The next morning, when the first ray of sunlight pierced through Chicago's morning mist and fell upon the massive bronze statue of Jordan outside the United Center, the entire basketball world was still immersed in the aftermath of yesterday's epic showdown.
Sports channels across every major network were replaying Li Fei's game-winning shot almost nonstop.
Kevin Harlan's roaring call of "The Flying Dagger!" had already become a new classic.
Meanwhile, TNT's star commentary crew—Marv Albert, Bill Walton, and the others—conducted an in-depth review and analysis of the season opener on their special program, Inside the NBA.
Under the studio lights, the enormous tactics board was covered with magnetic pieces representing players from both teams.
Marv Albert spoke first, his voice carrying a lingering sense of awe. "Gentlemen, what we witnessed last night was not merely a great game. It may have been a seismic shift in the league's balance of power. What surprised me most was how completely different both teams looked compared to last season."
Bill Walton, the legendary center renowned for his sharp words and freewheeling imagination, stroked his signature red hair and picked up the thread. "That's right, Marv. Look at the Chicago Bulls. They're no longer that finely tuned Triangle Offense machine under Phil Jackson. Now they play something more... classical. Michael, Carl, and Patrick are all masters of the low post and mid-range game. But more importantly, they have Sam Cassell and Ron Harper."
He moved the pieces representing Cassell and Harper, tracing smooth passing routes across the tactics board.
"These two are both classic floor-general point guards. They don't chase glory, they have broad vision, and they can precisely find the stars in the best scoring positions. Last night, the Bulls' offense was extremely orderly. Every pass had a clear purpose. They were like