Jordan: I thought he was there to help me!

Chapter 709 He is the strongest opponent I have ever encountered! This time,

At the post-game press conference, a somewhat dejected Duncan sat in his chair and answered many questions from reporters.

He answered all the questions, from the team's outlook for next season, whether he was satisfied with this season, what was memorable about this season, and what regrets he had.

As time passed, the reporter asked one last question: "Tim, one last question, what are your thoughts on Lin and this Knicks team?"

"Lin is the strongest opponent I have ever encountered. Before I met him, I never thought that anyone could be so good, and I never thought that anyone could play basketball like this! He fulfilled all my fantasies about basketball. He did everything that a human being can and should do on the basketball court."

"I think he's the greatest of all time! I also hope he can keep the championship in the East! Losing to the eventual champion is better than losing to the runner-up, isn't it?"

"As for the Knicks, their offensive firepower is perhaps the best in history. They have a lot of incredible and amazing players, and they might be even stronger next year. But I want to say: we won't give up! We'll be even stronger next year, and we'll continue to challenge the Knicks!"

"By the way, I wasn't joking about what I just said. I was serious. This time, I was genuinely praising my opponent! The greatest opponent I've ever faced in my life!"

Duncan's generous praise and compliments naturally reached Lin Tian's ears immediately.

Under the expectant gaze of the reporters, the first thing Lin Tian did was to teach them a lesson!

Yes, teach the reporters a lesson!

"Since he said that, didn't you ask him two more questions?"

"For example, how did you feel when you faced the Knicks back then? And who was greater, Lin or Michael?"

"For example, didn't you even ask us who was better, like comparing us to that Knicks team from back then?"

Seeing the reporters shaking their heads, Lin Tian shook his head helplessly as well: "You guys! You all claim to be professional, top-notch reporters, how could you make such a mistake? It's so disheartening!"

"Well then, Lin, we'll be more careful next time." A reporter swallowed hard and continued, "Can you tell me about Tim and this Celtics team? They say you're the strongest team and the strongest individual they've ever faced. What do you think of Tim and this Celtics team?"

"They're alright. They're pretty good, but only average." Upon hearing this, Lin Tian didn't mince words and commented directly, "They're definitely not the best team I've ever encountered in my life."

"The toughest teams I've ever faced are all the teams I've led myself!" Lin Tian quickly gave his real answer before the reporter could even ask a counter-question!

I won't give you any chance to sow discord or stir up trouble. Master Lin will do this himself!

I am the strongest, and the strongest team is, of course, the team I lead! That makes perfect sense!

That makes perfect sense.

But the reporters won't give up so easily. The strongest team is the one you led, right?

Come on! Let's keep going!

"So, Lin, in your 11-year career, which team was the strongest? Or, if those 11 teams played in a tournament, which team do you think would win?"

Well, you're not going to say who the strongest team you've ever faced is, right?

Okay! Then let's ask you which team you've played for was the strongest! Go ahead and keep pretending if you dare!

"The strongest team I've ever played for is, of course, the team I'll be playing for next season!" Lin Tian is quite experienced in this regard, stating directly that the next team will be the best: "I'm constantly getting stronger, my teammates are constantly improving, we achieve new successes every day, so we keep getting stronger."

"So you mean that every team you've played for isn't as strong as the one you'll be on next year?" The reporters persisted, pressing Lin Tian for answers.

"Yes, but next year I won't be as good as the year after, and the year after that I definitely won't be as good as the year after that!"

"If that's the case, then at 75, you could easily beat at 29, right?"

"That's right." Lin Tiantian nodded shamelessly, "At 75, I'm sure I can discover some brand new skills and ways to play. I'm the kind of person who never stops improving; I'm never satisfied, and I'm always absorbing knowledge!"

The reporters fell silent; Lin Tiangan had broken their defenses.

I've never seen such a shameless and boastful person in my entire life!

How narcissistic do you have to be to brag about yourself like that in front of fans all over America!

A 75-year-old version of myself being stronger than a 29-year-old version of myself? How is that possible? It's simply impossible!

Lin Tian: That's shallow! In China, we have a profession called "extortion"!

If I, at 29, dare to dribble or accelerate, my 75-year-old self will immediately be lying on the ground screaming in agony!

Playing ball?

Pay up!

Considering that his skin is unlikely to become thinner with age, Lin Tian thought that this kind of thing was absolutely possible, no.

It will definitely happen!

At that time, at 75 years old, I will still be the king of the basketball court!

After the topic had completely died out, the reporters exchanged glances and could only quickly change the subject.

If you don't change the subject, this jerk is going to drive me crazy!

"So Lin, predict your opponent in the Finals! The Suns and Spurs just played Game 5 yesterday, and the Suns currently have the advantage, holding match point. How do you think this series will go, and who will emerge from the West to challenge you?"

"I think they'll go to a Game 7, then more than 20 overtime periods, until they're so exhausted they cramp up, so exhausted they can't even stand up when they play against us!"

"Steve will be so tired that he can only play half-court games because he can't run anymore. LeBron will be so tired that he can only shoot because he can't drive anymore, and the others will be about the same."

"Hmm, didn't I give a similar answer before?" Lin Tian realized immediately when he saw that none of the reporters below responded to his question.

Guys, you want a completely different, new answer!

I don't want to hear me curse them to go into overtime!

I'll satisfy you!

"Shall I make a serious prediction?"

Lin Tian smiled and looked towards the press section. Seeing these troublemakers getting excited, even eagerly picking up pens to write something, Lin Tian said with satisfaction, "I hope the Spurs advance to the Finals. I want to play against them!"

"Because I don't like LeBron, I think it would be more fun to beat him up! I've also beaten Shaq many times, so beating him is easier for me, I can do it with my eyes closed. Popovich is also Don's apprentice, so Don can definitely easily control him."

"Oh, and it'll also make Tim and the Los Angeles fans sad. The Spurs made it to the Finals without Tim, and Shaq made it to the Finals even after leaving the Lakers! I love this script! I absolutely love it!"

Ugh, another case of bad taste.

It's just more nonsense, completely lacking any technical or tactical analysis, understanding of strengths and weaknesses, or any serious predictions about the match.

Not worth mentioning.

The reporters put down their pens, bored.

The only good news is that at least one sentence in Lin Tian's rambling is usable.

"I don't like LeBron."

This one sentence is useful and can be included in a press release.

And it's actually quite easy to use!

Veteran journalists are already starting to weigh the weight of that statement in their minds.

Even the most skilled journalists have already written out the outline in their minds!

Let's start with Lin Tian's "See you in New York" from a few months ago!

Let's start with those two fiery and controversial matchups during the regular season, and write about their feud and mutual dislike!

I heard that the two of them had a disagreement during the All-Star Game?

Oh, right! It seems there was some internal strife within the Western Army at the time!

After the All-Star Game, news of infighting within the Western Conference teams circulated from various sources, with LeBron James being a key figure in the conflict!

It is said that someone even physically assaulted someone, and there was even bloodshed?

Memories begin to resurface.

Previously overlooked details began to be pieced together, dissected and reassembled by journalists, resulting in articles with different perspectives, angles, and approaches, each with its own focus!

That very night, a large number of articles were published!

There are all sorts of opinions.

The feud between Lin and LeBron didn't start with a simple "See you in New York!"

Insider Reveals: Lin didn't like James during Produce Camp!

"I don't like LeBron! Lin Tian's one sentence speaks for half of all American basketball fans!"

"A true man of character! Lin Tian never hides anything! He always speaks his mind!"

A review of their head-to-head record throughout their professional careers reveals Lin's dominant 6-2 record!

"See you in New York again? Lin says he's really looking forward to beating LeBron up again!"

