Champion, please stay!

Chapter 272, page 270: We are the champions!
The Knicks won their first game, which didn't surprise many people.

The Knicks averaged 110.3 points per game in the regular season, and the Suns averaged 111.5 points per game. Both teams have superstars and neither has a clear counter to the other, so it's normal for either team to win or lose.

两队飙到124比127，打出了自1987年湖人队与凯尔特人队总决赛G2的141比122的比分后、23年来总决赛最高比分，比1993年公牛队与太阳队总决赛G3的129比121的比分还高，也没太出乎人们预料。

When two fast-paced, high-scoring teams played in the Finals, people felt that this kind of crazy back-and-forth was exactly what was expected, and the game even went into overtime.

But Yi Shui, in his second year, set a new record for scoring in his finals debut, scoring 50+ points in a single game, which caused a sensation in the basketball world!
People expected Yi Shui to score a lot in the finals. In the Eastern Conference Finals against the Celtics, he averaged 32.1 points on 24.7 shots per game, and in the second round, he averaged 40.25 points on 25.5 shots per game.

But he scored 50+ points in a single game right from the start... The hottest topic after Game 1 of the Finals was: Who is stronger, the second-year Emperor or the second-year Stone Buddha?

Despite being a sophomore, Yi Shui is already the youngest regular season MVP, having been elected at the age of 22 years and 11 months.

People still believe that Duncan was the strongest player in the second year of modern basketball because he won the championship and Finals MVP in his second year... As for why only the second year is mentioned, it's because there was a Magic Johnson who won the Finals MVP in his rookie year.

而且98-99赛季常规赛MVP争议很大，邓肯场均21.7+11.4+2.4+0.9+2.5的数据，马龙场均23.8+9.4+4.1+1.3+0.6，邓肯攻防效率都更高，常规赛战绩一样，直接交手，马刺队还2胜1负占上风，可结果马龙拿到26%的得分占比、邓肯以24%得分占比仅排在第三……很多投票给马龙的媒体的理由是邓肯身边有大卫-罗宾逊，以及前一个赛季爵士队第二轮4比1击败了马刺队。

The announcement of the MVP that year sparked a war of words between the media and fans. Using the previous year's playoff matchups to determine the regular season MVP was absurd, especially since Duncan had David Robinson by his side and Malone had Stockton, who was also the all-time leader in assists.

In the playoffs, Malone's Jazz were defeated 4-2 by the Trail Blazers in the second round, while Duncan's Spurs swept the Trail Blazers 4-0 and eventually won the championship with a 15-2 record, the second-best playoff winning percentage in history at the time... The hottest basketball topic in the summer of 99 was that Malone stole Duncan's two MVPs.

However, Yi Shui has now made it to the finals, won the game, and scored 50+ points... The question of who is the strongest second-year player has finally been put on the table for discussion.

The following day at noon, Yi Shui was interviewed at Madison Square Garden. When asked about this, he replied, "Of course I think I'm the strongest one, not just in my second season. I think I'm no worse than any other player in any year..."

However, your question seems to be asking me who is the greater player, Tim or me. I don't think so yet. Even if I win the championship this year, I'm still far behind Tim and Steve, whom I'm currently playing against. They have achieved countless brilliant accomplishments and created many classic moments in their long careers, leaving fans with countless unforgettable memories.

I'm confident that when I reach their age, people will compare us and think I'm the better one, but not now.

After a brief training session with the team in the afternoon, during a physical therapy massage, Curry pushed a tablet in front of Yi Shui. Yi Shui glanced at it and his lips twitched.

The news content itself is fine, but... "The Emperor: I am of course the strongest, no matter who I'm compared to."

ESPN does come up with good headlines!
Yi Shui saw a related news article nearby, in which Duncan, who was in New York, was also interviewed. He clicked on it to take a look.

“Brook is a different player from others. Others just improve, but he evolves.”

Duncan did not respond directly, but what Yi Shui noticed was not what Duncan said, but the words he used, which were completely different from most players.

ESPN titled Duncan's statement "Duncan: The Great One is the Most Special Player"

Yi Shui swiped the screen twice and returned to the ESPN sports homepage. His headline and Duncan's headline were side by side on the front page, making him seem so arrogant and conceited.

It's worth noting that in the past two or three years, ESPN has been the media outlet that has criticized Duncan the most, and they haven't stopped since 07.

However, it's only at this age that Dada is so clueless; the Flying Devil of his younger days wouldn't praise people.

