Early May 2000.
The Boston Celtics swept the Detroit Pistons to advance. Their opponent in the Eastern Conference Semifinals has been determined: the New York Knicks, led by Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston. This team, coached by Jeff Van Gundy, retains the most typical characteristics of the Eastern Conference in the 1990s: tough style and fierce competition.
On May 8th, the first game of the Eastern Conference Semifinals was played at the New Garden.
At the start of the game, the Knicks did indeed show the resilience of a veteran team. Sprewell relentlessly guarded Eddie Jones on the defensive end, Houston also abandoned their shooter attitude, constantly using physical contact to delay Chris Paul Pierce's receiving of the ball.
In the first five minutes, the two sides were tied 8-8 in a quagmire of positional play in the half of the court.
But as the game progressed, the Celtics ' roster talent began to emerge. Gary Payton repeatedly used changes of pace to tear apart New York's perimeter defense, delivering the ball to Garnett at the high post. Pierce, on the other hand, used his size advantage to overpower Houston on the wing, scoring with consecutive turnaround jumpers. In the paint, Mutombo dominated the rim protection and rebounding against Patrick Ewing, who was nearing the end of his career.
At the end of the first quarter, the Celtics had established a double-digit lead of 28-18.
In the second quarter, the Knicks attempted a comeback. Sprewell repeatedly drove into the paint to score, while Houston also hit two three-pointers off screens, narrowing the gap to 4 points.
Doc Rivers immediately called a timeout. After reorganizing, the Boston Celtics' two generations of key forwards took over the offense. Garnett hit consecutive mid-range shots from the high post, while Pierce repeatedly attacked the paint and went to the free-throw line. At halftime, the score was 58-46.
In the second half, the Celtics increased their pace significantly.
At the start of the third quarter, Gary Payton displayed his dominance as a historic perimeter defender, twice intercepting Knicks passes and initiating transition offense and defense. Eddie Jones followed closely behind, hitting two pull-up three-pointers from the corners on either side.
The Knicks ' offense was severely hampered by the Boston Celtics ' high-pressure rotations, scoring only 16 points in the quarter. After three quarters, the score was a lopsided 85-62.
The game was effectively over in the fourth quarter, with both teams substituting their reserves. The Celtics won 108-84 at home, a 24-point victory, securing a winning start to the season.
Throughout the game, Garnett easily delivered a stat line of 24 points and 13 rebounds, Pierce contributed 22 points, and Eddie Jones added 18 points. Gary Payton, with 16 points, 8 assists, and 5 steals, completely shut down New York's perimeter offense.
The first game set the tone for the entire series. In the following three games, no matter how the Knicks adjusted, they were unable to bridge the huge gap in overall strength.
In the second game, also in Boston, Garnett dominated in the paint with 28 points and 15 rebounds, Celtics to a 102-89 victory.
In Game 3, the battle spread to Madison Square Garden. Facing boos from 20,000 New York fans, Chris Paul Pierce displayed incredible composure, scoring 30 points and holding off the Knicks ' comeback to take a 98-91 lead and secure the match point.
In Game 4, the Knicks put up a final fight. Sprewell scored 32 points, Houston added 26. But Gary Payton, Garnett, and Pierce combined for 76 points, firmly controlling the game.
106 to 98.
As the final whistle blew, the score was set at 4-0. The Boston Celtics completed a sweep in two consecutive rounds, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.
At the post-game press conference, Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy looked dejected. "We gave it our all, but the Celtics ' roster depth, offensive firepower, and defensive discipline were simply a level above." The tough coach paused, then admitted, "They definitely have the ability to contend for the championship."
Sprewell, standing to the side, also seemed somewhat helpless. "After these four games, you'll find they have almost no obvious weaknesses. Every position has extremely strong individual abilities, making it very difficult to completely contain them defensively."
On the other side, the atmosphere in the away team's locker room was lively.
"Two consecutive sweeps!" Garnett exclaimed, high-fiving his teammates while applying an ice pack to his knee. Pierce also shouted with a laugh, "7-0! Keep it up, guys!"
Gary Payton then took the opportunity to temper the heat. "Guys, just because the first two rounds went smoothly doesn't mean the rest will be easy. The Eastern Conference Finals are the real battle."
The door was pushed open, and Lin Qi walked in, dressed in a suit. The previously noisy dressing room fell silent.
"Well done, gentlemen." Lin Qi looked around at the players. "But Gary was right, the real test has just begun. Take a couple of days off and prepare for the next round."
While the Celtics awaited their opponent, another semifinal series in the Eastern Conference was incredibly close.
The matchup between the Indiana Pacers and the Miami Heat was an extreme defensive battle of attrition.
The Pacers emerged victorious 4-2 from a quagmire-filled series.
Thus, the matchups for the 2000 Eastern Conference Finals were officially set: Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers.
On one side are the Celtics, boasting a star-studded starting lineup and an undefeated playoff record.
On one side is the Pacers, led by Miller, a seasoned and incredibly resilient team.
The regular season's probing and the first two rounds of warm-up games are over.
Next comes the real battle that will determine life and death.
The Eastern Conference Finals are about to begin.
May 18, 2000, Boston, New Garden.
In the home team's locker room, Doc Rivers was holding Mark and drawing a heavy red circle on the tactics board.
" Eddie." Doc Rivers turned and stared at Eddie Jones. "Your only task tonight is Reggie Miller."
Eddie Jones sat in front of the cabinet and nodded silently.
"He averaged 18.1 points per game in the regular season, but in the playoffs, he averaged 24 points per game with a three-point shooting percentage close to 40%." Doc Rivers ' voice echoed in the locker room. "He's the Pacers' best player. Last season when we played the Pacers, Ron Harper was the primary defender. This year, you're in charge."
