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***
On June 11, 2001, the NBA eagerly announced the viewership for the Finals.
The peak viewership during overtime reached over 36 million.
Such data was on par with the NBA's golden era in the early 90s, clearly indicating that spectators preferred dramatic and unpredictable games.
Clay Lee's monstrous first half and divine second half, such a miraculous performance, left many fans thoroughly entertained!
After last night's game, sports media immediately went wild.
Two records set in one game seemed to evoke memories of the glorious years of the early 90s.
As Game 6 was scheduled for June 12, leaving little rest time for both teams, the Knicks flew back to New York overnight, and the Lakers officially departed in the morning.
The remaining games would all be held at Madison Square Garden, and having endured the road trip, the Knicks saw the dawn of victory.
On TNT's morning show, the three hosts once again discussed last night's game.
Charles Barkley laughed heartily, appearing especially happy:
"Now Shaq should be able to understand how I feel. Perhaps he is currently the strongest big man on Earth, but his opponent is not from Earth."
"Clay changed the game. I mean, he changed people's perception of basketball. Last night's victory, I'd rather call it a miracle!"
"God might truly favor some people. It's hard to imagine how Lee completed those high-difficulty shots."
Kenny Smith nodded along, uncharacteristically not refuting his partner's point.
In the fourth quarter of Game 5, the Lakers shot 19-of-24 from the free-throw line in a single quarter.
Their explosive power was terrifying, enough to stun anyone who witnessed it.
Under such circumstances, Clay Lee not only withstood the pressure and responded wildly but also crushed his opponent in overtime.
Even the most critical pundits couldn't ask for more.
Since the Finals were still ongoing, sports media, following the NBA's lead, would not overly discuss officiating issues.
However, the facts that had already occurred would not change.
It was predictable that once the Finals officially concluded, a large number of reporters would certainly revisit past controversies.
The consequence of losing with a "man advantage" was that they wouldn't receive good reviews for several years.
Kenny Smith also didn't discuss the art of refereeing, as there would be plenty of time to discuss such matters during the offseason.
He continued to shift the topic back to the game:
"Can we expect more from the Lakers? Shaq and Kobe have already performed to their utmost. I don't know how they will adjust in the subsequent games."
Shaquille O'Neal: 17-of-29 shooting, 11-of-17 free throws, 45 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 4 turnovers.
Although Shaquille O'Neal scored only 3 points in overtime, his overall performance was still outstanding.
Kobe Bryant: 13-of-28 shooting, 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, 10-of-13 free throws, 38 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 4 turnovers.
Kobe scored 4 points in overtime and had given his all.
It was difficult to blame him for the loss.
Ernie Johnson had long noticed that the Lakers' performance in this game was actually very good.
Regarding the question of how to adjust, he also couldn't comment:
"Returning home, the Knicks will also gain some advantages. To tie the series, the Lakers' most important aspect is still Defense."
"However, Clay Lee played 52 minutes in Game 5. The upcoming games will also be a huge test for his stamina."
The two people beside him, hearing about the stamina issue, shook their heads in unison.
Lee, who had been plagued by foul trouble, had two games where his playing time was less than 40 minutes.
Although he didn't want to discuss the officiating standards, Charles Barkley still teased the Lakers at this point:
"They failed to seize the opportunity at home and lost the game point. On the road, I believe Lee will respond."
"I'm more concerned about Shaq's stamina. That guy's gotten fatter this year!"
"..."
Losing last night almost caused the entire Lakers team to break down.
Phil Jackson once again lost his composure as a Champion Coach, getting up and leaving immediately after the game without even looking at the wildly celebrating Jeff Van Gundy.
At the post-game press conference, Shaq and Kobe's faces were dark throughout.
Facing the subtle taunts from the media reporters below, they all gave formulaic responses:
"We will win it back. The Lakers will win the championship!"
"..."
After flying to New York in the morning, the Lakers didn't accept many interviews.
However, when everyone saw the column article in the New York Post, they were almost enraged:
"Basketball Doesn't Lie!"
Although the entire article praised the Knicks' performance, the mention of "adversity" subtly mocked their opponent for "playing with a man advantage."
The headline of the New York Times sports section was even more interesting, featuring a photo of Kobe being faked out, with Lee holding the ball and smiling faintly, while the column article read:
"Clay Lee Defeated the Second 'Michael Jordan'!"
Aside from reporting Lee's Finals record, the rest were sarcastic game reviews.
