MVP’s Trouble (7749 words)

On March 1, 1997, the NBA announced the Player of the Month for February, and Glen Rice of the Charlotte Hornets won the award!

The Hornets had a 10-3 record in February, with Glen Rice averaging 42.7 minutes per game, averaging 28.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.0 turnovers;

He averaged 20.3 shots per game, with a shooting percentage of 47.7%, 5.2 shots from beyond the three-point line per game, with a three-point shooting percentage of 56.7%, and 7.4 free throws per game, with a free throw shooting percentage of 88.5%.

The data exploded, Glen Rice ate dumplings in February!

The league awarded the February Rookie of the Month to the Knicks' Clay Lee;

The Knicks also had a 10-3 record in February. Clay Lee averaged 35.9 minutes per game, averaging 16.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.0 turnovers.

He averaged 12.3 shots per game with a shooting percentage of 47.8%, 5.1 shots from beyond the three-point line with a three-point shooting percentage of 41.0%, and 3.6 free throws per game with a free throw shooting percentage of 82.1%.

With all the rookie guards failing, Lee, who got the starting position, went against the tide and once again put up All-Star point guard stats!

Apart from lamenting that Glen Rice will become the next superstar, commentators from major sports media no longer tease Lee as a "star-making product."

With data close to a double-double, he is definitely among the best among point guards and is well-deserved to be named an All-Star.

Of course, Rahim of the Vancouver Grizzlies also had great stats this month, averaging 24.5 points per game, but the Grizzlies' record was 3 wins and 10 losses, which greatly lowered his impression score.

Even though the Vancouver media was jealous, they did not deny Lee's performance.

His level is almost catching up with Kevin Johnson at his peak!

The New York media also joined in the fun. In addition to the print media following suit, Sports Illustrated also took advantage of the popularity to conduct an exclusive interview with Lee, and the cover of the next issue of the magazine just happened to be Lee.

After returning to New York on March 1, Lee originally planned to lie down at home. In the game against the Nuggets on the 28th, the two sides played two overtimes, and the Knicks still lost.

After 48 minutes on the court, Lee almost vomited from exhaustion. In the next two away games, the entire Knicks team missed shots. Six consecutive away games is not something a human can do.

In the afternoon, agent Mark Bartelstein, who flew to New York, saw Lee's kidney overdrawn and said helplessly:

"Jeff Van Gundy's use of players is too extreme, but this is a good thing for rookie players. Only with playing time can they realize their talents, and it is easier for them to find their form as starters."

As if thinking of Ray Allen's situation again, Mark Bartelstan paused and sighed again:

"Ray is not as lucky as you. No one is paying attention to Milwaukee. There are two talented rookies on the team, and the head coach limits his shots."

"I should have said something harsh at the beginning. This is my problem. Otherwise, Ray should have played for the Celtics."

Thinking of Antoine Walker's big performance in the Celtics, Lee also felt that Ray Allen was indeed unlucky:

"Maybe the Bucks will make a trade during the offseason. We can always get through this!"

The two stopped talking about the unlucky Ray Allen and had to clean up for the interview in the afternoon.

Having just joined Sports Illustrated as executive editor in 1995, and being appointed editor-in-chief in early 1997, the 43-year-old Bill Colhoun was at the peak of his life.

A typical elite white man, he keeps a good figure and is friendly to others. In order to get to know Lee better in real life, this time we conducted an exclusive interview in his apartment in Manhattan.

The accompanying staff were taking some pictures of the room, and Bill Colhoun, who was dressed in a black suit, asked curiously:

"Lee, are you still planning on completing your studies? That's rare, since many players use college as a springboard."

Lee also changed into a light grey formal suit. Seeing the staff taking pictures of the study room, he responded casually:

"I have a good memory. Reading more books is never a bad thing. I will naturally complete my studies within my ability. In fact, reading is a form of entertainment for me."

Bill Colhoun nodded in agreement. The times were changing rapidly, and the fact that he was able to take the editor-in-chief position was also related to the fact that the old guys were out of date:

"Lee, did you notice the last swimsuit issue? We chose supermodel Tyra Banks for the cover. She is the first African American to appear on the cover of the swimsuit issue."

Lee smiled and nodded when he heard such a meaningful remark:

"Of course, I will not miss any swimsuit issue. Banks is very beautiful. I think this issue of the magazine will definitely be very popular!"

"."

The interview is more about life, studies, and things other than basketball.

The performance on the court can be seen by fans, but what happens outside the court is all shaped by the media.

For fans who like to watch NCAA games, Lee was well-known since his freshman year.

As Connecticut won the championship, Lee often appeared on TV and became a regular on the top ten plays after entering the NBA, and his popularity naturally increased.

Players of this era attach great importance to honors, which is also related to the fact that there are too few awards.

