On Sunday, February 24, 2002, after watching the competition for two weeks, the melon-eating crowd also came to a conclusion:

"The Knicks don't seem to be affected too much"

There was no slump, no players crying and shouting that they had to play for the bald young coach, and no fans holding up the whiteboards to hold on, Jeff Van Gundy left, and the Knicks were still the team that dominated the Eastern Conference.

In two weeks of competition, the Knicks had a 3-3 record.

After a 25-point win over the Raptors, they lost back-to-back to the Magic;

The old man Jazz also won the game in an upset, and sent another warmth to the Bulls, and after three consecutive defeats, the Pistons and Nets, who wanted to pick up the cheap, were easily beaten again.

With a 38-15 record, the record is just over the 36-18 Nets.

Every time Nets fans feel like they can tie the win, the Knicks' side will suddenly punch hard.

The difference between the two teams is very small, and Nets fans always have expectations, and expectations are followed by disappointment.

Just like a direct conversation between the two teams, whenever fans expect Kidd to step up and score a response, the triple-double maestro chooses to pass the ball or hit a jumper.

Like a cat catching a mouse, the Knicks just played unhurriedly and step by step, and after a losing streak, Li You would exert his strength, and then the record rebounded, and he was the first in the East again.

Even if they shoot more and more, in many games, the Knicks can still throw three-pointers better than their opponents, and it is the norm to shoot 25 times outside the three-point line in a game.

After tossing for nearly two weeks, various ball critics expressed their opinions, and looking back, the first place in the East did not move at all, and it was still two or three wins ahead

Everyone on the Knicks realized that as long as they could beat the Nets, the team would still be the first in the East.

There is no need to focus on the opponents in the Western Conference, play step by step, and finish the February schedule in a healthy way has become the common pursuit of the current team.

The game on the night of the 24th has not yet started, and the sports media are excited again before the game.

After O'Neal's comeback, the Lakers have played a wave of consecutive wins, and the current momentum is just right!

Fans in Los Angeles have come to appreciate the irreplaceability of the Sharks, and during this period of injury, O'Neal's reputation has skyrocketed.

From time to time, the yin and yang weirdness came out to mock two sentences, Kobe Bryant could only listen, O'Neal felt that it was beautiful, and no one shouted that Kobe was the leader of the team.

Pau Gasol played O'Neal for the first time in his career, and everyone wanted to see what the newcomer could do.

Facing a rookie big man, O'Neill naturally has to strike hard, and by the way, show his leadership temperament!

After the start of the game at 8 p.m., at the Staples Arena, fans in Los Angeles watched O'Neal wreak havoc on the inside, and happy shouts resounded through the arena.

The Lakers also did not have complicated tactics, and noticed that the Knicks did not choose to wrap up the defense, and several people on the outside naturally honestly hoisted the ball to the inside.

Although Gasol was prepared before the game, some half-wound defenses were ineffective in the face of O'Neal's ferocious positioning.

With 4 minutes and 12 seconds left in the third quarter, the Lakers attacked, the baseline crossed cover, O'Neal ignored Gasol, who was chasing behind him, and moved to the left low post.

On the line, he quickly passed the ball, on the left flank, and Kobe, who was stalked by Artest, failed to send the pass at the first time.

In order to be able to catch the ball better, O'Neill simply relied on Gasol to move up to the blocking position, relying on the size advantage, still stuck Gasol behind him.

When receiving Kobe's high-toss pass, O'Neal, who received the ball with his back, put the ball with his right hand, and then hit it vigorously twice.

Even if he tried his best to defend, Gasol was still stabbed under the basket, and the physical O'Neal was extremely fast, and the moment he got close to the basket, he quickly turned around in the direction of the baseline by leaning on the opponent.

Gasol was squeezed under the basket, O'Neal closed the ball and shook, and successfully deceived Gasol's defensive center of gravity, and suddenly burst out while flying the opponent, grabbed the ball with his left hand through the defense, and smashed the dunk with one arm.

"Boom!" Succeed in the next person's violent deduction!

From catching the ball to turning to the basket, O'Neal's movements are silky smooth and fast.

The shark who completed the dunk screamed excitedly, although the opponent was just a rookie insider, but the opponent was the Knicks, O'Neal only felt very happy!

“Wow！”

On the NBC commentary booth at the scene, Mike Flatello looked at the embarrassed Gasol and commented again:

"The Knicks could consider adding some packs, Gasol can't limit O'Neal, he's making it too easy for opponents to score."

'Defence starts with catching the ball and obviously Gasol wasn't ready tonight.

The difference in weight and strength was visible to the naked eye, and Mav-Albert seemed to remember the gossip of the bald young marshal, and at this time he also added:

"Coach Van Gundy had suggested that Gasol gain weight, and maybe it was the right choice, and if you want to fight against such an inside, you have to make some sacrifices."

The opponent scored strongly, and Thibodeau, who had seen a lot of this kind of scene on the sidelines, was also used to it, and subconsciously looked at Wright, the big man on the bench, and thought about it but still didn't make a substitution.

With a two-tower lineup, Gasol's jumper is not as consistent as Kurt Thomas, and defending Horry, the big man doesn't work well.

Thibodeau, who was holding his arms around, didn't call a timeout, and ended up clapping his hands on the sidelines to cheer Gasol on a good defensive run.

When it came to the Knicks' offensive round, Lee Yoo made tactical gestures and played the same tactics as the Lakers, the difference was that after the baseline crossed the cover, O'Neal was too lazy to chase the defense and let Horry follow Gasol.

Having played against each other once, Horry knew that he couldn't let Gasol get close to the basket to catch the ball, otherwise it would be difficult to defend effectively against a big man who was playing high.

Under the pull, Gasol did not choose to block in the low back position, but simply accelerated, and moved to the left flank as soon as possible.

Kobe Bryant was still using his body to press Li You, who was protecting the ball sideways, aimed at the movement behind him, and immediately beckoned Horry to wrap it.

Gasol, who was fake covering, took advantage of Li You to pull the ball back, quickly moved to the free throw line after standing still, and at the same time, Li You, who switched to his right hand to complete the turn, also sent a pass as soon as possible.

As soon as Horry got to Lee Yo's side, Gasol was already catching the ball at the free-throw line and making a jumper.

Under a lot of physical confrontation tonight, the jump shot hit the iron again, and O'Neal at the bottom right of the basket jammed Kurt Thomas and easily protected the backcourt rebound.

The Lakers didn't waste another chance, O'Neal played harder and harder, establishing an eight-point lead in the third quarter, and the Sharks didn't relent.

At 90:102, the moment the game ended, the Staples Arena was also boiling, O'Neal was so excited that he continued to swing his fists, holding the basketball and screaming!

Played 45 minutes, 16-of-24, 9-of-16 free throws, 41 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and 2 turnovers.

O'Neal played steadily and easily blew up the Knicks' interior.

Bryant passed honestly throughout the game, shooting 5-of-13, with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 turnovers.

Despite the victory, Bryant didn't feel as happy as he imagined, and he certainly knew who the Los Angeles fans in the arena were cheering for.

In his first match with the league's strongest center, Gasol was 5-of-13 from the field, 2-of-4 from the free-throw line, and finished with 12 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 turnovers.

The defense was a bit of a mess, and Pau Gasol was still gasping for air at the end of the game.

Most of the scoring was concentrated in the first half, and as the game progressed, the shooting percentage began to decline, and like most rookies, Gasol needed to increase his dueling.

Phil Jackson only felt that the champion was beckoning to him, and at the end of the game, without Jeff Van Gundy, he was in a good mood.

Thibodeau came to the tech desk and shook hands with Phil Jackson, and the two had no grudges, and after the business exchanged blows, they went their separate ways.

NBC reporters interviewed the happy O'Neal for the first time after the game:

"Shaq, you're dominating the interior tonight and I've noticed that you're getting better and better after coming back from injury!"

The cheers at the scene became louder and louder, and O'Neill, who was interviewed, did not wait for the other party to finish, and immediately said happily:

"I'm ready, I'm more mature than in previous years, I know how to lead the team, and I'm going to lead the Lakers to win a championship this year!"

“.”

Thibodeau didn't care about losing this game, in his opinion, the most important thing is to be able to keep the first place in the East.

At the post-game press conference, Gasol was still a little frustrated, only to know the gap after the meeting, and there is indeed no such opponent in the Eastern Conference.

Lee's stats remained mediocre, with 12-of-22, 5-of-12 from beyond the three-point line, 6-of-6 from the free-throw line, 35 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals and 3 turnovers.

After the All-Star Weekend, Lee You's shot count did not rise, but it became easier to score 30 points.

The three-point shot has increased, more catch-and-shoot shots, and if it weren't for the drop in free throws on the road, maybe the numbers would have been better.

Judging from the appearance alone, Li You has not shaved in the recent consecutive away games, and he looks slightly mature, but sitting with Gasol, the two still look a little too young.

Most of the questions asked by the sports media are ordinary, and the reporter of the Los Angeles Times did not forget to give Li You eye medicine at this time:

"Lee, Coach Van Gundy seems to have advised Gasol to gain weight, but you prefer to attack quickly, does this defeat mean that your persistence is wrong?"

