Champion, please stay!

Chapter 270, Section 268: A New Era is Coming!

Ewing's Bunny Hop!

The image of him jumping from outside the restricted area after landing, and then tilting his body to slam the ball into the basket despite insufficient jumping, is exactly the same as Ewing's!
TNT Sports: Barkley exclaimed "Oh my god!" several times in a row, and finally said, "Kenny, I've been dunked on like that before!"

Kenny Smith: "You're bragging again... huh?"

The entire crowd chanted "MVP" in unison. Yi Shui made the free throw, making it 51-50, and the Knicks took the lead again!
When it was the Celtics' turn to attack, Pierce called for the ball at the high post and went one-on-one against Yi Shui.

Rivers wanted Pierce and Yi Shui to face off, and they did just that when Pierce was on offense!

Pierce raised his hand in a feint, then turned sideways to close in on Yi Shui. He turned his body to the left, but his dribbling hand flicked the ball inward. He then suddenly turned his back to his center, took a step back, and jumped to shoot... Just as he landed and lifted the ball, he saw Yi Shui already reaching out to cover his face!

He quickly leaned back more and threw the ball... but the ball didn't even touch the rim, it grazed the net and went out of bounds!

Pierce cursed and pinched his thigh. He forgot that this killer move of his wouldn't work against Yi Shui in G1!

Although it's unclear why he was able to create opportunities every time he faced Yi Shui in the regular season, and even when he missed, it was just a matter of his shooting touch, he suddenly couldn't perform in the playoffs, but tonight he consciously avoided using complicated combos against Yi Shui's defense and used the simplest tactics.

But having just been dunked on and scored a 2+1, he got carried away and instinctively used this move... His response was a complete airball! He made an even bigger fool of himself!
After exchanging high-fives with David Lee, who had run out, Yi Shui ran towards the front of the court together.

Pierce just executed a backspin turn followed by a backspin turn and a step-back, which is a combo from his triple threat offense.

During his nine-day rest period, Yi Shui studied the breakdown of this technique at least 80 to 100 times.

It requires extremely high body control and a strong core strength as a foundation. It also demands a high level of rhythm and power generation, making it very difficult to defend against. He was outmaneuvered by Pierce several times during the regular season.

He searched online and found videos of Kobe, Prince, Marion, Kirilenko, and others being tricked by Pierce using this move.

But after repeatedly watching the technical breakdown and videos of Pierce using this move this season, Yi Shui discovered a problem.

It's not a problem with the technique itself, but with Pierce – his athletic ability has declined significantly since he turned 30!
In the technical breakdown footage, Pierce looks like an old man, but his turning and stepping movements are very quick, and his explosive power and acceleration are particularly outstanding; while the current Pierce basically relies on static strength, core strength, and rhythm difference to perform his techniques.

Also due to his declining athleticism, whenever Pierce uses complex combos, he will generally choose to step back or turn and shoot instead of driving to the basket.

Pierce's shot was clearly a response to the dunk he just made, so he would definitely choose to shoot one-on-one from the outside.

Even if Kobe or Marion had discovered this problem, it would have been difficult to defend against them because they lacked the advantage in static physical attributes.

But Yi Shui is different; he's taller! And younger, and his defense doesn't involve as much hesitation!

When it was the Knicks' turn to attack, Yi Shui continued to post up and receive the ball with Garnett.

The crowd erupted in cheers, especially the older fans who longed to see that familiar scene again.

The gorilla on the sidelines had even lifted its butt off the chair, clenched its fists, and looked on expectantly.

Garnett and Pierce had coordinated their defense in advance. Garnett positioned himself higher up to block Yi Shui's right turn and jump step, while Pierce drove to the baseline to block Yi Shui's left turn and attack the basket.

Yi Shui didn't use a feint; instead, he rammed into Garnett!
Despite his smaller size, his explosive power of 95 allowed Garnett to instinctively lower his center of gravity and regain his footing.

During the confrontation, Yi Shui lowered his shoulder, turned to the left, jumped, and used the momentum of the jump to lift the ball and hook it out... Pierce and Garnett didn't even have time to interfere. Yi Shui's timing was perfect and his movement was extremely fast!
The ball hit the left side of the rim, bounced twice with the force of the spin, and fell into the basket!

The cheers from the fans rose even higher! The gorilla on the sidelines jumped up again, pumping his fist in celebration for Yi Shui!
Sure enough! Their Knicks' new number one draft pick used his trick!
His signature low-post shoulder drop and turnaround hook shot against his opponent!

A shoulder strike is a foul, but a shoulder strike followed by a shoulder strike to delay the opponent's rise is not a foul.

However, that hook shot with a flick of the wrist and the little trick of using the fingers to deflect the ball seems to resemble that fat guy's... It doesn't matter.

These details don't matter! What matters is that the technique is his, and that one strike was merely a 'trivial' way of ending the fight.

Even though the coaches and teammates already had extremely high praise for Yi Shui's talent, they couldn't help but exclaim in amazement when they saw him attack from the low post in these two rounds.

They saw Yi Shui practicing these techniques after the regular season ended, but it's only been less than a month since the regular season ended, and they've already played 9 games in that time. Yi Shui used them in a game and made both shots! And he was facing Garnett's defense!
The Knicks lead the Celtics 53-50!
In the transition between offense and defense, the Celtics were a bit too hasty on this possession. Ray Allen shook off Hughes' defense and received the ball. Curry switched in and shut down Ray Allen. Ray Allen turned and squeezed Curry to shoot, but the squeeze wasn't enough to move him properly. His jump was still interfered with, and the three-pointer went out because he didn't have enough power and it was too short.

Looking back, seeing the opponent's defense drop down, Curry didn't lob the ball to Yi Shui. Instead, he went one-on-one against Rondo, faked a drive, stepped back, and sank a three-pointer... and it went in!
With the Knicks leading 56-50, Rivers hesitated for a moment before calling a timeout.

