As the 1996-97 season draws to a close, the league is extremely polarized.
The leading team can win 60+ games, and the Celtics, who are so bad, are about to make history!
After the time has entered April, the Knicks can make adjustments calmly by relying on their own winning advantage.
There is no hope for first place, but if second place is guaranteed, timely adjustments can be made based on the Heat's record.
At this time, the job of the coaching staff is to ensure that everyone is healthy and enters the playoffs.
Jeff Van Gundy was in high spirits this season. At the end of the season, he not only changed into several crisp suits, but also wore specific shirts and ties for every game.
The only thing that makes this young marshal a little regretful is that his hair is really disappointing, and he is still bald after all.
The best coach in the league is bald, which affects his image a bit.
The Knicks may be the best team in the league in enforcing the dress code. Before the start of each game, everyone from the coaching staff to the players are dressed in formal attire and look extremely gentlemanly.
But on the court, the style of play was contrary to the league's, and they would take action if they couldn't beat them. After Li You joined the team, this situation didn't change much, and it even got worse.
On April 19, all the Chicago fans at the United Center stood up and shouted.
103:101, with 13 seconds left in the game, the Knicks still led by 2 points.
Jeff Van Gundy clenched his fists nervously on the sidelines. After scoring 33 points in the third quarter, as Alan Houston left the game with six fouls, the team's physical fitness declined, and the offense completely stretched in the fourth quarter. .
Entering the positional offense, the Bulls began to score consecutive points again, and Pippen also scored.
In the last round, Li You waited until 24 seconds before missing a throw at the basket.
At the last moment, neither side could score, but the Bulls still had a chance to kill the game.
In the last timeout, Phil Jackson replaced Steve Kerr and replaced Ron Harper, who was not feeling well. You don't have to think about it. The Knicks still have many people to defend Jordan. At this time, they have to get Up shooter.
"oh!!"
The noise in the United Center became louder and louder. Pippen of the Bulls sent a side ball, and Starks lowered his center of gravity and defended in front of Jordan who was receiving the ball.
On the left wing outside the three-point line, Michael Jordan did not rush to attack. He slowly approached the three-point line. Then he suddenly changed direction and accelerated the breakthrough with the ball in his left hand.
Li You at the top of the arc immediately let go of his opponent Steve Kerr and pursued him. At the same time, Larry Johnson also let go of Pippen who was circling, speeding up his pace to pursue Jordan.
Michael Jordan in the left block was forced to slow down, and then he was surrounded by three people. With his arms all around him, Jordan just threw the ball steadily to Steve Kerr at the top of the key.
Li You reacted quickly, slid quickly, and feinted when Steve Kerr lifted the ball. He just accelerated his feet, straightened his left arm, and got close to the defense.
Putting the ball with his right hand, Steve Kerr, who broke through smoothly, once again compressed the defense. When the attack time was about to run out, he passed the ball to Pippen on the right wing.
Sufficient time to take action allowed Pippen to take a look outside the three-point line before making a steady jumper!
The basketball drew a beautiful arc in the air, and the Chicago fans at the scene had already started cheering, but in the end it hit the back edge of the basket.
Li You, who was near the free throw line, had quick eyes and quick hands. He rushed in front of Steve Kerr and grabbed a long rebound.
Steve Kerr tried to foul again, but the final buzzer sounded.
"Wow!!"
On the Knicks bench, the atmosphere team cheered and rushed to the field. Ewing roared under the basket, and Oakley hugged Li You and punched in the air in celebration.
Jeff Van Gundy on the sidelines even raised his arms and kept shouting to vent his excitement.
"Shhh!!"
At the United Center, the Chicago fans at the scene began to vomit, and the boos came one after another.
"Unfortunately, the Bulls failed to win their last home game. They failed to equal the 40-1 home record created by the Celtics in the 1985-86 season."
"But 39 wins and 2 losses is also an amazing home record."
"Congratulations also to the Knicks. They broke the 60-win record in the 1969-70 season, with 64 wins and 18 losses. A new team history record was born!"