For example, the Rookie of the Month award has not yet been divided into the Eastern and Western Conferences, and its value is much higher than in the future.

The Philadelphia media was originally quite satisfied with Iverson's performance, but they are afraid of comparison.

The No. 1 pick started strong but ended weak, with a particularly poor performance in February.

At the end of February, the 76ers first suffered a big defeat to the Heat, and Tim Hardaway taught the newbies a lesson.

Iverson made 2 of 13 shots and scored 10 points on free throws.

In the subsequent game against the Suns, Kevin Johnson and Kidd beat Iverson even more!

In this duel between guards, Kevin Johnson made 13 of 22 shots and scored 36 points, while Kidd made 7 of 15 shots, scored 19 points and sent out 6 steals.

The two contributed 21 assists together and had 3 turnovers.

Iverson made 3 of 15 shots, scored only 8 points, and had 4 turnovers.

"No one can limit me in one-on-one!"

Throughout February, Iverson's average points per game dropped to 16.4 points, his shooting percentage was only 32.4%, and his three-point shooting percentage dropped to 20.3%.

Iverson's boomerang finally hit himself, slapping him in the face, and he has recently become the object of ridicule by the media.

On the evening of March 2, the 76ers were beaten again when they visited Madison Square Garden!

The Knicks won 96:111 and ended the last game of the week.

Before the game, Iverson was furious when he saw Lee receiving the award amid the cheers of New York fans. He kept shooting after the game started.

As a result, he played for 45 minutes, made 9 of 24 shots, 3 of 7 from beyond the three-point line, and 1 of 2 free throws, scoring 22 points.

Too many long two-point shots affected the overall efficiency, with a hit rate of less than 40%. Iverson left the court dejectedly after the loss.

After returning to their home court and winning, MSG interviewed Lee immediately after the game:

"Lee, congratulations on winning the Rookie of the Month award again. I'm glad to see the team finish this week's game with an excellent record. Have you paid attention to the recent MVP news?"

The New York media are all promoting the gorilla, and commentator John Andariese is no exception.

"Of course, the whole team supports Pat, our record is even better, and the team is getting better and better!"

Lee also deliberately ignored the Bulls and continued to support the gorilla. Both sides tacitly avoided talking about Michael Jordan and started a wave of commercial mutual praise.

At Madison Square Garden, after the game ended, a large number of fans remained. They shouted Lee's name, trying to attract attention.

After the interview, Lee, wearing the white home jersey, walked slowly towards the player tunnel and high-fived the fans on both sides:

"The vengeful Michael Jordan must be furious."

On March 4, the Bucks visited New York back-to-back. The Eastern Conference teams were making great efforts after the All-Star Game, but the Bucks began to fall behind.

With 25 wins and 33 losses, the Bucks need to at least have a winning streak to make the playoffs, but they have been losing games one after another recently, and suffered a crushing defeat to the Bulls last night.

Dennis Rodman has been on TV frequently recently, grabbing at least 15 rebounds in 16 consecutive games. Rodman is in great form after the suspension.

Ray Allen seemed to have not recovered from the loss in the previous game. He faced off against Michael Jordan and was completely beaten.

"What your coach asked was totally unrealistic. No matter who was defending, Michael Jordan would have scored so many points."

"So don't worry about the defensive failure at all. If there were someone in the league who could limit him, the Bulls wouldn't have won 72 games."

Lee entertained his good friend at home. Seeing that the other party still looked a little depressed, he told him a cruel fact.

"I just wanted to try, but the defense was useless and he kept scoring on me."

Ray Allen shrugged his shoulders. When facing his idol, he always wanted to challenge him.

As a result, he was beaten and left the game early every time.

As Lee said, no matter how the Bucks change defenders, as long as Jordan wants to score, it doesn't matter who defends.

"Ewing will not get the MVP. The Bulls still have a chance to win 70 games. In this case, there is no suspense about the award."

Despite the overwhelming publicity from the New York media, Ray Allen was dismissive and still believed that his idol would win the award.

This was not the first time Lee had heard such words. He did not argue but just smiled and said,

"Everything is possible. The NBA is sometimes just a big show!"

"."

On the evening of the 4th, Patrick Ewing, who was feeling elated after returning to New York, continued his efficient performance.

Although he played like a forward, he made several easy jump shots near the paint area after the opening.

In the third quarter, when the gorilla was shooting free throws, the New York fans at the scene were shouting crazily:

"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

At the end of the third quarter, the home team Knicks were leading by 15 points, 61:76.

Glenn Robinson had no touch in back-to-back games. He kept shooting after the start of the game but missed all of them.

During the intermission, Larry Johnson ate another lemon. He had enjoyed such "MVP" cheers when he was on the Hornets.

"You didn't really think you would win the award? Are the New York fans and media crazy?"

