Generation Z Artists

Chapter 222 The Most Hopeful Day [A Very Long Chapter]

The day before the Finals officially began, ESPN aired a special trailer.

They went into both teams' locker rooms and conducted in-depth and detailed interviews with every player, coach, and assistant coach, and even added the opinions of several celebrity fans on the game.

The smell of gunpowder instantly became extremely strong.

……

"Space passing and cutting tactics? Listen, man, I don't believe in that nonsense. I only believe in the heart of a champion—no tactic can stop us from achieving a three-peat, none!"

Robert Horry declared passionately, "Each of us will give our all for this great cause!"

"YES!"

"victory!"

In the locker room, a sea of ​​arms were raised high, and the Lakers roared and shouted, their momentum unstoppable.

The next interviewee was Fisher.

The fish's smoothness is evident even when it is small.

"Fang is strong, but Michael Jordan is even stronger. I'm from the generation that grew up watching Michael Jordan fly through the air playing basketball, but we have no reason to be afraid of them."

The Lakers have the most dominant center in history, Shaq, oh, he's practically a superman!
What power do the Wizards have to stop Shaq from wreaking havoc in the paint? None, right?
Moreover, we have a pure-blooded successor to Michael Jordan. Kobe's skills are truly superb. On both offense and defense, he has almost established the same dominance as Michael Jordan. I believe he will definitely be able to shut down SR.

As for me, I will do my job well. I am good at defense and can also make three-pointers. I will stick close to that third-year student.

Hamilton, you're in big trouble!

Fisher pointed at the camera and declared war on James.

Seemingly tough, but actually extremely cowardly.

As a point guard, he should have been matched up against Fang Xinghe, but Xiaoyugan didn't even want to get close to Fang.

Of course, unless the Lakers have lost their minds, they won't let him face Fang Sheng.

The opponent, a galaxy of stars, is none other than Kobe the Snake.

"Yes, I will focus on defending against SR."

Difficulties? No, no, no, there were no difficulties, only regrets.

Compared to SR, I would much rather play against Michael Jordan; this is my lifelong dream.

I'll take care of SR as quickly as possible, and then have a showdown with Mike...

The reporter pressed further: "On both offense and defense?"

Kobe nodded solemnly: "On both offense and defense!"

After the pre-game interview aired, Kobe Bryant was furious and accused him of being arrogant.

"Excuse my bluntness, but you two aren't even in the same league! You're just Shaq's lackey, what right do you have to spout such nonsense at His Excellency the Commander?!"

Kobe ignored it, only exuding a murderous aura.

The young snake was stubborn, aloof, and obsessive, with eyes only for the Great Dan.

His intentions were met with widespread ridicule on the Chinese internet: "Stop it, Xiao Ke, Danzi is already in the shape of Fang Shen!"

Here's the gist of the matter, but the way it's phrased is really unpleasant to hear.

Ever since Fang Xinghe started spouting witty remarks, Mantianxing has taken its first step in the history of Chinese internet memes.

……

Grant was the most courageous player on the Lakers, and he directly targeted Jordan.

Horace Grant, the starting power forward for the Bulls' first three consecutive seasons, had an extremely strained relationship with Jordan. I won't go into the details, but he's going all out this year.

“I know Jordan. He’s a megalomaniac who doesn’t tolerate being offended by anyone. I simply don’t believe that someone with SR’s personality could work well with him.”

They seem to be doing well, but that's just an illusion. Believe me, Jordan won't allow SR to ride on his head for long.

Now, they're using victories to mask their conflicts, but what if the Wizards lose in the Finals...?

Grant stared meaningfully at the camera, pointed his finger at his temple as if it were a gun, and made a soft "bang" sound from his mouth.

"You'll see that moment. In the most crucial moment, Michael Jordan will always be that tyrant, that bastard, that megalomaniac!"

As a veteran who had a grudge against Jordan, Grant played a very flamboyant game.

With the tournament approaching, he chose to personally intervene, sowing discord between Fang Xinghe and Jordan, and creating off-court conflicts for the Wizards.

The effect... well, it certainly sent Washington fans into a panic.

Then Chicago fans chimed in, saying sourly, "Michael Jordan's greatness is undeniable, but he is indeed a bit petty. Washingtonians, don't get too cocky, or you might suffer the consequences!"

This news immediately caused a sensation, and the media began to hype up the conflict between SM Entertainment and SM.

Don't blame them for being shameless, because they genuinely don't have that thing.

In fact, the moment Grant brought up this topic, it had already secured its place as a trending topic throughout the entire Finals.

