The rest is just noise

Flag Day, June 14, 1992

Madison Square Garden, Midtown Manhattan, New York, New York

In the 1991-92 season, the Garden was the most suitable venue for the last game of the NBA season.

MSG has hosted many famous sports competitions. As a basketball mecca, whether the Trail Blazers defeated the Knicks to win the championship or the Knicks defeated the Trail Blazers to win the first five consecutive championships in the merger era, they all have unparalleled historical significance.

Prior to this, Trail Blazers head coach Pat Riley had already announced that they would win the series today.

Fans have reason to believe in the Trail Blazers.

At least, they are the second team after the 1988 Celtics to drag the Knicks to Game 7 in the playoffs.

Fans who knew the Eastern Conference Finals that year all know that the outcome between the Knicks and Celtics was only a hair's breadth away.

This year, the outcome between the Knicks and Trail Blazers is the same.

In the garden, nearly a hundred celebrity fans built a beautiful scenery on the VIP seats.

Well-known rebel and street actor Eddie Murphy, Louie's good friend Jennifer Beals, Woody Allen who was recently revealed to have a secret affair with his adopted daughter, r&b music godfather Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson,

Madonna, Don Johnson, Tom Hanks - compared to these people, Spike Lee is like the light of a firefly, but there is a bright moon behind him.

However, Louis' wife Monica Bellucci didn't look dim at all when she sat next to them.

Although she was called a "ubiquitous" vase by the New York Times, as an actor, every movie she starred in had a box office of hundreds of millions of dollars. Even if she is a vase, she is a goat in the vase world.

Louis' son Lu Wuxia was shooting shots with the Knicks players on the sidelines before the game started.

Daughter Lu Wuyan was like a little devil pestering the celebrities in the front row for autographs and photos.

This game has been played up by NBC and various media for many days, and it has been regarded as the most legendary showdown in the sports world since the showdown between Bird and The Tragedy Hunter in 1984.

The level of attention is unprecedented.

Where have Portland Trail Blazers players seen this kind of formation?

Just a random celebrity fan in the front row of the Garden is something you rarely see in Memorial Stadium.

Before the show started, Mariah Carey sang "The Star-Spangled Banner."

After the song is sung, tonight's drama is about to begin.

"In Game 7 of the Finals, there are some subtle changes in the Knicks' starting lineup compared to the past." NBC Sports commentator Bob Costas said, "Dennis Rodman started at the third position, Sean

·Kemp will start at the fourth position, and Benj will start at the second position. Erwin, Doug, what do you think of this adjustment?"

"Little Lou did something he'd never done before," the tragedy man said, "and it was a sign that he was going to shorten the Knicks' rotation."

"Yes, long rotation has always been the characteristic of little lu."

Collins explained: "In the past, the Knicks' roster was as deep as any other team, so Little Lu could stretch the rotation as much as he wanted and let everyone play. But Pat Riley's Trail Blazers followed the Knicks'

The way the team is built and using the same playing style makes the Knicks' players who cannot withstand confrontation lose value on the court. If they want to keep up with the intensity of the Trail Blazers, the Knicks must adjust those secondary players out of the rotation. This is

Little Lu has been avoiding things in the past, but today, he has no reservations. In order to win this world-renowned decisive battle, he chose to use shorter personnel rotations and higher lineup strength to face the Trail Blazers."

"I can understand it," the tragedy expert said, "The injuries to Reggie Miller and Reggie Williams have disrupted the Knicks' plan, and shortening the rotation is a helpless move caused by the injuries."

The Knicks' opponent, the Trail Blazers, has no changes in their lineup.

The same five people.

Louis and Riley have no reservations. Let’s see the real story in this game.

"Remember our plan!" Louis reminded again and again, "There is no problem with shooting, but we should not place all our hopes on shooting. The inside is our biggest advantage. Tonight, we are going to smash the Portlanders' inside.

!”

All players should chant in unison.

Both teams are starting to take the field and the game is about to begin.

Ewing wore a black undershirt today to show his determination to put himself in the most dangerous situation.

When he jumped the ball in the opening game, he roared and handed the ball to his teammates.

The Knicks got the ball in the opening game, and just as the Trail Blazers were about to increase their intensity, Stockton passed the ball to Wilson.

Wilson caught the ball without pausing and lobbed it to Ewing.

Ewing grabbed the ball, collected the ball from the free throw line, went inside and dunked through Clifford Robinson's body.

