Basketball trainer, I created a super giant

Chapter 364 Championship Heritage, Knicks' NBA Championship

At the post-game press conference, Kobe Bryant, who scored a team-high 41 points for the Lakers, was asked by reporters to comment on Yao Ming's performance that day.

Kobe's expression wasn't good after the loss.

When faced with this kind of question, you can just give a few casual words and no one will say anything to you.

But Kobe remained silent for a full ten seconds before speaking: "I met Yao for the first time two summers ago."

"At the time, I thought, who is this guy? At that time, all I knew was that he was from China, was a top scorer, and was very tall."

"That's right, all I remembered about him was his height. I couldn't help but think, 'My God, how can someone be so tall? Can he even run?'"

"Then that summer in Huntington Beach, I saw the energy in him."

"Believe me, he worked harder than anyone else, and that's why you saw him become a superstar in his first season."

"And this season, he's still working hard; he's improved his shooting accuracy so much."

"Throughout the game, he just kept shooting, shooting from all positions, and then he scored 63 points. I can't imagine how much effort he put in behind the scenes to be able to shoot so accurately."

"Believe me, it definitely won't be easy."

"So when you ask me how I would evaluate Yao's performance, his performance on the court speaks for itself. I think he is my idol, and he taught me that hard work can make me stronger."

"I wish him all the best, and every player on the Knicks deserves a championship."

At the end, Kobe's expression was serious and earnest, clearly indicating that he was speaking from the heart.

The reporters in the audience erupted in an uproar.

Especially the Los Angeles media, to them, Kobe's words sounded like he was congratulating the Knicks on winning the championship in advance, as if he had already admitted defeat.

A reporter tried to argue that there were still three games left, and the finals weren't over yet.

But looking at Yao Ming's performance today, and seeing how the Knicks are dominating the Lakers, Kobe's statement doesn't seem unreasonable.

Anyone who watched the game would not consider the Lakers a match for the Knicks.

At this point, Kobe added, "Of course, don't think I've given up. No, I know the Knicks are strong, but it won't be easy for them to take the championship from us."

Kobe Bryant uttered a menacing remark and then got up and left the post-game press conference.

This statement became the front page headline of the Los Angeles Times the following day.

While the West Coast mourned as if its parents had died, the East Coast was celebrating.

The New York Times, the Post, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today—all the media outlets are going crazy praising Yao Ming.

The newspapers were full of his photos.

In Times Square, Nike wanted to book all the big screens and tell fans around the world, just like Yao Ming, "Just do it."

He set two historical records in one game, and no amount of praise is too much.

What outsiders wouldn't know is that Yao Ming, who set a record the night before, chose to get up early the next day for extra training.

Six o'clock in the morning.

Tang Sen sat on the sidelines, watching Tedeschi torture Howard, when Yao Ming suddenly appeared.

"Why are you here?" Tang Sen asked in surprise.

There was no training scheduled for today.

Not only today, but throughout the entire finals, no formal training was arranged; at most, some recovery training was done.

Yao Ming said with a wry smile, "I can't sleep, I just can't sleep at all. I don't know how many people called me last night."

Tang Sen thought to himself that he could imagine it.

That's an incredible record! You can imagine how crazy the media is about it today.

Yao Ming glanced at Howard on the court and said, "I turned off my phone later, thinking I should rest as soon as possible, but lying in bed, I tossed and turned and just couldn't fall asleep."

"It's not excitement."

Yao Ming quickly denied it, and then said: "Of course I'm very excited about breaking the record, but not so excited that I can't sleep. I'm just... a little scared, scared that something might happen, scared that we won't win the championship."

Yao Ming looked somewhat troubled.

The Knicks clearly won by more than 30 points, and it was obvious to everyone that there was a huge gap in strength between the Lakers and the Knicks, and that the Knicks were not going to be able to stop the Knicks in this Finals series.

But Yao Ming was afraid.

I'm afraid of something unexpected happening, afraid of ending up with nothing but disappointment.

Even if he knew the probability was very, very low, there was still a chance, no matter how low.

