"Redemption City" had just come out, and it ignited the whole of Indiana.
At the same time, the media clearly realized that the Pacers' seemingly luxurious lineup consisted mostly of players at the low ebb of their careers, with numerous hidden dangers:
Kobe had taken the lead in winning the championship, putting Shaquille O'Neal's "three consecutive Finals MVPs" under scrutiny. He was about to turn 37 in five months, and it was unknown how much fuel was left in this "old diesel engine."
Zach Randolph's image as a "data brush" was deeply ingrained in everyone's mind, whether they were New Yorkers or Blazers fans. They believed that without him, the team's future would be brighter. His underwhelming performance against Kevin Garnett and Perkins in the Eastern Conference Finals had cast doubt on his ability to play tough games.
