On May 25, 2003, New York fans had a fun weekend.

During the playoffs, the Knicks' merchandise sold well, and although the number of home games was too few for some fans to find unpleasant, as long as they won, it was not a problem.

The benefit of consecutive sweeps is that the Knicks can get more time to recuperate, which also greatly alleviates the attrition caused by the regular season.

Since the end of the game against the Pacers, everyone has been able to hang out in Manhattan and enjoy playing on their doorstep.

won the Eastern Conference championship, James Dolan began to blow X again in the past two days:

"Starting next season, the division championship flag won't be flying over the Madison Square Garden arena, we've won so much!"

"It should not be difficult to achieve the goal of hanging the championship flag full, Li is only 25 years old, and in the next ten years, we will have more and more flags."

When interviewed by ABC, what the curly boss said was actually the truth.

Every season, the Atlantic Division champion and the Eastern Conference championship are won by the Knicks.

In the past, there were not many championship and division championship flags, and the team would hang one as a façade.

But in recent years, the divisional champion flags have been harvested twice a year, just like Chinese cabbage, which has led to more and more flags in the sky above the arena.

After thinking about it, after winning the championship this year, seven championship flags hung over the stadium enough to hold X!

James Dolan flaunted too many championship flags to hang over the arena, New York fans felt it made sense, while Mavericks team owner Cuban was stimulated.

Tonight, the Western Conference Finals G4 kicked off again, and before the game, the Mavericks' team reporter broke the news that Nowitzki had a knee injury as early as G2 and would not be able to play in the later series.

Cuban seems to be carried away by the temptation of the finals, and took the initiative to speak out in support of Nowitzki playing with an injury, while Nelson Sr. angrily stated:

'We all know Dirk has played a game with an injury and he's done his best for the team.

"Victory is not important at this time, and I will not allow the health of the players to be buried for a chance to win a finals!"

"I promised Dirk's family that I would give Dirk back to them."

"Even if the Mavericks can really make it to the Finals, with our current physical condition, there is only one outcome waiting for us against the 73-win Knicks."

"As long as I'm in the head coach position, Dirk won't play in the rest of the game."

The stubborn old Nelson didn't give the boss a good face and told the truth in front of the media.

The sports media in Dallas felt that this remark also made sense, without Nowitzki, entering the finals, there is a high probability that he will also be in the atmosphere group.

Mavericks fans are a little disappointed, and it's good to touch the floor of the Finals, and everyone hopes that the team can enter a higher stage.

Unfortunately, injuries are part of the game, and the Mavericks have been unlucky this year.

In contrast, Spurs fans are ecstatic, Nowitzki can't play, and they're going straight to the Finals!

There are more and more calls for "fighting for David", and after it was determined that Novis was out injured, Popovich was quick to state in a pre-match interview:

"I'm sad for what happened to Dirk, but we're going to give it our all tonight!"

"We're going to win the championship for David this season!"

David Robinson has a high popularity in San Antonio, and although he has been "beaten" by Olajuwon, Spurs fans still love "The General".

With his entire career dedicated to San Antonio, Spurs fans naturally hope that David Robinson can win a championship at the end of his career like Ewing!

In the Western Conference Finals G4 that night, Mavericks fans at home once saw hope of winning, but when the second half of the game began, the hope turned into disappointment.

With a five-point lead in the first half, in the third quarter of the game, the Mavericks collectively hit the iron.

At 30:18 in the single quarter, relying on Duncan and Parker's more stable play, the Spurs completed the reversal.

The game was often won or lost in a few rounds, and although the Mavericks launched a counterattack, the Spurs always maintained the lead.

In the end, at 102:95, the Spurs won another game away and successfully got the match point, and the series score also came to 3:1.

The Mavericks' Michael Finley, Nash, and Van Exel's statistics are all beautiful, and the trio combined for 72 points!

However, in the third quarter, the ball was broken, and the final goal fell short.

Tim Duncan played 44 minutes, 8-of-14, and got a big double-double of 21 points, 20 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 4 blocks and 3 turnovers!