Tang Sen looked at Yao Ming in surprise.

Unexpectedly, at the very last moment, when it came to the finals, the pressure Yao Ming was under exploded.

So far this season, they have won 95 games in a row.

With the expectations of family and friends, the media and fans, the sponsors and the team, and being the team's leader, one can imagine the pressure he was under.

Just because something isn't outwardly expressed doesn't mean that these pressures don't exist.

The championship is just one step away, but the closer you get to success, the greater the pressure will naturally be.

Tang Sen felt he could understand this feeling.

Thinking of this, Tang Sen stood up.

"Can't sleep, huh? Then train."

When you exercise until your body is exhausted and you feel completely refreshed, and your mind is clear, the pressure will naturally disappear.

Yao Ming nodded; that was exactly what he had in mind when he came.

Tang Sen led Yao Ming through physical training, quickly raising his heart rate in the shortest amount of time.

He was panting heavily, his ears filled only with the pounding of his own heart, leaving his brain no time to think.

But it still doesn't feel right.

"Dwight, come here."

Tang Sen waved to Howard, signaling Yao Ming to beat Howard in the most brutal way possible.

Howard's face turned green.

Yesterday, while watching the live stream in my apartment, when I saw Yao Ming score a whopping 63 points, Howard's faith almost crumbled.

How could I possibly think of defeating such a monster?

“Sir, I can’t beat him,” Howard said weakly.

Tang Sen ignored him and urged the two to get started quickly.

There was a clang.

It was the sound of Yao Ming dunking over Dwight Howard.

It was all dunks.

Yao Ming repeatedly pushed past Howard and slammed the ball into the basket.

Until I felt physically exhausted and my mind went blank, I threw down the basketball and stopped playing.

Howard felt like he had been granted a pardon, but he had only one feeling in his mind: This was terrifying.

"Feeling better now?" Tang Sen asked back.

Yao Ming nodded, feeling satisfied.

Tang Sen said, "Then let's go to the spa area and lie down for a while. After Lao Guo arrives and we get a massage, we can go back and catch up on some sleep."

Yao Ming grabbed his jersey and left.

Tedeschi walked over and asked Yao Ming curiously what was going on.

Tang Sen shook his head and said it was nothing.

It's normal for Yao Ming to feel pressure; after all, he's human, not a machine.

Moreover, even if the pressure isn't released, playing with that burden isn't a big problem.

There are other people too.

The outcome of this final round was already decided after the first game.

All the Lakers' resistance and struggle will be in vain.

Not to mention the script is already written and the curtain is about to fall, the league won't let the Lakers cause any trouble.

For Townsend, the season is coming to an end, and his Knicks career is also about to come to a close.

The next day, G2 began.

Jackson did not give up the game.

Kobe, who kept insisting that the Knicks deserved a championship, didn't give up.

In the first quarter, Kobe Bryant repeatedly made jump shots with the help of Karl Malone's screens, scoring 14 points in the quarter.

Malone's arrival has enriched the Lakers' tactical options to some extent.

After all, O'Neal wouldn't run out to set a screen for Kobe.

With O'Neal adding 9 points, the Lakers scored a high of 32 points in a single quarter.

32:31.

The Knicks are now behind.

At that moment, even the referee, Danny Crawford, kept glancing towards the Knicks' bench.

No one told him anything, but he knew the Knicks couldn't afford to lose.

Meanwhile, on the Lakers' bench...

They were in the lead, which should have been a cause for celebration, but Jackson wasn't happy at all.

“Kurt, we’re going to lose,” Jackson whispered to Lambis.

Jackson couldn't find any sign of panic on the faces of the Knicks players who were behind.

This season, the Knicks have not lost a single game, and they have rarely fallen behind in any game.

If being in the lead has become a habit, then suddenly falling behind in a crucial match should cause some panic.

No.

Not only the players, but also the fans in the stands remained calm.

There can only be one explanation for that.

In other words, the consecutive victories have given the Knicks enough confidence.

Or rather, this is the essence of a champion.

