Fans, media and reporters are arguing hotly, but since the league has made a selection, it will not change again, and Tang Shuai lost the best rookie in a seemingly "incredible" way.

The day after the results came out, the day Tang returned from Miami, after the Clippers conducted their daily practice, a local reporter in Los Angeles interviewed him.

"Don, Carl won the Rookie of the Year, how do you feel?" Reporter Chris Wright asked Tang Shuai.

"Congratulations to Karl, he's done a great job and he deserves this award." Tang Shuai said with a smile.

"Do you really think so? Now online, the debate about who should be the best rookie is heating up on the Internet, because of your outstanding performance against the Warriors and the Rockets in Game 6, more than eighty percent of fans think you should be the winner of the best rookie, do you feel that you deserve the title of best rookie? As a local reporter in Los Angeles, Wright also seemed very unhappy with Tang Shuai's failure to be selected as the best rookie.

"No, but aren't the results already out? Is there a better way for me to deal with it than to accept it? Tang Shuai asked rhetorically.

When Wright heard Tang Shuai's words, he also understood his attitude, and said apologetically: "I'm sorry, I'm a little excited." ”

"It's okay, I understand your feelings, but I don't have a better option as a player than to play at a better level on the field." Tang Shuai said.

"Yes." After listening to Tang Shuai's words, Wright was convinced, "You are right, and you are a very rational person, if it were me, it would definitely not be so easy to accept, after all, this is obviously unfair." ”

"Fair? It's not fair? Actually, I don't think it means much, I'm not selected now, and when I wait until next year, or the year after next, or even longer, I play a more wonderful performance, these people who were not optimistic about me, will they regret their choice? Tang Shuai looked at Wright with a smile and said.

Wright was stunned for a moment, and then quickly felt the confidence in Tang Shuai's heart, and said very excitedly: "Yes, you will, when that day comes, I will definitely write a long report, I believe it will be a very meaningful thing." ”

"Yes, it will be." Tang Shuai said with a smile.

When he was on vacation with Su Mei in Miami yesterday, he saw the selection of the best rookie, and when he saw the news, he, like most fans, was shocked, he couldn't imagine that he had played almost miraculously, and finally lost the election, but soon he was relieved, he was yellow, which was already obvious during the All-Star vote, and if he was elected, it would be a little abnormal.

Thinking about this, he naturally has nothing to complain about, but not complaining does not mean that there is no dissatisfaction, and the way he chooses to deal with this dissatisfaction, the same as before, he has to play to perform, just like he said to Wright just now, he wants to use hard facts to make so doubters regret it, this is the way he chooses.

On May 17, U.S. time, the Thunder hosted the Clippers.

Like the Clippers, facing the Spurs, who set a team record, the Thunder fell behind 1-2 after three games, unable to limit Aldridge on the inside, and Durant was locked up by Leonard, who would be the side to be eliminated from the series, as experts and reporters predicted, but when the Thunder won the game in the fourth game, the situation was reversed, and the Thunder won three games in a row and eliminated the Spurs to advance to the division finals.

This is also the second time in the history of the Thunder to reach the division finals, and interestingly, the last time they reached the division finals, they were also against the James-led Cavaliers.

This time it seems that history will magically repeat itself, because this time their opponent is a wounded Clippers who "fluke" won against the Warriors.

This kind of matchup obviously satisfied the Thunder players, Westbrook was even more confident before the game, and in an interview with a local reporter in Oklahoma City, he bluntly said: "We are confident that we can win this series, the series with the Spurs is tough, but it has made us grow a lot, and we have been 'upgraded'." ”

And when the reporter asked how to deal with Tang Shuai, he seemed more confident: "Yes, that's right, Tang played well in the series against the Warriors, but the truth is, the Golden State man didn't limit him well, but this time he has to face me, I will lock him up, I won't let him score more than 20, even if I don't shoot the whole game." ”

Westbrook spoke in exactly the same way he played, fierce and direct.

However, the remarks made Clippers assistant coach Billups find a flaw, and when the reporter threw the question to Cassel, he took over from the side and said: "It's a meaningless sentence, do you think Russell will not shoot the whole game?" Obviously not, so his so-called limit on Don's 20 points is not valid. ”

Cassel also smiled and said: "It seems to be true, but the truth is that even if Russell has this confidence, it will be difficult for him to do it, and we all have confidence in Don." ”

From the mouths of the two head coaches of the Clippers, it can be felt that after two rounds of the series, they are full of confidence in Tang Shuai.

