Entering April, the NBA regular season has also entered the last month. This is also the time when the competition is the most intense.
The teams at the bottom began to mess up even more crazily, desperately trying to lose and fight for a higher draft pick. If they accidentally win a game, you will definitely see the team manager with a black face.
Those who finish in the top few places have basically determined the home court advantage in the playoffs. At this time, they have to consider their first opponents in the playoffs, especially the first and second places in the East and West. They can try to control the rankings. , pick your opponent in the first round of the playoffs. For example, deliberately losing to a certain team to move them up in the rankings and squeeze out opponents they don't want to face in the first round of the playoffs.
Teams in the middle and upper reaches of the Eastern and Western Conferences are beginning to fight for home court advantage in the playoffs. For example, the fourth and fifth places in the Eastern and Western Conferences are only separated by one place, and the difference in record between them is not very big. However, in the playoffs, the fourth place has one more home court than the fifth place. In this situation where the gap is not large, the teams at the back will inevitably try to catch up and gain a home court advantage in the playoffs; while the teams at the front, in order to maintain the home court advantage in the playoffs, It is also very possible to win more games.
And those teams that are on the edge of the playoff threshold have to work hard in every game. It is possible that if they win one more game, they will enter the playoffs, or if they lose one more game, they will fall out of the playoffs. Depending on the scope of the game, it is even possible that both sides have the same number of wins and losses, and the relationship between wins and losses is also the same. In the end, the division record or the record of the entire Western Conference will determine who can enter the playoffs.
As for the Clippers, they will definitely not make the playoffs, and their own first-round pick was also traded to the Celtics, so there is no point in messing up the team. Whether the current Clippers' performance is good or bad is not very important. They are more like a spoiler.
The Clippers will next face a road trip in the East. They will go to Boston to challenge the Celtics away from home, and then travel to New York to face the Knicks.
…
In Boston, Celtics general manager Dennis found the team's head coach Arnold.
"Coach Arnold, I want to know if we have any plans to rest our players recently?" Dennis asked.
"You guessed it. The next game against the Los Angeles Clippers, I really plan to let several main players take a rest, just like the Spurs, Rockets and Cavaliers did." Coach Arnold continued: "In the regular season At this stage, the physical energy of the players is relatively large, especially the main players. If they can rest for one or two games, it will be good for the players to maintain their health and condition. Moreover, the Clippers also have a Los Angeles Overtime player. Nickname, going to fight them for a few overtimes is a loss-making deal for us."
"No, we can't rest." Dennis said eagerly: "We must win against the Clippers!"
"Why?" Arnold looked puzzled, and he continued: "We are now firmly ranked second in the Eastern Conference, but there is a gap of four games from the first place, which will be difficult to recover in the next games. Furthermore, Come on, the Clippers are a Western Conference team, and the relationship between us will basically not affect our ranking in the Eastern Conference."
"But the Clippers are ranked too high!" Dennis said.
Arnold showed an expression that said, "The Clippers' record is none of my business."
Dennis had no choice but to explain: "We have a pick from the Clippers. A few months ago, this pick had a 10% probability of being the No. 1 pick, but now, this pick has fallen to the lottery. On the edge. If the Clippers continue to win, we will become more passive in this year's draft."
Arnold frowned after hearing this explanation.
According to Arnold's understanding, the level of the next class of rookies is still very good. Several of them are modeled after superstars in the league, which shows that everyone has high hopes for them. Arnold himself also has rookies he likes, so Arnold I also hope to get a relatively high pick in the draft and select a favorite rookie.
"However, I am still worried that too much overtime will bring extra wear and tear to the players and increase the risk of injuries." Arnold said hesitantly.
"Coach Arnold, the Clippers are a team in the Western Conference, so we only have two opportunities to play against the Clippers a year. We have already played once before, and the next game is also our only chance to suppress the Clippers. More important What’s more, we can set an example to other teams in the league and let other teams know that as long as they can win, there is nothing to be afraid of in overtime!”
"Okay, I will let the players go all out in the next game." Arnold nodded reluctantly and agreed.
…
"The Celtics actually have the entire main lineup. The Green Army really thinks highly of us." Li Dai said with a relaxed look, holding the Celtics starting list in his hand.
"I originally thought that players like Kettle who wanted to compete for the championship would come on the bench to play against us like other teams. Unexpectedly, they actually sent in all the starting players. It seems that they are really good. Desire to win," assistant coach Cassell said from the side.
"Since the Celtics value us so much, we can't let them down. Tell our boys to prepare for overtime in this game!" Dai Li paused and then said: "Boston is originally the center of the NBA. The famous Devil's home court, we haven't won in Boston for several years, right? Everyone must work hard this time. Even if we can't beat the Celtics, we must let them know that our Clippers are not a team that can be taken lightly. A soft persimmon that is pinched here and there by others!"
…
"As expected, this game went into overtime. The nickname of the Los Angeles Overtime Team is indeed well-deserved." The commentator on the scene said enthusiastically.
On the coaching bench, Celtic head coach Arnold had a depressed expression. He obviously did not want to see overtime.
"God bless, let us overturn the Clippers in the first overtime and prevent a second overtime." Arnold prayed silently in his heart.
It was also at this time that Celtics point guard Kerry broke through with the ball and collided with a Clippers defensive player. Then Kerry fell to the ground and the referee's whistle sounded, giving the Clippers a block. foul.
"The number of fouls has reached, it's time to take a free throw." Arnold clenched his fists excitedly. However, the next second he saw that Kerry fell to the ground and did not get up. He was covering his left knee with his hand, and his expression looked even more painful.
"Don't get hurt!" Arnold's expression instantly darkened, and there was even more anxiety in his eyes.
At this moment, Arnold suddenly remembered that Kerry's left knee had been fractured three years ago, and two screws were inserted into the left patella. Recently, Kerry has often complained about soreness in his left knee. After examination, it was found that it was caused by tendonitis in the left knee. There was also a staph infection in the place where the forward screw was used.
It stands to reason that when encountering this kind of situation, you should treat it as soon as possible and perform surgery to remove the screws to avoid more serious infections. However, if you perform surgery now, it means reimbursement for the season. The Celtics plan to compete for the championship this season, so Kerry You can only persevere through injuries.
On the big screen at the scene, the slow motion of the breakthrough just now was finally shown. Through the camera from another angle, it can be seen that when Kerry broke through, his left knee collided with the knee of the Clippers defensive player. It was the impact that caused Kerry to collapse.
"Oops, I was hit head-on." Arnold's heart tightened.
A player was injured and the game had to be suspended. The team doctor also came on the court to check on Kerry. Kerry's expression looked very painful. He couldn't stand up at all and didn't look like he could continue playing the game.
Unable to survive, three minutes later, the stretcher team came on stage to carry Kerry off, waiting for further examination. He would definitely not be able to continue playing in this game.
As the core point guard of the team, Kerry's injury also directly disrupted the team's offensive rhythm. In the next few minutes, the Celtics' offense was hindered, but they were caught up by the Clippers. The first overtime also ended in a draw.
…
"If Kerry hadn't been injured, there would have been no need to play the second overtime!" Arnold muttered silently in his heart, while expressing concern about Kerry's injury.
Kerry is an All-Star player and a point guard, so he is also the organizer and initiator of the Celtics' offense and is the core player of the Celtics. If he is absent, the Celtics' entire tactical system will be affected and their combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced.
"God forbid that Kerry's injury is too serious."
While Arnold was praying to God, the Celtics were also organizing an offense. The Celtics' small forward Gordon ran under the basket, and the outside defender threw the ball directly to the basket. Get ready for an alley-oop with Gordon.
However, the Clippers' defensive players were not idle. The center under the basket jumped up and blocked the ball from the air.
At this time, Gordon had also taken off, preparing to complete this set of alley-oops. As a result, he happened to collide with the Clippers center. Both of them were in the air, and neither of them could control their bodies well.
However, the weight of the center is larger after all, and the physical confrontation in the air is also more advantageous. This physical confrontation caused Gordon to lose his center of gravity when he landed. When he landed, due to the excessive impact, his left ankle even turned almost 90 degrees.
Gordon fell to the ground in pain, and the referee had to stop the game. Players closer to Gordon even turned their heads away, not daring to look at Gordon's pain.
"It must be a fracture!" Dai Li thought to himself. At this time, the Celtics' team doctor and head coach Arnold also rushed over immediately.
"Why? Why is another one injured? It seems that Gordon's injury is much more serious than Kerry's. Could it be that he will be reimbursed for the season?" The anxiety in Arnold's heart at this time can no longer be described in words.
Gordon is also an All-Star. Now Kyrie's injury is uncertain. If Gordon is injured again, he will lose two core players at once, and the Celtics may be disappointed in the first round of the playoffs.
"It's a dislocated ankle and a fractured tibia! It's best to send him to the hospital for surgery immediately." A voice sounded from behind everyone.
The team doctor turned around impatiently, wondering where this stupid young man dared to give such a diagnosis without taking an X-ray. Then he saw Dai Li standing there.
Dai Li detected Gordon, so he knew Gordon's injury immediately. He couldn't bear the pain Gordon had to endure, so he simply told the diagnosis result, hoping that Gordon could get treatment as soon as possible.
"Coach Li, what did you just say? What kind of fracture?" Arnold asked eagerly. At this time, he no longer cared that Dai Li was his opponent.
"I mean, ankle dislocation, tibia fracture!" Dai Li repeated, and then said: "Very unfortunate news, Gordon will be reimbursed for this season."
"How did you know?" the team doctor asked unconvinced.
"In addition to being a coach, I am also an expert in sports rehabilitation training." Dai Li answered.
After hearing this, Arnold immediately remembered that Dai Li's training center did have sports rehabilitation business, and as the head coach of the Clippers, Dai Li dared to make such a judgment on this occasion, and there must be some basis for it.
At the same time, Arnold also realized that if the diagnosis given by Li Dai was correct and it was really a tibial fracture, then Gordon would definitely be out for the season.
"Two core players were injured in two overtimes. Why should I go all out in this damn game? Just like the Spurs, Rockets and Cavaliers, just go to the bench and deal with it casually. In this case, Kyrie and Gore Not only will Den not be injured, but he can also rest for a day... I really want to kill myself!"
A strong feeling of regret arose in Arnold's heart.