NBA: Miracle Workers
Chapter 260: Problems that fighting spirit cannot solve
Chapter 260: Problems that fighting spirit cannot solve ([-]-word chapter)
On June 2002, 6, the Western Conference Finals came to a tiebreaker.
In this round of the series, the two sides were at loggerheads, and the controversial penalty in G6 caused commentators to discuss it for several days.
Throughout the series, the referee's whistles were very targeted, and the principle was to extend the game so that the fans could enjoy it!
The result of such a whistle was that both sides were very dissatisfied in the end.
Lakers fans believe that without the help of referees, the series would never have reached a Game [-];
Kings fans believe that if G6 had been given a fair call, they would have taken away the game 4:2.
Both sides insist on their own opinions and quarrel every day. Putting aside the result of the series, the NBA league is winning again!
Of course, referees have tendencies in their whistleblowing, but whether they can seize the opportunity still depends on the quality of the star.
After all, NBA games will not be replayed, and there is no use complaining after the game. The champion is the champion, and competitive sports still depend on the results.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks took advantage of the bus and wiped out their opponents.
After returning to Manhattan, the coaching staff also faced challenges. This season, both the Kings and Lakers have a big advantage when facing the Knicks. In summary, it is easier to respond to the ball.
Thibodeau led the team to the Finals in his first season as head coach. At the Eastern Conference Championship Award Ceremony a few days ago, he was so happy that he almost cried.
The Continental Center Arena became the home court of New York at that time, and the entire awards ceremony ended with laughter.
Madison Square Garden ushered in another division championship banner. The Knicks, who are in a state of reconstruction, can achieve such a record, which naturally makes fans ecstatic.
Even the pickiest fans will not ask for more. Winning is a true portrayal of the Knicks in recent years!
Everyone on the Lakers has no time to think about the finals. In the tiebreaker, anything is possible.
In addition, this game was the home court of the Kings, and Phil Jackson couldn't help but become nervous. If he fell in the Western Conference finals, the team might be about to disintegrate.
The sports media on both sides were still waving flags and cheering for the home team. Kings fans poured into the ARCO Arena early that night, and the cheers of more than 7000 fans could not stop after the game started.
The Kings took the lead in the first half, but in the second half, O'Neal missed the mark and the Lakers' role players withstood the pressure and stood up.
In the 48th minute, the two sides battled 100:100. After entering overtime, Kings fans gradually became desperate as Chris Webber suddenly stretched his hips.
112:106, tiebreaker. With O'Neal's strong performance in overtime, the Lakers won the game with a big score of 4:3 and entered the finals again!
Chris Webber, who went 6 for 1 in overtime and scored 2 points, was particularly frustrated after the game.
This year was their best chance to win the championship. They had a chance to win the championship, but they fell short in the end.
The Lakers players celebrated wildly at the opponent's home court, while Phil Jackson breathed a sigh of relief and no longer thought about the tortuous process. This was the result he wanted!
At the Western Conference Championship Award Ceremony, amid the boos from Kings fans, the Lakers jumped up and down and shouted happily.
O'Neal kept hugging his teammates excitedly. In addition to still scorning his younger brother, Shark behaved like a qualified leader most of the time.
After Phil Jackson raised the trophy, he smiled and clapped his hands to celebrate. When the host handed the microphone to O'Neal, the super center was not polite and continued to boast confidently:
"This year I will bring the O'Brien Cup back to Los Angeles. The era of the Lakers is about to begin!"
"Scoring champion, rebounding champion, MVP, best team? I don't care, I just want to win the championship!"
"Don't worry about our physical fitness. I don't feel tired. I will send the MVP home. I am ready for the next finals!"
After saying these words, O'Neal hugged the Western Conference championship trophy and screamed, rushing out of the Western Conference. He only felt that the championship was waving to him.
Since the Lakers fell behind in the regular season, they had to continue flying to the away game after the tiebreaker with the Kings.
On June 6th, G5 of the Finals officially started, and the Knicks got nearly a week of rest. Recently, everyone has been training step by step and accepting interviews with media reporters.
Although NBC has disputes with the NBA over the broadcast contract, the packaging of the finals will not be left behind.
For the new players of the Knicks, appearing on the stage of the Finals is definitely the highlight of their careers.
Pau Gasol is under a lot of pressure. Not only New York sports reporters, but the Spanish media also have huge expectations for him.
Everyone knows that new players cannot limit O'Neal, so most people are looking forward to what kind of data Gasol can get in front of the super center.
For Li You, reaching the finals is regarded as fulfilling the sponsor's requirements, and this year is another fruitful year.
NBC sports reporter Jim Gray has interviewed the Knicks for several consecutive years, which can be regarded as witnessing the rise of Li You. When interviewing this year, the topic of conversation is no longer limited to the game.
On the afternoon of Monday, the 3rd, after a media dinner at the Tarrytown Training Center, Jim Gray led the staff to continue the follow-up interviews.
After Li You came to the media room, he greeted the familiar staff and noticed that Jim Gray was in a good mood. He went up to hug him and whispered:
"It seems you are ready. In fact, I have always liked NBC broadcasts very much."
"I don't want to change my working environment, but life has to go on, and I hope NBC can complete the contract renewal."
As a well-known reporter, Jim Gray can still find a good job even if he leaves NBC.
The two chatted about the recent broadcast contract gossip, and they did not enter the formal topic until the staff reminded them.
"Entered the Finals five times in six years. Under your leadership, the Knicks tied the record set by the Celtics that year."
"Such an achievement is truly unbelievable. You must know that the Celtics team that won eight consecutive championships is already far away from us."
"I noticed that the recent front-page news in the New York Times was "Parallel Legend." Lee, do you think you have reached another level?"
After entering the finals for five consecutive seasons, the New York media is naturally excited again. Putting aside ancient basketball, such an achievement is certainly worthy of celebration.
Li You, who has reaped the dividends of the times, naturally did not bloat. After all, he would have to continue to reap the benefits in the next few years. At this time, he naturally expressed his position modestly:
"We are still a long way from becoming a legend. In the history of the Knicks, we have reached the Finals 6 times."
"Think about the records of the Celtics. That is the real legend. My career has just begun. No one knows what will happen in the future."
"Cherishing every game is what I should do. Tickets for the Knicks are not cheap. Fans buy tickets to support me. Naturally, I have to meet everyone's expectations."
Thinking of the high general admission prices at Madison Square Garden and the tens of thousands of dollars spent on front-row tickets, Jim Gray also smiled and nodded.
No one likes to pay to be beaten, and no one likes to pay to witness failure, everyone agrees on that.
"Let's talk about the team culture. After Ewing retired, I noticed that many commentators seemed to dislike the atmosphere of the Knicks."
"The tactics are being questioned, and the team culture seems to be unpopular. Why is this happening?"
Jim Gray asked another sensitive question. Lakers star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is still very prestigious.
The historical scoring leader has said more than once that "the Knicks are utilitarian basketball," and this view has been recognized by many people.
The two have known each other for many years. When Li You answered this question, he did not say any more casual words, but said seriously:
"The Knicks' team culture has always been about winning, and we are here to serve the fans, and this has never changed."
"As for utilitarian basketball, what I want to say is that in professional sports, you must first have a professional spirit."
"I don't want to talk about the role of spirit in the game. As professional players, we earn a lot, and if we want to win the game, we must use the players' characteristics and avoid their flaws."
"What professional players have to do is to polish their skills and reduce technical shortcomings. No matter what kind of spirit you have, this is what players should do."
"In the Knicks, everyone works hard. It is normal to pursue victory and big contracts. Playing basketball is our job. There is no difference between us and ordinary people in this regard."
"Fans buy high-priced tickets to watch the game, and players must train hard to bring victory to the fans. This is our team culture."
Jim Gray smiled slightly when he heard this and stopped talking about this topic too much:
"What are your expectations for this year's Finals? The Knicks have a lot of new players and it's definitely a challenge for you."
Li You shrugged his shoulders, showed a relaxed expression, and said calmly:
"Of course I want to win, the current Knicks team is very talented, and we are still on the rise."
"The opponent has gone through a tiebreaker, and what we have to do is protect the home court. I believe we can do it!"
"."
The Lakers, who won the tiebreaker, have recently brought up old issues. Phil Jackson has not won a championship in recent years, and he also talked about "sportsmanship" at this time.
"Playing for money will eventually fail", "Data cannot show our game", "The Lakers' desire to win exceeds their opponents".
Never talking about statistics or reviewing the Western Conference Finals, Phil Jackson and the Los Angeles media both chose the "spiritual victory method."
