On May 15, 2000, since the Knicks had already advanced, there were no games scheduled for that day.
The NBA also announced its All-Defense Teams for the season:
The five players on the All-Defense First Team were:
Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Alonzo Mourning, Gary Payton, and Kobe Bryant.
The five players on the All-Defense Second Team were:
Shaquille O'Neal, Glenn Robinson, Scottie Pippen, Eddie Jones, and Jason Kidd.
Among the All-Defense selections, the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns each had two players, while the Knicks didn't get any spots, which displeased the New York Media.
Although the Knicks' defensive influence began to decline this season, with fast-paced rotations occasionally disappearing in some games, overall, they were still considered an upper-middle-tier team in the league.
Looking at this list, the Los Angeles media could once again boast:
"The strongest duo in the league!"
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal's selection to the All-Defense Team also helped to dispel the gloom of their loss last night.
98:117, the Phoenix Suns played with extreme offense and finally won a game at home.
Playing 37 minutes, Hardaway shot 8-of-13 from the field, 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, and 2-of-3 from the free-throw line, tallying 22 points, 10 rebounds, 16 assists, 2 steals, and 3 turnovers.
Kidd rebounded strongly with a triple-double!
Compared to the Lakers' 2-of-16 performance from beyond the arc, the Phoenix Suns shot 10-of-21 from three-point range, which was like hitting the jackpot.
Facts prove that the essence of basketball is still about who is more accurate.
The Lakers might have gone easy, but they lost because they couldn't make shots.
Just like Shaquille O'Neal's free throw shooting of 4-of-12, with a dismal 33.3% accuracy, everyone wants to put the ball in the basket, but under high-pressure Defense, shooting accurately is sometimes a talent.
No one cared that the Phoenix Suns won, just like the Utah Jazz of 'old man basketball.'
Getting a win was just to save some face.
Since the Heat also took back a game, the Eastern Conference Finals schedule was pushed back, giving the Knicks nearly another week of rest.
On the 15th, at the Tarrytown Training Center, James Dolan also appeared before numerous media outlets during the afternoon's open practice session.
The Knicks' biggest goal this season was to achieve a three-peat, and making it to the Conference Finals was a minor accomplishment.
The management wasn't afraid of being proven wrong at this point.
Reaching the Conference Finals was already a great success!
Compared to Old Charles, who rarely gave media interviews, James Dolan spoke more, though most of the time he expressed his views on his own MSG and rarely accepted interviews from other media.
The open tactical training sessions were mostly about running plays.
Jeff Van Gundy remained silent, and the assistant coaches directed the players.
Wearing a Knicks black tank top and dark blue athletic pants, Lee was not "fully armored" during his routine training.
On-site media reporters could more clearly see Lee's muscle definition, and occasionally when he lifted his jersey, very clear abdominal muscles were visible.
Unlike Sports Illustrated, which could conduct deeper interviews with Lee, many media outlets didn't have these opportunities, and their cameras clicked incessantly.
During routine interviews, Lee always wore Under Armour custom compression gear, looking strong, but it still didn't have the visual impact of training with his upper body exposed.
During the training session, there were also things not seen in games. In some possessions, Lee would show off his post-up skills.
In the previous possession, Larry Johnson was screened by Lee, and then Lee hit a three-pointer from the left wing over him.
After scoring the responding basket, Grandmama went back to guarding the low post.
In the left block, Lee received the ball with his back to the basket and started backing down with force, but he couldn't push Larry Johnson.
In the end, he could only lean forward to fake a move before suddenly spinning towards the baseline.
Lee's move was smooth, but he didn't completely shake off the Defense.
His fadeaway jumper ended up clanking off the rim.
"Oh!"
After a successful Defense, Larry Johnson let out an excited yell, just as most teams in the league knew, Lee was not very good at post-up isolations.
Although he was currently a pure heavy-set guard, Lee didn't have this physique before.
Bullying smaller players was fine, but encountering a muscular player like "Grandmama" was a different story.
In daily training, besides Ron Artest, who was a sparring partner, Larry Johnson was mostly responsible for defending Lee in some low-post offensive drills.
