On the evening of May 25, 2000, after Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Reggie Miller proactively took responsibility during the post-game press conference.

Excluding the third quarter, the Pacers played exceptionally well throughout the entire game.

Four New York Knicks players had five fouls each, and everyone strictly followed the game strategy.

“Perhaps we lacked some luck from beyond the arc, but I’ll bounce back strongly when we return home!”

Still wearing his beige suit, Reggie Miller made a solemn promise, which most people, except for the Pacers’ beat reporters, no longer cared about.

A guarantee from an aging star was useless.

Playing 37 minutes, shooting 6-of-15 from the field, 1-of-4 from three-point range, and 6-of-8 from the free-throw line, Reggie Miller scored 19 points and grabbed 1 rebound, but he was out of rhythm for the entire game.

Jalen Rose, who was beside him, looked a bit tired.

He played all 48 minutes, shooting 7-of-19 from the field and 10-of-12 from the free-throw line, scoring a team-high 24 points.

Aside from missing three-pointers, Jalen Rose had given his all throughout the game.

The imagined scenario of the media deliberately making things difficult for them did not occur.

Reggie Miller suddenly realized that perhaps everyone in the audience believed the series was already over.

On the New York Knicks’ side, Larry Johnson made a rare appearance at the press conference.

He played 40 minutes, shooting 10-of-17 from the field, 1-of-5 from three-point range, and 4-of-6 from the free-throw line, tallying 25 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, and 2 turnovers.

The New York Media naturally showered him with praise.

Larry Johnson, dressed in a black suit on stage, chuckled and stroked his large beard.

Noticing the cameras clicking away, a new idea suddenly popped into his head:

“Perhaps I should get a haircut, shave my beard, and try a new look!”

The Pacers concluded their road trip and earned three days of rest.

Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals would officially begin on the evening of the 27th.

In Game 2, the New York Knicks won 95-102, but it wasn’t an easy victory, as they almost fell into foul trouble.

Clay Lee shot 7-of-17 for the entire game, a little over 40% field goal percentage.

Although he dished out 13 assists, the next day’s commentators would not hold back their criticism.

Furthermore, with both teams in the Western Conference Finals also resting for three days, this period was perfect for consuming content about star players.

The New York and Los Angeles media were silent at this time.

The former was because everyone was very satisfied with Clay Lee’s performance, while the latter had lost too badly and could only keep a low profile during this period.

Shaquille O’Neal’s 15-0 record had been forgotten by Los Angeles fans, and the Lakers’ dominance seemed not as strong as imagined.

Clay Lee’s missed shots were the happiest sight for the MSG staff responsible for filming the documentary.

On the morning of the 24th, young screenwriter Jason Hehir pulled Lee aside, wanting to reshoot a few scenes.

Since they were only a year apart in age and both were young, Jason Hehir usually spoke directly:

“Lee, you need to show a sense of crisis!”

“Uh, what I mean is, your performance is poor, the New York Knicks are about to lose, and this is our home court. I need that sense of crisis from losing at home!”

“I watched the footage shot yesterday, and your performance was too calm, with barely any emotional fluctuations. Audiences definitely won’t like to see that kind of plot.”

Upon hearing these demands, Lee immediately frowned and finally joked:

“It’s hard for me to show that sense of crisis. Reggie Miller on the other side is already 35 years old. To be honest, facing these veterans, I’m usually very confident!”

Several MSG staff members immediately burst into laughter.

The New York Knicks had beaten the Chicago Bulls’ old guys in ’98.

Compared to the pressure Michael Jordan brought, Reggie Miller was far inferior.

After reshooting a few scenes, the staff could only laugh and quip:

“Lee, there’s no need to force yourself. I think New York fans won’t care about these details. As long as we win, the documentary will be watched.”

“Conversely, if we lose the championship in the end, no one will be interested in the documentary, no matter how well it’s filmed.”

“This is New York. No one celebrates losers. It’s the same in the music industry, the film industry, and Wall Street. Our newspapers only report on successful people.”

Several people who had worked at MSG for many years would not forget how the New York Media used to mock and consume Ewing.

After reaching the Finals and losing to the Houston Rockets, Ewing and Starks, who performed poorly, were almost roasted into immediate retirement.

New York fans would even boo their own players at home.

In contrast, the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden has been much better in recent years, mostly due to Clay Lee dominance here.

