In March 1998, a new round of labor negotiations had begun, but the two sides did not reach an agreement.
Both the management and the players' union have a tough attitude, and the league's efforts to mediate it have not had much effect.
Players naturally want bigger and bigger contracts, but employers are currently restricted by broadcast conditions. Teams in some cities have difficulty making profits. Team owners do not agree with the idea of losing money.
By April, both sides still had different opinions. Patrick Ewing had only one attitude in a recent interview:
"We don't accept salary cuts! Players should make big money!"
Fortunately, the media did not make things difficult for Gorilla. As the Knicks gained the first place in the league, everyone became more concerned about his injury.
Just after the training session on the afternoon of the 20th, Ewing was surrounded by the New York media after exercising his body:
"Pat, in which game will you officially come back?"
Being the center of attention again, the gorilla was in a particularly good mood and replied confidently:
"If the team needs it, I can return to the court at any time, but the team doctor will need to observe it for some more time."
"If everything goes well, I can officially return to the team in the Eastern Conference Finals."
"."
In the locker room, Alan Houston looked at the crowd of people surrounding the gorilla, feeling a little complicated.
Without Ewing, he has become the team's leading scoring point in many games. Compared with last season, his statistics have improved a lot this year.
"It's always a good thing to have Pat back, at least we don't have to worry about rebounding anymore."
Oakley welcomes the return of the Gorilla. The old guy has performed at a defensive level this year on the defensive end, but has declined on the offensive end.
Few people can truly integrate offense and defense. Without Ewing, Oakley's offense has been greatly affected.
Sitting in his seat, Larry Johnson said nothing. He has missed a total of 12 games this season. His physical condition is not the best, but his statistics have increased.
"Aunt" knew in his heart how his data came from. He just hoped that Ewing could return and be the core of defense. As for offense, Larry Johnson subconsciously looked at Li You.
"With Pat here, our defense can improve again, which is very important in the playoffs!"
As usual, Li You smiled and talked about the situation without revealing too many thoughts.
Several people in the atmosphere team have just joined the team, but after being in the league for a few years, they also noticed that there seemed to be something wrong with the atmosphere in the locker room.
Chris Childs has always had a low sense of presence. He looked at Li You and then at Starks, who was dreaming about Ewing's return with Oakley, and muttered silently:
"A team has only one boss"
On April 21, the NBA announced the leaders in various statistics for the 1997-98 season:
Michael Jordan played in 82 games, averaging 28.7 points per game, and successfully won the tenth career scoring trophy;
Such an achievement is unique in history.
Dennis Rodman continues to reign as the rebounding leader with 15.0 rebounds per game;
Winning the rebounding title for 7 consecutive years is the only one in history to achieve this achievement.
Li You averaged 10.5 assists per game and successfully won the first assist trophy in his career;
At the same time, Li You also broke the record set by Oscar Robertson when he was 22 years old, and became the youngest assist leader in NBA history at the age of 20!
Marcus Camby of the Raptors won the block title this season with 3.7 blocks per game;
The Eagles' Mookie Blaylock continued to lead the league in steals with an average of 2.6 steals per game.
Rookies began to win awards in 1996, with Li You and Marcus Camby particularly eye-catching.
Even though it was a small trophy, some people still took advantage of it. Wizards reporters complained that Strickland should have won the assists title:
"Rhodes has played 6 fewer games than Lee. If he plays 82 games, he will definitely win the assists title!"
Unfortunately, there is no if in Excel. Li You had 865 assists in a single season and Strickland had 801 assists in a single season.
One has played 82 games and the other has played 76 games. The gap between the two is very small. By comparing the two decimal places, Li Youcai finally won the award.
As for Li You's increasing number of assists in the second half of the season, no one cares about it at this time.
ESPN also took the opportunity to announce the regular season data rankings during the program, which can be regarded as a warm-up for the subsequent MVP selection.
On the scoring list, Michael Jordan scored 2,357 points in a single season, followed by Karl Malone with 2,190 points.
Unlike last season when four players exceeded 2,000 points in a single season, only two did so this year.
O'Neal's appearances were affected due to injuries, but he averaged 28.3 points per game, edging out Malone for second place.