Parker contributed 25 points on 9-of-22 shooting, Ginobili was 8-of-12 and came off the bench to contribute 21 points.

Win this game, and the Spurs will most likely reach this year's finals!

David Robinson played just 19 minutes tonight, finishing with two points and four rebounds.

In the post-game interview, David Robinson was particularly excited, and everyone in the Spurs stepped forward to hug the veteran:

'It's been the best season I've ever had, I've seen the development of the young players and I've seen Thiem dominate.

"Even though I'm retiring, I'm very happy to see the talent that the Spurs have and this particular team is definitely going to win a championship."

The Spurs got the match point, the Knicks advanced to the Finals, and the sports media began to warm up for the second meeting between the two sides.

On Monday the 26th, there were no matches on the day, and ABC continued to cheer for the finals that will be broadcast soon.

There is still a downward trend in the ratings of this year's playoffs, and although the Knicks game ratings are not bad, most fans of other series are not buying it.

The Pacers, Hornets, and Pistons don't like most of the winning games, they don't have stars, their records are mediocre, and the game is not much to watch.

On the contrary, the Magic team has attracted the attention of many fans, and the first-round game against the Knicks set a new high in ESPN playoffs this year.

Even the Eastern Conference Finals did not break the ratings of the first round, and no matter how good Kidd led the team, it was not as direct as "playing well".

For the rookie players of the Knicks, winning the division championship is definitely a big achievement!

The team is currently on vacation, and the new Stoudemire has attracted attention.

Whether it's a show or a statement, this budding and atmosphere group chose to practice during the holidays, and by the way, he received further guidance from the coaching staff.

At the Tarytown Training Center, after the morning training, Stoudemire was interviewed by the New York Times, and when asked about the finals, the newcomer excitedly replied:

"I just want to be thankful for the experience, and I'm very satisfied to be able to see such a big scene in my first year of career."

It's not just coach D'Antoni who likes the newcomer, but the sports media in New York also has a preference for the physically gifted Stoudemire:

"Amare, we've noticed that none of the team's bench lineups in the Eastern Conference Finals seem to be getting a lot of playing time."

"We've beaten a couple of games, what do you think of this rotation?"

D'Antoni is indeed conservative, in the G4 game, Li You played 38 minutes again, and the least playing time in the main lineup was Grant Hill, who also played 33 minutes.

Although Stoudemire was a little unhappy in his heart, he just smiled when he answered the question, and responded seriously:

"We've been rotating normally, not because of the point difference, but because of whether the opponent pulls off the main lineup."

"I can understand the Nets' choice, no one will easily admit defeat, and the Eastern Conference Finals are also a huge test for the team."

'It doesn't really matter when you play, everybody in the team wants to win and all we have to do is follow the coach's instructions.

D'Antoni admires this newcomer very much, and Stoudemire also thinks he can come out sooner or later!

Also training with Prince is Prince, but he has not played much this season, has very few statistics, and is not in a high position, so many sports media ignore him.

However, the coaching staff did not forget the rookie with excellent tactical awareness, and assistant coach Crawford reassured Prince:

"Rookie players are like that, and trust me, as long as you keep playing the game as you are, you're going to get more minutes next season."

"It's not difficult to get into the core 7 people!"

Jerseys and championship flags hung around the training hall, and Prince, who was holding the ball, only nodded when he heard the assistant coach's reassurance.

The new player is the "child labor" who is being squeezed, and if the team does not let him go, he will spend the next 4 years with the Knicks.

Even after this contract, as long as the Knicks exercise the team option, Prince will have to continue to serve the Knicks for at least three years!

Even if he doesn't play a lot of minutes, even if he doesn't get a lot of data, Prince won't complain to the coaching staff, let alone talk in front of the media:

"I've outpaced a large part of the players to be on stage at the finals, this is my first season and I know how to do it!"

Hearing Prince's response, several members of the coaching staff nodded, and everyone liked obedient players.

The team was on holiday, and it happened to be Monday, and Li You went to Ivana's house for dinner in the evening.

The father-in-law, who completely got out of the bankruptcy crisis, has been very high-profile in recent years, and after the divorce, he has become the one who likes young girls to enjoy the spotlight.

