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The next day, the Warriors sat at home and faced the Rockets consecutively. Both teams were not out of place in this arrangement, having played the day before, but the intensity of the games against the Lakers and Suns was clearly different. The Rockets had also gone through many changes in their roster during the offseason, not renewing Maddy's contract, and Yao Ming was still recovering from injuries. The key player for the Rockets now was Kevin Martin, a player known in the league for drawing fouls.

Kevin Martin arrived at the Rockets from the Kings midway through last season and played in the remaining 24 games for the Rockets, averaging 21.3 points per game and 7.7 free throws per game.

Just yesterday against the Lakers, Kevin Martin hit 7 of 7 free throws, scoring a total of 28 points, and went head-to-head with Bryant, nearly leading the Rockets to take down the defending champions.

He also caused many problems for the Warriors tonight.

Liam sent out the starting lineup of Curry, Klay, Matthews, Green, and Chandler, maintaining the regular positions, letting Klay defend Kevin Martin.

When Kevin Martin saw Klay, his eyes lit up, and he quickly committed two fouls on Klay, allowing him to play for just 3 minutes before going to rest.

Liam was furious and sent Tony Allen out, and Kevin Martin was stopped.

But it was impossible for Liam to let Tony Allen mark the defense every time they faced a strong outside player; in this way, Klay's defense would never improve, and he could only become a pure shooter in the end, instead of a historical 3D star that integrates both offense and defense.

At the start of the second quarter, Liam replaced Tony Allen, sent Klay back, and specifically put him against Kevin Martin.

Two fouls in the first quarter taught Klay a lesson—he extended his hand cautiously and moved very carefully, not allowing Kevin Martin to easily draw fouls.

But Jiang (now referred to as Liam) was still a seasoned player, Kevin Martin had been in the NBA for 6 years, and aside from his rookie season, he had scored over 20 points in the remaining four seasons. His physical condition was mediocre, and his scoring largely depended on shooting and drawing fouls. He was full of fakes, and despite Klay being cautious, he was inevitably tricked by Kevin Martin repeatedly.

Before the second quarter was over, Klay had four fouls on him, and Kevin Martin had scored eight points on 8 of 9 free throws just against him.

Finally, when Klay committed his fifth foul, Liam replaced him with Tony Allen, and Kevin Martin was completely stunned. The Warriors raised their intensity in the third quarter, playing a 33-20 point differential in a single quarter, and took the game in waves.

In the final quarter, Liam seemed a bit depressed, and Klay, sitting on the bench, laughed to himself:

– "Klay, how are you feeling now?"

Klay shrugged:

"Kevin Martin is a liar and tricked me badly."

His expression was depressed and resentful, which made Liam find it very amusing, and he continued asking: "What else? What haven't you learned?"

Klay thought for a moment and said categorically:

"I'll never play like him in the future, it's embarrassing to draw fouls, I hate drawing fouls! Also, I'm going to learn defense from Tony."

The players on the Warriors' bench laughed when they heard Klay's answer, and Klay looked at them in confusion, shook his head, and turned his head to stare at the court.

Liam also shook his head and smiled, not sure why, but it was extremely funny when it came out of Klay's mouth. He always spoke with a facial expression close to paralysis, and spoke seriously, with a very strong sense of contrast.

It wasn't just Klay who was struggling; the Argentine diamond Scola had also given Green a good lesson. The diligent power forward had perfected his post play and footwork day after day, and used them all tonight.

He played Green in the post, with a double-double of 25 points and 13 rebounds, and Kevin Martin's 22 points. Green's already dark face grew even darker after defending against Scola.

But this didn't stop the Warriors from taking a big lead. The Rockets' center in India, Chuck Hayes, who was about the same height as Green and had thick legs, had a lot of experience defending the post but couldn't protect the rim at all.

Liam deliberately increased the Warriors' pick-and-roll and blocking ratio before the game. Curry and Chandler, Curry and Green, Jeremy Lin and Chandler, Jeremy Lin and Big Z, Hayes and the Rockets' backup center, Brad Miller, were repeatedly tortured, and the Rockets kept losing points inside.

In the end, the game finished with the Warriors defeating the Rockets 105-90. After the entire game, Curry recorded a double-double of 27 points, 12 assists, and 5 rebounds, including 2 rebounds.

Liam joked with Curry and asked if he wanted to "brush" a triple-double every game, and if he wanted, Liam could let him easily get one.

