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***
Wednesday, May 24, 2006, as the NBA Conference Finals progressed, even casual fans who only watched a few games a year started paying attention to the NBA.
New York fans were undoubtedly happy.
The New York Knicks were winning big, and the neighboring Jets and Yankees also had good records.
Sports fans in Philadelphia and Boston had a tough time these past few years, with the biggest news lately being Iverson's depression and Paul Pierce seemingly being put on the trade block.
While the New York Knicks continued to show their dominance, some commentators didn't forget to ride the coattails of their popularity.
Scottie Pippen was originally invited to be a commentator for ESPN2 and ABC, but he lost his job before the season even ended due to only expressing emotional outbursts.
Not every retired player gracefully accepts being surpassed.
Most outdated old-timers are petty.
Although Pippen couldn't express himself on the show, he couldn't stand being silent as the playoffs progressed.
Before the Western Conference Finals began tonight, he once again called out in an interview:
"Dirk Nowitzki couldn't play in our era at all. This kind of white big man who only knows how to jump shoot can't be a team's core."
"He should give the First Team spot back to Tim Duncan. He has never been a qualified leader."
Not only was he commenting on tonight's Western Conference Finals, but Pippen also didn't forget to sarcastically remark on the New York Knicks' success:
"At the same age, LeBron James is better than Michael Jordan and Clay Lee."
"If he played in New York, he would eventually surpass Clay Lee. Look at the Cavaliers. They lost by 59 points when he was absent. LeBron James is the one who truly lacks help."
The active Pippen expressed even bolder views than he had on the show before: putting aside honors and statistics, James at the same age was simply stronger!
Don't ask why.
Just say he lacked big-market support.
In terms of talent alone, LeBron James is historically number one.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer couldn't even praise as much as Pippen.
Since losing by 59 points, they had entered a state of silence.
Anyone with eyes could see the gap between the Cavaliers and the New York Knicks.
Although Pippen's views weren't expressed on a show, they were still hotly debated by sports fans, and TNT, which was broadcasting the Western Conference Finals, naturally wouldn't miss such popular news.
Although the Phoenix Suns secured the second seed in the Western Conference this season, they only had 49 wins.
Since the start of the playoffs, no one had favored Steve Nash.
Relying on a seven-man rotation, they miraculously made it to the Conference Finals, but the Dallas sports media showed no respect, already celebrating the series victory in advance.
Although Nash made his name with the Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban was not polite, automatically ignoring this excellent core guard in an interview:
"The Dallas Mavericks will make it to the NBA Finals! We are the only team in the league that can match the New York Knicks' roster depth!"
"I don't like what Pippen said. Dirk will get back everything that belongs to him."
This active owner was still somewhat polite in interviews, but on his blog, he had already furiously blasted Pippen.
The favorite quote among the gossip-loving public was:
"Pippen showed us that his brain desperately needs a crutch! Jealousy has made him lose touch with reality!"
In the afternoon's TNT pre-game show, the director led the fans in front of their TVs to review Pippen's comments during his time as a commentator.
Charles Barkley had partnered with Pippen late in his career, so he couldn't speak ill of his former teammate for a while, finally only commenting simply:
"Dirk really wouldn't have fit in our era. From a commercial value perspective, LeBron James in Cleveland really can't compare to Clay Lee."
Pippen had also said that Barkley lacked a winner's mentality back then.
Thinking of this, Kenny Smith, standing nearby, couldn't help but show a teasing expression and offered his own opinion:
"I've always disliked that view. In fact, not everyone can be as successful as Clay Lee."
"The same goes for Dirk. Modern basketball is different. He does often initiate offense from beyond the arc, but that doesn't affect his performance."
"If we think carefully, the Dallas Mavericks' success is built on fully utilizing offensive space, and this is also the New York Knicks' secret to winning."
In Eastern Conference Finals Game 1, the Miami Heat shot 5-for-21 from three-point range.
Without outside shooting, they suffered a crushing defeat.
Ernie Johnson also understood this point.
He didn't have the filter of different eras.
Looking at the silent Barkley, he smiled and simply commented:
"There's one thing I strongly agree with Mr. Cuban: the Dallas Mavericks' roster depth is indeed excellent, and that is indeed their advantage."
"Tonight's game, the Phoenix Suns will face enormous difficulties. Coach Avery Johnson can even use a nine-man rotation in the game."
"In this regard, he and Coach DAntoni both have the happy problem of having too many good players."
The Phoenix Suns imitated the New York Knicks.
Although it was his former team, Charles Barkley always looked down on Nash.
Rarely agreeing with his partners, he could only grumble a bit:
"Perhaps this year, two teams waving money will meet in the NBA Finals. That's why people don't like the game now."
"..."
In tonight's Western Conference Finals, the home team Dallas Mavericks ultimately won by a landslide!
102:116. Facing an opponent with a nine-man rotation, the Phoenix Suns were unable to resist.
After the opponent scored 37 points in the third quarter, the game lost its suspense.
Devin Harris constantly tore apart the Phoenix Suns' Defense with his speed, scoring 30 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 steals, and 3 turnovers on 12-of-17 shooting and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line.
At American Airlines Center, after the game, Dallas fans were still cheering loudly, not just celebrating the victory, but also feeling that the NBA Finals were beckoning them.
The Dallas Morning News dug up the regular season records of the Dallas Mavericks and the New York Knicks in recent years, showing that the two teams were basically evenly matched, and statistically, they were equally strong!
