On the evening of May 10, 2000, after leaving the First Union Center, some Philadelphia fans were still shouting curses, while others remained silent.
Losing in such a manner made the fans feel terrible, and if given the choice, many would not have watched the fourth quarter.
While Philadelphia fans were upset, the New York Media was happy.
Ever since they discovered Allen Iverson's plummeting plus/minus data, they had been relentlessly attacking him.
Allan Houston's shooting touch was average tonight, going 5-for-15 from the field, 2-for-6 from three-point range, and 3-for-4 from the free-throw line, scoring 15 points.
After changing in the locker room post-game, Allan Houston also spoke up proactively:
"McKie's Defense was quite physical, but in the next game, he won't have a chance. The 76ers' team-building strategy seems to have some issues."
Compared to the Knicks, the 76ers clearly had fewer players who could handle the ball.
Even with Head Coach Larry Brown making adjustments, and Aaron McKie coming into the starting lineup, the offensive spacing on the court was still constipated.
Larry Johnson was just going through the motions tonight, playing only 27 minutes, but "Grandmama" didn't mind.
His physical condition was average, and he often couldn't chase screens as nimbly as the Rookie.
After changing into a flashy Hawaiian shirt and casual pants, the flamboyantly dressed Larry Johnson stroked his big beard and suddenly joked about his opponent:
"There are a lot of 'Allens' this year, but only ours is the winner!"
"Hey! Ours is 'Allan', read more, Larry!"
Oakley, who was also just going through the motions, burst into laughter after saying this.
Larry Johnson didn't mind, and instead continued to say loudly:
"Lee and I both have NCAA championships!"
Ewing, who was nearby, didn't speak, but just patted Larry Johnson's shoulder, indicating that he also had an NCAA championship.
The hype squad followed suit, laughing happily at the win.
The Knicks were going to the Eastern Conference Finals again!
Head Coach Larry Brown's adjustments did indeed work.
In Game 3, the Knicks' possessions dropped to 78.
However, even with significantly fewer transition offenses, Clay Lee still tore apart the opponent's Defense with his drives.
At the post-game press conference, Clay Lee and Allen Iverson received completely different treatment.
Playing 39 minutes, Lee shot 12-for-23 from the field, 5-for-11 from three-point range, and 7-for-8 from the free-throw line, finishing with 36 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, and 3 turnovers.
His efficiency was very high throughout the game.
Playing 46 minutes and 50 seconds, Allen played almost the entire game, shooting 8-for-21 from the field and 11-for-12 from the free-throw line, for 27 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 turnovers.
With a lot of physical contact, his three-pointers clanked, his long twos clanked, and only in the paint did Allen Iverson maintain a very high shooting percentage.
Clay Lee, dressed in a dark gray suit, was on the stage receiving praise from everyone.
A New York Post reporter even asked pointedly:
"Lee, we've all noticed an interesting phenomenon. Tonight, your plus/minus is again +15. In this series, you've consistently been far ahead of your opponents in this stat!"
"Can you share your thoughts on this?"
Noticing that the New York Media was increasingly fond of delving into Excel, Lee always felt that the style was a bit off, but at this moment, he still had to continue to show off:
"As I said before, in some games with a significant disparity in strength, there's no need to pay attention to these statistics."
The two groups of people, on and off the stage, echoed each other, making the Philadelphia media reporters almost blurt out "F***."
Stephen A. Smith, wearing a black suit, sat below with mixed feelings.
He really couldn't praise his little brother Allen Iverson anymore.
After the game, he could only praise his "unyielding" and "all-out" spirit.
As for other things, too much praise would probably annoy Philadelphia fans.
Allen Iverson couldn't be interviewed in the last game, but tonight when he sat on the stage, the New York Media attacked him fiercely with Excel, making him so angry that he reiterated:
"I never consider statistics, and I don't play for statistics. I just want to pursue victory!"
In a bad mood, Allen Iverson, with a sullen face, didn't even wear his gold chain.
As soon as he finished speaking, someone in the audience whispered mockingly:
"The 76ers are already out!"
After losing Game 3, the 76ers still had two days to adjust.
This year's schedule wasn't as tight, so physical issues weren't a big concern.
After all, Allen Iverson was young, and two days of rest would be enough for him to recover to full health.
On Thursday, the 11th, the TNT show in the morning no longer discussed the 76ers.
With a 3-0 lead, everyone believed the Knicks would advance within two games.
In the synchronized game yesterday, the Lakers narrowly defeated the Phoenix Suns.
