The Spurs, having lost their championship bid last season due to Duncan's injury in the semifinals, have been more cautious with his playing time this season, often letting him finish games by the third quarter.
Duncan, entering the second peak of his career, managed to average 26 points and 13 rebounds per game even with reduced minutes, a truly incredible feat.
However, what Popovich hadn't anticipated was that while Duncan remained healthy, David Robinson's back injury flared up without any collision, sidelining him for at least four weeks.
Back issues had been plaguing David Robinson for the past few seasons. Without them, his performance wouldn't have declined so noticeably.
In fact, with Yao Ming's arrival this season, Popovich had already begun reducing David Robinson's minutes, protecting him just as much as Duncan.
But that's the nature of competitive sports; one can never predict when or how injuries will strike.
David Robinson's absence meant that Yao Ming, who had only played as a backup for just over a month, was thrust into the starting lineup earlier than expected.
Initially, Chinese fans were thrilled about Yao Ming's promotion to the starting lineup, believing his ascent was imminent.
However, starting too soon didn't necessarily benefit Yao Ming's growth. His lack of interior strength was immediately exposed and became apparent to every team in the league.
In the subsequent games, Yao Ming repeatedly fell into foul trouble, even fouling out with six personal fouls in two of those games.
The Spurs' undefeated streak this season was broken, with their winning run ending at 17 games.
The teams that defeated the Spurs were the Kings, with Webber returning from injury, and the Mavericks, who were still feeling disgruntled.
Recently, despite increased playing time, Yao Ming's individual statistics had declined, and his on-court performance was no longer as dazzling as before.
It seemed Yao Ming was prematurely hitting the rookie wall.
A sentiment began to emerge within the Spurs coaching staff: "Suggest Yao Ming gain weight!"
Without He Xi Meng, Popovich would have also wanted Yao Ming to improve his physicality quickly.
The most effective way to rapidly increase physical strength was to gain weight.
Gaining weight and then engaging in strength training was the most direct and effective method for improving a post player's low-post defense.
This approach was very practical for most Black players, as their bodies were more resilient.
However, for Yao Ming, this was far from an ideal solution.
Rapid weight gain would put immense pressure on Yao Ming's ankles, potentially leading to stress fractures. Stress fractures are career-threatening injuries for professional athletes, rendering them unable to compete at a high level, effectively ending their careers prematurely.
He Xi Meng certainly did not want Yao Ming to repeat past mistakes.
He insisted that Yao Ming gradually improve his core strength, and subsequently his physical prowess, without gaining weight.
"Rome wasn't built in a day!"
He Xi Meng used this phrase to counter those who advocated for Yao Ming to gain weight for faster improvements in the paint.
However, another saying circulated throughout the league: "Fame comes early!"
Professional basketball is a youth-driven profession, and for most NBA players, achieving early fame means securing lucrative contracts.
He Xi Meng did not dispute this theory. All players entering the league should indeed adapt as quickly as possible and establish themselves.
This led to some hesitation on Yao Ming's part. After all, by rapidly improving his low-post strength, he could potentially become an All-Star player in the shortest possible time.
But He Xi Meng resolutely stopped him.
He Xi Meng believed there was a limit to "early fame" and that it should not come at the cost of one's future career.
While immediate brilliance was important, sustained performance over time was even more crucial.
Often, the length of a career was more significant than its height.
As long as Yao Ming followed his plan, maintained his health, and steadily improved his skills, becoming an All-Star player would be a natural progression.
Yao Ming had no reason to sacrifice his future career just to become an All-Star player one or two seasons earlier.
After all, some career-ending injuries could even lead to lifelong difficulties in normal living.
Of course, apart from potential weight issues, Yao Ming showed no other signs of discomfort. However, the risk of him having to leave basketball altogether and being unable to play again was real.
Trusting He Xi Meng, Yao Ming ultimately resisted the coaches' suggestions and his own desire for early recognition. He opted against rapid weight gain, choosing instead to endure the league's challenges during regular season games while gradually improving his core strength in training.
This growth might have been slow, but it was more foundational and solid, and most importantly, it minimized the risk of injury.
Because Yao Ming lacked dominance in the paint, Duncan had to frequently drop back to help him defend, ensuring the Spurs' interior defense remained strong.
The consequence of this was a noticeable decline in Duncan's scoring efficiency compared to the previous month.
To compensate for Duncan's reduced scoring, He Xi Meng had to increase his own scoring efficiency to make up for the team's lost offensive power.
By the eve of the Christmas Day game, Duncan's average scoring had dropped from over twenty-six points per game to around twenty-three.
Meanwhile, He Xi Meng's average scoring had increased from twenty-one points per game to twenty-four.
This shift in scoring, while seemingly a trade-off, ensured the Spurs maintained their leading position in the league's win-loss record.
The upcoming Christmas Day game captured the attention of countless fans across the league.
The matchup featured the defending champion Lakers and the Spurs, champions from two years prior.
Last year's Christmas Day game saw the Spurs, champions from two years ago, travel to Los Angeles to challenge the Lakers.
This year, the roles were reversed for the Christmas Day game, with the defending champion Lakers traveling to San Antonio to face the Spurs!
Could the battle between the Lakers and Spurs in the Western Conference become a regular fixture for the league's Christmas celebrations?