Jeff Van Gundy shook his head at the sidelines, hoping to play a borderline defense, but the referee saw through it.
The first violation was a warning without any penalty, but if it happened again, it would result in free throws.
In the deep circles under Van Gundy's eyes, a deeper worry flashed. If the Knicks can't make a play on defense, the finals are destined to be tough.
Sure enough, the Trail Blazers reorganized their offense, and the Knicks switched to a one-on-one defense. Gan Guoyang easily shook off Kemp's entanglement and received the ball at a 45-degree angle on the wing.
Facing Kemp, Gan Guoyang took a very easy mid-range shot. Kemp couldn't interfere at all, scoring the first points in the finals.
The crowd erupted into cheers. For Trail Blazers fans, the finals seemed like a festival.
For over a decade, many Junes were spent in this festival for them, and for many fans, it had become a habit.
