On May 13, 1997, two seasons later, the Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Finals again!
At 88:104, the Heat persisted for another half of the game in the 4th quarter and recovered some points, but in the end they regrettably lost.
Mourning played 39 minutes, made 9 of 17, 6 of 12 free throws, 24 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 turnovers.
Whenever he found his groove, the Knicks would send him to the free throw line. Mourning failed to respond and missed the free throw.
He was covered in tendons and couldn't exert any strength. His ears were filled with the cheers and jeers of the New York fans. Mourning looked at the score and stood on the sidelines for a long time.
Tim Hardaway turned around and walked back to the tunnel after a simple handshake.
7 of 17, 2 of 8 from beyond the arc, 1 of 4 free throws, 17 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, no mistakes.
Having learned lessons from the previous games, Tim Hardaway controlled mistakes very well, but there were too many safe passes, which also made it difficult for the Heat to play a threatening transition attack.
The defensive end consumed too much energy. Except for Tim Hardaway's outstanding performance in G3, his performance in the rest of the games was unsatisfactory.
Jeff Van Gundy was extremely satisfied to reach the conference finals and shook hands with Pat Riley with a smile on his face.
The two chatted for a while in front of the technical stage. Pat Riley still maintained his demeanor, patted his former assistant coach, and quickly left the arena.
"It's been an incredible season. So far in the playoffs, we have fully demonstrated our dominance."
"After the personnel adjustment, the Knicks lineup is younger. The future belongs to us. When facing old opponents in the conference finals, I believe the team will respond!"
Commentator Marv Albert is very satisfied with the Knicks' performance this year.
Although commentator John Andaris is not optimistic about the upcoming Eastern Conference Finals, he did not say anything discouraging:
"This is the first year after the reorganization of the team, and it is also Lee's first season. To achieve such results, I believe New York fans are very satisfied with it."
"No matter what the result is, I believe the Knicks will eventually succeed!"
For the next opponent, the media in New York can be said to have a love-hate relationship. Everyone likes to consume Michael Jordan and likes to watch the first man in the league break the defense.
But everyone knows the strength of the Bulls, so before the game even started, some media were scared.
The Knicks may be the team that has lost the most to Michael Jordan in these years. Not only are the players numb, but the New York media is also numb.
At the press conference after the game, Li You, wearing a light gray formal suit, enjoyed superstar treatment again, but the attitude of the media in the audience was a bit strange.
"At 19 years and 135 days old, congratulations on breaking the record set by Michael Jordan in 1985 and becoming the youngest player in NBA playoff history to score 30+10 points!"
"Can you talk about your performance in the second quarter? Incredible, 24 points in a single quarter!"
The New York Post reporter in the audience uncharacteristically did not ask any questions about his opponents in the next round. Li You didn't bother to think about this:
"Move without the ball, catch the ball and shoot, and observe the defender's center of gravity. I am not just a shooter. When I seize the opportunity, I can also attack the basket. Scoring is that simple!"
"Of course, this is inseparable from the support of my teammates. The fans at the scene also gave me a lot of encouragement. Playing in Madison Square Garden, I can always find my form easily."
"This privilege will belong to the home team players from now on!"
The TNT reporter burst into laughter when he heard Li You making fun of visiting team players in the past when they came to New York, and then asked unceremoniously:
"Lee, are the Knicks going to the Finals?"
The New York media on the side all glared at this ignorant guy, who didn't know what to do!
"Basketball is round and everything is possible. Of course, the Bulls have a better record. We have to play away first. For this, the team's goal is to win an away game!"
Li You answered the question with a smile, and the New York media in the audience quickly changed the topic. After so many years of losing, everyone has experience:
"Don't piss off Michael Jordan, he's a vindictive bastard!"
"."
The game was played simultaneously that night, 92:107. After returning to the home court, the Bulls defeated the Eagles, sweeping their opponents with a score of 4:1.
While the superstars were struggling to play basketball, the Bulls played team basketball and blossomed more, completely blinding the Hawks.
Playing 40 minutes, 9 of 23, 1 of 5 from beyond the three-point line, and 5 of 5 free throws, Michael Jordan scored 24 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 2 turnovers.
The two teams rebounded 30:54, and the Bulls, who returned home, grabbed 25 offensive rebounds!
