NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 253 Collection of Stars ([-]-word chapter)
On April 2002, 4, after the G22 game, everyone in the Pacers fell into a state of silence after the game.

Reggie Miller and Jaylen Rose still failed to shoulder the offensive burden, and Jermaine O'Neal's efficiency was also declining.

Although the Knicks' shooting was stretched, their outside defense was still reliable. With two small forwards and a combo guard, head coach Isiah Thomas' game strategy gradually collapsed in the second half.

After the game, Isiah Thomas returned to his usual friendly smile, which was completely different from the image of angrily yelling at his players during the game:
“We tried a lot of defensive options, but Lee was still able to hit the shots.”

"That's why we lost, we lost to a superstar who was entering his prime, and a lot of times basketball is just that simple."

Head coach Isiah Thomas never mentioned tactics or defense during the interview.

As a head coach with a background as a top defender, it is often difficult to understand the choices his players make on the field.

The game is ultimately decided by the players, and Isiah Thomas felt the "pain" of the head coach.

The New York fans were very happy, the old rival was unlucky, and the fun continued. The New York media was also happy, but they did not forget to give Artest a "meeting" after the game.

During the regular season, Artest was affected by some fouls and injuries and played in 73 games this season;
场均拿到13.8分5.1篮板2.3助攻2.4抢断0.7盖帽2.1失误；

The shooting percentage was 42.8%, the three-point shooting percentage was 31.4%, and the free throw percentage was 68.8%.

In the playoffs, Artest's data has declined in these two games.
At the beginning of the season, he was frequently interviewed, but as TNT began to ridicule Artest's shooting, he immediately pretended to be an ostrich once he showed his crotch.

At the press conference, no one in the audience discussed Li You's 38 points. Most reporters were asking why Artest missed the mark.

The reporter from the Los Angeles Times seemed to want to express that Li You was "a waste of teammates". After the business exchange, he suddenly asked:
"Lee, I noticed that the Knicks' bench performed poorly after entering the playoffs. In the starting lineup, Artest also failed to produce regular season numbers."

"Is this related to your offensive choices?"

In the G2 game, Li You showed no mercy, hitting 13 of 6 from beyond the three-point line, and his number of shots increased again.

The "soft egg" style of play will naturally be controversial. After all, Li You is no longer a weak player in his rookie season, and the sports media will naturally demand more.

He broke his own three-point shooting record, but more than 700 three-point attempts still caused Li You a lot of trouble:

"This is our first year as a team and we have won 61 games. I am very satisfied with this record."

"The Knicks need time, and the new players joining the team also need time. As for my offensive choices, I don't think there is any problem."

"I understand my shortcomings. After all, I am a defender and do not have the wingspan of a striker, so during the game, I will not force the shot against the defense."

"My goal is to put the ball into the basket. Three-pointers, fast breaks, and finishing at the basket are all means to achieve the goal. This season, I think I performed pretty well."

"As for Ron, he works very hard. When evaluating a player, I prefer to look at big data samples. Ron is definitely a qualified striker. He will get his shooting touch back."

Although he answered such questions many times, Li You on the stage was still very patient.

With the blessing of victory, most sports media are not able to question too much. This matter of finding faults can easily arouse the resentment of fans.

Grant Hill, who attended the press conference, also noticed the looks of some sports media, and it was time to simply add:

"If most teams don't choose to double-team Lee, maybe we can see another performance."

"Watching the game is not just about one-on-one, Lee did the right thing!"

Since the start of this season, the Eastern Conference teams have intensified their efforts to double-team Li You, making it increasingly difficult to attack with the ball in the pick-and-roll.

In this case, more running without the ball is actually a forced offensive option.

On April 4, the feud between Allen Iverson and Larry Brown continued.

Under the embellished reports of the sports media, Iverson had a hard time defending his words. Although Larry Brown re-added his remarks, no one cared what the master and apprentice said at this time.

This morning the NBA announced this season’s Most Improved Player (MIP):
Jermaine O'Neal of the Pacers successfully won the award.

