Pope of Basketball.

Summary

Yang Rui's statement, "Kobe is praying for us," became a headline after the Lakers' significant victory, where Yao Ming delivered an outstanding performance, surpassing O'Neal's historical NBA Finals stats. While media praised Yao, Kobe faced criticism for being overestimated, with statistics showing his poor performance in clutch moments. The Lakers' management considered building the team around Yao, given his potential to opt for a top salary contract. In the playoffs, the Lakers dominated the Magic, winning games with Yao leading the charge. Yao's performance peaked in the fourth game, where he scored 42 points, leading the Lakers to a championship sweep. Yao was named Finals MVP, while other Lakers players also excelled, showcasing a well-rounded team effort. Analysts noted the Lakers' potential to break records if they maintained this level of play. After the finals, players expressed newfound confidence and hinted at internal team dynamics affecting their performance during the regular season.

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