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***
May 24, 2001.
Due to the Lakers' decisive victory over the San Antonio Spurs yesterday, most sports media outlets began to prematurely discuss the upcoming showdown between the Lakers and the New York Knicks.
In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Allen Iverson's performance was normal, continuing his inefficient play from the semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks.
He played 43 minutes, shooting 10-for-27 from the field, 2-for-5 from three-point range, and 4-for-7 from the free-throw line, for 26 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 3 turnovers.
Such a performance definitely qualifies as "the 76ers lost, and Allen Iverson lost badly."
After the game, commentators also forgot about this small All-Star.
No one was creating a "rivalry" narrative anymore.
The disparity in strength between the two teams was simply too great.
The New York fans' comment about him being "overrated" gained a lot of recognition from many commentators.
As Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals was to be played tonight, TNT's program once again warmed up for the game.
In the studio, Ernie Johnson noticed that both of his partners were in low spirits, so he took the initiative to start a conversation:
"Although they lost by a large margin, I believe Head Coach Larry Brown will make effective adjustments. Don't forget they just went through a Game 7."
Kenny Smith was more interested in discussing the other Conference Finals matchup, as he found it difficult to comment on Allen Iverson's performance. Facing the camera, he could only say bland pleasantries:
"Allen Iverson needs to learn how to make his teammates better and reduce some forced shots. Perhaps that could help the team."
Charles Barkley had long been impatient.
He could barely be called a 76ers legend, and he commented unceremoniously:
"There's no chance! Allen Iverson will continue to lose. When your core player's shooting percentage is less than 40% and the opponent can score efficiently, losing is inevitable."
"Iverson can keep texting me, but I still want to say, he can't beat Lee!"
"Tonight's game, the Knicks will still win easily."
Watching Charles Barkley speak so earnestly, Ernie Johnson sighed.
This episode was definitely going to get complaints from fans again.
ESPN's program was no different from TNT's.
Most invited commentators held the same views.
"Playing with injuries," "perseverance," and "fighting spirit"—no one mentioned these things anymore.
In competitive sports, only victory is worth remembering.
Most sports media had the same tune.
Michael Jordan was also questioned and mocked before he started winning big.
Allen Iverson was walking the same path.
History always repeats itself.
If he stays silent for a few years and Allen Iverson eventually leads the 76ers to the top, then public opinion will turn.
If he keeps losing, he'll eventually be labeled as an "inefficient stat-padder."
The schedule was not very friendly to the 76ers.
Of course, if they could hold on until Game 5, they would get more rest time.
At 8:30 PM that night, Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals officially began.
Allen Iverson made bold statements before the game, but by the end of the first quarter, joyous shouts once again echoed through Madison Square Garden:
"Overrated!"
He played the entire first quarter, shooting 2-for-8 from the field, 0-for-1 from three-point range, and 2-for-2 from the free throw line, for 6 points, 3 assists, and 2 turnovers.
18:34.
Returning to the bench, Iverson was distraught, seemingly unable to believe they were trailing by 16 points again.
After two consecutive games of poor shooting, Allen Iverson, who continued to play in the second quarter, only slightly reduced his shot attempts, but he just couldn't make them.
All the scoring relied on Dikembe Mutombo and Aaron McKie.
He shot 0-for-7 in the quarter.
Led by Allen Iverson, the halftime score was 39:59, and the game was once again without suspense.
Head Coach Larry Brown, walking towards the player tunnel, perhaps already anticipated this result, remaining expressionless throughout.
At the NBC commentary desk, Doug Collins glanced at his partner, really not wanting to comment on the game.
In the end, he could only say helplessly:
"The gap between the two teams is quite large. In certain possessions, the 76ers failed to execute their game plan resolutely."
Starting player Aaron McKie was completely outplayed by Clay Lee.
Too much one-on-one Defense didn't produce a very good effect.
Bob Costas also couldn't comment on Head Coach Larry Brown's game strategy.
Suppressing the thought of "boring Eastern Conference Finals" in his mind, he continued to analyze seriously:
"Dikembe Mutombo grabbed 10 rebounds in the first half alone, which is a strong point for the 76ers. However, to close the deficit, they first need to play good Defense."
The Knicks led by 20 points.