Covering her mouth with a towel, the "grandmama" whispered something beside Lee.

After Lee became a stable starter, Larry Johnson's statistics also began to rise.

"Having fun is the most important thing! Look at the fans at the scene, everyone likes to participate in the activities, just enjoy the process!"

Lee responded in a low voice, expressing his inner thoughts. The whole city united as one to build momentum for the players. This was the first time he had personally experienced this.

The Bucks didn't resist in the end, and played step by step in the fourth quarter. In the end, 86:100, giving the Knicks another big win!

Ewing only played for 30 minutes, 7 of 12 shots, 3 of 4 free throws, 17 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and no turnovers.

In an interview after the game, the gorilla also seemed very excited. The atmosphere in Madison Square Garden was really great:

"I don't care about the MVP. We will get 60+ wins and eventually win the division championship. I hope the New York fans will like this gift!"

"."

At the critical moment, the New York media did not hold back. If Karl Malone can be the MVP, then Patrick Ewing can also win the award!

After easily defeating the Raptors back to back, the Knicks took a day off and defeated the Celtics who were crazy and bad.

On the morning of the 8th, Lee returned to his Manhattan apartment and looked at the sports section of the newspaper, which was promoting the game against the Bulls tomorrow night:

"MVP Proof Battle!"

Looking at the Sports Illustrated magazine in his hand, Lee felt the power of the New York media for the first time.

The cover of Sports Illustrated this week features a photo of Lee catching the ball in the right corner and quickly making a jump shot, with Stockton raising his hand at his side.

The photographer captured the shot perfectly, just when Lee jumped to the highest point and Stockton was unable to block the shot. The colorful cover was matched with a big slogan:

"The New Era"

As the first Asian to appear on Sports Illustrated, the sales of this issue of the magazine went through the roof.

Lee didn't know much about other places, but in New York, asians who didn't pay attention to sports would buy a copy.

Just looking at this cover, Lee always felt that this was another provocation.

After losing to the Jazz, the media turned around and mocked the other team for being out of date.

The Bulls came to New York a day in advance. Michael Jordan was obviously angry for being ignored and did not even look for his "good brother" to play cards before the game.

On the morning of the 9th, seemingly annoyed by the New York media that kept chasing him for interviews, Michael Jordan showed a disdainful expression after the training session and took the initiative to speak out:

"What do you want me to say? Support Pat for the MVP?"

"53 wins and 7 losses! This is the Bulls' record. We are number one in the league. Do you think anyone else is qualified to win this award?"

"."

Before the game that night, Phil Jackson also mocked the Knicks in a pre-game interview:

"49 wins and 13 losses, look at the Knicks' record, simple math, they are second!"

"You should know what second place means. When did the MVP selection criteria become so low?"

With two games less, the Bulls still led the league. Phil Jackson acted very arrogantly, but the media in the audience could not refute him.

The game hadn't started yet, but the atmosphere was getting more tense. The instigators succeeded in completely angering the Chicago media and Michael Jordan.

Madison Square Garden was packed that night. After days of publicity, New York fans were already eager to see Michael Jordan break down the defense.

At the pre-match entrance ceremony, the home DJ quietly introduced the visiting team's players:

"From the University of North Carolina, No. 23—"

"Michaaael-Jooordan"

There was a huge booing in the stadium immediately.

The Knicks had been defeated by the Bulls in the playoffs for three consecutive years, and the old fans did not like Michael Jordan.

Chewing gum and wearing a red Bulls training jersey, Michael Jordan high-fived his teammates with an expressionless face.

After the Knicks players finished their appearance, Madison Square Garden was completely boiling. Every time they met the Bulls, New York fans were particularly devoted.

With Ron Harper and Dennis Rodman back, the Bulls are doing really well with a full lineup!"

"Hopefully we can beat the Bulls tonight. I think coach Jeff Van Gundy will make some adjustments after the loss in the last meeting."

At the MSG commentary booth, commentator Marv Albert, as usual, gave a bad comment about the home team.

Commentator John Andariese saw Jeff Van Gundy holding the tactical board with a calm expression and sighed in a low voice:

"The Knicks have achieved such a performance, and the coaching staff has done a lot of work. I support Jeff Van Gundy to be elected this year's Coach of the Year."

At this time, the bald young coach was not as wise and powerful as the two people in the commentary booth imagined, and he was just pretending while holding the tactical board.

Before the game started, Jeff Van Gundy gave a few simple instructions:

"Lee, you control the tempo of the game, and the others should do a good job of defense. Don't let Michael Jordan play comfortably. This is our home court."

The emphasis is still on defense. On the offensive end, Lee will lead the game according to the game strategy formulated before the game, and the others will follow.

How the game will turn out depends on luck.

Lee nodded and didn't say much. As long as everyone is willing to be a tool, this game will definitely be a win.

