Chapter 817: Public Opinion Turns in New York's Favor
After the timeout, James, Wade, and Pau Gasol continued attacking aggressively.
But New York was playing too well as a team tonight.
That was not something Miami could solve with 1 tactical adjustment.
By the end of the 3rd quarter, the Knicks had pushed their lead to 16 points.
92 to 76.
And that was after Channing Frye and Chalmers each knocked down a 3 pointer during the final minute.
Without those 2 baskets, the deficit would already have been more than 20.
Scoring 76 points through 3 quarters was hardly poor offense for this era.
Unfortunately for Miami, the opponent was New York.
The most explosive offensive team in the league.
Chen Yan had reached 30 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds.
Curry had 26 points and 4 assists.
David West had added 17 points and 7 rebounds.
When the 4th quarter began, Chen remained on the floor.
His promise to play the entire game had not been empty talk.
James stayed too.
So did Wade.
Miami was showing obvious signs of collapse, but neither superstar was willing to surrender.
The Heat had already climbed back from a 3 to 0 series deficit to 3 to 2.
They had fought too hard to simply accept elimination on their home floor.
Both were prepared to empty the tank.
On New York's first possession of the quarter, James rotated over and violently blocked Curry's shot.
Miami immediately ran.
Wade sprinted ahead, received the pass, and hammered home a dunk.
92 to 78.
14 points.
The Miami crowd erupted.
The deficit was large, but not impossible.
For a moment, hope returned to the arena.
New York immediately crushed it.
Chen answered with a 3 pointer.
Then Curry hit another.
At the other end, the Knicks tightened their defense and repeatedly shut down Miami's half court offense.
The lead reached 20.
Now James began taking more shots from outside.
There was little choice.
Miami needed points quickly.
James's 3 point shot had become much more reliable this season, but it still was not his most dangerous weapon.
And under intense pressure, his outside efficiency was not good enough to carry a comeback by itself.
Miami's offense stalled again.
The same problem that had appeared early in the game returned.
Some Heat fans had already begun heading toward the exits.
They could see where this was going.
A little more than 3 minutes into the quarter, New York's shooting finally began to cool.
Miami's declined even more dramatically.
James and Wade were exhausted.
Both had already carried enormous workloads during the previous 2 games.
Tonight, neither had received meaningful rest either.
Their legs were fading quickly.
Spoelstra still could not remove them.
Taking James or Wade out now would amount to surrender.
He tried adding more shooters instead.
For a stretch, the adjustment worked.
Miami cut the deficit back below 15.
But that was as close as the Heat could get.
The hole they had created earlier was simply too deep.
A couple of 3 pointers could not erase everything.
With 5 minutes and 56 seconds remaining, James attacked again.
He powered through 2 defenders and finished a layup while drawing the foul.
A classic LeBron drive.
Strength.
Momentum.
Pure force.
But after hitting the floor, James immediately grimaced.
Something was wrong.
Cramp.
Again.
The medical staff came onto the court and helped him toward the sideline.
James did not return.
With the deficit still substantial, there was no longer any reason to risk pushing him further.
About 1 minute later, Wade and Gasol were also removed.
That was the signal.
It was over.
New York's players began celebrating before the final buzzer.
They had survived Miami's comeback attempt.
They had survived losing 2 straight closeout opportunities.
Now they were going to the NBA Finals.
The buzzer finally sounded.
New York Knicks 119.
Miami Heat 101.
New York won the Eastern Conference Finals 4 to 2.
The Knicks were headed to the NBA Finals.
Barkley laughed as New York's players celebrated.
"Champions! They are champions!"
Kenny Smith looked at him.
"Conference champions, Chuck. They still have another series."
Barkley waved him off.
"A championship is a championship tonight. Let them celebrate."
Kenny could only smile.
On the floor, New York's players gathered together.
They surrounded Chen Yan, shouting and embracing one another.
For many players on this roster, simply reaching the conference finals had already been unfamiliar territory.
Now they had gone even further.
They were 4 wins away from an NBA championship.
James slowly limped toward the tunnel, still affected by the cramps.
He finished Game 6 with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists.
The headlines around him would inevitably focus on the image of a superstar exhausting himself in defeat.
He had fought until his body gave out.
And still, Miami had lost.
For a moment, the frustration brought an old thought back into James's mind.
Could he really win a championship with this Heat roster?
Miami and New York had been constructed in very different ways.
The Heat had enormous money committed to their stars.