Hearing the deafening cheers from the crowd, Rivers regretted it. He shouldn't have called the timeout; he should have waited until a mistake or foul occurred on one side and then made a substitution while the ball was dead. But it was too late to regret it now!

...

In just four minutes, the head coach made a mistake in his on-the-spot response, and the star player was dunked on and scored a 2+1. The Celtics responded with a missed shot, and the Celtics were hit with a 14-4 run, going from a 4-point lead to a 6-point deficit, forcing them to call two timeouts... Even with the Big Three, the Celtics couldn't withstand such a blow to their morale.

After the timeout, the Celtics played more chaotically and impatiently.

In the next 8 minutes, the Celtics only scored 15 points, bringing their total to 19 points in the quarter, including the 4 points they scored earlier!
The Knicks, on the other hand, were on fire! Although their scoring in the last 8 minutes wasn't as terrifying as in the first 4 minutes, they still managed 20 points, higher than their offensive firepower in the second quarter.

易水前面4分钟，3投3中加上2中2的罚球拿到8分，后面8分钟5投3中，其中三分球2中1，加上1中1的罚球，又拿了8分，率队单节狂轰34分，三节打完时以76比65领先凯尔特人队11分！
During the break, Garnett's loud shouting successfully calmed his teammates down.

While Garnett has many flaws, his competitiveness, willingness to sacrifice ball possession and shot attempts, and willingness to play second fiddle to non-superstars to avoid internal conflicts as a superstar are all highly praised, especially within the Celtics team, where everyone knows he is the best.

At Rondo's suggestion, Rivers switched to the regular lineup.

After the start of the final quarter, the Celtics rallied, focusing on solid defense and abandoning their mindless pursuit of fast breaks as they had in the first quarter. This successfully ended the chaotic play and brought down the Knicks' scoring efficiency, holding them to just 19 points in the final quarter.

Of those 13 points, Curry made two three-pointers, and Yi Shui made two long two-pointers and one three-pointer – they were just easy baskets, especially considering how good the Celtics' defense was.

However, the Celtics' own offense simply couldn't keep up!
On the defensive end, they can rely on tenacity and teamwork to stop mid-range and close-range shots and cut off the middle.

On offense, however, the inside players can't make shots despite the pressure, and the outside players can't shake off the defenders' interference; no matter how they shoot, they miss.

The team only scored 18 points in the final quarter! That's less than the Knicks!
At 10:20 p.m., the final whistle blew.

The Knicks defeated the Celtics 95-83 at home, tying the series 1-1!
首节6分、第二节7分、第三节16分、末节7分，易水打了44分钟，30投13中，其中三分球9中3，加上8中7的罚球，拿到全场最高的36分，外加14板3助攻1抢断2盖帽！

库里上半场得分不多，只有6分，但第三节和末节都拿到了6分，15投6中、其中三分球10中4，加上2中2的罚球，拿到18分3板4助攻1抢断。

对面，隆多15投9中拿到全队最高的24分，外加8板7助攻；皮尔斯16分、雷-阿伦15分、加内特12分8板……

Looking at the statistics of both sides on the big screen, D'Antoni recalled Yi Shui's words, "You must have a long-term vision," and they really came in handy!
In the final quarter, the Celtics displayed an amazing ability to recover from their mistakes, resuming their strong defense after three chaotic quarters, but their offense collapsed due to fatigue!

Meanwhile, D'Antoni, along with Mark Jackson, Cheeks, Dan D'Antoni, and others, marveled at how "Big's basketball brain is just brilliant."

Meanwhile, on TNT's live broadcast, Yi Shui and Patrick Ewing, who had been invited, were interviewed together.

"Patrick is the best center in my mind, without a doubt. He is proficient in all inside offensive techniques and is someone I aspire to learn from. If I could have 10% of his inside offensive skills, it would be enough for me to become the best small forward in the low post."

Upon hearing Yi Shui's words, the gorilla's eyes reddened...

...

The Knicks held on for their second home game, proving they are capable of beating the Celtics, unlike the Pacers and Magic who were completely outmatched.

However, the player who appeared most in the media after the game was a legend who had been retired for many years – Ewing!
The New York Times commented that the two low-post plays by the Great Emperor, mimicking a gorilla, determined the course of the game.

Fans are also very enthusiastic about discussing this matter.

Some say this is the legacy of New York basketball.

Some people joked that they've seen people imitate Hakeem Olajuwon, Admiral David Robinson, and even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but this is the first time they've seen a young superstar imitate the gorilla's playing style. Yi Shui has a very unique taste.

Of course, some people were very direct in their criticism, saying that Yi Shui's two one-on-one moves were ugly... New York fans responded with a bunch of GIFs of James' "fancy one-on-one", which then sparked a war of words.

Few people disagreed with Yi Shui's post-match interview praising Ewing as the most technically skilled center.

In an interview, legend John Stockton said that young players should learn Ewing's technique, rather than dreaming of learning Hakeem Olajuwon's "fancy tricks" when they haven't even mastered the basics.

After Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, there were no games on the 25th, and topics such as New York, Ewing, Yishui, and legacy continued to generate buzz throughout the day.

The conversation also shifted from Yi Shui's initial attempt to learn Ewing's low-post back-to-the-basket game to the feud between Ewing and the Knicks...

In Chicago, the opening of the combined tryouts failed to steal the spotlight.

This is also related to the lackluster performance of this year's rookies. It's not that those rookies lack talent, but they didn't participate in the draft like Yi Shui in 08 or Griffin last year, and showed a level of individual ability that far surpassed everyone else in their final year of college.

On the 26th, after a two-day break, the two teams returned to the Lakers' home arena, Staples Center, to continue their Western Conference Finals matchup.

James' fans, Yi Shui's fans, and fans of other teams and stars all disapprove, but right now, the most disapproved are Kobe's fans.