Doug Collins looked at his partner's serious expression and couldn't help but crack a smile:
"Perhaps considering protecting home court earlier would be a better option. Once they return to Philadelphia, the 76ers will have no way out. They must win the game."
"..."
In the home team's locker room, everyone was beaming.
There was no easier game than this.
Ewing began praying to God again, seemingly thanking God for the easy schedule given.
In the previous game, Allan Houston shot 9-for-14 from the field, 1-for-3 from three-point range, and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, scoring 21 points, performing very efficiently.
Tonight, Allan Houston continued his form from the last game, scoring easily with low-post offense near the left block.
"Maybe we can end the series early. Making the Finals for four consecutive years feels really good!"
Allan Houston's words resonated with everyone.
For most players, reaching the Conference Finals was already a great success.
As for the Finals?
Most players might play their entire careers and never get to step onto such a stage.
Ron Artest was the most excited, while Ben Wallace seemed to have grown accustomed to the process and appeared very calm.
Lee stroked his chin, calculating the schedule, and found that even if they swept their opponents, they wouldn't get much rest time.
The San Antonio Spurs' perimeter was really bad.
If nothing unexpected happened, the Lakers could probably sweep their opponents easily.
"Let's end the series as soon as possible. I have a feeling that the Lakers and San Antonio Spurs' game will end very soon."
Clapping his hands, Lee motioned for everyone to step up their efforts in the second half.
Although 20 points was a lot, they still couldn't be careless.
Grant Hill, standing by, seemed to have little to say.
He appeared to be entering the Finals in a rather muddled fashion.
The opposing 76ers were no match for the Knicks.
Iverson was constantly pulled and bumped by Lee.
Let alone playing with an injury, even if he were in perfect condition, he would likely not have an easy time.
After chatting for a long time, Grant Hill finally noticed that Jeff Van Gundy had also returned to the locker room at some point:
"Is this the coaching philosophy of a championship coach?"
After the third quarter began, the Knicks initiated the offense.
Watching Lee slowly dribble past half-court, an emotional Iverson immediately rushed to defend him.
Head Coach Larry Brown's instructions were completely forgotten.
Allen Iverson immediately tried to disrupt him.
Clay Lee, holding the ball with his right hand, simply turned his body to protect the ball.
Noticing that the opponent still wasn't double-teaming, he took advantage of Allen Iverson's attempt to disrupt him, actively exerted force, bumped past his opponent, and quickly executed a jump-step dribble.
Noticing that the opponent still wanted to steal the ball, Lee suddenly changed direction with a crossover, swaying his body significantly to the front-left.
Iverson subconsciously slid backward to the right.
Lee quickly pulled back with a cross-step, then suddenly sped up his dribble rhythm, completed another crossover, and then suddenly made a large body-front change of direction.
Iverson couldn't react.
Lee, with the ball in his right hand, had already lowered his shoulder and driven past, gaining half a step, and in a blink of an eye, he had broken through to the free-throw line.
Having lost his defensive position, Iverson still tried to pull him back, but just as the two entered the paint, Lee suddenly jump-stepped, again bumping past his opponent.
Before Dikembe Mutombo could come over for help Defense and block, he smoothly tossed the ball towards the basket with his right hand!
Dikembe Mutombo instinctively jumped to block, but again, he could only watch the basketball pass over his fingertips and accurately fall into the basket.
"Wow!"
Such an easy isolation score made the New York fans cheer happily again.
The offensive possession only took 12 seconds.
Once Lee accelerated, compared to Iverson, he was simply a heavy tank.
Larry Brown on the sideline kept shouting, gesturing for Aaron McKie to switch to defend:
"Calm down! Don't make any more mistakes, we still have a chance!"
Indeed, many tactics were set up at halftime, but on the court, they couldn't create an opportunity immediately, and Iverson received the ball again on the left wing.
After a jab step, Iverson quickly put the ball down with his right hand, lowered his center of gravity, and drove forward.
As Lee slid backward to the left, he immediately performed a crossover dribble.
Despite some shooting space appearing, Allen Iverson still chose to change direction in front of his body again, stopping and starting quickly, switching back to his right hand, and driving straight to the basket!
Tyrone Hill stood in the right corner at this time, spacing the floor.
Below the right side of the basket, Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace were still boxing out.
