Chapter 555 Finale Battle (1)

After arriving in New Orleans, the Cavaliers held a public training session as usual.

And unlike the previous few games, this time the Cavaliers allowed reporters to interview after the training session!

The reporters were very excited to hear this news, and James, Whiteside, and Lue were swarmed by them.

Kyrie Irving was a bit embarrassed. He finished training a little later and wanted to be interviewed, but found that no one paid attention to him, so he went back to the locker room by himself.

In fact, since James came to the Cavaliers two years ago, the media's attention to him has been decreasing, and now he is almost dispensable.

"Why is the team accepting interviews today? Is it because this might be the last game?"

A young and energetic intern reporter from Fox Sports was the first to grab the opportunity to ask a question, directly addressing James.

"..."

After James was silent for a while, the reporter was quickly pushed out by others.

Causing trouble also depends on the occasion. This intern reporter was obviously still a bit inexperienced.

"Are you confident that the team will win tonight?"

A reporter from TNT then asked a question, which was much more gentle.

"Yes, we have always maintained our confidence. I know tonight's game will be difficult, but we are confident."

James replied.

"I believe in my teammates, I believe in them."

After he finished speaking, he added another sentence.

This sentence seemed to be influenced by what Jones said on the plane, and it also seemed to be addressed to himself.

"We will reverse the series from 1-3. We almost did it last year, and now we will do it. It's not a problem at all."

Whiteside was also asked a similar question, but his answer was much more aggressive than James'.

And he had a loud voice, so James could hear him.

This time he wasn't angry, just smiled helplessly.

Being tricked, after experiencing it so many times, he seemed to have become accustomed to it.

"Damn, do you even have any shame? Don't you remember how you barely tied it 3-3 last year? Do you think all the fans in the world are idiots?"

"Hassan 'My Brain Was Squeezed by a Door' Whiteside."

"I suddenly understand why the Pelicans lost to the Warriors. This Whiteside is really uncoachable!"

"And yet the Cavaliers' management gave him a maximum salary contract! And there are still 3 years left on that contract!"

"Feeling sorry for LeBron, the bad teammates aren't just on the court, but also in the front office…"

"King James, leave Cleveland! There's no hope here!"

"What are you talking about! The game hasn't ended yet. My King won't give up easily. Stop spreading rumors. Since my King chose to come back, he will never leave again! Cleveland championship!"

"Come on, the counterattack starts from this game. The first 1-3 comeback in the Finals, my King will be deified!"

…

After the Cavaliers' pre-game interview was reported, it sparked another wave of debate among fans on social media.

"Honey, should I wear my wedding ring?"

Before leaving for the game that night, Olsen asked Tang Tian.

The Pelicans had already reached match point, which meant they could win the championship at any time, including tonight's home game.

If they won the championship, she would definitely bring her two sons onto the court, and the wedding ring would be essential then.

"Wear it."

Tang Tian replied with a smile, just in case.

But after he said that, he looked at Olsen.

This scene, no matter how he looked at it, seemed like they were setting up a flag?

On the evening of June 12th, the fifth game of the Finals officially kicked off at the New Orleans Arena.

The championship could be decided tonight, and the game was watched by the whole world.

According to the real-time ratings released by ESPN, before the game even started, the global ratings had already broken a new record.

Commentators from various countries had also taken their places in the broadcast booths.

It's worth noting that ESPN, which bought the playoff broadcast rights this year, also invited the TNT Big Three to the studio for a joint live broadcast tonight.

It seemed that ESPN was optimistic that the Pelicans would win the championship at home tonight.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the New Orleans Arena. Next, let us welcome the Pelicans players with the warmest cheers!"

The entrance ceremony started soon. After a brief introduction of the visiting team's starters, the lights in the arena dimmed, and the host raised his voice and shouted.

"Number 23, Anthony~ Davis!"

"Number 5, Montrezl~ Harrell!"

"Number 11, Jrue~ Holiday!"

"Number 1, Trevor~ Ariza!"

…

With the host's high-decibel shouts, the Pelicans' starters took the court one by one.

As in the previous three games, neither side adjusted their lineup.

"Ladies and gentlemen, now let us welcome our number 31, Tang~~ Tian!! with the warmest applause and cheers!"

The host was also in a very high mood tonight, dragging out the last syllable of his shout to completely mobilize the atmosphere in the arena.

The cheers from the crowd were deafening.

Everything indicated that the Pelicans would win the game tonight and successfully defend their title.

After the opening ceremony, the starters of both sides took the court one after another.

James stood in the half court, looking at Tang Tian with a complex and changing expression. In the end, he put his mouthguard in his mouth and turned it into a determined look.

"Beep!"

With the referee's whistle, Whiteside tapped the ball back to the Cavaliers' half court, officially kicking off the fifth game of the Finals.

James took the ball from Irving in the front court and drove straight to the basket.

He was very fast, and Davis' help defense didn't catch up.

"Bang!"

James held his breath, shook off Ariza, and slammed the ball into the basket with one hand.

His physical condition looked great tonight.

Lue was excited on the bench. With James in this state, the Cavaliers were sure to win tonight!

During the third game of the series, Lue had bluntly stated during a timeout that Davis would not continue his hot streak, and was later slapped in the face.

But this time his hunch was right.

In a game where they would be eliminated if they didn't win, James was like he was burning himself, playing at his absolute peak.

Although Tang Tian and Davis were both in good shape, James exploded for 17 points and 3 assists in the first quarter, helping the Cavaliers lead the Pelicans 35-26.

And in the second quarter, perhaps influenced by James' state, "Knife-Wielding Guard" J.R. Smith was online, frequently scoring with both drives and shots during the bench rotation, leading the team to extend the point difference to more than 15 points.

Desperate soldiers are bound to win, and these four words were best interpreted on the Cavaliers tonight.

And this situation continued in the third quarter.

Although Tang Tian had a personal scoring burst and once led the team to close the point difference to single digits, James stood up very stubbornly and widened the point difference again.

At the end of the third quarter, the Cavaliers led the Pelicans by as much as 15 points, 95-80.

Tang Tian scored 30 points in three quarters, and Davis also had 16 points.

But James had 37 points on the Cavaliers' side alone, plus J.R. Smith's 17 points, which was completely different from the past few games.

They really had a good chance of winning this game now.

Olsen clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest on the sidelines, nervously turning her head to look at the Pelicans' bench.

Stevens was making tactical deployments for the fourth quarter, and Tang Tian was listening from the outside in his training suit, and it seemed that he would not be on the court at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

As she learned more about Chinese culture, as Tang Tian joked to her, she felt that it was becoming more and more profound.

For example, the theory of character, she now felt that saying she would wear her wedding ring in advance was ruining Tang Tian's luck.

But if Tang Tian knew, he would definitely pat her head and call her a silly girl.

The media, fans, and even the commentators on the sidelines, as well as Jordan before, were all praising the Pelicans.

If there really was a theory of character, it wasn't just her relationship.

"The Cavaliers deserve a victory tonight."

Shaquille O'Neal said in the commentary booth.

His words drew surprised looks from Barkley and Smith.

Although the Cavaliers were indeed playing very well tonight, this Tang Tian supporter had changed his nature.

"LeBron is in amazing shape tonight, and so is J.R. Smith. He and the Cavaliers will continue to maintain that state in the fourth quarter."

But O'Neal's next words made Barkley and Smith laugh wildly.

Breen and Miller didn't react for a moment.

"He's helping the Pelicans."

Smith's next words woke them up.

It turned out that O'Neal was reverse-praising the Cavaliers.

The people in the commentary booth were talking eloquently, and at this moment, the fourth quarter of the game continued to kick off.

Both sides had two main players with three substitutes.

The closer it got to the critical moment, the more the rotations on both sides were compressed.

On the Cavaliers' side, James and Whiteside were on the court, plus Tristan Thompson, Dellavedova, and J.R. Smith.

On the Pelicans' side, Davis and Ariza were on the court, plus David West, Louis Williams, and Brogdon.

One point worth noting was that Davis was playing at the five position at this time, and he and Whiteside, two former teammates, were directly matched up.

The Cavaliers attacked first at the beginning of the fourth quarter, and James' breakthrough in the front court caused Davis to foul on help defense.

He continued his hot streak and made both free throws.

His personal score came to 39 points, and the Cavaliers also extended their lead to 17 points, making the possibility of bringing the game back to Cleveland a little more likely.

There was a commotion on the sidelines.

Many people unconsciously looked towards the Pelicans' half court, towards Tang Tian.

