Chapter 595: Do you think he needs you?

After putting on a black mask, JR Smith also awakened some strange talents, and before the game started he deliberately went to the black house to record a video.

Then, before the game began, the fans of Madison Square Garden saw the opening blast on the big screen.

"Welcome to Gotham City… hehehehe"

A death filter, plus a string of eerie laughter, then the face of JR Smith wearing a black mask under the light curtain.

Each item alone is a horror element, but put together they are somewhat funny.

The fans of Madison Square Garden therefore felt happy and relaxed.

Although today's ticket prices refreshed the NBA's all-time historical record, New York's wealthy fans wildly bought tickets for the team's finals trip. But they all wore smiles, feeling relaxed, because they truly did not take the Rockets to heart.

Although Paul is set to return in this game, we have Jieke Fan, so why worry about Paul?

TNT interviewed little Warren, who got a ticket close to the front row because of a sentence Fan Xi said at the Eastern Championship awards ceremony; the ticket's market value exceeds $300,000, something many people never earn in a lifetime.

But Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan was generous; he really created a good story.

Undoubtedly, the publicity value of this good story for the New York Knicks is far more than $300,000.

When this little guy appears on nationwide televised broadcast, this humanistic sentiment is enough to cause a public opinion impact.

What is inheritance?

What is foundation?

This is it.

Little Warren was a bit nervous, he was very excited, his answers to reporters' questions were somewhat incoherent, he clenched his fists and shouted loudly: "Go Knicks!! Jieke is the Basketball God, he will surely win the championship. The Rockets never have a chance to beat him… we are champions!!!"

He was shouting loudly in his excitement.

This made the interview work difficult.

But undoubtedly, his emotions infected the excited Knicks fans in front of the TV, and when this footage was shown on the big screen, it also stirred the crowd into a roar like mountains and seas.

"Even a kid knows the Rockets can never beat Jieke; how deeply ingrained this is." Kenny Smith remarked on TV.

Newly added special commentator Shaquille O'Neal said: "If you go to Houston to interview a six-year-old, he will surely say the Rockets will win the championship. Kenny, stop being so infatuated."

This made Charles Barkley very happy; he finally had someone to help him bluntly rebut Smith. "Shaq, you're right. You're suited to be a basketball commentator; you should start your new career planning."

"Oh, no, Barkley." O'Neal turned sideways, shook his hand at Barkley, and said very seriously: "When we championship members are talking, please keep silent, you ringless guy. This is not a topic you can join."

Oh hahahaha!

Kenny Smith laughed out the sound of a rooster crowing.

As Barkley said, O'Neal is indeed suited to be a basketball commentator. He's too full of jokes.

Moreover, under ESPN's serious atmosphere he couldn't show his humorous traits; when he came to TNT's commentator desk, a wonderful chemical reaction occurred.

It is a sullen reddish-purple hue on Barkley's face.

Barkley struggled to take two breaths before he adjusted. "Get out of here!!"

Just as Earl Johnson thought they were about to fight.

Barkley burst out laughing again, saying: "At least I've never been swept in the Finals."

They share a strange rapport, just like when they used to fight on the court—although it looked fierce, there was actually no hatred at all.

The only things Barkley possibly hates most in his career are the Bad Boys and Oakley, who slapped him.

Oakley is a Knicks legend, and he is now present on the sideline.

He wore a neat suit; this guy was called a tough guy of the 80s-90s, with Ben Wallace as his disciple. Together with another tough guy, dubbed New York's ultimate killer Anthony Mason, they upheld New York's iron-blood gang.

He came here to cheer for his former home team.

Sitting with him were Patrick Ewing, Alan Houston, and Spree Webber.

These people made up the Knicks' late‑90s highlight moments.

Patrick Ewing's whole career is a generous tragedy of 'Anti‑Jordan History'; he was the first line of defense against the Bulls, and without the Bulls he might have won one or two championships.

