Chapter Summaries

Li Fei’s Knicks began intense practices while waiting to learn their Eastern Conference Finals opponent, and the Lakers defeated the Spurs 101–85 to win their series 4–2. The Lakers advanced to face Houston or Portland, and Shaq declared that he would beat whoever emerged and then tear down Li Fei or Reggie Miller in the Finals.

• Li Fei discussed the Pacers’ Game 6 win over the Bulls with Monica Bellucci and said he was frustrated by the wait between playoff series.
• Van Gundy started full-court Knicks scrimmages, and Li Fei overwhelmed his teammates after the coach demanded that he play at full strength.
• The Lakers defeated the Spurs 101–85 as Kobe Bryant scored 37 points and Shaq added 28 points and 15 rebounds, clinching the series 4–2.
• The TNT analysts credited Kobe’s scoring and the Lakers’ balanced inside-outside offense for the series win, while noting San Antonio’s season had ended.
• Shaq celebrated the Lakers’ advancement and predicted they would beat Houston or Portland before facing Li Fei or Reggie Miller in the Finals.

Kobe remained focused on winning a championship after the Lakers advanced to the Western Conference Finals. In Miami, Michael Jordan and Karl Malone led the Bulls past the Heat in Game 7, sending Chicago to the Eastern Conference Finals.

• Kobe told reporters that beating the Spurs was only a step toward the Lakers' championship goal and said he was ready to face either Houston or Portland.
• On May 19, the Bulls and Heat met in Miami for a deciding Game 7, with the series tied 3–3.
• The Heat took a 45–42 halftime lead as Alonzo Mourning dominated inside, but Phil Jackson urged the Bulls to feed Karl Malone in the post.
• Malone scored 12 points in the third quarter as the Bulls built a 68–58 lead.
• The Heat rallied in the fourth, but Jordan scored, stole the ball for a dunk, and completed a late three-point play to secure Chicago's lead.
• The Bulls defeated the Heat 88–83, won the series 4–3, and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.

After the Bulls eliminated the Heat, TNT analysts debated the upcoming Eastern Conference Finals between the Knicks and Bulls, with most predicting a Knicks victory. Li Fei and Jordan prepared for their next showdown as the Bulls headed to New York.

• Jordan scored 31 points in 44 minutes as the Bulls defeated the Heat in Game 7, while Malone added 27 points and 14 rebounds.
• Harlan, Albert, and Walton discussed the Knicks-Bulls matchup and compared the teams’ players and benches.
• Walton predicted the Knicks would win in six, while Albert and Harlan predicted a five-game series.
• TNT displayed the schedule for Game 1 on May 22 at Madison Square Garden.
• Li Fei watched the broadcast from New York, while Jordan left Miami with Malone and said their next stop was New York.

The Knicks learned that the Bulls had beaten the Heat and began preparing for their Eastern Conference Finals rematch. Van Gundy emphasized Li Fei’s matchup advantage, and the chapter ended with the Knicks finishing an intense practice scrimmage.

• Stephen Jackson announced that the Bulls had beaten the Heat, setting off the Knicks’ excitement about facing them in the Eastern Conference Finals.
• Van Gundy said the series would begin on the 22nd at Madison Square Garden and identified Li Fei’s matchup as the Knicks’ biggest advantage.
• Jackson asked to guard Jordan, but Van Gundy challenged him to guard Li Fei in practice first.
• Li Fei played shooting guard against Marshall, while Sabonis played point guard during the full-court scrimmage.
• Houston made a shot after Jackson described Jordan’s defense, and Sabonis traded barbs with Thomas after scoring in the low post.
• The two-hour scrimmage ended with Jackson exhausted in the locker room.

After Li Fei dominated the Knicks’ practice, the exhausted Bulls returned to Chicago and interim coach Frank Hamblen devised a triple-tall lineup to make Li Fei uncomfortable. Hamblen planned to start Patrick Ewing at center, Toni Kukoc at power forward, and Karl Malone at small forward against the Knicks.

• Li Fei reassured Stephen Jackson after scoring at least thirty points against him, then urged the Knicks to show Chicago that New York’s basket was protected.
• Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, and Patrick Ewing arrived in Chicago exhausted after their Game 7 effort.
• Jim Cleamons told Frank Hamblen that Li Fei had averaged 38.5 points, 16.3 rebounds, and 5.3 blocks in the Knicks’ sweep of Philadelphia.
• Hamblen identified the Knicks’ power forward matchup as a weakness and proposed starting Ewing at center, Kukoc at power forward, and Malone at small forward.
• Hamblen planned for Malone to guard Li Fei physically, and he said Malone would agree to the lineup.

