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The Knicks won the first game 121 to 89.

Calipari shook hands with Van Gundy after the game, with an awkward expression, for fear that the other party would say something sarcastic. However, Yang Rui and Van Gundy didn't say a word as if they didn't know him, and Yang Rui didn't even look him in the eye.

This kind of ignorance made Calipari even more disappointed. He cared about it very much, but the other party didn't treat him as an opponent at all.

This is indeed the case. Yang Rui choked Calipari a few words when he came to the Nets to watch him, but he was out of breath for the first time when the other party spoke sarcastically.

It's like going on a blind date alone, and if the other party doesn't like it, no one will get angry if they say "we are not suitable".

If one party says something like "You are too fat", "You have low education", "I don't think you are capable", it is considered provocative, but anyone with a bit of a temper will feel uncomfortable and want to fight back.

Now that Yang Rui's anger has dissipated, Calipari is just like a stranger to him.

A few days later, the Knicks swept the Nets 3-0.

Jason Williams can rebound, is tough enough, and lacks scoring ability. Compared with the regular season, Van Horn is soft and heartbreaking, averaging only 12.7 points and 3 rebounds per game. It is hard to imagine that this is the data of a 208CM big man.

The Knicks scored more than 100 points per game, and Calipari could only comfort himself. This is because Van Gundy is too good at coaching and the Knicks players are strong, and it has nothing to do with Yang Rui.

Yang Rui felt fortunate that if he had joined the Nets at the beginning, his popularity would definitely not be higher than it is now. Unless he followed his arrangements for the mid-term trade and signed reinforcements, the playoffs would at most go to the second round.

Other games in the Eastern Conference have also been divided one after another. The Bulls eliminated the Cavaliers 3-1.

The boss of the Cavaliers is "Rain Man" Sean Kemp. In the summer of 1997, he signed a seven-year contract of 107 million US dollars and then joined the Cavaliers. He averaged 18 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Entering the playoffs, he scored 26 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1 block in four games, completely blowing out Dennis Rodman.

Kemp is still very strong now, and it was his outstanding performance that helped the team grab a victory. It's a pity that the Cavaliers' "4 Tigers" lack playoff experience. Except for Ilgauskas who scored 17.2 points and 7.1 rebounds, the data of the other three fell sharply compared with the regular season. The Cavaliers can only end with hatred.

The Pacers eliminated the Hornets 3-1 and will face the Knicks in the second round.

The Heat defeated the Eagles 3-1. Tim Hardaway had a second spring, averaging 26 points and 6.5 assists per game, scoring 3.6 three-pointers per game, and shooting 43.2% from the field.

Mourning is also still stable, averaging 19.3 points, 10 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game.

Yang Rui found that history has quietly changed. It is very difficult for the Knicks and the Heat to meet in the playoffs, unless the Heat can upset the Bulls and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

In his original time and space, the Heat and the Knicks met in the first round, and the Knicks staged a "black seven".

A fierce conflict broke out between the two teams during the game. Van Gundy was dragged while holding Mourning's thigh, which was still talked about by fans many years later. Now, Van Gundy has lost the opportunity to hug Mourning's thigh, and the league has lost a wonderful story.

To avoid the Heat, Yang Rui did not forget to remind Van Gundy. "Jeff, when you do mobilization again, talk about restraining your temper. Don't fight like last year. Reggie Miller is the cheapest. Everyone is likely to be irritated."

Van Gundy slapped his forehead. "You're right, you have to tell them to calm down, especially Larry, Charles, John..."

Yang Rui was sweating wildly. Last season, the team was reversed and eliminated because of this. The head coach didn't even seem to think about it.

Van Gundy, you can take care of yourself.

Experts predict the second round, also all optimistic about the Knicks.

The Pacers did not make the playoffs last season, only ranked tenth in the Eastern Conference with 39 wins and 43 losses, so the team fired head coach Larry Brown.

The Pacers lineup has not changed much this season, only adding a veteran Chris Mullin who can shoot three-pointers, and the head coach has been replaced by Larry Bird.

The Pacers' record has improved significantly, with 58 wins and 24 losses in the regular season. The winning mainly depends on defense, with an average of 89.9 points conceded per game, ranking among the best. Their offense is not very good, averaging only 96 points per game. Even with star guard Reggie Miller, the team averaged only 12.5 three-point shots per game, making 4.9 of them, and the shooting percentage was 39%.

The reason why people are not optimistic about the Pacers is simple, the depth of the lineup is too poor.

Both Miller and Houston are excellent three-point shooters, and their roles are relatively single, they can only score.

Miller averaged 19.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1 steal per game, shooting 47.7% from the field and 42.9% from the three-point range.

Houston averaged 19.4 points, 3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 0.5 steals per game, shooting 47.1% from the field and 42.7% from the three-point range.

Here comes the problem, the Pacers' head star can only be compared with the Knicks' second head, and Miller is only famous enough, has a crazy personality, and his ability is no better than Houston.

Ewing has a clear advantage over Pacers center Rick Schmitz. This 224cm tall, 113kg white man is also a space center. He averaged 28.6 minutes per game, 16.7 points and 6.9 rebounds. Dare to let him play for too long, because Schmitz's defense is not good and his movement speed is too slow.

The Knicks like to play teams with slow interior speed the most. They average the most three-point shots per game in the league. The overall average is 25.7 shots per game, 9.9 shots, and the shooting percentage is 38.4%.

The bigger gap is the rebounding of the two teams. The Pacers can only grab 39.3 rebounds per game, ranking 26th in the league. Although this is related to the tactical system that reduces the number of rounds, it is not good enough.

The Knicks averaged 45.4 rebounds per game, ranking first in the league. The team has Ewing, Oakley, and Ben Wallace. Johnson, Mills, and even the fringe Buck Williams are not weak in rebounding.

On May 3, the first game between the two sides started, and the Knicks gave full play to these two advantages.

As long as Schmitz is on the court, the Knicks will continue to look for opportunities through peripheral off-ball screens, and the guard will shoot when he catches the ball, pulling Schmitz out of the basket.

The Pacers replaced Schmitz, and the protection of backcourt rebounds became worse. The Knicks made bold shots from the outside and grabbed rebounds from the inside. Even if Ewing takes a rest, Oakley and Ben are enough for the Pacers.

On the other hand, the Pacers' offensive center of gravity is on the periphery, lacking changes, and the Knicks are much easier to defend.

Yang Rui didn't arrange complicated offensive tactics in the Knicks, mainly inside support and outside off-ball screens, both of which are ahead of the times.

Especially off-ball screens, helping teammates run and shoot three-pointers, this trick can be said to make big, slow-moving centers dead in the future. Even the Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, who has won the best defensive player, is uncomfortable when encountering the Warriors' outside throwing style of play, the speed is slow, and it is difficult to switch guards.

105 to 91, the Knicks easily won their first victory.

In the second game, Bird reduced the playing time of center Schmitz, the defensive pick-and-roll intensity increased, but the offense was in trouble.

Playing the whole game, only Miller and Antonio Davis scored in double figures for the Pacers, scoring 21 and 14 points respectively.

Five of the Knicks scored in double figures, and no one scored 20+, which was enough to clean up their opponents. They won another game 95 to 77.

The Pacers were beaten without temper, the media was one-sided, and the fans were optimistic about the Knicks' promotion. There are only a handful of teams that can reverse from a 0-2 deficit. If they want to eliminate the Knicks with a balanced offense and defense, unless a miracle happens.