Unlike the Knicks' clean and decisive comeback, the Lakers and Suns fought until the very last moment.
With 2 seconds left, Kobe hit a jump shot near the left elbow, and then O'Neal blocked his former teammate Anfernee Hardaway's jump shot.
One offense and one Defense by the two completely killed the game.
96:97, the Lakers won again at home.
Playing 46 minutes and 55 seconds, Shaquille O'Neal only took a breather in the second quarter, shooting 16-for-28, for 38 points, 20 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 5 blocks, and 2 turnovers.
With these stats, the commentators were stunned again.
From last night's heated discussion until now, even if the Phoenix Suns' interior was weak, Shaquille O'Neal's performance was excessively explosive.
In the studio, the director repeatedly broadcast Clay Lee and Shaquille O'Neal's stats.
36 and 38, seemingly only a two-point difference, but the visual impact was vastly different.
Kenny Smith still spoke for the backcourt players, emphasizing Lee's offensive influence:
"Scoring 36 points and dishing out 10 assists, not to mention indirect assists, most of the Knicks' scoring was related to Lee."
"Lee makes his teammates better, everyone is doing what they're good at, this is how backcourt players dominate the game!"
Mike Fratello, the old-school coach, still preferred big men, shaking his head and saying seriously:
"Pay attention to Shaquille O'Neal's scoring positions, both sides under the basket. As long as the ball is given to him, it means scoring."
"This kind of dominance is too strong. The closer to the basket, the higher the shooting percentage, and this is more evident in crucial games."
Kenny Smith did not deny these points, but just turned his head and asked:
"But the Lakers almost lost, didn't they? They played 5 games in the first round, and basketball is ultimately a five-man game."
Comparisons between MVPs have always been a favorite of commentators, but this time, one is a point guard and the other is a center, completely different positions, making it difficult to evaluate who is better.
Ernie Johnson saw the two arguing for days, still going back and forth, unable to make a judgment, so he simply smiled and changed the subject:
"How about Kobe? He also had an excellent performance last night, not scoring much, but hitting crucial shots."
Kenny Smith shook his head directly, then said unceremoniously:
"Kobe is excellent, and like Allen Iverson, he is an outstanding young man, but Lee is the MVP. Throughout his career so far, his efficiency rating has exceeded 30 in both seasons."
"Anyone who has played knows how terrifying that is. Lee is far ahead of all players in his draft class!"
"Just as people wouldn't compare Drexler to Michael Jordan, Lee is already chasing history."
"..."
38+20 made Shaquille O'Neal once again a hot topic of discussion.
Young fans had never seen Wilt Chamberlain play, but after seeing the Shaq's dominance in the paint, they all exclaimed in disbelief.
On the evening of the 12th, Shaquille O'Neal once again unleashed a massive double-double of 37 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 turnovers!
105:99, the Lakers decisively secured the match point.
Anfernee Hardaway, facing the Lakers' backcourt, shot 11-for-15, scoring an all-around 31 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 3 turnovers.
Only Kidd, shooting 1-for-9, scored a mere 4 points, dragging down the Phoenix Suns.
There was no suspense in the series.
The Lakers would once again advance to the Western Conference Finals, and their opponent would be the Trail Blazers, who also secured their match point on the same day.
On the evening of the 13th, at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, the 76ers scored 33 points in the first quarter, and the arena erupted.
Perhaps they couldn't win the series, but winning one game at home would satisfy Philadelphia fans.
Allen Iverson repeatedly attacked the basket, shooting 4-for-10 in the quarter, scoring 11 points.
They secured a 5-point lead in the first quarter, and Allen Iverson didn't rest in the second quarter, continuing his fierce attacks!
However, the entire team's shooting touch declined, and they started clanking shots again.
Fortunately, Head Coach Larry Brown was clear-headed and loudly urged his players to drive to the basket.
Unfortunately, even with the free throws, the Knicks still narrowed the gap.
57:58, after halftime, the heated atmosphere in theStadium gradually dissipated.
At the TNT commentary desk, Marv Albert felt the game was familiar:
"The 76ers' shooting touch has declined. At this point, they need to play good Defense and also seize every opportunity for easy scores."
In the first half, they shot 19-for-28 from the free-throw line.
If they had made a few more, the 76ers might have already led by double digits.
Hubie Brown found it difficult to comment on the officiating in the first half.
Considering this might be the 76ers' last home game, he could only simply remark:
"To win the game, they still need to rely on Defense. Shooting touch might be an issue, but solid Defense is the guarantee of victory."