The team fell behind 0:2, and O'Neal, who was about to return home, didn't show much excitement after learning the news of the award.

本赛季小奥尼尔场均19.0分10.5篮板1.6次助攻2.3盖帽2.4失误。

The improvement is huge, but the Pacers' record is a bit lagging, and some sports media believe that Ben Wallace is also qualified to win the award.

However, such arguments no longer attract the Pacers players. During the three days of rest, everyone just hopes to win a game at home for the fans.

That night, the Jazz completed a counterattack and won an away victory.

Whenever someone thinks that the old man is dying, the two veterans of the Jazz team will stand up and slap him in the face.

At 93:86, the league's number one Kings made 22 of 3 three-pointers, shooting 13.6% from three-point range. The field goal percentage for the entire game was less than 35%.
In another game, the Magic defeated the Celtics again, and the series score reached 2:0!

After winning two away games in a row, McGrady smiled brightly and expressed his confidence in the interview:
"Yes, we are in good condition. We will return to Orlando for the next game. I think we can prepare for the next round in advance!"

"."

McGrady made 23 of 11 shots and scored 31 points. Alan Houston also scored 26 points. The role players also performed well. All members of the Magic team are equipped!
Coach Rivers is also very excited. His coaching career is about to break through the first round. This is also a milestone for him. No one doubts his choice. The Magic made the right deal during the offseason!
Leading by a big score, but Alan Houston felt some discomfort in his knee after the game. He was quite low-key in the interview and just responded calmly:

"Everything is possible in basketball, and we have to keep it that way!"

The Knicks are preparing to fly to Indiana. With the match point in hand, they naturally want to end the series as soon as possible.

Head coach Thibodeau is no longer nervous. After following the team for so many years, Li You never wastes an opportunity.

The Knicks have changed from a multi-person rotation and jump shooting team to a team that sticks to the main force, pursues defense, and likes fast breaks.

Such changes did not reduce the team's points per game, but the number of turnovers was uncontrollable.

Assistant coach Don Chaney is naturally aware of the changes in the team, but there are too few scorers on the bench, and neither forward in the main lineup has a three-pointer. The current style of play is already the optimal solution.

The coaching staff on the plane were all gossiping about Jeff Van Gundy's recent life. The bald young coach is very handsome and frequently appears in the commentary box.

When commentating on games, Jeff Van Gundy can always point out the shortcomings of both teams.

He knows tactics and player characteristics at his fingertips, and he looks like a super coach.

What the coaching staff didn't expect was that through his performance in the commentary box, Jeff Van Gundy's reputation has increased a bit. Many football commentators have begun to look forward to the bald young coach coaching the team again.
"Jeff is definitely not worried about his job. When he coaches the team again, he should be able to get more rights. At least, he can add his favorite players to the team."

After assistant coach Don Chaney said these words, everyone nodded.

Jeff Van Gundy doesn't necessarily want Charlie Ward, he just wants the respect a championship coach deserves.

It's a pity that in the Knicks, neither general manager Glenfield nor Li You care about the feelings of the bald young coach.

The former clings to his power, while the latter simply doesn't bother to deal with the matter. Together, Jeff Van Gundy can only be used as a "showpiece."

Thibodeau, the second-generation "fashionable" coach of the Knicks, has already experienced Van Gundy's feelings. It's almost the end of April, and no one is talking to him about the draft.

Thibodeau, as the head coach, has no say in which players the team wants to invite for trial training, or no one takes his opinion into account at all.

Hearing everyone's whispers, Thibodeau rubbed his face. In fact, he was more nervous than the players. He had been working overtime recently and had dark circles under his eyes:

"I hope everything is fine with Jeff, but we have to focus on the game now, maybe we will face the Magic in the next round."

The coaching staff stopped gossiping. Although the head coach's position is good, the management obviously does not plan to promote internally.

James Dolan has been quiet over the years, but recently he has frequently expressed his "Show time" views in the media.

