Y13 [EN]: Chapter 118

Y13-118 Round 1 of the 2010-2011 Playoffs

April 28, 2011, Rose Garden, Portland.

[TNT is broadcasting live from the Rose Garden in Portland for Game 6 of the playoff series between the Dallas Mavericks and the Portland Trail Blazers! Your commentator for today’s game is Matt Devlin, with analysis by Kevin McHale. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 97-82 in Game 5, making today’s Game 6 an elimination game for Portland on their home court.]

Matt Devlin and Kevin McHale, the same commentary team from Game 1, both nodded, sensing an unusual atmosphere as they looked around the arena.

[Today’s game could be the last for Portland in this series. Being at home, they might have an advantage. Personally, I’m predicting a 4-3 series win for Dallas in Game 7.]

Kevin McHale felt that the series would go to Game 7 based on data and statistics, but his gut feeling from his playing days told him that Dallas’s momentum was significant. The two away games weren’t blowouts but close contests decided by just 1 or 3 points. Moreover, the Dallas players seemed to be in high spirits, and their shooting looked excellent during practice.

[So, you’re predicting both teams will win all their home games? Dallas with 4 wins and Portland with 3?]

[Yes, Portland is traditionally strong at home. They’ve won 12 of their last 13 home games and have a historical record of 46 wins and 18 losses against Dallas at home. Plus, they’re 8-1 in the playoffs at home against Dallas. On the other hand, Dallas’s away record isn’t great. They’ve gone 2-15 in away games during five playoff series from 2006-2010, and they were eliminated in the first round in three of those four seasons.]

Matt Devlin noticed McHale glancing sharply at the Dallas bench, despite his rational commentary, and subtly brought up the subject.

[Those are a lot of negative stats for Dallas. Are there any positive records for them?]

[Yes, there are. First, Portland has never overcome a 2-3 deficit in the playoffs in their team history. Advancing to the second round would be a historic achievement for them. Also, Dallas has a pretty good away record this season. Their regular-season away record is 26 wins and 15 losses, over 60%. Naturally, their point differential is also +2.5. And looking back at Games 1-5, Dallas won all three of their wins by more than 10 points, and their two losses were narrow defeats by 3 points or less. They could have won if they had just secured one more possession.]

This was the key point. Portland hadn’t shown their late-regular-season form, while Dallas had been winning big at home and playing close games on the road based on their strong defense. That’s one reason why Dallas didn’t seem to be at much of a disadvantage despite being on the road.

[I see. You’ve done a thorough analysis. From a different perspective, I see this matchup as Turnovers VS Shooting. Dallas has committed 1.5 times more turnovers than Portland in their head-to-head matchups, and Portland’s three-point percentage is more than 10% higher than Dallas’s. The game depends on who can reduce these differences.]

[That’s right. Coach McMillan has been making it tough for Dallas’s guards through thorough research. Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, and J.J. Barea have recorded more than double their season average in turnovers and fewer assists against Portland. He’s a coach who is not only resourceful but also faithful to the basics, so I’m sure he’s been thinking of ways to overcome this disadvantage.]

As the two commentators finished their insightful analysis, the players began to come onto the court one by one, and Matt Devlin began to announce the starting lineups.

[The starting lineups are the same as before. It seems that changing the starting lineup is a big decision for both coaches. For Dallas, it’s Jason Kidd, Youngjae Yoon, Shawn Marion, Dirk Nowitzki, and Tyson Chandler. For Portland, it’s Andre Miller, Wesley Matthews, Gerald Wallace, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Marcus Camby.]

[Well, the available players are limited, and there are even fewer suitable starters. It can’t be helped.]

[The players have finished their preparations. Jump ball!]

The jump ball was won by Marcus Camby, and Portland secured possession. The Portland players began to cross the half-court line with determined expressions.

[Wesley Matthews drives to the right wing! Youngjae Yoon marks him closely and shuts him down!]

Wesley Matthews tried to score with a quick drive-in from the start, but Youngjae anticipated his intention and began to block him, keeping a slight distance. Eventually, Wesley Matthews, blocked by Youngjae’s defense, had no choice but to pass the ball back to Marcus Camby, who was trailing behind.

“Huh!”