In the TNT commentary box, Hubie Brown also smiled. He had also coached in New York. Seeing the Knicks achieve such results, he was filled with emotion for a while.
In this game that was broadcast live across the United States, Bulls fans were looking forward to setting a new record at their home court, but they were disappointed.
After missing the last shot, Pippen could only put his hands on his hips and look up at the sky.
4 of 10, 12 points, 6 rebounds, 12 assists, 3 steals and 2 turnovers. Except for 0 of 5 three-pointers, Pippen, the Knicks' best sixth man, performed pretty well.
In the last game of the regular season, Michael Jordan was originally in a good mood. He had just won a game at Madison Square Garden a few days ago. He never expected that he would be blocked when he returned to his home court.
It would be a lie to say that he doesn't care about records. Tonight, McQueen deliberately followed the instructions of the coaching staff and shared the ball more. He played really efficiently, but if he loses the game, the data will be meaningless.
14 of 22, including 1 of 3-pointers, 4 of 8 free throws, 33 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 4 turnovers.
After scoring so many points with a 60% shooting rate, the fans at the scene could not ask Michael Jordan to do better.
Oakley was in a good mood when he saw the McDuck game was over. He immediately stepped forward and joked:
"I didn't win 70 games. I'm willing to admit defeat. You'll pay for it at the next party!"
This season's record was finally fixed at 69 wins and 13 losses. Michael Jordan was not satisfied with this, shook his head and whispered:
"Good luck guys, you still have a chance in the playoffs. You must know the consequences of irritating me!"
Oakley didn't care about McQueen's stinky face, but instead smiled and spun around to tease his friends.
In the commentary box, Dick Stockton looked at Li You who was hugging his teammates in turn, and added to his partner:
"After the All-Star Game, Lee came to the starting lineup and changed the Knicks' offensive model. In my opinion, he played a perfect season."
"He deserves to be selected as an All-Star. Don't forget that he is only 19 years old. I am already looking forward to Lee's performance in the playoffs!"
Last season, he was Pat Riley's little follower. This season, Jeff Van Gundy has surpassed him. With such a record, there is no pressure to win the best coach.
After returning to the locker room, an excited Jeff Van Gundy said loudly:
"We did it, the best record in team history. It was a perfect season. Now, the regular season is over and we have to face new challenges."
"Forget the past, our goal is only the championship!"
Ewing stood up and applauded. The Knicks ended the regular season and successfully won the Atlantic Division championship. The gorilla also seemed particularly happy:
"We fulfilled our promise!"
Li You is also very happy. The division champion also has a flag. When the regular season officially ends, he will be able to obtain [Talent] again!
"Be happy, Larry! We will always have home court advantage until the Eastern Conference Finals. This is so important!"
Although Larry Johnson was also laughing, his mood was not high. Li You knew that the main reason was the shrinkage of data. The same was true for Alan Houston.
Different players have different demands. After observing the situation in the locker room, Li You felt the "cake" theory firsthand at this moment.
The Knicks will not have a game tomorrow, so everyone will fly back to New York overnight. After four days of rest, they will usher in the first playoff game of the season.
On April 20, there were a total of 8 games that day. The Bullets and Cavaliers were competing for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Jazz could not lose the last game for Karl Malone's MVP.
In the end, the Cavaliers, playing at home, pulled ahead and were defeated by the Washington Bullets at 85:81.
The Bullets successfully obtained a spot. This will also be the last playoffs in their team's history. Next season, they will be renamed the Washington Wizards, and a new team history will begin at that time.
The cautious Jazz did not give the Gorillas any chance. After winning against the Kings, their record also reached 64 wins and 18 losses.
The two teams have the same record, and the MVP points have once again become a competition on Excel.
After all the games ended in the evening, Li You finally saw the drawing disc appear on his simple panel.
Looking at the rapidly rotating disk, Li You had already received the prompt before he had to call for a stop:
[Allen Iverson’s excellent physical fitness]
Seeing that the new talent was already bronze, Li You was stunned for a moment, and then he realized that it would take a long time and a painful process to fully realize this talent:
"Physical reserve? Physical limit?"
On April 21st, the 1996-97 season, the regular season ended, and the playoff matchups were officially released:
Eastern Conference record ranking:
69-win Bulls, 64-win Knicks, 61-win Heat, 56-win Hawks;
The Pistons have 54 wins, the Hornets have 54 wins; the Magic have 45 wins, and the Bullets have 44 wins.
Western Conference record rankings:
The Jazz with 64 wins, the Rockets with 57 wins, the SuperSonics with 57 wins, the Lakers with 56 wins;
The Trail Blazers have 49 wins, the Timberwolves have 40 wins, the Suns have 40 wins, and the Clippers have 36 wins.
The pattern of the strong in the east and the weak in the west has not changed, and the bad team has also set several records:
For the first time in NBA history, two teams have a winning percentage below 20%;
The Celtics set the worst winning percentage and lowest winning record in franchise history, and also became the only NBA team to win only once against other teams in the division.
The Celtics, with 15 wins, are second to last in the league, and the Vancouver Grizzlies, with 14 wins, are first from last.
What’s outrageous is that after the regular season ended and they lost the last game, Boston fans even cheered for the team’s loss:
"Tim Duncan, come to the bowl!"
NBA Commissioner David Stern is very dissatisfied with this. The acting skills of these bad teams are too poor, and fans will not like games without suspense at all.
Therefore, Mr. President also decided to give the old guy some eye drops.
At the end of the regular season, various awards are about to be announced, and the first to be announced are the leaders in various statistics this season.
After John Hollinger joined ESPN in 1995, the player value evaluation system he proposed has been accepted by the league after two years of development.
High-end data PER was officially launched in 1997.
For the majority of fans, in the past, everyone just quarreled and competed for the championship, but as the data became more and more perfect, Excel fans gradually increased.
Using detailed data to measure player performance is also the basis for the majority of football commentators to vote for players:
"Looking at the watch and voting, doesn't it show that you understand football?"
On April 21st, while the excitement of the regular season was still going on, ESPN quickly announced the rankings of various data on TV programs, and then the fans in New York became excited!
On the scoring list, Patrick Ewing averaged 23.8 points per game, beating Olajuwon and ranking sixth in the league;
Although there is still a gap between Michael Jordan, who averaged 29.6 points per game, and Karl Malone, who averaged 27.4 points per game, the Gorilla has not declined, and New York fans are satisfied!
In the assists list, Li You has 666 assists this season, averaging 8.1 assists per game, ranking 8th in the league;
This season's assist leader is Mark Jackson of the Pacers, averaging 11.4 assists per game, beating Stockton's 10.5. The two are also the only two players with double figures in assists.
On the three-pointer list, Li You hit a total of 193 three-pointers this season, averaging 2.4 three-pointers per game. This data ranks seventh in the league;
Li You's three-point shooting percentage of 40.9% ranks 10th in the league. The first place is Glen Rice of the Hornets, whose three-point shooting percentage is 47%, leading all players.
In terms of free throw percentage, Li You once again ranked 10th in the league with a free throw percentage of 85.4%.
On the true shooting rate list, Li You's 61.9% true shooting rate ranks seventh in the league, while the Bulls' Steve Kerr leads all players with a 66.7% true shooting rate.
In terms of the most fashionable efficiency value, Li You ranks 12th in the league with a value of 20.5, just surpassing the fake Jordan successor-Anfernee Hardaway.
Ewing ranked 16th in the league with a PER of 20.3. Two Knicks players appeared in the top 20, and the New York media went crazy with joy!
Li You played 80 games, averaging 30.8 minutes per game, averaging 16.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 8.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.0 turnovers per game;
He averaged 11.3 shots per game, shooting 46.6% from the field, 5.5 shots from outside the three-point line, 40.9% from three-point range, 3.6 free throws per game, and 85.4% free throw shooting.
Relying on this data and the performance of various lists, New York fans and media collectively climaxed. On the second day after the regular season ended, major newspaper media gave Li You a title:
"The league's No. 1 point guard!"
