Two Hundred and Twenty-Three: For Whom the Bell Tolls

"Where did little Jack go?"

The NBA superstars watching from the sidelines whispered in surprise.

They are very concerned about the final result of this game, because it cares about the ownership of the championship and whether it can create a miracle.

But now...the Knicks player with the best chance to make a miracle, Jack Jr., is gone.

Dennis Rodman asked Isiah Thomas next to him: "Is Jack not hurt?"

Thomas frowned, he was concerned, it was the worst possible outcome.

If Fan Xie is injured and can't play in the second half, then the Knicks' disaster will really come.

Magic Johnson seemed relieved, and he said to Larry Bird next to him: Little Jack's gas tank is out of gas.

Larry Bird shrugged, and he spread his palms.

"Hakeem is indeed the luckiest of us." David Robinson said to Charles Barkley next to him.

They were defeated by Olajuwon in the Western Conference semifinals and Western Conference finals respectively.

With Patrick Ewing injured, and now Fan Xie no longer appears, they all have a feeling in their hearts: If the Spurs/Suns enter the finals, they can easily beat the Knicks, and they can also win the finals MVP.

Time and fate.

Charles Barkley sighed.

He had made an important decision in his mind. He doesn't want to spend his entire career without a ring.

…

The game on the field continues.

Although Fan Xie's failure to appear has plunged the Madison Garden Arena into deep anxiety, all fans are very concerned about Fan Xie and worry that tonight's game will be reversed by the Rockets.

but.

The style of painting on the court is different from everyone's ideas.

Tomjanovich originally thought that without Fanhee, the Knicks' morale must be greatly frustrated, and the tactics would not work.

Who knows... Derek Harper supported the backcourt,

Starks also started to explode. Coupled with Charles Smith, Monty Williams, Anthony Mason, Charles Oakley and others... even faintly still have the upper hand.

Without Olajuwon, the Rockets are an ordinary playoff team, and their lineup is no stronger than the Knicks' current lineup.

The narrowing of the points gap that Tomjanovich expected did not happen.

There is even a slow upward trend.

Time kept slipping away.

Halfway through the third quarter.

There is a detail: the Knicks are not in a hurry to improve their rhythm. They play very slowly, with a strict eye, and even deliberately delay when serving.

This gives people a feeling of 'winning'.

finally.

Still Tomjanovich couldn't hold his breath.

In the seventh minute of the third quarter, when the Knicks expanded the score to 14 points, Olajuwon made his debut.

The league's No. 1 center has recovered after a period of rest.

After playing, he immediately showed his power.

He received a pass from Kenny Smith, squeezed away Charles Oakley's defense with a simple and crisp back, and scored with an easy hook.

Back in the halfcourt, another perfect move on the defensive end. He fumbled Starks' layup first, and Anthony Mason picked up the rebound and was about to make a layup... Crack!

Was shot down again.

Two consecutive blocks proved that he is the best post defender on the planet.

David Robinson on the sidelines was convinced.

Both Robinson and Olajuwon are defensive masters, but Robinson's physical hardware is stronger than Olajuwon, but Olajuwon's dynamic judgment of basketball can be described as a cat's eye.

"If Olajuwon is in the East, the Bulls will definitely not be able to win three consecutive championships." Charles Barkley said somewhat unwillingly.

He and Jordan are old friends, but his career has been suppressed by Jordan.

Therefore, he has always hoped to have the opportunity to kill Jordan's prestige. In his heart, the only person in today's league who can wrestle with Michael Jordan is Olajuwon.

The rest of the superstars...are mediocre.

Karl Malone sat in the back, and he seemed to have something to say. But hold back. Because what he wants to say is: If Jordan is in the West, Hakeem has no chance.

Before 1996, Malone's status was not as good as Jordan, Barkley, and the four major centers. Although he was also selected to the first team, he took advantage of the power forward. At this time, he is like a 'data maniac'.

After Olajuwon returned to the game, he immediately showed strong offensive firepower.

Before that, let's make an inappropriate analogy.

The players on the Knicks side are all elite players with 80 points. The Rockets are at most an average of 75.

And with the addition of his full-level number 99, the balance of victory and defeat was instantly reversed.

Although the Knicks still played very tenaciously, they even tried their best to consume Olajuwon's physical energy.

