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***
On the evening of the 20th, in the Knicks' first-round Game 1, the Magic entered a state of "in-game silence" in the second half.
With 1 minute and 12 seconds left in the third quarter, Clay Lee was substituted out.
The Magic, who had dug themselves into a hole in the first quarter, remained at the bottom.
Tracy McGrady, who also came off the court to rest, frowned with a puzzled expression:
"Is what Head Coach Rivers said all lies?!"
Head Coach Rivers was indeed a bit embarrassed.
Compared to the New York Knicks, the former Coach of the Year (COY) seemed particularly helpless.
The live director had already captured several instances of him opening his mouth but being speechless.
Both sides entered their rotation lineups again.
At the commentary table, Marv Albert began discussing Lee's MVP again:
"Not just in the regular season, but every year in the playoffs, Clay Lee's stats go up!"
"Under high usage, it's hard for any player to approach Clay Lee's performance. Many times, we overlook his playmaking ability, but in fact, Clay Lee is underestimated in this aspect too."
"An undisputed MVP, Clay Lee should have received a unanimous vote. We can't ask for more from him."
The game continued.
After the rotation lineups came on, both teams missed shots repeatedly.
Jeff Van Gundy chatted about the on-court action for a bit and quickly took over the conversation:
"The Magic often still rely on talent to play. In basketball games, close games might come down to talent, but more often than not, winning depends on a team's tactical execution."
"When Clay Lee is on the court, he can tell his teammates where opportunities will arise in the next possession. Once the strategy is clear, everyone executes it decisively."
"In this regard, the Magic have a big gap. In the playoffs, Tracy McGrady focuses more on finishing attacks. Tonight, he failed to successfully rally his teammates."
Seeing his partner nod, the Bald Young Coach quickly added:
"Clay Lee deserves a unanimous MVP. I agree with that view. We can't ask for more from him!"
During their conversation, the 3rd quarter ended, with the score at 63:85, a difference of 22 points.
Reason told Head Coach Rivers that he should give up in due time.
It would be difficult to overcome such a deficit.
However, every victory in the playoffs is precious.
He called for the rotation lineup to come on and didn't forget to offer some motivational words to his two core players:
"We won't give up the game. Anything is possible in the playoffs!"
"..."
Houston didn't really care what Head Coach Rivers said, and Tracy McGrady was in a state of listening with one ear and letting it out the other.
The two were having a good time with the Magic.
Everyone on the team enjoyed playing under Rivers.
This Head Coach always got along well with his players.
It's just that having lost so badly in this game, the players couldn't help but start to reflect on where they went wrong.
At this point, no amount of motivational words could lift their spirits.
On the Knicks' bench, everyone had already started celebrating the victory.
Like the New York fans in the arena, everyone was beaming with joy.
As the rotation lineup came on, Ewing sat next to Lee, covering his mouth, and began to tease tonight's opponent again:
"Fans only like to watch guys who play well, but those kinds of players can't win championships."
"Current stars, if put in the past, would just be ordinary players!"
Retired old-timers usually like to praise the past and belittle the present.
Ewing had been feeling this way recently.
When ESPN heavily hyped Tracy McGrady's Excel, the Gorilla wasn't happy.
Lee naturally wouldn't agree aloud, but he indeed wasn't optimistic about the Magic:
"They are just playing on talent alone. Allan also started playing 'simple basketball.' Their poor tactical execution is the reason why their opponent lost so much."
Perhaps influenced by the era, most teams' tactics were still somewhat crude.
McGrady could have played more pick-and-rolls, but instead chose to compete with Ron Artest.
During the regular season, he would play smarter.
Tonight, this hot-headed leader shot 8-for-20 from the field and 4-for-5 from the free-throw line in three quarters, scoring only 20 points.
Lee sat on the bench and watched Rivers, who was still passionately directing from the sideline.
He began to understand a bit of his coaching styleâ'over-the-top-motivation' tactic!
At Madison Square Garden, New York fans sitting behind the basket had already started playing with their props.
The opponent didn't have many free throws, so they simply stood up and shouted randomly.
Many fans with children were calling for the director to show them on camera, as everyone knew the outcome of the game was decided.
In the last quarter, both teams' starting lineups played for over 4 minutes, and soon the atmosphere group took over the game.
Time flew by. At 87:109, the Knicks ultimately defeated the Magic by a large margin, getting off to a winning start.
