Chapter 118: The Regular Season Concludes! Rookie of the Year Battle Between Double 77s

The Warriors' recent loss didn't attract much mockery or criticism. After all, the Celtics were formidable on their own. With Curry and Green both resting, the Warriors' lineup on paper was no match for Boston's. Many analysts and media had even predicted the Warriors' defeat beforehand.

Regardless of a win or loss, the media always finds a way to create a story, especially in China, where all eyes were focused on Tang Lei's remarkable season. As the sole Chinese player in the NBA, his journey had become a hot topic, fueling the sports industry in countless ways.

Headlines across platforms read:

- "Warriors Find a New Gem! Is Tang Lei the Next Star Point Guard?"

- "Warriors May Have Lost, But Tang Lei Didn't!"

- "Elbow Pass Magic! Could Tang Lei Be the Next 'Yellow Chocolate'?"

- "Versatile and Unstoppable: From Point Guard to Center, How Tang Lei Dominates Every Position"

- "Rookie of the Year Showdown: Tang Lei vs. Luka Doncic—Who Will Claim the Honor?"

Returning to his hotel, Tang Lei couldn't help but scroll through these glowing reviews on his phone. The recognition felt rewarding, and he was pleased to see fans sending messages of support, reminding him not to be discouraged by the loss. Many were cheering him on, emphasizing that setbacks were normal and encouraging him to keep working hard. These comments brought a warm smile to Tang Lei's face—he felt a wave of appreciation for the dedicated support from fans back home.

The remaining games of the regular season came thick and fast. Completing 82 games over four to five months meant teams often faced three or four games per week, averaging one every other day. This grueling pace was challenging for any player. However, the Warriors, comfortably ahead, had the luxury to rest their stars strategically, including Tang Lei.

In the final stretch, over the last 23 games, the Warriors' record was uneven as they prioritized resting key players and developing younger talents. Despite more losses than wins, the Warriors held onto the Western Conference's top seed, finishing three games ahead of the Nuggets. However, this placed them third overall in the league standings, trailing the Bucks and Raptors. This meant that if the Warriors reached the Finals against either of these Eastern teams, they would lack home-court advantage—a significant factor in high-stakes matchups.

While the Warriors could have clinched the top spot overall with an all-out push, this would have meant exhausting their core players. With MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo barely resting all season, the Warriors opted to prioritize health and team cohesion for the playoffs instead.

Eastern and Western Conference Standings

With the regular season complete, the standings revealed the eight teams from each conference moving into the playoffs.

Eastern Conference:

1. Milwaukee Bucks – 60-22

2. Toronto Raptors – 58-24

3. Philadelphia 76ers – 51-31

4. Boston Celtics – 49-33

5. Indiana Pacers – 48-34

6. Brooklyn Nets – 42-40

7. Orlando Magic – 42-40

8. Detroit Pistons – 41-41

Western Conference:

1. Golden State Warriors – 57-25

2. Denver Nuggets – 54-28

3. Portland Trail Blazers – 53-29

4. Houston Rockets – 53-29

5. Utah Jazz – 50-32

6. Oklahoma City Thunder – 49-33

7. San Antonio Spurs – 48-34

8. Los Angeles Clippers – 48-34

### Playoff Matchups

In the first round, each conference's playoff matchups follow a seeding system:

- 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, and 4 vs. 5.

The second round pits the winners of 1 vs. 8 against 4 vs. 5, and 2 vs. 7 against 3 vs. 6. The Conference Finals then feature the winners of these two matchups, with the victors from each conference ultimately advancing to the NBA Finals.

The playoff structure aims to avoid early showdowns between the top-seeded teams, ideally leading to high-stakes Conference Finals. Based on regular-season performance, the Conference Finals are likely to feature the top two seeds from each conference, promising thrilling contests.

However, this structure also leaves room for upsets and underdog stories. One of the most famous examples in NBA history is the "Black Eight Miracle," where an eighth-seeded team defeats the top seed in the first round—a rare achievement that etches a team into history. 

As the playoffs begin, even the top-seeded teams must tread carefully, for any lapse in focus could result in an unexpected and unforgettable upset.