It's the afternoon of June 18th.
With four and a half hours left until Game 4 of the Finals against the Heat, Zack was devouring a pepperoni pizza by himself.
This flavor of pizza happened to be his rival Kobe's favorite.
"A reasonable, healthy diet can certainly help a player achieve greatness, but before a game, good food can also uplift your mood. And a good mood can help you be twice as effective in the game."
Unlike some legendary players who reportedly viewed delicious food as an enemy and wished they could eat only nutritious meals, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant would never refuse junk food like burgers, pizza, and fries before a game.
In fact, the great "God of Basketball" even had a "pizza poisoning" incident during the Finals.
That happened before Game 5 of the 1997 Finals.
The night before the game, desperately hungry, Jordan had no room service at his hotel, so he was forced to order takeout from the only pizza place still open.
Rumor has it that when the pizza arrived, his trainer, Tim Grover, saw five burly guys delivering it and felt something was off, advising Jordan not to eat it.
However, Jordan, unable to resist the temptation of good food, ate the pizza anyway. The result? From 2 AM until the start of the game, he was completely exhausted, suffering from vomiting and diarrhea.
But this "poisoned pizza" ultimately couldn't help the Jazz stop the Bulls.
Instead, it became a talking point for Jordan in his future documentary, "The Last Dance," especially after he dropped 38 points that night to lead the Bulls to victory.
Of course, Zack, who only wanted to use food to lift his spirits, had no intention of imitating Jordan's experience.
Therefore, the delicious pizza he enjoyed before Game 4 of the Finals was specially made for him by an Italian chef accompanying the Warriors.
Zack wanted to greet his first championship trophy with a good mood.
This was a moment he had dreamed of.
And it was a moment Warriors fans had waited thirty-one long years for.
It was truly incredible, as just the year before, the Warriors were a dismal team with only 13 wins in the regular season.
On the evening of the 18th, as Zack and his teammates boarded the bus to head to the American Airlines Arena, every Warriors player's face was a mix of nervousness and excitement.
This was definitely the most dreamlike moment of their lives.
Mike Dunleavy, experiencing the playoffs for the first time this season, couldn't even imagine that he was about to become a champion.
Keep in mind, that was an achievement even his father had never accomplished.
On the bus, Dunleavy looked at Zack, who was listening to music with headphones on, and noticed that other Warriors players were also looking towards their Messiah at almost the same time.
Murphy, who had transformed from a "softie" to an "iron-blooded tough guy," was also playing in the playoffs for the first time this year.
Although many Warriors fans and neutral observers were curious about Murphy's 180-degree shift in playing style on the court, only Murphy knew the true source of his toughness and grit.
Once a person transforms from a "salted fish" (someone without ambition) into a "salted fish with dreams," they are bound to unleash energy far beyond what anyone could imagine.
Jason Richardson, the former Dunk Contest champion on whom Warriors fans had once placed high hopes, was also a "salted fish" awakened by Zack's spectacular performances.
Taking a twenty-dollar bill from Artest, Richardson smiled and said, "Ron, still want to bet with me?"
Artest glared at Richardson and said, "I seriously suggest the NBA should drug test you. How on earth did you make five threes last game?"
Richardson made a face at Artest and said, "I've always been the best shooter on our team."
Artest retorted angrily, "That's only because I'm responsible for defending the opposing team's core perimeter player every night!"
Richardson nodded and said, "I appreciate your work ethic, but Ron, you have to admit, your threes aren't as accurate as mine."
The next second, a furious Artest immediately started wrestling with Richardson on the bus.
"They're just two immature brats who will never grow up," thought Davis, who quickly turned his head the other way. He definitely didn't want to be background fodder for Artest and Richardson's antics in a future Warriors championship documentary.
About five minutes later, at Zack's signal, Brown and Biedrins stepped forward to separate Artest and Richardson.
Inside the Warriors team, similar scenes of harmony and friendly banter happened almost daily.
But no matter how much the teammates messed around, as soon as Zack spoke...
They had to stop the ruckus.
This was the supreme authority Zack had established within the Warriors.
If anyone disagreed, Zack wouldn't hesitate to show them who the toughest player on this Warriors team truly was.
Sitting next to Zack, Jack, whose average playing time had been reduced to around 10 minutes since the playoffs began, quietly said to Zack, "Those two stubborn mules, neither of them is willing to back down first."
Seeing this, Zack took off his headphones, walked to the back row, put one hand on Artest, and patted Richardson's shoulder with the other. He said in a calm tone, "Haven't you two had enough?"
At this moment, Artest and Richardson, who had just been bickering, immediately put on innocent expressions for Zack.
"Behave yourselves and save your energy to unleash on the court."
After a pause, Zack stood up and added, "Tonight, I'll give each of you a ring as a reward for being obedient just now."
Hearing this, Artest and Richardson, who had been quarreling fiercely just moments before, immediately became the best of friends, chatting away.
Because compared to arguing about who was the best shooter on the Warriors, they cared more about the ring they could get just by being obedient.
The Warriors' bus arrived at the American Airlines Arena 45 minutes before the game.
After the first three games, the home crowd's excitement had dwindled.