Allen Iverson was extremely fast, and Lee's reaction was also quick, sliding with his opponent to the position directly in front of the basket.
While moving, Iverson actively exerted force, leaned into Lee, then suddenly took a large step back in the paint, and smoothly completed a fadeaway jump shot!
As soon as Iverson released the ball, Lee soared high, perfectly deflecting the ball downwards and instantly changing its trajectory.
"Rebound!"
After landing, Iverson shouted a reminder and rushed towards the basket.
However, Dikembe Mutombo was still boxing out Ben Wallace.
Lee anticipated the ball's landing spot, collapsed to the basket, and easily secured the rebound.
Bob Costas, watching the air ball, instinctively praised Lee:
"OH! The ball didn't touch the rim?
Lee must have completed a block.
What excellent Defense!"
Staring with anger, Iverson pounced on Defense again, while Lee immediately passed the ball to the waiting Grant Hill, who received the ball, accelerated along the left sideline, and quickly dribbled past half-court.
Jumaine Jones retreated on Defense in time, but facing Grant Hill's quick push-and-change of direction at the three-point line, he lost another half-step.
In the transition offense, Grant Hill drove from the right 45-degree angle directly to the basket.
Facing the retreating Dikembe Mutombo, he smoothly dished the ball to the left corner within the paint.
Allan Houston's off-ball screen on the left wing only briefly held up, and Lee sprinted to the corner.
The moment he caught the ball, Iverson immediately closed in on Defense.
Facing Lee's pump fake, he continued to play tight Defense.
After gathering the ball, Lee smoothly tucked it securely on his left side, while his right foot quickly took a probing step.
Allen Iverson subconsciously adjusted his defensive position, moving a small step back and to the right.
Lee seized the opportunity, pushed off his feet, and, with his arm hooked around Allen Iverson's, quickly jumped up and shot!
"And one!"
Amidst the shouts, the basketball swished through the net, and simultaneously, seeing Allen Iverson's raised hand, the sideline referee blew his whistle.
"Hey! I didn't foul, you can't do this to me, you're ruining this game!"
An emotional Iverson suddenly rushed to the referee, complaining loudly.
Fortunately, his teammates were quick-witted and pulled him back in time.
Lee shrugged his shoulders, then smiled at the agitated Iverson nearby, before stepping towards the free-throw line.
Anger caused Iverson to abandon some defensive principle.
He shouldn't have put his hand on Lee's arm, otherwise, it would very likely result in a foul.
"No miracles now. Head Coach Larry Brown might as well take out his starters early. They have more than a day to rest before returning home."
"Preparing for G3 early isn't a bad thing, and Allen Iverson also needs to adjust his form."
Doug Collins spoke very bluntly, and when Lee made the free throw, Bob Costas didn't refute, instead agreeing and saying:
"Both offense and Defense need to be adjusted.
Back at home, with the support of Philadelphia fans, I believe the 76ers can win."
39:65, Lee successfully converted the four-point play, and the lead was extended again.
The 76ers, who wanted to speed up their offensive tempo, found it difficult to create good offensive opportunities.
Each possession consumed nearly 22 seconds, and most ended with desperation jump shots.
Iverson's wide-open three-pointers also bricked, only Aaron McKie was in good form, helping the 76ers score consecutively.
The Knicks, however, had multiple players contributing, until the end of the third quarter, when Ron Artest entered the game and started clanking shots.
The arena was filled with cheers from the fans, and Head Coach Larry Brown, after watching most of the quarter, finally chose to return to the bench and quietly watch the game.
20:27 in the single quarter, and after three quarters, it was 59:86, with no suspense left in the game.
Allen Iverson, walking towards the bench, was dejected, seemingly struggling to accept such a result.
Two consecutive large-margin losses seemed to indicate some issues.
He struggled to suppress the thought of "continuing to lose" in his mind, and after returning to his seat, Allen Iverson covered his face with his hands, once again retreating into himself.
5-for-19 from the field, 0-for-4 from three, 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, 14 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers.
Such a performance left Allen Iverson barely able to lift his head.
Jeff Van Gundy smiled brightly and patted Clay Lee's shoulder as he came off the court.
A 27-point lead was completely secure.
Protecting both home games easily achieved their goal!
