The longest river

Chapter 60 The First Mayor of New York City

This sudden situation caught even his teammates off guard.

After they realized what was happening, they quickly stepped forward to stop Yang Shuai.

Even though they reacted quickly, Yang Shuai still managed to kick Johnson an extra time.

"The coach is here!"

Just then, someone shouted at the door.

Johnson was quickly helped up by his teammates. Yang Shuai had cut his face, and he looked a little dazed.

Yang Shuai calmed down after his anger subsided.

Although fighting is common these days, that's something that happens on the field; fighting within a team is a different matter.

Brown entered the training facility and quickly sensed that something was off about the atmosphere.

Then he noticed Johnson with a gash on his face and Yang Shuai with his jersey torn.

Having coached in the NBA for many years, he knows without a doubt what happened in the training facility.

"What happened to your face?" He looked at Johnson with icy eyes.

Johnson had gradually come to his senses by this time.

"I got kicked by a donkey," he replied through gritted teeth.

His answer immediately made some players burst out laughing.

However, when Brown looked at them, they immediately shut their mouths.

"And you? What happened to you?" Brown then looked at Yang Shuai.

"Torn apart by a mad dog." Yang Shuai never lets himself suffer a loss.

Brown frowned. "You two are talking nonsense in broad daylight!"
However, since neither of them admits to fighting, then there was no fight.

After all, it wouldn't benefit anyone if word got out about a brawl within the team.

Especially when the team is in poor form, it can become a ticking time bomb.

He withdrew his gaze and then said coldly, "Training!"

After training began, the team's equipment manager quickly brought Yang Shuai a new training uniform. After putting it on, Yang Shuai started running laps with the team to warm up.

Johnson sat on the sidelines while his teammates treated his wounds.

The two hadn't finished their one-on-one duel, but it was clear that Yang Shuai had the upper hand in both one-on-one and brawls.

In fact, after that commotion, not only Johnson, but everyone else on the Pacers looked at Yang Shuai in a completely different way.

They might still discuss it in private, but no one dares to say it to each other's faces like Johnson did.

Scott, on the other hand, looked at Yang Shuai with increasing admiration.

During the two days that the Pacers were resting, TNT aired their first episode of "NBA Insider" for the season.

This is a prime-time show hosted by Ernie Johnson.

He analyzed the Pacers' poor start on the show.

He believes the Pacers' situation is due to a combination of factors.

The tough start to the season was a major factor, with consecutive matches against top teams in the league like the Bulls and SuperSonics being difficult for any team.

Then there's the importance of Mark Jackson.

Although Jackson had the worst season of his career in terms of statistics last season, his role in orchestrating the Pacers' offense is something that cannot be reflected in the statistics.

He then brought up a point that is easily overlooked: the Pacers' offensive problems this season.

After the first three games, the Pacers allowed an average of 93 points per game, proving they remain a strong defensive team; however, they only scored an average of 80.3 points per game, a number that is by no means enough to help them win.

He also mentioned Yang Shuai at the end.

Yang Shuai, who improved the Pacers' offense in the opening game against the Bulls, did not play in the next two games, which is puzzling.

His final conclusion was that the Pacers must find a way to change their offense if they want to change their current situation, whether through trades or adjustments to their rotation.

After a two-day rest, the Pacers boarded a plane to New York, starting the first leg of their six-game road trip.

NBA teams in this era didn't charter planes; they still traveled on commercial airliners.

Because the environment is not enclosed, most team members choose to wear silent headphones to rest or sleep.

Yang Shuai has already adapted to this situation.

It's worth noting that the NSAA has a maximum of two games a week, but the NBA has at least three games a week.

They're either competing or on their way to a competition; they don't even have much time to train.

In addition, the constantly changing accommodation environment makes it very easy for the body to become fatigued.

However, he couldn't rest this time because Scott was explaining the feud between the Pacers and the Knicks to him.

"The series against New York was the craziest I've ever experienced."

The fact that Scott, a core member of "Show Time," could express such sentiments piqued Yang Shuai's curiosity.

Then Scott's first point was enough to justify his assessment.

Because Game 1 of the series was known as "Miller Time".

The Knicks led the Pacers by 6 points with 18.7 seconds left in the game, but Miller miraculously hit two three-pointers and sealed the victory with free throws.

"That was one of the most incredible matches I've ever seen."

Yang Shuai nodded, but at this point, it wasn't as impressive as McGrady's 35 seconds and 13 points.

Moreover, this is the playoffs, and it's an away game, making it much more difficult than the game against McGrady. The Pacers, having won Game 1, went on to take a 3-1 lead in the series.

However, the Knicks launched a desperate comeback in Game 5, winning the next two games to force a decisive Game 7.

In Game 7, playing at home, with their morale soaring, the Knicks had every advantage.