When faced with rebuttal, the New York media also spoke plausibly:
If the points cannot be compared, then compare the assists;
If the number of assists is not enough, then three-pointers are better;
If the three-point shot cannot be compared, then compare the true shooting percentage;
If it still doesn’t work, look at PER!
On the morning of April 22, Li You was reading the newspaper while eating breakfast. The media in Orlando had recently been at odds with the media in New York.
The Knicks' opponent in the first round happened to be the Magic. Li You surpassed Anfernee Hardaway in many statistics, which made the media in Orlando feel unhappy.
Affected by injuries, Anfernee Hardaway only played 59 games this season. His data has not declined, but his efficiency has dropped a lot.
Averaged 20.5 points per game, ranking 17th in the league. The false successor to Jordan is still the league's top scorer!
Mark Bartelstein just went to comfort Ray Allen who was fishing two days ago. He has been staying in New York recently:
"This is the media in New York. If they can control their mouths, they won't always encounter visiting team players breaking out!"
"Think about Reggie Miller's performance at Madison Square Garden. New York fans and media have done their best. It's not a wise choice to anger some star players!"
Li You felt that the article was written in a lively and interesting way, which gave him a sense of familiarity that he had not seen for a long time. He liked reading the comments of the keyboard warrior:
"The article is very interesting and well-founded. I almost believe that I have become the number one point guard in the league!"
“I have to cut out the news, it’s worth collecting!”
Mark Bartelstein was worried that Li You's performance against Anfernee Hardaway was too poor, which was related to the US dollar, so he frequently gave chicken soup in the past two days to relieve pressure.
As long as you maintain your regular season performance in the playoffs, you will definitely get a good sneaker contract in the offseason!
Li You, who was in a good mood, raised his glass of milk and poured it down. He was indeed not affected, because the Magic team is weak:
"Don't worry, Mark. Being able to win 64 games already shows the strength of the Knicks. In the regular season, the Magic only won one game."
"I know the strength of my opponent very well. The first round will be very easy!"
"."
The Knicks have two days off after the regular season, and Jeff Van Gundy is not worried about the first round. Compared to the Hornets, the Magic are better restricted.
In the training session on the afternoon of the 23rd, everyone ran tactics and played offensive routines step by step.
Although the regular season record is leading overall, Jeff Van Gundy still hopes that the players can be nervous:
"Do a good job of assisting defense. Once the opponent enters the paint area, our interior defense must rotate in place."
Jeff Van Gundy, wearing training clothes, was chatting loudly while watching the players run tactics, but most of the Knicks were listening in one ear and listening in the other.
After running in during the regular season, the team's tactics are also simple. In the first two quarters, Ewing is asked to play more pick-and-rolls, shoot more shots, and rush for offensive rebounds. In the third quarter, they strive to "defeat" the opponent and allow Ewing to attack in the low post.
If the opponent withstands it, it's up to you in the fourth quarter.
After the training session, back in the locker room, Larry Johnson complained again:
"Li, why are your data so good? It's too good to be true!"
In the past two days, Li You had become accustomed to the defenders of this group of lemons spraying the league every day. He was surpassed by the rookie and nodded his head with his left hand:
"I play with my brain. I don't shoot long two-pointers. Even if the finishing efficiency at the basket is average, close to the basket is still a better offensive choice!"
"And a lot of times it's just a matter of math. If you want to improve PER, you can also make more gambling steals."
"But don't think about changing yourself. This playing habit has been developed since childhood, and statistics are not the only thing. Many times, getting the ball into the basket is the most important thing."
Alan Houston is the most depressed. Compared with last season, he has declined again.
In his second year as a rookie, his statistics were almost exactly the same as Li You's, but up to now, they have been worse year by year:
"I really should cut down on some long two-pointers, it lowers my efficiency!"
After seeing the prosperous Li You and Alan Houston on the data list, I have been reflecting on myself in the past two days.
The advice of the coaching staff is not important. Alan Houston feels that he has to return to the way he played during his rookie season. He also wants to be on TV!
Everyone likes to be followed. The reason why ESPN's data list is so popular is mainly because it takes advantage of the players' vanity and also gives the fans an opportunity to understand the game.
