On the night of May 25, 1997, in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, with 8 seconds left in the game, Brian Russell of the Jazz missed the winning three-pointer.
As a result, the rebound was collected by Barkley, and then Matt Maloney received the ball and launched a counterattack!
At the end of the game, veteran Eddie Johnson received the pass at the top of the arc. Without any time to adjust, he was still one step away from the three-point line and immediately took a jump shot!
When the ball went in and the lights came on, everyone on the Rockets rushed to the court, yelled and hugged the veteran.
At 92:95, the Rockets, playing at home, escaped and tied the series at 2:2. The battle at Tianwang Mountain will return to Salt Lake City again.
The Rockets' senior Big Three performed at a mid-range performance. Olajuwon shot 9 of 18 and scored a game-high 27 points. Barkley made 5 of 11 and scored a double-double of 20 points and 16 rebounds with free throws. .
Drexler made 6 of 15 shots and also contributed 16 points.
The Rockets made 6 of 19 from beyond the three-point line, with a shooting percentage of just over 30%. However, veteran Eddie Johnson's last-minute three-pointer was priceless. Protecting the home court is the most important thing!
Almost getting the match point, everyone in the Jazz team was a little disappointed.
Karl Malone shot 10 of 28 and only had 22 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 3 turnovers;
Stockton was as stable as ever, shooting 9 of 12, 22 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists and 1 steal, with no mistakes!
The Jazz only committed 8 turnovers in the game, while the Rockets also had only 12 turnovers.
The two sides were evenly matched in several games. In the playoffs, controlling mistakes is an essential ability for championship teams.
Li You, who was watching the game at home, noticed that the Jazz had 83 possessions and the team made 8 turnovers. He couldn't help but think deeply.
Compared with the Eastern Conference Finals, the Jazz played at a faster pace, which can be regarded as a continuation of the regular season style of play.
The Bulls have been slowing down in these games, expecting the Knicks to make the first mistake. The result is that the two teams are playing slower and slower, fighting for positions and grabbing rebounds wildly, with no one taking advantage.
The rhythm of the game will naturally affect the performance of the players, but the Knicks have a lot of old guys and their legs and feet are not very good. They can still run for one quarter, but they will most likely have to rest first if they run the whole game.
"The big score in the series has reached 2:2. Next, the two sides will have a battle at Tianwang Mountain. The Jazz have a chance to get the match point at home."
The sound coming from the TV also reminded Li You that G5 had to return to Chicago:
“What a terrible situation”
On the evening of May 26, G4 of the Eastern Conference Finals started again at Madison Square Garden.
By the fourth game, the two sides already knew each other very well. Tactical adjustments could not solve many problems. Player status was the key.
G2 almost made Li You vomit from exhaustion, which also caused G3 to follow suit. After two games of slowdown, his physical fitness finally recovered.
After the opening, Li You showed a different state, just like Stockton last night, more actively promoting transition offense.
"Let's go Knicks! Let's go Knicks! Let's go Knicks!"
The New York fans at the scene shouted excitedly. They really didn’t want to see Michael Jordan pretending to be sexy in Madison Square Garden.
After the start of the game, McDunner continued to hit the ball, and Harper followed suit. The game lasted 2 minutes, and the Bulls did not score a point. This time, Rodman received McDunner's breakthrough pass, but was interfered by Ewing again, and the basketball was knocked against the frame. And out.
Oakley grabbed the rebound and immediately threw the ball to Li You who responded.
Harper quickly stepped forward to lead the defense, but Li You, who received the ball, rushed faster and faster along the right sideline.
Holding the ball in his right hand, he continued to accelerate, approaching the midline. Li You quickly dribbled the ball behind his back. After switching to his left hand, he carried the defense and continued to rush to the right flank.
After the start of the game, Li You accelerated, but Harper had no choice. He was also a human being, and his physical condition began to decline.
Holding the ball in his left hand, he came to the right wing and when he was close to the three-point line, Li You began to slow down slowly.
Players from both sides were still trying to run toward the half court. Harper had already slid in front of Li You, glancing back at the movements of the Knicks players from time to time.
Slowly approaching the three-point line, Li You, holding the ball in his left hand, slightly lowered his center of gravity and quickly dribbled the ball with his hips. While swinging his body to the right, he took advantage of Harper's sliding step, scooped up the ball with his right hand and dribbled with his hips again.
