Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 670 - 230: This Aspiration is Unmatched! (Part 1 of 2 Consecutive Updates!)

End of game, 124 to 106.

Even though Knicks supporters realized that their hope for a comeback in this finals was nearly zero when they were trailing 0-3,

when the Knicks chose to concede in the fourth game, there were still quite a few fans who were left looking distraught.

Westbrook, who was benched by DAntoni for the last three games of the finals, returned to the locker room without a word.

And Durant, who had been the great hope of New York fans, lost the confidence he had when leading the team through the wild Eastern Conference.

This season, 22-year-old Durant, indeed proved he has a future that New York fans could dream about.

However, the experience of being swept 4-0 in the finals by the Warriors was like a loud slap in Durant's face.

Especially in front of Qin Yue, who was at the peak of his powers.

The last three games...

In almost every game, Durant felt he was struggling immensely on the court.

Is this what it means to be a god that everyone looks up to?

When the all-rounded Qin Yue shattered Durant's ambition—the Durant who loved learning from Qin Yue and planned to take over the league once Qin Yue aged—was replaced by another side of Durant, weak and confused.

That was the other side of Durant's personality.

That was the Durant in Qin Yue's memory, the one who chose "can't beat them, join them" and "can't win, dismantle the team."

From Thunder to Warriors, then to the Nets.

In the 21/22 season, when Curry displayed celestial performances against the Celtics in the finals, fulfilling the Green formula of "we were champions before you came, and we're champions after you leave"...

Durant, who felt like he had drifted without encountering a wise master throughout his life, unhesitatingly pressured the Nets management and named the Suns as his sole destination.

And then?

Shortly after Qin Yue's transfer, the Suns became the first team in NBA history to pay a luxury tax of 110 million US Dollars and still miss the playoffs.

Durant's competitiveness and weakness are like angels and devils perpetually hovering over his head.

The former allows you to see a determined KD, capable of hitting game-winning shots in crucial moments for his team.

The latter presents a soft KD who runs at the first hint of defeat, choosing to escape when conflicts arise.

That night, the only two Knicks players willing to accept interviews were the "Harden" who still needed time to grow and the "Zhan Jishi" who was moving closer to the Knicks' power center.

"I want to congratulate Stephen, you know, Stephen and I share an unbreakable bond since our college days." Harden said during the interview, "Of course, although I accidentally lost to him this time, I will definitely try to win next time."

Harden jokingly congratulated his good brother Curry.

As for James, who boasted about winning big despite the Knicks losing?

When for the second time in his career he was swept in the finals by Qin Yue leading a team,

James candidly said, "No one understands better than I do what it feels like to lose to Qin Yue: We all know he's the most outstanding player of this era, so losing to him and his team is no disgrace at all in my view."

Then, James shifted his tone, saying, "In this series, even if they had one or two players not performing well, there were always three or four others stepping up, which is truly luxurious."

As a player who always knows how to market himself, James is fully aware that only by acknowledging Qin Yue's strength can he avoid making his two-time finals sweep by Qin Yue appear too humiliating.

But in acknowledging Qin Yue's might, James also had to remind people of the contributions from other Warriors players in this series.

Because only by doing so can people realize that James, completely burnt out in this series, didn't just lose to Qin Yue.

And Madison Square Garden...

When Qin Yue personally lifted his fourth O'Brien Cup of his career, Oakland, thousands of kilometers away, had long become a sea of joy.

TNT TV Station, Barkley remarked objectively and impartially, "If the Warriors can achieve a three-peat next year, then in my mind, Messiah will surpass Michael Jordan, because he is young enough to remain at his career peak for the next seven or eight years."

Smith echoed, "Leading the team to retain the championship indeed gives Messiah the capital to aim for being number one."

In his career's twilight, swept out of the all-time top ten in history by Qin Yue single-handedly, O'Neal said, "That would surely be the end of the NBA because the NBA allowed a player with no moral standing to ascend to the throne of the greatest of all time."

Last summer, choosing to take his talents to TNT TV Station, O'Neal was the only "Qin Hei" among the TNT comedy trio.

Only, smearing Qin Yue's strength also meant lowering his image in the eyes of fans.

So, most of the time, O'Neal chose to attack Qin Yue's notoriously hated on-court demeanor.

For example, Qin Yue always "humiliated" his matchups in various ways.

Just that...

What does such defamation count for in competitive sports, where the strong are revered?

Moreover, in the long history of the NBA, there are countless predecessors who enjoyed "humiliating" their opponents on the court.

Just take O'Neal himself.

Back in his peak, didn't he too enjoy amusing himself by "humiliating" opponents?

"Nice to see you again."

At center stage, upon receiving the FMVP trophy from Ring King Bill Russell, Qin Yue spoke with a tone of familiar reunion to the elder man.

In response, Russell just gave a slight smile before turning to leave the stage to the other.

Thus, Qin Yue once again ascended to the throne at the Holy Land of Basketball, marking his fourth career coronation.

