The Phoenix Suns were in excellent form, with Little Si actively participating in defense. On the Rockets’ side, they played their best strategy, relying on Yao in the first three quarters and letting McGrady take over in the last quarter. Don’t ask why this game was played so sensibly, just know that winning one more game would make history.
After 12 years, the Suns were returning to the stage of the Western Conference Finals, and for the Rockets, it was their first time since 1994.
The media and fans’ eagerness became a driving force for the players of both teams.
The game went down to the last moment. McGrady took a dry pull-up jump shot from the three-point line, but missed, and Yao Ming grabbed the critical frontcourt rebound. Before he could jump, Little Si could only foul him, sending Yao Ming to the free throw line.
What’s the difference between that and giving away points?
Little Si thought the same, so he looked helpless when he committed the foul.
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
Yao Ming’s free throws silenced the Suns’ home court.
Steve Nash attempted a "logo three-point" as the last try...
It didn’t go in!
Ultimately, with Yao Ming’s two free throws, the Rockets eliminated the Suns by a one-point margin and advanced to the Western Conference Finals.
The day after the Suns were eliminated, Steve Nash received the MVP award for the regular season.
Barkley felt sorry for the Suns; such an elimination was truly disheartening.
However, it must be said, "This year’s awardees are all disheartened. Ben Wallace, after being eliminated, received his Best Defensive Player Award for the season, and Steve Nash, also after being eliminated, received his regular season MVP trophy."
After a day’s rest, the Rockets headed to San Antonio for the first game of the Western Conference Finals.
The well-rested Spurs defeated the Rockets, who had barely recovered from their "Game 7 battle," securing the first victory of the Western Conference Finals.
The day after the Western Conference Finals ended, the Heat Team vs. Pacers resumed their battle after a week’s ceasefire.
This time, the home court was in Indiana!
When Shaquille O’Neal entered the Conseco Arena with his teammates, the overwhelming booing from the crowd caught him off guard.
He had never encountered such a booing attack in any arena.
And this was when he was psychologically prepared...
Did these people really need to hate me so much?
In his vague memory, he didn’t recall provoking such boos the first time he returned to Orlando.
Bill Walton noticed Shaquille O’Neal’s startled and distressed expression, as if he knew what he was thinking, "If Shaq had understood Su’s status in Indiana, he would have no doubts. He messed with the wrong person in Indiana!"
The Pacers team then made their entrance, each with a serious expression, as if what they were about to face was not a game, but a war!
Rick Carlisle, who usually emphasized game tactics with a tactical board before the game, was also a bit different today. Just before the game started, he called everyone together, spoke briefly, and had everyone join hands and cheer.
He didn’t need to say much.
Whatever tactics they were playing tonight had all been hammered out during a week of hard training.
He saw the results of the training and believed that tonight, those results would be displayed in the game.
Rick Carlisle believed that no one was more eager to win than tonight’s Pacers.