But it still couldn't stop Dameng's dominance in the penalty area. Olajuwon not only scored by himself, but also activated his teammates one by one.

Seeing that the Rockets are gradually narrowing the point difference, the fans at Madison Garden are getting more and more frustrated and desperate.

This is the closest they've come to a championship in years.

But... is it really going to die like this?

Starks and others on the court are still doing their best.

But the gap in strength made their desperate rush full of tragedy.

When Starks tried his best to fall from the air and fell to the ground just to get a foul, some fans actually forgave Starks in his heart for his stupidity at the critical moment of the game.

While the damage he's done is permanent, the gestures he's now trying to make amends are also visible to the naked eye.

Pat Riley stood on the sidelines, he didn't say a word, he didn't say anything.

The host of nbc said: the magic operator can do nothing. He has fired all the bullets in his hand. For now, fate is on Olajuwon's side.

Jim Dolan in the VIP box sighed, and he said, maybe this is the arrangement of fate. Try harder next season.

As if overnight, everyone accepted the fate of losing, even though the Knicks still maintained the lead at this time.

Olajuwon is too strong.

Powerful enough to make New York despair and dare not resist.

The third quarter ended quickly.

85:82.

The New York Knicks lead by only 2 points.

Olajuwon returned to the bench, his teammates all stood up, gave him superhero treatment, and gave him the most middle position.

However, Olajuwon did not sit down.

He stood there on his hands on his knees, listening to Tomjanovich's teaching.

His exhaustion is visible to the naked eye.

All the way from the playoffs, Olajuwon did not take a break and tried his best in every game. From the first round of the playoffs to dry Salt Lake City, to the semi-final match against the Suns led by Barkley, to the final match against the Spurs led by the four major centers David Robinson, and now to the Knicks led by another four major centers. .

His state is more supported by willpower.

Tomjanovich told Olajuwon that you only need to persist for half a quarter, and the victory will be in your pocket.

Olajuwon thought about it, half a quarter of the game, no problem.

As long as it's not that kind of crazy running and bombing, he can persevere.

Even, with his amazing willpower, it would be no problem to play for a few more minutes.

It's just that at that time, it may be the end of the battle, and the state is far from normal.

…

Jim Dolan stood up, and he said: I'm going home, James, and I will go to the locker room to encourage the players later. Tell them that the Dolan family is proud of them, even if they don't win the championship, they are still the pride of New York City.

These are some high-sounding words.

It was hard to hide the loss in his tone.

Jim Dolan wants a championship ring so badly.

But now... it fell short.

well!

Jim Dolan thought it was over and didn't want to stay at Madison Garden for a moment.

At this time, James Dolan stood up, and he stood in front of Jim Dolan. He said: Dear father, if I can help the team win the championship at this time, can you promise me a condition. Let me participate in the operation of the offseason, at least I need to operate one thing independently.

Jim Dolan glanced at his ignorant son: Don't be kidding, James, I know what you are capable of.

"I'm serious, old man. I will definitely help the team win the championship. If you win the championship, you have to agree to my conditions."

When James Dolan said this, he still did not forget to stimulate his father: "You are equivalent to dead now, watch how I operate, okay?"

Jim Dolan, the old banker and old media tycoon raised his crutch angrily, trying to kill this unfilial son.

But I didn't expect James Dolan to hug him from behind and push him on the chair: Sit down and see how I can turn things around.

Seeing his son like this, Jim Dolan knew that he must be messing around.

No way, I can't beat him now.

He can only sit here.

Dolan took his cell phone to send a text message.

Then, he asked the staff to bring the walkie-talkie, and he shouted to the other end: the lighting group is in place, the sound effect group is in place, and the atmosphere group is in place.

This call made Jim Dolan so angry that he was really worried about this son.

See where this vocabulary came from.

This is a stadium, not a bar.

Does this kid want to have a disco at the last moment?

The disco champion?

Jim Dolan took out the quick-acting heart-relief pill in a panic, and he felt that he would be finished sooner or later.

…

The fourth quarter started quickly, and the Knicks kicked off first.

Derek Harper is in control of the ball, and he's going forward steadily. With some cooperation, he helped the new Monty Williams hit a mid-range jumper.

Looking back, Olajuwon gritted his teeth and pushed Mason in, then turned around, scored with his left hand, and fouled Mason.

