chsdbacks Chapter 102 Let Jordan play support! Ewing steps forward, ready for military training.
Chapter 102 Let Jordan play support! Ewing steps forward, ready for military training.
Chapter 102: Let Jordan play support! Ewing steps forward, ready for military training!
After Lin Tian hit two consecutive three-pointers, Van Gundy, who is usually slow to react and doesn't like to make changes, also chose to make an early substitution!
He brought Ewing, who had only rested for a little over a minute, onto the court, hoping to add a strong point to the team and maintain their lead!
As soon as Ewing entered the game, he once again demanded the ball in the paint. Facing either Wennington or Longley made no difference to Ewing.
They're all absolutely easy and casual to play!
But this time, Ewing missed! His hook shot after shaking off Wennington was unlucky and failed to hit.
The basketball had barely bounced off the rim when Lin Tian jumped up from the ground, grabbed it, and immediately turned around to launch another attack on the frontcourt!
"Get back on defense! Get back on defense! Hurry! Faster!" Van Gundy's anxious voice rang out from the sidelines. Lin Tian's performance tonight was truly terrifying, and he had to constantly remind his players to be careful!
However, there is a type of caution called overcorrection!
This time, Lin Tian suddenly stopped outside the three-point line, then bent his knees, looked at the basket, and was about to collect the ball when Starks and Harper both jumped up at the same time!
With just a glance, Lin Tian sent two people flying; his intimidating power today was evident!
Seeing the two jump at the same time, Lin Tian exerted force with his feet again, and before Ewing could return, he had already forced his way into the paint and scored a layup with lightning speed!
In the next three minutes, Lin Tian and Ewing went back and forth. Ewing had no problem against Wennington and almost never missed a shot. After Lin Tian's three-point shot became unstoppable, every fake move he made made the Knicks' perimeter defense look like they were facing a major threat!
In this situation, Lin Tian's breakthroughs became incredibly easy, and he repeatedly hit mid-range pull-up jumpers!
It can only be said that Curry's mid-range offense is overshadowed by his three-point shooting. If we only consider mid-range shooting, Curry is definitely a "master" level player. However, because of his historically best three-point shooting ability, many of his other abilities have been overlooked by fans.
The entire second quarter became a showcase for Lin Tian! He was almost unstoppable, hitting three-pointers, mid-range shots, and powerful layups, breaking his playoff scoring record time and time again!
By the end of the second quarter, Lin Tian had already scored 38 points!
38 points in the first half!
It broke the NBA record for points in a half!
Lin Tian's first half was truly amazing and unbelievable!
整个上半场，林天登场24分钟，19投13中，其中3分球13投8中，罚球5罚4中，在爆砍38分的同时，还有着4篮板2助攻和2抢断的数据入帐！
However, despite Lin Tian's explosive performance tonight, the Bulls did not gain a significant lead.
They only led the Knicks by 6 points, 48-42!
The reason why they only led by 6 points was not only because the rest of the Bulls team, excluding Lin Tian, only made 3 of 21 shots and scored 10 points, but also because Ewing's performance was in no way inferior to Lin Tian's!
This New York king also had a perfect first half with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks. With him holding up the Knicks' interior, the Knicks couldn't possibly collapse so easily!
Many believe that, at this stage of the game, the Knicks have a higher chance of winning!
The reason is simple: in this era, scoring inside is clearly more important, easier, and more reliable than scoring outside! Ewing can keep dominating Wennington or Longley, but can Lin Tian keep hitting mid-range and long-range shots?
Most people don't believe it at all!
Not to mention that although Van Gundy is not good at adapting to changing situations or in-game adjustments, his ability to coach defense and devise defensive tactics has earned him praise and commendation from Riley! He is definitely at the top level in the league!
Many people believe that Van Gundy will definitely devise some tactics to target Lin Tian in the second half!
In the Bulls' locker room, Jackson, as usual, gave everyone a pep talk, encouraging them to keep up the good work and maintain their hard-earned lead! To be honest, the shock and surprise that the first half of the game brought to Jackson was truly immense!
He never expected Lin Tian to put on such a crazy performance in the first half!
Jackson seemed to be constantly encouraging everyone, telling them to relax and play well in the second half.
But in reality, Jackson was extremely worried!
The reason is also very simple.
Jordan still looked half-dead. The team's core player only made 2 of 8 shots in the first half, scoring only 4 points. This was definitely one of the worst half of his career!
As for Lin Tian, although he had an explosive performance in the first half, he was now so out of breath that he didn't even have a chance to say a few words. He could only keep panting and greedily inhaling the air, trying to calm himself down as soon as possible.
Clearly, Lin Tian's physical strength has reached an extremely difficult bottleneck!
"So this is what it feels like to have unlimited shooting rights, a crazy offensive, and carry the team single-handedly?" Lin Tian thought to himself, panting. "It's pretty awesome!"
Lin Tian's true thoughts at this moment can be summed up in one sentence.
This is what a man should do!
He really enjoys playing like this!
"Lin, you'll continue playing in the second half, but don't rush to attack. Take a break first, just relax and relax on the court. You can definitely do that, right? Remember, recovering your energy is your biggest and most important task in the first three minutes of the third quarter! Michael, at the start of the second half, we'll still focus on you as the main attacker!"
Jackson looked at his teammates and then glanced at his watch.
He finally began to deploy tactics in the last 3 minutes before the start of the second half!
Jordan nodded and said, "Give me the ball, and I'll take you guys home!"
"Go home? This is our home turf! You can only take us fishing! At least tonight." Sitting in the corner, Lin Tian finally caught his breath. He looked at Jordan and said, "You continue to be my feint, draw their attention, and then you just spread out!"