Before Harper could react, Li You, who completed two consecutive dribbles under his crotch, took a step sideways, opened up space for his shot, and quickly made a jump shot from outside the three-point line!
"Whoa!" Converted a three-pointer into the net!
"God! It was so fast. Lee used his personal ability to support the Knicks' counterattack!"
Commentator John Andaris saw that the players from the two teams had just settled down, and Li You had already clapped his hands and retreated, and immediately praised it loudly.
Phil Jackson on the sidelines didn't blame Harper, it was really impossible to prevent.
Not only do you have to worry about passing the ball, but you also have to pay attention to breakthroughs. If the result is shaking, just throw it. It's a blind throw. It doesn't matter whoever defends it!
After a 7-0 run after the opening game, the New York fans at Madison Square Garden screamed happily and felt extremely happy.
For two consecutive games, Larry Johnson, who was in a state of lethargy, was in a much better state tonight. He didn't care about turning back and running. After retreating from defense, he quickly directed the defense to position.
As for Ewing and Oakley, they also turned back and continued to stand under the basket. Only Alan Houston was leading the defense against Michael Jordan who was advancing with the ball.
Surrounded by three players for three consecutive games, Michael Jordan sometimes had difficulty connecting the ball. Except for the G3 explosion, the efficiency of Michael Jordan was improved.
Trying to advance with the ball, when he came to the right wing, Longley stepped forward to pick and roll. Ewing, who followed, naturally retreated to the defense.
At the three-point line, Michael Jordan, holding the ball in his left hand, quickly pushed the ball to change direction. After switching to his right hand, he immediately lowered his shoulders and pretended to break through.
Alan Houston hurriedly slid to the back left, but the next second he saw a dunk from beyond the three-point line and quickly shot a jumper.
"state!!"
A long rebound popped up from the left wing. Li You rushed to collect the rebound in front of Harper, caught the ball and rushed!
Still accelerating along the right sideline, Li You, who was traveling, felt the confrontation from Harper on his side. After quickly crossing the center line, he quickly dribbled the ball behind his back, suddenly stopped, and swayed a distance.
Without waiting for the teammates behind him to cross the half court, Li You, who switched to his left hand, lowered his center of gravity, swayed to the left, and quickly changed direction in front of his body.
Harper hurriedly slid back to the left, but after Li You grabbed the ball with his right hand, he accelerated and sprinted, cutting in neatly from the right wing.
"Wow!"
New York cheered loudly again at the scene, and when he reached the right block, Li You suddenly stopped suddenly, blasted the ball vigorously on the spot, and then changed direction again.
Harper, who had lost his defensive position, saw Li You grabbing the ball with his left hand and was about to complete the throw, and immediately chose to pull and foul.
"squeak!"
The referee immediately blew the whistle and Li You got two free throw opportunities.
Breathing heavily, Harper felt like he couldn't hold it anymore. He stood near the paint area with his hands on his hips and raised his hands to indicate that it was his defensive problem.
He kept running back and forth after the start, and Michael Jordan also noticed that the rhythm of the game was not right.
"What a beautiful counterattack. Lee's excellent ability to combine the ball makes it difficult for Harper to keep up with his rhythm."
"It's a pity that others didn't follow up fast enough, otherwise we could have easily scored points!"
Commentator Marv Albert also began to praise Li You's performance after the opening, and commentator John Andaris added:
"Coach Van Gundy's adjustments are very timely. The Bulls will also be tired. We should seize these opportunities to score easily in transition attacks."
Jeff Van Gundy, who was on the sidelines, except for a few symbolic shouts after the game started, was basically on hold.
The ball is in Li You's hands. When the point guard has the ability to speed up the game with his own offense, the head coach has nothing to do.
Call a timeout when ahead? What only a fool would do!
At the free throw line, Li You adjusted his breathing and made two free throws steadily.
At 0:9, Phil Jackson immediately requested a timeout, holding the tactical board, and his face became ugly. This was very different from the game plan made before the game.
Li You scored 7 points after the start. Such an excellent state also restored the vitality of the atmosphere team. Everyone stepped forward to fist bump with Li You who was walking to the bench.