Olajuwon is really brave.

All the superstars on the sidelines praised him inwardly.

Even Charles Barkley said on the sidelines: "I think Hakeem is the strongest center in history, whether it is George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar."

David Robinson raised his eyebrows, he did not approve of this answer. But as a defeated general, it's hard to say anything.

Swish!

Olajuwon made a free throw.

The difference is further narrowed.

Only 2 points left.

Looking back, Derek Harper resolutely entered the penalty area. Olajuwon wanted to block the shot, but he was a little slower. His movements were not as smooth as before.

Swish!

Derek Harper scored 2 points.

Looking back, Olajuwon attracted a flanking attack, passed the ball, and Robert Horry made a three-pointer.

Only 1 point left.

After changing sides to fight again, Starks ran back into the penalty area, Derek Harper passed the ball, Starks challenged Olajuwon to defend successfully, and made a backhand layup.

Continue to lead by 3 points.

Looking back, Olajuwon screened in the high post to help Mario Elli run, and Mario Elli received the pass and hit a 3-pointer.

Continue to draw.

After changing sides to fight again, Monty Williams resolutely attacked the penalty area and caused Olajuwon to foul.

Made two free throws.

Leading by 1 point.

Looking back, Olajuwon directly hooked inside and overwhelmed the defense to complete the goal.

The Rockets went ahead by 1 point.

The two sides entered into a tug-of-war.

Relying on their tenacious impact, the Knicks tried their best to maintain the point difference.

Until the fourth minute of the fourth quarter, Olajuwon attracted a flank attack in the paint area and passed the ball to Horry. Horry hit a 3-pointer to extend the lead to 5 points.

The tide is over.

The atmosphere at Madison Gardens sank to the extreme.

All New York fans fell into despair.

Everyone thinks that this year's championship will fall into the hands of the Rockets, and they have lost to Houston in the tiebreaker for two consecutive years.

I am unwilling! !

The frustration of New York fans flickered under the camera.

At this time.

beep!

Pat Riley requested a timeout.

Then, suddenly.

The lights in Madison Garden dimmed.

Sitting in the VIP box, James Dolan, this ignorant son, started to operate with a walkie-talkie.

This may be the first time in NBA history.

Only this kind of son who doesn't take the usual way dares to play like this. After all, Madison Garden is now their family's property.

When the lights suddenly dimmed.

There were many sighs in the Madison Garden Arena, and their mood seemed to fall into boundless darkness.

Is there really no hope at all?

Boom! Boom! Boom!

When James Dolan yelled over the intercom that the sound effects crew was ready.

Immediately, the scene echoed the creepy sound of the death knell, just like WWE's new superstar The Undertaker.

The atmosphere was suppressed to the extreme.

How is this going? ?

Fans have the same doubts as Jim Dolan.

Jim Dolan even wanted to slap his son twice, what the hell, it doesn't matter if you lose, you still have to deal with this kind of moth.

"What happened?" Isiah Thomas asked Dennis Robinson.

The superstars on the sidelines were all surprised, they had never seen this scene before.

"I don't know what happened, but I was shocked," Dennis Rodman said.

And at this moment, a light suddenly shone on the player tunnel in the darkness.

All eyes are on the past.

I saw Fan Xi, who was wearing the No. 30 jersey, running from there, his expression was obviously embarrassed... He felt that all this was too embarrassing and secondary.

This is the proper arrangement that James Dolan said?

Will this make me famous all over the world? ?

Fan Xi just wanted to escape from this beam of light quickly.

However, the light chased him.

And the big screen above his head has already projected his picture.

The whole Madison Garden was boiling.

People's mood rises irresistibly from the lowest abyss, and burns fiercely. Under the effect of light and sound effects, hormones are venting like a bank bursting.

Endless hope blooms from the land of despair.

MVP! MVP! MVP!

There was an exclamation at the scene, and the entire New York fans roared in unison before the lights were turned on.

Many viewers exploded in front of the TV.

"Oh my god, this is the hottest moment in Hollywood movies. Jack is really amazing, this is so cool, I wish I could do the same in my career."

Dennis Rodman yelled from the bottom of his heart.

Isiah Thomas clenched his fists, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

He seems to understand...for whom the knell is tolling.

…

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