"Tonight's star is me, not you! Michael, remember, create some space! You can definitely do it!"
Lin Tian's words didn't cause any controversy this time, because he had done similar things too many times before, not to mention that he was the biggest contributor to the team's lead in the first half! He single-handedly scored more than 8% of the team's points, so it seemed okay for someone like him to be a little arrogant!
"Lin, what's your stamina like?" Jackson frowned. He knew better than anyone how much Lin Tian had expended. If Lin Tian's stamina was not a problem, he wouldn't have been so out of breath that he almost coughed up his lungs.
Jackson was genuinely worried that Lin Tian's stamina wouldn't hold up, as he had expended a tremendous amount of energy in the first half!
Jackson was worried that if Lin Tian continued to play one-on-one and attack without restraint in the third quarter, he might not be able to last until the end of the game and would be completely exhausted!
His energy expenditure was truly enormous!
While Lin Tian's physical strength wasn't a weakness, it was never his forte either!
Facing the Knicks' tough defense, Lin Tian managed some easy jump shots, but they were only relatively easy.
After all, Lin Tian still has a significant task on the defensive end, and some physical exertion is simply unavoidable!
Seeing Jackson's worried look, Lin Tian shrugged and said casually:
"I can handle it, Coach. Don't worry, just go ahead and devise the tactics."
Seeing Lin Tian's relaxed demeanor and Jordan's half-dead state beside him, barely able to stand, Jackson could only sigh; he had no other choice.
"The only reason we only led by 6 points despite playing so aggressively in the first half is that Ewing was playing too comfortably! In the second half, we need to attack Ewing on both offense and defense!"
"Lin, firstly, you need to stop running pick-and-rolls with Michael on offense. Instead, run pick-and-rolls with Beal, Luke, or any other player Ewing is guarding, and attack Ewing! Use your speed and agility to wear him down and make him pay the price on defense!"
"Then, when Ewing gets the ball in the low post again, double-team him! The person closest to him, don't hesitate, double-team him! Make him pass the ball to the perimeter, and then, Lin, Michael... Michael, you two, watch out for cutting off his passing lanes!"
Jackson, halfway through his speech, still assigned Jordan a task, even though he knew that given Jordan's physical condition tonight, it was impossible for him to perform well. After all, according to the team doctor, 99% of the players in the league would probably be lying in bed right now, groaning and waiting for their condition to improve. But Jordan was able to pull himself together and play in the game!
His terrifying willpower and desire to win are truly frightening!
With halftime about to end, Jackson had finished outlining all the tactical details. At Jackson's command, the entire Bulls team stood up and headed towards the arena.
Lin Tian, however, fell behind at this moment. He suddenly reached into his bag, took out a thermos cup, and, taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, tilted his head back and gulped down two large mouthfuls.
This is another treasure that Lin Tian has been hiding in his system.
'Goji Berry Thermos Mug'!
Each sip restores 10% of one's strength, and one can only drink three sips a day, so Lin Tian only has a total of five sips.
But now that the match had progressed this far, Lin Tian had no reason to hold back and downed the dunk in two gulps, instantly restoring 20% of his stamina!
The tearing pain in his lungs and the overwhelming fatigue throughout his body disappeared almost instantly. While he wouldn't say he was fully recovered, Lin Tian was at least half-recovered!
His task in the second half is even more important than in the first half!
With the referee's whistle, both sides took to the field for the second half.
The Bulls still had possession of the ball in the first offensive possession!
Lin Tian dribbled the ball all the way to the frontcourt. This time, he could clearly feel that Hubble's full-court press was more intense and tighter, almost like a full-court press!
Even if Lin Tian immediately accelerates to get past him, Hubble will chase him relentlessly, preventing Lin Tian from having the same shooting space as in the first half!
When Lin Tian arrived at the frontcourt, not only did Hubble immediately begin close marking of him, but Ward next to him also immediately moved a step towards him, as if he would immediately double-team Lin Tian if he dared to attack!
Needless to say, this is the tactic Van Gundy devised!
Use stronger defensive intensity and a higher level of defense to wear down Lin Tian!
To exhaust him as much as possible, and at the same time to prevent Lin Tian from having any easy three-point shooting opportunities, given the Bulls' current form, as long as Lin Tian is contained, the Knicks have a very good chance!
No matter what, Lin Tian's 38 points in the first half was truly terrifying!
Jackson and Van Gundy were essentially even in terms of midfield arrangements.
Both sides have the same goal: to wear each other down!
We need to wear down the opponent's best player tonight, the most important one!
Hubble's relentless pressure and Ward's constant threat of double-teaming Lin Tian did not intimidate him. He retreated slightly and then quickly called for cover!
This time, it wasn't Jordan coming over, but Longley, the center, who strode towards the perimeter.
Using Longley's large frame, Lin Tian changed direction and blocked Hubble's defense behind him. After observing the positions of both teams' players, Lin Tian noticed that Ewing did not follow Longley out, but instead crouched under the basket!
This means that Lin Tian has gained a huge open opportunity!
How could Lin Tian possibly miss such an opportunity?
Even though Hubble was furious and reached out, there was still Wennington between him and Lin Tian. As long as Wennington stood there and didn't move, he could protect Lin Tian to the greatest extent possible with his strong physique and fierce appearance!
"Whoosh!"
Seeing that Hubble was blocked and Ewing had no intention of coming out, Lin Tian did not hesitate at all and decisively took another three-point shot along the three-point line and made it!
Lin Tian looked at Ewing and laughed, "Coward, you don't even dare to come out and fight me? If you've got the guts, come out beyond the three-point line and see if I can shake you off!"
