The longest river

Chapter 202 Decent
After Game 6 between the Wizards and the Pacers, Yang Shuai called Jermaine O'Neal to comfort him.

Jermaine O'Neal, who was still holding back his tears at the end of the game, burst into tears on the other end of the phone. The tuition was too expensive for him.

"If only you were still in Indiana."

After calming down following Yang Shuai's persuasion, Jermaine O'Neal couldn't help but sigh.

If Yang Shuai had stayed with the Pacers, that would certainly be a hypothetical scenario.

Jermaine O'Neal is developing very quickly; if there were an All-Star Game this year, he would have already been selected.

While the Pacers might not have been able to beat the Bulls last year, they are highly likely to beat the Wizards this year.

"If I stay, you won't get a big contract."

Yang Shuai's words silenced Jermaine O'Neal on the other end of the phone.

Garnett's experience with the Timberwolves has fully demonstrated that small-town teams owned by ordinary people will definitely be trapped by such large contracts.

If he had stayed with the Pacers, Jermaine O'Neal's fate would most likely have been similar to Stephon Marbury's.

Even if Jermaine O'Neal doesn't cause a scene like Stephon Marbury, he will still be labeled "disloyal" and "greedy" for refusing to accept a contract extension below the maximum salary, and will eventually be traded.

"Jermaine, get up wherever you fall; that's the only way to success."

Jermaine O'Neal held back his tears after the game, which shows he has self-control; crying on the phone shows he has spirit.

With self-discipline, ambition, and talent, Yang Shuai believes that as long as he stays healthy, his future achievements may not be limited to just All-Star status.

The day after the Pacers' game against the Wizards, the league announced the final batch of awards, including the All-NBA Team and the All-Defensive Team.

All-NBA First Team: Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan, Kevin Yang, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan

Second Team: Kidd, Payton, Grant Hill, Webber, O'Neal
Third Team: Tim Hardaway, Richmond, Kobe, Garnett, Mourning

All-Defensive First Team: Payton, Young, Jordan, Pippen, Duncan, Mourning

Second Team: Kidd, Eddie Jones, PJ Brown, Mutombo, Theo Ratliff

This was Kobe's first All-NBA selection, but somewhat ironically, the Lakers, who had two All-NBA selections, were swept by the Trail Blazers, who only had one.

This actually highlights Yang Shuai's MVP value even more.

In contrast, the Wizards also have two All-NBA players.

With the finals just around the corner, all sorts of hype and promotion are popping up everywhere.

Even Yang Shuai's previous comment that Duncan deserved the MVP award was brought up again and hyped up once more.

This caused the already highly anticipated finals to explode in popularity.

The media also began to make predictions about the finals.

Portland media outlets such as the Chicago Union, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and the Sun Times are optimistic about the Trail Blazers.

However, many other media outlets, including numerous DC media outlets, The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and USA Today, predicted that the Wizards would ultimately win the championship under Jordan's leadership.

On TNT's "NBA Insider," Maverick Ebert also shared his key reasons for the Wizards' victory.

First of all, Jordan never lost the Finals.

He didn't take it as metaphysics, but rather that Jordan possessed extraordinary mental attributes; the bigger the stage, the less likely Jordan was to lose.

Secondly, Jordan is someone who needs external stimulation to ignite his desire.

Before that, in 1993, Jordan's gambling addiction led to poor team performance and prevented him from achieving a three-peat MVP award, which went to Barkley.

At the time, the media was promoting Barkley as a better player than Jordan.

That gave Jordan plenty of motivation. That year, he made it to the Finals and led the team to a three-peat with a perfect performance averaging 41 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, with a field goal percentage of 50.8% and a three-point percentage of 40%. The media exclaimed, "The Suns are a better team, but Jordan is a better player."

History is repeating itself now; the media has voted for Yang Shuai as MVP, which indirectly spurred Jordan on.

To date, the 36-year-old Jordan is averaging 33.6 points per game in the playoffs, his highest since his comeback.

"Michael can only retire peacefully by defeating Hansen, and only by defeating Hansen can he have a perfect career. He has no reason to lose such a final."