Li You scored 1,732 points in a single season, ranking 8th in the total scoring list, and averaged 21.1 points per game, ranking 12th.
Tim Duncan is just behind Li You, with 1,731 points, surpassing his big brother David Robinson.
In the assists list, Li You ranks first. This season, Stockton has been affected by injuries and dropped to fifth place.
In the three-point list, Li You hit 236 three-pointers in a single season, averaging 2.9 three-pointers per game, ranking first;
The second-placed Wesley Person made 192 three-pointers, and the third-placed Reggie Miller made 164 three-pointers;
Perhaps because the three-point line returned to its normal state, Li You effortlessly crushed everyone this season.
In the three-point shooting percentage list, Li You ranked 8th with a shooting percentage of 41.2%;
In the free throw shooting percentage list, Li You ranks first in the league with a free throw shooting percentage of 89.5%;
Jeff Hornacek's free throw percentage is 88.5%, and Ray Allen's is 87.5%. The two rank second and third respectively.
In the true shooting rate list, Li You ranked third with a true shooting rate of 61.7%;
Stockton's true shooting percentage is 62.8%, and Reggie Miller is 61.9%, ranking first and second respectively.
There is an embarrassing phenomenon on the PER efficiency value list, with O'Neal ranking first with a value of 28.8;
Karl Malone ranked second with 27.9, and David Robinson ranked third with 27.8;
Li You ranked fourth with 26.0, and Michael Jordan ranked fifth with 25.2.
In the so-called high-level data, it is exactly the opposite of the MVP ranking. After seeing the list, everyone has a consensus:
"Michael Jordan has really declined!"
In the 1997-98 season, Li You played in 82 games, averaging 35.3 minutes per game;
Averaged 21.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.2 blocks and 2.2 turnovers per game;
He averaged 15.2 shots per game, shooting 46.9% from the field, 6.9 shots from outside the three-point line, 41.2% from three-point range, 4.5 free throws per game, and 89.5% free throw shooting.
Handing over this top point guard data allowed Li You to break the record set by Kevin Johnson in the 1988-89 season and become the youngest player in NBA history to average 20 points and 10 assists per game!
Compared with the 22-year-old Kevin Johnson at the time, the 20-year-old Li You improved the record by a full 2 years.
At the same time, Li You scored three-pointers in 121 consecutive regular season games, once again setting an outrageous record!
After announcing the data leader, Li You once again hit the screen, and several records made the New York media collectively climax.
When ESPN was discussing the data list and MVP selection, TNT also joined in the fun, showing the data of Li You and Duncan:
"21.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.5 blocks. Duncan is so good. This is only his first season!"
McHale has always favored outstanding big men. Seeing the famous player sighing, Kenny Smith also started to praise Li You:
"20+10, Lee's performance is also incredible. He has hit three-pointers in every game this season, which is terrifyingly stable, and he is only 20 years old."
"You know, ordinary young people don't play like him!"
Li You often appears on TV, and the impression left on most media is that he is flashy, but looking at the data, he is as stable as a 30-year-old defender.
Ernie Johnson felt that he had been cheated and couldn't help but give his own opinion:
"For two consecutive months, he ranked first in the MVP rankings. Later, due to the schedule, he fell to third place. I think this list still underestimates Li."
When the topic came to the MVP award, Kenny Smith calmly began to change the topic:
"I've played against him and I know how special Lee is and how underrated his consistency is as the core of the Knicks."
"Lee played a huge role in achieving the league's first record. His mentality is not like a 20-year-old young man at all."
McHale did not intend to let go of the topic of MVP. He gave his opinion with a smile, and then asked:
"From the perspective of influence on the court, Lee is indeed the MVP, but O'Neal and Malone are not bad either."
"McDunk is in great shape this year, and this may be his last year. Kenny, which player do you think the MVP will eventually be awarded to?"
"."
After the data list was announced, the New York media began to cheer for Li You. The title of "first point guard" was outdated, and finally a "real MVP" was named.
On the 22nd, Li You, who was having breakfast, almost laughed out loud when he read the column in the newspaper.
