On June 22, 1999, the San Antonio Observer, as the largest local African American community newspaper, highly praised the performance of black players such as David Robinson and Mario Elie:
"The team's victory, David Robinson is the pride of San Antonio!"
In the Spurs' life-and-death battle in Game 3 of the Finals, David Robinson's performance was poor, but the butt determines the head, and the skin color is correct, so the data is not important.
The San Antonio Express is the largest local daily newspaper and the main media partner of the Spurs.
After winning the first game of the Finals, it is natural to promote it well:
"Tim Duncan never plays for data, he will bring championships to San Antonio!"
The content of the article written by the sports columnist is very good, and by the way, he also mocked Lee's scoring champion, but some old Spurs fans were embarrassed.
The "Admiral" had a good time back then, and if we push it back, the famous "Iceman" George Gervin also did it.
It's hard to say what will happen in the future.
No one knows whether Tim Duncan will inherit the fine tradition of the Spurs.
After breakfast at the hotel early in the morning, Ewing was in a bad mood when he read the local newspaper.
Larry Johnson also followed suit and cursed the San Antonio reporters for bragging:
"Fuck! 3 out of 10, 13 points from free throws, what's there to praise?"
"If it weren't for the outstanding performance of others, we would have opened champagne by now!"
David Robinson made 7 out of 12 free throws, and his free throws were not accurate.
In the life-and-death battle, the "Admiral" played like a rookie.
Tim Duncan made 13 out of 21, 7 out of 10 free throws, scored a game-high 33 points, and grabbed 16 rebounds.
Contributing a large double-double, Duncan was the key to the Spurs' victory in Game 3.
Oakley and Ben Wallace were beaten by the rookies, and they were in no mood to chat at this time.
It was really embarrassing.
Larry Johnson was shouting happily, but the "grandmama" made 3 out of 12 in Game 3, and was ridiculed by San Antonio reporters after the game.
Lee casually glanced at the newspaper, and after noticing that the content was mostly exaggerations, he stopped paying attention.
Jeff Van Gundy and the coaching staff watched the game video overnight, worked for most of the night, and edited a lot of content.
After breakfast, everyone started the video class in the hotel conference room.
Jeff Van Gundy had dark circles under his eyes again.
Duncan blew up the Knicks' inside line.
The bald young coach was unsure:
"We must pay attention to offensive choices and the opponent's assist position. Don't underestimate Tim Duncan. He appeared in the correct defensive position in several rounds!"
"Quick, decisive, break through to the basket, don't complain about the whistle, we can get the rhythm of the game back tomorrow night."
Many of the edited rounds were Duncan assisting in the paint area to complete interference.
Some talented players' sense of position is almost innate, and Duncan is one of them.
Lee saw that Larry Johnson and Sprewell still looked depressed, so he also encouraged them:
"Be confident in your offense. We are younger, faster, and more physically fit."
"Be patient, pull the defense, they can't stick to a high-intensity defense for a whole game."
Ewing was also a little annoyed at his lack of self-discipline at this time.
If he hadn't become fat like a ball, he might not have been injured.
Thinking of Tim Duncan's performance, the gorilla continued to make chicken soup:
"One game doesn't mean anything. Our defense still worked. We need to fight and teach that rookie a lesson!"
The video class is to find shortcomings and drink chicken soup.
Jeff Van Gundy and the coaching staff did not change any tactics.
The bald young coach just prayed silently:
"Just make the shot!"
On the evening of the 23rd, the Alamodome once again attracted more than 39,000 spectators.
NBC's broadcast camera also gave aerial shots and night views of San Antonio.
Compared with Madison Square Garden, the Alamodome has a larger capacity.
The roar of nearly 40,000 people has never stopped since the start of the game.
Many Spurs fans are holding huge O'Brien Cup models and cheering for their home team.
In the direction of the Knicks' attack, behind the basket, the Spurs players are holding long white plastic sticks and waving props in their hands, trying to interfere.
Popovich on the sidelines was very nervous.
After returning to his home court, he still felt great pressure even if he won a game.
In order not to bring his nervousness to the players, Popovich kept shouting on the sidelines after the opening:
"Retreat! Avery, delay!"
The Spurs' score has been 10 points for more than a minute.
Avery Johnson missed a jump shot from the free throw line and suffered another counterattack from the Knicks.
Lee, who received a long rebound, accelerated with the ball in his right hand.
When he came to the right wing, the Spurs had retreated back.
Noticing that Duncan was in the middle of the paint again, Oakley hurriedly moved up.
When he came to the elbow area on the right side of the free throw line, Oakley began to slow down and prepared to stand still.
Lee twisted his body at this time and pretended to break through on the left side.
Seeing Duncan moving up, Lee suddenly turned around, scooped up the ball with his right hand, and immediately broke through with his shoulder, carrying Avery Johnson straight into the basket!
The Spurs fans at the scene saw that the basketball seemed to be stuck in Lee's hand, and the fancy moves became practical.