Yi Shui remembers that after the Spurs lost to the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals in 08, several media outlets released an old video.

Before the start of the 98-99 season, Jordan retired for the second time. At that time, all the major media outlets interviewed all the star players. Other star players either refused to be interviewed or praised Jordan excessively.

Only Duncan said, "Jordan never impressed me."

Although Yi Shui did not experience that era, he can imagine that Duncan must have been severely criticized at the time.

...

After a day of rest, the second game of the finals resumed at 8 pm on June 12th in the holy land of basketball.

The two teams once again engaged in a fierce offensive battle from the very beginning.

In Game 1, both teams tried, and just like in the regular season, they couldn't stop the other team from creating shooting opportunities using tactics. The offensive capabilities of both sides far exceeded the scope of the other team's defense.

The outcome depends mainly on how well the players perform.

With the experience of playing against the Celtics and Game 1, D'Antoni only led the coaching staff to set up the tactical framework, leaving the rest to the players. During the game, all he could do was manage the rotation, control physical exertion, and increase or decrease playing time based on each player's condition.

On Gentry's side, G1 had a strong desire to control the game, mainly manifested in excessive caution. They always wanted to do their best, but the more they did so, the more likely they were to make mistakes. In this game, he learned from his experience, reduced micro-management, and took control of the overall situation.

Nash, who scored 34 points the day before yesterday, was heavily guarded by Yi Shui tonight. In 38 minutes of playing time, he only managed to take 10 shots, making 5 of them. He missed both of his three-point attempts and went 5-for-5 from the free-throw line, scoring only 15 points. However, Yi Shui was unable to contain Nash's exquisite passing, and Nash racked up 17 assists!
Yi Shui initially thought that Nash's stamina would be affected after playing 43 minutes in Game 1, a new high for playing time in this year's playoffs, given that he is a 36-year-old veteran. However, Nash's performance was in no way inferior to that in Game 1. On the contrary, he played even better because he was familiar with their defense.

He recalled that he arrived at the arena around 8 a.m. that morning, and Nash had already started giving body massages at the visiting team's practice court in preparation for the evening's game.

在纳什带领下，小乔丹投出了5中4的表现，加上6中4的罚球，拿到12分11板。

Stoudemire's performance in both receiving shots and one-on-one plays was outstanding. Yi Shui defended him on the perimeter, and he played even better than in Game 1, scoring 41 points on 15-of-24 shooting and 11-of-12 free throws.

替补上场的大Q，15投7中、其中三分球10中5，在没有罚球的情况下拿到19分2助攻。

For the Knicks, Yi Shui attracted a lot of double teams at the high post, and his scoring was not as high as in the previous game. He made 12 of 21 field goals, including 3 of 8 three-pointers, plus 10 of 10 free throws, and only scored 36 points, along with 8 rebounds, 13 assists, 2 steals and 1 block.

在他的带领下，大卫-李拿到了23分9板、库里18分3助攻、钱德勒12分9板、替补上场的韦伯斯特进了4个三分球拿到12分……

With two minutes remaining in the final moments of the game, the Suns led the Knicks 110-102 by 8 points. The Knicks scored on their last three possessions: David Lee made a 2+1 play under the basket, Yi Shui hit a pull-up three-pointer, and Curry made a step-back three-pointer, scoring 9 points in a row.

但斯塔德迈尔近距离单打3投2中拿到4分，加上小乔丹的补扣2+1，太阳队也拿到7分，扛住了尼克斯队最后时刻反扑。

The Suns defeated the Knicks 117-111 on the road, tying the series!
After the game, some media outlets began to wildly predict the Knicks' downfall, claiming that the Suns, who were playing three straight games at home, would sweep the Knicks.

However, mainstream reports disagree, and instead have high hopes for the Knicks' future performance.

Because the Knicks' bench players performed even worse in Game 2 than in Game 1. Yi Shui, David Lee, Curry, and Chandler scored a combined 89 points, plus Duhon's 4 points, for a total of 93 points for the starters. The bench only scored 18 points, 12 of which were scored by Webster alone.

This forced the Knicks to rely on Webster for extended periods, while the Suns lacked a strong shooting guard or small forward who relied on physicality. Webster's defensive performance was extremely poor, and the Suns' defensive focus was on Nash. Not only did Stoudemire score like crazy, but substitute player Big Q also found his rhythm, and Webster was basically unable to keep up with Big Q's back-cuts.

In this game, the Knicks at least held onto their core strengths – their star player advantage.

