The stage belonging to the role: the transformation of Dort and Toppin!

For the two key players in the finals, Dort and Toppin, this season's finals are the first game of their career to step on the highest stage, but beyond this, it is more like a test after years of hard work. As two players who were once considered weak in shooting, the two seemed to be starting to become key factors in the finals' decision to win or lose.

Compared with the victory or defeat of the game, the value presented by these two people in addition to the victory or defeat seems to be more obvious.

Before this round of finals, Dort was an undrafted defensive player, but in the first three finals, Dort hit 10 three-pointers, turning into the Thunder's outside killer; as for Obie Toppin, this high-level player who was once regarded as only dunking, also hit 5 three-pointers in the first game of the finals, gradually growing into the space-type fourth position that dominates the Pacers' victory or defeat.

The change in the career trajectory of these two players not only brought a surprise to this round of finals, but also opened up a new chapter for their respective careers. Whether it is Toppin, Dort, or other role players, the five three-pointers in the first game of the finals are absolutely excellent performances.

Luganz-Dolt

Dolt, who lost the election in 2019, relied on iron-blooded defense to stand firm and rotate in the Thunder. But for many years, I have always been carrying the negative label of not shooting. In the game, he often becomes a shortcoming for his opponents to choose to short.

But even so, Dort did not give up shooting. He is one of the most diligent players of the Thunder. He insists on participating in high-intensity shooting training every day, whether during the offseason or the back-to-back schedule. And this kind of hard work accumulated over the years was finally able to bear fruit in the finals. The outside firepower he brought is not only the team's scoring support, but also the most reliable space support point around Alexander.

Obi Toppin has a completely different journey compared to Dort, and since he was selected by the Knicks in the eighth pick in 2020, he was highly regarded for his amazing athleticism and dunk talent. But like Dort, his outside shots were never favored by the outside world, and he was once set as a "rough striker who only knows how to dunk". Once the explosive power of physical fitness in the future declines, his value may naturally decrease accordingly, which is also the expectations and expectations of many fans for this first-round pick.

But looking back at the Knicks era, Topin never got a real opportunity to play and was eventually sold to the Pacers by the management at a low price. And at the Pacers, coach Carlisle gave him a chance to change.

After coming to the Pacers, Topin's shots were faster, more stable and more confident than the Knicks. In the first game of the finals, Toppin hit key three-pointers in the third and fourth quarters of the game, helping the team overcome the 15-point backward. Thanks to his threat of range, the Pacers completely tore the Thunder defense, giving Halliburton a wide enough transmission and offensive vision, and is the key contributor to the Pacers being able to win a good start in the finals.

Compared to Alexander and Halliburton, the spotlight of the finals seems to be difficult to shine on role players outside of these superstars. But this time it was different. Dort and Toppin proved the value of role players with practical actions. Although they are not the core of the team, they also have the ability to change the situation. The performance brought by the two of them is not only a direct contribution to the book score, but also a great support to the main stars on a psychological level.

Dolt's three-pointer has gained more operational space for Alexander, and Topin's gradually developed external range also makes Halliburton's organizational value more like a fish in water. In a top-level contest between a slight gap, these subtle changes often end up becoming the key to determining the outcome.

And more importantly, the outbreak of the two of them in the finals was not a flash in the pan. Doulter's three-point shooting percentage this season has broken through a career high. From shooting choices to shooting moves, Doulter this season is completely different from before. As for Obi Topin, he has gradually become the team's stable space-type fourth position, and has also greatly improved the outside stability and shooting frequency in the past two seasons.

The achievements of these two role players are not because of the sudden feeling of the finals, but because of the results of countless hard practices.

Dolt used to be just an unknown young player who had a two-way contract, relying on defense and competition to fight, he found his own way of life; Obipin fell out of favor in New York and was once regarded as a abandoned son who sold extra assets out of the market. But none of them chose to give up, but continued to grow and finally ushered in the most shining moment in the finals.

Compared to the debut in the finals, this time it is more like a declaration from Toppin and Dort. They are no longer just simple supporting roles on the court. For Dort, this is the best proof of his going out early and late in the training ground every day, and for Topin, it is the best portrayal of transforming the dunk championship into a real value. The finals belong to superstars and role players like them.

For competitive sports, this is the most beautiful story. It does not rely on original talent, nor does it become popular overnight, but it comes from the outbreak of forbearance after years of accumulation. Dort and Toppin, they were not expected to be what they are today at the beginning, but they themselves always believed they could do it.

And now, under the attention of fans around the world, they really started to do it.