Hanburen asked Malone to start at small forward and guard Li Fei in the Eastern Conference Finals. Though Malone dreaded facing his former playoff nemesis again, he agreed because he hated losing more.

• Hanburen told Malone he wanted him to play starting small forward against Li Fei.
• Malone recalled how Li Fei had repeatedly overwhelmed him when they faced each other in Utah and protested the assignment.
• Hanburen explained that he wanted Malone to use his physicality to make Li Fei uncomfortable, not stop him outright.
• Malone recalled past matchups with Li Fei and admitted he had wanted to leave the Bulls after the season.
• Malone accepted the small-forward role, saying he hated losing more than he hated guarding Li Fei.

Jordan and Malone agreed to face Li Fei and the Knicks in what might be Jordan’s final Eastern Conference Finals. As the series approached, fans across the country weighed their hope for Jordan against their belief that Li Fei and New York would prevail.

• Malone told Jordan he had agreed to play small forward and guard Li Fei for one last series.
• On May 20, the Bulls–Knicks matchup dominated national coverage, with fans and commentators anticipating Jordan’s possible final Eastern Conference Finals.
• Fans in several cities expressed mixed feelings, hoping Jordan could win while acknowledging Li Fei was favored.
• A Bulls staff veteran and longtime supporters gathered in Chicago to mark Jordan’s continued presence, while fans in New York confidently predicted a Knicks victory.

The Houston Rockets defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 96-88 in Game 6 to win their series 4-2 and advance to face the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. As the Rockets celebrated, Scottie Pippen and Kobe Bryant turned their attention to the coming matchup.

• Before Game 6, Mike Dunleavy urged the Trail Blazers to win or go home, and Damon Stoudamire played despite his injured calf.
• The Trail Blazers led after the first quarter, but Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, and Scottie Pippen rallied the Rockets to tie the score at halftime and lead after three quarters.
• Barkley scored and stole the ball during the fourth-quarter push, and Pippen hit a late fadeaway as the Rockets won 96-88 and advanced with a 4-2 series victory.
• TNT commentators announced that the Rockets would face the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, while the Knicks and Bulls were set to meet in the East.
• Barkley celebrated the win, and Pippen said the Rockets had unfinished business as they prepared to face Phil Jackson and the Lakers.
• Kobe read the news of the Rockets' victory and mentally prepared to face Pippen, Olajuwon, and Barkley.

Kevin Harlan, Marv Albert, and Bill Walton analyzed the Lakers-Rockets Western Conference Finals and unanimously predicted that the Lakers would advance. They expected the Rockets’ experience to make the series competitive but left the Lakers favored to win in five or six games.

• Marv Albert argued that Shaquille O’Neal’s age, size, and production gave him a clear advantage over the 37-year-old Hakeem Olajuwon.
• The commentators noted that Charles Barkley could overpower Robert Horry, but Horry’s shooting and the Rockets’ aging Big Three raised concerns about their stamina.
• Bill Walton and Marv Albert weighed Scottie Pippen’s defense and playmaking against Kobe Bryant’s youth, scoring, and endurance, and leaned toward Kobe over a long series.
• The panel gave the Rockets a slight edge at point guard with Sam Cassell against Ron Harper and predicted that Michael Jordan would dominate Glen Rice.
• Walton, Albert, and Harlan each predicted a Lakers series victory, with their picks ranging from five games to six, and the screen showed a 4–2 Lakers win.

The Lakers prepared for their Western Conference Finals series against the Houston Rockets, with Shaquille O'Neal making bold claims and Kobe Bryant focusing on the work needed to win. Kobe ended the night still training and studying Houston’s players, and planned to analyze film again at six the next morning.