On the morning of June 6th, in the TNT program, the trio did not talk about "desire", but reviewed the Western Conference Finals through data.
Kenny Smith reiterated the players' data as always, without making too many comments:
“西部决赛，奥尼尔场均拿到30.3分13.6篮板1.6助攻2.4盖帽，投篮命中率为53.2%，罚球命中率为63.8%”
"With a free throw shooting rate of over [-]%, it seems that O'Neal is really polishing his free throw skills."
Charles Barkley still has a big mouth and offends Kings fans when he opens his mouth:
"Facing the defense of Divac and Webber, I'm not surprised at all that O'Neal produced such data. The opponent is too soft!"
"In contrast, Kobe Bryant's performance did not meet my expectations. Doug Christie really should be selected to the All-Defensive Team."
场均27.1分6.3篮板3.9助攻1.4抢断1.1盖帽，投篮命中率为41.9%，三分球命中率为36.8%。
With more shots than O'Neal in the series, Kobe's efficiency dropped a bit compared to the regular season.
The "OK" combination averaged more than 40 minutes of playing time per game. Kobe's inefficient performance may also be related to physical fitness.
Ernie Johnson didn't want to hear loudmouths complaining about players anymore, so he quickly got back to the topic:
"Who has the advantage between the two teams? The Lakers have too short a break. Will this affect the trend of the series?"
Kenny Smith nodded and analyzed seriously in front of the camera:
"The Knicks must seize this opportunity. If they protect two home games and finally drag the series back to New York, I am more optimistic about them winning the cup again."
Charles Barkley glanced at his partner, and then said confidently to the camera:
"Physical fitness is indeed an issue, but I believe the Lakers can win the game within 6 games. No one can limit O'Neal. This guy will completely explode in the finals."
"The Lakers' perimeter players just need to defend well, and I believe head coach Phil Jackson also knows this. They have a huge inside advantage this year."
Kenny Smith didn't expect that his partner's big mouth could even predict the specific number of games. He couldn't help turning his head and retorted:
"The Knicks can get an interior combination like Wright and Gasol. They have a big advantage in height."
Charles Barkley didn't take it seriously, but emphasized again:
"Don't forget that these two are rookies in the finals. If O'Neal is restricted by them, he might as well retire. The gap between the two sides is too big."
"If he loses the finals again this year, we can leave a place for him in our program!"
"."
The Lakers, who had already flown to Manhattan, were full of confidence under the blessing of Phil Jackson's thick chicken soup.
O'Neal naturally knows that this year is the best opportunity for the team to win the championship. He will not encounter such an inside combination in the Western Conference. He is ready to kill everyone!
In the Western Conference Finals, Kobe also had his shining moments, but his performance in the entire series was average. When it came to the Finals, Phil Jackson was giving him chicken soup every day recently.
After checking in at the hotel that afternoon, the old man from "KFC" took the initiative to knock on Kobe's door.
Seeing the head coach smiling, Kobe knew what he wanted to say:
"I know, I know how to win, and I'm going to do my job, but I hope Shaq can deliver on his promise as well."
"I really don't want to lose anymore, now I just want to win the championship!"
While packing his luggage, Kobe expressed his stance to Phil Jackson who came in.
Seemingly satisfied with this attitude, the old man from KFC showed a kind smile and took the initiative to comfort him:
"Kobe! You must know how important a championship is to a player."
"If you want to achieve greatness, if you want to surpass Michael Jordan, of course you need a championship."
"Believe me, this year is our best chance to win the championship. We even have a chance to start the Lakers dynasty. The teams in the Eastern Conference are uncompetitive!"
Nodding silently, Kobe said nothing more. Phil Jackson patted the tool man on the shoulder with satisfaction and comforted him again:
"To win the championship, you must make sacrifices. Kobe, you have always been the core of this team's perimeter. We need you!"
On June 6th, the much-loved showdown in a major football market was staged again.
The two teams entering the finals both have star players with high popularity. No matter how small ball markets complain, this is an indisputable fact.
All-Star voting represents the influence of players, and small ball markets are currently lagging behind in all aspects.
That night's game officially started at 21 o'clock. One hour before the game, NBC's studio in New York began to warm up for the finals.
In addition to playing short interviews produced before the game and highlights of the two teams, it mainly analyzes the trend of the series.
Jim Gray is responsible for interviewing players from both teams. Tonight's commentators, Marv Albert and Mike Dunleavy, sat in the field and talked about the preparations of the two teams in front of the camera:
"The Lakers' physical fitness will be tested. They should slow down, be more patient when attacking, and try to get the ball inside."
"I believe the Knicks will not miss this opportunity. They will try to speed up. This is what they are best at doing this season."
"Kobe Bryant should go against Lee, which is not an easy thing."
Mike Dunleavy talked in front of the camera, mainly talking about the advantages of both parties;
Marv Albert nodded and talked more about the flaws in both lineups:
"The Knicks' interior defense will be greatly tested. Gasol and Wright did not perform well against O'Neal in the regular season."
"The Lakers' outside offense will also be severely guarded. In the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers' three-point shooting percentage was only 27.6%. They must solve this problem in the Finals."
The Knicks shot only 32.7% from three-point range in the Eastern Conference finals, and Mike Dunleavy still felt that the shooting gap between the two sides was not big.
New York fans who bought tickets to watch the game also arrived early. Half an hour before the game started, the scene was already bustling.
Ewing, who has become a ball, is wearing a formal suit and cheering Gasol on the sidelines. In this series, as long as O'Neal's shooting percentage is limited to normal levels, the game will be played.
After the two teams finished playing, O'Neal, who was in a good mood and was warming up with the ball, did not forget to come over to Li You and whistle:
"You'd better double-team me! That rookie can't limit my scoring at all. I'm going to win this year!"
After coming out of the Western Conference, O'Neal was obviously more confident, grinning and talking non-stop, not taking the Knicks' inside attention at all.
"When your role players keep hitting the iron, I hope you can still laugh when the time comes. Shaq, be careful not to catch the ball!"
Li You patted the ball casually and followed suit. The two of them chatted nonsense in the middle of the field, which made the sports media who gathered around feel itchy. Everyone wanted to hear the gossip.
The game was about to start, and the noise in the arena was getting louder and louder. Head coach Phil Jackson was still a little uneasy, and kept asking the players to explain at the last moment.
In contrast, coach Thibodeau sat firmly on the bench and seemed confident about the game.
In the NBC commentary box, the two of them naturally saw O'Neal's confident look. At this time, Marv Albert also introduced the Lakers' starting lineup with a smile:
"Phil Jackson continued to start in the playoffs. The backcourt is still Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant. The three frontcourts are Rick Fox, Robert Horry, and Shaquille. O'Neal."
"This starting set completed the reversal against the Kings and is in great shape!"
Mike Dunleavy looked at Kobe, who had a shaved head and continued to complete his shooting warm-up with a grimace, and commented again:
"In this starting lineup, Kobe also needs to find his form as soon as possible, otherwise the Knicks are very likely to put up a zone defense at the beginning to test the opponent's shooting touch."
"."
O'Neal seemed to be fed up with Phil Jackson's poisonous chicken soup, but after the game started, he gradually felt something was wrong.
第1节比赛还剩6分31秒，比分来到16:16，开场后双方都打得极为奔放。
"Defense!."
The Lakers attacked, Fisher quickly dribbled across the half court, and then immediately gave the ball to Kobe at the top of the arc.
As soon as the latter caught the ball, Artest immediately defended him, constantly interfering and engaging in physical confrontation.
Kobe didn't stop the ball and immediately threw the ball to Fox who started from the bottom corner and came to the right wing. After completing a quick pass on the line and crossing the baseline, O'Neal ran rampant, easily stuck Gasol behind him, and came to the right low post to ask for the ball with his back.
The quality of Fox's passing was not high, and the speed of the lob was a bit slow, but O'Neal, who received the ball, was not affected too much. He released the ball with his left hand and accelerated towards the basket.
Carrying the defense and breaking through the line, Gasol leaned on the sliding Gasol in front of the paint area and quickly turned toward the baseline. O'Neal used his large body to separate the defense. After joining the ball, he switched to his right hand and threw the ball to the basket.
"state!"
The shot that almost hit the basket came out of the frame. He missed the shot for the first time in the game. Before O'Neal could rush for the rebound, Kurt Thomas on the other side retreated to the basket and successfully protected the rebound.
The Lakers' offense is fast-paced, but the Knicks are faster in transition.