Jeff Van Gundy, who was about to win the best coach award, found that his status with the Knicks had not changed much, so Ewing liked to listen to him.
Except for Li You, who is a rookie in the playoffs, the other main players have at least played in the first round, and several veterans have also played in the finals. Magic? no one cares
On April 24, 1997, the playoffs officially started. There were 4 games that night, and the Knicks would also face the challenge of the Magic at home.
The team won 64 games, and tickets for this year's playoffs were in short supply.
That night at Madison Square Garden, New York fans arrived early and had the best record in team history. Everyone believed that the home team would have a chance to break out of the Eastern Conference this year.
Before the game, the New York media had been on fire. Anfernee Hardaway looked very arrogant and dropped two sentences:
"Lee's statistics are very good, but he is still a rookie and his strength has not reached the level of an All-Star player."
"And the playoffs are different from the regular season. Some head-to-head experiences don't explain much."
Many statistics were suppressed. As a veteran star, Anfernee Hardaway felt unhappy and could only ridicule Li You as a "star-making product."
Patrick Ewing seemed particularly confident during the interview and didn't say too much nonsense:
"The team's condition is getting better and better. Tonight's game will be a big win. We are ready!"
The bosses of the two teams showed different attitudes. Hardaway seemed to have broken the defense. In response, the New York media prepared to ridicule him again after the game.
The noise at the scene grew louder and louder, and Anfernee Hardaway was booed loudly when the away team came on the court.
The home team players came on stage one by one, and the huge cheers almost lifted the roof of the stadium.
"I haven't felt such an atmosphere for a long time. It seems that the best record in the team's history has reignited the enthusiasm of the fans!"
"There are not many changes from the regular season games. Anfernee Hardaway and Nick Anderson partner in the backcourt, Denis Scott and Derrick Brown are on the front line, and Ronnie Seikali is at center."
"Coach Adubatu seems to want to use his size advantage to solve the problem."
In the MSG commentary box, commentator Marv Albert briefly commented on the Magic's lineup after receiving the starting lineup.
"In terms of height, the Knicks are not at a disadvantage. Just like the regular season games, we need to pay attention to the inside defense."
"The Magic's shooting ability is not great."
Commentator John Andaris looked relaxed. He had an absolute advantage during the regular season. He believed that this matchup would not cause too much trouble to the Knicks.
The two sides conducted final warm-ups, and Jeff Van Gundy entered custody early.
Tonight, he specially changed into a crisp black formal suit, a white shirt and a red tie. Jeff Van Gundy sat on the bench with a smile on his face.
"Let's go Knicks! Let's go Knicks! Let's go Knicks!"
Huge cheers resounded throughout Madison Square Garden, and there was no communication between the two sides before the game. Anfernee Hardaway continued to ignore Li You.
For veteran stars, trying to deal with a rookie is a sign of lowering their status.
As Ewing succeeded in jumping the ball, cheers erupted, and the Knicks, wearing their white home jerseys, took the lead.
There was also No. 1 behind him. After Li You took control of the ball, he slowly moved through the half court. Hardaway did not choose to defend, but defended on the three-point line and directed his teammates to position.
In the first attack, the Knicks played simply and roughly. When Li You came to the left wing outside the three-point line, Ewing quickly lifted up and launched a high pick-and-roll.
It's just that this offense is slightly different from the regular season. Li You, who holds the ball in his left hand, first protects the ball sideways, then lowers his center of gravity, turns around and pretends to break through from the left.
After playing against each other twice in the regular season, Hardaway also knew something about Li You. He did not cut the ball, but quickly slid after sticking to the defense.
Covering Li You with his body, Hardaway no longer tried to press, but more delayed.
Li You just took a big step forward, then suddenly exploded the ball, then quickly turned around, scooped up the ball with his right hand, and the ball protector pushed Hardaway's arm away, pressed against Ewing's side, and accelerated with all his strength.
Seeing Li You shake off the defense, the New York fans at the scene immediately cheered. Noting that Ewing had been standing still, Magic center Roni Sekali quickly delayed the change of defense and quickly slid to the left rear.
Hardaway, who is tall and has long arms, quickly chased after him. Seeing Li You attracting two people to defend him, Ewing quickly followed up.
Arriving at a position near the baseline on the left, Ewing had just stood still when Li You's ground-breaking pass arrived. Without much adjustment, the gorilla made an easy jump shot from mid-range!
"Whoa!" The two-pointer was hit steadily.
"Wonderful cooperation, Lee's escape and passing were very beautiful, and Pat had a good start!"
Hearing the cheers from the scene, commentator Marv Albert was in a good mood. Just like the regular season, a simple pick-and-roll can still work.
Slightly different from the regular season, Ewing has improved the quality of his cover and is no longer in a hurry to go down the line. The mid-range position near the baseline can also be regarded as his sweet spot.
Hardaway was a little uncomfortable chasing after him. Li You's sudden stop and start was difficult to defend, especially at the free throw line, where it was difficult to judge how to handle the ball.
After watching a lot of game videos before the game, there was no good solution. In the end, the coaching staff could only formulate a simple and rough physical strategy.
"Defense! Defense! Defense!"
The fans at the scene also began to cheer for the home team's defense. It was the Magic's turn to attack, and Li You soon discovered that the opponent did not use novel tactics.
Hardaway handed over the ball immediately after halftime. Denis Scott caught the ball on the left wing and then lobbed the ball to Hardaway who came to the blocking area.
After the opening, the Magic chose to let Hardaway post up Li You
This tactic is often used by the Magic in the regular season. In this regard, Li You just used his forearm to resist the opponent. At the same time, he strictly guarded the baseline to prevent the opponent from turning toward the baseline.
Hardaway released the ball with his right hand and hit it hard, pulling the ball back from time to time to make a feint, but Li You still stuck to the baseline.
Everyone on the Magic team pulled away one after another, watching Hardaway begin to approach the basket. With no chance at the bottom line, Hardaway suddenly twisted forward quickly, then relied on Li You to defend and headed towards the paint area!
Suddenly speeding up, Hardaway got stuck half of his body, right in front of the basket, and picked the basket with one hand with his right hand.
Before the basketball could come out, Ewing, who had been keeping an eye on the movement here, moved to help defend and quickly jumped up to interfere!
Hardaway did not choose to pass the ball, but instead raised the arc and threw the ball toward the backboard.
"Bang!" The basketball hit the back edge of the basket.
Hardaway also wanted to rush for the rebound, but Li You got stuck behind him. The two were entangled and couldn't take off at all.
On the second takeoff, Ewing collected the backcourt rebound and then quickly threw the ball to Alan Houston, who was starting at speed. The Knicks immediately launched a transition attack.
The cheers started again, and everyone in the Magic team could only retreat desperately. After receiving the ball, Alan Houston quickly dribbled across the half court, and then slowed down at the top of the arc.
Hardaway, who retreated, clapped his hands in annoyance, seeming to think that this offense should score easily.
Coach Adubatu on the sidelines kept reminding the players loudly:
"Fight the defender and hold for one round!"
Li You, who came to the right wing, first pretended to catch the ball on the upper line, and then suddenly ran back and cut in, quickly sliding from right to left to the baseline.
Hardaway could only fight hard to catch up. Near the baseline on the left, Li You suddenly stopped and pretended to run back behind Oakley. Hardaway cursed secretly and quickly adjusted his center of gravity to follow.
The next second, Li You suddenly accelerated and quickly ran to the left wing outside the three-point line.
This run took very little time. When Li You came to the left wing, Alan Houston immediately sent a cross pass.
After catching the ball, Li You noticed that Hardaway had not lost his defensive position. He immediately released the ball with his left hand and broke through with a cross step.
Adjusting his defensive focus again, Hardaway quickly slid back to the right, but Li You suddenly exerted force on his feet, took a big step and quickly retreated. Without giving Hardaway time to react, he drifted to the left and shot a jump shot!
"Whoa!" The three-pointer hit the net!
