In English, the end game played by the team that first won 3 wins in a best-of-seven playoff series is called a ‘closeout game’. From the point of view of the team driven to the brink of elimination, it is an ‘Elimination game’. Closing the series and stepping up, or being removed and eliminated. In a game where the success or failure of the series is at stake, players from both teams are under pressure for different reasons. Both are tough, but close-out matches are especially difficult.
The heart of the one who left one win for the next stage is more overwhelming. “The close-out game is always the hardest,” said LeBron James (now Los Angeles Lakers) of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017. James’ current teammate Anthony Davis also said, “Close-out games are tough. It is because the opponent comes out desperately.”
Even in the second round, it was difficult to finish. The Lakers lost a 106-121 defeat to the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California on the 11th (Korean time), failing to secure a ticket to the Western Finals. The Lakers’ series record, which had a 3-win advantage thanks to the heroic performance of Ronnie Walker IV, who came off the bench two days ago, is now 3-2. We are still ahead, but the burden has increased.
Lakers’ LeBron James (left) battles Golden State’s Kevin Rooney (center) for a rebound. San Francisco/AP Yonhap News
The concentration of the ‘defending champion’ Golden State, which was in danger of being eliminated, was fierce. Even after achieving a triple-double of 31 points in the 4th game, Stephen Curry, who was lonely without the support of his colleagues, played an active role with 27 points and 8 assists, and Andrew Wiggins scored 25 points to support firepower. Draymond Green, who went back and forth between a troublemaker and a fighter, scored 20 points far above his playoff average (8.4 points) in addition to defense worthy of the best defender in the league.
Here, Lakers ace Davis collided with Kevon Rooney early in the fourth quarter and suffered a head injury. Davis fled the court complaining of dizziness and never returned. After Davis departed, Lakers manager Davin Ham filled James and four others as guards to fight with a ‘small ball’ (a tactic focused on small players that lowered dependence on big men and increased mobility), but the opponent was Golden State, a ‘small ball master’.
Since the appointment of coach Steve Kerr, Golden State has experienced two 1-3 crises in the playoffs. In the 2016 Western Conference Finals, he succeeded in overturning the Oklahoma City Thunders and reached the championship game, but in the 2019 Toronto Raptors and the championship game, he won the 5th game and lost the 6th game. The next game is Game 6 of the Lakers visit. It’s not easy for either team.카지노사이트
Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat plays Game 5 of the second round of the playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York on the 11th (Korean time). New York/AFP Yonhap News
The NBI playoffs this season are a series of close matches. On the same day, in the East, the Miami Heat lost Game 5 to the New York Knicks and failed to finish the series with a record of 3 wins and 2 losses. The Denver Nuggets, who ranked No. 1 in the West in the regular season, took a 3-2 advantage over the Phoenix Suns the day before, and the Philadelphia 76ers also took a 3-2 lead over the Boston Celtics. From now on, all matches are ‘close-out games’ and ‘elimination games’. The one in need escapes first.