Li You caught the ball near the right sideline, and then immediately accelerated with all his strength, rushing through the half court against the sliding Fisher.
A large number of return runs played half a quarter, and the Lakers' speed of returning to defense dropped significantly.
Approaching the right wing, Li You quickly circled the ball behind his back. Fisher had just changed his center of gravity to his left hand, and Li You suddenly changed direction.
Before Fisher could react, the basketball passed in front of him and changed direction drastically, allowing Li You, who was grabbing the ball with his right hand, to completely shake off the defense, accelerate again, and drive straight to the basket.
The New York fans at the scene immediately cheered. Kobe, who was quickly pursuing the defense, glared at Li You who was approaching the paint area in front of him, and tried to speed up to return to the basket.
Approaching the paint area, Li You noticed the angry Kobe behind him. He took three long steps and flew into the air. Without giving the opponent a chance to block the shot, he passed the ball behind his back.
Artest, who followed up, received the ball and pushed away Fox who was beside him, grabbed the ball with his right hand, hit the board and put the basket successfully!
At 16:18, the Knicks quickly counterattacked and scored another 2 points.
O'Neal, who had just run back to half court, couldn't help but stop, watched as the Lakers had taken a baseline kick, and then ran back to the frontcourt.
It was also a quick pass to the line. This time, after Kobe received the ball from the left wing, O'Neal immediately stepped forward to pick and roll.
At this time, the Lakers were playing two-on-two. On the other side, Fisher pulled Li You to squat in the corner. Horry also moved to the right elbow area to make room for the boss to attack.
Under Artest's entanglement, Kobe broke through with his left hand and used the screen to try to attract the defense.
It's just that Gasol kept retreating, O'Neal ran off the screen, and Kobe was momentarily guarded by Artest who squeezed through the screen.
Just after taking a step laterally, Kobe was blocked by Kurt Thomas, who came up from the free throw line to help defend.
The two of them worked together to double-team, and Kobe almost made a mistake and barely passed the ball to Horry, who was nearby. The moment the latter caught the ball and shot a jumper, Grant Hill jumped up to interfere.
At this time, Kobe wanted to continue rushing for rebounds, but Artest hugged the opponent and refused to give Kobe a chance to rush into the paint area.
O'Neal squeezed to the basket early and missed the ball. When he looked up again, the basketball hit the front and bounced directly into the arms of the retracting Kurt Thomas.
Fisher was immersed in pursuit at this time, but Li You started early and had already passed the half court along the left sideline.
Kurt Thomas twisted around and swung the ball hard, and the basketball flew directly to the three-point line.
The moment Li You grabbed the ball with his right hand, Fisher also caught up with him, squeezed to the left side of his body, and tried his best to interfere with the physical confrontation.
The moment the two were entangled and rushed to the paint area, Li You took the initiative to use his strength. While leaning towards the defense, he held the ball with his right hand and completely knocked Fisher away after using his strength.
"what!"
"Little Fish" tilted his body and fell to the ground. Li Yousan sprinted forward, grabbed the ball with his right hand, and immediately made a powerful and heavy one-handed chop!
"Boom!" The converted dunk was successful!
At 16:20, amid the roars of laughter from the New York fans, Fisher, wearing a headband, stood up in frustration, and Phil Jackson immediately requested a timeout.
O'Neal, who walked to the bench, was very dissatisfied and shouted to Kobe:
"Pass the ball! You have to give me the ball as soon as possible!"
Kobe wanted to say, "You have to defend," but Phil Jackson walked up to the two of them early and quickly reminded:
"Slow down, stop following the opponent, Kobe, speed up the ball!"
O'Neal received the support of the head coach, and without looking at his younger brother, he returned to the bench and drank oral liquid.
Kobe kept his face and said nothing. He didn't expect that the Knicks would double-team him from time to time.
On the bench of the Knicks, Gasol looked very embarrassed after the start. The fat man opposite him was a lot bigger than him, and he couldn't squeeze out of the opponent's position.
He was caught by O'Neal in the reasonable collision area near the basket, and it was a dunk that covered his face.
Even if they are full of fighting spirit, the difference in physical strength still makes Gasol's defense useless. The Lakers only need to hoist the ball into the paint, and O'Neal will easily score points with a high probability.
Head coach Thibodeau didn't have much to do. After the Knicks opened the game, Grant Hill was in excellent pick-and-roll mid-range jump shooting. In terms of offensive stability, putting the basket under the basket is more stable.
"Kurt, pay attention to your defensive position, double-team when appropriate, and don't let the opponent score too easily."
The Knicks were almost in a zone defense position. After coach Thibodeau reminded him, he still frowned. He was worried about Horry's shooting.
Before going on the field, Li You clapped his hands again and no longer defended again, but reminded loudly:
"If the opponent misses a shot, we must seize the opportunity to complete the attack. We must be fast and don't hesitate. We need more rounds in this game!"
Finally, Li You patted Gasol again and reminded him in a low voice:
"Don't worry about defensive issues. Protecting rebounds is the most important thing. Pay attention to the timing of passing down the ball."
Gasol, who was completely in the background, could only nod vigorously. He was almost turning into a "paper man" in this series.
In the second half of the first quarter, as Kurt Thomas began to help defend against double teams, the Lakers also made more coordinated efforts.
Kobe was no longer assisted in defense, but failed to seize the opportunity in several pick-and-roll attacks at the elbow.
This time the Lakers' offense used the same tactic. O'Neal caught the ball at the left elbow of the free throw line. Kobe Bryant started in the left corner and quickly stepped forward to complete the hand-to-hand catch.
O'Neal is still moving down quickly, Gasol naturally retreats to defend, and Artest also quickly squeezes through the screen.
Sensing Kurt Thomas moving near the free throw line, Kobe took advantage of Artest to chase him to his side and quickly dribbled the ball behind his back.
The moment he switched to his left hand, Kobe suddenly turned around with his right foot as the axis, drifted slightly to the right and shot a fadeaway jumper!
"state!"
The action is extremely beautiful, but under Artest's interference, the jump shot is still weak.
After scoring two goals in a row after the opening, Kobe suddenly lost his shooting touch. O'Neal hit the rebound under the basket, but Gasol took off the second time and used his long arms to get the ball back into his arms.
The Lakers retreated quickly, and Li You still accelerated and rushed after receiving the ball from the baseline.
First, he made a drastic change of direction in front of his body to get rid of Fisher, who was on defense. Li You grabbed the ball with his right hand and strode after the opponent's butt across the half court.
O'Neal could only watch as Li You arrived first and passed from his side.
Fox accelerated from the left wing back to the basket, trying to complete the defense.
Approaching the paint area, Li You suddenly pulled the ball backwards with his right hand. Fox subconsciously stopped and looked back at Grant Hill behind him.
Li You took this opportunity to rush up with three big steps, grabbed the ball with his right hand, rushed to the basket and easily picked up the basket!
"Wow!"
At 20:26, the New York fans cheered loudly. Although the expected scene of O'Neal killing everyone appeared, the team seemed not to be behind.
Artest's defensive moves made Kobe angry. When he tried to catch up in a few rounds, the opponent got to his side and pulled him.
From the beginning of the game, Artest has been stuck to him. Kobe has no way to deal with this hob, and it is difficult to position himself in low singles.
In the last few minutes of the game, the Lakers once again played wonderful cooperation.
When O'Neal, who attracted double teams in the low post, gave the ball to the open Horry, as long as the Knicks' defense rotated, Fox's breakthrough and Fisher's long two-point jumper also helped the team score points.
The Knicks still continue their fast-attack game strategy.
After Grant Hill advanced to the left wing with the ball, Kurt Thomas immediately lifted up and came to the three-point line to catch the ball.
When Fox followed Grant Hill and ran to the left corner, Artest on the right wing also moved to the right corner and provided an off-ball screen for Li You.
Near the top of the arc, Li You received a cross pass from Kurt Thomas, and Kobe quickly caught up with him. Before he had time to greet his teammates, Gasol also accelerated his move up.
In a high pick-and-roll outside the three-point line, Gasol was very aggressive in the screen this time. Kobe, who was on defense, was unable to squeeze through the screen immediately and could only chase after Li You.
O'Neal's defensive position was a bit awkward, and he wanted to remind Fisher, who was guarding the bottom corner, to help defend, but Li You was too fast and subconsciously moved up and away from the basket.
All the Lakers' attention was focused on Li You, who cut in from the right wing. While O'Neal was still moving, Li You took advantage of the situation and threw the ball to the upper left side of the basket.