"Kid, don't get cocky!" Ewing was furious at Lin Tian's trash talk. This time, he sprinted to the frontcourt, backed down Wennington, and aggressively demanded the ball, saying, "Aren't you the same? You're too scared to compete, too scared to face a monster like me under the basket, right?"
"Monster? Where's the monster? I can't see it!" Lin Tian exaggeratedly stretched out a hand as if using binoculars, turning his head around and saying, "Is Hakeem Olajuwon here? Or Shaquille O'Neal? Or maybe David Robinson or Alonzo Mourning?"
"They're all gone, aren't they? Then where's the monster? Where's the monster under the basket? Hmm?"
Lin Tian's arrogance and disdain for others fueled Ewing's anger once again. The guy suddenly turned around and once again blew past Wennington. Just as he was about to gather the ball and jump, Jordan, who had been ignored by Ewing, suddenly appeared and slapped him!
"Snapped!"
The ball was intercepted with incredible crispness, and Jordan snatched it into his arms. He then quickly passed the ball to Lin Tian, who dribbled it up the court!
Even though Hubble and Ward rushed towards Lin Tian at lightning speed to stop his rapid advance, Lin Tian didn't even look at the two of them, and ran wildly towards the front of the field with his head down!
Then, outside the three-point line, Lin Tian suddenly stopped again, raised his head, bent his knees, and pulled up to shoot!
Hubble, who was already going crazy from Lin Tian's shooting, reacted somewhat excessively. Lin Tian's feint was only halfway done when Hubble reacted as if by jumping vertically!
Lin Tian immediately turned around, brushed past Hubble, and charged into the paint!
"boom!"
After a loud bang, Lin Tian slammed the ball into the net, scoring another 2 points for the team!
The point difference between the two teams exceeded 10 points for the first time in this game!
Fortunately, the Knicks still had Ewing. He received the ball again and made a mid-range jumper, narrowing the gap back to single digits.
For the next three or four minutes, the two sides engaged in another back-and-forth battle. The Bulls double-teamed Ewing relentlessly, making it difficult for him to score one-on-one. Fortunately, the Knicks' perimeter players and role players found their rhythm at this time.
They received Ewing's pass and were finally able to make some open shots, which relieved a lot of pressure on Ewing in the paint.
On the defensive end, the Knicks also stopped hiding their true intentions and started double-teaming Lin Tian!
They're blatantly double-teaming us from the high post!
In the Bulls' games, even with Jordan on the court, it was a rookie who was being double-teamed!
This is absolutely the first time such a situation has occurred throughout Jordan's entire career!
But Jordan, without a word of complaint, obediently stood diagonally opposite Lin Tian, creating space for him.
Jordan's choice meant that the Knicks' defense couldn't focus too much on Lin Tian. After all, this was Michael Jordan! Even if he just had the flu and couldn't play, or even if he had a broken leg and could only lie on the court, the Knicks would still have to have someone watching him to prevent him from scoring suddenly.
Besides creating space for Lin Tian to smoke in the corner, Jordan would immediately come to Lin Tian's side and run several pick-and-roll plays with Lin Tian whenever Lin Tian gestured to him.
This is absolutely one of the rarest, if not the only, games in Jordan's entire career where he set screens and acted as a supporting player for others!
Lin Tian did not disappoint Jordan's efforts. Although the Knicks double-teamed him to an extreme degree, with someone rushing over to help defend him almost as soon as he crossed half-court, Lin Tian's passes always managed to penetrate the Knicks' defense!
In the second half, it wasn't just the Knicks' role players who regained their form; Kukoc also found his rhythm!
He received Lin Tian's passes three times in a row in the second half. Although he did not choose to forcefully drive into the paint, he made two mid-range shots and a three-pointer, which caused huge problems for the Knicks' defense.
They started to loosen their double-teaming of Lin Tian!
Throughout the first half of the third quarter, due to the Knicks' relentless double-teaming, Lin Tian was unable to find any suitable offensive opportunities beyond his initial five consecutive points, and was unable to increase his score further. However, Lin Tian's passing ability still kept the Knicks busy.
In addition to Kukoc's 7 points, Longley and Rodman each seized an opportunity to steal a basket under the rim and complete a dunk!
Meanwhile, on the Knicks' side, Harper, Ward, and Willie Anderson, who started today, all found their rhythm and seized their opportunities! They hit consecutive long-range shots and made layups, constantly contributing to the team's offense and making the Bulls' double-teaming of Ewing less effective!
Six minutes into the third quarter, both teams called their first timeout of the quarter.
At this point, the score was 64:55!
The two sides were locked in a tug-of-war for several minutes, with the score difference hovering around 10 points.
When the timeout ended, in addition to the return of shooters and offensive players such as Cole and Starks, both sides changed their defensive tactics!
Because of the breakout performances of role players and the introduction of more offensively skilled players, both coaches dared not continue to double-team. They unanimously returned to the regular one-on-one defensive approach!
It's still Longley vs. Ewing, and Hubble vs. Lin Tian!
In the decisive Game 7, both Jackson and Van Gundy became more conservative and cautious than before, and dared not use overly aggressive and crazy tactics for too long. They would rather lose with the most conventional tactics than be overly aggressive and allow the opponent to launch an offensive surge!
On the first offensive possession after the timeout, Ewing once again faked out Longley in the mid-range, then smoothly leaned in, brushed against him, and flicked the ball into the basket!
At the same time, the referee blew the whistle for a foul!
2+1!
As soon as Ewing returned from the timeout, he hit an incredibly tough and crucial and-one play against one-on-one defense!
He's proving with his actions: One person? You can't possibly restrain me!
Watching Ewing steadily sink his free throws, Lin Tian spat out the mouthguard he had asked the staff to find for him during halftime, and kept rotating it in his mouth as he silently made a decision.
