Chapter 32: The Age of Sticking Out One’s Buttocks (Part Two)

Li You had always felt that there was something wrong with the Knicks' offense. No matter how many plays they rehearsed in practice, they would all vanish once they stepped onto the court.

As the game entered the second half, the Knicks' offense became increasingly classic. John Starks brought the ball across the half-court line while Patrick Ewing backed into the low post on the right side, calling for the ball.

With aggressive positioning, Ewing created an opening, but just as he received the pass, Luc Longley was pushing against his back, and Ron Harper suddenly dropped back to help on defense.

Facing their combined defensive pressure, Ewing immediately kicked the ball back out to Starks on the right wing outside the three-point line.

Harper slid back to recover, and Starks quickly swung the ball across to Allan Houston at the top of the arc. Houston dribbled laterally before feeding the ball to Larry Johnson, who was calling for it in the left low post.

After receiving the ball, Johnson immediately put it on the floor with his right hand. Following a series of back-to-the-basket bumps, he neared the paint, pivoted on his left foot, and quickly turned toward the baseline.

Finally, he managed a forced fadeaway jumper over Scottie Pippen’s outstretched hand.

The moment it left his hands, Johnson knew the shot was off-target and immediately shouted a reminder:

"Rebound!"

Charles Oakley was battling Dennis Rodman for position in the paint, pushing and pulling. The referees kept their whistles silent. Finally, Rodman, having secured the superior position, leaped high, snatched the rebound, and clutched the ball to his chest with a showy flourish.

The home crowd gasped. Rodman fired the ball to Michael Jordan, who caught it, raced across mid-court, and reached the left wing of the three-point line. He continued to accelerate, shoulder dropped, ball in his right hand.

Allan Houston, scrambling back on defense, could only slide back and to the left. As they reached the free-throw line, Jordan suddenly stopped, performed a crossover pull-back, gathered the ball, and executed a pump fake.

The realistic fake sent Houston flying into the air. Finally, Jordan, absorbing the contact, calmly finished his mid-range jumper!

*Swish!*

The whistle blew, the basket counted, and boos erupted throughout Madison Square Garden. The third quarter felt like a flashback to last season's playoffs; every missed shot led to a transition basket, and the Bulls piled on the points with ease.

The only difference from last season’s playoffs was that this time, the Knicks had two players who loved to operate in the low post, taking turns sticking their backsides out to demand the ball.

The Bulls began to pull away. Michael Jordan found his shooting rhythm entirely; after just a few possessions, the lead grew to 8 points, and if he made the free throw, it would be 9.

Chewing his gum, Jordan ignored the ambient noise and calmly sank the free throw.

70:61. The lead was closing in on double digits.

Jeff Van Gundy did not call a timeout. On the bench, Li You watched the Knicks’ "classic" offense once again.

After several passes, Ewing’s low-post attack failed, and with the shot clock winding down, he was forced to come up to the perimeter to set a high screen for Starks. Starks used the pick, took one dribble on the right wing outside the arc, and launched a long two-pointer.

"Oh!!"

The desperation shot clanked off the rim. The crowd sighed as Rodman grabbed yet another rebound and pushed the ball up the court.

Harper caught the outlet pass and immediately swung it to Pippen on the right wing, who, after a quick stop, drove hard and violently to the hoop.

Larry Johnson lost his defensive position and instinctively grabbed Pippen, sending him to the free-throw line once again.

"Boo!!"

It was unclear who the boos were directed at. Broadcaster Marv Albert had lost all enthusiasm, saying helplessly:

"Perhaps this is the gap between us and the defending champions..."

With the lead at 11, Jeff Van Gundy finally called a timeout.

Li You truly grasped the chemistry of the Bulls. The veterans knew exactly when to exert pressure and how to score efficiently without wasting energy.

The Knicks' offensive patterns had long been figured out by their opponents; Ewing’s isolation environment was poor, and their perimeter shooting was equally problematic.

