Chapter 1 North Shore Garden Arena

After eliminating the Celtics with a score of 4 to 2 to advance to the Finals, that damn hat, symbolizing the Eastern Conference Championship...

...finally adorned the heads of the Raptors' players.

In addition, as victors, Su Feng personally cut down the net at the North Shore Garden Arena.

As everyone knows, in the NBA, regardless of the outcome of the Finals, the losing side will not call themselves "runners-up," but rather the Eastern Conference Champion or Western Conference Champion.

Therefore, after the Raptors defeated the Celtics, Toronto media headlines declared, "Raptors Successfully Defend This Year's Eastern Conference Championship."

Of course, considering leaving some face for the home team, and to avoid making mortal enemies in the future...

After a brief celebration at the North Shore Garden Arena, the Raptors team boarded a plane back to Toronto.

According to the schedule, the Finals between the Raptors and the Lakers will begin on June 7th.

The Raptors' players were no strangers to this defeated foe from last year.

In Carter's words...

The mere Lakers, the little Kobe, the Northern General could slay them single-handedly.

And in McGrady's words...

Last summer, in extreme anger, he achieved a luxurious 21-0 record in a one-on-one match against Kobe.

"So, gentlemen, after all you've said, how are we going to deal with Shaq?"

On the plane back to Toronto, Su Feng, sitting in the front row, suddenly turned around and asked his teammates.

"..."

Well...

The originally cheerful plane suddenly fell silent after Su Feng raised this question.

The previously mighty and spirited Ben suddenly began playing with his fingers.

And Little O'Neal, who had just been looking forward to his first championship, immediately reverted to his mascot identity, attempting to muddle through.

On the plane, Su Feng was amused.

Because he never expected that O'Neal would be so useful at this time.

Tsk!

Sure enough, in this era, O'Neal is the best medicine for treating arrogance and disobedience.

However...

Although it's a good thing that these bastards can regain their rationality, it would be a loss if they develop a fear of the enemy as a result.

After all, in this era, stories of being intimidated by O'Neal before the game are not uncommon.

So, on the one hand, to boost morale, and on the other hand, to further mess with O'Neal's mindset...

On the plane back to Toronto, Su Feng specifically asked Carter and McGrady to come over and told them to do this and that.

After listening to Su Feng's plan, even the not-so-smart Carter was immediately invigorated.

"But Su...

Wouldn't we be a little too arrogant if we did this?" Carter muttered softly.

Arrogant...?

Honestly, if someone else had asked this question, Su Feng might have thought about it more seriously, but the fact that Carter asked it, can you believe it?

Vince...

Since you think this plan is very arrogant, how will you say those EQ-lacking words in the future?

"Don't worry, anyway, after we defend our title this year, we'll be no different from public enemy number one.

And gentlemen, you can't be naive enough to think that we aren't already arrogant and domineering in the media's eyes, right?"

Patting Carter and McGrady on the shoulders, Su Feng added.

Hearing this, McGrady shrugged, indicating that he would follow Su Feng's arrangements.

And although Carter was still expressing his concerns...

...his excited face had already betrayed him.

...

On the 3rd, just as the whole country was hotly discussing how the plot of "Raptors vs. Lakers Season 2" would develop...

...at the Raptors' training facility, reporters from all over North America who had been approved to interview the Raptors' players after training...

...for a time, the entire training facility was packed.

In order to obtain first-hand information and increase work efficiency, these reporters from different newspapers and TV stations temporarily divided the work on site.

Some were responsible for interviewing Su Feng.

Some were responsible for interviewing Carter.

And some were responsible for interviewing McGrady.

At the scene, a reporter from Fox Sports asked Su Feng about his views on the Finals while holding a microphone.

"Do you want to hear my honest opinion, or the official answer?" Su Feng asked playfully, shrugging his shoulders.

"Of course, the honest opinion!"

Looking at Su Feng's wise eyes, the reporter, feeling that something big was about to happen, said impatiently.

"Okay, since you asked, I'll just say it...

To be honest, after I learned that our Finals opponent this year was the Lakers, I've already started looking for vacation strategies," Su Feng said with a smile.

"Why?" the reporter asked curiously.

"Because I think we can solve the Lakers in just 4 games," Su Feng replied calmly.

"!!!"

Damn it!

Even Napoleon wouldn't dare to say such arrogant words before attacking Moscow, right?

