Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters-Chapter 1015 - 586 Scepter_2
Chapter 1015: Chapter 586: Scepter_2 Chapter 1015: Chapter 586: Scepter_2 Now it’s the Clippers’ turn.
That’s not something Yu Fei should be concerned about.
Because no matter how Ballmer used him to negotiate with local TV stations, the money wouldn’t end up in his pocket anyway.
With the season over, Yu Fei took a few days off for himself and made time to watch the Finals.
This year’s Finals were interesting.
It was worth observing whether it would be the Miami Heat’s repeat championship or the Spurs’ “beautiful basketball” laughing last.
Moreover, Yu Fei also wanted to see if the curse that the team that beat him in the playoffs would inevitably be doomed would prove true once again.
...
The result was thought-provoking.
This year’s Spurs were definitely stronger than last year, but the Miami Heat weren’t like the 14 Heat in the main timeline, which, like those teams in history that exhausted their potential after winning two consecutive championships, lost their ability to reach the top again.
There was a reason why that Heat team was swept by the Spurs.
But today’s Miami Heat had no reason to fail.
Wade was injury-free, and they had Curry; Ariza was replaced by the even tougher Jimmy Butler, and the interior lineup of Love and Yao Ming was incomparable to the opponents the Spurs faced in the Western Conference.
The ultimate team basketball met the explosive star energy of the defending champions, and the result was self-evident.
Team strength can suppress talent often for only one reason — the side representing talent actually isn’t that talented.
The main timeline’s Heat were just like that, with Wade’s injuries being too significant, Bosh at the five spot not matching up to Hibbert in playoff performance, and what could even a 2K14-rated 99 James do about it?
But now the Spurs faced a Miami Heat that could rival the pinnacle empire of the Supersonics.
The games that the Miami Heat won were all decisive double-digit victories, while the Spurs’ wins were narrow and hard-fought.
The gap in the teams’ strength was evident in the point differences.
Returning to San Antonio for the third game, even the malfunctioning air conditioning at the Spurs’ home court couldn’t reverse the situation.
In the fourth game, the Spurs fell like dominoes.
Team basketball that loses the belief in certain victory can give birth to another poison — the idea of team accountability means everyone must take responsibility, but a failing team represents no one being able to stand up and take charge.
They fell into a scoring drought and got blown out as a result.
The Miami Heat, leading 3-1, had the winning ticket in their hands and gave the San Antonio People no chance as they returned to their home court.
4-1.
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The outcome was almost no different from last year, with the main change being the recipient of the FMVP award.
In the five games, Wade averaged 24 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists, with a field goal percentage of 46%, a three-point shooting percentage of 34%, and a free throw percentage of 83%. Curry contributed an average of 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists per game, with staggering efficiency — a shooting percentage of 52%, three-point percentage of 46%, and free throw percentage of 95%.
It was this difference in efficiency that the people at Reebok heavily advertised during the voting.
Wade’s dream of consecutive FMVPs was thus dashed.
Curry, with higher efficiency and the advantage in media resources, became this year’s FMVP. When Curry received the award, the excitement on Wade’s face visibly diminished.
Yu Fei did not ponder this scene deeply. In his view, both Wade and Curry were worthy candidates for FMVP. Curry had higher efficiency, and Reebok had cultivated stable support in the media for many years, plus the whole group had always hoped to promote new superstars.
Now that Curry had seized the opportunity, it was reasonable for them to go all out in promoting him.
It can only be said that Curry seized the moment, but whether his FMVP would have other impacts on the team remained to be seen.
Yu Fei’s focus wasn’t on this; he was simply happy for Yao Ming.
Yao Ming once complained that Yu Fei had changed the era, but in fact, it was the era of space basketball that saved Yao Ming’s career.
By the time Yao Ming decided to significantly reduce his weight, the era had already changed. Those who don’t adapt to the times will eventually be crushed by the wheels of time.
Luckily for Yao Ming, he made the change in time.
By reducing weight and diligently practicing three-pointers, he had become a model for the successful transformation of a traditional center.
Not only did the transformation prolong his career, but it also allowed him to enjoy the dividends of an era when centers were gradually diminishing in value.
Two consecutive selections to the All-NBA First Team and back-to-back championships with the Heat had essentially secured his place among the top ten centers in NBA history. In future NBA Top 75 Players lists, he was also very likely to be included.
“I now know what it feels like to stand at the summit.”
Yu Fei sent a message to congratulate Yao Ming, who quickly replied.
Yu Fei asked, “What does it feel like?”
“Halfway up the mountain is too crowded; I just want to stay at the top forever.”
“Welcome to the club. You’re already starting to talk like an enviable winner.”
The season had officially ended.
Next up was the highly anticipated 2014 NBA Draft, followed by an offseason that might reshape the league’s landscape.
The two-time champion Miami Heat team was unlikely to retain the same roster in the new season.
First of all, Yao Ming’s contract had expired.
Although the Heat held Yao’s Bird rights, which allowed them to re-sign him without regard to the salary cap, they had already been operating with four max contracts last season. Despite the successful title defense, they didn’t make a profit when everything was accounted for.
The burden of the luxury tax was too heavy.
The League’s anti-monopoly policy precisely targeted these teams with an overflow of talent.
Yao Ming and his family were willing to stay in Miami, but the Heat could not afford another max contract.
Moreover, considering Yao had been selected to the All-NBA First Team two years in a row and had won championships with the team, he could activate the full version of the Yu Fei clause.