Next, we need to continue focusing on Ewing!
To win this game, we must first defeat Ewing!
Otherwise, who knows how badly this interior behemoth would wreak havoc on the Bulls' interior defense!
So when Lin Tian dribbled the ball to the frontcourt again, facing Hubble's one-on-one defense, he called for a screen once more!
This time, it wasn't Jordan, who posed the biggest offensive threat but hadn't taken many shots, who came!
This time, it was Langley who broke through from the inside!
After tightly blocking Hubble, Lin Tian gained a considerable amount of space outside the three-point line!
Seeing that Ewing wasn't coming out to pounce, Lin Tian wasn't going to hold back and immediately launched another three-pointer!
"Whoosh!"
With a crisp sound, Lin Tian made his 10th three-pointer of the night!
A new NBA playoff single-game three-point record has been set!
Of course, if you can only break records but not win, then all the statistics are just a joke! In the NBA, nothing matters except winning!
After scoring, Lin Tian gave Ewing a thumbs-up, then quickly pointed his thumbs down several times. Before the referee could notice Lin Tian's provocation, Lin Tian quickly pulled off the move that New Yorkers hate the most.
Throat-slitting ritual!
Last year in the Eastern Conference semifinals, after hitting the game-winning three-pointer, the Pacers' Miller made this gesture towards Ewing and the entire Madison Square Garden crowd!
Lin Tian's move undoubtedly touched the fragile nerves and sensitive pride of all the Knicks players!
"FUXX! You're asking for it, you little brat!" Ewing cursed, completely ignoring the fact that Lin Tian had taken down three Knicks players in a one-on-three battle a few days ago, and strode towards Lin Tian!
"Calm down! Calm down, Patrick! If you get sent off, we're finished!" Van Gundy reacted quickly on the sidelines, yelling at Ewing to calm him down. Even faster than Ewing were the referees on the sidelines, who rushed onto the field and stood between Lin Tian and Ewing.
"Technical foul! Technical foul, kid!" The referee roared angrily at Lin Tian, "You've already ruined this series, are you going to ruin it again? If we catch you making any more provocative moves, I don't care where we are in Chicago or anywhere else, I'm going to kick you off the court!"
Lin Tian shrugged and didn't say another word. His gaze toward Ewing was still full of provocation and disdain.
Seeing Ewing's almost fiery gaze, Lin Tian knew that he had achieved his goal!
Ewing was utterly enraged!
His ability to control his emotions has never been very good.
Although he paid the price of a technical foul, Lin Tian knew it was absolutely worth it!
"Patrick, calm down! He's deliberately trying to provoke you! Just do what you're good at! Do what you're supposed to do!" Van Gundy grabbed Ewing's arm, repeatedly urging him, "Your job is to guard the paint! Trust your teammates for the rest!"
No one knows whether Van Gundy's advice will work, but everyone knows that the upcoming match between the two sides will be exceptionally fierce and bloody!
With Starks making his technical free throw, Ewing quickly found another opportunity near the basket and made a hook shot. Tonight, Ewing absolutely deserves the title of one of the top four centers! He dominated the Bulls' entire interior!
Despite Rodman's poor physical condition and inability to help on defense, and Pippen's absence from the Bulls' strongest defensive role, Ewing carried the Knicks' offense in Game 7!
With the Knicks scoring a 1+2 play, Lin Tian's lead from his three-pointer vanished once again, and the Knicks' pursuit never stopped!
Then, when Lin Tian returned to the frontcourt, he called for a pick-and-roll once again! It was still Longley, still aiming to take on Ewing!
"Kid, are you looking for death?!" This time, Ewing finally came out from inside! He wanted to show Lin Tian the consequences of provoking him!
Faced with Ewing's charge, Lin Tian was no longer in a hurry!
He spread his arms to signal everyone to give him space, then showed off his fancy dribbling moves from the high post, constantly changing direction, dribbling behind his back, and between his legs.
In addition, with the constant changes in rhythm, Ewing's footwork and center of gravity were constantly manipulated and deceived by Lin Tian!
Even though Ewing is undoubtedly one of the league's top defenders and rim protectors, defending a guard with top-notch speed and rhythm on the perimeter is still beyond his capabilities!
Even many fans could see that if Lin Tian wanted to get past him, it would only take one second!
But then, after dribbling at the top of the arc for more than 10 seconds, and after Ewing's patience was almost completely exhausted, Lin Tian suddenly accelerated to the mid-range. He glanced back out of the corner of his eye to make sure that Ewing had pushed his speed to the limit for the pursuit and that he would not suddenly stop. Then, Lin Tian stopped!
"Bang!"
Ewing, who was behind, couldn't brake in time and knocked Lin Tian to the ground.
Before falling to the ground, Lin Tian threw the basketball high into the air!
"Whoosh!"
A crisp sound rang out shortly afterward.
The entire United Center stadium erupted in a thunderous cheer and shout!
"Lin! You're awesome!"
"Damn these self-important New Yorkers!"
"What Ewing! He's still just following Lin around, eating his ass."
"2+1! Another 2+1! One more!"
Lin Tian, who was pinned down by Ewing, didn't lie on the floor for long. There was no need for any pretense of playing dead. He shoved Ewing off him, got up, and arrogantly bit his braces, looking at Ewing and saying:
"Good defense! You were almost overtaken. Keep it up!"
After saying that, Lin Tian did not make any further provocative moves.
Instead, he walked straight to the free-throw line, ready to take the free throw!
"Whoosh!"
After easily making the free throw that came his way, Lin Tian nodded toward Ewing. Although he didn't say a word, everyone understood what he meant.
"I scored 3 points again, your turn!"
"FUXX!" Ewing's gaze turned fierce and resolute for the umpteenth time during the game!