They couldn't help but exclaimed.
"Oh!"
The advantage of his body shape made Lee, who was stuck in position, not need to do any fancy shaking.
Breaking through to the paint area near the lower right side of the basket, Lee quickly jumped and completely broke through the defense, and then completed the throw with his right hand!
Tim Duncan's defense awareness was very good.
At this time, he had returned to the basket and jumped high.
The basketball just passed his fingertips.
After landing, Duncan turned his head and saw the basketball fall into the basket again.
14:10, the Spurs missed consecutive shots, and the Knicks seized the opportunity to successfully widen the score difference.
"Boo!"
The boos from nearly 40,000 fans resounded throughout the arena.
Avery Johnson was beaten into a sieve after the opening.
Lee smiled at Avery Johnson and Duncan.
Duncan adapted to his offensive rhythm, but Lee also adapted to the opponent's help defense.
He did not wait to get to the basket before making a layup.
Lee scored easily in all three offensives after the opening.
Popovich sighed secretly and asked for a timeout.
Avery Johnson walked to the bench and was annoyed with his performance:
"Shit! It's my fault!"
Duncan just patted the veteran on the shoulder and then pulled David Robinson to talk.
At this time, there were 6 minutes and 46 seconds left in the first quarter, and the Knicks bench was cheering loudly.
The noise in the Alamodome was getting louder and louder.
In the NBC commentary booth, Doug Collins subconsciously raised his voice:
"Larry Johnson still couldn't find his touch, but Lee quickly entered the offensive state tonight!"
"The Spurs must solve the defensive problem at position 1. It is difficult for Avery Johnson to make effective defense."
Bob Costas wore glasses tonight and was a little excited at this time:
"If the Knicks successfully get the match point away from home, then the series will end soon. Coach Popovich must make adjustments as soon as possible."
The first championship in team history, Popovich and the coaching staff have also been under great pressure in the past two days.
During the timeout, holding the tactical board, he kept reminding the players loudly:
"We executed the defensive strategy well, but this is not enough. Confrontation, tough defense, don't let the opponent break through to the basket easily!"
"Duncan and David will assist in defense in the interior. Take a tough attitude, OK?"
Popovich roared loudly, knocking on the tactical board, reminding the three outside players to be tougher.
After the timeout, Mario Elie punched himself twice and roared in a low voice, trying to let his emotions burst out.
On the other side, Lee still looked calm before going on the court.
He simply told his teammates:
"Allan, pay attention to the opponent's receiving position. If the opponent is above the blocking area, we will double-team him."
Alan Houston nodded, indicating that he understood.
In order to solve the problem of difficulty in passing the ball, the Spurs frequently let the big men receive the ball in the high position, which is also an opportunity for the Knicks.
Lee whispered to a few people, and Oakley also patted "Little Ben" and gave a simple instruction.
The scene was once again filled with huge cheers.
The ball was kicked out from the baseline, and Avery Johnson was defended by Lee again.
Although he restrained some hand movements, Lee did not reduce physical confrontation.
Not worried about the opponent's speed and going straight to the basket, the small men knew what kind of inside defense they would encounter when they met the Knicks' inside line.
After passing half court, the ball was quickly handed over.
When Elliott received the ball at the top of the arc, Duncan had already started to ask for the ball with his back in the left blocking area.
Oakley pushed the opponent from behind, constantly pushing him outward.
On the left wing, Mario Elie received the pass and passed the ball directly to Duncan without waiting for Alan Houston to grab it.
The receiving position was forced to move up a step, which made Alan Houston shrink and help defend immediately after Duncan released the ball.
He quickly passed the ball to Mario Elie on the left wing.
Duncan continued to push in, but Oakley's pull made Duncan, who received the ball again, almost make a mistake.
Unable to squeeze into the basket as he wished, Duncan encountered Alan Houston's help defense again in the blocking area, and hurriedly passed the ball to Mario Elie again.
Continuously scoring in and out, while Alan Houston returned to defense, Mario Elie simply released the ball with his right hand, broke through, and went straight to the basket from the middle.
Alan Houston defended vigorously, but Mario Elie didn't get stuck.
It was just that the veteran was stronger.
He relied on defense to force his way into the paint, faced the block, and completed the shot!
"Swish!" The two-point shot hit the net!
"Ah!"
After forcing the ball under the basket, Mario Elie pounded his chest and roared again.
The atmosphere on the scene was also ignited by the veteran.
Jeff Van Gundy on the sidelines gave Alan Houston a thumbs up, indicating that this was a good defense.
A quick baseline ball was sent out, and Lee immediately made a tactical gesture.
Under the interference of Avery Johnson, he immediately crushed and advanced, and rushed across the half court in the blink of an eye.
After being scored by the opponent, Alan Houston naturally wanted to get back on his feet in this round.
With the help of Ben Wallace's cover near the baseline on the right, Alan Houston quickly slipped across the baseline from left to right and easily received the ball in the right blocking area.
