"I'm going to rest for a week and then head back home. You know, our movements are very clear in China. Before the Western Conference Finals began, Coach Zhang Bin called me and asked me to report back as soon as my games here were over. I didn't think much of it at the time, but looking back, Coach Zhang didn't seem to think the Lakers would make it to the Finals..."
One had to admit, Comrade Zhang was quite insightful! He predicted it in advance and got it right?
After bidding farewell to Da Zhi, He Xi Meng returned to the locker room in good spirits. Inside, the young Spurs players were celebrating their victory over the Lakers and advancing to the Finals.
But unlike the Lakers, when He Xi Meng was with the Lakers, core players O'Neal and Kobe were always the first to spray champagne and smoke cigars with their teammates.
In the Spurs locker room, however, the core player, Duncan, simply watched his teammates spray champagne with a smile, and declined David Robinson's invitation to join him for a cigar.
He Xi Meng walked over to Duncan, picked up a bottle of champagne, and just as everyone expected him to spray Duncan, and Duncan was ready for He Xi Meng to cause trouble, He Xi Meng didn't shake the bottle. Instead, he opened it gently, took a big sip, and handed it to Duncan, "How can we not enjoy champagne at a moment of victory?"
Everyone was stunned by He Xi Meng's move, almost fainting collectively.
But Duncan genuinely appreciated He Xi Meng's style. The inwardly reserved Duncan didn't know how to join in the boisterous celebrations, but he was very happy to play along with such a small trick.
Duncan took a sip of champagne and passed it to David Robinson.
David Robinson took the champagne and then handed his cigar to Duncan, "As a man of victory, how can you not smoke a cigar?"
He Xi Meng laughed from the side and encouraged Duncan to take a puff, "Cigars aren't addictive!"
"All tobacco is bad for the lungs..."
"Come on! Just one puff, what harm can it do?"
Duncan thought for a moment, and it made sense, so he took it and tried a puff.
David Robinson asked him how it felt, and Duncan frowned and replied, "Not great? It's not as good as champagne..."
The teammates burst into laughter. It was also a post-victory locker room, but the Spurs' atmosphere lacked some wildness and had more warmth.
The Spurs won, and Popovich kept his promise from before the game, successfully ending the Western Conference Finals and keeping the victory in San Antonio, avoiding a more grueling Game 7.
Now, the Spurs were only one step away from the ultimate championship.
Around the same time the Spurs advanced, at Madison Square Garden in New York, the Pacers, with a resounding victory in front of all the New York fans, defeated the Knicks and advanced to the Finals with a 4-2 series lead, proving they were the true kings of the East!
Leading this Eastern Conference battle of kings was still the Pacers' soul, Miller!
In the final game of the series, Miller shot 10-of-19 from the field, 5-of-7 from three-point range, and 9-of-9 from the free-throw line, scoring a game-high 34 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals, crushing the Knicks' final hopes of advancing.
In fact, the Knicks' current roster configuration was very similar to that of the Pacers.
The Knicks' current frontcourt consisted of the aging Ewing and Larry Johnson, both of whom were power centers.
The Pacers' frontcourt consisted of the aging Schmitz and Dale Davis, who were also big-bodied centers with slower movement speeds and not much offensive threat.
To compensate for the lack of offensive power in the paint, both teams were equipped with strong perimeter backcourts.
On the Knicks' side, it was Allan Houston and Sprewell.
On the Pacers' side, it was Miller and Jalen Rose.
The final result was that the Knicks were at a disadvantage in the perimeter guard matchup and couldn't gain an advantage in the frontcourt center battle. Coupled with the explosive performance of the veteran Miller, the Knicks ultimately lost the Eastern Conference Finals, and the management lost their patience.
Ewing, the team's highest-paid player this season earning $15 million, had completely disappointed the Knicks' management.
At the same time, Head Coach Jeff Van Gundy's time was also running out.
Having defeated the Knicks, the triumphant Pacers entered the Finals believing their strength could match the Spurs.
The Pacers had never won an NBA championship, and neither had the Spurs. Whichever team became the ultimate champion would be a new king, rewriting the league's history.
Head Coach Larry Bird confidently stated at the pre-Finals press conference: "We are fully prepared. Although we lack championship experience, we have strived to become champions for over ten years. Now is the time to fulfill the dreams of generations of Pacers players..."
In comparison, Popovich maintained his calm demeanor: "The Pacers are the Eastern Conference champions, and they are a very strong team. But we are the Western Conference champions, and we are also strong. The championship is not determined by desire alone, but ultimately by strength. I hope the fans of San Antonio will give us more support and encouragement. We need you, and we hope you will come to the arena to help us win the game and secure the championship..."
The Finals tickets had long been sold out, but Popovich's appeal was not without its rewards. At the very least, the Spurs' merchandise experienced another surge in sales. Things like jerseys, shoes, and souvenirs. The unit price was not high, but the profit margin was decent. They might not be making a fortune, but making a little extra money was also enjoyable!
In addition to the booming merchandise sales, the Spurs' viewership ratings also saw a significant increase this season. After He Xi Meng joined, he occasionally urged Duncan to execute a soaring alley-oop dunk, igniting the crowd's excitement. He Xi Meng himself would also occasionally attempt an incredible long-range three-pointer from the center circle...
All in all, He Xi Meng's addition did not cause the Spurs to lose their low-key luxurious style. However, within that understated luxury, there was an added touch of brilliance, making the games more watchable. Naturally, this attracted more attention and anticipation from fans, and the increase in viewership was a logical outcome.
In other words, while Larry Bird was cheering on the Pacers, Popovich was actually considering how to take the opportunity to improve the team's business performance...