Ewing no longer cared about his status as a forward. If he wanted to win the MVP, he had to defeat Michael Jordan at least once. Before the gorilla came on the court, he also loudly warned:

"Leave the rebounds to me, Charles will take care of Rodman, and everyone else will do their best to defend, and we will win the game."

As the players from both teams came to the center of the field, cheers immediately rang out from Madison Square Garden:

"Let's go Knicks! Let's go Knicks! Let's go Knicks!"

Ewing overpowered Luke Longley and won the jump ball. Lee controlled the ball and quickly moved across half court.

Ron Harper did not choose to lead the defense, but chose to move forward to defend when Lee approached the three-point line.

In terms of height, Ron Harper has a slight advantage, and coupled with his excellent defensive experience, he can exert a certain degree of suppression against most backcourts in the league.

Lee did not hold the ball for too long as usual, but immediately passed the ball to Alan Houston who was waiting at the top of the arc.

After the latter received the ball, Lee ran without the ball and quickly ran to the left corner. The Knicks players also started to run.

Oakley ran down the left side of the free throw line, and Ewing in the three-second zone came to the elbow area on the right side of the free throw line.

Lee called out to everyone and quickly ran back to the baseline. Ron Harper could only follow him.

Oakley made an off-ball screen at the right time, and Lee briefly got rid of Ron Harper's pursuit and quickly ran to the right corner.

At the same time, Larry Johnson on the right wing also quickly moved down, and when Ron Harper was chasing Lee who was circling, he also made a downward screen.

Seeing Lee move to the top line, Alan Houston passed the ball to Ewing, who quickly moved to the left wing.

The gorilla who received the ball turned sideways and made a hand-to-hand pass to Lee, briefly delayed to chase Ron Harper, and then quickly went down.

Lee received the hand-to-hand pass and came to the free throw line with the ball in his left hand. He quickly went in and out before Ron Harper could get to his defense.

Lee suddenly accelerated, swaying to the right and left. Luke Longley, who was assisting in defense in the paint area, just followed suit but was staggered by Lee's quick change of direction in front of his body.

Ron Harper, who was chasing quickly, came to his side and found that the basketball in Lee's hand was gone.

After Lee changed direction, he passed the ball to Ewing, who caught the ball and immediately dunked it with one hand under the basket!

"Wow!!"

Huge cheers rang in my ears, Ron Harper frowned, Lee changed direction and slung the ball with one hand in a cool manner,

and Ewing, who felt like he was shown off after completing the dunk, stood under the basket and roared. The atmosphere on the scene was instantly ignited.

The Bulls sent the ball from the baseline, and Ron Harper's advancement speed was not very fast. After he crossed the center line, his teammates had already got into position.

Lee just glanced at the movements behind him and saw Michael Jordan move from the right to the left baseline and then quickly run to the left elbow area of the free throw line.

He knew that this must be a one-on-one tactic.

Ron Harper made a half-high pass and Michael Jordan easily caught the ball.

Facing the defense of Alan Houston, he raised the ball and faked it, then put the ball in his left hand and took a step sideways, then he jumped up, drifted to the left and completed a fadeaway jump shot!

"Swish!" The mid-range shot was hit steadily.

Chewing gum, Michael Jordan retreated quickly with an expressionless face. With the blessing of the anger buff, his offensive speed increased by several points.

It's an old-fashioned tactic. All the teams in the league know that the Bulls will play like this, but they just can't limit them. They shoot accurately, jump high, and are fast.

After the first round, the two teams quickly showed different game strategies.

The Knicks gave Lee more off-ball screens and shared the ball more often, while the Bulls gave the ball to Michael Jordan ran back and forth, cut in quickly, received a ground pass from Ewing at the left elbow, and scored under the basket!

Looking back, Michael Jordan was at the right baseline, facing Alan Houston with his back to the basket, and he turned around and made a fade away jump shot.

After a pick-and-roll at the elbow on the left side of the free throw line, Lee made another circle and received a hand-to-hand pass. He accelerated with the ball in his right hand and quickly made a ground pass when Ron Harper came up to defend.

Ewing received the ball near the left baseline and made a mid-range jump shot!

The New York fans at the scene just cheered, and the Bulls' offense became simpler and more brutal. With the same tactics, Michael Jordan came to the right blocking area with the help of Luke Longley's screen, received the pass from Pippen, and turned around.

With a quick tentative step with his right foot, Michael Jordan took advantage of Alan Houston's defensive center of gravity moving backward and made a jump shot.

Alan Houston reluctantly walked to the baseline to prepare for the serve, and the atmosphere on the scene cooled down.

6:6, right after the start, Michael Jordan showed his attitude of "I will shoot you to death". The media hyped up the MVP, which completely angered Jordan.