Starting from the left corner, Grant Hill, who cut quickly, rushed past Fox, leaped high and easily grabbed the ball in the air, grabbing the ball with both hands and slamming it into the basket!
"Boom!" The empty catch dunk was successful!
The wonderful cooperation made Phil Jackson frown on the sidelines. This was not the rhythm of the game he expected.
In the last two rounds, O'Neal completed two-handed dunks under the basket.
But looking back, Kobe failed to squeeze through the screen in time during the high pick-and-roll at the top of the arc.
O'Neal was still squatting inside the three-point line. Watching Li You holding the ball in his left hand, he suddenly stopped outside the three-point line and shot a quick jump shot!
"Shua!" The three-pointer hit the net hollowly.
Madison Square Garden was boiling again. In the last 7.2 seconds of the first quarter, the Knicks pressed on the spot.
As Kobe passed half court and missed a two-point pull-up jumper, the score reached 26:32 and the Knicks led by 6 points.
In the NBC commentary box, Mike Dunleavy was grinning. The Lakers played meticulously, and the Knicks just took the ball in many rounds:
"Phil Jackson should find a way to slow down his opponent. O'Neal also has to participate in defense. He can't expect his teammates to defend well every time."
Marv Albert was not surprised by the Knicks' pace of play, but praised Li You's performance:
"Li amplified the team's advantages. Their physical reserves are better and they can score more points in more rounds. This seems to be a good choice."
In the first quarter of the game, O'Neal made 7 of 5 shots and scored 10 points. Kobe Bryant made 7 of 3 shots and contributed 6 points. Fisher and Fox also scored.
Except for Horry not scoring points, the Lakers' offense was very efficient. Phil Jackson naturally knew where the problem was and reminded him loudly during the break:
"We have to play tougher and don't give our opponents chances to score easily!"
"You have to retreat quickly, Shaq. Pay attention to your defensive position. If you choose to guard the basket, do it resolutely."
"Communicate and respond to each other!"
The Lakers also followed the Knicks' game rhythm and reached 26 possessions, with only one turnover.
Phil Jackson didn't like this kind of game. He held the tactical board and kept reminding his players loudly.
On the other side, head coach Thibodeau didn't mention interior defense this time. Big man Wright came on the scene and couldn't solve the problem when he met O'Neal. At this time, he simply emphasized loudly:
"Press the opponent's ball carrier and don't give your opponent a chance to pass the ball easily!"
O'Neal, who played the entire first quarter, was forced to take a rest, and the Lakers took the rotation.
The backcourt became Lynch Hunter and Kobe, and the three frontcourts were Devin George, Samaki Walker, and Medvedenko.
Phil Jackson had to rest the main lineup for 2 minutes, but when he saw that the Knicks only replaced Gasol, he suddenly felt bad.
In the second quarter, the Lakers took the lead in attacking. Lynch-Hunter caught the ball from the baseline and was defended by Li You. He was unable to get up to speed for a while.
Quickly turning around and switching to his right hand, Lynch-Hunter sideways protected the ball and rushed across the half court.
On the right wing, Kobe wanted to respond quickly, but Artest continued to struggle and suddenly made a move. Lynch Hunter, who stopped the ball, was unable to pass the ball for a while.
Subconsciously twisting to protect the ball, Lynch-Hunter wanted to pass the ball to Devin George, who was moving on the left wing to receive the ball. Before he could pass the ball, Li You saw the opportunity and cut the ball hard.
The moment the ball dropped, Li You stabbed forward with his right hand. Li You immediately accelerated and knocked away Lynch Hunter who was still trying to save the ball.
He retrieved the ball with his right hand and led the ball forward. Li You completely controlled the ball and immediately accelerated and rushed forward.
Amid the cheers of the fans, it was 1 vs 0 in the frontcourt. Li You took off with both feet in the paint area, grabbed the ball with his right hand and pulled back his arm, and succeeded in a tomahawk dunk!
"Wonderful steal! It seems that the Lakers bench that just debuted has not yet adapted to the intensity of the game."
As soon as Groom Albert finished speaking, Mike Dunleavy shook his head and added:
"O'Neal needs to rest. With this lineup, Kobe needs to take on more offensive tasks, but this is not a good choice. The Knicks can double-team their opponents as much as they want."
Soon, Kobe enjoyed the treatment of a core leader again. He wanted the ball with his back in the left block, and Artest kept going around to defend.
Under the tug-of-war between the two, Lynch-Hunter failed to complete the pass for a while.
Kobe realized something was wrong and quickly accelerated to the right wing. Only then did he catch the ball again, but Artest still pursued him.
Medvedenko hurried to the three-point line to cover, and the rest of the Lakers pulled away. Kobe was forced to release the ball with his left hand.
The big man Wright came up to him early. When Kobe was still hesitating, he fell into the encirclement of the two men.
Forced to stop the ball for a moment, Kobe felt that his body was surrounded by arms. The basketball in his arms was suddenly pulled again, and he hurriedly exerted force subconsciously.
Artest, who fiercely grabbed the ball, almost completed the steal, but the referee finally called a contest.
"Oh!"
The excellent defense also made the New York fans cheer at the scene. Artest beat his chest and shouted, looking particularly excited.
On the jump ball at the free throw line, Kobe glared at his opponent, but Artest got the basketball first. Li You immediately stepped forward to respond, and players from both sides rushed forward at the same time.
Kobe, who was the first to step forward and delayed, tried to slow down Li You. Before the two of them had passed half time, Li You suddenly dumped the ball.
Grant Hill, who had already rushed to the right wing, immediately released the ball with his right hand as soon as he caught the ball. Facing Lynch Hunter's defense, he accelerated to the basket.
Samaki Walker, who had just retreated to the paint area, came to his senses and saw Grant Hill rising into the air. He subconsciously jumped up to block the shot, and then the referee immediately blew the whistle.
The player fouled and Grant Hill stepped to the free throw line.
Phil Jackson hurriedly made a substitution, regardless of physical problems, and immediately replaced O'Neal.
Two free throws were made, Madison Square Garden was boiling again, and at 26:36, the point difference reached double digits.
O'Neal, who returned to the court, kept telling his teammates to slow down, but the Lakers continued to hit the ball, allowing the Knicks to seize the opportunity to switch offense.
Li You and others also hit the iron quickly, and then the Lakers subconsciously accelerated to cross the half court.
The two sides kept running on the court, and O'Neal followed him back and forth in most rounds. Occasionally he got a few easy dunk opportunities, but he was unable to slow down the pace of the game.
With 2 minutes and 12 seconds left in the half, Artest got another open opportunity in the right corner and hit the ball again.
A long rebound popped up and was picked up by Li You in the left block.
Kobe was already running blind and failed to collect the rebound. He cursed in frustration and hurriedly defended again.
Li You threw the ball directly to Grant Hill, who was receiving the ball at the top of the arc, and then suddenly bounced diagonally outward, using the cover of Kurt Thomas at the right elbow to quickly reach the right wing.
Horry reacted quickly and chased after him immediately. Li You didn't make any adjustments after receiving the ball, drifted to the left and quickly shot a jump shot!
"Shua!" The three-pointer hit the net hollowly.
Horry was also confused when he stopped. The Knicks were just playing blindly.
In the last 2 minutes, O'Neal, who kept running back and forth, missed several easy layup opportunities under the basket. Kobe also followed suit. Only Fox converted the offense and sneaked into the basket and succeeded.
Phil Jackson on the sidelines also noticed that the players were retreating slower and slower. He folded his arms and waited quietly for the end of the half.
At 46:60, looking at the 14-point difference, O'Neal, who began to pant, turned dark and ignored his teammates, turning towards the tunnel.
Li You played the entire first half, but did not feel tired. He patted the serious-looking head coach Thibodeau and comforted him in a low voice:
"Coach, don't worry about defense, we can win the game tonight."
15中8，三分线外7中3，罚球4中4，23分3篮板5助攻1抢断2失误。
Coach Thibodeau is naturally aware of Li You's statistics. What makes him feel outrageous is that the Knicks took 47 shots in the half, which is not in line with his game plan at all.
The cheers at Madison Square Garden made Kobe look even more ugly. He also did not speak to his teammates and silently walked to the tunnel.
He made 10 of 3 shots in the half and only scored 8 points. When Kobe thought about O'Neal's bad face, he felt even more uncomfortable.
On both sides of the tunnel, Knicks fans held up whiteboards and writhed to the music:
"Artest - Kobe's Terminator."
When Kobe was about to enter the players' tunnel, he saw the English on the whiteboard, and noticed that there were people holding posters with their "depressed expressions". He couldn't stand it any longer, and kicked down the guardrail on one side of the tunnel:
"Damn game!"