This title is similar to the previous "Redefined 180 Club". Even if McQueen won the award, he would still be very angry.
Last year's aesthetic fatigue, this year the data performance of many players is not weaker than Michael Jordan.
In terms of team record, the Bulls are also on the same level as the Lakers and SuperSonics. When this happens, it is a bit embarrassing, but when it comes to media voting, some conditions are not important:
"Who stipulates that if you have a good record, you will win the MVP?"
Judging from the current news, Li You feels that there is a high probability that these losers will give Maikou an MVP.
It's just that this situation seems very ridiculous. It's a boomerang slap in the face. Last year, the selection was honest, but this year there is no such drama.
The Knicks, the league's No. 1 team, don't have to travel away from home and have five days of rest.
In the afternoon training session, Jeff Van Gundy did not arrange any special tactics. He just emphasized the defensive matchup, and then everyone ran the tactics step by step.
Everyone in the Knicks team congratulates Li You for winning the award. Although the assists title is only a minor honor, it still makes everyone in the atmosphere group envious:
Not long after Ben Davis' contract became permanent, the 1996 second-round pick was extremely envious of Li You's achievements:
"Li, after receiving the award at home, can you let me touch your trophy? I will never win the assists title in my life."
Looking at Ben Davis, who had a 2K model face, Li You twitched his lips, then smiled and agreed happily:
"No problem, let's put it over there for now, so everyone can look at it as they please. It's just an ordinary little trophy!"
"Great, Lee! I want to take a picture with the trophy!"
Seeing everyone in the atmosphere group looking happy, Li You swallowed the words that came to his lips:
"The last person to take a photo with the trophy, John Wallace, only stayed with the Knicks for one season."
Alan Houston also meticulously completed three-point shooting training.
This season he averaged 19.4 points per game, and his three-point shot attempts have returned to the level of his rookie season, averaging 5.4 shots per game and shooting 40.7% from three-point range.
Alan Houston is still a little dissatisfied with this state. Compared with his third year as a rookie, his performance has dropped a bit.
In contrast, Larry Johnson doesn't care about too many details.
"Aunt" averaged 15.8 points per game this season and shot 48.8% from the field. Although the efficiency has declined compared with last season, the data has increased, and Larry Johnson is comfortable.
Just after completing strength training, Larry Johnson heard the atmosphere team discussing MVP, and immediately teased Li You:
"If McDull won the award last year, maybe you can bring the trophy back this season with 63 wins. This record is worthy of an MVP."
Li You doesn’t care about awards, after all, he is only 20 years old:
"Forget it, Mike is about to retire, and he won't be able to win the championship this year. It's good to give the senior a consolation prize."
Ewing, who had been paying attention to the chat here, looked a little ugly when he heard Li You's words. He didn't want to hear about age. Malone can be MVP, so he can work hard.
When the training session was about to end, Jeff Van Gundy exhorted with a smile:
"Pay attention to your physical condition these two days. When you are nervous, you must pay attention to your opponent."
"We want to get the match point at home. Although East Rutherford is not far away, the first round is about winning the game as soon as possible."
"."
On April 23, the NBA announced the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) for the 1997-98 season. Mutombo of the Hawks successfully defended this award.
That night, the first round of the playoffs also officially started. Mutombo, who won the award, was only happy for a day, but lost by a huge margin at night.
90:102, Mutombo won the award, but the Eagles ultimately lost the game.
The Bulls, who were in the top half, also won easily, while the Suns and Jazz, the teams in the top half of the Western Conference, overturned.
Li You didn't pay too much attention to the games of these teams. Compared with last season, the strength of most teams has not changed much.
April 24th happens to be a Friday, and enthusiastic New York fans can go straight to the Madison Square Garden Arena after get off work.
At 19:00 that night, the G1 match between the Knicks and Nets will officially begin.
The current star of the Nets is alien Sam Cassell. After joining the Nets this season, Cassell is deeply loved by head coach Calipari.
Under the guidance of this head coach who came from Larry Brown, the young people of the Nets have finally realized their talents.
During the Rockets' championship period, Cassell's performance was so impressive that tonight's game was called a "point guard showdown" by the New York media.
