The rest is just noise

In addition to Rodman, many other Knicks have won awards.

Benjamin Wilson was selected to the first team and first defense for the first time in his career and led the MVP predictions.

Last season's Grand Slam player Patrick Ewing is not in stable form this year, and his data has declined to a certain extent. He only averaged 23 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 3.5 blocks per game. In the age of centers, this kind of data cannot be compared with Sampson.

In comparison, Olajuwon was also beaten by Olajuwon.

Ewing controversially fell to the third team and second defense.

Among them, the first-team center is Sampson, who repeatedly jumps horizontally at the fourth and fifth positions, and the second-team center is Olajuwon.

Stockton was selected to the third team again.

For them, being selected for the best team is already normal, there is nothing surprising...

For Rodman, he was selected as the first defense last season, and being selected as DPOY this season is the greatest affirmation for him.

That day, Louis held a press conference specifically for him.

Only Louis, Rodman and a large number of media reporters were present at the press conference.

Louis stood next to Rodman and said proudly: "We have many talented players on our team. If you ask me who is the most valuable player, I may not be able to answer, but if you ask me who is the most valuable player on the bench?"

Most valuable player, in my heart, no one can compare to Dennis."

"He is our Bill Mazeroski."

When Louis compared Rodman to the great Mazeroski, not only the media at the scene were surprised, Rodman himself was also moved.

Finally, the media turned the microphone to Rodman and asked him to say something about his acceptance speech.

The emotional Rodman couldn't hold back his emotions and sobbed: "I really want this award."

"Okay," Louis patted Rodman gently on the shoulder, "You got it."

For Dennis Rodman, the Knicks were the closest thing to home in his life. He played in a little-known second-tier league, and then he was spotted by Louis. He came to New York alone, didn't understand anything, but he didn't know anything about it.

He has become one of the six most important players on this team.

Louis often looked after Rodman in his life and pointed out his future path like an elder brother.

At this time, he just wanted to thank everyone.

This is not the best acceptance speech Louis has ever seen, but it is certainly the most heartfelt.

Just like Rodman's future Hall of Fame speech, it is not the best, but the most sincere.

The Knicks, who return home with a full load, still need a dominant game to send the Pacers out.

If there is anything more suitable for Wilson to win the first MVP trophy of his career than sweeping the Pacers, it would be to have Wilson score 50 points in the final game of the semifinals.

This is an unintentional game.

The Knicks played the most perfect game. Wilson took 26 shots and hit 20 goals. Plus free throws, he scored 50 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. In the semifinals, he averaged 40 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists.

This is the best series of his career so far.

After this game, Wilson's MVP momentum reached its highest peak.

His number one competitor, The Tragedian, just like his nickname, has once again tragically become a foil.

In the MVP voting in the 1989-90 season, Wilson won 95% of the votes and won this year's MVP in one fell swoop, becoming the fourth MVP player in Knicks history.

In order to applaud Wilson's MVP award, Dave Anderson, a great writer in the New York Times, wrote an impassioned article "The Golden Era of New York Basketball."

Last season, Ewing won a Grand Slam of personal honors.

Now, the same thing happened to Wilson.

The 23-year-old regular season MVP is not the youngest in history.

But there were only three people before Wilson who could achieve this achievement. They were Wilt Chamberlain in 1960, Wes Unseld in 1963, and Bob McAdoo in 1975.

Wilson reminded Louis of Derrick Rose in 2011, who became the youngest MVP in the history of the league at the age of 22. Many people must not have expected what Rose would experience after that.

Now, there is no possibility of falling in Wilson's body. His honor has already set him apart from his peers.

At what height it will stand in the future, only time can tell the answer.

In the other Eastern Conference semifinals, the Celtics and Pistons tied 3-1 in the first four games.

Although the Celtics unexpectedly lost a game, as long as nothing unexpected happens, they will definitely be able to meet the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The West is interesting, 2-2 in two rounds.

Lakers VS Suns

Jazz VS Trail Blazers

The four teams competed vigorously, and it looked like it would be difficult to end the game without playing seven games.

On May 16, the Celtics defeated the Pistons and met the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Both sides have four days to make adjustments.

In the Eastern Conference Finals, Ewing is confirmed to be back. Louis took advantage of the four-day offseason to review the semifinals between the Celtics and Pistons.