Head Coach Larry Brown also understands this, but in the first half, their rim protection was still a big problem, and Clay Lee was always able to score in the paint.
"Defense is a team problem, and I hope the 76ers can fix it when the second half begins."
After enduring the opponent's '1-point rain,' the referee's whistle returned to normal, and he even made up for some calls for the New York Knicks.
The referee stopped blowing the whistle, and when Allen Iverson started lying on the floor again, Philadelphia fans couldn't hold back:
"Referee Sucks!"
Halfway through the third quarter, fans were cursing the referee.
In the previous possession, Allen Iverson had just hit his first three-pointer of the game from his sweet spot on the left wing.
On this possession, after a double screen up top, Allen Iverson came to the left wing.
With the tactical intention being too obvious, Allan Houston suddenly rushed up, and Aaron McKie at the top of the arc failed to complete the pass in time.
Twisting his body to protect the ball, Aaron McKie was a beat slow and reluctantly sent out a cross-court pass.
Clay Lee, who was chasing on defense, got in front of Allen Iverson and directly completed the steal.
The fans in the arena gasped in unison.
Lee was extremely fast and had already rushed past half-court, with Allen Iverson desperately chasing him from behind.
It was a 1-on-0 fast break. After crossing the three-point line, Lee noticed Allen Iverson still accelerating behind him, so he gradually slowed down.
He waited until Allen Iverson caught up to his side before gathering the ball, taking off, and performing a layup.
Allen Iverson leaped high as well.
After the two collided in the air, Lee leaned on Allen Iverson's body, held the ball with one hand, dodged the block, and, as Allen Iverson hit his shoulder, he shouted:
"Ahhl!"
Lee twisted his body and shot the ball towards the backboard.
After both landed, the referee immediately blew his whistle, and at the same time, the basketball hit the backboard high and accurately went into the basket.
"Boo!"
Boos and curses erupted simultaneously.
Clay Lee just smiled, patted his chest, ignored Allen Iverson, and turned to walk to the free-throw line.
With a sigh stuck in his heart, Allen Iverson complained to the referee for a couple of sentences before Head Coach Larry Brown quickly called him over.
Jeff Van Gundy clapped his hands, then smiled and gave two thumbs up.
He then folded his arms, watching Lee complete the free throw with a calm expression.
72:69. With 6 minutes and 9 seconds left in the third quarter, the New York Knicks took the lead after the 76ers called a timeout.
Philadelphia fans, who had high expectations for this game, gradually fell silent as time passed.
Those who had stood up to watch the game sat back down, and some front-row fans no longer cheered for the home team with the DJ, instead gloomily drinking the beer in their hands.
81:79.
After three quarters, the New York Knicks were up by 2 points again.
Although the point difference was not large, many Philadelphia fans already had a bad feeling.
Lee left the game early again at the end of the third quarter to lead the rotation lineup at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
The 76ers, with their seven-man rotation, experienced a decrease in physical stamina, playing slower and slower.
The familiar scene reappeared: no one could score.
With 6 minutes and 17 seconds left in the game, Allen Iverson received the ball on the left wing, drove to the basket with a left-handed step-through, and went straight to the rim.
Ben Wallace, full of energy, immediately rotated to the left-bottom of the basket, and Lee began to adjust his footwork after providing body contact in the restricted area.
Allen Iverson, in motion, suddenly felt the defensive pressure by his side drop sharply.
He immediately took a hop step near the paint, jumped up, leaned on Ben Wallace, glided from the left side of the rim to the right, and made a beautiful reverse layup, avoiding the block!
Below the right side of the rim, Allen Iverson twisted his body in the air, and with his right hand, he threw the ball towards the backboard.
As soon as the ball left his hand, he suddenly felt his vision go black.
Having already anticipated that his opponent would attempt a reverse layup, Lee, who had rushed back to the basket, adjusted his footwork and suddenly exploded upwards, delivering a towering, face-on block!
"Smack!"
The basketball was slapped by Lee directly onto the falling Allen Iverson's body.
Struck by the ball and losing his balance, Allen Iverson fell to the floor again. I
Instinctively, he tried to save the ball while on the ground, but with his stamina depleted, he could only reach out his hand and couldn't get up.
Feeling like he did when he famously blocked Chris Paul in training camp, Lee bounced happily after landing and shouted:
"Ah!!"
Lee's volleyball-style block was indeed a rare sight.
On the New York Knicks' bench, everyone went crazy, jumping up and wildly waving their towels.
Larry Johnson laughed and made an exaggerated interception gesture, stopping the hype squad who wanted to rush onto the court to celebrate.