The two were similar in height, making the matchup suitable.
Guards like Chris Childs were not enough, as they could easily be overpowered, yielding mediocre results.
The court was lively, and assistant coach Thibodeau would occasionally call timeouts to give the Rookie Ron Artest some pointers.
On the sidelines, James Dolan, dressed in a black casual suit, chuckled and joked with media reporters.
Seeing Ewing come off the court to rest, a Yahoo Sports reporter asked about the farewell tour:
"Pat is in great form right now. Next year is the last year of his contract. After the farewell tour, will the Knicks not plan to sign him to another contract?"
Agent David Falk had already discussed this issue with the team.
When asked about it, James Dolan also smiled and replied:
"No, no, no, as long as Pat wants to keep playing, the Knicks will always welcome him! His entire career has been spent in New York, and the team is his second home."
"The farewell tour is also very interesting, and I think the fans will love it. Of course, we are still missing a championship!"
Not getting much information, an ESPN reporter quickly chimed in:
"After Pat leaves the team, the Knicks will gain significant cap space. What are the team's plans for this?"
Seemingly prepared for this question, James Dolan smiled again, looking at the Knicks players gathered in a circle on the court, and said in a light tone:
"I will create the Knicks' 'Showtime' era! Lee has excellent offensive talent, just like Magic Johnson, he can make the team play beautiful offense!"
"The team will build a suitable system around Lee, and at the same time, we will recruit suitable superstars for him."
"In the future, at Madison Square Garden, fans will be able to enjoy the most delightful basketball on Earth!"
"..."
Grunfeld, the general manager, stood beside the curly-haired owner, listening to him talk eloquently, and sighed inwardly.
This guy seemed to have been tricked by the New York Media's "Showtime" concept!
The Knicks are not playing so-called beautiful basketball right now.
They prioritize athleticism, pursue physical confrontation, and iron-blooded Defense has been the team's culture for many years.
Not long ago, at the NBA draft lottery, the Chicago Bulls drew the 4th pick.
Chicago fans breathed a sigh of relief, and general manager Krause was also relieved.
The Chicago Bulls' first-round pick held by the Knicks was deferred to next year.
With a 17-win record this season, no one believed that the Chicago Bulls could turn things around by adding promising Rookies.
Therefore, in 2001, the Knicks were very likely to get a top-10 first-round draft pick.
By then, Ewing would have left the team, and how to build a team around the core players would become a problem for the management and coaching staff.
However, the Knicks' situation was complicated, and James Dolan, who had not interfered with team affairs for the sake of the three-peat, also seemed to want to participate in team building.
When the training session ended, many staff members had to continue filming, and media reporters also rushed to interview the players.
Jeff Van Gundy, who rarely spoke, also breathed a sigh of relief at this moment, posing for the cameras was indeed tiring.
General Manager Glen Grunwald leaned over to the Bald Young Coach.
At this point, there were no media reporters around them.
James Dolan was inviting some well-known reporters to dinner that evening.
Jeff Van Gundy knew what the other person wanted to ask and said with a frown:
"Mr. Charles never interferes with team affairs, only stepping in to calm Pat when he wants to leave the team."
"Professional matters should be handled by professionals. I don't like the so-called 'Showtime'. that's not what a Champion Coach should pursue."
The Bald Young Coach had more confidence after winning a championship.
A famous coach should have some temper, and Jeff Van Gundy would also express his views to the management.
Pat Riley's "Showtime" won championships, and Grunfeld understood Jeff Van Gundy.
A Champion Coach should have his own style.
However, as a professional manager, Grunfeld would not casually comment on the owner.
Watching Clay Lee and Larry Johnson exchange techniques with smiles and laughter, Grunfeld murmured helplessly:
"Lee is excellent. In Pat's system, he raised the team's ceiling while maintaining its floor. What kind of partner is most suitable for him?"
Hearing this, Jeff Van Gundy frowned again, then confidently said:
"The current system is the most suitable for Lee. The team will compensate for some of the defensive weaknesses of guards, and on offense, we also have a lineup that can create space!"