Assistant coach Don Chaney looked at Thibodeau again, and the two were already preparing for the worst:
"If it really doesn't work, I can continue to defect to Van Gundy. It's dangerous and tiring to cut trees!"

"."

On the night of the 24th, Corliss Williams of the Pistons won the Best Sixth Man trophy in front of the home fans.

Coupled with the recent Coach of the Year award won by head coach Rick Carlisle, the Pistons have won most of the awards this year and the team has re-emerged.

In the game that night, the Pistons didn't give the Hornets any chance. 88:96, easily getting the match point!
“大本”拿到7分15篮板4助攻3抢断3盖帽的全能数据，其中有5个是前场篮板，如此表现，自然受到了球评人的一致好评。

On the morning of the 25th, several newspapers in Detroit praised the Pistons' performance this season.

As one of the oldest newspapers in the United States, the Detroit Free Press reporter who reported on NBA news did not forget to look for hot spots and questioned Li You:
"If Ben had continued to play in New York and continued to be teammates with Lee, he would never have received such honors and statistics!"

"The Knicks have become Lee's toy. Look at him. Apart from shooting three-pointers, he is no longer the young man who played hard."

This view has been recognized by many "losers" recently. In addition, Alan Houston and Grant Hill were both selected by the Pistons, and Detroit has the most lemons.
That day happened to be Thursday, and the TNT program also invited Jeff Van Gundy.

This time the trio did not discuss the feud between Iverson, Larry Brown and media reporters. They complained too much and the program team could not stand it anymore.

In the studio, four people were still discussing last night's game between the Timberwolves and the Mavericks.

110:122，加内特轰下31分18篮板，诺维斯基拿到31分15篮板，这场疯狂的对攻大战确实很精彩。

"The rule changes have little impact on shooters who are good at shooting."

"Nowitzki's style of play is the same as Lee's. He will shoot a lot of three-pointers. In most games, the Mavericks will be dominant, but they are still some distance from the championship."

Jeff Van Gundy was still wearing a black formal suit, white shirt, and red tie. His eyes were sharp and his mind was bright. He gave his opinions and even did a tactical step-back.
Charles Barkley agreed at this time and added:
"I agree with Jeff's point of view. You can't win the championship just by relying on jump shots. The Mavericks failed to show the defense of a championship team."

Kenny Smith also agrees with this view. During the Knicks' four consecutive championships, their worst defensive performance was among the top 4 in the league.

But when it comes to offensive options, Kenny Smith also followed suit:
"Jeff, can the Knicks win the championship this season? Lee's numbers are even better than last season!"

Talking about his old club, Jeff Van Gundy also commented generously:
"It's difficult! As a rebuilding team, the Knicks have many flaws. The bench lacks scorers, the starting lineup relies too much on transition offense."

"The Knicks are no longer special. Although this team can still average 104.2 points per game this season, most of the points come from the starting lineup."

"The average points per game is second only to the Mavericks and Kings. Basketball games are not only about offense, but defense is the key to winning the championship."

"The Knicks average 16.2 turnovers per game, which shows that they are still in a running-in state. Among 29 teams, the number of turnovers ranks fourth."

"This season, the Kings, Lakers, and Spurs have a greater chance of winning the championship."

Ernie Johnson looked at the bald young marshal who was talking eloquently, and also asked:

“Jeff, how do you think the Knicks need to adjust to win the O’Brien Trophy again?”

"Gasol is very talented, but for the sake of the championship, he should increase his confrontation. The best way is to choose to gain weight."

"With the shooting flaws of these two forwards, the offensive space is compressed. In the playoffs, the Knicks should also slow down and increase their positional offense."

"Lee can take on more responsibilities. He is physically stronger, increases the low post, reduces some long shots, and will also reduce the number of long rebounds."

"At the same time, we also need to reduce turnovers so that opponents don't get too many easy scoring opportunities."

"The game is not a highlight reel. Playing well can only please the fans. Everyone has to make sacrifices, and we need to add some scorers on the bench."

Jeff Van Gundy didn't pay attention to the looks of the three people and expressed a lot of opinions.

