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***

On May 20, 2001, the first Game 7 of the playoffs concluded.

With a score of 91:108, the 76ers successfully advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, thanks to Allen Iverson’s heroic performance!

Playing 45 minutes, Iverson scored 44 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 2 turnovers on 17-of-33 shooting, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc and 6-of-7 from the free throw line.

As the game ended, the Philadelphia fans at First Union Center rose to their feet, applauding Iverson as he roared with his head held high.

The joyous atmosphere at the arena left Ray Allen feeling dejected.

He had scored a team-high 26 points tonight and dished out 6 assists.

Too many turnovers were the main reason for the loss, and for Head Coach George Karl, the biggest reason for the defeat was that his players were “too soft.”

Most sports media were aware of the conflict between the “straightforward” Ray Allen and the Head Coach, and at the press conference, this topic was brought up again.

“I’m not Gary Payton. I can’t play that kind of basketball, but I had the most assists on the team, and I’m still trying my best to help the team.”

“Why do I have to change? I’m the most active person in the team’s training. God witnessed my efforts. I just want to be myself.”

Ray Allen’s angry words were clearly pointed, subtly complaining about the lazy Glenn Robinson and also criticizing the Head Coach’s coaching ability.

Starting from last year’s playoffs, both sides had already fallen out, and the conflict between Ray Allen and George Karl was completely public.

The media reporters below the stage were amused, anticipating more drama in the offseason.

Not all teams are harmonious internally.

Glenn Robinson also complained about the team’s Defense after the game, almost pointing fingers and saying Ray Allen’s Defense was terrible.

Only veteran Sam Cassell proactively took responsibility, but no one cared about his opinion for a simple reason:

“Too low in looks, no leader’s aura!”

To lead the team over the past two years, Ray Allen spent most of his offseasons training in Milwaukee and even proactively invited teammates.

Unfortunately, most players separate work and life, and Glenn Robinson had no interest in being led by a younger player.

Having fallen in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Milwaukee Bucks were practically disbanding, with only Head Coach George Karl maintaining his composure and saying some polite words.

Losses ignite internal team conflicts, while victories greatly boost the 76ers’ morale.

In his fourth season coaching the 76ers, Head Coach Larry Brown finally showed his prowess as a renowned coach, leading the team to the Conference Finals.

Reaching a higher stage for the first time in his career, Allen Iverson was exceptionally excited, praising everyone after the game and expressing his admiration for the Head Coach:

“Coach Brown is the best Head Coach in the NBA, and the 76ers have the best coaching staff in the NBA.”

“Thanks to my teammates, I’m ready. No difficulties can stop us from moving forward. The 76ers will reach the Finals!”

New York Media watched Allen Iverson start to inflate with boasts, and they began to mock him with veiled sarcasm:

“Six games, 186 shots, 34.3% field goal percentage, 33.3% three-point percentage.”

“Allen, can you comment on your scoring efficiency?”

Despite averaging 30.5 points, his efficiency was indeed poor, and Allen Iverson naturally disliked this question.

Seeing the New York Media made him even more annoyed:

“I don’t care about those statistics. I only know that the 76ers won the series.”

“The fact is, I won the scoring title this season. I’m the best scorer in the NBA. No one can stop me!”

Mid-sentence, some New York Media began to chuckle.

The New York Post reporter waited until Allen Iverson had completely finished his answer, then, with a teasing expression, smiled and said:

“Good luck, Allen! I think Clay will really enjoy guarding you.”

His joy was greatly diminished, and thinking about flying to New York tomorrow, Iverson lost his smile for a moment:

“Why is it you again!”

For New York fans, it was “New Year’s” again these past few days!

Although the Chicago Bulls did not get a top-three pick, the fourth pick was enough to help the team acquire a good big man.

Everyone was looking forward to the next Ewing, and next season, the New York Knicks would completely complete their rebuild.

Lee’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, has been very busy recently.

He has a chance to sign the incredibly talented Kwame Brown!

In recent years, Mark Bartelstein has certainly benefited from Lee’s success.

A top agent must have top stars, and while the Rookies in the past two years have been disappointing, that’s not the agent’s problem.

After the New York Knicks’ practice that day, Mark Bartelstein timed his arrival perfectly and went to Lee’s home on 82nd Street.

Their cooperation over the years has been pleasant.

Lee is sentimental and, after making a name for himself, still remained with Mark Bartelstein’s agency.