With the Lakers trailing 0-2 on the road, countless fans are hoping the Suns can continue their momentum, take a 3-0 lead, secure match point, and clinch the Western Conference Finals.

Unfortunately, Kobe Bryant had a mid-range explosion back at home, hitting 11 shots from beyond the free-throw line and inside the three-point line in a single game. This forced the Suns to double-team him relentlessly at the high post, creating excellent opportunities for Bynum, Gasol, Odom, Artest, and others to attack the basket.

Although the Lakers couldn't stop the Suns' offense, the Lakers went even further tonight, defeating the Suns 126-118 and narrowing the series deficit to 1-2!

In the hotel where the Knicks were staying in Boston, Yi Shui watched the game result with great delight.

There was no other reason; I just wanted to watch more games between Kobe and Nash.

Before Kupchak once again demonstrated his trading prowess by creating a "Big Four," Kobe was always a championship contender. However, Nash and Stoudemire had already broken ties with the Suns' management and were unlikely to stay. Without Stoudemire, it was uncertain whether the Suns could even make the playoffs in the West. This was arguably the last peak battle of the 96 golden generation.

After watching the live stream, Yi Shui turned on his computer and looked at the post-game news... Hmm, that feels good. Kobe's post-game treatment was similar to his; he was besieged by other fans.

After two rest days, the third day of the Eastern Conference Finals arrived on the 27th.

At 8 p.m., at TD Garden, Yi Shui led his team in a fierce battle against the Celtics!

After two games, Rivers learned his lesson and stopped trying to predict the outcome. He just followed the Knicks' roster structure and playing style, making the most conventional and basic tactical arrangements.

Rivers is actually quite good at analyzing and predicting the opponent's playing style and making pre-game preparations.

But the Knicks are such a strange team. Their adjustments are completely unlike what a head coach would come up with. They act haphazardly and without any regard for consistency.

Rivers' decision this time turned out to be a lucky break. As long as he doesn't cause trouble when playing against the Knicks, he will be the biggest help to Rondo and Garnett.

After two games and one more chaotic game that run-and-gun teams love, the Knicks have found their rhythm. Playing on the road, they showed no fear despite the boos from the TD Garden crowd and started the game quite well.

But the Celtics' veteran players, who had rested for two days, were not held back by their head coach. From the start of the game, they displayed superb teamwork in both offense and defense. While their team offense was excellent, they also gradually wore down the Knicks' offensive touch and eventually cut off the Knicks' team coordination in half-court sets.

The Knicks led 16-13 in the first half of the quarter, but only 11-13 in the second half. By the end of the first quarter, the Celtics had narrowed the gap to 26-27 and were beginning to gain the upper hand.

In the second quarter, the Celtics dragged the game into their preferred rhythm—a low-scoring mode.

They only scored 18 points themselves, but they limited the Knicks' scoring even further, holding them to just 17 points and tying the game at 44-44 going into halftime.

In the third quarter, the Celtics found their rhythm on both ends of the court, going on a 28-19 run to take a 72-63 lead.

In the final quarter, the Knicks launched a counterattack. Yi Shui relentlessly attacked the paint, making only 2 of 6 shots, indicating poor accuracy. However, he made all 8 free throws, scoring 12 points and leading the team to 26 points in the quarter.

The Celtics couldn't stop Yi Shui, but their offense continued, scoring 24 points in the quarter...

With 10 of 23 field goals made, including 2 of 7 three-pointers, and 11 of 12 free throws, Yi Shui scored 33 points, but it was still not enough to turn the tide. The Knicks lost their first away game 89-96.

The Celtics held firm in their first home game, preventing their opponents from regaining home-court advantage!

皮尔斯19分、隆多12分6板7助攻、加内特8分8板3助攻、雷-阿伦15分、拉希德-华莱士14分、丹尼尔斯9分……

Nine Celtics players took to the court, and apart from Tony Allen who scored zero points, the other eight all scored, with even Perkins contributing two dunks and two free throws.

Although the Knicks went on an offensive surge in the final quarter, they failed to effectively close the gap, and the Celtics remained in a safe position throughout.

After the game, most media outlets stated that the Celtics' overall strength and defensive dominance were too strong, and the Knicks' core lineup was simply unmatched.

The general consensus is that the Celtics will come back to New York with a 3-1 series win and ultimately advance in the basketball mecca.

Only the veterans of the Celtics know the immense pressure they felt facing the relentless, almost reckless, digging of the Yi River. They appeared calm on the surface, but deep down they were...

After a day of rest, Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals will begin at 8 p.m. on the 29th at TD Garden!
Just as the veteran team predicted, the opposing team's Emperor and his minions were a bunch of unyielding dolls, no matter how hard they were attacked, they couldn't be knocked down!

Tonight, the Knicks played a more extreme offense, with Yi Shui posting up high, David Lee and Chandler attacking the boards; Curry and Chandler setting pick-and-rolls and dishing out, with Yi Shui attacking the boards and David Lee receiving the pass, plus attacking whenever possible!
The score was 28-24 in the first quarter. Ray Allen hit three three-pointers in the quarter, once again creating a significant threat and leading his team to a four-point lead over the Knicks.

In the second quarter, the Celtics' offense stalled after Ray Allen's three-point shooting went cold! Although they once again limited the Knicks to 24 points, they only managed 18 points themselves.

The Knicks led the Celtics 48-46 at halftime!
After halftime, the Knicks, who were willing to sacrifice shooting accuracy in order to maintain their fast-paced offense, finally unleashed their fast-paced whirlwind!
Yi Shui scored 4 points and 3 assists on fast breaks, helped Curry and Webster each hit a three-pointer, and also helped Hughes complete an alley-oop dunk. The Knicks scored 12 points on fast breaks alone in this quarter, plus 17 points in half-court offense, outscoring the Celtics 29-22 in the quarter and leading the Celtics 77-68 by 9 points going into the final quarter!
In the final quarter, the Celtics launched a furious comeback, with Ray Allen, Pierce, and Garnett surrounding them at the high post and firing away. The Knicks simply couldn't defend against them and could only gamble on the three players' shooting touch. But all three were on fire, with Pierce scoring 8 points and Ray Allen and Garnett each adding 6. The trio combined for 20 points in the quarter, leading the team to a game-high 30 points in a single quarter for both teams.