Charles Barkley could naturally hear the bald young coach's dissatisfaction with Li You and the management. After looking at each other with his two partners, his smile became even brighter.

Taking over the conversation again, Charles Barkley continued cheerfully:
"Let's re-analyze Lee's offensive options. Everyone wants to hear Jeff's opinion!"

"."

After this episode aired, TNT gave the Knicks the title "Highlights Team."

All highlights teams are naturally highlight stars. ESPN really likes to broadcast highlight highlights of the Knicks. This view is also recognized by Lezi fans.

On the 26th, the NBA announced the best manager of the season:
Rodney Thorne of the Nets won the award.

After a 360-degree turn, the Nets went from being weak to being second in the Eastern Conference. This change naturally stems from the trade of Kidd, and the award is well deserved.

There was only one game that day, and the Pacers were fully prepared for the game, and no one was in the mood to be interviewed.

The Knicks welcome everyone, and Li You and Grant Hill can always mingle with sports reporters.

The game kicked off at 20:30 that night, and before the game even started, more than 8000 fans at the Conseco Arena booed Li You as he was warming up.

As a member of the atmosphere team, Stephen Jackson kept sending balls to Li You. Watching the three-pointers being thrown farther and farther, his mouth opened wide subconsciously.

Seeing Li You maintaining a normal jump shot posture in the logo position, and the basketball kept falling into the basket, Pacers fans' hearts went cold for a moment.
After completing the three-pointer warm-up, Li You patted the ball and started to remind his teammates:
"Jermaine O'Neal's shooting percentage from 3 to 10 feet is less than [-]%. Pau, don't forget this and pay attention to controlling the defensive position."

Gasol nodded repeatedly, while Artest subconsciously stayed away from Li You:

"Ron, keep shooting. You can't go 12 for 0 tonight. As long as you win, no one cares about your performance. If you don't shoot when you are open, it will affect the offensive rhythm too much!"

As if he didn't have much confidence in his own projection, Artest was unable to refute and could only nod gloomily.

Kurt Thomas is full of energy. As a contract year player, he doesn't need encouragement at all and he plays the hardest.

Head coach Thibodeau was pulling Grant Hill to give some brief instructions. The unfriendly atmosphere at the scene made the rookie coach a little nervous.

After the game officially started, Li You once again enjoyed a wave of special treatment and was booed when he touched the ball.

For Pacers fans, the Knicks have done them a lot of harm in recent years.

The hoarse cheers did not bring good luck to several people on the field. Reggie Miller, who was being cared for, was still working hard.

At 1 minutes and 8 seconds into the first quarter, big man Miller successfully grabbed an offensive rebound at the inside point, and then immediately threw the ball to Jaylen Rose outside the three-point line.

Artest didn't even have time to pounce or catch the ball and throw it!
"state!"

The basketball hit the edge of the basket and flew directly to the right block. Li You predicted the landing position and immediately picked up the rebound. He then quickly led the ball and continued to accelerate along the left sideline.

Jamal Tinsley collided fiercely, and the two bodies collided. Li You, who was holding the ball in his left hand, took the ball forward. Although he went out of the baseline, the ball was still in the court.

His body paused slightly, and Li You exerted force on his feet to accelerate again. Jamal Tinsley followed and rushed out of the sideline ball. At this time, he wanted to pursue the defense, but found that he was thrown away by two positions.

The referee hesitated for a moment and did not blow the whistle. Li You rushed into the field and grabbed the ball with his right hand again, and then rushed with the ball again.

"Shh!"

Amid the boos from the fans, O'Neal immediately retreated to the basket, constantly adjusting his defensive focus and staring at Li You who was cutting in quickly.

At the moment when he was close to the defense, Li You slowed down slightly, and while joining the ball, he took a big step forward with his right foot. O'Neal subconsciously adjusted his defensive focus, and then his eyes flashed, and Li You suddenly changed direction.

Li You took a big European step and completely shook off the defense. Amidst the screams, he came to the lower left side of the basket, grabbed the ball with his left hand, hit the board and put the basket successfully!

