: Nine hundred and sixty-nine: for one opportunity

　　　　 Vince Carter's career is undoubtedly brilliant. He is one of the brightest stars in the post-Jordan era, and he is loved by thousands. The four-time All-Star vote king is the best proof of his super popularity.
　　 But just as everyone’s youthful memories inevitably hang a few cracks, Carter’s career also has many unsatisfactory points. For example, he failed to get a good death in the Raptors, or for example, he has never reached the finals...
　　 Speaking of it, Carter seemed to be born out of the finals. Because every time, he seems to have a plan, always just miss the chance to play in the finals.
　　 In the 04-05 season, Carter joined the Nets, but the Nets played in the finals in 2002 and 2003 just before he joined. As a result, after Carter joined, the Nets' best performance in the playoffs was only in the Eastern Conference semifinals. He perfectly missed the peak period of the Nets and passed the Finals.
　　 In the 09-10 season, the Magic got Carter through a trade. Coincidentally, the previous season, the Magic just reached the finals under Howard's leadership. The Magic recruited Carter, hoping that he could play a big heart role in the critical moment of the finals.
　　 But unfortunately, the following season, the Magic was eliminated by the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. Once again, Carter passed the finals perfectly.
　　 In the 10-11 season, the Magic sent Carter to the Suns. It is worth mentioning that the Suns in the previous season also reached the Western Conference Finals. They also seem to have the capital to play in the Finals. Carter's dream seems to be realized in the Suns.
　　 But this season after Carter joined, the Suns only achieved a total of 40 wins and 42 losses. Let alone the finals, they are not even qualified to play in the playoffs...
　　 In the 11-12 season, Carter joined the Mavericks as a free agent. At that time, the Mavericks were also very promising to reach the finals, because just one season before, the Mavericks had just successfully defeated the Heat's Big Three and won the championship.
　　 But when Carter joined, the Mavericks had not been able to go further due to various reasons such as improper operation. His dream of playing in the finals was put on hold again.
　　 This is the unlucky Vince Carter, he always joins some teams that seem to be able to play in the conference finals. But after he joins, this team that can play in the finals will decline due to various reasons.
　　 This experience is very regrettable, but for Carter, the most regrettable one was in 2001. The deepest scar in Carter's memory was left in the spring of 2001.
　　 That was the closest and regrettable time Carter thought his career was the closest to the finals.
　　 00-01 season, this is probably the brightest season of Allen Iverson's career.
　　 averaged 31.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. He took the lead in scoring and steals and led the team to a record of 56 wins and 26 losses, ranking first in the East.
　　 In addition, he also won the only MVP in his career, becoming the shortest MVP player in history.
　　 Carter was also unsolvable that year, averaging 27.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. He was elected to the All-Star vote for the second year in a row. His peak has just begun.
　　 So in the Eastern Conference semifinals that year, the pinnacle Carter and the pinnacle Iverson met.
　　 These two superheroes are not convinced by anyone. They competed for scoring from the first game. They took out the inventory in the skill pack, and the two superheroes made various unreasonable goals in an endless stream.
　　 In this round of the series, the two dedicated the fans to the scene of a fairy fight. Iverson's phrase "In my eyes, the basket is as wide as the sea" is precisely from this series.
What many people don’t know is that Iverson just finished saying this. In the third game of the series, Carter responded to Iverson with 9 of 13 three-pointers and 50 points in the game, and returned after the game. In one sentence, "In my eyes, the basket is as wide as Lake Ontario."
　　 From the performance on the court to the trash talking after the game, the two sides refused to give each other. This shows how fierce the two played in this series.
　　 Finally, this round of the series was dragged into the tiebreaker. And this is where Carter's nightmare begins.
　　 In the seventh game of the series, the two teams still played inextricably. Until the last 2 seconds of the game, the winner was still not determined.
　　 At the time, Carter's Raptors were one point behind the 76ers 87-88, and the Raptors had the ball. The life and death of the two teams are all in Carter's hands.
　　 Carter ran around the top of the arc to the left bottom corner, hit the ground and passed the ball, turned and leaned back, leaping high. At that moment, the 76ers fans almost suffocated.
　　 But in the end, this high arc shot slammed out of the box. The 183 fighter rushed across the court holding the popped basketball and was adored by Philadelphia fans.
　　 But not many people noticed that in the shadow behind Iverson, Vince Carter was sad.
　　 A ball made the Raptors lose their chance to advance. With one ball, all previous efforts were wiped out.
　　 As everyone knows, that year, AI finally led the team to the finals. Although there is no Lakers who topped the "OK combination", they have since embarked on the altar.
　　 As for Carter, how many people remember him who played equal to Iverson?
　　 If the last goal is scored, will Carter lead his team to the finals?
　　 It is a pity that there is no if in the basketball world. Since then, Carter has never been so close to the finals, and the left bottom corner has become the biggest nightmare of Carter's career.
　　 From then to now, 14 years, every training, Carter will practice shooting in the left corner.
　　 He doesn't know if he still has a chance, he only knows that if the opportunity really comes, he must seize it.
　　 This year, he joined the Grizzlies at the invitation of Link. And again, Carter's team encountered a strong block before the finals.
　　 Carter doesn't want to be a burden. He wants to enter the finals, but he doesn't want to lie in the finals, but hopes to contribute his strength in the Western Conference finals.
　　 If the opportunity comes up again, he must hold on to it.
　　 Therefore, he frantically spurs himself in the bottom left corner. He knows that he may never encounter that kind of shooting and that kind of situation again in his life, but he needs to use this way to motivate himself, so that he can burst into greater strength in the next game.
　　 He shot the basket tirelessly, hitting again and again. 14 years are like a day, waiting for an opportunity.
　　 However, Carter couldn't think of it. It wasn't the opportunity he waited first, but Link.
　　 "Vince, it's been an hour, it's almost done." Link wiped the sweat from his forehead, and he just picked up the sweat to help Carter pick up the ball.
　　 "Uh...Thank you for staying with me to practice, Link." Carter scratched his head embarrassedly. He was so engaged in practice that he forgot the time.
　　 Carter hurriedly helped pick up the scattered basketballs and put them away, ready to end the extra training.
"You have been feeling very good lately. The next game is in Oakland. Don't be soft. We need your three-point range very much~EbookFREE.me~ Vince. With you here, we will definitely gain an advantage." Link While helping to clean up, he smiled and said to Carter.
　　 When Link said this, Carter, who was picking up the ball, was suddenly stunned.
　　 38 years old, playing on the bench, averaging less than 10 points per game, no sense of existence. In order to seize an opportunity that may never appear, practice hard.
　　 He seems to have been forgotten by the whole world, only he is still pushing himself. But now, someone says to him, "We need you very much."
　　 Carter turned his head and glanced at Link who was picking up the ball. For some reason, his desire to fight against fate became stronger.
　　 This year, he will definitely break the curse of missing the finals!
"Don't worry, Link, I will assist you as much as I can. As long as I have the opportunity, I will take it. Thank you for staying with me. Hey, do you want to know why I always shoot in the left corner? "
"Oh why?"
　　 "Well...Speaking of why, I have to talk about the 2001 Eastern Conference semifinals. You know, I was as young as you at that time..."
　　 Two men with a huge age span, sitting on the wooden floor of the training hall, returned to the wonderful and colorful spring of 2001.
　　
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