The Eagles were blown away.
Almost twice as many rebounds brought the Bulls' number of possessions to 96, and they deserved to win.
Excel cannot fully demonstrate the dominance of the Bulls. It is useless for the Eagles to fight against the main force, and all data are lagging behind.
After reaching the Eastern Conference Finals, Michael Jordan didn't show much joy.
In this series, he dunked on Mutombo and fulfilled his promise, which made McQueen even more happy.
Unlike the New York media, the Chicago media immediately loaned out the championship and the Knicks were ignored.
They have won against this opponent too many times in the past. Not to mention the regular season, the record in the past playoffs has said it all. The Bulls won like crazy!
At the post-game press conference, Michael Jordan, wearing a large brown suit, casually answered questions from the media in the audience until a TNT reporter asked:
"McKun, tonight Li tied your playoff single-quarter scoring record, and at the same time, he also broke your 30+10 record!
"Will the Bulls make adjustments in the next round?"
Hearing such a question, Michael Jordan was also slightly startled. He has too many records, and the specific ones have long been forgotten:
"Adjustment? No! It's the opponent who needs to adjust. Our condition is getting better and better, and Dennis' knee has almost recovered."
"It's great to see the Knicks in the conference finals, but Harper will teach the young guys a lesson."
Michael Jordan was not modest. In the conference finals, he once again showed his determination to win the championship. The media in the audience also agreed:
“Everything that Maikou boasted about has basically been realized.”
The two teams in the Eastern Conference finals are officially announced, while the Western Conference semifinals continue.
The Rockets got match point and returned home, only to be moved back to the home court by the SuperSonics tonight.
100:94, thanks to Gary Payton's outstanding performance, the series still remains suspenseful.
Olajuwon broke out tonight, shooting 12 of 18, 7 of 10 free throws, and a huge double-double of 31 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 turnovers.
Drexler made 9 of 16 shots and also contributed 26 points. Barkley made 6 of 18 shots and scored 17 points and 20 rebounds.
The Rockets grabbed 20 offensive rebounds, but ultimately lost the game. They shot 5 of 27 from the three-point line and were completely locked out from the outside.
Gary Payton made 8 of 17 shots and had a double-double of 21 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers. The SuperSonics had only 9 turnovers in the game!
Head coach George Karl's insistence on the main team paid off.
On May 14, the coaching staff gave the Knicks two days off as a bonus for reaching the conference finals.
Ewing saw that the newspapers were full of news boasting about Li You's record, and he felt sour again for a while.
The media in New York were particularly tolerant of Li You, and the fact that he hit less than 40% of his shots in the two games of G3 and G4 was automatically ignored.
Gorilla did not choose to rest, but took the initiative to practice more. When he met his old opponent again, he really wanted to win. Unfortunately, G1 was suspended and had nowhere to use his strength.
The Knicks' daily training facility is located in upper Ouster County, New York, where it can be away from the interference of the media.
The players can rest, but the coaching staff still has to watch the game tape.
After Jeff Van Gundy watched the game between the Bulls and the Hawks, he was silent for a while. He might not be able to withstand the rebound.
"Compared to last season, the Bulls are still down!"
Assistant coach Thibodeau's words left several people speechless.
It has indeed declined. Last season, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman were all selected for the defensive first team. But this year, due to knee injuries, Rodman fell out of the defensive lineup.
Jeff Van Gundy watched the assistant coach discuss it for a while, but he didn't give any good suggestions. He simply talked about the old routine:
"Just like we did in the regular season, double-team Michael Jordan and let other people decide the game. We have a chance to get a road win."
No one said anything. The Eagles had used this trick before, but it turned out to be of no use.
Assistant coach Don Chaney thought of Ewing's state and sighed again:
"It would be nice if Pat were a few years younger. We used Starks to defend the dunk. It was definitely a wrong choice."
Mentioning the past, several people who had been with the Knicks for many years sighed, while Jeff Van Gundy continued with a serious expression:
"When it comes to away games, players must be prohibited from fooling around with the opponent!"
Several assistant coaches looked at each other and finally nodded silently. Although they all felt that this matter had little to do with the outcome of the game, they could still stick to the head coach's metaphysical requirements:
"What if we win?"