Jeff Van Gundy on the sidelines. Seeing Jordan's good start, he immediately shouted:

"Defense! Don't let him shoot easily!"

After receiving the instructions, the Knicks quickly entered an "iron and blood" state.

Larry Johnson began to help defend and double-team Michael Jordan.

The Knicks' offensive tactics failed, Lee missed the mid-range shot, and Oakley and Rodman fought for the basket under the basket.

With the ball stuck behind him, Rodman first tried to steal the ball, then jumped a second time and grabbed the rebound.

Lee was so cool in rebounding. He quickly retreated and looked at Rodman posing. He was speechless,

"Defense! Defense! Defense!"

The New York fans at the scene started shouting loudly again. Ron Harper passed the ball after crossing half court, and then took Lee to the left corner to smoke.

Michael Jordan received the ball at the elbow on the left side of the free throw line, and Pippen came to the top of the arc to receive it.

At the moment when the "grandmama" double-teamed him, Pippen immediately ran to the blocking area on the right side.

Under the double-team, Michael Jordan received the ball with his right hand and rushed directly to the paint area.

The moment of the double-team, he immediately passed the ball to Pippen.

The latter received the ball with no one in front of him, and Pippen missed the shot!

Cheers resounded throughout the arena, Rodman hung on Oakley and hit the rebound, but fortunately the old guy reacted quickly enough and successfully protected the second rebound.

Rodman rushed for the rebound, the Bulls had already retreated, and the Knicks could only play positional offense.

As time went by, Phil Jackson, who was sitting on the bench, frowned secretly. The Bulls' offense was very fast, but Pippen kept missing shots.

If it weren't for Rodman's crazy rush for rebounds as if he was on drugs, the opponent would have launched a transition offense.

Just seeing that the Knicks also missed shots from the outside, Phil Jackson still did not request a timeout, and continued to sit on the bench with a smile on his face.

The Knicks fans at the scene watched the two teams miss shots back and forth and exclaimed continuously.

20:20, the first quarter ended with the two teams tied.

During the intermission, Jeff Van Gundy didn't care about the hit rate. Seeing that Jordan was double-teamed and missed, the bald young coach was excited:

"Keep up this defensive intensity, double-team him, and let the rest of the Bulls handle the offense!"

"Don't worry about the missed shots. We can win the game as long as we make more shots than the other team. Keep shooting, OK?"

The noisy scene made Jeff Van Gundy yell these words.

Ewing kept clapping his hands, signaling everyone to cheer up. Tonight he had completely transformed into a forward:

"Hold on! They can't make the shot!"

In the second quarter, the rotation team came on the court. Lee was sitting on the bench and saw that Michael Jordan did not rest and continued to play. He was surprised and exclaimed:

"The New York media really irritated him. This kind of situation is not common in the regular season."

Alan Houston completely turned into a defensive tool tonight, and said numbly:

"Fortunately, he will miss the shot even if he is double-teamed. I really don't want to see him score 50 points on me."

The two performed mediocrely in the first quarter, with Clay Lee making 1 of 3 and Alan Houston making 2 of 5, but according to the game plan, they had to continue shooting later.

During the rotation phase, the Bulls brought Steve Kerr and Randy Brown into the backcourt. Jordan was pushed to the No. 3 position, and Rodman and Bill Wennington became the inside players.

Both teams rested their inside players at the end of the first quarter. Charles Oakley and Larry Johnson also rotated in, with Starks and Chris Charles in the backcourt and veteran Buck Williams as center.

"Michael Jordan's shooting percentage is dropping! This is our great opportunity!"

"OH! Steve Kerr hits this open three-pointer!"

Commentator Marv Albert had become a little agitated since he saw Jordan miss the shot. This three-pointer made him sober up again and realize that the Bulls do have shooters.

Ron Harper seemed to be in poor physical condition. In the first quarter, apart from defense, he hardly participated in the offense. Phil Jackson's substitution was timely.

Jeff Van Gundy on the sidelines shouted to continue the double team!

Frequently passing the ball to Michael Jordan, coupled with the Knicks' fast defensive rotation, made the Bulls' offensive rhythm slower and slower.

Michael Jordan was stubborn and still believed that his next shot would make it, but he missed several jump shots near the elbow.

He made 4 of 7 shots in the first quarter. After being double-teamed, his touch was gone. In the second quarter, Jordan still couldn't get his touch back.

With 5 minutes and 31 seconds left in the first half, the main lineups of both sides returned. At this time, the score was 33:33, and the two sides were still tied.

With a bad touch, Michael Jordan went all out on defense, chasing Starks and causing him to miss shots as well.

Phil Jackson had no intention of making substitutions and still sat on the bench with a smile on his face, but Van Gundy could no longer hold back and the Bulls used defense to pull the game back.

Ron Harper did not participate in the offense either. He immediately defended Lee after coming on the court.

