Chapter 796: Eastern Conference Finals Begin, Ewing's Embarrassment
From top to bottom, everyone in the Knicks organization knew New York entered the Eastern Conference Finals as the favorite.
But nobody allowed that label to make them complacent.
Media predictions could not win basketball games.
If New York wanted to reach the Finals, the players would still have to earn it on the court.
Soon, Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals arrived at Madison Square Garden.
Fans had gathered outside the arena long before tipoff.
The streets were packed with people wearing jerseys, face paint, costumes, and all kinds of strange outfits. Banners supporting the Knicks were everywhere.
New York basketball fans had always been passionate.
There were a lot of them too.
That was part of the reason the Knicks remained one of the league's strongest draws even after years of disappointing basketball.
These people genuinely loved the game.
When the team was terrible, they still watched.
They simply watched while complaining about everything.
ESPN reporters moved through the crowd conducting live interviews.
1 reporter stopped a group of fans.
"Who wins this series?"
"New York!"
"The Knicks!"
"Forget Miami! This is New York!"
Asking the question outside Madison Square Garden was practically pointless.
But that was exactly what the reporter wanted.
The louder and crazier the response, the better the atmosphere looked on television.
The reporter continued.
"What is the final series score?"
"Sweep!"
"4 to 0!"
"Miami is not winning a single game!"
The reporter laughed.
These New York fans somehow seemed crazier with every answer.
The interview was being broadcast live, and viewers around the country quickly started joking that ESPN had become part of New York's promotional team.
The game had not even started.
The fans had not entered the arena.
And somehow the atmosphere already felt like tipoff.
Once everyone got inside Madison Square Garden, the energy climbed another level.
Chen Yan was partly responsible.
During warmups, he began shooting from beneath the basket toward half court.
Then he worked his way back from half court toward the rim.
He did not miss.
Every make drew another roar from the crowd.
The display eventually caught Miami's attention.
Wade glanced across the court.
"Damn. Is his touch really that good tonight?"
James remained calm.
"It is warmups. Games are different."
A few seconds later, Wade suddenly pointed toward Chen Yan.
"What the hell is he doing now?"
Chen Yan had walked toward the scorer's table.
He grabbed a handful of chalk powder.
Then he threw it high into the air.
The powder exploded above him.
Madison Square Garden erupted.
Wade immediately started laughing.
"LeBron, he stole your routine."
James looked at him.
"Do not laugh yet. Look again."
Wade followed his gaze.
Chen Yan had grabbed the rim and started doing pullups.
That was part of Wade's usual warmup routine.
Wade fell silent.
So did James.
Chen Yan had borrowed both of their signature rituals before the game even began.
How were they supposed to make an entrance now?
When the player introductions started, the noise inside Madison Square Garden became even more intense.
Miami could feel the pressure.
New York's crowd was especially wild tonight.
Chen Yan was introduced last.
The reaction was overwhelming.
Inside Madison Square Garden, his treatment resembled that of royalty.
The fans adored him.
Even Patrick Ewing at the height of his Knicks career had never received this level of popularity.
Of course, Chen Yan's spectacular style and marketability helped.
Ironically, Ewing himself was in attendance tonight.
When the arena camera found him, his expression looked noticeably unpleasant.
There was a reason.
Roughly 1 hour earlier, Ewing had nearly been denied entry to the arena.
A security guard failed to recognize him and thought he was attempting to enter without a valid ticket.
Ewing immediately became furious.
The situation was eventually resolved only after he contacted Knicks owner James Dolan.
He got inside.
His mood did not improve.
Even after taking his seat, Ewing still looked as though he wanted nothing to do with the people working security that night.
Soon, the starting lineups were announced.
New York started Stephen Curry, Chen Yan, Shane Battier, David West, and DeAndre Jordan.
It was a relatively standard Knicks lineup.
Nelson wanted stability in Game 1.
If the game became difficult, he could always turn to his 3 guard groups or his extreme small lineup later.
Miami started Mario Chalmers, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Channing Frye, and Pau Gasol.
Spoelstra had chosen Frye because of the matchup.
Against New York, Miami needed as much perimeter shooting as possible.
Frye gave the Heat another dangerous option beyond the 3 point line.
The tradeoff was obvious.
Pau Gasol would have to handle much of the physical work inside.
Without Haslem beside him, Gasol would be responsible for rebounding, interior defense, screens, and the other less glamorous responsibilities.
Expecting Frye to handle those duties was unrealistic.
That simply was not his game.
Since James had joined Miami, Gasol's role had changed in 2 major ways.
His shooting range had gradually moved farther from the basket.
And he had been asked to perform more blue collar work.
At first, Gasol had struggled with the adjustment.
By James's 2nd season in Miami, however, he had largely adapted.
The cost was that some of his traditional interior footwork and post skills had become less prominent.
Chen Yan did not mind that development.
There was always a chance the Chinese Men's Basketball Team might face Gasol on the international stage someday.
Before tipoff, Chen Yan exchanged brief hugs with Miami's players.
It was simple basketball etiquette.
Nobody said much.
The atmosphere was too tense for casual conversation.
DeAndre won the opening tip.
New York had the first possession.
Wade immediately attached himself to Chen Yan.
That was Spoelstra's plan.
Chalmers was too small to handle Chen Yan physically.
James had no interest in taking the assignment himself.
So the responsibility fell to Wade.
Everyone understood what that meant.
Guarding Chen Yan would consume enormous amounts of energy.
That effort would inevitably affect Wade's offense.
But Wade also understood that championship teams required sacrifice.
Tonight, he would be the one making it.
Chen Yan received the ball.
He immediately lifted it above his head and passed to David West at the high post.
Then Chen Yan casually drifted toward the corner.
It looked almost as though he had no intention of getting involved in the possession.
That was the disguise.
The next second, Chen Yan exploded along the baseline.
Wade had anticipated the cut and reacted quickly.
DeAndre stepped into his path.
Screen.
Wade was knocked off the route.
Miami switched.
At the top, David West immediately recognized the opening and passed inside.
Chen Yan caught the ball near the basket.
Shot fake.
Pau Gasol jumped.
Chen Yan turned halfway.
Another fake.
Wade and James both left the floor.
For a moment, Chen Yan almost looked confused by how many Miami defenders had suddenly collapsed into the paint.
The space around him had become packed.
He had no room left to keep faking.
Another hesitation and he risked a 3 second violation.
So Chen Yan simply changed the play.
With 1 hand, he flicked the ball elegantly toward the perimeter.
James had rotated into the paint.
Battier was wide open.
Catch.
Set.
Shoot.
Swish!
0 to 3.
New York's first 3 pointer of the Eastern Conference Finals had arrived almost immediately.
....
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