As Li Fei's words fell, thunderous applause erupted in the room. The fatigue and dejection faded from every player's face, replaced by determination and fighting spirit in their eyes.
Jeff Van Gundy walked over and clapped his hands, signaling everyone to quiet down. The short, stout head coach with glasses wore a serious expression, yet carried an infectious force about him.
"Brothers, Li Fei is right. We have no way back. Game 7 is our final battle—it is the moment we make our dreams come true!"
"I know many people say I'm no match for Phil Jackson, that I don't have his tactical acumen or his championship pedigree. But I want to say this: I have all of you. I have a group of players willing to give everything for one another, and that is enough!"
"I'm reminded of the Spartan warriors of ancient Greece. Facing enemies several times their number, they did not retreat or fear. With blood and courage, they defended their honor and wrote an immortal legend."
"Now, we are like those Spartan warriors. The Lakers are our enemy. They are powerful, they are playing at home, and they have the support of countless fans. But we have our pride, our conviction, and our courage too!"
"Some say we lost by 22 points last night, that we're in poor form and have no chance of winning. But I say losing isn't scary. What's scary is losing your fighting spirit. What's scary is giving up hope."
"Do you remember our final regular-season game against the Bulls? We were down by 15 points, but in the final three minutes, we fought back from the brink. With sheer determination, we came back and won. In that moment, we proved that we are a team that never gives up!"
"Basketball is