If they continued to play at this pace, the game was likely to be ruined at the beginning of the fourth quarter, and the team really needed Tang Tian at this time.

Stevens stood on the sidelines with his arms crossed, his brows slightly furrowed, but he didn't mean to sub Tang Tian in.

The Pelicans' wave of offense in the front court failed to score, and when they turned around, James passed to Whiteside, who knocked Davis away and scored with a two-handed dunk.

After he dunked, he roared at Davis.

Because Nikola Jokic couldn't play in the Finals due to injury, he could only turn his venting target to his former partner, Davis.

The point difference had reached 19 points.

The game was very close to collapsing.

Stevens looked back at Tang Tian, still not signaling him to come on.

The Pelicans' wave of offense in the front court still failed to score, and there was already a commotion on the sidelines.

"We want Tang, we want Tang!"

Some fans even started shouting.

They could lose, but not like this, at least not when Tang Tian wasn't on the court.

Stevens finally moved, but he didn't turn around and call Tang Tian, but looked at the timer and shouted at Davis, who was retreating.

"Do something, I need you!"

Davis was already a little annoyed by Whiteside's roar, and with Stevens' shout, the killing intent in his eyes came out.

In the Cavaliers' offense, James' breakthrough forced the Pelicans to shrink, and he passed to Smith on the outside.

Smith had been hot in the first half, repeatedly performing contested shots, and this ball might be his best chance of the game.

"Clang!"

But with a streaky player, you never knew if his shot would go in, because that might have nothing to do with how good the opportunity was.

Smith failed to seize this great opportunity, and the basketball hit the rim and bounced out.

At this moment, Whiteside leaped up and grabbed the offensive rebound with a fierce grab.

After losing weight, his confrontation had become weaker, but his bounce speed had become faster.

He took the offensive rebound, dribbled once, and was about to get up and dunk.

But Davis stood his ground on this play, and his dunk after the confrontation turned into a layup.

It was this change that gave Davis a chance, and Davis stretched out his long arm.

"Bang!"

He slapped the ball back!

And the ball that was blocked landed right in Louis Williams' hands!

Change of possession!

There was a burst of cheers at the scene, and this block was a great morale booster!

Stevens also waved his fist vigorously.

That's what he wanted!

Williams took the ball and launched a fast break, showing off his ball-handling skills in the process, getting past Dellavedova and scoring a layup, while also drawing a foul on the latter.

The cheers at the scene continued.

They had finally survived on the verge of collapse!

Williams made the free throw, and the point difference returned to 16 points.

James' breakthrough encountered a double team, and he passed to Thompson, who dribbled once and was about to bank a shot.

But the moment he shot, a long arm crossed over his head.

"Bang!"

A chase-down block!

It was Davis again!

Successive blocks!

And he also took down the defensive rebound after the block!

The Cavaliers had failed to score on two consecutive possessions.

The fans on the sidelines were completely hyped.

Since playing his career representative work in the third game, Davis' performance had become more and more stable.

Stevens' furrowed brows relaxed, and his expression returned to calm.

He was gambling.

In the previous three-plus quarters, Tang Tian and James had not rested for a minute. If they continued to play like this, even if they could hold on, it would affect their shooting percentage in the decisive moment.

So even if the fans were booing, he held back.

He almost couldn't hold back when the point difference reached 19 points, but fortunately Davis was competitive enough.

In the Pelicans' frontcourt set offense, Lue shouted on the sidelines, and the Cavaliers gave a lot of defensive intensity.

Seeing that the offense was about to fail again, Holiday finally passed the ball to Davis.

Davis caught the ball and made a fake shot, deceiving Whiteside, and then dribbled to the inside.

He was, after all, a power forward, and his flexibility was much stronger than Whiteside's.

Whiteside chased from behind and jumped up to block Davis the moment he shot.

He had been blocked before, and he was going to retaliate!

But Davis suddenly accelerated and exploded, and the original layup turned into a dunk.

"Pa!"

"Boom!"

Whiteside's block hit Davis' arm, and Davis dunked the ball into the basket with both hands.

An And-1!

Whistles were constantly heard at the scene.

Davis had completely suppressed Whiteside with blocks and an And-1!

Davis had a free throw opportunity.

At this moment, Stevens turned around and called for Tang Tian.

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