This season, Qin Yue, who played through minor injuries, contributed an average of 36.8 points, 14.4 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 3.8 blocks, and 1.6 steals in the 82 games he played for the Warriors.
Just looking at his on-court performance, the GOAT is still that GOAT.
But in terms of the team's overall record, the Warriors declined from last season's 70 wins to 61 wins this season.
Although many fans believed that as long as they made it to the playoffs, the defending champions could regain their competitive spirit.
But Brown, using his past experience, boldly predicted in TNT TV Station's playoff preview, "Without strong willpower, you are destined not to overcome the fatigue your body brings you.
In my view, perhaps only by losing once can the Warriors players understand that even the personal abilities of the Messiah have their limits."
In the first two rounds of the playoffs, the defending champions did not face much of a challenge, but as Brown said, they encountered an unprecedented test in the Western Conference Finals against the Lakers.
Especially after Qin Yue's old injury flared up again in the second game of the Western Conference Finals.
Due to accidentally spraining his right index finger, Qin Yue's shooting touch was affected, and the Warriors experienced a scoring drought lasting five minutes on the court.
In stark contrast to the Warriors were the Lakers players, who could seemingly make anything happen on the court.
This second game of the Western Conference Finals became a microcosm of the entire series.
In Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, Qin Yue, who had built a 7-point lead for the team before leaving the court, found the Warriors trailing the Lakers by 9 points when he returned in the final quarter.
Admittedly, Klay Thompson was in divine form that night, making 11 of 14 three-pointers.
The Lakers' new addition last summer, Joe Johnson, also complemented the declining Kobe perfectly.
But unlike before, this season, Qin Yue's teammates were visibly experiencing various issues.
Brown summarized on TNT TV Station, "What is the biggest problem for the Warriors? It's that most of the young players on this team have achieved success too easily without experiencing hardship."
After pausing, Brown added, "I know, in the eyes of many, my career with the Warriors can be described as smooth sailing, but before smooth sailing, my teammates and I experienced the season where the Messiah was sidelined due to injury."
Ultimately, as the league deliberately targeted them, the defending champions fell 3-4 in this year's Western Conference Finals.
After the game, regarding the collapse of the Warriors Dynasty, Qin Yue said in a particularly calm tone, "You can't only praise your teammates in times of success, in my view, this season the Lakers deserved to play in the Finals more than we did, that's all."
As one of the "culprits" of this Western Conference Finals, Curry tearfully said, "I swear, no one will want to face us next season, absolutely!"
In the NBA, winning the championship is as sweet as the blow the entire team feels after losing the chance to advance to the Finals.
But for the Warriors, who had already won five consecutive titles...
The collapse of the Warriors' First Dynasty might not necessarily be a bad thing.
Because the collapse of an old dynasty...
Often means the start of a new one.
About three weeks later, the Lakers defeated the "useless even if given a chance" Knicks 4-3 in the Finals and claimed this year's NBA championship.
Although in terms of lineup, the Lakers, with the Gasol Brothers, Klay, Kobe, Paul, and Joe Johnson, could only be described as evenly matched with the star-studded Knicks.
But, as a spectator, Qin Yue once again witnessed in the Finals Harden's mysterious disappearance and Howard's mental collapse.
Additionally, it's worth mentioning that in the final selection of Finals MVP, Kobe edged out teammates Joe Johnson and Klay Thompson with an average of 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists to become the FMVP for the 14/15 season.
What? You ask where Chris Paul, who was among the top two in FMVP odds before the Finals started, went?
That's because...
The Knicks have their "Sleeping Dragon."
The Lakers might very well have their "Phoenix Chick."
Let's just say, in this "Dropping the Ball" battle, Klay and Single-Player Joe in the Lakers camp saved Soldier Paul.
While for the Knicks...
Durant's "margin for error" ultimately wasn't enough to lead "faulty brother" Harden to the title.
"This is definitely the most wonderful moment of my life."
At the Staples Center, Kobe, with tears streaming down his face, said while lifting his fifth personal championship trophy, "Although in the past, I kept telling myself not to give up easily, honestly, I never thought that before the end of my career, I could lead the Lakers to a championship once more."
In this life, Kobe, who continuously tried to transform his career in its later stages, was both unfortunate and fortunate.
Unfortunate because, in this era called "Great Qin," in the head-to-head record against Qin Yue and the Warriors, Kobe and the Lakers could only be described as repeatedly defeated yet undeterred, repeatedly trying.
But fortunate because, with the Lakers management's various "godly moves" and his own perseverance, Kobe acquired the same number of championship rings as in Qin Yue's memory late in his career.
It's just that, on this night that should have had Los Angeles celebrating for at least three days and nights...
