Where the noise did not reach

Chapter 121 Because the Lord Forgets
The next day, under Dr. Ross's guidance, Xu Ling underwent a series of unprecedented recovery exercises. There were no intense running or jumping, only precise and restrained, even somewhat monotonous movements, as if reprogramming every muscle in his body. The process was uncomfortably quiet, but the sense of stability in his ankles afterward told Xu Ling that this method was indeed effective.

After the entire physical therapy session was completed, Dr. Deckard Ross stated that another recovery physical therapy session would be conducted after training. Furthermore, Xu Ling would need to hire a reliable training team after the season to help him master how to use core strength to assist lower limb movement, and he would also need to learn to use his hips to generate power, just like all evergreen perimeter players.

"Doctor, I really want to know, what exactly does 'using your hips to power' feel like?"

Xu Ling looked at the doctor with a questioning expression.

Dr. Ross adjusted his glasses and said seriously, "Simply put, it's about teaching you to think with your ass."

Xu Ling: ".?"

“Literal,” the doctor said, pointing to his own hip. “When your brain stops over-interfering with the shooting motion and lets your trained glutes take the lead, you’ll find the world becomes much quieter. After all, your ass probably knows better than your overactive brain at getting the ball in the basket.”

Xu Ling: "This sounds both scientific and insulting."

"That's just how science works."

Then, another day passed.

News first broke from Houston that Yao Ming had successfully undergone surgery, but whether he can make it to this year's Olympics remains uncertain, as there are less than six months left until the Games.

The Grizzlies then played the Bulls on the road.

This is a team that Kobe ruined.

At the beginning of the season, the Kobe trade saga continued, and the Bulls seemed the most likely team to be Kobe's next destination.

They have enough assets: a promising young team and a huge market. It's just that since Jordan's retirement, the United Center has never had a qualified owner. If Kobe had come, it would have been the perfect ending.

However, the Bulls only need to focus on acquiring Kobe, while Kobe has many more things to consider.

First, if he wants to go to your team, you have to trade him, maintain a stable roster, have a future, and be a championship contender. He almost didn't go. The Bulls were tossed around for months, which eventually ruined the team's mentality. What was originally a very competitive team is now starting to think about the lottery draw.

Coincidentally, there was indeed a talented player from Chicago worth selecting this year, so Kobe ultimately did something good.

The Grizzlies battled the Bulls for four quarters, ultimately winning by a narrow margin against an opponent whose will to win was not particularly strong.

Tonight's Grizzlies are the kind of team the academic experts want to see.

Kidd recorded a triple-double, Josh Howard led the team with 25 points, Xu Ling followed closely with 20 points, and Milicic also contributed 10 points and 8 rebounds. With four players scoring in double figures, the team's offensive firepower was evenly distributed, which is what makes a strong team.

Bulls head coach Jim Boylen commented on the game: "I really think the competitiveness in the East and West is getting out of balance. In the East, we have Boston, we have Detroit, we have Cleveland, and then what? The rest of the teams are pretty much the same. In the West, from the first to the tenth, every team is very competitive. What I'm trying to say is that it's a huge shock to my worldview that a team like the Grizzlies is facing the problem of not making the playoffs."

Boylan's remarks have drawn widespread criticism in the East.

For example, Doc Rivers, the head coach of the league-leading Celtics.

“I think the competition in the East is just as fierce,” Rivers said. “In some ways, it’s even fiercer than in the West because the teams in the East are more physical. It’s a physical sport, you know. You can’t have a team like Houston that keeps going on winning streaks in the East. You can’t go on a winning streak like that with all the wear and tear. I don’t think that assessment is fair to the other teams. Yes, it’s definitely a desecration.”

Following Rivers, coaches and players from other Eastern Conference teams have also shared their opinions. Their core argument is: yes, the West appears highly competitive, but is it possible that this is because they lack a dominant team like the Celtics?

While Kobe and Nowitzki's Mavericks certainly have the potential to be a super team, Nowitzki has recently suffered an injury and will be out for at least two weeks. Kobe has also returned to a one-man show to some extent. The Mavericks need more time to develop chemistry, and they cannot yet be considered a super team.

The East has always been overshadowed by the Celtics.

If the Celtics were placed in the Western Conference, they would also present an extreme situation of one dominant team and many strong teams.

Soon after, as if to prove this point, the Houston Rockets defeated the Lakers and Hornets in succession, bringing their winning streak to an unrealistic 22 games.

This is the second-longest winning streak in NBA history.

This absolutely blew Rockets fans around the world wild. Those familiar with NBA history started listing the final results of teams that had achieved similar winning streaks. They mentioned the 72 Lakers, who were champions, and the 71 Bucks, who were also champions. Teams that achieved similar results at least reached the Conference Finals.
This is something the Rockets dared not hope for after Yao Ming was sidelined for the season.

Without a doubt, this is a miracle.

But miracles always come to an end. On March 18, the Rockets faced their 23rd opponent in nearly two months of winning streak – the Celtics.

The Rockets faced the Celtics on the road. The first half was relatively even, with the score tied at 40-40. However, in the second half, Garnett's defense, Pierce's isolation plays, and the explosion of Leon Bowie off the bench led to the Rockets' collapse. They were crushed like a cockroach.

McGrady, fighting alone, seemed to have lost his composure, underperforming against the Celtics and scoring only 8 points.

"I'm absolutely fed up with the notion that the West is stronger than the East," Paul Pierce said after the game, joining the debate. "You can bring those so-called strong teams from the West to the East, or send us to the West, and I assure you, the Celtics will still be the Celtics, while the other teams will be different."

Originally, this was just a public opinion battle to clarify that "we in the East are not weak, and even if we are weak, you still have to respect the Celtics." Suddenly, the Celtics defeated the most powerful team in the West at the moment, and it was a complete crushing victory. Pierce's embellished comments after the game turned the whole thing into a confrontation between the East and the West.

Kobe Bryant, the superstar of the Dallas Mavericks who are currently ranked first in the Western Conference, said: "I think it's pointless to say more. Strength and weakness are determined by playing. Western teams have a higher winning percentage against Eastern teams."

Although Kobe never went to college, he proposed a scientific method for resolving disputes: look at the odds.

This statement immediately perked everyone up, because it benefits the West. So far this season, Western teams have a 53% winning percentage against Eastern teams, which is a significant advantage considering the large sample size of divisional matchups.

However, the roughnecks in the East say they don't understand the data. So what if you have a higher winning percentage? It only means that you don't have as much physical contact with the teams, so you can conserve your energy to compete against Eastern teams. Unlike us Eastern teams, we play like killers, pushing each other to the brink of death, which naturally makes you gain an advantage. If you're so capable, why don't you go up against the Celtics?
Suddenly, the Celtics seemed to become the banner of the entire East, carrying all the hopes and glory of the region.

The dignity of the East, the strength of the East, the intensity of the East that has been questioned—all of this is now being defended by this Celtics team. After a resounding victory over the Rockets, they easily defeated another Western Conference powerhouse, the Hornets.

Faced with the Celtics' impenetrable defense, Chris Paul was completely out of his depth, and this victory gave Eastern supporters an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.

With March drawing to a close, the Celtics are already at home, ready to face their next Western Conference challenger.

Young point guard Rajon Rondo declared with great enthusiasm: "At this moment, we fight for the East. The strength of the entire East is gathered here."

So, which Western Conference team will they be facing?
The source of all this was the Memphis Grizzlies.

Bill Simons wrote a preview of this pivotal game. Speaking about the Grizzlies this season, he wrote: "If you fell asleep in 1998 to Jordan's 'Last Shot' and didn't wake up until ten years later, you'd be shocked to find that the Grizzlies were among the hottest teams in the NBA. The Grizzlies? Seriously? Think back, most of the headlines this season have been about this team. This war that swept across the East and West started with a few flattering words from a Bulls interim coach trying to keep his job. But suddenly, it became the biggest story in basketball. And the Grizzlies, who ignited it all, are still struggling to secure a playoff spot."

“I still believe the Celtics will win the next game, and I also believe the Grizzlies will be in the headlines again tomorrow for some reason. You may not believe my judgment, but you must believe Eli Xu—Mr. Headlines never disappoints.”

The last time the Grizzlies played the Celtics, Xu Ling was suffering from an ankle sprain, so they were naturally powerless against the unstoppable Celtics.

This time, however, they are at a crucial stage in their playoff push. If they can defeat the league-leading Celtics, they could very well build up a strong morale and surge into the playoffs. Conversely, if they are eliminated like the Rockets, it will have a significant negative impact on the team's atmosphere as they strive for the playoffs.

When the plane landed and Xu Ling walked out of the airport, the media swarmed around her, bombarding her with all sorts of questions.

Xu Ling only caught the most pointed question: "You suffered a crushing 32-point defeat against the Celtics at home last time. Does that bother you?"

"I don't remember that match."

Because many days had passed since that match, and the Lord tends to forget things after the sun rises.

Xu Ling, escorted by bodyguards, walked past the reporters and gradually disappeared from sight.

(End of this chapter)