Klay, limited by foul trouble, scored only 5 points, and Green didn't perform well, because the Warriors mainly focused on blocking and attacking in this game. He had much fewer opportunities to score, only 4 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block.

Chandler made a strong impact, cutting 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks, recording his first double-double of the season. Matthews made 13 shots, hitting 6 of them, including 3 of 8 from three-point range, and scored 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, continuing his excellent performance from the previous game.

Of course, this also had to do with the fact that the Rockets didn't focus on Matthews defensively. Liam adapted several tactics for him and deliberately let him stand on the strong side when attacking, making it easier for Curry to pass him the ball, and nearly all of his three-point shots were wide open.

Jeremy Lin wasn't as slow as in the last game, and he gradually adapted to the NBA. Although his scoring still didn't improve much—only 5 points on 2 of 6 shooting—he dished out 6 assists, delivering some great passes to Chandler and Big Z, although he also had a frustrating 4 turnovers.

Liam wasn't worried about his performance at all. His four years in the NCAA had allowed Jeremy Lin to hone his skills more maturely, and he just needed to adapt to NBA competition, making him a very qualified backup point guard. The Warriors just needed to wait a while.

After the game, Liam comforted Jeremy Lin:

"Jeremy, you're playing well, take your time, be bold, don't be afraid to shoot. All you need to do now is adapt to the game."

"Thanks, Coach." Lin nodded gratefully.

In fact, he was a bit apprehensive inside, worried that his poor performance in two consecutive games would make Liam unhappy. This morning, he read the local newspapers and media in San Francisco, which were already questioning his performance, thinking that Liam shouldn't have kept him, let alone given him a fully guaranteed contract.

This night, his performance was still terrible, and he would definitely be criticized tomorrow. But Liam was still a great support, which made Jeremy Lin's mindset completely at ease.

Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma.

The game between the Thunder and the Bulls is in full swing, the stadium packed with fervent Thunder fans cheering wildly from the sidelines, creating a high-energy atmosphere. The excitement of the game is electric, and the loyalty of the Thunder fans is unmatched.

Boom!

After a fierce confrontation, Liam led Rose into the paint, stomped the ground with both feet, leaped with incredible force, glided through the air for a moment, and grabbed the ball with both hands. He then brought it behind his head and slammed it into the basket.

Bang!

After landing on the floor, Liam took a supreme stride and pounded his chest hard, causing an even louder sound.

"Russell, I love you, I'm going to marry you!" one fan shouted.

"OKC! OKC!"

"Ahhhh!"

On the sidelines, well-dressed elites, usually calm and collected, were showing their wild side, shouting loudly with red faces, completely unconcerned about their behavior. They were letting loose, their emotions and madness filling the arena.

Basketball allows people to release their true selves.

Tom Thibodeau glanced at the giant screen above him, shook his head in frustration, gestured to the referee, and called for a timeout.

With just four minutes remaining in the final quarter and the Bulls down by 17 points, Thibodeau was ready to explode.

The rookie coach's first game seemed destined to end in failure.

Whistle!

At the sound of the referee's whistle, Rose, soaked in sweat, looked at Liam, who was celebrating with his teammates, and slowly made his way off the court.

It had been a defensive battle, like a meat grinder, and the Thunder played like the heroic matador in a Spanish bullfight, constantly battling the bull, their limbs entangled, muscles clashing fiercely. Every shot was a struggle.

In the end, the Thunder, benefiting from their home-court advantage, laughed last. Durant and Liam scored 30 and 28 points respectively, each making 13 free throws, while Rose also scored 28 points, but needed 31 shots and only hit 4 free throws.

Durant's shooting percentage of 9 out of 24 was actually worse than Rose's, but his 11 of 13 from the free-throw line greatly improved his efficiency.

This season, Durant's title as the "King of Free Throws" in the Golden Wheel was growing stronger, and his arm-swinging loop would become one of his signature moves, lasting forever.

"Damn it! Those referees, raised by dogs, their hearts are all black, I xx their xx..." Noah muttered under his breath, his eyes filled with frustration.

Noah had scored 18 points on 7 of 13 shooting in the restricted area, grabbed 19 rebounds, including 7 offensive boards, completely dominating the Thunder's interior. Despite the referees' apparent bias toward the Thunder, Noah likely could have posted a double-double 20 if the calls had been fair.

But it didn't help the Bulls get a win. The Thunder had attempted 25 more free throws than the Bulls, infuriating Noah. The Bulls' tougher playing style was often crashing into the basket, but the result wasn't many free throws, while Durant raised his hand and earned two.