Ray Allen and this agent had already parted ways amicably.

A 4% commission is not a small amount, and after his Rookie contract ended, the two sides ultimately could not reach an agreement.

Old Mike, who opened the door, saw the agent, skillfully accepted the gift, and then joked:

“Your timing is precise to the second. Lee is home alone tonight.”

When Lee drove home, the two were discussing the different crime styles of Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York.

Casually taking off his coat, Lee saw Mark Bartelstein and knew his purpose:

“The Washington Wizards are definitely not suitable for Rookie growth. Hamilton has complained to me many times.”

“Michael Jordan still seems to have plans to make a comeback. Having a high school Rookie play with him would definitely be a disaster. When it comes to the draft, he’s a dictator and won’t listen to his friends’ opinions.”

Mark Bartelstein was highly likely to sign this promising Rookie.

Hearing Lee’s opinion, he just shrugged and responded with a smile:

“The first overall pick can at least sign a big contract. The Washington Wizards have no hope of winning a championship, and three years is enough time for him to grow.”

“And playing with Michael Jordan is also good. There will be higher attention. The Washington Wizards want to try out both Brown and Chandler and make a decision after they play against each other.”

“If your goal is Chandler, trading up isn’t an easy task.”

Lee raised an eyebrow, not hiding the news, and casually said:

“The New York Knicks will most likely pick Pau Gasol. Interperformance agency has already been in contact with management.”

“A buyout fee of $2.5 million, and James Dolan has also agreed to it. Herb Rudoy indeed has a lot of influence.”

Mark Bartelstein found it difficult to comment on this veteran in the NBA agent circle.

The other party focused on European players, which he couldn’t compare to:

“Gasol? That white big man? If he joins the New York Knicks, what position will he play?”

Hearing Mark Bartelstein’s curious question, Lee also rubbed his brow, thinking about the team’s atmosphere these past few days, and said helplessly:

“That depends on Head Coach Van Gundy’s plans. Most likely it’s the center position. You know, when Grant and I are on the court, we need more offensive space.”

“The coaching staff is a bit dissatisfied with this decision from management, and Ben Wallace also feels the team lacks respect for him.”

“Pat Ewing, however, has no opinion. He even plans to become an assistant coach after retirement!”

“Hmm, it’s said that he wants to properly mentor this white big man.”

Mark Bartelstein was first stunned, then shook his head and chuckled, continuing to tease:

“It’s hard to imagine what the New York Knicks will become. This roster configuration almost completely overturns their previous team-building philosophy.”

“…”

On the evening of the 21st, the Western Conference Finals officially began.

The San Antonio Spurs, after leading by 8 points in the first half, were overturned by the Lakers in the second half.

With a score of 88:81, the Lakers successfully secured an away victory.

Gregg Popovich’s strongest tactic failed, and Tim Duncan played another 48 minutes.

Despite a huge double-double of 40 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 blocks, and 6 turnovers on 15-of-26 shooting, including 1-of-1 from three and 9-of-9 from the free throw line, he still lost the game.

Veteran David Robinson and the perimeter players were truly disappointing.

Compared to the Lakers’ 8-of-18 shooting from three (44.4%), the San Antonio Spurs’ 4-of-16 shooting from three was far too poor.

Kobe scored a Lakers-high 28 points on 11-of-24 shooting, Shaquille O’Neal had 19 points and 14 rebounds on 9-of-21 shooting, and Derek Fisher scored the team’s third-highest 16 points on 4-of-4 from beyond the arc!

Both teams relied heavily on their starters, but Phil Jackson proved to be superior, ultimately having the last laugh.

The “arch-rival” narrative created by the media before the game was quite successful, and San Antonio fans could still shout:

“The San Antonio Spurs lost, but Duncan didn’t!”

On May 22nd, the 76ers, who had flown to New York, found that the New York Media paid no attention to them.

Most sports columns in the newspapers were still analyzing which big man was more suitable for the Knicks.

Everyone paid extra attention to the next “Ewing,” and most importantly, the public liked such news, and the New York fans didn’t take the 76ers seriously.

Facing their Eastern Conference Finals opponent, everyone had a huge psychological advantage!

The pre-game interviews were perfunctory, as the New York Media were all waiting for Clay Lee to lead the team to the Finals.

The NBA did not spare any effort in promoting the series, trying to create a “rivalry” atmosphere, but unfortunately, most New York fans didn’t buy it, as Allen Iverson had already “lost numbly” as an opponent.

