When pride still matters

Chapter 455 Dare to dream is a good thing
Because the Sonics advanced too easily, they had to wait for the result of the showdown between the Mavericks and the Hornets.

During this period, the Lakers' Jermaine O'Neal was injured again, this time with a shoulder problem. After surgery, his recovery period is expected to be 2-3 months.

This also means that he is out for the season.

This caused the Lakers to lose their only reliable fourth position.

Although the twin towers of Kawhi and Bynum are good, they are easily defeated by the opponent's small ball. When encountering a team with a windy rhythm like the SuperSonics, it is even harder to beat.

As the Sonics' biggest rival in the Western Conference, the Lakers have been severely affected by injuries like the Celtics.

At the same time, the Celtics went through a bloody battle with Rose's Bulls in the first round, playing the most intense first-round game in history.

This has long been a counterattack against the current trend of endlessly belittling old-era basketball and elevating new-era basketball to help someone ascend to the throne.

The feud between Simmons and Yu Fei can be traced back to the latter's rookie season.

In the internal fight between Yu Fei and Jordan, Simmons decisively stood on the side of No. 23.

At the beginning of the article, he defined the case of "star championship", which is the so-called best team losing the championship due to injury or other accidents, causing other teams to win the championship. If these things hadn't happened, the best team would have won the championship.

When he wrote a long article about the value of the 09 SuperSonics when the series was about to enter the semifinals, the response from the outside world was huge.

Simmons is the most influential sports writer of our time. His way of writing has influenced countless people. In a world that is about to enter the era of social media, he has a huge readership.

He cited the reimbursement of Garnett and O'Brien as an example, pointing out that the SuperSonics broke the Bulls' record of 96 in a league with declining competitiveness. If they finally won the championship, it would be because the Lakers and Kaili teams suffered injuries, which resulted in them not being able to win the championship. Encounter any difficulties. If they don't win the championship, they will be the biggest loser in NBA history.

This is us fans. We make excuses for our failures; we ignore the same problems when we win. The Celtics defeated Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Milwaukee Bucks in a tough Finals in part because Milwaukee guard Lucius Allen tore his knee when he stepped on a discarded warm-up jacket. An aging '74 Celtics team ended up winning another championship, mostly because the best team that season lit itself up⑴. My father taught me that I should unlearn two things. But 76, the year Havlicek could only play left-handed? We should have won. "

If Garnett stays healthy, they have a chance to get revenge.

This is why the sports terms he created, such as Ewing's Law, Tyson Field, and Danny Manning Face, will become terms in the sports world.

This does not prevent Simmons from writing an article called "Starred Champions" after every first-round series.

At the end of the article, Simmons revealed his intentions.

He heard about Simmons' outrage.

Do you think Simmons just wants to tell a piece of history? No, it was just for the plate of vinegar-wrapped dumplings at the back.

The other party's so-called asterisk champion's remarks reminded Yu Fei of the previous life when Zhan Hei looked down upon the park champion. As a championship that established King and others of his generation, how to define that championship actually affects not James' historical status, but whether his status as the greatest star from 2000 to 2020 is confirmed.

This is the beginning of their feud.

The fans stood up and responded. Celtics fans and Lakers fans also agreed. For a time, conservatives and modern fans united.

The first-round match between the Celtics and the Bulls made Simmons believe that this year's Celtics are stronger than last year.

But now, everything is just a matter of "if".

The media in the chosen country quickly published articles in response, and the intensity of public opinion was as full of gunpowder as a national war.

Even Yu Fei, who was preparing for the semi-finals, was shocked.

Simmons wrote at the beginning of the article: "My father still refuses to recognize the 1973 NBA championship (Knicks). It has been almost 40 years and he still has not changed. Because of Boston's hero, the great John Havlice Grams was left-handed in the last few games of the Eastern Conference Finals, so we lost, but the Celtics were the best team that year.

This hatred changed qualitatively as Yu Fei interrupted the Celtics' resurgence in the Finals last year.

⑴Refers to the 76 defending champion Warriors. The team's superstar Rick Barry got into a fight with his opponent during the game. During halftime, he watched the video and found that no teammates were standing up for him. He became so angry that he refused to take action in the second half, causing the team to lose the series.

The same is true now. Anyone with a discerning eye knows that if Yu Fei wins the sixth championship, Jordan will not be able to achieve suppression in terms of honor. So before this possible thing happens, they first reduce the gold content of the championship, then they have something to do.

"Bill Simmons said that his father still doesn't recognize the 1973 championship. I think this actually reflects the reason why the Celtics have never won a championship since 1986. They neither recognized that others were better." pattern, and lacks the wisdom to learn from history. You can see what he said. He believes that the Lakers and Celtics who were affected by injuries have made it easier for us to win the championship. "Being marked with an asterisk." Yu Fei laughed as he said, "Don't you realize that he indirectly despised the team that is also striving for the top? I hope he washes his face and takes a good look at the world."

The risk of pulling the flag is that others can pull the flag too.

Although Simmons briefly united Hukai fans with his article, he indirectly alienated other fan groups.

Yu Fei pointed out this fact. Although it will not win the support of fans of other teams, they will definitely stand up to refute Simmons's so-called "Hu Kai and Lake City are experiencing injury problems, so even if the SuperSonics win the championship, it will not be valuable." No. Champion Theory.

Then, the Sonics faced their semifinal opponents.

They met the New Orleans Hornets in the semifinals for two consecutive years.

This season, the Hornets' interior can be said to be a mess.

Paul's supernova aura faded, and his teammates discovered that his desire to control was too strong, which even Tyson Chandler couldn't stand.

The Hornets originally wanted to trade Chandler during the season, but the latter failed the physical examination and the deal failed.

The Hornets, who failed to rebuild chemistry through trades, could only struggle to move forward.

They defeated the Mavericks in the first round, and then met their biggest BOSS of the season in the semifinals.

They were unfortunate because the relationship between Paul and Yu Fei was not as harmonious as Anthony's, and Simmons' article made Yu Fei very unhappy.

Yu Fei wanted the media to smell blood.

In the first game of the series, Paul was stared at by Yu Fei in singles. Although the Hornets were able to double-team Fei infinitely, they still failed to guard against this powerful enemy.

In the first game of the semifinals, Yu Fei scored 44 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists.

"Fry, do you think the Hornets have improved compared to last year?"

"I can't say no." Yu Fei said, "But I don't know how much progress they have made?"

"Chris Paul said their No. 1 goal is to win."

Hearing this, Yu Fei smiled slightly.

"A goal without a plan is just a wish." Elvis Presley of the basketball world added lightly, "A goal that is not set based on one's own strength is a dream."

The other party asked in surprise: "You don't like what Chris said?"

"No, I like it." He smiled, "In this day and age, it's a good thing to dare to dream."

It’s hard for reporters to disagree with Yu Fei’s words.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that the Hornets are not much better than the Nuggets, the Sonics' first-round opponent, but Paul still dreams of winning.

Then, the reporter couldn’t help but think again.

Once upon a time, in the world they lived in, there was a person who dreamed of competing with Yu Fei. For a period of time, they were called the duo.

What now?
Where is the younger ruler today?

※※※

Cleveland
After successfully passing the first round, the Cavaliers once again met the Bucks in the semifinals.

They have lost to the Bucks in the playoffs three consecutive years.

Last year, Yu Fei was no longer here.

But the remnants he left behind are still going strong.

Danny Granger is the most underrated star player in the East.

He takes it as his duty to defend the glory of the Bucks and regards himself as the successor of the Chosen One.

As a successor, he may not win the championship, but he must not lose to the Cavaliers.

But this year, the Cavaliers are full of confidence.

Because James ushered in a big explosion after the new footwork rules.

Some media outlets close to Nike said: "LeBron looks like Frye in 2006."

However, behind the Cavaliers' strength is the reality that James has lost to Yu Fei for six consecutive years.

Beyond that, the Cavaliers have a nightmare.

That’s what this offseason looks like.

In the first four games of the semifinals, the Cavaliers and Bucks drew 2-2.

Team owner Dan Gilbert looked grim during the interview.

The media asked Gilbert if he thought LeBron would stay after the season.

"I don't know," Gilbert said. "I think he will."

Compared to 2007, it's a different world now.

James is no longer the center of the basketball world.

People all over the world are discussing "44 VS 23", "If the 09 SuperSonics win the championship, should they add an asterisk?", "How much basketball has evolved in the past ten years", "Can Jordan succeed in the zone defense era?" ".James?" His only talking point was that he couldn't leave Cleveland.

This topic is too boring and far from the time to hype it.

But this is precisely the Achilles heel of the Cavaliers.

As the Cavaliers' record reached 54 wins this season, Mike Brown became the second best coach of the year vote. If George Karl had not led the team to 73 wins, Coach Baker would have become the best coach of the year.

Just the day before the Cavaliers-Bucks game, an ESPN reporter asked Brown and James about their relationship.

The coach, who has coached James for several years and has had some success, humbly replied: "LeBron allowed me to coach him."

Just as the Cavaliers were preparing for the game in high spirits, a little-known sports gossip website published an article claiming that LeBron James' teammate Delonte West had an affair with his mother Gloria James. .

Overnight, LeBron James was surpassed in public opinion by this malicious world in a special way, allowing the basketball world to briefly get rid of the "44 VS 23" narrative that lasted for a whole year.

(End of this chapter)