The coaching staff also waved over Luc Longley, telling the big center, who had been slacking off, to warm up.
This season, whenever Luc Longley played, it was basically garbage time.
Grant Hill, who was substituted early, stood up and fist-bumped everyone one by one.
Seeing the 76ers' bench on the other side fall silent, he returned to his seat and quietly said to Lee:
"Ending the series early is also a good thing!"
Lee just smiled and nodded, but Grant Hill felt a sense of empathy.
He could understand the opponent's feelings.
When he was stopped in the first round for many consecutive years, media reporters also mocked him.
In the final quarter, the 76ers did not field their starting lineup again, simply waiting for the time to run out.
Ultimately, 80:108, the Knicks continued their dominant victory over the 76ers, bringing the series score to 2:0.
After the game, Ewing gleefully embraced Mutombo.
For the Gorilla, the last home game of the Eastern Conference Finals was over, so it was time to show off.
In contrast, Dikembe Mutombo could only force a bitter smile.
He hadn't expected to lose by so much.
After a brief exchange, NBC reporter Jim Gray approached:
"Pat! Congratulations to the Knicks for successfully protecting both home games. What are your expectations for the upcoming games?"
Ewing was still waving to the fans, and upon hearing the question, he confidently replied:
"We will end the series as soon as possible to get more rest."
"The team is also ready for the upcoming Finals. This is my last season as a professional, and I still crave a championship!"
"."
In Game 2, Clay Lee played 29 minutes, shooting 8-for-16 from the field, 3-for-7 from three, and 5-for-5 from the free-throw line, accumulating 24 points, 4 rebounds, 13 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and 2 turnovers.
At the press conference, most of the sports media below the stage no longer asked about the 76ers, but instead eagerly warmed up for the Finals:
"Clay, if you encounter the Lakers again in the Finals, how will you limit Shaq? This season, your team's interior seems to have lost its dominance."
The ESPN reporter's question was met with angry glares from several Philadelphia media members.
Lee noticed the discordant atmosphere below the stage and didn't answer seriously:
"The series isn't over yet, I won't consider the Finals."
"Perhaps the points conceded in the paint have indeed increased, but our perimeter Defense is still adequate."
"In this series, I believe the Knicks have successfully suppressed the 76ers' backcourt!"
The ESPN reporter nodded with satisfaction, while Lee was again met with angry glares from the Philadelphia media.
Seemingly not answering the question, yet providing an appropriate answer, Stephen A. Smith also sat with several Philadelphia reporters.
Regarding his younger brother's predicament, he expressed deep sympathy and silently offered his blessings:
"Perhaps the series will be more exciting if the Knicks reach the Finals."
With a relatively dense schedule, the Knicks packed their bags the next day and flew directly to Philadelphia.
Most New York fans who hadn't had enough of the game planned to buy tickets for Saturday's Game 4.
For Thursday's Game 3, everyone had to give up.
On the evening of the 25th, perhaps influenced by the Eastern Conference Finals, the Lakers erupted again.
72:111, the Lakers, back at home, routed the San Antonio Spurs!
In Game 2, the Lakers also narrowly won by 14 points, securing a commanding victory to take the series lead, and suddenly, cries of "Lakers Championship" grew louder and louder.
With no suspense left in the series, the "OK" duo had killed the game.
Kobe Bryant played 40 minutes, shooting 14-for-27 from the field, 2-for-4 from three, and 6-for-9 from the free-throw line, accumulating 36 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, and 3 turnovers.
Shaquille O'Neal played 35 minutes, shooting 16-for-23 from the field and 3-for-9 from the free-throw line, putting up a huge double-double of 35 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 turnovers.
The two combined for 71 points, just shy of matching the entire San Antonio Spurs team's score, a ridiculous stat that made commentators' hearts pound!
Tim Duncan shot 3-for-14, scoring only 9 points.
After the game, San Antonio fans once again started chanting "Gregg Popovich, you're fired."
On the verge of sweeping their opponent, Shaquille O'Neal, who had been somewhat subdued throughout this year's playoffs, regained his confidence after the game.
During interviews, he no longer discussed the San Antonio Spurs:
"We will achieve 11:0 in the Western Conference, and after the Finals, it will be 15:0!"
"Yes, I will break the record set by the Knicks last year. The best record in history belongs to the Lakers."
