Woj's column went live within half an hour after the game. It was a lengthy piece, but its opening sentence set the tone:
"The Houston Rockets' 1999–2000 season ended at Compaq Center."
"Not in the way they wanted, but in a way they could accept. Facing elimination down 3–1, they won on the road and brought the series back to Houston. Then, in Game 6, they lost. Not because they hadn't tried hard enough, but because the Lakers were simply too strong. O'Neal had 34 points and 16 rebounds, Kobe put up 29 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, and Rice scored 15. Their combined 78 points were more than half of the Rockets' entire team total. As for the Rockets' Big Three—Barkley with 18 points and 11 rebounds, Olajuwon with 14 points and 7 rebounds, and Pippen with 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists—they scored just 14 points in the second half. Fourteen points. The three of them combined scored less than O'Neal did by himself in the second half. This wasn't a matter of ability. It was a matter of stamina. Their legs could no longer run, their knees could no longer hold up, and their lungs had burned out."
The Los Angeles Times headline carried the distinctive confidence and arrogance of Los Angeles: "Lakers Eliminate Rockets, Advance to the Finals. O'Neal Dominates the Paint with 34 Points and 16 Rebounds; Kobe Erupts for 29 Points, 8 Rebounds, and 7 Assists. Next Up: Li Fei."
The Houston Chronicle headline carried a profound, almost mournful respect: "The End of the Big Three Era? The Futures of Barkley, Olajuwon, and Pippen Remain Unknown. But Whatever Happens, What They Showed in This Series Is Worth Remembering for Every Houstonian."
The New York Times had the shortest—and most powerful—headline: "The