Chapter 598 - 90: This Is the Trophy We Deserve

The Orlando Magic earned overwhelming praise that night. Anyone who watched would have to applaud them for their incredible victory.

However, once the initial buzz died down...

Some media outlets began to poke a little fun at the Knicks.

They started "congratulating" the Knicks.

An idea had started to spread at some point: that in the East, only the Cleveland Cavaliers could defeat the Knicks, while any other team would be eaten alive.

So, some cynical voices even suggested that the Magic’s victory over the Cavaliers had ruined the bigger picture.

In response, the ever-sharp Isaiah Thomas came out with a statement.

"Those guys who think the Cavaliers pose a threat to the Knicks are dreaming. I have no idea what goes on inside their heads."

"Has LeBron James ever defeated Goat Su Xi?"

"Has Shaquille O’Neal ever defeated Goat Su Xi?"

"And putting two losers together is enough to get you all this excited?"

"Did you not see them get swept by the Knicks in the regular season?"

"Your deluded fantasies are like the Emperor’s New Clothes on James. Can’t you see by now that he isn’t wearing anything at all?"

"He’s just a stats guy, understand? He was born to rack up numbers. Goat Su Xi is the one who truly rules the game."

"The Cavaliers could play the Knicks ten thousand times and they’d never win."

"The Magic put on a performance worthy of everyone’s respect!"

Isaiah Thomas spoke with great confidence.

When asked about the formidable challenge posed by the Orlando Magic, Isaiah Thomas said, "They’re a very strong team. They’ve reached the pinnacle of the Eastern Conference! But the Knicks are on a whole other level."

Thomas was being honest.

The Magic were honest, too. They all acknowledged the Knicks were strong and showed no intention of starting any drama.

However, after defeating the Cavaliers, their momentum was at an all-time high.

When they came to Madison Square Garden Arena, the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals began.

The Magic displayed a tough demeanor and incredible team chemistry.

In the first quarter, they even led by 3 points.

But starting in the second quarter, the Knicks increased their physical intensity, and Su Xi began to aggressively push the fast break.

After a grueling seven-game series, the stamina of both Grant Hill and Hardaway was clearly an issue.

They weren’t young men anymore.

The Knicks erased the deficit by halftime. Then, in the third quarter, they capitalized on the high tempo to solidify their lead.

In the fourth quarter, Turkoglu kept things dangerously close for a while. The Turkish marksman was exceptionally good at getting his points via jump shots.

However, the Knicks were more composed.

In the end, playing at home, the Knicks defeated the Magic 105-99.

They took the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals.

The New York fans in the arena were ecstatic, filled with genuine excitement and pride at their team’s performance.

They had finally witnessed the rise of the Knicks. It was their turn to hold their heads high. The Mecca of Basketball finally had the aura to match its name.

It wasn’t just the New York fans holding their heads high; the New York media and the Knicks’ owners felt the same.

With the Knicks playing this well, everyone involved was a winner.

Su Xi was still embroiled in rumors and gossip.

The Knicks’ continued victories didn’t put the matter to rest. Too many people had been invested in the gossip. Now, not only was he not marrying any of the rumored women, but he was also publicly displaying his affection for his girlfriend back home, which broke a lot of hearts.

This included many male fans of the three famous actresses.

This year’s top prospect, Kevin Durant, spoke out: "This isn’t fair to Scarlett. Goat Su Xi needs to give an answer. If he doesn’t, I’ll teach him a lesson next season. Even if I can’t beat him, I have to get justice for Scarlett!"

Kevin Durant was very emotional.

The NCAA super-scorer was considered a cheat code. He had the height and wingspan of an elite big man, yet he was a shooter.

It was ridiculous.

If it weren’t for Greg Oden, he would have been the top prospect in this year’s draft.

So, the draft outlook for this year was clear. Oden would be the first pick, and Durant would be the second.

At this point, someone told Durant, "You know, you might become a Knicks player."

Durant, a die-hard Scarlett fan, looked surprised.

He looked completely caught off guard.

A post he’d once made on social media was dug up: "I’m willing to drink Scarlett’s bathwater!"

That line immediately became synonymous with Durant.

Su Xi also saw the report. In fact, Su Xi also had shares in this social media company; he was an angel investor.

"Interesting."

Su Xi said to Isaiah Thomas, "If Portland gets us the number one pick, we’re taking him!"

Isaiah Thomas asked, "You don’t want to pick Greg Oden?"

"We already have Milicic, why would we pick Greg Oden?"

"But everyone says Oden is the NBA’s next dominant force."

"People said LeBron James was ’The Chosen One,’ too."

"Er... good point."

Isaiah Thomas was easily persuaded.

However, Isaiah Thomas then said, "I don’t think the league will let the Portland Trail Blazers get the first or second pick. They’ll definitely maintain some kind of balance."

Su Xi nodded. To be honest, he wasn’t holding out much hope.

The NBA draft lottery process is supposed to be open, just, and fair, but in reality... only the league itself knows if that’s true.