Allen Iverson, brimming with grand pronouncements, had no outlet to vent before the game, and what made him even more annoyed was that Lee’s interviews these past few days had all been about “gossip.”

The draft pick seemed more important than the Eastern Conference Finals.

At 8 PM, Madison Square Garden, New York fans entered early.

Regardless of past records, many still enjoyed the live game experience of “winning numbly.”

Playoff tickets were in short supply, and many New York fans even complained that there were too few games.

In the first two rounds, most New York fans only watched 4 home games.

While watching games across borders was good, the atmosphere wasn’t lively enough, and showing off was prone to conflict, so it was really not as comfortable as watching games at home.

By the Eastern Conference Finals, James Dolan was no longer watching from the box, but had moved with his staff to sit beneath the basketball hoop.

The curly-haired owner was very happy, not only because more tickets were sold, but also because sales of snacks like beer, popcorn, hamburgers, and hot dogs increased with each game.

Coupled with the support of numerous advertisers, the team’s market value had soared in recent years, essentially making money effortlessly.

General Manager Grunfeld had been arguing with the coaching staff these past few days, and Jeff Van Gundy, who had once again won Coach of the Year (COY), also had a temper.

The Bald Young Coach disagreed with dismantling the current roster structure, and once a trade-up occurred, the team would inevitably undergo personnel adjustments.

Lee did give clear opinions, but he couldn’t help unify the two sides:

“I don’t like Eddy Curry. He’s too fat and doesn’t fit the team’s tactical style at all.”

James Dolan didn’t pay attention to the worried General Manager beside him.

Before the game started, he looked at the cheerleaders wiggling their hips and swaying their waists, stroked his chin, and suggested:

“Add more blondes. Without a mascot, the cheerleaders must be prettier!”

“…”

Grunfeld was speechless; the front-row New York fans who paid a high price for tickets wouldn’t care about these girls at all.

Victory was the most attractive thing.

If the Knicks kept losing, most New York fans wouldn’t repeatedly spend money to get upset.

As the home team completed its entrance ceremony and the lights in the Madison Square Garden came back on, the roar grew louder and louder.

At the NBC commentary booth, Bob Costas had just introduced the 76ers’ injury situation and quickly announced the starting lineup:

“Still plagued by injuries, Erik Snow will come off the bench tonight.”

“The starting backcourt is Aaron McKie and Allen Iverson, and the three frontcourt players are Jumaine Jones, Tyrone Hill, and Dikembe Mutombo.”

Doug Collins looked at this starting lineup and found it difficult to comment.

He didn’t want to say the 76ers would win, and like many commentators, Doug Collins also believed the Knicks would win easily:

“Head Coach Van Gundy also hasn’t adjusted the starting lineup. We can pay attention to Grant Hill’s playing time.”

“In the first two rounds, this All-Star forward was still protected, averaging 20.6 minutes per game!”

The two chatted for a long time without analyzing the game.

Perhaps only the Philadelphia media firmly believed the 76ers would reach the Finals.

Unlike Head Coach Larry Brown, who was seriously arranging tactics, Jeff Van Gundy was already sitting on the bench before the game.

There was no pre-game pep talk, no special tactical arrangements.

The Bald Young Coach even felt this was the most relaxed Conference Finals he had experienced.

Ewing also didn’t take the opponent seriously.

He was currently chatting non-stop with Dikembe Mutombo.

For the Gorilla, meeting a good friend in the Conference Finals made it easier for him to show off after the game.

When both teams arrived at mid-court, Clay Lee, who was stretching his shoulders at half-court, also looked relaxed, and noticing that Grant Hill seemed a bit nervous, he immediately smiled and said:

“Relax! The Conference Finals are no different from the regular season. We’re going to win tonight!”

Grant Hill, unable to refute, could only give an awkward smile.

It seemed he was the most nervous player on the entire team.

He bounced and jumped in place, vigorously warming up his body, and finally, Grant Hill seemed to want to cheer himself on, also responding in a low voice:

“I only have 20 minutes of playing time, so let’s establish a lead as early as possible.”

Most of the old opponents on the other side didn’t react to Lee’s words, only Allen Iverson glared angrily.

As Dikembe Mutombo leaped up and won the tip-off, a defensive chant immediately erupted in the Madison Square Garden:

“Defense!…”

Holding orange handkerchiefs, the New York fans in the stadium stood up.

