On May 11, 1998, at the Charlotte Coliseum, the Hornets fans present could only watch the Knicks' atmosphere team jumping up and down on the sidelines, shouting happily.
"Shhh!!"
The boos and curses resounded throughout the arena. The Hornets fans at the scene began to boo incompetently, and also gave the boos to the home team. They did not win a game, which was really embarrassing!
At 100:84, the Hornets' offense lost power in the second quarter. After the Knicks widened the point difference, they didn't give their opponents any chance and won the game neatly.
With a big score of 4:0, the Knicks swept their opponents in the Eastern Conference semifinals and reached the Eastern Conference finals for the second consecutive year!
In the NBC commentary box, Bob Costas smiled, shook his head, and praised the Hornets' performance:
"Glenn Rice gave everything for this game. He played 48 minutes, shot 13 of 21, and scored a game-high 30 points!"
"Mason also performed well, shooting 7 of 13 and contributing 16 points. The Hornets lost on rebounds and they allowed the Knicks too many second-chance opportunities."
Head coach Doug Collins, who broke up with the Pistons this season, was also in the commentary box. He took a look at the technical statistics and joked with a smile:
"Patrick Ewing's offensive status has declined, but this may be a good thing for the Knicks!"
"I respect Ewing very much, but he is 36 years old and Lee is the core of this team."
"Scorer and organizer can switch seamlessly. In my opinion, Lee is the answer to the No. 1 position in the future."
"Only those who have played against him will truly understand his talent. His steady style of play is the key to the Knicks' ability to reach the Eastern Conference finals for two consecutive years."
Played 39 minutes, 6 of 14, 2 of 5 from beyond the three-point line, 6 of 6 free throws, 20 points, 3 rebounds, 14 assists, 2 steals and 3 turnovers. Li You scored another double-double tonight.
Jim Gray, another commentator in the commentary box, was looking at Li You's technical statistics. When he heard this comment, he immediately smiled and asked:
"Solid style? This is Lee we're talking about! The New York media is calling him the next Magic Johnson."
"You can look at Lee's turnover rate. The data truly reflects his playing style!"
"."
The three people in the commentary box unknowingly changed the topic, but no one cared about it at this time. The Knicks became the first team to reach the conference finals this season!
Larry Johnson hugged everyone he met at this time. After hugging him, he felt so good that he even had to hold on to the Hornets players to encourage him a few words.
Li You didn't have such bad taste. He was about to leave the game when he noticed a kid in the front row wearing the Knicks' No. 1 away jersey waving to him, and then he stopped.
I casually signed an autograph for this rebellious little guy. The stadium was still very noisy. The kid in front of me shouted excitedly:
"That's cool! I want to play like you, I love the Knicks!"
After the two fist bumped, the rebellious child happily hugged his mother, who was wearing the No. 30 jersey of the Hornets, and screamed.
On the other side, Dell Curry, who had been mostly successful in the series, turned dark when he saw this scene:
"There is a traitor in our family"
Back in the locker room, Li You saw that Jeff Van Gundy was already smiling. He reached the conference finals, and the bald young coach was extremely satisfied.
"We performed perfectly! The Eastern Conference finals will not be the end, our goal is only the championship!"
"After returning to New York, give yourself a vacation, read less newspapers, and adjust your condition. The next thing we have to do is defend our home court."
Jeff Van Gundy began to give out chicken soup for the soul, and the bald young coach kept drawing cakes, and made everyone full of energy.
Ewing, who reached the Eastern Conference finals and passively became a tool man, was also in a good mood.
Several veterans know in their hearts that this year may be their best chance to win the championship. As they grow older, their physical condition will inevitably decline.
Oakley's condition is getting better and better after Gorilla's return, and the old guy is also a little excited at this time:
"Our opportunity has come. No matter who our opponent is, they will not be in better shape than us!"
The atmosphere team immediately echoed, and soon everyone was discussing the opponents in the Eastern Conference finals.
In another G4 game, the Bulls suppressed the Pacers for almost the entire game.
But as Reggie Miller pushed away Michael Jordan at the last minute and hit a three-pointer from the right wing beyond the three-point line, the Pacers finally succeeded in beating the Bulls.
94:96, two consecutive home games were protected, and then the two sides will engage in the battle of Tianwang Mountain.
Alan Houston was looking through the schedule and casually sent his blessings:
"I hope they can reach Game 7 so that we can gain a considerable physical advantage."
The Bulls and Pacers were at a stalemate, and the situation was as he expected. Li You touched his chin and said cheerfully:
"It's time for the old guy to get tired, this is indeed our perfect opportunity!"
"."
On May 12, the NBA announced the All-Rookie Team for the 1997-98 season:
The five members of the first team are:
Tim Duncan, Zaryunas Igelskas, Blevin Knight, Ron Moser, Keith Van Horn;
The five members of the second team are:
Derek Anderson, Cedric Henderson, Bobby Jackson, Maurice Taylor, Tim Thomas.