At 10:0, after landing, Li You shook his head slightly. While retreating, he put his right hand to his ear as if listening.

The boos that resounded throughout the arena made O'Neal Jr. come to his senses under the basket. He turned around and saw the output of coach Isiah Thomas on the sidelines. He returned to the baseline in frustration and prepared to serve.

No points were scored in the past 4 minutes, and some of the boos were directed at the Pacers on the field.

Reggie Miller pursed his lips and clapped his hands constantly, trying to infect his teammates with his spirit.

Also using the roll-and-cut tactic, Reggie Miller used O'Neal's cover on the left elbow. After receiving the ball, he immediately released the ball with his right hand and drove straight to the basket from the center.Li You, who was chasing after him, lost half of his position, but started to adjust his pace in advance.

Near the baseline on the right, Gasol noticed that Li You had caught up, and did not move any further to help defend, and continued to guard in front of the big man Miller.

Reggie Miller, who seemed to want to vent his depressed mood, rushed forward in three strides, grabbed the ball with his right hand, and wanted to directly perform a one-handed chop.

While he was still exerting force in the air, Reggie Miller noticed a strong attack from his side. Li You jumped up high, served first, and directly pressed his left hand on the ball. While completing the block, he also knocked the old man out of the baseline.
"Oh!"

Seeing Reggie Miller fall into the camera, the fans screamed.

Before the referee blew the whistle, Jaylen Rose wanted to help his boss and rushed to the basket aggressively. As soon as he reached the paint area, he was hit by Artest and staggered:
"Fuck Fuck! Where do you want to go?!"

As soon as the referee blew the whistle, the two men were torn into pieces. Artest, who had been playing hard in these two games, had been unhappy. He found a way to vent his anger and wanted to punch his opponent twice.
Reggie Miller, who had just gotten up from the floor, also rushed up, but was hugged by the nearest linesman.

In the end, the big man Miller pulled his teammate into his arms, and the referee blew the whistle continuously before separating the two.

Both sides called a foul each, and this penalty angered the Pacers fans at the scene:

“Referee Sucks!.”

The fans began to curse the referee. Li You applauded and walked towards the opponent's half to prepare for a free throw:
"Man, get some rest! I'm going to commit 6 fouls tonight."

Naturally, the fall was not light. The Pacers made a big move tonight. Reggie Miller also knew that the Knicks were going to be ruthless. He stood on the free throw line and responded with a choked voice:
"Boy, I have experienced more confrontations than you have in your career!"

"."

Comparing the length of his career, Reggie Miller did have the advantage. The referee noticed that the two wanted to "butt the bull" and simply pulled Li You away.

Relying on free throws to help the team break the deadlock, Reggie Miller's tough performance kept the Pacers fans cheering.

In the NBC commentary box, Mike Dunleavy seemed to mean something, and simply commented:

"In the regular season, the Pacers averaged 96.5 points per game, ranking 19th in the league."

"It is difficult for this kind of defense to limit the Knicks' offense. Even if they stepped up their confrontation tonight, Lee will not be affected too much."

Realizing that his partner seemed to be saying that head coach Isiah Thomas failed to build a defensive system, Bob Costas began to change the topic:

"The intensity of this game seems to be more suitable for the Knicks. Grant Hill scored 6 points in a row after the opening game."

"Coach Thibodeau seems to have predicted the opponent's defensive choices and they are already prepared!"

With his teammates frequently attacking, Reggie Miller tried to take over the offense, but failed to finish every time he broke through to the basket.

Li You likes to give opponents physical confrontation during breakthroughs, Artest prefers to defend against the ball, and Grant Hill uses his height and wingspan to complete the defense.

When the opponent's offense became simple and crude and kept giving the ball to Reggie Miller, the Pacers fell into a scoring drought again.

As 24 seconds approached, O'Neal Jr. took the blame in the paint area directly in front of the basket. He wanted to drive under the basket, but Kurt Thomas suddenly attacked fiercely.