Rose said with a deep voice and an unreadable expression:

"It's okay, Joaquin, we'll get them next time."

"I feel like I've eaten a fly. We played so well, if the referee had been fair, he wouldn't have protected them like that…" Noah said angrily, looking at Rose's blue arm.

The intensity of defense Rose faced tonight was staggering, and every shot he made required an immense physical confrontation. The referees were particularly lenient toward the Thunder today, and Rose encountered more and more ruthless defensive moves, contributing to his inefficiency.

Rose said nothing more. He looked at the Thunder players laughing on the bench, then glanced at the referee on the court, listening to Noah's complaints. His left hand gripping the towel gradually tightened, and he wrinkled the towel in his fist.

After a while, Noah heard him. His anger hadn't subsided, but he had accepted reality.

The NBA's home-court advantage had always existed. The Bulls and Thunder weren't live broadcasts in the U.S., and the referees were naturally more lenient with the home team. The Bulls, a young team without stars, were no match for the Thunder, led by Durant with the league's support.

Minutes later, garbage time ran out, the Bulls lost 95-106 to the Thunder, and the players returned to the locker room in silence.

Thibodeau was the last to enter. He scratched his head, unsure of what to say. Although he had been an assistant coach under Van Gundy for many years, Thibodeau still struggled with words and wasn't great at expressing his thoughts. The Bulls players stared at him, and there was a quiet silence in the locker room.

"In the next game against the Thunder, we'll definitely get them back."

A voice broke the silence, and everyone turned to look at Rose. He didn't continue speaking, instead straightening his shirt and standing up to head for the shower.

"Derrick's right. When we get back to Chicago, we'll show those guys how it's done!" Noah suddenly shouted, and everyone echoed him.

"Yeah, they don't have the home-court advantage. Those stupid referees, giving them so many free throws..."

"I didn't dare get any closer later on. Otherwise, they would've called a foul on me..."

In the shower, Rose turned on the water and let it cascade over his lean body. He closed his eyes, and memories of the previous night came to his mind.

"Haha, Derrick, we beat the Suns, revenge was sweet, and now the Warriors are #1 in the West!"

Rose heard Curry's cocky voice on the phone. He pursed his lips and replied:

"Just won one game, and you're this happy?"

"But that's the Suns for you. As long as they beat the Rockets tomorrow, the Warriors will stay #1 in the West, maybe even #1 in the league! What are the Bulls' chances of beating the Thunder tomorrow?" Curry said smugly.

Rose smiled:

"Ten percent, we'll win!"

"Well, now I'm going to pray for the Cavaliers."

"Cavaliers? Why?" Rose asked.

"If the Cavaliers beat the Celtics tomorrow, you'll have a chance to be #1 in the East!"

Wow... wow...

Amidst the sound of water running, Rose opened his eyes, hurriedly washed up, got dressed, and left the bathroom.

He approached Noah and asked:

"Joaquin, help me see who won, the Cavaliers or the Celtics?"

Noah pulled out his phone, glanced at it, and his eyes widened in surprise:

"Wow, the Cavaliers actually beat the Celtics by 8 points, and Monta Ellis scored 33 points!"

Upon hearing this, Rose pursed his lips, nodded, and went back to his seat to pack his things.

"Stephen, let me do it this time, you better not stop me, I'll catch up soon!"

Philadelphia, Phu Quoc Center Arena.

In the visitors' locker room, the Heat players smiled and laughed with each other. Coach Spoelstra leaned against the wall, smiling at his teammates with a relaxed look on his face.

Just 30 minutes ago, the Heat had breathed a sigh of relief after defeating the 76ers 97-87 on the road, earning their first victory of the season.

After the loss to the Celtics yesterday, Spoelstra had been heavily criticized by fans, with many believing it was his tactics that didn't suit the Big Three, leading to the Heat's defeat.

He didn't dare imagine the kind of condemnation and insults he would receive if the Heat lost to the 76ers today.

Though NBA tradition is to blame losing head coaches, the Heat had three stars—superstars like Wade and James—and a large fanbase. Spoelstra had received thousands of angry emails yesterday. Fortunately, he hadn't opened a social media account, or the comments would have been full of vulgar language.

The young Filipino coach smiled and looked around the room, his eyes landing on James.

James glanced at the printed game sheet in his hand, furrowing his brow slightly, his face serious, in contrast to the others who were still laughing.

Spoelstra sighed and approached James.