This data seemed to give Dallas Mavericks fans great confidence.
Tonight, many people held up white boards, and "Champion" slogans began to appear in American Airlines Center.
As a second-year Rookie, Devin Harris was also very excited to score 30 points on such a big stage as the Conference Finals.
In an interview, he confidently boasted:
"I have fully recovered from my injury, and I have started to fulfill my potential!"
"Many people don't watch Dallas Mavericks games, and everyone lacks respect for us, but we have proven ourselves with our strength."
"In fact, my speed is second to none, it's just that everyone's attention is focused on Lee and Wade, and the strength of our backcourt is underestimated."
The young Harris looked a bit thin, but his speed was indeed very fast.
The Dallas sports reporters also seemed to have been carried away by the big victory, and for a while, they also boasted:
"We believe in you, go win the first championship trophy in team history!"
The charm of the Conference Finals lies in more attention.
A 30-point performance led a group of sports reporters to start digging into Devin Harris's story.
Jason Terry had previously been on a rebuilding Atlanta Hawks team and lost badly to the New York Knicks, but no one paid attention to him at the time.
This time, making it to the Conference Finals was a turnaround for him, and Jason Terry's inspiring story was widely reported by the Dallas sports media.
The most arrogant person on the Dallas Mavericks was Erick Dampier.
Perhaps defeating the San Antonio Spurs gave him endless confidence.
After winning Game 1, he once again declared to the media:
"I am the best big man in the Western Conference!"
During his contract year, Dampier had already boasted about himself.
This was not the first time he had made such a wild claim, but competitive sports are all about results, so no one refuted him for a while.
Thursday, May 25, Mark Cuban and the Dallas sports media's self-entertainment did not affect the mood of New York fans.
The other side's version was outdated.
The story of Lee's rise had been heard by the public for years, and reporting on it was less interesting than digging into his personal life.
Since Facebook appeared, sports reporters could always find interesting photos from Lee's personal account.
Even the fact that the husky Happy had a "girlfriend" was much more interesting than the Western Conference's best center.
These past two days, the Wall Street Journal was gossiping about the Enron scandal again.
President George W. Bush's "Kenny Boy" — Kenneth Lay — was convicted of six counts of securities fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy.
The former Enron chairman, despite spending tens of millions of dollars in legal fees, still faced 165 years in prison.
The collapse of the Enron Corporation wiped out $2.1 billion in pension plans and 5,600 jobs.
In contrast, Axe Capital first shorted profits, then acquired a group of traders.
In last year's natural gas trading, with the help of these assistants, they profited nearly $1 billion.
Comparing the two, and combining some Republican Party news, it's not difficult to conclude that Bobby and Lee of Axe Capital should have acquired even more wealth.
The influence of money is enormous.
Even the previous accusations against the pharmaceutical company Biovai were whitewashed.
This is a reverence for wealth.
Wade, who lost the game, was a bit troubled these past two days.
His childhood sweetheart, Siohvaughn Wade, couldn't sleep after reading the newspaper, stimulated by the money, and kept nagging him about signing a big contract.
His wife only knew the name "Lee Clause" but didn't understand the specifics.
Wade knew he could only get a regular max contract.
A starting salary of 35% of the salary cap was simply impossible.
He wouldn't even get a contract like O'Neal's.
It wasn't that he wasn't good enough, but that the collective bargaining agreement limited salaries.
When he arrived at the Madison Square Garden for warm-ups in the afternoon, Wade didn't seem to have recovered from his wife's nagging.
For the first time, he felt that bringing family members to an away game was the wrong choice.
Pat Riley still maintained the swagger of a Champion Coach.
Losing had no effect on him.
He still had that confident expression during interviews.
"Adjustments? We will change some Defense strategies, and the offense needs to be more aggressive!"
"This will be a long series, and my players are ready. Tonight, I will increase the playing time of the rotation players. Don't underestimate the experience of the veterans."
In Game 1, Jason Williams's high-start, low-finish performance made the coaching staff lose some trust.
Gary Payton gave a moving speech these past two days, and the slick-haired boss decided to give the veterans more opportunities.
The empty Madison Square Garden lacked the noisy atmosphere, but the championship banners above put pressure on the Miami Heat players.
Shandon Anderson, who was part of the atmosphere group, had faced the New York Knicks back in his Utah Jazz days.
In his Rookie season, that was the closest he came to a championship.
Currently, he has fallen out of the rotation and may leave the NBA next season.
Shandon Anderson occasionally looked up at the banners during warm-ups, with an envious expression in his eyes.
O'Neal was still practicing free throws.
Gary Payton, who actively accepted the interview, boasted again in his somewhat high-pitched voice:
"In the playoffs, it's more about testing the desire to win, and no one can compare to us in that regard."
"Losing one game won't affect everyone's confidence. We helped each other in the players' meeting, and everyone took on their responsibilities."
Not only Payton, but veteran Mourning also cheered them on.
Although he had been "abandoned" by the team, he always believed in Pat Riley:
"Coach has always encouraged us. The Miami Heat is a united family, and we play for each other!"
The Kidney Fighter's face showed his love for the team, and a group of sports reporters were puzzled, genuinely unclear why these guys were so mysteriously confident.
During the day and a half of rest, the New York Knicks, in addition to video sessions, focused on recovery training.