The Los Angeles media below the stage listened with joy.
This is the kind of confidence they wanted.
Everyone unanimously agreed with Shaquille O'Neal's view: this year, the Shark would tear apart the Knicks' interior!
Shaquille O'Neal, with a wide grin, boasted wildly: "I haven't even unleashed my full power yet."
"Actually, I prefer playing all 48 minutes." and "Even if the league changes the rules, they can't limit me."
Even if the San Antonio media found it uncomfortable, being down 0-3 left them no room to retort.
Kobe, though very excited, spoke earnestly during his interview:
"The Lakers' goal has always been the Finals. We haven't forgotten last year's loss!"
"This season, everyone has been training hard. Grant, Fox, Fisher, Shaw, Horry, Lue—look at these guys, no one will be our opponent."
As the two boasted on stage, the Los Angeles media grew increasingly thrilled, while only the San Antonio media secretly grumbled:
"If we could just add excellent perimeter players, we would definitely win the championship."
The Western Conference Finals were practically over.
There was no way the San Antonio Spurs could make a comeback.
However, for Philadelphia fans, before Game 3 began, another piece of bad news arrived: Allen Iverson and Eric Snow both suffered injuries.
For the do-or-die game, Allen Iverson naturally rallied his teammates beforehand:
"My body is fine. As long as I can play, I will give my all!"
"Win these two home games, and the 76ers can turn the series around."
Allen Iverson, covered in injuries, did not specifically display his wounds to the media, and Eric Snow was the same.
His right foot fractured, he re-injured it after recovering.
As the series progressed, both could only choose to play through their injuries.
At 8:30 PM on the 26th, at the First Union Center, over 20,000 Philadelphia fans screamed themselves hoarse from the start of the game.
No one wanted to see their team eliminated at home.
After years of losing to the New York Knicks, everyone's patience was wearing thin.
In the first quarter, Aaron McKie went cold, but veteran Tyrone Hill stepped up, continuously scoring easy baskets from the right side of the rim when the team needed points most.
He made 4 of 6 shots, contributing a team-high 8 points in the first quarter, bringing the score to a 24-24 tie.
For the New York Knicks, Allan Houston, who had scored efficiently in the first two games, was sluggish, making only 1 of 5 shots for just 2 points.
During the break, Allen Iverson walked towards the bench, not forgetting to cup his right hand to his ear, signaling the fans to cheer louder.
On the other side, Jeff Van Gundy called over Ron Artest from the bench, while also instructing Kurt Thomas who was about to enter the game:
"Just shoot. If you miss, crash the boards. Don't let them score easily again!"
The Bald Young Coach looked serious.
Although Lewis scored 6 points in the first quarter, his defensive performance did not satisfy him.
Kurt Thomas, given the opportunity, nodded vigorously, while Chauncey Billups on the bench was dejected.
In crucial games, he had no role.
Kukoc, on the other hand, was accustomed to such treatment.
Jeff Van Gundy believed more in Defense, and on offense at this point, it was simply—give the ball to Clay Lee.
At the NBC commentary booth, Doug Collins noticed the New York Knicks' lineup and suddenly chuckled, quipping:
"Head Coach Van Gundy must have put out his best defensive lineup: Lee and Ron Artest in the backcourt, and Hill, Kurt Thomas, and Ben Wallace in the frontcourt."
"The average height is excellent, but the offensive spacing has decreased significantly, though this won't affect Lee much."
Bob Costas saw that the 76ers only subbed out Aaron McKie for a direct matchup, with Eric Snow continuing to play, clearly intending to stick with their starters:
"Allowing Eric Snow, affected by a foot injury, to continue playing, it seems the 76ers have further shortened their rotation tonight."
A six-man rotation; the two commentators exchanged glances and then tacitly refrained from commenting, knowing that even if they won this game, their stamina would likely be depleted by Game 4.
"Defense!"
The defensive chants rose again.
Receiving the inbound pass, Lee signaled a play, then accelerated with a powerful drive, shaking off Eric Snow's Defense, and quickly pushed the ball past mid-court.
Ron Artest, receiving instructions, stopped at the free throw line, while Grant Hill moved to the right corner.
Kurt Thomas didn't move, still battling Tyrone Hill for position near the left baseline.
