Anti-Jordan Pioneer
On May 13, 1997, two seasons later, the Knicks made it to the Eastern Conference Finals again!
88:104, the Heat held on for another half quarter in the fourth quarter and recovered some points, but in the end they still lost regretfully.
Mourning played for 39 minutes, made 9 of 17 shots, 6 of 12 free throws, and scored 24 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 turnovers.
Whenever he found his form, the Knicks would send him to the free throw line, to which Mourning again failed to respond and his free throw shooting was poor.
With a body full of muscular muscles, he couldn't use his strength. All he could hear were the cheers and jeers of the New York fans.
Mourning stood on the sidelines for a long time, looking at the score.
Tim Hardaway simply shook hands and walked back to the player tunnel.
7 of 17, 2 of 8 from beyond the three-point line, 1 of 4 free throws, 17 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and no turnovers.
Having learned from the lessons of the previous games, Tim Hardaway controlled his turnovers well, but too many safe passes made it difficult for the Heat to launch a threatening transition offense.
Too much energy was spent on the defensive end, and Tim Hardaway's performance in the rest of the games was disappointing except for a brilliant performance in Game 3.
Jeff Van Gundy was extremely satisfied to be able to reach the divisional finals. He shook hands with Pat Riley with a smile on his face.
The two exchanged greetings for a while in front of the technical table.
Pat Riley still maintained his demeanor, patted his former assistant coach, and quickly left the stadium.
"This is truly an incredible season. We have fully demonstrated our dominance in the playoffs so far."
"After the personnel adjustment, the Knicks lineup is younger. The future belongs to us.Facing the old rival in the divisional finals, I believe the team will give a response!"
Commentator Marv Albert is very satisfied with the Knicks' performance this year.
Although commentator John Andariese was not optimistic about the upcoming Eastern Conference Finals, he did not say anything discouraging:
"This is the first year after the team's reorganization and also Lee's first season. I believe New York fans are very satisfied with this achievement."
"No matter what the result is, I believe the Knicks will succeed in the end!"
The New York media has a love-hate relationship with the next opponent.
Everyone likes to consume Michael Jordan and likes to see the league's number one player break through defense.
But everyone is aware of the strength of the Bulls, so a part of the media was already scared before the game even started.
The Knicks might be the team that has lost the most to Michael Jordan in all these years.
Not only are the players numb from losing, but the New York media is also numb.
At the post-match press conference, wearing a light gray suit, Clay Lee once again enjoyed superstar treatment, but the attitude of the media below the stage was a little strange.
"At 19 years and 135 days old, congratulations on breaking the record set by Michael Jordan in 1985 and becoming the youngest player in NBA playoff history to score 30+10!"
"Can you talk about your performance in the second quarter? Incredible, 24 points in a single quarter!"
The New York Post reporter in the audience did not ask questions about the next round of opponents, which was unusual. Lee was too lazy to think about it:
"I run without the ball, catch the ball and shoot, and observe the defender's center of gravity. I am not just a shooter. If I seize the opportunity, I can also attack the basket. Scoring is that simple!"
"Of course, this is inseparable from the support of my teammates. The fans at the scene also gave me great encouragement. Playing in Madison Square Garden, I can always find the state easily."
"From now on this privilege will belong to the home team players!"
When the TNT reporter heard Lee joking about the visiting players getting angry when they came to New York, he laughed out loud and asked bluntly:
"Lee, will the Knicks make it to the finals?"
The New York media on the side all glared at this ignorant guy, saying that he was just talking about something else!
"Basketball is round, everything is possible. Of course, the Bulls have a better record, so we have to play away first. For this, the team's goal is to win an away game!"
Lee answered the question with a smile, and the New York media in the audience hurriedly changed the subject.
After losing for so many years, everyone has experience:
"Don't piss off Michael Jordan, he's a vindictive bastard!"
"."
In the game that was played simultaneously that night, the Bulls defeated the Hawks 92:107 after returning to their home court, sweeping their opponents with a score of 4:1.
When the superstars were having a hard time playing basketball, the Bulls played team basketball, scored from multiple points, and completely stunned the Hawks.
Playing for 40 minutes, Michael Jordan made 9 of 23 shots, 1 of 5 from beyond the three-point line, and 5 of 5 free throws.