Unlike the opponent, who emphasized mental attributes and family unity, Coach DAntoni, who arrived at the Madison Square Garden for an interview in the afternoon, directly showed his cards, smiling as he laid out tonight's game plan:
"We will continue to double-team O'Neal and test his free throws!"
"At the same time, the data analysts also told us that Wade has a higher shooting percentage from the left side of the court, so tonight, we will continue to limit his left hand."
"As for the specific game situation, Lee will decide for himself. No matter what kind of Defense strategy the opponent uses, everyone is confident of winning the game."
Every time they warmed up, David Lee would act as Lee's ball boy.
Kurt Thomas, on crutches, also chatted about gossip here:
"These retired old guys are crazy. Pippen should have been fired a long time ago. Michael Jordan would never get involved in these topics."
Kurt Thomas found it hard to understand these famous players who talked nonsense in front of the camera.
If it were him, he would never say some of those things.
David Lee continued to pass the ball to Lee, nodding in agreement with his elder brother's words.
These abstract statements were becoming more and more frequent:
"Some people complain that we have too many players, and even think that this affects the quality of the championship. Look at what they're saying. The Boston m Celtics also won that way back in the day."
The Rookie looked unconvinced, but he somewhat agreed in his heart.
It was difficult for him to even make the active roster; there were simply too many players on the team.
Lee really liked the ESPN2 show.
It was one of his sources of happiness this season.
Scottie Pippen always acted on the show as if Michael Jordan couldn't do anything without him:
"Don't mind these. When we retire, who will remember these voices? Everyone will only talk about championships and the greatest team in history."
"It's a shame the show became boring after the revamp. Fans shouldn't complain. I'll write a letter to the production team if I get a chance."
Hearing Lee's words, Prince, who was usually low-key, suddenly said seriously:
"Lee is right, I actually really liked Pippen's show too. Now that it's changed to discussing tactics, I don't follow it anymore. Their nonsense was really entertaining!"
David Lee was dumbfounded.
He couldn't understand such enjoyment.
Listening to Lee and Prince share their happiness, he couldn't interject for a while:
"This show actually has an audience?!"
At 7:30 PM, half an hour before the game started, at Madison Square Garden, some fans protested Pippen's big mouth before the game.
Amidst the jeers, occasional F-bombs could be heard.
At this time, it hadn't entered the future era of widespread chaos.
Many fans took basketball games seriously.
The New York version was ahead, currently in the stage of customized data and wild boasting, but many column articles were still based on rigorous data.
Pippen was out of a job and still spouting nonsense.
People couldn't accept it.
From the ESPN commentary desk, Mike Breen, noticing that the Heat had not changed their starting lineup, curiously asked his partner, Ernie Johnson:
"The Heat frequently used zone Defense at the start of G1. Will they continue this strategy tonight?"
Hubie Brown, a rigorous analyst unlike Charles Barkley, answered questions from a coach's perspective when discussing the game:
"I think the Heat will revert to man-to-man Defense. The first quarter is very important, and they must hit those response shots at the start."
"If the New York Knicks find their rhythm early, it will definitely not be a good thing for the Heat. Wade will take on more Defense tasks, which is a huge test for him."
During the final warm-up before the game, O'Neal was still practicing free throws.
The big man had a poor performance in the last game and had been'sharpening his spear before battle' these past two days, even refusing many interviews for it.
Cheers occasionally erupted in the Madison Square Garden.
Lee continuously hit super-long three-pointers and occasionally dunked with his teammates, making the atmosphere on site exceptionally joyful.
Diao, who was starting tonight, also imitated Wade, doing pull-ups on the rim.
When the referee called both teams to the center circle, Wade couldn't help but glare at the 'copycat' opposite him.
Antoine Walker didn't want to face an elimination game immediately upon returning home.
This was his first time on the Eastern Conference Finals stage, and he really didn't want to miss such an opportunity.
"Relax, Bro! Don't be so serious."
Lee stepped forward and fist-bumped his old friend.
The two had been rivals since college.
Although the Boston Celtics lost this'surface brother' after losing the playoffs that year, their relationship did not deteriorate.
"..."
Antoine Walker really didn't want to see that familiar smiling face.
He didn't say a word, just stared intently at the basketball in the referee's hand with a serious expression.
"Let's go New York Knicks!"
The noise turned into unified cheers again, and the New York fans in the Madison Square Garden stood up, waiting for the game to begin.
O'Neal, who looked down on Gasol in his heart, remained silent, and seeing the relaxed expression on the Spaniard's face opposite him, he secretly cursed again.
Fueled by anger, the big man's reaction was a few points faster.
He leaped high with the basketball and slapped it to mid-court.
"Defense!"
Defense cheers immediately echoed in the Madison Square Garden.
Jason Williams, holding the ball in his right hand, cautiously advanced, crossed the mid-court line, and began to move towards the right wing.
Wade had already arrived near the baseline on the right side.
Hill knew this Rookie wanted to sneak along the baseline.
When he squeezed next to him, he couldn't help but tease,
"Maybe you should change direction!"
Wade was in no mood to bother with his opponent.
He immediately accelerated, and when he reached directly under the rim, he suddenly changed direction, bursting out from the middle.
Haslem set a screen at the free-throw line.
The Heat's offensive play had not changed at all.
Diaw automatically switched Defense, chasing Wade to beyond the three-point line, and at the same time, positioning himself beside him to prevent him from receiving the ball.