只是，尼克斯队这边，易水4投2中加上4中4的罚球拿到8分、替补上场的鸟人完成2次补扣和1次吃饼拿到6分、库里进了一个三分球、钱德勒反击跟进2投2中加上2中1的罚球拿到5分、大卫-李两次中距离接应投进了……也拿到了26分！
20投8中、其中三分球9中2、加上7中7的罚球，易水拿到25分13板6助攻1抢断3盖帽。

钱德勒15分11板、大卫-李11分7板、库里20分6助攻、鸟人14分6板……

Five Knicks players scored in double figures, withstanding the Celtics' late-quarter onslaught of accurate mid-range shots, and the Knicks defeated the Celtics 103-98 on the road, regaining home-court advantage!

...

From securing the number one draft pick to achieving a league-leading 68 wins, the Knicks players have never lacked resilience.

Despite being thoroughly crushed in G3, they displayed remarkable tenacity and perseverance, delivering an outstanding performance that silenced those who predicted a gentlemanly sweep!

After two rest days, on June 2nd, the two sides moved to Madison Square Garden for the decisive battle.

Without any probing, both teams went straight into battle from the start.

The Knicks have found their rhythm, getting used to high-intensity, high-consumption play with a high number of shots.

Nobody cares about the shooting percentage. If you have a good opportunity and your shooting touch is on, shoot hard. If you have a good opportunity but your shooting touch is off, gamble on luck. If you have neither a good opportunity nor a good shooting touch, then pass the ball to Yi Shui and Curry. The eldest and second eldest brothers are tough and can take the blame.

With 22 points in the first quarter, 24 points in the second quarter, 25 points in the third quarter, and 22 points in the final quarter, the Knicks scored a total of 93 points. Although the total score was not high, it was their best and most consistent performance on both offense and defense.

The Celtics had 10 players on the court, and two of them scored zero goals.

加内特拿到13分、雷-阿伦12分、隆多9分、托尼-阿伦8分、拉希德-华莱士7分、格伦-戴维斯6分、帕金斯5分。

Of the eight players who scored, seven of them combined for only 60 points. The Knicks defended really well tonight. Cheeks' defensive adjustments were very effective, with excellent catching, defense, and blocking, leaving almost no room for error.

But someone exploded!

皮尔斯顶着干扰22投13中，其中三分球6中4，加上8中8的罚球，狂轰38分！
力压拿到27分10板8助攻的易水，率队以98比93客场击败尼克斯队，赢下天王山之战，大比分3比2领先！

Pierce, who had been suppressed by Yi Shui, won countless praises for his explosive performance tonight.

However, the Knicks, despite losing the game, were not subjected to the same level of criticism as they did after their home loss in Game 1... Even the New York media were criticizing them after Game 1.

Many media outlets believe that the Knicks were simply unlucky in this game. The team made 39 of 85 shots, a 45.9% field goal percentage, which was their best offensive performance since the start of the Eastern Conference Finals. They also held the Celtics to 31 of 78 shots, a mere 39.7% field goal percentage. They simply lost to a breakout performance from Pierce.

But Pierce was never the kind of star who could have a series of explosive performances!
而且皮尔斯就算这场比赛投出了22中13的命中率，5场比赛下来的总投篮表现，也只有95投37中，命中率38.9%，比5场比赛合计投了120次命中50球的易水的命中率还低！

This time, the media's predictions were correct...

On June 4th, the Eastern Conference Finals match will be held at TD Garden.

The Celtics, holding a match point, silenced their home crowd in the first quarter, shooting 2-for-18 from the field, missing all 7 of their three-point attempts, and only managing 6 points on 2-for-4 free throws!
Their offense started to pick up in the second quarter, scoring 18 points, followed by 20 points in the third quarter and 23 points in the final quarter... but their first quarter score was too low, and they only managed 67 points in total!
On the other side, the score was not high either. In the first quarter, the team only scored 25 points, relying on Yi Shui's crazy solo counterattack of 12 points. In the second quarter, they only scored 17 points, in the third quarter 23 points, and in the final quarter only 21 points. They did not play any advantage in the last three quarters, but they were steady!

After the final buzzer sounded, D'Antoni gave an interview. With a flushed face, he glanced at the bewildered Rivers across from him and said to the camera, "In the playoffs, you need patience. Winning early doesn't guarantee victory; you need to think long-term..."

They didn't play as well tonight as they did in the last game. Yi Shui scored 12 points in the first quarter, shooting 5 of 7, but only made 7 of 17 shots in the next three quarters. Their regular offensive and defensive shooting percentage was just over 40%, and the others were even worse.

However! Through ten days of attrition warfare, they made the opponent's offense even worse! Each match was worse than the last!

Moreover, they remained steadfast and did not waver in their offensive and defensive strategies despite Pierce's outburst the night before. They were prepared for Pierce to score another 38 points in a single game.

Unfortunately, Pierce didn't have the ability to go on a scoring spree for two consecutive games. Tonight, he only made 6 of 22 shots, missing all 4 of his three-point attempts, and with 2 of 3 free throws, he only scored 14 points!
Of course, there's also the most important rebounding. Their team had 52 rebounds, and Chandler alone grabbed 14 defensive rebounds. It's just a pity that he only managed 3 offensive rebounds.

25投13中，其中三分球4中1，加上7中7的罚球，易水拿到34分11板3助攻4抢断，率队以86比67大胜凯尔特人队，将大比分追至3比3平！
...