Shawn Kemp fell out of the normal rotation, only playing 12 minutes tonight.
He remained calm despite the loss and proactively greeted Lee and Ewing after the game.
This veteran may have accepted reality.
Choosing a big contract meant no championship, and he was completely at peace in the twilight of his career.
In contrast, Tracy McGrady seemed very unwilling, draped in a towel, and walked towards the player tunnel early.
It was truly hard to accept losing in this manner in the playoffs after having his best career regular season.
Clay Lee played 35 minutes, shooting 11-for-19 from the field, 4-for-8 from beyond the arc, and 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, tallying 32 points, 4 rebounds, 13 assists, 2 steals, and 2 turnovers.
Mike D'Antoni, as a Rookie coach, was still relatively conservative with his rotations in the playoffs, but Lee's energy consumption was much lower than he expected, with far fewer 'hot potato' plays.
In the post-game interview, Craig Sager saw Lee looking as if he hadn't even broken a sweat and jokingly remarked:
"Lee, are you ready for this year's speech? This is a 3-peat MVP!"
"I haven't received any notification. Is this inside information?"
Lee feigned delight, which made the others burst into laughter.
Having done many interviews, everyone had a fairly close relationship.
The TNT staff also congratulated Lee, and they chatted for a while before engaging in mutual praise.
Despite the big loss, Tracy McGrady did not enter a state of "post-game babbling."
At the press conference, a TNT reporter again brought up the Excel issue:
"Tracy, we noticed a significant drop in your performance tonight compared to the regular season. Is this the reason the Magic lost?"
Having just sat down, Tracy McGrady was still a bit annoyed when he heard the question about his stats:
"You should watch the game. Many times, the opponent used double-teams to limit my offense."
"My shooting touch was indeed affected, but the series has just begun, and I will find my rhythm again!"
Houston, who also attended the press conference, seemed completely zen.
He was too familiar with the Knicks; the two teams had a huge gap in their tactical reserves.
Houston secretly shook his head at his partner's stubborn remarks.
Although the New York media didn't make things difficult for him, he secretly mocked himself inwardly:
"Black Eight miracle?"
On the morning of April 21st, the NBA announced this season's Most Improved Player (MIP):
Gilbert Arenas of the Warriors won the award with an overwhelming number of votes.
82 starts, averaging 18.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and 3.5 turnovers, Arenas completed his transformation!
When receiving the trophy, the somewhat outspoken Arenas didn't forget to promote himself:
"I don't think I'm inferior to anyone. As long as I have the right stage, I can also lead a team to a championship!"
"Perhaps I can't achieve Lee's terrifying efficiency, but I will definitely not lose to other perimeter star players."
As a second-round pick in a contract year, Arenas urgently needed to secure his next big contract!
When asked about his offseason choices, Arenas, holding the trophy, just smiled and once again piggybacked on the hot topic:
"If I played alongside Shaq, I could also put up Kobe Bryant's numbers!"
"I hope to join a playoff team. Of course, I can also grow with a team. I enjoy the process of chasing a championship."
In the game that ended last night, the Lakers defeated the Timberwolves 117:98.
Similar to the Knicks' opening, the Lakers established an absolute lead in the first quarter, 39:23.
The main reason Arenas piggybacked on Kobe's popularity was because the All-Star guard performed exceptionally well last night:
Playing 45 minutes, Kobe shot 16-for-30 from the field, 1-for-3 from beyond the arc, and 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, tallying 39 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, and 1 turnover.
Kobe delivered a perfect performance.
Sports media wasn't sure if Arenas could put up such numbers playing alongside Shaquille O'Neal, but what everyone knew was that after one game, the Lakers were back in championship contention!
Shaquille O'Neal played 44 minutes, shooting 11-for-17 from the field and 10 for-13 from the free-throw line, recording a double-double with 32 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 blocks, and 3 turnovers.
After winning an away game, Shaquille O'Neal, who was interviewed after the game, confidently boasted:
"I didn't feel any Defense tonight! This is the playoffs, the Lakers are back!"
Los Angeles sports media was relatively cautious, not yet predicting a championship, but the next day's newspapers featured columns starting to hype things up, and Phil Jackson once again became a renowned Coach.
New York media didn't pay attention to the other side's news.
The Knicks were preparing for Lee's MVP award ceremony.
