Chapter 389: Sweeping the Lakers, Winning 4 Consecutive Championships
June 4, 2000, the G4 battle day of the 9900 season finals.
Although the Lakers faced a sweep and the finals were one-sided, the game was very intense, the offense was very good, and the score was high, so the ratings have remained high.
And now the media is hyping that Zhao Dong will break the 100-point scoring record in a single game, so fans are very much looking forward to the G4 game and are paying a lot of attention.
In the evening, before it was time to enter the venue, the outside of Staples Center was already crowded.
"There are four guys with handles, why don't there be any girls?"
In the visiting team's locker room, Zhao Dong leaned against the closet, holding a hot mobile phone in his hand and mumbling something.
Lindsay's due date is August 20th according to the Gregorian calendar, and he can be upgraded before the Olympics. Just now Lindsay called to tell him that she was pregnant with four sons.
The Zhao family has never had a girl. He actually wanted a girl, but it was a pity that Lindsay did not fulfill his wish.
"Boss, what did you say?" Fordson asked curiously.
"Oh, nothing."
Zhao Dong quickly regained his composure and asked: "Danny, you got 14 rebounds last game. You performed well. Let's continue the fight."
"Of course, boss, just look at me." Fordson patted his chest.
He was quite satisfied with being able to grab 14 rebounds despite a serious injury and a disabled knee. This was thanks to the rebound prediction skills taught to him by Feilong boss, otherwise it would have been impossible with a disabled body.
If he can continue to perform well tonight, he believes he will receive a good contract in the offseason, which he is looking forward to.
"Boss, did you break the record tonight?" Ginobili asked curiously.
Everyone looked over, including the coaching staff, with expectations on their faces.
Zhao Dong shook his head and said: "Look at the opportunity and use normal tactics."
In fact, Chamberlain only scored 41 points after the first half of that game. He also scored 40 points in the first half of the previous game. In other words, after the first half, Chamberlain never thought about it. Will get 100 points.
It's just that there was no O'Neal among Chamberlain's opponents in that game, and now he needs to face O'Neal, which will consume a lot of his physical energy.
It's really not easy to break the record.
But, break, he really wants to break. If he has the strength, it depends on whether he has a chance and what his luck is tonight.
Nelson talked to him yesterday and asked him if he needed the cooperation of the whole team, but he refused.
In the finals, breaking 100 points was too difficult. The Lakers would rather let his teammates score than let him score. Breaking 100 points in the regular season is much easier.
At eight o'clock, the two teams' starting lineups were announced.
Knicks: Zhao Dong, Fordson, Rodney Rogers, Stackhouse, Ginobili.
Lakers: O'Neal, Ben Wallace, Glen Rice, Kobe Bryant, Ron Harper.
"The Lakers are not being swept, which shows that the Lakers have lost the confidence and determination to come back, and their purpose is just to win a game."
Smith said during the TNT live broadcast.
"There's another one to stop Feilong from scoring 100 points." Barkley said in high spirits.
In the VIP room, the Lakers boss is accompanying Mr. David Stern, the league president. The Knicks have matching points and Stern has brought the championship trophy.
Knicks owner James Dowland did not show up. This rich man saw that Zhao Dong and Lindsay made a huge amount of wealth through capital speculation, and he also jumped into it. Now as the U.S. stock market continues to fall, he is in dire straits. How can he Are you worried about managing the Knicks anymore? A championship no longer attracts him.
At the beginning of the game, Zhao Dong beat O'Neal with a jump ball, and the Knicks attacked.
"Beware of him!"
"Double team without the ball!"
"Don't let him score!"
"Don't let him catch the ball!"
A huge roar erupted from Staples Center.
So, as soon as Zhao Dong entered the frontcourt, the Lakers implemented a tight defense on him. Kobe and Ben came up and started double-teaming him without the ball, preventing him from catching the ball.
This didn't bother him. He pulled to the outside and used his movement speed to get rid of Ben. Kobe alone could not affect him.
Once he gets the ball, his threat increases sharply.
Outside the three-point line on the left wing, he was about to approach the three-point line. Ben came from the left and suddenly pulled to the right, holding the ball and heading towards the top of the arc.