This had become a fixed part of watching the game, and they wouldn’t sit down until the Knicks scored.

Aaron McKie, bringing the ball across half court, subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief when he realized Allan Houston was guarding him tonight.

Under the lead Defense, he reached the top of the arc, and Aaron McKie began to frown again.

Clay Lee was guarding Allen Iverson.

In the right corner, Iverson quickly moved along the baseline from right to left, while Lee went up the sideline, intercepting the opponent’s passing lane in advance.

Popping out to the left corner, Iverson first feigned a step up the sideline, then immediately cut back.

Lee wasn’t fooled and still guarded him closely.

Aaron McKie also couldn’t make the pass immediately, which forced Iverson to step up the sideline again and actively call for the ball.

Noticing the movement behind him, Allan Houston immediately intensified his Defense.

Even with Aaron McKie protecting the ball with his backside, he was still affected,and the pass quality was poor, closer to the sideline.

Just as Iverson was about to force a catch, Lee seized the opportunity and suddenly lunged forward.

Near the sideline, their bodies collided.

Stumbling, Iverson quickly bent down, his left hand still trying to control the ball, but Lee lowered his center of gravity, and with a strong swipe of his right hand, directly stole the ball.

The steal happened right in front of the front-row New York fans, who cheered loudly.

Clay Lee, in control of the ball, immediately passed it with force, and the basketball flew directly to the opponent’s half-court.

Aaron McKie pulled and tugged, delaying Allan Houston, while on the other side, Jumaine Jones hadn’t even reacted before Grant Hill twisted his body, accelerated, and rushed past mid-court.

1-on-0 in the frontcourt, scooping up the ball at the three-point line, completely unguarded, Grant Hill quickly rushed into the paint, jumped, swung the ball around in the air, grabbed it with his right hand, and slammed it down with a windmill dunk!

“Wow!”

Cheers echoed through the Madison Square Garden.

Sitting back in their seats, and waving their orange handkerchiefs, the New York fans were very pleased.

It was still the familiar scene.

Head Coach Larry Brown on the sidelines repeatedly gestured that Lee had fouled, clearly very dissatisfied with the referee’s call:

“He practically knocked my player down! That happened right in front of you!”

Sensing the officiating standard tonight, Larry Brown tried to pressure the referee, but received only polite platitudes as an explanation.

Grant Hill, retreating on Defense, smiled and gave Lee a thumbs up, his nervousness greatly dissipated.

Indeed, it was no different from the regular season.

Allan Houston continued to lead the Defense on Aaron McKie, delaying the 76ers’ advance.

Changing direction, Allen Iverson this time moved quickly up the sideline after reaching the right corner, finally successfully receiving the ball.

Dikembe Mutombo immediately stepped up to set a screen, while Lee left a step of space, leaning on the opponent, ready to squeeze through the screen.

Ewing played drop coverage, standing below the free-throw line.

The Knicks basically gave up on long twos and three-pointers.

Although he had shooting space, Iverson didn’t choose to immediately jump-shoot.

He put the ball down with his right hand, moved horizontally, and used the screen, trying to shake off Lee’s chase-down Defense.

Iverson was very fast.

The moment Lee squeezed through, he took two big dribbles and immediately stopped short, quickly jumping up to shoot, despite Lee’s interference from his side!

“Bang!” A furious clang off the rim!

The rebound bounced out and was collected by Ewing, who had twisted to box out.

Grant Hill immediately responded, and the Knicks players began to rush towards the opponent’s half-court.

Clay Lee, off-ball, continuously accelerated along the left sideline, with Allen Iverson biting at his heels on Defense.

Their sudden matchup made the New York fans cheer even louder:

“Let’s go Knicks!…”

On the other side, Grant Hill, who was constantly accelerating along the right sideline, noticed Allan Houston’s tactical hand signal at the top of the arc, and stopped early at the right wing.

Lewis also stopped at the left wing, while Lee, who had run to the left corner, quickly moved along the baseline.

With Ewing’s off-ball screen near the left baseline, Lee quickly popped out to the right corner.

Grant Hill delivered the pass, and as soon as Lee received the ball, the incredibly fast Iverson immediately rushed over, attempting a steal.

Iverson’s risky defensive move was unsuccessful.

He rushed past Lee, completely losing his defensive position.

Without giving the opponent time to react, Lee slightly adjusted his posture and quickly shot a three-pointer from beyond the arc in the right corner!

