Chapter 599 - 90: This Is the Trophy We Deserve

The NBA needs to maintain a dynamic balance. If a championship team like the Knicks gets another high draft pick, well... the other teams might as well not even play.

The Knicks defeated the Magic again in Game 2, and it was even easier than the first game.

The Knicks were getting into their groove, while the Magic’s stamina was even more depleted.

The two successors to Jordan had used up all their energy in the seven-game series against the Cavaliers; their bodies were completely drained.

After winning their two home games, the Knicks headed to Orlando.

A wave of pessimism about the Magic swept through the media; no one thought the Magic could stop the Knicks.

Their roster and playstyle were already countered by the Knicks, as was evident from their regular-season matchup.

Meanwhile, the Lakers and the Spurs were locked in a thrilling battle.

Although the Lakers won their two home games, each victory was a nail-biter. In the first game, they sealed the win with a shot from Yao Ming beyond the three-point line.

At that point, Yao Ming was already nearly exhausted by the Spurs.

Popovich also thought Yao Ming was pretty much done.

So, at the critical moment, he actually relaxed his guard on Yao Ming. When Yao Ming caught the ball outside the three-point line, Duncan didn’t close out on him, allowing Yao to take an easy shot.

And he drained the three.

The fact that Yao Ming had three-point range quickly became a trending topic.

In Game 2, Yao Ming didn’t hold back either. He attempted three shots from beyond the arc and made two of them.

This left San Antonio a bit stunned.

But that wasn’t the key reason they lost the game. The deciding factor was Kobe scoring consecutively in the final moments. Kobe was just too good, and he was a perfect counter to the Spurs’ defensive system.

In Game 2, Kobe scored 41 points and Yao Ming scored 32. The two superstars carried the Lakers to a five-point victory.

More and more Lakers fans were calling Yao Ming and Kobe the new era’s OK Combination.

They had the best record in the league during the regular season, and they were steamrolling through the playoffs, charging toward the Western Conference title.

Kobe had always claimed that Yao Ming was the best big man he had ever played with.

Previously, O’Neal had made some sour remarks, but with the Cavaliers’ elimination, O’Neal no longer had the urge to say anything.

Although Yao Ming never said that Kobe was the best guard he had ever partnered with.

But from his morale and competitive form, it wasn’t hard to see that Kobe was indeed the best perimeter player he had ever teamed up with.

Their personalities were complementary, as were their playing styles.

He was much happier now than when he was in Houston.

Therefore, Yao Ming was very grateful to Su Xi for convincing him to leave back then.

Yao Ming’s income also saw explosive growth this year. Although there was still a significant gap compared to Su Xi, he was undoubtedly earning much, much more in Los Angeles.

That was the allure of Los Angeles, and the allure of being number one in the league.

When Yao Ming spoke with Su Xi on the phone, he expressed his gratitude.

Su Xi said, "I should be thanking you. Thanks for helping clear out the West, making it easier for me to win the championship."

It took the honest Yao Ming a good while to process that.

Then, Yao Ming cursed. He said, "I’m definitely going to get ahold of you Knicks and beat the hell out of you."

Su Xi had to be on high alert.

Honestly, the Lakers were indeed the team the Knicks were most worried about. Kobe was strong, Yao Ming was strong, their partnership was mature, and they had Phil Jackson.

But before that, the Knicks needed to take care of the Orlando Magic first.

Game 3 kicked off in Orlando.

Unexpectedly, when the Knicks took the court, the Orlando fans didn’t boo; some even cheered.

This surprised even Charles Barkley in the commentary booth.

"Are the Magic fans this open-minded?"

He couldn’t figure it out.

Kenny Smith tried to answer, "Perhaps it’s because they’re on the same page about beating the Cavaliers. For Magic fans, their most hated team is definitely Cleveland. The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

That was a reasonable explanation.

When it came to insulting the Cavaliers, the Knicks and the Magic were surprisingly in sync.

Neither of them liked the Cavaliers.

Besides, for the Magic fans, just reaching the Eastern Conference Finals this season was an unexpected surprise. Winning Game 7 and eliminating the Cavaliers from the brink of defeat was an even greater miracle.

Playing in the Eastern Conference Finals now was like an extra reward.

So, if they lose, they lose!

What else could they do? They were never going to beat the Knicks led by Goat Su Xi anyway.

Game 3 wasn’t much different from the first two. The Magic still couldn’t hold on. It had nothing to do with their willpower or even their technical talent. It was simply because the Knicks countered them, like a link in the food chain.

The Knicks easily won Game 3, and there were no surprises in Game 4 either.

The Knicks hoisted the Eastern Conference championship trophy in Orlando.

This had already become routine for them, especially for Su Xi.

Isaiah Thomas told reporters, "Even before this season started, we already knew this would be the outcome."

"The Eastern Conference title is nice, but it’s not worthy of our strength."

"What are my thoughts on the Western Conference Finals? I watch them with my eyes!"

"Does it matter whether the Lakers or the Spurs advance? Maybe it’s important to them, since a Western Conference championship banner can also be hung in their home arena."

"The Magic are a strong team, of course, but their playstyle never escaped our control."

"There’s nothing wrong with Stan Van Gundy’s tactics; he unleashed this team’s talent to the fullest."

"I like Orlando. Orlando’s a nice place."

"..."

Isaiah Thomas loved to talk big, and he was happy to turn himself into a famous media personality.

Su Xi, however, did not. He was terrifyingly low-key, not even accepting any media interviews.

After the award ceremony, he left quickly and boarded a plane to Los Angeles.

That’s right, Su Xi thought the Lakers had a better chance of winning.

Of course, if the Spurs won, it wouldn’t be a problem for him to fly over from Los Angeles.

Playing the Spurs was the outcome the Knicks most hoped for.

While the Spurs were strong, they weren’t strong in a way that could threaten the Knicks.

The Lakers’ strength, however, could.

It was like Jungle Chess, where every piece had its counter.

Just like how the Knicks countered the Magic.

The Rockets, to some extent, also seemed to have the Knicks’ number.

On the first night of Su Xi’s arrival in Los Angeles, the Spurs defended their second home game, tying the series score at 2-2.

But there was a bad call in the final moments of the game.

Tony Parker drove into the paint, and Yao Ming made a beautiful block.

All the slow-motion replays showed that the block was clean.

But in the end, Yao Ming was called for the foul. Tony Parker went to the free-throw line and made both shots, changing the score.

The Los Angeles media cried foul.

Su Xi held Scarlett Johansson, loving the curves of her body.

While watching the basketball news, Su Xi suddenly pointed at Durant on the TV and said, "This guy said he’d be willing to drink your bathwater and also said he’d help you get justice. What do you think about that?"

Scarlett got on top, straddling him. She leaned close to Su Xi’s ear and whispered, "I’m not watching. Right now, I just want to eat you up."

"I like your bravado. Don’t go begging for mercy later!"

Su Xi had no intention of letting Scarlett stay on top.

Passion filled the room.

DRIP. DRIP. DRIP.

...

When the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs played their pivotal Game 5, Su Xi was at the arena. But at that same moment, the 2007 Draft Lottery was taking place at the Broadway Theater in New York.

A courtside reporter asked Su Xi why he came to watch the Lakers and Spurs game. He smiled and said, "I was bored!"

"So, are you in Los Angeles because you think the Lakers have a better chance of winning?"

"No, it’s because I have a commercial to shoot in Los Angeles."

"Who do you think will win tonight?"

"I don’t know. Whichever team wins, I’ll be happy for them."

The reporters couldn’t hope to get any useful information out of Su Xi.