After Jordan retired, they entered the Finals as a black‑eight in the shortened season, only to meet the Twin Towers. After that, the league entered the era jointly governed by Duncan and O'Neal.

And the Knicks never regained their strong‑team aura after that, even becoming the league's laughingstock. Counting on fingers, it's been 15 years.

Until this season, when they acquired Fan Xi last summer.

Fan Xi led the Knicks to a rapid rise, charging into the Finals at a breathtaking speed.

TNT reporters also interviewed Patrick Ewing. They asked Ewing: "Do you think it's harder for the Knicks to reach the Finals as a black‑seven this year, or was it harder for you to get there as a black‑eight back then?"

Ewing was a member of the 1990s four big centers.

He is rather tragic: the other three of the four big centers all have championships, only he does not. Moreover, he never stayed with one team; in his last two years he was traded away by the Knicks, which can be said to be the worst situation among the four big centers. Furthermore, he bears a famous satirical law: Ewing's Law.

Ewing's Law means that a team actually plays better after losing its star.

For Ewing, this is somewhat lamentable.

But Ewing certainly didn't make little money with the Knicks. He was the league's first to earn a ten‑million‑dollar salary, while his contemporaries' stars only made four or five million; he earned eighteen million, compared to Jordan's 3.85 million back then. Moreover, his contract with the Knicks guaranteed his salary would stay in the league's top four.

The four big centers of that era each had a signature move and a glorious history.

What's more worth mentioning is… even though Ewing achieved relatively great accomplishments in the NBA, no one has ever seen how the peak Ewing played, because his knees were already severely injured before he entered the league. Perhaps only Hakeem Olajuwon could tell you how terrifying his peak physical condition was.

When facing this TNT question, Ewing smiled. As he ages, he looks more and more like a gorilla.

When a gorilla smiles at the camera, you can't help but laugh along.

"There's no comparability. Our situation back then is not the same as now. Although our biggest opponent in the playoffs was the Miami Heat, and the Miami Heat were first in the East."

"But we had faced the Heat for many years back then, we knew them well, and we met them in the first round."

"So objectively speaking, my Knicks this year are crazier than we were back then. I don't mean to belittle myself or my teammates; this is also our consensus."

"Unfortunately, back then we reached the Finals already exhausted, and we couldn't beat the Texas team. This year, history repeats; I hope Jieke leads the team to crush the Texans!"

"Knicks! Charge!!"

Ewing roared at the camera.

Then he suddenly tore open his shirt, revealing the Knicks jersey underneath.

This scene completely ignited the passion of Madison Square Garden arena.

"I didn't expect Ewing could still pull off such a little show," O'Neal said on TV.

O'Neal was the troublemaker among the four great centers. Back then, he was the youngest. He most respected Olajuwon, referring to him both in private and public as the eldest of the four great centers, after all Olajuwon swept him 4：0 in the finals, leaving him with no temper.

As for Ewing, he wasn't convinced either; the two competed often in the Eastern, full of rivalry, each disliking the other. Of course, there was also hype involved. O'Neal loved hype the most.

O'Neal truly looked down on Admiral Robinson the most; he could be said to have no respect for Robinson at all. He even publicly stripped Robinson of his center status, claiming he was just a forward. He also said Robinson only knew how to pad stats, clinging to Duncan's thigh…

Now Ewing is performing passionately in the arena, O'Neal feels a bit jealous.

He is a typical performative personality.

"If Patrick were in this era, his achievements would be higher," Barkley said: "His mid-range, his back-to-the-basket ability, his face-up ability, especially his terrifying defense."

Barkley still held Ewing in high regard, having once said Ewing was a textbook center.

O'Neal fell silent for a moment, thought it over, and surprisingly didn't talk back, nor did he come out to deny Ewing as he used to when still playing. He said: "Ewing would be a superstar in any era; he just happened to peak at the same time as Michael Jordan's peak."

Moreover, don't forget, when he entered the league, he only had one knee.

