After five games, four teams had already advanced to the conference semifinals.
In the East, James had lived up to expectations, sweeping the Pacers 4-0.
Indeed, the Cleveland Cavaliers had put up a very ordinary regular-season record this year. Indeed, LeBron James's influence around the league had gradually diminished because of Link and Durant.
But only in the playoffs could you witness the true LeBron James.
No matter how he and the Cavaliers performed in the regular season, he was absolutely still one of the strongest contenders for the championship.
Out West, the Golden State Warriors became the first team in the entire league to advance to the second round. They cleanly dispatched the Thunder 4-0, bringing Westbrook's season of averaging a triple-double to an end.
The Houston Rockets had also successfully advanced to the second round. This dark horse, originally overlooked by everyone but suddenly rising to prominence this season, had maintained its upward momentum in the playoffs.
How far could Harden go? That had become one of the most talked-about topics of this year's playoffs.
On the evening after the Houston Rockets advanced, a highly renowned nightclub in Houston announced that it would retire Harden's jersey that night—because Harden had not visited the place for an entire year!
They also stated that the retirement ceremony that night would be very lively and welcomed everyone to attend.
Clearly, this was a marketing gimmick the nightclub had come up with to ride the Rockets' wave of popularity after advancing.
The hook of "Harden's retirement ceremony at a nightclub" was enough to draw in a huge crowd of young men and women.
But the fact that Harden had not gone to that nightclub for an entire year was indisputable!
The old Harden had never really been a particularly reliable franchise player.