The NBA playoffs are the best stage to test the quality of the stars. Many stars who have performed well in the regular season have experienced a sharp decline in stats and efficiency in the face of high-intensity defense in the playoffs. Stars whose style is soft and cannot continue their strong performance in the playoffs are regarded as "soft eggs" by the media and fans.
Once regarded as a "soft egg", the lone ranger star Deknovitsky, led the team to defeat the Blazers, Lakers, Thunder, and Heat in the 2011 playoffs, and finally won the NBA championship and FMVP. Nowitzki can be described as using his strong playoff performance to win the gods. Nowitzki washed the name of the soft egg and became the NBA's 75 biggest star and historical level big forward.
Nowitzki beat the Heat led by James in the Finals
So far this season, a number of stars have performed less than expected in the playoffs. Nets star Kevin Durant, Raptors star Siakam, and Eagles star Trae Young all experienced a decline in form and efficiency in the playoffs. However, Durant has already won 2 FMVPs, Siakam has also won the championship as one of the main core of the team, and Trae Young led the team to the Eastern Conference Finals last season. The above 3 people have already proved themselves on the playoff stage, and achieving a bottoming out can be described as a high probability event.
Kevin Durant
8 points 5 boards, completely lost! Embiid's nemesis was angrily criticized by the celebrities after the match! No wonder James ignores you!
8 minutes and 5 plates, Downs sits in the name of soft eggs
However, Timberwolves star Carl Anthony Downs, in the first round against the Grizzlies' G3 game, can be described as a soft egg.
Towns played 33 minutes, shooting 3-of-4, 0-of-1 from three-point range, 2-of-2 from the free throws, and had 8 points, 5 boards, 1 assist and 5 blocks, as well as 4 turnovers and 5 fouls. Towns' first six points came from the first six minutes of the game's first quarter. With the remaining 27 minutes of playing time, Towns scored just two points. Towns was under the Grizzlies' high-pressure defense, and the offensive end was completely intrusive. Giant Downs, who carries a 158 million contract, is the Timberwolves' no. 1 high-paid and home star. However, Towns was the player with the most fouls in this battle and the most mistakes in the whole team.
Towns fell to the ground during the match
Under the excellent performances of Beverly, Edwards, Russell, Malik Beasley and others, the Timberwolves once led their opponents by 26 points. However, the Grizzlies exploded a 21-0 offensive frenzy and eventually won a 104-95 comeback over Minnesota. At 2.11 meters tall, Downs is the tallest player on this battlefield. Towns, who killed all sides in the box in the regular season, was unable to score in the box in this game and failed to lead the team to chase points by hitting the inside to win free throws. As the Grizzlies took off, Downs seemed confused. Downs' poor performance in this campaign can be said to be the main reason for the Timberwolves' tragic reversal.
Towns was snatched by his opponent
Towns was completely lost in the game and took the name of the soft egg. Towns, who averaged 25 points per game in the regular season, has only scored 17 points so far in this round of playoffs. Moreover, Towns scored only 8 points in this game, and also set a new career playoff scoring low.
Bagley angrily criticized Downs
After the game, when asked "why did he only shoot four times", Downs interrupted the reply with "the next question", and for the defeat, Towns said that he would go home and drink some red wine to decompress and then look forward.
NBA celebrity, current TNT program commentator Bagley is quite dissatisfied with this. "I can't believe this is his (Towns') answer, it's been more than a week since the playoffs started, you fouled more today than you scored and rebounded, but you prevaricated with 'the next question' and 'drink some red wine', no, I can't accept ..."
The famous mouth Klee angrily criticized Downs
"You're the winner, you should be the front of the team, you have to play better. As an All-Star, you've had this twice in two weeks, and there's no excuse for that. ”
Bagley angrily criticized Downs and was quite dissatisfied with Towns' performance on the field and his remarks and attitude after the game. It is worth noting that Towns is also seen as a nemesis of 76ers star Joelnbid. Towns had a big fight with Embiid on the field and was furious on social media after the game.
Towns and Embiid
Towns and Embiid are old enemies
In the 76ers' game against the Timberwolves 2 years ago, Embiid and Towns erupted in a fierce physical clash in a card slot, and then wrestled together.
Towns had a fierce conflict with Embiid
After the game, the two sides chattered and sprayed each other on social media. Embiid also taunted Towns on his social media: "I was a man who grew up in a lion herd, but today a cat (Towns' nickname) was lying on top of me and laughing at me..."
Downs and Embiid confronted each other on social media
James had ignored Towns
It is worth mentioning that Lakers star LeBron James also ignored Towns on the court. In a regular season game against the Lakers, Westbrook didn't stick in a shot, and the ball just fell into Towns' arms, and then Towns made a look for the ball (where is the ball?). ) exaggerated taunt action.
Downs had taunted Westbrook during the game
In the post-match handshake with his opponent, Towns wanted to come over and shake hands with James, but was ignored by James. After shaking hands with Edwards, James chose to turn around and leave, leaving an embarrassed Downs behind.
Towns and James
Apparently, James was also unhappy with what Towns was doing on the court. As the winner of the 2015 draft, Downs' technical characteristics are attacking strong and defending weakly. However, his score on the playoff stage also shrank significantly.
Lakers LeBron James
Towns, who has only played in the playoffs twice so far, has not yet made it through the first round, averaging only 15 points per game. Towns, who averaged 23 points per game in the regular season, still needs to prove himself on the playoff stage, which may also be the main reason why James did not face Downs.