The No.1 Anti-Fans in Basketball
Chapter 657 - 317: Your Finals Opponent Is... (Part 2)

Chapter 657: Chapter 317: Your Finals Opponent Is... (Part 2)

On the TNT show, Hansen’s "90 seconds, 17 points" was placed alongside McGrady’s "35 seconds, 13 points" and the "Miller Moment" as one of NBA’s top three miracle moments.

Gilbert’s scene of kneeling to Hansen was also wildly shared on social media.

Theoretically speaking, it’s unbelievable for an owner to kneel to a player, but after witnessing game 6, everyone felt that this kneel was not unjustified.

Some Cleveland fans even shared scenes of themselves watching the game on their knees.

This manifests the words fans usually type on their keyboards into reality.

However, the next day, reports of this game were overshadowed by the news.

Because over at the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers won again!

In Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, on the Lakers’ home court, Curry experienced his first career foul out.

If Howard were watching the game, he would probably laugh like a beast.

Finally, someone else experienced what he went through back then.

When the Lakers were swept by the Mavericks, fans joked about the Lakers making a 5-4 comeback.

But now, the Lakers, trailing 1-3, are indeed inching towards a comeback against the Warriors.

However, unlike the jokes of the past, this time many are actually criticizing the Lakers.

"They just want to get us out, they’ve definitely been paid off, they’re just a bunch of bitches!" Green ranted angrily at the post-game press conference.

In fact, even if you blow the whistle on Green for 6 fouls to get him out, it’s better than doing it to Curry.

Compared to Stern, Silva’s actions are far more blatant.

However, from the game’s process, not blowing Curry out might actually have resulted in the Lakers losing, so it’s a determined effort to get the Warriors out.

Hansen also posted on social media.

"There is no game more nauseating than this, please return the game to the players!"

Curry is the kind of person who doesn’t express emotions publicly much, the Warriors’ spokesperson is Green, but Green holds no weight in this regard.

But Hansen is different.

This isn’t just support for Curry of UA, it’s because dammit, he wants to fight the Warriors for revenge!

If you really get the Warriors out, you expect him to fight an empty foe?

Two days later, the Warriors and Lakers’ Game 7 battle commenced at Oracle Arena.

The Eastern Conference Finals had already ended, and the Western Conference Finals went into Game 7. Coupled with previous controversy topics, this match drew maximum attention.

Hansen also watched this game live.

The Warriors showed excellent form at the start, with Green and Curry hitting consecutive threes, seemingly ready to take the game home.

Also, the game’s officiating was normal, Hansen’s words carried weight now.

But soon the game fell into the Lakers’ rhythm.

Not only did they relentlessly double-team Curry on defense, but on offense, James and Kobe were also continuously targeting Curry for isolation plays.

Just like what Riley did to Hansen, this was targeting at its peak.

Now, Curry’s physique is thin, and facing this level of targeting isn’t as easy as it was for Hansen.

The Warriors exposed two more weaknesses in the process.

The biggest weakness was the inside.

After Bo Gote was injured, they had to start Azeli, putting him at a big disadvantage against Mozgov.

So they had to increase their use of the small-ball lineup.

Then there was their other weakness, Barnes had been underperforming since Game 5, with shooting percentages of 2-for-14 and 0-for-8 in the last two games, and missing his first two three-point attempts tonight.

This allowed the Cavaliers to fully ignore him on defense to double-team Curry and Thompson.

The Warriors, unable to open up their offense, had to focus their energy on defense.

Even though Curry is a defensive weakness, the small-ball lineup’s advantage lies in fast defensive rotations.

Moreover, offensively, Green uncommonly stood up.

He went 8-for-9 from the three-point line, shooting 11-for-15 overall, scoring 32 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists.

Unfortunately, Curry and Thompson couldn’t get it going offensively, and in the end, Kobe hit the game-winner, defeating the Warriors 93-91, lifting the Lakers into the Finals during his retirement season.

Damn, facing the Lakers!

When Hansen saw Kobe hit the game-winner, he couldn’t help but curse.

He felt like it was 2008 when Kobe lost the Finals, then made a comeback for revenge against the Celtics, only to find the Magic standing opposite him instead.

He sent a text to Curry, encouraging him to come back stronger.

The Warriors lost their last game on their own, but if it weren’t for the series of events after Green’s suspension, they would have already been in the Finals.

Although the 73-win team not making the Finals is a harsh reality, according to some Jordan fans’ logic, not reaching the Finals preserves an undefeated Finals record. It’s a good thing for the Warriors.

After all, you only get the "73-win Finals runner-up" label if you lose the Finals.

And after sending the message to Curry, Hansen thought facing the Lakers might actually be alright.

Having a thrilling battle with retiring Kobe is quite something.

And most importantly, getting to face James!

If in the end, he could lead the old Cavaliers to a championship with James watching, that would be the most wonderful and exciting thing in the world.

Thinking of this, Hansen got up and went straight to the gym for extra practice.

Everything is mutual. If the Lakers win the Cavaliers in the end and James steps on him to win his first career championship, imagine how crazy James fans and even Nike would become.

Forget about the proposition of achieving more than Jordan with one championship for now, achieving more than him is guaranteed.

In fact, as Hansen was training, ESPN’s promotional machine had already started.

"NBA’s Greatest Comeback", "James leads in five statistical categories in the series", "First team to beat a 71+ win team"...

Don’t mention history having more than one 1-3 comeback, or why it’s 71 and not 70, just bragging is the goal.

This is just the Conference Finals. If they really win the championship, titles like "NBA’s Greatest Championship of All Time" and "One Championship Over Jordan" are a given.

And when the Finals matchup was confirmed, the league’s promotional machine started as well.

Even though it wasn’t the Warriors in the Finals with no revenge story, the narratives between the Cavaliers and Lakers were plentiful!

Kobe’s retirement season is also the last chance to achieve 6>5;

The Cavaliers aim to break the zero record of the four major sports leagues;

The feud between James and Hansen;

The feud between James, Cavaliers, and Gilbert;

77VS23+24 from the Christmas matchup reaches the Finals;

Even Delavadova, the former Cavaliers player who switched to the Lakers.

If one word were to summarize this year’s Finals, "NBA Spring Festival Gala" would be the most fitting.

Pre-Finals surveys are a must, in addition to player interviews being a necessity.

After the Western Conference Finals, both Kobe and James, the star duo, were asked about the Finals.

"Playing them won’t trouble me at all, there’s nothing left there for me to remember, my goal is to win my first career championship."

Over the years, Cleveland fans have broken James’ heart, knowing no change would come even if he showed goodwill, he was blunt about it.

And even if he wanted to reconcile with Hansen, taking the toughest road, Nike would never allow it, so he’d rather show his tougher side.

Though the toughness is limited.

In contrast, Kobe’s stance was much firmer.

"Unless I’m carried off the court lying down, nothing will stop me from achieving all of this."

Winning this championship would not only achieve 6>5, but it would also tie Kobe with Jordan in championships and give Kobe fans theoretical grounds to compare him to Jordan.

And personally, it would also draw a fairy-tale ending to his career.