A balanced offense and defense won't work against this season's Suns; the Spurs tried it and were swept.

Their defense was also ineffective. The Grizzlies tried it, and theoretically their defense should have been able to counter the Suns, but they were completely outmatched because they didn't have any players with particularly outstanding individual scoring abilities. Sophomore Rose couldn't out-scor the Suns, and neither could fourth-year player Gay.

The Lakers' team defense is not as good as the Grizzlies', and their balanced offense and defense are not as good as the Spurs', who are in the process of building their system. However, they were able to play the Suns for 7 games and even had the upper hand at one point, precisely because they have the advantage of star players.

加索尔前6场场均20+，奥多姆有过一场暴走的19分19板6助攻，科比更是7场比赛6次30+、其中3次40+，唯一一场低于30分的比赛，也有十多个助攻。

Moreover, in this game, because Yi Shui defended too far out, they lost their rebounding advantage. Yi Shui grabbed a total of 5 offensive rebounds, but only 3 defensive rebounds. Stoudemire, Jordan, and Hill combined for 12 offensive rebounds, and the Suns had a total of 16 offensive rebounds, more than double the number from the previous game.

However, Yi Shui disagreed with this view in an interview: "We can't attribute the loss to Larry, Matt, and Chris. They didn't make any mistakes. They strictly followed the tactics in their positioning and shooting, which made our offense run smoothly. They just didn't make the shots."

The only ones to blame are David, Stephen, and me, for not scoring two or three more goals.

Two days later, on June 15th, at 8 PM, Game 3 of the Finals began at the American West Arena.

Despite the favorable public opinion, the pressure on the Knicks players has not lessened at all. Losing home-court advantage is losing home-court advantage. As ESPN said, they really could lose all their losses and lose the championship on the road.

On the other side, having won an away game, they only need to win one of their three home games to ensure they don't lose the title at home.

Pressure is a double-edged sword; it can bring stronger motivation, or it can break an individual or a group of people.

It mainly depends on resilience and capability.

The Knicks players have shown resilience and ability by overcoming the opening loss to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals and the Game 5 defeat.
Under immense pressure, the Knicks players collectively erupted.

易水首节打了9分钟，6投3中，其中三分球1中0，加上2中2的罚球拿到8分。

大卫-李5投3中拿到6分3板；库里3投2中，其中三分球1中1，拿到5分4助攻；杜洪进了一个三分，钱德勒拿到两分，替补上场的休斯进了两个长两分、巴恩斯篮下接球造成小乔丹犯规两罚全中……

They led the Suns by one point, 30-29 in the quarter!
Stoudemire had 8 points, Nash had 7 points and 5 assists, Jordan had 4 points, Hill, Barbosa, and Richardson each made a three-pointer, and Hill also drew a foul on a drive and made one of two free throws. His performance was no worse than the first quarter of the previous two games, but he was still outmatched by the Knicks.

In the second quarter, the Knicks continued their momentum.

易水5投2中，加上3中3的罚球拿到7分，投篮表现一般，但有3次助攻。

钱德勒7分3板、鸟人6分3板，库里进了一个三分球和一记长两分拿到5分，大卫-李拿到4分，休斯和巴恩斯各两分……

The team scored 32 points, even better than their performance in the first quarter.

On the other hand, the Suns got too hasty in the second quarter, making only 10 of 24 shots, including 3 of 10 three-pointers, plus 3 of 4 free throws, for a total of only 26 points!
得分下滑，双核的得分占比反而更高了，纳什拿到8分5助攻，5个助攻里有4个是给一个人传的——斯塔德迈尔单节8投5中加上2中2的罚球拿到12分。

After halftime, the two teams switched sides to begin the second half of the match.

The head coach can't be too tight on the game, but sometimes he can't be too loose either. In Game 1, Gentry was too tight, and tonight he went to the other extreme and was too loose.

In the third quarter, Nash adjusted his strategy and, together with Stoudemire, began a star-studded duel!

Nash can be better than anyone else as a tactical commander, but he is clearly not suitable as an on-court coach, responsible for in-game adjustments and deciding the overall direction.

他单节8投4中，其中三分球1中1，加上2中2的罚球拿到11分，表现很好。

Stoudemire made 3 of 6 field goals and 2 of 3 free throws for 7 points, a respectable performance.

但除了他们俩，其他人只有7次出手机会，6投2中加上2中2的罚球拿到6分。

When their teammates missed shots, the two of them would take more shots, not giving their teammates a chance to make mistakes and find their rhythm!

