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***
On May 23, 2002, there were no games that day, and the commentators began to warm up for tomorrow night's Western Conference Finals.
Over the past few days, fewer and fewer commentators discussed the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Nets' "Beast" failed to tear through the Knicks' interior, and Jason Kidd, as the team's leader, also performed poorly.
On the TNT show, the trio frequently mocked Kidd's performance:
"Jason Kidd was more like a role player in the Eastern Conference Finals."
He dribbled past half-court, came to the wing, constantly adjusted his center of gravity, watched his teammates fail to get good post-up positions, and even when left open, he didn't choose to shoot, instead stopping the ball and passing it out in frustration.
Such possessions frequently occurred.
Without comparison, one might have praised Kidd's playmaking, but as soon as one watched Lee play, Kidd's poor individual offense was infinitely magnified.
No one talked about his previously lauded ball-handling skills anymore.
Everyone was waiting for him to explode, but he was waiting for his teammates to carry him?
Although the Knicks played "soft," with not many low-post collisions, the Nets' beastly, tough-guy basketball was truly unwatchable.
Everyone knew that Lee was about to reach the Finals again.
Game 1 was 86:104, with the Nets collapsing in one quarter.
Game 2 was practically a carbon copy, 87:102, and the Knicks still dominated.
On Thursday, TNT's show invited Jeff Van Gundy again, and the Bald Young Coach had clearly become a basketball authority.
Since the Lakers lost Game 2, the discussion still revolved around tomorrow night's Western Conference Finals Game 3.
Jeff Van Gundy's views were once again validated, and he was even more confident on the show:
"The Lakers still need to solve the old problem. They have to make those open shots."
"Their game tempo is too fast. Against the Sacramento Kings' interior, they could slow down and use more screens to get Shaquille O'Neal the ball in deeper positions."
"The Sacramento Kings' two big men performed very well. If they want to win the series, they should run more pick-and-rolls."
The Bald Young Coach advocated for the Lakers to slow down and suggested the Sacramento Kings run pick-and-rolls.
The three people in the studio all agreed, and Kenny Smith also offered his opinion:
"Mike Bibby needs to play more aggressively. He should trust his shot. Shaquille O'Neal is still collapsing into the paint when defending pick-and-rolls, which is definitely a good thing for the Sacramento Kings."
Charles Barkley naturally followed this series, and the loudmouth spoke bluntly again:
"The Sacramento Kings also have problems defending pick-and-rolls. The game wasn't as intense as I imagined. Both sides gave shooters huge space."
"After watching the Eastern Conference Finals, I'm a bit unenthusiastic about watching this kind of rough basketball. When all the Defense is concentrated near the paint, no one wants to solve problems from the outside?"
"Worried about missing shots and wasting opportunities? Perhaps these people should watch how Lee plays."
The loudmouth Barkley's words were not a compliment to Lee.
In Game 2, the Nets consistently stuck to zone Defense, and Lee didn't hold back, shooting 4-for-11 from beyond the arc, clanking shots in the 4th quarter.
However, this situation frequently occurred during the regular season, and Lee simply didn't care.
Catch-and-shoot jumpers, strong-hand pull-up threesâas long as an opportunity arose, he just let it fly!
Hearing Barkley mock the Knicks' offense, Ernie Johnson just smiled and took over the conversation:
"Regardless of whether everyone likes Clay Lee's shot selection, the Knicks have played 9 playoff games, and Lee's three-point percentage was below 40% in only two of them."
"Compared to most backcourts in the league, Lee has once again delivered a monster-level performance in the playoffs. Perhaps we should accept this kind of basketball. Not everyone likes to solve problems with low-post offense."
The live director also displayed Clay Lee's current stats from 9 playoff games:
Averaging 37.2 minutes per game, he scored 34.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 2.6 steals, and 2.6 turnovers per game;
His field goal percentage was 55.5%, three-point percentage was 45.7%, and free throw percentage was 93.7%.
Compared to his regular season stats, his average of 8.7 three-point attempts per game remained essentially unchanged.
The commentators said a lot, but Lee still kept shooting!
There were many more absurd stats. In 9 games, Lee had not a single back-to-the-basket post-up, and his mid-range jumpers near the free throw line were extremely rare.
Most of his shots were from 0-3 feet at the rim and 3-10 feet near the basket, with the rest all concentrated beyond the three-point line.
Fastbreak layups, drives to the basket, and long-range threesâESPN's data experts highly praised Lee's offensive choices, while TNT, on the other hand, continued to question him repeatedly.
