A/N: Editing too many chinese elements and racism almost made me think I’m a Chinese lol. In terms of brainwashing and being delusional, CCP are second to none. You can’t convince me otherwise 😂 😭 Okey ok! Enough of my ranting and now enjoy the chapter 🙏

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(3109 words)

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On June 16, 1999, the finals G1 officially started.

Before the 9:00 p.m. kickoff, New York fans were fiddling with orange handkerchiefs in their seats at Madison Square Garden.

The fans who entered the venue early chatted non-stop, making the atmosphere even more boisterous.

Spike Lee, with a large orange handkerchief wrapped around his head, also joined in the booing.

Before the game even started, many young fans were already having fun.

As the broadcaster, NBC’s footage before the game was mostly interviews with players from both teams.

After playing these, it would also show the style of New York.

Most of the footage was aerial photography, including the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, the Twin Towers, the Brooklyn Bridge and other New York landmarks.

In the subsequent night scene, the style of Manhattan was also shown.

Finally, the camera turned and the aerial camera was at Madison Square Garden again.

Despite the shortened season, NBC’s packaging this year was a little more thoughtful than last year.

After all, Michael Jordan has retired, and the league needs to maintain its influence at this time.

Improving the ratings of the finals is a win-win move.

Unfortunately, in the pre-game interview with Tim Duncan, the second-year rookie was very humble and did not fight back against the Knicks’ disdain.

Before the game started, in the arena, NBC commentators Bob Costas, Doug Collins, and Isiah Thomas sat on the bench on the sidelines and talked to the camera:

“Mario Elie has won two championships with the Rockets, and Steve Kerr has had a highlight performance in the finals.”

“I believe the two will help the team in the locker room, and the veterans will play a role at this time.”

As soon as Doug Collins finished speaking, Isiah Thomas showed a puzzled expression of “are you serious”:

“As I predicted before the game, if the Spurs choose to defend alone, then we can see Lee’s offensive performance.”

“In this year’s playoffs, Lee has experienced different defenses, but he can always respond. Experience sometimes doesn’t play much of a role.”

Bob Costas sat between the two, heard different opinions, and smiled as he introduced the Spurs’ starting lineup:

“Avery Johnson and Mario Elie will partner in the backcourt, Sean Elliott and Tim Duncan are on the front line, and David Robinson is the center.”

“I am also a little worried about the Spurs’ perimeter defense. Lee played a perfect performance in this year’s playoffs.”

While the three were discussing the game, Lee had moved behind the three commentators, pretending to lean over and listen.

Several people were concentrating on discussing the game.

Lee nodded to the camera and gave a thumbs up with a look of approval.

The photographer couldn’t hold it back, and Bob Costas noticed Lee behind him.

Everyone smiled and greeted each other, and simply bumped fists.

Seeing Lee leave and swinging around the court with the ball, Doug Collins couldn’t help but sigh again when he faced the camera again:

“Lee is much stronger than last season!”

Affected by the shortened season, this is the first time the Spurs have come to New York this season.

This year, the two teams met for the first time in the finals, which also made the Spurs coaching staff feel uncertain.

Watching the video, Lee killed all the guards in the East.

Unlike Iverson, who attacked alone, Lee could organize the offense while scoring, making the Knicks’ tactics well organized.

After introducing the visiting team players, the director did not forget to focus the camera on the young coach who led the Spurs to the finals.

The young Popovich had a short flat head and was wearing a light gray suit.

He stood on the sidelines with a serious expression.

When the home team players came on the court, the lights in the stadium dimmed and the Knicks animation was played.

The taxi passed through the city, and after a lot of iconic buildings, the Knicks logo appeared on the big screen in the center of the venue.

Although this animation was completely copied from the Bulls in Lee’s opinion, the New York fans at the scene liked it and the voices became louder and louder.

“Let’s welcome Number one from the University of Connecticut——Clay-Lee!”

Lee, who was the last to come on the court, simply high-fived his teammates.

At Madison Square Garden, New York fans waved orange handkerchiefs and cheered loudly.

Ewing was still wearing a black suit and sitting on the bench, also holding an orange handkerchief and waving it continuously.

With the props, the atmosphere was more lively than last year.

Tim Duncan, who had finished the final warm-up, touched the basketball and stood in his own half with a blank expression.

David Robinson couldn’t help but smile when he saw Ben Wallace jumping the ball with him in front of him.

The height difference was more than he thought.

“Defense! Defense! Defense!”

The jump ball failed.

Seeing Lee lead the defense to Avery Johnson in the first time, the scene immediately rang out defense cheers.

Jeff Van Gundy wore a straight dark gray suit tonight.

At this time, he was sitting on the bench drinking a drink and posing in front of the camera.

Avery Johnson did not wait to cross the half court to protect the ball with his back, which seemed very cautious.

Lee kept covering the opponent with his body and slid quickly.

In the first offensive round, the Spurs played simply and roughly.

Duncan first made a down screen for Mario Elie.

Then Duncan immediately made a.cross screen with David Robinson under the basket from right to left.

Mario Elie bounced out to the left wing, Avery Johnson dribbled to the right wing, and Elliott sank to the left bottom corner.

When David Robinson came to the low post on the right and started to ask for the ball with his back to the basket, all the Spurs players had already pulled away.

In the first attack, it was natural to pick on the weak, but Ben Wallace was behind him and wanted to defend from time to time, which made David Robinson feel uncomfortable.

The two of them got entangled physically, and Lee continued to confront Avery Johnson physically.

For a while, the Spurs failed to get the ball to David Robinson in time.

It was not until Ben Wallace squeezed David Robinson to the right near the blocking area that Avery Johnson found an opportunity to complete a high throw pass.

David Robinson was a little far away from the basket.

After receiving the ball, he was not satisfied.

After a simple three-threat, he immediately let go of the ball with his left hand, and played with his back to the basket, trying to get close to the basket.

Just after feeling the physical confrontation given by Ben Wallace, David Robinson simply walked directly to the line.

He turned around and rushed into the paint area, taking advantage of his height to quickly complete the shot!

“Bang!”

The basketball hit the rim and Duncan began to squeeze under the basket, but Oakley positioned himself in advance and protected the backcourt rebound in the first place.

Lee quickly responded in the backcourt, and the Spurs began to respond to each other and retreated quickly.

With Avery Johnson leading the defense, Lee’s advancement speed was not fast, but the Knicks had already rushed across half court and opened up offensive space.

Larry Johnson stopped on the left wing, and Alan Houston quickly ran to the right corner.

Ben Wallace was even more late and was already standing near the left baseline waiting to eat the cake.

Oakley kept looking at Lee who was advancing behind him, and after rushing across half court, he stopped at the top of the arc outside the three-point line.

Lee dribbled the ball behind his back and switched to his left hand.

Oakley quickly stood still and completed the screen.

Avery Johnson was unable to squeeze through in time.

Duncan saw this situation and hurriedly moved to defend.

Lee’s body swayed to the left and suddenly changed direction quickly and drastically, which made Duncan slightly stunned.

After re-adjusting his body center of gravity, Duncan tried to help defend again.

Lee, who was scooping the ball with his right hand, quickly broke through to the paint area, suddenly stopped, drifted slightly to the right, and shot a quick mid-range jump shot!

“Swish!” The two-point shot went into the net.

Duncan, who was defending with a sliding step, failed to block the shot.

After losing his defensive position, he watched the shot go off.

There was a huge cheer at the scene, and the New York fans who were present began to throw their handkerchiefs wildly.

A high pick-and-roll outside the three point line left room for acceleration.

This was the time to test the big man who switched defense.

In the first round, Duncan, like the big men in the East, failed to keep up with Lee’s rhythm.

Popovich on the sidelines hurriedly made a tactical gesture.

Avery Johnson had just received the ball in the backcourt and was defended by Lee again.

The advancement speed was not fast.

When Avery Johnson came to the left wing with the ball sideways, the Spurs just changed direction and played the same tactic again.

Continue to squeeze the soft persimmon.

David Robinson will be deeper this time.

However, Avery Johnson’s lob pass was delayed by half a beat due to Lee’s interference, causing David Robinson to be squeezed out of the paint again after receiving the ball.

Fortunately, after releasing the ball with his right hand, David Robinson successfully squeezed into the paint area in front of the basket, and with Ben Wallace’s defense, he made a successful shot!

“Boo!”

The booing did not affect Popovich’s good mood.

The game strategy formulated before the game was correct.

The inside line of the Knicks was indeed a soft persimmon.

David Robinson, who was retreating, also grinned and was in a very good mood.

The Knicks quickly sent the ball to the baseline.

Lee accelerated along the left sideline and rushed across the half court.

He came to the left wing and suddenly slowed down and stopped after crossing the three-point line.

Lee, holding the ball with his left hand, suddenly dribbled the ball on the spot.

Avery Johnson hurriedly adjusted his defensive center of gravity.

Seeing Lee quickly retreating, he immediately jumped up to defend.

Shaking out the shooting space, Lee ignored the block in front of him and quickly jumped outside the three-point line!

“Swish!” The three-pointer went into the net!

“Wow!”

Avery Johnson was shot in the face while defending face to face, which immediately ignited the atmosphere.

Seeing Lee shaking his head and quickly retreating, the Spurs realized that Lee was completely different from the guards of the Western teams.

If it were other Eastern teams, when there was a delay, they would usually use ruthless hands and rely on hidden pulling movements to slow down Lee.

Jeff Van Gundy on the bench clapped his hands with a smile, looking very calm.

The game soon became two rhythms.

The Spurs’ offense usually started with a screen in the paint area, and then David Robinson started to back the ball.

If the position was unsuccessful, Avery Johnson would quickly transfer the ball on the upper line, switch to the other side, and Mario Elie would pass the ball to Duncan who was backing the ball.

This offensive method is basically the routine of the Knicks’ Ewing period in the past, relying on big men to attract defense, and then scoring in and out.

After just a few rounds, although Duncan scored at the basket, he couldn’t get the ball out after he got it in.

The Knicks, after falling into the positional offense, immediately followed the routine and set a simple screen, and Alan Houston also scored easily.

This time, the Spurs attacked, and Duncan suddenly turned to the baseline after receiving the ball in the left blocking area.

Before he could get close to the paint area, he was blocked by Ben Wallace who came up to help.

Under the siege of the two, there was no time to pass the ball.

Oakley took advantage of Duncan’s stop and directly pulled the ball out of the opponent’s arms.

Under the tug, Duncan was tripped to the floor, and Popovich on the sidelines jumped up and kept complaining loudly:

“Hey! They tripped my player!”

But the referee didn’t blow the whistle at all, and the Knicks counterattacked again.

David Robinson retreated quickly, Avery Johnson kept giving physical confrontation, accelerating along the right sideline, and came to the right wing.

Lee sent a ground pass without stopping the ball.

Trying to steal the ball, David Robinson found that the basketball just passed in front of him.

He almost fell to the street to steal the ball.

Larry Johnson received the ball and pushed Elliott away in the air, making a strong layup!

Duncan just got up from the floor and returned to the center line, and saw that the Knicks had retreated.

At 8:11, although the score difference was not big, the Knicks quickly completed the transition offense.

Popovich still requested a timeout immediately.

No one cared about the twin towers of the Spurs.

The New York fans at the scene continued to wave their handkerchiefs and shouted happily.

Avery Johnson completely understood the feelings of the Eastern guards at this time.

The defense was like a virtual NBC commentary seat.

The three of them naturally saw that the Knicks were playing better and better, and the Spurs’ defense strength did not seem to be enough after the opening.

Isiah Thomas was showing off with a smile, and the game was exactly as he predicted:

“Like I said, once there is not too much pressure, Lee shows aggression, attracts defense, and gradually activates his teammates.”

“Alan Houston’s two jump shots at the beginning were too easy. The Spurs’ outside players were all waiting for the pass, but they won’t get those open opportunities easily again.”

Doug Collins has watched too many Eastern Conference playoffs, and after watching the Spurs’ defensive strategy at the beginning, he also shook his head:

“Lee, Houston, and Johnson accounted for all the points for the Knicks. This is not a good sign.”

“The Knicks have found the rhythm of the game they like!”

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep