The No.1 Anti-Fans in Basketball
Chapter 656 - 317: Your Finals Opponent Is...

Chapter 656: Chapter 317: Your Finals Opponent Is...

"I messed up tonight’s game. I’m entirely responsible."

Wade’s eyes were bloodshot.

He rarely experienced such an emotional collapse after the game.

A 3+1 foul, just like when Duncan assisted McGrady’s 35 points in 13 seconds, followed by two missed free throws at the crucial moment.

Even he couldn’t have predicted that he would make consecutive mistakes.

His performance tonight was at a war criminal level.

Moreover, it’s like he single-handedly disbanded the Heat team, a merciless experience for him.

"I’ve done all I can, I owe Miami nothing." Durant’s response seemed like a farewell.

Wade felt like another knife was stabbed into his bleeding wound.

The main reason for his emotional collapse wasn’t the mistakes he made but because this year is unlike any other year.

In the past, they could say, "It’s just one loss, let’s bounce back." But now, this is the team’s final act.

"Will you come back?" ESPN’s reporter asked an irrelevant question.

"Let’s see what happens this summer."

There’s a high probability that Durant will leave because the Heat team can’t get better.

But there’s a small chance he might stay because he might not have a better opportunity elsewhere, and staying with the Heat, he could sign the biggest max contract in NBA history.

The Heat is like a spare tire for him now.

"The referees ruined the game, they missed the final foul!"

Riley lost his composure again, loudly protesting.

If the foul by Wade on Jokic had been called, then Jokic would have been on the line for two free throws.

Jokic, a rookie and center, had a high probability of missing one shot. Even if he made both with his nerves of steel, the possession would have been with the Heat.

Given Durant’s feel of the game tonight, it would probably have been the Heat’s victory over the Cavaliers.

At worst, both sides would have gone into overtime.

And as for his own instructions for Heat players to foul Hansen to prevent a three-pointer, it never happened!

"Will you fulfill your preseason promise to hang the No. 77 jersey in the rafters of the American Airlines Arena?" TNT’s reporter Carrell asked.

It wasn’t Hansen’s intent, but it was significant for him.

Just like the Black Monkey doesn’t necessarily need the Golden Joystick Award to prove anything, yet it’s still like a golden robe.

Riley’s angry expression turned dazed in an instant.

This question touched the soul, suffocating.

"Next question."

He refused to answer.

As the Heat team finished the press conference, they coincidentally met Hansen and Irving coming to attend theirs.

Hansen and Irving both performed excellently tonight, the former scoring 47 points, including an unbelievable 17 points in the last minute and a half and a logo three-point buzzer-beater, while the latter was heroic in the first three quarters, scoring 31 points.

And then there’s Durant’s 48 points from the opposite side.

While there are winners and losers in the game, it was a match that could be called great.

Hansen chatted with Wade for a few moments, then patted the latter on the shoulder.

Wade’s sadness stemmed from tonight, but not solely from it.

Durant came to the Heat team via a trade, while he was the only one left from the peak Big Three.

Undoubtedly, the past six seasons have been a failure for him; his historical status hasn’t decreased but hasn’t improved either.

"In the last minute and a half, no one believed we had a chance, but I still like a line from ’The Godfather’: ’Don’t say it’s impossible, nothing is impossible.’"

When Hansen started answering reporters’ questions, he once again quoted a famous line from ’The Godfather.’

If you didn’t feel it before, this time, it’s evident Hansen was indirectly addressing Riley.

Of course, this phrase, similar to the inscription under his statue, came naturally from his mouth.

"Kyrie already stands independently; he is our key player tonight. Without him, we couldn’t have won this game."

Although Hansen chastised Irving during the game, afterward, he offered the most praise to Irving.

The classic, we win celebrating ’us’; we lose blaming ’me.’

"Since returning to Cleveland, you’ve led the team to the finals twice in a row, a first in Cavaliers history. Do you hope your finals opponent will be the Lakers or the Warriors?" NBC’s reporter asked.

"Regardless of the opponent, my goal is the championship."

After the press conference ended, Hansen and Irving returned to the locker room together.

"Will they really hang your jersey in the rafters at the American Airlines Arena?" Irving couldn’t help but ask.

The reporter had asked Hansen a similar question to Riley earlier, but Hansen also chose to skip answering.

Hansen shook his head.

He didn’t know. After all, he wasn’t Riley.

But based on his understanding of Riley, it’s likely Will’s scenario.

Because Riley still wants to remain active within the League.

If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have talked about the end of his coaching career back then but would have directly retired.

The Divine Calculator always leaves himself a way out.

After the East Finals Game 6, the media coverage of the game was overwhelming.

Hansen offered fans an incredible performance, with many beginning to speculate whether, after leading the Cavaliers to a championship this year, he could surpass Jordan.

Although Hansen still trailed in championship count by two, Cleveland is indeed a sports desert.

Many details since Hansen’s return to Cleveland demonstrate this, Deng’s departure, Deron and Johnson’s choices. Winning there is like Raven’s dunk: the difficulty level maxed out from the start.