In just one night, many sports reporters privately complained, and quite a few even agreed with the New York Media's view:
"The Lakers stole two victories."
As long as the Knicks win the championship, the moment of "reckoning" will arrive.
The end of the Finals also needs hype, and then it will be the New York Media and sponsors' turn to strike hard.
Interestingly, everyone knew that Kobe and McGrady were competing for the "Big Brother" position at Adidas.
Failing in this year's Finals would undoubtedly affect their next contract.
The Lakers, upon arriving in New York, were forced to keep a low profile, while the Knicks, at this time, were open to all interviews.
The winner has more say.
Lee would not complain about the officiating at all.
Once they returned home, someone would naturally take care of it.
Jeff Van Gundy had long wanted to blast the opposing "Kentucky Fried Chicken" old man.
Today, he changed his usual attire and wore a sharp suit at the Tarrytown Training Center.
The task of instructing players during video sessions naturally fell to the assistant Head Coach.
Jeff Van Gundy spent the entire morning gleefully accepting interviews:
"I didn't feel the charm of competitive sports from our opponents!"
"Phil is a good person, but his performance last night was unsportsmanlike. After thegame, I didn't even see him."
"55 points in a single game, 10 three-pointers made, Lee has earned everyone's respect through absolute strength!"
"I don't like the Lakers' home Staples Center. Fortunately, God always favors Lee. He is the greatest in history in my heart. After tonight's game, I hope to see the Lakers show respect."
"They should know on what basis their victories are built. I don't want to comment further on our opponent's performance, because we are preparing for the awards ceremony."
The New York Media reporters burst into laughter.
The Bald Young Coach was right.
The awards ceremony rehearsals had indeed begun.
David Stern no longer needed to fly back and forth.
His headquarters were in New York anyway, making a home awards ceremony particularly convenient.
The Bald Young Coach continuously launched attacks.
Although he still refrained from criticizing the referees, he criticized the entire Lakers team.
What goes around comes around. Years ago, Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan mocked him.
Now it was Jeff Van Gundy's turn to retaliate.
If it weren't for maintaining the demeanor of a Champion Coach, Jeff Van Gundy would most likely have burst out laughing and directly declared to the many sports media outlets:
"Phil Jackson is an old liar!"
When Lee appeared in a training vest at the Tarrytown Training Center's media center, he was once again surrounded by reporters.
"Lee, talk about your 55 points! This is the highest score since Elgin Baylor's 61 points in 1962, it's incredible!"
"Finals three-point record, Lee, tell us how you managed to bounce back in the second half?"
"In Game 6, will you lead the Knicks to end the series?"
"..."
Since there was no press officer present, everyone swarmed forward, pushing microphones in front of Lee, trying to get firsthand information.
Although Lee had already answered some questions at last night's press conference, the sports media, eager to report records, felt it wasn't enough.
55 points in the Finals, this record would be very difficult to surpass, requiring too many preconditions and extremely high individual ability.
Lee was in a good mood, answering all the questions one by one, and finally made a self-deprecating remark:
"If I scored 55 points and still lost, everyone definitely wouldn't want to hear my story here. I truly love the feeling of victory!"
"During the offseason, Nike and ESPN will release a personal documentary about me, and NBC will also release a documentary about the Knicks."
"Everyone can pay attention. I guarantee that the content of the documentaries will be never-before-reported material!"
Hearing Lee advertise the documentaries, everyone chuckled and agreed.
If they achieved a four-peat, the documentaries would surely be very popular.
On the other side, Grant Hill, who was also being interviewed, began to discuss the issue of officiating standards.
Back at home, it was natural to put pressure on the referees:
"Although I experienced a great game last night, I don't like some of the controversial calls."
"In the fourth quarter, the Lakers shot a lot of free throws. I don't want to recall exactly how many times they shot, I just know that some of the calls were unreasonable."
"We tried our best to control our defensive actions, but basketball games are always full of confrontation. Defending with hands up? That is absolutely unacceptable."
The surrounding New York reporters all nodded in agreement, finding Grant Hill's statement reasonable.
Allan Houston, who was in a contract year, had also been receiving a lot of attention recently.
In last night's game, he scored 26 points, the second-highest on the team, shooting 10-of-22 from the field, 2-of-6 from beyond the arc, and 4-of-6 from the free-throw line.
His three-pointer in the fourth quarter also left a deep impression on fans.