Jason Williams, protecting the ball with his body sideways, executed a back-turn and switched the ball to his left hand. Lee slid to interfere, forcing him to fail to complete the pass immediately.
On the left wing, Antoine Walker immediately waved to Wade, signaling his teammate to move towards the left corner, while he himself moved away from the three-point line to receive the pass.
His direct opponent, Ron Artest, did not follow him out.
Seeing Antoine Walker receive the ball, he did not step forward to interfere.
Noticing that O'Neal had Gasol pinned behind him under the basket, Antoine Walker, holding the ball, simply passed it directly into the paint.
O'Neal, upon receiving the ball, turned towards the baseline.
While putting the ball down with his left hand, he barely slipped past Gasol.
As he squeezed to the lower-left side of the rim, Hill had already come to help on Defense under the basket.
O'Neal, attempting to dunk, dribbled once more.
As he jumped, he was pulled by Hill.
He managed to toss the ball, and watching it bounce haphazardly into the basket, the big man immediately pumped his fist in celebration.
The referee blew his whistle and pointed to the free-throw line.
O'Neal had earned an opportunity for a free throw at the start of the game.
"The Heat are still trying to initiate their offense from the inside. It's clear the New York Knicks were well-prepared. Every point is crucial, and now it's time to test the free throws!"
Watching O'Neal aim at the rim, Hubie Brown briefly commented and then showed some anticipation.
However, the basketball hit directly on the back rim, bouncing with a 'bang' into Gasol's hands.
"Oh!"
Cheers immediately filled the Arena.
New York fans, who had been interfering behind the rim, high-fived in celebration.
This big man really wasn't good enough!
"Let's go New York Knicks!"
The cheering resumed. Lee, who received the ball on the baseline, advanced at a rapid pace.
Wade continuously slid, always controlling the defensive distance.
O'Neal reluctantly followed Gasol to the left elbow area.
Ron Artest had already run to the left corner.
Seeing Lee's gesture, he immediately accelerated and slipped along the baseline.
Jason Williams had already realized something was wrong.
As Hill cut to the top, he quickly followed, constantly shouting warnings to his teammates.
The New York Knicks' play was executed extremely quickly.
Using a double screen, Hill, who arrived on the left wing, easily received Lee's short pass.
O'Neal did not switch Defense.
Jason Williams's strenuous chase Defense was still a half-step slow.
Watching Hill put the ball down with his left hand and drive forward, he could only desperately slide to his right-rear.
At the left block, as soon as their bodies made contact, Hill executed a spin move, and with a big step, instantly arrived directly in front of the rim, shaking off his defender, and quickly laid the ball up with his right hand.
Such an easy score drew loud cheers from the front-row fans.
Pat Riley on the sideline started to frown again.
No matter how he arranged the Defense, there would always be a mismatch.
Despite limited playing time, Hill had been highly efficient in G1, frequently dunking, with his physical advantage playing a huge role.
Jason Williams, receiving the ball on the baseline, could only pat his chest, indicating it was his fault.
O'Neal's delayed switch Defense was completely unreliable.
Wade also sped up his burst out.
When he reached the left wing to receive the ball, he put the ball down with his right hand, executed a front-of-the-body crossover, switched to his left hand, and tried to drive, but Hill defended him perfectly.
He lowered his shoulder and accelerated, but still couldn't get through.
Wade stopped short at the three-point line, executed a between-the-legs crossover to his right hand, and while Haslem came up to screen, he accelerated horizontally again.
Hill, who had gone down the line, dashed directly into the paint.
Diaw was again the first to switch Defense, timely sliding to try and delay Wade's speed.
At the same time, Ron Artest on the right wing also converged towards the elbow area, extending his right arm to interfere from below.
The New York Knicks' heavy Defense near the free-throw line finally made Wade hesitate.
He jumped and passed the ball back.
At the left elbow, Haslem, who received the ball in the open, bricked a shot.
Below the left side of the rim, O'Neal was still tangled with Gasol.
The big man felt somewhat despairing.
As Lee on the right corner shrank back into the paint, the area under the basket was filled with New York Knicks players.
Watching Lee complete an tomahawk rebound, O'Neal could only run hard.
With Pat Riley's loud encouragement, the retreating Heat timely completed their defensive matchups.
Accelerating along the left sideline, Lee observed the Defense while advancing.
When he reached the left wing, Gasol at the left elbow began to move his feet again.
A familiar 2-on-2 situation.
In the semi-transition offense, O'Neal was still loudly reminding Wade to 'protect him,' but Lee suddenly dribbled between his legs.
Wade maintained a defensive distance, allowing Lee, who was swaying his body to the right-front, to instantly complete a front-of-the-body crossover.
As Lee touched the ball with his left hand, Wade only had time to shift his feet before Lee, suddenly flying low to the ground, blew past him in one step.
"Oh!"
Amidst the cheers that echoed throughout the Madison Square Garden, Lee, who had powerfully cut in from the left wing, took three big steps, leaped into the air, glided in mid-air to directly in front of the rim, grabbed the ball with his right hand, and slammed it down with a powerful arm swing!
The rim rattled loudly.
Wade, retreating on Defense under the basket, pursed his lips, feeling very annoyed.
He shouldn't have been so easily beaten.
"Exaggerated movements, astonishing explosiveness and speed. Facing his own template, Dwayne Wade seems helpless!"