On the afternoon of the 5th, Yi Shui returned to New York with the team, but did not leave with the team.

Not long after, he received his parents, who had come to New York accompanied by their agent in China, Shen Zhiyu.

After getting into the van arranged by the Battelstein agency, Yi Shui and his family of three went home. On the way home, Yi Shui overheard his father chatting in English with his American agent, who was in charge of the athlete's personal life.

Despite his accent, he speaks English quite fluently, even more fluently than his mother, who is an English teacher!
Yi Shui knew that his father had been practicing English diligently for the past two years and often communicated with his mother in English at home, but when he came last time, he was still unwilling to speak English, saying things like, "I don't live abroad often, why should I speak this?"

Now that we can have daily conversations, I couldn't wait to show off in front of him as soon as I got off the plane!

After arriving home, his parents chatted with him for a while before going back to their bedroom to sleep. The Filipino maid had already cleaned the room a couple of days ago and replaced all the toiletries with new ones.

Yi Shui went to the study and looked at the dozens of dolls in the cabinet. He hadn't put any new dolls in this time... Thinking back to the last two games, the pressure still hadn't dissipated.

After tying the series in Game 4, he called his parents, wanting them to come over to celebrate his birthday and watch the Finals with him. Unexpectedly, Pierce had a breakout performance in Game 5. Fortunately, they withstood the pressure in Game 6, maintained their offensive consistency, and won the game.

Otherwise, if his parents come, they'll have to go fishing with him, which would be incredibly embarrassing.

In the evening, Yi Shui had a family restaurant nearby deliver food. His parents woke him up for dinner, ate a few bites, and went back to bed. He stayed in front of the TV to watch the Western Conference Finals.

In the Western Conference Finals, after the Lakers avoided a 0-3 deficit, Kobe Bryant hit a game-winning mid-range jumper with 1.8 seconds left in the second home game, giving the Lakers a narrow 108-107 victory over the Suns and tying the series 2-2.

On the pivotal Game 1, the Suns, playing at home, were at a disadvantage, trailing the Lakers 76-84 after three quarters. However, they launched a furious 35-25 run in the final quarter. Nash hit a three-pointer after a pick-and-roll in the final moments, helping the Suns take a 111-109 lead with only 5 seconds left for the Lakers.

Kobe attempted a game-winning three-pointer, but missed. The ball bounced off the rim and was tipped onto the basket by Gasol, who used his wingspan advantage. The ball flew towards the basket, and the red light hadn't even come on when Gasol's fingertips left the ball. But DeAndre Jordan burst out from the crowd and swatted the ball away!

The referees reviewed the replay and confirmed that when DeAndre Jordan swatted the ball, it was still rising, making it a block rather than goaltending. The Suns narrowly defeated the Lakers in Game 5.

Two days ago, on the evening of the 3rd, Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals was played at the Lakers' home court. This time, Kobe Bryant went on a scoring spree, making 12 of 25 field goals, including 3 of 7 three-pointers, and 10 of 10 free throws for a total of 37 points. He outscored Nash, who had 21 points and 9 assists, and Stoudemire, who had 27 points and 13 rebounds, as the Lakers won 114-108 at home, tying the series.

Tonight, it's Game 7, a crucial battle between the two teams, taking place at the Suns' home court.

During the Eastern Conference Finals, Yi Shui watched every game of the Western Conference Finals live.

He was under immense pressure, playing so fiercely in every game. In six games, he only scored over 100 points in one game, and in two games he scored less than 90. The Celtics' veteran star players are just too strong.

He could only relieve stress by self-regulating, discussing various ways to create life with his older sister, and watching live games.

Moreover, the Western Conference Finals were really exciting, and he didn't want to miss a single game.

Of course, fans also found their game very exciting. Even Lakers fans said their game was entertaining. Although the score was low, it had a different kind of beauty. Games that are all the same and have the same style are not interesting.

At 8 p.m. Los Angeles time, Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals began at the American West Arena.

The game started with a fierce battle, with Kobe launching a relentless attack and trading blows with Nash and Stoudemire.

The first quarter saw the two teams trade baskets, with the Lakers outscoring the Lakers 30-29, giving the visiting team a one-point lead.

In the second quarter, the point difference became obvious. The Suns, with everyone contributing, unleashed their team offense in this quarter. Nash only scored two points and Stoudemire only four, but his teammates combined for 20 points. With eight players rotating in the quarter, all eight scored.

On the Lakers' side, Kobe's individual performance was even better than his 12 points in the first quarter, scoring 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting plus 3-of-4 free throws. However!

加索尔6中1拿到2分、拜纳姆3中0、费舍尔2中2，只有阿泰斯特表现正常，2投1中加上2中2的罚球拿到4分。

单节26比21，太阳队以55比51取得4分领先优势！
After halftime, the Lakers' offense picked up, with Kobe Bryant contributing 7 points and 2 assists, and Pau Gasol adding 5 points and 2 assists, none of which were from passing each other to each other, leading the team to 26 points in the quarter.

只不过太阳队进攻表现更好，纳什单节6分3助攻、希尔8分2助攻，携手率队单节拿到28分。

The Suns extended their lead to 6 points, 83-77!
In the fourth quarter, the Lakers suffered another setback, and their twin towers faltered once again!
In this Western Conference Finals, Gasol and Bynum were driven to the brink of collapse by Stoudemire, Jordan, Frye, Lopez, Amundson, Hill, and others!

The Suns started the fourth quarter with a 7-2 run, making it 90-79 and extending their lead to double digits. Phil Jackson was forced to call a timeout and immediately substituted both of their big men, bringing in Odom and Artest in the frontcourt, with Kobe at small forward and Fisher and Vujacic in the backcourt... Kobe's pure scoring lineup was on!

Kobe's performance tonight was truly phenomenal. He scored 34 points in the first three quarters, and after the substitution, he racked up another 13 points in the following nine minutes, along with three assists. Fisher made two catch-and-shoot three-pointers, Artest scored a layup, and Odom added a layup. During this period, the Lakers scored a total of 23 points.