The Celtics maintained their position as Sampson as a tool and were able to outperform the Pistons, and Bird and Thomas were indispensable.

In addition, Laimbeer's condition has also improved a lot compared to the regular season.

Louis held several meetings with the coaching staff to clarify the key points for facing the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.

defensive counterattack

That's easier said than done, because the Celtics have four good rebounders.

Bird, Reggie Lewis, Sampson and Laimbeer are all very good or even very good rebounders at the same position.

When playing against the Celtics, it would be good if the rebounds were not blown up.

If you can't control the rebounds, the defensive counterattack will be difficult to sustain.

Therefore, how to protect rebounds is a topic that Louis and his assistant coaches need to study carefully.

Zhao Yuanzheng gave a plan for the twin towers.

Ewing and Bowie are both good rebounders. Together, their rebounding impact is not inferior to that of the Celtics.

Miller came on as a substitute, with Wilson at the second position and Rodman at the third position.

In this way, the Knicks are just like the Celtics, with four players in the lineup whose rebounding ability is reliable.

Tomjanovich has doubts: "In this way, we only have Benj and John as shooting threats on the outside."

Tomjanovich has been with Louis for so long, and his concept has been changed.

There are few contemporary coaches who value shooters as much as Tomjanovich.

Billy Donovan's view is consistent with Zhao Yuanzheng: "The average age of the Celtics is 30 years old. If we can speed up the pace of the game and wear them down violently, they will be able to survive until the second half of the series.

Can’t stand it any longer.”

"Yes, and if we can play high-quality counterattacks and a fast-paced game, Boston will be hard to resist."

Louis nodded slightly, agreeing with Zhao Yuanzheng and Donovan's views.

With the Celtics' age structure and current style of play, there is no need to fight with them in a positional battle. Speeding up the game is exactly what they want.

The game plan was set, and in a blink of an eye it was game day of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

May 20

Before the game, Kemp performed a 360-degree turn and a windmill dunk for everyone, which caused a fierce response from MSG.

"Despite his limited playing time, Shawn Kemp is already a big star in the Garden."

Before the game, CBS female reporter Lesley Visser came to interview: "Coach Lu, do you feel any different when you face off against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals again?"

Louis smiled lightly and said: "There are indeed many different feelings. For example, we are now in the 1990s. The achievements in the past 80s have become monuments. We need to look forward."

"So, do you think the Knicks are a 90s team, Coach Lu?"

Visser heard the voice of Louis' words.

"I even think we are the Millennium Team." Louis joked.

"Ha, thank you Coach Lu for accepting our interview."

"You're welcome, say hello to Dick for me." Louis responded politely.

Visser is the wife of CBS's gold medal commentator Dick Stockton, and Louis knows their family.

After the interview, Louis wanted to say hello to several Celtics players, but Bird made an expression that would keep strangers away from him: "From now on, we are enemies, don't come and talk to me!"

"Okay, country boy, you think I'm here to see you? I'm here to see Ralph."

Bird snorted: "He won't talk to you."

"Don't be so sure." Louis walked towards Sampson and patted his butt hard, "What do you think, Ralph, are you going to knock Patrick out today?"

Sampson was about to say hello, but Bird's eyes reminded him: You'd better stand your ground.

Sampson turned his back: "I can't talk to my enemies."

"Okay, since you are so heartless, let's show it on the court!" Louis mocked Bird before leaving, "Hillbilly, with your current physical condition, Benj scored 50 points on your head than me. It’s easy to drink a whole bottle of Coke in one breath.”

When Louis' smiling face came to the players, it was different, and his murderous intent was revealed: "Now, we are in a different position than Boston. They are like us in the past, but they are very old and do not have the improvement we have. potential, so it will only become weaker and weaker in the future.”

"No matter what, we all have a clear advantage." Louis said evilly, "So, from beginning to end in this game, don't make it easy for them!"

Ewing immediately saw something was wrong: "Did you go over to say hello and someone scolded you?"

"Larry must have done it!"

"Patrick, you know too much!"

⑴ MLB second baseman. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates for 17 seasons in his major league career and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2001. He was known for his defense as a player. He was selected to the All-Star Game in 7 seasons of his career and won 8 gold medals. Glove Award. His most famous deed was in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, when he hit a walk-off home run in the 9th inning, helping the Pirates defeat the then-rich Yankees.