The second round of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference has not yet started, so talk first.
Magic fortune teller Pat Riley arrived in Cleveland with the entire Heat team, and then accepted an interview with reporters at the airport gate.
In an interview, Pat Riley said: "I know many people think we are finished. Everyone is saying: Cleveland has the Big Three, which is far stronger than us. There is no suspense in this round of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Got it!"
"So, is the game no longer necessary? Should we just turn around and return to Miami?"
Pat Riley has a very strong aura, perhaps the most godfather-like person in the NBA. His rhetorical question made all the reporters present shake their heads involuntarily.
"You are all shaking your heads, so this means that this round of the Eastern Conference semifinals is not without suspense, and we are not without a chance. The Golden State Warriors can defeat the Dallas Mavericks, and the Miami Heat naturally have more
If we have a chance to take down the Cleveland Cavaliers, I believe we will do it!"
The Warriors, who struggled to squeeze into the playoffs at the end of the regular season, eliminated the favorites for the championship this season, which gave many lower-tier teams unlimited confidence.
The Heat, who were now at a disadvantage, naturally took advantage of the opportunity and bluntly stated before the game started that they were going to be upset!
According to the predictions of major media, the closest matchup among the four Eastern and Western Conference semifinals is the Spurs vs. the Suns, followed by the Cavaliers vs. the Heat.
Even the strength gap between the Jazz and the Warriors, according to the judgment of the US media, is a little higher than the strength gap between the Cavaliers and the Heat (even if the Warriors complete the black eight, the US media is still not optimistic about the Warriors. The Jazz, who are fourth in the Western Conference, are just paper.
In terms of physical strength, it far exceeds that of the Warriors).
Sports Illustrated's preview of the semifinals wrote: "We have Dwyane Wade, a rising superstar who will definitely be the MVP of the regular season this season without injury, and Shaquille O'Neal, who still has potential in the tank.
A giant inside with a lot of gasoline for the playoffs, Miami should be the most unstable factor in the semifinals."
"Dwyane Wade will ensure their lower limit. Even if they end up falling in the semifinals, they will still be able to put the Cavaliers into trouble."
"Shaquille O'Neal is their upper limit. How far the Heat can go depends on whether Shaquille O'Neal can return to his peak..."
On the Cavaliers' side, Pat Riley responded to LeBron James, who became more and more active as the playoffs progressed. For some reason, James' self-confidence was already over the top after sweeping the Magic: "Of course they have.
opportunities, but I will personally kill their chances!"
Back with the Cavaliers, Mike Brown was very anxious.
"Although Miami's regular season performance is poor, it does not represent their true strength. Shaquille O'Neal missed a full 42 games, and Dwyane Wade also missed a full 31 games. They played together even more times.
Less than 30 games!”
"Now, they are all healthy. What we have to face is a Heat that is different from the regular season. We must pay 120% attention!"
A healthy Shaquille O'Neal can still average 20+10 per game, and a healthy Dwyane Wade can definitely beat LeBron James. The only advantages the Cavaliers still have are the Big Three and better players.
A role player.
As Pat Riley said, it's not that the Heat have no chance, it's just that the Cavaliers have a greater chance.
As the playoffs progress, the league continues to announce the ownership of various honors in the regular season.
Before the first game of the Western Conference semifinals between the Warriors and Jazz, league officials presented Monta Ellis with the Most Improved Player Award at the Jazz's home court.
Lin Yu was a strong contender for the Most Improved Player Award this season, but obviously he still can't compete with Monta Ellis, who averaged 6.8 points per game last season and 16.5 points this season.
Before the game between the Phoenix Suns and the Spurs, the league awarded Leandro Barbosa the Best Sixth Man trophy.
Barbosa, who made only 18 starts out of 80 appearances in the regular season, averaged 18.1 points per game and was a well-deserved Sixth Man of the Year.
On May 5th, Eastern Time, at the Quicken Loans Center Arena, home of the Cavaliers, the first game of the Eastern Conference semifinals is about to begin.
So far, the Cavaliers have not received any personal honors, although they have competed for every personal honor (except for the Sixth Man of the Year).
However, as the war was approaching, they had no intention of paying attention to this. In the home team's locker room, Mike Brown simply arranged the opening tactics and then gave the starting lineup for this game.
"Point guard Daniel Gibson, shooting guard Lin Yu, small forward LeBron James, power forward Drew Gooden, and center Zarunas Ilgauskas."
Andre Miller and Rashard Lewis left the starting lineup, which surprised everyone in the locker room. Although surprised, Lin Yu felt that this was an expected adjustment.
Although Shaquille O'Neal is old, he still poses a huge threat in the penalty area. Drew Gooden's starting point is to deal with O'Neal. This adjustment is understandable.
However, Daniel Gibson entered the starting lineup because of this, which made Lin Yu feel that Mike Brown had finally grown up and finally realized the importance of three-pointers to this Cavaliers.
"Okay, guys, it's time for us to go out. This is the first game of the Eastern Conference semifinals, our home court, and the only way we can go is to win!"
"So, come on for victory!"
"come on!"
The locker room cheered in unison, the players came out one after another, and there was a brief appearance ceremony at Quicken Loans Center. LeBron James won the loudest cheers in the audience, and Lin Yu won the second loudest cheers in the audience.
The popularity of the two of them in Cleveland is roughly in this ranking.
When the Cavaliers warmed up, the Heat followed suit, and all they got was boos from the sky.
Sometimes, even if there is no particular grudge between the two teams, in the fiercely competitive arena of the playoffs, boos will fill the entire arena as if they are free.
Immediately afterwards, the live camera focused on Pat Riley with a shiny slicked back hair.
"Before the game, Pat Riley told a group of reporters that they would learn from the Warriors and kill the hot Cavaliers. Charles, what do you think?"
Sitting behind the commentary box were two old acquaintances, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley.
The moment he saw Pat Riley, Kenny Smith skillfully introduced the topic and then asked Barkley a question.
"No special opinion. Pat Riley is just dreaming. The Miami Heat will never be a rival to the Cleveland Cavaliers."
Kenny Smith raised his eyebrows: "Charles, don't be too absolute."
"I'm serious. In comparison of strength, the Cavaliers are far stronger than the Heat."
Charles Barkley still believed in his prediction, and Kenny Smith immediately sided with the Heat and argued with him: "You seem to underestimate Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade."
"No, I'm not looking down on them. Shaq is old. As for Dwayne, everyone seems to have forgotten that China Lin has a nickname: Heat Killer!"
Heat killer?
Kenny Smith's eyes widened, he really forgot about this!
It seems that Lin Yu's record-setting 26 field goals were made in the game against the Heat. This season, Lin Yu also had a personal performance that completely overwhelmed Wade.
Perhaps, as Barkley said, the Cavaliers will win easily?