After all, trailing 0-3 in the series...
Even the most naive Heat fan would have mentally prepared for losing this Finals series.
It was cruel, but it was the truth—in NBA history, no team has ever come back from a 0-3 deficit.
During warm-ups, from the excitement, nervousness, and anticipation of the night before...
Zack's increasingly relaxed and natural expression before the game immediately made Pat Riley, on the opposite side of the court, frown.
Riley couldn't understand why this young man, playing in his first Finals, could be so calm.
In this Finals series, he stood like an insurmountable mountain, always opposite the Heat.
Then, after a deep sigh, accompanied by sharp chest pains, Riley could only stomp his feet and kick chairs to vent his frustration, even as he gritted his teeth in hatred.
Riley was unwilling to lose the Finals like this.
But tonight, was he the only one who was unwilling?
Would the Heat fans in attendance be willing? Would the Heat's championship pieces be willing? Would O'Neal be willing? Would Wade be willing?
No one would be willing.
But... in front of this Warriors team, they simply couldn't perform to their potential.
The entire Heat team's morale was visibly low before the game.
Especially upon seeing the O'Brien Trophy, which had been set up by the staff, this slump, as various emotions surged...
Almost instantly broke through the psychological defenses of every Heat player.
That O'Brien Trophy was something they had yearned for and were willing to give everything for.
But now, they were getting further and further away from it.
The always fair Salvatore would officiate this Finals game.
At center court, O'Neal, feeling like he had fallen into an endless abyss, stood in stark contrast to Brown, who was about to jump ball with him, wearing a bright smile.
From a "bust" to the Messiah's right-hand man.
This was Kwame Brown's brightest moment since entering the league.
Because next...
He would, as the starting center for the Golden State Warriors, personally usher in the final act of this decisive game for the Warriors!
Brown didn't disappoint the Warriors fans or his teammates.
He successfully won the tip for the Warriors and strode confidently towards the Heat's half of the court.
Immediately after, the TV broadcast quickly showed Zack, who was dribbling across half-court alongside Davis.
Tonight, the American Airlines Arena welcomed many VIPs.
Many of them were even Zack's fans.
But at this moment, not a single one of these VIPs could steal an ounce of attention from Zack.
On the opening possession, Zack effortlessly broke through the Heat's 2-3 zone defense for the Warriors.
Low morale, combined with mental and physical fatigue—the Heat's defense had lost its usual discipline and cohesive teamwork.
Conversely, O'Neal...
The aging king diligently closed out on Zack, who had popped out to the high post after a screen.
This was one of the few moments in this Finals series where O'Neal earned Zack's respect.
Thump!
So, Zack, faking a shot but actually going for a pump fake, used his astonishing ball-handling coordination to blow past O'Neal's defense the next moment and drive deep into the Heat's paint.
Under the basket, facing the rotating Walker, Zack hung in the air, switched hands, and converted a layup.
AND-ONE!
The basket counted, and the whistle blew—a beautiful three-point play!
At the free-throw line, Zack made the extra free throw.
Back on the Heat's offensive possession.
The unwilling "Wade-man," puffing out his cheeks, stomped on the gas and successfully burst through Artest's defense for a jump shot.
"This is the Finals, we haven't lost yet!!!"
After the basket, Wade roared at his dejected teammates.
Perhaps Zack was about to grasp the championship ring that he, Wade, couldn't, but Wade didn't want to give up just yet.
"So what if we're down 0-3? As long as we don't give up, the Warriors can't say they've won this Finals yet," Wade thought to himself at that moment.
And the tenacious Flash certainly deserved Zack to approach this decisive game with 200% effort.
On the court, it was the Warriors' possession. After creating a gap on the wing with a pick-and-roll with Richardson, Zack quickly cut into the Heat's paint and immediately went strong to the basket upon receiving the ball.
O'Neal, knowing he couldn't be as gentle as Walker had been just now, didn't have time to recover and simply slapped Zack hard on the shoulder.
It was a hard foul designed to disrupt the play.
However, to O'Neal's great surprise, facing his aggressive foul, Zack merely nonchalantly said to him:
"Even your fouls are this light? Didn't you eat enough?"
Clearly, even after three Finals games, O'Neal still didn't understand Zack.
In fact... as long as it wasn't a malicious foul, Zack never minded defenders playing physically with him.
However, despite Zack complaining that O'Neal's foul was light, he clearly was still affected by O'Neal's "iron palm" when he shot his free throws, making only one of two.
But even if it hurt...
A true man has to finish showing off what he started, even if he's tearing up!
Then, at the American Airlines Arena, both the Heat and the Warriors paid homage to each other with several bricked shots.
After being slowly reawakened by Wade's roar...
The Heat players intensified their physical contact on defense, making things tough for the Warriors players.
Tonight, under the tacit approval of head referee Salvatore for high-intensity physicality and tough play, the Warriors' perimeter shooting percentage was bound to be affected.
But what puzzled Riley was, why, even in Game 4, couldn't those damned Walker and Williams find their shooting touch?
Since Posey was the only consistent perimeter shooter for the Heat in Game 3, the Warriors only gave extra attention to Posey in this game, while denying penetration to the paint.