Meanwhile, the star-studded matchup was absolutely in full swing!
易水9投5中，其中三分球3中2，加上2中2的罚球，狂轰14分。

库里5分2助攻、大卫-李8分4板2助攻，钱德勒4分，替补上场的休斯和鸟人各2分。

单节35比24，三节打完，尼克斯队以97比79领先太阳队18分！
In the final quarter, Gentry finally realized his mistake and intervened, switching to a fast-paced, high-scoring offense to launch a counterattack.

The Suns finally entered "everyone contributes" mode in the final quarter, with 7 out of 8 players scoring. Stoudemire led with 6 points and Nash scored the fewest with 2. However, while the team's shooting accuracy improved, their offensive surge wasn't particularly fast. The team shot 11-for-21, including 2-for-5 from three-point range, and added 4-for-5 from the free-throw line to reach 28 points.

On the other side, Yi Shui scored 11 points, David Lee and Curry each scored 4 points, Chandler scored 2 points, Duhon made two three-pointers, Hughes made a jump shot from the free-throw line, and Birdman made a layup, for a total of 31 points!
首节8分、第二节7分、第三节14分、末节11分，易水全场打了42分钟，29投15中、其中三分球5中3，加上7中7的罚球，狂轰40分。

加上钱德勒的15分9板、大卫-李22分8板、库里19分5助攻、杜洪9分3助攻、休斯10分6板5助攻、鸟人10分……尼克斯队6人得分上双，以128比107大胜太阳队！
Nash scored 28 points and Stoudemire scored 35 points, becoming the most powerful backdrop.

Commentator Bill Walton remarked near the end of the game: "The Knicks' changes tonight were really just two things."

First, more role players stepped up. Webster didn't play well tonight, but Duhon, Hughes, and Birdman performed exceptionally well.

The second point, which I think is even more crucial, is that Embiid increased his shot attempts. When his teammates had opportunities, though not particularly good ones, he chose to shoot over the defense and made them…

...

The Knicks won on the road, taking a 2-1 lead in the series and ensuring they won't lose the championship on the road!
This time it was the New York media's turn to hype it up, using the exact same words and phrases as ESPN a couple of days ago—the Finals won't be coming back to New York.

The fans were extremely enthusiastic about watching the game and discussing it. After more than a decade, there was finally a Finals with high-scoring offense again.

Yi Shui, backed by the Big Apple, has high support, as does Nash, who has the emotional appeal. At first, the fans discussed and analyzed the game, but now, like the US Congress, the fans started arguing and it turned into a war of words.

After a day of rest, June 17th marked the fourth day of the finals.

Despite regaining home advantage, Yishui's pressure hasn't lessened much. If their opponents hold on to their next two home games, Yishui will have to win both of their home games back home.

Nash's side won't have it easy either; if they keep losing, they'll lose the championship at home.

Tonight's game is extremely important for both sides; it's the game that will truly determine the outcome of the finals.

The Suns won and will play Game 5 at home, giving them a clear advantage.

The Knicks won, taking a 3-1 lead on the road and the victory is practically assured.

At 8 p.m., the two teams continued their match at the American West Arena.

In the first quarter, both teams were on fire!
The Knicks had 7 players on the court, and all 7 scored. The Suns had 8 players on the court, and all 8 scored.

易水6投3中，加上1中1的罚球拿到7分，全队表现最‘差’，其他人加起来18投10中，其中三分球9中5，加上5中4的罚球，拿到29分，全队狂轰36分。    太阳队那边，斯塔德迈尔4投2中加上3中3的罚球拿到7分，纳什3分5助攻，小乔丹4分、小洛佩茨4分、希尔4分、理查德森2分，替补上场的杜德利、巴博萨、弗莱三分球合计6中4，全队也轰出了36分。

The two teams played the most crazy quarter of this finals!
In the second quarter, both teams continued their high-scoring battle, trading baskets back and forth. However, the Suns once again demonstrated their advantage in roster depth, making 5 of 8 three-pointers in the quarter, scoring 15 points from three-point range alone, plus 17 points from mid-range and close-range shots, for a 32-29 quarter score.

At halftime, the Suns led 68-65 by 3 points!
Having successfully taken the initiative, the Suns continued their momentum into the third quarter, scoring another 30 points!
The Knicks fell behind in the third quarter, scoring only 5 points in the paint and 6 points in the backcourt.