However, no one expected that the Pacers would be the first to erupt, and they once took a 15-point lead in the third quarter.

The game seemed to be over, but the Knicks, led by Ewing, launched a furious comeback. Starks' corner three-pointer brought the score to just 2 points with 32 seconds left in the game.

And in the next possession, Mark Jackson's floater missed.

New Yorkers have an opportunity, an opportunity to create a legend.

1比3落后追到3比3，大比分落后追到只剩2分，这要是绝杀绝对会载入史册。

Moreover, the Knicks also had a psychological advantage, because although Miller had a legendary moment in the previous year's playoffs with 25 points in the fourth quarter and "choking" Spike Lee, the Knicks' number one fan, the Knicks still won the decisive Game 7.

However, no legend was born. Ewing, who scored 29 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks, failed to make that layup when he had almost gotten open and shaken off the defense. The Knicks ultimately lost the decisive Game 7.

"If I were a New York fan, I would go crazy."

Just by listening to Scott's description, Yang Shuai could feel the atmosphere of despair.

Soon after, Yang Shuai met the "crazy" New York fans he had described.

As they emerged from the gate, a group of New York fans were there to "welcome" them.

The "Fake Reggie" sign was particularly eye-catching, especially the scene where fans yelled at Miller when he appeared, which opened Yang Shuai's eyes.

It turns out that "Fuck Yang" is nothing new; Miller was the first mayor of New York City.

The Pacers players also looked very ready.

Fans in this era are clearly more radical; they don't just trample on toys.

Moreover, because Madison Square Garden is located in downtown New York City, where traffic is extremely congested, they could only get there by subway.

The tense atmosphere permeated the entire subway car, and it only gradually eased when we arrived at our hotel.

This doesn't feel like we're here to play ball; it feels more like we're on a battlefield.

On the night of the match, Yang Shuai arrived at Madison Square Garden an hour and a half before the match started.

He needs to do a 45-minute shooting practice before the game.

It wasn't because he was inspired by what Scott said, but because he had been doing it since the opening game.

The statement made at the Cleveland press conference earlier, "Be prepared at any time," was not just empty talk.

For many rookies, their chance may only come once, and if they don't seize it, they'll never have another chance.

Although Yang Shuai's draft position isn't that high, he must seize every opportunity if he wants to make it into the rotation.

Half an hour before the game, he went to the locker room to change his jersey, and then returned to the stadium with the others.

Madison Square Garden was already packed at this point.

Unlike the "New York men" that Yang Shuai had seen in the live broadcast in his previous life, the New York fans in front of him all looked radiant, as if they could throw themselves into passionate shouting at any time.

This is understandable. Although Riley has moved to Miami, the core of the "New York mob" remains. It's only been a little over a year since they last made it to the Finals.

After the pre-match warm-up, the starting lineups for both teams were announced one after another.

Pacers: Workman, Miller, McGee, Dale Davis, Schmitz
Knicks: Derrick Harper, John Starks, Anthony Mason Jr., Charles Oakley, Patrick Ewing

Miller hit a three-pointer to give the Pacers the lead.

After two days of rest, the Pacers' condition has improved.

However, Ewing immediately responded with a low-post spin layup.

Schmitz attempted a one-on-one against Oakley in the low post, but his shot was blocked by Ewing's help defense.

Then it was Ewing again, who grabbed the rebound and dunked it over Davis.

This immediately caused a stir in Madison Square Garden.

Last season's playoff Game 7 loss did not discourage "The Gorilla"; on the contrary, it fueled his determination for the new season.

When the Pacers began to double-team Ewing in the next possession, he made a brilliant pass to Mason, who drove to the basket for a powerful dunk.

Eight minutes into the first quarter, the score was 18-24, with the Pacers trailing.

Ewing is in great form, and he plays very well as a team player, frequently using his gravity to assist his teammates in scoring.

This made it impossible for the Pacers' defense to contain the Knicks' offense.

In previous encounters, the two teams have always played defensively, but tonight, because Ewing was in hot form, the Pacers were forced to engage in an offensive battle with the Knicks in order to maintain the situation.

This quickly exposed the problem Ernie Johnson mentioned in "NBA Insider": their current offensive level is not high.

Brown paced back and forth on the sidelines with a furrowed brow.

The pressure on him was immense after a three-game losing streak. When the team needs someone to take the blame, the head coach is always the first to bear it.

"when!"

Eddie Johnson's missed three-pointer struck Brown like a hammer blow, while Starks' fast break layup pierced his heart like a dagger.

Brown let out a long sigh of relief and finally walked towards the bench.

When Yang Shuai heard Brown call his name, he quickly took off his training clothes and stood up.

Compared to his surprised and nervous reaction when he was called up against the Bulls, his facial expression now appeared much calmer.

However, judging from his quick movements when he entered the game, he was still very excited.

(End of this chapter)