The Gorilla returned to the bench with mixed emotions. Except for scoring 2 points after the opening game, in these few minutes, most of them were defensive and running back.
The team sped up and gained a considerable lead. This reminded him of the New York Post article.
It's just that he can't lose anymore at home, and Ewing can only passively accept such a game.
Jeff Van Gundy naturally wouldn't make adjustments, and after the Bulls timed out, they played Longley's low post tactics, and Pippen cut in without the ball to help the team score points.
"Shhh!!"
Seeing the opponent score a goal in a open game, Madison Square Garden was booed.
A goal in a sports game did not change the shooting feel of everyone on the Bulls. In the following minutes, jump shots continued to hit, and Li You continued to speed up the pace of the game.
Li You converted a three-pointer, and the New York fans at the scene also cheered. Everyone was still having fun when he missed a fast break throw.
As long as the Bulls continue to be strong, the fans will follow!
In the second half of the first quarter, Li You also began to slow down the offensive rhythm and repeatedly used tactics. Ewing also followed up and scored points. On the other side, Maidun was still iron.
Phil Jackson on the sidelines was very helpless about this. The core players could not send the ball into the basket. There was almost no solution to this matter.
Every time there was a strike, Spike Lee raised his hands and cheered on the sidelines. Coupled with the fans in the front row who were gushing sweet things from their mouths, the more and more fierce the fans became, the more intense the fight became.
With 1 minute and 28 seconds left in the first quarter, the score was 16:24.
Harper's missed three-pointer allowed Li You to seize the opportunity and quickly rush through the half court.
Michael Jordan, who only scored 2 points with free throws, desperately pursued the defense and immediately caught up with Li You, flanking him on the left. Li You was forced to slow down.
Looking at Michael Jordan in front of him with a long face, lowered his center of gravity, and staring at the ball, Li You, holding the ball in his left hand, stopped outside the three-point line.
Amid the cheers from the fans, Michael Jordan began to move and actively defend, trying to interfere with Li You's offensive rhythm.
Li You suddenly accelerated his dribbling speed, dribbling quickly with his hips. The moment he switched to his right hand, his body swayed to the right, and then he immediately dribbled the ball behind his back.
Maikou subconsciously slid to the left, and then soon realized that he had been deceived. Li You, who was fishing for the ball with his left hand, took a big step forward and quickly exploded the ball. He suddenly stopped at the three-point line. Quick jump shot!
Michael Jordan rushed up from the side and almost completed the block, but in the end he was a beat late and hit Li You's forearm.
"Squeak! Swish!"
The buzzer sounded and the ball was scored. Seeing Michael Jordan once again serve as a backdrop, Madison Square Garden instantly exploded.
"oh!!"
Many fans stood up and kept shouting. After landing, Li You stabilized his center of gravity, smiled and kept clapping his hands:
"Come on! I'll solve the problem from outside the three-point line tonight!"
Michael Jordan, who was banging the iron, was already in a bad mood. When he heard these words again, he laughed angrily, shook his head and said:
"Kid, don't provoke Black Jesus!"
It was rare to see Maikou respond, and the fans in the front row cheered even more:
"Fake Jiaodan!"
I don’t know which one who likes to have fun resonated with his shouts, and for a while, the sound of Fake on the scene became louder and louder.
The anger BUFF increased visibly to the naked eye, and when he saw Li You who hit the extra penalty shot with his hands spread out to defend, Maikou was furious.
At the end of the first quarter, Pippen finally made a three-pointer from outside the three-point line, which made the score between the two sides final at 19:28.
In the second quarter of the game, Michael Jordan didn't rest, and no one on the bench could stop him. He kept asking for the ball after he came on the court.
The best defense is to predict the offense. The Knicks began to repeat the previous defensive strategy, encircling and suppressing on the outside and blocking on the inside.
Even if he occasionally breaks through to the basket, Oakley will block the shot for McDunner.
Phil Jackson complained to the referee that it was all a foul, but the whistle didn't sound!
Michael Jordan struck the iron, switched offense, and Li You continued to rush.
Li You, who was holding the ball in his right hand, came to the left wing. After lowering his center of gravity, he dribbled the ball from his hips and quickly stepped back. Harper could only block the shot sideways, but it didn't have much effect.
"Whoa!" Convert a three-pointer and score again!