In the small data sample of this season's playoffs, all backcourts in the league were made to look like fools compared to Lee.
Forwards and guards were still grinding in the low post, while Lee would receive a screen and get a shot off instantly.
Jeff Van Gundy's eye twitched slightly when he saw these stats.
Even if he didn't like the Knicks' extreme tactical approach, he had to admit that, in terms of Excel, Lee was indeed far ahead.
"This is what makes Lee special, or rather, his talent is too outstanding."
"No one can imitate his tactical style. You need a higher understanding of the game, and at the same time, you need to be proficient both on and off the ball."
"The Knicks are still unique, but other teams don't have Lee. If they want to pursue a championship, they should adhere more to basketball principles."
As soon as Jeff Van Gundy finished speaking, the other three nodded in agreement.
Kenny Smith then smiled and offered an "IF":
"If the Sacramento Kings had a guard like Lee, perhaps they could also dominate the Western Conference."
Charles Barkley, however, smiled and shook his head, playfully quipping with deeper meaning:
"If Lee were on the Sacramento Kings, Chris Webber and Vlade Divac would have been traded long ago!"
"..."
The Nets were ignored.
No one believed they could win.
In Game 2, Kidd shot 7-for-18, including 2-for-7 from three-point range, putting up a near triple-double of 23 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 6 turnovers.
After Kidd became the team's primary scorer, his field goal percentage dropped below 40%, and his turnovers also began to increase.
Clay Lee had an average performance, shooting 11-for-23, getting a double-double of 32 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, and 3 turnovers.
Comparing the two, the gap was visible to the naked eye.
In the New York Media's eyes, with a field goal percentage below 50%, Lee's performance was merely average and not worth praising.
On the night of the 24th, Western Conference Finals Game 3, back at Staples Center, the Lakers suddenly faltered in the first quarter.
32:15. With Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe clanking shots, the Sacramento Kings were on a roll, setting the tone for the game from the start.
Despite a late surge by the Lakers, they ultimately lost.
103:90. The Sacramento Kings regained the initiative.
After the game, Phil Jackson took the blame but also expressed dissatisfaction with the officiating in the game:
"I didn't like some of the calls tonight. We were playing at Staples Center, which is the Lakers' home court, but I didn't feel any home-court advantage."
"The opponent had too many free throws. We shouldn't have lost this way."
Such complaints indeed garnered some attention, and for a while, commentators began discussing the future direction of the series.
On Saturday, the 25th, New York fans flocked to New Jersey.
With affordable tickets and a short distance, fans who were reluctant to spend money on tickets at home also erupted with great enthusiasm for the game.
It takes only about 40 minutes to drive from Manhattan to East Rutherford.
That night, a large crowd of New York fans gathered outside Continental Airlines Arena.
Returning to their home court, Kidd and the Nets players already had a bad feeling.
During their pre-game warm-up, watching a large number of spectators wearing Knicks away No. 1 jerseys pour into the Continental Airlines Arena, everyone's faces turned grim:
"Four consecutive road games?"
Continental Airlines Arena was rated as the number one multi-purpose arena in North America a few years ago.
Although attendance was poor, the Arena facilities had always been excellent.
With 40 minutes left until the game, Lee, wearing a Knicks practice uniform, strolled around the Continental Airlines Arena warming up.
Playing in New Jersey was actually not much different from New York.
When the Nets were still a weak team, many fans in New Jersey were Knicks fans.
As the Continental Airlines Arena filled up, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.
Clay Lee occasionally completed a dunk, and besides the sports reporters around him pressing their shutters, the fans' cheers also constantly erupted.
On the other side, Kidd's face was almost black.
Although fans had switched allegiances during the regular season, he didn't expect the atmosphere to be the same even in the Eastern Conference Finals.
What made Kidd even more uncomfortable was that the Nets' cheerleaders also liked to circle around Lee.
Although there were clear rules that cheerleaders were not allowed to date players, seeing Hope Dorlak, a beautiful and hot cheerleader, stroll along the baseline more than 10 times, Kidd became even more furious.
(A/N: An oc name.)
This girl had flirted with him before, but every time Lee came to play an away game, she would cast him aside:
"This brother can't do it anymore!"
NBC interviewed Grant Hill, who performed exceptionally well in the first two games, before the game.
His selection to the All-NBA First Team this season also sparked considerable controversy.
Jim Gray, one of the reporters most familiar with the Knicks, knew from observing the pre-game warm-ups that everyone was completely relaxed for tonight's game:
"Hill, this is your second time appearing on the Eastern Conference Finals stage in your professional career. What are your expectations for the series?"
Grant Hill, holding a basketball, appeared very humble during the interview:
"I'm very happy to be in the Conference Finals and to contribute to the team."
"The Nets are a very strong opponent. Their Defense is excellent. But for tonight's game, the Knicks will give their all."
"Returning home, the opponent will rebound strongly, but we all want to secure the match point early!"
Jim Gray didn't know what to say after hearing such overly humble words.
Kittles was physically overpowered on Defense, and on offense, he could only resort to opportunistic shots and jump shots, with extremely poor finishing at the rim.
The Nets did indeed show a good defensive strategy, but the Knicks' forwards still aggressively drove to the paint.
With a smile, Jim Gray patted Grant Hill beside him and offered his final well wishes:
"Go, Hill! It's great to see you return to your peak!"
There was a tiny bit of sympathy vote in the All-NBA First Team selection, as Grant Hill had only been selected to the First Team once before his injury.
Just as everyone likes to see the Kidney Warrior Mourning appear in the All-Star game, Hill, who returned to his peak after a major injury, also became an inspiring role model.
Before the game started, Kurt Thomas looked at Kenyon Martin, who was interacting with fans and loudly pounding his chest, and smiled disdainfully.
After two games, the entire Knicks team had thoroughly figured out this "Beast's" offensive repertoire.
Away from the basket, he performed poorly within 3-10 feet, had strong defensive agility, was fierce on fast breaks, and his chest-pounding roars were extremely infectious.
In G1, they played man-to-man, but later, the Knicks switched to a zone Defense, with their bigs focusing on blocking the "Beast's" drives to the basket.
In G2, Martin shot 6-for-15 and 10-for-12 from the free-throw line, scoring 22 points.
But after this game, even the big man Wright on the bench had figured out how to defend him.
As both teams came to midcourt for the jump ball, Lee continued to warm up, and soon cheers for the Knicks echoed throughout the Continental Airlines Arena:
"Let's go Knicks!"
The Nets' players' faces darkened.
Playing in such a home Arena, they felt stifled and uncomfortable.
After the game officially began, fueled by an anger Buff, Kidd suddenly found his pull-up jumper touch.
From the right elbow extended on the free-throw line, several mid-range jump shots after pick-and-rolls all went in.
Kittles also performed bravely, responding with long two-pointers when left open.
Consecutive efficient offensive possessions from the backcourt also caused the Nets' score to rise rapidly.
Van Horn also stopped stubbornly trying to post up using his height advantage, and instead diligently crashed the boards and worked to delay the Knicks' transition offense.
With 4 minutes and 58 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Head Coach Scott made a substitution, bringing in Richard Jefferson for Van Horn.
Amidst the energetic shouts of the arena DJ, Kidd received the ball on the baseline, trying to pick up speed and rush past half-court.
Noticing that the Knicks' Defense had switched to man-to-man, the Nets ran another curl cut play.
Near the right baseline, Jefferson, who had just entered the game, quickly started, used Martin's screen at the right elbow, and successfully received the ball near the free-throw line.
Martin, after setting the screen, immediately popped out to the right block, and Kurt Thomas didn't switch, moving with his opponent.
Ron Artest, who quickly chased back on Defense, didn't expect Jefferson to shoot so decisively.
The latter practically shot as soon as he caught the ball!
"Swish!" The mid-range jumper went in.
Ron Artest, who had gone under the screen, immediately raised his hand, indicating his defensive misread.
14:16, the Nets once again took the lead in this game.
Kidd continuously clapped his hands, loudly encouraging his teammates.
Lee, who received the inbound pass, wasn't denied the ball, as the Nets still maintained their zone Defense.
The difference was that Martin had switched to Pau Gasol's side, and the big man Mcloach was guarding Kurt Thomas.
In the first few possessions after the tip-off, Martin performed exceptionally well on pick-and-rolls due to his excellent lateral quickness.
Kidd engaged in physical contact while keeping an eye on the movement behind him.
Noticing that Lee passed the ball to Grant Hill on the left wing, and then Lee used Pau Gasol's high screen to cut directly to the basket, Kidd, while chasing on Defense, loudly directed his teammates to focus.
After receiving the ball, Grant Hill's side only had two Knicks players.
Clay Lee, who had run to the right corner, now directed Kurt Thomas to pop out along the three-second lane's extended line to receive the ball.
Although the big man Mcloach moved with him, he ultimately stopped inside the three-point line.
Grant Hill delivered a cross-court pass.
Ron Artest, near the right sideline, moved towards Lee, then suddenly accelerated laterally, quickly running to the left corner on the other side.
Jefferson, who was chasing on Defense, almost lost his defensive position.
The big man Mcloach's attention was also drawn away.
Kidd shouted and quickly moved towards the top of the key with Lee.
On the left wing, Lee received a hand-off pass from Kurt Thomas, shook off his defender outside the three-point line, paused slightly with the ball in his left hand, and quickly looked up at the rim.
The big man Mcloach, still squatting inside the three-point line, instinctively lunged forward.
Lee lowered his center of gravity and accelerated again.
Kidd didn't have time to remind his teammate about the Defense.
Lee had already squeezed past the laterally shuffling Mcloach, driving directly to the basket with the ball in his left hand.
Martin, standing near the left baseline with Pau Gasol, immediately shuffled quickly towards the basket the moment his teammate was out of position.
Just as he was about to step forward to defend, Martin saw Lee, in motion, casually lob the ball towards the upper left side of the rim.
The unguarded Pau Gasol jumped to grab the ball, then slammed it into the basket with both hands!
"Wow!"
The cheers in the Continental Airlines Arena were particularly piercing.
The Knicks had once again executed a brilliant play, but Kidd cursed under his breath, angered by his teammate's defensive choice.
At the commentary table, watching Clay Lee high-five his teammates in celebration as they retreated on Defense, Mike Fratello sighed again:
"Continuous pick-and-rolls, every team can run this play, but the Knicks' execution is simply superior."
"Grant Hill didn't choose to go for a single-player offense. After the pass, Clay Lee exploited Mcloach's defensive weakness to complete the play."
"The players on the court are all very aware of the Nets' weaknesses, and Head Coach Scott finds it difficult to take Mcloach off the court. They need his height to protect the rebounds."
Marv Albert saw that the Knicks hadn't changed their defensive strategy, leaving Kittles open on the left wing.
He was about to say something, but seeing the missed shot, he immediately exclaimed:
"This is a great opportunity for the Knicks!"
The long rebound was picked up by Lee near the free-throw line.
Kidd didn't try to steal it but instead immediately retreated to establish his defensive position.
All the Nets players accelerated their retreat on Defense, communicating with each other to complete their defensive assignments.
Lee, who accelerated past half-court, ultimately couldn't capitalize on the transition offense opportunity.
Seeing Kidd quickly close in on Defense, he simply lowered his center of gravity, dribbled between his legs to his right hand, and then accelerated to drive.
Making a successful defensive read, Kidd, who slid to the left, immediately blocked Lee's driving lane.
The two collided physically.
Kidd leaned back slightly, while Lee took advantage of the momentum to spin, exploded the ball on the spot, scooped it with his left hand, and accelerated laterally to the left wing.
Readjusting his center of gravity, Kidd quickly slid backward to the right.
Near the three-point line, Lee quickly dribbled behind his back, switched to his right hand, and immediately came to a sudden stop.
Kidd still tried to close out, but Lee slightly raised his center of gravity while quickly performing an in-and-out dribble with his right hand on the spot.
Shifting his body forward to the left, Lee pushed off with his feet, taking a large lateral step back.
Nearing the top of the arc, he immediately gathered the ball and quickly shot a three-pointer from beyond the arc!
"Swish!" The three-pointer swished through the net.
19:16, the Knicks also regained the lead.
The Nets players looked at each other as the ball went in.
They kept shouting, reminding each other, their leader was still diligently defending, and then in a blink of an eye, the opponent sank a three-pointer.
Kidd was already somewhat numb, and at the same time, felt mentally exhausted.
On Defense, he had to primarily guard Lee, and also constantly remind his teammates about their positioning.
If he made a mistake in single coverage, Lee could still sink unreasonable shots.
Kidd, who received the ball again, no longer shouted loudly, trying to adjust his mindset, but still felt somewhat frustrated.
Especially when he saw his teammates being left open on offense but still continuing to pass, Kidd's emotions fluctuated.
He received the ball on the left wing and immediately shot a jump shot!
"Clang!"
The three-pointer clanked off the rim again, and the long rebound bounced into Ron Artest's hands.
Cheers erupted in the Arena.
Accelerating along the left sideline, Ron Artest shook off Van Horn, and without waiting to cross half-court, quickly passed the ball to Grant Hill on the left wing.
The latter received the ball, put it down with his left hand, dribbled between his legs, switched to his right hand, immediately lowered his shoulder and accelerated.