The entire attack took less than 10 seconds. Hardaway cursed secretly. He didn't like chasing the defender around at all.
Li You, who defended after scoring a goal, made another tactical gesture to indicate that he should continue this tactic in the next round.
Amid the cheers of the fans at the scene, the Magic continued to let Hardaway catch the ball in the low post. This time he changed the direction, playing with his back in the right block again.
Li You still blocked the low line, and Hardaway suddenly turned around quickly when approaching the paint area.
Picking up the ball with his right hand, he carried Li You and made a strong push towards the basket. Using his physical advantage, Hardaway quickly reached the lower right side of the basket.
Noticing that Ewing was blocking again, Hardaway was under the basket, almost stepping on the baseline to complete the pass!
On the lower left side of the basket, center Ronny Sekali received the pass and quickly put the basket in the face of Ewing who turned back to defend.
Under the interference, the basketball hit the basket again. Hardaway, who had been pushed out of the baseline by Li You, had no time to grab the rebound. He could only watch Li You grab the rebound and rush forward!
The transition of offense caused the New York fans at the scene to scream. The Magic retreated quickly. Hardaway also chased after Li You after crossing the center line.
On the left wing, Li You, who was holding the ball with his left hand, felt the defensive pressure on his side. He slowed down and stopped when he was close to the three-point line. He quickly dribbled the ball with his hips. Taking advantage of Hardaway's defense, he completed the dribble behind his back.
After noticing that Li You switched to his left hand, he began to protect the ball sideways, stopped at the three-point line, turned his head to look at the top of the key, and Hardaway subconsciously looked behind him.
Fans screamed in his ears. Hardaway turned his head again and saw the basketball flying straight to the basket.
As soon as she got into position, "Auntie" slid down the baseline to the lower left side of the basket. After receiving the pass, she stole the chicken and made a layup!
At 0:7, the game started with a smooth attack, which excited the New York fans and kept cheering.
The start went very smoothly. Li You began to shake his head and retreat, making tactical gestures, and secretly wagging his finger to Hardaway in front of him.
The fleeting provocative move made Hardaway so angry that the false Jordan successor no longer played post-up.
After reaching the top of the arc, Hardaway held the ball in his right hand and quickly changed direction. The moment he switched to his left hand, he immediately pulled the ball back and shook it. Then he stepped back in the opposite direction, shook Li You away in an instant, and shot a quick two-point jump shot!
"Whoa!" The two-point ball hit the net.
"It's really difficult for Lee to defend his signature step-back jumper. Hardaway seems to be getting into shape!"
Charles Oakley waved his hand at Li You, indicating that he should not pay attention to this kind of goal. This kind of attack is not only something Li You can't do, but everyone on the Knicks team is the same.
Helping the Magic break the deadlock, Hardaway regained some face, but soon, the veteran star player's smile became less and less.
The Knicks' offense is also very simple. They set a screen for Alan Houston, catch the ball in the elbow area and shoot a jumper, and hit it easily.
Looking back, the Magic started a pick-and-roll breakthrough, and Nick Anderson's throw in the paint was interfered by Alan Houston.
After another transition attack, a simple right wing pick-and-roll, breaking through to the right block, Li You attracted Denis Scott's defense.
After passing the ball from behind, Oakley hit a mid-range jumper from the right elbow area of the free throw line.
At 2:11, with 8 minutes and 02 seconds left in the first quarter, Madison Square Garden was completely boiling.
Head coach Adubatu quickly requested a timeout, and there were problems on both ends of the offense and defense.
"Man, you are an all-star!"
Li You walked to the bench, smiled and teased Anfernee Hardaway in a low voice, who always pretended to be X when he came on the court.
Maintaining his pretense, Hardaway gave Li You a slap on the back of his head and turned towards the bench.
Li You shrugged his shoulders and got points for talking trash. Obviously, the fake Jordan successor didn't bother to communicate with the newbie.
Jeff Van Gundy didn't expect the game to go so smoothly. The intensity was just like the regular season. He defeated his opponent at the beginning:
"Very good, keep this offensive rhythm, we must establish a lead as soon as possible!"