In the locker room of the Clippers, Tang Shuai was listening to some exciting music with headphones, facing Westbrook without a single consumption package, with his current strength, he was indeed not completely sure, he needed music to mobilize his state.

"Hey, Don!" While he was listening, someone slapped him.

He turned his head and saw that it was Smith, took off his headphones and said, "Yosh, you're scaring me, I'm listening to a song!" ”

"What a song to listen to!" Smith pulled over the stool next to him, sat down and said, "When I was in the arena just now, I saw Sam and Coach Chauncey being interviewed by reporters. ”

"Pre-match interviews? Isn't that normal? Tang Shuai put the headphones on the table and said suspiciously.

"yes, that's normal, but I just heard a very interesting thing, Russell's guy said that you can't score more than 20, even if you don't shoot once." Smith said with a sneer.

"Russell said that?" Tang Shuai said with some surprise, although Westbrook had not treated him very well in the previous game, but this kind of pre-game provocation was the first time he had encountered it.

"Yes, I heard it with my own ears, but Coach Chauncey is smart, you said that with Russell's character, how can he not make a shot in the whole game, then what he said is not nonsense?" Smith said with a smile.

Tang Shuai didn't laugh at this time, since Westbrook said such a thing before the game, not to mention the problem of not being able to shoot, he must have been prepared to defend him with all his might.

"What? What are you worried about? Seeing that Tang Shuai didn't smile, Smith looked at him suspiciously.

"Nothing." Tang Shuai's eyes suddenly ignited with a sense of war, "I don't care if Russell will make a move, but I must disappoint him, I want to score more than 20 points!" ”

"Good! It's this kind of momentum, dry. He. Damn, the ball can be lost, but the momentum must not be lost! Smith slammed the table.

"What's wrong?" Pierce asked, hearing the voice, glancing at him.

"Nothing! It's almost time, let's go and take out these arrogant guys! With that, Smith strode out.

Tang Shuai looked at Smith's back, smiled bitterly, and then stood up as well.

Pierce looked at the time at this time, it was indeed almost over, and then urged: "Hurry up, let's go out and warm up first." ”

Oklahoma City is a well-known small city team in the league, because of the ball market, the team's owner was even reluctant to renew Harden's contract, which also caused the Thunder to always be a little short of the championship team, it is hard to imagine what kind of terrible team it would be if Kanter in the team was replaced by Harden.

But even such a small city team, because of the existence of the Thunder, the enthusiasm of Oklahoma City fans is the most in the league, to paraphrase many stars who play here, they have tinnitus in their ears for a long time after playing a game here, which can be seen from the enthusiasm of the fans, and it can even be called crazy.

The fans of the Thunder at the scene all sent blue T-shirts, and Tang Shuai didn't have a big reaction when he saw the blue ocean when he first came out, after all, in the Staples Center, the same is true of the home team's red ocean, but when time passed, when the home team began to introduce the Thunder Shuangshao, he was a little shocked.

This is not at the same level as the decibel level when the two teams played each other in the regular season, when the live DJ read out Kevin Durant, the cheers of the entire arena exploded directly, and the harsh sound made people feel a headache, and when Westbrook played, the fans were crazy and completely not like a person, the hoarse voice and hideous expression, people felt deeply shocked from the heart.

This is Ford Center, a crazy home arena.

The Thunder's starting lineup, as in the regular season, hasn't changed much, with the duo leading the way and complemented by the likes of Robertson, Serge Ibaka and Adams.

The biggest change is Roberson, the 13-year-old rookie who has shown rapid improvement in his previous series against the Spurs, and has impressed against Danny Green and Ginobili.

On the Clippers' side, Cassell also made changes to the roster, replacing Pierce and Jeff Green with Josh Smith and Booker.

This lineup adjustment is still quite targeted, after all, whether facing Durant with excellent offensive ability, or Robertson, who is young and vigorous and good at rushing, the old Pierce is at a loss on the defensive end, and replacing Green can fill the problem of the lack of firepower on the bench after Booker's promotion to the starter to a certain extent, and even Booker's three-point shooting ability can reduce the pressure on Tang Shuai, which can be described as killing three birds with one stone.

Booker is also eager to make a start, starting the playoffs for the first time. (To be continued.) )