That left little flexibility to surround them with quality role players unless those players accepted significant pay cuts.
New York had built a deeper and more balanced rotation around its core.
Wade had actually played well in Game 6.
24 points.
7 assists.
Gasol finished with 11 points and 9 rebounds.
It still was not enough.
At the post game press conference, Spoelstra did not make excuses.
"We were completely beaten tonight."
He paused.
"New York was the better team. Congratulations to them."
James also gave New York credit.
"The Knicks are absolutely a super team."
Everyone in the room listened.
"Everybody knows what Chen can do. I do not need to explain his level."
James continued.
"But I want to talk about Stephen Curry and David West."
He shook his head slightly.
"Curry had 30 tonight. I do not remember whether he made 6 or 7 3 pointers, but every time he raised the ball, we felt it. He is already one of the best shooters in this league."
Then James turned to West.
"David caused us problems inside all series. There are not many players in this league stronger than me."
A brief smile appeared.
"He is one of them."
James praised the opponent generously.
There was no shame in losing to an elite team.
Inside New York's locker room, reporters surrounded Chen.
1 asked the obvious question.
"Last season Miami eliminated you. This year you eliminated them. Does this feel like revenge?"
Chen shook his head.
"Not really."
He leaned back.
"I just want to win."
"Win the Eastern Conference Finals. Win the championship."
He shrugged.
"Miami was simply an obstacle on that path."
Another reporter immediately changed the subject.
"Your opponent in the NBA Finals will be the San Antonio Spurs. You are very familiar with them. Are you confident you can beat them?"
Chen smiled.
"I spent years beating San Antonio when I was with Phoenix."
Several reporters laughed.
"I think I can continue that habit in New York."
His expression became more serious.
"The Spurs are playing very well this season. Some of their veterans look like they have found a second prime."
Then came the challenge.
"But I do not think their style fits this era anymore."
Chen looked directly at the reporters.
"We will prove that in the NBA Finals."
The room immediately became more animated.
There was no attempt to hide the message.
Chen was openly saying that San Antonio's basketball had become outdated.
Exactly the kind of quote reporters loved.
"How many games will you need to win the championship?"
Chen smiled.
"I do not want to make guarantees too early."
Then he added the part everyone would remember.
"But I do not think it will take 7."
More smiles appeared around the room.
"I have never needed a full 7 games in the NBA Finals before."
Chen shrugged.
"I do not think this time will be different."
Several reporters were already imagining the headlines.
Chen Yan predicts no Game 7.
Another reporter asked, "San Antonio has been excellent this year. Are you not worried they might exceed your expectations?"
Chen's smile changed.
"There is only 1 thing about them that worries me."
"What?"
"Dirty plays."
The room went quiet for a second.
Then everyone leaned forward.
Chen continued.
"Things like Bowen deliberately putting his foot under shooters."
The reporter immediately followed up.
"Bruce Bowen is retired."
"I know."
Chen nodded.
"But his spirit is still around."
The reporters became even more interested.
"Are you saying the Spurs might use plays outside normal basketball to influence the series?"
"Yes."
Chen did not hesitate.
"They have always played that way."
He paused.
"More accurately, they have played that way under Popovich."
The room became completely silent.
"This is a dirty team."
Chen continued calmly.
"People prefer calling them physical or tough. Fine. I describe it differently."
"They have hurt too many players over the years."
Chen leaned back.
"I am not here to campaign for anybody. I am just telling you what I think."
Then he finished with the point that mattered most.
"I am going to beat them and win the championship."
Nothing more needed to be said.
The interview immediately created controversy.
Popovich and several Spurs players responded publicly.
Their position was simple.
Chen was creating excuses before the series had even begun.
If New York lost, he could simply blame San Antonio for being dirty.
But that argument struggled to gain traction.
Chen's history against San Antonio did not support the idea that he feared them.
His teams had beaten the Spurs more often than they had lost.
Fans quickly began compiling old clips of controversial San Antonio plays.
There was no shortage of material.
Bruce Bowen alone provided enough footage to create lengthy compilations.
Soon, former opponents joined the conversation.
Vince Carter.
Richard Hamilton.
Steve Francis.
Steve Nash.
All had their own history with San Antonio's physical defense.
The debate spread rapidly.
Was San Antonio simply tough?
Or had the Spurs repeatedly crossed the line?
Before Game 1 of the NBA Finals had even begun, the battle had already started.
Not on the court.
In public opinion.
And there, New York had taken the early lead.
....
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