"Finally, here we are."

On June 1, 1997, the Lakers came to Chicago.

Chicago, the Windy City, the capital of sin.

THE BLOOD-RED BULL LOGO CAN BE SEEN EVERYWHERE, AND THE AIRJORDAN LOGO IS EVERYWHERE.

This is the center of basketball in the United States, and this is the center of basketball in the world.

As long as you like basketball, you can not know Russell, you can not know Dr. J.

But you won't fail to hear of Michael Jordan and not be unclear about the Chicago Bulls.

Before Michael Jordan arrived, it could only be called a metropolis, but there was no way to connect it to the mecca of basketball.

From 1984 to 1997, Michael Jordan used his 13-year career to shape this mature and into a basketball mecca.

Street culture is everywhere, and basketball has become the faith of every resident. It's the capital of sin, but it's also the capital of basketball, and Michael Jordan's influence has revolutionized the city's culture.

Bryant took a deep breath, and Chicago in 1997 was full of exhaust fumes and the smell of alcohol and gunsmoke.

This is unique to Chicago, one of the most chaotic cities in the country. Crime was high and in the '50s, white people in the southern United States had a strict racial system, so blacks flocked to Chicago.

At this time, a large number of homeless people appeared on the streets of Chicago, which began to seriously threaten the stability of society. In order to accommodate more people for less, Chicago has built a number of new public housing units, each of which is filled with people. These complex public housing estates, which can accommodate large populations, are the best strongholds for the gangsters. Externally, it can be used as a fortress, and internally, it can allow gang members to set up a large number of secret passages and many mechanisms.

In such an environment, black children are faced with guns and drugs from an early age, and the only thing that can save them is one thing.

That's the glory of Chicago, basketball.

Chicago's pauperas and gangsters craze for basketball was perhaps the healthiest hobby of their lives, and it gave rise to a lot of street culture.

Basketball courts line the streets between the vast public housing estates, and graffiti and spray-painted images of people swearing to the sovereignty of the place.

Gunshots are heard every night, and alcohol and WEED are everywhere.

This is Chicago, the home of basketball god Michael Jordan.

"Welcome to Chicago." The docking personnel of the Lakers came to pick up the plane.

"Let's go, go to the hotel."

...

"President! The confrontation between the Bulls and the Lakers, the confrontation between Jordan and Kobe, and the confrontation between the two seventy-win teams have caused heated discussions these days! Countless media outlets are expressing different opinions! ”

"At home, abroad! People in the world of sports and basketball have set their sights on here! Since the Olympic Dream Team has successfully won the championship in a row, the world has now set off a high~tide of learning American basketball! And the confrontation of this highest stage undoubtedly attracted all basketball people to watch and learn! ”

"The effect of Michael Jordan and Kobe's fame is far beyond our expectations! The impact of the horror is that even in the streets of that country in the East, there is a signal that this round of the series is about to begin! ”

Xiao Hua looked excited, the attention of this finals surpassed Michael Jordan's return, Jordan's slaughter by the Magic, and the 72-win Bulls won the championship.

This year's finals attracted attention, and it was unprecedented!

In this era of paper media and television media, the news of this round of finals almost dominated the media news in the United States.

The controversy and discussion that has sparked are endless, and this has never been seen before! Since the battle of yellow and green, there has never been a time when two teams with such popularity have met in the finals. And the media attention at that time of the yellow-green war was completely incomparable with now.

Times have changed, so has the number of viewers in professional basketball, and their influence is no longer what it was in that wild era.

The finals of previous years seem to be the routine of Warriors vs. Dragons, and such confrontations and scenes have been experienced for many years.

And this year's finals have become a confrontation between two dragon slayer warriors!

Such a shift has attracted more attention than anyone could have imagined.

"Xiaohua, maybe they will bring us a prosperous era beyond our imagination." There seemed to be stars twinkling in Stern's eyes, and as a man whose lifelong dream was to bring the MLB to the top of the four major leagues in the United States, he was fascinated by the glory of the MLB.

"Yes, the ratings for this year's playoffs have been reported. I'm sure the finals will be even more terrifying! A new ratings record is bound to be born. ”

"No matter who wins or loses, as long as this round of the series is exciting enough, then a new era of basketball and professional basketball is coming!"

"Is a new era coming?"

Stern's eyes were deep, as if he had seen the future of professional basketball.

...

"Michael, you're going to get Kobe. The remaining players are left to flank Shaq infinitely. "Phil Jackson is doing his final tactical drill in the Bulls' driving range.

The Lakers and Bulls have only met twice this season, one win and one loss. Belonging to the East and West Divisions, their understanding of each other's tactics is not very comprehensive.

Although Phil Jackson had been preparing for the Lakers in the middle of the season, preparing some routines and set-ups, he couldn't believe that all the game was going the way he expected.

The main reason is that Kobe's ceiling is really raised, and the ceiling of the Lakers team is completely supported by Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant's miraculous epic performances make it hard to have the confidence to completely strangle him.

But the Bulls can't put all their defensive focus on Kobe.

Jordan and Pippen once teamed up to strangle Magic Johnson, but Kobe's range was nearly twice as far as that of Magic!

At that time, there was no longer a sky hook by the magician's side, and Kobe Bryant had the peak shark O'Neal by his side!

In the Lakers' first few rounds of the series, Bryant performed significantly better than O'Neal.

But for the Bulls, it's hard to say who is more destructive, Kobe Bryant or O'Neal.

Tim Hardaway went crazy in the first two rounds of the series, but Jordan single-handedly sealed him, but it was Mourning, who had a mediocre performance in the front, who played well in a row.

O'Neal is capable of killing the Bulls!

The story of two years ago, no one up and down the bull wants to go through it again.

Must be pinched! The Bulls and the Rockets, the Jazz are different.

The Bulls can't find a player who can defend O'Neal alone, and Longley can block O'Neal's first shot with strength and height at most, but O'Neal can easily break him down with agility.

Then the task of defending Kobe Bryant is completely handed over to Michael Jordan, Jordan not only needs to act as the absolute core on the offensive end, at least 30+, but also block Kobe on the defensive end!

Such a bull can be called a solid winner.

Michael Jordan chewed gum and smiled confidently.

He can't wait for tomorrow's game.

These challenges and pressures are just a stimulant for him.

Come on, Kobe.

I'll make you understand.

I was not at the same level as me in the finals and the regular season.