Compared with the previous rookies, except for Duncan and Van Horn, the players on the best rookie team this year are somewhat mediocre.
Tim Duncan also had no time to be happy. In the Western Conference semifinals that night, the Spurs lost again, 77:87.
The series score reached 4:1. In the end, the Jazz swept the Spurs and once again reached the Western Conference Finals.
Another Western Conference semifinal, 110:95. Relying on O'Neal's outstanding performance, the Lakers defeated the SuperSonics in an away game with a score of 4:1 and entered the Western Conference finals!
The Sharks performed well tonight. They made 12 of 17 free throws and 7 of 12 free throws. They scored 31 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 8 blocks, and 5 turnovers from 70% shooting.
At this point, the two teams in the Western Conference Finals are officially announced:
Lakers VS Jazz.
The media in Los Angeles also got excited at this time and fell into a state of self-reliance. The Jazz's old man basketball couldn't stop O'Neal in good condition!
New York fans did not focus on these two teams. Everyone wanted to see the Bulls eliminated by the Pacers.
On May 13, the NBA announced the All-Defensive Team for the 1997-98 season:
The five members of the first team are:
Gary Payton, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, Dikembe Mutombo;
The five members of the second team are:
Mookie Blaylock, Eddie Jones, Charles Oakley, David Robinson, Tim Duncan.
After seeing this list, the New York media felt comfortable. They felt that they were being shortchanged in the All-Star Game and were selected to the All-Defensive Team. They regained their face.
After the video session in the morning, everyone in the Knicks team also congratulated Oakley for being selected to the All-Defensive Team for the second time in his career. The old guy was very happy.
"Come relax in the evening and I'll treat you. It's a perfect season!"
Oakley grinned widely and threw money away. The atmosphere team cheered, and it was time for the favorite part of eating and drinking again.
Compared to the two teams that are still preparing for the battle at Tianwangshan, the Knicks have gotten a lot of rest time.
Li You doesn't know yet whether Oakley has reached a contract extension with the Knicks, but entering the best defensive team, maybe the old guy has a chance to stay on the team.
Ewing and Starks also smiled and sent their blessings. Larry Johnson seemed to have thought of the best lineup for the follow-up, and said with a sour heart:
"I feel like the media is ignoring me!"
As the team with the best regular season record, it is natural for the Knicks to win some honors, but the situation of "Auntie" is a bit embarrassing.
Neither the defensive core of the team nor the second scorer, Li You could only comfort "aunt" at this time and draw a pie by the way:
"As long as you win the championship, you will get a lot of attention. At least, the New York media will not forget you."
Alan Houston is not upset. Although he was not selected as an All-Star this year, there is a high probability that he will be included in the All-Star team.
Jeff Van Gundy was completely relieved when he saw the harmonious atmosphere in the team, but Thibodeau on the side suddenly reminded:
"We still have to let Pat find his form. Whether Houston is facing Miller or McDunner, it will consume a lot of energy on the defensive end."
The coaching staff also discussed in low voices. When Jeff Van Gundy thought of the gorilla's shooting touch, he sighed secretly:
"Digesting the ball has also become a problem."
Since only the Pacers and Bulls were left in the semifinals, the Battle of Tianwangshan in G5 attracted a lot of attention.
However, the content of the game that night disappointed the fans.
At 87:106, the Bulls, who returned home, led their opponents by 25 points at halftime and won easily in the end.
Such a result also caused many media to start shouting "Bulls championship" again.
There seems to be no suspense in the series, and everyone is waiting for the Bulls to advance.
On May 14, the NBA once again announced the All-Pro lineup for the 1997-98 season:
The five members of the first team are:
Li You, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal;
The five members of the second team are:
Gary Payton, Alan Houston, Grant Hill, Vin Baker, David Robinson;
The five members of the third team are:
Tim Hardaway, Reggie Miller, Glenn Rice, Scottie Pippen, Dikembe Mutombo.
As soon as the best lineup was announced, the New York media went into a collective climax, and the title of "the strongest backcourt combination in the league" was thrown out again.
Tim Duncan was selected to the first team in his first year as a rookie. Spurs fans are the happiest. The future core is already in the lineup.
Li You was selected to the All-NBA First Team, and New York fans also rejoiced. The rookie achieved this achievement in his second year, and the future belongs to the Knicks!
Suddenly, in addition to the two old guys, two new players appeared, which also made many sports media realize that the update of the league has begun!
Of course, there are some disputes about this selection result. Pippen only played 44 games, but was finally selected to the best team. This is indeed unfair to some players who played full attendance.
Li You did not pay attention to the opponent's situation and participated in training step by step every day. Compared with last season's playoffs, his physical condition this year is extremely good.
The opponent in the Eastern Conference finals has not yet been determined, which also allows Li You to relax.
On the evening of the 15th, Li You took Milinda and attended the premiere of "The Horse Whisperer".
Before 19 o'clock, a large number of media gathered around the Loews Theater in Midtown Manhattan's West End.
The two of them mainly come to watch movies. Milinda likes western romance movies very much. Li You will accompany Dabo girl to the cinema to relax when she has time.
Li You has attended such premiere ceremonies many times, and it is considered a way to make superficial friends.
The story of the movie was a bit cliché, but Milinda watched it with gusto. After it ended, the audience present applauded the leading actors.
"Christine is really beautiful, she is an elegant lady!"
Milinda deliberately dressed up a little more formally tonight, but her light blue shirt was still bulging, and she wore it with a different kind of temptation.
Kristen Stott was indeed beautiful when she was young, but now she has become an aunt. Li You hugged the big girl, leaned into his ear and whispered:
"You are more beautiful! Let's go back soon!"
Every time he attends such a party, Li You feels helpless because he is not yet of legal drinking age.
Although laws vary from state to state, in this kind of public situation, Li You has to act according to the rules.
The subsequent celebration party was a time for everyone to have free time. Many big stars came that night, including director and starring Robert Redford, who was so versatile. In such a social occasion, Li You was not forgotten.
"Li, help us take good care of this little angel, and remember not to drink secretly!"
Robert Redford, who was dressed in a formal suit, looked elegant. He winked at Li You and then led the brown-haired Lolita over.
Scarlett Johansson, who was dressed like a lady, watched helplessly as the adults exchanged cups.
It was rare to star in a decent movie, and I wanted to socialize, but she was still a little girl, and no one wanted to have a drink with her on such an occasion.
Scarlett, who has a washboard figure, looked particularly innocent. She took the juice from Milinda and then noticed the big sister with an explosive figure in front of her.
"Thank you, you are so beautiful! Li, my brother likes you very much!"
Acting like a good girl, Scarlett tried to look more mature and started chatting about the latest gossip news in New York.
Li You looked at the big lolita in front of him and couldn't imagine the image of this adult:
"Thank you to him for me, and of course, if you want to come to Madison Square Garden to watch the game, remember to send me a text."
It seemed that Li You didn't treat her as a child, and the brown-haired loli also smiled, feeling that she had found a peer, and started chatting about the crew's gossip.
That night, in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Reggie Miller performed poorly, shooting 2 of 13 and only scoring 8 points.
But the Pacers stubbornly defended the home court, and the two sides will enter a tiebreaker.
The New York fans were ecstatic. When it came to the tiebreaker, anything was possible. At this moment, they were all Pacers fans!
Jeff Van Gundy and the coaching staff are also happy. No matter who wins in the end, the Knicks, who are waiting to work, will gain a huge physical advantage!
The Lakers lost miserably to the Jazz in the Western Conference Finals on the 16th and lost popularity. As long as they thought that McDuck might be eliminated, all the sports media would follow suit.
On May 17, the tie-breaker in the Eastern Conference semifinals exploded with excitement. Many fans who paid attention to this game were expecting the Pacers to knock out the Bulls.
In such a crucial game, Pippen shot 3 of 12 in the first half and scored 11 points.
After halftime, the Bulls relied on excellent rebounding to only lead by 3 points. This situation almost brought all major sports media to a collective climax.
In the third quarter, 1 of 5 dunks were scored and only 4 points were scored. The Pacers once again narrowed the point difference.
In the last quarter of the game, McQueen was still struggling, but continuous breakthroughs required free throws, coupled with the Bulls' tough rebounding, and they finally won the game with difficulty.
83:88, the big score came to 4:3, and the Bulls reached the Eastern Conference Finals again!
Reggie Miller performed very well, but failed to respond in the final quarter.
At 34:50, the struggling Bulls grabbed 22 offensive rebounds. He watched this game specially. When he saw this data, Li You was secretly speechless:
"The old guys really worked hard!"
Played 42 minutes again, made 9 of 25 dunks, 10 of 15 free throws, 28 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 turnovers;
Pippen shot 6 of 18, 0 of 5 from beyond the arc, and 5 of 9 free throws. He scored 17 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, and 3 turnovers.
After 7 fierce battles, the dual-core was almost unable to withstand it.
After a short rest for a day, everyone on the Bulls flew to New York without stopping.
On the afternoon of the 18th, as soon as everyone on the Bulls got off the plane, they were surrounded by the enthusiastic New York media.
Phil Jackson stopped the media reporters who wanted to interview the players. At this time, what the players needed was more rest time.
Michael Jordan looked a little tired in his red Bulls training uniform.
The most conscientious second player in the league has not hit more than 40% in several games, which forces him to try his best.
But Mike never complains about this. He knows that his teammates have tried their best.
The Lakers lost again that night, but most sports media were more concerned about the physical condition of the Bulls players.
By the 19th, the Eastern Conference Finals hadn’t even started that night, and many sports media had already followed suit:
"The Bulls are exhausted!"
