The NBA's Twilight Star System

After the Cavaliers dominated the Nets in a blowout, the general consensus among analysts, media, and fans was unanimous: Cleveland would likely sweep the series 4-0.

On April 24th, following a team practice, the Cavaliers gathered to watch other playoff matchups, focusing particularly on the Bulls vs. Bucks game. If things went as expected, the winner of that series would be Cleveland's next opponent.

That day, three playoff games were scheduled: Hawks vs. Celtics, Warriors vs. Pelicans, and Bulls vs. Bucks.

First up was the Hawks-Celtics matchup, which Tyronn Lue only briefly had the team watch. "If we see either of these teams," he remarked, "it'll be in the Eastern Conference Finals."

At 8 PM, the Bulls and Bucks tipped off.

Derrick Rose, though past his peak, was still a dangerous player, while Giannis Antetokounmpo was an emerging star still finding his way. The game felt like a symbolic passing of the torch.

In the first quarter, Rose relentlessly attacked the rim, carving through the Bucks' defense with ease. On the other side, Michael Carter-Williams held his own, dishing out assists to keep Milwaukee competitive.

Giannis, Khris Middleton, and Jimmy Butler all delivered solid performances, and the first quarter ended in a 27-27 tie.

However, the Bulls seemed to have the upper hand overall, thanks to their Twin Towers in the paint. Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol anchored a defense that stifled the Bucks' interior scoring attempts.

Milwaukee's Zaza Pachulia was competent defensively but lacked the dominance needed to counteract Chicago's interior presence.

Rose's drives and Butler's relentless attacks began to wear down the Bucks' defense.

Even so, the second quarter saw both teams locked in a stalemate, with neither side gaining a significant edge. Giannis' defense shone, though his offensive game lacked polish, especially in terms of ball-handling and shooting.

The game remained tight until the third quarter.

Tom Thibodeau, notorious for his heavy reliance on players, left Jimmy Butler on the floor without rest, trusting his iron-man stamina to carry the team through the grind.

Butler rewarded that trust, going on a scoring spree during the substitution period. Thibodeau then brought Rose and the Twin Towers back into the game early, and the Bulls used their momentum to create a cushion.

By the end of the third quarter, Chicago led 78-71, a seven-point gap that was significant for a defense-oriented team like the Bulls.

In the fourth quarter, Jason Kidd, coaching his first playoff series with the Bucks, threw all his chips onto the table, fielding his best lineup to mount a comeback.

The final quarter turned into a physical battle, with every possession contested and neither team holding back.

Watching from the sidelines, Jay Sun couldn't help but admire the intensity.

"This is the playoffs," Jay thought, enthralled by the physicality and determination on display.

Despite his own participation in the playoffs, Jay hadn't yet experienced this kind of drama. The Nets had been overmatched and folded early in both games so far.

"Man, I want a real playoff battle like this," Jay muttered to himself, both thrilled and envious.

Ultimately, Rose's fearless drives and Butler's tireless effort allowed the Bulls to maintain their lead. The game ended with Chicago winning 101-94, giving them a commanding 3-0 series lead.

Thibodeau breathed a sigh of relief—his job seemed safe for now.

Meanwhile, Kidd sighed in frustration. Despite his best efforts, the Bucks couldn't steal a game.

The next day, April 25th, the Cavaliers traveled to Brooklyn for Games 3 and 4 at the Barclays Center.

During their first practice session in Brooklyn, Tyronn Lue made it clear that no major tactical changes would be made.

"Stick with what's working," he told the team. "We're the better team, so let's keep this simple: dominate early, close it out by the third quarter, and rest in the fourth."

Management had also made it clear that they didn't want to prolong the series. Finishing quickly would minimize the risk of injuries and preserve energy for the later rounds.

On April 26th, the Cavaliers arrived at the Barclays Center for Game 3.

Before the game, both coaches expressed confidence in their teams.

"We're here to win," Lue said. "Just like the last two games, we'll take care of business."

Atkinson countered, "We're back home now, with the support of our fans. We've prepared something special for this game, and I'm confident we'll win."

The pre-game chatter between the coaches added fuel to the fire. Both sides seemed eager to make a statement.

When the game began, Mozgov and Lopez squared off for the jump ball. Lopez tipped it to the Nets, and Deron Williams brought the ball up the court, patiently directing traffic.

Brooklyn's offense moved at a deliberate pace, matching the tempo dictated by Lopez's slower footwork.

Deron passed the ball to Joe Johnson on the wing.

Atkinson's "secret strategy" didn't seem so secret—it was the same as always: let Johnson go to work in isolation.

Johnson posted up against Jay, using his strength to back him down. Jay stayed glued to him, arms raised to contest every movement.

Johnson spun into a mid-range shot, only for it to clang off the rim.

Mozgov grabbed the rebound and handed it off to Irving, who sprinted up the floor to initiate Cleveland's offense.

The game was underway, and the Cavaliers were already setting the tone.