35!

Old Pistons fans from five decades ago were frantically posting on forums, listing insane individual playoff performances since the turn of the century.

In the 2000 finals, O’Neal averaged over 38 points and 16.7 rebounds in 6 games with a 61% shooting percentage.

In the 2001 playoffs, Eastern Conference semifinals, Iverson and Carter dueled with over 50 points each; Western Finals, Kobe averaged over 33 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists against Duncan with a 51% field goal rate; in the finals, O’Neal averaged 33 points, 15.8 rebounds, and 4.8 blocks against Mutombo.

In the 2002 playoffs, Western Conference semifinals, Duncan averaged 29 points, 17 rebounds against the Lakers; Eastern Finals, Kidd averaged a triple-double against the Celtics with 17 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists; and in the finals, O’Neal averaged 36.3 points, 12.3 rebounds.

In the 2003 playoffs, Western Conference Finals, Duncan averaged 28 points, 16.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 3 blocks against Nowitzki; in the finals, Duncan averaged 24.2 points, 17 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1 steal, and 5.3 blocks against Kenyon Martin.

In the 2004 playoffs, second round, Garnett averaged 23.9 points, 15.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 3.4 blocks against Webber.

In the 2005 playoffs, second round, Nash averaged 30.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 12 assists against the Mavericks; Western Finals, Stoudemire averaged 37 points, 9 rebounds against Duncan.

In the 2006 playoffs, first round, Kobe scored in the first four games against Nash; second round, Duncan averaged 32.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1 steal, and 2.6 blocks against Nowitzki; in the finals, Wade averaged 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.7 steals against the Mavericks.

This season’s playoffs, first round, Kidd averaged a triple-double...

Old Pistons fans were trying to make people ’see the facts’ by not only citing these superstars’ insane performances but, without any regard for their own team’s scorer’s pride, claimed that Zhang Yang’s average of 36 points was purely because Hamilton, who was guarding him, was a defensive sieve.

Bobcats fans initially fiercely rebutted this viewpoint and argued with the poster.

But there were too many posts, and they couldn’t keep up with the arguing.

It wasn’t until a Bobcats fan leader with a small reputation on various forums stepped forward and said, "You’re right, Jack still has a gap compared to these superstars, but being compared with them rather than with rookie contract players is thanks to you for acknowledging Jack."

Bobcats fans saw a new perspective, went to delete their argumentative replies, and copied and pasted the fan leader’s response...

Old Pistons fans faced a backlash, and unwittingly, they ended up raising Zhang Yang’s profile!

Other fans found the ’50-year-old Pistons fan’s’ comments amusing—their team and their star couldn’t beat the Bobcats or the bad boy Jack, so they resorted to such methods to belittle him.

The New York Times evaluated Zhang Yang as the strongest under 20!

It was only because Magic Johnson was in front; otherwise, the age could be pushed even lower.

Other Bobcats players, Felton had his shining moments in the Eastern Finals, making six three-pointers in one game, and although his overall series stats were mediocre, he showed a great understanding of the game, didn’t shy away from taking responsibility, was willing to do the dirty and tiring work, and was highly praised for his leadership.

Okafor received less accolades, as his steady 15+ points, 10+ rebounds, 2+ blocks per game had become expected by the fans.

Gerald Wallace shone brightly, and aside from Zhang Yang, he was the most praised in the Eastern Finals, being versatile in scoring, rebounding, assisting, blocking, and stealing.

Aside from the ’four minors,’ the Bobcats had another player who made a name for himself in the Eastern Finals—Rajon Rondo.

In 7 games, he averaged 6.6 points, 5 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.7 steals, with double-digit scoring in 3 games.