He failed to get the ball out right away, and the attack time was running out. In desperation, O'Neal leaned on Gasol, facing the separation of the two, and took the shot!
"state!"

Grant Hill retreated to the basket in time, grabbed the rebound on the lower left side of the basket, and then accelerated.

After a drastic change of direction in front of his body and quickly grabbing the ball with his right hand, Grant Hill continued to accelerate along the right sideline.

Without waiting to cross the half court, he immediately threw the ball to Li You who was approaching the right wing.

Although Jamal Tinsley retreated in time, he watched Li You, who was holding the ball in his left hand, sliding to the right while suddenly lowering his center of gravity, and subconsciously slid to the left.

Quickly in and out while traveling, Li You immediately accelerated to the paint area as soon as he got away from the defense. Holding the ball with his left hand, he knocked away Jamal Tinsley who was chasing him. After rushing up in three strides, he quickly picked up the basket.

"Shh!"

Noticing that rookie Jamal Tinsley was knocked off the baseline, the Pacers fans booed wildly again, and the game turned upside down, completely angering the audience.

19:7, with 1 minutes and 4 seconds left in the first quarter, the point difference was not narrowed, but widened again.

Head coach Isiah Thomas seemed very dissatisfied with the scale of the whistle and kept complaining to the referee.

Soon, the Pacers made up a few free throws.

Gasol received his second foul, and Thibodeau on the sidelines was unhappy. He also complained to the referee and was almost given a T.

After Gasol went off the court and big man Knight came on, the Knicks' defense seemed even better.
The big man Miller got an offensive rebound under the basket, but when he wanted to put the basket up, Knight blocked his head with a big block.

Kurt Thomas hugged the basketball tightly in the paint area. The Pacers failed to complete the counterattack and began to retreat desperately.

It was also Grant Hill's rapid advance that crossed the center line, and Reggie Miller lost half of his position.

Jaylen Rose, who retreated to the right wing, moved subconsciously, and Grant Hill immediately threw the ball to Artest, who was open.

The moment he caught the ball, Jaylen Rose failed to defend in time. Artest made a slight adjustment and converted to a three-point jumper!

"Shua!" The three-pointer hit the net hollowly!

At 22:7, Artest, who was in bloom, first glared at his opponent, Jaylen Rose, and then roared and beat his chest.
On the bench of the Knicks vs. Knicks, the atmosphere team was also happy. Stephen Jackson threw his towel wildly to cheer for his good brothers, but secretly complained in his heart:
"Under high confrontation, it is even more accurate?"

Fighting, counterattack, there was only one rhythm in the entire first quarter, Li You and Grant Hill just rushed forward.

It wasn't until the end of the first quarter that Reggie Miller found his touch outside the three-point line and hit a three-pointer.

As Li You's super long three-pointer hit the edge of the basket before halftime, the Pacers fans screamed again, and then the arena suddenly became quiet.

At 29:13, looking at the 16-point difference, everyone realized that they were about to be swept out.
After continuous back and forth runs and a lot of physical confrontation, Reggie Miller couldn't help but gasp when he returned to the bench.

He refused to be replaced by the coach, but the price was to lie on the floor a few more times.

No one doubts Reggie Miller's winning spirit, but the "Spiritual Victory Method" has no effect on the Knicks.

A sharp contrast can be seen between the two in the commentary box. Li You seems to be enjoying the game and replenishing water with a smile. Grant Hill does not show any tired expression and is still listening carefully to the coaching staff's instructions.

"Hats off to Miller, he's a true fighter!"

"Regardless of the outcome, I think it was a great game!"

Bob Costas no longer makes too many comments. With such a point difference, it will be difficult for the Knicks to lose.

首节7中2，三分线外3中1，罚球3中3，拿到8分的雷吉-米勒已经尽力了。

Mike Dunleavy has long known the gap between the two sides. Even if some football commentators think that the Knicks' record is watery, 61 wins and 41 wins are definitely two teams:
"This is the way Lee plays, simple, efficient and full of power!"

