The NBA's Absolute Dominance

Chapter 201 Match Point
While Tang Bei was being interviewed live by NBC after the game, some NBA stars were also being interviewed by other media outlets.

A reporter asked, "Erwin, the Bulls were swept by the Heat, but they didn't play a game with such a large score difference. Do you think the Rockets are not as strong as the Bulls?"

Magic Johnson said, "Although the Bulls were swept by the Heat, their strength is definitely not inferior to the Rockets. After all, the Bulls had a record of 68 wins in the regular season, the second best in the league, while the Rockets were only sixth in the West with 45 wins. I personally think the Bulls are stronger."

"Do you think the Rockets' performance tonight was normal?" a reporter asked.

Magic Johnson said, "Hakeem only made 4 of 16 shots, a mere 25% field goal percentage, against Tang's one-on-one defense, and only made 3 of 4 free throws, scoring just 11 points and 9 rebounds. This was his worst performance in the playoffs, and his performance was certainly abnormal."

"Irwin, how high do you think the chances are of the Rockets being swept?" another reporter asked.

Magic Johnson thought for a moment and said, "Their chances of being swept are increasing unless they play an explosive game at home and blow up the Heat with crazy outside shooting."

"Do you think the Rockets can blow up the Heat with their shooting?" a reporter asked.

Magic Johnson shook his head helplessly and said, "The Heat used a man-to-man defense strategy in last year's Finals, which shut down the Rockets' three-point shooting tactics."

"Tonight, the Heat used the same tactics, and added a strategy of not double-teaming, which made the Rockets' perimeter defense extremely strong. The chances of the Rockets overwhelming the Heat with their shooting were indeed not high."

At this point, he said in a praising tone, "Coach Kevin Longley's coaching ability is excellent. In the Eastern Conference Finals, he boldly devised a perimeter defensive strategy of double-teaming Pippen, which was very effective. The success of the defensive strategy was one of the important reasons for sweeping the Bulls."

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was also giving a media interview nearby.

"Karim, what's your assessment of tonight's game?"

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said, "In 1956, the Celtics played the Syracuse Nationals, now known as the 76ers, in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The score was 128-91, a difference of 37 points."

"This is the biggest point difference in a single playoff game in NBA history. This record stood for almost 40 years, but it was broken tonight by the Heat. The Heat raised this record to 50 points. An incredible performance."

"And what about the finals?" the reporter pressed.

贾巴尔说道：“总决赛之前的最高单场分差是1965年凯尔特人队对湖人队的G4战，比分是129：96，单场分差33分，这个记录也保持了30年。”

Eighty minutes later, the Rockets' press conference finally began, delayed by twenty minutes.

"Hakim, how would you rate your performance tonight?" a reporter asked.

Hakeem Olajuwon, his eyes still filled with confusion and helplessness, said weakly, "I know it's bad, I know."

The reporter waited a moment, and after confirming that Olajuwon was not going to continue, asked again, "Hakeem, how much of a chance do you think you have of winning the championship this time?"

A look of pain crossed Olajuwon's eyes. After a dozen seconds of silence, he said, "I don't know, I really don't know."

The next reporter turned the question to head coach Tomjanovich: "Mr. Coach, what do you think were the reasons for the Rockets' crushing defeat tonight?"

Tomjanovich sighed and said, "Our collapse started in the paint, and then the whole offensive and defensive system fell apart."

After saying this, he glanced at Hakeem Olajuwon with pity, and Olajuwon lowered his head even further.

"Head coach, who do you think should be held responsible for this?" the reporter pressed.

"I."

Tomjanovic replied without hesitation, "I'm the head coach, their leader, so naturally I'm in charge."

Hakeem Olajuwon looked up at his head coach and felt a little better.

"Hakim, how high do you think the chances of the Rockets being swept are now?" the next reporter asked.

Hakeem Olajuwon clenched his fists and gritted his teeth as he said, "We will do our best to come back at home."

"So, you've actually lost faith in the G2 match?" the reporter pressed.

"I……"

Olajuwon's newly rallied resolve was shattered by the reporter's words, because he genuinely hadn't expected to defeat the Heat in Game 2.

On the other side, in the Heat's press conference hall.

A reporter asked, "Tang, your performance was equally strong against the Bulls and the Rockets. Didn't the superstar center Hakeem Olajuwon put extra pressure on you?"

Tang Bei said, "It's simple, because when I play against the Bulls, I don't need to go all out."

"Oh!"

The reporters gasped in surprise.

"Did you play at your best when you played against Hakeem Olajuwon?" the reporter pressed.