Grant Hill lengthened his stride, driving into the paint with two large steps, pushing against Kiddles' backhand.
Kenyon Martin actively retreated on Defense and immediately jumped to block, but in mid-air, he saw the ball flying behind him, and Ron Artest, who followed up, slammed it in with both hands!
On the frontcourt, it was 3-on-3.
Clay Lee stopped on the right wing and clapped his hands with a smile.
Jason Kidd watched Van Horn give up halfway through his Defense, then turned and signaled the team to call a timeout.
Head Coach Scott also noticed that Kidd's mood was off.
As the core guard on the court, he must always remain calm, but the home atmosphere, ineffective communication on Defense, and sudden inaccuracy on offense caused Kidd's mentality to explode, and he couldn't hold on anymore.
21:16, the score difference was not large, but the Nets fans had lost their enthusiasm.
In the last few minutes of the first quarter, only Kenyon Martin launched a surprise attack from the top of the arc, hitting a three-pointer, which briefly excited the Nets fans.
But the Knicks were not affected at all. Knight, the big man who came off the bench, continued to guard the paint.
As long as Kenyon Martin charged inside after a screen, everyone swarmed him.
Fortunately, Richard Jefferson became the team's key player, continuously hitting mid-range jump shots in the final moments, helping the Nets stabilize the score.
30:28, Head Coach Scott on the sidelines breathed a sigh of relief, constantly shouting loudly with his tactical board as the players walked towards the bench.
On the Knicks' side, Tom Thibodeau didn't make too many demands:
"Keep up this Defense, be patient, we need patience. Their missed shots are our opportunities!"
4-for-7, 8 points.
Lee noted Kidd's stats and didn't plan to change his defensive strategy.
Taking advantage of the rotation lineup coming on, Lee also stood up and instructed:
"Don't mind their shots. Give them physical contact. They'll hand the ball over to us very soon!"
Kidd didn't plan to rest, but after the game started, hearing Lee's shouts from the sidelines, his anger surged even more:
"Slide step, establish defensive position early, he won't make it!"
Knight, the smaller player, was at a disadvantage on Defense.
Facing Kidd's post-up, he could only try his best to block his offensive route.
Although he successfully picked on the soft target in two possessions, Kidd found that the Knicks' Defense had shrunk even more.
Lucious Harris, who came off the bench, suddenly erupted at this moment.
He was left open beyond the three-point line and hit two consecutive three-pointers, successfully helping the team take the lead!
Good times didn't last long.
The Nets started losing rebounds.
Grant Hill's breakthrough floater missed, and Knight, the big man, snatched the ball from behind Aaron Williams's head, securing the offensive rebound.
Then Knight went high-low and successfully put the ball into the basket.
With two big men on the court, the Knicks began to constantly crash the offensive glass.
For a while, the Nets' transition offense disappeared again.
For several possessions, it was a scramble under the basket.
Kidd originally wanted to take the opportunity to extend the lead, but the Knicks quickly took the lead again.
The rotation lineup was also full of vitality.
In contrast, the Nets, playing at home, seemed to lack energy and failed to show a winning mentality.
With 7 minutes and 22 seconds left in the first half, Lee returned to the court.
Kidd was so frustrated he didn't want to speak.
In their first offensive possession after returning to the court, the Knicks still used their old routine.
Grant Hill dribbled the ball across half court with his left hand, then moved to the left wing, observing the opponent's positioning unhurriedly.
Pau Gasol quickly moved up to the top of the arc.
At the same time, Ron Artest on the wing immediately crashed into Lucious Harris, giving physical contact, then immediately used Pau Gasol's screen to cut to the basket.
Van Horn accelerated his Defense, not giving Ron Artest a chance to cut to the basket and score.
On the other side, Lee accelerated from the right baseline, used Knight's screen, and quickly ran to the top of the arc.
The moment he received the ball, Pau Gasol moved up, setting a high screen at the top of the arc.
Clay Lee put the ball down with his left hand, and facing Kenyon Martin, who switched onto him, he suddenly lowered his center of gravity and accelerated to drive.
The moment he reached the three-point line, Lee immediately exerted force with his feet, took a large step back, and, facing the block, quickly jumped and shot!
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly.
Kenyon Martin shrugged helplessly at Kidd, then, watching Lee retreat on Defense, he couldn't help but mutter under his breath as he inbounded the ball:
"I almost blocked his face! Damn! He just makes them!"
With both screeners completely gone, Kidd heard his teammate's complaint and no longer spoke, his face only growing uglier.
