On April 28, 2000, the NBA announced this season’s Sixth Man of the Year (SMOY):

Phoenix Suns forward Rodney Rogers successfully won the award.

He played all 82 games, averaging 13.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and 2.0 turnovers.

With a voting rate as high as 85.95%, Rogers’ award was well-deserved.

The Knicks’ Kukoc averaged 11.1 points this season and ultimately did not make it onto the candidate list.

Not long ago, the league also announced this season’s DPOY and Most Improved Player (MIP):

The Heat’s Alonzo Mourning and the Pacers’ Jalen Rose both won awards.

This season’s Coach of the Year (COY) and General Manager of the Year both went to the Orlando Magic.

Head Coach Doug Rivers and General Manager John Gabriel received these awards.

Although Head Coach Rivers failed to lead the Magic into the playoffs, their 41-win record, missing the playoffs only due to tie-breakers, was enough to demonstrate Head Coach Rivers’ excellent coaching ability.

The Knicks didn’t win a single award, which immediately displeased the New York Media.

After all, the Sportsmanship Award had nothing to do with the team, and the MVP was likely to be taken by Shaquille O’Neal, so the Knicks were basically empty-handed this year.

There was only one game that night, a 81:76 victory for the visiting 76ers, who also secured a match point.

If nothing unexpected happened, the upcoming Eastern Conference Semifinals would again feature the 76ers against the Knicks, making them somewhat old rivals.

In tonight’s game, Allen Iverson shot 9-for-27, 2-for-7 from three-point range, and 4-for-7 from the free-throw line, tallying 24 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, and 5 turnovers.

Although his efficiency wasn’t high, Philadelphia fans didn’t care; everyone was in a joyous mood from the win.

It wasn’t until the post-game press conference, when a Yahoo Sports reporter asked a question, that Allen Iverson’s smile disappeared.

“Allen, can you discuss your efficiency issues this season? Compared to your rookie season, your shooting percentage doesn’t seem to have improved much.”

Wearing a loose black suit and a gold chain, Allen Iverson adjusted his hat, glanced at the white reporter, and casually replied:

“I don’t care about stats. I only play for victory. You can criticize my style of play however you want; I don’t care about any of that.”

This season, Allen Iverson’s shot attempts increased to 24.8 per game, with a field goal percentage of 42.0%, a three-point percentage of 34.1%, and a free-throw percentage of 71.3%.

He averaged 28.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.1 steals, and 3.3 turnovers.

For a small shooting guard, this was already very good, but everything is relative.

After seeing too much of Lee’s data, most sports media were no longer interested in such inefficient statistics.

Allen Iverson averaged 8.9 free throw attempts, and like Clay Lee, he sometimes enjoyed some star treatment from the referees.

However, the excessive free throws did not make his statistics look better, so it was reasonable for sports reporters to question them.

Several consecutive questions questioned his statistics, and Allen Iverson immediately became impatient.

He didn’t like the media comparing him to that Lee at all.

The local Philadelphia media quickly changed the subject and asked:

“Allen, what are the team’s plans for this year’s playoffs?”

Shaking off the media’s doubts, Allen Iverson smiled confidently at the Philadelphia reporter and immediately replied:

“Of course, it’s the championship! Compared to last season, everyone is coordinating better. We have successfully integrated, and it’s time to realize our talent!”

In the press conference hall, the Philadelphia media applauded.

The goal was excellent, and everyone liked Allen Iverson’s unyielding spirit.

Stephen A. Smith, sitting below, secretly shook his head, thinking, “This sounds familiar. Shouting slogans is useless.”

On April 29, the 76ers’ Erik Snow received this season’s Sportsmanship Award.

There were four games that night, and the Knicks’ road game against the Milwaukee Bucks saw a sharp drop in attention.

Most commentators didn’t believe the Milwaukee Bucks could make a comeback.

Head Coach George Karl seemed to have lost control of the team, and Ray Allen didn’t like sour chicken soup.

At the Bradley Center, Milwaukee fans were very enthusiastic.

Even though they were down 2-0 in the series, they still loudly cheered for the home team after the game started.