Six years of professional career.

Except for the year when he was sidelined due to injury, with four championships in five years, Qin Yue could already claim to be the best player in history if placed in later generations.

But even though Qin Yue's favorite player in his heart has long shifted from that Egg to the sharp-topped Barkley, Qin Yue still hasn't uttered the words his supporters most wish to hear.

Yes, to date, in all sorts of public occasions, Qin Yue has never claimed the GOAT status for himself.

Why?

Because without sufficient championship numbers and a true three-peat, in Qin Yue's view, to compare oneself to Jordan is as ridiculous as James thinking he could have won seven championships if not for Curry and Durant.

Although, in the real world of freedom of speech, everyone can make various assumptions and guesses.

But this kind of "if it weren't for so-and-so, I would have won several more championships" speculation, in Qin Yue's eyes, is no different from self-deception.

"After winning consecutive championships for two years, do you think you and your team will lack motivation?"

"Lack motivation? No, we are already eager to win again."

On the night of the championship, the Warriors were in no rush to return to Oakland.

Under the arrangement of Qin Yue, the Warriors spent a pleasant evening in New York, the Big Apple City where as long as you have money, you can do whatever you want.

Of course, it must be clarified for the Warriors players who already have families (mainly Curry)...

This celebration party held in New York was not attended in the latter half by Curry, Barnes, among others.

It wasn't until the next day that the Warriors reluctantly returned to the Bay Area with the championship trophy.

At the airport, knowing that the Warriors' ambition for a three-peat was no secret, Qin Yue deliberately flashed a "3" hand sign to the fans.

This immediately sent the waiting crowd into a frenzy.

"When the dream is once again brought back to the Promised Land, Warriors fans are undoubtedly the happiest group of people in recent years," described Anthony Lester, a reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle.

Unsurprisingly, the Warriors will likely maintain their current roster to compete next season.

After all...

With the opportunity for a three-peat right in front of them, every Warriors player who wants to claim dynasty player status in the future doesn't want to give up halfway.

Except for Josh McRoberts, whose playing time was further reduced after Jamison joined this season.

However, considering that staying with the Warriors would give him the chance to become a dynasty player, McRoberts still leans more toward staying with the team.

And this has made Warriors president Larry Riley prepare early on to sell the Warriors' second-round pick in the 2011 draft.

It's just that...

Regarding whether to keep Danny Green, Riley has a disagreement with Qin Yue.

In the past two seasons, as a fringe player in the Warriors' lineup, if not for considering Qin Yue's influence, Riley might have cut Green long ago.

But now, due to the need to introduce fresh blood, the Warriors must first reduce their roster...

So, Riley really wants to persuade Qin Yue to give up on Green, who has been given countless chances but failed every time.

"Larry, they say young players should get at least three seasons," said Qin Yue to Riley, "I think we should give Danny a little more time."

Seeing this, knowing that Qin Yue's influence in the Warriors far exceeds his own, Riley smiled wryly and said, "That way, we'll have a relatively quiet summer."

Qin Yue nodded and said, "I'm satisfied with the current roster of the team. As for the future? Larry, you should know that having me means having the future."

Without needing to consider the upcoming draft and free-agent market, the Warriors' management might become the team with the least workload in the league this summer.

Four days later, the Warriors held a grand championship parade in the Bay Area.

On the day of the parade, Elizabeth Olsen, one of the many "Miss Qin," attended the unprecedented celebration wearing an eye-catching strapless dress.

Unlike at the beginning of the season, when Olsen was labeled a "troublemaker" by Warriors fans.

When Qin Yue proved with his game performance that his sluggish start in the regular season was due to a lack of systematic training in the summer, Ao Mei naturally transitioned from being the least favored Hollywood star by Bay Area fans to one of the most popular among them.

This is the love-blind Warriors fans.

Over the years, Qin Yue has long been accustomed to the speed at which Bay Area fans change their minds.

Just like when they once scoffed that Nash would never win a championship in his life, they now fervently hope Nash can win several more championships.

"This is the championship!"

On the Warriors' championship float, Jamison, who was enjoying the adoration of the Warriors fans, suddenly teared up.

At this moment, why did Jamison tear up?

Because when that former talented forward who couldn't lead the Warriors to the playoffs in the past returned to Oakland late in his career, the reason he could become a hero in the hearts of Bay Area fans at this moment is precisely because he and this great championship team won together until the end, isn't it?

In the NBA, if winning is the cure-all for every team.

Then the championship is the magic pill that can fill every void in the heart, eliminate all contradictions, and bring a transformation to every player.

In addition, after this championship parade, Warriors head coach Mike Malone has even planned the team's theme for next season.

In Malone's eyes, probably nothing is more fitting than "Unmatched Determination" as the Warriors' new season slogan.

"We will surely achieve the great ambition of a three-peat next season!"

At this moment, Mike Malone clenched his fists with such conviction.

...