During this rare holiday, Li You just happened to be able to walk on the road with Milinda. The temperature in New York finally warmed up in May, and jeans and a T-shirt could cope with the weather at this time.
Carrying a small bag, jeans, and a blue and white striped T-shirt, Milinda wore her blond ponytail and looked youthful and beautiful.
But at this time, this person was sniffing around the apartment, looking through it from time to time, and was hugged by Li You before he said with a smile:
"Great! No leaves found!"
Every time I come to the apartment, I will check it. No smoking, no tattoos, and no leaves. These are the basic requirements.
Feeling the turbulent waves in his arms, Li You hugged him without letting go, and whispered in his ear:
"How about staying at home for a while first!"
Guessing Li You's little thoughts, Milinda turned around, held her arms, dragged her to the door, and said coquettishly:
"No! We agreed to watch "The Fifth Element" together. It's said to be very good!"
"Damn The Fifth Element!"
Li You cursed secretly. He had already seen this movie. Although he couldn't remember the specific plot, the memory in his mind told him that this was a popcorn movie.
There are a lot of movie theaters in New York, including small, fresh theaters that focus on independent films and play art films.
There are also cinemas that focus on French movies, with classical style and elegant atmosphere, and are specially designed to serve people who pretend to be X.
If you want to watch a popcorn movie, you can go to the Ziegfeld on West Street, a large single-screen theater for the best viewing experience.
The two drove over on the 11th, and Li You, who was wearing a hat, was recognized by some enthusiastic fans. Fortunately, there was a female companion beside him, and no one bothered him.
Milinda watched the popcorn blockbuster with gusto, but Li You fell asleep. After watching it for a while, the memories began to emerge clearly in his mind. It felt terrible to be spoiled.
At the end of the movie, Li You's only feeling was:
"Milla Jovovich is quite beautiful, and the young girl from this old guy is really good."
On May 15th, the Sonics returned to their home court and once again pulled one back, 96:99, and the series score came to 3:3.
Olajuwon seemed to have fully adapted to the Sonics' defense. He made 12 of 21 shots that night and scored 30 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 4 blocks.
Barkley also broke out of his sluggish state and scored a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds, but Drexler missed the mark, shooting 3 of 14 and scoring 9 points.
In addition, the Rockets made 21 turnovers in the game, and the Sonics relied on their stable performance to tenaciously drag the game into a 7-game battle.
Gary Payton once again played an integrated offensive and defensive performance, scoring 7 of 16, 19 points, 8 rebounds, 13 assists, 5 steals and 3 turnovers. Compared with Tim Hardaway in the first team, in the playoffs, his "gloves" are tougher!
The heat of the 7-game battle is explosive. If the Rockets' aging Big Three collapse, then there is no need to worry about the hot news in the offseason.
On the 16th, the Knicks also resumed daily training, and the coaching staff did not practice any special tactics.
The defensive end of the G1 game insisted on double-teaming, but the offensive end was just looking at the sky.
Several veterans also agreed to Jeff Van Gundy's request. No matter what the result was, they must at least show an attitude of going all out.
"I don't want to guard Michael Jordan at all. In the playoffs, there are more and more post-ups. Maybe next season, I have to consider gaining muscle."
Alan Houston looked gloomy after the video session. The sports media may have provoked McDuck, but the players knew his strength. Before the game even started, he was about to lose his nerve.
"Just try your best. It doesn't matter if you can't defend. Let him score 50 points. It would be a good result for the Bulls to lose!"
Li You smiled and comforted Alan Houston. He couldn't do this job and could only support his teammates mentally.
Larry Johnson is full of energy. He scored 20 points and 10 rebounds in the last game. It seems that "Auntie" has regained the feeling he once had. At this time, he is holding back his energy and wants to prove himself:
"Michael Jordan is not God, he will also be tired! If we win an away game and win two games at home, we will reach the finals!"
"We still have home court advantage when we meet the Rockets. This is definitely a great opportunity to win the championship!"
"Aunt" was thinking passionately here, but Oakley on the other side was shaking his head, and Starks didn't say anything. After the video class was over, the old guys were already lying down.
Li You discovered that most of the Knicks were satisfied after reaching the Eastern Conference finals. No one mentioned winning. Ewing was more active in training, but he did not mention the championship.
