Chicago's night was quieter than usual.
In the plaza outside the United Center, several longtime fans stood in the cold wind, watching game highlights replay on the big screen. There was no anger or disappointment on their faces, only a calm, almost relieved expression.
"We lost by 21 points," an elderly man with graying hair said, holding a steaming cup of coffee. "But honestly, I'm not surprised at all."
The person beside him asked, "Why?"
The old man took a sip of coffee. "Because Li Fei is too strong. Jordan was strong at that age too. But Jordan wasn't 7'4", didn't have an 8-foot wingspan, and didn't have that kind of body control that let him pull up for a jumper on the break. Li Fei is a player we've never seen before. He's not a center, not a forward, not a guard—he's all of those positions combined. You can't defend a 7'4" monster who can do everything."
A young man in a Bulls number 23 jersey leaned against the railing, hands in his pockets, watching Li Fei's dunk highlights on the big screen.
"I'm actually pretty calm," he said quietly. "Not because I don't care, but because I've already accepted the truth. Jordan is 37, Malone is 34, and Ewing is 37. The core of this team averages 35 years old. You expect them to outrun a team with an average age of 27? Impossible."
He paused, and a bitter smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Besides, honestly, I'm already satisfied just being able to watch Jordan play in the playoffs. When he retired last year, I thought I'd never see him again. But he came back. Even without Pippen, without Rodman, without Phil Jackson, he's still Jordan. As long as he's standing on the court in