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(End of this chapter)
On June 2002, 6, the Western Conference Finals came to a tiebreaker.
In this round of the series, the two sides were at loggerheads, and the controversial penalty in G6 caused commentators to discuss it for several days.
Throughout the series, the referee's whistles were very targeted, and the principle was to extend the game so that the fans could enjoy it!
The result of such a whistle was that both sides were very dissatisfied in the end.
Lakers fans believe that without the help of referees, the series would never have reached a Game [-];
Kings fans believe that if G6 had been given a fair call, they would have taken away the game 4:2.
Both sides insist on their own opinions and quarrel every day. Putting aside the result of the series, the NBA league is winning again!
Of course, referees have tendencies in their whistleblowing, but whether they can seize the opportunity still depends on the quality of the star.
After all, NBA games will not be replayed, and there is no use complaining after the game. The champion is the champion, and competitive sports still depend on the results.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks took advantage of the bus and wiped out their opponents.
After returning to Manhattan, the coaching staff also faced challenges. This season, both the Kings and Lakers have a big advantage when facing the Knicks. In summary, it is easier to respond to the ball.
Thibodeau led the team to the Finals in his first season as head coach. At the Eastern Conference Championship Award Ceremony a few days ago, he was so happy that he almost cried.
The Continental Center Arena became the home court of New York at that time, and the entire awards ceremony ended with laughter.
Madison Square Garden ushered in another division championship banner. The Knicks, who are in a state of reconstruction, can achieve such a record, which naturally makes fans ecstatic.
Even the pickiest fans will not ask for more. Winning is a true portrayal of the Knicks in recent years!
Everyone on the Lakers has no time to think about the finals. In the tiebreaker, anything is possible.
In addition, this game was the home court of the Kings, and Phil Jackson couldn't help but become nervous. If he fell in the Western Conference finals, the team might be about to disintegrate.
The sports media on both sides were still waving flags and cheering for the home team. Kings fans poured into the ARCO Arena early that night, and the cheers of more than 7000 fans could not stop after the game started.
The Kings took the lead in the first half, but in the second half, O'Neal missed the mark and the Lakers' role players withstood the pressure and stood up.
In the 48th minute, the two sides battled 100:100. After entering overtime, Kings fans gradually became desperate as Chris Webber suddenly stretched his hips.
112:106, tiebreaker. With O'Neal's strong performance in overtime, the Lakers won the game with a big score of 4:3 and entered the finals again!
Chris Webber, who went 6 for 1 in overtime and scored 2 points, was particularly frustrated after the game.
This year was their best chance to win the championship. They had a chance to win the championship, but they fell short in the end.
The Lakers players celebrated wildly at the opponent's home court, while Phil Jackson breathed a sigh of relief and no longer thought about the tortuous process. This was the result he wanted!
At the Western Conference Championship Award Ceremony, amid the boos from Kings fans, the Lakers jumped up and down and shouted happily.
O'Neal kept hugging his teammates excitedly. In addition to still scorning his younger brother, Shark behaved like a qualified leader most of the time.
After Phil Jackson raised the trophy, he smiled and clapped his hands to celebrate. When the host handed the microphone to O'Neal, the super center was not polite and continued to boast confidently:
"This year I will bring the O'Brien Cup back to Los Angeles. The era of the Lakers is about to begin!"
"Scoring champion, rebounding champion, MVP, best team? I don't care, I just want to win the championship!"
"Don't worry about our physical fitness. I don't feel tired. I will send the MVP home. I am ready for the next finals!"
After saying these words, O'Neal hugged the Western Conference championship trophy and screamed, rushing out of the Western Conference. He only felt that the championship was waving to him.
Since the Lakers fell behind in the regular season, they had to continue flying to the away game after the tiebreaker with the Kings.
On June 6th, G5 of the Finals officially started, and the Knicks got nearly a week of rest. Recently, everyone has been training step by step and accepting interviews with media reporters.
Although NBC has disputes with the NBA over the broadcast contract, the packaging of the finals will not be left behind.
For the new players of the Knicks, appearing on the stage of the Finals is definitely the highlight of their careers.
Pau Gasol is under a lot of pressure. Not only New York sports reporters, but the Spanish media also have huge expectations for him.
Everyone knows that new players cannot limit O'Neal, so most people are looking forward to what kind of data Gasol can get in front of the super center.
For Li You, reaching the finals is regarded as fulfilling the sponsor's requirements, and this year is another fruitful year.
NBC sports reporter Jim Gray has interviewed the Knicks for several consecutive years, which can be regarded as witnessing the rise of Li You. When interviewing this year, the topic of conversation is no longer limited to the game.
On the afternoon of Monday, the 3rd, after a media dinner at the Tarrytown Training Center, Jim Gray led the staff to continue the follow-up interviews.
After Li You came to the media room, he greeted the familiar staff and noticed that Jim Gray was in a good mood. He went up to hug him and whispered:
"It seems you are ready. In fact, I have always liked NBC broadcasts very much."
"I don't want to change my working environment, but life has to go on, and I hope NBC can complete the contract renewal."
As a well-known reporter, Jim Gray can still find a good job even if he leaves NBC.
The two chatted about the recent broadcast contract gossip, and they did not enter the formal topic until the staff reminded them.
"Entered the Finals five times in six years. Under your leadership, the Knicks tied the record set by the Celtics that year."
"Such an achievement is truly unbelievable. You must know that the Celtics team that won eight consecutive championships is already far away from us."
"I noticed that the recent front-page news in the New York Times was "Parallel Legend." Lee, do you think you have reached another level?"
After entering the finals for five consecutive seasons, the New York media is naturally excited again. Putting aside ancient basketball, such an achievement is certainly worthy of celebration.
Li You, who has reaped the dividends of the times, naturally did not bloat. After all, he would have to continue to reap the benefits in the next few years. At this time, he naturally expressed his position modestly:
"We are still a long way from becoming a legend. In the history of the Knicks, we have reached the Finals 6 times."
"Think about the records of the Celtics. That is the real legend. My career has just begun. No one knows what will happen in the future."
"Cherishing every game is what I should do. Tickets for the Knicks are not cheap. Fans buy tickets to support me. Naturally, I have to meet everyone's expectations."
Thinking of the high general admission prices at Madison Square Garden and the tens of thousands of dollars spent on front-row tickets, Jim Gray also smiled and nodded.
No one likes to pay to be beaten, and no one likes to pay to witness failure, everyone agrees on that.
"Let's talk about the team culture. After Ewing retired, I noticed that many commentators seemed to dislike the atmosphere of the Knicks."
"The tactics are being questioned, and the team culture seems to be unpopular. Why is this happening?"
Jim Gray asked another sensitive question. Lakers star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is still very prestigious.
The historical scoring leader has said more than once that "the Knicks are utilitarian basketball," and this view has been recognized by many people.
The two have known each other for many years. When Li You answered this question, he did not say any more casual words, but said seriously:
"The Knicks' team culture has always been about winning, and we are here to serve the fans, and this has never changed."
"As for utilitarian basketball, what I want to say is that in professional sports, you must first have a professional spirit."
"I don't want to talk about the role of spirit in the game. As professional players, we earn a lot, and if we want to win the game, we must use the players' characteristics and avoid their flaws."
"What professional players have to do is to polish their skills and reduce technical shortcomings. No matter what kind of spirit you have, this is what players should do."
"In the Knicks, everyone works hard. It is normal to pursue victory and big contracts. Playing basketball is our job. There is no difference between us and ordinary people in this regard."
"Fans buy high-priced tickets to watch the game, and players must train hard to bring victory to the fans. This is our team culture."
Jim Gray smiled slightly when he heard this and stopped talking about this topic too much:
"What are your expectations for this year's Finals? The Knicks have a lot of new players and it's definitely a challenge for you."
Li You shrugged his shoulders, showed a relaxed expression, and said calmly:
"Of course I want to win, the current Knicks team is very talented, and we are still on the rise."
"The opponent has gone through a tiebreaker, and what we have to do is protect the home court. I believe we can do it!"
"."
The Lakers, who won the tiebreaker, have recently brought up old issues. Phil Jackson has not won a championship in recent years, and he also talked about "sportsmanship" at this time.
"Playing for money will eventually fail", "Data cannot show our game", "The Lakers' desire to win exceeds their opponents".
Never talking about statistics or reviewing the Western Conference Finals, Phil Jackson and the Los Angeles media both chose the "spiritual victory method."