Albert's words eventually convinced the other commentators.

It's not that Yang Shuai and the Trail Blazers aren't strong enough, but rather that what Jordan did in the NBA was too hardcore. It was something that earned him public recognition, not just self-promotion as the true GOAT.

The Trail Blazers have home-court advantage, and the first game of the Finals will be held in Portland.

On the morning of the game, the Portland players will have an open practice session at the Rose Garden Arena.

Inside the locker room, everyone was talking about things related to the finals.

Do you think we can really beat MJ in the Finals?

"Why not? We've already beaten them in the regular season."

"But that's MJ. I saw MJ's great performance in the Finals when I was in seventh grade."

"It's me. MJ in the Finals is unbeatable, but this is our chance to make a name for ourselves. If we win, everyone will be talking about us from now on."

"But that's MJ."

……

Jordan won his first championship in 1991, which was eight years ago.

For most of the Trail Blazers players, they not only grew up watching Jordan play, but also watched him become the god of basketball step by step.

After that question about the heart of a champion, the Trail Blazers players each had their own reasons for winning the championship.

But when you really have to face the God in your heart, the fear in your heart is insurmountable.

After all, only Yang Shuai on the entire Trail Blazers team had ever defeated Jordan with the Pacers.

Or to be more precise, their only victory against Jordan since entering the NBA was that one regular season game this season.

Yang Shuai is resting with his eyes closed.

He could hear his teammates' conversations and knew that their mindset was built up over many years and couldn't be overcome with just a few motivational quotes.

Perhaps only after they actually beat the Wizards in the Finals will they be able to believe they can do it.

Moreover, his mindset is completely different from others at this moment. Having played in the playoffs so far, he has raised all his abilities to the limit of his talent.

He was fully confident that he could beat Jordan.

A short while later, Dunleavy came to the locker room and called the players to the field for an open training session.

At this moment, the Rose Garden Arena was filled with reporters, who had set up all sorts of cameras and microphones.

After training ended, Yang Shuai was surrounded by reporters, who bombarded him with questions.

One reporter asked about the fact that the outside media is now paying more attention to the talent team.

Yang Shuai's answer was concise and to the point.

"Which team was favored by the outside world in 1991?"

In the 1991 NBA Finals, the Lakers had Magic Johnson and James Worthy, and their roster depth and experience were far superior to those of the Bulls.

In fact, the Lakers did win Game 1 at the Bulls' home court.

But as we all know, Jordan ultimately defeated Magic Johnson, completing the handover of the league's best player.

A reporter reminded Yang Shuai that Jordan had never lost in the Finals.

"How many people believed that the Bulls would lose to the Pacers in the 1997 Eastern Conference Finals? Before history happened, most people didn't believe it would actually happen."

Yang Shuai didn't say anything grand or ambitious, but his calm and composed demeanor gave people the feeling that he was very confident.

In the afternoon, the Wizards also came to the venue for an open pre-game practice.

Compared to the Trail Blazers, the Wizards' training atmosphere was much more oppressive.

Jordan's strictness in practice kept everyone on edge throughout the game, lest they anger him.

Jordan is still Jordan, but the Wizards seem to be more like another version of the Bulls.

After training ended, Jordan was also surrounded by reporters.

A reporter caught a glimpse of fatigue on Jordan's face.

Many people overlook the impact of Phil Jackson not joining the Wizards with Jordan.

With the Bulls, Jordan only needed to think about how to play well.

Phil Jackson used his methods to create a tight protective net for the players in front of management and the media.

But in DC, Jordan had far too many things to consider.

Many times, both on and off the field, he has to rely on himself to drive the team forward.

"I just didn't sleep well last night. It's rare for anything to excite me to the point of insomnia, but being able to face that little guy in the finals is one of those things."

However, Jordan gave the most perfect answer.

It's said that he wants to defeat Yang Shuai to complete the final piece of the divine puzzle, and he thinks so too.

The basketball god isn't petty, but Michael Jordan is meticulous and calculating.

"The future belongs to him, but the present belongs to me."

When the reporter relayed Yang Shuai's words to Jordan, Jordan also used Yang Shuai's words to make a joke.