But during this time, Nash also made two three-pointers, plus two free throws, for a total of 8 points, and 4 assists!
Stoudemire scored 6 points, Jordan 2 points, and Richardson made a three-pointer, bringing the Suns' total to 19 points!
With two seconds left in the game, Kobe launched a three-pointer from the backcourt, and the final buzzer sounded.

纳什28分3板10助攻、斯塔德迈尔25分10板、希尔18分7板4助攻、小乔丹8分6板3盖帽、理查德森12分……

The Suns defeated the Lakers 109-102 at home, winning the Western Conference Finals 4-3 and becoming the first team to advance to the NBA Finals!
科比今晚表现狂暴，打满全场，33投18中，其中三分球9中4，加上8中7的罚球……空砍47分9板8助攻2抢断。

Yi Shui was stunned as he listened to the "Beat LA" chant coming from the amplifier and looked at the win on the Suns' logo.

Oh my god, the Wind Child has made it to the finals!

The Suns won!
Even if the Suns win Game 5, he still believes the Lakers can turn the tide. Kobe's field goal percentage is over 50% in this series, and he's averaging 7 assists per game.

Unexpectedly, they lost because of the Twin Towers!
易水看着电视上贴出的数据，拜纳姆和加索尔合计26投9中，一个14中5、一个12中3，加起来只拿到22分！
He reviewed the entire Western Conference Finals and found that the Suns' shift from a passive to an active position seemed to begin with DeAndre Jordan's game-winning block on the Lakers in Game 5...

DeAndre Jordan's block gave the Suns the chance to play a Game 7 even if they lost Game 6, and they ultimately defeated the Lakers thanks to the stamina advantage of their interior players!
Is this another form of attrition warfare? Regardless of whether Gentry acted voluntarily, the Suns ultimately won because of their young frontcourt group consisting of Stoudemire, Jordan, Lopez, Amundson, and Frye.

Yi Shui was determined to play Kobe in the NBA Finals, but the Western Conference Finals champion lost!

That means he can play Nash in the NBA Finals!

As for their failure to advance... he hadn't even considered losing tomorrow's match!

...

Kobe delivered the most insane individual performance of this year's playoffs, scoring an efficient 47 points, but the Lakers still lost the decisive Game 7. After the game, the entire basketball world was in an uproar.

Since the basketball god retired for the second time, the NBA Finals have always revolved around three players for the past 11 seasons.

Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant.

This is the first time in over a decade that the Grand Finals have been held without Snake Buddha Shark!

At the same time, this was the first time Kobe had lost in the Western Conference Finals since the 1999-2000 season. He had won all six of his previous Western Conference Finals appearances and reached the NBA Finals, earning him the title of King of the Western Conference Finals.

ESPN headline: The old era is over.

A CNN anchor proclaimed on his nightly news: "A new era has arrived."

The next day, June 6th, was the final day of the regional finals.

The eyes of the media and fans are all focused on New York.

Will the finals be a clash between the strongest spear and the strongest shield, or a run-and-gun battle?
If the Knicks win the Eastern Conference Finals, that will be a big deal—the run-and-gun offense will win the championship!
Cavaliers fans are active again, launching a frenzy of attacks on the Knicks online and swearing their support for the Celtics.

If the Lakers win the Western Conference Finals, then even if the Knicks come back from behind to defeat the Celtics and advance to the NBA Finals, Cavaliers fans won't be too worried about the Knicks winning the championship.

The Knicks struggled against the Celtics' veteran interior lineup, so they'll likely suffer even more against the Lakers' big three. The Lakers' big three are much more resilient than the Celtics' veteran lineup, and they were able to go toe-to-toe with the Suns' interior in the first six games, making the Knicks' attrition warfare strategy less effective.

But the Lakers lost! The Knicks vs. the Suns game is really hard to predict; Yi Shui could very well replicate Duncan's success and lead his team to a championship in his second year!

Both Yi Shui and James now have one MVP and one scoring title. James also has two more All-NBA First Team selections, two All-NBA Second Team selections, and one All-Defensive First Team selection, giving him a significant advantage in accumulated honors over Yi Shui.

But things changed after Yi Shui won the championship; they were able to leave their king behind!
After finishing his morning training session, Yi Shui was browsing the news when he saw Cavaliers fans everywhere swearing in support of the Celtics. Out of curiosity, he created a new account to visit the Cavaliers fan forum and learned about the Cavaliers fans' thoughts... speechless, and not really caring, he didn't even have the mind to use his new account to say a few words in response.

The king is about to become someone else's family, yet he still cares so much about these things.

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert seems rather naive. After being swept, he immediately jumped out and angrily criticized Mobvoi, West, Jamison, and others as troublemakers, saying he wanted to clean out the team and rebuild a championship-contending roster...

The comments Lakers fans made online today amused Yi Shui.

Previously, Lakers fans supported the Celtics. Yi Shui secretly infiltrated the Lakers fan forum and learned about the Lakers fans' thinking. It was nothing more than a simple desire to avenge their loss to the Celtics in the Finals.

Putting everything else aside, the Lakers are very magnanimous in this regard, believing that a victory must be decided head-on.

Now that the Lakers are out of contention, Lakers fans have immediately changed their tune, becoming Knicks supporters and stating that they don't want to see the Celtics reach the Finals and don't want the Celtics to win the championship.

Fans are often very similar to the stars they support. Lakers fans are pretentious, annoying, and openly petty.

As evening fell, after the pre-match warm-up, the coaching staff and teammates celebrated Yi Shui's 23rd birthday in the locker room.

It wasn't a surprise; everyone was discussing it this morning, just for good luck.

The boss said that the real celebration would be tonight, after we make it to the finals, he'd treat us to a meal.

