Game 7 Victory, Advancing to the Second Round

Old Rondo had once been among the league's best one-on-one defenders.

But now, as his physical abilities declined, he had become a backdrop for younger players.

That was the cruelty of competitive sports.

When your body couldn't keep up with the speed of your thoughts, it was a sorrow shared by most athletes as they grew older.

Or perhaps it was reality reminding these veterans that it was time to retire...

As the Thunder unleashed a fierce offensive surge, the third quarter ended with the score at 94–77.

The Lakers trailed by as many as 17 points.

During the break, the broadcast camera focused on LeBron James. Head bowed, a towel draped over him, he seemed lost in thought.

On the other side, several Lakers players sat in complete silence, plunging the entire Lakers bench into a dispiriting stillness.

To be playing like this in a Game 7 meant they had little chance of advancing.

Of course, a 17-point deficit wasn't the biggest problem. At least in theory, they still had a chance to come back, with a whole quarter left to play.

The real problem was that, at this moment, James—the team's undisputed leader and centerpiece—was shut away in his own world.

He wasn't giving his teammates enough encouragement, nor was he leading by example and inspiring the team to play with enough fire.

It was almost absurd. Old Zhang seemed to have become the first person on the team to give up.

Not long afterward, the fourth quarter began.

The Thunder settled into a steady rhythm, calmly running their plays.

The Lakers, meanwhile, did much the same, advancing their offense at a slow pace.

James first tried taking three three-pointers in a row, but made only one. After that, he kept passing to his teammates.

With his