In the last two minutes of the game, Mike. Malone gave up resistance altogether.

Watching the Pacers' ultimate lineup raving the game on the court, Mike. Malone can't help but ask himself, "How much hope do the Nuggets really have in the playoffs?"

As we all know, the ranking of the regular season does not directly indicate the strength of a team in the playoffs. Because there are many contingencies that affect the outcome of a game, but in a best-of-7 game, fortuitous is undoubtedly minimized. Usually, it's the harder side that wins the series.

And this game undoubtedly made Mike. Malone saw the true strength of the top teams.

When Henson minimized the impact of contingencies such as thin air and the fitness of the players, the Denver Nuggets suddenly ran out of room to fight back.

If it's a best-of-7 match, Mike. Malone really didn't know what to do with Henson. In the same way, if they meet other opponents in the playoffs, will the Nuggets be able to play a performance that matches the rankings?

This is already Mike though. Malone is in his seventh year as head coach, but he's never experienced the playoffs. As a result, he is now extremely anxious. He finally knows how different a real top-level matchup is from the regular season.

The other side will infinitely magnify your shortcomings, such as Henson, who made a big fuss about Jokic running. At the same time, the opponent will quickly resolve the difficulties that arise in front of them.

Played against the Pacers for Mike. Malone's playoff debut was a wake-up call. If he is eliminated early despite the top three rankings in the West, he believes that he will definitely be drowned in the saliva of the media.

When Mike. When Malone was thinking about these things, the game was over. 118-109, the Nuggets still didn't let the Pacers stretch the margin to double digits in the end.

But sometimes, losing one point and losing ten points will result in the same thing. After this game, the Denver Nuggets officially fell out of the first place in the West. And Henson has proven to the world that defending Jokic doesn't have to be to thwart him in the low post. You can even play a center forward in the high post.

Of course, the most surprising thing is the versatility of Henson's ultimate lineup.

Playing the Rockets, Henson can use the ultimate lineup against the Houstoners. Playing the Nuggets, Henson can use the same lineup but do defensive things.

During the regular season, Henson had yet to use this lineup on a large scale. When the playoffs start and Henson uses the ultimate lineup for a long time, God knows how strong the Pacers will be.

So after the game, Mike. Malone also praised his opponent again and again.

"Is it embarrassing to lose at home, no, I wouldn't use the word embarrassing because that's an insult to the Pacers. The Pacers played very well today, and Coach Henson's scheduling was also very timely. They deserved to be the defending champions. ”

Mike. Ma Long's words all reveal his admiration for Henson. In the West, where there are many strong people, the Nuggets have faced countless strong opponents. But there hasn't been a team that has made Mike. Malone was so convinced.

Now, even many reporters who were not optimistic that the walkers would be able to complete the trip to the west safely at first began to get nervous.

Even the Nuggets, who are number one in the West, are on their knees, can other teams really stop the Pacers

And if this trip to the West Pacers can't be stopped, then Henson's third 70-win season is a sure thing!

When a person is about to accomplish something that no one has ever done before, the masses are always terrified.

Now, the eyes of the world are on the Pacers. How Henson will leave the NBA has become a topic of concern across the league.

"The Nuggets are not invincible. I'm not surprised that the Pacers can beat the Nuggets. So, even if they just beat the Denver Nuggets, they won't necessarily be able to win in Portland. Don't worry, I'll take care of everything. After all, we're one of the few teams that have beaten the Pacers this season. ”

After the battle against the Nuggets, the game will naturally go to Portland. Over there, Lillard's leader's trailblazer, the Marquis Walker, arrived. He's full of confidence because the Pacers' first loss this season came to the Trail Blazers.

As we all know, Lillard has always been a man of the most vocal and outspoken people. The most famous of these was in 2017, when Lillard said that he would lead the team to solve the Warriors in six games.

As a result, after only four games, Lillard changed his tune: "It's hard to accept being swept, but the Warriors have shown the quality of a championship team." ”

And the game between the Pacers and the Trail Blazers on March 18 became the second classic face-slapping moment of Lillard's career.

With C.J. McCollum injured, the Trail Blazers are now largely a single-core team. So Henson followed the example of the Pelicans last season, laid defensive traps for Lillard, and resolutely used a trap tactic against him.

In the four playoff games between the Trail Blazers and Pelicans last season, Lillard shot 35.2 percent from the field, shot just 30 percent from three-point range, and dished out 19 assists and committed 16 turnovers in four games.

What's even more embarrassing is that in the regular season, Lillard can easily get 26.9+4.5+6.6 data in 36.6 minutes per game, and in the playoffs, he averages 18.5+4.5 data per game, which is one-third less. Originally, there was not much difference in strength between the two sides, but Lillard was stunned and turned himself into the weakness of the team!

So last season, the Pelicans easily swept the Trail Blazers and easily advanced.

Today, Henson is following the gourd, modeled after the Pelicans' defense last season.

Cover after wrapping, that's why the Pelicans beat the Trail Blazers last season. Normally, two defenders don't stay together after a pick-and-roll, and one of them is bound to leave. For example, when the smaller man catches up with the attacker after the pick-and-roll, the big man who assists in the defense usually leaves.

But the Pelicans' strategy is that the big man still doesn't leave, continues to pinch Lillard, forcing him to play. And the Pacers players resolutely executed this tactic, making Lillard have to pass to his teammates every time he had the ball.

As a result, Lillard only scored 13 points in the game. He had 8 assists and 6 turnovers! With 6 turnovers in a single game, it was a rollover scene for a No. 1 position.

Before the game, Lillard said he would take care of everything.

After the game, in a press conference, Lillard cried and said, "Their defense is something I haven't seen in my previous career. ”

Henson smiled, Lillard this guy is really thick-faced. However, these two slaps in the face between himself and the Warriors should make Lillard settle down a little in the future.

In this way, the bloody Pioneers were also defeated by Henson. And, in the words of the media, "Lillard was almost beaten to tears." ”

With three Western Conference losses in a row, people are nervous about the Pacers' growing number of wins.

On March 19, the Pacers had some trouble with the Clippers, who were strong and weak when they were weak. Six of the Clippers scored in double figures, among them, Monterey. Harrell scored 20 points off the bench and became the x-factor of the game.

It has to be said that the Los Angeles Clippers are a team with a high ceiling.

But without a superstar, the Clippers ended up losing in a couple of crucial rounds in the final moments.

After the game, the general manager of the Clippers, "Logo Man" Jerry. Westto said, "Henson is the most amazing coach I've ever seen, he's not in the face of danger and he's always deadly in the final moments. It's a shame he won't be able to play next season. ”

There aren't many coaches who can get praise from West, and Henson has been greatly recognized.

In this way, from the beginning of Westbrook's Thunder to the Clippers, who went crazy and even killed the Warriors, they were wiped out by a "snap of his fingers" from Henson.

On the Internet, countless fans turned Henson into Thanos, saying that he was about to completely destroy the West.

The last Eastern team to do so much in the West may have been back to the Chicago Bulls during Jordan's time......

At this point, the Western Army was almost completely annihilated. Henson, on the other hand, is just six wins away from his 70-win goal.

Just the day after the Pacers' victory over the Clippers, ESPN published an article. Even without looking at the content, the title is enough to catch the eye.

"I officially declare that Henson. Joe became the king of the regular season this season. ”

Looking at the news on his phone, Henson smirked.

The king of the regular season, he still likes this name.