Chapter 1 The Beginning

"Kawhi is awesome! 55 points, only 7 points less than Tang's 62! The most important thing is he hit the game-winner against the Pelicans! A new king is crowned!"

"Before, I only thought Antetokounmpo had the strength to challenge Tang for the league's top spot, but now Leonard has to be added to that list!"

"The Spurs' chance has come. Winning this game isn't just about winning a game. Their morale is high, and they have a chance to win the next one!"

"This is the Spurs' true strength! They deserve a Western Conference Finals spot!"

"With Leonard in this kind of form, I think it's highly likely that the Spurs will reverse the series against the Pelicans and beat the Lakers this year!"

"So you think the Pelicans have lost? Are you misunderstanding that man's strength?" This was a comment from a Godfather fan.

"Am I seeing things? Is that Little Shuai? He's speaking up for Tang Tian?"

"Could it be that his account was hacked! The probability of that happening is about the same as the sun rising in the west!"

"I think Little Shuai has been defeated. Come on, Little Shuai! The doors of New Orleans are always open to you! (￣▽￣)~*"

……

After the game, Spurs fans were ecstatic once again on social media.

And they had more confidence in their team than ever before.

Leonard had given them that confidence.

Or, to put it another way, the endless feeling of regret that arose from Holt letting Tang Tian go now finally had a chance to be smoothed over.

Because based on this game alone, Leonard wasn't worse than Tang Tian! Even better!

As for the next game? Who knows what might happen!

With a 3-2 lead, the Pelicans set off for New Orleans the next day.

Although the team's morale seemed good, Stevens still scheduled a routine practice for that afternoon.

The training wasn't too intense, but Stevens wanted the players to maintain this state.

The next game was still their series point, but the situation was obviously different from the last game.

If they still couldn't win, then the two sides would head to a Game 7, and Game 7 would be played in San Antonio.

At that time, the Spurs, playing at home, would obviously have a better chance of advancing.

However, before the training session began, Stevens announced some good news.

Gasol, who had previously sprained his ankle, was finally able to return to play.

"Coach, this is like hearing Marilyn Monroe tell me she loves me."

Carter quipped after hearing the news.

But this quip was very genuine.

Gasol hadn't been able to play in the past few games, and the Pelicans' inside game had been devastated. Now, this situation could finally come to an end.

This boosted the Pelicans' morale.

Davis paid special attention to Tang Tian's mood during training.

When he saw that Tang Tian didn't have the same mood as the previous game, he felt relieved.

Although he didn't know why he had felt that way in the last game, Tang Tian's mood really felt like a barometer for the game.

As he was thinking, Tang Tian walked over to him and touched his head.

"Perform well in the next game."

Davis nodded, he was already used to Tang Tian's habit.

After touching him, Tang Tian ran to other players.

Touching here and touching there, especially tiptoeing to touch Gasol, Davis couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.

Every NBA player has some incredible quirks.

Some more common ones, like Curry's pre-game tunnel three-pointers, or Bill Russell inducing vomiting before games to relieve pressure, are well known.

Some weirder ones, like Billups believing that his mother's burgers would make him play well, so he would have his mother make them for him before every important game.

There were even more absurd ones, like Terry wearing the opposing team's shorts to sleep before every game, supposedly to familiarize himself with the opponent the next day.

Although Tang Tian's quirk wasn't as extreme as Terry's, it was still really weird.

And after training with Duncan for the past two years, he could guess that this was mostly derived from Duncan.

He just didn't understand why Tang Tian was particularly fond of doing this this year.

Could it really be as Brogdon had been propagating in the team, that Tang Tian had Eastern magic?

The next evening, the sixth game of the Pelicans-Spurs series kicked off in New Orleans.

The New Orleans arena was packed, and the fans' enthusiasm was higher than at any other time in the series.

Compared to playing on the road, they obviously preferred to see the team eliminate their opponents at home.

And when Gasol warmed up with the other players before the game, they became even more excited.

On the other side, Popovich frowned after seeing this scene.

The Pelicans were doing an excellent job of maintaining secrecy, and they couldn't get any news before the game.

Now that Gasol looked like he could play tonight, it was definitely not good news for them.

He also called over Hammon and Borrego to temporarily adjust the starting lineup.

After the opening ceremony, the two teams' starters were gradually announced.

The Spurs once again switched back to the starting lineup from the first game, with Baynes as the team's starting center.

For the Pelicans, Gasol returned to the starting lineup as the starting center.

When he came out, the fans' and Carter's reaction was the same, the cheers were unprecedentedly enthusiastic.

Looking at Gasol, they really felt like they were seeing Marilyn Monroe, the most beautiful goddess in the hearts of Americans.

Amidst the fans' cheers, the game started quickly.

Gasol secured the first offensive opportunity for the Pelicans.

After the Pelicans advanced to the frontcourt, Gasol pulled out to the three-point line, and Davis posted up in the low post.

Davis had been in great form in this series, and Stevens had clearly increased his tactical low post opportunities.

Davis didn't disappoint, reproducing Duncan-esque footwork in the low post, turning around and banking in a shot, scoring the first points for the Pelicans.

Back on the other end, the Spurs ran a hammer play, with Leonard driving to the basket, but Gasol collapsed to the basket, providing the contest while using his long arms to interfere.

Compared to Davis, Gasol's presence was obviously much more solid, and Leonard's shot after the contest failed to go in.

Gasol secured the defensive rebound.

Cheers erupted from the crowd, as expected, with or without Gasol, the Pelicans' protection of the rim wasn't on the same level.

Davis once again faced a double team in the frontcourt, he passed it out in time, and Tang Tian caught the ball and leaned back slightly for a fadeaway jumper at the free throw line, the ball went in smoothly.

The Pelicans had a 4-0 lead.

George tried to respond with a three-pointer after running off-ball in the frontcourt, but Tang Tian fought through the screen to provide interference, and the ball hit the rim and bounced out.

Gasol boxed out Baynes, and Davis secured the defensive rebound.

The Pelicans immediately launched a fast break, with Brogdon catching the ball in the frontcourt and scoring a layup.

6-0!

The Pelicans started the game with an even better performance than the last game.

Gasol's return was indispensable!

Leonard wanted to step up at a crucial moment, but Gasol and Davis's collapse forced him to choose to shoot.

But compared to the confident, crazy performance in the last game, his form had clearly declined, and the ball still didn't go in after being released!

And after Gasol secured the defensive rebound, he threw a long pass directly, and Tang Tian caught the ball and finished with a one-man fast break dunk, directly igniting the New Orleans arena.

8-0!

The Pelicans had been holding their breath, this was a set of Pegasus Meteor Fists aimed at the Spurs from the start.

Popovich was forced to call a timeout.

Spurs fans were also very helpless watching, after the last game, their expectations for the team were higher than ever before.

But the facts proved that their ideals were very full, but reality was very skinny.