Durant with 82 points?

70+ scores are already incredibly rare in NBA history.

80+ has only been achieved by Kobe and Chamberlain.

There's no way Durant can pull it off!

Moreover, scoring sprees depend on the opponent.

Tang Tian being able to do it was related to D'Antoni's coaching, his defensive strategies, and even some luck.

But Durant is playing the Bulls, and with Thibodeau coaching, the possibility is nonexistent, basically 0!

Although the Thunder and Bulls haven't played yet, Tang Tian has already ended the suspense for the scoring title in advance.

Durant is very upset.

The most upsetting thing isn't the amount of difficulty you face, but knowing that something is absolutely impossible before you even try it.

Tough luck, Ma Fei!

Originally, the Thunder's game against the Bulls was Durant's last chance to compete for the scoring title, but now this game has become absolute torment.

Before the game started, the news of Tang Tian scoring 72 points had already reached the Thunder's locker room.

Even Westbrook didn't dare to talk to Durant at this point.

Durant was definitely a lit gas can; whoever touched him would get blown up.

That night, the Thunder and Bulls game tipped off at the United Center in Chicago.

Knowing that the scoring title was hopeless, Durant's offensive desire on the court was average.

But even that didn't stop Butler from guarding him.

Butler's personality is just that straightforward.

In the end, under Butler's full-court defense, Durant only made 10 of 23 shots, scoring 26 points and 5 assists, and the Thunder lost.

With this, Tang Tian became the NBA's 2013-2014 season scoring champion with an average of 32.1 points, surpassing Durant's 31.2 points!

This scoring title battle, which lasted almost the entire season and came down to a knife fight at the end, ultimately went to Tang Tian!

The moment the Thunder and Bulls game ended, fans on social media were already in a frenzy.

"Congratulations to Tang, for becoming the NBA season scoring champion in his first season after leaving the Spurs!"

"From averaging 17.8 points to averaging 32.1 points, can Tang compete for the Most Improved Player award?"

"That Most Improved Player award is a bit mischievous; are you reminding the Spurs' management that they missed out on a Most Improved Player?"

"It's not him being mischievous, it's you; you're too much!"

"Speaking of which, Little Durant is so pitiful this season. His beloved Scarlett said Tang is the most charming man, he lost to the Pelicans, and now he's lost the scoring title. Is he the most miserable superstar this season?"

"Haha, you little smart aleck, are you asking for a 'loser' missile?"

"Actually, no matter who it is, their mentality would collapse if they knew Tang Tian scored 72 points before the last game, right?"

"A series of tragedies triggered by a body wash endorsement contract."

"Now the playoffs are Durant's only chance to prove himself; the Thunder should be able to win, right?"

"That's hard to say; Westbrook's condition is still unknown after recovering from his injury, and they may not be able to beat the Grizzlies in the first round."

"I can't imagine Little Durant's utterly defeated image after losing."

"If that's the case, then Westbrook's chest will be his biggest safe haven."

……

After the Thunder and Pelicans finished their respective games, the next day was the last game day of the NBA regular season.

The Spurs were at home against the Kings.

Popovich rested all of his starters in this game, but even with an all-bench lineup, they easily defeated the Kings.

The Kings were truly rotten to the core.

After the game, Popovich was interviewed by reporters on the sidelines.

After asking some questions related to the game, the reporter naturally mentioned Tang Tian.

"Tang scored 72 points yesterday, and he's the scoring champion this season, but the team gave up matching his contract in the summer. What do you have to say about that?"

The reporter's question was sharp.

"We should have lost a Kobe."

Popovich said with a smile. His words were as mischievous as ever, simultaneously criticizing Tang Tian's crazy shooting in the last game while also elevating him to a very high level.

Kobe isn't just any player you can compare with.

"Does that make you feel regretful? He originally had the opportunity to continue staying with the Spurs."

The reporter asked.

"No, I'm happy for him. He wouldn't have scored so many points here, and he definitely wouldn't have gotten 72 points. I wouldn't let him take 48 shots in a game."

Popovich's words made the reporter laugh.

That statement was very true. Since Popovich took office, it's rare for a player to take 30 shots, let alone nearly 50.

And from his tone, you could also feel that he had already let go of Tang Tian's departure, and was instead genuinely happy for his disciple.

Leaving and becoming stronger isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Popovich saw it that way, but Holt was depressed.

Tang Tian's performance, especially his playing style, sells a lot of tickets. If he had stayed with the Spurs, he would have been a money-printing machine!

Now, he can only watch the Pelicans make a lot of money.

The feeling of something that once belonged to you becoming someone else's is really too painful.

After the games on this day ended, the 2013-2014 NBA regular season officially came to an end.

The Pelicans also finished their regular season journey, ultimately ranking sixth in the West.

Tang Tian played 69 games in the season, averaging 32.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.7 blocks, with a shooting percentage of 47% and a three-point percentage of 44%.

Because he focused on scoring in the second half of the season, his defensive stats declined slightly, but his overall stats were still very impressive.

Besides Tang Tian, Davis also averaged 17.3 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks for the Pelicans, with his blocks being the most in the league, making him the season's block leader.

As for the other core rotation players, Holiday averaged 14.5 points and 7.7 assists, Anderson 14.3 points and 4.5 rebounds, Gordon 13.8 points, Morrow 8.7 points, Reggie Evans averaged 11.8 rebounds, and Whiteside averaged 2.1 blocks.

This ranking and performance have shocked many experts from the beginning of the season.

At the end of the season, the top eight teams in the East and West were also finalized.

In the East, the Heat were ranked first with 59 wins, followed by the Pacers with 56 wins, and the Bulls were third with 49 wins.

Besides the top three, the remaining 4-8 were the Raptors, Nets, Wizards, Bobcats, and Hawks in that order.

Walker finally fulfilled what he said at the hard training camp, leading the Bobcats to the playoffs.

This was also their first time since the Gerald Wallace era.

It is worth mentioning that the Eastern Conference's record has been weak, with the eighth-ranked Hawks having a record of 38 wins and 44 losses, a winning percentage of less than 50%.

Besides the Heat and Pacers, the other teams in the East had somewhat dismal records.

But the West was the opposite; it was the most competitive it had been in recent years.

A total of 9 teams had more than 50 wins!