NBA's King of Talking

Chapter 298 Advancement to the Eastern Conference Finals Again

A 3-0 lead versus a 2-1 lead—the difference in circumstances is enormous. For the Wizards, another win would level the playing field, setting the stage for a decisive Game 5.

The Wizards have resumed interviews...

In an interview, Wall stated that they have not given up, they will not surrender, and the series has only just begun!

Bao Pi stated that he never considered the regular season MVP to be the most important honor. He also has an MVP award, which is much more valuable: the Finals MVP!

Beal stated that the Hawks should return to Atlanta with a 2-2 score, and they need to maintain their winning streak and win four straight games!

Head coach Randy Whitman, on the other hand, seemed more cautious. He said they would continue to play with a sense of desperation, as they were still behind, still at a disadvantage, and their opponents were very strong, leaving them little room for error.

Jia Fei remains optimistic about the team's prospects. The opponents are certainly not pushovers; they are quite strong. However, the situation from the last match cannot continue indefinitely.

The referees can't keep favoring the Wizards. The league certainly doesn't want to see too many 3-0 series, so it's normal for them to fall behind in Game 3. Wall can't stay this accurate from three-point range forever; if he could, the Wizards would already be the top team in the East. A breakout performance is a breakout performance precisely because it's unsustainable.

On May 8th, Game 4 of the Hawks vs. Wizards series.

Neither side made any lineup changes, not even the Hawks, who lost their last game. This surprised many experts, as it was the team's first loss in the playoffs, and it seems their coaching staff had no intention of adjusting the starting lineup.

However, they will inevitably make adjustments; they cannot simply sit idly by and wait for their doom.

Sure enough, the Hawks made adjustments on both offense and defense after the game started.

Offensively, the ball movement was sped up, Jia Fei's passes became quicker, and his outside shooting was more decisive. When opportunities weren't plentiful, they attacked the paint more often, penetrating the opponent's restricted area. Defensively, they increased protection of the paint, continuing to disregard Wall's long-range shooting. They also double-teamed Nene and Bao Pi, preventing them from easily getting one-on-one opportunities.

Wall was furious at the disrespect shown to him by his opponents, and his poor shooting performance showed everyone that he didn't need to be respected. Beal was having a tough time being defended by Jia Fei, and his emotions were on the verge of spiraling out of control. Bao Pi, on the other hand, demonstrated his veteran ability, easily taking down Korver one-on-one.

Nene was also very frustrated by being double-teamed, and many fans wondered if a guy with only one egg could have such a temper.

The Hawks controlled the pace of the game, and Jia Fei and his team played methodically, using experience and excellent teamwork to dismantle their opponents.

When the Wizards pulled center Gortat and brought in Okon Porter Jr., the Hawks allowed Mills to punish them severely in the low post. When they relinquished their height advantage in the paint, the game was effectively over.

Ultimately, the Hawks secured a match point on the road, delivering a decisive victory to declare themselves the better team in this series.

Jia Fei contributed a triple-double with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. This was his second triple-double in the playoffs and his first in this season's playoffs. He defeated his opponent in this way, letting them know the strength of the newly crowned regular season MVP.

After the game, the Wizards refused to give interviews again...

When asked by a reporter about his opinion on the Wizards' refusal to be interviewed, Jia Fei laughed and said, "Their refusal to be interviewed has nothing to do with me. I'm fine with not refusing you guys."

The Hawks returned victorious, and they now have a chance to finish the series on home soil.

On May 11, Game 5 of the Hawks vs. Wizards series.

For the Wizards, they are already standing on the edge of a precipice...

Neither side made any lineup changes, meaning there were no secrets left between them. Whether or not they changed their lineups wouldn't alter the course of the series. The Wizards lacked an X-factor, and the Hawks had no key players suffering major injuries; the series was completely tipped in the Hawks' favor.

The game was largely predictable, with the Wizards even performing worse than in Game 4. Frustration permeated the team, and their mentality noticeably changed in the second half.

Ultimately, the Hawks easily defeated the Wizards at home, winning the series 4-1 and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals!

This marks their second consecutive season advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they will face the winner between the Cavaliers and the Bulls. The Cavaliers currently lead the Bulls 3-2, giving them a slight edge in the standings.

In the home team's locker room after the match, Jia Fei and head coach Budenholzer embraced tightly.

"Thank you, Jia! Thank you for leading us to the Eastern Conference Finals again!" Coach Buden's heartfelt words moved Jia Fei.

"Coach, I don't want to go through what happened last year again. This time, I must win!" Jia Fei's words were short but firm. Last year, they were swept 4-1 by the Heat. After sweeping the Bulls and Pacers 4-1 in two consecutive rounds, they were taught a harsh lesson by the defending champions.

This season, the Heat missed the playoffs, but the Cavaliers emerged as a dark horse, and the Cavaliers formed a Big Three. Clearly, the Cavaliers will have to pay for the Heat's defeat last year!

P.S.: Bulls: "I'm not out of the game yet!"

The Bulls aren't out yet, but they're on their last legs. The Running Man actor might not excel in adversity, but once he gains the upper hand, he rarely falters in favorable situations.

After the Hawks advanced, they began to focus on the Cavaliers and Bulls series.

On May 15th, the Cavaliers defeated the Bulls on the road, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Eastern Conference Finals matchup will now be Hawks vs. Cavaliers.

The top two teams in the Eastern Conference regular season ultimately advanced to the conference finals, which means that there were no major upsets in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Even before the Eastern Conference Finals have begun, various pre-match previews of the two teams have already been released.

Whether it's the odds offered by bookmakers or the predictions of various experts and legends, the Cavaliers are the favored team. Even though Kevin Love, one of the Cavaliers' Big Three, had his arm broken by Olynyk, the Celtics' center, in the first round against them, and even though Kyrie Irving has been plagued by a leg injury, the Cavaliers are still considered the better team.

Jia Fei has never thought that being favored is a good thing. As the saying goes, "the most popular team will surely fail." The game is won by playing, not by hype.

He's so excited! Finally, he got his chance to get revenge on Running Man! Running Man didn't get eliminated early, and he made it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

The painful experience of being eliminated last season is still fresh in my mind...

Jia Fei didn't want to be eliminated that way. Last season's Eastern Conference Finals exit was the first time he had led his team to an elimination since leaving the Thunder. He wasn't so upset when he was with the Thunder and they were eliminated in the Finals, but last season's exit was very painful for him.