He refused to believe it. It's true that I can't beat Jordan, but I can't be beaten by a rookie like you.
"Tony, Michael, get ready to help! He definitely won't pass this ball!" Lin Tian whispered to Jordan and Kukoc as he returned to defense.
"Damn it!" Jordan's voice was getting weaker and weaker. Even though he had only taken six shots all night and had only been guarding Ward and others who were the Knicks' worst offensive players, the strong flu symptoms still made him feel almost completely exhausted.
Even so, Jordan still obediently chose to carry out Lin Tian's instructions!
When Ewing once again called for the ball in the low post and tried to score one-on-one, Jordan and the now confident Kukoc charged towards Ewing from the left and right!
Ewing, who was determined to take on a one-on-one game and refuse to pass the ball, never expected the Bulls' defense to change so quickly. Caught off guard, the basketball in his hand was swatted away by Kukoc!
Then, with quick reflexes, Jordan grabbed the basketball and passed it to Lin Tian once again!
Lin Tian didn't hesitate after getting the ball. His speed, which had driven the entire New York and Knicks team to despair, was unleashed once again. He dribbled the ball and sprinted towards the frontcourt!
None of the five Knicks players dared to relax for a second. They closely followed Lin Tian, retreating quickly to try and stop his fast break.
But when they risked their lives to catch up with Lin Tian, Lin Tian suddenly stopped again!
He didn't shoot a three-pointer directly, nor did he take advantage of the Knicks' disorganized lineup to drive into the paint and score.
Instead, he stopped outside the three-point line and started directing his teammates to position themselves!
He himself gave up a golden opportunity to score easily in a transition between offense and defense!
Then, Lin Tian looked at the Knicks team, who had already taken their positions, and called for Longley to come up and screen for them again!
The meaning of this is self-evident.
Patrick Ewing—Step forward!
Get ready for military training!
This caused even the fans at the United Center's home stadium to gasp in surprise!
This newbie is so arrogant!
Is it really that tough? Are you going to pick on the opponent's strongest and most ruthless points and relentlessly attack them?
Ewing had never been treated like this before. He was panting heavily as he charged out from the inside, once again blocking Lin Tian's path!
This time, Lin Tian didn't continue showing off his fancy skills and dribbling in one place. Since he wanted to play against Ewing and his goal was to break his mentality, he had to use something different!
This time, Lin Tian stuck close to Ewing's body, and even hooked his arm around Ewing's to protect the ball. The two of them were pressed tightly together as they charged into the paint!
"Kid! Don't even think about surpassing me! You're finished!" Ewing, who thought he had finally caught up with Lin Tian, was extremely smug!
What "Lightning Boy"? What amazing speed? I still caught up with him!
But his smugness, of course, couldn't last long.
Just as the two approached the three-second zone, Lin Tian suddenly jumped up!
If it's just jumping up, that's nothing.
But Lin Tian's actions were not as simple as just jumping up!
As Lin Tian jumped, Ewing was incredibly surprised to find that he couldn't pull his arm back! His arm was trapped by Lin Tian!
But who was pulling whom, probably only Lin Tian and Ewing knew at this moment!
How could anyone understand this kind of "extortion" technique that is truly ahead of its time?
As a result, the referees, fans, and even Ewing himself almost simultaneously came to the same conclusion.
Ewing committed a foul!
With a scream from Lin Tian and an exaggerated gesture as he casually tossed the ball away, the referee's whistle blew precisely on time!
"Hand foul! Two free throws!"
Ewing stood there, looking helplessly at the referee.
He also felt that he had fouled on this play, otherwise how could Lin Tian's arm be so entangled with his own and completely inseparable?
But he didn't intend to break the rules, he didn't even make a move! He himself didn't understand why Lin Tian's arm was entangled with his own, and so tightly!
Ewing's little head and his very limited and very lazy brain cells began to spin and think rapidly at this moment.
Hmm, I can't figure it out, I just can't figure it out!
Even when Lin Tian made both free throws, Ewing still couldn't figure out how he had committed the foul, nor did he understand how his hand had ended up wrapped around Lin Tian's arm.
Even if he couldn't understand it, having been fouled twice by Lin Tian, he had already committed his fourth foul!
With a quarter and a half left in the game, his number of fouls is extremely dangerous!
It might just get destroyed!
Van Gundy, standing on the sidelines, was pacing back and forth, clearly distressed.
He hesitated, wondering whether he should substitute Ewing.
Logically, he should have substituted Ewing, but Van Gundy was also aware of the situation in tonight's game. If he took Ewing out, then Ewing wouldn't need to play tonight either. Without Ewing, the Bulls and Lin Tian could easily blow up the game!
No exchange!
After hesitating for less than 20 seconds, with Ewing scoring another basket inside and keeping the score close, Van Gundy gritted his teeth and decided to go all out!
He had no choice but to take a gamble!
Given the situation tonight, Ewing absolutely cannot be substituted!
"Patrick! Watch out, don't get fouled again! Watch your foul count!" Van Gundy really had no other options but to yell at Ewing to be careful.
"Derrick! Set a screen! Don't let this kid get away with Patrick so easily! Charles, and you too, if this kid keeps targeting Patrick, you step in! Switch! Pay attention to communication on defense!"
"If you're scared, just take him out," Lin Tian said, overhearing Van Gundy's command as he happened to pass by. "If you don't take him out now, I guarantee this softie will pick up his sixth foul before the third quarter ends!"
"Kid, who do you think you are!" Ewing's eyes widened for the nth time tonight.
"I look down on you!"
Lin Tian looked at Ewing provocatively, and then, once again, called for Langley's cover!