After entering the league for one season, Li You has fully realized the influence of Michael Jordan. Maybe the Western Conference teams are still dissatisfied, but the Eastern Conference teams are basically numb.
The losing Eagles didn't say anything harsh after the game, and no one mentioned winning back next year.
By the playoffs, the once provocative media had become passive and began to cheer for Michael Jordan:
"Bulls championship!"
On May 17, the tie-breaker in the Western Conference semifinals exploded with excitement, and the two sides fought fiercely until the fourth quarter.
With 20 seconds left in the game, 90:92, the Rockets, playing at home, still led by 2 points.
At the critical moment, the SuperSonics obviously couldn't rush forward and fell into a scoring drought for a while. Drexler continuously stood on the free throw line at this time and finally ended the game.
At 91:96, the Rockets' three aging Big Three all broke out and won the 7-game battle with difficulty.
Olajuwon made 11 of 19 shots and scored 22 points and 13 rebounds. Barkley made 7 of 13 shots and scored 20 points and 14 rebounds. Coupled with Drexler's 24 points, the Big Three dominated the game!
The Rockets shot 6 of 24 from three-point range and still won. Gary Payton's 27 points failed to turn the game around.
Western Conference Finals, Rockets VS Jazz, the battle for the seniors is about to begin!
The conference finals are about to begin, and TNT and ESPN will naturally follow suit and analyze the strength of the four teams.
McHale has become very popular since joining TNT. The Celtics legend can always analyze the technical characteristics of players in a concise and comprehensive manner:
"Rebounding is the key. Barkley may not have scored many points in the series, but the Rockets are ahead in offensive rebounds."
"This is the playoffs. The pitchers may have an outburst, but as the two sides continue to compete, their physical fitness declines, and the defense becomes more and more targeted. In the end, it is the big players who decide the outcome of the game."
Ernie Johnson looked at his partner talking and suddenly gave an example:
"Lee of the Knicks had a phenomenal performance in G5. Maybe outside players can also determine the outcome of the game!"
After looking through the technical statistics prepared in advance, McHale raised his eyebrows and said firmly:
"Lee performed very well. In the playoffs, the overall statistics were very good, but in the Eastern Conference finals, the opponents the Knicks will face will be completely different."
"The Bulls have a bigger backcourt than the Heat, Harper is not Tim Hardaway, and Michael Jordan can take over the defense at critical moments."
"Both Lee and Alan Houston are too young, and the gap in both game experience and physical skills is very obvious."
"When it comes to the conference finals, there are no secrets for both teams. This is a time to compete for star ability. Therefore, the Bulls and Rockets will meet in the finals this year."
The sports media overwhelmingly predicted that the Bulls and Rockets, who had more stars, would win easily. On the night of the 19th, in the Western Conference Finals, the Jazz were slapped in the face.
86:101, G1 of the Western Conference Finals, the Jazz at home defeated the Rockets!
Olajuwon performed bravely, shooting 9 of 14, scoring a game-high 30 points, and also grabbed 13 rebounds and sent out 5 assists.
But Barkley pulled away, shooting 3 of 10, scoring 12 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 turnover. Drexler also scored an average 13 points.
In the second quarter, at 17:29, the Jazz won the game in one fell swoop.
Karl Malone's statistics began to decline in the playoffs. In this game, he made 6 of 16 and scored 21 points on free throws.
But Stockton made 5 of 13 shots and steadily contributed 16 points, 6 rebounds, 13 assists, 2 steals and 2 turnovers.
Utah's double evil once again taught the football critics who underestimated them a lesson. Piling up stars does not necessarily mean they will be more powerful!
The Knicks team had already flown to Chicago. Everyone watched the game in the hotel. Ewing said something sour:
"Parallel import MVP! Sure enough, you can only score points by free throws!"
Li You noticed that the Jazz's game rhythm was faster, and the Rockets of Old Man Basketball could not keep up with the Jazz's offense.
The atmosphere team all followed the fun, and everyone was happy to see the Big Three lose.
"Go to bed early tonight, there will be a game tomorrow, so adjust your body and condition!"
Although Ewing was unable to play, he still assumed his role as a leader. He listened to his coach before the game and did not gather with friends. Everyone stayed in the hotel.