“Swish!” The three-pointer went in cleanly!

The two corners were where Lee had the highest three-point shooting percentage.

From the commentary booth, Doug Collins shook his head, commenting helplessly:

“This isn’t a good defensive choice. Against Clay Lee, the first thing a defender needs to do is not lose their defensive position.”

Bob Costas was already starting to feel the joyful atmosphere in the arena.

Watching the 76ers continuously pass the ball hand-to-hand from beyond the arc, he could only offer a simple comment:

“The Knicks’ Defense is very targeted. Their perimeter seems to switch on every screen, which has significantly impacted the 76ers’ offense.”

After a series of hand-to-hand passes, Allen Iverson’s defender became Grant Hill.

At the top of the arc, after a hop-step dribble, Iverson suddenly lunged forward to accelerate.

As Grant Hill quickly slid backward to his left, Allen Iverson immediately dribbled between his legs, stopped short, and shot another long two-pointer!

“Clang!”

The basketball hit the back rim.

Dikembe Mutombo furiously tipped the offensive rebound, and Allen Iverson, with quick eyes and hands, rushed into the paint, secured possession, and immediately took another fadeaway jumper.

The basketball rimmed out again.

This time, Ewing desperately boxed out, and Lewis, who had retreated to the basket, grabbed the rebound.

The 76ers players quickly retreated on Defense, leaving no one to guard Lee, who completed the fast break right behind them.

Clay Lee was near the left wing when Aaron McKie finally came up to guard him.

Allan Houston, seeing his defender in front of him, didn’t hold back.

From the top of the arc, he moved diagonally forward, constantly pulling and pushing, keeping Iverson behind him.

In the left block, the two players tangled together.

As Iverson desperately tried to front-pivot to box out, Allan Houston quickly twisted his body, cutting towards the basket.

Lee, who hadn’t even reached the three-point line, immediately delivered a lead pass.

Near the left baseline, Allan Houston received the ball and immediately turned his back to protect it.

Iverson quickly recovered on Defense, using his forearm to firmly press against Allan Houston, but he didn’t expect the latter to only post up once, then immediately gather the ball, quickly turn towards the baseline, and simultaneously complete a fadeaway jumper!

“Swish!” The mid-range shot went in steadily.

The left low post was also Allan Houston’s sweet spot.

After the shot, he, too, was beaming.

This kind of low-post offense was indeed not difficult for him.

0:7.

Leading by 7 points right from the start, the New York fans in the arena were overjoyed, waving their handkerchiefs wildly.

It was a familiar rout!

Aaron McKie sensed that something was wrong.

Iverson was having difficulty shaking off his defender, and the offensive rhythm was too slow.

For this possession, he simply passed the ball to Dikembe Mutombo in the right low post.

Facing Ewing’s Defense, Dikembe Mutombo received the ball and immediately turned towards the baseline, quickly completing a right-handed hook shot!

The motion was smooth and fluid, but the basketball hit the rim and bounced out.

Ewing smoothly secured the rebound, and Lee once again received the ball, driving forward against Iverson’s lead Defense.

“Wow!”

The jeers erupted again.

The 76ers’ retreat speed was incredibly fast.

Lee, who had arrived at the right wing, didn’t stop his steps.

As Iverson reached down to strip the ball, Lee quickly dribbled the ball behind his back while moving forward.

As he scooped the ball with his left hand, Lee continued to drive fiercely towards the basket, still draped by the defender.

Noticing that Dikembe Mutombo had already retreated on Defense, Lee leaned into Iverson in the paint and executed a wide-arc spin, pivoting on his left foot.

The moment he reached the lower right side of the rim, Mutombo, who had rushed to the basket, jumped to block, and Iverson also bothered Lee from in front.

Drifting backward to the right, Lee paused slightly in mid-air, exerting force with his body, instantly raising the release arc!

“Slap! Screech!”

Iverson couldn’t control his balance and hit Lee’s right forearm.

The referee immediately blew the whistle, and the basketball just cleared Mutombo’s fingertips, accurately falling into the basket.

“OH! What a brilliant shot! Lee’s grasp of offensive timing is excellent!”

Bob Costas praised loudly, while Doug Collins, seeing the 76ers’ score still at zero, shook his head again and sighed:

“Allen Iverson must find his touch quickly. Of course, the role players also need to step up and share the offensive pressure.”

“A double-digit deficit is very dangerous! The Knicks’ favorite thing is a response shot.”