好在是易水这一节站出来抡了11个回合，10投5中，其中三分球5中2，加上2中2的罚球，在队友们12次出手只拿到11分的情况下，他个人拿到14分4板2助攻2盖帽，撑起了全队得分。

Both blocks were crucial. After double-teaming Stoudemire, Chandler anticipated Stoudemire's pass and lunged out to block the opponent's three-pointer. One of them even turned into a fast break opportunity, allowing Chandler to score two points. Otherwise, the inside game would have only been David Lee's 3-for-4 free throws and no field goals.

It was those two blocks that kept the Knicks close to single digits, trailing the Suns 90-98 after three quarters.

The Suns made 14 of 24 three-pointers in the first three quarters, going wild to the extreme. But when it comes to shooting touch, it gets hot quickly and cools down just as fast!
In the final quarter, the Suns' three-point shooting suddenly went cold, missing all of their first five attempts.

After being dominated for two quarters, the Knicks finally had their chance. Led by Yi Shui, Du Hong, and Curry, they seized the opportunity and launched a furious counterattack!
前9分钟，易水7投5中，其中有3次是反击得分，加上4中4的罚球，9分多钟时间狂轰14分。

加上库里的6分、钱德勒2分、韦伯斯特3分、大卫-李2分……随着官方暂停替换需要休息的库里上场的韦伯斯特，命中了他那记追身三分，尼克斯队9分多钟时间打出了27比18的比分，以117比116反超太阳队。

Gentry calls a timeout!

He's turning into a giant Van Gundy in these last two games; he's practically rubbing the sleeves of his suit into rags.

The opposing emperor is really not passing the ball!
One-on-one is an open shot, one-on-two is a one-on-one match, and the ball won't be played unless multiple people are surrounding the ball!

关键是这家伙真的能投进！末节的4次反击3投3中加上2中2的罚球拿到8分；5次一打二，4投2中，外加2中2的罚球拿到6分！
When Yi Shui got tired, he stepped aside and stood down. Curry, David Lee, and others didn't falter and kept the score steady. Although they didn't gain an advantage, they didn't hold Yi Shui back and gave him plenty of time to rest.

After the timeout, Gentry brought in a lineup of Nash, Q, Hill, Stoudemire, and Jordan.

D'Antoni substituted Curry, Duhon, Webster, Yi Shui, and Chandler.

The Knicks have once again successfully dragged the game into a battle of star players!
Nash drove to the basket, stopped abruptly at the free-throw line, and made a mid-range shot while leaning forward, giving the Suns a 118-117 lead.

Turning back, Curry and Yi Shui set a pick-and-roll. After Yi Shui broke free, he triggered an "iron wall," accelerated at full speed, and drove in, taking away both Da Q and Hill. Curry stepped back to the top of the arc and took a three-pointer... and it went in!
The Knicks lead 120-118!
When it was the Suns' turn to attack, Big Q hit a three-pointer, giving them a one-point lead again.

Big Q performed well throughout the Finals. Back with Nash, he played even better than he did with the Knicks last season.

When it was the Knicks' turn to attack, Curry and Yi Shui continued their pick-and-roll. Teams with poor defense are more prone to making mistakes, especially in crucial moments.

Curry broke apart and quickly ran to the right at a 45-degree angle. Hill circled around the top line to chase and interfere with Curry's pull-up shot. Big Q did not see Hill going around Yi Shui and switched to guard Curry. Curry passed the ball under the double team!
Yi Shui received the ball at the top of the arc, and DeAndre Jordan rushed out from inside the free throw line, but he was too far away. Even though he noticed the defensive mistake of his teammates at the two and three positions in advance and rushed out in advance, by the time he reached Yi Shui, Yi Shui had already raised the ball and jumped with force... becoming a cannonball stand!

'Tower Sniper' was triggered, and Yi Shui caught the ball over the big center and pulled up for a three-pointer, which he made!

123-121, the Knicks are leading by two points again!
When it was the Suns' turn to attack, Nash took a gamble, one-on-one against Duhon, and attempted a fadeaway three-pointer... but it missed!
Fortunately, Hill, Stoudemire, and Big Q retreated quickly on defense this time... mainly because Yi Shui was protecting the rim under the basket and was prevented from charging forward by DeAndre Jordan pulling on his shorts.

The referee didn't call a foul on DeAndre Jordan off the ball, and Yi Shui didn't complain after swatting Jordan's hand away, and the game went into position.

With 33 seconds left in the game, DeAndre Jordan and Hill called on their teammates to get into defensive positions. If they could stop the ball, they would still have a chance to win the game or go into overtime.