After making a wish at the Yi River and cutting the cake, everyone took a small bite and then walked together toward the players' tunnel...

...

At 7:40 p.m., the visiting Celtics entered the stadium first.

Tonight, the basketball mecca was in unprecedented frenzy!
When the Knicks have a chance to step onto the final stage, the enthusiasm of New York fans is no less than that of fans of any other team, especially in the decisive Game 7.

With the added bonus of Yishui being the 'Holy Land Monarch', even the experienced veterans of the Celtics were somewhat shocked.

Salt Lake City's not-so-intimidating home court? It's not even close to basketball mecca!

At 8 PM, the decisive Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals began.

The Knicks took the lead again in the first quarter, outscoring the Knicks 24-17 to gain a 7-point advantage!
However, the Knicks have resilience, and the Celtics have no shortage of veteran stars!

From having a clear advantage, to their advantage being gradually erased, to falling into a disadvantageous position... Pierce, Garnett, Ray Allen, Rasheed Wallace and others became more and more tormented as the game progressed, but they never thought of giving up.

In the second quarter, the veteran players started playing like crazy, and their offense surged against the odds, scoring 24 points in the quarter and limiting the Knicks to 21 points.

The Celtics narrowed the gap to 4 points at halftime, 41-45!
In the third quarter, the Celtics continued their offensive firepower from the second quarter. Pierce scored 7 points, Ray Allen 6 points, and Garnett 5 points. Led by Rondo, the three of them combined to lead the team to 25 points in the quarter, one point more than in the second quarter.

However, their team defense couldn't hold up in this quarter. Although they managed to limit Yi Shui to 2-for-7 shooting and only 6 points through active help defense, Yi Shui still managed to get 4 assists!
库里7分、钱德勒5分、大卫-李4分、替补上场的查尔莫斯3分，尼克斯队也拿到了25分。

After three quarters, the Knicks led the Celtics 70-66, maintaining their four-point lead!
As the holiday break began, Yi Shui breathed a brief sigh of relief.

Those old guys on the other side are no easy opponents. Take Ray Allen, for example. When he comes in to defend, he's practically floating when he goes out to defend. As long as he's open, he can still make the shot. He went 2-for-3 from three-point range in a single quarter, which is more accurate than young Curry's 2-for-4.

D'Antoni made lineup adjustments, and as for tactics... he left it to Yi Shui to decide.

The series has long been out of his control, especially tonight. If Yi Shui hadn't attracted a lot of double teams in the third quarter and passed the ball out, that small point difference might have been wiped out or even overtaken by the opposing team's star players.

Since that's the case, why not delegate some authority? This doesn't mean that D'Antoni's desire for team control is lower than Rivers'; it's simply because Yi Shui has a good public image—a keen sense of the game.

Back from the holiday break.

The Celtics brought in a lineup of Rondo, Ray Allen, Pierce, Garnett, and Rasheed Wallace.

After Game 2, Rivers never again made the foolish mistake of putting Garnett and Glen Davis at center, increasing Davis's playing time and preventing Yi Jianlian from posting up in the low post.

The Knicks brought in a lineup of Curry, Hughes, Yi Shui, David Lee, and Chandler.

The Knicks started the fourth quarter with the first possession.

Before going on the court, when Yi Shui and his teammates discussed how to play, they were prepared to play by ear and rely on mutual agreement.

Team chemistry is one of the Knicks' biggest advantages in this Eastern Conference Finals.

Although they have been working together for a shorter time than the opposing four giants, their teamwork is definitely stronger.

The four superstars really didn't have much chemistry. In 08, they relied on Garnett to orchestrate the offense, and this year they relied on Rondo to make the team play so well. If it weren't for their common goal of winning the championship, they would have fallen out long ago.

Yi Shui received the ball on the right side of the arc, and after Curry spread out, he prepared to launch a one-on-one attack... but when he saw the opponent's formation, he was stunned.

Pierce's one-on-one defense at the top of the arc + Tianzun's rim protection?

Is this a test of individual ability against him?

Yi Shui's judgment was correct. During the break, Rivers was helpless in the face of his current physical exhaustion and the inability to cover both double teams and help out on defense.

Finally, Rondo came up with an idea – star players go head-to-head!

Rivers didn't even have a better solution, let alone a better one. When a player suggested a solution, he used it decisively, as if it were a lifeline. That's why he used Rasheed Wallace at center in the final quarter, giving him better one-on-one space.

Pierce, who was very self-confident and capable, was naturally not afraid of this and readily agreed.

The benefit of "doing it as it comes" came in: when Curry saw Yi Shui bending over and moving the ball back and forth at the top of the arc, he immediately directed his teammates to create space.

Yi Shui plays one-on-one against Pierce, breaks through with a crossover, takes two small steps, stops abruptly to gather the ball, takes a long step back to the top arc, and fires a three-pointer...it goes in!
The Knicks led 73-66, extending their lead to 7 points!
When it was the Celtics' turn to attack, their formation was very impressive.

Ray Allen and Rasheed Wallace are positioned at the bottom corners on the wings, Garnett and Ray Allen are on the same sideline at a long two-point position, Pierce has the ball at the top of the arc, and Rondo... is in the elbow area!

Rondo averaged 8.5 rebounds per game in the 6 games of this Eastern Conference Finals, more than Garnett's 7.5 rebounds per game!
Pierce readily accepted the challenge of a one-on-one matchup against Yi Shui and didn't falter. He started with a triple threat, drove to the right side of the free-throw line, and hit a mid-range jumper with a significant fadeaway!

The star-studded showdown has begun!

The Knicks played very simply. After Yi Shui finished his swing and needed a break, Curry went one-on-one against Rondo. The two maintained good efficiency in their one-on-one battle. Yi Shui scored 8 points in half a quarter, Curry scored 5 points in half a quarter, and with Chandler's putback, the Knicks scored 15 points in half a quarter.