The Origin of the Feud! LeBron James has privately told others on multiple occasions that he is better than Lin!

What really ruined their relationship even more than that "See you in New York" message was the All-Star Game!

As the reporters were writing, suddenly, someone started something, and someone else discovered a blind spot.

We've gone off-topic! Many articles have started to appear that have gone astray!

Did the All-Star Game conflict stem from internal Spurs disputes? Rumors suggest Bosh and O'Neal dislike each other!

Which side is LeBron on? Shaq and Chris have reportedly clashed multiple times!

"A True Account of the Conflict Between the Western Conference Teams During the All-Star Game! The Reason Was Actually This?"

Kobe Bryant once stood up for Shaquille O'Neal, but LeBron James sided with Chris Bosh, leaving O'Neal heartbroken!

"Lin and Shaq are good buddies; they've teamed up many times! His real reason for disliking LeBron is that he stood up for Shaq!"

What are the basic qualities of a qualified or excellent journalist?

That is to see the big picture from small details, to expand a sentence into an article, and to nurture a seed into a towering tree!

Anyway, after that night, the whole world knew one thing.

Lin Tian and James disliked each other.

As for the reason why the two dislike each other?

Some people think it's love turned to hate, some think it's mutual jealousy, some think it's personality clashes, some think it's healthy competition, and some think the two are each standing up for their good buddies.

There's even a small group of people who think the two are rivals in love, both having their eyes on the same girl.

This statement was met with widespread criticism.

James and Lin Tian, ​​fighting over a woman?

Why should I?!

Just by looking at the two of them, the girls would naturally know who to choose!

Even if the two men wear masks, as long as a little bit of their hairline is visible, the girls will know who to choose.

In short: Rather than believing that the two had a fight over a girl, it's better to believe that there's something between them!

Lin Tian: I'm going to sue! I'm going to sue this argument!

Outrageous!

Lao Tzu and LeBron James are having an affair?

Lin Tian was terrified and shuddered as he looked at this rapidly rising topic that was being discussed by many people.

Just thinking about it terrifies me.

I, Lord Lin, have lived a life of integrity and cannot tolerate this!

He called Pelinka directly and said he would sue those who were spreading rumors.

But Pelinka only listened to half of it before hanging up the phone!

At 3 a.m., you want me to get up and chat with a bunch of anonymous netizens spreading rumors that you're gay?

ill!

……

Fortunately, the discussion about the relationship between Lin Tian and James was quickly put on hold.

Because Game 6 between the Suns and the Spurs is about to begin!

In the previous five matches, the two sides were evenly matched!

Both sides defended their home turf and showcased their unique strengths!

In the first five matches, there was actually only one core element in the game between the two sides.

That's rhythm and speed!

In the first two games, the home team Suns completely controlled the tempo, and the game was a constant whirlwind of activity! They were running and sprinting all over the court!

With each offensive and defensive transition, they fully implemented their philosophy of 7 seconds or less, leaving the Spurs riddled with holes!

O'Neal was completely ineffective on the court, and the Spurs couldn't contain the Suns' relentless attack!

In this game, the Suns made 19 three-pointers and beat the Spurs by 21 points!

In the second game, the Spurs had a much better pace! Although the game was still fast-paced and both sides were still running, and O'Neal still couldn't contribute much in this game, James really got going tonight!

Both sides engaged in an offensive battle in this match!

James and Bosh combined for 65 points, 21 rebounds, and 15 assists!

With these two players performing flawlessly, the Spurs almost won this high-scoring battle!

In this kind of game where everything is running, the Suns are better at it and prefer it. If the Spurs follow their lead, it's like giving up their advantage in half-court offense and giving up Shaquille O'Neal, their deadly weapon under the basket!

Ultimately, it's about using one's own weaknesses to attack the enemy's strengths.

So even though James and Bosh played perfectly, the Spurs still lost by 9 points tonight!