Curry continued to run pick-and-roll offense with Yi Shui. This time, Hill and Big Q communicated and switched to guard him closely. Curry then drove to the basket after the screen.

Yi Shui used the "Iron Wall" to break through and started at full speed, but did not rush into the inside. The opponent had already collapsed, so he made a reverse run back and used Webster's screen at the top arc to shake off Da Q and receive the ball at the right 45-degree angle.

The player who switched from Webster to guard Yi Shui was—Nash!

Nash jumped up to contest, but his outstretched hand didn't even touch Yi Shui's elbow, not even qualifying for a foul. He could only pray, like the now-silent fans, that Yi Shui wouldn't score...

But Yi Shui was in perfect form right now. In his most accurate shooting area, he triggered both 'Tower Sniper' and 'Braking Expert', and then pulled up for a three-pointer after a sudden stop and turnaround, sinking it cleanly!

The Knicks' lead has reached 5 points!
9投7中，其中三分球2中2，加上4中4的罚球，易水末节狂轰20分！
With 18 seconds left, the Suns didn't give up and called a timeout. Nash received the ball after a screen and launched a three-pointer from a great distance beyond the three-point line... The Suns missed seven three-pointers in the final quarter tonight.

When his teammates played well, Yi Shui acted as a distraction and a catch-and-shoot player, scoring 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting in the first half, making him the worst-performing player on the team in the first half.

In the second half, when his teammates couldn't keep up, Yi Shui took on half of the offensive possessions, shooting 12 of 19, including 4 of 7 three-pointers, plus 6 of 6 free throws, scoring a whopping 34 points and carrying the team's scoring load.

太阳队今晚打出了他们这次总决赛最好的表现，11人轮换，全都有得分，纳什18分15助攻、斯塔德迈尔27分、小乔丹13分、弗莱10分、巴博萨11分、大Q15分、理查德森12分、德拉季奇4分、杜德利8分、詹姆斯-琼斯3分……

But they still couldn't withstand the fury of Yishui in the second half!
首节7分、第二节5分、第三节14分、末节20分，31投17中、其中三分球9中4、加上9中8的罚球，易水狂轰46分，外加11板4助攻1抢断4盖帽，率领尼克斯队以126比121逆转太阳队！
...

With a 3-1 lead in the series, the Knicks have avoided the disadvantage of playing a pivotal game on the road, and now all the pressure is on the Suns!

Yi Shui's performance in the second half of G3 and G4 sparked heated discussions. He scored 14 points in the third quarter and 11 points in the final quarter of G3, totaling 25 points in the first half, which was already crazy. People did not expect that G4 could be even more crazy, with 14 points in the third quarter and 20 points in the final quarter, totaling 34 points in the first half!
It is generally believed that Yi Shui played better in Game 4 than in Game 1. The reason he didn't get 50+ points in a single game was simply because there was no overtime.

In both games, the Knicks were on the back foot for most of the time in team battles.

However, once it comes to the star-studded matchup, Yi Shui can score one shot after another, defeating his opponent!
He single-handedly changed the landscape of this finals!

Through analysis by media experts and professional fans, people have come to understand the changes in Yishui's playing style in these two matches compared to the previous two.

In a word—unique!

Yi Shui had 6 assists in Game 1 and scored 51 points, breaking the record. In Game 2, he was double-teamed even more and delivered 13 assists.

However, in Game 3, despite facing just as many defenders as in Game 2, Yi Shui's assists actually decreased, dropping to a mere 5, and in Game 4, he only managed 4 assists.

If the Knicks lose these two games, Yi Shui will be heavily criticized for increasing his shot attempts and decreasing his passing options.

But if he wins, that shows he's capable and willing to take responsibility.

It was June 19th, at 7:6 pm at the American West Arena. After warming up, Yi Shui and his teammates arrived at the player tunnel.

Yi Shui glanced at the man with the mustache in the player tunnel, using the light reflected into the tunnel as a reference. He looked terrible.

At the players' tunnel, countless fans were cursing D'Antoni as a traitor, a damn... and saying other things that couldn't be broadcast.

D'Antoni was criticized in the first two games, but tonight was particularly bad because the Suns lost and will lose the championship at home again.

Seventeen years ago, in the NBA Finals between the Suns and the Bulls, the Suns lost the championship in Game 6 at home.

At 7:40, amidst the boos and curses from the fans, Yi Shui and his teammates entered the stadium.

