NBA: I am the card dealer

Chapter 222 The end of the regular season

The monstrous storm outside did not hit the Heat.

That night.

The Heat announced the signing of Bill Walker and Michael Beasley on 10-day short contracts.

The former was obtained from the NBDL, and the latter was successfully gold-plated from the CBA.

Both of them have one thing in common. They have excellent physical fitness and amazing jumping. They were once talented.

It can be regarded as a supplement to the front line and inside line, and it is more suitable for the current Heat. When pushing the fast break, both of them can come in handy.

But both of them have some mental problems, hot tempers, perverse and weird personalities.

Fortunately for Beasley, as an old man of the Heat, his temperament has changed a lot over the years.

When Xue Liancheng met the two of them for the first time, they were quite polite.

There is no way to be rude. As temporary workers, if they want to stay with the Heat, the first person they cannot offend is undoubtedly the star.

The Heat gave them the opportunity to return to the NBA this time, and they naturally cherished it.

After finishing the game with the Cavaliers.

The Heat only have one day off, and they are also at the American Airlines Center to meet the challenge from the Portland Trail Blazers.

Batum's departure did cause the Blazers' connection problems for a short time, but they quickly adjusted and their performance in recent times has been better.

Ok……

Even better than when Batum was here.

reason?

Batum's organizational tasks have been taken over by Lillard, and the extremely inefficient Batum has been abandoned, which is an improvement to the Blazers' overall offense.

Although the traded Sean Williams was useless, the effect of throwing away the shock absorbers that hindered their offense was surprisingly good.

Currently 43 wins and 22 losses, still ranking fourth in the Western Conference.

However, compared with the Heat's record of 53 wins and 13 losses, there is still a cliff-like gap.

The game was very intense, with both sides going back and forth without giving in. The intensity of the fight was comparable to the playoff level.

The score has not been opened, and no one can do anything about it.

Until the very last moment.

Xue Liancheng scored three points in a row and assisted his teammates to score three points before finally clinching the victory.

The final score was fixed at 110:104.

薛连城18投10中，三分球8中4，罚球8中7，狂砍下31分13助攻，引领球队再下一城。

The MVP's style is clearly visible, especially in the last three rounds, which directly ended the game and made the Blazers' efforts throughout the game in vain.

In this game, Wade had an extremely strong desire to attack. He took 26 shots and hit 13 of them, with a shooting percentage of 32%. He scored 6 points, plus 4 assists and rebounds. His performance was also very good.

The two guns in the backcourt showed top offensive firepower, making the Blazers lose sight of one thing.

Ibaka and Gasol both rested, and Marcus Morris and Beasley took over as starters. The former scored 15 points and 8 rebounds, and the latter performed averagely, with 7 points and 5 rebounds.

Batum also scored 12 points and made 10 of 5 shots, showing his old team what he can do: he's not that bad.

The pioneers here.

Aldridge showed off his power, making 24 of 15 shots, scoring 35 points and 12 rebounds. His skillful low post skills and super soft mid-range touch gave people the feeling that he could shoot no matter how hard he shot, and he was completely unstoppable.

Even if he is double-teamed, Aldridge can quickly complete a straight-arm shot, completely breaking the Heat's double-team strategy.

Lillard made 13 of 7 shots and scored 17 points and 7 assists. His performance was quite good and he was a qualified second-in-command performance.

Although Lillard is already quite good now, the Trail Blazers at this time still belong to Aldridge's team.

New aid Afflalo hit 4 three-pointers and scored 15 points. He was the key figure for the Blazers to hold on to the score.

CJ McCollum is still a little transparent now. He came off the bench for 14 minutes, made 5 of 2 shots, 3 of 0 three-pointers, and only scored a pitiful 4 points.

After the game against the Trail Blazers, the Heat ushered in another eight-game winning streak, with a lot of momentum and the potential to swallow up mountains and rivers.

Next.

The Heat once again defeated the Denver Nuggets, a team that has been weak this season.

Although Pork Belly Jokic was selected by the Nuggets this season, he has not yet landed in the NBA, so the current Nuggets are still full of chaos.

Another nine-game winning streak.

But before Heat fans had time to rejoice, it came to an abrupt end.

Because they were defeated by Thunder.

Westbrook was mighty and domineering, scoring 22 points and 17 assists, leading the Thunder, who lacked Du Shubao, to end the Heat's nine-game winning streak.

This result is quite unexpected.

But for the Heat, it's acceptable.

Because with only 13 games left, the Heat have basically secured No. in the Eastern Conference.

The Heat's current record is 55 wins and 14 losses, while the Hawks' record is 51 wins and 18 losses. There is a difference of four wins. If there are no accidents, the Hawks will not be able to catch up.

Even the battle for the top spot with the Golden State Warriors still failed to determine the winner.

The Golden State Warriors are also 55 wins and 14 losses, the existence of Niu Dingtian.

The record of the two sides playing against each other is 1 win and 1 loss, but in the battles in their respective divisions, the Heat have the advantage, so they are still the first in the league.

but……

Who among them will be number one in the league will never be determined until the last minute.

Because both sides are so fierce.

There is a feeling of being invincible and sweeping everything.

But relatively speaking, the Heat's schedule is more difficult. The Bucks, Celtics, Hornets, Spurs, Cavaliers, Eagles, Pacers, Bulls, and Raptors are nine teams that are either at the playoff level or competing for seasons. The places in the playoffs are not easy to deal with.

of course.

On the other hand, if they meet the Heat at the end of the season, it will be even more of a disaster.

The results are obvious.

The Heat remained strong and swept all the way.

First kill the stag, then the celt, then again the eagle.

That's right!

Kill three eagles.

This means that the first place in the Eastern Conference has been completely settled.

It also verified what Xue Liancheng said: the Eagles are not their competitors for the top spot in the league.

This time.

No one is stubborn anymore.

All the Eagle generals also shut up. Budenholzer's bold words could only be regarded as howling, which was very embarrassing.

Even if I don't respect you, you can't say anything.

Because it has become an established fact.

You really can’t beat them, what can you say?

No matter how much you say, it is useless.

The Eagles still have the same problem. Once there is a problem with team coordination, no one will step forward to pull the team out of the quagmire.

In the end they lost by 7 points.

not much……

But just lost, there is no excuse at all.

The Heat did not stop, and once again overturned the Pistons and defeated the Spurs. March ended.

This is the end.

The Heat have only the last eight games left in the regular season this season.

In the first game in April, they will go to Cleveland to challenge the Cavaliers again.

This is also the fourth and last time they have played against each other this season.

This game is extremely important for the Cavaliers. It is related to whether they can maintain the third position in the Eastern Conference.

until now.

The Cavaliers have 46 wins and 29 losses, still ranked third.

The Bulls have 44 wins and 30 losses, still ranked fourth in the Eastern Conference.

There is only 1.5 wins between the two sides.

If the Cavaliers lose, the number of losses will also reach 30, and third place will be in jeopardy.

Besides.

The Raptors have 43 wins and 31 losses, not far behind the Cavaliers. If they are not careful, the Cavaliers may fall to fifth place.

If it falls to fifth place, it will be really thunderous!

Not only is the home court advantage gone in the first round, but if you go past the first round, you will have to go head-to-head with the Heat in the second round.

This is definitely not an ideal ranking.

and so.

Now the battle for the three teams to get stuck has completely entered a fierce battle.

If you lose a game, the result will be another matter.

No one can afford to lose.

But it's also important to the Heat.

wrong……

It should be very important to Xue Liancheng.

Now they are the same as the Warriors' losses, and their record is very tight. Whoever wins one more game will temporarily rank first in the league.

If anyone loses, he will be completely reduced to a lower position, and his destiny is no longer under his control.

and so.

For Xue Liancheng, there is no room for error.

result.

When the appearance ceremony was going on, he was stunned for a moment.

James and Irving both missing the game?

That's right.

He didn't hear the DJ calling their names.

In other words, the Cavaliers voluntarily gave up the game.

This result was beyond his expectation.

But he soon figured it out.

The Cavaliers' strategy is to let go of this game and reserve enough physical energy for the final tough fight with the Bulls in the next game.

This is indeed a very good retreat as an advance strategy.

Because the game against the Heat will definitely be a bloody battle, there is no doubt about it.

It’s okay to win.

If he loses, he will face the Bulls in the next game. He has no physical strength and no condition. Wouldn't it be like being unable to pick up sesame seeds and losing watermelons?

What's more...

What is their probability of winning?

No one can guarantee that.

It's better to save all your energy and physical strength for the next game.

After all, the next game against the Bulls is the game that will determine the fate of the Cavaliers. One game is worth two...

Won.

There is a high probability of securing the third position.

Lost.

Then the third place changed hands.

This is a game worthy of their hard work.

As for whether James is timid?

I do not know.

might have……

Because the next game against the Bulls is two days after the Heat's game against the Cavaliers, and it's not a back-to-back game, it doesn't seem to have any impact on preparations for the Bulls, right?

or maybe not...

After all, Irving is also on a truce. It is necessary to study the weaknesses and weaknesses of the Bulls in advance, and then rehearse the tactics to crack them. It is understandable to allow enough time to prepare for the battle.

Anyway...

No one has the answer, except James.

After understanding clearly.

Xue Liancheng naturally accepted the great gift from James with a smile, and won the game without bloodshed.

Next came the victory over the Pistons.

At this time, the Golden State Warriors fell off the chain.

They lost to the Spurs 92:107.

in this way……

The Warriors have lost 15 games.

The Heat's losses were still 14 games.

The Heat finally have the capital to splash.

Spoelstra also asked Xue Liancheng to rest.

Xue Liancheng refused this before.

but……

Thinking that the playoffs are about to begin, if you continue to tighten up like this, it will be easy to become over-stressed. In a state of high muscle tightness, strains and injuries may also occur.

Now that he had an advantage, he simply agreed and relaxed first...

result.

Without him, the Heat also suffered a defeat.

And it still failed miserably.

He was beaten by the Pacers with 89:112.

This result was beyond his expectation.

There was no ability to fight back throughout the whole process, the offensive end was disorganized, causing a chain effect, and the defensive end was also full of loopholes.

Without him to guide the offense, no one is very good at playing. It is like being fed every day, and suddenly one day there is no one to feed them, but they only know how to open their mouths and can't even grab chopsticks.

That’s how it feels…

One can imagine how important he is to the current Heat.

Xue Liancheng, who was sitting off the field, didn't know whether to be happy or sad...

But he felt that most people still liked it.

Because the Warriors lost again.

Lost to the Pelicans 100:103.

That's it.

The Warriors have lost 16 games.

The Heat's losses came to 15 games.

With five games left, the Heat's first place in the league is basically secure.

the other side.

The Cavaliers also defeated the Bulls 99:96, completely consolidating their third position.

The Bulls really didn't live up to expectations, and even lost to the Magic of the Fish Belly Team the next day, giving up the third place.

This is the end.

The league's ranking situation is basically settled.

4 month 15 day.

With the end of the last game Golden State Warriors 133:126 Nuggets, the regular season of the 14-15 season finally came to an end.

The Miami Heat successfully defended their No. 67 spot in the league, with an astonishing record of 15 wins and losses.

At the same time, it broke the best record of 12 wins in team history created by the Big Three in the 13-66 season, becoming the new record holder for the best record in team history.

This achievement was something no one would have thought of before the start of the game.

During last year's offseason, the Big Three, which suffered heavy losses in the Finals, fell apart. James left, Wade became senile, Bosh's condition also declined seriously, and most of the team left.

This team doesn't look like a king at all.

Some media even predicted that it would be a huge problem for the Heat to enter the playoffs.

Just so unfavorable...

One can imagine how difficult and bad the Heat's situation was at that time.