However, because the Knicks only lost to their opponents once during the regular season, most New York media did not take this game to heart.
In terms of game experience, the Knicks are indeed better.
Near 19:00, after the players from both sides finished their appearances, the noise in Madison Square Garden became louder and louder.
In the center of the field, the league staff handed the cylindrical trophy to Li You, who was wearing a white training suit, with a smile.
After receiving the trophy, the two took a group photo with smiles on their faces. Finally, Li You raised the trophy in his hand to express his gratitude to the fans present.
"Wow!"
Cheers resounded throughout the arena. In the MSG commentary box, commentator Mike Breen saw Li You raising his glass and immediately said with emotion:
"At the age of 20, he has achieved so many achievements. Li's performance is simply incredible!"
"I believe the future belongs to young people!"
At this time, many New York fans were making trouble and holding up whiteboards, "Real MVP".
The swollen New York fans didn't take their opponents seriously. They came to watch the game more to witness Li You win the award for the first time, prepare to make a living, and mock Mai Dun.
After sighing with emotion, commentator Mike Breen quickly introduced the starting lineup:
"The Nets still put out their three-guard lineup, with Sam Cassell, Corey Kidders, and Kendall Gill forming the backcourt, and Keith Van Horn and Chris Garrison in the interior. Trin.”
"What we have to pay attention to is Jason Williams on the opponent's bench. This 6-foot-9 short center is playing at a career high this season."
Walter Frazier on the side was in a good mood and simply added at this time:
"Head coach Van Gundy chose to use Chris Dudley as the starting center, and the coaching staff attaches great importance to protecting rebounds."
"Maybe the opponent has certain advantages inside, but it's difficult for the Nets to restrict our outside."
"Lee scored a 40+10 double-double in the game against the Bulls. This is definitely an amazing achievement."
"And in the playoffs, when the team needs to score, I believe he can take over the game!"
The increasingly heated atmosphere at the scene made several new Nets players a little nervous.
The on-site director frequently showed the camera to Keith Van Horn, this year's second pick.
Due to the poor performance of No. 3 pick Billups, who was directly traded away by the Celtics, Van Horn gained more attention.
Ewing, who was dressed in formal attire, also attracted much attention. The gorilla was in a good mood, chatting and laughing with the atmosphere team on the bench.
Li You, who was warming up, looked relaxed. When the referee called the players from both sides to the center of the court, he smiled and greeted the Nets.
Cassel simply responded. After all, he is a champion point guard, so he still has to have some airs.
The Nets' new players were a little nervous, but on the Knicks' side, the starting players all looked calm.
As the referee standing in the center circle threw the basketball high, Chris Dudley moved the ball to his own half, and Madison Square Garden immediately sounded a loud cheering sound:
"Let's go Knicks! Let's go Knicks! Let's go Knicks!"
Li You controlled the ball, noticed that Cassel did not choose to lead the defense, quickly made tactical gestures, and then leisurely dribbled through the half court.
There are some differences from the regular season's offensive routine. In the playoffs, the Knicks' offense is initiated by the pick-and-roll.
Oakley quickly moved to the left wing, and the big man Dudley sank to the right near the baseline, while Larry Johnson stretched out on the right wing, and Alan Houston watched the situation on the court from the right corner.
The left half is partially 2 on 2, and the "aunt" on the right half can cover Alan Houston at any time. The coaching staff does not trust Dudley's finishing ability, so Dudley has become a rebounding tool.
The tactical routine is not complicated. When Li You, who is holding the ball in his right hand, approaches Oakley, he quickly circles the ball behind his back, switches to his left hand, and goes in and out.
Swinging right and sudden left, Li You swayed and passed Oakley on the left side leaning on Cassel.
Li You kept his center of gravity very low, and Oakley immediately moved to the left elbow of the free throw line after covering the ball.
Van Horn hesitated for a moment, but Li You suddenly accelerated, holding the ball with his left hand and driving straight to the basket.
Following his body's instinct, Van Horn immediately slid back to the right and cooperated with Cassel to block Li You's breakthrough.