Although the NBA hadn't announced the award results yet, everyone knew Clay Lee would definitely win.
That night, the Eastern Conference also had Game 2 between the 76ers and the Nets.
The Nets had won Game 1 decisively.
The 76ers' "Four-Protect-One" strategy couldn't contain the Nets' multi-point offense.
In Game 2 that night, the Nets once again played a fluid offense, with Kenyon Martin transforming into a beast, scoring a team-high 21 points and contributing 15 rebounds.
Kidd also transformed into a master organizer, shooting 6-of-10 for an efficient 14 points, 6 rebounds, 14 assists, 3 steals, and 4 turnovers.
At 90-109, the Nets easily won at home, bringing the series score to 2-0.
Barring any surprises, the Nets will face the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, a familiar matchup.
Although he hadn't secured the match point yet, Kidd seemed a bit overconfident after the game, urging fans during an interview:
"We're going to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals again this season, and I hope more Nets fans will come to our home court to support the team!"
Kidd said this very seriously, but the New Jersey sports media exchanged glances, offering no response.
Since 1996, New Jersey's print media reported more on the Knicks, as everyone liked to piggyback on their neighbor's popularity.
Seeing this situation, Kidd became even more frustrated.
The "second team" label seemed impossible to shake off.
On April 22nd, the NBA announced this season's Sixth Man of the Year (SMOY).
Bobby Jackson of the Sacramento Kings successfully won this award.
It was indeed a bit regrettable that Michael Redd of the Milwaukee Bucks didn't win the award.
The team's record certainly dragged down the player.
Their scoring was almost identical, with Bobby Jackson averaging 15.2 points and Michael Redd averaging 15.1 points, but Redd had higher offensive efficiency!
In terms of attendance, the former only played 59 games, while the latter played all 82 games.
Ray Allen, who came to New York to watch the game, proactively accepted an interview and delivered a wave of criticism:
"I feel bad for Michael. We could have made the playoffs, and this award belongs to him!"
"If no one had sabotaged the locker room, perhaps the Bucks would still be fighting for a championship right now."
"Gary Payton won't stay in Milwaukee, I'm serious, someone made a foolish trade."
The straightforward Ray Allen delighted the sports media.
If Payton really left in the offseason, everyone could laugh at George Karl!
During the Knicks' afternoon practice, everyone congratulated Mike D'Antoni in advance.
Tomorrow night, the Mike D'Antoni would receive his award at home.
Mike D'Antoni handed over all practice sessions to his assistant coaches, only focusing on derivative tactics.
Although the back screen tactic for big men in the V-cut offense wasn't used frequently, the tactics developed by Mike D'Antoni were popular with the players.
Pacing back and forth on the sidelines with his hands behind his back, Mike D'Antoni strolled around during practice, clapping and cheering from time to time, a state that made Ewing somewhat envious.
Gorilla's job was to guide Pau Gasol's low-post offense, which was relatively relaxed.
Compared to the head trainer, he didn't need to consider the players' physical condition.
During practice, Lee would usually lead the second unit, and the assistant coaches' task was to guide Amar'e Stoudemire on screen-and-roll details and correct defensive habits.
They would stop after two possessions.
Overall, the practice was a bit monotonous.
After enduring the tactical drills, Amar'e Stoudemire was shouting excitedly on the side, while Jackson really enjoyed playing with Clay Lee.
Even the second unit could beat the starters.
Fortunately, there wasn't much internal conflict within the Knicks, otherwise Lee could also shout:
"You guys need me too much!"
Ewing didn't particularly like the high school Rookie, and after most of the players had left, he complained to Lee a couple more times:
"He should go to college. These basic things shouldn't be learned in the NBA!"
"Even if he gets Rookie of the Year, it's thanks to our record."
Amar'e Stoudemire, through a fierce stat-padding spree in the second half of the season, achieved double-digit stats, making his Excel sheet look much better.
Mike D'Antoni liked to take care of this Rookie, and naturally, there would be some complaints in the locker room.
Lee, however, thought there was nothing wrong with padding for an honor.
Even if this Rookie wasn't in the team's plans eventually, it could add some trade leverage:
"Times are different, Pat! Players' salaries are getting higher and higher, so it's natural to earn money early."
"Don't worry about locker room issues. At least for these few years, the team can fulfill our contracts, and that's enough!"
"..."
