The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 2219: Chapter 32: Never Changed

The psychological shadow of the 2006 Finals failure has constantly plagued Dirk Nowitzki, reaching its peak in the first round of the 2007 playoffs.

This season was supposed to be Nowitzki’s season of redemption, a chance to make amends for his regrettable loss in 2006. They started anew, with a stronger performance dominating the entire league, aiming for the championship.

However, facing the Golden State Warriors in the first round brought everything to an abrupt halt. In the first game at home, they lost to the Warriors.

It wasn’t a matter of luck or mishap, but that they genuinely couldn’t beat the Golden State Warriors, which was the most terrifying part.

Throughout the season, they achieved a 67-15 record, adjusting their form promptly after an initial four-game losing streak, and then went on to dominate the entire league.

Other than the Warriors, no team could withstand the unstoppable force of the Dallas Mavericks.

In NBA history, teams that have won over 65 games are few. Though not all win the championship, most fall in the conference finals or finals.

Like the Dallas Mavericks, being pushed to the brink in the first round was unique only to them.

Over the years, Dirk Nowitzki has always conducted meticulous shooting warm-ups before the game to ensure he was in the best shape for the game.

Each time, he aimed for his shots to go in without touching the rim, quietly passing through the center of the hoop, leaving a gentle "swish" in the net, indicating he had a good feel and was ready to play.

But all this failed when playing against the Golden State Warriors. Facing defenders shorter than himself, El-Harlington, Stephen Jackson, Nowitzki’s performance was disastrous.

Apart from the fifth game, where he scored 30 points and performed up to par, his performance in other games was far from that of an MVP-level player.

Especially in the must-win Game 6, arriving in Oakland trailing 2-3. If the Dallas Mavericks could bring the series back to Dallas, they still had a chance to avoid being upset as the eighth seed.

From a strength standpoint, the Mavericks had the advantage overall. If dragged to a Game 7, the momentum would shift back to the Mavericks.

However, by this stage of the competition, it was no longer a matter of strength or technique, but more a psychological issue.

The Mavericks and Nowitzki, even if tactically restrained by the Warriors, should still have been able to fight back effectively.

Yet, in Game 6 at Oracle, the Mavericks were bewildered, not knowing how to play.

In the previous five games at Oracle, they suffered heavy defeats, completely losing themselves in the golden ocean.

Nowitzki delivered one of the most humiliating performances of his career, shooting 2 of 13 from the field, scoring only 8 points.

It must be said that the number 8 points in the NBA has a certain saying, almost like a curse.

Say it’s low, it’s just one basket from 10 points; say it’s high, there aren’t double digits.

When a core player performs like this, how much better can the performances of the remaining Mavericks players be?

An 86-111, a massively painful loss, they were defeated at Oracle Arena.

This defeat buried all the Mavericks’ efforts and dedication for a championship throughout the season, making Nowitzki and the entire Mavericks team a laughingstock in the league.

Still a historical-level joke, a 67-win epic team losing to the eighth seed.

In 2002, when the Lakers lost to Glory, it was considered understandable; the opponent was Ah Gan.

Moreover, Ah Gan’s team clearly played the underdog role strategically, and people laid traps to target the Lakers, although embarrassing, it was somewhat expected.

This loss of the Mavericks was too ugly. When leaving the court, Nowitzki smashed a hole in the wall of the player tunnel with a chair (some say a can) to vent his inner frustration and uncontrollable sadness.

Two consecutive seasons have both ended in an unacceptable manner on the path to competing for the championship. The negative psychological effects on a player can be imagined.

0-2 lead overturned, 67 wins defeated by the eighth seed, and Nowitzki was already 29 years old this year—time was running out for him.

Before the start of the fifth game of the Mavericks and Warriors series, Glory had already eliminated the Utah Jazz 4-0, advancing to the second round, awaiting the winner of the Mavericks and Warriors series.

The process of the two series was entirely beyond many people’s expectations.

First against eighth should have been the easiest, but the Mavericks were hit helplessly.

Fourth versus fifth was supposed to be the toughest, but the seemingly powerful Jazz couldn’t even win a game against Glory.

Gan Guoyang exploded with a massive 39 points and 21 rebounds double-double in Game 4, becoming the oldest playoff double-20 creator, demonstrating his unparalleled determination to win a championship this season to the outside world.

When people saw the Mavericks about to fall in the first round, the Warriors entering the semifinals against Ah Gan and Glory would surely be in dire straits.

Ah Gan was no Nowitzki, and Glory was no "soft-boned" like the Mavericks; they always excelled in hard fights.

Gan Guoyang’s team has always been like this, as long as they are healthy, with basically a complete lineup, coupled with one or two quasi-All-Star level players, they have the ability to compete for a championship.

Even if the teammates have evident flaws, as long as they have specialties, Ah Gan can find ways to back them up, continuing this way till he was 42, never changing.

Watching the Mavericks and Warriors game end on TV, Glory felt at ease, knowing the West Finals were within reach.

"Sonny, your judgment was spot-on. Fourth, fifth truly stronger than third," Jordan said to Gan Guoyang after knowing the result.

"It was foreseeable that the Mavericks couldn’t beat the Warriors. Honestly, I didn’t want to choose an opponent, but at this age and stage, taking shortcuts isn’t a bad thing," Gan Guoyang admitted that setting his team to fourth, fifth was taking a shortcut.

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