"YES! Lee hit a three-pointer again. He felt hot tonight and was simply unstoppable on the offensive end!"
Commentator Marv Albert shouted excitedly. Even though he had hit the ball before, goals with such explosive visual effects can always ignite the atmosphere of the stadium.
The New York fans at the scene just shouted "Let him throw it!" While they were beating Jiao Dan, they were cheering for Li You.
Maikun, who was already furious, still couldn't find his touch, and he didn't pass the ball even though he was double-teamed.
The positional offense was frequently surrounded and suppressed, and they were unable to make shots from beyond the three-point line. The Bulls' rhythm was disrupted, and the game collapsed in the second quarter.
At 12:23 of the single quarter, the half ended, and at 31:51, the Knicks led by 20 points!
Madison Square Garden was completely elated, with cheers and yells filling the arena.
Michael Jordan, with a dark face and eyes that were almost on fire, walked into the tunnel and punched in the air in anger.
In the half game, he shot 0 of 11, 0 of 4 from beyond the three-point line, and 3 of 4 free throws. McDunner only scored 3 points and 3 rebounds.
On the other hand, Li You, who let himself go, made 6 of 13 in the half, 4 of 9 from beyond the three-point line, and 3 of 3 free throws. He has already scored 19 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists!
"Mike can't do it! I knew he knew how to strike! Farke! We will definitely win tonight!"
Back in the locker room, Larry Johnson was screaming.
"Auntie" regained some of his physical strength, and with a fierce run, he also got some opportunities for offense. Coupled with Michael Jordan's ironwork, he also became more energetic on defense.
"2:2, we don't have the home field advantage, but we can still win, thank God!"
Alan Houston also breathed a sigh of relief. Michael Jordan attacked so hard that he almost thought he was going to be beaten again.
The morale of the atmosphere team was also boosted, and they were discussing whether Qimai Dun would continue to perform like this in the second half.
Ewing watched Li You fist bump with everyone, everyone laughed and talked about the game, and felt sad for a moment:
"I thought you were here to help me!"
The Gorillas only played half of the game in the second quarter. At the end of the half, they made 4 of 7 free throws, 2 of 2 free throws, and scored 10 points and 7 rebounds.
In key games, the coaching staff also implemented the strategy of having breasts, and never mentioned adjustments during the halftime break. Jeff Van Gundy only talked about chicken soup:
"Hang in there! Don't relax and don't give the Bulls any chance!"
"We still have the physical advantage to win this game. Michael Jordan made a mistake and our defense worked!"
"Let's go! Completely finish them off in the second half!"
Alan Houston was speechless. Where does the physical advantage come from? Double-teaming defense means more turns. The opponent's physical fitness is like a monster.
Larry Johnson was restored to his strength by chicken soup. As long as the defense can get positive feedback, "Auntie" is willing to be a tool man:
"Seeing McNair hit the iron makes me feel more comfortable than scoring by myself."
In the second half of the game, Li You stopped playing blindly and started to implement tactical routines honestly. With such a huge point difference, all he had to do was control the team's mistakes.
Michael Jordan, who was furious, had no intention of giving up the game and continued to frantically ask for the ball and keep playing singles.
Just the sound of Bang Bang's hammering made the New York fans at the scene almost burst into excitement:
"Fake Jiaodan!!"
There was no need for Harper to defend. After halftime, Michael Jordan defended Li You by himself, which was completely exhausted.
In the third quarter of the game, the two sides played at a moderate distance, but the enthusiasm of the New York fans remained undiminished, and McDuck was strong again.
The defensive intensity dropped, and he still couldn't find his touch. He made 2 of 11 dunks in a single quarter, 2 of 3 free throws, and scored 6 points.
23:23 in a single quarter, 54:74 after three quarters, garbage time is coming.
After only resting for 2 minutes, Michael Jordan returned to the court angrily. He worked hard in the first three quarters. In the fourth quarter of the game, he finally found his touch.
It’s just that Li You was very stable at this time and reappeared with 7 minutes and 02 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
The point difference was narrowed a bit at this time, but soon the Knicks regained their offensive rhythm and increased Ewing's low-post offense.
Alan Houston only felt that the nightmare was repeating itself. Michael Jordan kept asking for the ball, making sudden shots and scoring points!
