On May 21, the atmosphere in the conference room at the Boston Celtics' training facility was heavy yet filled with anticipation.
With Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals over, Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals was set to begin the following day.
"Boss, who do you think our opponent in the Finals will be?" Tony Allen broke the silence first, asking Goodwin, who sat nearby.
His voice was quiet, but it was enough to draw everyone's attention.
Before his words had even faded, his teammates all turned toward Goodwin, their gazes converging on him.
The corners of Goodwin's lips lifted slightly into a confident smile. His eyes looked steadily into the distance, as though he had already seen the Finals battlefield.
"The Golden State Warriors!" he answered without hesitation, his tone brimming with intense desire and resolve.
At that moment, Goodwin's heart was full of anticipation for the Finals.
For this "veteran" on the verge of retirement, facing the Golden State Warriors in the Finals would undoubtedly be the finest curtain call of his career.
At the thought, Goodwin instinctively stuck out his tongue and lightly licked his lips. He looked like a starving beast about to pounce on its prey.
He wanted to savor the "Golden State Warriors," this carefully developed dish, properly.
Just then, a sharp whistle rang through the conference room.
Beep beep! Everyone's attention instantly shifted to the big screen, where Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals officially got underway.
From the opening tip, Stephen Curry displayed astonishing form. He flashed across the court like lightning, constantly hunting for scoring opportunities.
Even against tight defense, Stephen Curry showed no fear. With superb ball-handling and pinpoint shooting, he repeatedly tore through the opposition's defensive line.
In the first quarter alone, Curry went 4-for-6 from