Don't be arrogant after winning, because you could have won anyway.

Don't panic if you fall behind, because you'll win eventually.

Jackson knew all too well how terrifying a team with this kind of mentality could be.

Just like the Bulls he led back then, no matter how strong the opponent was, Jackson was confident of winning the game.

Therefore, a brief lead is meaningless. On the contrary, the Lakers, having finally taken the lead, might become complacent.

The second quarter begins.

The Knicks immediately shut down the Lakers' defense for almost 24 seconds.

Then Wade took the ball and went one-on-one against Kobe, using a crossover dribble to start, then a sudden stop and step-back, before pulling up and throwing the ball.

At that moment, Wade, leaning back slightly, really looked like Jordan, who was 5 centimeters shorter.

Even the real Jordan on the sidelines couldn't help but applaud him.

The lead was wiped out in an instant.

Then it was like a slow, insidious death, like boiling a frog in lukewarm water, with no dramatic ups and downs. But when Jackson suddenly looked up, the Lakers were already down by 6 points.

He didn't even realize the team was behind.

Then the Knicks' starters returned.

Yao Ming remained unstoppable, unleashing a small burst of scoring, netting 6 consecutive points and pushing the lead to 10 points.

Ten points was a hurdle, and Jackson was pacing anxiously on the sidelines, but he was completely helpless.

At the end of the session, the Knicks had once again established an 11-point lead.

The result remained the same in the second half.

The Lakers have four star players, so someone is bound to have a breakout performance from time to time.

But more often than not, Jackson could still sense the team's helplessness.

The Knicks' defense is really not bad.

If this were a car race, Jackson felt the Lakers were like a Ferrari, capable of occasionally flooring the gas pedal, bursting forth, and catching up with their opponents.

But most of the time, you're still lagging behind.

Because the opponent is the world's fastest F1 car and the best driver, always maintaining the highest speed.

All you can do is try to get closer again and again, and watch your opponent get further and further away from you.

This feeling can lead to despair.

Jackson was desperate. By the end, O'Neal was too tired to continue, and it seemed like he couldn't keep up.

The point difference shows no sign of closing.

117:101.

competition is over.

Amid the cheers of the New York fans, Jackson's heart sank to the bottom of the sea.

In his view, the Lakers made a comeback today and performed exceptionally well.

Kobe scored 39 points, and Shaq scored 31 points.

They played well and caused the Knicks some trouble for a while.

But it's just a bit of trouble.

Moreover, Jackson believes that the Knicks' performance today has been somewhat inconsistent.

After all, he only scored 117 points.

After all, Yao Ming only scored 21 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists.

Indeed, in Jackson's opinion, Yao Ming's performance of just 20 points and a triple-double was already quite poor.

This series has probably already ended prematurely.

Jackson doesn't believe that returning to the Lakers' home court will turn the game around.

The score is 2-0.

The Knicks have achieved a remarkable 96-game winning streak.

The numbers on Times Square have changed once again, making it a must-visit spot for many fans across the United States.

All media outlets overwhelmingly believe that the Knicks will not give the Lakers any chance.

Even the Los Angeles media lost their confidence.

Before Game 3 began, the Los Angeles Times headline read: "If the Knicks sweep the Lakers 4-0, they will lift the championship trophy at Staples Center."

This is a great shame and humiliation.

Both being basketball meccas, Madison Center surpassed Staples Center for the first time.

When your own media starts focusing on what will happen if you lose, the outcome is predictable.

G3, match point.

In front of 20,000 fans in Los Angeles, Yao Ming put an end to the debate over who is the world's best center with a triple-double of 43 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists.

The Knicks defeated the Lakers 125-96, a 29-point blowout.

With a 3-0 lead in the series, the Knicks can already start celebrating.

After a two-day rest in Los Angeles, Game 4 will begin.

The reporters had already left the dilapidated away team locker room at Staples Center.

All eyes were on Carlisle.

Carlisle tried to say something, but his throat seemed to be blocked, and he couldn't say anything.