At the Raptors' training facility, after Su Feng made his statement that he believed the Raptors only needed 4 games to solve the Lakers, for a while, the reporters responsible for interviewing Su Feng didn't know how to respond.

Because...

This is simply arrogance's father opening the door for arrogance...

...it's extremely arrogant!

"Su, I remember, the Lakers advanced to the Finals two days earlier than you guys...

But judging from your answer just now, it seems that you only learned about this news after you eliminated the Celtics?" a reporter from Los Angeles asked.

"Yes, I'm not very concerned about the situation in the West.

Because in my opinion, the only team in the West that can compete with us this year is the Trail Blazers, but now, as you know, the Trail Blazers have been sent home by the Lakers," Su Feng replied.

"Why are you so confident in the Raptors?" the reporter from Los Angeles continued to ask.

"Confident in the Raptors?

No, I've always been confident in the Raptors.

It's just that I have even more confidence in this Lakers team," Su Feng replied.

Reporter: "..."

Heavens!

Is this even human language?

Logically speaking, in NBA history, especially before the Finals, players who dare to despise their Finals opponents like Su Feng...

...these reporters have absolutely never heard of it.

However...

If you know the history between Su Feng and the Lakers...

...then there's really nothing wrong with what Su Feng said.

After all, since Su Feng entered the NBA in 1996, not to mention that O'Neal has never won against him in an NBA game...

...the teams coached by Phil Jackson have never won a single series against a team with Su Feng on it.

Therefore, even though the media from Los Angeles at the training facility wanted to beat Su Feng up at this moment, they had to restrain themselves.

While Su Feng was "ranting," on the other side...

"Shaq?

Come on...it's already 2000, does anyone really think Shaq is strong?

To be honest, in my opinion, Shaq is the worst bust in NBA history...

To be honest, we might need to prepare carefully to deal with Kobe, but to deal with Shaq, I think Ben can completely defend him one-on-one."

Looking at the reporters surrounding him, Carter, who was extremely angry, felt extremely good at this moment.

Ah!

This kind of sarcasm without considering the consequences is just too damn comfortable!

"Bust...a bust?"

Listening to Carter's evaluation of O'Neal, the reporters at the scene immediately became uneasy.

Because since O'Neal entered the NBA, no one has ever dared to use this derogatory term to describe him.

"Of course.

Because if Shaq were strong enough, then why hasn't he won a championship yet?

Okay, you're all saying that Shaq doesn't have teammates like Su.

But early on, wasn't he hugging Anfernee's leg and still getting swept 4-0 by Hakeem's Rockets?" Carter continued to add.

Reporters: "..."

What you said makes so much sense that we can't refute it!

"And, to be honest, I think I overestimated Shaq just now.

In my opinion, randomly picking an interior player from the Raptors' bench can go 50-50 with Shaq," Carter said with a smile.

Reporters: "..."

Honestly...

At that moment, the reporters responsible for interviewing Carter felt that their usual skills in stirring up trouble were weak.

Because compared to Carter's remarks today, the reports these reporters wrote in the past, could that even be called stirring up trouble?

Honestly, if they just wrote it as Carter said, these reporters wouldn't believe it themselves if people didn't say it was fake news.

"I don't usually like to evaluate others, but since you asked, I'll still express my opinion.

Um...in my opinion, Kobe should be one of the best perimeter players in the league right now.

It's just a pity that even he can't carry Shaq."

Just as the reporters responsible for interviewing Carter were stunned by Carter's remarks, on the side, the reporters responsible for interviewing McGrady were also experiencing roughly similar stories...

"Huh? I'm not talking nonsense.

Because although you guys always say that Ben isn't Shaq's opponent, I just checked the record, and it seems that Shaq has never won against Ben in a game, right?" Raising his eyebrows, McGrady said with a smile.

Reporters: "..."

Hiss————!

NBA cold knowledge is here.

Because Ben has been on the same team as Su Feng since he entered the NBA.

Therefore, O'Neal hasn't won against Su Feng, so naturally he hasn't won against Ben either.

"I feel that the Lakers' fans should just give up early, because sometimes, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment," McGrady said at the end of the interview.

I have to say...

This was definitely the day that these reporters' worldviews were most stimulated since they started working in the great cause of journalism.

Because if Su Feng, Carter, and McGrady were just ordinary people, that would be one thing...

But as the three most famous stars on this Raptors team...volcano literature

After their inflammatory remarks, for a time, the reporters responsible for interviewing them didn't know how to write their稿s.