There was no vulgar verbal sparring, but everyone could tell that both of them were determined to win this final.

That evening, the Rose Garden Arena was packed to capacity, and the media area was also crammed with reporters.

There were even reporters from China on the sidelines. They were the "Two Pings," the pioneers of the NBA in this era, Sun Zhengping and Zhang Weiping.

According to pre-match statistics, the number of cable TV subscriptions for this game in the United States has almost caught up with last year's finals.

The Finals are already a high-profile event, and having such a Finals matchup in a shortened season is the luckiest thing for the league this season.

League President David Stern was present at the event with his assistant Mark Tatum.

This is truly the focus of everyone's attention.

During the pre-game warm-up, the cameras frequently switched between Jordan and Yang Shuai.

The official commentators for this game were Ernie Johnson and Mave Albert from TNT.

During the pre-game warm-up, they also talked about Jordan and Yang Shuai in front of the camera, and inevitably talked about the past of the Pacers and Bulls.

"The Pacers are a better team than the Bulls, but the Trail Blazers are not."

Albert also brought up a reason he had previously overlooked.

Ernie Johnson instinctively wanted to argue that Yang Shuai was the better player, but found that he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Is Yang Shuai really better than Jordan? Even if Jordan was 36 years old.

He wasn't really sure if, based solely on season performance, the 36-year-old Jordan was better than Yang Shuai.

The answer to this question may only be determined after the finals.

Comparing abstract data, no matter how much evidence you present, is not as effective as a head-on confrontation.

Just like the NBA Finals between the Bulls and the Suns back then, after that game, no one ever said that Barkley was a better player than Jordan.

After the pre-match warm-up, the opening ceremony began.

When Yang Shuai took the court, the entire Rose Garden Arena erupted in unprecedented excitement.

The fire of desire ignited by Sean Powell is still burning, and they now fully believe and expect that 21-year-old Yang Shuai can not only lead them to victory, but also do more.

After the opening ceremony, the starting lineups for both sides were announced.

Wizards: Rod Strickland, Richmond, Jordan, Howard, Ben Wallace

Trail Blazers: Billups, Young, Pippen, Wallace, Sabonis

Rodman has fallen out of the Wizards' starting lineup due to injuries.

Before the players from both sides took to the field, Yang Shuai walked over to Pippen.

"Scottie, go prove that Michael can't win a championship without you."

This sentence startled Pippen for a moment, but then he began to get excited uncontrollably.

Pippen was not involved in the previous locker room conversation.

He is the only player besides Jordan to have participated in the Pacers vs. Bulls game that year.

The only difference is that he was on the losing side, so he was essentially no different from the others.

Even though he was no longer as afraid of Jordan, he knew better than anyone how difficult it would be to beat Jordan in the Finals.

He had witnessed those great, magical performances, especially Game 6 last season, where Jordan scored 45 points to carry him to the championship.

But Yang Shuai's words stirred up his deepest desire.

If anyone can defeat Jordan, Jordan may be forever branded as someone who "couldn't win a championship without Pippen."

In that case, everyone will re-evaluate his importance, and everyone will know how important Pippen is!
As Sabonis tipped the ball back into the Trail Blazers' half of the court, the highly anticipated NBA Finals began.

The Trail Blazers played the same way they did against the Spurs: Yang Shuai would hold the ball on the strong side to attack, and then create opportunities for his teammates.

The Trail Blazers have improved with each series, and this is now their best model.

Yang Shuai cut to the basket using Sabonis' screen, drew a double team, and then passed the ball back to Sabonis.

Sabonis receives the ball and takes a mid-range shot.

The rhythm and opportunity of that shot were both very good, but unfortunately the ball went wide and didn't go in.

Even for Sabonis, it's difficult to get into the game right away when he's stepping onto the Finals stage for the first time. But just as Ben Wallace was pulling back to the basket to secure the defensive rebound, a figure suddenly darted in from the weak side, leaped high amidst the gasps of the fans, and slammed the ball into the hoop with a putback dunk.

Once the fans realized that it was Pippen who was dunking, they erupted in a deafening roar of cheers.