Eastern Conference G1 officially started at 20 o'clock in the evening. In the Knicks locker room before the game, Patrick Ewing felt that the championship seemed to be within reach.
The gorilla didn't say chicken soup. Several veterans did the same, silently crossing themselves and praying for God's blessing.
Losing to the Bulls for many consecutive years has long since made the old guy no longer confident in boasting. Li You doesn't care about this. In this series, the Knicks will implement "four guarantees and one".
In the first two rounds, Li You actively passed the ball to his teammates. In the Eastern Conference finals, the roles were reversed. Alan Houston and others would be reduced to defensive engineers most of the time.
After Jeff Van Gundy entered the locker room, he looked at everyone with a serious expression, and finally simply said:
"Win all our home games and we will reach the finals again!"
"."
Before the game officially started, the Madison Square Garden Arena was already buzzing with excitement:
"No. 23, Maikou-Jiao Dan"
As soon as the home DJ whispered the name, nearly 20,000 fans at the scene burst into loud boos.
Michael Joe did not chew gum, but gave high-fives to his teammates with a serious expression before finishing his appearance.
As everyone from the Knicks came out one by one, the cheers got louder and louder. The fans in New York were particularly engaged tonight.
Li You looked calm. This season, from the beginning of the regular season, he has made his best efforts to amplify the Knicks' advantages.
Moving his body attentively, Li You hit shots again and again in the final warm-up period, which caused bursts of cheers from the audience.
In the MSG commentary box, Mike Breen quickly introduced the Bulls' starting lineup:
"Rodman still didn't start tonight. Ron Harper and Michael Jordan are on the guard, Scottie Pippen and Tony Cook are on the forward line, and Luke Longley is at center."
"Continuing the starting lineup in the semifinals, the Bulls did not take the initiative to change their lineup in tonight's game."
Walter Frazier had already done his homework at this time. The legendary star confidently added:
"This season the Bulls' three-point shooting has seen a serious decline. During the regular season, they only shot 32.3%. In the playoffs, the outside line was also weak and they did not perform well."
"Defense well, protect the rebounds, and we will successfully protect our home court tonight!"
During the regular season, the Knicks averaged 22.4 shots per game from beyond the three-point line, ranking first in the league in attempts, and their 37.3% three-point shooting rate ranked fourth in the league.
Although there has been a decline in the playoffs, this is also related to Li You reducing his production.
After the league returned the three-point line to its normal distance, each team's three-point percentage dropped, and the Knicks bucked the trend.
"Let's go Knicks! Let's go Knicks! Let's go Knicks!"
The New York fans in attendance began to cheer loudly for the home team, and Ewing, who came to the center circle, was particularly focused.
As the referee threw the basketball high, the gorilla jumped up and pushed the ball toward his own half.
There were no pleasantries before the game, and there was no communication between the players on both sides. Michael Jordan knew that the opposite Knicks team might be the team most eager to win against him.
Harper immediately led the defense, and Longley, who quickly retreated, shouted to his teammates for defensive confrontation.
After making tactical gestures, Li You held the ball in his right hand, faced the defense, and quickly dribbled across the half court.
Coming to the left wing, Li You lowered his center of gravity and moved sideways to protect the ball. Harper did not choose to cut the ball, but just held his waist to defend.
Ewing quickly came to the left wing to perform a high pick-and-roll, and the other three people all opened up on the other side, a partial two-on-two, the Knicks' usual opening routine.
Before Ewing could stand still, Harper began to move forward, getting close to Li You's side, preparing to squeeze through the screen.
Without much shaking, Li You just blasted the ball vigorously on the spot, then quickly twisted his body, and while grabbing the ball with his left hand, Ewing followed suit.
Harper was delayed for a moment, and then Ewing quickly followed up. Langley saw the gorilla rushing quickly and quickly retreated.
The left wing was close to the sideline, and Harper once again pursued the defense in front of him. Li You, holding the ball in his left hand, slightly raised his center of gravity, quickly completed the dribble under his hips, swayed his body to the right to mislead the defense, and then retreated in the opposite direction.
With room to shoot, Li You immediately combined the ball and quickly shot a jump shot from outside the three-point line!
"Whoa!" The three-pointer hit the net!
Harper was frozen in place, unable to even react defensively, as huge cheers rang in his ears.
A simple and crude offense. At the moment Li You took action, Ewing and Oakley had already squeezed into the basket. The opening scene was just a shot and grab, with no complicated tactics at all.
"Defense! Defense! Defense!"
Everyone in the Knicks retreated quickly, the Bulls took a baseline kick, and the defensive cheers became louder and louder.
Li You did not choose to lead the defense, but Harper's advancement was not fast either. It took almost 8 seconds to cross the half court.
Although it was a one-on-one defense, on the Knicks' side, Larry Johnson, standing on the right wing, let Pippen go.