Since my wife moved to the home on the top floor, the family atmosphere has been a little discordant, and the reason is very simple, the "stepmother" plans to have a child.

When the family gathers for dinner, the table is still the same, and the father-in-law sitting on the main seat knocks on a few of his children from time to time, and several people on both sides are silent, silently eating.

The eldest son brought his girlfriend tonight, and the two exchanged in a low voice.

Eric is still studying in Georgetown, occasionally looking at his brothers and sisters, and the whole person seems to be very well-behaved

Ivana looked at the young woman opposite from time to time, and didn't seem to care what her father was saying, occasionally sharing some of her favorite dishes with Li You.

"I'm going to start a reality show, a commercial reality show, and I've talked to NBC about the idea, and it's going to be a big hit."

"We need to promote our brand, and if Season 1 is successful, I'll need you to be on the show later."

"Not a celebrity, not the son of a billionaire, but the identity of a company executive."

"You need to come back to the company, accept my arrangement, the plan is going well, and our names will be in people's discussions a lot."

The father-in-law likes his ideas very much, and this kind of straightforward throwing of American knives is more eye-catching than survival type reality shows.

Ivana, who hosted Miss Universe, looked at her gushing dad and didn't speak, or that she didn't have the right to say "no", it was just a notice, not a discussion.

"Lee, if the ratings for the show are good, you can also get Bobby and those Wall Street vampires on the show."

"You are welcome to be my sponsors, and if you are interested, you can also become a judge, the United States now hates the rich, in the early years, people only had respect for billionaires!"

seems to think of the ridicule of him by the New York media in the past few years, and his father-in-law digressed as he spoke

Li You also responded casually, as long as it is not the kind of "Walking with the Kardashians" in the future, he can accept the trivial reality show of the family.

Tonight's steaks are all fully cooked, and they taste good, and my father-in-law is obviously a little self-indulgent after two drinks.

After dinner, he hugged his little wife and was about to leave, as if he had thought of something again, and after hugging Li You's shoulder, he reminded in a low voice:

"Don't get too close to the Elephants, don't get involved with Ken Greenfin, he's a staunch conservative, don't take sides if you want to make money."

The Citadel hedge fund has developed very well in the past two years, and Ken Greenfin, who graduated from Harvard, is a member of the "elite school" party, and he has not hidden his political leanings, and has always moved closer to the elephant party.

As a partner of Lee You, Ken Griffin is treated every time he comes to New York.

In July, the young billionaire was planning to marry his current girlfriend and had already extended an invitation to Lee, and Vanity Fair magazine and the Wall Street Journal reported on their friendship.

"Of course I'm not politically inclined, it's just my personal friendship."

Li You responded simply, and his father-in-law smiled and didn't say anything more, and then turned his head and said to Ivana:

"Enjoy this great evening, Erik, next time you can bring your girlfriend home, I hope she's a good girl!"

Watching the father leave with his little wife in his arms, Ivana took Li You's arm and whispered:

"He always likes to help us plan our lives, everyone has to listen to him, and that woman obviously approached him with a purpose!"

The eldest son has been beaten by his father and has been much more honest recently:

"Li, if you have time to come to the company for a few drinks, many people are your fans."

The cheap big brother still looks like he has kidney deficiency, and the blonde girlfriend next to him also winked and showed goodwill together.

Ivana doesn't like "working for her father" at the moment, and she gets a little angry when she sees her brother's submissive appearance:

"We're going on vacation to Florida in June, Vanessa, are you going to come together?"

Big Brother Cheap shook his head, obviously having accepted the arrangement and planning to work hard, Vanessa was a little lost, she liked to enjoy life.

Little transparent Eric said hello and quietly left, Ivana frowned, Li You hugged the blonde white rabbit, lowered his head and kissed each other.

When he walked to Ivana's room, Li You also comforted him:

"You haven't graduated yet, you don't need to think about it so much, be happy!"

After returning to the room, she had a few more drinks, and soon Ivana left her worries behind.

Every time they came here, the two would play some new tricks in the bathtub and have a few drinks, and Ivana lay in Li You's arms with a red face.