• Shaquille O'Neal arrived late to the Lakers’ practice and welcomed the team to its first Western Conference Finals practice.
• O'Neal dominated the paint while Kobe practiced mid-range shots, and both later discussed the Rockets with reporters.
• Kobe said he respected Scottie Pippen but cared more about improving and winning than comparing himself to anyone.
• Fisher stressed that the Lakers should respect Houston’s experience, while Glenn Rice said he needed to make open three-pointers.
• Phil Jackson described the series against his former teammate Pippen as a game of chess and said the teams would settle it on the court.
• Kobe stayed late to practice free throws, reviewed Houston’s players’ habits, and arranged to study film with his trainer at six the next morning.

The Rockets prepared for their playoff series against the Lakers as Rudy Tomjanovich assigned Olajuwon to disrupt O'Neal and Pippen to guard Kobe. He identified Barkley as the key to exploiting the Lakers’ weakness at power forward, but the chapter ended before he explained Barkley’s role.

• After a late night reviewing footage of Pippen guarding Karl Malone, he fell asleep and left the rest of his preparation for tomorrow.
• The Rockets completed a four-hour practice, and Olajuwon, Barkley, and Pippen dealt with the strain of training at their ages.
• Tomjanovich told the team that Barkley was the key to the series because the Lakers were weak at power forward with Robert Horry.
• Tomjanovich assigned Olajuwon to make O'Neal uncomfortable whenever he got the ball.
• Tomjanovich ordered Pippen to guard Kobe across the entire court, and Pippen promised, "I'll stop him."
• Tomjanovich turned to Barkley after laying out the defensive plan.

Rudy Tomjanovich laid out a plan for the Houston Rockets to attack the Lakers through Charles Barkley in the low post, opening chances for Hakeem Olajuwon and Scottie Pippen. As the aging teammates prepared to travel to Los Angeles, they remembered their past and committed to making the most of the playoff series.

• Tomjanovich told Barkley to attack the Lakers in the low post so Shaquille O'Neal would leave Olajuwon open and Scottie Pippen could take open threes.
• Barkley agreed to lead the attack, while Tomjanovich urged the Rockets to play freely and leave nothing on the court.
• Olajuwon remembered facing a young O'Neal in the 1995 NBA Finals, and Barkley and Pippen reflected on their careers and the team's likely breakup after the season.
• Pippen told Barkley and Olajuwon to avoid looking like pushovers when they flew to Los Angeles for Game One.
• Barkley declared that the Rockets would take down the Lakers first, and Olajuwon recalled winning the 1994 championship before walking into the night.

Before Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden, Michael Jordan and Li Fei traded confident remarks ahead of their latest playoff matchup. The Bulls then shocked the arena by starting a towering lineup that put Karl Malone at small forward against Li Fei.

• Jordan said he knew Li Fei's habits and understood how to beat him after studying and facing him for years.
• Li Fei replied that Jordan's understanding had not prevented him from losing to the Knicks in the playoffs two years in a row, and challenged him to guard him.
• Jordan and Li Fei emerged from their locker rooms at the same time and walked toward the court without speaking.
• Kevin Harlan announced the Knicks' expected starting lineup, then stopped in surprise at the Bulls' lineup of Ron Harper, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Toni Kukoč, and Patrick Ewing.
• The commentators noted that Malone would play small forward against the much taller Li Fei in the Bulls' unusual lineup.

The Bulls started Karl Malone at small forward to defend Li Fei, gambling that his strength and experience could contain the Knicks’ star. Li Fei beat Malone off the dribble and opened the Eastern Conference Finals with a one-handed dunk.

• Albert and Walton described the Bulls’ decision to use Malone on Li Fei as an all-or-nothing gamble that sacrificed speed and perimeter defense.
• Li Fei and Malone met at center court before Sabonis won the opening tip for the Knicks against Ewing.
• The Bulls quickly stopped the Knicks’ transition attack, and Sprewell slowed the offense before passing the ball around to Li Fei in the low post.
• Malone used his strength to defend Li Fei, but Li Fei turned to face the basket, drove past him, and dunked one-handed.

The Bulls used Karl Malone at small forward to contain Li Fei and create chances for Michael Jordan, but Li Fei scored over Malone before the Bulls answered with a pick-and-roll dunk. The chapter left the matchup centered on how Malone’s offense could draw Li Fei away from Jordan.

• Malone posted up Li Fei, but Li Fei held his ground and forced Malone’s jumper to miss.
• Malone delayed Li Fei’s outlet pass in transition, but Sprewell received the ball and helped the Knicks advance.
• Li Fei made a pull-up jumper over Malone from just inside the three-point line.
• Malone set a high screen for Jordan, then drew Li Fei’s help defense with a roll to the free-throw line.
• Jordan cut to the basket and caught Malone’s lob for a one-handed dunk.