Although there is no eating and drinking session, the atmosphere team doesn't care. Being able to wave the towel in the Eastern Conference Finals is already an achievement that many players cannot achieve.
Alan Houston is still in a low mood and is still trying to encourage himself.
"The most we can get is 50 points. Don't worry, Bro! If that's the case, our chance will come!"
After hearing Li You's words, Alan Houston said angrily:
"That's 50 points. I don't want to go through it a second time."
"."
On May 20, the vindictive Michael Jordan began to satirize Jeff Van Gundy again before the game:
"I don't understand why a party with friends can affect the outcome of the game?"
"Coming to Chicago, I haven't been able to see any Knicks players these past few days. These boring tricks didn't work last year and they won't work this year!"
Before the game, McQueen was interviewed in the locker room and almost mocked Jeff Van Gundy by name.
During the playoffs last year, the bald young coach once mocked McQueen as a hypocritical bastard who gathered with friends before the game just to win the game easily.
The gap between the two was unbridgeable. Even if he won the best coach award, Jeff Van Gundy failed to win the respect of the other party.
In the conference finals, the league did not pack too much, but the atmosphere in the United Center became more and more heated, and Bulls fans entered the venue early.
The Knicks wore blue away jerseys tonight, and as DJ Ray Clay introduced the visiting team players, boos continued.
Li You, who made his final appearance, was booed just as the lights dimmed, and then the annoying melody sounded again.
In the simple animation, the Mavericks shuttled through the city, paired with the sharp rhythm of "Sirus", the Bulls fans at the scene began to cheer loudly.
Wearing white and red training uniforms, everyone from the Bulls team came out one by one. Li You had just formed a circle with his teammates at this time. Everyone yelled a few times and felt a little sour in their hearts:
“It comes with its own BGM, but that’s it!”
In the TNT commentary box, Dick Stockton got the starting lineups of both sides and briefly introduced:
"Rodman returned to the starting lineup tonight. It seems that he has almost recovered from his knee injury."
"The backcourt is still Ron Harper and Michael Jordan, the forwards are Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, and the center is Luke Longley."
Hubie Brown on the side saw the familiar starting lineup of the Bulls and also sighed:
"In the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Bulls were looking for form, and now they are ready to attack the championship."
"Allan Houston of the Knicks will start this game, and Charles Oakley and Buck Williams in the paint will have a lot of rebounding pressure."
"Patrick Ewing's absence has really caused a lot of trouble for the Knicks."
Players from both sides were doing their final warm-ups, and the noise in the United Center was getting louder and louder.
When the referee signaled the players from both sides to come to the center of the field, Michael Jordan, who was in a good mood, smiled, chewed gum, and took the initiative to fist bump with the Knicks.
Perhaps after reading the newspaper, Michael Jordan finally knew which records Li You had broken. He joked before the game:
"Lee, feel the real playoffs tonight!"
"."
This is somewhat disrespectful to the Knicks' previous opponents, but considering that most of the Eastern Conference teams were defeated by the Bulls, Li You could only smile.
Playing in the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time, and facing the best player in the league, Alan Houston was too nervous to speak.
On the other side, Oakley smiled and fist-bumped with everyone on the Bulls team. Although the old guy also wanted to win, he could accept defeat in his heart and his mentality was particularly peaceful.
As the referee threw the basketball up, Luke Longley easily jumped to the ball, and the scene immediately erupted in cheers.
Harper didn't ask for the ball. Just like in previous playoff games, Pippen quickly controlled the ball and dribbled it through half the court.
Larry Johnson matched up in time and came to the right wing. Harper immediately stepped forward to catch the ball. Pippen and others all pulled away. Michael Jordan was already asking for the ball with his back in the right block. .
After taking two steps and approaching the three-point line, under the interference of Li You, Harper sent a semi-lob pass. Michael Jordan jumped up to catch the ball, and the Bulls moved again.
Longley came to the free throw line, Rodman lurked at the left baseline position to grab the rebound, Pippen moved at the top of the arc, and Li You followed Harper to the left corner.
Without waiting for Larry Johnson to step forward to double-team, Michael Jordan defended the ball with his left hand after receiving the ball. Then he hit the ball with his left hand, approaching the paint area, immediately turned towards the baseline, and at the same time quickly joined the ball, facing the defense, and leaned back Jump shot!