Lucious Harris, who had a hot hand, also responded.
After a quick horizontal cut up top, he drove with his left hand from the left wing, and, facing Grant Hill's block, he hit a long two-point jump shot.
Soon, both sides were in a stalemate again, running the same plays.
Lee missed a three-pointer, and on the fast break, Kenyon Martin attacked the basket but missed his layup.
Getting a fast break opportunity, Ron Artest drove hard to the basket from the right wing, but his contested floater missed.
The Knicks quickly retreated on Defense.
Richard Jefferson, who had a hot hand in the first quarter, accelerated and back-cut from the right wing into the paint, but was blocked by Pau Gasol's help Defense.
Both sides played an exciting game, and the fans cheered continuously, until the Knicks launched another fast break.
Grant Hill grabbed the long rebound and quickly passed the ball up.
After receiving the ball, Lee naturally put it down with his right hand, moved close to the right wing, then suddenly executed a quick crossover between his legs, and the moment he switched to his left hand, he immediately lowered his shoulder and accelerated.
Kidd adjusted his center of gravity and kept sliding backward to his right.
The two collided physically, but Lee didn't slow down.
Instead, he used his ball-handling hand to swat away his opponent's arm, then suddenly accelerated again and charged into the paint.
Holding the ball with his left hand, he noticed Kidd starting to pull, so he simply leaned into him, and their bodies collided again.
Kidd involuntarily leaned backward.
Lee took three big steps and then, with his body twisted, he effortlessly completed a floater with his left hand directly in front of the basket!
"Squeak!"
As the referee blew his whistle, the basketball arced and fell into the basket.
"YES! And the foul!"
The strong layup also made Marv Albert in the commentary booth shout excitedly.
Kidd, who had been bumped twice, watched Lee walk to the free-throw line and completely lost it.
He turned his head and loudly complained to the baseline referee:
"That's an offensive foul! You saw it! This isn't the NFL!"
The referee naturally ignored such complaints.
Mike Fratello, in the commentary booth, immediately quipped upon seeing the situation:
"This is the Knicks' home court. The fans love this kind of offense. Listen to the cheers!"
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
When Clay Lee was shooting free throws, the shouts echoed throughout the Continental Airlines Arena.
Head Coach Scott's face was dark.
Eastern Conference Finals, and the home fans were turning against them.
In the final moments of the first half, both teams played wildly.
Kidd no longer controlled the pace, and his Defense also became man-to-man, completely letting go.
The beastly power forward Kenyon Martin also contributed two spectacular dunks in transition, but at halftime, the Nets players' moods were complex.
58:52, the lead had been stretched again.
When the third quarter began, a familiar scene reappeared.
Kidd and Kittles, who had scored efficiently in the first half, suddenly lost their touch.
Nets fans could only watch as the Knicks continuously launched transition offenses.
Kidd missed a three-point jump shot from the top of the arc.
Grant Hill raced across half court and again drove hard to the basket from the left wing.
Kittles, retreating on Defense, could only slide step, then jumped hard to block under the basket's left side.
Kenyon Martin, who was pursuing on Defense, also leaped high.
The opponent bit on the fake, and Grant Hill passed the ball in mid-air to Pau Gasol, who was trailing behind.
The latter received the ball and slammed it in with both hands.
Kittles, who had missed several shots in a row, drove with a step-through move from the right wing.
Facing Grant Hill's block, his layup was wildly off, flying directly over the basket.
Kenyon Martin was still desperately trying to box out under the basket, but he found the ball had dropped directly into Pau Gasol's arms.
Pau Gasol, who collected the rebound under the basket's left side, twisted his body, raised his long arm, and directly flung the ball to the frontcourt.
Kidd chased back hard on Defense, and after Lee scooped the ball with his right hand, he established his defensive position early.
Near the right wing, Lee quickly crossed over between his legs, lowered his center of gravity feigning an accelerated drive, then smoothly pulled back with a crossover step.
Kidd, who had lost his defensive position, saw Lee gather the ball and immediately rushed to defend him.
He flew into mid-air and saw that Lee hadn't jumped. He tried to curl his body, but it had no effect.
With a defender hanging on him, Lee casually tossed the ball towards the basket, and the sideline referee immediately blew his whistle:
"Squeak!"
The ball hit the backboard, bounced twice on the rim, and finally bounced out.
The Continental Airlines Arena was filled with disappointed sighs.
"Oh."
Watching Lee walk to the free-throw line again, Kidd stood with his hands on his hips, not saying a word.