When interviewed, besides expressing his willingness to stay in New York, he didn't forget to subtly criticize the Lakers:
"Basketball doesn't lie. I agree with Lee's point that officiating is also part of the game."
"But now we're back home. The Lakers shouldn't expect to score easily at Madison Square Garden."
"Perhaps the 'Shaq and Kobe' duo can still combine for 80 points, but the championship belongs to the Knicks."
"We are ready to welcome the team's sixth championship trophy together!"
On tuesday, June 12, three hours before the game began, large crowds of fans had already gathered around the Madison Square Garden.
The impact was traffic congestion.
Even though City Hall had prepared early, the number of enthusiastic fans still exceeded expectations.
NBC, as the broadcaster, usually conducts pre-game warm-ups an hour before the game, showcasing the city's scenery.
The game officially started at 9 PM, and interviewing fans beforehand encountered considerable difficulties.
"F*ck Lakers! F*ck Shaq! F*ck Kobe!"
"Despicable thieves! Shameless actors! Derek Fisher will be beaten to a pulp tonight!"
"You will never win! The God of Basketball will never favor despicable thieves!"
"ā¦"
Wearing the New York Knicks' home jersey and a past championship hat, he started shouting as soon as he saw the camera, and then didn't forget to cheer excitedly.
There were shirtless people yelling, drunk people spewing nonsense, and high people acting wild.
Perhaps these people didn't have tickets and couldn't get into the Madison Square Garden to watch the game, but that didn't stop the fun-loving fans from having a good time in front of the camera.
The basketball atmosphere in New York is very strong.
Although some streetball players at the bottom don't have much money, they are all good at creating atmosphere.
Many people carried speakers and microphones to show off.
The "chain gang" followed the music, chanting and cursing the Lakers, which attracted a large number of fun-loving people.
Perhaps some people didn't like Lee's style, but everyone loved victory and respected money.
In short, all the players at the bottom yearned for the achievements Lee had made.
The chaotic scene outside the Madison Square Garden gave NBC broadcasters a headache, and they finally had to say, "Cut this part, don't broadcast it."
An hour before the game, Ray Allen arrived early.
After greeting Clay Lee, he was asked about Kobe during an interview and turned into a straightforward boy again:
"I've said before that the backcourt in the Western Conference is weaker than everyone imagines."
"Western Conference teams don't understand Lee's strength at all. Kobe can shoot 50% in the Western Conference Finals, but look at his performance now, by the end of the series, it's still regular season level."
"He cannot achieve what he has now if he doesn't play with Shaq."
"I don't understand why he gets more attention. In the Eastern Conference, there are also many backcourt players who deserve attention."
"He is not Michael Jordan! Perhaps his moves are somewhat similar, but he doesn't have Michael Jordan's influence."
"In my opinion, he has always been overrated. To be discussed alongside Lee, he needs to win an MVP trophy first."
Ray Allen's serious expression made the New York Media chuckle.
Although he lost to the 76ers in this year's playoffs, Ray Allen's individual statistics were very good, and his efficiency was also excellent.
However, after so many days since the Eastern Conference Semifinals, no one discussed his performance.
Ray Allen, who was feeling envious, seized the opportunity to unleash a torrent of words, making the Los Angeles reporters look displeased.
Lee's Good Brothers also came to the Madison Square Garden.
Oakley, Larry Johnson, and Starks were gathered around Ewing, chatting and joking:
"Pat, your fourth championship in your career. When the discussion about the four great centers comes up again, you'll definitely crush those softies!"
Starks, wearing a floral shirt, said this, immediately causing the others to burst into laughter.
Larry Johnson, dressed casually in a white short-sleeved T-shirt and denim shorts, touched his bald head and sighed along:
"This is God's favor. If Pat had chosen to leave New York, he wouldn't have gotten these honors. God truly loves us."
Oakley had lost a lot with the Washington Wizards.
Recently, he came to New York with Michael Jordan to prepare for the Draft, and his mood had improved a lot.
Seeing Ewing's round, smiling face, Oakley loudly encouraged him:
"Those damn referees always want to manipulate the game, and the NBA is the same. Back at home, show those softies from Los Angeles what's what!"
"Shit! When I see that kid who likes to flop, I just want to go on the court and punch him twice!"
Clay Lee and Allan Houston had just finished dealing with reporters.
When they arrived, they heard Oakley wanting to punch "Little Fish."