On the morning of June 6th, in the TNT program, the trio did not talk about "desire", but reviewed the Western Conference Finals through data.
Kenny Smith reiterated the players' data as always, without making too many comments:
“西部决赛，奥尼尔场均拿到30.3分13.6篮板1.6助攻2.4盖帽，投篮命中率为53.2%，罚球命中率为63.8%”
"With a free throw shooting rate of over [-]%, it seems that O'Neal is really polishing his free throw skills."
Charles Barkley still has a big mouth and offends Kings fans when he opens his mouth:
"Facing the defense of Divac and Webber, I'm not surprised at all that O'Neal produced such data. The opponent is too soft!"
"In contrast, Kobe Bryant's performance did not meet my expectations. Doug Christie really should be selected to the All-Defensive Team."
场均27.1分6.3篮板3.9助攻1.4抢断1.1盖帽，投篮命中率为41.9%，三分球命中率为36.8%。
With more shots than O'Neal in the series, Kobe's efficiency dropped a bit compared to the regular season.
The "OK" combination averaged more than 40 minutes of playing time per game. Kobe's inefficient performance may also be related to physical fitness.
Ernie Johnson didn't want to hear loudmouths complaining about players anymore, so he quickly got back to the topic:
"Who has the advantage between the two teams? The Lakers have too short a break. Will this affect the trend of the series?"
Kenny Smith nodded and analyzed seriously in front of the camera:
"The Knicks must seize this opportunity. If they protect two home games and finally drag the series back to New York, I am more optimistic about them winning the cup again."
Charles Barkley glanced at his partner, and then said confidently to the camera:
"Physical fitness is indeed an issue, but I believe the Lakers can win the game within 6 games. No one can limit O'Neal. This guy will completely explode in the finals."
"The Lakers' perimeter players just need to defend well, and I believe head coach Phil Jackson also knows this. They have a huge inside advantage this year."
Kenny Smith didn't expect that his partner's big mouth could even predict the specific number of games. He couldn't help turning his head and retorted:
"The Knicks can get an interior combination like Wright and Gasol. They have a big advantage in height."
Charles Barkley didn't take it seriously, but emphasized again:
"Don't forget that these two are rookies in the finals. If O'Neal is restricted by them, he might as well retire. The gap between the two sides is too big."
"If he loses the finals again this year, we can leave a place for him in our program!"
"."
The Lakers, who had already flown to Manhattan, were full of confidence under the blessing of Phil Jackson's thick chicken soup.
O'Neal naturally knows that this year is the best opportunity for the team to win the championship. He will not encounter such an inside combination in the Western Conference. He is ready to kill everyone!
In the Western Conference Finals, Kobe also had his shining moments, but his performance in the entire series was average. When it came to the Finals, Phil Jackson was giving him chicken soup every day recently.
After checking in at the hotel that afternoon, the old man from "KFC" took the initiative to knock on Kobe's door.
Seeing the head coach smiling, Kobe knew what he wanted to say:
"I know, I know how to win, and I'm going to do my job, but I hope Shaq can deliver on his promise as well."
"I really don't want to lose anymore, now I just want to win the championship!"
While packing his luggage, Kobe expressed his stance to Phil Jackson who came in.
Seemingly satisfied with this attitude, the old man from KFC showed a kind smile and took the initiative to comfort him:
"Kobe! You must know how important a championship is to a player."
"If you want to achieve greatness, if you want to surpass Michael Jordan, of course you need a championship."
"Believe me, this year is our best chance to win the championship. We even have a chance to start the Lakers dynasty. The teams in the Eastern Conference are uncompetitive!"
Nodding silently, Kobe said nothing more. Phil Jackson patted the tool man on the shoulder with satisfaction and comforted him again:
"To win the championship, you must make sacrifices. Kobe, you have always been the core of this team's perimeter. We need you!"
On June 6th, the much-loved showdown in a major football market was staged again.
The two teams entering the finals both have star players with high popularity. No matter how small ball markets complain, this is an indisputable fact.
All-Star voting represents the influence of players, and small ball markets are currently lagging behind in all aspects.
That night's game officially started at 21 o'clock. One hour before the game, NBC's studio in New York began to warm up for the finals.
In addition to playing short interviews produced before the game and highlights of the two teams, it mainly analyzes the trend of the series.
Jim Gray is responsible for interviewing players from both teams. Tonight's commentators, Marv Albert and Mike Dunleavy, sat in the field and talked about the preparations of the two teams in front of the camera:
"The Lakers' physical fitness will be tested. They should slow down, be more patient when attacking, and try to get the ball inside."
"I believe the Knicks will not miss this opportunity. They will try to speed up. This is what they are best at doing this season."
"Kobe Bryant should go against Lee, which is not an easy thing."
Mike Dunleavy talked in front of the camera, mainly talking about the advantages of both parties;
Marv Albert nodded and talked more about the flaws in both lineups:
"The Knicks' interior defense will be greatly tested. Gasol and Wright did not perform well against O'Neal in the regular season."
"The Lakers' outside offense will also be severely guarded. In the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers' three-point shooting percentage was only 27.6%. They must solve this problem in the Finals."
The Knicks shot only 32.7% from three-point range in the Eastern Conference finals, and Mike Dunleavy still felt that the shooting gap between the two sides was not big.
New York fans who bought tickets to watch the game also arrived early. Half an hour before the game started, the scene was already bustling.
Ewing, who has become a ball, is wearing a formal suit and cheering Gasol on the sidelines. In this series, as long as O'Neal's shooting percentage is limited to normal levels, the game will be played.
After the two teams finished playing, O'Neal, who was in a good mood and was warming up with the ball, did not forget to come over to Li You and whistle:
"You'd better double-team me! That rookie can't limit my scoring at all. I'm going to win this year!"
After coming out of the Western Conference, O'Neal was obviously more confident, grinning and talking non-stop, not taking the Knicks' inside attention at all.
"When your role players keep hitting the iron, I hope you can still laugh when the time comes. Shaq, be careful not to catch the ball!"
Li You patted the ball casually and followed suit. The two of them chatted nonsense in the middle of the field, which made the sports media who gathered around feel itchy. Everyone wanted to hear the gossip.
The game was about to start, and the noise in the arena was getting louder and louder. Head coach Phil Jackson was still a little uneasy, and kept asking the players to explain at the last moment.
In contrast, coach Thibodeau sat firmly on the bench and seemed confident about the game.
In the NBC commentary box, the two of them naturally saw O'Neal's confident look. At this time, Marv Albert also introduced the Lakers' starting lineup with a smile:
"Phil Jackson continued to start in the playoffs. The backcourt is still Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant. The three frontcourts are Rick Fox, Robert Horry, and Shaquille. O'Neal."
"This starting set completed the reversal against the Kings and is in great shape!"
Mike Dunleavy looked at Kobe, who had a shaved head and continued to complete his shooting warm-up with a grimace, and commented again:
"In this starting lineup, Kobe also needs to find his form as soon as possible, otherwise the Knicks are very likely to put up a zone defense at the beginning to test the opponent's shooting touch."
"."
O'Neal seemed to be fed up with Phil Jackson's poisonous chicken soup, but after the game started, he gradually felt something was wrong.
第1节比赛还剩6分31秒，比分来到16:16，开场后双方都打得极为奔放。
"Defense!."
The Lakers attacked, Fisher quickly dribbled across the half court, and then immediately gave the ball to Kobe at the top of the arc.
As soon as the latter caught the ball, Artest immediately defended him, constantly interfering and engaging in physical confrontation.
Kobe didn't stop the ball and immediately threw the ball to Fox who started from the bottom corner and came to the right wing. After completing a quick pass on the line and crossing the baseline, O'Neal ran rampant, easily stuck Gasol behind him, and came to the right low post to ask for the ball with his back.
The quality of Fox's passing was not high, and the speed of the lob was a bit slow, but O'Neal, who received the ball, was not affected too much. He released the ball with his left hand and accelerated towards the basket.
Carrying the defense and breaking through the line, Gasol leaned on the sliding Gasol in front of the paint area and quickly turned toward the baseline. O'Neal used his large body to separate the defense. After joining the ball, he switched to his right hand and threw the ball to the basket.
"state!"
The shot that almost hit the basket came out of the frame. He missed the shot for the first time in the game. Before O'Neal could rush for the rebound, Kurt Thomas on the other side retreated to the basket and successfully protected the rebound.
The Lakers' offense is fast-paced, but the Knicks are faster in transition.
Li You caught the ball near the right sideline, and then immediately accelerated with all his strength, rushing through the half court against the sliding Fisher.
