Because of Jordan’s retirement, the NBA’s popularity dropped quite a bit in the 93/94 season, but if you evaluate it objectively, the NBA Finals that season could truly be called a classic.

First, let’s look at the two teams: the Knicks had the 1985 number one pick, one of the four great centers, the “Big Gorilla” Ewing, while the Rockets also had the 1984 number one pick, the top of the four great centers, “The Dream” Olajuwon.

Before the game started, looking at both teams’ rosters, the Knicks’ lineup did seem superior. However, for William Sullivan, who already knows the outcome of this series, William Sullivan is well aware that the Knicks’ seemingly better lineup wouldn’t actually give them much of an advantage in this series...

First, at the shooting guard position, it looked like the Knicks had the star player John Starks, nicknamed “the Madman,” known for his strong defense and three-point shooting.

In the 93/94 season, Starks averaged 19 points per game, was selected as an All-Star and made the All-Defensive Second Team. In the future, Starks would also win Sixth Man of the Year, making him Ewing’s right-hand man this season.

But on the Rockets’ side, they had Vernon Maxwell, who could match up with Starks.

On the surface, Starks was a star, while Maxwell was just an ordinary starter. In William Sullivan’s previous life, many keyboard warriors who knew Maxwell were even called “big shots” by their peers. But just because someone isn’t famous doesn’t mean they lack ability.

As a key contributor during the Rockets’ back-to-back championships, Maxwell was strong on both offense and defense. In this series, Starks, who was similar in build to Maxwell, would find it hard to get the better of him, because Maxwell was the kind of player who would always trade evenly...

Unless you were “the old rascal” or had some unique skills, you’d end up going fifty-fifty with him...

As for Oakley, whom Kobe Bryant mentioned, as the Knicks’ “old rascal”—Emmmmm, this guy is a real “old rascal,” and there’s nothing positive about it, it’s purely a negative term...

Oakley was notorious for his dirty play. Of course, in the eyes of many tough guys, this “dirtiness” was hyped up as brutality and passion...

In short, Oakley might be effective against others, but against The Dream?

Don’t kid yourself. At this time, The Dream was someone even a certain world-dominating Shaq would back down from...

And while the Knicks had Oakley, the Rockets also had Robert Horry.

If you look at this series from a metaphysical perspective, Horry was definitely the Rockets’ number one contributor...

Because, as William Sullivan knows from the future, Horry is simply one of the NBA’s strongest “causality weapons”...

In the NBA, if you have Horry... your chances of winning a championship are as high as 43.75%.

Sixteen-year career, seven championships—anyone who’s watched the NBA knows about Horry’s luck.

Therefore, in William Sullivan’s view, the Knicks only seemed to have the advantage; in reality, they and the Rockets were evenly matched...

And with both teams’ rosters and strength being about the same, The Dream would end up dominating this series.

In William Sullivan’s previous life, after the first four games were tied 2-2, the Knicks won the pivotal Game 5, and things looked great for them.

However, in Game 6, in the final seconds, Olajuwon made a decision that would change the course of his destiny.

At that moment, the Knicks, who had possession and a chance to clinch the series, passed the ball to Starks in the final moments...

Then, The Dream suddenly abandoned his matchup with Ewing and rushed out to the perimeter, where Starks had a three-point opportunity.

After the game, Olajuwon explained, “They wanted the championship as much as we did. If they made that shot (referring to Starks’ potential game-winner), they’d be champions. So I was sure John (Starks) would take the shot.”

The Dream’s decision changed history.

Sure enough, Starks took the shot just as he expected.

This time, Olajuwon didn’t let the championship slip away before his eyes like he did in college.

Olajuwon got a piece of Starks’ game-winning attempt, Starks missed, and the Rockets narrowly escaped elimination, tying the series at 3-3.

In Game 7, affected by his failed game-winner in Game 6, Starks completely lost his form, going 0-for-11 from three, “helping” the Rockets clinch the championship in one go.

Looking back at this Finals, The Dream truly carried the entire team on his shoulders. On both ends of the court, you could see Olajuwon everywhere. As for Ewing, perhaps it’s just as people say...

He was just one breath short!

That’s why William Sullivan believes that the tiny gap between Olajuwon and Ewing would decide the outcome of this series.

It’s just that Kobe Bryant wasn’t really convinced by William Sullivan’s explanation, and since William Sullivan knew Kobe Bryant’s personality well, he didn’t bother arguing further...

But Kobe Bryant’s father, Joe, thought William Sullivan was quite an interesting kid.

...

“So bloody...” As the 93/94 Finals began, William Sullivan couldn’t help but sigh.

“So brutal...” At that moment, Kobe Bryant and William Sullivan were finally in agreement.