Clay Lee stepped forward and hugged his Good Brothers one by one, then punched the Gorilla next to him.
Only then did he respond with a relaxed expression:
"Times have changed. Even though it's only been a few years, the NBA doesn't want to see the Finals turn into a 'boxing match.' But Charles Barkley is right, we really should teach them a lesson tonight!"
"Oh!"
Larry Johnson cheered, then made a boxing pose and playfully practiced a couple of moves with Lee.
Ewing looked at his familiar teammates, laughing non-stop.
He put his arm around Oakley and said in a low voice, feeling happy:
"My career, I truly have no regrets!"
Although Lee sent off his Good Brothers, they didn't mind.
With a championship, becoming a commentator after retirement would be more than enough.
The higher Lee's achievements, the more talking points everyone would have in the future.
Becoming a Lee fan after retirement, they could at least boast for more than ten years, and if they did even better, working for the New York Knicks wouldn't be a problem.
The situation was completely different back at home.
The New York Knicks had many old legends, and even before the game started, they had been outspoken in interviews over the past two days, occasionally lashing out at the referees.
Although Phil Jackson was also considered a New York Knicks legend, the old guys showed no mercy.
The Champion Coach was still criticized.
In less than two days, Kobe once again experienced the feeling of being bombarded by the media.
"Clumsy imitator," "thief," "soft basketball," "stat padder," "team cancer," "overrated"...
All sorts of labels were thrown at him.
With the New York Knicks at match point, some New York Media had already started to let loose.
Shaquille O'Neal was also uncomfortable.
He used to joke and chat with his teammates, but after coming to New York, he had been wearing a long face.
When it came to digging up old dirt, the New York Media was definitely among the best, frequently bringing up his sweep experiences.
The narrow-minded Shaq was also greatly angered.
Half an hour before the game, Madison Square Garden was already buzzing.
Being able to witness a historic moment made New York fans incredibly excited.
Many people frequently looked up at the confetti and five championship banners preparing to fall from the Madison Square Garden ceiling.
The journey of these past few seasons felt like a dream.
The stadium became exceptionally noisy.
In the NBC commentary booth, Doug Collins had already discussed many tactical issues before the game.
Just before the game was about to begin, he suddenly sighed:
"If Michael Jordan had not retired back then, I wonder if he would have had the chance to achieve four consecutive championships."
"Now the New York Knicks are just one win away from that achievement."
Marv Albert, however, was happy to see his home team win another award.
He took over the conversation and couldn't help but praise the New York Knicks:
"From Ewing's era to Lee's arrival, the New York Knicks have completed their transformation."
"Lee is only 23 years old. His career has just begun. This is his era!"
"ā¦"
The Lakers naturally wouldn't give up.
Perhaps Phil Jackson's motivational talk had worked.
Or perhaps the news from the past two days had stimulated the players' self-esteem.
After the game began, the Lakers were the first to get into game rhythm.
They suddenly exploded in the second quarter, scoring 30 points in a single quarter.
In the third quarter, they once again made a strong comeback, forcing the New York Knicks to fail in their attempt to catch up.
78:73.
After three quarters, the New York Knicks were still trailing by 5 points.
During the break between quarters, the New York fans in the Madison Square Garden were unaffected, continuing to dance and cheer to the music.
As long as the point difference didn't exceed 15 points, everyone had a mysterious confidence.
On the Lakers' bench, Kobe once again displayed a "fierce posture."
Tonight, he shot wildly, not considering passing at all, with only the basket in his eyes.
He had been so stimulated these past two days that his mentality almost exploded.
Tonight, Kobe only wanted to prove himself through the game.
He needed a victory.
11-of-20 shooting, 2-of-2 from the free-throw line.
The excessive long two-pointers still didn't lower Kobe's shooting percentage.
He had already scored a team-high 24 points in three quarters.
Although O'Neal was unhappy, the team maintained the lead, so he could only suppress his dissatisfaction.
Phil Jackson also knew that success or failure depended on this one move.
If they could drag the game to Game 7, it would be hard to say who would win:
"Very good! Hold on a little longer. We need to continue this offensive rhythm and trust each other!"
Noticing the Head Coach's gaze, O'Neal nodded slightly.
His shot attempts were limited, and as long as they could win, he didn't mind being a "Little Shaq" for once.