"LeBron, you seem a little upset. Is something wrong?" Spoelstra asked with concern.

James looked at him, placed the game sheet in his right hand down, and forced a smile:

"It's nothing, just not happy with my performance tonight. I want to see what I didn't do well and improve next time."

In the game against the 76ers, James only scored 16 points on 5 of 12 shooting, and although he had 7 assists and 6 rebounds, he also committed a shocking 9 turnovers, which made for a poor performance overall.

Bosh's performance could only be described as mediocre, with 15 points and 7 rebounds on 6 of 12 shooting, nothing to write home about, though his play didn't hinder the team.

The Heat had won this game largely thanks to Wade's excellent performance. Wade hit 10 of 20 shots, 1 of 2 three-pointers, and 9 of 12 free throws, totaling 30 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks.

Besides Wade, James had stepped up, scoring 20 points on 6 of 9 three-point shooting, another key contribution to the team's victory.

"Uh..." Spoelstra organized his thoughts, "LeBron, you're doing a great job, it's just that the team's chemistry isn't quite there yet. We'll improve more and more; all we need is time."

James nodded, and before he could say anything, Wade, who had overheard their conversation, came closer and smiled:

"That's right, LeBron, beating the 76ers is just the beginning. We've found the right path, and when the chemistry falls into place, the championship is in the bag!"

"You're right, Dwayne, I'm a bit worried," James smiled and set the sheet of stats aside.

Spoelstra also smiled: "LeBron, I've always felt that you're the most versatile player in the league. Even though you made a few more mistakes tonight, it's not your fault. Once the chemistry is established and you have control, our offense is going to be scary."

"Yeah, that assist you gave James was really smart. I tried transitioning into a two-way guard before, but it didn't work well. With you, I can focus on scoring," Wade laughed.

Later, the three discussed the game, and Spoelstra called Bosh over, and the four of them went together for an interview.

After last night's game, the Big Three were also interviewed together. At least from here on out, in every game, even though everyone knows Bosh's strength isn't as good as James's and Wade's, in the Heat, the treatment of all three has always been the same.

The old fox, Pat Riley, would never put one person above another, and he wouldn't allow such a person to exist under the team he controlled.

In the eyes of the ruthless operator, team interests are above everything else. He could give O'Neal, at the tail end of his prime, a huge five-year, $100 million contract, just for a championship. And in Liam Gonzalez's previous life, he could also refuse to give Wade the absolute credit for the team, saving a little money and offering a contract that aligned with his status, which made Wade leave angry.

In fact, the Heat has never been Wade's team, but Pat Riley's team. Even though he's not the head coach of the team, he has participated in the design of nearly every Heat tactic, he's in charge of everything in the team, he is the emperor of the Heat.

In Liam Gonzalez's previous life, O'Neal once revealed in his autobiography, Unedited Shaq, that after joining the Heat, he found that Wade had always been trembling, afraid of doing something wrong. He was criticized by Pat Riley, who told Wade that superstars are the privileged class in this league, "You have to realize who you are," and after the Heat won the 2006 championship, Wade really had the mentality to match the status of a superstar.

James also understands the difference between the Heat and the Cavaliers. He is the true emperor in Cleveland, but in the Heat, he's just an outsider. After learning more about the Heat, he gradually realized that the promise Pat Riley made to him in the beginning might not be so easy to fulfill.

But he didn't come to Miami to be the number one point guard, he wanted to be the number one man in the NBA, and he only had one goal to pursue: Jordan.

And these last two games undoubtedly left him dissatisfied. Even tonight's victory made him feel even worse. If he came here to let Wade play the best game of his career, then why did he come to the Heat? Helping Wade compete for a championship?

He had to make Pat Riley realize that if he didn't get what he wanted, then Pat Riley wouldn't get the championship he wanted. Even though both of them needed a championship, a championship is not just a championship, and James could make any sacrifice, but that has to be if it's worth the money.

Now, he doesn't feel like they've paid him for that.

"LeBron, you didn't play as well tonight as you did yesterday, is it because of the back-to-backs?"

James, who was already sitting in the interview chair, heard the reporter's question and smiled: "No, we just didn't run things the way we needed to. I think over time, we'll build chemistry and definitely achieve what we want."

"Do you think you'll win?"

James nodded and said meaningfully:

"Of course, as long as we can play happily, we'll definitely get what we want, because we're brothers."

After saying that, he and Wade looked at each other and smiled.

End of this chapter

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