After four games of the Eastern Conference Finals, the situation is more confusing than ever. The Pistons unexpectedly won two on the home court of the Pacers, the big brother in the East, followed by their two home courts, and many were optimistic at the time that the Pistons' home bravery to sweep the Pacers may not be wishful thinking. Like, they just swept the Nets.

But five days later, the Pacers showed the gap between first and third in the East with their fists, and in the Pistons' two home courts, they played vigorously and heartily, winning two consecutive road victories and powerfully pulling the game back to the starting line.

It's a bad feeling to be beaten on two of their home courts, especially since this is the first time the Pistons have lost two home games in a row this season! Of course, this is also the case with the Pacers.

After playing the first four games, the Bricks called the beasts to think about it for a while, and re-decided that the Pacers were the real destiny of the East.

After all, the Pistons were able to win their first two games, and it wasn't above board. In the first game, O'Neal Jr. was absent, and they had an absolute advantage on the inside; In the second game, O'Neill Jr. had just returned, and there was a gap between him and his teammates, and there was no tacit understanding, so it was not surprising that he lost.

In the third and fourth games, when the Pacers were united, they immediately won two games neatly!

The Pistons will eventually be eliminated, which is the unanimous opinion of fans across the United States, and O'Neal, who is far away on the West Coast, even said to the media: "Welcome Miller to the Finals again, but I think he will still be disappointed, I can kill them in 2000, and I can still do it this year!" ”

In 2000, the year of the turn of the century, Miller finally led the team to the Finals when Jordan left the East, that year, he was the well-deserved king of Indiana, at that time, the core of the team was either O'Neal Jr. or Artest, or him, Reggie. Miller. It's a pity that that year he ran into O'Neal, who was at his peak, and Kobe, who grew into an All-Star, and he won Kobe, but lost to O'Neal.

As an aside, just the following year, a man with the same surname replaced him as the darling of the East. Alan. Iverson, the same ghost from hell, used the same tactics to bring the Philadelphia 76ers to the Finals. The AI defeated O'Neal and Kobe Bryant more bravely, but lost to the entire Lakers team.

The two most brilliant outside lines that year were Iverson and Kobe, who were also classmates in '96, and since that year, the Lakers have implemented dual-core tactics, and Kobe has stepped onto the stage of NBA rulers. Strong attack on the outside and ball sharing on the inside, this tactic once made the killing intent of the OK combination awe-inspiring, making them invincible!

After the fourth Finals, the official media of the Pacers released a piece of bad news: O'Neal Jr., who played bravely in the first two games, suffered an aggravated sprain in his left knee and a recurrence of his back injury, and will miss the rest of the game.

When the news came, the Pacers mourned, the Pistons celebrated, and Rashid's bad seed threw a drinking party that night.

The next day Wajmoto was in private press officer Erin. Andrews was accompanied by a regular post-game press conference, which was the NBA's interview week, with teams and players to be interviewed countless times. Entering the playoffs can talk about their feelings, those who are eliminated can talk about their expectations, and teams can also talk about how they are prepared to get people from the free market.

To explain here, according to NBA rules, the uniform team of each team cannot openly express in front of the media which player it is interested in, and free agents and rookies are not allowed to participate in the draft. However, there is an exception to the problem, which is during the interview week twice a season, when the team can make its intentions public, and you can also complain about the NBA officials, no matter what they say, as long as they do not commit treason, they will not be punished.

As soon as Hua Ben entered the press conference prepared by the Pistons, he was surrounded by media reporters who heard the news.

"Ben, for the Pacers' tactical core Jermaine. What do you think of O'Neal's injury? ESPN's reporters were allowed to speak first. But no one cares, because other journalists want to ask this question, and whoever asks the same question.

Hua Ben brewed his emotions for a moment, and recalled the scene when a dog he raised in his previous life died, and said with a sad face: "Jermaine is a good opponent, I like him, and fighting with him is a pleasure." What is the saying? True adversaries always complement each other. For what happened to Jermaine, I expressed my deep condolences cough cough cough, "Hua Ben quickly changed the words, why did he accidentally say what was in his heart?"

"I express my deep regret, yes, regret. But I want to tell him that health is the most important thing, especially the waist. Guys, men can't let the waist have problems, the waist is good, the legs are good, the appetite is good, eat well, go up to the fifth floor in one breath All in all, Jermaine, you must recuperate, if there is no good doctor, I can give you a suggestion. "The more Hua Ben talks, the happier he becomes, there is no way not to be happy, as soon as little O'Neill gets out, they are equivalent to stepping into the finals with one foot, he is excited when he thinks of this, what is the death of a dog and a cat or something like that?

Just when the Indiana reporters were about to go crazy, Hua Ben's expression suddenly distorted, and he gasped and said: "That, as an inside player, I really feel very sad about what happened to Jermaine, talented players are always accompanied by injuries, is this jealousy, uh, no, is it jealousy of talents?" Like Hill, like Penny, like Webb, I'd suggest he'd better find a good doctor, because injuries are the ones that destroy genius, and as for the game, one-more-year (come back next year). ”

The reporters at the scene were all moved by Huaben's sincere sorrow, look, what are the muscles on this guy's face twisted into? How uncomfortable do you have to feel to show this?

Although the Indiana reporters were still muttering in their hearts that 'cats cry rats fake mercy,' they were still very satisfied with Huaben's performance.

"Can you let go of your hand?" Wabbon lowered his head and whispered to Erin beside him.

Erin, who accompanied Huaben to sit behind the rostrum, showed an elegant and charming smile, and put the small hand pinched under Huaben's ribs on the rostrum, and she also responded in a low voice: "I'm thinking about you, do you know what will happen if you gloat?" Your market in Indiana is ruined. ”

Hua Ben pouted, ruined a fart, Rashid's goods held a night party to celebrate this, why didn't he look at the criticism? Hua Ben expressed his resentment at Erin's desire to add to the sin, and then he put his right hand on his lap, and under the cover of the rostrum, he put it on the fleshy legs under Erin's milky white uniform skirt like lightning, touched it vigorously and took it back. The speed is fast, and he is still answering reporters' questions with a serious face: "I think the West should be the Lakers who will win in the end, although Shaq is very old, but he still has a bit of good combat effectiveness, the key is that they have Kobe Bryant on the outside, that's a killer!" ”

Didn't Hua Ben use these words to divide the feelings between Kobe and O'Neal, in fact, he still had to divide them? Everyone on earth knows that after this season, the OK combination will definitely have to get out. He said this to tell the truth, so far, Kobe Bryant ranks second in points per game among outside players in the playoffs, behind only Marbury, who has been brushed away.

The charming and elegant smile on Erin's face froze, she glared at Huaben viciously, reached down with her left hand, gritted her teeth and twisted Huaben's soft flesh under the ribs.

Huaben is not to be outdone, the little girl's skin is very ruthless, Lao Tzu is not a good person today, you don't know why the flowers are so red. Answering the reporter's questions in a random manner, Huaben's big hand once again covered Erin's smooth, plump, and fleshy legs.

The two of you screw me, I touch you, and it's a lot of fun, Hua Ben felt that the press conference was too short for the first time.

After the press conference, Erin was about to settle accounts with Hua Ben, but just about to speak, she received a phone call, and after she connected, the person over there told her: "Big news! Reggie. Miller has just said at the Pacers' official press conference that he will do his best in the upcoming games, and he has publicly stated that he will retire after this season! ”

"Either I retire with championship honors, or I leave the league gloomily, and in any case, after this season, I will retire!" Miller said this at the Consec Center in Polis and left the press conference with a calm expression.

Wabbon and Erin glanced at each other, and the latter clearly felt the disbelief in the former's eyes, "What's wrong, Ben?" Erin asked, surprised.

Waben shook his head in despair, and didn't say anything, according to his memory, Miller obviously retired after being eliminated next season, and it was also in the Eastern Conference Finals, the opponent was still their two teams, and after being eliminated by the same team for two consecutive years, Miller decided to retire in frustration.

The news that Miller will retire after this season has been spread by the basketball media around the world, and the basketball star of Jordan's generation, who is still active on the court, is Miller and his classmate Malone. But Malone is an inside line, and if Miller retires, it means that the Jordan era has really come to an end.

In his heyday, Jordan had only two opponents in the same position, one was Drexler the glider and the other was Miller, and the latter was more qualified because he had a pride and piety that even Jordan did not have, and he, like Stockton, had left a lifetime of glory to one team.

The news that Miller is going to retire is shocking, Jordan is the first to express regret in front of the media, which is a real regret: "I'm still watching the NBA and accompanying my children, but we focus on different things, they're watching Kobe, Carter, Iverson, and I'm watching Miller, if he retires, I don't know who else I'll be able to watch in the future." Oh, Big Ben that guy is good, and now my kids and I have a common point to watch, and that's Ben. Wallace. ”

Historically, Miller was the last player of the Jordan era to retire, and the second-to-last was Karl. Malone. However, because of the butterfly effect brought by Huaben, Malone will share this honor with Miller.

After Miller said the news of his retirement, the Pistons immediately knew that this time things were not easy, as the saying goes, mourning soldiers will win, Miller said this, with his appeal in the Pacers, then the players below are still dead?

Their guess was correct.

On June 1, 2004, Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals began.

The Pistons players got off the plane and were treated the same way as the Pacers did in Detroit, with thousands of fans gathered outside the airport and greeted the Pistons bus with rotten eggs and rotten vegetables, including teenage children, but some in their sixties and seventies, and most middle-aged people in their thirties and forties -- they grew up watching Miller play.

"Get out of Polis, you deserve hell!"

"[***] Why didn't that bastard hijack your plane?"

"You tore off Reggie's wings to heaven, and we're going to destroy your heaven!"

"Where's my Remington rifle? , who stole my grenade? ”

Hua Ben's royal bodyguard Du Dongqiang's face was nervous, and the fans on both sides of the aisle made him feel very bad, Hua Ben appeared, he immediately blocked it with his body, pulled him and stuffed him into the bus, for which he was wearing an Armani suit full of vegetable leaves and rotten eggs.

"Damn it, it's more than 1,500 dollars." Du Dongqiang hated itchy, "Aren't you just playing a ball?" As for making it like this? I really don't understand whether I want to live or die. ”

Hua Ben responded: "Some people say that basketball is not about life and death, but I say that basketball is higher than life and death. ”

Billups, who got into the bus with his head in his arms, immediately gave a thumbs up when he heard this sentence: "Ben, this sentence is level, I like it." Well, I'm going to write an autobiography after winning this season, and you'll take that as the frontispiece. ”

Damn, Lao Tzu is a copycat, Hua Ben is speechless.

Rashid got into the car even more embarrassed, muttering and muttering as if he was singing a rap song, and God knows the guy was yelling at the Polis fans: "It's crazy, it's crazy!" We're just here to play, not to rob them, these fans are crazy! ”

"The crazier ones are in the back." Campbell said presciently, "We're here to rob, to rob their victory." ”

Campbell guessed right, and when they arrived at the Consec Center in the evening, the roar of the fans could knock them over, even the most popular Ben Brown. Wallace was also met with a wild boo tonight, and the news of Miller's retirement deeply irritated Pacers fans. Pistons fans, who have always been known for their arrogance, were dumb tonight, and in fact, there were still a few Pistons fans cheering at the beginning, but they were besieged by the surrounding Pacers fans, and they could only keep their mouths shut.

However, to the good fortune of the Pistons players, O'Neal Jr. was quite sane and was not carried away by Miller's retirement declaration, he followed the doctor's advice, and did not enter the roster for this game, but sat under the court in a suit to cheer his teammates, looking at his expression, it was undoubtedly quite painful.

"Rest assured, Jermaine, this game is up to me and Ron, we can't afford to lose three in a row on our home turf!" Miller stepped forward and grabbed Jermaine's hand and pulled him to his chest.

Little O'Neill patted the big brother on the shoulder, gritted his teeth and said, "Boss Reggie, everything depends on you!" ”

He is an understanding person, although Artest has strong combat effectiveness, this guy is unreliable and easy to get hot-headed. Miller also deserves this 'boss', when O'Neal Jr. first came, he was the boss, even if he took the initiative to give up the honor of the team's boss, in everyone's mind, he was still No.1.

Brown understands Miller's role, but is this an old guy who has played in the game for 17 years, and how much is his ability still at his peak? He thinks that Miller's role now is lubricant and veteran, and his combat effectiveness can be ignored, "Pay attention to Ron, Jermaine is out today, and that guy Carlisle will definitely give Ron unlimited shots, Ben, you personally go and guard him!" And that Al. Harrington, this guy is not easy to deal with, Rashid, you go up and keep an eye on it first, and now it's not going well, then play joint defense! ”

Billups raised his hand to signal that he had a question, "Joint defense? Larry, I don't want to challenge your authority, in fact, they still have that guy Miller, he's going to kill us! ”

"Shooting never kills." Brown said solemnly and confidently.

Brown just finished saying this classic NBA iron rule, and he turned around and slapped Miller.

The starters of both teams have made simple adjustments, on the Pacers' side, Foster has become the starting center again, the Pistons side, Prince has come off the bench, Mirisic has started the center, specifically to restrain Foster, and Huaben has been transferred to the small forward position.

Milicic won the jump ball neatly and picked it up to Billups over Foster's head.

Getting the ball, Billups smiled and said, "Good job, boy, we got the advantage from the beginning." ”

The Pistons' advantage was only maintained in the opening period, when Huaben scored a hook shot to give the Pistons a 2-0 lead in the opening period.

Turning around, Miller got the ball from beyond the three-point line, and in a rare move, he sent the ball into the hoop with precision.

Miller, who has always been trash-talking, has a grim face and does not say a word today, his thin lips are tightly pursed, and there is something cold shining in his eyes.

"Not quite right." Hamilton, who had been an opponent of Miller for many years, began to speak, and when the two met before, Miller chattered endlessly, and Hamilton did not say a word.

Near the stadium, a fan held up a sign with a simple phrase: "Reggie. Miller, Immortal Firebird! ”

The Immortal Firebird is the Phoenix of Fire, and for the majority of Chinese fans, the nickname of the Immortal Bird should be Pierce's ass, because this guy once had 11 stabs in his body and did not die. However, in fact, this nickname is Miller, and Miller's nickname is either a killer or an immortal bird, because he was seriously ill when he was a child and once needed to rely on a chair to walk (refer to the thing that Tang Shuai wore on his feet when he was a child in Forrest Gump's biography). But Miller did not give in to fate, relying on his own hard work and hard work, first kicked off the chair, then made the varsity team, and later, he came to the NBA.

After entering the NBA, Miller became a real immortal, he played for the Pacers for 17 seasons, the team's main team changed one after another, the head coach came one after another, and the constant was Miller's existence. He has been disfavored again and again, and he has been reborn again and again, and he is a real unyielding firebird!

(To be continued)