"When Pat gets the ball in the low post, everyone needs to move! Don't just stand there waiting for the ball!"

Jeff Van Gundy, holding his tactical board, crouched on the floor and loudly reminded his players.

As soon as Li You heard this, he knew the offense would still revolve around feeding Ewing in the post. After the timeout, both teams returned to the floor.

On the bench, rookie John Wallace whispered to Li You:

"We haven't used a single thing we practiced. Once we get to the game, all we do is try to appease these veterans!"

The unlucky rookie Walter McCarty, a power forward, had been so suppressed by the veterans that he had lost his rotation minutes. He chimed in with a low grumble:

"If we fall behind by a large margin, I wonder if the coach will let me play."

Li You didn't speak, because he knew that as long as the Bulls played their starters through the third quarter, there would be no time for them.

Just as Li You expected, the Bulls, who had rotated their lineup frequently in the first half, went all out in the third quarter.

80:69. The game had been completely turned around.

Early in the fourth quarter, Li You checked back in. He played for only 3 minutes before the Bulls' starters returned, prompting Jeff Van Gundy to put his own starters back in.

The home fans began to express their dissatisfaction with boos. Five minutes later, the outcome was no longer in doubt.

Scott Brooks and Walter McCarty, sitting at the very end of the bench, finally got their chance, serving as the "hype squad" to finish off the final three-plus minutes.

104:91. Even though it was just a preseason game, the Knicks' offense had faltered again, leading to a clean and decisive loss.

Phil Jackson shook hands with Jeff Van Gundy with a smile, while Michael Jordan, who didn't even seem to have broken a sweat, laughed and bumped fists with the Knicks players.

The grudge-holding Jordan, however, didn't even acknowledge Jeff Van Gundy, showing a dismissive attitude toward the young head coach.

The New York fans in attendance felt as though they had just eaten chocolate that tasted like excrement.

Losing so ugly made many of them start spewing insults again.

In 13 minutes of play, Li You went 4-of-7 from the field and 2-of-4 from three-point range, totaling 10 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists. Having sat out a quarter, his touch was cold in the fourth.

Losing a preseason game wasn't a big deal, but losing to the Bulls still put the "big brothers" in a sour mood. After returning to the locker room, they had no interest in post-game analysis and went their separate ways.

Jeff Van Gundy and Patrick Ewing had to deal with the New York media. After Li You and Starks finished changing, they headed to the parking lot early to go home.

Once in the car, John Starks turned to Li You and said:

"Feeling a bit disappointed? The New York fans really like you, but you aren't getting many minutes?"

Li You, having buckled his seatbelt, replied calmly:

"I'm just a rookie. I'm not qualified to judge the coach's rotation, and besides, I reached double digits tonight, so I'm already quite satisfied."

Starks chuckled softly and then said with self-deprecation:

"There was a time when the New York fans liked me too, but this is Ewing's team."

"The Knicks just signed him to a massive contract. Superstars need stats."

"Don't complain that Van Gundy won't change the tactics, because this is what Ewing deserves. He is irreplaceable in New York!"

Li You started the car and managed a smile without responding. The "Four Great Centers" certainly had their prestige, but the old guard was already fading.

This wasn't the broadcast era of the 80s; better broadcasting conditions had changed the preferences of the fans.

...

There was nothing to brag about in losing, but Li You had left a deep impression on the New York fans and media.

That night, Li You's highlight plays swept the New York sports news. The Big Apple, with its highly developed media, was top-tier at creating stars!

In the MSG post-game analysis, basketball analyst John Kenneth was particularly effusive in his praise:

"New York needs excellent players like Li. He’s not even 19 yet and has already achieved success in the NCAA!"

"Just look at these beautiful plays. If I were a fan, I’d buy a ticket just to see him!"

"..."

In the era of "backsides out," the media and fans would soon provide the answer as to who the real protagonist of the Knicks would be.