He scored 24 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 2 turnovers.
The two teams had a 30:54 rebounding advantage. The Bulls, who returned to their home court, grabbed 25 offensive rebounds!
The Hawks were directly robbed.
Almost double the rebounds, the Bulls had 96 rounds, and it was only natural that they won.
Excel cannot fully demonstrate the dominance of the Bulls.
It is useless for the Hawks to fight hard against their main players, as they are lagging behind in all data.
After reaching the Eastern Conference Finals, Michael Jordan did not show much joy.
In this series, he dunked over Mutombo and fulfilled his promise, which made Jordan even happier.
Unlike the New York media, the Chicago media immediately loaned the championship and the Knicks were ignored.
They have beaten this opponent too many times in the past.
Without discussing the regular season, the past playoff records have already said it all.
The Bulls have won!
At the post-game press conference, Michael Jordan, wearing a brown baggy suit, casually answered questions from the media until a TNT reporter asked:
"Michael, tonight Lee tied your single quarter scoring record in the playoffs, and at the same time, broke your 30+10 record!
"Will the Bulls make adjustments in the next round of games?"
Michael Jordan was slightly stunned when he heard such a question. He had too many records and had long forgotten what they were:
"Adjust? No! It's the opponent who needs to adjust. Our condition is getting better and better, and Dennis' knee has almost recovered."
"It's great to see the Knicks make it to the conference finals, but Harper will teach the young guys a lesson."
Michael Jordan was not modest. In the conference finals, he once again showed his determination to win the championship.
The media in the audience also agreed with this:
"Michael Jordan's boasts always come true."
The two teams in the Eastern Conference finals have officially been announced, while the Western Conference semifinals are still ongoing.
The Rockets got the match point and returned to their home court, but were defeated by the Supersonics again tonight.
100:94, thanks to Gary Payton's outstanding performance, the series still remains suspenseful.
Olajuwon completely exploded tonight, making 12 of 18 shots and 7 of 10 free throws, and got a big double-double of 31 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 turnovers.
Drexler made 9 of 16 shots and contributed 26 points, while Barkley made 6 of 18 shots and scored 17 points and 20 rebounds.
The Rockets grabbed 20 offensive rebounds but still lost the game, shooting 5 of 27 from beyond the three-point line and being completely blocked from the outside.
Gary Payton made 8 of 17 shots, got a double-double of 21 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists, 1 steal and 2 turnovers.
The Sonics only had 9 turnovers in the whole game!
Coach George Karl's hard work paid off.
On May 14, the coaching staff gave the Knicks players two days off as a benefit for reaching the conference finals.
Ewing looked at the newspapers that were all full of news praising Clay Lee's record, and he felt jealous for a moment.
The New York media was particularly tolerant of Lee, and the fact that his hit rate in games G3 and G4 was less than 40% was automatically ignored.
The gorilla did not choose to rest, but took the initiative to practice more.
He really wanted to win when he met his old rival again, but it was a pity that he was suspended from G1 and had no place to use his strength.
The Knicks' daily training facility is located in upper Oregon County, New York, away from media interference.
The players can rest, but the coaching staff still has to watch the game video.
After watching the game between the Bulls and the Hawks, Jeff Van Gundy was silent for a while, and the rebounds might not hold up.
"Compared to last season, the Bulls are still declining!"
Assistant coach Thibodeau's words left several people speechless again.
It has indeed declined. Last season, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman were all selected for the defensive first team, but this year Rodman was left out due to a knee injury.
Jeff Van Gundy watched the assistant coaches discuss it and didn't give much good advice. He simply talked about the old routine:
"Just like in the regular season, double-team Michael Jordan and let others decide the game. We have a chance to win an away game."
No one said anything. The Hawks had used this tactic before, but it turned out to be useless.
Assistant coach Don Chaney thought of Ewing's condition and sighed for a moment:
"If only Pat was a few years younger, it would be great. It was definitely a wrong choice for us to use Starks to defend Michael Jordan."
Speaking of the past, several people who have been with the Knicks for many years all sighed, and Jeff Van Gundy continued with a serious expression:
"When we are on the road, we must forbid players to fool around with the other team!"
