On October 10, 1996, the Knicks were about to enter the preseason, but for the old basketball fans, the preseason was a public trip.
The Knicks will face the Bulls at home tomorrow night. The tickets are currently sold out. The New York media often criticizes the Bulls, but most fans still like to watch Michael Jordan play.
Park Avenue Country Club is a high-end nightclub opened in 1994. It can also be called a private club.
After the Bulls arrived in New York, Patrick Ewing and Charles Oakley brought Starks, Charlie Ward, and Li You to entertain Michael Jordan and others.
It combines elements of an American country club and a British aristocratic club. The overall environment is elegant and comfortable. Li You breathed a sigh of relief when he came here. He finally didn't have to listen to rap and chant.
Different from the smoky bottom nightclubs, most of the people who come here to have fun are rich and wealthy. Although the scene is still very lively, in general, there are very few "Fake" sounds...
"Haha, Pat Riley's little henchman doesn't allow us to meet yet. He calls me a liar. Who does he think he is?!"
"We are partners. When have I ever deceived my friends? Old Oak, you know me best. I have never deceived my friends!"
Some drunk Michael Jordan had already thrown his suit jacket aside at this time, and loudly turned over old accounts with his face red.
Charles Oakley felt that his little brother had always respected him and echoed without hesitation:
"That's right, although Michael is a jerk on the court, he has nothing to say to his friends. Don't take Van Gundy's bullshit to heart!"
On the other side, Scottie Pippen is holding his girlfriend Larsa, who has been dating for more than a year, up and down her hands. If there was no one, the two would probably have started fighting...
Ron Harper and Steve Kerr were drinking heavily at this time. Everyone had just gone to the dance floor to dance around and came back just in time to quench their thirst with wine.
Li You was also a little confused after drinking, eating, drinking and gambling. Entertainment in this era was so simple and unpretentious.
Patrick Ewing did not follow his friends and curse Van Gundy. When it came to the party and gambling, he hurriedly greeted Li You loudly:
"Li, it's your turn to show off, at 21 o'clock, we are going to kill everyone tonight!"
Michael Jordan, who was thoroughly enjoying himself, began to greet the service staff aside to exchange drinks, and then distributed cigars to everyone:
"Try this classic Cuban cigar. The aroma is particularly rich. I'm obsessed with it recently!"
"Boy, you're from New Mexico and Charles told me you don't touch leaves, which is good, I don't deal with poisonous dogs!"
Michael Jordan, who was in a daze after drinking, handed the cigar to Li You. After talking for a while, he laughed and motioned for everyone to smoke together...
Larsa, who was a model, didn't mind the smoky scene. Instead, she continued to nestle in Pippen's arms and said coquettishly:
"Don't lose too much, your gambling luck has been bad lately!"
Li You was speechless as he looked at the two people kissing each other again. It's no wonder that Xiao Danzi in the future staged a drama of "I'm crazy, I love my aunt". Most people really can't stand it...
When we got to the gambling table, there was no Big Brother anymore. After playing a few games, Li You also tore off his shirt and started shouting:
"Double your bet, I will definitely win this game!"
After a few games, Michael Jordan's eyes became red after losing, and his gambling addiction immediately came up:
"Hell! No one is leaving tonight!"
"..."
On the morning of the 11th, Jeff Van Gundy looked at the languid Charles Oakley and Patrick Ewing on the training ground with ugly expressions.
The all-pervasive New York media broke the news this morning about the movements of several members of the Bulls team after arriving in New York. A photo of Dennis Rodman dancing wildly on the dance floor appeared on the sports page of the New York Post.
I don’t know where the news came from, but some articles vividly described the scene where Li You killed everyone at the gambling table and won Michael Jordan’s eyes red.
The news is indeed a bit exaggerated. Li You won less than 10,000 US dollars in one night. If he didn't lose a few times in the end, no one would be able to go home...
New York fans were delighted to hear the news and followed suit one after another, and the media also had topics to talk about:
"Jeff Van Gundy can't control the team, maybe we should consider replacing a competent head coach!"
"..."
The old guys couldn't stand it, but Li You was like a normal person. Youth is his capital. After sleeping for less than 4 hours, he was basically resurrected with full health.
At 19:00 that night, half an hour before the start of the game, the Madison Square Garden Arena was already full.
As an international metropolis, the Knicks never worry about selling tickets. Many fans bought tickets tonight to see Michael Jordan.
Even if it is just a preseason game, the MSG TV network will still broadcast it as usual.
Commentator Marv Albert and basketball analyst John Kenneth, known as the "Voice of New York," were a little confused after the game started. The starting lineups of the two teams were so solid...
The first quarter lasted 7 minutes and 12 seconds, and the score was 15:13. The starting lineups of both sides were completely out of shape.
Phil Jackson didn't care about the score on the field at all, and was even in the mood to joke with Spike Lee on the sidelines.
On the other side, Jeff Van Gundy looked serious and stood on the sidelines shouting instructions.
"Shh!"
Michael Jordan passed Alan Houston, broke through and caused a foul on Charles Oakley, and got two free throws. The crowd immediately burst into boos.
Jeff Van Gundy took this opportunity to frown and replaced the starters Oakley and John Starks, and Li You and veteran Buck Williams came on.
"Li, control the rhythm of the game and don't make any more low-level mistakes!"
Perhaps because of staying up late playing cards last night, the Knicks made three turnovers in the first quarter.
Wearing a white Knicks jersey with No. 1 printed on the back, Li You listened to Van Gundy's instructions while tugging on the white long arm guard on his right arm.
Li You, who was standing on the sidelines, immediately attracted the attention of the fans. The long arm guards were a novelty.
After hitting his right elbow two days ago, Li You customized several sets of arm guards, wearing them just to show off!
Michael Jordan, who made two free throws, saw Li You coming on the court. When he returned to defense, he immediately patted Harper and turned his head to show his intensity.
At this time, the Madison Square Garden Arena was extremely noisy. After watching the constipated offense for most of the quarter, the fans who bought tickets could hardly sit still.
Alan Houston served from the backcourt, and as soon as Li You caught the ball, Harper stepped up, showing a completely different defensive approach.
After Li You dribbled the ball behind his back, he kept accelerating with the ball in his right hand and muttered:
"The old guy is so stingy!"
After passing the half court, Li You moved sideways to protect the ball, and Patrick Ewing quickly came to the top of the arc to start a pick-and-roll.
Li You, who had just stood still, holding the ball in his right hand, suddenly dribbled the ball behind his back twice in a row, and his body jumped forward.
Patrick Ewing's screens were all fake. The big man hung up and immediately went down, waiting for the ball. Harper effortlessly continued to pursue the defense.
Li You, who was close to the three-point line at the top of the arc, took advantage of Harper's sliding step and suddenly pulled his hips back significantly.
At the sudden stop, Harper immediately lost his defensive position. Before he could defend, Li You quickly combined the ball from the three-point line and threw the ball!
"Whoa!" The three-pointer hit the net!
Accustomed to constipated offense, Li You's flashy swing and crisp goal suddenly ignited the atmosphere, and the fans immediately cheered loudly.
Li You, who was retreating with a smile, saw the surprised eyes of everyone on the field, and was in a good mood for a moment:
"The coach can decide who is the core, but he can't control who the audience likes to watch play!"