Tang Bei casually replied, "Of course I'll go all out. If I said I wasn't going all out, wouldn't that hurt Hakeem Olajuwon?"

He wasn't lying; he really went all out tonight. In order to crush the Rockets' morale from the very beginning, he used every ounce of his strength, giving it his all on both offense and defense. Although he didn't go all out on offense, he invested even more in other areas.

"puff!"

"Ha ha!"

【50】

The following day, The New York Times used this number as its headline on its front page.

"One dominant force and four superstars: the league's center position landscape is set," NBC reported.

"The Miami Heat's title defense is unshakeable, and Severe Fear will dominate the entire league," the Washington Post reported.

"Within at least five years, the NBA will see a dominant force with several strong contenders, and the Heat's chances of a three-peat dynasty are far greater than the Bulls' previous two-peat," TNT reported.

The Rockets and Olajuwon's performance was criticized by many mainstream media outlets, while Tang Bei's extremely luxurious performance was praised by all media.

Tang Bei's overwhelming performance against Olajuwon, and the Heat's overwhelming performance against the Rockets, have led to mainstream media recognition of the concepts of "one dominant force with four superpowers" and "one dominant force with many strong opponents."

According to predictions from various media outlets, the Rockets have a maximum chance of winning the championship, with most estimates below 20%, and some even suggesting a zero chance.

After a day of rest, Game 2 of the finals will begin on the 9th.

The Rockets were still struggling, while Tang Bei continued to perform at his best, leading the Heat to a 78-105 victory by 27 points, securing their second consecutive home win.

奥拉朱旺的表现好于G1战，得到20分11篮板3抢断4盖帽，但命中率只有三成出头。

Tang Bei scored 41 points, 16 rebounds, 2 steals and 7 blocks with a field goal percentage of 70%, still overwhelming his opponent Hakeem Olajuwon.

"If the Rockets fail to win Game 3 at home, their chances of winning the championship will drop to zero," NBC reported.

"The chances of the Rockets being swept have risen to 70%," ESPN reported.

"The Heat can prepare to celebrate their championship win," TNT reported.

After Game 2, the Finals situation leaned even further towards the Heat, and apart from the Houston media, no other media outlets favored the Rockets.

With an average of 15.5 points per game and a shooting percentage of barely 30%, Hakeem Olajuwon, as the core leader of the Rockets, bore the brunt of media criticism.

The Washington Post reported: "We were hoping to see a super matchup between two super centers, but unfortunately Hakeem Olajuwon disappointed us. This Finals has robbed him of all his glory, and he is only highlighting the greatness of Severe Fear."

ESPN reports: "Hakeem Olajuwon has a very big problem in these series: his playing style is completely ineffective."

"With reduced offense under the basket and fewer free throws per game than in the regular season, this style of play, which relies heavily on jump shots, has no chance of beating the Heat and Severe Fear."

ABC News reported: "Throughout the history of the league, Tang Bei is the most unique center. His unparalleled low-post dominance has rendered even the four super centers helpless, and the ongoing Finals have once again proven this point."

"If there is any center who has a chance to compete with Tang Bei, it can only be Shaquille O'Neal, who is of the same type."

"We believe that if O'Neal can gain weight to over 150 kilograms and his athletic performance does not decline significantly, then he will have the ability to overcome severe phobia."

"150 kilograms?"

O'Neal soon noticed the ABC news after being reminded by his agent, and seemed to be deep in thought.

He gained weight this season, his body fat percentage increased, and his current weight reached 140 kilograms. This was weighed on an empty stomach this morning, which is already more than Tang Bei's weight.

However, he believes his athletic ability hasn't declined much, so ABC's assessment seems plausible.

"I'm going to kill that damn Chinese guy, gain weight, I need to gain weight, I need to eat more." He got excited thinking about it.

On the 10th, the Heat and Rockets moved to Houston.

Because it's a 2-3-2 schedule, the chances of winning the championship on the road are very high. This time, Gabor came along, traveling on the Heat's private jet.

Around 3 PM, the two men and several bodyguards left the hotel and went to the Houston Consulate General. There is no consulate in Miami, so they needed to come to Houston to apply for visas.

Jiabao applied for a business visa, which is valid for three months to five years. Last year, she applied for a six-month visa, and this time she applied for a five-year visa. The visa has been approved, and she is here to pick it up.

Before Chen Long became a global sensation, Tang Bei was the most famous Chinese person in the world. His appearance at the consulate general was very popular. From the consul general to the staff, everyone was a fan of his, and they took photos for half a day before they were allowed to leave.

On the evening of the 11th, at the Summit Stadium.