Except for a quick stop jump shot after a pick-and-roll that he failed to defend properly, his defense was very successful most of the time.

"oh!!"

At the right elbow of the free throw line, Michael Jordan missed another shot. The cheers from the crowd became more and more shrill. At some point, the chewing gum disappeared.

At the end of the second quarter, Ewing began to attack the inside continuously, stood on the free throw line, and made several mid-range jump shots, scoring most of the points for the Knicks.

42:42, halftime ended and both sides were still tied.

"Michael Jordan made 1 of 6 shots in the quarter and only scored 4 points. Our defense worked!"

Commentator Marv Albert cheerfully summarized the second quarter, while commentator John Andariese was less excited:

"He'll find his touch and hit those difficult shots, and we have to respond in time!"

At halftime, in the Knicks locker room, Jeff Van Gundy was a little disappointed, and the outside offense also declined.

Lee made 2 of 6 shots and Alan Houston made 2 of 8 shots. Both of them performed poorly, but Jeff Van Gundy still chose to trust them:

"Keep shooting in the second half. When opportunities arise, take decisive shots. At the same time, maintain this defensive intensity!"

"He will get tired, all we have to do is wait for our chance!"

Everyone in the locker room listened quietly to the head coach's encouragement. If they could win this game, perhaps Ewing could also win a place in the MVP selection.

Lee didn't care about his missed shots. He had to accommodate Ewing most of the time in the first half, and his pick-and-roll positions were mostly within the three-point line.

It's just that Ron Harper is really difficult to deal with. The veteran didn't say a word. He didn't work on the offensive end, but he chased desperately on the defensive end.

"Improve the screen position, I will hit those shots, we need a few transition offenses!"

Charles Oakley nodded in agreement after hearing what Lee said. Jordan kept shooting jump shots, and Rodman was responsible for rebounding. He had no chance to confront Jordan, so the old guy decided to confront Rodman:

"Don't worry about the rebounds. There was only one foul in the first half. In the second half, they won't be able to grab any more offensive rebounds!"

"."

As the second half of the game began, New York fans were still excited. Seeing Jordan miss shots, everyone was happy:

"Defense! Defense! Defense!"

The Bulls took the lead in attacking. With the cheers of New York fans, Michael Jordan showed no signs of mercy. He made a fadeaway jump shot from the left blocking area.

Rodman suffered a loss this time. Oakley elbowed and bumped him, stuck him behind him, grabbed the rebound, and immediately passed the ball to Clay Lee.

Steve Kerr, who started in the second half, did not step forward to delay the game immediately, but instead quickly retreated with the Bulls.

Holding the ball in his left hand, Lee continued to accelerate along the left sideline, chasing the opponent across half the court.

When approaching the three-point line, Steve Kerr stepped forward to defend, but Lee did not slow down at this time.

He dribbled the ball quickly between his legs, switched to his right hand, and then dribbled the ball behind his back.

Steve Kerr quickly slid to the right rear, but Lee, who caught the ball with his left hand, did not choose to break through. Instead, he exerted force with his feet and stepped back quickly.

Instantly shaking off the defense, without waiting for Steve Kerr to rush over, Lee converted a three-pointer and quickly made a jump shot!

"Swish!" The three-pointer went into the net!

42:45, this was also the Knicks' first three-pointer in this game.

The Bulls who retreated to the half court looked at Lee who was pacing back to the half court, and were speechless for a moment.

In Madison Square Garden, cheers rang out again. This time, Michael Jordan simply dribbled across half court by himself and passed the ball to Steve Kerr after reaching the top of the arc.

Alan Houston watched Jordan run without the ball to the left blocking area, then turn his back to ask for the ball. For a moment, he could only block from behind.

Under the interference of Lee, Steve Kerr's pass quality was not high, but after receiving the ball, Jordan leaned back and hit it, immediately turned towards the baseline, ignored the block, and made a jump shot!

Speeding up the ball handling speed, Michael Jordan also quickly retreated, retreated to half court and clapped his hands, indicating that he would defend for one round.

"Let's go Knicks! Let's go Knicks! Let's go Knicks!"

Cheers rang out again, and Steve Kerr took the lead in defense this time. Lee was not in a hurry to advance. He made gestures again and again before slowly crossing half court.

The same tactics, the ball was passed immediately after crossing half court, Alan Houston received the ball at the top of the arc, and then Lee ran to the left corner.

This time Ewing did not go to the elbow area to receive the ball. He ran back from left to right and immediately made an off-ball screen at the right baseline!

Oakley's first "tough" screen near the left limit made Steve Kerr lose his defensive position.

"Delay out!"

Upon hearing the reminder, Luke Longley hurriedly moved to the right corner, and Alan Houston and Larry Johnson quickly passed the ball.

