The Knicks winning the season opener, with Su Xi defeating both Kobe and Yao Ming, was a huge boost to the team's morale.
After all, plenty of people had been 'worried' about the Knicks beforehand.
For the defending champions, starting the new season off with a bang was essential.
In fact, the Knicks had also managed a winning streak during the preseason. It's just that many people didn't consider the preseason to be indicative of anything, dismissing it as proof that the young Knicks could still run and hadn't wasted their offseason.
Su Xi gave an interview after the game. After putting up 49 points, 9 assists, 10 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks, he told reporters, "My goal this season is to win the scoring title. That's why I went shot-for-shot with Kobe in the fourth quarter. I want to prove one thing: when I decide to score, nobody can stop me. Any team that doesn't believe me can give it a try."