O'Neal began speaking up for Ewing.

This shows he's really old.

While they were talking, the game finally began.

Tonight's Rockets starting lineup is: Chris Paul, James Harden, Ronny Brewer, Howard, Asik.

This is a classic half-court set offense lineup; Paul's return means the Rockets' previous free-flowing style will revert to tradition.

As everyone knows, Paul is a traditionalist point guard.

The Knicks' starting lineup is: Fan Xi, JR Smith, Josh Smith, Amar'e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler.

This lineup has great athleticism, possesses some half-court ability, and is capable of fast-break transitions.

Both teams took the court, with everyone anticipating the Rockets' performance after regaining Paul.

This is the only suspense in the Finals.

JR Smith walked up to Paul, wearing a black mask, his eyes like a leopard's, staring at him: "Hey, Chris, ready to suffer the second-biggest and biggest collapse in the Finals?"

Paul simply didn't regard JR Smith's provocation.

He looked at Fan Xi, but Fan Xi couldn't be bothered to respond.

Because Fan Xi likewise didn't put the league's first point guard in his eyes; he just wanted to thoroughly deal with him.

However, before that, let JR Smith have a go first.

Beep!

The referee blew the whistle, Tyson Chandler and Howard jumped for the ball.

Chandler, judging the ball's trajectory, tipped the ball to Fan Xi.

Fan Xi caught the ball without hesitation, striding straight into the frontcourt.

Paul hurriedly gave chase.

But one meter outside the three-point line, Fan Xi used a behind-the-back dribble that didn't lose speed to change direction and get past him; Fan Xi then cut into the paint at greater speed, and while the players were still somewhat chaotic, he leapt up, grabbed the ball with one hand, and slammed it straight into the rim.

Howard had a chance to help defend; he turned his body and could jump up to block.

But after a moment's thought he felt it wasn't worth it; he had been dunked on by Fan Xi before, knowing Fan Xi's leaping ability and how varied his in-air moves are.

Boom!

One-handed tomahawk dunk.

Fired the first shot at Madison Square Garden.

The home fans cheered and jumped for joy over Fan Xi's first score.

The enormous roar's energy seemed about to lift the ceiling.

This was the first Finals basket at Madison Square Garden in 14 years.

Fan Xi demonstrated a path-opening, unstoppable slam dunk.

Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, and Allan Houston all stood up to applaud Fan Xi.

This is a kind of inheritance. qqxδnew

Fan Xi raised his eyebrows at them, then pointed his finger at little Warren on the sideline, this little guy wearing a Knicks No. 30 jersey, excitedly waving his arms and legs.

Fan Xi walked closer and said to him: "Hey, little guy, remember this ball. It's a gift for you."

Little Warren was beside himself with excitement; the fans around him kept screaming, some even started shaking his body. This was everybody's excitement.

Everyone envied this little guy; he will be proud forever because of this ball.

This is the Knicks' home court's first basket in the Finals since the 21st century began, and it's a dunk!!

Warren still doesn't know the great significance of this gift. But he is very excited and thrilled.

"Looks no different from before; Jieke Fan can still easily control the game. He drives into the paint, as if poking a finger through tofu."

"Shaq O'Neal said on the commentator's bench: 'Although people say that Westbrook and Derrick Rose represent the breakthrough direction for the new generation of combo guards, I still believe Jieke is the league's strongest penetrator. He doesn't just penetrate; he can also hit a jumper during the penetration and make unthinkable passes.'"

"If he teamed up with me, we could monopolize all championships."

Shaq O'Neal said proudly.

Kenny Smith beside him quickly chimed in: "Shaq, even if he teamed up with my grandma, he could monopolize all championships. In fact, he already has monopolized all championships. He joined the NBA four years ago, already has three championship rings and three Finals MVP trophies, as well as an Olympic gold medal. Moreover, he is about to win his fourth championship and fourth Finals MVP."

"Do you think he needs you?"

Kenny Smith asked sincerely.