The Bulls had reached the end of an era!

West's breathing quickened. "The Zen Master... that's right! Only him! Only his Triangle Offense can perfectly accommodate Shaq and Kobe! If he could make Jordan and Pippen coexist, he can definitely unleash the OK Duo's full power!"

"As it happens, things aren't exactly peaceful in Chicago right now, either."

An almost imperceptible smile curved Dr. Buss's lips. "The Chicago Bulls have already decided to tear it all down and rebuild. With only Karl Malone at Michael's side, they can no longer sustain the Triangle Offense. I've heard that their general manager, Krause, has had it in for Phil for a long time."

West slapped the table excitedly. "Their conflict is a gift from heaven! Jordan's getting old, and the Bulls' Triangle Offense has lost much of its punch, but we have the OK Duo in their prime! Shaq's dominance in the low post, Kobe's ability to draw defensive attention on the perimeter—those two are practically tailor-made for the Triangle Offense!"

"So," Jerry Buss turned around and fixed West with an intense gaze, "Jerry, forget about players. This summer, we have only one goal: bring Phil Jackson to Los Angeles, whatever it takes!"

Game 7 between the San Antonio Spurs and the Lakers detonated like a bomb across the United States' sports media.

The next day, the front pages of major newspapers and the lead stories on news websites were dominated by the breathtaking showdown.

ESPN's headline was succinct: "Twin towers defend San Antonio! Spurs edge Lakers 4–3, return to NBA Finals after years away!" The article broke down every crucial possession of Game 7 and lavished praise on Popovich's stunning third-quarter lineup change, calling it "a masterstroke of genius." It also mercilessly criticized Del Harris's sluggish response down the stretch.

TNT's commentators, meanwhile, launched into a heated debate on air.