The water temperature was just right, the bubbles covered some key parts, Li You played with it casually, and soon the two of them frolicked.

Seeing the blonde white rabbit's obedient appearance tonight, Li You chuckled, leaned into the other party's ear and whispered, and then rubbed the softness in his hand again.

Ivana's face turned even redder, and she glanced at Li You, and the two adjusted their postures, and then said in a greasy voice:

"Just once! What a bastard you are! ”

Unlocking new knowledge again, Li You enjoyed Ivana's jerky service, the slippery touch was fascinating, looking at the other party's slimmed down pretty face, he suddenly had a bold idea:

"We have to have a few more children!"

On May 27, the Knicks were still on vacation and had not officially returned to training.

That night will usher in the Western Conference Finals G5, which is also a life-and-death battle for the Mavericks!

As Nelson Sr. said, Novis is out injured and won't be back for this game.

Spurs fans are ready and looking forward to seeing the team advance to the Finals at home tonight.

TNT, as the broadcaster of the Western Conference Finals, is naturally not a big deal to watch the excitement, and this year's ratings have dropped a bit, and everyone hopes that the game can be more intense.

Before the game, the strength of the two sides was analyzed, and the fans were introduced to the state of the Spurs after returning to their home court.

ESPN, as the broadcaster of the Eastern Conference Finals, boasted about Li You's playoff performance this year after the series, which can be summed up in a few words:

"Excel is invincible! Lee is the GOAT! Lee represents the future! Young people need to play like Lee! ”

In 12 playoff games, Li You started all of them, playing an average of 35.8 minutes per game;

averaged 32.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 10.6 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.8 turnovers per game;

He averaged 19.4 shots per game and shot 57.0 percent from the field and 7.9 attempts from beyond the three-point line with a three-point shooting percentage of 49.3 percent.

He averaged 6.8 free throws per game and shot 94.1% from the free-throw line.

ESPN released Lee's stats after the series, and then the critics were stupid again.

ABC is also warming up for the finals later, so naturally they will also follow the trend to discuss this data, and host Mike Tyrico even exaggerated on the show:

"The earthlings can't stop Lee anymore!"

The TNT trio didn't expect their counterparts next door to be so able to blow, and they were so well-founded that it was impossible to refute.

Therefore, in the pre-game warm-up show, Charles Barkley followed the opposite tone to attract attention:

"I'll admit that Lee's stats are outstanding, his impact on the court doesn't come close, and he completely dominates the game on both ends of the floor!"

"You also have to realize that the Knicks didn't have a real challenge in this year's playoffs!"

"Who are their first-round opponents? Magic? Houston was plagued by a knee injury, McGrady would only play alone, and the Knicks' wing forward group solved the opponent! ”

"Against the Pacers in the semifinals, I have a lot of respect for Reggie Miller, but I have to say, he's old."

"The offensive core of this team is Jermaine O'Neal, and the Knicks' interior combination has also easily solved the opponent."

"Only in the Eastern Conference Finals, Lee had an All-Star guard, but Kidd's performance was disappointing, and his impact on the offensive end was far less than that of the regular season."

"I'm not surprised to hand over this data, this era has made Lee!"

"The presence of a player like Lee has prevented us from experiencing a serious drop in ratings, and he has also given back to this era."

"We should put aside the stats and talk about his performance, Lee is strong, but the stats exaggerate his ability!"

Kenny Smith knows that his partner has offended people again, and this opinion translates to "the current backcourt players are rubbish":

"What are we going to talk about when we put the data aside? Discuss the book that Lee and Tim Grover co-authored? ”

"Chuck shouldn't have bought it, and not long ago I swore that those training methods are not reliable at all."

Ernnie Johnson interrupted Barkley, who wanted to speak, and then gave his own assessment:

"I understand what Chuck meant, and aside from the stats, maybe we should talk more about Lee's impact from a sportsmanship perspective."

"I read that book a long time ago, and I have to say that Li Neng's achievements today are absolutely inseparable from the polishing of his body."

"It takes a long time, it takes perseverance!"