Mike Breen continued to praise, and Hubie Brown, seeing Jason Williams pass the ball early, added:
"Dwayne Wade must reasonably allocate his stamina. As I said before, sometimes he needs to rely on jump shots to complete his offense."
Wade received the ball before crossing half-court.
Lee at the top of the arc immediately switched Defense, charging directly at Wade, who was accelerating along the left shoulder line.
The entanglement began at the mid-court line.
Wade, forced to switch to his right hand, immediately stopped short when he reached the left wing, executed a behind-the-back dribble, and as soon as his left hand touched the ball, Lee again reached down to interfere.
Their bodies collided, and Wade, taking advantage of the contact, executed a very quick stationary between-the-legs dribble.
The ball returned to his left hand.
To evade the steal, Wade instinctively pulled the ball back.
As he twisted his body and lunged forward to accelerate, he collided with Lee again, failing to get through, but the ball suddenly hit his foot.
Pat Riley on the sideline was right beside them.
Seeing Wade dribble out of bounds, he helplessly clapped his hands in encouragement.
Amidst the laughter, Wade stood next to Lee with a long face.
On the New York Knicks bench, Coach DAntoni and several members of the coaching staff were conversing in low voices.
The big data was correct: Wade always preferred to attack from the left half of the court.
Payton and others on the sideline were also shouting encouragement, but the noisy Madison square garden made it impossible for Wade to hear what his teammates were saying.
With the same play, this time Hill's horizontal cut failed to shake off Jason Williams in time.
At the Logo, Lee slowed down, and Diaw immediately moved up from the right elbow.
A high pick-and-roll beyond the three-point line.
Clay Lee, holding the ball in his right hand, accelerated horizontally.
At the same time, Haslem slid to help on Defense.
As Wade chased back, Diao rolled down.
Haslem cooperated seamlessly, timely switching positions, cutting off the passing lane, and then moving back to near the elbow.
On the right wing, just as Wade caught up beside him, Lee performed a sudden explosive stop, swayed his shoulder backward, suddenly lowered his center of gravity, twisted his body, and accelerated.
With a sudden stop and go, relying on his excellent physical qualities, Wade timely slid to his left-rear, attempting to block the driving lane.
As Lee executed a cross-step pull-back, Wade stumbled and quickly adjusted his center of gravity.
Observing Antoine Walker in the right corner beginning to move up the line, Lee, at the instant his left hand touched the ball, suddenly increased his dribbling speed.
Leaning his body forward to the right, he executed two extremely quick between-the-legs dribbles, then Lee quickly stepped back, and facing Wade's close-out Defense, decisively shot a jump shot!
The three-pointer swished through the net.
Wade subconsciously frowned upon landing.
His Defense had been his best effort.
2:7. Trailing from the start, Pat Riley had to raise his voice, loudly reminding them to stabilize this offense.
When Jason Williams reached the left wing, Lee was tucked inside the three-point line.
Despite having a direct shooting opportunity, he still chose to lob the ball.
Although O'Neal had Gasol pinned behind him, as soon as he received the ball in the left low post, Lee immediately converged to his side.
O'Neal didn't put the ball down.
He immediately passed it back to Jason Williams, who received the ball again.
Looking at Lee, who was retreating on Defense, he still didn't shoot.
The big man was clearly angered and couldn't help but yell at his teammates.
Luckily, Wade had already burst out to the top of the arc, and Jason Williams decisively sent a cross-court pass.
Hill, observing Haslem's movement behind him, decisively chose to go under the screen, while also blocking the left hand.
Finally, Wade put the ball down with his right hand, lowered his shoulder, and accelerated, driving strong to the basket.
He sealed off Diaw, who had switched Defense, in the paint, took a step and leaped in motion, grabbed the ball with his right hand, and forced a layup from the lower-left side of the rim.
The ball clanked off the rim and out.
The rebound was first tipped by O'Neal, then tapped by Gasol.
As Diaw secured possession, he immediately turned and charged with the ball.
Haslem had no time to delay.
The ball was already tossed to the frontcourt.
Ball and player arrived simultaneously.
Lee, having crossed the mid-court line, caught the ball ahead of Williams.
Taking advantage of his opponent sliding to his side, Lee smoothly executed a behind-the-back dribble, switched to his right hand, lowered his shoulder, and accelerated, driving strong to the basket on the right wing, pushing through the Defense.
Williams, forced to adjust his center of gravity, could only slide along.
The moment he approached the paint, Lee, in motion, executed a wide-arc gather, twisting his body while evading the Defense.
Jason Williams had no time to make a defensive move and could only watch as Lee charged to the lower-left side of the rim and scored with a left-handed bank shot.
2:9. O'Neal, watching Lee jog back on Defense, shouted furiously, regardless of whether his teammates could hear him,
"Fuck! Shoot the ball!"
The big man knew better than anyone that if the outside players kept refusing to shoot, what awaited him was top-side and help-side double-teams, eventually making it difficult even to receive the ball.
"Defense!"
The opponent seemed to collapse at the start, which made the New York fans in the Madison Square Garden shout even more vigorously.
Amidst the Defense cheers echoing throughout the Arena, Jason Williams passed the ball as soon as he crossed half-court.
On the left wing, Wade received the ball.
O'Neal immediately came up to set a screen.
Hill continued to go over the top, and Gasol also dropped back to defend.
As O'Neal rolled down, Wade, holding the ball in his right hand, also arrived near the left elbow.
Before Hill could re-stick to him, he decisively stopped short and shot a jump shot, which bricked.
