NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 32
Li You always felt that there was something wrong with the Knicks' offense. No matter how many routines they practiced in the training session, they all disappeared on the court.

After the game entered the second half, the Knicks' offense became more and more classic. Starks dribbled through the half court, and You Yin turned his back to ask for the ball in the low post on the right.

The aggressive blocking gave Ewing a chance, but he just received a pass and was blocked by Luke Longley from behind, and Harper suddenly retreated to help defend.

Under the joint defense of the two, Ewing immediately returned the ball to Starks on the right wing outside the three-point line.

Harper slid back to the defense again, and Starks quickly shifted the ball laterally. Alan Houston, who came to the top of the arc, received the pass, dribbled the ball laterally, and gave the ball to Larry Johnson, who was in the low post on the left and asked for the ball.
After receiving the ball, he immediately released the ball with his right hand, and after continuous back-up hits, he approached the paint area, and then Larry Johnson quickly turned towards the baseline with his left foot as the axis.

In the end, against Pippen's block, he barely completed a fadeaway jumper.

Larry Johnson knew the ball was gone as soon as he took the shot, and immediately reminded loudly:

"rebound!"

Charles Oakley and Rodman were stuck in the paint at this time, pulling each other, and the referee didn't blow the whistle. In the end, Rodman, who was in a favorable position, jumped high, grabbed the rebound, and then hugged the ball in his arms pretending to be X.
The fans at the scene screamed, and Rodman threw the ball to Michael Jordan. After receiving the pass, the latter quickly rushed across the center line to the left flank of the three-point line, holding the ball in his right hand and continuing to accelerate.

Alan Houston, who retreated quickly, could only slide to the left and back. As a result, when he came to the free throw line, Michael Jordan made a sudden stop, crossed back and pulled back, quickly combined the ball, and then swayed the ball.

The realistic fake moves suddenly made Alan Houston jump up. In the end, Michael Jordan hung up his defense and calmly completed a mid-range jumper!

"Squeak!"

The whistle blew and the goal was scored, and Madison Square Garden was booed for a while. In the third quarter, the game dreamed of going back to last season's playoffs.

The only difference from last season's playoffs is that this time the Knicks have two players who like to attack with the ball in the low post.
The Bulls began to work hard, and Michael Jordan completely found his shooting touch. After a few rounds, the point difference has reached 8 points, and the penalty is 9 points.

Michael Jordan, who was chewing gum, ignored the sound of the scene and calmly scored the ball.

70:61, the point difference is approaching double digits!
Jeff Van Gundy did not request a timeout, and Li You on the bench saw the Knicks' classic offense again.

After passing the ball a few times, Ewing failed to make a low-post attack. There was not much time left in the attack, and he was forced to go up to the line to make a high pick-and-roll for Starks.

"Oh!!"

After taking over the pot and striking the iron, the fans on the scene sighed, and Rodman grabbed the rebound again and made a quick pass.

Harper made a pass immediately after receiving the ball, Pippen received the pass and went to the right flank beyond the three-point line, and after an emergency stop, he cut in quickly and simply.

Larry Johnson lost his defensive position, pulled subconsciously, and sent Pippen to the free throw line.

"Shhh!!"

I don't know who the booing was for at this time. The commentator, Groom Albert, was completely out of emotion, and said helplessly:
"Maybe this is the gap between us and the defending champions"

The point difference came to 11 points, and Jeff Van Gundy finally requested a timeout.

Li You can be regarded as having fully understood the tacit understanding of everyone in the Bulls. The old guys know when to exert their strength and how to score points efficiently and effortlessly.

The Knicks' offensive routines have long been figured out by the opponent. Ewing's singles environment is too bad, and his shooting percentage from the outside is also problematic.

"When Pat catches the ball in the low post, everyone has to move, don't wait for the ball in place!"

Jeff Van Gundy crouched on the floor holding the tactical board, loudly reminding his players.

As soon as Li You heard this, he knew that the offense should hand the ball to Ewing in the low post. After the timeout, the players from both sides returned to the court.

On the bench, Mengxin John Wallace whispered next to Li You:

"We didn't use any of the things we practiced in the training session, and we knew how to please these veterans in the game!"

The unlucky cute new Walter-McCarty is in the fourth position, and he has no playing time due to the pressure of the veterans. At this time, he also complained in a low voice:

"If the big score is behind, I don't know if the coach will let me play."

Li You didn't speak, because he knew that as long as the Bulls played the third quarter, they wouldn't have playing time.

As Li You guessed, the Bulls, who had frequent rotations in the first half, fully exerted their strength in the third quarter.

At 80:69, the game was completely reversed.

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Li You made his debut again and only played for 4 minutes. As the Bulls' main lineup returned one after another, Jeff Van Gundy also replaced the main team.

The fans at the scene began to boo to express their dissatisfaction. After 5 minutes, the game completely lost its suspense.

Scott Brooks and Walter McCarty, at the end of the Knicks bench, finally got a chance, and the atmosphere group completely consumed the last 3 minutes.

104:91, even though it was only a preseason game, the Knicks' offense stretched again and they lost the game cleanly.

Phil Jackson smiled and shook hands with Jeff Van Gundy, while Michael Jordan seemed sweaty as he smiled and fist-bumped the Knicks.

The vengeful Michael Jordan just ignored Jeff Van Gundy and showed dismissive attitude towards the young head coach
The New York fans at the scene only felt that this game was like eating a piece of fragrant chocolate!

Losing is so ugly, many people began to talk about it again.

In 13 minutes of playing, Li You made 7 of 4 shots and 4 of 2 from outside the three-point line. He scored 10 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists. There was a break in the middle, and the fourth quarter felt cold.

Losing a preseason game is really no big deal, but losing to the Bulls still makes the "good brothers" not in a good mood, and they are not in a good mood when they go back to the locker room after the game.
Jeff Van Gundy and Patrick Ewing had to deal with the media in New York. After Li You and Starks changed their clothes, they came to the parking lot early to go home.

After getting into the car, John Starks turned to Li You and said:

"Are you feeling a little disappointed that the fans in New York like you very much, but you don't get much playing time?"

Li You, who fastened his seat belt, responded calmly:

"I'm just a rookie, but I'm not qualified to judge the head coach's employment, not to mention scoring in double figures tonight, I'm already very satisfied."

Starks smiled in a low voice, and then said with self-deprecating:
"There was a time when New York fans liked me too, but this was Ewing's team!"

"The Knicks just signed him to a big deal. Superstars need numbers."

"Don't complain about Van Gundy not changing tactics, because Ewing deserves it, he is irreplaceable in New York!"

Li You started the car, smiled and didn't respond. The "Four Centers" did have a lineup, but the old guys are already dying.

This isn't the broadcast era of the 80s, where better broadcast conditions have changed fan preferences.

There is really nothing to brag about losing, but Li You left a deep impression on the fans and media in New York.

Li You's beautiful goal that night swept the sports news in New York, and the media is highly developed in the Big Apple City, which has a first-class star-making ability!
In the post-game commentary on MSG TV, basketball analyst John Kenneth even touted it:
"New York needs a player like Lee. He is not yet 19 years old and has already achieved success in the NCAA!"

"Look at these beautiful goals again, if I were a fan, I would buy a ticket for him!"

"."

In the era of pouting, who is the protagonist of the Knicks, perhaps the media and fans will give the answer soon.

　Thank you book friends for your collection (﹃)
　　
　
(End of this chapter)