"Manhattan at 4 a.m. is definitely not just talking, Lee must have put in a huge effort to achieve what he is today."

The two partners suddenly became "brain monsters", and Charles Barkley thought of playing cards and playing girls with Lee Woo together in his rookie days, and "working hard in Chicago at 4 a.m.", and he was speechless for a while.

After all, if it is revealed that "Lee didn't work that hard at all", wouldn't it hurt the self-esteem of other players even more

Kenny Smith thinks his old partner agrees with this view, and at this point he starts to "make up for it" again, adding:

"It is said that Tim Grover's training plan for Lee has exceeded the amount of training that Michael Jordan had back then."

"Only by constantly training can you polish your body into what it is now!"

"Since entering the league, Lee's attendance has been very good, playing almost every season, and this extreme self-discipline is indeed more worthy of learning from young players!"

The two partners on the side began to blow violently, Charles Barkley was uncomfortable, and finally came to a euphemism:

"Maybe Lee's talent is better than we thought!."

"Impossible! Although Lee's talent is very good, it is absolutely inseparable from hard training, look at the muscles on his body, it is all proof of sweat! ”

Kenny Smith retorted again, and soon Ernie Johnson followed suit touting Lee You's "professional sportsmanship."

The two partners couldn't stop blowing for a while, Charles Barkley couldn't answer, thinking of the complaint he had received, and suddenly felt that he should send a message to Li You:

"My mouth is very strict, you owe me a favor!"

“.”

In the Western Conference Finals G5 that night, Spurs fans finally returned defeated.

At 103:91, in the absence of Nowitzki, the Mavericks managed to pull one back!

Despite the 4th quarter of the game, Tim Duncan was still the real thigh of the team:

Played 44 minutes, 9-of-15, 5-of-12 free throws, and recorded a double-double of 23 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block and 1 turnover.

Parker and Ginobili, who had performed well in the previous game, suddenly wilted.

The former was 3-of-11 for 7 points, while the latter was 2-of-9 for 5 points.

The Spurs were 5-of-22 from beyond the three-point line, shooting in the early 20s, and their shooting performance was really stretched.

Mavericks' Michael Finley exploded, shooting 9-of-14 for a game-high 31 points!

Winning this game, although no one is still optimistic that the Mavericks can complete the counterattack, Nash who was interviewed after the game took the initiative to say:

"This win we want to give to Dirk, the series is not over yet, we will not give up!"

On May 28, the Knicks resumed normal training, which was still a video session and a tactical training session.

The opponent in the finals is likely to be the Spurs, and in terms of squad structure, the Knicks have a great advantage on the outside!

D'Antoni and the coaching staff focused on the Spurs' defense this morning, and Duncan's ability to help defend is excellent, combined with his static talent, which is why they were able to beat the Lakers.

When the offense can't keep up with the opposition's tempo, the Spurs play their defense.

During the regular season, the Spurs averaged 95.8 points per game and ranked 12th in the league on the offensive end;

And on the defensive end, the average limit opponent is 90.4 points per game, ranking third in the league!

The best defensive team in the regular season was the Pistons, who averaged 87.7 points per game, which was a terrifying defensive ability.

In second place on the defensive end is the Nets, who limit opponents to 90.1 points per game.

The reason why the critics chanted "Earthlings can't stop Lee" is also because when facing the Nets, Li You broke the opponent's defense.

Facing Kidd, several big men were shaken into stakes, and this kind of famous scene has been seen too much, and naturally it is not good to look down on the Spurs, which are also strong defensive teams

The Knicks are also very good on the defensive end, averaging 92.3 points per game, which ranks sixth.

In the morning video lesson, several assistant coaches emphasized the Spurs' defense, and by the way, they took everyone to review the opponent's offensive routine.

Before lunch, a large number of sports reporters interviewed Li You, but to his bewilderment, everyone praised him for his "professional sportsmanship".

Although Lee Yo and Tim Grover had recently advertised their books, the effect was beyond his expectations.

"Lee, can you tell us about your training experience? In previous documentaries, the effort you put into training wasn't shown in too much detail. ”

"I think the fans are definitely going to want to know about it, because when you first entered the league, you were a little bit thin."