At this time, Ginobili ran over at the top of the arc and set a pick-and-roll for him, blocking Kobe.
However, Harper changed defense quickly and stood in front of Zhao Dong, preventing him from breaking in.
But this was not a problem for him. With a very quick turn, he got past Harper and drove in from the top of the key.
Including Ben, the four Lakers were outside, and only O'Neal was left inside. When he burst in, there was an empty space inside. After passing the free throw line, Zhao Dong flew towards O'Neal.
"Snapped!"
O'Neal jumped to block the shot and slapped Zhao Dong directly. The latter was hit on the head, and then the two collided in the air.
Sparks hit the earth and Zhao Dong fell to the basket. O'Neal also had a hard time. He was knocked over by the huge impact. When he landed, he took two steps back and fell to the ground. He hit the basket frame again, knocking the basket. The racket shook, causing his teeth and mouth to crack in pain.
"oh!"
"Beep!"
Amidst the exclamations of the audience, the whistle also sounded.
"The first ball was so intense. The Olympics are coming soon. Don't let Zhao Dong get hurt!" Zhang Lili said worriedly.
"Get up, Zhao Tieren should be fine." Su Qun shouted.
"Shark, get up, don't get hurt, it will affect the value of my championship." Zhao Dong got up and shouted at O'Neal.
"I'm afraid of you!"
O'Neill glared and immediately got up.
The first goal determines the intensity of this game.
Although Zhao Dong knew that there was little chance of breaking 100, he still gave his best.
Anyway, the Knicks relied on his scoring to win the game. Even if he was double-teamed by the Lakers without the ball, he was still full of firepower in this game.
After halftime, he made 14 of 21 shots, a shooting percentage of nearly 70%, and made 10 of 10 free throws, scoring 38 points.
In the first half of the offense, he focused on attacking the basket. With fast breaks, he was very efficient and very lethal.
O'Neal committed three fouls in the first half and only played 16 minutes.
After O'Neal came off the court, Ben became Zhao Dong's target and also received 3 fouls.
During the halftime break, Barkley analyzed: "Chamberlain only scored 41 points in the first half of that game. Feilong still has a chance tonight.
However, O'Neal only played 14 minutes in the first half, and his physical fitness should be maintained very well in the second half. It will be very difficult for Feilong to score more than 62 points. "
"It's a bit difficult." Smith nodded and said.
"a bit difficult?"
Barkley laughed and said: "You said breaking 100 is a bit difficult? This is not the regular season, this is the finals. If the Lakers lose this game, they will be swept. If they are beaten by the Dragons again, then the Lakers will It will become the biggest and brightest background in the history of the league, so they will do everything possible to prevent Feilong from breaking through.
What I want to say is that I think even if the Lakers lose the game tonight, even if they are swept, they will definitely not let Feilong break 100. "
What Barkley said makes sense. In the home team locker room, Phil Jackson and all the players reached an agreement to double-team Zhao Dong more tightly in the second half, and even maintain the normal three-person double-team, while strengthening the control of the ball holder. defense.
Under this kind of defense, Zhao Dong ran into trouble in the third quarter and only scored 14 points. He scored 52 points in three quarters and basically lost the possibility of breaking 100 points. Unless he scored 49 points in the last quarter, he could break 100 points. That would be almost It's impossible, ten times more difficult than breaking 100.
The Lakers were relieved to prevent Zhao Dong from breaking 100, but the Lakers also almost lost the possibility of winning the G4 game, because at the end of the three quarters, the Knicks were already leading by 16 points, and the possibility of being swept seemed inevitable.
Although Zhao Dong has difficulty scoring, the Knicks have a situation of more against fewer in other positions, often four on three, or even four on two.
Ginobili and Marion, who did not perform well in the playoffs, got many opportunities and broke out, helping the team gain a large lead.
The end begins.
Because Zhao Dong lost the possibility of breaking 100, the Lakers relaxed their control on him and strived for a comeback.
Zhao Dong no longer controlled the ball, played without the ball, and moved on the left wing. At this time, the ball reached the hands of Stackhouse on the right wing, and he suddenly dropped the ball and cut quickly towards the basket.
