Bab 348: Chapter 83 It Can't Get Any Worse

[In the 1986 Western Conference Finals, we headed to Houston feeling relaxed and joyful. After all, we were leading 2-0 and could already see the Finals waving at us.]

[I was extremely excited inside. I thought this was a great opportunity to get revenge on the people of Houston, to make them regret not choosing me back in 1983.]

[It proved that going into the matchup with this mindset was wrong. We underestimated the Houstonians' intense desire for victory and Hakeem's determination to defeat Ah Gan.]

[During the playoffs, Hakeem had no private contact with me. Of course, we would exchange a few words on the court, chat during downtime, but when things got heated we would trash-talk, which was rare in the past.]

[Hakeem had been notably provoked in the first two games; suppressed by Ah Gan, beaten by Ah Gan's buzzer-beater, but he seemed relaxed before the start of Game 3, even smiling.]