Ever since Sprewell bowed to the bald young coach, the Knicks have been completely back on the right track.
Even if Ewing is in poor form and the starting lineup's scoring fluctuates, the team can still maintain a lower scoring limit with excellent defense and the "Mad Man's" scoring after the substitute lineup comes on the court.
In the back-to-back games against the Raptors, Ewing, who was in poor physical condition, played poorly, and the starting lineup failed to widen the score.
After the substitute lineup came on the court, they were still defeated by the opponent.
The popular Vince Carter was completely defeated in his first encounter with the Knicks in his career.
"The Flying Man" had not yet adapted to the tough defense and wanted to rotate the lineup to make a staggered attack.
However, he encountered Sprewell's defense and was simply locked down from the outside with a 0-for-4 shot.
He broke through to the inside, facing the shrinking Kurt Thomas and Ben Wallace.
Carter was pulled down before he could display his dunking talent.
Coupled with the enthusiastic cheers from Madison Square Garden, Carter was completely lost on the evening of the 16th.
Since beating the Bulls, the Knicks have figured out how to deal with these swingmen.
Block the top line, try to let the opponent break through the baseline, and once you get close to the paint area, shoot decisively!
Unless you can grasp the only mid-range, once you break into the inside, if the speed of movement is not fast enough and you can't dodge in the air, most of them will have to give up.
The game reached the fourth quarter, and there was not much suspense in the game.
Carter was obviously trying to vent his anger, but he fell under the basket again.
On the Raptors' bench, John Wallace subconsciously pulled the corner of his mouth and whispered to McGrady beside him:
"I guarantee that if Carter flies like this again, the opponent will come back fiercely!"
Since Carter completed a beautiful dunk at the beginning of the game, he has not taken off again.
McGrady said indignantly:
"This is not a basketball move at all!"
John Wallace didn't care about that.
He said in a low voice with a cocky look on his face:
"Don't worry about the game. I'll take you guys to see the world after the game. Lee is my good brother. When we were rookies, we even waved towels together on the bench!"
McGrady, who is still on the bench, curled his lips helplessly when he heard this.
He was tired of hearing John Wallace bragging about his glamorous life in New York every day.
As both sides completely replaced the atmosphere team, McGrady also got 3 minutes of playing time, and the game was completely over.
85:102, the Knicks successfully won 6 consecutive victories!
Although the schedule is indeed easy and the opponents are not strong, the Knicks lead the league with a record of 6 wins and 0 losses.
The New York fans who attended the game no longer cared about the content of the game.
The gorilla was in poor condition, but no one cared.
As long as they could win the game, it was a good game!
On the bench, Lee stood up and fist-bumped with his teammates who were leaving the court.
John Wallace came over to say hello with a grin:
"Hey, Bro! I have a feeling you're going to get the MVP this year!"
After Lee exchanged a set of complicated hand gestures with the other party, he patted his chest and said with a smile:
"I don't know if the selection rules will change this year. See you at the usual place tonight!"
In Madison Square Garden, fans were shouting Clay Lee's name.
John Wallace looked at Lee high-fiving the fans with some envy.
They were both rookies, but he even lost his starting position.
Black players usually have a lot of followers around them.
Even if they become big stars, they cannot forget their brothers.
Although Oakley now behaves like a rich man, he has not forgotten to take care of his own people.
This unbranded nightclub in Queens was converted from a warehouse.
Often times, the Knicks would choose to hang out here, as a way of taking care of Oakley's old brother.
The Raptors players who followed John Wallace here felt like a riot of demons.
The chanting-like rap, the shouts of various civilizations, and the live music made my ears rumble.
Coupled with the "fragrance" of some weeds, Carter and McGrady were quite uncomfortable.
It was almost midnight, but the atmosphere was extremely hot.
There were only three black girls left on the dance floor, stimulating a group of people to scream continuously.
After turning two corners, they came to a lounge and could faintly hear the teasing voice of a woman.
As soon as Carter and McGrady entered the room, they saw everyone playing ball.
They were stunned for a moment.
John Wallace was not surprised.
He asked everyone to sit down, and casually hugged a half-naked black girl, laughing and saying loudly:
"Charles's territory is absolutely safe and reliable. Damn it! This season's schedule is too intense. Let's all relax tonight!"
Oakley was drinking heavily at this time, while Lee was holding a cigar in his mouth on the other side.
There were two people, one black and one white, hanging on his body.
Looking into the distance, you can also see Larry Johnson hugging a black girl and constantly exploring and learning.
McGrady's eyes were wide open when he saw the silver party scene, and Carter also felt quite uncomfortable, always feeling that the girls in the room wanted to eat him.
Oakley, in a good mood, casually hugged the little black girl beside him and shouted to John Wallace and others on the other side:
"Come and have a few drinks. I'll pay for the night. Here, just have fun!"
Marcus Camby wanted to participate deeply in the silver party, but most of the Raptors players wanted to maintain a serious image and couldn't let go for a while.
McGrady was a little confused when he looked at the pile of wine in front of him, and subconsciously said:
"I'm not old enough to drink yet!"
Hearing this response, Oakley suddenly grinned and said loudly to Lee who was enjoying a cigar beside him:
"Listen to what this little guy is saying, Lee, that's the difference between them and you!"
"Fuck! You all have to drink. If you don't drink, you're not giving me face!"
Lee hugged two girls and said to the Raptors with a smile:
"Don't get me wrong, Charles just wants everyone to relax. Don't worry, there's good wine tonight, so don't worry about the hangover!"
As another group of almost half-naked girls came in, music began to sound in the lounge, and soon the atmosphere became heated.
McGrady and Carter were almost drunk and passed out.
The girls who could attend this party knew what was going on and kept rubbing against the two men.
As long as the matter is settled and a child is born, a lot of money can be easily earned!
On the morning of the 17th, at the Tarrytown Training Center, Oakley could not help but complain in a low voice as soon as the video class ended:
"Shit! Two spineless wimps!"
Last night, the two newbies got drunk and were helped back to the hotel.
None of the girls who were related to Oakley succeeded.
After returning to New York, Ewing became a good family man again.
Although he felt itchy inside, he did not participate in the activities at this time.
After the video session, Jeff Van Gundy stood in front and clapped his hands to encourage:
"Kurt and Ben have performed very well in the past few games. We need this kind of defense. If we keep it up, no one will be our opponent this season!"
Assistant coach Thibodeau also clapped his hands to show encouragement.
The current age structure of the Knicks is actually very good.
Kurt Thomas is 26 years old and Ben Wallace is 25 years old.
Both inside players are at the age of
growth.
Although Dennis Scott on the front line has declined and his performance on the defensive end is average, he can still contribute four or five points on the offensive end.
In this case, as long as Sprewell can play to his scoring ability, the coaching staff does not have to worry about the rotation problem.
One who can throw, paired with two who can steal, and Chris Childs on the outside responsible for controlling the rhythm.
After the team got on track, this lineup became more and more stable.
Ewing seemed to feel that his performance was lagging behind, and took the initiative to speak out during lunch:
"My body has almost recovered, and I can return to my previous rhythm in the next games."
Although the Knicks played a lot of transition offense, compared with last season, without the participation of the gorilla, the offense was always incomplete.
Since they were leaving for Cleveland in the afternoon, the gorilla's words were obviously intended to show off in front of Shawn Kemp.
Lee did not expose Ewing's little thoughts and responded immediately:
"The most important thing is to stay healthy. There are 18 games in March, Pat, so we have enough time to get back in shape."
Everyone also followed suit to comfort Ewing.
Although Shawn Kemp on the opposite side had gained some weight, his condition was still a little better than that of the gorilla.
The New York media praises the Gorillas every day, and the title of "the league's best center" may have made Ewing feel proud again.
Sprewell still didn't say anything.
Although he accepted the substitute status, he was still unhappy and rarely participated in such daily conversations.
On February 18, the Knicks flew to Cleveland and suffered their first loss of the season.
Shawn Kemp, who also gained weight, performed very well, constantly attacking the inside and standing on the free throw line continuously.
Ewing's body couldn't keep up with the reaction, and he fouled out and left the game at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
After being penalized 33 times by their opponents, the Knicks failed to withstand the 1-point rain and unfortunately lost the game.
Of course, the loss was also related to the fluctuation of Clay Lee's state:
He played for 40 minutes, 8 of 19 shots, 0 of 5 three-pointers, 5 of 6 free throws, and scored 21 points, 5 rebounds, 11 assists, and 3 turnovers;
Without any three-pointers, Lee's regular season three-point shooting streak ended at 127 games.
Despite the loss, major sports media reported on the outrageous record set by Lee.
The New York media even declared confidently:
"No one will break this record in the next 10 years!"