That night, the Detroit Pistons, playing at home, narrowly defeated the Celtics 89-94, bringing the series score to 2-0.
In another game, the Lakers lost by a large margin, 91-119, and the Timberwolves successfully tied the series.
Playing 46 minutes, Kobe shot 9-of-28, scoring 27 points with a shooting percentage just over 30%.
Shaquille O'Neal played consistently, and after the game, sports commentators naturally criticized Kobe's brick-laying, and Phil Jackson was even called the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man.
On April 23rd, the NBA announced this season's Coach of the Year (COY):
Mike D'Antoni, who coached the Knicks to 73 wins, won the award without a doubt!
Phil Jackson, the Champion Coach, was repeatedly questioned, while Mike D'Antoni became the hottest super Coach in the NBA!
That evening at 7:30 PM, at Madison Square Garden, witnessed by over eighteen thousand New York fans, Mike D'Antoni, wearing a black pinstriped suit and a red tie, smiled broadly as he received the trophy from an NBA staff member.
The New York fans in attendance rose to their feet and applauded, and the players on both sides also joined in.
Rivers clapped continuously, feeling a touch of envy in his heart.
In this era of relying on star players, the Orlando Magic's star power seemed not strong enough.
Although Mike D'Antoni, nearly 52 years old, winning the award wasn't as shocking as when Jeff Van Gundy won it, 73 wins was a unique historical feat.
Tonight's game was broadcast by ESPN, and the broadcasters frequently focused their cameras on the Coach of the Year, who had returned to his seat and was leaning back in his chair.
The game officially began at 8:00 PM.
Learning from the previous game, Tracy McGrady didn't force shots and reverted to his regular season style, initiating more pick-and-rolls.
Houston also reduced low-post isolations, relying more on screens to receive the ball and complete offenses with jump shots.
The Knicks' outside shooting was slow to heat up, failing to capitalize on open looks, and for a while, both teams traded blows.
At halftime, the Orlando Magic were only down by 6 points, 48-54, which completely relieved Head Coach Rivers.
Walking towards the player tunnel, Rivers continuously encouraged his players, appearing very excited.
At the ESPN commentary desk, Nessler looked at the box score and immediately praised Tracy McGrady's first-half performance:
"18 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists; Tracy McGrady found his shooting touch tonight."
"If he continues this performance in the second half, I believe the Orlando Magic have a chance to turn the game around!"
Shooting 7-of-14 from the field, 2-of-4 from three-point range, and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line, Tracy McGrady scored 18 points with 50% shooting efficiency, and his inefficient long two-point shooting was excellent tonight.
His partner, Tom Tolbert, was not as optimistic and commented seriously:
"The Knicks missed some simple open shots in the first half, but their tactics were successful."
"Following the regular season trend, they will habitually exert themselves in the third quarter, and the Orlando Magic must be prepared."
After the 3rd quarter began, Armstrong started directly, receiving the ball on the baseline, and a defensive chant immediately erupted in the Madison Square Garden:
"Defense!"
Under Lee's on-ball Defense, Armstrong's progress was slow, but the Orlando Magic's big man set a screen for Tracy McGrady in advance, who then popped out diagonally near the right baseline.
With Drew Gooden's second screen at the left elbow of the free-throw line, Tracy McGrady smoothly moved to the left wing to receive the ball.
Ron Artest had just chased up to defend, Drew Gooden shifted to screen, and Tracy McGrady, putting the ball down with his left hand, pulled the Defense horizontally.
The Knicks' Defense also adjusted.
Kurt Thomas switched onto him early, attempting to double-team.
Unlike Lee, Tracy McGrady, with his height and long arms, couldn't squeeze through the double-team with speed and body, but he could easily find his teammates.
Drew Gooden, who had made consecutive mid-range jump shots in the first half, again received the ball near the free-throw line, and without any hesitation, quickly shot the ball!
"Bang!"
Although DeClercq fought hard for the rebound under the basket, the tall and long-armed Pau Gasol secured the rebound firmly.
The Orlando Magic players quickly retreated on Defense, and Armstrong immediately stepped up to interfere with Clay Lee's reception.
This veteran constantly moved his hands, showing more aggression on Defense compared to Jacque Vaughn.
With a behind-the-back dribble, Clay Lee, now with the ball in his left hand, powered past half-court, while Pau Gasol and Kurt Thomas still stood at the left and right elbow areas.