Ben Wallace, seeing Lee cross mid-court, immediately came out to the three-point line, setting a high screen at the top of the arc.
Clay Lee didn't make any unnecessary fakes.
After stopping, he suddenly executed an In-and-out, feinting left then bursting right, his right hand on the ball, dropping his center of gravity sharply, and immediately drove to the right.
Ben Wallace's screen quality was average, but it successfully delayed the pursuing Eric Snow.
Dikembe Mutombo came up with a big hedge at this moment.
Just as he was helping on Defense to Lee's left, Ron Artest immediately shifted, setting an off-ball screen in the process.
Allen Iverson realized Dikembe Mutombo had lost his defensive position and saw Lee showing no signs of slowing down, so he instinctively helped on Defense to the basket.
In an instant, Lee attracted three defenders, and everyone rushed towards the basket.
After setting the screen, Ron Artest immediately moved to the top of the arc.
As soon as he stopped, Lee jumped and passed the ball over his head.
The basketball accurately landed in Ron Artest's hands.
After aiming for a moment and still finding himself unguarded, he calmly rose for a jump shot!
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly!
Ron Artest, having to test his touch on his first possession after entering the game, felt his shooting was excellent and celebrated with an excited fist pump.
On the New York Knicks' bench, everyone cheered, and Jeff Van Gundy nodded with satisfaction.
The play was executed brilliantly.
"Boo!"
The brilliant offensive display naturally drew a chorus of boos from the Philadelphia fans.
Head Coach Larry Brown on the sidelines loudly reminded Allen Iverson to pay attention to his defensive matchup, appearing very displeased with this defensive possession.
Amidst the cheers, Allen Iverson quickly slipped along the baseline from left to right, arriving at the right corner near the sideline, but couldn't receive the pass immediately.
Eric Snow was bothered by Lee's tight Defense and couldn't turn quickly.
Fortunately, Allen Iverson moved up again, allowing him to calmly deliver the cross-court pass.
Ron Artest had already chased back on Defense, seemingly confident in his speed.
Allen Iverson, upon receiving the ball, immediately put it down with his left hand and drove with a step-through.
Ron Artest, chasing to the right, instantly lost his defensive position but followed up with a brutal collision.
Coming from behind, Ron Artest directly knocked Allen Iverson, ball and all, to the floor in the paint.
Losing his balance, Allen Iverson practically flew sideways, and the referee immediately blew his whistle, simultaneously warning Ron Artest.
Only a common foul was called, infuriating Head Coach Larry Brown, who rushed to the sideline official and angrily complained:
"Hey! That's definitely a flagrant foul, that's not a basketball play at all!"
Warned, Ron Artest behaved very meekly, and Lee also said a few good words to the referee.
Facing a chorus of boos, the referee ultimately did not reverse the call.
After lying on the floor for a while, Allen Iverson rubbed his hip, his expression somewhat pained.
The fall seemed to have worsened his injury.
"Referee Sucks!"
The Philadelphia fans in the arena began cursing the referee, and after the inbound pass, using the same play, Iverson slipped along the baseline from right to left, only to be subtly pulled by Lee again.
The moment he received the ball, Lee immediately pounced.
In the left corner, Allen Iverson instinctively put the ball down with his left hand, intending to drive along the baseline.
He had only taken one large dribble when he felt a strong force from his side.
Allen Iverson stumbled, almost being shoved out of bounds by Lee.
Struggling to regain his balance, Allen Iverson finally drove to the basket while being defended, jumping from the left side of the rim and executing a wide-ranging scoop shot in the air, barely gliding to the right, but was interfered with by Ben Wallace.
He tossed the ball towards the rim with his right hand, and Allen Iverson, still in the air, completely lost his balance and fell heavily to the floor again.
The basketball bounced off the rim, Dikembe Mutombo tipped the ball, and Ben Wallace jumped a second time, getting in front of his opponent, ultimately securing the rebound.
Lee immediately accelerated after receiving the ball.
Iverson, who was still on the floor, had just stood up, and amidst the fans' gasps, he gritted his teeth and chased hard.
Eric Snow also got fierce, crashing into Lee.
Near the left sideline, the two collided, Lee slowed slightly, then delivered a concealed elbow.