"!#%"

He roared inarticulately, making the atmosphere at msg agitated from the first round.

2 to 0

The Knicks' five-defense starting lineup limited the Blazers beyond their expectations.

Rodman was more conducive to sweeping the ball in the third position. Ewing's determination to protect the basket in the penalty area and Kemp's watchdog-like sweeping around caused Barkley, who was preparing to play a back-up attack, to be flanked. He collected the ball too hastily and lost his pace.

Give a clean account and be blown away.

"Charles, you suck. Don't the donuts at the Four Seasons Hotel taste good? You look like you're not full!"

Spike Lee yells like an atavistic monkey to get at the other person's mentality.

The Trail Blazers returned to defense, and Louis stood on the sidelines and gestured to Stockton from a distance.

Stockton nodded in understanding.

Those who are paying attention can see that the Knicks' coaching staff all stood up, and starting from Louis, everyone had dark circles under their eyes.

They haven't had a good rest these days because the competition time is too tight and they only have two days to prepare.

Larry Nance is the only player in the Trail Blazers besides Jordan to be selected to the All-Defensive Team. His interior defense is a barrier for Riley to let him play center.

However, the quality of the Trail Blazers' training was not high, especially the players' defensive details were not well grasped. Jeff Van Gundy found a lot of flaws in his positioning.

Therefore, Louis and his assistants spent two days improving the "2 high" tactic.

The 2 high series of tactics is a double high post offensive system that the Knicks have used for many years. It was originally equipped specifically for McHale. Now, Louis has made many adjustments to the tactical route and play style.

2 The diagonal (double high post diagonal tactic) offensive system was born.

Since it is a temporary modification of 2 high and has not been specifically designed and researched, 2 diagonal is not so much a new tactic as it is a new concept and style of play. The general running and pick-and-roll screens have not changed.

Wilson opened up on one side and Stockton controlled the ball at the top of the key.

Ewing, Kemp, and Rodman each performed their duties.

Gorilla and Rainman first used a high double pick-and-roll on Stockton, and Rodman pulled to the other side to prepare for an air cut.

The only one the Blazers came out to delay was Clifford Robinson, while Nance still stuck to the paint.

As a result, Ewing directly pulled to the side and caught the ball and shot a jumper.

"Whoosh!"

4 to 0

Ewing, who became more confident as he played, raised his right hand to show off his muscles after making the shot.

"The more I watch, the angrier I get!" Louis said angrily, "He beat us like this earlier and we didn't even have to play in the seventh game!"

Zhao Yuanzheng is a professional blood pressure expert: "It's not too late for him to recover now."

"Damn, this bastard!"

The defense played by the Knicks' starting five defense after this was the strongest defense many people have ever seen.

Jordan broke through, encountered a double team and then passed the ball. Porter, who received the ball, met Wilson's rotation and passed again. Robinson was rotated by Kemp and continued to pass. Barkley held the ball to attack, and Ewing was in front with great momentum. Rodman suddenly jumped out like a wild monkey and gave him a heavy foul.

Barkley angrily pushed Rodman away and wanted to fight.

Rodman, who has red hair on his head, came today with the idea of ​​​​fighting the Trail Blazers. When he saw Barkley wanting to take action, he was neither afraid nor flinching. He pushed it with his chest and spat out trash talk.

Fortunately, the referee stopped it in time, otherwise the two men would probably have had a fight in front of tens of millions of TV viewers.

"Referee, if you let them fight, the ratings will be higher!"

Madonna shouted.

As a result, the referee only gave Rodman a common foul, the Blazers served, and the game continued.

The tactics were cut off and the Blazers, whose offense lost vitality, failed to find their star.

Terry Porter had to force a shot against Wilson's defensive switch.

But his ball didn't even touch the basket. The moment he shot, Wilson jumped up and blocked the ball from the court.

When the ball rolled outward, the Blazers' 24 seconds of attack time ran out.

Wilson whistled sarcastically and asked Porter to look at him: "You're not going to let us score again tonight, are you? You were just unlucky in the last game."

Louis saw the look on Potter's face and knew without even thinking that Wilson was talking trash again.

This is a true portrayal of the Knicks tonight.

Thanks to the Trail Blazers, the core players of the Knicks dynasty all remembered how they defeated the Celtics and took the throne.

It's not about the gorgeous offense, but the competitive desire and aggressiveness like a fucking beast.

For this reason, until the end of the game, Louis had to hold Riley's hand reverently and say thank you.

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