Seeing Armstrong constantly trying to steal the ball while guarding him, Grant Hill quickly slipped along the baseline from the left corner, and the New York Knicks players rotated in sequence.
Tracy McGrady at this point moved with Ron Artest to the right wing, and could only loudly remind his teammates.
Clay Lee, who had been protecting the ball with his side, powerfully bounced the ball with his left hand as Pau Gasol stepped up to set a screen, then shook his shoulder backward, quickly scooped the ball, and accelerated forward with the ball in his left hand.
Armstrong was faked out, his body paused, and he couldn't squeeze through the screen in time, so the big man DeClercq could only step up to delay and help defend.
Facing the large delay, Lee continued to accelerate, getting ahead of his opponent's slide step, smoothly collected the ball, then darted forward, directly bypassing the delay.
DeClercq noticed that Lee was already close to the left sideline, so he simply continued to slide, attempting to block the breakthrough path.
However, this big man had no idea that Lee, who had created space, suddenly dribbled with great force, then quickly stepped back, instantly arriving at the left corner, and shot a jump shot while still drifting!
Completely unable to keep up with Lee's offensive rhythm, DeClercq could only turn his head and watch the basketball fall into the net.
"Wow!"
48:57, the lead widened, and the fans cheered again.
Turning back, Tracy McGrady, who was in excellent form, no longer called for a pick-and-roll when he received the ball on the right wing.
After putting the ball down with his right hand, he quickly dribbled behind his back, and while Ron Artest interfered, Tracy McGrady quickly changed direction with a cross-over, dribbled powerfully with his right hand, and then pulled up directly from beyond the three-point line.
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly.
Ron Artest was stunned, completely unreasonable, just relying on his strong jumping ability to force the shot.
While retreating on Defense, Tracy McGrady rubbed his nose with his left hand, started showing off again, constantly high-fiving, and continued to loudly remind his teammates.
Lee, who received the ball on the baseline, advanced at a lightning-fast speed.
His opponents were still directing traffic, but the New York Knicks players had already rushed past half-court.
Unable to complete defensive matchups in time, the Orlando Magic simply opted for a double-team.
Houston stepped up early to help defend, and Lee immediately passed the ball to Grant Hill on the right wing.
The moment he received the ball, Drew Gooden at the right elbow quickly slid over, timely delaying Hill's drive.
Houston quickly retreated to Kurt Thomas's side, and both moved towards the basket together.
Having attracted the Orlando Magic's defensive attention, Grant Hill simply leaned on his defender and circled the basket, then passed the ball to Pau Gasol in the left elbow area.
After completing the pass, Hill ran to the left corner, and Houston also re-established his defensive matchup.
Ron Artest at this moment moved off-ball towards the top of the key, received the pass far from the three-point line, dribbled two steps horizontally, and immediately returned the ball to Clay Lee, who was waiting at the arc.
McGrady immediately switched Defense, guarding Lee's side again.
His opponent seemed not to have noticed Pau Gasol moving up.
Taking advantage of his teammate's stationary position, Lee paused slightly, quickly performed an In-and-Out dribble with his left hand, and suddenly accelerated with a small body fake.
With a sudden stop and go, McGrady tried to chase on Defense but collided squarely with Pau Gasol.
Approaching the left wing, Lee, with the ball in his left hand, was still accelerating.
DeClercq, who came up to delay, subconsciously moved to his right-rear, then saw Lee pound the ball to a sudden stop and quickly step back.
On the left wing, having completely shaken off his defender, Lee drifted to the left and quickly shot a jump shot from beyond the three-point line!
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in again!
Seeing the big man completely frozen in place, Tolbert on the commentary stand could only sigh:
"Facing a player like Clay Lee, the defensive demands on big men are too high!"
"In this series, Shawn Kemp doesn't even get much playing time, and the same goes for Garlity, who has excellent shooting ability."
"The Orlando Magic should consistently double-team. They need to stick to their defensive strategy."
51:60, Nessler had just looked at the scoreboard and was about to say a few words, but before he could open his mouth, he saw Tracy McGrady on the left wing, shooting a contested pull-up jump shot, bricking it badly.
The basketball hit the back rim and instantly bounced into Lee's hands, who had retreated to near the free-throw line.
Armstrong hadn't reacted yet.
Clay Lee had already put the ball down with his left hand and accelerated at full speed.