It's been almost a season since Pippen joined the Trail Blazers, but this is the first time we've seen him start the game so aggressively.

Not only the fans, but even Jordan was surprised that Pippen suddenly darted past him.

After landing, Pippen retreated and immediately found Yang Shuai for a high-five; he looked like he was on steroids.

In the next possession, it was Pippen again. This time, after a pick-and-roll with Wallace, he faked a step-back move and cut to the basket, receiving a pass from Yang Shuai before scoring with a layup.

"Well done, Scotty!"

Yang Shuai high-fived Pippen in front of Jordan.

"Negative energy from Michael Jordan +1748".

In fact, the Trail Blazers' spacing tactics, which draw the opponent's inside players, make it easy for them to create scoring opportunities.

The Wizards' style of play is very similar to that of the Trail Blazers, or rather, it's the best model that Jordan figured out back in his Bulls days: let his teammates handle most of the game, and he handles the winning.

However, given Pippen's unexpectedly proactive start, he had no choice but to step up.

Doug Collins wasn't exactly a tactical genius. Before becoming the Bulls' head coach, he was a television commentator. At that time, the Bulls had to assign him a group of veteran coaches, such as Johnny Bach and Tex Winter.

He was able to win the competition with Phil Jackson because then-general manager Krause felt he was easier to manage, and later events proved that he did a good job getting along with Jordan.

This is also why Jordan chose Collins after Phil Jackson didn't follow him to the Wizards.

For a superstar, working with an obedient head coach is far easier than working with a talented one.

However, everything has its pros and cons, and making this choice means that you will have to bear more responsibility.

Phil Jackson once said that the triangle offense was meant to relieve Jordan's offensive pressure, but now that the triangle offense is gone, Jordan has to rely more on himself.

With this change, Portland fans were fortunate enough to witness one of the most magical moments in NBA history: the Bulls' duo, who once created numerous legends together, engaged in a fierce offensive and defensive battle on the court.

If Pippen wanted to truly beat Jordan, offensive intensity alone wasn't enough; more importantly, he needed to wear Jordan down on the defensive end.

Moreover, Yang Shuai had already said before that there was no need to worry about being beaten, as Yang Shuai would stand behind him.

Pippen's aggressiveness visibly drained Jordan's energy, but this aggressiveness also had its downsides.

When Pippen came back on the court during the transition between the first and second quarters, he was already quite fatigued and his role on the court was more of a distraction.

The Trail Blazers initially led 21-15 in the first quarter, but by the time their starters returned in the second quarter, the Wizards had tied the score at 24.

The Wizards' roster depth is significantly better than the Trail Blazers'.

Or perhaps the Trail Blazers' bench strength is insufficient, and Carlisle's experience in the regular season did not yield the expected results, so in the playoffs he could only extend the starting players' playing time.

Therefore, even the influence of one person can easily affect the entire team.

In the second quarter, Yang Shuai started stepping up earlier.

He first broke the deadlock for the Trail Blazers by shaking off Richmond with a signature three-pointer.

He then broke through Richmond and scored a quick layup.

Finally, he faked a shot and drew a three-point foul from Richmond, making all three free throws, which was equivalent to making another three-pointer.

After he scored 8 consecutive points, the Trail Blazers instantly regained control of the game.

It turns out that Richmond simply can't stop Yang Shuai now.

The chants of "MVP" from Portland fans filled the entire Rose Garden Arena.

"It's a fact that MJ never lost the Finals, but it's also a fact that Hansen is this season's MVP!"

Ernie Johnson could not hide his excitement.

Right after Johnson shouted those words, the cheers from the crowd suddenly increased, reaching a peak.

Jordan and Richmond switched on defense!

A responsible person's core principle is to resolutely rush to the front lines at critical moments.

Jordan did that in the past, and he still does it now.

The moment Yang Shuai saw Jordan come up, his face lit up with excitement.

He knew Jordan would definitely come to guard him, and he was waiting for Jordan to do so.

For him, a more direct way to make his teammates no longer fear Jordan than to win games was to defeat Jordan head-on.