Every conversation between Fang Xinghe and Jordan, every micro-expression, every glance they exchanged (whether they looked at each other or not) would be scrutinized by the media and then embellished to tell a fabricated story.

And readers will find this fascinating and believe it wholeheartedly.

This is the NBA's grand spectacle, the greatest Finals in history, which of course must be accompanied by historic gossip, rumors, and sideline tidbits.

With a major battle looming, the Wizards were unexpectedly outmaneuvered by the Lakers.

Immediately afterwards, the Zen master pressed down on Doug's dog head and gave it a good beating.

"I feel the least pressure when playing against the Wizards."

With a rather disdainful expression, the Zen master spoke softly and eloquently to the camera.

"Coach Collins' level of expertise is well-known."

For years, he resented me, believing that I had stolen the fruits of his victory, but history remembers the truth.

The truth has always been this: he was incapable of utilizing Jordan effectively. He didn't know how to unleash Jordan's physical abilities, skills, and competitive spirit. He lacked any skill in building tactical systems and making in-game adjustments. As a result, the Bulls always lost at the seemingly most promising moments, year after year, until I took over that mess.

Has he made any progress? No, he hasn't.

He just happened to meet a super point guard who was capable of solving all his problems, which made him seem like he had improved.

It's ridiculous that the league awarded him the Coach of the Year award.

Seriously, you guys should give this award to SR. Collins is more like a pet dog chained to the bench, only responsible for barking and ignoring everything else.

My real rival is SR. What does that have to do with Collins?
If there is any pressure, it comes from SR.

So, whether he wins or loses, Collins has no right to stand in front of me and spew any trash at me.

I don't care what he said next; it only makes him look more like a clown..."

In fact, any intelligent person could see that the Zen master not only cared, but was also somewhat vulnerable.

The reason is that the Wizards' winning streak has improved so much compared to last year, and Collins won the Coach of the Season award by a landslide, sitting at home.

You all know Ah Gou. When he wins an award, the first thing he does is thank Uncle Fang and Aunt Qiao, and the second thing is to thank Zen Master Mengzha.

"As you know, this award was actually many years overdue."

At the press conference, Ah Gou spent five minutes subtly hinting, using veiled allusions, implied meanings, and even direct satire, clearly aiming his knife at the Zen master.

Classic quotes abound.

"If you put a dog on the Wizards' bench, you can do what we're doing. The same applies if you put Phil Jackson on a leash."

"I'm lucky? Yes, I'm a lucky person. But some of the best coaches aren't. They don't rely on luck; they rely on licking the crotch."

"No, no, no, I wasn't implying anything to anyone. I was clearly telling everyone that beneath that halo, I'm a good-for-nothing, and some people are just charlatans..."

Even if it means cutting himself, Ah Gou will drag Chan Chan down with him.

The sheer volume and breadth of this output meant that Doug and the Zen Master shared the most media coverage during those days.

Finally, the team leader, the Deep Sea Shark, Shaquille O'Neal, gave the final summary.

"Fuck SR! I'll swat him away like a fly!"

Shaquille O'Neal flexed his biceps in front of the camera, revealing them to be thick, large, and covered in prominent veins.

The simplest, the most violent, the most straightforward.

He gives the impression that he can lose the finals, but Fang Xinghe must die!
The tension emanating from the Lakers brought tears to the eyes of about half of the North American audience; they absolutely loved this kind of rivalry.

As for their other half... they are waiting for the Wizards' response.

The Wizards, of course, had to respond.

Putting aside the fact that this is an obligation, the Wizards' rookies in the Finals did indeed have a need to vent their emotions.

"Fuck Shaq, fuck Kobe, fuck everyone on the Lakers!"

Campbell frantically gave the middle finger to the camera and unleashed a torrent of profanities.

There are many counterintuitive facts about the NBA, and now Campbell is demonstrating one of them.

Most fans believe that centers in the league should be extremely afraid of Shaquille O'Neal, trembling with fear whenever the Big Diesel drives into the paint.

On the contrary, almost no center is afraid of any giant shark.

The traditional center position almost entirely depends on Shaquille O'Neal. If you can hold your own against the Big Diesel, then no matter how bulky you are, you can get a premium contract.

So why should we be afraid of him?

These guys just yell and charge at him, trying to show off their worth as much as possible.

Other types of centers certainly hate Shaq's size and impact, but the paint has always been a battlefield for men, and only the toughest can survive there.

Whether you can withstand it or not is one thing; whether you dare to fight it to the death is another.

The Wizards have come a long way to get to this point, so why would anyone back down?

