Chapter 245: The Situation in the East
When the Rockets in the West swept the Spurs 4-0, they could only sit and watch the results of the Eastern Metropolis Finals.
I have to say that this year's Eastern Conference playoffs are very weird, and the leader of this weirdness is the New York Knicks.
After the Knicks swept the Hawks 4-0, they welcomed the Pacers, who also swept their opponents 4-0.
Everyone thinks that the Knicks' good fortune is coming to an end, because the Pacers have reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the second time under the leadership of Bird, and the Knicks are obviously much worse in combat after the absence of Ewing.
The Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Finals with a bloody spirit, and many people say that this is already their limit.
But the Knicks don't think so, there was a media interview with Sprewell before the game, the madman's words are crazy, but they are also very real, the madman said: The game is full of uncertainties, whether the opponent is the Pacers or the Rockets, everything is only known after the game, and when any game is not over, people can't be sure of the outcome of the two sides.
The Knicks are preaching their toughness outwardly, and any team that wants to get a favor from the Knicks will have to pay a price.
The first game of the Knicks-Pacers Eastern Conference Finals started at the home of the Indiana Pacers, and the game didn't start with the one-sided game that people imagined, and both sides played extremely cautiously.
The two sides are like a pair of fighters in the boxing ring, testing each other at the beginning of the game, looking for each other's weaknesses in defense, and looking for opportunities to kill with one blow.
The first quarter of the game between the two sides ended quickly, and the two sides reached a 22-all draw, with Sprewell and Allan Brown? The Houston duo are still going strong, and the Pacers' Miller also scored seven points in the first quarter, leading the team to an inseparable battle with the Knicks.
The second quarter of the game was like a copy of the first quarter of the game, the two sides were still anxious, and by the end of the second quarter, the score of the two sides was still 46 draws.
Both sides returned to the dressing room with caution.
After halftime adjustments, the Pacers strengthened their attack on the Knicks' interior, and Schmitz and two Davis took turns attacking the Knicks' interior.
But the Knicks' tenacious defense, Ewing withstood the onslaught of the Pacers, even though the old man was almost exhausted.
The score between the two sides did not open up, and this situation put great pressure on the Pacers, Bird and his players really didn't expect such an opponent to fail to cause them so much pressure, and they really didn't expect that the Knicks' breath could be held back now.
Bird, who was on the sidelines, couldn't help but have a thought in his heart: Can the Knicks be hacked to the end. Immediately, Bird dispelled the slightest thought in his mind, for the pride of his heart did not allow him to have thoughts of one kind or another.
By the end of the third quarter, the score between the Pacers and the Knicks had not been opened, and no one could predict the outcome of this game and the outcome of the entire series.
After the start of the fourth quarter, the two sides were entangled as before. However, Sprewell made a jumper and a three-pointer, and the Knicks finally led by three points with three minutes left in the game.
It was these three points that completely choked the throat of fate, and the Knicks stubbornly held the entire three-point advantage, and with Miller's three-point miss, the 93:90 Knicks got off to a good start, leading the opponent 1:0 with a big score.
The second game continues to be played on the home court of the Pacers, the home game is like a copy of the first game, the two sides are still defending, defending, and defending, I have to say that the defense between the Knicks and the Pacers is really great, the degree of entanglement between the two sides, just like a pair of lovers doing things in bed, then it is called a close tight.
However, the final winner of this game was not the Knicks, but the Pacers, relying on Kassel's two goals, the Pacers took a 2-point advantage in the final moments of the game, and the Pacers and the Knicks in the last game, stubbornly persevered to the end, Allan? Houston's shot missed, and the Knicks lost the game completely.
The Pacers won one game back on their home court, leveling the score at 1-1, but the next game for the Pacers is to play at the Knicks' home court.
And they didn't know that this game would become the most classic game in the history of the league, and the Pacers would also be the background for the most classic scene in the history of the league.
The third game kicked off on time at Madison Garden, and the game between the two sides was as anxious as ever, with the scores of both sides alternating upwards.
The game was brutal and intense, both sides were bursting out with their last bit of energy, and it was a stalemate, everyone knew that the game had reached the last moment, and whoever could hold on to the end was the final winner.
In the last 22 seconds of the game, the score was 88:88.
At this time, the Pacers played a wonderful combination, Kassel broke through, Schmitz blocked, Miller ran back, and got rid of Allan who was defending himself? Houston, Cassel passed, Miller received the ball and shot without any melancholy, and the basketball accurately drilled into the basket.
Miller, who hit a quasi-kill, spun around in circles with excitement, and all the Pacers players were on the court celebrating the imminent victory.
However, have you ever seen that a boiled duck can fly? Then you're going to see it right away.
