May 8th, 2007.
Oakland.
Oracle Arena.
The first game of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Spurs and the Warriors was officially underway.
Compared to last year, Gregg Popovich wasn't in the mood to greet Zack or offer him any pointers before the game. The delicate relationship between Duncan and the Spurs meant that they absolutely had to win a championship this year to ensure they kept Duncan. For a long time, Duncan had been the cornerstone of the Spurs, the main guarantee that they could always contend for the top. Popovich couldn't afford to lose Duncan.
But the Spurs, who had just barely scraped through the first round of the playoffs after a grueling Game 7, were about to face a problem they could never solve in this Western Conference Semifinals against the Warriors. This issue had already proven how unfixable it was back in last year's playoffs.
"Do you think the stricter officiating this year can help us contain that kid a little?" Popovich asked his head assistant, Budenholzer, before the game, looking for advice.
Budenholzer gave a wry smile. "It's tough... because he's much stronger this year than last season."
Last summer, Zack gained 3 kilograms of muscle, which subtly boosted his strength and physicality by another level. Plus, with the [Air Pig] badge active, he could even avoid the usual penalties of gaining muscle, at least until his weight hit a certain threshold. And with Anthony's help, Zack's perimeter finesse had reached new heights.
Budenholzer was sure that unless Tim Duncan could magically turn back five years... the Spurs were destined to face an uncontainable Zack in this series. And no matter the era, the Spurs always feared superstar players they couldn't stop.
"Damn it, why would God give a kid such incredible basketball talent?" Popovich grumbled at the heavens after stomping his feet twice.
This was a series the Spurs absolutely had to win. But right now, standing in their way was the very opponent who gave them the most headaches. Though he'd never admit it, Popovich knew better than anyone that the Spurs were far more afraid of the current Zack than they ever were of Shaquille O'Neal back in the day.
At center court, Zack, who had already chatted with Duncan yesterday, stepped onto the court with the other four Warriors starters: Murphy, Artest, Richardson, and Davis.
Murphy starting tonight made Popovich restless. "Are they planning to overwhelm our zone defense with a five-shooter lineup?"
Beside him, Budenholzer replied, "Pop, I'm afraid it's more than that."
Unlike the first round of the playoffs, the Nuggets' lineup had the potential to break through the Warriors' defense, so the Warriors had to play Brown to boost their defense. But the Spurs' starting five...
Looking at Fabricio Oberto at center court, ready to jump against Zack, and Bowen, Finley standing on either side of Duncan, plus Parker hiding behind Duncan... Mike Malone couldn't help but complain, "Didn't the Spurs keep saying they wanted to bring in a player who could free Tim Duncan from defense? How did they end up with this guy (Oberto)?!"
During this period, the Spurs' strength mainly came from their tough defense and their brain trust's ever-evolving tactical innovations. Historically, the Spurs, gradually realizing the importance of the three-pointer, increased their average three-point attempts from 16 in the 2005-06 season to 19 in the 2006-07 season. In the playoffs, their average three-point attempts even approached 20. More three-point attempts allowed Tony Parker to deliver his career-defining performance by getting more offensive space. After reaching the Finals with the team and sweeping LeBron James' Cavaliers, Parker won the NBA Finals MVP for the first time in his career.
However, against these Warriors, the Spurs' tough defense was bound to be less effective than usual.
After the jump ball, it was the Warriors' possession. Davis brought the ball up court and passed it to Murphy, who was already positioned at the top of the arc. The Spurs' 1-on-4 zone, no matter who was guarding the one, was always focused on Zack. So, once the Warriors used Murphy to break their 1-on-4, the Spurs simply had no extra defensive resources to stop Murphy from catching the ball.
On the court, while trying to prevent Zack from initiating an attack, Bowen, no longer as restricted as last year, was using all his "dirty tricks." But as the Spurs' 1-on-4 zone was broken, and Zack leveraged his weight advantage to get into the low post, Bowen's grabbing and pulling actually made him look like a circus clown. Especially that moment when he tried to front秦岳 to prevent him from getting the ball... The next second, Murphy, who effortlessly lobbed the ball to Zack, looked absolutely stunned.
Zack caught the ball, drove straight to the basket, and slammed it down with a powerful two-handed dunk. Popovich, who last year believed the Spurs lost to the Warriors due to officiating calls, never expected that even with Bowen's extremely aggressive defense, Zack was still scoring as easily as drinking water. But considering Duncan's feelings, Popovich didn't dare to sacrifice Duncan like last year to make Zack pay a "toll" on every offensive play.
And even if Duncan were the "one" in the 1-on-4 zone, the Spurs still couldn't solve the Warriors' offense. Because in just one possession, Troy Murphy's start showed the Spurs: when he was on the court, the Spurs' 1-on-4 zone only created a ton of one-on-one opportunities for Zack.