The bald young commander who hung up simply added a few words and stopped giving instructions.
Before going on the court, Li You patted Ewing and briefly reminded:
"Pat, let's go to the line to cover a few times and let Alan find his touch!"
The Magic's defenders are all forwards and are very capable of squeezing screens. If Alan Houston wants to get easy shooting opportunities again, he has to change his routine.
Ewing nodded and pulled Alan Houston to whisper a few times. The Knicks discussed it again before slowly returning to the court.
On the bench, Jeff Van Gundy's mouth twitched slightly. This is not the first time this has happened.
After the timeout, the Magic didn't make many adjustments and still started from Hardaway's point.
His movements are cool, and he can deliver timely passes when breaking through to the inside. Facing the Knicks' defense change, Hardaway can still reach the paint area.
Just for several consecutive rounds, the Magic failed to put the ball into the basket, and their dashing breakthroughs failed to end.
On the contrary, the Knicks played more and more easily, and they did not attack in the low post. Alan Houston broke through several times and assisted Ewing to make a jump shot near the paint area.
With piecemeal offense on one side and a series of shots on the other, the point difference quickly widened.
The fans in New York just cheered at first, but as the Magic team attacked the frame, the fans in the front row couldn't hold it in any longer and began to taunt them wantonly:
"Where is O'Neal? You need him."
"."
The curses and taunts reached his ears, and his teammates continued to fight. Hardaway was almost blown away and could no longer maintain his calm and pretending attitude.
When Li You and Alan Houston simply crossed the line, got rid of the defense, and threw in three-pointers, coach Adubatu asked for a timeout again.
At 8:21, with 5 minutes and 26 seconds left in the first quarter, the game was about to collapse.
Walking to the bench again, Li You briefly fist bumped with Alan Houston. The Magic almost didn't care about defensive discipline.
"Incredible game, we were dominant on both ends of the floor!"
"Coach Van Gundy made the right adjustments, and Hardaway's low-post offense was completely restricted!"
Commentator Marv Albert became even happier and praised the coaching staff again.
Commentator Marv Albert seemed to recall the past scenes between the Knicks and Magic:
"Lee is smarter on the defensive end. Of course, O'Neal's departure has indeed had a huge impact on the Magic."
“Maybe the series will be over soon!”
The Magic, who were lagging behind by a big score, strengthened their defense after the timeout, but the Knicks were not affected in any way.
Charles Oakley continued to fight for offensive rebounds, and the Magic failed to convert a transition offense.
Anfernee Hardaway could not maintain his calm look and kept shouting for his teammates to move, but no matter whether it was his low post support or breakthrough points, his teammates could not finish.
The signature jump shot followed the iron, and with an anxious mentality, he rushed inside and was blocked by Ewing.
The Magic fell into a scoring drought for a while. At Madison Square Garden, as the Knicks scored consecutively, the New York fans at the scene even began to celebrate the victory in advance.
No more timeouts were requested and the players were allowed to work. When the first quarter ended, there was a dead silence on the Magic bench.
At 12:36, the Knicks already led by 24 points.
"Dude, you're an All-Star?"
Li You passed by Hardaway and teased Jordan's successor in a questioning tone.
Leaving the opponent with the back of his head, Li You went directly to the bench without looking at Hardaway's reaction.
"Shet!"
Hardaway originally wanted to shout back a few words, but was ignored. He cursed and walked to the sideline in frustration.
Fans at the scene noticed that the two seemed to be having a quarrel and started to jeer loudly.
"The game is over. The Magic didn't have any chance. It's unbelievable that we actually played such a smooth offense!"
Commentator Marv Albert looked at the technical statistics and was a little excited for a moment. Commentator John Andaris praised the bald young coach again:
"He deserves to be the best coach in the league! Coach Van Gundy has grown up with the team. The "Show Time" era for the Knicks has arrived!"
Thank you book friends for your subscription support (﹃)
QAQ has a small problem, backup conflict,
I couldn't get the manuscript right, so I struggled all afternoon.
Forgive me, book friends~
(End of chapter)