Michael Jordan turned his back to ask for the ball in the left block, and Alan Houston immediately blocked the ball behind him, giving a confrontation.
When Harper came to the left wing, Kucchi had already reached the top of the arc to act as a receiving point, taking Oakley out of the paint area.
For the Bulls, only Longley is on the lower right side of the basket, and everyone else is on the outside.
Li You saw that Michael Jordan had Alan Houston stuck behind him, and immediately knew that Harper would definitely pass the ball.
On the left wing, the moment Harper threw the ball to Michael Jordan, Li You followed up with a double team.
Alan Houston blocked the bottom line, and Li You blocked the top line.
Before the two of them could actually catch the ball, Michael Jordan immediately released the ball with his left hand, then took two big steps to the left near the baseline, then stood up from the ground and made a sudden jump shot!
"state"
The basketball hit the basket, and Alan Houston, Larry Johnson, and Oakley were all trying to get back in position.
Ewing stuck Longley firmly behind the basket and grabbed the rebound. There was no chance to grab the rebound. The Bulls hurriedly retreated at this time.
The fans at the scene cheered loudly when Mai dunked the ball. Li You, who caught the ball again, began to accelerate along the right sideline.
Just after passing the half court, Li You passed the ball to Larry Johnson at the top of the arc. The right wing was close to the three-point line. Li You pretended to cut into the baseline, and then suddenly ran back and cut horizontally from the top line.
Ewing and Oakley had just run across the half court and took advantage of the situation to stand at the left and right elbows of the free throw line. Li You used the cover of the two to quickly reach the left wing.
Harper was delayed twice, but the old guy was still trying to catch up. Li You had just received a cross pass from Larry Johnson, and Harper was about to rush to his side.
After catching the ball, Li You didn't make many adjustments. He turned around and stood still, then raised the ball and threw it!
Harper, who was chasing after him, hurriedly jumped up from the side to block the shot, but Li You shot too fast and could only watch the three-point ball fall into the basket again.
"Wow!"
At 0:6, Li You hit two consecutive three-pointers, which immediately ignited the atmosphere.
His physical fitness has not returned to its best condition, and even his reaction speed has declined. Harper looked helplessly at the coaching staff, but Phil Jackson said nothing.
After sending the baseline ball, the Bulls' offensive rhythm was still very slow.
Asking for the ball from a deeper position can avoid some double-teams on the line. Michael Jordan slipped from the baseline this time and then went to the low post on the right side to ask for the ball with his back.
But Alan Houston suddenly moved forward to defend. McDunner immediately turned around and accelerated towards the basket, but the expected pass did not come.
Li You didn't give Harper a chance to pass the ball at all, and kept cutting the ball to interfere.
It was too close, and Harper finally chose to attack on his own. He suddenly accelerated with the ball in his left hand, dribbled past the three-point line, and suddenly stopped for a jump shot!
"Whoa!" The two-pointer was hit steadily.
"Shh!"
The Bulls scored points, and the scene was booed, but for the Knicks and everyone, such a goal was acceptable.
The Knicks' offense showed no signs of slowing down. After halftime, Li You quickly handed over the ball, changed direction, and still cut horizontally from the top line.
Harper worked hard to pursue the defense this time, but finally did not lose his position. After Li You received the pass from Larry Johnson, he immediately maintained a triple threat posture.
At this time, Ewing, who had completed the screen, suddenly cut into the paint area at the left elbow of the free throw line and quickly came to the lower right side of the basket. Before Longley could defend him, Li You threw the ball to Ewing.
Approaching the basket, Ewing caught the ball and put it under Longley's basket. Due to interference, the basketball still fell into the basket after hitting the board.
Successfully eating the pie, the shooting touch was not good, Ewing consciously caught the ball in a deeper position, the strategy worked, and the gorilla celebrated with a fist pump.
At 2:8, the cheers in Madison Square Garden grew louder.
In the MSG commentary box, Walter Frazier was also in high spirits and said loudly:
"The Bulls haven't hit their stride yet, so this is a great opportunity for us!"
When the Bulls attacked, Michael Jordan caught the ball at the left elbow. When Pippen moved to the left wing, Larry Johnson immediately gave up the matchup and quickly double-teamed.
Michael Jordan quickly threw the ball to Pippen, who was open on the left wing. The latter caught the ball and immediately took a jump shot without hesitation!
"state!"
The basketball hit the basket, and the rebound was collected by Oakley who retreated into the paint area. The Bulls quickly retreated, and Li You caught the ball and chased his butt across the half court.
On the left wing, close to the three-point line, Li You, holding the ball in his left hand, suddenly stopped, quickly dribbled the ball with his hips, and pretended to hit the ball while looking up at the frame.
Harper was shaken slightly, and Li You took the opportunity to lower his center of gravity, holding the ball with his right hand and going straight to the basket.
As soon as the Bulls gained a foothold, they saw that Li You had already broken through into the paint. Kukqi, who was near the baseline on the right, subconsciously moved to the basket, preparing to help defend.