...

On the afternoon of the 3rd, just as O'Neal, who had been in a good mood recently, arrived in Toronto with his younger brothers, the great shark, who was extremely eager to win his first championship, was almost instantly broken by the reporters surrounding him.

Although even kindergarten children know that the Raptors are playing psychological warfare with him...

But, as the person with the heaviest idol baggage in the league...

After the reporters relayed the interview quotes of Su, Carter, and McGrady to O'Neal, how could O'Neal endure it?

As an "O'Neal Encyclopedia," Su Feng knew very well that this shark was definitely one of the best in the league when it came to wanting face.

Take the documentary "Year of Yao" as an example. At that time, when O'Neal learned from reporters that the young Yao Ming was going to challenge his throne as the number one center, do you know how petty O'Neal was?

In addition, before becoming friends with Yao Ming, O'Neal had always been brooding about the fact that Yao Ming had snatched his starting center position in the Western All-Star Game that year.

In short...

For O'Neal, who is so concerned about face, in Su Feng's opinion, the best way to deal with him is to trample all the face he wants underfoot.

After all, a shark that has lost its mind is much easier to deal with for the Raptors than a rational bighead carp.

Anyway...

It's Ben, Little O'Neal, and Battier who will be beaten up, it has nothing to do with him.

"I can't believe that these are the words spoken by the core players of a defending champion team.

To be honest, I feel that such remarks have offended us."

Seeing that O'Neal had been broken, Phil Jackson hurriedly stood up to help O'Neal out of the situation.

But...

Hearing this, the reporters added: "Su said in an interview earlier that he said that the Lakers' coaches and players would definitely say that his remarks were not respectful enough to his opponents after hearing his remarks. Therefore, he also had another paragraph to pass on to you."

Jackson: "..."

Looking at the speechless "Zen Master," the reporters, acting as message transmitters, said: "He said that he has always been very direct, so he can't learn that hypocritical set.

And he also said that he did this for your own good."

Jackson was confused by the reporters, "For our own good?"

The reporters nodded and said, "Yes, because in this way, everyone can arrange their vacations in advance, wouldn't that be great?"

Jackson: "..."

No hype.

Since he started coaching in the NBA, this is definitely the most unsolvable psychological warfare Jackson has ever experienced.

Because even he, who has always been relatively calm, has been angered at this moment.

Come on...

Is the Raptors team really that brave?

Aren't they afraid of getting slapped in the face?

"Okay, now the Lakers should have heard these crazy things we said today...

So guys, you should know what it will mean for us to lose the Finals this year, right?"

At the Raptors' training facility, looking at Ben, McGrady, Carter, Little O'Neal, Nash, and others who had been left alone to do extra training, Su Feng put his hands on his hips and said solemnly.

What a joke...

Do you really think that getting a runner-up finish after a 74-8 season is better than getting slapped in the face after saying crazy things?

As someone who has been there, no one knows better than Su Feng that after breaking the Bulls' historical record, the Raptors only have one way to go this year, and that is to win the championship.

So...

Since that's the case, why leave yourself a way out?

Use all the resources that can be used.

In Su Feng's opinion, this is the path that a real man should choose.

Whether it's off the court or on the court, if the Lakers are really shaken by the Raptors' pre-game remarks...

...then it can only be said that they haven't practiced enough.

You know, in peacetime, competitive sports are war.

And how miserable the fate of a "saint" will be on the battlefield, Su Feng can imagine even with his toes.

But...

"Can we still be alive after playing this series?"

At the training facility, the tearful Little O'Neal was already hugging Ben.

Heavens!

Earth!

Even if God gave Ben a hundred more courage, he wouldn't dare to say such nonsense that he could defend O'Neal one-on-one!

However, as a comrade who has been fighting alongside Su Feng all along, Ben still showed his strong side at this critical moment.

"Hoo————!"

On the court, after taking a deep breath, with the determination to die, Ben had already prepared to go to his death generously on this day.

On the side, encouraged by Ben, the other interior players of the Raptors also cheered up.

However...

For the young Battier, he really couldn't understand what there was to be afraid of about O'Neal...

In Battier's view, although he couldn't beat O'Neal either.

But, at least in wrestling, he was absolutely confident that he could take down this clumsy shark!

Therefore, just do it!

gtmd O'Neal!

...

ps: Alas, tomorrow is Singles' Day, and I suddenly feel a little dazed. Update delivered~!