On the Celtics' side, their individual offense wasn't as fierce. Pierce was very confident, but if you can't beat them, you can't beat them. His confidence didn't make him shoot more accurately, and he didn't have the explosiveness he had in Game 5. He only scored 6 points in half a quarter.

However, without Yi Shui guarding the paint, Rondo grabbed two offensive rebounds in the first half of the quarter, scoring on a second-chance layup and assisting Garnett who was driving in.

Ray Allen seized the opportunity, using Garnett's screen to receive a pass from Pierce and sink a three-pointer. On another occasion, he used a screen to draw a double team, and Garnett responded with a mid-range jumper. The Celtics scored 15 points in half a quarter!
The fans at the stadium were on the edge of their seats watching their team score and the opposing team respond every time, but it was also very exciting to watch!

Yi Shui and Curry were naturally incredibly excited, and the Celtics' Big Three were also in high spirits. They hadn't played this kind of basketball, which was about direct confrontation and pure individual skill, in a long time.

After the official timeout, neither side made any substitutions. When Yi Ku and the Big Three faced off on the court, their eyes were filled with intense fighting spirit.

At this moment, neither Yiku nor the three giants had anything else on their minds but wanted to gain the upper hand in the battle.

The game continued, the Knicks were on offense, inbounded the ball in the frontcourt, Yi Shui received the ball at the top of the arc and drove straight to the inside!

This time it wasn't a matter of whether Garnett wanted to help on defense or not. He played 38 minutes tonight, only resting for two minutes after the official timeouts in the first and second quarters. He was already doing well enough to be able to open up his shooting range, seize opportunities to screen for Ray Allen, and follow up with David Lee on the defensive end.

Yi Shui rushed to close range, facing Rasheed Wallace who had spread out in advance. Without even thinking of passing, he took the initiative to meet him, grabbed the ball, jumped to the side into the three-second zone, rose again, sideways to the basket, leaned his body towards the basket, and hooked the ball... and it went in!
The Knicks led 87-81, extending their lead to 6 points!
When it was the Celtics' turn to attack, Pierce isolated against Yi Shui, took a step-back fadeaway three-pointer... and missed!
Rondo circled around to Chandler and grabbed the offensive rebound. Chandler listened to Yi Shui and didn't jump around or press forward. Instead, he raised his arms to contest the shot. Rondo had no choice but to throw the ball away. Garnett caught the ball in an open shot... but it missed!

Before the official suspension, the Big Three played very well, but by then they were already at their limit and were just holding on with sheer willpower.

But once the official pause was taken and the score remained close, the slight sense of security dissipated, mainly because the body couldn't get back into the right mindset!
This time, Rondo was blocked by Chandler and couldn't get the ball. Hughes, who had moved inside, grabbed the defensive rebound. Rondo quickly turned around and yelled, "Go back!" But Yi Shui had already rushed past Pierce and out!

Hughes dodged Rondo's steal attempt, advanced a few steps, and passed the ball... Yi Shui made a fast break and scored a layup.

89 to 81, the score difference came to 8 points!
An 8-point deficit is completely different from a 6-point deficit! With a 6-point deficit, Pierce and Ray Allen could close the gap in two possessions if they made their shots. But with an 8-point deficit, they would need to score three consecutive baskets while the opponent fails to score, which is too difficult for them right now!

But they didn't give up; instead, they fought even harder!

However, being tired is being tired, and being old is being old. In the next four minutes, the Big Three fought their hardest but only managed to score 9 points.

而对面，易水靠着反击拿到6分，加上1次突到肘区急停跳投被犯规两罚全中、一次接应库里分球的上篮命中……5投4中加上2中2的罚球拿到10分，比对面全队都要多1分！
With Curry hitting a long two-pointer, the score reached 101-90 with 11 minutes and 25 seconds left in the final quarter, extending the Knicks' lead to 11 points! And they had possession of the ball!
The Knicks were on offense. Curry ran down the clock to 8 seconds before passing to Yi Shui, who caught the ball and pulled up for a three-pointer over Pierce.

Pierce pressed forward, but he had lost all his energy to jump. He reached out his hand, but it did nothing to interfere.

Yi Shui pulled up for a three-pointer... and it went in!
11投8中，其中三分球3中2，加上3中3的罚球，单节狂轰21分！
As the DJ started playing music and the fans sang "Happy Birthday," with only 19 seconds left in the game, the Celtics inbounded the ball. Rondo, who received the ball, didn't attack. His stats were 8 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists.

The match ended at 10:22 PM.

首节8分、第二节7分、第三节6分、末节21分，易水26投14中，其中三分球9中4，加上11中10的罚球，易水狂轰42分，外加12板7助攻2抢断1盖帽。

Curry scored 7 points in the final quarter, finishing with 20 points and 6 assists, a commendable performance. David Lee, Chandler, Hughes, Duhon, Webster, Birdman, and others also had noteworthy performances.

Led by Yi Shui's 20+ points in the final quarter and 40+ points in the game, the Knicks defeated the Celtics 104-90, winning Game 7 and advancing to the NBA Finals against the Suns!
The moment the final whistle blew, the entire stadium erupted in cheers, with all the fans shouting "Emperor!"

Spike Lee, standing on the sidelines, even knelt down and made a prayer gesture as he ran past the Yi River.

After the match, Yi Shui mustered all his strength and ran quickly to his parents. But when he saw his father standing up, he hesitated for a moment before reaching out to shake hands... but his father slapped his hand away and instead opened his arms to hug him.

His dad immediately regretted it. The cameras were rolling! He was going to be famous again, and he'd be surrounded by onlookers when he went back to school!
But since I've already hugged him, I might as well give him a big hug. It's been so many years since I've hugged my son, especially at such an important moment in his career...

After the hug, Yi Shui gave a post-game interview. Facing the camera, he only said one sentence: "My era is coming. NBA, are you ready?"

(End of this chapter)