After the loss, the Knicks flew to Philadelphia overnight and then had to play a back-to-back game with the 76ers.
Due to the lockout, the All-Star Game originally scheduled to be held in Philadelphia was eventually canceled.
Allen Iverson is the most depressed about this, as he also wants to win an AMVP in his home court!
Although Iverson has always been fishing among the rookies in 1996, all major sports media outlets agree that he will be the first to catch up with the achievements of Clay Lee.
The 76ers continued to strengthen their team this season, and with the support of the famous coach Larry Brown, the team has been on the right track since the start of the season.
After Michael Jordan retired, the most popular players in the Eastern Conference are Lee and Iverson.
Although Grant Hill and Anfernee Hardaway are still in their prime, they feel a bit out of date.
Nike and Reebok are also in a ring war.
Currently, Lee's signature shoes are selling well, but Iverson's are not bad either!
With the two sponsors working hard behind the scenes, the media, which has been paid with US dollars, naturally followed suit and cheered.
Perhaps influenced by Lee, Iverson started to play the No. 2 position this season.
Eric Snow, who joined the 76ers last year, has completely established himself and become the team's starting point guard.
Larry Brown was indeed quite capable and had built the first generation of "four protecting one" lineup for Iverson in advance.
In the starting lineup, George Lynch and Theo Ratliff were forwards, and Matt Geiger was center.
Before the game started, the 76ers' team reporter Stephen A. Smith also interviewed Lee.
This die-hard Knicks fan currently makes a living from Iverson, and most of his columns are about him.
When interviewing Lee, he mostly asks questions as a Knicks fan.
In the visiting team's locker room, many media gathered around Lee, and his signature shoes in away game colors were particularly eye-catching.
In front of the seat, a new McDonald's beef burger was placed artificially.
There is also a small Under Armour logo on the white compression shirt.
Compression vests and arm guards have become must-have items for "equipment trends", at least on the New York street courts, those who like to show off cannot do without these equipment.
Before every game starts, there is Lee's advertising segment.
From the moment he enters the venue, he is covered in sponsors' products from head to toe.
"Lee, there are only 50 games this season. In March and April, the schedule will be very tight. Do you think the Knicks can successfully defend their title?"
After Stephen A. Smith asked the question, some Philadelphia reporters looked at him strangely:
"We got a traitor among us?"
During the Knicks championship parade, Lee had a lot of exchanges with this person.
The two of them were superficial friends.
When he heard the other party's question, he immediately answered confidently:
"The Knicks have a great rotation, and Kurt and Ben contribute their energy on the defensive end every night."
"Sprewell is a scorer who can play both offense and defense. Even if the schedule is tight, the Knicks will not be affected by the current deep lineup."
"I think we will successfully defend our title this year!"
In the home team's locker room, the New York media was digging holes for Allen Iverson:
"The 76ers are on the right track and have played a different game since the start of the season!"
"Allen, can you tell us what you think about this season's MVP?"
Iverson, who already had furrowed hair and started dressing in a hip-hop style, didn't notice anything wrong.
When he heard the question, he immediately smiled and answered confidently:
"MVP? I like MVP! This year I will strive for this award."
"I will lead the 76ers to the finals. We have already run-in successfully, and it's Philadelphia's turn to show its strength!"
"."
Before the game started, the First United Center was already full of 76ers fans.
Since Iverson joined the team, tickets have been in short supply.
Even if it is a continuous fishing trip, there will be fans buying tickets to support it.
In addition to the game between the Spurs and the Lakers that night, the matchup between the Knicks and the 76ers attracted much attention.
"Defense! Defense! Defense!"
Although they were always beaten by the Knicks in the past, the enthusiastic Philadelphia fans didn't care about it and cheered loudly after Ewing successfully jumped the ball.
Eric Snow took the lead in defending Lee before the half-court opened the game.
Iverson was in front of Alan Houston and was also loudly calling out to his teammates to complete the defensive position.
Ewing, who had a poor performance in the low post in the last game, didn't want the ball at the beginning of the game and took the initiative to go to the top of the arc to perform a high pick and-roll.
Lee, holding the ball in his right hand, noticed that the opponent's center Matt Geiger had come up to defend.
He swayed his body to the right and quickly changed direction with his hips.
The moment he switched to his left hand, he immediately went behind the opponent.
A simple shake, combined with Ewing's screen, allowed the defending Eric Snow to slide and crash into the gorilla.
Just a little bit late, Lee immediately got rid of the defense with the ball in his right hand.
Facing the delayed Matt Geiger on the three-point line, Lee quickly went in and out, swaying his body forward while quickly stepping back laterally.
While the two defenders were still not in position, Lee quickly dribbled the ball and made a quick stop and jump shot from outside the three-point line!
"Swish!" The three-pointer went into the net!
On the Knicks' bench, Matt Geiger was seen standing there in a daze, with the atmosphere crew shouting and waving towels.
Eric Snow just felt that Lee was shaking too fast and lost his defensive position.
In the blink of an eye, the ball went in.
Thinking back to Larry Brown's suggestion to him to see Lee's touch before the game, Eric Snow immediately cursed inwardly:
"Damn the shot!"
It seemed no different from the past, with huge boos ringing out again, followed by cheers for the home team.
The 76ers' offensive routine is currently very simple.
It refers to the Knicks' offense and also lets Iverson cut across the line.
The Knicks have been playing this tactic for two seasons, and Alan Houston is very familiar with it.
At the top of the arc, Lee suddenly rushed forward to steal the ball when Eric Snow was about to pass the ball.
This made the opponent subconsciously pass the ball outwards.
Iverson realized something was wrong and was about to pass the ball further out, but Alan Houston got in front of him and snatched the ball away.
After stealing the ball, Alan Houston passed the ball directly to the half court.
Lee grabbed the ball and released it with his left hand before rushing forward.
Ignoring Eric Snow who was chasing him, he rushed into the paint area with three steps against the defense, jumped up and leaned against the opponent in the air, grabbed the ball with his left hand, and leaned forward to make a layup!
"Boo!"
There was booing at the scene.
Eric Snow slammed the ball in frustration.
He did not move at all after the aerial confrontation and could only watch Lee score easily.
The game quickly fell into the Knicks' offensive rhythm, and Larry Brown found that Iverson had become a weak link in defense.
For several consecutive rounds, Alan Houston would back up and ask for the ball in the left and right blocking areas, and then use his height advantage to back up and play one-on-one against Iverson.
Once he reached a deeper position, Alan Houston would even receive the ball and turn directly towards the baseline, completing a fadeaway jump shot.
In addition, due to the long delay at the line, he was frequently broken through by Lee, allowing the Knicks to score easily in succession.
After his teammates missed shots continuously, Iverson stopped passing the ball.
This time, he also cut across the line, received the ball on the right wing, and made a long two-pointer with a drifting jump shot.
As soon as cheers broke out at the scene, Lee quickly advanced to the top of the arc, while Ewing and Oakley came to the left and right elbow areas at the same time.
While Eric Snow was still moving backwards and preparing to squeeze through the screen, Lee suddenly passed the ball to the upper right side of the basket.
Larry Johnson had been posturing in the right blocking zone near the paint, when he suddenly turned around and cut to the basket.
Larry Johnson scooped up the ball in the air and dunked it with both hands!
"Boom!"
The Knicks extended their lead again at 13:4, and head coach Larry Brown had no choice but to request a timeout.
With 6 minutes and 54 seconds left in the first quarter, the 76ers fans at the First United Center were exhausted.
Apart from a long two-point shot by George Lynch, the 76ers missed many shots and no third player scored.
Jeff Van Gundy on the sidelines was in a good mood.
Everyone returned to the bench and simply didn't say too much and continued to hang up!
After the timeout, Iverson stepped up his offense, but his off-ball movement was always interfered by Alan Houston.
It is difficult to attack immediately after receiving the ball, and in the end it will become a one-on-one play on the wing.
Oakley also received a pass from Lee at the right elbow of the free throw line and hit a mid-range jump shot.
Bob Costas, the commentator at the NBC commentary booth, said helplessly:
"The strength gap between the two teams is quite large. Obviously, Iverson alone cannot defeat the Knicks."
Doug Collins also sighed when he saw the 76ers were in a scoring drought:
"This is the difference between the 76ers and the championship team. In terms of details on both offense and defense, Lee firmly controlled the rhythm of the game. The Knicks did better!"
This nationally televised game was over as soon as it began.
At 28:11, all the 76ers fans at the scene were stunned.
Iverson, who scored 7 points with 3 of 7 shots, returned to the bench with his lips pursed, a sullen face, wide eyes and angrily slammed the chair.
Thinking of his remarks about MVP before the game, Iverson finally realized the malice of the New York reporter:
"Achieving MVP? It doesn't seem to be an easy task."
....
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