The result of this game has attracted the attention of sports media around the world, and both the press and the players are unanimously optimistic that the Rockets, who will win the championship, still lose by one point after playing a wonderful performance. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 infoThis loss made people realize that the Pistons' strength was not a flash in the pan, but they were really going to win the championship. The five-game losing streak in the East looks like it's coming to an end.

At this point, not only the confidence of the players was shaken, but even the experienced Tomjanovic and the future eye Wang Yuanfei were shaken. Yuanfei has begun to worry that the Rockets' trajectory in the Finals is exactly the same as that of the F4 Lakers in the previous life. The Lakers also lost their home court first, and after the equalization, they lost three games in a row and were eliminated.

"Jason, do you think we can still turn the tables?" Tomjanovic asked privately: "A media outlet looked at the historical statistics, and there have been 6 1-3 comebacks in NBA history, including the Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals in '95. Hakim was still the absolute heart of the team at the time, and we won three games in a row against the Suns led by Ross Barkley. And no team in the history of the finals has been able to come back from 3-1 down to win. ”

(Small allusion: As of '04, there have actually been 7 times in history, and the closest one to '04 was the '03 playoffs when the Pistons faced the Maddy-led Magic in the first round.) When the Magic led 3-1, Maddy was interviewed by the media and threatened to think about the next opponent, but the Pistons exploded with all their might under the taunts and successfully turned the game around. Maddie's bravado has become the laughing stock of the league and one of the superstar's stains)

"I also read this report, so far there have been 27 finals 1:3 down in the history of the league, and only 2 of them have dragged into the tie-breaker, but they have not been able to turn the tables. This kind of historical statistics is not absolute, of course, and does not prove that we have no chance of winning, but it does show that it is difficult to win the championship. "I can only say that the Rockets have signed the best players, selected the best coaches, and played the most advanced tactics. But basketball is not an absolutely fair exam, and the best is not necessarily the winner. ”

"That is, you still believe that the Rockets are the best team, but not necessarily the final championship?" Tang Shuai asked conclusively.

"Yes, the playoff series is only a small sample of seven games after all, and any team will have the possibility of losing due to a slump. If the Rockets and Pistons play 82 games, I have no doubt that the Rockets will win more games. Because we have more talented players and a better tactical system. ”

"We have you more precious." Tang Shuai said with a smile: "Even if you are cornered, you have never doubted the ability of the players, never doubted the idea of building the team, and never doubted the tactical system. This kind of self-confidence, based on reason, is what our team needs most at the moment. And it's my responsibility as a manager to pass that on to the players. ”

***

Rudy. Tomjanovic is the first coach in the history of the Rockets, although he is slightly inferior to Zen Master, Popovich and other league first-line coaches in terms of coaching ability, especially on-the-spot scheduling ability, but in terms of tenacity, Tang Shuai can be called a model of the league.

On December 9, 1977, when Old Tang was still known as Little Tang, he was still a player on the Rockets. But in a court-court clash, he was defeated by Lakers player Kermit. Washington punched him in the head, causing fractures in his jaw and face, and a ruptured skull when he fell and hit the ground. Even more terrifying, Tomjanovich woke up from a coma and asked the doctor why he felt bitter in his mouth, to which the doctor replied, "You are tasting the taste of your own brain." ”

A few years later, NBATV produced a Kormit. Washington's documentary, Tang Shuai was naturally interviewed. He generously stated: "I hope Washington is doing well." Everyone makes mistakes, and they all deserve to be given the opportunity to correct them. ”

It is precisely because Lao Tang is so tenacious and unyielding, elegant and generous, that he has won the respect and love of every player. At this time, he announced the early end of training and gathered the players together.

"We've been cornered, everybody knows that. One more loss and the season is over, and we'll be the first Western Conference champion in six years to lose the Finals. ”

The players listened quietly, a few lowered their heads, and some showed embarrassed expressions.

"A lot of the media is questioning us now, for example, that we're shooting too many three-pointers. They're still the same old idea, rebounding wins games, defense wins championships. Lao Tang still didn't hurry or said slowly: "But aren't we good enough?" Have we already lost? The management set the goal of the championship at the beginning of the season, and we didn't fight all the way to finish runners-up. Playing our rhythm, our ability, our game, that's enough. I believe Houston's basketball is better than Detroit's. There will be a downturn, there will be adjustments, but we will have enough games to win the championship. ”

If Olajuwon was there, he would have felt that this passage would have sounded familiar. This is obviously a copy of what Lao Tang said to the team at that time in the locker room on the eve of the Rockets winning the championship in 1995. It's just that only Olajuwon was still on the team in the Rockets at that time, but he failed to make the playoffs. Robert. Hawley at Spurs, Sam. Cassel in the Timberwolves while Kenny. Smith, Clyde. Drexler and most other players have already left the NBA, after all, nine years have passed.

"No team has ever come back from 1-3 down in the NBA Finals, and even if it was dragged into a tie-breaker, it was only the Knicks in 1951 and the Lakers in 1966. In other words, we have the possibility of breaking a 38-year record, and even go one step further to create an unprecedented one-of-a-kind record. Are you afraid? I will not be afraid, because records are created by humans; Because sports exist to create miracles. Tang Shuai's tone gradually increased, and his voice gradually became excited, "We have faced more difficult times. We won the championship in 1994, but then the team struggled, playing 47 wins in the regular season and sixth in the West. In the playoffs, they faced the Suns, a strong opponent with 59 wins, and fell behind 1-3. Hakim gritted his teeth and led his team back from game to game to win the series. At that time, I said a sentence that was hyped around by the media, and you must have heard of it. ”

"Don't underestimate the heart of a champion!!" The players shouted in unison. At this moment, the air seemed to be agitated, and this famous quote seemed to have a magical power, igniting the passion and indomitable fighting spirit that was unique to their youth.

"That's right, I believe in you, I believe you are the current champions, I believe you are the future of the league. No team had ever won the title in sixth place that year, and we did. No team came back today when they were down 3-1 in the finals, and we can do it too! ”

"Yes!!" At this moment, the ambition and bold words resounded all over the world!