Several assistant coaches looked at each other and nodded silently.
Although they all felt that this matter had little to do with the outcome of the game, they could still insist on the head coach's metaphysical request:
"What if we win!"
During this rare holiday, Lee happened to be able to go out for a walk with Melinda.
The temperature in New York finally rose in May, and jeans and T-shirts were enough to cope with the weather.
Carrying a small bag, wearing jeans, a blue and white striped T-shirt, and with her hair tied in a golden ponytail, Melinda looked youthful and beautiful.
But at this time, she was sniffing around in the apartment, looking around from time to time.
When Lee hugged her, she smiled and said:
"Great! No drugs found!"
Every time she comes to the apartment, I will be checked.
No smoking weeds, no tattoos, and not touching drugs are considered basic requirements.
Feeling the turbulent waves in his arms, Lee held on to her tightly and whispered in her ear:
"How about staying at home for a while?"
Guessing Lee's little thoughts, Melinda turned around, crossed her arms, dragged them to the door, and said coquettishly:
"No! We agreed to watch "The Fifth Element" together. It's said to be very good!"
"Damn The Fifth Element!"
Lee cursed inwardly. He had seen this movie before.
Although he couldn't remember the specific plot, the memory in his mind told him that this was a popcorn movie.
There are a lot of movie theaters in New York, including small and fresh theaters that focus on independent films and play art films.
There are also cinemas that focus on French films, with a classical style and elegant atmosphere, which are specially designed for those who want to show off their skills and watch popcorn blockbusters.
You can go to Ziegfeld on West Street, a large single-screen cinema, to get the best viewing experience.
The two drove over in car number 11. Even though Lee was wearing a hat, he was still recognized by some enthusiastic fans.
Fortunately, seeing that he had a female companion beside him, no one was tactless enough to disturb him.
It was a popcorn blockbuster, and Melinda was enjoying watching it, but Lee was drowsy.
After watching it for a while, the memories in his mind began to emerge clearly. The feeling of being spoiled was terrible.
When the movie was almost over, Lee's only feeling was:
"Milla Jovovich is pretty, and the young girls of the old Russians are really good."
On May 15, the SuperSonics returned to their home court and scored again, 96:99, and the series score was 3:3.
Olajuwon seemed to have fully adapted to the Sonics' defense, shooting 12 of 21 from the field that night and scoring 30 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 4 blocks.
Barkley also got rid of his slump and scored a double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds, but Drexler struggled, making 3 of 14 shots and scoring 9 points.
In addition, the Rockets made 21 turnovers in the game, and the Supersonics relied on their stable performance to tenaciously drag the game into a decisive 7.
Gary Payton once again played an integrated offense and defense performance, 7 of 16, 19 points, 8 rebounds, 13 assists, 5 steals and 3 turnovers.
Compared with Tim Hardaway, who was selected in the first round, his "gloves" are even harder in the playoffs!
Game 7 is a hot topic. If the Rockets' old Big Three fall, there will be no need to worry about the hot news in the offseason.
On the 16th, the Knicks resumed their daily training, and the coaching staff did not practice any special tactical routines.
In Game 1, the defense insisted on double-teaming, and the offense was just a matter of luck.
Several veterans agreed to Jeff Van Gundy's request, saying that no matter what the result would be, at least they had to give it their all.
"I don't want to defend Michael Jordan at all. In the playoffs, there are more and more post-up singles. Maybe next season, I have to consider gaining muscle."
Alan Houston was gloomy after the filming session.
The sports media might provoke Michael Jordan, but the players knew his strength.
He was about to give up before the game even started.
"Just try your best. It doesn't matter if you can't defend. Let him get 50 points and the Bulls lose, which is also a good result!"
Lee smiled and comforted Alan Houston. He couldn't do this job and could only support his teammates mentally.
Larry Johnson is full of energy. He scored 20 points and 10 rebounds in the last game.
It seems that the "grandmama" has regained his former feeling. At this time, he is trying hard to prove himself:
"Michael Jordan is not God, he gets tired too! If we win an away game and then win two more games at home, we can make it to the finals!"
"We have the home-court advantage against the Rockets, which is definitely a great opportunity to win the championship!"
While the "grandmama" was fantasizing passionately, Oakley was shaking his head on the other side, and Starks was silent.
After the video class was over, the old guys had already laid down.
Lee found that most of the Knicks players were satisfied with reaching the Eastern Conference Finals, and no one mentioned winning.
Ewing was more active in training, but he did not mention the championship either.
After one season in the league, Lee has thoroughly experienced the influence of Michael Jordan.
Perhaps some Western teams are still unwilling to accept it, but the Eastern teams are basically numb.
The losing Hawks did not make any harsh words after the game, and no one mentioned winning again next year.
By the playoffs, the once provocative media had become fence-sitters and began to cheer for Michael Jordan:
"Champions Bulls!"
On May 17, the Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals was extremely exciting, with both teams fighting until the fourth quarter.
With 20 seconds left in the game, the score was 90:92 and the home team Rockets were still leading by 2 points.
At the critical moment, the Supersonics obviously couldn't move forward and fell into a scoring drought for a while.
Drexler then stood on the free throw line continuously and finally ended the game.
91:96, the Rockets' three old giants all broke out and won the Game 7 with great difficulty.
Olajuwon made 11 of 19 shots and scored 22 points and 13 rebounds, Barkley made 7 of 13 shots and scored 20 points and 14 rebounds, plus Drexler's 24 points, the Big Three dominated the game!
The Rockets shot 6 of 24 from beyond the arc and still won. Gary Payton's 27 points failed to turn the game around.
Western Conference Finals, Rockets vs. Jazz, the battle between the seniors is about to begin!
The divisional finals are about to begin, so TNT and ESPN will naturally follow suit and analyze the strength of the four teams.
McHale has been very popular since joining TNT.
The Celtics legend is always able to analyze the technical characteristics of the players in a concise manner:
"Rebounds are the key. Barkley may not score many points in the series, but the Rockets are ahead in frontcourt rebounds."
"This is the playoffs. A shooter may have a breakout game, but as the two sides continue to compete, their physical fitness decreases, and the defense becomes more and more targeted."
"In the end, it is the big players who decide the outcome of the game."
Ernie Johnson looked at his partner talking and suddenly gave an example:
"The Knicks' Lee played a phenomenal performance in Game 5. Maybe outside players can also decide the outcome of the game!"
After looking through the technical statistics prepared in advance, McHale raised his eyebrows and said in a firm tone:
"Lee performed very well. In the playoffs, the overall statistics were very good, but in the Eastern Conference Finals, the opponents the Knicks will face will be completely different."
"The Bulls' backcourt is bigger than the Heat's, Harper is not Tim Hardaway, and Michael Jordan can take over the defense at critical moments."
"Both Clay Lee and Alan Houston are too young. The gap between them in terms of game experience and physical skills is very obvious."
"When it comes to the conference finals, both teams have no secrets. This is the time to compete with the star players, so the Bulls and Rockets will meet in the finals this year."
The sports media overwhelmingly predicted that the Bulls and Rockets, who had more stars, would win easily.
However, on the evening of the 19th, in the Western Conference Finals, the Jazz slapped their faces.
86:101, Western Conference Finals G1, the Jazz defeated the Rockets at home!
Olajuwon performed brilliantly, shooting 9 of 14 from the field, scoring a game-high 30 points, and also grabbed 13 rebounds and made 5 assists.
But Barkley struggled, shooting 3 of 10 and scoring 12 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 turnover. Drexler also scored a mediocre 13 points.
In the second quarter, at 17:29, the Jazz secured the victory.
Karl Malone's statistics began to decline in the playoffs. In this game, he made 6 of 16 shots and scored 21 points on free throws.
But Stockton made 5 of 13 shots and steadily contributed 16 points, 6 rebounds, 13 assists, 2 steals and 2 turnovers.
The Utah duo once again taught the pundits a lesson: piling up stars does not necessarily make the team stronger!
The Knicks had already flown to Chicago and watched the game in the hotel. Ewing made a few sarcastic remarks:
"Fake MVP! He can only score points by free throws!"
Lee noticed that the Jazz played at a faster pace, and the Rockets could not keep up with the Jazz's offense.
The atmosphere group all joined in the fun, and everyone was happy to see the three older giants lose.
"Rest early tonight. You'll have a game tomorrow. Get your body in good shape!"
Although Ewing was unable to play, he still took on the role of leader. He listened to his coach before the game and did not party with his friends.
Everyone stayed in the hotel obediently.
Although there was no free food and drink, the atmosphere group didn't mind.
Being able to wave the towel in the Eastern Conference Finals is an achievement that many players find difficult to achieve.
Alan Houston was still in a bad mood and was still trying to cheer himself up.
"The best we can get is 50 points. Don't worry, Bro! If that's the case, then we'll have our chance!"
Hearing Lee's words, Alan Houston said angrily:
"That was 50 points. I don't want to go through that again."
"."
On May 20, the vindictive Michael Jordan mocked Jeff Van Gundy again before the game:
"I don't understand why a party with friends can affect the outcome of the game?"
"I came to Chicago and I haven't been able to see the Knicks players for a few days. These boring little tricks didn't work last year and they won't work this year!"
Before the game, Michael Jordan was interviewed in the locker room and almost mocked Jeff Van Gundy by name.
During last year's playoffs, the bald young coach once mocked Michael Jordan as a hypocritical bastard, saying that he gathered with his friends before the game in order to win the game easily.
The hurdle between the two was insurmountable.
Even after winning the best coach award, Jeff Van Gundy was unable to win any respect from the other side.
The league did not over-package the conference finals, but the atmosphere in the United Center became increasingly heated, and Bulls fans entered the venue early.
The Knicks wore blue away jerseys tonight, and as DJ Ray Clay introduced the visiting players, there were constant boos from the crowd.
Lee, who was the last to perform, was booed when the lights dimmed and the annoying melody sounded again.
In the simple animation, the Mavericks are moving around the city, accompanied by the fast-paced "Sirius", and the Bulls fans at the scene begin to cheer loudly.
Wearing white and red training uniforms, the Bulls came out one by one.
Lee just formed a circle with his teammates at this time. Everyone shouted a few times, and they felt a little sad:
"It comes with its own background music, but it's just so-so!"
On the TNT commentary booth, Dick Stockton got the starting lineups for both teams and briefly introduced them:
"Rodman is back in the starting lineup tonight. It looks like his knee injury has almost recovered."
"The backcourt is still Ron Harper and Michael Jordan, the forwards are Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, and the center is Luke Longley."
Hubie Brown, who was standing by, saw the familiar starting lineup of the Bulls and sighed:
"In the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Bulls were looking for their form, but now they are ready to make an impact for the championship."
"Alan Houston of the Knicks will start this game, and Charles Oakley and Buck Williams in the interior will face great rebounding pressure."
"Patrick Ewing's absence has indeed caused a lot of trouble for the Knicks."
As players from both teams went through their final warm-ups, the noise in the United Center grew louder.
When the referee signaled the players from both teams to come to the center of the court, Michael Jordan, in a good mood, smiled, chewed gum, and took the initiative to fist-bump with the Knicks players.
Perhaps after reading the newspaper, Michael Jordan finally knew which records Lee broke. Before the game, he joked:
"Lee, feel the real playoffs tonight!"
"."
This statement was somewhat disrespectful to the Knicks' previous opponents, but considering that most of the Eastern Conference teams had been defeated by the Bulls, Lee could only put on a smile.
It was his first time playing in the Eastern Conference Finals, and his opponent was the league's number one player, Alan Houston, who was so nervous that he didn't want to talk.
On the other side, Oakley smiled and bumped fists with the Bulls. Although the old guy also wanted to win, he could accept failure in his heart and had a very calm mentality.
As the referee tossed the basketball up, Luke Longley easily jumped to the ball and cheers immediately broke out at the scene.
Harper didn't ask for the ball either, and just like in previous playoff games, Pippen quickly dribbled the ball across half court.
Larry Johnson made timely contact and came to the right wing. Harper immediately stepped forward to hand over the ball.
Pippen and others all moved away. Michael Jordan was already in the right blocking area, asking for the ball with his back to the basket.
After two steps and approaching the three point line, Harper made a half-high pass with the interference of Clay Lee.
Michael Jordan jumped up to catch the ball, and the Bulls moved again.
Longley came to the free throw line, Rodman was lying in ambush at the left baseline to grab the rebound, Pippen moved at the top of the arc, and Lee followed Harper to the left corner.
Without waiting for Larry Johnson to double-team him, Michael Jordan blocked the ball with his left hand after receiving it, and then he hit the ball with his left hand, approached the paint area, and immediately turned toward the baseline, while quickly gathering the ball, and shot a fadeaway jumper against the defense!
Alan Houston's interference seemed to work, and the basketball hit the rim and bounced out!
On the Knicks side, Oakley was trying hard to get into position, Buck Williams was also entangled with Longley, and "Grandmama" saw the opportunity, retreated in time, and protected the backcourt rebound in front of Pippen.
Lee immediately stepped forward to respond. After receiving the ball, he quickly moved toward the right sideline, trying to shake off Harper's entanglement.
The other Knicks players didn't even look at the backcourt.
Lee took the ball, accelerated desperately, and rushed to the frontcourt.
Phil Jackson sat on the bench with a smile on his face, watching Harper quickly guarding Lee.
The Bulls also made adjustments tonight.
Harper completely transformed into a defensive tool man with rich defensive experience.
Harper had no intention of cutting the ball at this time. He just slid quickly with Lee, trying to keep his hands on his sides to improve his perception.
The transition offense failed, and the 2.18 meter-tall Longley also knew the Knicks' strategy and retreated quickly.
"Defense! Defense! Defense!"
Seeing Lee stop the ball on the right wing, the defensive cheers in the United Center became louder and louder.
All the Knicks players also moved away, and Alan Houston simply ran to the left wing.
Larry Johnson moved to the left elbow, ready to cooperate with Buck Williams near the baseline to grab the rebound at any time.
Oakley moved quickly and stood on the three-point line, preparing for a pick-and-roll, and Rodman also followed to defend.
At this time, Lee, who had been holding the ball in his left hand and protecting the ball sideways, suddenly raised his center of gravity and pretended to break through on the left side.
While Harper was moving closer to defend, he dribbled the ball quickly behind his back.
The moment he switched to his right hand, Lee lowered his body's center of gravity and accelerated directly.
Just after he passed the three-point line, he stopped again, shook his shoulders backwards, and then turned around to accelerate.
Harper lost half of his body position with a sudden stop and start. Then he slid quickly, Lee cut in, and Rodman also retreated.
The three men came to the right blocking area.
Lee, who was moving, suddenly dribbled the ball behind his crotch with one hand.
The confusing action made the two defenders pause slightly.
Rodman subconsciously looked at Oakley in the elbow area.
Harper reacted the fastest and slid again, but Lee seized the opportunity, suddenly accelerated, and quickly retreated to the right near the baseline.
Without waiting for the opponent, he drifted to the right and made a jump shot!
"Swish!" A steady hit from mid-range!
"Shhh!!"
Lee, who was retreating, smiled and nodded his head with his right index finger.
Rodman, who was deceived, was not angry. Instead, he clapped his hands and smiled, then patted Harper and whispered a few words.
"Lee is in good shape, and more quick stops can help him get rid of the defense, but the Bulls seemed to have made targeted adjustments in this game, and Pippen took over the ball earlier."
Watching the free throws from the baseline, Pippen dribbled across half court, and Hubie Brown in the commentary booth immediately guessed the Bulls' adjustment.
It was still a conventional tactic.
Lee saw Longley asking for the ball with his back to the basket in the left blocking area, and immediately reminded everyone loudly:
"Quick help defense!"
Coming to the left wing, Pippen immediately passed the ball to Longley.
Buck Williams blocked from behind to prevent the opponent from going to the baseline. At the same time, Larry Johnson quickly returned to double-team.
After just one hit, Longley quickly gathered the ball and then quickly passed it back to Pippen outside the three-point line.
Buck Williams quickly moved forward to defend, and Longley took the opportunity to move to the basket.
Pippen passed the ball again. In the paint area, Longley received the ball and just released it when Oakley blocked him.
With the addition of Larry Johnson who slid over again, a three-man siege was formed in the paint area.
There was no time to pass the ball to Rodman under the basket, and Longley lost control of the ball after releasing it.
Oakley completed the steal, Lee stepped forward to respond immediately, and the Knicks team accelerated again and ran towards the opponent's half.
"oh!!"
The offense and defense transition was so fast that the Bulls fans at the scene only had time to exclaim before Lee rushed across half court despite Harper's defense.
Approaching the top of the arc, Lee showed no signs of slowing down.
Harper did not lose his defensive position and came to the three-point line, only to find that the ball in Lee's left hand was gone.
Hearing the exclamations of fans, Harper turned his head and found that Lee passed the ball from behind and found Alan Houston who was following up with a fast break.
On the right wing outside the three-point line, Alan Houston received the pass and didn't adjust at all, he just raised the ball and shot it!
Michael Jordan, who was guarding the three-point line, subconsciously made a defensive move, but was still a beat too late.
"Swish!" The three-pointer went into the net!
Alan Houston celebrated with his fist pump, not caring about the boos from the Bulls fans.
Michael Jordan's smile immediately disappeared when his opponent scored over his head.
The Bulls' offense also accelerated the tempo.
Pippen dribbled across half court and passed the ball to Michael Jordan, who was looking for the ball with his back to the basket in the left elbow area of the free throw line.
This time, Lee didn't need to remind them.
Everyone on the Knicks knew it must be a one-on-one play.
Larry Johnson immediately stepped forward to double-team the opponent, while Michael Jordan, who received the ball, turned around and released it, accelerating at full speed.
After dribbling the ball with his left hand and taking two steps, Michael Jordan suddenly stopped, then drifted to the left and completed a fadeaway jump shot!
Under the defense of two people, the basketball hit the rim again and a fight broke out under the basket.
Longley used his height advantage to get the rebound, and finally Oakley saw the opportunity and grabbed the backcourt rebound with difficulty.
The Bulls suddenly changed their defense at this time.
When Lee received the ball, Harper immediately took the lead in defense, and Pippen also stepped forward to block.
Lee, who received the ball in the middle, saw that something was wrong. He first turned around drastically, scooped the ball with his left hand and moved sideways, briefly getting rid of Harper's defense.
Facing Pippen's sudden double-team, he quickly passed the ball between his legs, lowered his center of gravity, and changed direction forward.
At the moment when Harper was about to catch up, Lee, who had switched to his right hand, suddenly took the ball forward, then exerted force with his feet and accelerated with all his strength.
Lee passed between the two people with a juggling move.
The fans at the scene exclaimed again and watched Lee scoop the ball up with his left hand and rush across half court.
Just after crossing the center line, Michael Jordan also rushed up to defend, trying to delay Lee and cooperate with his teammates to complete the three-man encirclement.
The sudden increase in defensive intensity did not make Lee panic.
Without waiting for Jordan to reach him, he passed the ball behind his back again while moving.
Alan Houston followed up and received the pass. He slowed down as he approached the three-point line, and then made another quick stop on the right wing.
With no one defending in front of him, he quickly made a three-point jump shot!
"Swish!" The three-pointer went into the net!
"God! What a great teamwork! The Knicks once again made a great counterattack!"
"Lee toyed with the Bulls' defense. It was unbelievable! It was so fast!"
In the TNT commentary booth, Dick Stockton excitedly raised his commentary volume as he watched Clay Lee and Alan Houston bump their chests to celebrate.
The United Center was filled with boos. Harper and Pippen stood still, looking at Lee in surprise as he retreated to defense. How did he get away?
"Well done, Bro! That's it. Even Michael Jordan can't defend you. Keep shooting and kill the old guy on the opposite side!"
Lee, who was retreating, had already noticed the Bulls' defensive intentions and felt that he was going to lose the game, so he took the opportunity to encourage Alan Houston.
After hitting two three-pointers in a row, all the nervousness before the game disappeared.
Alan Houston just felt that his hand was hot and he shouted loudly:
"Yes! Shoot those old guys to death!"
Turning his head, he saw Michael Jordan looking at him. Alan Houston immediately lost his momentum.
However, Lee didn't care. He paced back and continued to encourage:
"They are old. Let's outrun them tonight!"
Pursing his lips and stopping chewing gum, Michael Jordan tilted his head and looked at the two people retreating. Finally, he caught up with them and applauded:
"Come on! Great job!"
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