When the ball arrived, Lee received it at the baseline and immediately raised the ball for a fake move. While Luke Longley was rushing forward to defend, he took a big step with his left foot and pretended to break through.

Luke Longley subconsciously stepped back, Lee quickly retracted his feet, then raised the ball and threw it!

"Swish!" The three-pointer went into the net!

"Wonderful goal! Luke Longley was knocked off balance by a simple fake move. Perfect teamwork!"

The fans cheered loudly, and commentator Marv Albert also raised his voice instantly.

The +3 score was so comfortable!

44:48, the score difference became 4 points.

The Knicks players saw the opportunity and started shouting at each other, increasing the intensity of their defense.

Phil Jackson naturally noticed the changes in the Knicks. Their screens became more brutal. Oakley, who had been playing honestly in the first half, suddenly changed his style.

He stood up and complained to the referee. As a result, this time the Bulls attacked, Jordan, who was double-teamed in the left elbow area, passed the ball to Pippen at the top of the arc. The latter missed another shot from outside the three-point line.

The long rebound was directly picked up by Lee, who kept accelerating along the right sideline, and cheers started again.

Steve Kerr stepped forward in time to delay the situation, and the Bulls quickly retreated.

On the right wing, noticing that the Bulls had already taken up their defensive positions, Lee slowed down and quickly passed the ball to Alan Houston at the top of the arc.

Pulling Ewing to stand in the elbow area on the right side of the free throw line, Lee immediately cut in horizontally.

Steve Kerr could only chase along, but he was caught by Ewing's screen and was a step slower.

Quickly moving to the left wing outside the three-point line, Lee received the ball and drifted left outside the three-point line to make a jump shot!

"Swish!" The three-pointer went into the net!

44:51, the score difference was widened to 7 points. Steve Kerr stood beside Lee and could only watch Lee raise his arms and smile coolly,

"These screens are all fouls! You should have seen their movements!"

While requesting a timeout, Phil Jackson did not immediately arrange tactics, but instead went to the referee and complained loudly.

When the New York fans in the front row saw this scene, they started swearing and mocking loudly.

Michael Jordan just walked back to the bench with a sullen face, while Pippen was a little embarrassed because he missed too many open shots tonight.

"Great job, Lee! We are leading by 7 points!"

Assistant coach Thibodeau patted Lee on the shoulder and said that the coaching staff had made the right bet.

Back on the bench, Lee and Oakley bumped fists. The Knicks' recently developed offensive mode, with "tough" screens, allowed Lee to get more opportunities.

This tactic was also used with Alan Houston, but Michael Jordan's defense was too strong

and Jeff Van Gundy excitedly gave him some chicken soup, while on the other side, Phil Jackson quickly replaced him with Ron Harper.

The game resumed, and what the Bulls coaching staff was worried about happened. Pippen missed shots, Ron Harper did not attack in the first half, and the Knicks began to surround Michael Jordan with three players.

Jordan received the ball with his back to the basket in the left blocking zone. Lee and Larry Johnson rushed to grab the ball at the same time, and Jordan immediately passed the ball to Ron Harper in the left corner.

The latter received the ball and took an open three-point jump shot!

"Bang!" The basketball hit the rim and bounced out.

The rebound bounced into Ewing's hands, Lee received it, and the Knicks players started running frantically towards the frontcourt.

On the right wing, Oakley's tough screen delayed Ron Harper again, and Rodman immediately switched defense.

Lee, holding the ball in his right hand, accelerated roughly in a straight line, approached the right blocking area, and immediately pulled back with a large cross step.

His left hand paused slightly, and while Rodman was sliding, he quickly changed direction under his crotch!

Lee, who lowered his center of gravity, was about to break through Rodman's defense, but a strong force came from the side, and Rodman, who had lost his defensive position, pushed him hard.

Lee, who accelerated at full speed, staggered immediately, lost his balance, and almost fell directly on the basketball hoop.

Rodman was smiling and wanted to step forward and mock him, but he didn't expect Lee to stand up straight, turn around and throw the ball hard.

"Bang!! Ah!"

The basketball hit Rodman in the face, causing him to scream in pain. He subconsciously covered his nose and rushed forward to punch him twice.

Charles Oakley reacted faster and locked Rodman. Players from both teams rushed forward, and the New York fans at the scene began to yell excitedly!

"Fuck you, next time I'll hit your dick!"

Lee, who was hugged by the referee, glared and cursed. If he failed, his head might be cut!

Michael Jordan pulled the two apart with a dark face. Rodman, who felt embarrassed, walked to the bench cursing.

Charles Oakley didn't care, and patted Jordan on the shoulder with a smile:

"I swear, you are going to lose tonight!"

Phil Jackson was not in the mood to act cool at this time. He put on a stern face and told his players to stay calm.