Just after catching up to Li You, Cassel wanted to call his teammates to defend in front of Oakley, but it was too late at this time.
In the left block, Li You easily passed the ball from behind while traveling. Oakley received the ball and there was no one in front of him to defend him, and he made a solid mid-range jumper.
"A beautiful assist. After Li compressed the opponent's defense, he found Oakley in the open space. Simple and effective cooperation!"
Commentator Mike Breen was in a good mood when he saw the Knicks score in the opening game.
Seeing Li You retreating quickly, Cassel quickly communicated with his teammates.
It was the Nets' turn to attack, and Li You quickly led the defense after Cassel passed halftime.
Since the three outsiders of the Nets could hold the ball, Cassel gave the ball to the big man Gatlin on the right elbow after halftime.
Then running without the ball, Cassel slipped to the baseline and took Li You away. Keels immediately stepped forward to receive the pass.
Soon, the Nets continued to pass the ball from the outside. Finally, Cassel made a circle and received a pass from his teammate on the left wing outside the three-point line.
There was not much opportunity after a lap. In the end, Van Horn used Gatlin's right baseline screen to bounce to the elbow area, received a cross pass, and immediately made a jump shot!
"Whoa!" A steady hit from mid-range.
In one round, Li You noticed his opponent's game strategy.
The offense reduces the isolation of big men in the low post, and the three people in the backcourt run more actively. The big men are more likely to be responsible for eating the pie.
After losing consecutive games in the regular season, the Nets no longer indulge in the low post. The Knicks' seemingly weak inside line is actually difficult to completely penetrate.
Soon the game turned into a competition of patience. The Nets ran tactics meticulously. Players on the court performed their duties and continued to hit shots.
Unlike the Nets, the Knicks mostly rely on personal ability to drive the offense. Li You's pick-and-roll constantly mobilizes two big men, and Larry Johnson will also complete post-ups in the low post.
In this offense, Cassel received a hand-off pass from the left elbow of the big man Gatlin, briefly escaped Li You's pursuit, and made a jumper from the free throw line.
"Bang!" The basketball hit the basket!
This was the first time the Nets hit the iron, and all the New York fans at the scene cheered.
The rebound was easily protected by Larry Johnson. After Li You received the ball, the Knicks immediately launched a transition attack.
Seeing Li You advancing quickly along the left sideline, Cassel immediately stepped forward to delay.
At the moment when the opponent's pursuit reached his side, Li You did not sway unnecessarily, but continued to accelerate relying on Cassel.
The two quickly rushed across the half court, and everyone on the Nets hurriedly responded to each other, preparing to complete the defensive matchup.
The left wing was close to the three-point line. Li You quickly dribbled the ball behind his back, suddenly stopped for a short distance, and then quickly gave the ball to Alan Houston at the top of the arc.
Without giving Cassel much time to react, Li You moved laterally without the ball and completed a hand-to-hand pass with Alan Houston at the top of the arc.
The two of them crossed and changed positions. Cassel hurriedly pursued him. Li You, who was moving laterally, suddenly stopped suddenly. He immediately joined the ball at the top of the arc and quickly made a jump shot!
"Whoa!" The three-pointer hit the net!
Cassel had just caught up with Li You and failed to block the shot. He was still a little uncomfortable with Li You's offensive choices. He raised his hand to indicate that it was his problem.
At 10:13, there were 7 minutes and 52 seconds left in the first quarter. Both sides played efficient offense.
Jeff Van Gundy on the sidelines kept loudly reminding the players to be patient.
In order to protect rebounds, the Knicks let go of some mid-range shots, and Dudley squatted in defense at the beginning.
Head coach Calipari also warned the Nets players to remain patient and implement the game plan.
The game was not as one-sided and completely crushed as New York fans expected. The Nets continued to respond with jump shots near the elbow area. After hitting the iron, they also stepped up their rush for offensive rebounds.
Frequently falling into position to attack, although the game is fast-paced, the fans are not happy to watch.
Li You is very patient, and is always able to find the best scoring opportunities on the court. With the ball in his hands, his teammates are all finishing, and the Knicks make no mistakes at all.
With 3 minutes and 05 seconds left in the first quarter, the score between the two sides reached 20:22.
Seeing that both sides maintained an extremely efficient offense, commentator Mike Breen sighed and said:
"The Nets have made great progress. Compared to last season, the players' execution is even better!"
Walter Frazier on the side didn't care about the situation on the court at all, and said with a smile:
"The Knicks will not make the first mistake. Lee still controls the rhythm of the game. We just need to be patient and wait for the opportunity."
Kendall Gill hit all three of his first three shots, but this time he hit a long two-pointer from the right wing.
Larry Johnson was so suffocated that the rebound just fell into his arms, and he turned around to grab the ball and rush forward.
Noticing that Li You had started to speed up, running without the ball, and quickly rushed towards the opponent's half, Larry Johnson immediately sent a through ball after dribbling across the center line.
The quality of the pass was not good. Just after crossing the free throw line, Li You, who was close to the paint area, bent down to catch the ball. Cassel, who retreated quickly, jumped forward and tried to complete the steal.
But he didn't expect that when Li You caught the ball, he completed the pass behind his back. He took three long steps and just dodged his chip.
Cassel, who missed the ball, rushed directly out of the baseline, while Li You grabbed the ball with one hand with his left hand, jumped up and glided to the lower left side of the basket, hovered briefly in the air, twisted his wrist, and sent the deft ball into the basket.
"oh!!"
The smart conversion layup suddenly broke the dull atmosphere. After exclaiming, the New York fans at the scene immediately cheered loudly.
At 20:24, the Knicks expanded their lead again.
Li You took small steps and retreated with a smile. He was not a real young boy. Compared with Patience, he really had never lost.
Cassel's face was ugly, and he felt that he was being shown off. He took a deep breath and kept calm.
The offense continued step by step, but this time the big man Gatlin turned around under the basket and was hit by Oakley with a powerful cutter. The Nets' new player was still complaining.
The Knicks had already charged forward, receiving the ball in the middle. Li You kept accelerating. Cassel had no time to greet his teammates and could only retreat quickly.
Seeing that there was no one guarding Alan Houston, Li You, holding the ball in his left hand, did not slow down, but rushed to the free throw line with Cassel on his side.
Throwing the ball behind his back while traveling, Li You's pass accurately found Alan Houston, who ran to the right corner.
The latter does not need any adjustment when catching the ball, he just lifts the ball and throws it!
"Whoa!" The three-pointer went into the net.
At 20:27, seeing the point difference widened, Alan Houston pumped his fist in celebration, and the noise became louder and louder.
Silently, the Knicks led by 7 points. Li You looked at the champion point guard in front of him with a smile, while Cassel looked ugly.
Jeff Van Gundy on the sidelines was completely relieved, and then called Chris Childs and Starks, and the Knicks began to rotate personnel step by step.
With 1 minute and 58 seconds left in the first quarter, Li You was replaced and scored 3 of 4, 1 of 2 from beyond the three-point line, 7 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists.
There was not much pressure in the game, and Li You didn't even break a sweat. The Knicks were more blossoming, which made Ewing on the bench feel sour:
"I was on the court, and that's not how the Knicks played!"
The rotation lineups of both sides came on stage, and the Nets still maintained an efficient offense, but the point difference was not narrowed.
At 26:33, at the end of the first quarter, the Knicks still led by 7 points.
"This is the gap in strength. Although the Nets played well, I believe the boys will be able to expand the score soon!"
Walter Frazier looked in a good mood. Unlike ordinary fans, he was more concerned about the rhythm of the game.
The Knicks' limited transition offense all scored, and all five starting players scored. This situation shows that the opponent's defense is not very good.
Commentator Mike Breen only felt that the Knicks easily led by 7 points:
"We really showed absolute control of the game and made no mistakes in the first quarter."
"Lee hasn't turned on the scoring mode yet. It seems that tonight's game will be easier than we thought."
When it comes to the rotation stage, the bench lineups of both sides are not as efficient as the starting lineup.
Jeff Van Gundy watched the two sides begin to fight, and he was not in a hurry to make substitutions. Instead, he returned to the bench and watched the game happily.
