NOVPUBChapter 818: I love you Chapter 818: I love you At the start of the fourth quarter, Yu Fei’s individual ability burst forth once more, helping his team close the gap to 9 points, but soon, the Lakers’ barrage of three-pointers extinguished the Seattleites’ hopes of taking a 3-1 lead at home.
With four minutes left in the game, James dished it to Kobe, who forcefully pulled up for a three-pointer, extending the lead to 19 points.
The Supersonics’ chances of winning vanished.
They called a timeout, and Coach Lu asked Yu Fei if he wanted to stay on the court to reach 60 points.
At that time, Yu Fei had already scored 59 points.
Yu Fei smiled profoundly, “I want to rest.”
So Coach Lu subbed out Yu Fei, and the game entered garbage time.
...
Durant also left the game, and although his performance was not as lamentable as Yu Fei’s, he still tallied 24 points and 8 rebounds.
For a third-year star, that was already impressive.
But it was not enough to help the team win.
That would torment him.
He wanted to know why, even when he gave it his all, it felt like punching a cushion.
At no point did Durant feel like he was carrying the team forward like Yu Fei did in the first half. Instead, it was the second half’s utter defeat that made him feel as though he had disrupted Yu Fei’s rhythm, placing on him the dual burden of attacking and organizing the offense, which led to a less effective offensive push in the second half.
In that moment, Durant realized just how greatly the lack of a strong ball-handler to share ball-handling duties with Yu Fei affected them.
If only Brandon were here.
Durant had never thought he would miss Roy.
But now, he missed him tremendously.
Then he glanced at Yu Fei.
The other was composed, showing no sign of dejection even as he faced a hollow 59-point game.
Durant understood Yu Fei’s feelings in his own way.
As someone who played a perfect game yet lost, he wouldn’t be blamed.
Durant could already foresee how the media would lambaste those who had held Yu Fei back.
They might harbor resentment, but honestly, who wouldn’t feel sympathy for Yu Fei after watching this game?
They had no excuses.
In the final four minutes of garbage time, the Lakers continued to dominate the Supersonics.
Eventually, the 19-point deficit ballooned to 26 within four minutes.
After being thrashed by the Supersonics in the previous game, the Lakers returned the favor with a thrashing of their own on the road, seizing control of the series for themselves.
They had home-court advantage once again.
“Whistle!!!”
Dick Bavita blew the final whistle, and this invisible guardian of the OK Dynasty was still a lucky charm for the purple and gold after eight years.
“I think, for the Supersonics, what’s worse than the huge defeat tonight is that the Lakers have finally found their best style of play,” said Jeff Van Gundy, who usually sided with the Supersonics, worriedly, “Leaving the attacking chances to Kobe, LeBron only needs to break through, pass the ball, activate the shooters, then defend with all his might—such Lakers seem unbeatable!”
“Yes, as long as LeBron can suppress his urge to be the main star on the court,” echoed Mark Jackson, “I think the Lakers are invincible.”
The game was over, and the series was tied at 2-2.
The Lakers returned from the brink of disaster to square one.
They were in high spirits, had the home-court advantage, a full roster, and were in formidable form, appearing unbeatable.
LeBron James glanced at his stats; tonight, he had 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 13 assists.
And Kobe had 39 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists.
They had conquered the Supersonics, taking the initiative back into their own hands.
Was that enough?
The doubts in James’ mind were growing larger. As he walked to the sidelines and reporters asked how he viewed his average scoring in the Western Conference Finals being the lowest of his career, he responded like the epitome of a selfless team basketball player, “I’m not a person who plays for stats, winning is what matters most.”
But a victory with stats would surely be sweeter.
(1) Before Dick Bavita orchestrated the 2002 Western Conference Finals Game 6, he had already done so in the 2000 Western Conference Finals Game 7. That year, the free throw comparison between the Lakers and the Trail Blazers in the game 7 was 37 to 16, which wasn’t as exaggerated as the 27 free throws given to the Lakers in the last quarter of G6 two years later to ensure a game 7 against the Kings.