Li You, who was marching, took advantage of the situation and gave the ball to Oakley, who was unguarded and cut into the basket.
Kukchi tried to turn around and block the shot again, but Oakley took the initiative, used his body to get rid of the defense, and succeeded in hitting the board and setting up the basket.
At 2:10, on the Knicks bench, the atmosphere team shouted excitedly and stood up to celebrate with fist pumps.
Commentator Mike Breen also let out a sigh of relief at this time and said in a brisk tone:
"I was still worried about the team's defensive strategy after the start, but judging from these few minutes of play, our defense worked!"
Phil Jackson, who was next to him, saw that the Knicks' defense was just circling the paint area, and he felt helpless for a while.
This is no different than the Pacers, always leaving a big man in the paint
There was no request for a timeout, and in the next few minutes, the Bulls' role players began to help the team score points. Pippen and Kukic successively hit open long two-pointers.
But this did not change the Knicks' offensive rhythm. After taking a breath, Li You started to attack with the ball again.
Longley, who had just retreated from defense, followed Ewing to the top of the arc. Li You, holding the ball in his right hand, quickly circled the ball behind his back, switched to his left hand and broke through on the left side.
Quickly in and out from the three-point line, Li You shook and then suddenly accelerated.
Longley subconsciously moved back, took the opportunity to quickly change direction, and came to the free throw line. He just happened to get rid of Harper who was chasing him, and immediately stopped for a jump shot!
"Whoa!" A steady hit from mid-range.
Michael Jordan, who had been double-teamed for several consecutive rounds, stopped passing the ball. He caught the ball in the right elbow area and immediately released the ball with his right hand and took a big step.
Without waiting for the double-team on the line to come up, Michael Jordan made a pull-up jump shot!
Alan Houston's block was a beat too slow and failed to have much effect. McQueen quickly retreated with a face on his face.
The Bulls' defense was always half a beat slow. After Phil Jackson's timeout, Rodman was replaced and Longley was replaced, which failed to change the situation.
During the positional attack, Li You broke through in the middle, against Harper's defense, and missed the throw in the paint area. The basketball bounced on the rim twice before falling out of the rim.
At this time, the basket was already crowded. Ewing, Oakley, and Larry Johnson rushed to grab it. They didn't see who specifically touched the basketball. The fans at the scene only saw that the ball was stabbed into the basket as soon as it fell out. basket.
At 8:18, with 5 minutes and 12 seconds left in the first quarter, the Knicks gained a double-digit lead.
"oh!!"
The noise at the scene is getting louder and louder, and whenever the Bulls hit the iron, the fans cheer loudly.
Pippen had just broken through to the inside and scored two points with difficulty. Looking back, Michael Jordan was a step too late to pursue the defense. Alan Houston got rid of the defense and received a cross pass from Li You at the right elbow area and succeeded in a mid-range jumper!
Michael Jordan broke through the basket on the right side of the block and attracted a three-man defense. On the left wing, Kukic received the pass and made a wide-open jumper.
The long rebound was just collected by Li You, and he accelerated with the ball in his right hand.
Quickly circling the ball from behind at the top of the arc, Li You switched to his left hand and grabbed half of his body, and went straight to the basket against Harper's defense.
Pippen, who quickly retreated from defense, rushed to the paint area and took off with Li You, only to find that the basketball flew to the back right. Larry Johnson, who followed up, easily caught the ball and put the basket successfully!
At 10:22, Jeff Van Gundy on the sidelines couldn't help but pump his fist in celebration, and then loudly reminded the players to retreat quickly.
The iron-clad Michael Jordan only hit another free throw line jumper in the second half of the first quarter.
Kukqi's few openings were also filled with iron.
Seeing that the point difference was not narrowing, Maidun began to force his way to the basket again.
In the last few minutes of the first quarter, Li You also stood on the free throw line. Harper couldn't keep up with the rhythm. He switched offense and committed a clean foul in the paint area.
At 17:30, at the end of the first quarter, Madison Square Garden cheered again.
"We controlled the game perfectly! We took a double-digit lead before the Bulls fully entered the state."
"We must praise Li's performance and respond promptly when the team needs to score!"
Watching such a game, Walter Frazier was so excited that he couldn't stop playing.
Commentator Mike Breen saw the Bulls going 0 for 3 from beyond the arc and added with a smile:
“Coach Jeff Van Gundy’s defensive strategy was very successful, and the team’s execution was also very good. This is a team victory!”
Although the game only lasted one quarter, the New York fans at the scene were already excited and the Bulls had no power to fight back!
After playing the first quarter, Li You scored 12 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists in a single quarter, scoring 4 of 7, 2 of 3 from beyond the three-point line, and 2 of 2 free throws.
As soon as he returned to his seat, Ben Davis from the atmosphere team handed the kettle and towel to Li You, and then said excitedly:
"That's cool, Lee! We're definitely going to win tonight! The Bulls are totally screwed!"