Haslem fought hard for the ball, finally knocking it away from Diaw's hands.
Several Heat players pointed to the frontcourt, but the referee directly threw the ball to Diaw.
The atmosphere in the Madison Square Garden became even more joyful.
At the commentary desk, Hubie Brown also hadn't expected signs of a collapse at the start.
For a moment, he could only tactfully say,
"Coach Pat Riley might need a timeout. They must be more decisive!"
Mike Breen didn't mind the game turning into a blowout.
As a loyal New York Knicks fan, he preferred to see his team dominate their opponents:
"Same play, this time the Heat's Defense was very cohesive."
Hill, cutting horizontally to the top, failed to shake off the Defense.
At the left elbow, Gasol immediately moved his feet, coming up to set a screen.
Wade timely turned his body sideways.
When the high screen occurred, he timely squeezed through, chasing behind Lee, who was holding the ball in his right hand.
O'Neal followed, moving horizontally, trying to cooperate with his teammate to complete the help Defense, but found that Lee started to slow down as soon as he stepped on the three-point line.
Gasol rolling down took O'Neal's Defense away.
Clay Lee kept Wade behind him, and taking advantage of the two big men moving, he executed a small front-of-the-body crossover, moving horizontally at the free-throw line.
Hill ran to the left corner, accelerating as he slipped along the baseline.
Jason Williams hesitated slightly before continuing to chase on Defense.
Wade, chasing on Defense, turned his body sideways, ready to close out at any moment, but he didn't expect Lee, who had moved to near the left elbow, to suddenly explode the ball and step back while moving backward.
Instantly returning beyond the three-point line, Lee immediately gathered the ball, leaned slightly backward, ignored Wade's leaping close-out Defense, and quickly shot a jump shot!
The somewhat casual shot left Wade stunned.
The cheers that reached his ears after he landed meant the ball had gone in again.
"Dude, you need to find someone to help you!"
Lee shouted at Wade in front of him, then raised an eyebrow towards the referee's direction.
Without waiting for a reaction, he turned and retreated on Defense.
Wade only heard a few words, and at this moment, he instinctively looked at Coach Pat Riley on the sidelines, but Pat Riley didn't call a timeout.
He just made a tactical gesture to pass the ball inside.
The jeering grew louder, and O'Neal, in the left low post, sealed Gasol behind him.
The big man held out his hands for the ball, and the Heat ran the same play again.
Haslem, at the free-throw line, was still waving to Wade near the baseline on the right, and Antoine Walker on the right wing helplessly found that Ron Artest had once again positioned himself around the paint.
There was still a direct shooting opportunity, and Jason Williams on the left wing still lobbed the ball to O'Neal.
Clay Lee, who had shrunk inside the three-point line, followed the ball to double-team the paint.
After O'Neal passed the ball back to his teammate, Jason Williams didn't hesitate anymore, and his open jump shot clanked off the rim.
The long rebound was grabbed by Ron Artest, and a new chant echoed through Madison Square Garden:
"Shaq is a Softie!"
Spike Lee on the sidelines was shouting the most enthusiastically.
If the referee didn't stop him, this die-hard fan would probably chase O'Neal all the way back to the opponent's half, yelling'soft'.
O'Neal's face was dark, clearly angered.
It was a perfect opportunity, but his teammates just couldn't make the shot.
The roaring Madison Square Garden made the Heat players on the court dizzy.
A frustrated Wade stopped defending calmly, leading the Defense while continuously trying to steal the ball.
Accelerating past the half-court line, Lee, with the ball in his left hand, stopped abruptly at the top of the arc, then immediately changed direction with a cross-over.
As he switched the ball to his right hand and protected it with his body, the New York Knicks players, without Lee needing to signal, began to move, slowly creating offensive space.
Hill stopped on the left wing, and Diaw also ran to the left corner.
Both entered spectator mode.
As expected, Gasol quickly moved to the top of the arc for a pick-and-roll.
O'Neal, stimulated by the shouts, watched Lee move horizontally using the screen and immediately slid to double-team.
At the same time, Antoine Walker, who was guarding Ron Artest in the right corner, also moved up the line in coordination.
Coupled with Wade chasing behind him, the Heat once again triple-teamed.
Lee, who had dribbled past the three-point line, observed the defensive movement, suddenly stopped abruptly near the right elbow, leaned on Wade behind him, and then accelerated a second time.
The double-teaming O'Neal and Walker instinctively stopped, then saw Lee suddenly pass the ball with his right hand.
Haslem, below the right side of the rim, couldn't block in time.
Gasol, accelerating down the lane, jumped up and extended his long arm, catching the ball in mid-air and forcefully dunking it into the basket!
2:14. Looking at Gasol, who was yelling with his head tilted back under the basket, O'Neal's face grew even darker.
The Heat called a timeout.
Pat Riley had yelled himself hoarse, but it had no effect.
Mindless double-teaming gave away points again.
Fisher and a few others came to the center of the court to high-five and celebrate with everyone.
The roaring Madison Square Garden made the Heat bench unusually quiet.
Gary Payton threw his towel again.
This was not the game he had expected.
"What are you afraid of?! Shoot the ball, attack the basket, fuck!"
The slick-haired coach had a look in his eyes that could eat people, staring intently at everyone, even cursing.
He couldn't accept such a defeat.
Without much tactical instruction, after a furious outburst, the Heat players returned to the court, and the shouts of "Shaq is a softie" continued.