Stackhouse saw Zhao Dong back-cut O'Neal, immediately passed the ball and lobbed directly behind O'Neal.
"not good!"
O'Neill was shocked and turned around quickly, but it was already too late.
"boom!"
There was a loud noise, and at the same time as the basket was exploded, O'Neal was hit by a huge force, staggered forward for a few steps, and then fell to the ground.
"yeah!"
Three thousand away fans cheered.
The referee blew the whistle and called a blocking foul on O'Neal who was dunked.
This is O'Neal's fifth foul.
Phil Jackson is in a difficult choice. If O'Neal is replaced, the Lakers' inside line will be ravaged by Zhao Dong. If he does not replace him, it may be the same result.
He finally chose not to change, because it was useless to change. Zhao Dong had already begun to exert his strength. Without O'Neal's offense, the Lakers would definitely lose.
At the same time, he further saw Zhao Dong's huge threat, and just relaxed his control, killing O'Neal with the first ball. This is an opponent who cannot relax for even a second.
"Shark, look at me, watch how I shoot free throws." Zhao Dong stood on the free throw line and shouted at the black-faced O'Neal.
Just after being dunked by Zhao Dong, O'Neal stared at Zhao Dong with fire in his eyes.
"boom!"
Missed the first free throw.
"cut!"
O'Neill sneered disdainfully.
"Ha ha!"
Zhao Dong laughed twice and explained: "I am imitating your free throw. The next one is my free throw. You watch it."
"Do you want face?" O'Neal spat.
"brush!"
Zhao Dong answered O'Neal with a hollow ball.
"boom!"
Arriving at the frontcourt, O'Neal mustered up his courage and dunked on Zhao Dong's head.
Zhao Dong took off to block the shot, but was also buckled and almost fell to the ground.
But he could feel that O'Neal's breathing was very heavy, and that the opponent's physical energy was running low and he could no longer fight.
Returning to the offensive end, Zhao Dong unexpectedly entered the low post and played inside in a serious manner.
He rushed towards the basket from the left wing, and Big Ben immediately pushed forward, but he turned around very quickly, bypassing Big Ben and O'Neal who had just reached the basket, and pulled him to the right side of the basket.
At this time, Ginobili, who was holding the ball on the right wing, saw his position and passed the ball in.
Zhao Dong caught the ball and was blocked by O'Neal.
At this time, Ben began to double-team from under O'Neal, chasing after him following his breakthrough route.
He reacted quickly, with a bang, while dribbling, he turned upward, avoided Big Ben's double-team, and pulled back to the front left side of the basket in two steps.
O'Neal immediately adjusted his position. Just when he adjusted to Zhao Dong's side, the latter suddenly stood up. He instinctively stood up to block the shot.
"be cheated!"
Just after he jumped up, he found that Zhao Dong was still standing on the floor, and he knew he had been shaken.
"It's over!"
The next moment, he fell back to the floor, and then watched Zhao Dong fly up. He wanted to jump up, but his body was too tired, and his reaction was a beat slower. His vision went dark, and his body was suddenly knocked back. The opportunity for a second takeoff was lost.
"boom!"
Zhao Dong dunked with one arm, and the Lakers basket was blown up.
"Don't blow it!"
At this moment, O'Neill was very scared.
"Beep!"
However, to his disappointment, the referee's whistle sounded.
"..."
O'Neal looked at the referee with great disappointment, watching the opponent make a six-foul gesture.
It's over, his second finals has ended.
In the first finals, he partnered with Penny Hardaway in the Magic and was shaved off by the Houston Mosaic team led by Dream. But this time, he was shaved off again by the Knicks led by Feilong. This was a really serious blow. Got to him.
He went down with his head hanging down, looking very depressed.
Barkley sighed: "O'Neal is so unlucky. The first time he met the peak dream, the second time he met the more powerful dragon, and he was swept in both finals. It can be said that he is extremely unlucky. I hope the finals will not be the same. It will become his nightmare.”
Smith smiled and said: "The Lakers' lineup this year is stronger than the Magic's lineup back then, but they met the first man in history. The god of efficiency is not so easy to defeat. I would like to advise Shaq to pick up the urinal." .”
