After the first game of the Western Conference finals, the Mavericks led the Grizzlies 1-0. If you count from the first round, this is already the sixth straight win of the Mavericks in the playoffs.

To be able to win six in a row in a miserable playoff game is enough to say how terrifyingly dominant a team is. The Mavericks have now become a big hit in the West, and all the TV shows and basketball experts are analyzing them. Now some people have begun to think that the Mavericks' strength is above the Heat Big Three.

Nowitzki looked at these reports, not to mention how happy he was. For so many years, he has been called a "soft egg" by people, and the Mavericks have always been considered a "pseudo-strong team". Didn't fans joke that the NBA has the illusion that there are three Texas majors? The Spurs are old, the Rockets are strong, and the Mavericks are weak.

In most people's eyes, the Mavericks are a "weak team". They may have been good in the regular season, but the championship has never had anything to do with them.

But now, seeing the complete reversal of public opinion, Dirk feels particularly gratified.

In 2006, Nowitzki entered his peak, facing the Heat in the finals, the Mavericks won the first two games, and led by 13 points in the last 6 minutes of the third game, but they were reversed by Wade in four consecutive games and lost the championship.

At the end of Game 6 of the Finals, then-Heat coach Pat Brown. Riley slammed the tactical board: "They're a soft-egg team!" You are stronger than them! You'll make it to the end! ”

After this passage was published, it has always made Dirk angry.

In 2007, the Mavericks made a comeback with a team-best 67 wins, and Nowitzki was named the regular season MVP. However, in the playoffs, in the face of the "Golden State Gang" with a stormy offense, Dirk was completely lost, causing the team to become the background of the "Black Eight Miracle".

The first-round exit left the dashable German emotionally out of control, leaving a hole of shame in the tunnel wall of the Oracle Arena. A week later, when he came to the stage to accept the award, he was even more smiling and heartbroken. So far, the title of "soft egg" has always been with Dirk.

But Dirk never gave up on proving himself, and after the loss, he began to practice his back-to-back skills frantically, eager to rise from the trough. Dirk knows very well that in this league, you have to play until the end of the game. You can be 20 points behind, but you have to fight. You don't know what's going to happen next, all you can do is play hard!

Thinking of the tribulations that had passed, Dirk cherished the opportunity now. But the German may not have imagined that his opponents also advocate a truth - play hard and never give up!

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Just one day later, on May 19, the NBA Western Conference Finals were back in flames.

Today, U.S. route centers are still overcrowded. Mavericks fans donned blue T-shirts, and the entire stands seemed to turn into a churning ocean. Fans here are looking forward to seeing the Mavericks take a 2-0 lead at home and to seeing the unstoppable Dallas Cowboys continue to win at home.

But today, it was not the Mavericks who showed up on the court to warm up first, but the Grizzlies, who were slaughtered like bears in the last game.

And judging by the Grizzlies' mental state, they don't seem to be stressed at all.

"These guys, just bluffing."

"yes, yes, see how long they can hold out."

"The Spurs and the Thunder are too old and the other too young. It was pure luck that the grizzly bears were able to defeat them. ”

"Like, do they really think they can win in Dallas? I reckon we could also sweep the Grizzlies 4-0 in this round. ”

"That's natural, isn't it possible that the Grizzlies are better than the defending champion Lakers?"

Mavericks fans were talking, but the words were full of mockery. The big win in the last game made them extremely arrogant.

Moments later, Mavericks players and reporters entered. Nowitzki looked at Link, who was desperately warming up, and couldn't help but laugh. It's good that young people are motivated, but sometimes, you have to recognize the difference in strength.

Dirk texted Link just to motivate him to get rid of the Spurs. But the Germans never imagined that Link and the Grizzlies would win against the Mavericks.

Before the start of the competition, journalists have free time to interview. There's no doubt that Link, who was recently selected as the Rookie of the Year and has been compared to Wall and Griffin, has become the most popular Grizzlies player among reporters.

"Link, you said Maverick yesterday that you were making things more difficult for yourself. But many people in the outside world think that you are actually finished, and you are just hard-mouthed. What's your response to that? ”

An ESPN reporter brought out the hottest topic.

Link's eyes were unwavering, "We still have breath, we're not done yet." ”

Ten minutes later, when Dirk learned that Link had answered reporters, the German was stunned.

No...... He's just a rookie, he can't be that strong.