The shouting and cursing at the scene disappeared, and when there were 3 minutes left in the game, the fans regained their energy. There was not enough time!
As the final buzzer sounded, Madison Square Garden erupted in loud cheers.
80:94, the Knicks defeated the Bulls, and the series score reached 2:2.
In the last quarter, Michael Jordan made 7 of 13 shots, 6 of 6 free throws, and scored 20 points. This made commentator John Andaris not dare to criticize the home team:
"Fortunately, our lead is big enough to win G4. The Battle of Tianwangshan will return to Chicago. Guys, hang on, we still have a chance!"
The commentator Marv Albert also sighed and said:
"Lee's performance in the first half played a key role. Of course, coach Van Gundy's adjustments were also very timely. We need to speed up the pace of the game!"
After losing the game, Michael Jordan was heartbroken. Li You passed by Michael Jordan and laughed happily:
"Wow! Black Jesus?"
Although Li You was defended in the second half and his performance was average, it did not affect the taunting effect. Another layer of anger BUFF was added. Michael Jordan walked towards the player tunnel without looking back.
Played 45 minutes, 9 of 35, 0 of 8 from beyond the three-point line, 11 of 13 free throws, and scored 29 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 turnover.
Back in the locker room, Li You looked at the technical statistics and was speechless. Maidun's physical fitness was as if he had taken drugs, and he could still move under double teams.
Alan Houston's eyes widened again. In the fourth quarter, the game was completely blown away. After a whole game, even if he got a rotation rest, he still couldn't withstand it in the end.
Larry Johnson didn't complain about McDuck pulling too far. The opponent is not a person. The farther you go to the back, the more accurate it is? This is completely inconsistent with sports common sense.
In 43 minutes of playing time, Li You made 9 of 21 shots, 5 of 12 from behind the three-point line, and 6 of 7 free throws. He scored 29 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers.
This is also the highest score for the Knicks. Ewing looked at the technical statistics without saying anything. He made 8 of 15. He also had 23 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 turnovers.
Even though they won the game, everyone on the Knicks team didn't feel much joy, because everyone knew in their hearts that the opponent would not stay strong forever.
Jeff Van Gundy was in a good mood. When he returned to the locker room, he smiled and encouraged:
"Forget the first 4 games, if we win G5, we can finish our opponents at home!"
"Believe me, they are tired! Michael Jordan is tired too!"
"."
At the post-game press conference, the New York media were waiting to see Michael Jordan's jokes.
Wearing a large suit, Michael Jordan had just sat down when the reporters in the audience couldn't wait to ask:
"McDunk, 35 shots, is the reason why the Bulls lost?"
"The loss was just because the Knicks performed better tonight, they found their offensive rhythm and hit more three-pointers."
"But we've adapted to these little tricks and the Bulls won't lose again."
After stacking a bunch of anger BUFFs, Michael Jordan calmed down at this time and answered the questions easily.
"Will the Bulls make adjustments for the G5 game?"
Hearing such a question, Michael Jordan shook his head and said casually:
"That's Phil's job, but I like to accept the challenge of young people. I will go against Lee more. This is my adjustment."
"Write whatever you want, but I will be the final winner!"
Realizing that Michael Jordan really didn't care about the Knicks, the New York media at the scene were furious:
"What's the pride in losing?"
On May 27, I was smiling after winning, and the newspapers were full of articles praising the Knicks.
The New York media also let themselves go at this time. They brought up old stories again and satirized Michael Jordan for his status as the 46th among the 50 greatest superstars.
He scored 29 points with a shooting rate of less than 30%, so he is naturally a "data brush"!
When it comes to the ability to settle old scores, the New York media is not boastful. They even revealed the incident of Maidu’s loss before the three consecutive championships.
In the entire series, Li You's shooting percentage exceeded 40% for the first time. This performance was once again praised as nothing. As for the sluggishness in the second half, it was naturally ignored.
In the sports sections of several newspapers, it was firmly stated that the Bulls would fail, Michael Jordan would continue to perform inefficiently, and the Knicks would reach the Finals and eventually win the championship.
The fans in New York were happy to see the crazy poisonous milk. Anyway, they won the game, so let’s feel good first!
The Knicks all have to fly to Chicago in the afternoon, and tomorrow night, G5 will officially begin.