A large number of return runs played half a quarter, and the Lakers' speed of returning to defense dropped significantly.
Approaching the right wing, Li You quickly circled the ball behind his back. Fisher had just changed his center of gravity to his left hand, and Li You suddenly changed direction.
Before Fisher could react, the basketball passed in front of him and changed direction drastically, allowing Li You, who was grabbing the ball with his right hand, to completely shake off the defense, accelerate again, and drive straight to the basket.
The New York fans at the scene immediately cheered. Kobe, who was quickly pursuing the defense, glared at Li You who was approaching the paint area in front of him, and tried to speed up to return to the basket.
Approaching the paint area, Li You noticed the angry Kobe behind him. He took three long steps and flew into the air. Without giving the opponent a chance to block the shot, he passed the ball behind his back.
Artest, who followed up, received the ball and pushed away Fox who was beside him, grabbed the ball with his right hand, hit the board and put the basket successfully!
At 16:18, the Knicks quickly counterattacked and scored another 2 points.
O'Neal, who had just run back to half court, couldn't help but stop, watched as the Lakers had taken a baseline kick, and then ran back to the frontcourt.
It was also a quick pass to the line. This time, after Kobe received the ball from the left wing, O'Neal immediately stepped forward to pick and roll.
At this time, the Lakers were playing two-on-two. On the other side, Fisher pulled Li You to squat in the corner. Horry also moved to the right elbow area to make room for the boss to attack.
Under Artest's entanglement, Kobe broke through with his left hand and used the screen to try to attract the defense.
It's just that Gasol kept retreating, O'Neal ran off the screen, and Kobe was momentarily guarded by Artest who squeezed through the screen.
Just after taking a step laterally, Kobe was blocked by Kurt Thomas, who came up from the free throw line to help defend.
The two of them worked together to double-team, and Kobe almost made a mistake and barely passed the ball to Horry, who was nearby. The moment the latter caught the ball and shot a jumper, Grant Hill jumped up to interfere.
At this time, Kobe wanted to continue rushing for rebounds, but Artest hugged the opponent and refused to give Kobe a chance to rush into the paint area.
O'Neal squeezed to the basket early and missed the ball. When he looked up again, the basketball hit the front and bounced directly into the arms of the retracting Kurt Thomas.
Fisher was immersed in pursuit at this time, but Li You started early and had already passed the half court along the left sideline.
Kurt Thomas twisted around and swung the ball hard, and the basketball flew directly to the three-point line.
The moment Li You grabbed the ball with his right hand, Fisher also caught up with him, squeezed to the left side of his body, and tried his best to interfere with the physical confrontation.
The moment the two were entangled and rushed to the paint area, Li You took the initiative to use his strength. While leaning towards the defense, he held the ball with his right hand and completely knocked Fisher away after using his strength.
"what!"
"Little Fish" tilted his body and fell to the ground. Li Yousan sprinted forward, grabbed the ball with his right hand, and immediately made a powerful and heavy one-handed chop!
"Boom!" The converted dunk was successful!
At 16:20, amid the roars of laughter from the New York fans, Fisher, wearing a headband, stood up in frustration, and Phil Jackson immediately requested a timeout.
O'Neal, who walked to the bench, was very dissatisfied and shouted to Kobe:
"Pass the ball! You have to give me the ball as soon as possible!"
Kobe wanted to say, "You have to defend," but Phil Jackson walked up to the two of them early and quickly reminded:
"Slow down, stop following the opponent, Kobe, speed up the ball!"
O'Neal received the support of the head coach, and without looking at his younger brother, he returned to the bench and drank oral liquid.
Kobe kept his face and said nothing. He didn't expect that the Knicks would double-team him from time to time.
On the bench of the Knicks, Gasol looked very embarrassed after the start. The fat man opposite him was a lot bigger than him, and he couldn't squeeze out of the opponent's position.
He was caught by O'Neal in the reasonable collision area near the basket, and it was a dunk that covered his face.
Even if they are full of fighting spirit, the difference in physical strength still makes Gasol's defense useless. The Lakers only need to hoist the ball into the paint, and O'Neal will easily score points with a high probability.
Head coach Thibodeau didn't have much to do. After the Knicks opened the game, Grant Hill was in excellent pick-and-roll mid-range jump shooting. In terms of offensive stability, putting the basket under the basket is more stable.
"Kurt, pay attention to your defensive position, double-team when appropriate, and don't let the opponent score too easily."
The Knicks were almost in a zone defense position. After coach Thibodeau reminded him, he still frowned. He was worried about Horry's shooting.
Before going on the field, Li You clapped his hands again and no longer defended again, but reminded loudly:
"If the opponent misses a shot, we must seize the opportunity to complete the attack. We must be fast and don't hesitate. We need more rounds in this game!"
Finally, Li You patted Gasol again and reminded him in a low voice:
"Don't worry about defensive issues. Protecting rebounds is the most important thing. Pay attention to the timing of passing down the ball."
Gasol, who was completely in the background, could only nod vigorously. He was almost turning into a "paper man" in this series.
In the second half of the first quarter, as Kurt Thomas began to help defend against double teams, the Lakers also made more coordinated efforts.
Kobe was no longer assisted in defense, but failed to seize the opportunity in several pick-and-roll attacks at the elbow.
This time the Lakers' offense used the same tactic. O'Neal caught the ball at the left elbow of the free throw line. Kobe Bryant started in the left corner and quickly stepped forward to complete the hand-to-hand catch.
O'Neal is still moving down quickly, Gasol naturally retreats to defend, and Artest also quickly squeezes through the screen.
Sensing Kurt Thomas moving near the free throw line, Kobe took advantage of Artest to chase him to his side and quickly dribbled the ball behind his back.
The moment he switched to his left hand, Kobe suddenly turned around with his right foot as the axis, drifted slightly to the right and shot a fadeaway jumper!
"state!"
The action is extremely beautiful, but under Artest's interference, the jump shot is still weak.
After scoring two goals in a row after the opening, Kobe suddenly lost his shooting touch. O'Neal hit the rebound under the basket, but Gasol took off the second time and used his long arms to get the ball back into his arms.
The Lakers retreated quickly, and Li You still accelerated and rushed after receiving the ball from the baseline.
First, he made a drastic change of direction in front of his body to get rid of Fisher, who was on defense. Li You grabbed the ball with his right hand and strode after the opponent's butt across the half court.
O'Neal could only watch as Li You arrived first and passed from his side.
Fox accelerated from the left wing back to the basket, trying to complete the defense.
Approaching the paint area, Li You suddenly pulled the ball backwards with his right hand. Fox subconsciously stopped and looked back at Grant Hill behind him.
Li You took this opportunity to rush up with three big steps, grabbed the ball with his right hand, rushed to the basket and easily picked up the basket!
"Wow!"
At 20:26, the New York fans cheered loudly. Although the expected scene of O'Neal killing everyone appeared, the team seemed not to be behind.
Artest's defensive moves made Kobe angry. When he tried to catch up in a few rounds, the opponent got to his side and pulled him.
From the beginning of the game, Artest has been stuck to him. Kobe has no way to deal with this hob, and it is difficult to position himself in low singles.
In the last few minutes of the game, the Lakers once again played wonderful cooperation.
When O'Neal, who attracted double teams in the low post, gave the ball to the open Horry, as long as the Knicks' defense rotated, Fox's breakthrough and Fisher's long two-point jumper also helped the team score points.
The Knicks still continue their fast-attack game strategy.
After Grant Hill advanced to the left wing with the ball, Kurt Thomas immediately lifted up and came to the three-point line to catch the ball.
When Fox followed Grant Hill and ran to the left corner, Artest on the right wing also moved to the right corner and provided an off-ball screen for Li You.
Near the top of the arc, Li You received a cross pass from Kurt Thomas, and Kobe quickly caught up with him. Before he had time to greet his teammates, Gasol also accelerated his move up.
In a high pick-and-roll outside the three-point line, Gasol was very aggressive in the screen this time. Kobe, who was on defense, was unable to squeeze through the screen immediately and could only chase after Li You.
O'Neal's defensive position was a bit awkward, and he wanted to remind Fisher, who was guarding the bottom corner, to help defend, but Li You was too fast and subconsciously moved up and away from the basket.
All the Lakers' attention was focused on Li You, who cut in from the right wing. While O'Neal was still moving, Li You took advantage of the situation and threw the ball to the upper left side of the basket.
Starting from the left corner, Grant Hill, who cut quickly, rushed past Fox, leaped high and easily grabbed the ball in the air, grabbing the ball with both hands and slamming it into the basket!