A lot of sports media are gossiping about Jeff Van Gundy's departure, mainly because of the conflict with Lee You.

It's impossible for a champion coach to leave for no reason, so Lee Woo has always had these problems lately:

"Basketball is all about results, and coach Van Gundy's advice is good, but Gasol is just a man of the earth, and it takes a process to gain weight and increase confrontation."

"If you want to be successful, if you want to polish your body, you need more time, and if the first-year rookie can limit Shaq, then the Knicks' opponent in the Finals in these years will not be the Lakers."

"I think the pace of basketball will get faster and faster in the future, but of course that's just my personal opinion, and there's no right or wrong."

"Gasol was doing well tonight, and although his stats have dropped a bit in the past two months, he will bounce back strongly."

Most sports media naturally don't expect a rookie to be able to confront O'Neal, and Li You's words also made everyone nod secretly.

The New York Times reporter was quite satisfied with Gasol's performance, and the final question was friendly:

"Pau, the first time you play O'Neal, how many points will you rate yourself?"

Gasol also heard the simple question clearly, and although he was a little disappointed with his performance, he was still quite confident in answering:

"I'm going to play 6, I'm going to influence the game in different ways, Lee has always supported me, and I'll be better in the next fixtures!"

On the 28th, after a few days of rest, the Knicks continued their road trip, 104:84, after giving a Heat defeat, the record came to 39-16.

That record is second only to the Kings' 40-15 record, and the Knicks finished second in the league at the end of February, while still holding the first place in the East.

Whenever the Nets close the win gap, they suddenly pull their hips.

After an unexpected 20-point loss to the Hornets last night, Kidd was sent another wave by the ball critics.

Everyone likes to have fun and expects the Knicks to fall behind

Entering March, the Knicks also ushered in the most intensive schedule of the season, with a total of 17 games to play throughout March.

The Knicks are out of fun, and everyone is paying attention to the Wizards again.

Michael Jordan also suffered an injury, and the 38-year-old man couldn't hold his knees.

Kwame Brown is still the same, even if he adds some playing time, but the data is always pulling the hips, and every now and then there is a zero egg.

In order to retain the No. 1 spot in the East, Thibodeau wanted to increase the playing time of some of his main players, but Grant Hill suffered ankle pain in the first week.

Then, Breven Knight also suffered a shoulder injury, and after a series of injuries, Thibodeau finally chose to honestly continue the previous rotation strategy of Van Gundy.

Since most of the opponents are Eastern teams, Li You did not hold the ball, and the schedule was tight, and the Knicks still played the game step by step.

On March 24, the away team challenged the 76ers, and at 101:88 in the boos of Philadelphia fans, the Knicks killed their opponents twice this month.

Allen Iverson was sidelined due to injury and lost this game, and the 76ers' record also came to 34-35.

Attendance dropped, but Iverson still didn't give up the scoring title, and many games were crazy.

The title of "inefficient brush" is no longer available, and Philadelphia fans are becoming less and less patient.

On March 31, after a road win over the Magic, the Knicks' record in March was finally fixed at 13-4.

Losing all three back-to-back games, Grant Hill and Knight were back in the team at the end of the month.

With a 52-20 record and a playoff spot, New York fans are happy again.

After the Nets lost to the Timberwolves that day, their record came to 47-27, and if nothing else, they could only rank second in the East.

There was no match on April 1, and on a rare rest day, workaholic Thibodeau still chose to watch the game footage at the Tarrytown training center.

After more than a month in charge of the team, Thibodeau can be regarded as experiencing Van Gundy's feelings:

"This is Lee You's team."

The shortcomings in the lineup make it difficult for Thibodeau to do much on the defensive end, and on the offensive end, many times even he doesn't know what kind of tactics the Knicks will execute in the next round.

There is no system, no fixed routine, and most of the offensive rounds are decided by Li You on the spot, which makes many games suspended, and Thibodeau can only boil chicken soup.

Instead of getting the desired sense of accomplishment, Thibodeau also understood that the bald young marshal was really not a good thing for the players to be too smart.

Assistant coach Don Channey noticed that Thibodeau, who was watching the video, suddenly lost his mind, patted the other party, and chatted about the topic of gossip:

"Tom, did Glenfield talk to you about the draft?"

"No, I haven't heard from that yet."

Thibodeau replied subconsciously, and then saw Don Channy sigh.

After reacting thoroughly, Thibodeau also understood what the management meant, and he was not the final choice for the manager.

Originally, the two still had some competitive meaning, but at this time, they could only look at each other and smile bitterly, and the same thought invariably appeared in their hearts:

"Maybe Van Gundy was right to leave."

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After changing for most of the day, I still decided to end the regular season QAQ early

(End of chapter)