The invincible kryptonite of basketball

After the game, the two sides had a final handshake.

Tang Tian chatted with Popovich for a while, and hugged Ginobili for a long time.

Including when Duncan came to the two later, the three chatted for a long time.

Time is really the most lethal thing in the world.

Back in 2011, Tang Tian entered the league and went to San Antonio.

At that time, Tang Tian was still a young boy with a green face, Duncan was still the No. 21 rookie, and Ginobili still had strength despite his old age.

But in less than 7 years, Duncan has retired, Ginobili also bid farewell to the NBA stage, and Tang Tian has become No.1 in the league.

If it is not on the field but in a bar or coffee shop, the three of them can really chat all night.

After the game, the Spurs held a post-match press conference, and Ginobili and Popovich attended the conference together.

"I'm going to end my career, I've played my last game as an NBA player."

Ginobili did not wait until August to announce as in history, but announced it directly after the game.

He did this because he had made a decision long ago, and it was also because it would give the Spurs more room to operate in the summer.

This summer, James, Durant, George, Butler, Paul, Walker, Jokic...

This list alone is enough to tell it's bound to be a crazy summer.

The Spurs were swept away, and Leonard's recovery from injury is still unknown, and they may have reached the time to break up.

Popovich didn't say anything on the sidelines, he should have known the news in advance.

However, his expression was still somewhat uncontrollably sad.

People who are almost 70 years old will bid farewell to Duncan on the NBA stage, then farewell to Ginobili, and maybe Parker after that.

These his most beloved disciples have been following him since they entered the league until they finally retired. It is impossible to say that they have no feelings.

"He's the best shooting guard I've ever coached and I would suggest to San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg that we make it Manu Ginobili Day and we'll always remember what he did for the city contribution."

Popovich spoke directly in front of the media.

Generally, this date is announced after the fact. Popovich said this in advance is unique, but it is also in line with his personality.

"But don't be sentimental, I'm sure Manu will be back soon."

Popovich's next words made the reporters in the audience puzzled for a while.

"Because there will be a jersey retirement ceremony for him soon."

The reporters in the audience were amused.

This way of speaking is still so skinny, but at such a sad moment, it makes people feel very heartwarming.

"Don scored 35 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in this game. He ended the game. Do you have anything to say to him? As a former teammate?"

The FOX reporter asked Ginobili a question related to Tang Tian.

"If he doesn't win the championship, I will kick his ass hard."

Ginobili's answer was unexpected, but it also showed the intimate relationship between the two.

This is only among friends who would talk like this in public.

The Pelicans swept the Spurs to advance first, and their opponent in the second round was the winner between the Rockets and the Trail Blazers.

After the Rockets defeated the Trail Blazers in Game [-], it also became the most intense game in the Western Conference.

Who will win in the end, and when the Pelicans will start the second round is unknown.

But fortunately, Stevens had expected it long ago and arranged the training routine to the full.

His thinking is very clear, regardless of whether the Rockets or the Trail Blazers win in the end, the game will be more difficult than the first round.

Maintaining a good competitive state is the best way to prepare.

Time flies, and a week passed in a blink of an eye. After a fierce fight, the opponent of the Pelicans was finally confirmed.

In the tiebreaker, the Trail Blazers relied on Lillard's lore goal to eliminate the Rockets 4-3 and advance to the second round!

This result is a big surprise, but it is also expected when you think about it.

Lillard's state this season is the same as Walker's last season, both are personal peaks.

Coupled with Anthony's good integration, and the Rockets' own problems.

Everything that is unreasonable is reasonable after final analysis.

For the Pelicans, the second round also looks like a challenge for them.

The Trail Blazers were one of the only two opponents the Pelicans lost in the regular season.

Although it was due to Tang Tian's absence, after Tang Tian came back, the Blazers also led them by 10 points at halftime.

Although it was Tom Benson who died at that time, the Blazers had a lot of luck on both occasions.

But luck is also part of strength.

In terms of opportunities, combined with these, the Blazers' chances of winning in the hands of the Pelicans must be greater than that of the Rockets.

The first thousand and 130 chapters nine of Dan Fagan's accidental death (1/5! Ask for a monthly ticket!)

The Pelicans and Trail Blazers are the last set of semifinal matchups.

Before that, the first round of matches had all ended, and even the second round had already started.

On the west side, in another group, the Mavericks eliminated the Jazz 4-1, and the Warriors eliminated the Thunder 4-2. The two teams met in the second round.

Before the Pelicans and Trail Blazers, their first contest has ended, and the Mavericks lost 103 to 106 to the Warriors.

In the east, after the Cavaliers swept the Magic 4-0, they waited for a while and ushered in the Nets who won the tiebreaker.