Everyone in the atmosphere group also started cheering loudly. When the Knicks led by double digits this season, they never lost a game!
Jeff Van Gundy greeted a few people in the rotation and excitedly told:
"Don't relax, keep up the pace, they won't be able to run anymore!"
Starks also became more energetic at this time, and he would hit hard every time there was a tailwind.
The Knicks rotated step by step, with Chris Childs, Starks, Chris Mills, Larry Johnson and Dudley coming on the scene.
The Bulls also rotated personnel, with Steve Kerr, Scott Burrell, Buechler, Rodman, and Longley coming on the scene.
Harper, Michael Jordan, and Pippen all played the entire first quarter of the game and are currently sitting on the bench. Everyone said nothing and looked grim.
The director frequently showed the camera to McDuck. In the first quarter, he made 2 of 6 and 2 of 3 free throws, scoring 6 points. Pippen made 2 of 6, also scoring 6 points.
The Bulls' rotation only played for less than 3 minutes, and the main lineup returned one after another.
Jeff Van Gundy was the first to get back Ewing, and only got Li You with 6 minutes and 32 seconds left in the second quarter.
At 25:39, the Knicks still led by 14 points.
After half a quarter of the game, Li You took over the ball again after coming on the court. Michael Jordan, who gradually found his shooting touch, also began to score consecutive points.
Alan Houston could only stalk and follow Michael Jordan back and forth.
For several consecutive rounds, he ran away from the defense by running without the ball, and then hit the shot after catching the ball. Michael Jordan had a good hand at this time.
In this attack, Michael Jordan moved diagonally on the right near the baseline, and with the help of Kukchi's cover, he came to the left elbow of the free throw line.
Cole on the right wing started moving early, preparing to pass the ball to Maidu.
However, the passing intention was too obvious. After being blocked by Li You, Cole failed to deliver the ball immediately.
Alan Houston resumed pursuit, and Michael Jordan moved sideways again at this time and simply came to the top of the arc to respond.
Cole has been guarded by Li You. When he saw his boss preparing to catch the ball at the top of the arc, he immediately turned around, protected the ball sideways, and sent a cross pass with his right hand.
Before the basketball could be released, Li You stretched out his left hand and swatted it away. He took advantage of the situation and grabbed the ball. He held the ball in his left hand and accelerated his sprint.
Even though Michael Jordan was in poor physical condition, he was speeding up to pursue the defense behind Li You with his eyes wide open!
In the blink of an eye, the two of them had already passed the half court. Seeing that Li You showed no signs of slowing down, he took three long steps in the paint area and wanted to dunk behind him, and Mai Dun accelerated again.
Then he soared into the paint, leaping high, and Michael Jordan was ready to make a big shot!
Catching the ball with his right hand, Li You in the air made a fake pass at this time. He moved the ball behind his back and threw it to Alan Houston who was following up.
The latter caught the ball, completely unguarded, and directly made a one-handed chop!
"Wow!!"
The dunk ignited the atmosphere in the arena again, and the cheers became louder and louder.
After landing, Li You had a smile on his face and gently nodded his head with his right hand, which immediately made Michael Jordan in front of him very angry.
Michael Jordan, who was holding his breath, kept taking shots in the second quarter. However, after taking the initiative to speed up the offensive rhythm, the Knicks' defensive actions also became larger and larger.
In the offensive round, Michael Jordan originally planned to use the screen to get rid of the defense, but was pulled by Oakley in the paint area, and was quickly pursued by Alan Houston.
Breaking through to the inside, Michael Jordan had no time to lay the basket and was blocked by Ewing.
The whistle gradually sounded, and Michael Jordan, who had just found some offensive rhythm in the first half of the game, quickly began to strike again.
Li You was not affected. Although Cole worked hard to defend, the aggressive screens of Ewing and Oakley always allowed him to easily get rid of the defense.
In the pick-and-roll at the top of the arc, Cole failed to squeeze through the screen in time and watched as Li You made an emergency stop and made a three-pointer.
Kukchi's delay was slow. Phil Jackson on the sidelines was a little anxious, but at this time he could only shout encouragement.
Rodman's attempt to eat a cake under the basket was blocked by Ewing. The Bulls were slow to retreat. Li You, who was about to leave, rushed into the paint area, carried Cole and tilted his body to pick up the basket with his left hand and succeeded!
Pippen hit a long two-pointer, and the Bulls had just retreated to half court. Ewing succeeded again in the lower left corner of the basket, and after receiving the ball, he caused a foul on Kuchi's beater.
Jeff Van Gundy didn't take the initiative to request a timeout. Seeing that the Knicks' offensive rhythm was getting faster and faster, he simply returned to the bench with a proud smile.
Michael Jordan took a deep breath while taking a free throw to try to restore himself.