After the TNT reporter asked a question, everyone looked at Li You's figure.

The exposed arms can be seen with strong arm outlines, and the chest muscles are also very obvious, and the whole person looks extraordinarily strong.

Coupled with a somewhat messy hairstyle and thick stubble, everyone feels that the tough guy atmosphere is coming!

Last night's confrontation was particularly intense, and Li You didn't have time to shave, so he was entangled by Ivana early in the morning to complete the overtime, and hurriedly took a shower and came to the training center

Sensing some strange eyes from everyone, Li You blinked and always felt that something was wrong with the situation, but he would not waste such an opportunity, and boasted very naturally:

'I don't want to flaunt how hard I train, and in my opinion, that's what a professional player should do.

"The Knicks are expensive, the fans buy tickets to watch the game, and I have a responsibility to keep my body in the best shape and show my best in front of the fans!"

Everyone nodded their heads again and again, and soon made up the scene of Li You's hard training every day.

The reporters of the Los Angeles Times have always disliked Li You, and always export "data brushes" to the outside world.

Thinking of Li You's achievements so far, and seeing his sturdy figure again, he finally realized that it was his own prejudice in the past.

For a while, everyone began to applaud, everyone was inspired, and they all felt that they should write a few articles on Li You's "professional sportsmanship" when they went back!

On May 29, the Mavericks, who returned to their home court, finally failed to withstand the Spurs' multi-point flowering outburst.

88:78, in the 4th quarter, through excellent defense, the Spurs took the game away in waves!

At 32:9 in the single quarter, the Mavericks played iron and made frequent mistakes, which completely stupidized the fans in Dallas.

With a big score of 4:2, the Spurs eliminated the Mavericks and reached the finals again!

Tim Duncan was average, 8-of-20 from the field, with 18 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks and 4 turnovers.

After the game, there was a huge boo in the American Airlines Center arena, and everyone in the Spurs hugged each other and celebrated.

Tim Duncan also laughed happily at this time, hugged Popovich tightly, and said loudly:

"Coach we did it, and this year, we must win the championship!"

Several times faced a dismissal crisis, in the end, it was Duncan who reached out, and without the help of his thighs, Popovich would have been out of class long ago.

Hearing Duncan's words, Popovich was also quite excited, hugged his thighs and did not let go, and responded excitedly:

"Yes, we did, we eliminated the defending champions, Tim, and go lift your O'Brien Cup!"

The master and apprentice blew each other's business, and they both felt comfortable, and David Robinson also smiled happily, hugging everyone after winning.

Nowitzki, who was dressed in a black suit on the bench, noticed Nash's depressed mood and thought of his friend's contract problems, and couldn't help but comfort him:

"Steve, don't worry, you're going to get a big contract, and next season, we'll make it to the Finals!"

Nash nodded but didn't respond, he wanted to stay in Dallas, but he also needed respect, and in the NBA, a big contract is the best way to show respect.

At his home on 82nd Street in Manhattan, Li You watched a rare game, and almost fell asleep halfway through it.

It's no wonder that the ratings can't go up, the pace of this game is slow and there are a lot of mistakes, and the only thing to praise is the muscle confrontation.

Milinda and Kim haven't been on a business trip lately, and the three of them are chatting and frolicking on the couch.

Suddenly seeing the post-game program of TNT on TV, Milinda arched into Li You's arms, winked her eyes and said with a smile:

"Did you hit TNT with your ads? I've watched the last two episodes of the show, and these guys keep saying that you train hard every day, almost describing you as a training freak! ”

"Hah! Let me see your training results tonight, and your books are selling well again in the offseason! ”

On the other side, Jin, who spread his blond hair, hugged his knees, watched Li You and Milinda make a mess, and laughed happily:

"This book may have a chance to hit the bestseller list every year in the future, Clay, and you really should thank Charles Barkley."

Li You held the big wave girl in his arms and didn't let the other party move, and when he heard Jin's reminder, he remembered the mobile phone text message he saw yesterday, and he also laughed:

"It's scary!"

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(End of chapter)