The turn of the century meant new hope for some players.
Kobe Bryant continued his efforts day after day. After an unbelievably bad finals, he was not discouraged but instead hoped to get closer to Roger, closer to victory.
Ray Allen was similarly refining his skills. The ending of last season's playoffs left him feeling humiliated. He didn't want to lose again to someone as arrogant as Roger, absolutely not.
Grant Hill pondered his future; his future didn't belong to Detroit. Perhaps he wasn't suited for the Bad Boys Palace from the start. Last season, after developing his mid-range shot, he had his peak season, but the record was ironically the worst in recent years. He also wanted victory, so he had to leave.
Allan Houston gladly accepted the 6-year, 100 million US Dollar contract offered by the Golden State Warriors, leaving Miami. He believed this was the beginning of his career peak, and Warriors owner Chris Cohan also believed the team could turn losses into profits.