Rodman had a cut on his lip and wanted to continue cursing, but when he turned around and saw Michael Jordan with a grim look on his face, he suddenly stopped talking.

The two of them received a flagrant foul and both sides shot free throws. Madison Square Garden was filled with curses at this time.

Smelling the taste of victory, the fans could no longer hold back.

From this moment on, the game completely changed, and "iron-blooded" basketball began to take off.

This was the Knicks' favorite game rhythm in the past. Oakley, who only received one foul in the first half, let himself go.

Ron Harper's outside shooting was not good, and he elbowed Jordan when he broke through to the basket.

Clay Lee and Larry Johnson cooperated with Alan Houston to constantly block Jordan.

The Bulls coaching staff could only watch Ron Harper and Pippen miss open shots.

During the transition offense, Lee also demonstrated the hidden flying knee he learned from Stockton, but Rodman, who was switching defense in the pick-and-roll, was prepared, and the two fell to the floor again.

The situation began to get out of control, and the excited Ewing also began to join the melee.

Lee was dragged out by Alan Houston, and the two sides twisted into a ball again on the other side.

"Crazy game! We played great defense and the Bulls started to get mad!"

In the live commentary booth, commentator Marv Albert also lied with his eyes open, and Spike Lee on the sidelines even made a chokehold gesture to the Bulls players.

By the end of the long third quarter, Lee, Oakley and Larry Johnson all had 4 fouls, and all the fouls they had retained in the first half were used up.

With 22:30 in a single quarter and 64:72 after three quarters, the Knicks finally led by 8 points.

"This is the outside attack we expected. He made 3 of 7 shots and 3 of 3 free throws. Lee scored 12 points in this quarter. The consecutive three-pointers were so crucial!"

Commentator John Andaris was infected by the atmosphere and raised his voice.

Michael Jordan, who was surrounded, made 4 of 9 shots and scored 10 points in a single quarter, while Ron Harper made 0 of 3 shots and Pippen made 1 of 5 shots, and the two scored a total of 4 points.

In the fourth quarter, there was no trash talk between the two sides and they continued to fight each other.

Under this high-pressure defense, the game turned into a "shitty" chocolate, but the New York fans at the scene became more and more happy, and their cheers echoed throughout the stadium.

Ron Harper was replaced again, Steve Kerr came on, and after Pippen continued to miss shots, Michael Jordan stopped passing the ball.

As time went on, Michael Jordan also started shooting three-pointers, while on the Knicks side, Lee began to hold the ball a lot, Ewing made consecutive pick-and-rolls and completed mid-range jump shots near the paint area.

With 2 minutes and 22 seconds left in the game, Ewing arched into the paint area from the low post on the left side and scored two points despite Luke Longley's block!

Madison Square Garden completely and thoroughly exploded, 84:92, the Bulls were suppressed.

Michael Jordan faced three defenders and scored 2 points in the paint. Then, he turned around and made a simple pick-and-roll at the top of the arc. Lee got rid of the defense and shot in the paint!

Lee punched and yelled at Rodman. The referee rushed forward again and separated the two teams in the first place.

Until the last moment of the game, Michael Jordan still did not give up, but time was running out.

The buzzer sounded at the end of the game, 90:98, the Knicks won the game with difficulty.

Ewing stood on the sidelines, waving his fists and roaring excitedly. He had proved himself once again.

Amid taunts and insults that filled the arena, Michael Jordan held his head high, expressionless, and walked quickly toward the player tunnel.

Phil Jackson grimaced and shook hands with a grinning Jeff Van Gundy.

"It's a crazy game. We can definitely challenge the defending champions this year!"

"20 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal, 4 turnovers. Lee once again demonstrated his All-Star point guard prowess!"

"I believe that after this game, no one will question it! Look at the defense he faced. It's unbelievable that he is only 19 years old!"

Commentator Marv Albert looked at Clay Lee who was celebrating with his team and couldn't help but start to criticize.

Commentator John Andariese looked at the fans who were reluctant to leave the stadium and sighed:

"After losing in the finals, I saw hope again"

When the Knicks returned to the locker room, the adrenaline wore off and fatigue set in.

Lee felt sore in many parts of his body. He shot 6 of 15, 3 of 8 from beyond the three-point line, and 5 of 6 free throws.

Looking at the 40% hit rate in the technical statistics, he rubbed his forehead helplessly.

"Michael Jordan must be pissed. He shot 14 of 32 and scored 36 points. Oh! And he lost the game!"

"I can't wait to see what he has to say at the press conference!"

Charles Oakley seemed completely unaffected by the intensity of the game and happily mocked his friends as if nothing had happened.

Ewing was grinning, and the atmosphere group followed suit and cheered loudly. Seeing this scene, Lee could only mutter in a low voice:

"MVP? It's really a good thing."

...

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