The strongest counterattack script in the NBA: From 30% winning rate to tiebreak battle, the Nuggets write a playoff legend

The NBA playoffs are getting worse and worse. In the just-concluded Western Conference semi-finals G6, the defending champion Nuggets defeated the Thunder 112-108 at home, dragging the series into a tiebreak final. This team, which was widely regarded as a disgrace at the beginning of the season, once again proved with its iron-blooded performance: Never underestimate the heart of a champion!

The Nuggets this season have a tragic fate. Many main players were lost in the offseason to rotate, the meritorious coach Ma Long left office, and the management changed, and the team entered the playoffs only as fourth in the West. When facing the luxury battleship Clippers in the first round, the ESPN expert team predicted that the winning rate was less than 30%. But Jokic led the team to a shocking reversal, and won three consecutive games while falling behind 1-2, and finally eliminated his opponent through the tiebreak battle.

Now facing the Thunder, who has the highest record in the league, a similar script is staged again. In a desperate situation of falling behind 2-3, Jokic defended his home court with an epic triple-double with 26 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. In the locker room after the game, the Serbian center said to his teammates: "Remember the championship badge on our chest, it represents the spirit of never giving up. "

Data reveals the tenacity of this team: So far in the playoffs, the Nuggets have 3 wins and 0 losses in the game facing elimination; Jokic's average playing time ranked first in the league, with a real shooting percentage of 70% at critical moments; Braun and Strauser on the bench have repeatedly contributed key points in the fourth quarter.

"They are like strong men who can't beat them," Thunder coach Dagnot admitted at a press conference, "Jokic makes every teammate better, this is the biggest problem that we need to solve in G7. "

It is worth mentioning that the Nuggets' journey this season is full of drama. From eliminating the Clippers in the first round of the tiebreak to tie the Thunder in the second round, they can always burst out amazing energy in desperate situations. The team's new coach Fernandez said: "This team's resilience is beyond imagination, and everyone is willing to sacrifice for each other. "

Now, the tiebreak battle will be held at home in the Thunder. Historical data shows that the winning rate of home tiebreakers in NBA history is as high as 79%. But the Nuggets seem to be careless. Westbrook bluntly said in the interview: "We have long been used to being underdog (weaker side), and the pressure is all on their side. "

This life-and-death battle is not only a battle between the two teams, but also a collision of two team building concepts. On one hand is the youth army with overflowing talent, and on the other hand is the experienced veteran team. Regardless of the outcome, the Nuggets' performance this season has won respect. As the local media in Denver said: "Maybe they can't defend the title in the end, but Jokic and his teammates have written the most moving basketball legend of this era. "