NBA: The Basketball Miracle

On December 17, 1996, the Knicks welcomed the Utah Jazz at home.

After a series of beatings, a strong opponent finally appeared.

With 18 wins and 3 losses, the Jazz currently lead the Western Conference, and their record just surpasses the Rockets, which consists of the old Big Three.

Chris Childs has performed well recently. The new player has successfully squeezed out the playing time of Charlie Ward, and Jeff Van Gundy's favorite player has recently fallen out of the rotation at the No. 1 position.

The Jazz's starting lineup remains unchanged, with John Stockton and Jeff Hornacek partnering in the backcourt, Brian Russell and Karl Malone on the front line, and the 2.18-meter Greg Ostertag as the center.

Although Karl Malone and Stockton are old, after the addition of Hornacek, the Jazz led by Jerry Sloan have become more and more courageous, and their performance has become more and more outstanding in the past two years.

This iron-blooded coach stood on the sidelines with his arms folded, looking calm after the game started. He only loudly reminded the players on the field when the team was on defense.

On the other side, Jeff Van Gundy shouted loudly. He had just boasted in front of the New York media in the last game and naturally didn't want to be slapped in the face.

After the opening, Ewing missed a hook shot close to the basket, and then a mid-range jump shot near the baseline on the right side also missed.

The Jazz's big center Ostertag played a key role, squatting on defense and stagnating the Knicks' offense.

The offense didn't get going, and relying on the iron-blooded defense, Charles Oakley didn't make it easy for Malone. Except for a iron-blooded jump shot in the right elbow area after the opening, he missed the next two shots.

There were 6 minutes and 26 seconds left in the first quarter. The Knicks committed a 24-second violation and the score was still 8:8.

"Shhh!!"

Boos gradually rose, and New York fans were unable to bear the iron-blooded offense and defense of both sides.

As Hornacek's breakthrough caused Larry Johnson to foul, Lee replaced Charles, who started the game, during the free throw period.

Hearing the New York fans cheering for Lee, Stockton, who was standing outside the three-point line, looked at him expressionlessly and then stopped paying attention.

The Jazz were naturally prepared before the game. After Hornacek made two free throws, everyone quickly retreated and Stockton called on his teammates to take up their defensive positions.

"Let's go Knicks! Let's go Knicks! Let's go Knicks!"

The scene erupted in loud cheers again, with fans all expecting the home team to launch a vigorous attack.

Although both are short guards, Stockton's defense is completely different from Hardaway's.

When Patrick Ewing saw Lee holding the ball in his right hand and approaching the top of the arc, he moved out to prepare for a pick-and-roll, and Stockton took the initiative to defend him.

Lee could sense the movements of the old man's hands, and he quickly changed direction with his hips. After switching to his left hand, he immediately passed the ball behind his back.

After actively creating some distance, Lee turned sideways to protect the ball, and while Ewing was moving up, he stood at the top of the arc, shook his shoulders, suddenly lowered his center of gravity, and turned around.

Lee scooped the ball with his left hand, accelerated immediately, stuck to Ewing's body, and broke through on the left side.

Ewing did not move down quickly, but stood firmly, trying his best to delay Stockton's pursuit.

The big man Ostertag, who was forced to switch defense, noticed that Lee had lowered his center of gravity very low, and subconsciously took a step back.

Lee got rid of Stockton's entanglement, and observed that the big man failed to delay in time. He immediately exerted force after passing the three-point line, stepped back sharply, returned to the three-point line, and quickly took a jump shot!

"Swish!" The three-pointer went into the net!

10:11, less than 12 seconds, the Knicks completed the attack.

When Ewing saw Stockton stop beside him and start to frown, he immediately smiled and high-fived Lee to celebrate.

"Coach Van Gundy made the right choice. Lee will punish the opposing defense!"

Feeling that the stadium was becoming noisy again, commentator Marv Albert also praised the substitution.

John Andaris noticed that Sloan still looked calm on the sidelines. He simply made a gesture and immediately added:

"It seems that the Jazz have been prepared. In recent games, Lee has been subject to more and more targeted defense!"

The Jazz's offense was not only initiated by Stockton. When Malone received the pass in the left blocking area, everyone started to run, and there was no situation of 1 against 4.

Lee followed Stockton and ran back to the baseline, not giving the opponent a chance to receive the ball, while the big man Ostertag in the interior simply and roughly moved into the paint area.

Karl Malone made a high pass, and Ostertag did not let go of the ball after receiving it. He raised it high and made a lob shot right in front of the basket in the paint area.

Patrick Ewing's jumping interference worked and the basketball hit the rim and bounced out.

Malone, who passed the ball, tried hard to squeeze to the basket. Oakley was not willing to be outdone. They both jumped at the same time. In the end, Oakley used his advantageous position to protect the backcourt rebound with difficulty.

"Fuck! Don't give me a chance!"

When Malone was pinching him while he was fighting for position, Oakley passed the ball to Lee and immediately cursed.

After noticing that the Jazz had completed their defensive positioning and quickly crossed half court, Lee immediately signaled Alan Houston to come to the right wing to receive the ball.

After making a tactical gesture, Lee immediately passed the ball to Alan Houston. At the same time, Ewing quickly came to the top line to provide cover.

At the top of the arc, Lee first pretended to cut in from the middle, then suddenly ran back, and with the help of Ewing's cover, cut in diagonally from the right wing.

Stockton thought this was a simple UCLA cut-in tactic, and after squeezing through the screen, he desperately chased after Lee.

The imagined pass did not happen. Lee cut in and quickly ran to the left corner. At the same time, Alan Houston, who was on the line, quickly passed the ball to Larry Johnson on the left wing.

The ball was passed to the line, and Oakley, who was near the left baseline, also provided a timely screen for Lee.

The old guy lowered his center of gravity when setting the screen, and his bent knee secretly hit the left thigh of Stockton who was defending him.

Stockton, who was trying his best to defend, was knocked off balance and completely lost his defensive position.

When Lee came to the left corner, there was no one in front of him. Malone realized something was wrong and had no time to defend him. He watched Lee catch the ball and make an open jump shot!

"Swish!" Another three-pointer goes in!

Larry Johnson, who passed the ball, and Lee high-fived to celebrate. On the other side, Oakley looked at Stockton, who was sitting on the floor rubbing his thigh, and turned his head to grin at Karl Malone:

"Dude, don't leave New York lying down!"

The old man immediately knocked Stockton off the court, ignoring Malone's grim expression, and smiled and called out to Lee as he returned to defense:

"Lee, learn more! These are all valuable experiences!"

Lee looked at Stockton limping towards the bench, and felt the joyful atmosphere of Madison Square Garden, and nodded immediately:

"There is knowledge everywhere on the basketball court"

...

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