Tang Sen, standing nearby, could understand Carlisle's excitement.

A season's worth of hard work will come to an end in three hours.

For the Knicks, this is an effort that began two years ago, a long road to glory, which is finally coming to an end.

Looking back on all of this, Carlyle really didn't know what words to use to describe it.

Seeing the awkward silence, Tang Sen suddenly said, "How about we go take a look at the championship trophy?"

Everyone looked at Tang Sen in unison.

The championship trophy has been delivered to Staples Center and is now stored in a room at the end of a corridor.

Soon, it will be taken out and placed on the sidelines, waiting for the winner to pick it up.

“Okay.” Swift stood up and excitedly agreed.

Then one by one, the players stood up.

Tedsky quickly whispered, "Don, there are guards watching, you can't see it, can you?"

Tang Sen thought to himself, "Can't I just look from the outside?"

"go!"

Tang Sen gave a shout and led the way outside.

In 02, the Magic won the championship.

That year, everyone knew that the Magic's championship win was inseparable from Townsend.

But at that time, Tang Sen was ultimately a wildcard player, not a member of the Magic, so that championship trophy had little to do with Tang Sen.

But this year is different.

I've been with the Knicks since they were built up, and this championship trophy is a testament to all my hard work.

Next season, Tangsen will leave the team to pursue his own career.

This championship is the only one that Tang Sen has won personally.

Tang Sen suddenly remembered to take a look.

During his playing days, he didn't even have the right to look at it, but now he has the opportunity to hold it in his own hands.

A large group of people left the locker room and, amidst the astonished expressions of the security guards and staff, arrived outside the room where the championship trophy was displayed.

Didn't go in.

It was just an ordinary wooden door, but everyone knew that behind it lay the reward they deserved for their two years of hard work.

I don't know how long it will take.

Just like the past two years, it's been the same training day after day, and constant competitions.

Two years is a long time, but for everyone, it seems to pass very quickly.

"gone."

Yao Ming suddenly spoke, gave a shout, turned and left, saying in a deep voice, "Let's take the championship that belongs to us!"

A large group of people turned around and followed.

Tang Sen lagged behind, gave the wooden door one last glance, and quickly followed.

Tickets for the final show were extremely hard to come by.

The Lakers didn't release many tickets to New York fans either.

The arena was a sea of ​​gold as Lakers fans tried to scare the Knicks away with their shouts.

But no one was affected.

Looking at the championship trophy through the wooden door, everyone clearly felt how close they were to the championship.

They were separated by just one door, and there was a three-hour match between them.

The final game of the season, the last step on the road to glory, and everyone felt no pressure.

Even if there is pressure, it will only turn into bullets and be fired at the opponent.

With 6 minutes and 18 seconds left in the first quarter, Yao Ming drove to the basket, and O'Neal failed to react in time, allowing Yao Ming to powerfully dunk over him, completing a 2+1 play.
This is just a microcosm of the entire match.

The Knicks led 30-21 after the first quarter, a nine-point advantage.

At halftime, the score was 59-43, with the lead reaching 16 points.

The cheers and shouts from the stands gradually subsided, and an atmosphere of despair permeated the entire Staples Center.

Spike Lee, who had followed the Knicks to Los Angeles, was so excited that he didn't sit down.

A host of legendary football stars are also eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new era.

The score was 89 to 65, and the third quarter ended.

A 24-point deficit is enough to make the Lakers feel hopeless.

Kobe repeatedly attacked the basket, attempting various difficult shots in an effort to salvage the game.

But it didn't work.

In the final quarter, Yao Ming scored 11 points, bringing his total points in the final game of the Finals to 37, 18 rebounds, and 11 assists.

At 117-85, the Staples Center fell silent as if it were a tomb the moment the clock struck zero.

All that remained was Yao Ming, who fiercely threw the basketball into the sky, raised his arms high, surrounded by his players, and, like a lighthouse illuminating the entire court, let out a roar.

The 2003-2004 NBA championship belongs to the New York Knicks!
(End of this chapter)