As for Walker and Williams?
Why bother defending players who couldn't even make open shots?
Was it to make it easier for Wade to drive?
Midway through the first quarter, an exasperated Riley successively called for Payton and Kapono.
Since Walker and Williams couldn't find their aim, Riley had no choice but to bring in two other "championship pieces" to try and get something going.
Then, Riley received both good and bad news.
The good news was that Kapono hit a three for the Heat after receiving a drive-and-kick from Wade.
The bad news was that Payton shot 0-for-2 and was repeatedly beaten by Davis on the court for two straight possessions.
As the once-famous "Glove," Payton, who was about to turn 38, was like an open road in the morning against a full-speed Davis, allowing him to pass through freely.
Undoubtedly.
This was another story of a boomerang unfortunately hitting himself.
Payton, whose legs had aged before the rest of him, besides his so-called "experience"...
How could he stop Baron Davis, who was constantly frustrated in the West and annoyed by everyone in the East?
Earlier, when Davis was on the bench, Payton could still use his experience to counter the Warriors' backup guard, Jack.
But tonight, Riley, by putting him in early, undoubtedly dug a grave for Payton and personally erected a tombstone for him.
Seeing this, Riley had no choice but to change his strategy again, opting to play Haslem at power forward, Walker at small forward, and Posey and Wade as the guards.
This decision successfully salvaged the Heat's precarious situation, which was almost on the verge of collapsing.
Because Artest and Richardson were still struggling with their shooting, the Warriors' offense also had to rely on Zack and Davis to score through sheer force.
Before the game, Artest and Richardson, who had been arguing about who was the best shooter on the Warriors, could only be described as the "sleeping dragon and phoenix" (both underperforming) in their first-quarter performance tonight.
Fortunately, the Warriors' true best shooter was put on the court by head coach Montgomery in the latter half of the first quarter.
On the court, it was the Warriors' offensive possession.
Even though Davis got an open three-point opportunity at the top of the arc after a hand-off with Zack, the unusually rational "Mr. First-Beard" didn't rush his shot.
Then, a perfect passing lane opened up for Davis in the next instant.
The Heat's defense, collectively drawn in by Zack and Davis, was forced to expand, leaving the Warriors' best shooter wide open.
Davis immediately delivered a flawless pass to him.
At this moment, receiving the ball and calmly steadying it, Mike Dunleavy finally hit the Warriors' first three-pointer of the night.
It was a crucial three-pointer.
Because the Warriors' outside shooting had been 0-for-6 collectively before that...
Only God knows where the bruises and welts on Zack's body came from at that moment.
In the first quarter, O'Neal, who was subbed out for Mourning after picking up two fouls, was certainly the main culprit.
But if only Richardson and Artest, those two "bums," could shoot a little better... how could Zack have taken such a beating in the Heat's paint?
Thankfully, Dunleavy's entry freed up Zack.
It turns out, the Golden State "Bum Duo" never truly disappears; they just relocate.
In the final two minutes of the first quarter, Murphy, who replaced Brown, immediately hit his trigger button.
On the court, it was the Warriors' offensive possession.
Zack, who had created a three-point shooting opportunity for Murphy at the top of the arc by using a high-post inside screen, didn't hesitate to pass the ball to Murphy.
Then, Murphy rewarded Zack's trust with a swish from beyond the arc.
At the end of the first quarter, the score was 28-24.
During the break between quarters, Pat Riley didn't know what else he could do to make the Heat beat this Warriors team.
In terms of defense, the Heat, whose morale was low before the game, played what was likely their highest-quality defensive quarter of the Finals, fueled by Wade's encouragement.
In terms of offense, aside from their cold perimeter shooting, every Heat player, including O'Neal, was doing their utmost to create opportunities for Wade.
But as long as the Warriors could capitalize on the easy shots created by Zack's drawing power in the game, the tide would immediately turn in the Warriors' favor.
Could it be that the Heat truly couldn't...
Win even one game against this Warriors team?
At the American Airlines Arena, Riley would soon get the answer he sought.
Because after Antoine Walker finally sank that damned three-pointer...
Right after, Zack, who cut into the Heat's paint using a Murphy screen, immediately scored a tough banking hook shot over Alonzo Mourning.
AND-ONE!
The basket counted, and the whistle blew—another three-point play!
The reason for the Heat's consecutive losses in this series wasn't just their perimeter shooting struggles.
In fact, up until now...
They had never truly contained Zack.
The zone defense, while able to mitigate the devastating damage Zack inflicted by exploiting mismatches, was also hindered by the Heat's slow game tempo... which, in a way, was setting the stage for a behemoth like Zack.
On the court, after making the extra free throw, Zack scored his 16th point of the game.
Why didn't the Warriors ever worry about Artest and Richardson missing those perimeter shots that would drive Riley absolutely insane?
Because even if their outside shooting was off, they still had Zack.
This was the sense of security Zack brought to the entire Warriors team.
This sense of security was the key to the Warriors being able to overcome opponent after opponent in this year's playoffs. And this sense of security, in the eyes of their opponents, was often referred to as:
Dominance.