The boos had disappeared.
The Philadelphia fans in the arena could only watch as Ben Wallace and a few others gathered around Clay Lee to bump fists in celebration.
Pulled up by his teammates, Allen Iverson painfully grimaced.
He had taken another hard fall.
There was no time for complaints.
The 76ers quickly retreated on defense.
Jeff Van Gundy did not make any adjustments.
This game was even a timed rotation.
But as Allen Iverson missed shots and the 76ers committed turnovers, after the starters were back in, the Bald Young Coach returned to the bench to calmly watch the game.
The two commentators on the broadcast only felt the First Union Center growing quieter and quieter, as if the Philadelphia fans were all waiting for the game to end.
Marv Albert watched the 76ers' offense, which was almost always 24 seconds every possession, and commented helplessly:
"Perhaps what the 76ers lack is a second scoring option. When Allen Iverson's offense goes cold, they can't respond in time."
93:85. After half a quarter of play, the 76ers only scored 6 points.
Hubie Brown looked at the scoreboard, no longer commenting on the game, and instead praised Lee's performance:
"Excellent defensive anticipation. Lee has always been the calmest person on the court."
"The New York Knicks' 60-win season this year is inseparable from Lee's contribution."
The 76ers missed a shot, and the New York Knicks seized the opportunity to launch a fast break.
Seeing Lee easily score on layups for two consecutive possessions, Head Coach Larry Brown sighed helplessly from the sidelines and called another timeout.
The final few minutes of the game quickly ran out. 105:92.
The New York Knicks swept their opponent and once again advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The noise returned to the First Union Center.
The 76ers only scored 13 points in the final quarter.
Some disappointed Philadelphia fans couldn't accept losing in this manner and began to curse and swear loudly.
Larry Brown could also hear the fans shouting "Fire him!"
He turned to glance at Allen Iverson, who was sitting on the bench with a towel over his head, isolating himself, and could only sigh secretly.
45 minutes played, 7-of-26 shooting, 1-of-4 from three, 6-of-8 free throws, 21 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 3 turnovers.
Allen Iverson, with a towel over his head on the bench, covered his face with his hands, his eyes red, almost crying from frustration.
The 25-year-old Allen Iverson still cared about outside evaluations.
He said he didn't care, but the New York Media's Excel attacks hurt him greatly.
The label of "inefficient stat-padder" had been placed on him and couldn't be removed.
Having swept his opponent, Clay Lee was in a great mood.
After the game, he smiled and shook hands with the 76ers players.
Ewing, who was just going through the motions tonight, once again pulled Larry and Terry to offer his chicken soup.
Gorilla was beaming.
The playoffs were even easier than he had expected.
After the game, after looking at the box score, a delighted Marv Albert continued to praise profusely:
"28 points, 5 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 3 turnovers. Lee once again dominated the game tonight!"
"I don't like comparing Shaquille O'Neal's stats with Lee's. They have different roles on the court. Of course, I appreciate a leader like Lee more."
Old coach Hubie Brown also started joking at this point, simply commenting on the game:
"If Lee had played more minutes, perhaps he could have also gotten a big double-double."
Playing 38 minutes, shooting 10-of-20, 2-of-6 from three, and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line, Jeff Van Gundy did not push Clay Lee to his limits, using a timed rotation in a game with no pressure.
Whether the fans were satisfied or not, the 76ers' season ended here.
With a towel draped over him, Allen Iverson re-adjusted his emotions and walked to center court, shaking hands with each of the New York Knicks players.
Soon, he came before Clay Lee, and Allen Iverson noticed a large crowd of media reporters surrounding them.
Lee smiled and proactively embraced his old opponent, speaking some simple pleasantries:
"Bro, what a great series. I look forward to us facing each other again next season!"
Feeling that this sentence sounded familiar, Allen Iverson suppressed his discomfort, forced a smile, patted Lee's chest, and offered his blessing:
"Go for it, Bro. Next time, I'll win it back!"
The surrounding sports media began pressing their cameras, recording the scene of their conversation.
The New York reporters, who diligently studied Excel, were afraid of not getting an interview with him after the game, so they spoke up again:
"Allen, your +/- in this game..."
Not wanting to hear questions about stats at all, Allen Iverson turned and walked away.
Only after quickly walking into the player tunnel did he fully release his emotions.
The 76ers' staff all looked at each other as their star player pounded the wall.
Only after Allen Iverson left did someone quietly mumble:
"Perhaps we made the wrong choice back then."
"."
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