But Marcus Camby had no choice but to grab the ball with both hands as soon as he caught it. As a strong rim protector, Marcus Camby’s defense and rebounding were well-known, but his ball-handling skills were lacking. And that fact was known not only to Camby but to all the Dallas players.

[Nowitzki! He runs straight at Camby as soon as Camby secures the ball and engages in a physical battle!]

[If he gets double-teamed like that, he’ll lose the ball quickly. He needs to get the ball out quickly.]

As if hearing Kevin McHale’s words, Camby threw a pass to Wesley Matthews, who was cutting back to the basket, but he put too much power into it, and Wesley Matthews ended up fumbling the ball.

Beeeep!

[Ah, Marcus Camby’s pass wasn’t good at all. Portland records a turnover right from the start of the game.]

[Wesley Matthews could have caught that pass under normal circumstances, but because his opponent was Youngjae Yoon, he couldn’t shake off Youngjae properly and ended up fumbling the ball.]

After that, the two teams continued their fierce battle for over two minutes without scoring a single point.

[Nowitzki attempts a post-up!]

[He pushes LaMarcus Aldridge away and then executes a turnaround fadeaway!]

Thud-

[Ah, it narrowly misses. Portland’s counterattack!]

[LaMarcus Aldridge, to prevent any openings, delivers a fantastic outlet pass to Andre Miller! Andre Miller, conscious of Youngjae Yoon quickly covering, passes the ball back to Wesley Matthews!]

[Oh, Shawn Marion! He somehow chases after Wesley Matthews and interferes with the shot! Wesley Matthews misses an easy layup!]

In this way, the two teams defended with incredible focus. But that balance of 0-0 was bound to be broken, and it started with Portland.

[LaMarcus Aldridge, 1-on-1 against Tyson Chandler! He engages in a battle of strength with Chandler in the post! It’ll be different than when he’s matched up against Nowitzki.]

[Aldridge is also skilled at post-ups. He’s not being pushed around by Tyson Chandler.]

Aldridge eventually pushed Chandler away and penetrated to the low post area. Even though he pushed Chandler, his opponent was Tyson Chandler. Aldridge knew best that he couldn’t keep overpowering a traditional defensive big man like Chandler.

[Aldridge uses a pivot move to distract Chandler and then uses a backspin! He makes a slight drive-in motion along the baseline and then throws up a hook shot!]

[Chandler isn’t trying to block it forcefully but is instead forcing a difficult shot.]

LaMarcus Aldridge was strong inside, but his midrange shooting was also excellent. He boasted a refined shooting touch unlike a typical big man. Especially against Dallas, he was dominant, scoring more than 8 points above his average. It felt like a clash between an unstoppable force and an immovable object, with both players doing everything they could.

Thud!

[Ah, the ball hits the rim and trickles down!]

It was then. As soon as Aldridge’s hook shot left his hand, Gerald “G-Force” Wallace charged into the paint. Shawn Marion and Dirk Nowitzki were taken aback by Wallace’s beast-like charge and tried to box him out, but his incredible athleticism was enough to squeeze through the two players.

“Uwaaa!!”

Gerald Wallace, soaring with a tremendous roar, jumped and snatched the falling ball before slamming it into the hoop.

KWAANG!!!

[OH MY GOD!!! G-FORCE IS COMING!!!]

[Those kinds of putback dunks can completely swing the momentum! Dallas, that was a bit of a careless play!]

Woooaaah!!!

The tens of thousands of spectators filling the Rose Garden chanted Gerald Wallace’s nickname, “G-Force,” and erupted in thunderous applause. Nowitzki patted Marion on the back, who was filled with regret, and told him it was okay. The Dallas players regained their focus and began to attack again. Stimulated by Gerald Wallace’s powerful putback one-handed dunk, the Dallas players began to drive the ball towards the opponent’s zone with sharper focus.

[Shawn Marion, now on the right wing, is in a 1-on-1 contest with Gerald Wallace!]

Youngjae deliberately created a chaotic situation to distract Gerald Wallace. Youngjae ran to Wallace’s back, and Wesley Matthews was stuck to Youngjae’s right side. Youngjae pretended to set a screen for Wallace but then spun counterclockwise, and Marion, seeing Youngjae’s opening, immediately threw an overhead pass to Youngjae.