It was not until 4 minutes and 12 seconds left in the second quarter that Li You and Alan Houston appeared again.
At 37:46, despite the low efficiency, the Knicks expanded the point difference.
In the last few minutes of the first half, the Nets became a little impatient and took the initiative to speed up the offensive rhythm. Li You quietly followed the opponent and started running, and the cheers on the scene became more and more loud.
At the end of the half, 46:57, before you knew it, the Knicks had led by 11 points.
With a double-digit lead, the New York fans couldn't stand it any longer and started celebrating the victory at halftime!
In the Knicks locker room, the smile on Jeff Van Gundy’s face never stopped:
"What does it mean to be the best coach in the league!"
Everyone in the Knicks team was talking and laughing. Li You sent out 5 assists in the half. Everyone touched the ball and everyone had statistics.
Everyone just felt that they were deeply involved in the game, and naturally they were in a good mood. Li You noticed that Ewing did not say anything and seemed to be in a low mood. He touched his chin and smiled in his heart:
"In an easy competition, everyone has to share the cake. The boss can't eat alone."
By the third quarter of the game, the Nets couldn't hold back any longer, and the Knicks were more patient than they thought.
Taking the initiative to speed up the offensive tempo again, Corey Kidders hit a three-pointer from the right wing after the opening!
"state!"
A long rebound popped up. Alan Houston immediately collected the rebound and then immediately passed it to Li You who was accelerating in the middle.
Everyone in the Nets obviously failed to reach a unified idea, and there were also problems with retreating in the first round.
Only Cassel reacted the fastest. He immediately tried to delay Li You, but he was directly passed by the ball from behind.
Shaking away the defensive Russell, Li You continued to accelerate with the ball in his left hand.
Noticing that Kidders on the other side also quickly returned to defense, Li You began to slow down after crossing the half court. He immediately stopped when he was close to the three-point line at the top of the arc, converted to a three-pointer and quickly shot a jumper!
"Whoa!" The three-pointer hit the net.
Cassel, who was chasing after him, was confused. There was a defender in front of him. This was a random throw.
The two people who retreated in time looked at each other, but the New York fans at the scene shouted excitedly.
At 46:60, the score difference came to 14 points.
Coach Calipari on the sidelines loudly signaled to the players to hold on and defend, but when Cassel fell to the ground in pain during a breakthrough, the coaching staff knew that the game was about to get colder.
The championship point guard left the game injured, and the Nets quickly replaced him with backup point guard Sherman Douglas.
After the little man came on the field, in the first round, he passed the ball from the left wing to the top of the arc and was directly intercepted by Li You.
Amid the cheers of the fans at the scene, after completing the steal, Li You held the ball in his right hand and kept accelerating. He hit 0 in the frontcourt, jumped up in the paint, and easily made a windmill dunk!
Li You's dunk was not stretched enough, but it still ignited the atmosphere of the Madison Square Garden Arena.
"Wow!!"
The point difference continued to widen, and on the Knicks bench, the atmosphere team also began to throw towels wildly.
Soon, the rhythm of the game entered a state of blind chicken play.
The Knicks strengthened their defense, and the Nets, who were lagging behind by a big score, became more and more anxious. Their methodical tactics could not score, and Kendall Gill and Kidders began to play consecutive singles.
A 45-degree cut from the left, Kendall Gill's breakthrough layup was blocked and fell to the ground. Dudley grabbed the rebound, and the Knicks began to run wildly.
Li You, who received the ball, continued to accelerate along the right sideline. As soon as Sherman Douglas came up to defend, he saw Li You send a long pass.
The basketball crossed half the court and accurately landed on Larry Johnson, who was about to go down to the free throw line. After receiving the pass, the latter made a one-handed dunk!
Looking at their opposing defenders, everyone on the Nets discovered that Gill, who had fallen to the ground, had not retreated to half court.
The Nets, which had only three turnovers in the first half, completely collapsed in this quarter.
Dropped the ball inside, hit his foot while dribbling, and passed the ball to the bench.
Cheers, jeers, and happy yelling began to fill the Madison Square Garden Arena.