The great Kevin Garnett once said that without his mobility and length, anyone trying to go one-on-one with Zack would be committing suicide. Bruce Bowen, who was barely two meters tall in shoes and maintained a weight of just over ninety kilograms to preserve his mobility, meant that... aside from being a nuisance, like a fly in the ointment, using hateful dirty tactics to annoy Zack while he was trying to catch the ball, as soon as Zack successfully caught it, Bowen would immediately become a lamb waiting to be slaughtered by Zack.
"Would Robert (Horry) guarding him be a bit better?"
"Robert doesn't have Bruce's perimeter mobility. Robert's presence would just make it easier for him to catch the ball."
On the sidelines, Popovich's face was etched with frustration and anxiety. Against Zack's unconventional style... lacking a forward who could match up with Zack, the Spurs could only watch as Zack led the Warriors in repeatedly breaking their proud "iron curtain" defense in the early part of the first quarter. And compared to last year, Baron Davis's good form also intensified the Spurs' defensive pressure.
On the court, Davis, with the pedal to the metal, immediately threw an alley-oop pass to Zack after encountering Duncan's help defense. Beside them, Oberto instantly became the Warriors' mascot, watching Zack complete the subsequent tomahawk alley-oop from the best possible vantage point.
Last summer, Popovich, who was busy searching the world for help and shooters for Duncan, showed through his actions that he seemed to do something, yet also did nothing at all. Although, coming back, Duncan, like an ancient giant, carved open Zack's defense and made a bank shot in the paint. But Duncan's grave expression clearly signaled to the Spurs that the situation in this game was already dire.
To limit Zack's ability to catch the ball, Bowen's actions became increasingly aggressive. As soon as Davis brought the ball past half-court, the referee called a stop to the game due to an almost-clash between Bowen and Zack.
"Don't you dare touch me, you scumbag who'd even stab a former friend in the back just to win! The fact that someone like you can make the NBA All-Defensive Team is a disgrace to the award!" Zack snapped, batting away Bowen's hand that was constantly tugging at his jersey. While Zack never minded opponents playing tough in a game, he absolutely detested players like Bowen who constantly used dirty tricks.
Bowen knew he was no match for Zack in trash talk, but after the game restarted... he continued his ways. He even almost targeted Zack's "little brother" during a drive, if Zack hadn't been incredibly careful.
This was a dangerously malicious step-in that enraged Zack. Seeing this, Don Nelson immediately pulled out the baseball bat he always kept under the bench. And Artest, in the very next defensive possession, "educated" the increasingly dirty Bowen with a "headbutt iron elbow," which was unavoidable due to Artest's own clumsiness.
Wham!
On the court, Bowen, who had been headbutted by Artest, immediately clutched his head in pain and collapsed to the floor. Without a doubt, it was a satisfying headbutt! But this was just a warning from the Warriors to the Spurs.
On the sidelines, Popovich protested to the referee, "Damn it, why is that just a common foul? He was clearly trying to injure him!"
Hearing this, Zack, speaking for the referee, fired back at Popovich, "Shut up! You barking old dog! How many times have you ordered that bastard to intentionally injure someone? Don't think you can just pass the buck to that scumbag and walk away clean!"
Next, from Carter to Ray Allen, then to Radmanovic, Francis... As Zack listed name after name of NBA players who had fallen victim to Bowen's notorious "nut-kicking" moves, it was like needles piercing Popovich, who always loved to play moral double standards.
"You're spreading rumors! I never ordered Bruce to do such a thing!" Popovich, his face red, defended himself from the sidelines.
At that moment, Zack smiled. So many instances of stepping on feet... yet Popovich could deny it so brazenly.
The next second, looking at Duncan, who had stepped forward to try and calm him down, Zack, finally unable to hold back, pulled out his deadliest weapon: "And you, my dear senior, are you also completely unaware of what your teammate Bruce Bowen has been doing? You guys are truly a pure as ice team! But if you're so pure, why do you insist on keeping that bastard? What, is it because he always sweeps away the filth you don't want to see, making your championships clean and spotless?"
Zack's soul-piercing words instantly left Duncan frozen. Truth be told, in front of the public, Duncan could easily pretend he was completely unaware of Bruce Bowen's actions. But in front of Zack... especially looking into Zack's eyes, which burned like fiery coals, Duncan, always known for his composure, instinctively avoided Zack's gaze.
This sight deeply disappointed Zack.
"Tim, I still thank you for taking the time to come to Wake Forest back then to guide me in basketball. But if you're not blind, you should be able to see how that damn bastard is playing against me."
Then, after a pause, Zack added, "Is this what you told me about your love for basketball? Your dedication to victory? Your constant advice to be kind to others? How is this different from that hypocritical king, Shaquille O'Neal? No... I even feel like I'm insulting Shaq now, because at least Shaq's championships were won cleaner than yours!"
"..."
Clap!
Clap!
Clap!
Oracle Arena.
As Zack's words landed like powerful slaps across Tim Duncan's face, this sudden breaking of ties between mentor and protégé instantly made the on-site reporters feel the blessings of the God of News!
Duncan's silence.
Bowen's increasingly sinister gaze after receiving treatment.
And Popovich's wide-eyed, furious expression, looking like he wanted to glare Zack to death.