In the referee's eyes, this was just a ball-handling motion, but Eric Snow cried out in pain, instantly losing his defensive position and watching Lee rush past mid-court.
Dikembe Mutombo, still desperately retreating on Defense in the middle, didn't expect a teammate to suddenly lose his position.
Seeing Lee come to the right wing and slow down for a sudden stop, he instinctively lunged.
Ignoring Dikembe Mutombo, who was taking long strides and jumping from his side to contest, Lee, on the right wing, quickly jumped for a shot after his sudden stop!
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly.
Clay Lee smiled, raising his left arm and holding up three fingers, and instantly, the arena was filled with curses.
30:24, the lead suddenly became 6 points, leaving the 76ers somewhat dazed.
Head Coach Larry Brown on the sidelines had already realized the situation was dire.
When Iverson received the ball in the right corner and drove along the baseline, he was directly knocked to the ground by Lee.
He almost flew out again, and Allen Iverson fell directly next to the camera, causing the front-row fans to exclaim.
The referee blew his whistle, and Lee emotionlessly raised his hand to signal it was his foul.
Iverson, lying on the floor, groaned in pain again, and Dikembe Mutombo became furious, shouting loudly at Lee:
"Shit! You clearly had better Defense options!"
"Yes, he could also choose to sit out."
Clay Lee calmly replied, and Ben Wallace beside him chuckled, then shouted fiercely:
"I swear, if he charges into the paint again, he'll be on the floor again!"
The referee quickly separated everyone and warned both players.
Iverson, who had stood up, had fire in his eyes and ignored his teammates' advice, continuing to receive the ball after the game restarted.
Seeing their star player's tenacity, the shouts in First Union Center grew louder and louder.
In the left block, Iverson received the ball and was again tightly guarded by Lee.
Ignoring the opponent trying to squeeze past with speed, Lee stayed very close, lowering his center of gravity and following up with hand interference.
After two consecutive jab steps, Iverson saw that Lee was still sticking to him, so he immediately put the ball down with his right hand and accelerated forward.
Although he gained half a step with his speed, the defensive pressure from his side made Iverson dare not make too many moves.
Leaning on Lee in the paint, Iverson suddenly jump-stepped, drifted to the right, and shot an air ball with a fadeaway jumper.
Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutombo were tangled up, and the rebound was secured by Kurt Thomas.
Grant Hill, who was nearby, received the ball and accelerated along the left sideline, with Lee also rushing off-ball in the middle.
After crossing half-court, seeing Lee stand near the free-throw line, Grant Hill took advantage of Ben Wallace settling at the top of the arc, immediately held the ball with his right hand, and drove straight to the basket.
It was the same tactic, but Lee faked, not going up for a screen, but instead moving sideways and suddenly popping out to the top of the arc.
Grant Hill jumped and passed the ball, and Dikembe Mutombo, who was sliding backward, was about to shout a reminder to Allen Iverson, but Lee, who received the ball, made no adjustments, raising the ball and shooting!
Allen Iverson, who rushed to defend Clay Lee, couldn't control his body's center of gravity, and both fell to the ground.
"Swish! Squeak!"
The shot went in and the whistle blew, and everyone on the Knicks cheered.
They surrounded Lee and pulled him up.
Allen Iverson, who stood up, was still arguing with the referee, and Larry Brown on the sidelines also complained loudly, while New York fans watched Clay Lee walk towards the free-throw line with a smile and began to boo helplessly.
"This season, Lee has had many 4-point plays, truly terrifying scoring ability!"
Bob Costas couldn't help but sigh softly again, while Doug Collins noticed the change in the Knicks' Defense:
"Increased physical confrontation, this is a huge test for the 76ers!"
"Playing with an injury will inevitably affect one's physical condition."
At the free-throw line, Lee took a deep breath and then calmly made the free throw, and Jeff Van Gundy smiled again, clapping on the sidelines.
34:24, the lead reached double digits.
Lee walked in front of Iverson while retreating on Defense, noticed the opponent's angry gaze, and immediately teased in a low voice:
"Go rest! Bro, lose early, and recover well!"
"Damn it!"
Allen Iverson roared in anger, then started asking for the ball again, and soon missed a pull-up jumper from beyond the three-point line on the right wing.
The long rebound happened to be picked up by Lee, and without waiting for the opponent to come up to delay, he immediately passed the ball with force!
