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Chapter 535 - 232. Slaying Demons and Slaying Buddhas!_4

Chapter 535: 232. Slaying Demons and Slaying Buddhas!_4

Gripping the ball firmly and avoiding Duncan’s counter-steal, Zhang Yang started a counterattack, but Duncan failed to grab anyone!

Popovich was utterly desperate about tonight’s game... but within that despair, he still harbored a hint of hope for the entire finals series.

Seeing Horry hustling back on defense, Popovich’s eyes brightened...

Then, he saw Horry move towards the right side of the free-throw line to block Zhang Yang. Zhang Yang passed the ball to Rondo, who was following up on the left. Horry turned to cover Rondo but couldn’t handle the two-on-one. Rondo scored on a layup, and Horry slapped his thigh in frustration and looked up...

Popovich said, "No, is this it? What are you doing! Start a conflict! Pull Rondo down who is going for the layup!"

Yes, all he wanted was a violent foul to provoke a conflict, and he didn’t even instruct them to maliciously foul Zhang Yang specifically—it was, after all, the finals, and he wasn’t that bold.

But the two players misunderstood his intention, thinking they should handle Zhang Yang like they would Nash...

Even if they had understood, they wouldn’t have bothered.

That group of highly united young players on the other team—what difference did it make whom they fouled? Foul Rondo so close, less than three meters away from Zhang Yang?

The video of Raja Bell being knocked out after the foul and not running away, still within 6 meters from Zhang Yang, is still a hot video!

Moreover, since it was a hint, it was just as well to pretend the hint wasn’t understood... After all, he was a six-time champion, the current player with the most championships; getting cut from the team didn’t matter to him.

The inner journey of the Spurs’ coach and some players, the Bobcats’ players, the live fans in the arena—they all didn’t know about this. The Spurs’ coach and players, the players among them, might have conflicts; the Bobcats’ players, the live fans didn’t care about it anymore.

All they knew was that 28 seconds remained, they were leading by 5 points, it was the crucial Game 5, and they had secured their victory!

No fouls were committed, the Spurs didn’t call a timeout, they just had to continue attacking.

This time Parker, after receiving the ball, swiftly passed it to Ginobili in the frontcourt. He knew he had made a mistake, but regret was useless now...

Ginobili quickly took a shot from behind the three-point line. If he made it, there was still a chance, they could try to press and make another attempt.

But Alan Anderson was very focused defensively and put up the biggest interference, and the high-scoring Ginobili tonight, already with 31 points, missed this key three-pointer!

Rondo protected the defensive rebound well, 19 seconds remained, he didn’t start a counterattack, and just advanced past midcourt to run down the clock.

If there had been a timeout, the Spurs’ players might have fought back again, but without the timeout, the plan to make a three-pointer and then steal for another attack had fallen apart, and there was no need to foul anymore.

The cheers of the fans at the venue grew louder, and just a few seconds before the game ended, the Bobcats’ players and coaches had already poured onto the court; the referees did not interfere, as the opponents had not committed a foul or pressed, so once the Bobcats ran out the attack time, the game was over.

In the midst of the cheers at the venue, surrounded by the celebratory voices of the Bobcats, the final whistle blew!

points in the first quarter, 6 points in the second, 7 points in the third, 10 points in the last quarter, Zhang Yang played 33 minutes tonight, 12 out of 26 field goals made, including 1 out of 3 three-pointers, plus making 7 out of 8 free throws, Zhang Yang scored a game-high 32 points, along with 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals!

He played just the right amount of time, finishing the last moments with ample energy for defensive steals.

The teammates who enabled him to play this way—Felton and Rondo!

Felton continued his excellent performance from the previous game, making 4 out of 9 three-pointers, plus making 2 out of 5 two-pointers, and 4 out of 4 free throws, scoring 20 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Rondo set new personal highs in points, rebounds, and assists in the finals, achieving 8 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal.

With Gerald Wallace and Okafor already at the peak of their performance, the standout plays of these two helped the team outplay the Spurs in regulation time.

Zhang Yang’s last-minute scoring spree in the first two quarters was overshadowed by Ginobili, but it really was these two who supported him.

With Gerald Wallace contributing 11 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks, and Okafor adding 16 points, 8 rebounds... the Bobcats narrowly defeated the Spurs by 5 points, 104-99, winning the crucial Game 5 and taking a 3-2 series lead!

Zhang Yang excitedly celebrated with his teammates, and noticed that someone from the other side had also entered the court before the final whistle—Popovich.

Popovich stormed up to Parker and started berating him, pointing at Parker’s nose; Parker, crucial in that moment and now scolded, hardly dared to breathe, looking like he was about to cry.

Zhang Yang felt sorry for Parker; it was all Big Brother’s fault, how could he stir up such trouble?

Mourning Parker silently for three seconds, Zhang Yang then put the poor "little sports car" out of his mind and joined his teammates for the post-game interview.

Tonight was the Bobcats’ last home game of the season, and it had been arranged for the whole team to be interviewed together after the game. The interview cameras would be linked to the big screen at the venue, and the microphones connected to the venue’s sound system.

This post-game interview was rather lengthy. Zhang Weiping might have been drafting it for two days, having questions for every Bobcats player.

The answers from every Bobcat player reflected their personalities. However, having been notified in advance, they avoided swearing in front of the court channel’s cameras, and the occasional swear words slipped only because not everyone had a solid education—many of the players only managed to pass with the bare minimum grades during their school days.

When it was Zhang Yang’s turn, he started praising everyone emphatically again. No matter how well his teammates played, he found an angle to praise them.

For those who hadn’t played, like Jarett Jack who only played 12 minutes in the Eastern Conference Finals, making just 1 out of 5 shots and was benched for the Finals, Zhang Yang still could praise, "Jarett’s cheering was really loud."

Despite the lengthy interview, hardly any fans left early; they were too happy after back-to-back wins.

Although the Bobcats hadn’t achieved Zhang Yang’s bold declaration of winning four straight games to clinch the championship, leading 3-2, they had surged ahead of the Spurs!

Finally, Zhang Weiping asked, "This is our team’s last home game of the season. Do you have anything you’d like to say to the fans who have supported you all along?"

What to say? Who would answer?

The members of the Big Brother Group all looked at Felton—it was his role to be the spokesman.

The veterans didn’t have a chance to speak and hadn’t planned to grab the spotlight, and the number of hard fighters was dwindling...

Felton looked at Zhang Yang; "You’re well-read, you answer."

Zhang Yang initially wanted to be impressive but, after thinking it over, opted for modesty, "Just wait for us, we’ll bring the championship trophy back to show you all."