"Don't question an MVP, I prefer to quietly enjoy Li's game!"

6中5，罚球3中3，13分2篮板2助攻，李佑所有得分均来自于篮下。

After the start of the second quarter, Li You followed Reggie Miller back to the court after only playing for more than 2 minutes.

Kneading soft persimmons is what Li You is best at.
Compared to Gasol, big man Wright, who came off the bench, had a better defensive effect tonight.

Never give O'Neal a chance to squeeze to the basket easily. Every time he attacks, he squeezes the opponent to a position near the basket of 3 to 10 feet.

The Pacers, who wanted to rely on their big men to launch an offense, soon discovered that O'Neal Jr. still couldn't find his touch and continued to hit the ground running.

By the middle of the second quarter, O'Neal was no longer even actively asking for the ball, and the big man Miller, who was trying to use his height advantage to complete a jump shot, was equally desperate.

At the left elbow, big man Miller completed the pick-and-roll and received a ground pass from Jamal Tinsley.

Kurt Thomas retreated quickly, raising his hands symbolically. The opponent made a jump shot, and the rebound bounced into his arms as soon as he twisted around.

The Pacers fans were silent and no longer booed as they watched Li You catch the ball and slowly dribble it across the half court.

Kurt Thomas, who was extremely motivated, was full of energy and immediately ran from the left near the baseline to stand far away from the three-point line.

Jamal Tinsley was about to collapse. He observed that his opponent was standing on the right side of Li You, but he didn't know how to defend.

Following the body's instinct and subconsciously moving forward, Jamal Tinsley moved. Li You immediately changed the direction of his crotch, switched to his right hand, and circled the ball sharply behind his back.

Instead of breaking through on the right side, Li You nimbly dodged the defense.

O'Neal Jr. was still squatting inside the three-point line. Li You, who was fishing for the ball with his left hand, immediately slowed down. He was still a short step away from the three-point line. He suddenly stopped and feinted with the ball.

Jamal Tinsley, who was chasing from the side, immediately jumped up to block the shot. Taking advantage of the time difference, Li You hooked the opponent's defense and threw the ball.

"squeak!"

When the referee blew the whistle, O'Neal turned his head and saw the basketball falling into the basket.

"God! It's unbelievable. Lee hit the shot far away from the three-point line and even got an extra penalty!"

"Can't defend, what an incredible shooting touch!"

Bob Costas exclaimed, and Mike Dunleavy noticed that Jamal Tinsley had started to cover his face, and couldn't help but sigh:
"For a rookie, this kind of game is too difficult. He is facing the best backcourt player in the league."

"Maybe after going through this series, Jamal Tinsley will grow tremendously."

Li You stood on the free throw line, and a burst of "MVP" shouts suddenly sounded in the arena, and the Lezi fans suddenly switched sides.
At 49:29, an extra free throw was made, and the score difference came to 20 points, with 3 minutes and 39 seconds left in the half.

When head coach Isiah Thomas requested a timeout, the Knicks bench and atmosphere team jumped into the court and high-fived Li You in celebration.

Coach Thibodeau also relaxed completely, with a proud smile on his face.

In the final minutes of the first half, Conseco Arena gradually turned into a library, and this season's championship dream was shattered by the Knicks.

At halftime, 56:36, the game seemed to have lost its suspense.

Grant Hill, who walked towards the tunnel with a towel wrapped around his head, only felt comfortable:
“This year’s playoffs were easier than I imagined!”

Grant Hill was no longer in the first round, and Grant Hill was a little swollen. Li You noticed that Pacers fans no longer booed him, and responded cheerfully:
"Looks like we conquered this arena tonight!"

"."

After scoring only 3 points in the third quarter of the game, although the Pacers fans did not leave the game, their cheers completely disappeared.

It wasn't until the last quarter of the game that the game entered garbage time and the defensive intensity dropped. Only a few of the main players dared to fight hard and allowed the score to exceed 80.