After the 4th quarter began, the Lakers attacked first. Madison Square Garden once again erupted with a "Defense" cheer:
"Defense!ā¦"
Derek Fisher, wearing a headband, received the ball on the baseline and, without waiting for Lee to lead the Defense, passed the ball to Kobe on the other side, then led Lee straight to the left baseline corner.
Kurt Thomas watched Horry standing still in the right baseline corner, and Ben Wallace also noticed that O'Neal wasn't desperately asking for the ball.
The two simultaneously shouted to remind Allan Houston, who was defending, that the opponent was going for an isolation play.
On the right wing, Ron Artest was eyeing Fox in front of him while also paying attention to Kobe's movements at the top of the arc.
Once the opponent drove with his right hand, he was ready to go up and try to swipe the ball.
Kobe, biting his jersey, looked particularly confident.
Approaching the three-point line, he quickly completed a between-the-legs dribble, slightly hopped as he switched to his left hand, and then immediately lowered his shoulder and accelerated.
Allan Houston desperately slid backward to his right.
After their bodies collided, Kobe suddenly stopped abruptly before reaching the free-throw line, then immediately gathered the ball and faked a shot.
Allan Houston, who rushed forward to defend, only raised his hands high and didn't immediately lunge upward.
Kobe created shooting space, twisted his body in place, and forced a jump shot!
"Swish!" The long two-pointer went in again!
80:73. Watching the lead extend to 7 points, the Lakers' bench, including the atmosphere squad, cheered and celebrated.
"Boo!"
Facing the boos from the entire Madison Square Garden, Kobe, who scored again, also became a bit inflated.
While the New York Knicks were inbounding the ball from the baseline, he immediately shouted at everyone:
"Hey! You should double-team me!"
Allan Houston turned to look at Kobe, then exchanged glances with Lee and a few others, finally couldn't help but smile, then shook his head repeatedly, ignored Kobe, and quickly ran to half-court.
Lee merely raised an eyebrow, then gestured to Ron Artest, who was inbounding the ball from the baseline, indicating that they would switch Defenses in rotation from now on.
Ron Artest, who inbounded the ball from the baseline, responded in a low voice as he passed by Kobe:
"This is Madison Square Garden. There are no referees to take care of you anymore!"
"ā¦"
Kobe ignored Ron Artest, glanced at him, and then stepped forward to defend Lee.
"Let's go Knicks!ā¦"
Only responsible for Defense in individual possessions in the second half, Kobe's tactical status also improved.
Phil Jackson began to lighten the load for this scorer.
He tried to give physical resistance but no longer recklessly interfered with his hands.
Kobe, who had already accumulated 4 fouls, didn't act recklessly after realizing the officiating standard.
Dribbling with his right hand and constantly accelerating, Lee suddenly stopped abruptly as he approached the top of the arc, then quickly dribbled behind his back, and immediately raised his body's center of gravity after switching to his left hand.
Noticing that Lee's right hand seemed to be gathering the ball, Kobe instinctively lunged forward, but the basketball instantly passed in front of him.
Lee's concealed in-front-of-body crossover had a large amplitude.
The basketball flew to his front right, and he immediately leaned forward to scoop up the ball.
Kobe, reacting quickly, slid again, and the moment he scooped the ball with his right hand, Lee smoothly completed a behind-the-back pull-back, returning to the three-point line, faking a shot.
His aiming motion directly caused Kobe to jump, and only in mid-air did he realize he had been faked out, struggling to twist his body to avoid a foul, and in doing so, Kobe completely lost his defensive position.
With space to shoot, Lee paused slightly, quickly adjusted his shooting rhythm, and easily shot a three-pointer from the top of the arc!
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly.
80:76, the lead was back to 4 points.
Huge cheers erupted again in the Madison Square Garden, and Marv Albert, with a smile, commentated loudly:
"It seems Lee has rediscovered his touch from beyond the arc, which is definitely good news for the Knicks!"
Doug Collins noticed that Ron Artest had become the primary defender on Kobe, and couldn't help but praise the Bald Young Coach's personnel choices:
"On a stage like the Finals, boldly using a rookie, Head Coach Jeff Van Gundy's trust has paid off!"
Compared to the away game, Ron Artest's defensive aggressiveness clearly increased, and Kobe, moving without the ball, once again felt the 'attachment Defense'.
Fisher was again suppressed by Lee's lead Defense, unable to lift his head, half-turning, butt out guarding the ball, and by the time he dribbled past half-court, 8 seconds had already passed.