"Be patient. In a few years, these players will fulfill their potential. Perhaps they won't be superstars, but they will definitely be championship pieces."
"…"
On May 16th, the NBA announced this season's All-NBA Teams, allowing the New York Media to hype it up again.
The five players on the First Team were:
Clay Lee, Jason Kidd, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O'Neal.
The five players on the Second Team were:
Gary Payton, Kobe Bryant, Grant Hill, Karl Malone, and Alonzo Mourning.
The five players on the Third Team were:
Allen Iverson, Eddie Jones, Vince Carter, Chris Webber, and David Robinson.
Clay Lee was selected to the All-NBA First Team for the third consecutive season, already widening the gap with Ewing's First Team selections.
Allan Houston's exclusion, however, disappointed some New York fans, as the guard position was quite competitive.
After leaving the Lakers and joining the Hornets, Eddie Jones had a perfect season.
Although his playoff performance was mediocre, winning the steals title and being selected to the All-NBA Team marked the peak of his career.
This season, Kobe was selected to both the All-Defense Team and the All-NBA Team, and commentators finally began discussing the younger player next to Shaquille O'Neal.
After three years of refinement, Kobe had completely adapted to the Big Shaq.
The New York Media, however, didn't care about Kobe's achievements and continued to stake out the Tarrytown Training Center.
After the morning practice, a large group of media gathered around Lee, offering congratulations and flattering him:
"Selected to the All-NBA First Team for three consecutive years, if the 1996 Draft were re-ranked, Lee would absolutely be the first pick!"
"With his talent and diligent training, Lee deserves such accomplishments."
"…"
Lee was pleased with the flattery, while Ewing on the other side felt a bit sad recalling his own All-NBA selections.
As the season was drawing to a close, Oakley also had some thoughts.
If possible, he wanted to continue staying in New York.
Being a hype man was also good.
Seeing his old friend in low spirits today, Oakley offered comfort after returning to the locker room:
"Times are different. Back in our day, it wasn't easy for a big man to be selected to the All-NBA First Team."
Ewing, having adjusted his mindset, no longer dwelled on the issue of honors and quickly began comforting Allan Houston:
"I no longer care about these selections. Allan was a bit unlucky this year, making the All-Star team but not the All-NBA Team."
"His regular season performance wasn't bad, and in the playoffs, we even reached the Eastern Conference Finals!"
Not being selected to the All-NBA Team was mainly due to slightly lower stats.
Allan Houston was nearing a contract year and, having won a championship, also wanted to pursue a big contract:
"Being selected to the All-Star team is already great. There are only six spots for guards in total, so not making the All-NBA Team this year isn't surprising."
Larry Johnson was not convinced by the selection results and chimed in with two more sarcastic remarks:
"Backed by a big city, Kobe Bryant wouldn't have achieved his current success if he had stayed with the Hornets."
The Los Angeles Media's hype this season was so intense that it reminded "Grandmama" of his own highlight moments with the Hornets, and he started with the "If" scenarios again.
When Clay Lee returned to the locker room, the veteran players had already begun discussing what achievements they would have had if Michael Jordan hadn't existed.
Ron Artest couldn't get a word in, Kukoc wasn't interested in the topic, but Lewis listened with great relish.
Ewing, as an anti-Jordan pioneer, indeed had captivating insider stories.
Lee looked around, didn't see Ben Wallace, and seeing the others still bragging, he sat down and quietly asked:
"Why haven't I seen Ben? Did he disappear again after the film session?"
"Training has been easier these past few days, so he went to lift weights again."
Ron Artest pouted, feeling a bit annoyed with the undrafted player who frequently lifted weights and made him carry his bag.
Hearing that he wasn't practicing free throws but continuing to lift weights, Lee sighed helplessly.
Most players still prefer to stay in their comfort zone and usually don't have much enthusiasm for training that doesn't provide positive feedback.
Lewis didn't think there was anything wrong with Ben Wallace lifting weights every day.
Benhad visibly gotten stronger, which made him envious.