In the first half, the Milwaukee Bucks played at a fast pace.

Glenn Robinson and Ray Allen were in good form, combining for 29 points.

Additionally, they only committed 4 turnovers in the first half, and Tim Thomas also performed well off the bench.

At halftime, Milwaukee fans started swaying to the music.

51:58, the Knicks were again down by 7 points.

Clay Lee’s three-point shots were off.

He was 7-for-12 in the first half, 1-for-5 from three-point range, and 3-for-4 from the free-throw line, scoring 18 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal.

The Milwaukee Bucks changed their defensive strategy, using Sam Cassell for single coverage and no longer over-helping.

Larry Johnson was routinely sluggish, shooting 2-for-8 in the first half for 4 points.

Grandmama felt his touch was off and had already started to reduce his shot attempts, but he still couldn’t capitalize on some mismatch opportunities.

When they returned to the locker room at halftime, Larry Johnson and Lee bumped fists.

There was no need for many words, everyone was very familiar with this situation.

In the closing game, Jeff Van Gundy shortened his rotation.

Although they were trailing at halftime, the Bald Young Coach remained incredibly steady, continuing to offer encouragement:

“Don’t worry about their offense. As we expected before the game, the Milwaukee Bucks will always bounce back.”

“Be patient. We did well in the first half. Trust your shooting, and rotate a little faster!”

“We only booked the hotel for one night. I want to go back to New York tonight, and I think you all do too!”

Hearing the Bald Young Coach joke, everyone laughed.

“10 points is nothing,” they didn’t take the deficit to heart.

Ewing only played 13 minutes in the first half.

The Gorilla didn’t like running with the opponent, so he also grinned widely, not mentioning anything about increasing his playing time.

The Milwaukee Bucks attempted 44 shots in the first half, a very fast game pace that made the old guys a bit uncomfortable.

If they encountered a team that focused on inside play, Lee would choose to slow down with the opponent; half-court offense was not an issue for him at the moment.

But when facing an opponent like the Milwaukee Bucks, who relied heavily on isolation and frequent jump shots, Lee couldn’t just cater to Ewing.

He had to coordinate more with Allan Houston and shoot together.

Oakley’s playing time was also similar to Ewing’s.

Before the second half began, he patted Ron Artest’s shoulder:

“Give that guy some hard fouls, don’t worry about the fouls!”

In the first half, Glenn Robinson shot 7-for-10, scoring 16 points with both drives and jumpers, performing extremely efficiently.

Glancing at the box score, Ron Artest nodded. He was familiar with this kind of work!

At the NBC commentary table, Dick Stockton was still discussing the differences between Lee and other 1996 rookies:

“At 22 years old, in my experience watching games, Lee is the most special. Technical skills aside, his mentality is the most mature I’ve ever witnessed.”

“Buddy, do you remember Michael Jordan in ’93, when he was tired of dealing with the media due to some off-court issues and refused interviews?”

“The pressure of the game, the pressure from the media, the expectations of the fans—not every player adapts to such an environment. Ray shouldn’t complain in front of the New York Media.”

“Lee has supported Head Coach Van Gundy ever since he entered the league, and players who left the Knicks all liked him.”

“Perhaps he is a born superstar!”

Matt Guokas saw his partner excessively praising Lee and strongly suspected he had been paid, but as an old-school coach, he also agreed with this view:

“Coaches and players need to respect each other, and star players should also abide by such rules.”

“Lee is a smart young man, and there aren’t many players like him left in the NBA!”

During his time with the 76ers, Matt Guokas coached Charles Barkley, and later with the Magic, he coached Shaq.

For this old-school coach, the privileges of a superstar could not outweigh those of the Head Coach.

After the game started, both men refocused their attention on the court.

In the first possession, Ron Artest was pulling and tugging at Glenn Robinson as he received the ball in the left block.

When Sam Cassell made the pass, Ron Artest relentlessly defended the opponent while desperately trying to strip the ball.

Glenn Robinson received the ball, turned with the momentum, faked a step, then suddenly swept sideways, and with his left hand, dropped the ball and charged towards the basket.

Soon, the two collided, Glenn Robinson lost the ball, and the referee blew the whistle.

Ron Artest ignored the whistle and, expressionless, continued to stick close, and the two quickly began to shove each other again.

The Milwaukee Bucks fans in the arena immediately started cursing when they saw this situation.

After the inbound pass, Sam Cassell reorganized the offense, but continuous passes on the perimeter almost led to a 24-second violation.

Finally, Sam Cassell himself drove with the ball from the top of the arc, and his pull-up jump shot from the free-throw line, after being interfered with by Lee, hit the front rim, and Ben Wallace grabbed the rebound.

“Shit!”

Sam Cassell, retreating on defense, cursed under his breath and quickly signaled his teammates to fall back into position.

On the New York Knicks bench, Oakley was standing courtside, applauding Ron Artest’s defense.

After a season of practice, it was finally taking shape.

Noticing that Lee passed the ball after crossing half-court, Sam Cassell, upon seeing the positioning in the elbow area, quickly signaled for Ham to prepare to switch on defense.

At the top of the arc, Allan Houston received the ball, and Lee quickly shuffled sideways from left to right, moving up the court.

After passing Kurt Thomas’s screen in the right elbow area, Lee noticed that Ham had already followed him closely.

Turning his body to receive the ball on the right wing, Lee first faked a shot, then quickly took a probing step with his left foot.

Ham instinctively shuffled back a step, then saw Lee raise the ball and shoot.

“Swish!” The three-pointer swished through the net.

“Boo!”

Boos erupted throughout the arena, and looking at Lee retreating with a smile, Dick Stockton on the commentary table joked:

“In the early 90s, what would a Head Coach think if someone shot a three pointer like that?”

Matt Guokas smiled and answered without hesitation:

“I would immediately sub him out within two possessions; that’s an absolutely terrible offensive choice!”

The two joked, and the Milwaukee Bucks, who had been shooting lights out in the first half, started clanking shots again.

Head Coach George Karl constantly shouted from the sidelines, trying to get his players to strengthen their Defense.

As long as they could defend the New York Knicks’ offense, the Milwaukee Bucks would have a chance to win the game.

However, after a few possessions, aside from using rough fouls to limit Lee’s drives, they had no way to defend the New York Knicks, who were regaining their form.

The offensive stagnation seen in the first two games reappeared.

Glenn Robinson suddenly couldn’t make a shot.

Head Coach George Karl was not stingy with timeouts, nor did he make any personnel adjustments.

In a do-or-die game, he naturally had to stick with his starters.

However, by the end of the third quarter, the Milwaukee Bucks fans in the arena were also somewhat bewildered.

30:20 in the single quarter, and after three quarters, it was 81:78, with the New York Knicks once again turning the game around.

On the New York Knicks bench, everyone smiled and high-fived Clay Lee and Allan Houston in celebration.

Lee scored 16 points in the quarter, shooting 5-of-10 from the field, 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.

Allan Houston scored 8 points on 4-of-5 shooting, and the other three players also contributed points.

On the other side, Head Coach George Karl once again realized the issue of “star quality.”

In one-on-one Defense, Clay Lee showed no mercy and continued to shoot.

Looking at a dejected Glenn Robinson sitting on the bench, George Karl could only offer encouragement:

“Hold on, we’re only down by 3 points! Play good Defense!”

After shooting 2-of-8 in the quarter, Glenn Robinson did not continue to shoot, and his offense began to hesitate.

The Milwaukee Bucks played slower and slower, and as a result, in the final quarter, they were dragged into a half-court offense by the New York Knicks.

Ewing, who had rested for most of the game, finally found an easy target; taking advantage of the opposing big men’s fading stamina, his strong attacks in the paint also returned.

Seeing the lead gradually widen, the two commentators on the broadcast began to chat about gossip again.

“If the Lakers had drafted Lee with the 13th pick in the draft, perhaps they would have already broken out of the Western Conference!”

Dick Stockton brought up the recent “what if” theories of many basketball critics, and Matt Guokas also joined in with an “If”:

“The combination of two MVP-caliber players would indeed usher in the Lakers era in the NBA!”

“Kobe is excellent, but he still has a considerable gap to reach MVP level.”

“…”

Ray Allen helplessly watched the New York Knicks’ three-line fast break.

He was faked out by Lee’s pass in the paint, which caused him to stop.

Sam Cassell, retreating on Defense, was faked into a statue by Lee’s big right-to-left Euro step in the paint.

On the Milwaukee Bucks bench, the atmosphere group, who had been standing and cheering for their teammates, instinctively buried their heads in their hands.

Arriving at the left block, Lee easily laid the ball in with his left hand, and it banked off the backboard into the basket!

The Bradley Center American Airlines Arena fell completely silent.

Milwaukee Bucks fans could only silently watch Clay Lee, who had just scored, spread his arms, and make a showy gliding pose as he quickly retreated on Defense.

105:94, with 53 seconds left in the game, there wasn’t enough time.

On the New York Knicks bench, Lewis was jumping and waving a towel with the atmosphere group, and Kukoc was also smiling and applauding.

Everyone wouldn’t have to book another night at the hotel tonight.

Ray Allen’s final three-pointer missed, and after Lee grabbed the rebound, he quickly counterattacked, drawing a foul from Sam Cassell, and finally stepped to the free-throw line again.

Head Coach George Karl did not call a timeout, watching the game clock tick away.

In the final moments before the buzzer, the Milwaukee Bucks’ big man, Johnson, scored a putback in the paint, and only boos remained in the Bradley Center.

107:96, a 3:0 series sweep.

The New York Knicks swept the Milwaukee Bucks and successfully advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

On the commentary table, Dick Stockton had been praising all game, and looking at the box score, he continued to exclaim:

“41 points in a single game. I think future opponents won’t choose to defend him one-on-one anymore. Lee has once again showcased his scoring ability.”

41 minutes played, 14-of-27 from the field, 4-of-11 from beyond the arc, 9-of-10 from the free-throw line, for 41 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers.

Clay Lee’s stats made Matt Guokas feel like he was outdated.

Scoring 40+ points without even realizing it, no matter how many times he saw it, Lee’s scoring ability still surprised him:

“Free throws and three-pointers are indeed more efficient scoring methods, but this demands a lot from a player.”

“This is an MVP. Lee is changing people’s preconceived notions about offense.”

The Milwaukee Bucks players greeted each other and walked towards the player tunnel.

Losing in a comeback, going home to fish, no one was in the mood for pleasantries or mutual praise.

At the post-game press conference, Clay Lee and Allan Houston appeared before everyone in formal attire.

Playing 40 minutes, Allan Houston efficiently scored 27 points on 11-of-17 shooting, 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line.

Smiling after the win, a New York reporter who had traveled with the team to Milwaukee asked with a smile:

“What a great series! Trailing at halftime, what did everyone discuss in the locker room during halftime?”

Lee gestured, Allan Houston thought for a moment, then smiled and answered truthfully:

“The Head Coach told us he only booked the hotel for one day, and that motivated everyone. Lee controlled the game, it’s that simple!”

The Milwaukee Media, hearing this, was instantly infuriated, and thinking about how the New York Knicks’ rotation lineup had dominated them in the final quarter, they could only secretly curse their players for not performing.

Ray Allen contributed 26 points on 10 of-22 shooting and 2-of-8 from beyond the arc, while Glenn Robinson also had 26 points on 11-of-21 shooting.

When the two appeared at the press conference, the Milwaukee Media reporters still looked grim.

Ray Allen didn’t say much, but Glenn Robinson had a better mindset:

“We just didn’t shoot as well as them, that’s how simple basketball is, there’s nothing to complain about!”

Smiling despite the loss, seeing Glenn Robinson’s nonchalant demeanor, some Milwaukee Media reporters felt the team had no future.

With 41 points in the playoffs, Lee set a new personal playoff scoring record.

On the morning of the 30th, New York’s print media began to heavily praise him in the sports section:

“Point God!”

Two days prior, the Lakers defeated the Sacramento Kings 113-89, with Kobe scoring 32 points on 12-of-20 shooting,.and the Los Angeles Media once again brought up the title of “Michael Jordan’s successor.”

This enduring title certainly pleased Lakers fans.

In an era where stats weren’t as inflated, 30+ points was already quite rare, which is also why most basketball critics recognized Lee’s scoring ability in the past few seasons.

On the morning of the 30th, the NBA announced this season’s Rookie of the Year (ROY):

Elton Brand of the Chicago Bulls ultimately won the award.

Chicago Bulls fans were still quite satisfied with Elton Brand.

In his rookie season, he averaged 20.1 points and 10.0 rebounds.

Even if there was some exaggeration, overall, Brand lived up to his status as the first overall pick!

However, Chicago Bulls fans were very dissatisfied with the New York Knicks’s ‘undercover agent’—Sprewell.

The champion guard teamed up with a powerful rookie, yet the team once again tanked for the first overall pick.

On the evening of the 30th, Kobe once again showed good form, scoring 35 points on 13 of 25 shooting, over 50%.

91:99, the Sacramento Kings evened the series at home, and Shaquille O’Neal’s playoff 15:0 boast was shattered.

8 of 22 shooting, 5 of 14 free throws, 21 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 1 turnover.

Facing double-teams, Shaq also became inefficient.

The New York Knicks had a day off, but Jeff Van Gundy and Thibodeau watched the game at the Tarrytown Training Center.

For the New York Knicks, the Eastern Conference Semifinals would most likely be against their old rival, the 76ers.

Facing the “Four-Protect-One” tactic, the team wasn’t under much pressure, as the opponent wasn’t a fast-paced team either.

“18 offensive rebounds, 17 assists, 12 turnovers. The Lakers’s stats are good, but the Sacramento Kings’s rotation played too well.”

Thibodeau looked at the box score.

Peja was 7 of 11, scoring 19 points, and for a moment, he missed Sprewell from last season.

Jeff Van Gundy noticed the Lakers’s shooting attempts.

With a large number of offensive rebounds, they attempted 86 shots in total.

He pondered for a moment and then whispered,

“Still, let Pat get ready!”

The team was their home.

The two continued to discuss after watching the game and simply stayed at the training center.

As the NBA announced its major awards, and with the calendar turning to May, the focus shifted to this season’s MVP.

The New York Media, who had already received news that Shaquille O’Neal would win the award, had been hoping for the Lakers to lose every day recently.

New York fans love to see their opponents fail.

If they lose once, the newspapers can sell more.

Ending the first round cleanly gave the New York Knicks a week of rest.

In this year’s Eastern Conference first-round games, the Heat swept the Toronto Raptors 3:0.

Facing playoff rookies, the Heat once again taught them a lesson with their iron blooded Defense.

The Pacers swept the Detroit Pistons 3:0. Grant Hill suffered an injury and was completely out of playoff form.

Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose shot down their opponents.

In the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Pat Riley once again met Larry Bird, and the dialogue between the two was also a major highlight.

The NBA had already started to warm up for the games in the past few days.

On May 1st, the New York Knicks resumed their daily training.

At the Tarrytown Training Center, there were still more reporters than staff.

Robert Frank, a Wall Street Journal reporter, had been staking out the training center every day since Lee returned to New York.

At the beginning of the year, Frank created a wealthy column, which explored wealth phenomena, told wealth stories, and finally showcased some luxurious lifestyles.

This column was quite boring because the experiences of most successful people were irreplicable.

Overall, it was a high-end inspirational column, encouraging the middle class to strive and work hard.

Catching him during lunchtime, he finally squeezed next to Lee again:

“Lee, trust me, our exclusive interview will definitely not reveal too much information. I just want everyone to know more about you in life!”

Unlike sports reporters, this Jewish-American man, dressed in a black suit, wearing a blue tie, and with gray hair, looked more like a scholar.

Coupled with a pair of black-rimmed glasses that obscured his blue eyes, Frank looked much more approachable.

Lee was a bit helpless regarding the other party’s persistent spirit.

Obviously, after estimating his earnings, many people wanted to dig out more behind-the-scenes stories.

He glanced at the numerous sports media around him, shrugged his shoulders, did not refuse the exclusive interview, and said with a smile:

“Currently, I’m only focused on the playoffs, so for the interview, you can make an appointment in advance, and my agent will give you a reply.”

Throughout April, the stock market continued to fall, and many people had already lost a lot of money.

Many sports reporters didn’t give this financial insider a good look.

The Wall Street Journal’s inspirational talk was no longer effective either.

Frank nodded helplessly, and soon, the sports media surrounded Lee again.

There was only one game tonight:

The Hornets hosted the 76ers.

“Lee, what are your expectations for the next round? Will you continue to score 40+?”

Many Yahoo Sports reporters came. In the first round, all Eastern Conference teams swept their opponents, so there weren’t enough news hot spots.

Recently, everyone could only consume Clay Lee.

Already accustomed to all sorts of bizarre questions, Lee still maintained a smiling face, patted the other party, and joked:

“40+? I can’t predict my own stats. All I pursue is victory!”

“Of course, everyone can write it that way. Actually, I don’t care about these things, as long as the fans like to read it!”

Lee blinked, and many people chuckled softly.

Yahoo Sports also started fabricating stories, spending the last two days talking about the “grudge” between Clay Lee and Allen Iverson.

Although the two had played against each other many times, the 76ers used to be a weak team, and they were swept last year.

Allen Iverson’s inefficient performance meant there was no “grudge” at all.

A few of them awkwardly laughed.

Their own editors’ imagined stories were seen by the main character.

Lee greeted the reporters around him, preparing to take everyone to eat together.

Thinking about the messy reports on the internet, he suddenly had an idea of buying a media company:

“It’s still more reliable to have truly your own people!”

That night, 106:99, the 76ers successfully advanced, and Allen Iverson once again met his old nemesis, Clay Lee.

On the evening of the 6th, the Eastern Conference Semifinals would officially begin, leaving the 76ers with 4 days of rest.

Making it to the semifinals for the first time in his professional career, Allen Iverson was particularly excited after the game.

His good mood didn’t last long.

After the game, Allen Iverson was again asked about Lee:

“Allen, who do you think deserves to win MVP this season, Lee or Shaq?”

The Charlotte local reporter’s question immediately put Allen Iverson in a bad mood.

This matter had nothing to do with him.

“I don’t care who wins MVP. My goal is to defeat them. I don’t want to answer any more questions unrelated to the 76ers!”

Larry Brown, who was beside him, frowned.

Allen Iverson was even more disobedient this season, but the two were still in their honeymoon period.

As long as they won, everything was fine.

Soon, Larry Brown was also asked about the MVP.

This famous Head Coach could only say diplomatic words:

“Both are excellent. I cannot compare them. Lee is a core guard, and Shaq is a super center. They are both very excellent players.”

“…”

As the calendar turned to May 6th, the NBA officially announced this season’s regular season Most Valuable Player:

Shaquille O’Neal of the Lakers won his first career MVP trophy!

Last season, he expressed disdain for the award, but after actually winning, Shaquille O’Neal almost shed tears during his speech at the press conference.

(A/N: 🤣🤣🤣)

Watching Shaquille O’Neal excitedly lift the small bronze man after thanking everyone, Kobe, who sat on his right acting as the mood setter throughout, felt a bit envious.

Thinking about how most media reporters throughout the season had focused on the competition between Clay Lee and Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe’s heart once again stirred with an idea:

“I should be standing there too!”

On the evening of the 6th, Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 1 officially began.

For a week, the New York Knicks players were bombarded by media reporters every day.

Ewing greatly enjoyed such treatment.

The Gorilla maintained a smiling face every day.

In the locker room before the game, when asked about the end of his contract again, he suddenly let slip:

“Next season, I plan to go on a retirement tour. Uh, I won’t consider this issue for now!”

“…”

….

By the way, don’t forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me 🙂

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep