Champions Creed

Chapter 280 279: He is about to respond to Vince Carter (ask for monthly votes!)
The All-Star Slam Dunk Contest in February 2000 made Vince Carter famous.

There are not many dunk contests that can be called "great" in the entire history of the NBA, but even among those that can be called great, Vince Carter's dunk contest would probably rank in the top three.

That night, Toronto's UFO made the host shout "Everyone else can go home" with just his first dunk. After the competition, Carter successfully established himself as one of the best dunkers in history.

But Vince Carter is not satisfied with being just a great dunker.

He himself said at the end of last season: "Nice dunks will come and go, and the truly great players should learn to do other things besides dunking."

In fact, Carter already knew a lot at that time, but as a modern star guard, his long-range shooting was still a little poor.

Carter basically could not shoot three-pointers in his rookie season. His three-point shooting percentage improved in his sophomore season, but his output was still not high enough, with only 95 three-pointers in a single season.

After playing against Carter, Dan Maalley was amazed at his talent and told the media: "He has an excellent body that is rarely seen in history. If he can also shoot from long distance, he will be invincible and reach a whole new level."

So this season, Vince Carter had a 41% three-point shooting percentage, his three-point shooting exceeded 27.8 for the first time in his career, and he averaged a career-high points per game.

Moreover, he led the team to Roger.

Dan Maalley's judgment was correct. After mastering long-range shooting, Vince Carter has reached a whole new level.

The Toronto Raptors, a team that did not exist when Roger entered the league, has been put on the right track by Carter.

This is another new generation star who has challenged Roger, following Ray Allen and AI last season and McGrady this season.

Roger knew that the Raptors were not as easy to deal with as the Magic, because they had a strict defense system like a clock under the leadership of coach Butch Carter, and better inside defensive players.

In the playoffs, teams with excellent defense are often more difficult to deal with than teams with excellent offense.

Before the first game of the series, when Roger held up the MVP trophy at home, the Raptors players in the shadows were ready.

Especially the UFO, which is used to looking down on everything from the air, has already started its attack mode in advance.

As expected, the Hawks ran into trouble as soon as the first game of the Eastern Conference semifinals started.

Vince Carter scored 10 points in the first quarter. His breakthrough was very fast. Facing Ben's rim protection, he could always use various postures in the air to dodge the defense and score.

In the second quarter, the Raptors' outside shooters also started to fire.

Dell Curry, Chris Charles and Alvin Williams all have reliable shooting abilities. In this era of weak three-point shooting, the Raptors' three-point shooting resources are definitely quite good.

While Carter and the shooters stabilized the offense, the Raptors also played very serious defense.

Although Charles Oakley is about to retire, the defensive passion he injected into the team really affects everyone.

The Raptors will use fierce double-teaming and aggressive confrontation to wear down the opponent's touch.

At the end of the first half, the Toronto Raptors led by 7 points!
But all Eagles fans believe that Roger will not let anyone tarnish his MVP night.

In the second half, Roger and Pierce scored many superstar goals under tight defense. Carter was still assisted by God, but under the double firepower of Roger and Pierce, Canada was outnumbered and was reversed by the Eagles and finally defeated.

Pierce scored 21 points, Roger scored 37 points, and Carter performed extremely well and scored 42 points, but the Raptors lost by 6 points.

Vince Carter's performance impressed everyone. A player who can score 40+ points against the Hawks in a single game is not an ordinary person. In the regular season, Carter could only score 36 points at most in the game against the Hawks. In the playoffs, Carter's performance was perfect.

Therefore, although he lost the game, he still became a hot topic that the media rushed to interview.

However, at the press conference, a reporter's question almost spoiled the outcome of the next game: "Vince, as we all know, Roger may be the most vindictive player in the league. Are you worried that he will respond with 40 points in the next game?"

Carter smiled and said, "I know Roger is strong, but 40 points is not a turn-based game where you can use skills by clicking the mouse, man."

Then Carter was taught a lesson that for Roger, 40 points was not a problem as long as he wanted to respond to you.

The second game was a one-sided victory. Vince Carter was no longer magical, but Roger returned the favor by scoring 42 points on Carter. The Hawks eventually won the game with an 18-point advantage.

The total score is 2 to 0.

After the foreplay with the Magic in the first round, the Hawks have clearly entered a state of ready to fight.

Roger also demonstrated his strength as a superstar.

The excitement of this round of games far exceeded people's expectations. Carter and Roger's performances of 40+ points one after another were an absolute visual feast for the fans.

However, Roger did not think that this was a deliberate response to Carter after the end of G2: "Vince and his team are very tough, and I just want to defeat them."

The third game was held in Toronto, a place that no player in the league wanted to go.

After all, you need to cross borders, so the journey will become more troublesome.

After checking into the hotel, the tired Roger turned on the TV as usual.

He doesn't like the room to be too quiet. Even when he's not watching TV, he wants some noise in the room.
ESPN's "SportsCenter" is on the air. It is a comprehensive sports program, not a basketball program.

But because the Super Bowl is over and the Baseball World Series has not yet begun, the NBA playoffs are the most watched sporting event in North America right now.

So during this period, the "Sports Center" program has basically been talking about the NBA playoffs.

The Lakers took up the most space among them.

"The Los Angeles Lakers are having their most dominant playoff run since last season's Atlanta Hawks, and so far they are undefeated in the playoffs and winning every game by double digits.

The advantages of the big3 were fully demonstrated in the playoffs, and even the powerful Sacramento Kings lost three consecutive games by double-digit points.

To be exact, the Kings only had one loss by less than 20 points.

In the first game, Shaq scored 44 points, 17 rebounds and 7 blocks, and won by 23 points.

In the second game, Shaq continued to wreak havoc, scoring 43+20+3 and winning by 12 points.

In the just-concluded Game 36, Kobe once again played the role of a road silencer, scoring 21 points. Grant Hill scored 5+8+22 without saying a word, and the Lakers won by points.

Again, this is a very strong Sacramento Kings team. They are at least a 55-win team, just three wins less than San Antonio.

But in front of the Lakers, the Kings looked like they only had 35 wins.

The Lakers are approaching the finals with an extremely terrifying attitude. I think this year, there will not be another unsurprising 4-0 sweep in the finals.

In fact, Kobe Bryant can't wait to play in the finals. Let's listen to his interview after G3. "

Then the TV screen cut to the recording of Kobe being interviewed yesterday. The guy who averaged 8.5 more points on the road than at home pointed at the camera.

"These wins don't mean anything. I play for the championship, not for setting records or anything like that. I just want to get to the finals as soon as possible. Don't worry, we won't dawdle with some 40-win teams like the Atlanta Hawks did."

Roger, who was packing his luggage, was listening to the news and couldn't wait to fly to Los Angeles to start the finals with the Lakers.

Roger admits that these new generations are full of energy.

McGrady was able to win a game in the first round, and Vince Carter was able to score 42 points in a single game in the second round.

Their talent and ability are not enough to win the series, but they are enough to cause trouble for the Hawks.

So the Hawks' dominance in the playoffs this year does not seem as exaggerated as last season.

But the Eagles are winning after all, and when will it be the turn of No. 8 to make decisions?

Roger is now eager to go to the finals as soon as possible. This Lakers team may be the strongest finals opponent Roger has ever encountered in his career.

Previously, Roger's strongest opponents in the playoffs generally appeared in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The finals was more like a ceremony, a ceremony to celebrate Roger's rise to the top.

But this year, Roger will face a challenge in the finals.

He can't wait any longer and is excited about facing stronger opponents.

Not everyone is like Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki, who always meet their destined benefactor LeBron James.

Roger doesn't mind that his opponent in the finals is very strong. In fact, he will be happy for defeating the strong opponent and winning the championship.

Since Kobe is so anxious to go to the finals to be a background board, let him do it!
Roger no longer wanted to waste time on any other opponents.

Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals was being played at the Air Canada Center. Vince Carter walked out of the player tunnel and looked toward the stands. His No. 15 jersey was like a flag, floating in the purple ocean.

2-0, in the eyes of most people, it is difficult for the Toronto Raptors to change anything. Roger's 42 points in the last game seemed to be a warning to Carter: Don't take risks.

However, the fans here did not lose their enthusiasm for the game. Many people shouted almost crazily the moment Carter came on the court: "Vince, we believe in you! Kill them, drive them out of Toronto!"

Although Carter is an American, his influence on Canadian basketball is profound.

When the Vancouver Grizzlies were still being used as punching bags, it was Vince Carter who gave Canadian fans the right to taste victory in the NBA.

Everyone here loves him and worships him unconditionally.

Watching this scene, Carter got goose bumps all over his body. Which boy has not thought of himself as a hero, proudly walking onto the court?
Carter started shooting to warm up amid the loud cheers. Next to him, Dell Curry's eldest son Stephen was also shooting.

He always practices his shooting with NBA players before the game, but Curry has been having trouble with his shooting recently.

Because he was too skinny, Stephen Curry shot from the waist. Although it was awkward, it was still accurate.

But now, Stephen Curry is changing his shooting form because his father told him that if he didn't change his shooting form, he wouldn't be able to play college basketball.

Changing your shooting posture is a very painful thing. You have to overturn all your previous experience and muscle memory, which is equivalent to learning to walk all over again.

Stephen Curry, who used to have good accuracy, now can hardly make shots outside the three-second zone, and this situation has been going on for a long time.

But he still persevered and would pick up a basketball to practice whenever he had the chance.

Carter thought this kid was interesting. Dell Curry was not a superstar, but the money he earned in his career was enough to make Stephen Curry live a carefree life.

There are very few "second-generation basketball players" who play basketball so hard. After all, people who have been born in wealthy families are naturally lacking in hunger.

So Carter leaned over and asked jokingly, "Stephen, I'm surprised you haven't given up yet."

"I almost gave up basketball, Vince. I almost did. For a while I kept asking myself, why do I play basketball? I have an unparalleled dunk, why do I still practice jump shots?"

"What kept you going?"

"My mother told me that I have a choice. If I feel that these efforts are meaningless, then stop. But I think my efforts are meaningful. I love basketball, I want to play in the NCAA, and I want to enter the NBA like my father. Of course, the most important thing is that I want to win. Dunking alone can't make me win. This is the meaning. What about you, Vince? Now people say you are finished, what is the meaning of your persistence?"

Carter was a little stunned. Stephen Curry's thin body hid unimaginable strength, and his desire to win was masked by his harmless appearance.

Carter looked back at the stands, at the fans wearing his jerseys and screaming wildly in the stands.

He thought back to the nights he spent in the gym honing his jump shot.

The whole world is talking about his dunks, but he doesn't want to be confined to dunks.

He wants to be a real superstar.

Carter was a little depressed at first because of the 2-0 deficit. But looking at the fans and Stephen Curry, Carter took a deep breath and put on the purple headband: "That's right, Stephen, everything we do is meaningful. For me, the meaning of this game is to protect this place and do my duty!"

"Vince, you're going to make it."

"You too, Stephen."

The two generations of dunk kings high-fived each other, passing on strength to each other.

Trailing 2-0, Vince Carter put aside all his negative emotions and prepared to give it his all. In fact, he was extremely strong tonight.

On the Raptors' first attack, Carter tried to shoot a three-pointer.

The basketball went into the net accurately. Vince Carter looked at the crowded stands and the fans cheering for him, his brows furrowed.

Come on, try to take a piece of meat from the strongest team in the world!
This three-pointer did not attract much attention, so soon, the second three-pointer followed.

This time, Carter cut through the off-ball screen set by Oakley. Ben saw Oakley move stealthily and even raised his elbow when blocking.

He knew this man too well. After all, all these instincts in David were taught by Oakley.

He also reminded everyone to pay attention to Oakley's dirty pick-and-roll, but it didn't seem to work.

Pippen failed to squeeze through the screen set by Oakley in the first time, and Carter received the ball and got a fleeting opportunity to shoot.

By the time Pippen blocked the ball, the basketball had already flown out of Carter's fingers.

The basketball once again went through the net, and Carter had already made two three-pointers!

Scott Pippen's frustration grew, and the feeling of getting older became more and more obvious in the playoffs.

If he had been a little bit faster on that shot, he would have been able to successfully block it.

For men, they always like to talk about "what ifs" after something fails.

If I had just been a little taller.

If I had been a little tougher.

If I had held it in a little longer
But all of this will do nothing except annoy you.

After scoring the goal, Carter clapped his hands, as if to remind the whole team, and also as if to tell the Eagles: "Go for it! It's not over yet!"

Carter's fighting spirit was not completely wiped out like his distant relative McGrady's. Roger's 43 points in the last game did not make him despair.

Carter had a very bold idea in his mind at this time: Roger responded to me with 42 points in the last game, so why can't I respond to him again! ?
Pippen could see that Carter had an excellent three-point shooting touch today, so he tried to press Carter as hard as possible in the subsequent games and did not give him any chances to shoot three-pointers.

But Carter took the opportunity to break through Pippen several times and made three of four shots from mid-range!

At the end of the first quarter, the Raptors were still trailing by 3 points.

Vince Carter controlled the ball and took over the offense. Bruce Bowen, who was responsible for defending Carter, stood outside the three-point line with his arms open. Because there was little time left in the game, Carter had no chance to break through and could only choose to shoot a three-pointer.

Bowen only needs to stay on the three-point line to disrupt No. 15.

As a result, Carter suddenly passed the ball two steps away from the three-point line and made a direct jump shot from a very long distance!
Although McGrady and Carter are not related by blood, at that moment Roger felt that they were indeed distant relatives, even their pull-up jump shots were so similar.

Bowen reacted immediately like a startled prey, lunging forward to interfere.

But this long three-pointer still went into the net under the reflection of the red light of the backboard, and Vince Carter tied the score with this unreasonable buzzer-beating shot!

Carter did not get any free throws in the first quarter, but he made 7 of 6 shots, including 3 of 3 three-pointers, and scored 15 points in a single quarter.

Lenny Wilkens knew very well that he could no longer let Carter do whatever he wanted.

He decided to give up an offensive point and sent Pierce to guard Carter in the second quarter.

Competitive sports are so cruel. You may have been in great form a few years ago, but now you are facing the possibility of being eliminated by time. In the playoffs, Scott Pippen can no longer serve as the team's solid first line of defense. This is an ironclad fact.

In addition to experience, Pierce is now better than Pippen in many aspects on the defensive end.

However, Pierce never expected that he would just run into Carter's gun for Pippen.

In the second quarter, the bustling Canada Airline Center seemed to be filled with Carter alone, because his shooting was like practicing alone, and every shot flew into the basket in a perfect rainbow-like arc!
Paul Pierce was running around, trying his best to block Carter's shots, regardless of his physical strength.

At the beginning, Carter would pass the ball out, looking for a better opportunity.

But after hitting his third three-pointer in the second quarter and his sixth three-pointer in the first half, Vince Carter completely let himself go.

He started shooting despite Pierce's interference, and those three-pointers were still hitting!

The game was almost out of control because as Carter kept hitting three-pointers, the score gap kept widening!

Toronto fans saw hope of victory, and the on-site commentator Bob Costa also shook his head: "The defending champions may have to do as Kobe said, and face a tough battle against a 40-win team."

Carter's three-pointer explosion made Paul Pierce have no time to focus on offense in the second quarter. Roger took on the pressure and competed with Carter, but with Carter making too many three-pointers, even Roger couldn't keep up with the score.

42 seconds before the end of the second quarter, Carter dribbled to the left corner. He wanted to break through, but Pierce followed too closely and did not suffer any loss in the confrontation.

Carter was forced to take a step back to the three-point line and then shoot from behind.

This was a very difficult shot because Pierce was in position and pressed very tightly.

But after Carter threw the ball, all the fans in the Canada Line Center raised their arms in advance.

Stephen Curry stood up like everyone else and raised his arms in advance, but no sound came out of his throat.

Until the whole stadium heard the Nets rolling and saw Vince Carter put his hands on both sides of his temples and did his signature motorcycle celebration.

The throats of the fans at the scene were finally unsealed, and Curry cheered almost crazily like everyone around him.

Toronto has become a city that never sleeps and is caught up in the carnival!

Even Bob Costa exclaimed, "The 9th three-pointer, my God, Vince Carter just made 9 three-pointers in the first half of the game, breaking Roger's record of 1997 three-pointers in the first half of the playoffs in 8! Vince Carter took 10 three-pointers in the first half and only missed one! The UFO finally took out his space weapon over Canada!"

People cheered not only because Carter broke the halftime three-point record, but also because the Raptors led by 17 points at halftime!
The Hawks didn't play badly, they played normally. But Carter's fierce firepower made the Hawks
When everyone thought that the defending champions would easily win the game and end the series, Carter slowed them down again!
Vince Carter pulled off the purple headband on his head, pounded his chest, and pointed to the stands.

Stephen Curry in the crowd also pointed at Carter.

Don't think we are just dunkers!
After halftime, when they returned to the locker room, all the players on the Hawks were silent.

Are all the teams with 40 wins playing like this now?!
Roger was also very angry at first, but he remembered that Carter had done the same thing in the 2001 playoffs in the original timeline, competing with AI. However, Carter only made 8 three-pointers in the first half, but now he made 1 more.

After that, AI returned Carter's 5 points in G52 and finally won the series in a tiebreaker.

What about Roger? Like before, like the AI ​​in the original timeline, waiting for the next response to Carter?
No, Roger didn't want to wait a moment.

No one can block his fast track to the finals.

Before the finals, he didn't want to waste any more time on any opponent.

Roger won't wait until the next game, he will respond to Vince Carter right away!

Lenny Wilkens tapped the tactical board: "Paul, keep watching him closely in the second half. Vince's three-point shooting can't last the whole game!"

This arrangement has another meaning: when Paul Pierce devotes himself to defense, the ball must be given to Roger on the offensive end!

(End of this chapter)