After receiving the pass from Lee and faking it, Alan Houston deceived Mario Elie's defensive focus.
He immediately released the ball with his left hand, crossed over, took a big step, and then stepped back, and shot a quick mid-range jump shot!
"Swish!" The response ball went in!
Lee noticed that Duncan and David Robinson were standing near the paint again in this round.
The Spurs did not change their defensive strategy and would only help defend near the basket.
16:12, the Knicks still led.
David Robinson, who was almost invisible for half a quarter, turned his back to the ball in the right blocking area.
Avery Johnson rushed to the right wing and sent a high pass.
Ben Wallace immediately defended David Robinson the moment the opponent received the ball, almost hanging on David Robinson, and blocking from behind.
He released the ball with his left hand at the first time.
David Robinson wanted to squeeze under the basket, but faced with tough defense, he almost dropped the ball.
He was forced to pass the ball, and while Lee came up to help defend, David Robinson hurriedly passed the ball back to Avery Johnson.
The latter received the ball and saw Lee returning to defense.
He first faked upwards and then quickly sent a ground pass.
What Avery Johnson didn't expect was that Lee seemed to have predicted it and stole the ball as soon as he bent down.
At the moment of stealing the ball, Avery Johnson hurried forward to delay the counter-attack, while David Robinson returned to defense at this time and returned to the half court as soon as possible.
Lee first quickly led the ball forward, and while the opponent was up and down, he suddenly turned around and bypassed from the left baseline.
Avery Johnson had no time to pull him, and found that Lee had separated the ball and got rid of his defense in an instant.
"Boo!"
The wonderful intercept made the Spurs fans at the scene boo again.
Lee grabbed the ball with his right hand again and rushed with the ball.
The left wing quickly rushed across the three-point line and noticed that David Robinson had returned to the basket.
Lee didn't mean to slow down at all.
At the left blocking area, David Robinson just stood still and saw Lee rushing in front of him.
After the ball was passed, he stepped to the left front of his body.
David Robinson subconsciously slid to the left, but he didn't expect Lee to turn around and rush to his right side.
In the transition offense, Lee shook David Robinson and stuck him in place.
He grabbed the ball with his left hand and broke through to the basket and easily made a layup!
"OH——!"
"God! Beautiful shake! David Robinson was fooled by Lee!"
In the commentary booth, Bob Costas shouted excitedly, completely ignoring the boos that broke out at the scene.
Staring wide-eyed, watching Lee finish the layup and glide back to the half court, David Robinson looked awkwardly at Duncan who was back on defense, and helplessly sent the ball from the baseline.
In the second half of the first quarter, as the Knicks began to defend forward again, David Robinson and Duncan got some easy scoring opportunities.
But there were also many rounds of difficulty in receiving the ball, and Mario Elie and Elliott took the blame for the attack.
Larry Johnson missed a shot and was replaced, and Sprewell, who came on, also had a mediocre feel.
Jeff Van Gundy was a little anxious, pacing back and forth on the sidelines, watching the score slowly rise.
Duncan had just dunked under the basket in the previous round, but this time, Oakley's forward defense disrupted him and he couldn't catch the ball in the low post.
Mario Elie forced a lob to the basket, but Duncan was blocked in the paint by Oakley and Sprewell.
Without releasing the ball, Duncan quickly passed the ball to the right corner, and Elliott, who was left open, missed another shot.
Alan Houston received the long rebound, and immediately rushed through the middle with the ball, bringing the ball to Lee before crossing half court.
Avery Johnson stepped forward to interfere, and on the left wing, Lee, who held the ball with his left hand, only slowed down slightly.
Taking advantage of the opponent's close defense, he moved back and suddenly dribbled the ball under his crotch.
After switching to his right hand, Lee broke through again with his shoulder, quickly cut in at 45 degrees on the left, and was directly hugged by Duncan who returned to defend and pulled him down.
Seeing Lee standing on the free throw line, Doug Collins couldn't help but complain:
"The Spurs should reduce some lobs to the basket. This is not a good offensive choice."
"Sprewell, who came off the bench, had a bad touch. This was a good opportunity for them to catch up."
The first quarter was coming to an end.
Lee made both free throws, and the Spurs bench was silent again.
At the last moment, David Robinson's strong attack under the basket also caused Ben Wallace to foul.
He successfully stood on the free throw line and made both free throws.
The first quarter ended.
At 24:20, the Knicks still led by 4 points, and the Spurs fans at the scene were about to get nervous.
Bob Costas glanced at the technical statistics and briefly summarized the first quarter:
"Lee made 4 of 6 shots in the first quarter and scored 10 points. The Spurs can consider changing the defender. Avery Johnson didn't play much of a role on the defensive end."
Seeing Popovich constantly gesturing on the tactical board, Doug Collins also responded:
"There is no better opponent. They also have to consider the problem of organizing the offense."
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