"Boom!" The empty catch dunk was successful!
The wonderful cooperation made Phil Jackson frown on the sidelines. This was not the rhythm of the game he expected.
In the last two rounds, O'Neal completed two-handed dunks under the basket.
But looking back, Kobe failed to squeeze through the screen in time during the high pick-and-roll at the top of the arc.
O'Neal was still squatting inside the three-point line. Watching Li You holding the ball in his left hand, he suddenly stopped outside the three-point line and shot a quick jump shot!
"Shua!" The three-pointer hit the net hollowly.
Madison Square Garden was boiling again. In the last 7.2 seconds of the first quarter, the Knicks pressed on the spot.
As Kobe passed half court and missed a two-point pull-up jumper, the score reached 26:32 and the Knicks led by 6 points.
In the NBC commentary box, Mike Dunleavy was grinning. The Lakers played meticulously, and the Knicks just took the ball in many rounds:
"Phil Jackson should find a way to slow down his opponent. O'Neal also has to participate in defense. He can't expect his teammates to defend well every time."
Marv Albert was not surprised by the Knicks' pace of play, but praised Li You's performance:
"Li amplified the team's advantages. Their physical reserves are better and they can score more points in more rounds. This seems to be a good choice."
In the first quarter of the game, O'Neal made 7 of 5 shots and scored 10 points. Kobe Bryant made 7 of 3 shots and contributed 6 points. Fisher and Fox also scored.
Except for Horry not scoring points, the Lakers' offense was very efficient. Phil Jackson naturally knew where the problem was and reminded him loudly during the break:
"We have to play tougher and don't give our opponents chances to score easily!"
"You have to retreat quickly, Shaq. Pay attention to your defensive position. If you choose to guard the basket, do it resolutely."
"Communicate and respond to each other!"
The Lakers also followed the Knicks' game rhythm and reached 26 possessions, with only one turnover.
Phil Jackson didn't like this kind of game. He held the tactical board and kept reminding his players loudly.
On the other side, head coach Thibodeau didn't mention interior defense this time. Big man Wright came on the scene and couldn't solve the problem when he met O'Neal. At this time, he simply emphasized loudly:
"Press the opponent's ball carrier and don't give your opponent a chance to pass the ball easily!"
O'Neal, who played the entire first quarter, was forced to take a rest, and the Lakers took the rotation.
The backcourt became Lynch Hunter and Kobe, and the three frontcourts were Devin George, Samaki Walker, and Medvedenko.
Phil Jackson had to rest the main lineup for 2 minutes, but when he saw that the Knicks only replaced Gasol, he suddenly felt bad.
In the second quarter, the Lakers took the lead in attacking. Lynch-Hunter caught the ball from the baseline and was defended by Li You. He was unable to get up to speed for a while.
Quickly turning around and switching to his right hand, Lynch-Hunter sideways protected the ball and rushed across the half court.
On the right wing, Kobe wanted to respond quickly, but Artest continued to struggle and suddenly made a move. Lynch Hunter, who stopped the ball, was unable to pass the ball for a while.
Subconsciously twisting to protect the ball, Lynch-Hunter wanted to pass the ball to Devin George, who was moving on the left wing to receive the ball. Before he could pass the ball, Li You saw the opportunity and cut the ball hard.
The moment the ball dropped, Li You stabbed forward with his right hand. Li You immediately accelerated and knocked away Lynch Hunter who was still trying to save the ball.
He retrieved the ball with his right hand and led the ball forward. Li You completely controlled the ball and immediately accelerated and rushed forward.
Amid the cheers of the fans, it was 1 vs 0 in the frontcourt. Li You took off with both feet in the paint area, grabbed the ball with his right hand and pulled back his arm, and succeeded in a tomahawk dunk!
"Wonderful steal! It seems that the Lakers bench that just debuted has not yet adapted to the intensity of the game."
As soon as Groom Albert finished speaking, Mike Dunleavy shook his head and added:
"O'Neal needs to rest. With this lineup, Kobe needs to take on more offensive tasks, but this is not a good choice. The Knicks can double-team their opponents as much as they want."
Soon, Kobe enjoyed the treatment of a core leader again. He wanted the ball with his back in the left block, and Artest kept going around to defend.
Under the tug-of-war between the two, Lynch-Hunter failed to complete the pass for a while.
Kobe realized something was wrong and quickly accelerated to the right wing. Only then did he catch the ball again, but Artest still pursued him.
Medvedenko hurried to the three-point line to cover, and the rest of the Lakers pulled away. Kobe was forced to release the ball with his left hand.
The big man Wright came up to him early. When Kobe was still hesitating, he fell into the encirclement of the two men.
Forced to stop the ball for a moment, Kobe felt that his body was surrounded by arms. The basketball in his arms was suddenly pulled again, and he hurriedly exerted force subconsciously.
Artest, who fiercely grabbed the ball, almost completed the steal, but the referee finally called a contest.
"Oh!"
The excellent defense also made the New York fans cheer at the scene. Artest beat his chest and shouted, looking particularly excited.
On the jump ball at the free throw line, Kobe glared at his opponent, but Artest got the basketball first. Li You immediately stepped forward to respond, and players from both sides rushed forward at the same time.
Kobe, who was the first to step forward and delayed, tried to slow down Li You. Before the two of them had passed half time, Li You suddenly dumped the ball.
Grant Hill, who had already rushed to the right wing, immediately released the ball with his right hand as soon as he caught the ball. Facing Lynch Hunter's defense, he accelerated to the basket.
Samaki Walker, who had just retreated to the paint area, came to his senses and saw Grant Hill rising into the air. He subconsciously jumped up to block the shot, and then the referee immediately blew the whistle.
The player fouled and Grant Hill stepped to the free throw line.
Phil Jackson hurriedly made a substitution, regardless of physical problems, and immediately replaced O'Neal.
Two free throws were made, Madison Square Garden was boiling again, and at 26:36, the point difference reached double digits.
O'Neal, who returned to the court, kept telling his teammates to slow down, but the Lakers continued to hit the ball, allowing the Knicks to seize the opportunity to switch offense.
Li You and others also hit the iron quickly, and then the Lakers subconsciously accelerated to cross the half court.
The two sides kept running on the court, and O'Neal followed him back and forth in most rounds. Occasionally he got a few easy dunk opportunities, but he was unable to slow down the pace of the game.
With 2 minutes and 12 seconds left in the half, Artest got another open opportunity in the right corner and hit the ball again.
A long rebound popped up and was picked up by Li You in the left block.
Kobe was already running blind and failed to collect the rebound. He cursed in frustration and hurriedly defended again.
Li You threw the ball directly to Grant Hill, who was receiving the ball at the top of the arc, and then suddenly bounced diagonally outward, using the cover of Kurt Thomas at the right elbow to quickly reach the right wing.
Horry reacted quickly and chased after him immediately. Li You didn't make any adjustments after receiving the ball, drifted to the left and quickly shot a jump shot!
"Shua!" The three-pointer hit the net hollowly.
Horry was also confused when he stopped. The Knicks were just playing blindly.
In the last 2 minutes, O'Neal, who kept running back and forth, missed several easy layup opportunities under the basket. Kobe also followed suit. Only Fox converted the offense and sneaked into the basket and succeeded.
Phil Jackson on the sidelines also noticed that the players were retreating slower and slower. He folded his arms and waited quietly for the end of the half.
At 46:60, looking at the 14-point difference, O'Neal, who began to pant, turned dark and ignored his teammates, turning towards the tunnel.
Li You played the entire first half, but did not feel tired. He patted the serious-looking head coach Thibodeau and comforted him in a low voice:
"Coach, don't worry about defense, we can win the game tonight."
15中8，三分线外7中3，罚球4中4，23分3篮板5助攻1抢断2失误。
Coach Thibodeau is naturally aware of Li You's statistics. What makes him feel outrageous is that the Knicks took 47 shots in the half, which is not in line with his game plan at all.
The cheers at Madison Square Garden made Kobe look even more ugly. He also did not speak to his teammates and silently walked to the tunnel.
He made 10 of 3 shots in the half and only scored 8 points. When Kobe thought about O'Neal's bad face, he felt even more uncomfortable.
On both sides of the tunnel, Knicks fans held up whiteboards and writhed to the music:
"Artest - Kobe's Terminator."
When Kobe was about to enter the players' tunnel, he saw the English on the whiteboard, and noticed that there were people holding posters with their "depressed expressions". He couldn't stand it any longer, and kicked down the guardrail on one side of the tunnel:
"Damn game!"
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