Barkley laughed and said: "O'Neal made 4 of 14 free throws today, which is indeed a bit worse. It is far lower than the free throw shooting rate in the playoffs. He should change in the future, otherwise it will be difficult for the Lakers to beat the Knicks."
Smith shook his head and said: "O'Neal's efficiency today is obviously lower than the last game. We should see that his physical energy has been exhausted and he has been struggling. This is why his free throw rate is worse than normal.
We can call this finals a battle of efficiency, a war between Feilong and O'Neal, but we can also call it a battle of physical fitness, because without physical fitness, there is no efficiency. "
Barkley said: "O'Neal's size is his invincible weapon for pushing unscrupulously under the basket. Even Feilong cannot block his edge, but it is also the key reason why his physical fitness is not as good as Feilong. Now, Shaq, decide, you Do you want to lose weight?”
"Losing weight is a huge problem for O'Neal, ten times more difficult than carrying a urinal. It's impossible." Smith said with a smile.
"Ouch!"
At the end of the game, the Staples Center was filled with cheers from three thousand away fans, as well as cheers from the Knicks players and coaching staff.
"Pa bang bang..."
Then many home fans also started to give their applause.
Knicks players lifted Zhao Dong up and accepted the fans' tribute.
Subsequently, the Knicks won the championship trophy for the fourth consecutive season, and Zhao Dong not surprisingly won the honor of the Finals Most Valuable Player for the fourth consecutive season.
"Congratulations to Zhao Dong for winning four consecutive championships, and congratulations to the Knicks for winning their sixth championship!"
In the TNT live broadcast, Barkley said happily: "In the game that just ended, Feilong scored 69 points, which is the second highest score in a single game in the history of the Finals.
In addition, in the four finals series, he scored 61 points, 62 points, 70 points, and 69 points, totaling 262 points, averaging 65.5 points per game.
This is an unprecedented statistic. You must know that before him, Kim Baylor set the highest score in the history of a single game in the Finals, which was only 61 points.
Only the God of Efficiency can produce this data. He is the well-deserved number one in history. "
"This is a finals where Feilong becomes a god. Feilong has truly become the god of basketball. He will surely dominate an era and be unrivaled!"
Smith, full of emotion, roared at the top of his lungs.
Barkley then yelled: "Next, if any team in the league still wants to win the championship, then they can only kill the gods. There is no other way."
The Knicks celebrated briefly at the Lakers' home court and then returned to the locker room.
The management had prepared a large amount of champagne. After entering, everyone took a champagne bath together. After bathing, they left Staples Center and went to a top nightclub in Los Angeles to celebrate all night long.
Zhao Dong's cell phone kept ringing with messages of congratulations.
"Aiweier..."
He didn't read the text message and called home first, telling Lindsay that he would be back in a few days. They continued chatting until the car arrived at the nightclub, then ended the call.
Sitting on the sofa in the nightclub, Zhao Dong turned on the system.
O'Neal was beaten at the beginning of the final quarter of the G4 game. He did not score 50+ points. The task should be completed.
Sure enough, when he opened it, he saw that the system had already issued rewards. He got the fifth fragment of dominance and the iron ankle of the hammer.
Then, winning for the fourth time, he received his second piece of the reset system shard (four in total).
After looking at the unclaimed rewards, there are 5 fragments of dominance, two fragments to reset the system, a chance to recover from a serious injury, and a chance to draw a talent lottery.
"System, cover my ankles with hammers." He said in his heart.
Soon, after a burst of warmth, the covering was successful.
He stood up and touched his ankle. It seemed that it had not become stronger. He moved his ankle and found that the tightness had completely disappeared. There was no other feeling at all.
The same thing happened the last time Hammer's knees were covered.
After playing for a season, joints such as ankles, wrists and shoulders feel tight and sore, but his knees have never had any such symptoms.
Now that the hammer's ankle is covered, the ankle should be the same as the knee in the future.
Zhao Dong moved his wrist. He had too many dunks and was feeling a little weak now. Do you think he should reduce dunks and increase jump shots in the future?
Especially in the regular season, dunks should be greatly reduced and jump shots should be the main focus. This can reduce the wear and tear on the wrist joints.