But in the last few minutes, several shots were shot on the iron iron
Looking at the Knicks team faster and faster, the Bulls couldn't stand up, and it began tactical fouls.
"Shhh!!"
Several consecutive rounds are free throws, and I feel that the New York fans who have won the voucher still boo the Bulls.
At the last moment of the half game, Li You's super long three -pointer disappeared, and Cole, who sprinted back and forth, began to breathe.
38:54, the Knicks entered the second half with a 16 -point lead.
In the midfield rest, in the Knicks team's locker room, Jeff Van Gandy was still reminding everyone:
"In the second quarter, Michael Jordan 4 was 1 of 5 in the 4th, and our defense was effective!"
"Maintain such a defensive intensity, don't give the other party any chance!"
In the second quarter, the fastening of the game continued to toss the Knicks team. Fortunately, the big score was leading, and everyone was full of energy.
Ewing got 10 points and 7 rebounds in half a game. Although they were eating cakes and free throws, gorillas didn't care, and they were excited to encourage everyone:
"There are two more games, we can win G1, the opponent can no longer keep up with our rhythm!"
Li You followed his hands, and everyone cheered, and victory was close.
The midfield rest did not let the bulls feel the feel.
Perhaps it is a real overdraft, and Michael Jordan still fights iron in the third quarter.
Under the continuous bag, the buckle must not be completed outside the three -point line
The scene of such a scene made the Nix fans at the scene yelling wildly, Michael Jordan's conflict!
The Knicks have been changing more and more. Li You continued to speed up the rhythm of the game, and the Bulls' retreat finally collapsed.
Pippen, which was empty, did not give a response outside the three -point line. The Bulls had no noise, and the atmosphere group followed.
19:24 in a single quarter, 57:78 in the three quarters, and the last quarter of the game entered the garbage time.
In a single section 7, I got 5 points, Michael Jordan pulled her face back to the bench, supplemented the water, and kept panting.
Phil-Jackson wanted to give up the fourth quarter, but Michael Jordan scored 6 minutes and 42 seconds. Seeing that the difference was not reduced, then he took the atmosphere group.
Madison Square Garden, New York fans present began to celebrate the victory of the game. The noise became louder and louder.
"Perfect victory, we completely control the rhythm of the game!"
"Both offensive and defensive ends have excellent performance, and head coach Fan Gandi is well prepared for this game!"
Winning is so easy, the commentator Mike Brin also followed at this time:
"Keep this state, I believe the Knicks will eventually win the series!"
Fortunately, the two were calm and had no loan championship, but they couldn't stop on the commentary.
When Li You was replaced, he was completely relieved. Without 1 point of rain, the Bulls were unable to chase points.
At the Knicks team, the atmosphere group entered a state of self -resurrection. It was also a rare achievement to be able to shake towels in the regional finals.
The last 5 minutes quickly finished, and the buzzing sound of the final game sounded. 80: 102, the Knicks team won the Bulls team, successfully protected the home!
In the Madison Square Garden Stadium, the happy New York fans did not intend to let go of the buckle, and scolded the scolding.
With a towel, Michael Jordan ignored the sound of the surroundings, and quickly walked towards the player channel.
25 of 25, 2 of 3 of the three -point line, 6, 27 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 mistake of free throws. The physical condition is average.
The Bulls left quickly, and MSG interviewed Li You for the first time. The commentator Mike Brin smiled and asked:
"22 points to win opponents, Li, do you expect such a game before the game?"
36 minutes, 11 of 23, 5 of 9, 3 of the three -point line, 6 of 7, 33 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals and 1 mistake. Li You scored the highest score in the audience.
It has been changed to the training suit. At this time, there was no fatigue on Li You's face, and his expression responded easily:
"The opponent has just experienced the competition of grabbing 7, a victory, naturally in our expectations."
"In the follow -up game, the Bulls will definitely make adjustments, but we are ready."
Walter Fred noticed that Ewing was still playing with fists, and it seemed very excited.
"This is indeed the best opportunity of the Knicks team. Everyone doesn't want to miss the championship anymore."
"."
At the press conference after the game, Li You and Ewing did not need to answer the question. The New York media automated the body of the audience became a brain to make up for the sake.
In 13, 6 of 6, 16 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assistant 2 blocks and 2 mistakes. The gorilla scores much. Most of them eat cakes under the basket, but no one cares about this at the scene.
It seems that I think of the scene of reaching the finals of the year. At the same time, Ewing did not relax and welcomed the chaotic loan until ESPN's reporter asked:
"PAT! Congratulations on winning G1. After the injury returns, we all noticed that your role in the team has changed. Are you satisfied with the current role?"
The New York media under the audience immediately glanced at the bald reporter. Li You on the stage still smiled, and Ewed replied calmly:
"I never care about this, and no one cares about this!"
"Now I just want to win the championship, I am very satisfied with the team's status."
"."
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QAQ is later, it will still be 12 o'clock tomorrow, or thousands of characters ~
(End of chapter)