G4 clearly led by a big score, but was frustrated in the last quarter. Alan Houston was a little sluggish and he was not good as a defensive tool.
"34 years old? Why does Maikou's physical fitness show no signs of decline!"
Larry Johnson is completely convinced. Only by playing against each other in person can he truly understand the opponent's strength.
Li You, who read magazines when he got on the plane, felt that after the series is over, maybe "aunt" will also become a McQueen fan:
"Talent! Coupled with scientific training, just like jump shooting, you can only get rewards if you train hard."
Starks shook his head as he listened, and then said with emotion:
"I think it's just talent, there are so many players who work hard, but no one can reach that level."
"Actually, Mike has indeed declined. What I mean is the decline in physical condition. You know, we played against each other during the three consecutive championships. His movement speed at that time was not what it is now."
Ewing's expression froze. He was dunked on an in-and-out wooden stake and watched as the opponent completed the dunk. This beautiful pass is still played repeatedly on ESPN.
Oakley pouted and continued reading the magazine without participating in the topic.
The old guy witnessed the younger Michael Jordan, which was the flying version!
The reason why he has a calm mind and doesn't care about victory or defeat is because he understands the strength of his opponent.
Li You feels that in this series, his teammates' desire to win is gradually declining. The loss in G3 seems to have made everyone realize the reality.
On the night of the 27th, in the battle of Tianwangshan in the Western Conference Finals, the Jazz at home successfully got the match point.
At 91:96, the senior Big Three lost to the Utah Shuangsha again.
Olajuwon made 11 of 18 and 11 of 13 free throws, scoring a game-high 33 points. He also grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out 3 assists and 3 steals.
Although there were 5 turnovers, the main reason for the loss was that they were too tough from beyond the three-point line.
7 of 24, less than 30% of the three-pointers, the Rockets failed to respond in time.
Drexler made 5 of 15 shots and 0 of 5 from beyond the three-point line, scoring 15 points. Barkley made 3 of 6 shots and contributed 10 points.
The aging Big Three failed to take advantage of their stars, but were not as clear-cut as the Jazz.
Karl Malone played 44 minutes, 11 of 22, 29 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 turnovers. Stockton made 6 of 7, 17 points, 6 assists and 5 turnovers.
Without more transition attacks, the Jazz's number of possessions dropped to 69, but they still won.
After getting the match point, the football commentators finally started to take a serious look at the Jazz. Then, many people also realized that the big three of the elderly were out and the hot spot was coming!
For a time, the number of Jazz fans increased greatly, and the losers turned their heads and became optimistic about Utah's double evil.
No one in the Knicks team watched this game. Everyone took a rest early. They had to adjust their physical condition for Tianwangshan in G5.
On the night of May 28, at the United Center in Chicago, as the BGM of "Sirus" sounded, the Bulls fans at the scene began to cheer loudly.
A serious-looking Michael Jordan appeared on the stage, and the fans cheered louder and louder.
During the singing session, Alan Houston couldn't help but cross himself and began to talk about God.
The audience booed Li You more than Ewing, provoking McDuck and angering Bulls fans.
After returning home, the Bulls did not change too many tactics. The only difference was that in the first quarter, Michael Jordan regained his touch.
Constantly asking for the ball in the blocking area, with the blessing of the Angry Buff, Maikou not only accelerated the offensive rhythm, but also began to share the ball more.
Jeff Van Gundy could only stare on the sidelines, watching the Bulls score and score.
At 6 minutes and 48 seconds into the first quarter, Pippen sprained his knee on a breakthrough and was injured.
I thought this was an opportunity, but as it turned out, Cook was able to play both inside and outside. Not only did he follow up and score points, he also hit a three-pointer.
At the end of the first quarter, at 26:33, the Knicks played a good offense, but the Bulls were more efficient.
6 of 10, 1 of 2 from beyond the three-point line, and 2 of 2 free throws, Michael Jordan scored 15 points in a single quarter and rebounded strongly after the start.
"How to adjust?"
Jeff Van Gundy looked at the people on the bench who were gasping for air. He couldn't think of a good way for a while, and finally resorted to the old trick of encircling and suppressing double teams.
Phil Jackson rotated more players in the second quarter, taking advantage of Michael Jordan to continuously stretch the Knicks' defense.