With 3 minutes and 46 seconds left in the third quarter, Jason Williams, who had rotated in early, still made his second free throw. Oakley grabbed the rebound and the Knicks launched another transition attack.
Alan Houston continued to accelerate after receiving the ball, dribbled across the center line, and immediately distributed the ball to Li You who was following up on the right wing.
After receiving the pass, Li You did not slow down. He approached the three-point line, suddenly stopped, and dribbled the ball behind his back twice very quickly.
His body swayed in a deceptive manner and he retrieved the ball with his right hand. Li You lowered his center of gravity and pretended to break through.
Douglas, who had just retreated to half court, subconsciously slid to the left and back. When he saw Li You pulling back his crotch, and when he tried to defend, he was shaken and split.
"oh!!"
The embarrassed posture of the defensive players made the fans at the scene couldn't help shouting loudly.
Without any defensive interference, Li You glanced at the opponent, combined the ball with the left wing, and made a jump shot from outside the three-point line!
"Whoa!" The three-pointer hit the net!
After completing the goal, Li You raised his right hand to his ear and made a listening gesture when retreating. The Madison Square Garden Arena was completely blown away.
The Nets were forced to request a timeout again, and commentator Mike Breen watched with amusement. At this time, he also followed up and shouted:
"This is Lee! Regardless of whether he wins the MVP this season, I think in the hearts of New York fans, this award belongs to him!"
Walter Frazier on the side also laughed and added:
"There is no suspense anymore. The Nets played well in the first half and Lee completely controlled the game tonight."
In the last few minutes of the third quarter, Li You also started the blind throwing mode. The last quarter became garbage time. If you don't throw, you will have no chance.
The Nets did not seize the opportunity. Instead, their mentality exploded due to several unreasonable goals, and finally collapsed.
At 14:26 in a single quarter, after three quarters, the score reached 60:83.
In the last quarter of the game, Li You had already changed into training clothes and threw up a towel on the sidelines.
"Xiao Ben" got some garbage time again, and performed hard after appearing on the stage.
The two people in the commentary box also chatted more and more crookedly. Walter Fraser took a look at the technical statistics and said regretfully:
"With 23 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals, Li almost got a double-double."
"Think about those Chicago media reports, Lee never played for statistics!"
In 26 minutes of playing time, Li You made 9 of 15 shots, 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, and 2 of 2 free throws. Li You's efficiency has skyrocketed again!
Commentator Mike Breen looked at the technical statistics and didn't answer. Regarding the assists leader, the Knicks still exerted their strength.
The same goes for the Wizards. After all, the gap between the two is too small:
"If we win G1, the night after tomorrow, if we win another game, we will get the match point and advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals!"
"Perhaps we will still encounter old rivals, but judging from the regular season matches, the Hornets seem to have the advantage!"
The two began to think about the future in the commentary box, and the game time passed quickly.
As the final buzzer sounded, the score was fixed at 83:104. The Knicks defeated the Nets at home and got a good start in the playoffs.
Li You smiled and fist-bumped with the atmosphere at the end. Ben Davis was grinning widely, shouting while holding the assists trophy, and beckoning everyone to take pictures.
Soon MSG interviewed Li You, and just like the regular season, it was time for business exchanges.
It was a hearty victory, and the New York fans at the scene were still cheering loudly after the game, and the noise continued unabated.
Wearing a brown formal suit and a Knicks-colored tie, Walter Frazier was in a good mood and asked the fans the topic they were most concerned about:
"I think New York fans support you in winning the MVP. What are your thoughts on this year's selection?"
For several days in a row, Li You was asked the same question, but he was well prepared and answered with a smile:
"No matter who wins the MVP, I think he deserves it because everyone's record is very close."
"For me, the championship is the most important. Maybe another MVP award is more suitable for me!"
Commentator Mike Breen listened with great joy, and then followed up with another loud whistle:
"63 wins, first in the league! Lee, you are the MVP in the hearts of New York fans!"
"We all believe the Knicks will win the championship!"
"."
Thank you book friends for your subscription support (﹃)
QAQ held a half-day meeting on Monday, which delayed my fishing~
Book friends, please forgive me, I will only post this after get off work.
(End of chapter)