As Clay Lee walked to the free-throw line, Ewing, who had just reached half-court, couldn’t help but tease Dikembe Mutombo:

“I bet we can seal the win in less than three quarters!”

“Shit! Don’t dream! The game has just begun!”

Mutombo didn’t hold back, immediately retorting, while continuously clapping his hands, trying to motivate his teammates.

“MVP! MVP! MVP!”

The excited fans in the arena didn’t care about the game time.

There was a huge cheer when Lee made the free throw.

0:10.

Jeff Van Gundy instinctively stood up, expecting the opponent to call a timeout, but Larry Brown was only shouting loudly from the sidelines.

It was Dikembe Mutombo who broke the deadlock for the 76ers.

Aaron McKie’s pull-up jumper missed, but Dikembe Mutombo tipped the offensive rebound and put the ball back in.

On the 76ers’ bench, the hype squad also cheered.

They finally scored.

Dikembe Mutombo, retreating on Defense, loudly called out to his teammates to complete their defensive matchups, and couldn’t help but curse under his breath when he noticed Ewing stopped beyond the three-point line.

Pushing past half-court, facing Aaron McKie’s lead Defense, Lee quickly dribbled behind his back, then suddenly lowered his center of gravity, quickly completing a cross-body dribble change.

The basketball passed in front of him.

Aaron McKie, still sliding, subconsciously made a move to strip the ball, but caught nothing.

Scooping the ball with his right hand again, Lee naturally drove to the right. Facing Dikembe Mutombo, who had come up to help, he quickly pushed the ball and changed direction.

Suddenly increasing his stride, Lee led the ball forward, scooped it with his left hand, and drove straight to the basket.

Although he had seen this kind of drive many times in the regular season, Dikembe Mutombo’s center of gravity was too high.

At this point, he could only desperately slide backward to his right, while adjusting his footwork, constantly ready to jump and block.

Lee, having gained a step, two quick steps as he leaned into his opponent near the rim, suddenly jumped off his left foot, simultaneously grabbing the ball with his left hand, and quickly extended for a scoop layup.

Mutombo, unable to find the right rhythm in time, jumped desperately to block, but the basketball flew too high, hitting the very top of the backboard.

“Bang! Swish!” The high-banked scoop layup went in.

After landing, Dikembe Mutombo subconsciously put his hands on his hips and looked at the rim, seemingly unable to understand how Clay Lee found the banking spot.

Ron Artest on the sidelines was already beaming, holding his head in his hands, making an exaggerated expression and a strange cry.

The hype squad was in a great mood.

According to the current game trend, they would be able to play in the latter half of the 3rd quarter.

In the following few minutes, the game completely entered the Knicks’ rhythm.

Allen Iverson shot without any hesitation, then clanged the ball off the rim repeatedly.

Lee and his teammates frequently initiated fast breaks, and if there was no opportunity to slow down, they would go for mismatch isolations.

One side scored slowly, while the other scored efficiently.

When Lewis hit a three-pointer from the right corner over Tyrone Hill, Madison Square Garden completely erupted!

Head Coach Larry Brown’s previous timeout had no effect, and the Knicks’ scoring continued.

With 3 minutes and 12 seconds left in the 1st quarter, Ewing, who had set a screen in the right elbow, received a pocket pass from Lee, rolled down, and completed a one-handed dunk!

“Ah!!”

Ewing, having scored a field goal, stood under the basket and roared passionately. In a blowout game, the Gorilla was especially energetic.

13:26. The 76ers seemed to have no power to fight back.

Allen Iverson on the court was seething with anger.

He hadn’t expected the Knicks to treat him as a soft target.

Once they entered a half-court offense, the primary offensive option was for several perimeter players to take turns isolating him.

Even with Allen Iverson defending desperately, the hardware disparity still led to many points.

Possessed by the blacksmith, Allen Iverson chose to pass this time.

The 76ers again used a series of hand-to-hand passes.

Finally, Jumaine Jones got open, received a cross-court pass from the substitute Eric Snow, and took a jump shot from the right elbow, scoring another 2 points.

Falling into a half-court offense, Lee didn’t rush to push the ball.

Noticing Iverson crouching in front of the substitute Ron Artest, he immediately made a tactical hand signal.

In both corners, Ron Artest and Allan Houston started almost simultaneously.

The two executed a cross screen under the basket.

Spotting Iverson switching behind him, Allan Houston was completely comfortable.