The Bulls took the initiative to speed up. Although Michael Jordan began to strike, the role players responded.
The game was not like the Battle of Tianwang Mountain. The Bulls did not choose physical combat. Pippen left the game, but instead activated the team offense. Michael Jordan played more reasonably.
At 27:31 of the single quarter, halftime ended at 53:64, and the Knicks were already 11 points behind.
The United Center Arena was in complete excitement at this time. Bulls fans knew that as long as they got the match point, a dunk would end the game!
In the TNT commentary box, Hubie Brown looked at the technical statistics, then shook his head and sighed:
"This is Michael Jordan. When he wants to organize an offense, he can also control the game."
"7-of-18, 18 points in the half, the Knicks did a good job defensively, but they paid the price in the end."
Dick Stockton on the side also felt that the outcome of this game was determined. With a double-digit lead, the Bulls would not waste such an opportunity:
"Lee tried hard to keep up with the Bulls' pace, but his teammates were too tired and double-teamed the defense, which consumed more of their energy."
"To score 53 points at halftime is already a good result."
Michael Jordan kept his word and led more defense on Li You after the opening game.
In the half game, he made 5 of 13 shots, 3 of 9 from beyond the three-point line, 2 of 4 free throws, 15 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 turnovers. He was almost defended as "Little Lee".
The two fought hard in the second quarter, and the Knicks also responded, but when Rodman both threw three-pointers, the rhythm of the game began to shift toward the Bulls.
At halftime, back in the locker room, Jeff Van Gundy was a little confused. How to adjust?
"Continue to double-team?"
"Speed up?"
"Positional attack?"
Although no one was looking at him, Jeff Van Gundy suddenly couldn't tell the story.
There are not many options. If you want to equalize the score difference, you need to defend the opponent's offense first.
After the start of the third quarter, the two sides returned to a state of physical combat. Michael Jordan was playing hard, and it was difficult for the Knicks to score.
The Bulls fans at the scene didn't care at all that they suddenly ate a Xiang-flavored chocolate. They were still in the lead and continued to cheer for the home team loudly.
At 17:16 of the single quarter, the point difference was narrowed by a bit.
In the last quarter of the game, the Knicks couldn't fight anymore. Ewing's low post did not take advantage of Longley and Kukic.
They struggled to chase points, but there was not enough game time. In the end, 94:100, even with Pippen retired due to injury, the Bulls still won the game.
Cheers echoed throughout the United Center as Bulls fans celebrated the home team's match point.
Played 43 minutes, 11 of 31, 1 of 4 from beyond the three-point line, 5 of 6 free throws, 28 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, and 4 turnovers.
Michael Jordan was not very efficient, but his more reasonable ball choices completely activated the Bulls' offense.
There was still no smile on his face, but Michael Jordan kept a straight face and kept high-fiving to express his gratitude to the fans.
In the post-game press conference, Michael Jordan didn’t say much:
"I'll finish it off in New York!"
The simple and rude statement made the Chicago media in the audience climax at the same time. They were going to the finals!
The Bulls got the match point, and then the New York media, which was still reveling two days ago, fell silent. Everyone knew what this meant.
After the loss, everyone in the Knicks team seemed to let out a sigh of relief, and Ewing was so depressed that he didn't want to talk.
It seems that it is no different from the encounters in previous years, and the Gorilla naturally thinks back to the past losing times.
Flying back to New York overnight, everyone went back to their homes.
It was already late at night when Li You returned to the apartment, and losing the Tianwangshan game did not have much impact on him.
Maybe Ewing had some shadow in his heart, but he saw the decline of McNugget.
Perhaps when he was young, Michael Jordan could really integrate offense and defense, chasing core players on the defensive end, and shooting nearly 50% on the offensive end.
But things are different now. Michael Jordan's efficiency has declined. In the entire series, there was only one game where his shooting percentage exceeded 50%, and the others were less than 40%.
Li You, who came to the study, wrote down the training method he thought of in his notebook, and at the same time called out the simple talent panel.
Noting that [Allen Iverson's excellent ball touch] has turned silver, and [Ray Allen's excellent explosive power] is about to change color, Li You nodded slightly:
"Playing more high-quality games will always pay off!"
"."