O'Neal, knowing his teammate had a good touch, proactively came to the right elbow area and stood firm, signaling Kobe to curl cut and receive the ball.
From the top of the arc, far from the three-point line, Lee also observed the Lakers' positioning, and noticed that Fisher started to switch to his right hand with his back to the basket, immediately moving back to give him some passing space.
Seeing Kobe quickly start from the right baseline area and move up the court, the New York fans on site also yelled with all their might:
"Defense!"
Kobe, using O'Neal's screen, shook off Ron Artest, and when he reached the free-throw line, he began to open his hands to receive the ball.
Fisher, taking advantage of Lee moving back, quickly sent a cross-court pass.
As soon as the ball left his hand, Lee suddenly aggressively stole it, thrusting the ball forward with his left hand, and accelerating sharply, directly crashing into Fisher in front of him.
Stumbling from the collision, Fisher habitually fell to the ground, dramatically flying a meter away on the court, screaming and raising both hands at the same time:
"Ah!"
There was no whistle, only cheers in his ears, and Fisher, lying on the floor, watched Lee complete the steal and sprint across half-court.
In the frontcourt, 1-on-0, crossing the three-point line, entering the paint, Lee jumped with both feet, swinging the ball in a big circle in the air, grabbing the ball with one hand, and completing a windmill dunk!
"Wow!"
80:78, the spectacular dunk and the narrowed score completely ignited the atmosphere, with many fans choosing to stand and watch the game, celebrating with Clay Lee by pumping their fists.
On the Knicks' bench, everyone pointed at Derek Fisher and laughed heartily.
Fisher, pulled up by his teammates, saw O'Neal and Kobe simultaneously glare at him, and for a moment could only raise his hands, signaling it was his fault.
The Lakers attacked again, running the same play in a different direction.
This time Derek Fisher's pass was fine, but Ron Artest didn't fight through the screen.
Instead, he was prepared, went under, and jumped to block Kobe's catch-and-shoot.
The shot with a higher arc also had no effect.
The ball hit the back rim and bounced high.
Ben Wallace, who had sagged into the paint, secured the rebound and immediately passed the ball to the frontcourt.
As Lee sprinted across half-court to retrieve the ball, the Lakers' players also desperately chased back on Defense.
On the left wing, Lee, holding the ball with his left hand, paused slightly, then decelerated and completed a behind-the-back crossover, switching to his right hand, and then drove past Fisher, who was chasing him down his side.
When he broke through to the free-throw line, Fox also sagged in, attempting to swipe at the ball to disrupt him.
While on the move, Lee smoothly tossed the ball to Ron Artest, who was unguarded on the right wing.
The latter caught the ball, and Fox didn't rush to close out.
Instead, he watched Ron Artest stop abruptly and immediately jump to shoot!
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly.
80:81, his first three-pointer of the game, which just happened to help the team take the lead, and Ron Artest roared excitedly:
"Ah!!"
Phil Jackson on the sidelines started to frown again, pacing back and forth, loudly reminding his players to stay calm.
The Lakers did not call a timeout, and Kobe did not back down.
In this possession, facing Lee's top Defense, he immediately demanded the ball with his back to the basket in the right block area.
After Derek Fisher made the pass, all the Lakers' players cleared out, while Lee braced his right forearm, leaned against his opponent, and observed Kobe's movements.
Dropping the ball with his left hand, Kobe began to pound and back down, pushing twice.
Lee followed the rhythm, pushing from behind, and Kobe found himself moving further away from the paint.
Without hesitation, Kobe pulled the ball back significantly with his left hand, then quickly twisted his body forward after a shoulder fake, his movement extremely fluid, completing a fadeaway jumper over Lee's block.
The eye-level Defense caused Kobe to miss again.
The rebound was tipped by O'Neal, and Kurt Thomas, who had sagged in, successfully secured the defensive arebound.
"Wow!"
When Lee received the ball, Kobe's face darkened further, and he glared, aggressively driving to steal, swiping twice, and the referee immediately blew the whistle.
"Calm down! Hey! Everyone calm down!"
Phil Jackson already regretted not calling a timeout in the previous possession, and now he could only shout instructions to his players from the sidelines.
In a crucial possession, Lee played with ease.
Kurt Thomas came up to set a screen, and Horry immediately moved to double-team.
On the left wing, Kurt Thomas faked a screen then quickly moved to the left elbow area.