Jason Hehir stroked his chin, also finding this reasonable, and finally offered another suggestion:

“Next time we shoot footage, let’s get more shots of Pat. I can see that sense of crisis on his face!”

Lee, of course, also noticed the Gorilla’s conflicted expression, but he always felt Ewing was worried about the tour.

Last night, the New York Knicks took 83 shots again, and the game pace was fast.

Ewing only got 21 minutes of playing time.

The New York Media, who loved looking at spreadsheets, found a slight issue with the Gorilla’s plus-minus in this series, so they stopped talking about that statistic, which was a way of saving Ewing’s face.

The New York Knicks were about to secure a series point, moving one step closer to the championship, which led to more reporters staking out the Tarrytown Training Center.

As the Lakers’ dominance in the playoffs declined, many people shifted their attention back to the New York Knicks.

Jeff Van Gundy, who was busy posing every day, also received more attention.

If the New York Knicks successfully won the championship, Jeff Van Gundy would also become the youngest Head Coach in NBA history to achieve a three-peat.

With this achievement, he wouldn’t have to worry about work for the rest of his life!

After the training session ended on the afternoon of the 25th, the New York Knicks were to depart for Polis.

Jeff Van Gundy, as always, maintained his confidence during interviews:

“We will end the series as early as possible, which will help the veterans recover their physical condition.”

“On the offensive end, no one in the league can compare to Lee. I never doubt that!”

“I also won’t worry about Lee’s shooting issues, because as long as he can play, he can help the team win!”

“…”

The Bald Young Coach’s dark circles had largely disappeared recently.

Everyone could see that as the series progressed, Jeff Van Gundy became increasingly confident.

Showering the star player with praise, some Los Angeles media found it tiresome but were powerless to refute it.

Among active players, setting aside the past-his-prime Hakeem Olajuwon, Clay Lee’s achievements were far superior!

On the evening of the 26th, at 93-91, the Trail Blazers, back at home, regrettably lost the game.

In the final moments, Steve Smith completed a steal, but the Trail Blazers’ last possession fell short.

Old Sabonis reluctantly took the last shot, but it was blocked by Kobe.

Harper’s jump shot with 29 seconds left helped the Lakers win the game.

Phil Jackson was no different from other coaches in crucial games, continuing to rely heavily on his starters!

Playing 48 minutes, Shaquille O’Neal shot 10-of-17 from the field and 6-of-12 from the free-throw line, tallying 26 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks, and 3 turnovers.

Playing 47 minutes, Kobe shot 11-of-18 from the field, tallying 25 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, and 3 turnovers.

The Lakers’ duo had their playing time pushed to the limit.

The Trail Blazers did not play poorly.

They simply lacked a player who could deliver in the clutch.

Scottie Pippen was not Michael Jordan, so he took the blame in the post-game analysis, which earned him the most money.

On the evening of the 27th, before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals began, a large number of Pacers fans held up whiteboards with “Miller Time” to show their support for the home team and Reggie Miller.

The rivalry between the two teams could be traced back to the early 1990s.

Under the guidance of famous coach Larry Brown, the Pacers had also reached the conference finals for two consecutive years.

One time they fell to the New York Knicks, and another time they lost to the Orlando Magic.

Recalling the situation of reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last year, a sense of déjà vu made the Pacers fans uneasy.

After the game began, over eighteen thousand Pacers fans started cheering loudly for the home team.

In this do-or-die game, Head Coach Larry Bird also played no tricks.

All five starting players remained on the court when 3 minutes and 15 seconds remained in the first quarter.

In contrast, the New York Knicks had already substituted Kurt Thomas and Ben Wallace.

Jeff Van Gundy still made substitutions by the clock, only keeping Larry Johnson, who was in good form and had changed his look.

Rik Smits had received a pass from Jalen Rose’s drive-and-kick in the right elbow area of the free-throw line on the previous possession, hitting a mid-range jump shot.

The New York Knicks were unaffected.

Clay Lee once again accelerated the pace of the offense.

Mark Jackson, after initially guarding Larry Johnson in a mismatch, was easily scored on.

Later in the quarter, he chased back to guard Lee.

As the two moved to the left wing, Mark Jackson noticed Ben Wallace shifting forward behind him again, and inwardly cursed.

Compared to the previous few solid, stationary screens, Ben Wallace briefly screened and then quickly rolled to the basket.

Rik Smits was too slow to get back on Defense after extending, and Mark Jackson immediately chased behind Ben Wallace, cutting off the passing lane.

Facing the big man’s Defense, Lee, who was holding the ball with his left hand, had been protecting the ball sideways, stretching the Defense.

Noticing Rik Smits standing with his feet apart, raising his left hand high, and trying to lower his center of gravity, Clay Lee suddenly sent the ball forward with his left hand as the opponent moved up, and the basketball went directly between Rik Smits’ legs.

“Oh!”

A huge gasp suddenly echoed throughout the Arena.

Rik Smits hadn’t reacted yet, but Clay Lee in front of him had already squeezed past from his side.

Subconsciously turning his head, Rik Smits saw Lee scoop the ball with his right hand, immediately stopping short in the left elbow area.

With no one defending him, he took a mid-range jump shot!

“Swish!” The two-point shot went in without touching the rim.

Looking at Rik Smits, who was made to look like a dummy, and then at Clay Lee and the New York Knicks’ cheering squad, who were happily retreating on Defense and bouncing around, the Pacers fans could only boo wildly and curse repeatedly.

24:17.

Watching the lead widen again, the two commentators at the NBC broadcast booth could only exclaim in admiration:

“Beautiful move! Lee always scores easily when facing big men on Defense.”

“Mark Jackson made the wrong defensive choice.

Head Coach Larry Bird might consider bringing Croshere onto the court.”

Doug Collins had been hoping the Pacers would go with a smaller lineup, but Rik Smits had been playing exceptionally well since the start, and Larry Bird insisted on using the Dutch big man.

Noticing Jalen Rose’s strong drive to the basket from the right elbow area was again disrupted by Ben Wallace’s trailing Defense, resulting in a miss, Bob Costas could only offer some platitudes:

“The Pacers’ perimeter players must step up and score in time.”

Looking at Ben Wallace grabbing the rebound, Conseco Fieldhouse suddenly became a bit quieter.

“Defense!.”

The arena DJ was still trying to rouse the fans, and the shouts of Defense gradually grew louder again.

Jalen Rose immediately picked up Clay Lee for Defense, and the New York Knicks players didn’t even look at the backcourt, all quickly running to half-court.

Clay Lee, holding the ball with his left hand, also accelerated, dribbled past the half-court line, stopped suddenly, quickly dribbled behind his back, switched to his right hand, protected the ball sideways, and signaled a play.

Ben Wallace immediately came to the three-point line for a high screen, and Jalen Rose squeezed through to continue chasing on Defense.

However, after encountering Kurt Thomas’s second screen on the right wing, Jalen Rose failed to squeeze through in time and lost his defensive position.

Dale Davis immediately switched to defend Lee, following him with continuous slides to the left.

On the wing, near the three-point line, Lee suddenly took a hop step dribble, and while stopping short and lowering his body’s center of gravity, he feigned a gather with his left hand and looked up at the rim.

Dale Davis, who had been sliding continuously, subconsciously moved forward, adjusting his body’s center of gravity, preparing to block the shot.

As soon as his feet moved, Dale Davis saw Clay Lee’s extremely quick In and out, faking left and driving right, accelerating his cut.

Dale Davis wanted to continue sliding to chase on Defense, but found his thigh being held by Lee’s left hand.

Using the leverage, he couldn’t exert full force for a moment and simply stood rooted to the spot.

The Pacers fans, who couldn’t see the details, just thought Dale Davis was stunned when Clay Lee looked up, and instinctively booed.

Mark Jackson and Reggie Miller in the left and right corners hadn’t reacted yet, but Clay Lee had already broken through to the paint area, took three big steps, jumped up with the ball in his right hand, and powerfully slammed it down with a one-handed dunk!

“Boo!!!”

A huge boo echoed through the stadium.

From the double screen at the top to Lee completing the breakthrough, the entire process was too fast, so fast that many Pacers fans couldn’t accept it.

After completing the dunk, Clay Lee, in a great mood, grinned at Reggie Miller, who had just chased him to the basket:

“Hey! Man, tonight I’ll keep winning the game with pick-and-rolls!”

“.”

Already down by 9 points, the anxious Reggie Miller just wanted to quickly inbound the ball.

Clay Lee, however, was not in a hurry, remaining on half-court, ready to pick up Defense, and joked to his opponent:

“Don’t forget to check the box score during the quarter break to see how many points I scored using pick-and-rolls!”

“Get him, grandma!”

Mark Jackson, who came over to receive the ball, couldn’t help but shout, and at the same time pushed Clay Lee forward, but couldn’t move him.

Lee looked down at him, smiling without speaking.

After Reggie Miller inbounded the ball, he had just run past half-court when he heard the referee’s whistle, and Mark Jackson fell to the ground in pain.

Clay Lee, who was playing Defense, suddenly made a fierce move to steal the ball, accidentally elbowing Mark Jackson, who was protecting the ball.

On the bench, Oakley leaned back in his chair, covering his face with a towel, almost laughing out loud.

When the referee blew the whistle, the New York Knicks’ cheering squad all stood up and complained with outstretched hands.

As a seasoned veteran, Mark Jackson lay on the floor for a while, and when he saw that the referee didn’t make much of it, he immediately stood up.

The officiating tonight was very lenient, and after Mark Jackson realized this, he also started to increase physical contact in the final minutes.

However, his 35-year-old body still couldn’t compete with Clay Lee, and Mark Jackson, whose lateral movement speed had declined, was no longer able to handle too many chasing defensive assignments.

The New York Knicks were still scoring.

Allan Houston’s step-through drive from the left wing drew a foul from Reggie Miller, sending him to the free-throw line.

Larry Johnson, facing Mark Jackson’s strong Defense, attacked the basket again and scored.

In the final 2 minutes, the Pacers fans could only watch their home team players miss shots.

As the first quarter was about to end, Dale Davis’s second rebound and put-back score barely saved some face.

30:19.

The Pacers fans were all extremely disappointed.

Rik Smits, who played 10 minutes in the first quarter, performed exceptionally well, going 6-for-10 and scoring 12 points himself.

Jalen Rose, who took on too many defensive tasks, was sluggish again, going 0-for-4 and scoring zero points.

Clay Lee, walking towards the bench, didn’t forget to remind his opponent, pointing his finger at Reggie Miller’s eyes.

Reggie Miller, muttering a few curses, forced himself to calm down.

A double-digit deficit meant he couldn’t afford any more mistakes.

Playing the entire first quarter, Clay Lee went 5-for-7 from the field, 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, for 12 points, 1 rebound, and 3 assists, with all of his points coming from inside the paint.

Doug Collins believed there was a problem with the Pacers’ rotation, and during the quarter break, he complained a bit:

“Rik Smits is in excellent form on offense, with strong drives to the basket and mid-range jump shots after pick-and-rolls helping the team continuously score.”

“But he’s playing too many minutes. In many possessions, Lee easily scores against him through pick-and-rolls.”

“Head Coach Larry Bird should consider taking the big man out earlier.”

Bob Costas also didn’t expect the Pacers’ perimeter offense to still not open up after returning home:

“The perimeter players are not in good form.

Mark Jackson’s signature paint area floater has had a very low shooting percentage in this series.”

“Clearly, facing the younger Lee, too much physical contact is still affecting this veteran.”

After the second quarter began, the two commentators at the broadcast booth noticed that Jalen Rose was still on the court, and both were speechless for a moment.

Having played 48 minutes in the previous game, Jalen Rose would most likely not rest in tonight’s do-or-die game.

The Pacers substituted Mark Jackson and Rik Smits, making only simple positional changes.

Reggie Miller, who only rested for one minute in the first quarter, was still on the court.

In this crucial game, Larry Bird also couldn’t sit still, standing on the sidelines, constantly shouting reminders to his teammates to stay focused.

On the New York Knicks bench, everyone looked relaxed, only Ewing was a bit depressed, having been substituted after playing only 5 minutes at the start.

Allan Houston and Larry Johnson both performed very efficiently in the first quarter, and were now in a cheerful, winning mood, chatting in low voices with Clay Lee.

Oakley had long noticed his old friend’s low spirits in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Although he didn’t look at Excel, he read the newspapers every day.

New York’s mainstream papers supported Ewing, while some tabloids, to grab attention, didn’t speak well of the Gorilla, focusing on his plus-minus.

“Pat, don’t mind those boring media comments. The team needs you!”

Oakley, already in his jersey, whispered a word of comfort, but Ewing still couldn’t cheer up.

Having played basketball for most of his life, he had long discovered that opponents would speed up when they encountered him.

This season, the New York Knicks had been accommodating his stats.

Ewing just bumped fists with Oakley, then, forcing a smile, stared intently at the energetic rotation lineup fiercely pushing and driving on the court:

“Can I still maintain a double-double?”

“.”

….

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

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep