A basketball game lasts 48 minutes; knowing the opponent's tactics in advance is merely gaining an advantage.
The Mavericks adjusted their tactics after the first timeout.
If there's only one plan, even if the team is full of star players, the best they can do is make it to the playoffs. In the fiercely competitive playoffs, it's very difficult to even win a single round.
......
Falling behind at the start, the Mavericks' morale was somewhat low.
In the latter part of the first quarter, they still couldn't keep the score close, and the gap continued to widen.
37:19!!
The Mavericks, attempting to engage in a high-scoring battle with the Suns, trailed by 18 points in the first quarter.
The second quarter of the game.
Nowitzki hit three consecutive three-pointers, narrowing the gap... However, Wei Guo suddenly erupted, scoring 7 points on offense with a combination of drives and shots, and contributing a block and a steal on defense, widening the gap once again.
66:43!!
At halftime, the Mavericks were down by 23 points.
......
Johnson is preoccupied with losing $100,000 to Barkley and hasn't spoken to Barkley for two days.
Tonight's game...
To outsiders, the Suns' defense was excellent, far exceeding their usual level. The Suns' defense is not weak mainly because of Wei Guo's individual defensive ability. However, tonight they disrupted many of the Mavericks' offensive plays through teamwork.
With a 23-point lead at halftime, the second half was basically garbage time.
Johnson had an idea and wanted to continue the bet with Barkley. After hearing Johnson's idea, Barkley was surprised, "You have so much hidden money?"
"My salary isn't much less than yours."
Johnson stubbornly replied, "Making a few hundred thousand dollars is easy for me."
Barkley patted Johnson's large head, a hint of pity in his voice, "In that case...how do you want to bet?"
"Get your stinky hands off me!"
Johnson patted Barkley's hand. "Let's bet on how many points Cummings can score tonight!"
In the last game, Cummings scored 11 points in four minutes in the third quarter. Now that the Suns have revealed this trump card, they will not continue to bench Cummings. There is a high probability that Cummings will play in the second half.
Barkley, "What are you betting tonight?"
Johnson: "I'll bet on how many points Cummings can score tonight."
Barkley: "What if he doesn't play?"
Johnson: "Not playing is a zero."
Barkley, "..."
There's also a very risky aspect to this bet...
Johnson and Barkley were unsure if Cummings would play in the second half, with Barkley saying, "I bet Cummings won't score more than 10 points tonight."
That's exactly what Johnson wanted to say.
Suddenly interrupted by Barkley, Johnson said with a stern face, "You have so little faith in Cummings?"
"Who the hell knows if Cummings will play?!"
Barkley snorted and said, "Either... we don't gamble at all, and you decide for yourself!"
Johnson didn't want to gamble anymore, but he was still unhappy about the $100,000 that Barkley had won. "Then I'll bet Cummings can score more than 10 points tonight."
"Bingo, deal!"
Barkley tried to touch Johnson's head again, but Johnson slapped his hand away once more.
Things have come to this...
Johnson can only hope that Cummings gets playing time in the second half and then racks up points during garbage time.
......
Six minutes into the second half, the point difference had widened to 30 points.
The Mavericks are preparing to forfeit the game...
Cummings was slow to get on the court, which Johnson found unacceptable, and he almost started cursing in the live broadcast.
Barkley gloated, "How about we change the bet? I bet Cummings won't score more than 20 points tonight, haha... how about we change the stake to $200,000?"
If Cummings doesn't play, 10 or 20 points are meaningless.
Barkley added fuel to the fire, saying, "Take a gamble, and you might turn a bicycle into a motorcycle..."
"I'll bet you!"
Johnson forced himself to say that it wasn't about whether it was $100,000 or $200,000 anymore; it was mainly about saving face.
"Hahaha..."
Barkley laughed heartily, "Great! That's satisfying!"
......
When the players returned to the field, Barkley noticed that neither Nowitzki nor Finley had come on.
On the Suns' side...
Wei Guo, Stoudemire, and Nash also did not play.
The game entered garbage time a quarter and a half early. The Mavericks were really frustrated, as every move they made was countered by the Suns, so they decided to give up the game.
at the same time...
Barkley also noticed that Cummings was still sitting on the sidelines, which made him as happy as a 300-pound fat man. Johnson had a dejected look on his face, probably even more depressed than Mavericks head coach Johnson.
Cummings had put down the stat sheet and was sitting on the sidelines, looking bored. He revealed the Mavericks' tactics, which affected Wei Guo's stats tonight. Wei Guo played 23 minutes and only got 21 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks. These numbers were really insignificant for Wei Guo.
Gentry whispered, "Cummings, you're the hero tonight."
Hehehe...
Cummings covered his mouth, like a child who had stolen some candy.
Wei Guo was a little annoyed by Cummings's smug look. He slapped Cummings's thigh and said, "Go on and take Joe Johnson off the court!"
Cummings asked, puzzled, "Why?"
Wei Guo said, "Old Jin said you're the biggest contributor to tonight's victory, so give it your best game of your career. There's still a quarter and a half left, go up there and score 20 points!"
"This...this...this..."
Cummings exclaimed in horror, "I cannot do it!"
"If you can't make me a midnight snack tonight, then you don't need to eat anything."
Without saying a word, Wei Guo pulled Cummings up from his seat.
Cummings tentatively asked, "Is there a late-night snack after the game tonight?"
"right!"
Wei Guo nodded, "I'll treat everyone to supper tonight... everyone gets a share, except you... if you want to participate, go up and get 20 points!"
Wei Guo's tone was anything but a joke.
Cummings looked left and right, but no one was willing to speak up for him. He could only walk to the scorer's table and wait for the Suns to inbound the ball from the baseline before substituting Johnson.
"Pass the ball to me as soon as you get it..."
"Pass the ball to me as soon as you get it..."
"Pass the ball to me as soon as you get it..."
"Pass the ball to me as soon as you get it..."
Cummings gave instructions to each of his teammates. Although the game had entered garbage time and the Mavericks were mostly playing off the bench, and no one would be playing seriously, scoring 20 points in just over ten minutes was still quite difficult.
......
There are 4 minutes and 27 seconds left in the third quarter!
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Johnson exclaimed excitedly, "Cummings's in! Charge!"
Barkley was annoyed. "Could someone have leaked our bet to Cummings...? This is cheating!"
Johnson scoffed, "Players and coaches don't use their phones during games, you know that... These spectators on the sidelines, they're watching the game live, they can't watch it on TV, you just can't afford to play along."
"Who says I can't take a joke..."
Barkley rolled his eyes. "Even in garbage time, scoring 20 points in a quarter is something a benchwarmer like Cummings can't do."
......
The Suns are on offense, and Jackson dribbles past midcourt to find Cummings.
Cummings receives the ball beyond the three-point line...
Terry gave Cummings a free pass, practically giving up the game, and his defense was also very casual.
"You look down on me that much?!"
Cummings blew on his bangs, shrugged, and launched a long-range three-pointer.
"Whoosh!!!"
The basketball went into the net.
81:52!!
The Suns lead by 29 points.
Before Wei Guo left the game, the Suns led by 20 points, but before Cummings entered the game, the Mavericks scored 4 straight points to narrow the gap to 26 points.
Goal!
Commentator Johnson exclaimed excitedly, "If Cummings can maintain this form and hit six more three-pointers, I believe you can set a new career playoff scoring record tonight."
Prior to this...
Cummings' career playoff scoring record of 11 points was set in the previous game.
The Mavericks didn't think much of Cummings' score; they had already given up on the game, especially since Cummings had just made a very long three-pointer from a step beyond the three-point line.
He dribbled the ball slowly across the frontcourt...
After several passes, Dampier scored a basket under the rim.
The Suns quickly inbounded the ball from the baseline!
Cummings had already run forward when Richardson delivered a long pass to him. Facing the recovering Daniels, Cummings broke through on the right and scored during the challenge.
"nice shot!!!"
Stoudemire jumped up, waving a towel, "Nice!!!"
This layup was not only decisive but also executed with skill. He didn't lose his balance after the mid-air collision and steadily put the ball into the basket.
In the next few minutes...
The Suns players kept setting up Cummings on the court. Even when Cummings missed a shot, Marion and Lampe would help him grab the rebound, and once they got an offensive rebound, they would immediately go for Cummings.
The third quarter passed quickly...
The Mavericks didn't put in their best defensive effort either; in four minutes, Cummings scored 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting.
Barkley suddenly started to panic!
The entire team was setting up Cummings for the ball, and apart from Cummings, the other four players didn't take a single shot. The Suns were clearly throwing the game at him.
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Barkley started throwing a tantrum, shouting, "This was clearly a pre-arranged deal between you and the Suns! This bet doesn't count!"
"You're refusing to admit defeat..."
Johnson scoffed, "Do you think the National Guard would be so bored as to play such petty tricks on me?"
Johnson's words were very skillful. He didn't mention Cummings or Gentry, but instead mentioned Wei Guo... Wei Guo is the best player in the league, and there are many rumors that Wei Guo is a super rich second-generation. After all, in his first year in the league, before he even started earning a salary, he bought a luxury villa in Philadelphia.
Putting aside his status as a rich second-generation... Wei Guo's annual salary is also over 50 million!
Johnson's inability to reach Wei Guo's level indicates that Wei Guo will not play such pointless tricks with him.
In fact...
During halftime, Johnson made a bet with Barkley that Cummings hadn't come on the court the minute after Wei Guo left the field, and Johnson's despairing expression was something he couldn't fake.
Throwing tantrums and rolling on the ground was useless; Barkley could only pray that Akka would stop soon, as there were many people outside that Akka couldn't afford to offend.
......
At the start of the fourth quarter, Mavericks head coach Johnson first looked at the Suns' bench.
Cummings is going to play again...
Head coach Johnson's face darkened. The Suns were being unfair; substituting their starters was tantamount to giving up the game, yet they had a player on the court racking up points!
This is an insult to them... Head coach Johnson was furious and put Stackhouse and Finley on the field!
Even if they concede defeat, they still have to teach the Suns a lesson!
The Mavericks are on offense!
Cummings and Stackhouse were matched up. Finley had an open shot but didn't take it. Instead, he passed the ball to Stackhouse, saying, "Go one-on-one with him! Let him know how good you are!"
"Old Jin..."
Nash said worriedly, "The other team is starting to target Cummings. Should we substitute him?"
As everyone has noticed, allowing a player to rack up points during garbage time is an insult to the opponent. Scoring a dozen or so points is one thing, but if Cummings scores over 20 points during garbage time, it will inevitably provoke the opponent's anger.
Gentry said nonchalantly, "No need... just let Cummings play. He can take fewer shots. He already has 11 points, and it's easy for him to score another 9 in a quarter."
Since we're rivals, let's not hold back!
This is the playoffs...
Stackhouse chose the most ruthless way to isolate Cummings, starting with a back-to-the-basket move from the three-point line, gradually pushing Cummings to the basket, knocking him away, and then Stackhouse jumped up for a dunk.
*Smack!!!*
Richardson came over and swatted away Stackhouse's dunk!
If you want to teach Cummings a lesson... you'll have to watch Richardson's mood... no one can bully Cummings if Richardson doesn't agree!
After being blocked by Richardson, Stackhouse shoved Richardson in the chest!
He swung his fist...
Stackhouse is about to beat Richardson up.
The Mavericks were really getting desperate. Finley and Daniels rushed over, not to break up the fight, but to help Stackhouse... They seemed like sore losers. Fortunately, head coach Johnson was very agitated and stood on the sidelines yelling, "Stop it, you bastards! Do you want to get suspended?"
The chaos at the scene lasted for a short while.
The referee separated the players, ending the conflict, but at the cost of a technical foul for both Stackhouse and Finley.
......
Barkley saw no hope.
......
Cummings took the technical foul free throw and made both shots.
after...
Cummings didn't go too far, sinking two three-pointers and making a layup to reach 21 points before ceasing his offensive efforts.
In the final minutes of the fourth quarter, both teams' players strolled around the court as if taking a walk.
"Beep!!!"
The whistle blew, and the game ended.
117:76!!
The Suns defeated the Mavericks by 41 points.
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