All of these things immediately brought this already one-sided Western Conference Semifinals to a boiling point!
"Be careful... even if the Spurs can't beat us in a fight, a clear threat is easy to avoid, but a hidden one is not," Artest warned Zack on the court before the game resumed.
Zack nodded. "Don't worry, I'll never be brought down by their dirty tactics."
The Spurs' "hidden threats" were indeed hard to guard against, but Zack knew that if he hesitated because he feared the Spurs' dirty play, it would only play right into their hands.
The game continued, Spurs' possession. Duncan, without a word, quietly moved up to the high post to set a screen for Parker. Receiving Parker's pass after his drive, Duncan's layup missed under Zack's tough defense. Compared to his junior who, back then, didn't even know how to defend his post-up game, Duncan realized that, in a blur, Zack had grown into a tough opponent even he found hard to crack.
Normally, Duncan would have praised Zack's defense at a moment like this. But seeing Zack's expression, clearly not wanting to acknowledge him, Duncan suddenly felt a pang of loneliness, and Zack's soul-searching questions from earlier popped into his mind. This was the biggest emotional disturbance Duncan had experienced since entering the league.
Back on the Warriors' offensive possession, watching Bruce Bowen sometimes elbow Zack's ribs, sometimes kick his thigh, and sometimes try to disguise a rough hand-check as a steal... Duncan knew full well that these dirty moves, which were completely unacceptable in the world of basketball, were precisely what allowed Bowen to be selected to All-Defensive teams repeatedly.
The referees weren't intentionally condoning Bowen's actions. It's just that many of Bowen's dirty tricks were carried out in the referees' blind spots. Although in the NBA, a league driven by profit, the great Michael Jordan once said that no one was truly clean, when Zack, in the very next moment, squarely challenged Bowen's defense and sent the ball into the hoop... Duncan found that not only could he not look Zack in the eye earlier, but even now, he feared Zack's clear, bright gaze.
On the court, Duncan's 45-degree bank shot bounced off the rim and missed. At the same time, on the Spurs' bench, Popovich, having made up his mind, used his innate understanding with Bowen to issue a direct command to the fiercely glaring Bowen.
Either do nothing, or do it quickly. Popovich knew very well that Zack was the absolute ace of these Warriors, but he was also their fatal weakness. And that was... if he were to be lost, the entire Warriors team would fall apart without their backbone.
Popovich had fully realized this last year. However, last year, he had to consider both Duncan's feelings and the consequences of intentionally fouling Zack. But now... in this game where they had completely thrown away all pretense, since the opponent had already claimed that Bowen was acting under his instruction to intentionally injure someone, how could Popovich allow himself to be "wronged" "for no reason"?
On the right side of the court, utilizing Murphy's high-post playmaking, Zack once again found himself in a one-on-one situation with Bowen. Bowen continued to subtly harass Zack with his little movements, and even when Zack started to drive, Bowen pretended as if nothing was different. It wasn't until he noticed Zack leaping that Bowen quickly retreated to the basket and intentionally extended his pre-meditated leg into Zack's landing spot.
Even though Zack was cautious enough during his landing... this unavoidable "hidden threat" still caused an intense pain in his ankle the moment he landed.
However, Bowen was in a worse state than him. Because he underestimated Zack's wariness, when Zack's 124-kilogram weight pressed down on Bowen's vulnerable foot... after two loud "cracks," even before receiving treatment from the team doctor, Bowen knew his right foot was likely fractured.
And what was most unbelievable to Bowen was... after Zack reacted incredibly quickly to what had just happened, that damn bastard, despite the pain, deliberately put his entire body weight on Bowen's defenseless right leg as he fell.
Crack.
Crack.
These were the sounds of a torn right knee ACL.
On the court, as Bruce Bowen, who had reaped what he sowed, painfully collapsed and couldn't get back up, Mike Dunleavy from the Warriors' bench was already charging ahead: "Everyone get out of my way! No one's leaving here alive today!"
Bowen had certainly gotten his comeuppance. But since the Spurs dared to put that foot out towards Zack... then the Warriors players shouldn't be blamed for unleashing their fury on Duncan!
On the sidelines, seeing that things were going south, Popovich quickly signaled Budenholzer to pull away Duncan, who was still standing there foolishly, lost in thought.
However... it was too late.
The next second, Duncan, with no intention of dodging, took Mike Dunleavy's heavy punch head-on. And Popovich, who tried to intervene, was pinned down by Artest's "clumsy" fall, almost suffocating.
This sudden incident caused the game to be suspended for a full 45 minutes. At NBA headquarters, even the always-composed David Stern broke out in a cold sweat because of this incident.
Stern immediately asked about Zack's injury: "Are there any updates on his injury?"
Seeing this, after an urgent call with the NBA staff on site, Mark (presumably a staff member) breathed a sigh of relief and said, "The Warriors' team doctor said... they can't determine the grade of Messiah's ankle sprain yet, but given that he can continue to play injured, he should be fine."
Hearing this, Stern, finally able to let go of the concern he'd been holding, said, "As long as he's okay, as long as he's okay..."