The No.1 Anti-Fans in Basketball-Chapter 119 - 96: High Energy

The locker room after Game 6 was exceptionally somber.

Losing was a bitter taste, and at a time like this, no one could manage a smile.

This was especially true for veterans like Ilgauskas, whose eyes were red.

This season, he had returned to the Cavaliers, bearing much disdain, but in the end, this was the outcome.

Not just Ilgauskas, but all the players who had been with the Cavaliers since last season looked incredibly dejected.

For two years in a row, to lose with the same score to the same opponent, you could picture the anecdote of "King Goujian of Yue lying on brambles and tasting bile, only to be killed by King Fuchai of Wu."

Brown entered the locker room, calling James and O’Neal to get ready for the post-game press conference.

"I’ll go too."

At this moment, Hansen voluntarily stood up.

Brown looked puzzled, and James also turned to look at Hansen.

The press conference was for facing criticism, which most would avoid if they could, yet Hansen was volunteering?

"I want to face this defeat with the team," said Hansen with a resolved expression.

Hearing this, Brown couldn’t help but show a touched look on his face as he came over and gave Hansen a big hug.

Watching the departing group, Conningham subconsciously touched his chin.

Based on his understanding of Hansen, as well as the relation with James, why did he feel like Hansen wasn’t just there to share the burden, but to stir up trouble?

At the press conference venue, the place was packed with journalists.

There were so many questions they wanted to ask following the Cavaliers’ defeat.

The first to be questioned was Brown, since they had lost tonight’s game. If they had won, the Cavaliers could have returned to Cleveland for a decisive Game 7.

Playing on the home court, the Cavaliers had a chance for a major comeback from 1-3.

"Our opponents performed very well, and their performance is respectable. LeBron did everything he could, we need to do better, and the coaching staff as well, but I don’t think this is the end of the world."

Acknowledging the opponent’s strength and James’ performance, then sharing the blame with all of the Cavaliers including himself, Brown’s answer was the standard response and entirely expected.

Then, the journalists turned their questions to James.

"The team’s roster has improved a lot compared to last year, but you still lost to the same opponent, what would you like to say about that?"

Following a loss, even James couldn’t expect the questions to be very polite.

James took the microphone, deeply inhaled, showed a face of regret, and then, as if he had prepared his answer in advance, he blurted out:

"You know, it’s not just us who are getting stronger, our opponents are too, and they got VC. We all know how formidable a player VC is.

Moreover, you know, our team has gone through a lot of injuries. I suffered a serious right elbow injury in the first round and it wasn’t until half a month ago, during the third game of the second round, that all of us were able to play together.

Then you know, we encountered injuries again, and my elbow injury has been bothering me. It’s prevented me from shooting as usual."

When he said this, James paused, turned his head to look at Hansen next to him,

"Hansen’s absence also greatly affected us; he’s our team’s best defensive player. If he had been on the court, VC’s performance would have been limited."

As James said this, he was observing Hansen’s expression and, after seeing that Hansen didn’t seem to show any anger, he turned his head back and stopped answering.

Similarly acknowledging the opponent’s strength and precisely shifting the blame to injuries, particularly Hansen’s, yet utterly avoiding any mention of their performance on the court.

Indeed, this was the James Team’s usual style.

"Will you leave Cleveland?"

The next one to be called out was Carrell, his expression grim as he tackled the question.

The room instantly became restless with this question, which could be considered out of line.

At that moment, Hansen turned his head to glance at James’ expression, seeing no signs of discomfort and realizing that James’ team must have been prepared.

"I have a goal, a very ambitious goal, which is to bring a championship to the city of Cleveland. I won’t stop until I achieve it."

Upon hearing this, Hansen couldn’t help but smirk slightly.

This must be the legendary statement from James about "I will not leave Cleveland."

Honestly, the media reports were somewhat distorted, as James never directly said he wouldn’t leave Cleveland.

But, in essence, there’s no real difference because any rational person could interpret that James was expressing his determination to win a championship for Cleveland.

After all, could the goal of "winning a championship for Cleveland" possibly be achieved after leaving the city?

However, this also worried Hansen.

For, as a transmigrator, his very presence had already caused a butterfly effect in this parallel world.

Without mentioning anything else, even the opponent for the Lakers in the championship had changed from the Celtics to the Magic; there was no Lakers-Celtics rivalry anymore.

Especially after James made the same statement.

After all, James’ performance against the Celtics team was eye-catching, and his trade value had soared once more.

If the Cavaliers really traded him for another All-Star, and James renewed a short contract for another shot, truly not letting down Cleveland...

So, because of his arrival, the possibility of James choosing to stay was not entirely out of the question.