“I am a system player, we are all system players.”

After the game, Tang Tian responded very positively to the comments on social media at the press conference.

2-0, two big wins. The progress of the Western Conference Finals between the Pelicans and the Rockets was unexpected.

While fans were complaining about the Rockets' performance, they were also sighing at the Pelicans' strength.

This Pelicans team has been refreshing their understanding bit by bit since the start of the season.

Just like Tang Tian showed at the press conference, he seemed very calm no matter what the situation.

After the first two games, the next two games would move to Houston.

There was a three-day break in between.

At this time, the first two games of the Eastern and Western Conference Semifinals also ended one after another.

In the East, the Cavaliers led the Heat 2-0.

Although the Heat lost two consecutive away games, Hassan Whiteside performed very well, averaging 20.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game, dominating the Cavaliers' inside.

The Knicks and the Raptors tied 1-1.

Although Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan didn't perform as well as in the regular season, Jonas Valanciunas and DeMarre Carroll performed well, and the two sides were evenly matched.

The Warriors and the Thunder also tied 1-1.

The Warriors' after-effects of trying their best in the regular season came out, and the whole team was exhausted. If it weren't for their strong strength, they might already be down 0-2.

Just as the Eastern and Western Conference Semifinals were in full swing, Woj broke the news that the Rockets would hold Yao Ming's jersey retirement ceremony before the next game.

Yao Ming had already announced his retirement in 2011, and five years had passed in a flash.

Yao Ming spent eight years of his career with the Rockets. He helped Alexander go from being the poorest owner in the league to being one of the best, and he also opened the door to the Chinese market for the NBA, allowing Houston to build a Chinatown, making huge contributions to the Rockets and Houston.

His jersey retirement was almost a certainty.

As early as the regular season, there were rumors that Yao Ming might have a jersey retirement ceremony this summer, and the preparations had been almost completed.

It was just unexpected that it would be brought forward suddenly.

But thinking about it carefully, it seems understandable.

The Rockets have the most luxurious lineup in history, but now they are suffering repeated defeats. They need some off-court factors to motivate the players.

Yao Ming, as a legendary player of the Rockets, his retirement will definitely have a positive and positive effect on the Rockets' performance.

The day before the third game, the entire Pelicans team arrived in Houston and continued their daily training after arriving.

Although they were leading 2-0 by a large margin, they must not take it lightly.

After all, the Rockets' hard power was there, and with Woj's news, the first away game would definitely not be so easy.

And three days was enough time for the Rockets to make some adjustments.

On the night of the game, the Toyota Center was packed, and many Rockets legends came to the scene, Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler...

Yao Ming's former teammates, Tracy McGrady, Dikembe Mutombo, Shane Battier, Steve Francis and others were all present.

NBA President Adam Silver also came to the scene to witness this historic moment.

Because of the retirement ceremony, the arena was already packed an hour before the game started.

The two teams also entered the arena early.

Tang Tian greeted Yao Ming. The two hadn't seen each other since last summer.

"I'll take you to Yao Restaurant for supper tonight. I have a lot to talk to you about."

Yao Ming extended an invitation to Tang Tian during the hug.

Tang Tian nodded. He had no reason to refuse.

Forty-five minutes before the game, the Yao Ming jersey retirement ceremony officially began.

The players on both sides stood in front of the bench to watch.

Yao Ming's contribution to the NBA was not only to the Rockets and Houston, but also to the entire league.

Yao Ming's Rockets No. 11 jersey was framed and erected in the center of the court.

Yao Ming sat next to it, with the heavyweight guests who attended on both sides of him.

McGrady, Francis and Mutombo sat on one side, and Olajuwon, Alexander and Silver sat on the other side.

The host introduced the people present one by one. When Yao Ming was finally introduced, the cheers at the scene lasted for a long time.

Tang Tian also reached out and applauded.

He even fantasized about the scene when his jersey would be retired.

That was the most important moment and the greatest pride for a player.

After the introduction, Yao Ming began his jersey retirement speech.

"When I walked into this arena again and looked up at my number that was about to be hung above the arena, I knew that my New Year's wish had failed, because it was impossible for me to sign a 10-day short contract with the Rockets again."

Yao Ming's opening remarks made many people in the audience laugh.

Tang Tian also laughed.

Because Yao Ming was tall and looked a bit dull, many people called him a big fool or silly Yao.

But in fact, Yao Ming's basketball IQ and emotional intelligence were both top-notch.

He then teased the teammates who came to support him one by one, from his early big brother Francis, to Mutombo, and finally to McGrady, who was holding his mobile phone and broadcasting live on Instagram.

"Although there are many unknown things on the court, as long as you remember one principle, hand the ball to McGrady in the last 35 seconds."

When he talked about McGrady, his words caused another burst of cheers at the scene, and McGrady kept laughing.

"Do you know what I said to my neighbor when I drove home after that game? He turned off the TV a few minutes before the end of that game. I told him that McGrady and I scored 15 points together in the last minute and reversed the game."

He even used the梗 (geng, internet meme) of scoring 83 points together with Kobe.

Tang Tian couldn't help cheering for him.

His jersey retirement ceremony must be so interesting in the future.

At the end of his speech, he told a funny story about celebrating the Spring Festival in the United States.

In his first Spring Festival, each of his teammates gave him a red envelope, but when he opened it, there were only two dollars inside.

"So I said to Dawson, the then general manager, 'We usually put at least 10 dollars, not 2 dollars.' Then Dawson said, 'You know the team has a salary cap, right?'"

At the end of his speech, Yao Ming also used this story to summarize.

"To this day, I still have one of those two-dollar bills in my wallet, because I know that no matter where I go, no matter how far I go, as long as I have it with me, my home is there."

His speech ended, and the entire Toyota Center was boiling.

The Rockets players had excitement in their eyes.

This was the role of the team's legendary star.

Amidst the cheers, the curtain of Yao Ming's No. 11 jersey was unveiled, and from then on, there was a new retired jersey in the sky above the Toyota Center.

After the jersey retirement ceremony, Yao Ming turned around and hugged Silver, hugged Alexander, hugged Mutombo, and finally hugged and whispered with the Rockets' Big Three.

The Rockets hoped to use Yao Ming to inspire the Rockets players, and Yao Ming was willing to do so.

"More patience, keep your emotions in check, believe that you can beat anyone..."

Yao Ming talked a lot with Cousins, who was also a center. If possible, the two could talk for an hour.

Tang Tian took a deep breath when he saw this and pulled his emotions out of the retirement ceremony.

Tonight, there would definitely be a fierce battle.