NBA, Yao Ming is back!

Amidst these undercurrents and intense public scrutiny, the matchups for this season's CBA Finals have finally been decided.

The Shanghai Sharks and the Bayi Rockets met as scheduled, and the fateful battle officially began.

The current NBA Finals format remains the old one, with the entire series being best-of-three. It will be upgraded to a best-of-five format next season.

The home-and-away schedule ensures that the Shanghai Sharks, who consistently ranked first in the league during the regular season, have a firm home-court advantage.

The first game of the finals was held at the Shanghai Stadium, which was packed to capacity early on, with home fans dominating the entire arena.

The noisy crowd started arriving in the afternoon and continued until night.

The tense, gunpowder-like atmosphere permeated every corner of the air.

It even became a trendy thing in Shanghai for a while.

Have you ever watched Yao Ming, the "Big Shark," play basketball?

You haven't seen it? Oh dear, you're a bit out of touch.

Of course, it wasn't just the Sharks' fans who didn't expect this.

No one expected it.

However, after only two seasons of settling down, the Shanghai Sharks have managed to overcome all obstacles and transform themselves from an ordinary mid-to-lower-tier team.

They fought their way to the finals, standing opposite the league champions, Bayi.

Standing in front of the pre-match press conference, Li Qiuping looked at the huge promotional poster for the finals behind her, her fingers clenched slightly, her heart filled with complex emotions.

This is only his second year coaching the Shanghai Sharks. His original plan was simply to steadily integrate the roster, gradually build up strength, and progressively raise the team's ceiling.

I never expected to reach the championship so soon.

The finals arrived in a hurry, a sudden showdown of the titans.

Frankly speaking, whether it's tactical reserves, rotation depth, or experience in major competitions...

He wasn't fully prepared.

Competitive sports never give people time to prepare. When facing a formidable opponent and an imminent battle, retreat and cowardice never solve any problems.

Faced with the crowds of reporters from various media outlets surrounding the venue, Li Qiuping suppressed her anxiety.

With a calm expression, he took a deep breath and stated his position firmly and resolutely:

The team will give it their all and take their opponents seriously.

Give it your all in every quarter, every minute of the game.

The entire team will go all out to strive for the final championship.

A full-scale battle.

without regret.

He spoke eloquently and politely, but only he knew the truth...

On paper, in terms of team strength, team history, and major tournament experience, the Shanghai Sharks still have a visible gap compared to the Bayi Rockets, who have dominated the league for many years.

On the other hand, the pre-match statement from the Bayi team, a dominant force in the domestic league for many years, further heightened the tension of the match.

Military teams have always been low-key and reserved, but they never lack the pride of the strong. At the pre-match press conference, the Bayi coaching staff and core players spoke in unison, saying something intriguing.

The Bayi team in the regular season is a Bayi team.

The Bayi team in the playoffs is a Bayi team.

The Bayi team in the finals was yet another Bayi team.

The meaning of this statement is actually quite obvious.

Losing to a team during the regular season means nothing.

Back then, Bayi played conservatively, conserving their energy and tactics, and never truly displayed their dominance.

As they advanced through the playoffs, they improved their form step by step, refining their offense and defense, becoming stronger with each game.

Now we've entered the finals.

Everyone will inevitably raise the intensity again and bring out their best skills.

In fact, before the CBA was established, they were almost all champions of the national first-division league.

Your Great Shark can sweep away all strong opponents, can outscor Jiangsu with Hu Weidong, can easily defeat Shandong with Gong Xiaobin in the playoffs, and even beat Bayi who were resting their players in the regular season.

But the real test has only just begun.

The entire league has long been firmly controlled by Bayi, and this blue ocean of the CBA has long been Bayi's home court.

The young Shanghai Sharks are showing tremendous momentum and possess explosive talent.

But he was still a newborn calf.

Can we break through the layers of blockade and swim across this sea area firmly controlled by the August 1st Army?

Everyone is watching with bated breath.

If they can do it, it means that Yao Ming and his Big Sharks have completely overthrown the old era's rule.

They firmly secured their place at the top of the league, a position held by all domestic professional players.

First-line coach.

A renowned figure in the industry.

They would all willingly acknowledge their absolute dominance.

If they suffer a crushing defeat against Bayi's ironclad defense and team offensive, it would mean that this new generation is still immature, and although they are sharp, they lack the necessary foundation.

It still needs to stay and be refined, and grow slowly.

Anyway, if you want to become the undisputed number one in the country...

They defeated the Bayi team in the finals.

Win the championship.

This is the path you must take.

They are like the last big boss in the country.

No matter when, you want to reach the highest position.

Everyone has to get past them.

The deeper meaning behind the words of top stars like Hu Weidong and Gong Xiaobin was well understood by everyone in the Bayi team.

They knew better than anyone how terrifying Yao Ming's talent was.

Given the speed of this 16-year-old's growth and his actual strength, it is destined that he will not be able to stay in the CBA for long.

Moving to a higher stage and a top-tier league is only a matter of time.

But Bayi will never go along with the tide, much less deliberately let others win.

This team, forged by military discipline, has the stubbornness and toughness of soldiers etched into its very bones.

If you want to leave this arena, if you want to prove that this place is too small for you, then you must step on their shoulders to get past them.

The Bayi team is the final, ultimate test standing in front of Yao Ming.

If we can overcome this hurdle, win the championship, and defeat the dynasty, all professionals in the league will be convinced.

No one will question his ability anymore; everyone will agree that the CBA can no longer contain this beast under the basket.

At that time, leaving was the will of the people, and it was a natural progression.

If we can't overcome this obstacle, all praise and speculation will just become empty talk.

In short, it all boils down to this: they really can't get past Bayi.

So it doesn't matter which angle you take.

Yao Ming and the Bayi team must now decide the winner.

There is no room for maneuver.

On the eve of the big battle, when all the pressure was mounting, Yao Ming, as the absolute core of the Shanghai Sharks, was also under the spotlight.

They gave their own response.

Facing the camera, he remained calm and composed, displaying neither deliberate arrogance nor deliberate modesty. Though his words were brief, they exuded a powerful aura that overwhelmed the entire audience.

"I am well aware that the Bayi team did not give it their all during the regular season."

"But I think everyone has overlooked one point..."

"Did I use my full strength?"

"If I don't have it either."

"Let's see who holds back more in the finals."

"In short, although I am young, I am not prepared to wait."

"champion."

"I want it this year."

"Great White Shark".

"It has to be this year."

The firm declaration has been put into practice, and its impact is resounding.

There were no unnecessary boasts.

There was no deliberate mockery.

It's the most direct and forceful statement.

The remaining unspoken words are known only to him.

They defeated Bayi, won the championship, and completely shattered the old dynasty's monopoly.

Prove your dominance in the most indisputable way.

Wait until this final trial is completed.

With heads held high and chests out, we bid farewell to this familiar court without regret, heading towards a broader and more advanced new hall of basketball.

Embark on a brand new journey of your own.

And they won the championship.

And my own departure.

They are all closely related.

Therefore, the finals.

He was prepared to give the Bayi team a good performance.

The intensity has increased significantly.