Seeing Lee's muscular physique, Lewis couldn't resist this time and quietly asked:
"Lee, can you share your secret to getting stronger? Your weight gain speed hasn't decreased, and your vertical leap and explosiveness have improved!"
Noticing Lewis's winking expression, Lee knew the other party thought he was using performance-enhancing drugs.
The issue of drugs is no secret in the NBA.
Most players choose to supplement, but because everyone's body is different, the choice of drugs also varies.
For common drugs, players would also privately exchange experiences, and taking drugs was no different from smoking weed.
Lee patted his thick chest muscles, raised an eyebrow, and simply said:
"Perhaps it's just talent. I'm already trying to control my weight!"
No one usually believes the truth.
Seeing Lewis's disbelieving eyes, Lee shrugged.
His explosiveness had indeed improved, and as for his seemingly increased vertical leap, it was related to the complete digestion of [Anfernee Hardaway's exceptional quickness].
With both enhancements, Lee only felt his first step was faster.
Preparing for the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks players weren't under much pressure, and in the locker room these past few days, no one mentioned their opponent.
Most of the time was spent chatting and joking.
During the afternoon practice, James Dolan came to visit everyone again, and incidentally, he painted a "Showtime" picture in front of the media.
Jeff Van Gundy, posing for photos, secretly frowned when he heard some scattered phrases.
In his opinion, the team only needed to appropriately add a big man with excellent interior Defense, and flashy offense should not be a characteristic of the Knicks.
On the evening of the 16th, the two teams for the Western Conference Finals were officially determined.
65:87, back at home, the Lakers ended the suspense in the first half.
The Phoenix Suns scored 14 points in the first quarter, and only 9 points in the second quarter.
At halftime, it was 23:49, and the huge point difference excited the fans watching at the Staples Center.
Anfernee Hardaway and Kidd both slumped, and the role players followed suit, clanking shots.
The Phoenix Suns shot 23 for 80 in the entire game, with a field goal percentage of less than 30%.
Suddenly turning into a blowout, the Lakers grabbed a total of 59 rebounds, including 21 offensive rebounds.
Shaquille O'Neal played only 33 minutes, shooting 7 for 19, scoring 15 points, 21 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, and 3 turnovers.
Once again demonstrating his dominance, the Shaq became the hot topic of discussion among commentators that night.
79:81, the Trail Blazers, also back at home, gave the Utah Jazz no chance.
Scottie Pippen recorded a near triple-double with 23 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, and 3 turnovers.
Falling in the Western Conference Semifinals, Karl Malone's championship dream was shattered once again.
On May 19th, the Pacers finally completely eliminated the Heat, after the opponent had tied the series twice, they didn't give them any more chances.
104:82, with a dominant 4:2 series win, the Pacers once again advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Pacers only had a little over a day to rest, and the Eastern Conference Finals would officially begin on the evening of the 21st.
The schedule was not favorable for the Pacers.
For the Eastern Conference Finals, they had to fly to New York again to play two road games.
On the evening of the 20th, the Western Conference Finals, which started first, attracted a large number of fans.
Perhaps other NBA teams noticed that the two Western Conference Finals teams had top-three salaries in the league, but for fans, the focus was still on the superstars.
The "Money Power" battle had been hyped by numerous sports media since the beginning of the season.
In that night's game, to everyone's surprise, the Lakers blew out their opponent in the second quarter!
After a single quarter of 16:37, the game was essentially out of reach.
Shaquille O'Neal once again put up outrageous numbers, playing 47 minutes, shooting 14 for 25, 13 for 27 from the free-throw line, exploding for 41 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks.
Consuming a large number of possessions, Shaq had no turnovers in this game.
The poor Old Sabonis was completely dominated.
By the time they reached the Western Conference Finals, no one was questioning Shaquille O'Neal's stamina anymore.
A massive physique, delicate footwork, and he could still play all 48 minutes!
The nickname "Superman" became exceptionally fitting this season.
After the game, the Lakers fans were still celebrating happily, while the petty Shaquille O'Neal shook his head and shouted as he walked towards the player tunnel:
"I am the true MVP!"
"…"
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