"The Pelicans are a respectable opponent. They're very tough and play respectably."

In the post-game press conference, Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger affirmed the Pelicans' performance.

Respecting your opponent is respecting yourself. From some perspectives, Joerger was even better than Rivers.

Now, the two sides would truly engage in a life-or-death battle to determine the victor.

This was also the Pelicans' second time encountering a Game 7 in the playoffs.

But this time they weren't alone, because the Lakers and Spurs would also face a Game 7, and before them.

The Pelicans and Grizzlies series was full of ups and downs, and the Lakers and Spurs were no less so.

The Lakers trailed the Spurs 1-3. Dwight Howard's performance in Game 4 infuriated Kobe and the Lakers management.

Post-game communication didn't work, and the management imposed a DNP (Did Not Play) ban on Howard.

Banning a starting center on the verge of elimination seemed extremely foolish.

But it also seemed reasonable.

Now the Lakers were under the control of Jim Buss, who would definitely stand with Kobe when there were conflicts in the team.

Since playing Howard would likely lead to a loss, it was better to appease Kobe.

This was the Lakers' choice of "dying differently", but the result was surprising.

Without Howard, the Lakers played with united strength, especially Kobe, who regained the excellent form of the first round.

With 40+ points in two consecutive games, he single-handedly dragged the Lakers into a Game 7.

This Game 7 would take place before the Pelicans and Grizzlies game.

Williams also organized the team to watch the live broadcast of the game.

From the start of the game, Kobe showed the excellent competitive state of the past two games, helping the Lakers take a 10-4 lead.

Neither Leonard nor Green could contain Kobe.

This was also the Spurs' biggest problem now. They lost Tang Tian, and Leonard and Green couldn't make up for the cutting in a short time.

The two teams were deadlocked for half the game, but in the second half, Gregg Popovich was more experienced.

He seized the time when Kobe's touch wasn't good, contracted the defense into a 2-3 zone, and launched a fierce attack on the Lakers' inside.

Pau Gasol was obviously unable to resist on the defensive end, and the Lakers began to collapse.

In the end, the Spurs defeated the Lakers 101-89 at home, advancing to the Western Conference Finals for the third consecutive year.

This victory also allowed them to continue their hope of a three-peat dynasty.

The reason why the Lakers lost this game was also because they felt like they were at the end of their rope.

Kobe was icing his knees on the sidelines before the game was over, his eyes full of disappointment.

Howard's attitude, compared to Kobe's eyes, foreshadowed that the Lakers would experience a very big turmoil again this summer.

The Spurs took the lead in advancing to the Western Conference Finals, and their opponent was the winner of the Pelicans and Grizzlies Game 7.

If the Pelicans could advance, then Tang Tian would encounter his old team in the Western Conference Finals.

But for the Pelicans, their current situation was similar to the Lakers.

Although there was no infighting, and it could even be said that they were united, they were also at the end of their rope.

Playing two consecutive Game 7s in the first year of the playoffs, and still against the Grizzlies, their physical and mental strength were exhausted.

The tired eyes of the players during training explained everything.

In fact, if it hadn't been for Tang Tian's birthday last game, they would have ended their season in Memphis.

And there was even more bad news during training.

Davis had soreness in his shoulder after the last game and may miss Game 7.

After the training, the players left the locker room one after another, looking a little downcast.

Tang Tian didn't go back to the hotel immediately, but went to the neighboring hospital, where Davis was undergoing rehabilitation treatment.

"Tang."

Seeing Tang Tian coming, Davis forced a smile on his face.

He looked more disappointed than the other players.

He should be the most frustrated one who couldn't play in Game 7.

After finishing the treatment, Tang Tian and Davis sat down for a chat.

"I'm going to play in Game 7."

Davis's opening words surprised Tang Tian.

"I'm going to get a cortisone shot."

In Tang Tian's surprised eyes, Davis continued.

"No, you can't."

Tang Tian thought Davis's injury had changed, but he didn't expect to hear this, and immediately said with a straight face.

A cortisone shot is a mixture of therapeutic drugs and hormones injected into the veins of the injured area.

On the one hand, it reduces inflammation and relieves pain, and on the other hand, it numbs the injured area, reduces the pain caused by inflammation, and eliminates fluid buildup.

This kind of thing seems to be very useful, but because it involves hormones, the side effects are very large.

Slow wound healing, decreased physical function, and endocrine disorders are all possible.

Moreover, playing with a cortisone shot makes it easy to get injured again and leave a root cause.

Therefore, athletes are very cautious when choosing cortisone shots.

There are many such counter-examples.

The most well-known is Tracy McGrady. During the first round in 2008, he took cortisone shots in a row to win the game. As a result, not only did he not win the game, but the next year he changed from a young man who scored as easily as cutting melons and vegetables into a fat man with a vertical jump of only 30cm, whose dunk was blocked by the rim.

There was also Serge Ibaka of the Thunder. He took a cortisone shot in the Western Conference Finals in history, and eventually changed from a best defensive-level player to an ordinary rotation level.

There are countless such situations.

And more importantly, such efforts are not worth the loss.

Although these players who took cortisone shots managed to play, the effect was not good. The general result was losing the game, and their careers were greatly affected.

The Pelicans are now in a similar situation. Game 7 is difficult to play with Davis, let alone Davis who is forced to play with a cortisone shot.

Tang Tian was a person who had been there, and he knew that Davis listened to him very much, so his attitude was very tough.

Davis was silent after listening, and after a while, he spoke.

"I know the story of Willis Reed, the team needs me to play."

Tang Tian was stunned when he heard this.

Willis Reed is one of the few successful players who have played with cortisone shots, and "Reed Comes Back" is also the most classic moment in NBA history.

Reed, as a Knicks legend center, was an existence that could compete with Bill Russell.

As the Knicks' star player at the time, he led the team to play five games with the Lakers in the Finals, leading 3-2.

But in the sixth game, he injured his knee and left the court, and the Lakers tied the series 3-3.

Moreover, Reed's condition at the time also made it impossible to play Game 7, and the Lakers were almost certain to win the championship.

But Reed was not willing to give up. He took a cortisone shot and played in Game 7, and hit shots in Chamberlain's head one after another at the beginning of the game.

But his injury was too serious, the cortisone shot effect was gone quickly, and he couldn't hold on and was replaced.

But miraculously, under the powerful spiritual appeal and belief encouragement of "Reed Comes Back", the Knicks did not give up and took the game in one go, successfully winning the first NBA championship in team history.

This is a classic history. Davis said this example, obviously, although he is cute, he also has the same desire to win as Reed.