So, starting with Campbell and ending with McGrady, who was the last one to be benched, all the Wizards' centers collectively "fucked" all the Lakers' players, with Shaq being the main one.

With such a powerful opening, the subsequent response was naturally equally impressive.

Hamilton: "Are you ready to be walked around like a dog for a whole week? Whoever is guarding me, I sincerely suggest you eat less, drink more water, and buy double insurance before the game."

The moment you vomit on the field, I believe you'll thank me.

Tsk tsk, Xiao Han is really wicked. I don't know how he came up with this ingenious way of threatening people, but the effect is simply amazing.

Imagine the psychological pressure a player would feel if they thought about this guy's marathon-style basketball, which is all about training and no skill.

How embarrassing would it be if someone suddenly vomited all over the place?
Anyway, when the show aired, Fisher stood with his hands on his hips, staring at the screen with his lips tightly pressed together, looking terrified and on the verge of tears.

If you look at all the starting point guards in the NBA, he is the least suitable person to guard Hamilton.

Heavier weight and slower pace, he can keep up for a short time by running alongside others, but he'll definitely be defeated in the second half.

But there's really no way to choose. The Wizards have three options on the perimeter, and the big man and big man are pressing hard. How the hell are we supposed to choose?!

run!

Long-distance running is better than breaking your ankle. If you don't eat and just drink more water, you might not die too painfully...

Robinson didn't have Hamilton's cunning.

When interviewed, he casually replied, "Those two Lakers power forwards who are terrible at taking long shots? They're unlucky to have run into me. I'll teach them a lesson on what it means to play one-on-one from the outside!"

The whole team turned their attention to him.

Dude, can you at least look in the mirror before spouting nonsense?
he does not.

With an inexplicable confidence, Ronaldinho delivered the most humorous moment of the entire interview. He even went to the training field and showed off a crossover dribble.

Seriously, this is way ahead of its time. Power forwards use crossover steps to break through the three-point line, and if they can't break through, they have a step-back three-pointer. What era of basketball is this?

Danzi pointed at Fang Xinghe and laughed loudly: "Fang, you've corrupted him!"

Yes, Robinson's step-back three-pointer technique, which connects with his breakthrough, was honed by Fang Xinghe detail by detail.

For Master Fang, instructing a few novices is just a piece of cake.

Since we're already here, and we're just killing time anyway...

Next up was Jordan, whose segment was second only to Fang Xinghe's, and viewers loved watching it. Danzi is typically a man of few words but decisive action, but this time, he talked a lot.

"Do I need a new championship to decorate my trophy room? Actually, no."

This was the truth, but he didn't say it all.

Michael Jordan didn't really need this championship to add luster to his career, but deep down he longed to prove himself again.

These two are not contradictory at all.

"At this moment, I really want to tell everyone why I am making a comeback."

Jordan pointed upwards to the empty arena roof, where only an Eastern Conference championship banner stood—the only honor he had just won.

"The Wizards need accolades to prove that this team has not wasted its time in the league, but that is a shared responsibility for all of us, not something I personally pursue."

What am I really pursuing?
Standing on the court.

Regardless of victory or defeat, I stand there, dragging my aging body that is no longer strong enough, feeling everything that basketball brings me.

Unlike when I retired last time, I knew clearly that I could come back anytime I wanted and take down everything I didn't like.

At that time, Michael Jordan didn't truly enjoy basketball; he was only enjoying the victory.

And now, I am absolutely certain, absolutely certain, that this is the final moment for basketball player Michael Jordan.

At this moment, I only want to prove one thing—

It's not that Michael Jordan is still as powerful as a god, but that Michael Jordan fought throughout his entire career and never gave up!
I can no longer fly and teleport like I used to, but I will do everything I can still do.

Dirty, tiring, and hard work—I'll do it all!

Danzi suddenly became emotional because he wasn't just boasting; he was genuinely doing it.

At 39 years old, he never slacked off on defense, doing so much hard work for the team that the statistics don't reflect. On offense, he let Fang Xinghe, Xiao Han, and Xiao Luo shine, and when the game couldn't be broken, he would immediately attack from the low post...

The genius Dan has indeed given his all.

With a slight glint of tears in his eyes, he choked out, "Touching the finals floor again, this feeling is so wonderful."

Do you think I'd be jealous of Fang's command and the spotlight?
No, I can't stand all that nonsense. Let him take whatever he wants—MVP, FMVP, All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive First Team, or even all your praise!

I only want one thing—to shine with all my might!

That's passion, that's faith, that's the ultimate proof that Michael Jordan is still alive!

Danzi's statement completely dispelled fans' concerns about internal conflicts within the Wizards.

