CHAPTER 447: CHAPTER 359: THE NUGGETS NOW ARE NOT LAST SEASON’S NUGGETS!

The grappling between Jokic and Green.

The verbal clash between Butler and Iguodala.

The entanglement between Zeng Xingyang and Durant.

The game has now become a stage for superstars, and for players with weaker scoring abilities, scoring under such high-intensity defense has become an insurmountable challenge.

Zeng Xingyang’s state today appeared somewhat struggling, with his touch from outside seemingly frozen, and his shots from beyond the three-point line frequently missing the mark.

However, Zeng Xingyang did not back down because of this. Relying on his superior dribbling skills and strong physical fitness, he repeatedly slashed like a sharp blade into the Warriors’ interior.

Zeng Xingyang’s breakthroughs tore apart the Warriors’ defense, creating more offensive space for Jokic and Butler.

Jokic displayed his delicate shooting touch on the court, making various floaters, horseshoe shots, and even occasionally hitting threes from outside.

Butler, using his toughness, frequently drew fouls and consistently made trips to the free-throw line. Butler was very smart, and every shot he took was very calculated, employing highly efficient scoring methods and exploiting the rules to their fullest extent.

The excellent performance of Jokic and Butler slightly alleviated the pressure on Zeng Xingyang.

Meanwhile, on the Warriors’ side, the "Splash Brothers" duo of Curry and Thompson were wreaking havoc from the outside.

Whenever they found the slightest shooting space, the basketball seemed to be equipped with a scope, accurately passing through the net.

Durant’s form was average, as the Nuggets employed a revolving defense strategy against him, with Zeng Xingyang, Pope, Gordon, and Butler taking turns to wear him down, which made his offensive efficiency far less effective than in previous playoffs.

However, the Warriors remain the Warriors; both their individual player capabilities and team chemistry have reached their peak.

The playoff version of the Warriors is stronger than during the regular season; their focus and combat power have elevated to a whole new level, making Zeng Xingyang understand that winning this series is far from easy.

Amid the loud cheers of the fans, the third quarter ended with the scoreboard showing 86 to 86.

The atmosphere in the arena remained high, and the fans were very satisfied with the excitement of the match.

In the past two rounds of matches, the Nuggets usually suppressed their opponents early, leaving fans with fewer exciting moments to witness.

But now, the Warriors finally seemed to be a match for the Nuggets, making each round of the game captivating.

Barkley also shouted, "An unbelievable high-quality Western Conference Finals! Both teams have displayed top-tier competitive levels in the first three quarters, with the score tightly locked, and neither side has pulled ahead! This is the charm of the Western Conference Finals, every point is crucial, and every offense and defense is thrilling!"

Smith continued, "The upcoming fourth quarter should be even crazier, let’s wait and see!"

On the bench, Zeng Xingyang sat in a chair, sweat continuously dripping down his cheeks, soaking his jersey. He picked up a Gatorade, tilted his head back, and gulped down water. Despite a hint of fatigue in his eyes, there was more a spirit of battle.

Zeng Xingyang knows well that the comprehensive strength of this super Warriors team is historically rare, but the Nuggets team, meticulously remodeled by him this season, also boasts strong capabilities.

The current Nuggets team has deep roster depths, with a complete array of player types, and every player on the floor is battle-ready, with almost no obvious lineup weaknesses.

This also allows Head Coach Mike Malone to effortlessly execute various tactics, bringing the team’s strength to its fullest capacity.

However, tonight the Nuggets did not manage to secure a lead in the first three quarters, mainly because Zeng Xingyang’s individual offensive efficiency had somewhat declined. Although he scored 26 points in three quarters, an 8-for-1 shooting rate from beyond the three-point line forced him to rely more on two-point shots and free throws to score.

Fortunately, Butler and Jokic stepped up in time, with Butler scoring 18 points and Jokic contributing 20 points. Their outstanding performance kept the Nuggets’ firepower on par with the Warriors’.

As the final quarter began,

Mike Malone continued to make personnel adjustments, letting Zeng Xingyang rest on the sidelines while dispatching Butler and Jokic to lead the second unit. The Warriors also deployed their second unit in response.

The Nuggets’ second unit showcased formidable fighting power, after adapting to the intense confrontation earlier, Brogdon and Siakam started the fourth quarter as if they were two assault rifles, freely weaving through the Warriors’ interior.

Brogdon, utilizing his outstanding basketball IQ and steady style, repeatedly broke through to the basket, scoring with clever finishes,

while Siakam wreaked havoc in the paint with his remarkable physicality and footwork.

The Warriors’ lineup revealed some inner weaknesses, specifically insufficient height in rim protection.

Cole, seeing this, continuously adjusted the perimeter defensive strategy, attempting to limit these two players’ scoring, but Siakam and Brogdon performed better than he expected.

Brogdon and Siakam, through their actions, proved their abilities extend far beyond what meets the eye.

Coach Zhang excitedly commented, "Look at the Nuggets’ second unit! In crucial moments, Brogdon and Siakam have stepped up! On the court, they’ve exhibited strong dominance! Brogdon’s drives and Siakam’s powerful onslaughts are impeccable! The Warriors’ interior is suffering a brutal assault!"

Coach Xu shouted, "This season, the Nuggets’ second unit is very reliable, and this has become a nightmare for many teams."

The outstanding performance of the Nuggets’ second unit also infected the fans at the sidelines.

They all stood up, waving towels in their hands, cheering and encouraging the Nuggets team.

The cheers of the home fans were deafening, echoing throughout the entire arena.

This season, as the team’s second-unit attacker, Brogdon’s technical traits are a perfect fit for the needs of team basketball. Offensively, he is able to score efficiently, contributing with steady shooting and drives; defensively, with his exceptional defensive awareness and physical fitness, he can perform multi-functional defensive tasks. Although compared to top guards, Brogdon’s three-point output and ball-handling threat are somewhat lacking, his stability and defensive contributions are indispensable to the team. He is like the glue that links the team’s offense and defense. The media rates him highly, believing that if he can stay healthy, he is expected to become the next Jamal Crawford-style super sixth man.

As for Siakam, his basketball journey is full of legendary flair.

This basketball player, who transitioned from an African soccer boy, only started playing basketball at the age of 15. But with his diligent training attitude and remarkable talent, his skills kept improving. Standing at 2.06 meters with a wingspan of 2.21 meters, coupled with top-tier explosiveness and first-step speed, he has become a lethal weapon on the court.

Siakam excels at handling the ball from the wing or top of the arc, easily moving past defenders using rhythm changes and Euro steps, followed by sensational mid-range shots to finish the offense. His technical features perfectly match the demand for multi-functional forwards in the small-ball era: capable on offense and defense, able to play both fast and slow, with a certain level of playmaking ability. Many media outlets predict that in due time, he is bound to become an All-Star-level player.