But when the series moved to San Antonio, and the two teams started playing at the Spurs' home court, the situation changed dramatically!

The changes in the third and fourth matches can be explained in a single sentence.

Shaquille O'Neal is back!

After returning to his home court, this dominant center seemed to have regained all his strength, as if he had eaten a magic bean!

He was able to grab and protect the defensive rebounds, and he was also able to fight for the offensive rebounds and stop the Suns' fast breaks.

With his powerful drives to the basket, he can teach Martin a lesson like a little kid, and he can also transform into the Great Demon King Kobe, beating Marion into the sewers.

In short, in Games 3 and 4, whoever guarded O'Neal was doomed!

In the third game, he scored 31 points and grabbed 20 rebounds, including 5 blocks and 8 offensive rebounds.

In the fourth game, he scored 39 points, grabbed 19 rebounds, and added 4 blocks and 7 offensive rebounds.

In the two games, O'Neal was terrifyingly strong. It was as if his youth had returned to him, making him an invincible monster once again.

Thanks to O'Neal's phenomenal performance, the Spurs managed to win two games, tying the series at 2-2!

In the next pivotal game, both sides returned to Phoenix!

There's no need to elaborate on how important this match is. The winner will take the lead in the match and have a very high chance of advancing to the finals!

In this game, O'Neal continued his incredible performance under the basket, becoming a rebounding monster for the third consecutive game and grabbing another 24 rebounds!

Surprisingly, O'Neal had 21 and 24 shot attempts in the third and fourth games, respectively.

But on this night, O'Neal only took 13 shots, 6 of which were putbacks or dunks after he grabbed offensive rebounds.

Although O'Neal scored 22 points on 13 shots, those 22 points were not enough to help the Spurs win!

The Spurs lost this game again!

In this game, not only did O'Neal give it his all, but James also had a remarkable performance, scoring 41 points on 13-of-35 shooting, 2-of-7 from three-point range, and 13-of-19 from the free-throw line!

His 35 shot attempts were a career playoff high.

But James' 41 points were not enough to help the team win, and the Spurs ultimately suffered another defeat by 5 points.

They lost the crucial battle of Tianwang Mountain!

Following this game, Lin Tian's post-game interview after eliminating the Celtics was released, along with reports based on his nonsensical ramblings.

Of course, at this moment, the Spurs had no interest in paying attention to things like All-Star conflicts or Lin Tian wanting to be a round ahead of James.

The focus within the Spurs team is entirely on the glaringly obvious word "internal strife".

Because the reporters were guessing or even making things up based on clues, and the audience and fans were also unaware of the truth, they were just guessing and watching the excitement.

But everyone on the Spurs team knows one thing.

Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James really do have conflicts! They actually had an argument in the locker room during the All-Star Game!

It really did happen; they almost came to blows.

When the All-Star Game ended, all the parties involved remained silent and no one mentioned the matter, including the players on the Spurs team, who were unaware of it.

But some things can't be ignored just because you don't talk about them, avoid them, or put them aside temporarily!

The nails were planted long ago; the only question is when they will be pulled out.

Now, it's time to pull it out!

At the final tactical meeting before Game 6 of the series, O'Neal, who was unusually silent in meetings this season and had become quite easygoing as if he had accepted himself as a role player, suddenly spoke up.

This was his first time speaking at a meeting like this this season: "I want to win, and I believe everyone wants to win! And the best way to win is to attack the Suns' interior! I am the best way to beat the Suns!"

"This season, I have never complained about my shot attempts, tactical role, or anything else, because I know I'm getting old and I can no longer demonstrate my dominance throughout the long regular season."

"But in a series, against a team like the Suns, my dominance still works! I can hold my own, I can beat them!"

"We all know how we won the third and fourth games, and we all know how great we played in those two games! We also know that I didn't take enough shots in the last game." (End of Chapter)