On another level, God's fans were deeply moved and felt proud.

Just as the Chicago Tribune headline read—"Michael Jordan, stripped of his superhuman physique, is cherishing his final moments with unprecedented reverence!"

In an instant, it stirred up the nostalgia of countless longtime fans, causing the collectible value of previous generations of AJ sneakers to skyrocket by 100%.

However, just as the fans were about to shed tears of emotion, Ah Gou, who came on stage next, completely changed the mood.

He responded to a series of questions from the Zen master to reporters.

"I rely entirely on SR?"

Instead of being angry, Ah Gou smugly put on a despicable face.

"Yes! But that's because I have it! Ask that hypocrite if he wants it or not. Hey, even if he wanted it, he wouldn't have it! No matter how much he longs for it, he wouldn't have it! He wouldn't even dream about it!"

I remember feeling both amused and curious.

Why didn't it appear in my dreams?

Ah Gou suddenly hit the nail on the head: "Because that guy's desire for control is terrifying. He wants to mold SR to play according to his instructions, just like he molded Michael Jordan."

But how is that possible?

Michael Jordan doesn't care how he plays because he only wants to win, and he's willing to respect other people's ideas and make sacrifices.

But SR's skills are far superior to that swindler's, so why should we listen to him?
That guy was practically craving SR, but the SR that appeared in his dream could never be the complete form; it was a puppet without any tactical ideas, completely obedient to his opinions.

But is that still Star River?
The Milky Way in the sky does not flow according to the foolish understanding of mortals!

Ever since Ah Gou stopped having to rack his brains over tactics, his overall condition has visibly improved.

The insults became more biting, and the flattery became more steady, accurate, and subtle.

Anyway, all of Washington felt relieved by his words—so what if you call yourself a Zen master? So what if you're always thinking about our Fang Sheng? Bah! Don't even think about it!

The Zen master, who was waiting at home for Ah Gou's response, was so angry at this scene that he trembled all over and couldn't recover even after meditating all night.

It hurts, it hurts so much!

Finally, of course, came Fang Xinghe's response.

ESPN conducted the final interview with Fang Xinghe, and placed it at the end of the entire film.

Brother Fang was very kind.

He's not one to hold grudges; if he really has a grudge, he'll usually settle it on the spot.

"The Lakers? They're not an easy opponent."

Fang Xinghe sat relaxed on the sidelines of the court, holding a tactical board on his left and fiddling with a pen in his right.

He exudes an aura of composure, wisdom, calmness, and humility.

"At the tactical level, we are actually in a relationship of mutual restraint."

The key to victory or defeat lies in whether we break through their perimeter first, or whether they disrupt our interior defense first.

I have confidence in Campbell and his team; they're a tough bunch and can give Shaq a lot of trouble.

However, we still cannot ignore the Lakers' perimeter defense.

Especially Kobe, who, like Michael Jordan, was an iron man with an indomitable will.

I don't understand why the Los Angeles media always belittles him?
But that's ridiculous. The Lakers aren't like O'Neal and his cronies. The Lakers are a typical dual-core team, and the outer core is bigger than the inner core.

This year, Kobe was the absolute core player, averaging over 30 points per game against the glamorous Sacramento Kings in the Western Conference Finals, his output was simply insane.

Against the Spurs, he was on fire throughout, and when O'Neal and Duncan were swapped, he used his mid-range shot to break down the Spurs' defensive system.

Besides his offensive prowess, Kobe's perimeter defensive ability was also greatly underestimated.

Shaquille O'Neal was a center who relied heavily on perimeter players to cover for him.

When faced with attacks from the perimeter, his defensive choices and defensive abilities always present various problems.

If we only talk about rim protection, does anyone think he's a center on the same level as Duncan, Hakeem Olajuwon, or Mutombo?
When he was thinner, more agile, and had a wider defensive coverage, Michael Jordan once made him run away in terror.

Now, he uses increased physicality as an excuse to cover up the fact that he has become lazy, unambitious, and pleasure-seeking, so fat and clumsy that his rim protection is weaker than during his Magic days.

Without Kobe's perimeter defense and his tenacious tenacity, the Lakers wouldn't even have made it out of the Western Conference on their own.

Fang Xinghe spoke eloquently, advocating for Kobe and defending the little snake.

What's most amazing is that he didn't make up a single lie.

In the original history, when the Lakers played the Nets in the Finals, the Nets had a strong perimeter defense but a weak interior defense, which was more suitable for O'Neal to perform. As a result, he produced a terrifying number of 36.3 points, 12.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game and won the Finals MVP.