The Bulls got the match point, so the New York media also fell silent. No one was mocking Michael Jordan anymore, and they began to comfort themselves:
"The Knicks are having a perfect season!"
"In the seventh game, the Knicks have the physical advantage."
"The future is promising, and the young Knicks will undergo a transformation."
On the morning of the 29th, Jeff Van Gundy read the article in the newspaper and cursed angrily, and the wallflower was scared again.
In the battle of Tianwang Mountain, Phil Jackson boldly hired people, which can be regarded as teaching another lesson to the best coach in the league.
"We still have a chance. As long as we win at home, the Bulls won't have an advantage in the tiebreaker. Don't forget that Pippen is injured."
Assistant coach Thibodeau began to encourage everyone, but unfortunately, painful memories came to his mind, and several assistant coaches who had already lost their nerves did not respond.
Jeff Van Gundy didn't say much, and there wasn't much room for adjustment. Michael Jordan locked up Li You, unless Ewing was in great shape.
Just thinking about past experiences, Jeff Van Gundy also felt that this was unreliable:
"Don't look like this in the afternoon training session. We still have a chance!"
"."
The old guys were relieved, Alan Houston was overdrawn, and McDuck made 30+ shots in two consecutive games, which made him vomit from exhaustion.
Larry Johnson didn't yell to make McDuck look good, and chased and intercepted him. However, the opponent kept attacking, and "Auntie" was defeated.
G5 played another 43 minutes. Li You made 7 of 19, 4 of 12 from beyond the three-point line, and 4 of 6 free throws. He scored 22 points, 3 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal, and 4 turnovers.
Naturally, his physical fitness cannot be restored to its best condition, and Li You is used to this.
Perhaps it is a characteristic of this era that even Phil Jackson still sticks to the main force.
Pippen played 40+ games in a row, and the recurrence of his knee injury was also related to the large amount of playing time.
Although the G6 game has not started yet, in the training session, the old guys are almost lying flat.
Oakley's shooting touch has been declining, and Gorilla's performance of 10 of 22 and 28 points in G5 could not boost morale.
Assistant coach Don Chaney looked at Li You who was still doing shooting training on the training ground and shook his head helplessly:
“Until the end, it’s still the same as before.”
On the evening of the 29th, G6 of the Western Conference Finals officially started.
Drexler, who had been in the doldrums for several consecutive games, finally broke out tonight. Everyone in the three old giants worked hard, and the two sides fought fiercely until the fourth quarter of the game.
At the last moment, Drexler missed a mid-range shot, leaving the Jazz with 2 seconds.
In the end, the Rockets paid the price. Stockton received a sideline ball from Brian Russell at the top of the arc before the end and hit a jumper from outside the three-point line!
103:100, beyond everyone's expectations, Stockton defeated the Rockets with a strong victory.
With a big score of 4:2, the Jazz eliminated their opponents and reached the finals for the first time in team history!
The senior trio failed in their first year as a team.
8 of 15, 3 of 6 from beyond the three-point line, 6 of 6 free throws, 25 points, 2 rebounds, 13 assists, 2 steals and 4 turnovers.
In a key game, Stockton once again delivered perfect data!
The explosive Drexler made 10 of 15, 5 of 7 from beyond the arc, and 8 of 8 free throws, scoring a game-high 33 points.
Olajuwon scored 16 points and Barkley also scored 20 points, but they were killed before the end. The Big Three could only watch the Jazz celebrate wildly at their home court.
The Rockets lost, and the New York media was heartbroken. They also got the match point. Everyone really didn't want to witness the Bulls advance at home.
On May 30, even without the pre-game poisonous milk, the Knicks could not withstand the Bulls' team basketball.
Once again, the Bulls scored 33 points in the first quarter, and were completely suppressed by their opponents throughout the game.
Even though the Bulls only scored 14 points in the final quarter, the Knicks failed to turn the game around.
89:81, Madison Square Garden, the Bulls successfully advanced.
12 of 22, once again shooting over 50% from the field, McDunner efficiently scored 27 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal and 4 turnovers.
The Angry Buff disappeared, and despite the boos from the fans, the vindictive Michael Jordan came to Li You, hugged him in greeting, tilted his head and said with a chuckle:
"Don't provoke Black Jesus!"
"."
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(End of chapter)