It was still the same play, but this time, when O'Neal received the ball in the left low post and faced the double-team, he twisted his body and passed the ball towards the right sideline.
The basketball was almost directly stolen by Ron Artest near the elbow, but thankfully it still penetrated the Defense.
Antoine Walker caught the ball beyond the three-point line, and his open jump shot broke their scoring drought.
The coach's words might have ignited O'Neal's "fighting spirit."
Facing a high pick-and-roll, the big man desperately slid his feet, cooperating with Wade to delay the Defense.
Accelerating horizontally to the right wing, Lee, with the ball in his right hand, forcefully drove past Wade.
Just as he was about to run into O'Neal, he flicked his right wrist while in motion, delivering a bounce pass that flew straight under the basket.
Antoine Walker missed Ron Artest, who had quietly slipped along the baseline behind him.
The latter received the ball under the basket and easily laid it in for a score.
"A beautiful pass from Clay Lee! The New York Knicks have once again executed a perfect play!"
The double-digit lead made Mike Breen overjoyed.
Hubie Brown watched Wade receive the ball at the top of the arc, drive to the middle, spin, and lay it in, drawing a foul on Hill, and instinctively commented:
"Free throws can help the Heat stabilize the game rhythm. They need to find their shooting touch as soon as possible."
7:16. Dwayne Wade made both free throws, helping his team narrow the deficit.
The Heat intensified their defensive aggression.
Diaw received the ball at the top of the arc, gave a hand-off pass back to Lee far from the three-point line, and Haslem cooperated with Wade to double-team.
With the ball in his left hand, accelerating horizontally, Lee used his speed to gain more than half a step, approached the left wing, and again delivered a bounce pass.
The basketball flew horizontally.
Diaw, running down the lane, took one dribble after receiving the ball, and easily scored 2 points with a step-back floater in the paint.
O'Neal turned towards the baseline in the right low post, backing into the basket and drawing a shooting foul on Gasol.
With two missed free throws, laughter once again echoed through the Madison Square Garden.
Jason Williams chased hard on Defense, but Gasol threw a lead pass, and Lee, rushing past half-court, again got in front of his opponent to receive the ball.
Wade, retreating on Defense, saw this scene and rushed straight at Lee from the left wing.
Before he could catch up, the basketball flew to the upper left of the rim.
Grant Hill, undefended, ran down the lane and threw down an alley-oop dunk.
After a quick inbound pass, Jason Williams again came to the left wing to lob the ball to O'Neal.
Facing the returning Lee, Jason Williams received the return pass, put the ball down with his right hand, drove forward, and successfully hit a pull-up long two-pointer!
On the next possession, it was another fast break.
Wade, leading the Defense, was briefly delayed by Gasol's high pick-and-roll.
Facing O'Neal, who was rushing out to defend, Lee, with the ball in his right hand, executed a wide in-and-out dribble.
Moving forward, he feinted left and drove right.
O'Neal, standing on the three-point line, paused slightly.
Lee accelerated again, instantly squeezing past his opponent's left side.
Before he could even attempt to draw a foul, Lee had already broken into the paint in the blink of an eye.
O'Neal could only turn his head and watch the gliding dunk.
Amidst the cheers, Jason Williams again quickly advanced after receiving the ball on the baseline.
He came to the right wing, immediately stopped abruptly, and after a cross-over dribble, smoothly brought the ball behind his back.
Jason Williams felt he had gained more than half a step and drove hard to the basket, pushing against Lee.
Attempting to lean into the Defense for a layup below the right side of the rim, Jason Williams's contorted right-handed floater was ultimately swatted against the backboard by Lee.
"Oh!"
The clean block made the New York fans in the arena gasp.
Clay Lee, who controlled the ball after landing, madr another long pass, and ultimately Antoine Walker sent Ron Artest to the free-throw line.
In the latter half of the first quarter, the New York Knicks missed some three-pointers, and the Heat scored points from free throws in transition offense.
Haslem only made a field goal in the final minute.
The New York Knicks entered their rotation lineup, and Dwyane Wade seemed lost, still scoring primarily from free throws.
O'Neal, who refused to rest, committed two consecutive turnovers, sending Lee to the free-throw line.
Frequent fouls also failed to prevent the deficit from gradually widening.
In the final 10.2 seconds of the first quarter, as Raja Bell's jump shot from the right wing clanked off the rim, the long rebound was grabbed by Payton, who then threw a long pass to a teammate running fast break.
Prince couldn't recover in time.
Antoine Walker, who had started early, received the ball on the left wing, immediately stopped abruptly, and decisively shot a jump shot.
As soon as the basketball left his hands, Lee, who had sprinted back on Defense, leaped high from behind and swatted the ball away.
After landing, he came to a position near the baseline and hugged the ball to his chest.
Looking at Lee posing on the baseline, Antoine Walker tilted his body, showing an expression of disbelief.
By the time he fully recovered, Lee had already rushed in front of him.
Facing Lee, who was pushing the ball and changing direction, Antoine Walker didn't pull him to give away a free throw.
The moment he was passed, he quickly chased from behind.
As if sensing something, the New York fans in the arena rose to their feet and cheered again.
Rushing to the half-court line, Lee executed a pull-up jumper, releasing the ball just before the light flashed!
Antoine Walker, who had stopped, gaped, watching the basketball arc high and fall precisely into the basket.
"GOD!!"
