He didn't want the series to drag on, because if it did, the Knicks' Randolph and Eddie Curry would be unleashed.
That would be very detrimental to their schedule.
Popovich's taunt was, at its core, a show of disrespect for James.
If he had any respect for James, he would have provoked the Knicks instead.
Little General Johnson and Popovich came from the same school of thought. How could he not see through Popovich's scheme?
'Fine. You look down on Nan Murong, so I'll look down on Nan Murong, too.'
"We're prepared to face the Knicks. Little Sheep Su Xi is just too strong; he's the number one player of the new generation. LeBron is good too, just a notch below Jack. No, two notches. Alright, maybe three, four, five…"
The Little General's math wasn't great, but his talent for infuriating people was top-notch.