That's a more direct and effective way than telling Pippen that "Jordan is just a 36-year-old man."

And he himself really wants to know if he is now better than Jordan.

Jordan isn't Kobe, so you can't determine his fate through a private one-on-one match; the only way is through on-court competition.

Jordan lowered his head, raised one hand and held the other horizontally, staring at Yang Shuai with the posture of a hunter.

Yang Shuai had seen this look before in a practice match five years ago.

However, times have changed, and when facing a defense like Jordan's, Yang Shuai's confidence is far from what it used to be.

He didn't call for a screen, but instead gestured for the screen to be set.

After this scene, not only the fans at the stadium and the commentators in the media area, but all the fans watching on TV were instantly excited.

Nothing is more anticipated than this one-on-one match, because it will prove whether "old ginger is spicier" or "new talents emerge in every generation."

Yang Shuai started with a crossover dribble, then suddenly accelerated to break through.

Jordan used his sliding step very well, and his long arms always kept him in a defensive position.

But Yang Shuai immediately faked out Jordan with a move that created a significant gap between them.

During the 1996-1997 season, Iverson had a play where he faked out Jordan, which was widely praised by the media.

However, due to his height, Jordan still managed to disrupt Iverson's movement when he was outpositioned, and he didn't completely shake him off.

But this time, Yang Shuai went even further. After creating space for his attack, he stepped out with his right foot and exploded forward, then accelerated toward the basket.

By the time Jordan realized what was happening and tried to catch up with Yang Shuai, it was too late.

Ben Wallace then fully utilized his defensive mobility, rushing to the basket ahead of time, raising his hands high in front of Yang Shuai, and leaping with all his might.

The biggest beneficiary of Rodman joining the Wizards was Ben Wallace, who learned a lot of rebounding and defensive skills from Rodman.

For example, if you just raise your hands when facing Yang Shuai, it's easy for him to dunk on you.

Seeing Ben Wallace's solid body in the air, Yang Shuai did not choose to confront him head-on. He pulled the ball back instead of dunking, and then changed his dunk to a layup. After gliding, he sent the ball to the basket with a reverse layup.

Ben Wallace didn't have the mid-air turning and blocking ability of Dwight Howard, so he could only watch as Yang Shuai flew past him and then put the ball into the basket.

The moment the basketball swished through the net, the Trail Blazers' bench erupted in cheers, and the Rose Garden Arena exploded with excitement.

"God!"

Even Ernie Johnson in the commentary booth shouted excitedly.

This shot was practically a replica of Jordan's play against the Lakers in the 1991 NBA Finals.

Beat Jordan the way Jordan does!
No, that was more entertaining than Jordan's shot.

Because Yang Shuai genuinely faked out Jordan, and Ben Wallace genuinely jumped up to block the shot!
"Hansen has taken the reins of the league from Michael!"

After calming down a bit, Johnson used an adjective that the media had used back then.

Jordan's face looked extremely gloomy at this moment.

There is no such thing as a "transfer of power"; it is merely a final act of dignity for the losers.

Go ask Magic Johnson, when he was 31, did he want Jordan to take over some so-called bullshit throne?
Already troubled by AZ at that time, how could he not want to make a grand exit?

Just like Jordan in front of us, Jordan said before the game that he wanted to beat Yang Shuai.

However, wanting to and being able to are two different things.

Yang Shuai was equally excited after landing. After feeling the enthusiasm of the fans, he put his hand behind his ear and made his signature "listening" gesture.

This moment, this round, is destined to become another classic in the NBA.

Jordan, with a grim face, then turned around and channeled his emotions onto the offensive end.

His signature turnaround fadeaway after backing down Pippen salvaged some pride for himself.

Turning back, at Collins' signal, Yang Shuai's defender had switched back to Richmond.

However, Yang Shuai was not going to give up so easily. Knowing that he had the advantage in one-on-one situations, how could he easily let go of this opportunity to continue to boost the team's morale?

He directly signaled to Pippen, who was on the far side, to come over and set a screen for him.

However, Collins remained loyal to his teammate, constantly shouting from the sidelines to switch on defense early, determined to prevent Jordan from getting in front of Yang.