"An incredible shot! Clay Lee's performance is outstanding! The New York Knicks have had a perfect start!"
One quarter of play sealed the victory.
Mike Breen on the commentary desk yelled excitedly.
He knew very well that the Heat had no chance tonight!
16:37. Madison Square Garden erupted again.
The game entered the familiar 'blowout' rhythm.
In the roaring Madison Square Garden, only the Heat bench was silent. W
Wade stared at Pat Riley's tactical board, but his mind was blank.
It was a nightmare start.
O'Neal, drenched in sweat, also remained silent.
The game had ended as soon as it began.
He had no confidence in making up a 21-point deficit.
0-for-4 from the field, 3-for-4 from the free-throw line, Wade scored 3 points. 1-for-2 from the field, 0-for-3 from the free-throw line, O'Neal got 2 points.
The two core players combined for 5 points.
Pat Riley was also numb.
This was worse than last year!
"It will be very difficult for the Heat to close the gap. Perhaps they should now consider how to protect their next two home games."
On the commentary desk, Hubie Brown's words almost declared the game over.
The Heat had received 12 free throws.
The referees had done their best.
Played the entire first quarter: 6-for-8 from the field, 3-for-5 from three-point range, 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, 19 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks.
Clay Lee's individual scoring surpassed the Heat's, and the director frequently focused the camera on the New York Knicks' bench.
Coach DAntoni briefly spoke in front of everyone, then the assistant coach took over the tactical board, instructing the eager Fisher.
Hearing that they needed to control the tempo, Old Fish confidently responded:
"Leave the game to me! The Heat have no chance!"
Displaying his leadership qualities, Old Fish continuously communicated with the players about to enter the game.
Gasol, who had rested early, was also there.
No one was worried that the opponent would make a comeback.
Finley adjusted his jersey.
This veteran was also stunned.
This was the first time he had experienced such a conference finals.
The look of surprise on his dark face was uncontrollable.
The Heat had too many free throws in the first quarter, and Old Fish wasn't stupid.
He seized every opportunity to drive to the basket.
Wade, who continued to play, helplessly found that they couldn't even keep up with the rotation lineup, and at one point, they experienced another scoring drought of nearly three minutes.
Gasol occasionally played face-up isolation, but more often, he worked with Fisher at the free-throw line to control the game's tempo, occasionally delivering beautiful passes, leading to wave after wave of cheers.
Lee, wearing a New York Knicks white practice uniform, leaned back in his seat, occasionally standing up to swing a towel, and only returned to the court when there were just over 4 minutes left in the half.
Payton, who was substituted, had a twisted expression.
He was stimulated by Fisher's excellent performance.
In a smooth game, Old Fish showed his level as a Champion Guard.
"Damn it! You ass-licking piece of shit! Fuck!"
Shandon Anderson handed Payton a towel.
Watching the veteran lose his composure and repeatedly curse under his breath, he sighed inwardly.
The familiar do-or-die game was coming in two days.
Pat Riley, who had returned to the bench, seemed to have surrendered.
The slick-haired coach stared expressionlessly at the players on the court.
He knew that after the game, some people would surely miss Stan Van Gundy.
The Heat still couldn't find their offensive rhythm.
Lee's assists continued to climb, and as the first half ended, the Madison Square Garden was filled with joy.
There was no suspense in the game.
36:65. The entire second half was garbage time.
The Heat players lowered their heads and quickly walked towards the player tunnel.
Listening to the fans' taunting shouts, O'Neal, breathing heavily, was furious, his face dark.
Upon returning to the locker room, before everyone could even sit down, O'Neal first punched and knocked down the whiteboard, then vented his anger, yelling at everyone:
"This fucking game! We're the biggest fucking joke, scared to shoot by the opponent! This is the Conference Finals!"
"Flash! If you're in this state, don't say you're the team leader in front of the media."
"Motherfucker, if you don't like me, you can fight me now. I don't want to go back home and keep being humiliated!"
Everyone was startled by O'Neal.
The team staff didn't stop the big man from smashing things.
Wade, who had returned to his seat, covered his face with both hands, then looked up and said in a low voice:
"I will find myself. I swear, we will win at home!"
When Pat Riley returned to the locker room, he looked at his self-adjusting players without a word.
This was the biggest challenge he had faced since returning to coaching.
The opponent was simply not human.
During halftime, Lee replaced D'Antoni for an interview.
The black female reporter, Lisa Salters, was filling in for Michelle Tafoya, who was on maternity leave this year.
Affected by the atmosphere, Salters was also very excited.
She squeezed next to Lee, looked up, and asked loudly:
"This is truly an incredible half. The New York Knicks are currently leading by 29 points. Will you continue to set a new record for the largest playoff point differential?"
"That depends on the opponent's performance in the second half. Considering we have Game 3 in two days, I prefer to rest early."
Lee wasn't even sweating.
The Heat had insisted on Wade's single Defense for a period tonight, which was the reason for the large lead.
Salters felt a bit regretful.
If there were another record, she could also witness history.
Thinking about the upcoming games, she smiled again and asked:
"With two consecutive road games coming up, what challenges do you think the New York Knicks will face?"
He lowered his head slightly, feigning a thoughtful expression.
The fans behind him took the opportunity to make strange noises at the camera.
Clay Lee smiled faintly, shrugged his shoulders, and confidently replied:
"No difficulties whatsoever. We will sweep our opponents this year!"
"…"
...
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)