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During the jump ball stage, the Mavericks players were a little smug. And on the grizzly bear's side, everyone seems to have fire in their eyes!

However, most Mavericks players still didn't care, because the last game had made them think they had completely figured out the difference in strength between the two sides.

In their opinion, the Grizzlies could never win. The Grizzlies were able to win the first two rounds, mainly because Randolph blocked the gods. But this round of the series, Dirk is even more divine than Randolph!

"Cheer up guys, we've got to bite to the end!"

Before jumping the ball, Randolph yelled at all the Grizzlies players. Looking at the fierce appearance of the Grizzlies, some Mavericks fans even wanted to laugh.

How? Do you think you can win by squeezing your eyebrows? This is competitive sports, and strength speaks here!

The referee blew the whistle and Tyson. Chandler was nimble and jumped high to get the first basketball for the Mavericks. In terms of athleticism, Gasol Jr. is indeed inferior to the "boxing champion". From the jump ball, the Mavericks didn't intend for the Grizzlies to win!

"The Mavericks took the lead in attacking, and in the last game, the Grizzlies were buried under the Mavericks' terrible offensive wave. Let's see what kind of defense the Grizzlies will come up with today! ”

Kidd possessed the ball past half court and directed his teammates' movements. Nowitzki arrived early in the game, intending to play Randolph as soon as he started.

But today, Randolph's defense was extremely rough. First of all, he couldn't give Dirk too easy a chance to catch the ball, and second, he couldn't let him turn around and shoot easily.

Nowitzki is 2.13 meters tall, which is already a head taller than Randolph at 2.06 meters. In addition, the shot point of the Golden Rooster's independent retreat is quite high, and it is not easy to be disturbed. So, as long as Dirk starts shooting, Randolph is basically out of line. That's why, in the last game, Dirk scored 48 points on 15 shots.

Therefore, today Randolph said nothing that would make Dirk turn around easily. But Kidd didn't care about that, he believed in Dirk's abilities.

In the end, the Mavericks attacked first, and Kidd still chose to hoist the ball inside!

As soon as Dirk received the ball, he was pushed outward, and his center of gravity became a little unstable. Seeing Randolph defending himself like this, Nowitzki turned around and broke through after making a decision, holding the ball and attacking the basket!

As soon as he said it, Dirk suddenly turned around nimbly, turning the back basket into a frame with Randolph as the axis.

But Nowitzki had just run out of the way and didn't take two steps, only to find Link suddenly jump out, step on the edge of the reasonable collision zone, and just block Dirk's way!

Nowitzki is so big and weighy, it's not like a small man just stops when he says it's urgent. In such a sudden situation, Dirk and Link collided together, and the impact was not small!

Link just felt as if he had been hit by a truck, and Novitzki wasn't the kind of player who played on his body. But as an NBA-level insider, rushing up and hitting you like this is enough to drink a pot.

Link fell straight off the bottom line and into the pile of reporters. Link really wishes he was playing in the NCAA now, because in NCAA games, the bottom line is usually not a journalist, but a sweet cheerleader......

"Toot toot!" The referee's hurried whistle sounded, and Dirk. Nowitzki offensive foul! Suddenly, the global pavilion booed.

However, Mike. Brin still applauded Link's performance, "There's no doubt that it's an offensive foul, and Link's stance is very chicken-thief, right on the edge of the reasonable collision zone." Even if it's just a small step in, it's a defensive foul! The foul was not accidental, it was deliberately made by Link. It seems that today, the Grizzlies intend to use the power of the team to contain Dirk! ”

On the court, Nowitzki was not so grumpy, he just thought that Link kid was very smart, and the timing of the foul was very unexpected.

And Dirk did hit hard just now, and he was worried about whether Link who flew out was in serious trouble.

As a result, Link didn't ask anyone for help, and got up on his own without even frowning.

He said to himself as he got up, "I really have to gain weight this summer, and I've been knocked off every time!" ”

Dirk was a little surprised, he knew exactly how strong he had just been. It's impossible to be hit for a moment, and there is no.

It seems that today, the grizzly bear is really going to be ruthless. Link's attitude has shown the Grizzlies' determination today!

"Interesting." Dirk laughed and began to retreat, and Link's foul made helped the Grizzlies win the offensive ball, and the Grizzlies would have a chance to score first.

A fierce battle has officially kicked off.