CHAPTER 1275: CHAPTER 403: WE BELIEVE

And this is already the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 9th victory of the season, their 8th consecutive win.

Apart from losing to the Spurs in the second game of the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been winning ever since.

The starting lineup composed of Larry Hughes, LBJ, AK47, Kurt Thomas, and Big Z, along with Mike Brown’s defensive coaching, has turned Cleveland into the most impregnable fortress in the League.

After two embarrassing losing seasons, the guy whom Nike had high hopes for seems to truly be on the rise.

After the game, LBJ, who led the team to a 9-1 record, accepted an interview with reporters.

People aren’t concerned about the Seattle SuperSonics; everyone’s eyes are on the next game.

The ESPN reporter eagerly asked, "LeBron, do your words still count?"

And the man answered resolutely, "Of course, the next game is the first one."

Everyone knew what they were talking about. When Amar’e Stoudemire got injured, many players had made bold claims, thinking they could defeat the Warriors.

The Knicks fulfilled their promise, the Dallas Mavericks fulfilled their promise, and the Los Angeles Lakers fulfilled their promise too.

Now, it’s just waiting for LBJ to fulfill his own.

"I will not lose to Roger this season, not even once."

This is the victory declaration remembered by all of Cleveland, and they are all looking forward to LBJ turning that declaration into reality.

On the other side, within the Warriors team, the players are not satisfied with their current record.

A 50% win rate in the West is at a level where it’s challenging to even make the playoffs.

Of course, Roger knows that such victories won’t last, because the Warriors are still in the experimentation phase.

A team missing two key players during the offseason needs some time to adapt and change.

However, Roger was still prepared to say something to motivate the team before heading to Cleveland. He knew everyone was filled with enthusiasm, but maintaining this enthusiasm is not easy.

Before the team gets on track, Roger must figure out how to keep this enthusiasm going.

As a result, that morning, Roger saw an apology letter published in the name of the Warriors in all the Bay Area newspapers.

"You endlessly support us at Oracle Arena, and as of now in late November, we still haven’t been able to repay you with our performance. But we will continue to work hard to deliver results this new season that will make you proud. You are the best fans."

At the end of the apology letter was Jason Richardson’s personal signature.

Roger glanced at Jason Richardson, who didn’t deny it: "The apology letter was published by me."

"Published simultaneously in almost all the major newspapers in the Bay Area? How much did that cost?" Roger, of course, knew that the Bay Area media wouldn’t do these things for Jason Richardson for free.

"100,000 US Dollars."

After Jason Richardson answered, Monta Ellis, who was next to him, widened his eyes—this season, even with all bonus clauses, his salary was only 450,000 US Dollars.

"That doesn’t matter," Jason Richardson replied, "What matters is that we have to believe in ourselves, and the fans have to believe in us."

"We will win, in Cleveland." Roger stood up and left the locker room, beginning the last training before departing for Cleveland.

He didn’t need to motivate the team because Jason Richardson had already done it for him.

That afternoon, the entire Warriors team took the bus to the airport together, about to head to the "impregnable fortress."

Along the bus route, numerous Warriors fans lined the streets and cheered.

And in most of their hands, they held two things.

One was that apology letter.

The other hand held up a sign with two simple words written on it.

We Believe.