As the Suns players entered the court, the fans cheered them on with all their might.

After the opening ceremony, the lights came on, and Yi Shui glanced across the technical table... He saw a camera filming his parents sitting in the fourth row, and he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The Suns' management initially wanted to give him front-row tickets, but his parents' phones were ringing off the hook after Game 1. They even moved to the back row for Game 2 at home, and when they came to the away game, they didn't want to sit in the front either, and they wouldn't let him continue to greet the crowd... Mainly because his dad didn't want to be on TV, while his mom was actually quite happy.

But the domestic cameramen still managed to locate his parents.

The thought of my dad being surrounded by stares when he gets back to school, and the memory of getting a beating from my dad when I was a kid... it feels so good!

Yi Shui looked at the first row. Boss Jordan, who hadn't been to the scene since Game 1, had reappeared. Sitting on his left was their Knicks legend Ewing, and on his right was... Russell!

Last season, the NBA officially decided to name the Finals MVP trophy the Bill Russell Trophy, and Russell handed the first Bill Russell Trophy to Kobe Bryant... With the series at point, Russell is back again!
After greeting the veterans who came to the scene, Yi Shui gave a pre-match interview.

An NBC reporter asked a really outrageous question—whether they wanted to bring the Finals back to New York.

Yi Shui replied, "There's no need. I want to win the championship right now. As for winning at home, I think New York fans will have plenty of opportunities to see that in the future. They don't need to rush. They should satisfy my desire first."

On the other side, Nash also gave a pre-game interview, saying to the camera: "Big... he is very strong. No one can beat him one-on-one. Even Kobe doesn't bring us as much pressure as he does. But I will not be afraid. We also have our advantages. I will not give up. I will not let the opponent win the championship on my home court. I believe we will win the final victory!"

At 8 p.m., with Chandler narrowly defeating Jordan to win the jump ball, Game 5 of the NBA Finals began!
Both teams fielded the same starting lineups and launched another high-scoring battle!
This year's Finals were no less impressive than the offensive basketball era of the 1980s. In the four games, only the Suns scored less than 110 points in Game 3, while five teams scored 120+ points.

Tonight, both teams maintained their offensive firepower. After the first quarter, the Suns led the Knicks 32-29 by 3 points.

But during the break, Gentry's expression didn't suggest he was in the lead.

Because of the opposing team, Yi Shui, who played for 9 minutes in the first quarter, only made 2 of 6 shots, missed two three-point attempts against double teams, and scored only 5 points with 1 of 2 free throws. The rest of the Knicks scored 24 points!
On the contrary, their scoring was highly concentrated. Half of their 32 points came from Stoudemire, who made 6 of 11 field goals and 4 of 5 free throws for 16 points, plus 4 offensive rebounds!

In the last game, they missed all 7 of their three-point attempts in the final quarter, and their poor long-range shooting touch carried over tonight. In the first quarter, they made only 2 of 7 three-point attempts, both of which were made by Goran Dragic, who came off the bench at the end of the quarter.

In other words, 22 of the 32 points were scored by Stoudemire and Dragic through their individual abilities!
On the other bench, D'Antoni handed the whiteboard to Cheeks and Mark Jackson, intending to adjust the defense based on the opponent's specific situation tonight...

In the second quarter, the Knicks made a bold adjustment.

On offense, the big man is on the field; on defense, the team collapses the backboard and leaves the opposing role players and pitchers open.

This time, the Suns' on-the-spot adjustments were...very effective!

Gentry knows D'Antoni too well and guessed what the other would do.

If a role player makes accurate long-range shots for three games and then goes into a slump, like the Knicks' consecutive misses in Games 1 and 2, then you shouldn't let the role player shoot.

The team took the lead in the first quarter thanks to Xiaobawang's 16 points, so let's go head-to-head with the opposing team's Dadi!

Stoudemire played like his life depended on it tonight. In the first quarter, he made 6 of 11 shots on the ball and 4 of 5 free throws. In the second quarter, when the Knicks collapsed their defense, he took the ball and attacked, scoring in double figures again in the quarter, making 5 of 10 shots and 3 of 5 free throws, for a total of 13 points.

With Nash's 6 points, Hill's 3 points, Richardson's 4 points, and Jordan's 2 points, the Suns scored 28 points in the quarter, maintaining their offensive firepower in the first quarter.