This place is also called the Peak Arena. By evening, it was already packed with people, and shouts of "Resilient City" could be heard from the stands from time to time.

In the away team's locker room, Tang Bei noticed through the television that there were many Chinese national flags in the stands.

"A resilient city? Ha!"

Tang Bei turned to his teammates and said, "Last year we blew up this so-called resilient city, what are we going to do this year?"

“Bomb it again!” Kendall Gill yelled.

"Yes, blow it up again."

"Sweep them away."

The crowd started chattering amongst themselves.

Tang Bei shouted, "Guys, Hakeem Olajuwon is a coward. Since we can sweep the Bulls, we can sweep the Rockets. Let's all work hard for two more games and sweep to win the championship."

"Sweep them all to win the championship!"

As everyone pumped their fists and shouted, the atmosphere in the locker room became intense and powerful, reaching its peak.

At this point, head coach Kevin Longley came in, announced the starting lineup, and then the substitutes began to warm up.

Miami Heat: Tang Bei, Kevin Willis, Glen Rice, Kendall Gill, Avery Johnson

Rockets: Hakeem Olajuwon, Pete Chilcarter, Robert Horry, Clyde Drexler, Kenny Smith

Bill Russell said, "Whether the Houston Rockets can avoid being swept depends on whether they can hold on in this game." Bill Walton said, "That depends on whether Hakeem Olajuwon can withstand Tang Bei's heavy artillery barrage. If he can't, he's in trouble."

Barkley said, "I believe in Hakim, he can do it."

Bill Russell shook his head and said, "Confidence alone is not enough, Charles. You have to support the Rockets with real actions. If you join the Rockets, they will have a chance."

"I?"

Barkley paused for a moment, then burst into laughter: "That's a great idea! With my connections, I should be able to carry Hakim and the others, haha!"

At 8 o'clock, Tang Bei and Hakeem Olajuwon stood in the center circle.

Facing the Hakeem Olajuwon, who was two sizes smaller than him, he said, "Mr. Super Center, why don't you come to the Heat and be my backup? I'll lead you to a championship."

"You bastard!"

Upon hearing this, sparks flew from Hakeem Olajuwon's eyes.

"Then you'll never win a championship in your life," Tang Bei said nonchalantly.

"Humph!"

Hakeem Olajuwon nearly ground his teeth to powder.

At that moment, a whistle blew, the referee tossed the ball high into the air, and Tang Bei flicked it away. Hakeem Olajuwon, lost in his trance, didn't even have time to jump.

"What is Hakim up to?"

Why didn't Hakeem Olajuwon jump the ball?

Has he accepted defeat?

"Damn it, Dream is going to give up."

"If I use the Dream Machine + Glider, I wonder if it would induce severe fear?"

"You're dreaming. He's a dominant super center. With him, we have a championship. Maybe we can do it with five first-round draft picks."

In the stands, some more radical fans were very dissatisfied and discussed the matter extensively.

"Get out of here."

Tang Bei was about to enter the penalty area, and Olajuwon was desperately trying to block him.

"I heard you play water polo. I suggest you go back to playing water polo."

Tang Bei moved his left foot, generating power from the ground, easily squeezing past Olajuwon. After entering the penalty area by one meter, he immediately turned around and blocked the defender, calling for the ball.

Hakeem Olajuwon felt a sense of powerlessness; the intensity of the confrontation made him feel like he was fighting an elephant.

Avery Johnson passed the ball, and the Rockets immediately collapsed their defense.

"Snapped!"

"Di!"

As Tang turned to attack the basket, Chilcart, who was helping on the weak side, committed a foul, and the referee blew his whistle.

Tang Bei had already made a move to attack the basket, and the offensive move was also smooth, but the referee only called a foul on Chilcarter for hitting his hand and did not give him a free throw.

However, this was an away game, so he could understand.

The Heat are on offense again with 16 seconds left. They inbound the ball from the sideline in the frontcourt, giving them plenty of time to attack.

This time, Tang Bei went straight to the basket, and Chilcarter abandoned Kevin Willis and double-teamed Tang Bei under the basket.

"brush!"

Glen Rice passed the ball to Kevin Willis, who received it in the low post on the right wing. Willis took a step forward and banked the ball in, drawing a foul from Chilcarter as he returned to defense.

Unfortunately, the referee ignored Chilcart's foul, even after Kevin Willis signaled for it.

"We'll fight our own battle and sweep them away with overwhelming strength."

Tang Bei shouted and punched his teammates, including Kevin Willis, on the court.

"Sweep away the rockets!"

The crowd cheered, immediately drawing cheers from the Heat's bench and hundreds of Heat fans.

"Shh!"

But soon, the boos from the home fans drowned out their noise.

2-0, Rockets on offense, Hakeem Olajuwon receives the ball in the low post on the left wing.

"Fight in!"

A loud-voiced fan shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Pull it in!"

A large number of fans joined in the shouting.

In this situation, Hakeem Olajuwon had no choice but to try to break through.

"Withdrawn?"

It was still the Dream Steps, but as soon as he started using them, he couldn't feel Tang Bei's presence in his buttocks anymore.

"Come on, let's perform."

Tang Bei, who had taken a step back, used his right hand to brace against Hakeem Olajuwon's lower back.

Hakeem Olajuwon suddenly turned around, took a step forward and jumped, blocked Tang Bei with his left hand and made a hook shot with his right hand.

"Snapped!"

Tang Bei blocked Olajuwon's left hand with his right hand, sprang up with all his might, and swung his left hand, swatting the basketball towards the frontcourt.

"Ugh!"

A collective sigh of despair filled the Peak Arena.

"He got slapped! Tang Bei blocked the shot of super center Hakeem Olajuwon with his left hand!" Xu Jicheng shouted excitedly.

Beyond the three-point line, Glen Rice quickly turned and chased after the ball, Robert Horry couldn't keep up, and the ball kept slipping away.

Kenny Smith retreated from the top of the key to defend the basket, getting there first.

"boom!"

Glen Rice ignored the defense and dunked over him.

In this fast break, Tang Bei didn't rush down the court; he jogged to the center line, and the attack was already complete.

"Beautiful! Glen Rice dunks over Kenny Smith, haha!" Sun Zhenping laughed.

"The Miami Heat's fast breaks are still very threatening, especially when Tang Bei is involved," Han Qiaosheng said.

Xu Jicheng said, "Tang Bei is the core of both offense and defense, and he also has to grab rebounds. He usually only participates in fast breaks when the situation is particularly suitable."

4-0, Rockets on offense.

This time, there were no shouts or boos as people tried to get into the Peak Arena; it was very quiet.

Amidst the swishing of sneakers, Kenny Smith advanced from the middle to the frontcourt.

As he approached the top of the key, seeing Avery Johnson retreating and defending, Kenny Smith suddenly leaped into the air and fired a shot when he was still a meter away from the top of the key.

"A three-pointer!" Xu Jicheng was startled.

"brush!"

That ball went in! The basketball swished through the hoop.

"Clap clap clap..."

The stadium erupted in enthusiastic applause.

"Avery, keep a close eye on the ball handler, don't give him any space," Kevin Longley shouted imposingly.

Upon hearing this, Avery Johnson immediately nodded.

The Rockets' title defense is now practically a foregone conclusion; they lack the strength to stage a comeback. Two championships, 70 regular season wins, and a Coach of the Year award have significantly elevated Kevin Longley's status in the league, making him an absolute top-tier head coach.

Now, when he says something in the team, the management won't easily contradict him. Apart from Tang Bei, no player dares to disobey him.

"Watch out for the Rockets' three-pointers, they're the best in the entire league!" Sun Zhenping shouted.

"Don't let them get into a comfortable position," Han Qiaosheng said.

Xu Jicheng said, "Last season, the Rockets averaged 15.7 three-point attempts per game, accounting for 19.1% of their total attempts, which was already the highest in the league."

"This season, I'm averaging 21.4 three-point attempts per game, accounting for 26.7% of my total attempts, a significant increase of 7.6 percentage points compared to last season."

"In this day and age, three-pointers are not a regular tactic. The Rockets are going a bit overboard by shooting so many three-pointers. They often win or lose because of three-pointers."

Sun Zhenping nodded and said, "In last year's Finals, the Heat's man-to-man defense without switching prevented the Rockets from executing their three-point strategy. It really was a case of the three-pointer being both their strength and their weakness."

In the following games, the Heat continued to focus on low-post offense, while on the defensive end, they employed man-to-man defense on the perimeter without switching, misalignment, or double-teaming.

With the support of their home fans and the home-court advantage, the Rockets performed much better at home than in their previous two away games.

However, the Heat maintained their dominance with their superior strength, keeping the Rockets on the back foot until the end of the game, and never giving the Rockets a chance to turn the tide.

In the final score, the Heat won 102-85, a 17-point victory, taking the lead in Game 3 and securing a championship point.

Tang Bei scored 46 points with a 71.5% field goal percentage, while Olajuwon scored 25 points with a 41.5% field goal percentage. The two players were still not on the same level.

(End of this chapter)