He immediately changed direction and demanded the ball with his back to the basket in the left block.

Instead of fronting, Iverson stood his ground and firmly pressed against his opponent.

Lee delivered the pass.

After receiving the ball, Allan Houston posted up again.

After a body fake, he quickly twisted forward, and a sudden up-and-under move caused Iverson to commit a shooting foul.

“Boo!”

Hearing the boos, Allen Iverson pursed his lips, not saying a word.

He was exhausted on both offense and Defense, and still hadn’t scored a point.

Allan Houston made both free throws, and Ben Wallace took the opportunity to substitute in for Ewing.

Jeff Van Gundy smiled faintly, pacing the sidelines, occasionally clapping and shouting a few words to make his presence known.

At 15:28, Head Coach Larry Brown on the other side frowned, looking at the bench, feeling helpless.

Clay Lee chased Allen Iverson, subtly pulling when he encountered a screen, and aggressively bumping and challenging him the moment he received the ball.

Perhaps the referee couldn’t bear it anymore.

Near the right baseline, Lee almost completed another steal when the whistle suddenly blew.

Lee smiled at the sideline referee and didn’t mind.

Soon, Iverson received the ball at the top of the arc again.

This time, Dikembe Mutombo’s screen quality was extremely high, instantly shaking off the Defense.

Ben Wallace didn’t choose to drop back on Defense.

He aggressively stepped out and then quickly slid, interfering with Allen Iverson’s floater below the right side of the basket, resulting in another miss.

The moment the ball bounced off the rim, Ben Wallace grabbed the rebound and then passed the ball to the frontcourt.

Although the pass was too forceful, Lee’s speed was not slow.

After catching up to the ball, he took three big steps and charged forward, scoring with a layup off the backboard!

Mutombo, who was chasing him from behind, was completely helpless and could only exhale in frustration.

The New York Knicks’ scoring was too easy.

At 15:30, Madison Square Garden was filled with the happy shouts of the New York fans.

In the final minute, both teams’ shooting touch declined, and scoring relied on free throws.

With 3.2 seconds left in the first quarter, Allen Iverson drove hard to the basket from the right block, drawing a foul from Ben Wallace.

“Boo!”

Ignoring the boos, Allen Iverson made both free throws and let out a long breath, finally getting some points on the scoreboard.

“Nice job, Bro! I thought you wouldn’t score this quarter.”

Allen Iverson was about to lean next to Clay Lee when he heard this and immediately stepped forward and shoved him fiercely.

Lee smiled, raised both hands, and used the momentum to move two steps towards the referee, while loudly reminding him:

“That’s not a basketball play!”

Iverson’s eyes were red with anger, and he wanted to continue charging, but the sideline referee was right next to Lee and immediately stepped forward and hugged him.

Another referee also immediately blew the whistle, turning to give Allen Iverson a technical foul.

After Lee completed the free throw, he saw Allen Iverson walking towards the bench, and the New York fans in the arena suddenly shouted:

“Overrated!”

The roar grew louder and louder.

Back on the bench, Iverson’s face was grim, seemingly angered by that word.

Lee casually tossed the ball from half-court, and it hit the back of the rim, causing many spectators to sigh in regret.

The first quarter ended with the New York Knicks leading 35-19, a 16-point advantage.

Allen Iverson went 0-for-9 in the quarter, finishing with 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 turnovers.

Such a performance made it difficult for the two commentators to evaluate.

Doug Collins could only change the subject and continue to praise Clay Lee:

“With 5 assists in the first quarter, Lee firmly controlled the game’s tempo. The 76ers’ Defense didn’t cause him any trouble.”

Playing the entire first quarter, Clay Lee shot 4-of-5 from the field, 1-of-2 from three-point range, and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line, accumulating 13 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal.

Looking at Lee’s statistics, Bob Costas noticed that the New York Knicks were preparing for extensive rotation and instinctively commented:

“Perhaps Lee’s playing time won’t be too much tonight.”

In the second quarter, Head Coach Larry Brown still used Erik Snow and Allen Iverson as the backcourt, while the frontcourt consisted of Rodney Buford, Tyrone Hill, and Matt Geiger.

For the New York Knicks, Allan Houston, who had a better shooting touch, entered the game early.

Allan Houston’s 10 points in the first quarter, on 4-of-4 shooting, all came from low-post offense.

Although Kukoc was squeezed out of the rotation, he could only reluctantly accept it at this point.