The game between the two teams will be played on the same day as the game between the Pelicans and the Trail Blazers.

In the other group of semifinals, the Bucks swept the Heat 4-0, the Raptors defeated the Pacers 4-2, and the Bucks and Raptors met on a narrow road.

The first match between the two teams has also ended. The Bucks finally defeated the Raptors 108 to 91 and continued their strong performance.

Playing at this pace, the Eastern Conference finals between them and the Cavaliers is exciting.

In case the Bucks really win, the Pelicans will play this skeptical opponent abused by them in the Finals.

However, the semifinals in the East and West regions have just started, and it is still too early to say these things.

The same is true for the Pelicans. The Trail Blazers have been in good shape since the All-Star break and have improved to a higher level in the playoffs.

To win the championship and complete the three consecutive championship dynasties, this is the opponent they must defeat at present.

And it is the opponent they want to defeat with a complete victory, or to say sweep.

The first game of the semifinals will be played in New Orleans.

The day before the game, the Trail Blazers flew to New Orleans just two days after the tiebreaker.

And they started training very soon after arriving.

This also attracted the attention of a large number of media reporters.

The Trail Blazers' training lasted two hours. The first half hour was closed, and the second half hour was open to the public.

After the training was over, the reporters swarmed up and surrounded the Trail Blazers coach Stotts and the team's core Lillard.

"Damien, some people say that the Rockets should have appeared on this field, and you beat them to come here by luck. What do you think?"

The reporter who took the lead in asking questions was from FOX, and the questions were quite aggressive.

"But we're the ones standing here now, aren't we?"

Lillard has an inexplicable domineering tone when he speaks.

"This is the NBA, luck can help you appear in the playoffs, but luck can't help you beat the Rockets."

What Lillard said next prevented the reporter from even asking.

This kind of momentum is exactly the same as what he showed on the court, something in his bones.

"Is the team confident of beating the Pelicans tomorrow night?"

ESPN reporter asked a more conventional question.

"Yes, but we must go all out. We all know how strong the Pelicans are, but no matter how strong the opponent is, we have confidence."

Lillard's answer is neither arrogant nor humble, and he is really charming.

"We all know that Don chose you to join his team during the All-Star Game. To be precise, he chose you between you and George. Will that experience affect your state tonight?"

A reporter from TNT asked a more interesting topic.

"Yes, that's interesting, he believed in me, and I repaid his trust with my performance in the All-Star Game. That experience will inspire me, and I will play a better performance in the game tomorrow night."

Unlike Green and Whiteside, Lillard is really positive and positive.

This kind of answer also made the fans look forward to tomorrow night's game, because it sounds like a real game between men.

The Pelicans also arranged daily training today, but it was fully enclosed.

Stevens wants the players to be on edge before the game.

After all, they had rested for nearly a week after the first round.

This day's training ended, Tang Tian was just about to drive back to the manor when he received a call from Carl.

What Carl said was concise and to the point, but he paused for a while after listening.

Dan Fagan.

His agent was in a car accident and died.

Although Fei Gen was relatively greedy for money, he never crossed the line after being beaten several times by Tang Tian.

As his agent, he has worked hard for 7 years and can be said to be the person he trusts the most outside his team.

But now he died in a car accident.

The news was really sudden. Before, Benson was seriously ill and could die at any time, but Fagen was alive and well.

This is really the same as that saying, tomorrow or accident, you never know which will come first.

After hanging up the phone, Tang Tian greeted Olson and Stevens, and then drove directly to the airport.

Carl was already there waiting for him.

Fagan was involved in a car accident in Los Angeles, and his family members are all there now, so he had to go to express condolences in person.

It was already past 9 o'clock at night when Tang Tian arrived.

Fagan's family is still in the hospital.

Seeing Tang Tian coming, Fei Gen's wife was very surprised. Although her eyes were red and swollen, she came over to thank Tang Tian.

Tang Tian also comforted them for a long time.

In addition to Fagan, his 5-year-old son is also being rescued in the operating room.

Money, as a well-known agent in the NBA, Fagan is not lacking, especially after becoming his agent.

Tang Tian asked Carl to contact some famous local doctors in Los Angeles, and his team still has a wide network of contacts in this area.

It was already past 11 o'clock at night when I came out of the hospital in Los Angeles.

There was no flight back to New Orleans, and they planned to go back the next morning.

Tang Tian took a shower, changed his clothes, and called Carl to his room.

Fagan's death was sudden, and the timing was troublesome.

The playoffs have already reached the division semifinals, and after the division finals and the finals, it is the offseason.

The offseason is a time of rest for players, but it is the busiest time for agents.

Before that came, Tang Tian had to finalize the matter of the new manager first.

"I'm going to let you be my new agent."