With the conclusion of the All-Star Game, the first half of the 2004-2005 season schedule officially ended.
Every season is unique, and this year's first half was particularly eventful.
The most impactful event was the Celtics' complete transformation!
From owner to general manager, from general manager to head coach, from general manager to core players... they changed everyone!
The Celtics, once a near-playoff team in the Pierce era, magnificently transformed into a near-champion level team with the core trio of He Xi Meng, Carter, and Yao Ming!
The speed of their improvement stunned the entire league!
If the league were to award a Best Owner at the end of the season, His Airness would undoubtedly be the frontrunner.
The second most significant event was the brawl at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
As the most notorious fan-involved incident in league history, who was right and who was wrong no longer mattered.
This fight affected many players and altered the overall landscape of the Eastern Conference.
Artest's dream of brotherhood was shattered, and the Pacers' path to resurgence was interrupted.
The third event was McGrady's 13 points in 35 seconds!
This was McGrady's deification and a stroke of indelible brilliance in league history!
Regardless of how future generations judge McGrady, the miracle of 13 points in 35 seconds is a topic that can never be bypassed.
Benefiting from the first half's success, His Airness hoped the team would build on it in the second half, secure the top seed in the East, and even aim for the best record in the league!
However, He Xi Meng did not adopt His Airness's suggestion. Instead, he advised Kerr to strategically reduce the playing time of the three core players in the second half.
This was partly to minimize injury risk and partly to develop the rookies in preparation for the upcoming playoffs.
His Airness and He Xi Meng's opinions diverged, with General Manager Collins unequivocally siding with His Airness, playing the role of a sycophant to perfection.
Kerr did not blindly follow but, after independent consideration, suggested that His Airness adopt He Xi Meng's advice.
Kerr's exact words were: "If we're not focused on winning the championship, we can aim for regular season accolades! If we are aiming for the championship, I believe Xi Meng is right. We need to let our young players grow quickly... The playoffs are the real battle..."
Faced with Kerr's reasoned and respectful explanation, His Airness ultimately chose to heed He Xi Meng's counsel.
The Celtics' performance in the second half was not as explosive as in the first half.
For games that were winnable but not crucial, He Xi Meng did not have Carter and Yao Ming go all out, but instead had the rookies take the lead!
If the rookies managed to hold on until the final moments, He Xi Meng would then step in with Carter and Yao Ming to secure the victory.
If the rookies couldn't last until the final quarter, He Xi Meng would rather concede than force a tough game.
As a result, the Celtics' record gradually declined, slipping from the top spot in the East to third!
"Dark Horse Fades!"
"The Celtics' New Big Three Are Nothing Special!"
"He Xi Meng's Abilities Are Overrated!"
...
Following this, various doubts about the Celtics' new leader, He Xi Meng, began to surface.
Carter couldn't stand the criticism and urged He Xi Meng to retaliate with a winning streak.
He Xi Meng, however, advised Carter to remain calm, stating that the regular season was just the beginning.
Nevertheless, before the end of the season, considering the advantage of home court in the semifinals, He Xi Meng secretly ramped up his efforts, ultimately securing the team's final standing at second in the East!
This position offered the significant advantage of home-court advantage for the first two playoff rounds.
An unexpected bonus was that the Celtics' first-round opponent would be the New Jersey Nets!
"It seems we have a fated connection with Paul, doesn't it?"
Upon seeing the final regular season standings, His Airness looked meaningfully at He Xi Meng.
"He Xi Meng definitely did it on purpose! He didn't exert himself earlier or later, but only started pushing when we dropped to 7th!"
Kidd stared angrily as the Celtics overtook the Pistons, solidifying their second-place finish in the East.
Prior to this, when the Celtics were third in the East, the Nets were ranked sixth!
Kidd, wanting to avoid facing He Xi Meng in the first round, intentionally lost two games, ceding the sixth seed to the Pacers!
Unexpectedly, the Celtics, for reasons unknown, suddenly exerted themselves towards the end of the regular season!
To the Nets' bewilderment, they consecutively defeated the Spurs and the Mavericks, catching the Nets completely off guard.
Whether the Nets wanted it or not, their final opponent was the Celtics! This inexplicably angered Kidd.
Pierce initially did not object to Kidd's plan. He also preferred to avoid playing the Celtics.
He would rather lose to the Heat or the Pistons than to the Celtics.
But since the Celtics insisted on facing them... Pierce believed that He Xi Meng's sudden surge in performance was a deliberate attempt to humiliate him!
If that was the case, Pierce decided not to back down! He prepared himself for a hard-fought battle against the Celtics.
In Boston, facing His Airness's meaningful gaze, He Xi Meng helplessly retorted, "If I told you I didn't even notice the Nets' ranking, would you believe me?"
His Airness nodded and said, "I believe you! This is God's arrangement..."
However, His Airness's expression clearly conveyed a different message: "I'd have to be a fool to believe you!"
Fine! Since it couldn't be explained, there was no point in explaining further.
There was only one word: Fight!
On April 24, 2005, the first game of the first round of the playoffs kicked off simultaneously in several cities!
And in Boston, the Celtics, led by He Xi Meng, welcomed their first playoff opponent, the New Jersey Nets!
Although Richard Jefferson had returned, he was clearly not at his best. Coach Frank included him on the roster but did not start him.
The Nets' lineup, overall, remained incomplete.
The reliable core players were limited to Pierce and Kidd.
Unlike Pierce's first visit to Boston with the Nets, when he received a warm ovation from the entire crowd.
This time, upon Pierce's arrival, he was no longer greeted by fans wearing number 34 jerseys!
Instead, the stands were filled with number 4, number 15, and number 11 jerseys!
Things have changed, and people have moved on!
The league is both nostalgic and forgetful!
Pierce decided to remind the forgetful Boston fans that there was once a small forward in a number 34 jersey who delivered the most exciting games in the FleetCenter...