Legendary Basketball Tycoon

The impact of the NBA suspension is far-reaching. Fans who were saddened by Jordan's retirement have become less interested in the NBA. Not only did the fans disagree, but the media also denounced the labor dispute. In the 1998-99 season, the average attendance in the NBA was 23,048, which was 2.2% lower than the average attendance last season. One can imagine how sluggish the NBA this year was.

Since Jordan retired, the Bulls dynasty has also fallen and scattered. The second head of the team, Scott Pippen, went to the Houston Rockets to replace the retired Clyde Drexler, but the Rockets were eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers 1-3 in the first round of the playoffs, and the latter was in the lineup. There is another strongman Dennis Rodman of the Bulls. After head coach Phil Jackson left the field, he only retained Tony Kukoc's Bulls. This season, he only scored 13 wins and 37 losses, which is the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Obviously fools can see it. The Bulls general manager Jerry Krauss has completely released himself since Jordan left. He used to be suppressed by Jordan. He can't say much. Now it's fine. Jordan has retired. Then The Bull is the one who has the final say. After sending away these players with big contracts and a little bit of strength this year, the Bulls will be completely ruined, and they will be able to play with some fresh blood after a few years.

The regular season has shrunk to 50 games, and the regular season record has completely lost reference value. The Miami Heat scored 33 wins and 11 losses in the regular season, ranking first in the East, while the New York Knicks were only 27 wins and 23 losses, barely squeezing into the playoffs with eighth in the East, but in fact, the Knicks' combat effectiveness is far from the record. Can reflect.

In the first game, the Knicks unexpectedly won a 95-75 away game. After knowing the shame, the Heat regained one game with a 10 point advantage in the second game. But returning to Madison Garden, the Knicks once again humiliated the Heat with 97-73, but they failed to keep the fourth game, and they were humiliated by the Heat with a 15-point advantage. As a result, the fifth game of the decisive victory started at the Heat's home court. Unlike the previous four games, both sides have won over their opponents. This time the situation is very tragic, and both sides have achieved the ultimate defense.

4.5 seconds before the end, the Heat led 97-96. Alan Houston, nicknamed the "King of CIC", took the ball offensively. After the fake action tricked the defensive players, he rushed to the basket, but time was running out and Houston was forced to use a throw that he rarely tried. The ball hits the edge of the basket, bounces, hits the backboard and bounces back. In the end, amidst the exclamation of Heat fans, the ball fell into the Nets. At the same time, the final whistle sounded. The Knicks beat the Heat 98-97, creating the second "Black Eight" in NBA history with a total score of 3-2. Miracle". Houston rushed to the audience excitedly.

Under the guidance of Jeff Van Gundy, Ewing is still the team's scoring leader, but the team's focus has shifted to "backcourt double shot" Houston and Latril Sprewell. In addition, the Knicks continued their defensive style, averaging 90.8 points per game that season, ranking fourth in the NBA. The morale boosted Knicks exploded with super combat effectiveness. The Eastern Conference semifinals swept 31 wins and 19 losses 4-0 Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference. In the Eastern Conference Finals, they beat New York, which was also 33 wins and 11 losses, second in the Eastern Conference. Han people.

That’s right, under the leadership of head coach Chuck Daley, the New York Hans, led by inside Mourning + Nowitzki, the twin towers combination + outside scoring king Kobe successfully reached the Eastern Conference finals with the second place in the Eastern Conference in the regular season. . It's a pity that in the past two years, the Hans in New York have taken a lot of high-quality substitutes and failed to shake up the strong Knicks. This is also a helpless move. It was so bad that the New York Hans could reach the Finals, but the team still made history. This was the first time the Hans reached the Eastern Conference Finals.

At this point, the Knicks have become the only team in NBA history to enter the Finals with the Black Eight, and it is also the eighth finals tour in team history.

The Knicks' opponent is the San Antonio Spurs. Originally after Jordan retired, people thought that the Utah Jazz would be the replacement for the championship. Because in recent years, with the decline of the Seattle SuperSonics, the Jazz have risen suddenly and have reached the Western Conference finals several times. The Jazz also scored 37 wins and 13 losses this season, tied for the first place in the Western Conference with the Spurs, and Karl Malone also won. The second regular season MVP in his career. But without Jordan's opponent, the Jazz obviously lost their spirits. After a thrilling defeat of the Sacramento Kings 3-2 in the first round, the Western Conference semifinals fell to the Seattle SuperSonics 2-4. The Spurs went smoothly, eliminating the Minnesota Timberwolves, Lakers and Sonics one after another, reaching the finals for the first time in team history.

Before the start of the finals, people were generally optimistic about the Spurs, because the Spurs had the twin towers of Tim Duncan and David Robinson. In addition, Ewing suffered a knee injury and was unable to play in the finals. Larry Johnson also sprained his knee. This means that the Knicks have no chance of winning. Also, how could the game against the Hans in the same city, the New York Hans, pass you so easily. It is impossible to be good without hurting a few main players. Don’t forget that there are still Hans. Mourning and Bruce Bowen, Jermaine O’Neal, and Stephen Jackson.

Unsurprisingly, the Knicks quickly fell behind 1-3. In the fifth game, the Knicks were still in the lead 77-75 in 47 seconds before the end of the game. The Spurs attacked, Tim Duncan suffered a double-team, Sean Elliott gave a false shot, and the ball was handed to "Little General" Avery Johnson. Without thinking, he quickly shot from the three-point line and scored! The Spurs overtook 78-77. Subsequently, Sprewell missed a desperate three-pointer, and the Spurs won the first championship in team history with a total score of 4-1, which was the NBA's "shrinking champion" that was later ridiculed by the Zen master Phil Jackson.

Tim Duncan showed great power in the series, averaging 27.4 points, 14 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game, and was elected the Finals MVP. After the finals, Van Gundy, who once boasted "The Knicks are the enemy of the world" after creating the Black Eight miracle, admitted when asked about the reason for the failure: "They have Duncan, but we don't..."

Hearing what Van Gundy said, he was too embarrassed to say such a thing. Looking at the Knicks' starting lineup, it definitely blinded the entire league. The point guard is veteran Mark Jackson, the shooting guard is "CIC King" Alan Houston, the small forward is "Madman" Latril Sprewell, the power forward is "Aunt" Larry Johnson, and the center is " "Gorilla" Patrick Ewing's All-Star lineup, coupled with a number of good bench lineups, this can not win the championship, can you blame anyone else? !

Of course, if Ewing and Johnson missed the Finals without injury, it might be another situation, but it’s a pity that some teams just died. Obviously the Knicks are such a team and spent a lot of money. The price of finally made it into the finals, but he slipped at the door. Who can blame this? !