NBA: Starting with the undercut by Parker and Bowen

"Sigh~~"

Standing on the sidelines, watching Yang Lin interact with the fans, Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan couldn't help but sigh.

He increasingly felt that letting Yang Lin go during the offseason was a mistake.

But there was nothing he could do; he seemed to have no other choice.

After interacting with the fans, Yang Lin looked toward the Jazz bench.

He discovered that a group of old jazz gentlemen, including Sloan, Delon, and Boozer, were standing there, all looking at him.

Yang Lin shook his head and chuckled, then quickly ran off.

Yang Lin first gave Sloan a hug, then said in a friendly tone, "Coach Jerry, I'm sorry! I ruined your championship ring night."

Sloan shook his head, unconcerned, and said, "It's a game! Winning and losing is normal. You guys played better than us tonight, so winning is only natural."

Perhaps it was the night of the championship rings that made the Jazz's veteran players a little excited.

The Jazz's overly aggressive play on the court led to too many mistakes tonight.

Boozer had 5 turnovers, Deron Williams had 5 turnovers, Okur had 3 turnovers, Paul Millsap had 3 turnovers, Kirilenko had 2 turnovers...

The team committed a total of 22 turnovers, far exceeding the Rockets' 12.

Given their turnover rate, the fact that the Jazz were able to drag the game to the very end is enough to demonstrate that their raw strength is quite formidable.

If the Jazz had controlled their turnovers tonight, the Rockets might have been eliminated much earlier.

Of course, there are no "what ifs" in life.

After all, you can't expect the other Rockets players to keep playing poorly, especially Yao Ming, whose performance tonight was nothing short of disastrous.

上半场受困犯规，全场仅仅出战24分钟，14投仅5中砍下11分7板，但却出现了6次失误。

However, he did well on the defensive end, contributing 5 blocks and 2 steals.

"Coach Jerry, although I only played one game with you, I can feel that this year's Utah Jazz are much stronger than last year's."

"Yes! They've definitely improved a lot. The team has added Mike and Bonzi, which has strengthened their rotation."

"Deron Williams, Carlos, and others have improved their skills after the Finals."

Sloan smiled and agreed that this year's Jazz were stronger than last year's, even far stronger.

Hmm~~

This is in comparison to the Utah Jazz during last year's regular season.

As for the Jazz, who have Yang Lin in the Finals, well...

It's not easy to determine.

If a comparison is truly needed, then a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers would be necessary to determine the outcome.

After exchanging pleasantries with his former teammates, Yang Lin ran back to the visiting Rockets' locker room, where a new beginning awaited him.

The NBA new season opener has concluded with three games.

The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a major upset, defeating the Phoenix Suns 119-98 on the road, while the San Antonio Spurs beat the Portland Trail Blazers 106-97.

The Houston Rockets narrowly defeated the defending champion Utah Jazz 109-108 on the road.

Public attention was focused on the final match.

Although the Lakers won that game in a big upset, it was a breakout performance from the entire Lakers team.

Kobe Bryant only scored 16 points, failing to achieve a stunning high score.

The Rockets narrowly defeated the Jazz.

This match generated many talking points.

The defending champions lost on ring night; the Finals MVP faced his former team; McGrady scored a high number of points, and Yang Lin contributed a three-pointer to seal the victory...

The Delusional News: Young is still Young; he can still make crucial shots and kill the game.

However, on the night of the Utah championship ring, Young killed the championship he had personally won—the Utah Jazz.

Yang's departure is regrettable. But we all understand that his departure was an unavoidable choice; he needed to move on to his future.

Let us wish him well, our hero, Utah's hero, Yang Lin, and a bright future.

Yang, Utah is your eternal home.

The Houston Chronicle: Here it comes! The mighty Rockets are about to take flight again. Houston fans, hurry and buy your tickets, this is going to be a dream season.

The Big Three isn't just found in Boston and San Antonio; Houston also has one.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer: He can still hit threes, he can still make game-winning shots, he is still himself.

Why didn't the Cavaliers' management bring Young to Cleveland in the summer?

He was a natural fit for knighthood, and he was capable of assisting the king in ascending the throne.

