After the team meeting ended, the Knicks underwent a complete transformation in spirit and mentality.
The praise from the outside world, the pressure of their winning streak, and the temptation of historical records were all completely stripped away.
All that remained was the purest focus and an ultimate desire to win.
Li Fei's forceful declaration set the tone for the entire team's low-key final push.
Jordan's sharing of experience calmed everyone's restless mindset.
The two cores—one forceful, one steady; one inside, one outside—completely revitalized the morale of the entire team.
No player slacked off or coasted, and no one harbored any illusions of luck.
From basic shuttle runs in the practice facility to simulated offensive and defensive tactical drills, every Knicks practice maintained playoff-level intensity and pressure.
The entire team was united, with everyone holding back a fire inside.
They wanted to claim twenty straight wins and challenge the miraculous 33-game winning streak that had stood untouched for decades.
Their next regular-season opponent was the Miami Heat, a long-established powerhouse of the Eastern Conference.
This Heat team was not a top-tier powerhouse, but they were absolutely one of the toughest bones to chew in the Eastern Conference.
Their core player, Alonzo Mourning, was widely recognized around the league as a hard-nosed, iron-blooded interior player.
His style was fierce, his physical play was brutal, and his defense was relentless. He never feared battling any big man in the paint.
Over several previous seasons, Mourning had faced Li Fei head-on multiple times. Though he had lost again and again, he had never backed down.
The Heat's overall defensive system was tight, their rotations and help defense were solid, and they excelled at grinding opponents down and slowing the pace.
Many strong teams had stumbled, dropped games, and fallen short against the Heat's