This veteran was very experienced.
Losing his defensive position, he immediately pulled from behind and then raised his hand to signal his foul.
Unable to make the answering shot, McGrady, chewing gum, frowned and yelled at the New York Knicks players:
"Put away those pick-and-rolls! Let's have a man-to-man showdown!"
Upon hearing this, Clay Lee showed a mocking smile, Grant Hill also chuckled and shook his head, and Ron Artest on the side burst into laughter:
"You should go show off at the damn Rucker Park! No wonder you were eliminated in the first round last year!"
Ron Artest's words immediately enraged Tracy McGrady, and the two quickly exchanged insults.
The New York Knicks hadn't even inbounded the ball yet, and the referee had to step in to separate them and issue a verbal warning.
Houston at this moment quickly reminded his teammates that losing their temper would only lead to losing the game.
There was no reason for the trailing team to play recklessly.
After the sideline inbound, Lee received the ball and dribbled past half-court.
Noticing that Houston was moving and preparing for an early double-team, he simply passed the ball directly to Pau Gasol in the left block.
The New York Knicks maintained their V-formation.
After completing the pass, Lee first loudly reminded Artest, then immediately ran to the left corner.
No longer bickering with his opponent, Ron Artest eyed the top of the key.
McGrady saw Lee run behind him and settle, momentarily shifting his attention.
Prompted, Ron Artest quickly cut along the baseline, ignoring Armstrong who switched onto him, and drove to the basket, carrying the smaller defender.
DeClercq hadn't noticed what was happening behind him when Pau Gasol easily passed the ball.
Using his height advantage, Ron Artest jumped to receive the ball, then took a hop step towards the lower left side of the hoop, pushing past the defender for a successful bank shot layup!
Forcefully slapping his right bicep, and hearing the cheers from the home crowd, Ron Artest grinned at Tracy McGrady:
"One-on-one, I blew up your Defense!"
"..."
Armstrong looked at his Head Coach in frustration; he had truly tried his best, but Defense was never a one-man job.
When the Orlando Magic attacked again, Houston quickly directed his teammates to run a simple zipper cut play.
Slipping quickly along the baseline from the right corner, using DeClercq's screen near the right baseline, Houston quickly popped out from under the basket, preparing to receive the ball at the arc.
Grant Hill was a step slow in chasing, but Clay Lee, who was stationed on the left wing, noticed the movement behind him.
Armstrong, who had been instructed, had already been protecting the ball with his side on the wing.
Seeing Houston break free from his defender, he immediately sent a cross-court pass.
The moment the basketball left his hands, Clay Lee suddenly lunged forward, swatted the ball away with his left hand, and used the momentum to bump Armstrong aside.
Houston saw Lee quickly scoop up the ball and rush towards half-court, and at this point could only put his head down and chase on Defense.
In a 1-on-0 fast break, Lee rushed faster and faster, ignoring the Defense behind him.
After three big steps, he soared into the air from within the paint, grabbed the ball with one hand, and glided for a powerful dunk!
51:64, the lead reached double digits.
Lee, who completed the dunk, smiled and patted Houston, who had chased him down to the basket.
Seeing this, Head Coach Rivers immediately called a timeout.
On the commentary stand, Nessler couldn't stop chuckling.
This type of play had occurred several times in the previous game:
"It seems Clay Lee has completely mastered his opponent's tactics, and the New York Knicks seem to be suppressing their opponents again!"
Tolbert had long recognized the tactical gap between the two teams:
"Many times, basketball can indeed become a simple one-on-one, but the New York Knicks prefer to create mismatch opportunities."
"The Orlando Magic need to play smarter; they need to score quickly."
After the timeout, the Orlando Magic again set up a single-man isolation play for Tracy McGrady.
Armstrong quickly passed the ball to Drew Gooden in the right elbow area, then immediately ran to the baseline to set a down screen for Tracy McGrady near the right baseline.
Ron Artest saw this situation and did not move his feet.
Clay Lee immediately switched onto Tracy McGrady.
At this point, the Orlando Magic quickly cleared one side.
Armstrong took Ron Artest to the left corner, and everyone spread out in sequence.
McGrady originally wanted to receive the ball with his back to the basket, but Lee had already fronted him, using his body to firmly box him out.
Moving backward, McGrady tried to take the opportunity to receive the ball in the low post, but Lee quickly twisted his body, again cutting off his passing lane.
In the right elbow area, Drew Gooden held the ball awkwardly, watching Clay Lee and Tracy McGrady grapple, unable to find a passing opportunity for a moment.
Perceiving that the offense had completely stalled, McGrady quickly accelerated to the right wing, catching the ball far beyond the three-point line.
"Defense!"
Fourteen seconds had passed on the shot clock, and the New York fans were getting excited, their shouts of defensive encouragement growing louder.
With the opponent catching the ball outside the three-point line, Lee continued to stick close, turning his body to actively give McGrady an opportunity to drive with his right hand.
After several probing moves, seeing that Clay Lee was unmoved, Tracy McGrady finally chose to drive with his right hand, accelerating and breaking through while enduring the Defense.
Lee, who was well-prepared, continuously slid his feet, while also applying physical contact, trying to push his opponent outwards.
Their bodies collided, forcing McGrady to slow down.
Suddenly stopping short, McGrady originally intended to perform a between-the-legs dribble, but just as the ball came in front of him, Lee poked it away.
Reacting quickly, Tracy McGrady immediately twisted his body to retrieve the ball, only to be met again by Clay Lee's close Defense.
With little time left on the shot clock, McGrady could only force a shot towards the rim while enduring the Defense.
The ball touched nothing, falling straight into Pau Gasol's hands under the basket, and soon, the Madison Square Gardenerupted in laughter and cheers.
Lee made a tactical gesture, and after Grant Hill came forward to receive the ball, he turned his head and teased McGrady beside him:
"One-on-one, is that you wasting 24 seconds all by yourself?"
"âŚ"
Before McGrady could retort, Lee accelerated past half-court, quickly running to the right wing.
The one-on-one play that the fans loved to see appeared again.
Catching the ball on the right wing, Lee also quickly swept the ball, performing continuous probing steps with his right foot.
Adopting the same defensive strategy, Tracy McGrady also defended sideways.
As his opponent shifted his feet, Clay Lee immediately drove with his right hand, accelerating and breaking through.
With excellent explosiveness and a lower center of gravity, Lee instantly gained half a step.
Tracy McGrady, with his longer strides, worked hard to slide back and to the left, ensuring he didn't lose his defensive position.
Breaking through to a position near the paint, Lee suddenly executed a behind-the-back dribble while on the move.
The moment he switched to his left hand, he turned sharply towards the baseline, gathered the ball, pushed off with his feet, and released a drifting fadeaway jump shot!
McGrady continuously slid his feet to attempt a block, but he found that Lee jumped very high, and coupled with the large fadeaway, his body leaned forward to attempt a block, but he only managed to hit Lee's forearm.
"And One!"
Clay Lee shouted in the air, and the referee immediately blew the whistle, followed by the ball swishing through the net!
"Wow!"
The cheers almost burst through the Madison Square Garden.
Seeing Lee shake his head and walk towards the free-throw line, the fans in the front row cheered loudly while also not forgetting to taunt the dejected McGrady:
"Go home! Playoff softie!"
Being overturned last year was McGrady's most painful memory that he didn't want to recall.
After being taunted by the fans, he could only put his hands on his hips and curse in a low voice:
"Shit!"
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
As Clay Lee stepped onto the free-throw line, the New York fans in the Madison Square Garden began chanting in unison.
Lee calmly made the free throw, and on the New York Knicks bench, the cheerleaders were also jumping and shouting loudly.
51:67, the deficit widened again, and the Orlando Magic once again resorted to simple and crude "superstar basketball."
However, a predictable offense is naturally easy to defend.
McGrady ultimately chose to rise to the challenge and began to attack Artest forcefully again.
The game quickly fell completely into the New York Knicks' rhythm, with tactical plays being executed successfully one after another.
In a few possessions, Tracy McGrady scored with pull-up jump shots, but he couldn't narrow the deficit.
Under increasing mental pressure, his offense became even simpler and cruder, as he began to continuously attack the rim.
Head Coach Rivers on the sidelines also noticed that the Orlando Magic's offensive rhythm was getting slower and slower, constantly reminding his players loudly, but besides Houston scoring on two mid-range jump shots off screens, no one else could touch the ball.
Tracy McGrady, who was driving straight to the basket, indeed managed to draw fouls, but as the game progressed, he also started to commit turnovers.
With 2 minutes and 02 seconds left in the 3rd quarter, in the left block, after receiving the ball with his back to the basket, McGrady turned towards the baseline, then quickly drove with his left hand.
Accelerating along the baseline, Ron Artest, although he had lost his defensive position, continued to apply physical contact.
The two rushed to the basket, and Pau Gasol and Kurt Thomas also returned to the paint.
Under the triple-team, McGrady, jumping with both feet, twisted and turned in the air, and then was pressed down by Kurt Thomas.
"Ah!"
The moment he was blocked, Tracy McGrady shouted, then fell to the floor.
The referee made no call, and Ron Artest, after gaining possession, immediately accelerated the fast break.
Near the left sideline, Lee received the ball, pushed it for a change of direction, switched to his right hand, evaded Armstrong, then suddenly pulled the ball back, delivering a full-court bounce pass.
Grant Hill caught the ball ahead of Houston, and near the paint, he took three big steps to drive to the basket, with Houston immediately pulling him from behind.
Grant Hill casually tossed the ball towards the rim, then shouted:
"And one!"
The referee blew the whistle, and the ball bounced its way into the basket, sending Madison Square Garden into another frenzy.
Grant Hill smiled and patted Houston, who had just received his 4th personal foul, then walked to the free-throw line, high-fiving his teammates in celebration.
The free throw was made, and the cheers in theMadison Square Garden wouldn't stop.
Head Coach Rivers on the sidelines subconsciously opened his mouth wide, staring intently at everyone on the court.
63:83, after Tracy McGrady's series of isolation plays, the deficit reached 20 points.
In the final minute of the 3rd quarter, Drew Gooden and DeClercq, who had been missing shots all quarter, finally made open jump shots.
But as Pau Gasol and Kurt Thomas continuously scored on easy layups, the deficit still didn't shrink.
After three quarters, 69:89, the game seemed to have lost its suspense again.
Mike D'Antoni smiled and patted everyone, not calling a single timeout this quarter, being on autopilot the whole time.
The New York Knicks bench was once again in a jubilant mood.
On the other side, back in his seat, Tracy McGrady angrily threw his towel.
He had indeed tried his best, shooting 3-of-7 from the field, 1-of-2 from three-point range, and 4-of-6 from the free-throw line, accumulating 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 turnovers.
He scored half of the team's points by himself, but unfortunately, such a performance couldn't save the game.
After the 4th quarter began, the Orlando Magic did not make any substitutions.
With the huge deficit, Head Coach Rivers planned to fight with all his might!
The New York Knicks' rotation played for less than three minutes before Lee and the others returned.
Tracy McGrady, who had completely entered a one-on-one state, was still scoring, but the Orlando Magic's Defense was gradually collapsing.
At the commentary table, Nessler watched the New York Knicks continuously score easy transition layups and couldn't help but begin to summarize the game:
"Basketball is a five-man game! Upon returning home, Head Coach Rivers needs to adjust his tactical strategy in a timely manner."
"Tracy McGrady should also take on the responsibility of a leader. Not only should he score himself, but he should also involve his teammates more."
Tolbert looked at the box score.
Drew Gooden was 2-of-8 in the second half so far, scoring a meager 4 points.
"I stand by my opinion: the Orlando Magic need to play smarter."
"Don't forget they are facing a 73-win team!"
Head Coach Rivers never took out his starting lineup, and the two teams battled until the end.
The final buzzer sounded, 92:117, the New York Knicks decisively defeated their opponent, and the series score also stood at 2:0.
Clay Lee's playing time reached 39 minutes, shooting 13-of-23 from the field, 5-of-10 from three-point range, and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line, accumulating 38 points, 5 rebounds, 12 assists, 3 steals, and 2 turnovers.
With the additions in the 4th quarter, Lee's individual statistics became even more impressive.
After the game, the New York fans seemed unsatisfied; many fans were still jeering and shouting, taunting McGrady as he walked towards the player tunnel.
Houston gave a wry smile and proactively fist-bumped Lee, greeting him:
"Remember to explain the New York Knicks' basketball philosophy to Tracy!"
"One-on-one? This guy is sometimes adorably naive!"
Seeing Lee smile as he spoke, Houston couldn't hold back either:
"I finally understand why so many players don't like you."
"Congratulations, you've gained another sworn enemy!"
"âŚ"
....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)