Cavaliers management: Damn it, we tried.

He's the FMVP, and you bunch of idiots keep telling him to be your underlings. No wonder he's not coming!

Turner Sports: Tracy scored 47 points, Young hit a game-winning shot in the final seconds, Yao Ming had 5 blocks... The Houston Rockets are newly formed and still need time to gel.

But we've already seen the emergence of another powerful, championship-caliber team. It's foreseeable that the Western Conference will be exceptionally exciting in the new season.

Los Angeles Times: ...

......

Public opinion focused on the Rockets, while the Jazz's loss on championship ring night seemed insignificant.

Indeed, this isn't the first or second time the defending champions have been defeated in their first game of the new season.

The night of the Miami Heat's championship rings last season.

The Chicago Bulls' unsportsmanlike young men also delivered a harsh blow to the then-defending champions.

With a score of 108 to 66, Wade and O'Neal watched helplessly as their team was crushed by 42 points.

It's hardly surprising that the Jazz were narrowly defeated by one point.

It's a basketball game!

There are winners and losers!

The Rockets started the new season with two consecutive road trips. After resting overnight in Salt Lake City, the Rockets chartered a plane to fly directly to Los Angeles the following day.

Their next opponent is the Los Angeles Lakers, who won big against the Suns on the first day of the competition.

As soon as he got off the plane, McGrady received a phone call.

He then whispered a few words to Yao Ming, and together they walked toward Yang Lin.

"Yang, Kobe just called me and invited us to his house."

Yang Lin readily agreed.

When they set off, Yang Lin discovered that Yao and McGrady had not only brought him along, but also Wilcox and Battier.

The Rockets' starting five players all made an appearance.

Without a doubt, Yao and McGrady are preparing to go to Kobe's house to show off their power.

The five people drove to the Kobe Bryant Estate.

Kobe Bryant and his wife Vanessa were already waiting outside the door.

Kobe was slightly taken aback when he saw Yao Ming, McGrady, and their group of five.

He only invited Yao and McGrady, but McGrady brought the Rockets' starting five.

After a slight pause, Kobe greeted them with a smile, "Tracy, Yao, Young, Shawn, Chris, welcome to my home."

Kobe always kept a close eye on the teams of his old rivals Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady.

Naturally, they got to know Yang Lin and Wilcox, who joined the Rockets during the offseason.

Kobe was particularly envious of Yang Lin.

He watched last season's finals and felt that Yang Lin was born to be his backcourt partner.

He has defensive skills, can shoot, can handle the ball and organize the offense, and can also play off-ball.

Tsk tsk~~

If they were to team up with Kobe in the backcourt, wouldn't they be invincible?

Surprisingly, such a good backcourt partner ended up benefiting his old rival, Tracy.

Fake!

Why can't I be so lucky?

His backcourt partner for the first two seasons was "The Grim Reaper" Smush Parker.

This season saw an upgrade, with the return of Derek Fisher.

Thinking about this made Kobe angry.

Former teammate Fisher went on a trip and then rejoined the Los Angeles Lakers.

Hey~~ guess what?

He gained another championship ring.

Where can I seek justice?

What angered Kobe the most was that the Lakers management signed Fisher for over four million dollars, so why didn't they add some money to get last season's Finals MVP?

Lakers management: How can you blame us? Who told you to make a fuss about leaving the team back then?

At that time, everyone's attention was focused on you.

By the time we realized what was happening, they had already signed a contract with Houston.

Kobe followed Yang Lin, and Yang Lin followed Kobe.

Chatting is a memory for a generation.

Yang Lin is not a Kobe fan, or perhaps he is not a fan of any particular basketball star; he is more interested in the basketball game itself.

But when Kobe passed away 20 years later, he still felt a sense of loss.

During that period when the pandemic was spreading globally.

Kobe's passing made Yang Lin realize that he, or rather his generation, had to confront the topic of death.

The memories of a generation are fading away, and an era is coming to an end.

If I could relive my youth, would I become a part of a generation's memories?

Will I become the youth of a generation?

Maybe!

Kobe welcomed the Rockets' five-man squad into the manor, but didn't even take them into the living room; he led them straight to a basketball court.

