In TNT's studio, Kevin Harlan, Marv Albert, and Bill Walton sat around a round table, with coffee and statistical analysis sheets laid out before them.
The big screen on the wall displayed a comparison of the Knicks' and Lakers' lineups: every position, every statistic, every potential matchup.
"Gentlemen," Harlan began, "
The NBA Finals. Knicks versus Lakers.
Let's cut to the chase—who wins?"
Albert leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the table. "The Knicks win. I'll give you my verdict right now. They eliminated the Bulls 4–1 in the Eastern Conference Finals, with Li Fei averaging 38.8 points, 14.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 4.2 blocks. His form is too good, his conditioning is too good, and his will to win is too strong. Nobody on the Lakers can stop him—O'Neal is too slow, Kobe is too short, and Horry is too soft. Li Fei will score over 30 in every game. You can pencil that into the stat sheet right now."
Walton shook his head. "I disagree. The Lakers have O'Neal and Kobe, two of the league's top five players. The Knicks only have one Li Fei. Sprewell is a good player, but he's no Kobe. Houston is a good player, but he's no O'Neal. Sabonis is a good player, but he's already 35. The Knicks don't have the Lakers' depth, talent, or ceiling."
Harlan raised both hands. "So one of you says the Knicks win, and the other says the Lakers win. Neither of you is budging. Then here's my third question—how many games will the series go?"
Albert considered it. "Knicks in six. The Lakers can steal one on the road, but Li Fei will close out the series at home." Walton said, "Lakers in seven. They'll win two on the road, then take Game