This time, Hubble, who had been blocked twice in a row, desperately pushed forward, squeezing past Longley's screen in one step, thus preventing the screen from working.
At this point, he had to protect Ewing! He couldn't let Lin Tian attack their only strong point on the court anymore. Who would have thought that Ewing would one day become a burden on the Knicks' defense?
However, Hubble didn't even have time to be happy about successfully squeezing through the cover and protecting Ewing.
Because Lin Tian didn't rush to attack at all, but instead stabilized himself and had Lang Li cover for him again!
This time it was Oakley who charged forward!
Anyway, Rodman doesn't have much offensive ability, so Oakley took the initiative to rush over and switch onto Lin Tian!
The Knicks were determined not to let Ewing be exposed to Lin Tian again!
But is it useful?
Obviously not!
Lin Tian's patience exceeded everyone's expectations on the Knicks!
He stepped back slightly again, pulling Oakley out of the three-point line, and called for Longley's screen once more!
This time, Ewing finally had nowhere to run!
Facing Lin Tian, who had already hit 10 three-pointers, how could the Knicks dare to let him fire away from the outside as they did in the first half?
After three consecutive pick-and-roll plays, only three seconds remained on the shot clock. Ewing was confident that in those three seconds, Lin Tian would have no chance of drawing a foul on him. He was determined to avenge his previous defeat and teach Lin Tian a lesson!
After bypassing the screen, I watched as Longley shielded Oakley in front of him, and Ewing sprinted out from the inside.
After glancing at the time, Lin Tian immediately took a step to gather the ball, preparing to pull up and shoot!
"You're done for, kid!" Ewing jumped up excitedly upon seeing this! He couldn't wait to give Lin Tian a bloody hat, to let him know that New Yorkers are definitely not to be messed with!
But after Ewing jumped, he finally realized something was wrong!
Lin Tian is incredibly patient!
With only 2 seconds left on the shot clock, he didn't shoot directly, but instead used a fake to shake off his opponent!
What kind of operation is this?
Instead of taking a quick shot from a tight open space, he made a fake move?
Do you even know what basketball common sense is? Do you even know how to play basketball? Didn't your coach teach you that if you make a fake move in this situation and the opponent doesn't jump, the ball will be completely out of play, and you won't have time to make any further plays. The entire possession will be completely shut down, resulting in a 24-second violation?
Did Phil Jackson not teach these most basic basketball skills to his players?
FUXX!
A series of profanities and his understanding of basketball flashed through Ewing's mind. He couldn't imagine how this kid was so sure that he would jump and fall for the trick.
Ewing must be confused, because after Lin Tian successfully tricked him into jumping, he himself jumped onto Ewing.
It was still a slight graze, a slight tilt, a flick of the wrist!
"Bang!"
The only pity is that Lin Tian's three-pointer missed!
He didn't get a 3+1 play; he only got 3 free throws.
But the referee's whistle did not disappoint Lin Tian!
Ewing was called for three fouls in three consecutive possessions!
In the blink of an eye, he had five fouls!
If he moves even slightly or makes any big move, Ewing will be kicked off the court immediately!
He's reached the point where he has to leave!
For almost all players, the significance of five fouls is not simply that they are "just one foul away from being ejected."
For almost everyone, five fouls means that in the following game, whether on offense or defense, they will become cautious and careful, worried about being called for a foul, which will lead to a significant reduction in their contribution and energy on both ends of the court.
He's afraid to make moves on defense, hesitant to exert himself on offense, and afraid to box out for rebounds...
Not to mention that some referees have a peculiar fondness for ejecting players with five fouls! It's like a collector's obsession in video games; they focus on players with five fouls, as if ejecting them as quickly as possible gives the referees a unique sense of accomplishment!
Not to mention Ewing, who is undoubtedly very strong, but his mental fortitude is extremely lacking!
A notorious clutch player and a big-game rookie!
This is why, in the ranking of the four great centers, the top three always play very closely and switch positions from time to time, while he is always at the bottom and has never even moved up to third!
His biggest weakness is that he falters in crucial moments and can't withstand pressure or play from behind!
Four consecutive losses to the Bulls, a Finals loss to the Rockets the year before last, and a loss to the Pacers last year—while not every single one of the Knicks' failures can be blamed on Ewing, his inability to step up in crucial moments is undoubtedly one of the biggest reasons why the team has never been able to reach the top.
Therefore, when Ewing got his fifth foul, the entire United Center erupted in cheers!
They knew exactly what kind of person Ewing was, and they knew exactly what their old rival's weaknesses were. They didn't even need the DJ to set the pace; the fans spontaneously started chanting slogans.
"Six fouls! Six fouls! Six fouls!"
"Six fouls! Six fouls! Six fouls!"
"Six fouls! Six fouls! Six fouls!"
The overwhelming boos made Ewing's mood even worse!
The worst thing for the Knicks is that even though they know Ewing's mentality has started to change tonight, and even though they know that if Ewing continues to stay on the court, he will definitely become a target for the Bulls, they still dare not take Ewing out.
There was no other way; this was their only support!
"Patrick, I bet you need a diaper right now." Lin Tian walked to the free-throw line, looking at the somewhat distracted Ewing. Lin Tian knew the Bulls had already won tonight's game: "Because you've definitely wet your pants!"
"Shut up!"
Ewing's response has become clearly outwardly strong but inwardly weak, lacking in real strength.
He didn't even look up at Lin Tian; even a blind man could see his dejected appearance.
Ewing is finished!
"How much longer do you think you can stay on the court? Should I book you a private room at a nightclub tonight? After all, you guys need to relax and forget about the defeat." Lin Tian made the first free throw.