The basketball flew across half-court, and Grant Hill scooped the ball at the three-point line, dribbled a big step, leaned on Jumaine Jones, and scored a transition layup.
Watching the lead continue to widen, the cheering at First Union Center also died down.
The stubborn Allen Iverson sensed his touch was off and immediately started driving hard to the paint.
However, too much physical confrontation and a crowded paint area led to Iverson's poor finishes.
The game gradually entered the Knicks' favorite rhythm: opponent misses, quick counterattack!
With 4 minutes and 01 seconds left in the first half, Kurt Thomas received a pass from Lee in the left block again and hit a mid-range jumper.
Head Coach Larry Brown's timeout had some effect.
The 76ers' retreat speed was faster, but unexpectedly, in a half-court offense, Kurt Thomas started scoring continuously.
Lee smiled and chest-bumped the excited Kurt Thomas in celebration.
Subsequently, Ron Artest received his second personal foul, sending Allen Iverson to the free-throw line.
He missed both free throws, and a gasp erupted in the stadium.
Beyond the three-point line, Lee received the ball and charged fiercely, ignoring the retreating Dikembe Mutombo, hanging on Eric Snow, and driving straight to the basket from the left wing.
Below the left side of the rim, Lee jump-stepped and collided with two players in the air.
Under Dikembe Mutombo's interference, he briefly hovered, exerted force, and with his left hand, single-handedly grabbed the ball, twisted his body, and casually tossed the ball towards the backboard!
Amidst the New York fans' gasps, the basketball hit the backboard high and bounced twice on the rim, but finally dropped into the basket.
"Boo!"
The First Union Center was once again filled with boos.
Eric Snow stumbled after landing, and upon hearing the referee's whistle, he just stared blankly as Lee walked towards the free-throw line.
"Clay Lee showed his explosiveness, it's incredible, in this state, he can still accurately find the backboard!"
Bob Costas was also stunned.
Now he was completely sure that Lee's shots were not just lucky guesses.
47:33, Lee completed a 3-point play, and the lead reached 14 points.
Doug Collins noticed that Allen Iverson was 0 for 7 in the second quarter and hadn't scored yet, so he could only helplessly comment:
"Bringing in Aaron McKie might be a better option. Allen Iverson needs to calm down, he must find his shooting touch again."
In the final few minutes, Allen Iverson continued to demand the ball, and aside from one successful 2+1 play, his other few possessions were clankers.
Dikembe Mutombo also missed his free throws, and as the first half was about to end, only noise remained in the stadium.
The Philadelphia fans had lost their composure.
On the last possession of the first half, as Lee assisted Ben Wallace for an easy layup, everyone on the Knicks' bench stood up and cheered.
56:40, looking at the 16-point deficit, Allen Iverson lowered his head, said nothing, and turned to walk towards the player tunnel.
1 for 10 in a single quarter, only scoring 3 points, Allen Iverson's performance left his supporting Philadelphia fans utterly disappointed.
On the other side, Clay Lee and his teammates walked slowly towards the player tunnel, chatting and laughing.
Ewing and Jeff Van Gundy were beaming, the team was about to secure a match point, and the Eastern Conference Finals was already in the bag!
From the commentary booth, seeing Head Coach Larry Brown still looking at the score, Doug Collins also felt a sense of empathy for a moment:
"This is a superstar. Clay Lee can fit into any lineup, and the Knicks indeed played excellent Defense this quarter."
"Regardless of the coach's tactical arrangements, with the 76ers' current roster, they truly cannot limit Lee."
"This is an all-around suppression of physicality, skill, and game experience!"
Bob Costas also noticed the flaws in the 76ers' lineup, and after a brief thought, he couldn't figure out how to strengthen the team with Iverson as the core:
"If they want to break out of the Eastern Conference, what other adjustments should the 76ers make?"
Doug Collins glanced at his partner, finding it difficult to speak for a moment, and could only offer platitudes:
"Add some three-point shooters to create better offensive space for Allen Iverson.
That's all I can think of."
Quickly giving his partner a look, Doug Collins didn't want to get bogged down in this topic.
Hearing the New York fans start cursing, he secretly muttered:
"Continue to strengthen? Or rebuild..."
....
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