With the big game imminent, the pregame interviews for both teams also drew attention.
When the two teams met during the Regular Season, James and Durant had been asked whether they had come to Los Angeles because of Tang Tian.
Their answers had been completely different at the time, and fans had discussed them for a long time afterward.
Now that the two teams had truly met in the Western Conference Finals, a roundabout version of that question was brought up again.
"KD previously said that you came to Los Angeles to defeat the Pelicans, that you are the Avengers. Do you think you can succeed in getting your revenge?"
The reporter was a real old fox. Compared to the previous question, this one left the two of them no room to dodge.
"Yes, of course."
Durant's answer was the same as before, still as direct as ever.
"I know what Barkley said, and we all know how the movie ends."
James was still James. Though he had not said it outright, his meaning was obvious.
The Avengers series had reached its staged conclusion, and Thanos, the greatest villain, was ultimately defeated by the assembled Avengers.
If they followed the movie's script, the Avengers would be the ones to win in the end.
In other words, he meant that the Lakers would win.
On the Pelicans' side, local Los Angeles reporters asked a similar question.
"Barkley compared you to Thanos on his show, and compared James and Durant to the Avengers. The Lakers are the Avengers. What do you think?"
It was the same question, but directed at Tang Tian, the comparison became far less flattering.
Just as James had implied, if he was Thanos, then he would ultimately be defeated.
After all, the person asking the question was a