"Or do you want to be alone for a while? I have a few phone numbers for door-to-door services that I can give you. I guarantee they'll help you forget the shadow of failure and get into a relaxing holiday state as soon as possible." Lin Tian made his second free throw.
"Maybe to be more realistic, how about I just close my eyes and take this free throw? Consider it a free point for you guys, so you don't have to work so hard to catch up." Lin Tian dribbled the basketball while looking at Ewing, constantly spewing trash talk, which made Ewing's mentality worse and more uncomfortable.
"Can you shut up and say less?"
A voice representing justice suddenly rang out.
To Lin Tian's surprise, it wasn't a Knicks player, Van Gundy, or even any player on the court who said those words to him.
That's what the baseline referee said.
The referee couldn't help but roll his eyes and looked at Lin Tian, saying, "Of course, I'm just making a suggestion. You don't have to take it, and I won't call a technical foul on you for it, but I have to say, your trash talk is really annoying."
"Then that proves they're effective, doesn't it?" Lin Tian smiled, his expression becoming increasingly relaxed. "Patrick, look at me, and don't blink. I'm going to close my eyes, I'm closing them, I'm surrendering!"
"Whoosh!"
Lin Tian, with his eyes closed, easily made the free throw, a shot that was no different from drinking water for him. The Bulls' lead widened even further!
When it was the Knicks' turn to attack, Ewing's actions when calling for the ball in the low post became extremely cautious, as if he was afraid of being called for a foul by the referee. He was no longer as determined in his post-up maneuver as before, and he didn't even dare to go deeper into the post to engage in fierce physical contact with Longley.
He was really afraid of being called for his sixth foul!
Then, after Ewing finally got the ball, he was about to make a move to drive towards the inside when he saw Rodman standing under the basket with a wicked grin on his face, standing up straight. Needless to say, this guy was preparing to draw an offensive foul!
After a slight hesitation, Ewing chose a safer, but definitely less efficient, offensive approach.
Mid-range shot!
"Bang!"
This shot was taken after he had temporarily changed his offensive strategy after spotting Rodman, so he had no rhythm when he took the shot and it ended up missing!
Lin Tian charged into the paint once again and snatched the rebound, but this time, he didn't choose to make a quick attack!
"No rush! Everyone take your positions and take them down one by one! We'll target their weakest link!" Lin Tian's words made Ewing's eyebrows twitch slightly.
After all, everyone could guess who the weakest link was without Lin Tian saying it. What was even more painful was that Ewing knew Lin Tian was talking about him, but he couldn't do anything about it.
Because what Lin Tian said was indeed true; he had indeed been fouled by Lin Tian in three consecutive rounds!
This time, after Lin Tian landed slowly on the field, he didn't call for a screen. Instead, he used a crossover to shake off Hubble and drove straight into the paint!
Facing Ewing's hesitant help defense, Lin Tian jumped up with ease, dribbled the ball in the air with both hands to avoid Ewing's block, and then completed a layup with his weaker hand!
"You're speechless now, aren't you? The paint is your best spot, isn't it?" Lin Tian looked at Ewing after scoring, continuing his attempt to dismantle him. "Or perhaps, your best and most fitting place is actually the bench or the WNBA court?"
"Is the NBA too physically demanding for you?"
Ewing stopped resisting Lin Tian's trash talk. He didn't say a word, but instead ran to the front of the field with his head down.
This time, he didn't even try to hold position in the low post, but instead moved up to the top of the key to set a screen for Hubble!
However, given the Knicks' current situation, if Ewing doesn't take the shot, no one else really can break through the Bulls' defensive formation!
After several consecutive passes on the perimeter, they still couldn't find any good offensive opportunities. Instead, their offensive time dwindled, making the players increasingly anxious.
Finally, Ewing got the ball near the free-throw line, and once again he gave up driving to the basket and instead chose to gamble on his touch, pulling up for a jump shot!
"Bang!"
Unsurprisingly, another crisp clang of a missed shot echoed across the court!
Ewing's shooting touch was severely hampered by his fouls!
Lin Tian grabbed the rebound once again, and then everything seemed to mirror the action. Lin Tian dribbled slowly and unhurriedly, then quickly got past Harper, drove into the paint, and faced Ewing, making another high-arcing layup!
Ewing was too afraid to make any defensive moves; he was terrified of being sent off!
Lin Tian's breakthroughs have become increasingly unrestrained!
With Ewing missing two consecutive shots, Lin Tian wasn't going to give the Knicks a chance to catch their breath! He repeatedly attacked the paint guarded by Ewing, first drawing a foul from Oakley and making both free throws, and then, after completely disrupting the Knicks' defense, he assisted his teammates for easy scores.
The Bulls' offensive rhythm has returned!
The Knicks started to struggle to keep up with the Bulls' pace! The score began to widen rapidly, with the Bulls' lead growing larger and larger!
With 1 minute and 20 seconds left in the third quarter, the Bulls were leading the Knicks by 22 points!
Although Ewing has not yet picked up his sixth foul, almost every basket in this Bulls' offensive run came from attacking the paint he was guarding!
The Knicks' guardian and Optimus Prime has become their biggest burden!
Even so, the Knicks and Van Gundy had no choice! They had no other option but to keep Ewing on the court!
After all, there's still some hope as long as Ewing is on the court, but once he leaves, the Knicks are truly finished!
With 1 minute and 22 seconds left in the third quarter, Lin Tian, who had played the full 35 minutes, finally got a rest. With a lead of more than 20 points, Jackson waved his hand and substituted Lin Tian off the court to let him rest.
As Lin Tian stepped off the court, the entire United Center erupted in a deafening roar of cheers!
Tonight, Lin Tian is their superhero!
Lin Tian almost single-handedly enabled the Bulls to lead by a full 22 points before the end of the third quarter!
