At the post-game press conference, Popovich stated directly, "It wasn't that we played poorly, but that this SuperSonics team played exceptionally well. They didn't look like a team that had just finished rebuilding at all! Everyone revolved around Xi Meng, contributing their share to the team... including Kobe! This was the most efficient Kobe I've ever seen! You all know how difficult it is for a scorer of Kobe's caliber to improve further... but alongside Xi Meng, I saw Kobe's progress, and quite significant progress at that..."
Before this series began, all fans expected a fierce battle, at least a Game 6 if not a Game 7.
Unexpectedly, the SuperSonics ended the fight in just five games, leaving the entire league stunned.
In comparison, the Lakers took seven games to defeat the Mavericks, finally winning in a Game 7.
In the East, the Pistons defeated the newly rising Magic team 4-1.
Facing the iron-clad Pistons, Dwight Howard was neutralized, averaging only 15 points and 13 rebounds over five games, falling short of his future status as the King of Orlando.
The Cavaliers battled through seven games but ultimately lost to the Celtics.
LeBron James put up an all-around performance in this series with averages of 26.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.3 blocks, but still couldn't overcome the Celtics without He Xi Meng.
Yao Ming + Carter blocked James' path to the championship, leaving James utterly discouraged: "It's time to leave Cleveland..."
With this, both the Western and Eastern Conference Semifinals concluded.
The SuperSonics' opponent in the Western Conference Finals was the Lakers' freshly assembled Big Three.
The Celtics' opponent in the Eastern Conference Finals was the Pistons, who had been together for several years and were facing dissolution if they didn't achieve results soon.
Compared to the Spurs, the Lakers indeed posed a greater challenge to the SuperSonics.
In the first game, the Lakers' relatively unknown bench player, Leon Powe, had a breakout performance, while Durant, playing in his first Western Conference Finals, seemed a bit nervous. With an advantage in rotation time, the Lakers turned the tables and won by two points, breaking the SuperSonics' home-court winning streak.
This left the Seattle fans bewildered.
So were the SuperSonics' head coach, Old Curry.
Accustomed to smooth sailing, suddenly facing a tough opponent, the inexperienced "Coach of the Year" didn't quite know how to adjust.
Fortunately, the SuperSonics didn't rely on Old Curry's adjustments; if they had, this good hand dealt to them this season might have been mishandled.
He Xi Meng immediately initiated adjustments, tweaking the bench lineup.
Hedo Turkoglu, having recovered from injury, was benched by He Xi Meng. P.J. Tucker was moved from the third unit to the second, taking over as the small forward to guard the outstanding Leon Powe from the previous game.
Durant was assigned to play shooting guard by He Xi Meng, further extending their positional advantage.
In Game 2, Tucker and Durant did not disappoint He Xi Meng's adjustments.
Tucker successfully limited Powe's scoring to 7 points, while Durant exploded in Game 2, scoring 21 points!
Playing shooting guard, especially during the rotation minutes, if Durant still failed to perform, it would truly be inexcusable.
The series was tied 1-1 as they headed to Los Angeles.
For the Lakers, winning one game on the SuperSonics' home court was a bonus; they had no losses.
Back home, the Big Three prepared to leverage their home-court advantage and strong defense to defeat the SuperSonics.
However, He Xi Meng and Kobe went all out offensively!
Kobe's offensive explosion was not unexpected, as his scoring had been high in the previous two games.
But Kobe plus the Gasol brothers, and even a young version of "The Grim Reaper" off the bench, were not enough to easily defeat this Big Three Lakers team.
He Xi Meng had been a bit careless in the first game, and in the second, he fully unleashed his playmaking ability.
Upon arriving at the Lakers' home court, He Xi Meng knew that pure playmaking wouldn't be enough, so he also unleashed his scoring potential, especially with bombardment from beyond the three-point line, forcing the Lakers to expand their defensive zone.
Once the Lakers expanded their defensive zone, their defensive intensity naturally decreased.
The Gasol brothers' scoring efficiency in the paint began to increase, and Kobe's scoring efficiency in the mid-range also improved...
In Game 3, He Xi Meng scored 42 points and had 8 assists!
In Game 4, He Xi Meng scored 36 points and had 12 assists!
With two wins in a row, the SuperSonics extended their winning streak to three games, crushing the Lakers and taking a 3-1 lead!
In Game 5, pushed to the brink, the Lakers fought back with a spirited effort, with all three stars firing on all cylinders, managing to win one game.
But in Game 6, He Xi Meng, having caught his breath, unleashed his power again, teaming up with Kobe for a combined 77 points!
He Xi Meng had 39 points, Kobe had 38 points. The "Mamba Brothers" joined forces once more, personally ending the Lakers' Big Three's playoff run at the Staples Center!
With a 4-2 victory, the SuperSonics defeated the Lakers to become the Western Conference champions and advanced to the NBA Finals.
In the East, the Celtics defeated the Pistons 4-2, setting up a Finals matchup against the SuperSonics.
The NBA Finals became a stage for He Xi Meng to face his former team.
Although the media hyped up an "unforgiving battle" between He Xi Meng and the Celtics before the Finals, in reality, there was no animosity between He Xi Meng and the Celtics.
He Xi Meng had left Boston happily and had also arrived happily.
Michael Jordan's foresight in scouting talent might have been questionable, but his magnanimity in treating people was vast.
When He Xi Meng left the Celtics, Michael Jordan had placed no obstacles in his path. He didn't even require a sign-and-trade, nor did he squeeze out He Xi Meng's last drop of commercial value. Instead, he allowed He Xi Meng to leave Boston as a completely free agent!
Therefore, the "clash of swords" that the media anticipated between He Xi Meng and the Celtics did not materialize.
In fact, when He Xi Meng returned to Boston, he did not receive the chorus of boos that Kobe faced upon his return to Los Angeles.
Instead, He Xi Meng received more applause and cheers.
So, in this pinnacle matchup, He Xi Meng had no intention of seeking revenge.
If there's no grudge, how can there be revenge?
When the NBA Finals began, He Xi Meng did not charge ahead as he had against the Lakers.
Facing his former teammates, He Xi Meng chose to let Kobe and the Gasol brothers lead, while he retreated to the background, serving as the orchestrator and delivering passes to his teammates...