"Gulp!"

Upon seeing the basketball hoop, Yang Lin couldn't help but swallow hard.

What is this chatter about?

You don't want to play ball, do you?

Big brother, we're here as guests, not to be your sparring partners.

Sure enough, while Yang Lin was mentally complaining...

Kobe picked up a basketball and said to McGrady, "Tracy, it's been a while since we've had a one-on-one game. How about a few?"

"Screw you! How long? We trained together during the offseason."

McGrady frowned and refused.

He was quite exhausted last night and really doesn't want to touch basketball now.

But he knew Kobe and knew he would never give up.

His eyes darted around, and he offered a suggestion: "We've had so many one-on-one matches already, it's really getting boring. How about you change things up today and have a three-point contest with Yang?"

Kobe's eyes lit up at the suggestion, and he immediately extended an invitation to Yang Lin: "Yang, how about it? Shall we have a three-point shooting contest?"

Yang Lin rolled his eyes at McGrady.

Good grief! You're pushing the burden onto me, huh?

However, Yang Lin did not refuse; he still needed to recharge his energy for his sure-fire three-pointer!

Now, let's treat the competition as a way to recharge, killing two birds with one stone.

Yang Lin nodded and replied, "Five points, 100 balls."

About ten minutes later, Yang Lin finished his shooting session, making 91 of 100 shots.

Despite having seen it multiple times, Yao Ming, McGrady, and others still felt that the accuracy rate was somewhat exaggerated.

Kobe couldn't help but purse his lips.

But unlike Nash and McGrady before him, Kobe didn't give up on the game. He still managed to make 100 three-pointers.

It took about thirteen minutes and more than eighty shots were made.

Good results.

But it's clearly several levels below Yang Lin's open three-pointers.

After losing the game by three points, Kobe brought the Rockets' five-man lineup to the living room, where Vanessa had prepared pastries and tea.

In the living room, Yang Lin met Kobe's eldest daughter Natalia and his one-year-old second daughter Gianna.

Looking at little Jaina, Yang Lin couldn't help but frown.

Respect the fate of others.

But it's just a little guy!

More than ten years later, she was only thirteen years old!

Yang Lin pursed his lips and said to Kobe Bryant:

"I used to learn fortune telling from a Taoist priest in the mountains of my hometown for a period of time. Jaina's facial features indicated that she would pass away on the wind and die in the fog."

"????"

The person in the living room was speechless.

Yao Ming couldn't help but ask, "You've also studied fortune telling?"

"When I was a child, I was bored and liked to go to the Taoist temple in the mountains near my hometown. The old Taoist priests would tell me stories and talk about fortune and such when they had nothing to do."

"Then calculate it for me too."

Yang Lin rolled his eyes at Yao Ming and said, "Before the old Taoist priest passed away, he told me to believe in science, you son of a bitch."

Hahaha~~

Yao Ming immediately gave an awkward smile.

Kobe, McGrady, and others were curious and immediately asked Yao Ming for details.

Yao Ming explained to Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, and others what Taoism is and what fortune-telling is.

After hearing the explanation, Kobe looked at Yang Lin with a serious expression and asked, "Yang, what exactly did you mean by those two sentences you just said?"

Kobe had no choice but to take this seriously, as it concerned his own daughter.

To see this through, Yang Lin explained, "Judging from Gianna's appearance, she faces life-threatening situations when riding the wind or encountering fog."

"Riding the wind" likely refers to taking an airplane or something similar. Large airplanes fly high and don't encounter fog, so the most likely scenario is that a helicopter would encounter foggy weather, leading to...

"Can you calculate what time it is?" Kobe pressed.

Yang Lin smiled but remained silent.

"Can you figure out where it is?"

Yang Lin remained smiling, without saying a word.

Yao Ming, standing nearby, sensed something was wrong. He had initially thought Yang Lin was just saying it casually, but now he felt that Yang Lin was actually serious about it.

Yao Ming stopped Kobe from asking questions, explaining what it meant to reveal secrets, and told him to just keep it to himself.

Seeing this, Yang Lin breathed a sigh of relief.

Damn it!

Pretending to be a ghost is so damn tiring, I really can't do it anymore.