这个夜晚的林天，3节比赛打完，就28投19中，其中3分球16投10中，罚球13罚12中，轰下了60分5篮板7助攻的恐怖数据！
This is a Game 7! This is against one of the best defensive teams of the 90s! To score 60 points in three quarters in a game like this is simply unbelievable!
How unbelievable was it? Among the various odds and betting options offered by Las Vegas before the game, one was a prediction of the data for each of the key members of both teams.
For example, could Ewing score more than 35 points, or could Jordan take more than 26 shots?
而在这些数据之中，有关于林天的部分，分别是能拿到0-9分：1赔5，拿下10-19分：1赔3，拿下20-29分：1赔6，拿下30-39分：1赔13，其他：1赔29。
What do these odds mean? The so-called highest odds matching this option basically mean that the actuaries believe Lin Tian has no chance of scoring more than 40 points in this game!
In their eyes, if you buy $50 worth of other things, it basically means you've already lost that $50.
There's no chance of winning!
The best example is the World Cup semi-final 14 years later, where Germany defeated Brazil 7-1.
This 7-1 score was also categorized under "Other".
But Lin Tian delivered an unparalleled performance tonight, showcasing his superhuman abilities and composure under pressure!
He broke the NBA's highest scoring record in a Game 7 in just three quarters. Lin Tian shocked the entire league and drove viewers around the world crazy!
Even the difference between Lin Tian and Jordan's single-game playoff scoring record is only 3 points!
Given Lin Tian's form tonight, he might just score those 3 points in a minute and claim the title of the NBA playoffs' all-time leading scorer in a single game!
Therefore, as soon as they saw Lin Tian being substituted off the field, the fans, sensing something was wrong, immediately began to shout!
"Lin! We want Lin!"
"Lin! Come on! Come on!"
"Give us Lin! Give us Lin!"
「63！63！63！63！63！」
The fans kept chanting and shouting, hoping that Lin Tian could return to the game instead of sitting on the bench for the entire quarter, wasting such a good opportunity to break the record!
Even if the record he broke belongs to Jordan, fans really want to witness the birth of a brand new record in person!
In fact, quite a few fans at the stadium started cheering for the Knicks!
In their view, as long as the Knicks close the gap by a few points and reduce the difference to around 15 points, Lin Tian will definitely come on in the fourth quarter to break this historical record!
Unfortunately, the fans are destined to be disappointed tonight.
Because what's preventing Lin Tian from breaking the record isn't just Jackson, who doesn't like his players racking up points during garbage time, but also Jordan, who had a terrible performance tonight!
在这个晚上，乔丹前三节比赛出战了24分钟，只有9投2中，只拿到了6分3篮板1助攻的糟糕数据。
A severe flu spell has robbed Jordan of his former glory! Tonight, he may have lost more than just the record for the highest single-game score in the playoffs, which he previously held alone. His streak of scoring over 20 points in a single playoff game will also likely come to an end tonight!
Throughout his career, Jordan played 130 playoff games, scoring over 20 points in every single game!
His 130 consecutive playoff games with more than 20 points is also the longest record in NBA history.
But tonight, this record is likely to come to an end. However, compared to the end of the old record, fans obviously want to see a new record born!
Therefore, in the 1 minute and 20 seconds that Lin Tian was absent at the end of the third quarter, the Knicks went on a 5-0 run, narrowing the gap to 17 points!
The United Center fans gave the Knicks a heartfelt round of applause and cheers for this rare offensive surge from the Knicks tonight!
Come on, Knicks! Five more points!
If we can get another 5-0 score, Lin Tian will definitely be back on the court!
But it's clear that the fans' wishes are unlikely to be fulfilled tonight.
Because their team's true leader isn't Lin Tian!
During the break, Lin Tian, who was panting heavily and whose face was a little pale, was about to stand up and continue playing when he was forcibly pressed back down onto the bench by a pair of arms.
Jordan!
He stood right in front of Lin Tian and said, "15 points! If the Knicks narrow the gap to 15 points, then you can go back in. Now, you need to rest! If you force yourself to continue playing in your current condition, you're very likely to get injured!"
"Michael's right, trust your teammates, Lin."
Jackson said from the side, "You've done enough tonight! Take a break!"
Seeing the two people trying to stop him from playing, Lin Tian simply plopped back down on the bench and said, "15 points! As long as they close the gap to within 15 points, I'll go on immediately! Or if the score difference doesn't widen to more than 25 points within 3 minutes, I'll continue playing!"
"Then I'm afraid you won't have a chance to play!" Jordan's lips were still pale, and he was still clearly very weak.
But his eyes were incredibly resolute at that moment!
He was absolutely confident that he would prevent Lin Tian from making another appearance!
Lin Tian believes that this is not because Jordan is worried about his record being broken. Jordan just feels that he should take on the responsibility of leadership instead of letting Lin Tian continue to work himself to the point of exhaustion!
That's what Jordan thought, and that's what he did.
At the start of the fourth quarter, facing the New York team's final frantic comeback, he, who had been dormant for three quarters, suddenly woke up and hit a three-pointer from the right 45-degree angle!
After the Knicks scored a basket, he quickly dribbled up the court, pulled up at the left 45-degree angle, and shot! A three-pointer very similar to Lin Tian's went in!
Then the Knicks missed their shot, Jordan grabbed the rebound, and while the Knicks were still getting back on their feet, he turned around and forced a three-pointer from the top of the arc and made it!
In less than 1 minute and 30 seconds, Jordan scored 3 consecutive baskets, bringing his total to 9 points!
They went on a 9-2 run, widening the gap to 24 points!
And this is not the end!
There's more during the day! Please vote with monthly tickets and recommendation tickets...
(End of this chapter)