只是对面第二节攻得更猛了……10投6中、其中三分球1中1、加上3中3的罚球，易水单节拿到16分！
The Suns' long-range shots were off, while the Knicks found their rhythm. Webster and Hughes each hit a three-pointer, Curry scored two long two-pointers off passes, and drew a foul on a drive to the basket, making both free throws. David Lee added 5 points.

With a 33-28 quarter score, the Knicks took a 62-60 lead over the Suns.

This quarter dealt a significant blow to the Suns' morale. Their strongest one-on-one player, Little Tyrant, was completely dominated by Embiid for a quarter, even when he was on fire.

In the third quarter, the Suns collapsed, mainly because their star player, Little Bulls, collapsed!

Stoudemire played the entire first half, but only played 7 minutes in the third quarter, missing all 3 of his field goal attempts and both of his free throws. His score went from 29 points at halftime to zero in the quarter!

Stoudemire's collapse was disastrous. Although Nash scored 6 points in the first half of the quarter and Dragic, who came off the bench in the second half, scored an even more impressive 8 points, with the two point guards combining for 14 points in the quarter, everyone else only managed 7 points in total...

On the other side, the Knicks continued their second-quarter strategy, only switching from Yi Shui's relentless attacks to Yi Shui's counter-attacks, Curry and Chandler's pick-and-roll offense, and David Lee's low-post isolation plays against Stoudemire.

易水拿到7分、大卫-李拿到6分、库里拿到8分、替补上场的韦伯斯特接应投篮拿到6分，加上钱德勒一次吃饼拿到两分，尼克斯队全队拿到29分！
After three quarters, the Knicks had extended their lead to double digits! They led the Suns 91-81!
During the break, the fans in the arena were extremely agitated. Some were cheering loudly, some were cursing the Knicks, some were closing their eyes in prayer, and some were crying... but not many people left. They stayed in the arena, wanting to give the Suns players strength.

Yi Shui did not become complacent despite having a significant advantage in these two quarters, and urged his teammates to stay focused.

After the break, Yi Shui brought Chalmers, Hughes, David Lee, and Birdman onto the field.

Just as he had guessed, Nash and Stoudemire both started in the final quarter, and unlike in the third quarter when they looked extremely anxious, they were calm and serious!

The final quarter began, and Yi Shui took the first possession. He passed the ball to Chalmers on the sideline, and David Lee cut in from the baseline and made a layup.

On the other end, Nash and Stoudemire executed a pick-and-roll, and Nash hit a three-pointer over Birdman's defense...

No more passing! Nash's started shooting too!

Throughout the final quarter, Nash didn't have a single assist, shooting 4-for-9 from the field, including 3-for-6 from three-point range, plus 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, racking up 13 points.

Stoudemire, on the other hand, had one assist. After languishing in the third quarter, he rallied in the final quarter, shooting 3-for-7 from the field and making 5 of 6 free throws, scoring a whopping 11 points. He also delivered an alley-oop assist to DeAndre Jordan, who in turn grabbed an offensive rebound and scored two points with a putback.

Nash, Stoudemire, and Jordan combined for 28 points in a single quarter!
But the Suns only managed 28 points for the entire team. In the fourth quarter, the Suns had a total of 25 offensive possessions. DeAndre Jordan made both of his shots and had two possessions, Steve Nash had 10 possessions, and Amar'e Stoudemire had 10 possessions. His teammates only got 3 shot attempts, one of which resulted in a turnover, and they didn't score a single point.

Of course, their firepower was also quite impressive. Despite only scoring 21 points in the third quarter, they managed to turn the tide by relying on the relentless attacks of their two star players.

However, Yi Shui and David Lee on the opposing team also scored 8 points each. Curry scored 5 points with a long two-pointer and a 2+1 layup. Webster scored a three-pointer, Birdman scored 2 points with a putback, and Chandler, who came off the bench, scored 4 points... The team scored 30 points in total!
When the Suns had the overall advantage in the first three games, they didn't manage to pull off a large lead. Now that their overall advantage is gone, they can't compete with star players anymore!

At 10:24 p.m., Nash let out a mournful roar and threw the ball with all his might toward the other side, sending it flying out of bounds.

As Nash roared and the final whistle blew, the players, coaches, and owners on the away team's bench, along with several legends who had come to the scene, rushed onto the court, surrounded Yi Shui, and celebrated wildly!
Yi Shui shouted at the live TV camera that had squeezed in: "We are the champions!"

His teammates joined him in chanting, "We are the champions!"

121比109，尼克斯队客场击败太阳队，大比分4比1，赢得2009-2010赛季NBA总冠军！
(End of this chapter)