The Knicks exploited the Chicago Bulls’ slow three-tall lineup with fast breaks, as Li Fei repeatedly outran the defense and scored efficiently. The Bulls kept the lineup in place and ended the first quarter down 28–25, with the game’s central matchup still unresolved.

• Albert and Walton explained Hanburen’s plan to use Karl Malone to draw Li Fei away from the paint and open chances for Jordan and Patrick Ewing.
• Sprewell led a fast break and fed Li Fei for a one-handed dunk before the Bulls could get back on defense.
• The Bulls called a timeout, but Hanburen kept the three-tall lineup on the floor after Malone returned to the bench.
• The Bulls scored patiently through Jordan, Ewing, and Toni Kukoč, while Li Fei repeatedly sprinted down the court after Knicks rebounds.
• The first quarter ended with the Knicks ahead 28–25, as Li Fei scored 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting and added three rebounds and three assists.

The Knicks widened their lead over the Chicago Bulls by using a faster lineup to exploit the Bulls’ tiring veterans. At halftime of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Li Fei had scored 30 points and the Knicks led 58-45, while Karl Malone prepared to keep fighting in the second half.

• Van Gundy rested Arvydas Sabonis and moved Marshall to center while sending Stephen Jackson in to give the Knicks a faster lineup.
• The Knicks accelerated their offense, with Li Fei sprinting in transition as the Bulls struggled to keep pace.
• The Knicks led 58-45 at halftime, with Li Fei recording 30 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.
• Harlan, Albert, and Walton noted that the Knicks had scored 35 transition points, including 22 by Li Fei, setting a new NBA playoff record for a half.
• Malone saw Li Fei celebrating near midcourt, then entered the locker room determined to battle through the second half.

The Knicks used a fast, small lineup to overwhelm the Bulls, with Li Fei leading the way to a 102-81 win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The chapter ended with Jordan leaving the court in silence and Li Fei receiving a standing ovation.

• Van Gundy kept Sabonis on the bench and started a faster Knicks lineup for the second half.
• Li Fei scored 12 points in the third quarter as the Knicks built an 84-63 lead.
• Jordan scored eight straight points early in the fourth, but Li Fei answered with baskets, free throws, and an assist to maintain the Knicks' lead.
• The Bulls conceded with one minute remaining, and Jordan walked to the bench carrying his shoes without speaking.
• Van Gundy pulled Li Fei with 34 seconds left, and the Madison Square Garden crowd rose to applaud him.

The Knicks defeated the Chicago Bulls 104–83 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals as Li Fei scored 52 points, including a playoff-record 35 in transition. After Hanburen blamed the loss on poor execution and left without answering whether the Bulls would use their three-big lineup again, Karl Malone arrived at the press conference.

• The Knicks beat the Bulls by 21 points, and Li Fei finished with 52 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 steals.
• Harlan and Albert explained that Li Fei’s 35 transition points broke Michael Jordan’s playoff record, while Walton reviewed the Knicks’ advantages in rebounding, points in the paint, and transition scoring.
• Hanburen said the Bulls failed to get back on defense and could not match the Knicks’ pace, but maintained that the three-big lineup was not the problem.
• Hanburen left without answering whether the Bulls would use the three-big lineup in the next game.
• Karl Malone entered the press room in a suit, looking exhausted after the game.

After the Bulls lost Game 1, Malone accepted his role and resolved to keep fighting Li Fei in Game 2 before leaving Chicago after the season. Sports media and analysts widely reported that Li Fei’s 52-point performance, including 35 transition points, had overwhelmed the Bulls’ three-big lineup and put the Knicks three wins from the Finals.

• Malone said he would play whatever position the coach assigned and insisted the Bulls still had a chance in the best-of-seven series.
• Malone reflected on his expiring contract and planned to seek a new team after the season, but focused on facing Li Fei again in Game 2.
• Malone paused to look at a poster of Li Fei in the hallway, then left the arena.
• Sports outlets highlighted Li Fei’s 52 points and 35 transition points as the Bulls’ lineup experiment failed.
• ESPN analysts explained that the Knicks’ speed and Li Fei’s scoring left Chicago unable to find an answer.