But now, they have won a total of 67 games.

67 wins!

This is a number one in the long history of the alliance.

Looking at the entire season, the Heat's strong performance this season can almost be described as devastating.

If there had not been a three-game losing streak during the aftermath of the trade, or if Xue Liancheng had not been injured, the Heat's record would have been unimaginable.

But that's part of the game.

Injuries and trades happen from time to time in the league, and no one can avoid them.

But despite this, they still achieved incredible achievements.

After all the games were over, countless media were praising the Heat, with applause and flowers overwhelming...

"The best record in team history, the Miami Heat are unstoppable this season"

"67 Wins, Crazy Miami Heat"

"Miami, which was looked down upon by the public at the beginning of the season, proved itself with facts"

"Without James, Miami tells the world that they are still the best team in the world"

"In an incredible season, Miami's Big Three will charge for the championship"

"Underestimated by the world?" Miami violently breaks the best record in franchise history》

"Historical-level offensive firepower, destroying the ancients"

"The best defensive team in the league, they deserve 67 wins"

There is no doubt that the Heat are the biggest winners this season.

The second place in the league is the Golden State Warriors. They missed the number one spot in the league by one game.

But their record is equally impressive, with 66 wins and 16 losses.

Such a record is enough to explode in any season.

It's just that they were unlucky. They encountered the same violent Miami Heat, which made the originally shining Warriors pale in an instant.

but……

Their violent three-point rain and the death five small lineup still left a deep impression on the public.

Like the Heat, they can kill their opponents with one stick in an instant, and their offensive firepower is terrifying.

The final ranking of the Eastern Conference has also been determined.

In second place, the Atlanta Hawks have 57 wins and 25 losses.

Originally, according to historical trajectory, their record reached 60 wins, but after being defeated by the Heat for three consecutive games, their record naturally dropped. The results in other games did not seem to have changed much.

But their team basketball this season is still eye-catching, especially during the 19-game winning streak, when the momentum was also very huge.

Third place, Cleveland Cavaliers 50 wins and 32 losses.

When the Big Three were formed in the offseason, people's expectations for it were undoubtedly the highest.

A record of only 50 wins is not something to be proud of, and is even a bit disappointing.

Especially not long after the start of the game, and in the early part of the season, they have experienced a lot of turmoil, and they are the team with the most trade rumors in the league, not even one of them.

The winning rate, which was less than 50% at one time, caused them to experience constant earthquakes.

But they came through and have done just as well since the trade.

only.

James was defeated four times in a row by his old team, the Heat, and was directly swept away, which was quite disappointing.

Even criticized by the public.

He is the number one player in the league, he has just passed the test, and yet he is humiliated by his old club again and again. He really loses his demeanor as the number one player in the league.

Fourth place, Chicago Bulls 47 wins and 35 losses.

At the end of the season, they failed to survive and lost more, which made them lose the best qualifying position.

Butler took over Rose's leadership and became the new generation leader of the Blood Bulls.

It is very surprising that they have achieved this result this season.

In fifth place, the Toronto Raptors have 46 wins and 36 losses.

They were as fierce as a tiger at the start of the season and ranked fifth by the end of the season.

But the backcourt composed of Lowry and DeRozan is still exciting. After all, they have been in a state of decline since Bosh left.

It has now reached the playoffs for two consecutive seasons, which can be considered a perfect completion of the task.

In sixth place, the Washington Wizards have 44 wins and 38 losses.

Wall's season overall is satisfactory.

But compared to Xue Liancheng, it is very disappointing.

However, being able to reach the playoffs can be regarded as completing the task, but this ranking is a bit lower than the prediction at the beginning of the season.

In seventh place, the Milwaukee Bucks have 39 wins and 43 losses.

After trading for McAway, the record has plummeted. There is no doubt that the Bucks have been successful in entering the playoffs this season.

But the process was extremely disappointing.

Fortunately, the team's two rising stars, Antetokounmpo and Middleton, are showing signs of jumping up, which is a consolation.