While the Rockets generals were happy about their harvest, Phil Knight, Nike's big boss, was furious.
He called David Stern directly.
"David, why did the Rockets become the biggest winner of these awards announced today?"
"If I remember correctly, I should have asked Durst to remind you what to do, right?"
Phil Knight asked straight to the point.
At this time, he did not know that Durst had rebelled (Dest would still go to work at Nike headquarters during this period, because his contract did not end until mid-June).
"Don't be angry, Phil. Being angry is harmful to your health. We are all old and our bodies are not as good as before."
Stern's tone was calm and he answered unhurriedly.
"Thank you for your concern, but don't change the subject. Answer me, David, what is going on?"
"We are old friends, and I don't want to embarrass you..."
Phil Knight's tone was low, like a poisonous snake that kept spitting out messages, ready to launch a fatal blow at any time.
Stern couldn't help laughing when he heard this, and almost laughed out loud on the spot.
At this time, he could already confirm that all his handles were controlled by Shen Fei.
Phil Knight now has an "empty city" behind him, which poses no threat to him at all.
But Stern didn't want a direct showdown.
After all, Nike spent a lot of time relying on these handles.
Stern is also a person with a temper. Now that he is no longer controlled by the other party, he wants to "repay" Nike a little.
After thinking for a moment, he replied in a slightly nervous tone:
"Don't worry Phil, I did this after careful consideration."
"I know you are dissatisfied with Yao Ming defeating Howard and becoming a first-team center."
"But I want to say that whether it is a first team or a first defense, they are just small awards. My idea is that I will wait for the most critical MVP selection before I work hard to help LeBron win the MVP!"
As Stern spoke, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl into a sly arc.
Phil Knight was stunned when he heard this.
Stern's strategy makes sense.
After all, if all award selections were aimed at the Rockets, the injustice would be too obvious.
It will be difficult to solve the problem of public opinion by then!
If you can use a first-team position in exchange for a player whose MVP will fall to Nike, it will definitely be a sure profit!
"Okay, David, you are more thoughtful."
"But I think you can completely change someone to become a center forward."
"Yao Ming is owned by Under Armor after all. After he wins this position, the sales of shoes will definitely increase a lot."
Phil Knight said earnestly.
"Well, I was negligent. I will pay attention to it in the future... Humph!"
Stern was talking so happily that he almost laughed out loud and quickly coughed to stop it.
Although Phil Knight felt a little strange, he hung up the phone without saying anything.
............
One day later, Memphis, FedEx Arena.
The fourth game between the Rockets and the Grizzlies is here as scheduled!
At this time, athletes from both sides were doing their final warm-ups.
On the Rockets side, Yao Ming looked serious and was practicing back-up play with his assistant.
Before the game, Grizzlies center Marc Gasol was interviewed by local media and was asked about his views on Yao Ming being selected for the first team.
"Yao is an excellent player, and we have been facing each other frequently recently. As for whether he should be selected for the first team... I have reservations."
"Overall, I feel more pressure when facing Dwight, because he can often produce horrific statistics."
"And Yao is a team-oriented player. Against him, I don't need to worry about appearing in tomorrow's news headlines."
Xiaojia replied with a smile.
He said this very beautifully, but when a discerning person hears it, he will know that he is saying that Howard is more worthy of a position.
And Yao Ming is naturally a smart person.
After he saw this interview on the Internet, he made up his mind to make Xiaojia a headliner!
Therefore, in the next day's training, Yao Ming deliberately added singles practice.
He didn't tell his teammates about it.
But the Rockets generals soon learned of Xiaojia's remarks.
As soon as the players gathered together, they immediately reached a consensus - to help Yao Ming play a beautiful game!
In order to do this, they selected Tracy McGrady as their representative to discuss tactics with Mark Jackson.
Of course, this was all done in private without telling Yao Ming.
After Mark Jackson understood the situation, he immediately agreed with the team members' ideas.
Therefore, he announced in the pre-game combat meeting that a variety of inside tactics would be added to this game.
Yao Ming was a little surprised after hearing this.
The teammates around him all nodded in agreement.
Yao Ming immediately realized something, turned his head, glanced meaningfully at Mark Jackson, and then at his teammates.
"Okay, then I ask everyone to support me in today's game."
Yao Ming stretched out his hands and made a fist gesture to everyone.
The Rockets generals followed suit and returned the favor with fists clasped, making the scene a bit funny for a time.
............
Looking back to the present, the game is about to begin.
The starters of both teams have already walked to the center circle, waiting for the jump ball.
Yao Ming glanced at Xiaojia in front of him indifferently, and said: "I heard that you are good at defense."
Xiaojia was stunned when he heard this: "Yes. However, we have played three games in a row, and you are asking me now?"
Yao Ming shook his head: "I want to confirm it because I haven't seen it yet."
"You!" Xiaojia didn't expect that Yao Ming would be the first to talk trash. After thinking for a moment, he replied: "I will let you see it today!"
After hearing this, Yao Ming smiled slightly and stopped answering.
Soon, as the referee threw the ball high, the game officially began!
Yao Ming jumped up hard and won the duel cleanly.
After Xiaojia failed to jump the ball, he looked deeply at Yao.
Although he and Yao Ming lost more and won less in the previous jump ball, this time the latter's take-off height was higher than before!
[Are you... offended by what I said?]
Xiaojia thought to himself.
But he didn't panic at all. On the contrary, he felt that this was an opportunity, an opportunity to help the Grizzlies win!
After all, in the previous three games, the team had used every method they could think of.
Unfortunately, the strength gap between the two teams was too large, and the Grizzlies had no chance of winning.
But now, if Yao Ming changes his mentality and changes his style of play, maybe the Grizzlies can take advantage of him!
[You have to win at least one game, it would be too miserable to have your head shaved...]
Xiaojia thought to himself.
At the same time, he also made up his mind to fight Yao Ming for 300 rounds tonight!
Rockets offense.
Curry held the ball through half the court and came to the top of the arc to organize.
Yao Ming came to the low post and got stuck to get the ball.
His lower limbs were as thick as the trunks of ancient trees. With a horse's stride, Xiaojia behind him would be unable to move them at all.
With a flick of Curry's wrist, a lob was delivered to Yao Ming's hands.
After Yao got the ball, Leonardo tried his best to compete with Yao Ming.
Unexpectedly, Dayao half-turned around to face the basket, and then shot under the gaze of Xiaojia...
"Shua~"
The basketball hit the net.
Because Xiaojia lowered his center of gravity, he did not interfere with the opponent's shooting in time, and in the end he could only watch the basketball go into the basket.
2:0, the Rockets took the lead!
After changing sides and fighting again, Conley used the screen to break through the basket and then passed the ball to the outside.
Mayo caught the ball and shot from outside the three-point line, but his line of sight was interfered by George who arrived in time...
"Duang!"
The ball hit the front edge of the basket hard and bounced out.
Yao Ming relaxed his arms, collected the rebound, and immediately passed the ball to Curry beside him.
After getting the ball, the cute god quickly advanced and went straight to the hinterland of the grizzly bear.
The grizzly bears retreated quickly.
In the previous three games, Curry hit a three-pointer in each game.
And basically every chasing three-pointer will sound the clarion call for the Rockets' offense, and the Grizzlies are extremely afraid of this!
Therefore, after Curry passed half court, Conley began to guard closely, and small forward Sam Young was also ready to help defend at any time.
At the same time, McGrady and George followed up from both wings.
The athletic abilities of these two players are well known. As long as they are given room to pick up speed, they will have a high probability of repaying with a dunk.
For a time, the Grizzlies were facing a formidable enemy, and their defensive attention was attracted by the Rockets' perimeter trio.
But at this moment, as if there were eyes in the back of his head, Curry made a no-look-pass and passed the ball to Yao Ming, who was following up in the middle.
Dayao didn't hesitate after receiving the ball, drew his bow and arrow, and shot a three-pointer from the top of the arc...
The basketball left his fingertips and spun at high speed, drawing a beautiful arc in the air...
"Shua~"
Hollow into the net!
5:0, Yao Ming took the Rockets' first five points!
And it wasn't until Yao finished shooting the three-pointer that Marc was belatedly rushed back to his own half.
Yao Ming glanced at him with a smile as he returned to defense, his expression somewhat meaningful.
Seeing Dayao's expression, Xiaojia suddenly felt an unknown fire in his heart.
His face was already tarnished when his opponent scored two goals in a row, let alone being provoked in such a "cheesy" way.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He first raised his hand to apologize to his teammates, then trotted to Conley's side and whispered: "I'll hit one too in a minute."
Conley nodded when he heard this.
When two armies are fighting, momentum is very important.
If you can hit the ball in response, it will be very helpful to improve the morale of the team.
Ever since, after the transition from offense to defense, Conley handed the ball to Kawhi in the low post.
After Gasol got the ball, he started playing with his back.
He knew that it would be difficult for him to defeat Yao Ming's defense with strength alone.
Therefore, every time Xiaojia exerts his strength by hitting, he will also make a fake movement of shaking his shoulders.
"Bang~"
"Bang~"
"Bang~"
After three consecutive tops, Xiaojia suddenly turned toward the baseline and made a quick layup.
Who knows, Yao Ming was not deceived by his fake moves at all.
At the moment when the latter made a layup, Dayao tapped his toes, waved his hand, and fanned the ball out of the baseline!
"shit..."
After being cheated, Xiaojia clapped his hands with helpless expression.
After Conley served the baseline ball, he asked for the ball in the same place.
Yao Ming dismounted and blocked Xiaojia behind him.
Conley thought for a moment and finally chose to believe his teammates and passed the ball to Kevin Garfield again.
This time, Xiaojia turned around halfway after receiving the ball and turned to face the frame to attack.
I saw him assuming a triple threat posture, stepping out with his right foot continuously, taking tentative steps.
However, Yao Ming doesn't seem to be worried about Xiaojia's breakthrough at all.
He raised his right hand high and blocked it in front of Xiaojia without shifting his center of gravity.
Seeing this, Xiaojia simply took a step back while dribbling the ball, and then shot.
But Yao Ming's big hand was always in front of him, which undoubtedly affected Xiaojia's sight.
In the end, this mid-range shot ended in a strike.
Fortunately, Randolph used his strength to suppress Griffin, grab offensive rebounds, and succeed in the second attack.
At 5:2, the Grizzlies also broke the deadlock.
After the ball was scored, Griffin was very upset and quickly apologized to his teammates, saying it was his fault.
Yao Ming didn't say anything. He just patted his little brother on the back and walked to the baseline to serve.
Rockets offense.
Yao Ming repeated his old trick and asked for the ball in the same position as in the first round.
This time, Gasol adopted a bypassing tactic to organize Dayao to catch the ball.
This move is certainly familiar to long-time Rockets fans.
In the playoffs of the past few years, the Rockets have struggled to "defend in front" for a long time.
Once Yao Ming cannot catch the ball, his offense cannot be used.
After all, a 2.26-meter center can neither play pick-and-roll tactics for a long time nor have the ability to hold the ball and launch an offense on his own.
The inability to deliver cannonballs to Yao Ming was also the area where the Rockets' point guards were criticized the most.
But now, it is Curry who is responsible for passing the ball to Yao Ming!
Although his passing ability is not as good as that of passing masters like Nash and Kidd, it is still much better than Brooks, Alston and others.
With a flick of Curry's wrist, the basketball spun past Gasol's fingertips and passed to Yao Ming's hands behind him.
Once the forward defense is forced, the offensive team will basically face an empty basket.
This is what Yao Ming did after catching the ball.
So he kicked off his feet and jumped up...
"bang!"
A powerful one-handed dunk made the entire basket shake.
After scoring the goal, Yao Ming hit his chest hard twice, with a rare "fierce" look on his face.
Griffin on the side seemed to be even more excited than the latter after witnessing Dayao's dunk.
He excitedly ran to Yao Ming, stretched out his hands, and gave Yao a hard push.
Poor Yao Ming, it was rare for him to enter the "state of pretense" and he was woken up by a push.
However, Yao Ming's performance is far from over.
On the next possession, he again caught the ball in the low post.
The Grizzlies generals had no choice but to adopt a double-teaming tactic against Dayao.
But Yao Ming's ball-playing ability was well tempered at the end of the regular season.
When Mayo left George and rushed towards him, Dayao passed the ball immediately.
After picking up the ball, Pickle took the shot calmly...
bingo!
10:2.
The Rockets' lead is about to reach double digits!
Grizzlies coach Hollins saw this and quickly called a timeout.
With the experience of the previous three games, he already knew that if the timeout was called later, the Rockets would dare to destroy the game instantly!
............
At the same time, Shen Fei, who was far away in Houston, was also watching the game on the TV screen.
After seeing Yao Ming's outstanding performance, he couldn't help but smile.
[Yao Ming is not a pushy person, nor does he usually pursue statistics, but this does not mean... he is not strong!]
[Dare to challenge Yao Ming, I really don’t know what these people think.]
Shen Fei wondered in his heart.
You know, Yao Ming has fully recovered from his foot injury and improved his shooting ability. His strength has far exceeded his original self.
In the next few years, Shen Fei would not be surprised at all if Yao Ming takes a step further and becomes the league's number one center.
Since Xiaojia and some fans don't know Dayao's level, then this game should be regarded as a showcase!