As the buzzer sounded, 107:83, a big score of 3:0, the Knicks swept their opponents and easily advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

出场35分钟，20中13，三分线外5中3，罚球7中7，36分6篮板8助攻2抢断3失误。

Li You, who is as fierce as a tiger in fast break, showed another way of playing.
19中7，三分线外6中2，罚球7中5，雷吉-米勒最终只拿到21分。

At the end of the game, the veteran looked calm and hugged everyone on the Knicks team one by one, and then limped toward the tunnel without saying a word during the whole process.

In the Conseco Arena, some young fans' eyes turned red when they saw such a scene. It may be difficult for Reggie Miller, who has one man and one city, to win the championship.

In the commentary box, Mike Dunleavy watched the veteran leave the field lonely, feeling a little sad in his heart:

"After the Eastern Conference experienced the era of Michael Dun, it ushered in Lee again."

"History is always surprisingly similar, but for these veterans, this situation is really cruel."

"."

The Pacers were eliminated, and no one was teasing the veterans after the game. At the press conference, most sports media were chatting about gossip.

The reporter from Yahoo Sports noticed that the New York media had been boasting about X, and when he got the opportunity to ask questions, he immediately asked:
"Lee, have you been paying attention to TNT's programs recently? Coach Van Gundy called the Knicks a highlight team. What do you think of this?"

Li You was wearing a black casual suit tonight. Many people were making fun of his outfit just now, but when the question suddenly changed, he was slightly startled.

Soon, a reporter from the New York Post quietly introduced TNT's recent loudmouth behavior.

"The best team, the best star?"

"Well, this is also a good thing. I like Sport Center very much. I believe most players in the league want to be on this show."

"This should be a wonderful blessing. Being able to hit 100% shooting like in the collection has always been my goal."

It was rare for him to perform efficiently. Artest didn't like hearing these taunting words. Then he grinned and output:
"For some players, you can only watch the highlights, and the data cannot stand up to scrutiny!"

"The best combination in the league, the strongest scorer in the league, they have not achieved anything, and the Knicks are the championship team!"

These words will definitely offend many players, but the sports reporters in the audience will smile with joy and add jealousy to the report, which will start a wave of fighting.

On April 4, the Knicks returned to New York. As the first team to reach the semifinals, they naturally got a lot of rest time.

It happened to be the weekend, and the coaching staff also took the opportunity to announce a holiday.

When Li You returned home to Manhattan, he discovered some changes in his talent panel:
[Grant Hill's extraordinary explosive power] has turned purple without realizing it.

[Michael Jordan's extraordinary coordination] disappeared, completely digested.

The digestion time for top talents is shorter than expected. Li You is in a good mood and will practice his ball control skills tonight.

Most of the regular season awards have been announced. On the morning of the 28th, the NBA announced the Rookie of the Year for the 01-02 season:

Pau Gasol of the Knicks successfully wins the award!
出战80场比赛，场均17.4分8.4篮板3.6助攻0.5抢断2.0盖帽2.8失误；

He won the Rookie of the Month three times, averaging 14.1 shots per game, shooting 50.1% from the field, averaging 4.0 free throws per game, and shooting 78.2% from the field.

This data made New York fans very satisfied, and the New York media started lending as always:
"The future number one center in the league!"

Since the Eastern Conference semifinals will have to wait until early May, there is a high probability that Li You's MVP award ceremony will be held by then. Therefore, the Knicks held a separate press conference for Gasol.

"Highlights Star" Gasol finally won the Rookie of the Year, while No. [-] pick Kwame Brown has almost been forgotten.

On the night of the 28th, 2 seconds before the end, Robert Horry received a pass from Kobe and hit a three-pointer.

Pippen made a mistake at the last moment, and the Lakers narrowly defeated the Trail Blazers 92:91, sweeping their opponents to advance to the Western Conference semifinals.

Perhaps he saw the news in the newspaper. When interviewed after the game, Kobe did not talk about tonight's game anymore, but responded angrily:

"Statistics don't mean everything, and highlights can't really show my performance."

"I don't like what some players say. This year, the Lakers will win the championship!"

"."

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(End of this chapter)