Alan Houston's interference seemed to have worked, and the basketball came out of the frame!
On the Knicks' side, Oakley has been desperately trying to get stuck, and Buck Williams is also struggling with Longley. "Big Mom" saw the opportunity, shrank in time, and got in front of Pippen to protect the backcourt rebound.
Li You immediately stepped forward to respond. After receiving the ball, he quickly moved towards the right sideline in an attempt to get rid of Harper's entanglement.
The other Knicks players didn't look at the backcourt. Li You took the ball, accelerated as hard as he could, and rushed forward in a swarm.
Phil Jackson sat on the bench with a smile, watching Harper quickly guarding Li You. The Bulls also made adjustments tonight, and Harper completely transformed into a defensive tool.
With rich defensive experience, Harper had no intention of cutting the ball at this time. He just followed Li You and slid quickly, trying to keep his hands by his side to improve his perception.
The transition attack failed. Longley, who is 2.18 meters tall, also knew the Knicks' strategy and retreated quickly.
"Defense! Defense! Defense!"
Seeing Li You stopping the ball on the right wing, the defensive cheers in the United Center became louder and louder.
Everyone in the Knicks team also spread out, and Alan Houston simply ran to the left wing.
Larry Johnson moved around the left elbow, ready to cooperate with Buck Williams near the baseline to rush for rebounds.
Oakley moved quickly and stood at the three-point line, preparing to pick and roll, and Rodman also followed.
At this time, Li You, who had been holding the ball with his left hand and protecting the ball sideways, suddenly raised his center of gravity, pretended to break through from the left, and quickly dribbled the ball behind his back while Harper moved to defend.
The moment he switched to his right hand, he lowered his body's center of gravity. Li You accelerated directly and simply and roughly. Just as he passed the three-point line, he stopped suddenly again, shook his shoulders back, and then twisted around to accelerate.
With a sudden stop and start, Harper lost half of his body, and then quickly slid, Li You cut in, and Rodman also shrank.
The three of them came to the right side of the blocking area. Li You, who was traveling, suddenly circled the ball with one hand behind his back. His confusing movement made the two defenders pause for a moment. Rodman subconsciously looked at Oakley at the elbow.
Harper reacted fastest and hurriedly slid again, but Li You seized the opportunity, suddenly accelerated, and quickly retreated to the right near the baseline. Without waiting for the opponent, he drifted to the right and shot a jumper!
"Whoa!" A solid hit from mid-range!
"Shhh!!"
Li You, who retreated, smiled and nodded his head with his right index finger. Rodman, who was deceived, was not angry. Instead, he clapped his hands and smiled. Then he patted Harper and whispered a few words.
"Lee is in good condition. More emergency stops can help him get rid of the defense. However, the Bulls seemed to have made targeted adjustments in this game. Pippen took the ball earlier."
Watching the baseline free throw, Pippen dribbled the ball across half court. In the commentary box, Hubie Brown immediately guessed the Bulls' adjustment.
It was still a conventional tactic. When Li You saw Longley turning his back to ask for the ball in the left block, he immediately reminded everyone loudly:
"Quickly assist in defense!"
Coming to the left wing, Pippen immediately lobbed the ball to Longley. Buck Williams was behind him to prevent the opponent from going to the baseline. At the same time, Larry Johnson quickly returned to defend against double-teaming.
With only one hit, Longley hurriedly combined the ball, and then quickly returned the ball to Pippen outside the three-point line.
At this time, Buck Williams quickly moved forward to defend. Longley took the opportunity to move to the basket. Pippen passed the ball again. In the paint, as soon as Longley released the ball, Oakley blocked him.
Coupled with Larry Johnson who slid over again, a three-man encirclement was formed in the paint area.
There was no time to pass the ball to Rodman under the basket. Longley lost control of the ball after releasing it.
Oakley completed the steal, Li You immediately stepped forward to respond, and the Knicks once again accelerated towards the opponent's half.
"oh!!"
The transition between offense and defense was so fast that the Bulls fans at the scene only had time to scream in surprise before Li You rushed through the half court against Harper's defense.
Approaching the top of the arc, Li You showed no signs of slowing down.
