From the commentary booth, Harlan's voice echoed through the broadcast studio.
"Game 3 of the Finals went to the Lakers. 108 to 94, a fourteen-point blowout. Kobe had 38, O'Neal 26, and Rice 16. The Big Three combined for 80 points, only fourteen fewer than the entire Knicks roster. It wasn't that the Knicks played badly—the Lakers were simply that good. Kobe switched into attack mode in the first quarter, O'Neal dominated the paint from the low post, and Rice knocked down crucial threes from outside. At home, they played with intensity, aggression, and the poise a championship team should have."
Walton took over. "For the Knicks, Li Fei scored 36, but only six of those came in the first quarter. It wasn't because he wasn't good enough—it was because the Lakers changed their defensive strategy. They stopped double-teaming Li Fei. Instead, they had Horry guard him one-on-one, O'Neal provide help from the weak side, and Kobe rotate down from up high. Li Fei could score over Horry, but every basket cost him twice as much energy as usual. By the fourth quarter, his legs had gone soft, and his shots started coming up short. This wasn't Li Fei's fault—it was a problem with the Knicks' tactical system."
Albert added, "Phil Jackson showed his value as a head coach in this game. He lost Game 1 because he forgot about Sabonis. He lost Game 2 because Li Fei hit the game-winner. But he won Game 3 because he adjusted the defensive strategy, lifted his players' morale, and shouted from the sidelines for all forty-eight minutes. This wasn't the usual calm, Zen-like Phil Jackson. This was a Phil Jackson pushed to the brink, forced to erupt."
Harlan concluded, "Game 3 of the Finals is over. The Lakers still trail 2-1, but