At this point, there are 11.7 seconds left.
The Knicks serve on the sideline, 'Big Mom' Johnson, receives the ball at 45 degrees outside the three-point line, and looks at the Pacers who defend themselves No. 33 Antonio? Davis, Larry? Johnson shook the opponent's center of gravity with a feint, was short, broke through the opponent directly, came directly to the three-point line, raised his hand to shoot while running, and Antonio at this time? Davis and Larry? Johnson had a physical contact movement, and the referee immediately blew the whistle in his hand, but no one expected that the basketball drew a graceful arc in the air and plunged into the basket.
At this moment, Madison Garden Square erupted, and the fans in the stadium let out a deafening cheer.
Larry? Johnson clenched his fists with both hands, his right arm stretched out, his left fist against his right elbow, stood on the sidelines and roared loudly at the fans, but no one heard him clearly, he was directly surrounded by the Knicks players.
Johnson hit a solid free throw and the two players quickly returned to the bench with 5.7 seconds left to play.
Bird was also a little distracted at this time, not knowing what he was thinking, but Cassel patted Bird lightly, and the 'Big Bird' reacted and came to make the final tactical arrangement for the Pacers' players.
It may be that the head coach's mindset affected the Pacers players, and Miller, who executed the last end, missed.
Larry? Johnson made a legend in NBA history with one of his fours, and Bird and his Pacers became the background.
Larry? Bird defeated Larry? Brown, while being Larry? Johnson defeated, and it seems that the person who defeated Larry must also be Larry, hehe.
The aggrieved Pacers got vented in the fourth game, and I don't know what the reason was, all the Knicks players were out of shape throughout the fourth game.
The Pacers comfortably won on the road, with the Pacers having the upper hand throughout the game and some morale recovered from the Knicks' quarter-run.
The fifth game that began immediately gave the Pacers the heaviest blow, and due to the recurrence of Ewing's old injury, Ewing was already destined to miss the game for a while.
The Knicks' three maniacs teamed up again, the Knicks dominated the game from the very beginning of the game, the Pacers were always suppressed, but the Knicks' three musketeers began their own crazy journey.
Johnson, Alain? Houston and Sprewell were the masters of the game, and the three of them combined to score 74 points, or three-quarters of the total points scored in the game.
Bird, who was on the sidelines, sighed: Why am I so back, leading the team to this position always meet all opponents who have been attached to the halo, last year's Bulls, this year's Knicks, can our Pacers only be a supporting role for the opponent.
When the game was over, the huge number on the scoreboard, 101:94, left all the Pacers players with their heads down.
The big score between the two sides became 3:2, and the Knicks had already got the match point.
The Pacers returned to Indiana with their heads down, back to their home court.
Many Pacers fans came to greet their heroes, which made a rare morale recovery for some demoralized Pacers.
All the Pacers players are looking forward to Game 6.
The sixth game of the Eastern Conference Finals started on time on the Pacers' home court, and the Pacers tried to master the rhythm of the court from the beginning of the game, but the Knicks' tenacious defense did not let the Pacers' plan succeed, and the Knicks stuck to their defense, and then quickly launched a counterattack after controlling the rebound, and in the melee Sprewell and Allan? Houston's role was brought into full play, and the two of them were like two quick knives cutting butter, cutting countless holes in the butter of the Pacers.
At halftime, the Knicks led the Pacers by four points.
Although they have a score advantage, the Knicks dare not be careless at all, because they know that the four-point advantage is not enough for them to relax, because this is the Eastern Conference Finals, as long as they win the opponent, they have a chance to touch the highest trophy again.
However, the Pacers also shared this desire, and unfortunately they did not stick to it.
At 90:82 at the end of the game, the Knicks defeated the opponent again on the road, eliminated the Pacers with a big score of 4:2, and advanced to the finals.
After the game, all the Pacers players sat on the court crying, and Miller pulled his comrades up one by one and said loudly: "Guys, we still have a chance, we are here next year."
Bird was also applauding his players on the sidelines, knowing that what his players needed right now was comfort.
And the Knicks' players were partying on the court, they created a miracle, a black eight miracle, and they went to the end, and they advanced to the finals.
Such a result seems to confirm Sprewell's sentence, that is, only after the game is played will you know who wins and who loses.
And the Rockets players, who have been resting for a few more days, are also screaming in disbelief when they see the Knicks' promotion.
And Lao Tang and Dawson also looked at Tiger with admiration, and at the beginning of the playoffs, Tiger had already foreshadowed the future of the Knicks.
Will the Black Eight Miracle continue? Will the Rockets still give the Knicks a chance?
Everything is about to start with the finals.
Rockets vs Knicks, on the verge of a touch.
(To be continued)