Harper did not lose his defensive position. When he came to the three-point line, he discovered that the ball in Li You's left hand was missing.
Fans screamed in his ears, and Harper turned around to find Li You passing the ball from behind and finding Alan Houston who was following up on a fast break.
On the right wing outside the three-point line, Alan Houston did not adjust when receiving the pass, he just raised the ball and threw it!
Michael Jordan, who was guarding the three-point line, subconsciously made a defensive move, but it was still a beat slow.
"Whoa!" Converted a three-pointer into the net!
Not caring about the boos from the Bulls fans at the scene, Alan Houston was so excited that he pumped his fist in celebration.
Michael Jordan immediately lost his smile when his opponent scored on his head.
The Bulls' offense also picked up the pace. Pippen dribbled past half-court and passed the ball to Michael Jordan, who was looking for the ball at the elbow on the left side of the free throw line.
There was no need for Li You to remind him this time. Everyone in the Knicks team knew that it must be a single. Larry Johnson immediately stepped forward to double-team, and Michael Jordan, who received the ball, turned around and released the ball, accelerating with all his strength.
After releasing the ball with his left hand and taking two big steps, Michael Jordan suddenly stopped, then drifted to the left and completed a fadeaway jumper!
Under the defense of the two, the basketball came out of the frame again, and the basket was scrambled. Longley used his height advantage to get the rebound. Finally, Oakley saw the right time and grabbed the backcourt rebound with difficulty.
The Bulls suddenly changed their defensive form at this time. When Li You caught the ball, Harper immediately led the defense. At the same time, Pippen also stepped forward to block the ball.
Li You, who was receiving the ball in the middle, saw that something was wrong. He turned around sharply, grabbed the ball with his left hand and then moved laterally. He briefly got rid of Harper's defense. Faced with the sudden double-team, Li You quickly circled the ball with his hips. After lowering his center of gravity, he took advantage of the situation. Change direction forward.
The moment Harper was about to catch up, Li You, who switched to his right hand, suddenly led the ball forward, then exerted force with his feet and accelerated with all his strength.
An acrobatic move allowed Li You to pass between the two of them.
The fans at the scene exclaimed again, watching Li You grab the ball with his left hand and rush across the half court.
Just after passing the halfway line, Michael Jordan followed suit, trying to delay Li You and cooperate with his teammates to complete the three-man encirclement.
The sudden increase in defensive intensity did not panic Li You. Before Jordan could get in front of him, he threw the ball behind his back again while running.
Alan Houston, who followed up, received the pass and immediately slowed down as he approached the three-point line. The right wing suddenly stopped again. With no one in front of him to defend him, he converted to a three-pointer and quickly made a jump shot!
"Whoa!" The three-pointer hit the net!
"God! Wonderful coordination! The Knicks once again made a beautiful counterattack!"
"Lee played the Bulls defense so hard it was unbelievable! It was so fast!"
In the TNT commentary box, watching Li You and Alan Houston bump chests in celebration, Dick Stockton was so excited that he raised his commentary volume.
The United Center was filled with boos. Both Harper and Pippen were frozen in place. They looked at Li You who was retreating in surprise. Why did he just pass?
"Well done! Bro! That's it, even Michael Jordan can't guard you. Keep shooting and kill the old guy on the other side!"
Li You, who was retreating, had already noticed the Bulls' defensive intentions and felt that he was going to lose this game, so he took the opportunity to encourage Alan Houston.
After hitting two consecutive three-pointers, all the nervousness before the game disappeared. Alan Houston only felt that his hands were hot, and he shouted loudly:
"Yes! Shoot those old guys to death!"
As soon as he turned around, he saw Michael Jordan looking at him. Alan Houston immediately lost his momentum, but Li You didn't care, walked back on defense, and continued to encourage:
"They are already old. Let's outrun them tonight!"
Pursing his lips and no longer chewing gum, Michael Jordan tilted his head and looked at the two men who were retreating. Finally, he caught up and applauded:
"Come on! That's great!"
Thank you book friends for your subscription supportˉ﹃ˉ
At 22:00 in the evening, I will add another chapter with 10,000 words, mainly to revise the manuscript -. -
Some content needs to be rewritten QAQ
This is also an extra update promised to book friends~
(End of chapter)