Yang Shuai ultimately did not get what he wanted.

Of course, he didn't make things too easy for the Wizards this time either, because as they switched defenses, the person guarding Yang Shuai ended up being Ben Wallace right in front of him.

Although Ben Wallace is more agile than interior players, he didn't have many options against Yang Shuai's mismatch defense. In the end, Yang Shuai shook him off and took him away with a sudden stop-and-shoot mid-range jumper.

"Michael, your era is over."

As Yang Shuai passed Jordan on his way back on defense, he calmly stated a fact that he had just verified.

Jordan's expression hardened.

After Pippen drew a foul and made both free throws, he ignored Collins's request and switched onto Young again.

This time he was more focused than before, putting more pressure on Yang Shuai's defense.

However, in the inter-row confrontation, Yang Shuai's speed still gave him the advantage. He used a sudden stop and floater to dodge Jordan's block and score again.

Moreover, Jordan was trying hard to block the shot, and his hand hit Yang Shuai's wrist, which was called a foul by the referee.

This is a 2+1!

The Rose Garden Arena erupted in a frenzy of excitement.

One round might involve an element of luck, but two consecutive rounds are enough to prove the point.

What's more, even Jordan's foul couldn't stop Yang Shuai from scoring in this round.

Even if Jordan gives it his all now, he can no longer stop Yang Shuai!

This has nothing to do with Jordan's age, because you can't say Jordan is ageless when you're selecting the MVP, and then say he's old when he can't defend against Yang Shuai.

The mindset of the Trail Blazers players on the court also changed rapidly.

When the team's leader was able to defeat Jordan head-on, the idol that Jordan held in their hearts crumbled.

Yang Shuai stepped up to the free throw line.

At this moment, the fans in the stadium began to chant "MVP" in unison.

Some excited fans even stood up, waving their arms and shouting.

It's hard for them not to be excited. When you realize that your team's leader is better than Jordan and he's only 21 years old, it's a miracle you haven't gone crazy.

The enormous volume, transmitted through the loudspeakers to the players on the field, was so loud it could really hurt your eardrums.

Jordan, standing on one side of the free-throw line, frowned.

It wasn't because of the jarring cheers, but rather the helplessness in the face of reality.

Even if he was unwilling to admit it, he had no choice but to accept the reality before him.

Or perhaps it was at this moment that he finally understood how Magic Johnson felt back then.

Moreover, although he can still enter "zone" mode, he doesn't dare to do so.

Because he is different now than he was two years ago, his physical strength is only enough to support him in that state once at most, and it won't last long.

If he enters now, the Wizards will undoubtedly lose tonight.

After realizing the reality, some stark realities involuntarily surfaced in his mind again.

Webber, the player he criticized for lacking defense, led the Kings to the playoffs in his first season with the team, averaging 20 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.4 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game, earning a spot on the All-NBA Second Team.

If Webber had stayed with the Wizards, the team would have had another strong offensive option in the paint, and he could have focused all his efforts on defending Yang Shuai.

Even if they can't completely stop him, they can still limit Yang Shuai's performance.

People only reflect on their mistakes when they are about to fail, but often by the time they realize they have made a mistake, it is too late to undo it.

Ultimately, the Trail Blazers defeated the Wizards 96-86 at home to win the first game of the NBA Finals.

杨帅24投14中得到了35分6板9助攻3抢断，一个得分和1991年乔丹在对阵湖人队G1时相同的数据。

However, the difference is that the Bulls lost that game, while the Trail Blazers won this one.

Jordan scored 32 points, but he only made 11 of 30 shots. He was worn down on offense by Pippen and forced to wear down Yang Shuai on defense, so he didn't play well.

At the post-match press conference, Yang Shuai was asked a question by a reporter.

Do you think you inherited the throne from Michael?

Yang Shuai doesn't like this way of speaking.

If he had spoken back when he was with the Pacers, he might have directly confronted reporters like he did back when he jumped onto the scorer's table and yelled "Fuck the basketball god!"

But this time he just smiled.

The smile wasn't because he liked him, but simply because he knew he could beat Jordan.

(End of this chapter)