As he stepped onto the free-throw line, Lee noticed Kidd still glaring.
After receiving the ball, he turned his head and quipped:
"Bro! You gotta believe in yourself, keep shooting!"
0 for 4, the offense suddenly went cold, a nightmare replayed.
Kidd held his breath, giving no response.
As the lead grew larger and larger, Aaron Williams, who came off the bench, helplessly kept attacking the basket.
He helped the Nets score with some awkward low-post isolations and free throws.
No assists, no points.
For several possessions, Kidd would pass the ball after crossing half court, then watch the Knicks "Encirclement and suppression" of Aaron Williams.
Nets fans were completely disappointed.
No one cheered for the home team anymore.
Head Coach Scott's timeout had no effect.
Under the influence of the 'chicken soup,' Kiddles continued to brick shots.
Van Horn, entangled by Ron Artest, didn't want to receive the ball.
By the end of the third quarter, New York Knicks fans in the arena began to celebrate the victory.
The single quarter score was 28:16, making it 86:68 after three quarters.
The fourth quarter was once again heading into garbage time.
The New York Knicks were playing wildly, and the opponent surprisingly collapsed on their own.
Mike Fratello didn't want to comment on the game, as the third quarter lacked any technical prowess:
"Kidd should have controlled the offensive rhythm. Even if he missed shots, he shouldn't have rushed the offense so quickly after crossing half-court."
"The New York Knicks always scored easily on fast breaks. When Lee doesn't need to face zone Defense or double-teams, the game naturally becomes much easier."
The New York Knicks were about to secure the match point, and Marv Albert was in a particularly good mood:
"How will the Nets adjust for the upcoming game? If they lose Game 3, it will be very difficult to turn the series around."
Mike Fratello glanced at his partner, no longer considering the feelings of non-existent Nets fans, and said seriously:
"There's no chance! The Nets had an excellent season, but they are still far from being a championship team."
"Compared to Lee's performance, Kidd needs to improve his offensive ability."
"In the playoffs, response shots are very important. Unfortunately, in three games, Kidd hasn't been able to show his ability to make response shots."
In the final quarter, the Nets also failed to rally, instead continuing their poor shooting from the third quarter, still bricking shots.
Perhaps due to too much physical confrontation, Kittles, as the primary offensive player, saw his shooting percentage drop significantly in the second half.
The New York Knicks, with a large lead, also didn't just chuck shots from beyond the arc.
They tried to get the ball inside, continuously scoring in the paint.
Pau Gasol, who had been heavily targeted by the Nets' interior players, found his shooting touch at this time.
Mid-range jump shots after pick-and-rolls, left-handed floaters after receiving the ball in the right low post and driving baseline, and pull-up jump shots after jab steps in the left block.
For a time, the small guard Knight continuously dished out assists, and Pau Gasol's stats quickly climbed.
There were no boos in the Continental Airlines Arena at this moment.
The New York fans watching the game away were particularly happy, and they didn't forget to cheer for the home team in the final moments.
With 3 minutes and 43 seconds left in the game, Head Coach Scott began to substitute the starting lineup.
Kidd still didn't come off the court, staying until the very end of the game.
108:90, the game ended.
The New York Knicks easily defeated the Nets, bringing the series score to 3:0.
Clay Lee only played less than three minutes in the fourth quarter.
The opponent failed to launch a decent counterattack, so he could only 'fish' at the end.
In 34 minutes of play, he shot 10-for-18 from the field, 4-for-7 from three-point range, and 8-for-8 from the free-throw line, finishing with 32 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers.
They had expected the Nets to erupt in this do-or-die game, but instead, they completely collapsed.
After the game, NBC reporter Jim Gray looked at the dejected Nets players and could only sigh inwardly.
When he approached Lee, he smiled and asked:
"Lee, congratulations to the New York Knicks for getting the match point. With just one more win, you'll reach the Finals again."
"Six years in your professional career, five Finals appearancesâthat's truly an incredible achievement! Can you talk about your secret to winning?"
Lee, who had mostly 'slacked off' in this game, hadn't even broken a sweat.
Hearing the question, he just smiled and casually replied:
"I just want to thank my teammates and coaching staff. Victory wouldn't be possible without their support!"
"Of course, I also want to thank my opponents. Every time we play, I learn a lot."
"Taking every game seriously is my secret to winning. Of course, fan support is also very important. I loved the atmosphere tonight. It made me feel like I was playing in New York!"
"..."
Every time Lee thanked his opponents, a strange emotion would surface in Jim Gray's mind.
He always felt that Clay Lee was mocking the other side as weaklings.
(A/N: Don't doubt it! It's trueđ)
As the two exchanged pleasantries, Kidd, walking towards the players' tunnel on the other side, was infuriated again.
A large group of New York fans had appeared on both sides of the players' tunnel:
"Hey buddy! Lose by less on Saturday night!"
"Hey! You weakling! Don't lose by so much anymore!"
There were clearly many gamblers among the fans.
Under their loud shouts, Kidd's face grew darker.
Finally, he simply raised his middle finger and quickly walked towards the locker room.
Eastern Conference Finals Game 3 didn't draw much attention from commentators.
The Nets, primarily a fast-break team in the regular season, lacked dominance in the low post, so naturally, no one favored them.
No one discussed Kidd's performance anymore.
A player destined for elimination naturally wasn't worth the attention.
On May 26th, Game 4 between the Sacramento Kings and the Lakers attracted a lot of attention!
This game was much more interesting than the Eastern Conference Finals.
By the end of the first quarter, the Sacramento Kings were already leading by 20 points, 40:20.
In the subsequent game, the Lakers gradually tied the score and, in the final moments before the buzzer, Robert Horry hit a three-pointer!
99:100, the Lakers narrowly protected their home court.
After the game, both Head Coaches were very dissatisfied with the officiating that night.
And for such a game, fans, of course, were delighted.
The miraculous three-pointer in the final moments was repeatedly replayed by ESPN.
On the night of the 27th, at the Continental Airlines Arena, Eastern Conference Finals Game 4 proceeded as scheduled.
For these two days, no commentators discussed this series.
Everyone was busy participating in the Kings and Lakers' heated rivalry.
Only the New York Media, as always, hyped the New York Knicks' dominance, and fans continued to travel to support them by buying tickets to the away games.
Compared to the first three games, the Nets' collapse in Game 4 happened even a little earlier.
After scoring only 17 points in the second quarter, the score at halftime was 54:41.
Inside the Continental Airlines Arena, besides the New York Knicks fans happily celebrating, most Nets fans were emotionally drained.
The third quarter still didn't see a strong rebound, and eventually, even the two commentators on the NBC broadcast booth started gossiping:
"This season, the Sacramento Kings swept the New York Knicks, and after Shaquille O'Neal returned, the Lakers also won when the two teams played."
As Marv Albert finished speaking, Mike Fratello added:
"Compared to the Eastern Conference teams, the Western Conference has more excellent big men. Pau Gasol is too young. Don't forget this is only his first season."
When facing Kenyon Martin, who liked to drive aggressively to the basket, the New York Knicks' Defense didn't have too many problems.
However, when encountering the Sacramento Kings' twin towers or the Lakers' super center, Rookie Pau Gasol couldn't hold his own.
In the latter half of the fourth quarter, after both teams put in their substitute lineups, the two commentators on the broadcast booth became more and more excited, eventually even discussing how many points Clay Lee would score in the Finals.
Ultimately, 104:90, a 4:0 series sweep.
The New York Knicks swept their opponent and advanced to the Finals once again.
The Continental Airlines Arena was filled with jubilation.
Clay Lee, who had changed into his practice uniform early, raised his hands after the game, high-fiving continuously and acknowledging the fans who had come to support them on the road.
This time, the New York Knicks players didn't have to worry about being booed during the award ceremony on the road.
Jason Kidd also gave his best tonight, shooting 6-for-15 from the field and putting up a near triple-double with 19 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, and 4 turnovers.
After the game, the dejected Nets players embraced Lee to acknowledge him.
Kidd didn't want to say a single word.
When he saw Ron Artest celebrating shirtless on the sidelines, he even wanted to go over and punch him twice.
Lee naturally saw that his 'surface brother' was in a bad mood.
Finally, he patted the other's shoulder and offered his blessings:
"You always encounter failure before success. The Nets had an excellent season, and we all remember that big turnaround!"
"I look forward to our next encounter, Bro! Remember to practice your shooting in the offseason."
Listening to Lee's sincere blessings, Kidd could only twitch his lips, whisper a thank you, and then walk away towards the players' tunnel without looking back.
Grant Hill, on the other side, was happily hugging everyone.
He grabbed Kidd and started whispering again.
Seeing such a scene, Lee stroked his chin, feeling like he had just lost another surface brother.
(A/N: đđđ)
Then, a thought crossed his mind, and the talent panel quickly provided feedback:
[Jason Kidd's Extraordinary Passing IQ]
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.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)