[Oh! Youngjae Yoon’s screen feint followed by an immediate counterclockwise spin move! When you use a screen so skillfully like a feint, the defender can’t help but be confused! Wesley Matthews, who was right next to him just a second ago, is now standing far away from Youngjae Yoon!]

Youngjae glanced at Wesley Matthews, who was chasing after him belatedly, but instead of slowing down, he accelerated even faster and leaped towards the unguarded rim.

“Wuaaa!!!”

“Uwaaa!!”

Wesley Matthews’s and Youngjae’s tremendous shouts. Youngjae, determined to make this attack, and Wesley Matthews, determined to stop it at all costs, engaged in an aerial battle!

“Get out of here!!”

KWAANG!!!

[WOW! WOW!!! Y13, PERFECT CURSE SLAM!!]

[An incredible one-handed slam that curses the opponent! Wesley Matthews followed belatedly, but Youngjae Yoon was even faster! A one-handed slam slammed down with all his might! Wesley Matthews, what humiliation! If he had messed up, he would have had to watch the dunk slam down right in front of his face!]

…

The cheers of the Rose Garden, which had been filled with excitement from Gerald Wallace’s putback dunk, cooled down like cold rice. Youngjae stared back at Wesley Matthews, who was glaring at him with a humiliated expression, and Gerald Wallace, who was frustrated at losing the momentum, before pointing his index finger at the rim and turning back without hesitation.

[What does Youngjae Yoon’s performance of pointing at the rim mean?]

[Youngjae Yoon has been playing his part as an important link in the team, but today it seems he will focus more on scoring! This is something to look forward to!]

============================ Author’s Notes ============================

★Thank you to those who gave advance reservations, recommendations, comments, and coupons!!

@Redick gave the Clippers’ offseason an F grade himself. He seems very disappointed. Blake Griffin contacted DeAndre Jordan consistently, but he couldn’t bridge the gap with Chris Paul. In Dallas, Chandler Parsons hung out with DeAndre Jordan throughout the offseason, and Dirk Nowitzki gave up his vacation to attend the meeting. It’s rare for someone who serves as both GM [General Manager] and coach to get good results. Flip Saunders of Minnesota is a decent GM, but he needs to be a better coach;;;

@Cleveland continues to look into trading Brendan Haywood. I wonder if they’re feeling anxious about San Antonio’s strengthening… If they bring in a player with the same salary as Haywood, the team’s salary could exceed 110M [million], and the luxury tax could be close to 100M [million]. LeBron James is on a one-year contract, so it can’t be helped. The owner is also desperate for a championship, so he’ll probably be willing to bear it to some extent… But 100M is a bit much;;;

h0h/// Yes. Even though the United States is a multi-ethnic country, there is still a lot of discrimination. It’s especially severe in the sports field for Asian descent. There’s a rumor that some of Jeremy Lin’s teammates in New York disliked him.

Yabes///Big O… I think he was the all-time leader in triple-doubles [double-digit stats in three categories]. If he puts up those kinds of numbers, he might be able to receive it ㅋㅋ But the opponent was too good. Blake Griffin was the third unanimous Rookie of the Year in history…

쿤다라님, misscherry님, 캐바밤님, 오마리온님, 파이넨시아님/// Thank you for always commenting!!

Cup in Cup/// David West is older than I thought. He’s 35, so he’s already at the age to be a member of the Fellowship of the Ring [reference to “Lord of the Rings,” implying he’s experienced]. His skills are beyond words, so if Tony Parker revives next year, San Antonio will be stronger than Golden State.

1234567890123/// Please bear with the daily updates ㅋㅋ ㅠ.ㅠ

라피르and진트/// ㅋㅋㅋ I was only going to describe two games in the first round of the playoffs, so I ended up choosing the first and sixth games. Ro Dae-hyup… a cruel injury… Portland’s bad luck… If it weren’t for the injuries, he wouldn’t have been inferior to the 6-star shooting guards.

myus1004/// Thank you for the coupon!!

magara/// I’m overwhelmed by the excessive praise ㄷㄷ. I will repay you with good novels in the future!!