This became evidence used by some groups to humiliate Kobe, claiming he was "just a sidekick, at most a second-in-command."

But what is the truth?
They were three consecutive Eastern Conference champions with a strong perimeter game but a weak interior game, so every year's Finals were Shaquille O'Neal's stage.

Looking at this year alone, if you replaced Kobe with any one of Carter, McGrady, Iverson, Curry, Paul, or Doncic, the Lakers would definitely not make it past the Western Conference.

They either have poor defense, poor endurance, or poor ability to break through mid-range defense.

These are all necessary additions for O'Neal.

Shaq is undoubtedly the most dominant center in the paint in NBA history.

However, he is not the most influential center in the game.

If Fang Xinghe were to use his supernatural abilities to build a team, Hakeem Olajuwon would definitely be a better choice than Shaquille O'Neal at the center position.

It has its own defensive system, covering the edge of the three-point line. During transition defense, it can delay the opponent's movement by 12 seconds, effectively shutting down the 3, 4, and 5. It is not afraid of spacing-based plays, has an extremely wide offensive range, and does not rely on stamina when making strong plays...

Even Duncan had more impact on the game than O'Neal at the center position.

Who were Tim Duncan's teammates? What market did he play in? What kind of roster did he rely on to build the Spurs dynasty, despite constant tweaking and adjustments?

Those who don't understand basketball have overly mythologized Shaquille O'Neal's offensive prowess. The problem is, basketball isn't just about attacking in the paint; it also involves spacing, playmaking, defense, and many other attributes.

Extremes may work in many situations, but they can be a weakness in certain circumstances.

Fang Xinghe calmly and unhurriedly explained his views. He possessed a scholarly temperament and was a recognized tactical master, which made it easy for him to gain approval.

He did indeed live up to the facts, without exaggeration or bias, and thoroughly dissected the Lakers' entire system.

The truth can break a person's defenses.

After seeing Fang Xinghe's overall evaluation, the little snake clenched its fists tightly and remained silent for a long time.

He understands me!
Kobe probably only had this one thought in his mind.

At this moment, nobody took him seriously. Due to his quirky and playful personality, O'Neal not only enjoyed the highest prestige and greatest glory in Los Angeles, but was also the number one leader in the league.

However, Kobe's personality clashed with his older brother's. He disapproved of the other's professional attitude and disliked his stinginess in repeatedly emphasizing "the Lakers are my team" in front of the media.

This rift has always existed, and it's actually getting deeper due to the Zen master's deliberate indulgence and disparaging behavior.

The little snake suddenly felt extremely envious of Jordan.

Is there really a Son of Heaven?

Otherwise, how could he have such nice teammates at the end of his career?!

Kobe was bewildered, in pain, conflicted, and angry... his emotions were in turmoil.

Meanwhile, O'Neal smashed his phone.

"FUCK!"

He had never been so angry before. Fang Xinghe's words were so hurtful, and the kind of hurtful words that were impossible to refute without using any profanity.

Master Fang specifically mentioned his time with the Magic and the early Lakers, where both teams had All-Star caliber guards, but Shaq dragged them down—listen to that, is that even human?!
"I'm going to kill him! I absolutely have to kill him!"

With red eyes, O'Neal turned to look for his phone, intending to talk to his younger brother, but he couldn't find it—oh, it was smashed.

I couldn't find my phone, but I ended up watching the last part of the conversation on TV.

The reporter asked Fang Xinghe: "SR, you've talked so much about the Lakers, admired Kobe so much, and belittled Shaq so much. Forgive me for being blunt, but are you trying to create conflict between them to increase the Wizards' chances of winning?"

"of course not."

"Oh?"

"At least in the finals, there is no possibility of them having internal conflicts. Don't underestimate their determination to win a three-peat."

The reporter was increasingly puzzled: "Why is that?"

"Because they upset me, I'm going to make things difficult for them too."

Fang Xinghe replied leisurely without hesitation.

"I will win the finals on my own merits. But I will be happy if I can make them unhappy."

As he said this, a mischievous smile appeared on Gou Fang's face, which undoubtedly charmed countless young girls in the throes of first love.

"Why don't you guess how angry the petty Shaq, the obsessive Kobe, and the hypocritical Phil Jackson would be if they saw this? Would they smash the TV?"

The reporter was stunned: "I...I...I don't know..."

"In fact, I do not know."

Fang Xinghe shrugged and looked up at the sky above the stadium.

"But that's not important."

"Because, on the eve of every Finals night to come, they will think back to today."

"This is the beginning of all the anger; what's even more unforgettable is yet to come."

"This is their most hopeful day."

(End of this chapter)