The ball arrived as he did, Lee's bounce pass perfectly delivered to him.
Right in his shooting rhythm, Kurt Thomas quickly shot and scored after catching the ball!
80:83, Phil Jackson let out a long sigh of frustration and immediately called a timeout.
Clay Lee raised both hands, high-fiving as he slowly walked towards the bench, and the 'atmosphere group' laughed and went forward to chest bump in celebration.
At the moment the score was overturned, everyone's confidence soared.
Jeff Van Gundy was so excited he threw away his clipboard, continuing to pour out motivational speeches, appearing even more nervous than the players, constantly chattering.
After the timeout, Lee patted the Bald Young Coach's shoulder and said confidently:
"After tonight, the NBA will have a legendary coach! Enjoy this moment!"
Jeff Van Gundy hugged Lee tightly, his eyes slightly red, and he couldn't help but whisper:
"Lee, I believe in you! I believe in you!"
Lee controlled his somewhat excited emotions, clapped his hands again, and urged his teammates to pay attention to Defense, emphasizing that the more crucial the moment, the calmer they needed to be.
In the first possession after the timeout, the Lakers chose the safest offensive method: giving the ball to Shaquille O'Neal, who lived up to expectations, backing into the basket from the left block area and scoring with a floater!
The defensive strategy also changed immediately.
Lee was double-teamed again as soon as he crossed half-court.
Allan Houston, receiving the pass on the left wing, faced Fisher's quick recovery Defense, faked, then put the ball down with his left hand and drove forward, hitting a pull-up jumper from the block area!
Everyone celebrated by pumping their fists, their joyful shouts almost tearing through theMadison Square Garden.
As time ticked away, Kobe, taking over the ball again, started to miss shots.
Lee, after passing the ball out of an up-the-court double team, received support from his teammates.
The Lakers' main scorer was missing shots, while every Knicks player fought bravely.
Kobe, with bloodshot eyes, had no intention of passing the ball, completely entering a state where the more he shot, the more he missed, and the more he missed, the more he shot.
Only Derek Fisher passed the ball to O'Neal a few times, but under Lee's interference, the pass quality was low, and O'Neal couldn't receive the ball in his sweet spot for several possessions.
Phil Jackson didn't hesitate to call timeouts, nor did he bench the out-of-control Kobe.
Perhaps he was still praying that his main scorer could regain his touch, but as game time elapsed, the Knicks' role players erupted, the lead gradually widened, and the Lakers' bench fell silent.
With 1 minute and 58 seconds left in the game, Kobe drove hard to the basket against Lee, quickly spun in the paint, and after gathering the ball, tried to complete a floater with his left hand.
However, in his high-speed spin, Kobe ultimately lost control of the ball, and for a moment could only watch the basketball suddenly fly out of bounds.
92:100, the Knicks were still leading by 8 points.
Clay Lee, taking advantage of the baseline inbound, finally smiled, and raised both hands, signaling for the noise to get even louder.
"Wow!"
Kobe stared intently at Lee, seemingly unable to accept such a result.
Making another mistake on lead Defense, Kobe aggressively swiped at the ball after crossing half-court, sending Lee to the free-throw line again.
Lee shook his hands, and as he walked to the free-throw line, he teased the red-eyed Kobe again:
"Thanks! Bro, I didn't expect to win the championship so easily like this!"
"."
Seemingly too angry to speak, Kobe remained silent, continuing to stare intently at Lee, once again trying to kill his opponent with his eyes.
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
As Clay Lee stepped to the free-throw line, the shouts almost tore through the Madison Square Garden.
Shaquille O'Neal, standing under the basket, seemed to have given up, his head bowed, looking completely spiritless.
As both free throws swished, everyone in Madison Square Garden cheered loudly again, venting their excitement.
92:102, Phil Jackson crossed his arms and called his last timeout.
Back on the bench, Kobe stared blankly at the floor. 2-for-8, 6 points.
He knew his performance.
But as soon as he thought of Lee's smiling face and that thank you, Kobe couldn't hold it in anymore.
He could only cover his face with both hands, trying to control his emotions.
Phil Jackson, who had intended to say more, looked at the silent bench, sighed inwardly, and seeing O'Neal's lack of fight, finally could only encourage them again:
"Fight like men until the last moment, and if you lose, bless your opponents!"
"Losing is not scary, we are still young, there will still be opportunities in the future!"
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