Grant Hill sat on the bench, watching Allen Iverson continue to shoot unaffected by his misses, and quietly sighed:

“This is indeed not a reasonable offensive choice, but the 76ers can only trust him.”

The opposing team’s roster was not reasonable.

Lee looked at Larry Brown, who was still loudly reminding his players on the sidelines, and said with a light tone:

“If they continue to fail this year, Head Coach Larry Brown should also leave the 76ers. Perhaps in a few years, this old rival will enter another rebuilding phase.”

Kukoc heard their discussion and felt that the Eastern Conference was completely finished.

The Milwaukee Bucks were breaking up, the Pacers were rebuilding, the Toronto Raptors had a low ceiling, the Hornets were mediocre, the Orlando Magic were all Rookies, and the Heat, without Mourning, were likely to miss the playoffs.

In this situation, the New York Knicks took the opportunity to complete their generational transition, almost seamlessly.

In the second quarter, Allen Iverson gradually found his shooting touch, but with Clay Lee’s return in the latter half, he ultimately failed to climb out of the hole.

At halftime, the score was 62-45, and the game was practically without suspense.

Crushing an opponent in one quarter was a common occurrence in the regular season, and the New York fans were very familiar with this situation.

Allen Iverson shot 6-of-19 from the field, 1-of-3 from three-point range, and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line, scoring 16 points at halftime.

Such a performance was beyond evaluation.

Bob Costas was not Charles Barkley, that big mouth.

During halftime, he only discussed the 76ers’ tactical issues:

“Head Coach Larry Brown can adjust the Defense strategy, reduce switching, which can reduce Allen Iverson’s consumption on the defensive end.”

Doug Collins saw his partner being so polite and spoke bluntly:

“The efficiency is too low. Allen Iverson should involve his teammates more, increase some drive-and-kick plays. Dikembe Mutombo has the ability to handle some of the ball-handling responsibilities.”

“When matched up against Ben Wallace, the 76ers have a height advantage, but unfortunately, I didn’t see more low-post offense.”

The two did not discuss the game’s outcome much, as the point difference was too large, making a comeback almost impossible.

After the second half began, the defensive intensity decreased, and Lee no longer guarded Iverson.

He controlled the game’s tempo, ran fast breaks, and the point difference fluctuated around 15 points.

Dikembe Mutombo did get more opportunities, but his finishing around the basket was truly poor tonight.

Some close-range layups always bounced off the rim.

For a time, the 76ers suddenly fell into a scoring drought again.

This situation delighted the New York fans, who cheered and shouted from time to time.

The single quarter score was 26-19, and after three quarters, it was 88-64, meaning it was time for the atmosphere group to take the stage.

Clay Lee only played 28 minutes, shooting 10-of-16 from the field, 3-of-5 from three-point range, and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line, recording a double-double of 28 points, 3 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 steals.

Jeff Van Gundy completely put the draft behind him.

In the fourth quarter, he stood on the sidelines with his arms crossed, enjoying the atmosphere, feeling particularly pleased.

Allen Iverson played another 7 minutes before being substituted.

The shouts of “Overrated” irritated the small guard, who angrily threw a water bottle upon returning to the bench.

Ultimately, the New York Knicks defeated the 76ers 112-87, securing a dominant victory to open the Eastern Conference Finals.

Clay Lee, dressed in his practice uniform, stood up and applauded, high-fived his teammates in celebration, and then turned to wave to the New York fans, expressing his gratitude.

On the other side, Allen Iverson had already walked quickly towards the player tunnel.

He didn’t want to stay in the Madison Square Garden for another second.

When NBC reporter Jim Gray appeared beside Lee, he made no mention of the “rivalry.”

One game was enough for everyone to recognize the reality: Allen Iverson and Clay Lee, and the 76ers and the New York Knicks, had a huge gap between them.

“Lee, congratulations on winning the game. I noticed that in the first quarter, you were guarding Allen Iverson on Defense. Is this a new game strategy for the New York Knicks?”

Lee smiled and nodded, then answered seriously:

“Previously, my teammates always lightened my load, but as my game experience increases and my physical condition gets better and better, it’s my turn to contribute to the team on the defensive end.”

“As long as my stamina allows, in the upcoming games, I will actively guard the opposing team’s perimeter core!”

Jim Gray and the staff’s eyes lit up.

If they made it to the Finals, there might be big news again!

….

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

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep