Pope of Basketball.

Summary

The chapter details the intense second round of the Western Conference playoffs, where the Mavericks triumphed over the Spurs 4-3, influenced by the Spurs' head coach Popovich's dirty tactics. Yang Rui recalls a similar incident from the 2007 playoffs between the Spurs and Suns, where an egregious foul by Huo Li altered the game's outcome. In the subsequent rounds, the Mavericks faced the Lakers, who initially dominated with a fast-paced strategy. Despite Yao Ming's limited playtime, the Mavericks managed one win but were ultimately eliminated 1-4. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers, led by a young LeBron James, reached the Finals but were swept by the Lakers 4-0. James struggled against the Lakers' defense, leading to poor individual statistics. Kobe Bryant excelled, averaging 32 points in the Finals and securing the MVP award, while Yao Ming's performance was overshadowed. Despite criticisms from fans, Yao expressed contentment with the team's success. The chapter concludes with Yang Rui receiving his seventh championship ring, signaling a potential roster overhaul for the Lakers, as several players hinted at leaving the team.

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