Eddie Jones took a deep breath, stood up, and tightened the straps of his shorts.
"I'm ready."
Meanwhile, in the away team's locker room at the other end of the corridor, Larry Bird Larry Bird stood in front of the tactical board, his expression as stern as a statue.
" The Celtics are younger and more talented than us. They also have home-court advantage." Larry Bird deliberately lowered his voice, "But so what? We had a franchise-best 25-game winning streak this season. Remember how that felt?"
"Gentlemen," Larry Bird said, scanning the veterans who had fought alongside him for three years, "Do you remember what I told you in our first year? Treat every game like a Game 7."
Reggie Miller sat in the corner, eyes closed, a towel draped over his head. This was his thirteenth season, and he was almost 35. Time was truly running out for him.
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals: Boston Celtics host Indiana Pacers.
Lin Qi sat in the best-viewed box, his gaze sweeping over the bustling crowd and landing precisely on the visiting team's coaching bench. Larry Bird Larry Bird stood there with his hands in his pockets, his expression grim.
When Bird took over the Pacers in 1997, Larry Bird vowed in front of the entire American media: I will only coach for three years.
It's 2000 now, the third year, and also the final year.
Lin Qi narrowed his eyes slightly. After this season, no matter where Indiana goes, Larry Bird will retire. For 35-year-old Reggie Miller, this is his last chance to make a run for the O'Brien Trophy.
Across the noisy stadium, their eyes briefly met in mid-air.
Larry Bird slightly raised his chin and nodded in acknowledgment; Lin Qi leaned slightly forward and responded calmly.
With the referee's whistle, Mutombo easily took the lead thanks to his wingspan advantage.
Gary Payton advanced steadily, glancing across half-court out of the corner of his eye, and subtly made a tactical hand signal with his left hand. Garnett understood immediately and moved up to set a high screen. Gary Payton quickly changed direction, splitting the defense, and with a flick of his wrist, the basketball flew precisely to the right wing.
Eddie Jones receives the ball. Facing Reggie Miller who has switched onto him, Eddie lowers his shoulder and makes an extremely realistic jab step, forcing Miller to shift his weight back. He then pulls up for a jump shot.
Swish!
The first goal ignited the first wave of cheers at the New Garden.
2-0.
In the transition between offense and defense, the Pacers ' half-court offense immediately sprang into action like a finely tuned machine. Reggie Miller began his off-ball runs, a style that gave all defenders a headache.
Using Smits' massive frame as a wall, he dashed from the bottom corner to the right wing with an extremely tricky running route. But Eddie Jones was like Miller's shadow, always sticking to Miller's side and rear. This time, Eddie Jones had learned to anticipate Miller's runs.
Miller executed a massive half-circle, yet failed to create even half a body length of space. The Pacers were forced to lob the ball to Rick Smits in the paint. Smits attempted a back-to-the-basket drive, turning and hooking the ball...
"Smack!"
Mutombo swatted the ball directly out of bounds!
Larry Bird Larry Bird, frowning on the sidelines, immediately turned to his assistant coach and ordered, "Get Jalen Rose to handle the ball and draw fouls, increase the attack on the wings!"
Larry Bird's adjustment paid off immediately, with Jalen Rose hitting a floater inside. On the next possession, Pierce backed down on the right wing, faked out several shots, and then calmly drained a fadeaway jumper.
Towards the end of the first quarter, Miller finally found a sliver of space to shoot using a screen. But just as he released the ball, Eddie Jones, who had squeezed through the wall of players, stretched out his arm and his fingertips grazed the surface of the basketball.
Clang!
The shot went astray.
At the end of the first quarter, the Celtics had established a 26-19 lead.
In the second quarter, Larry Bird made a bold decision: to keep the 35-year-old Miller on the court to lead the substitutes.
Doc Rivers kept Eddie Jones on the court, continuing to have him guard Miller.
When the game resumed, Miller was like a fully wound-up toy. He used Sam Perkins ' screen, then immediately turned back and bypassed Austin Hill's screen. Constantly squeezing through these double screens took a heavy toll on the defender's stamina.
Just as Eddie Jones was about to catch up, Miller made a reverse run and paused, finding only half a body length of space to receive the ball, pull up, and sink a three-pointer!
26-22!
One minute later, using the same tactic, Miller made a quick three-pointer!
29-25!
Inside the VIP box, Lin Qi slowly stood up. He looked at Eddie Jones, who was panting heavily, and knew that Eddie's defensive position wasn't off. But that's the mark of a superstar; when a legendary shooter finds his rhythm, he can make a shot even with the ball right in his face.
Shortly after, Doc Rivers replaced Bruce Bowen.
In the commentary booth, Isiah Thomas immediately noticed something amiss. " The Celtics have brought in Bruce Bowen! His defense isn't as clean as Eddie's; every second Miller is going to be torture."
In his first possession, Bowen didn't even look at the ball. He stuck to Miller like glue, his left hand subtly wedging against his lower back, his right elbow almost imperceptibly pressing against his ribs. Every time Miller made a run, Bowen used his chest and knees to forcefully block his path.
Miller didn't even touch the ball in two consecutive rounds!
In the third possession, a thoroughly frustrated Miller pushed Bowen aside and forced his way to the ball, managing to pull up for a three-pointer. Bowen pounced on him like a shadow, his long arm swinging down hard!
"Smack!"
A crisp thud echoed as Miller collapsed to the ground in pain, clutching his swollen wrist and grumbling at the referee.
On the sidelines, Larry Bird angrily slammed his clipboard down. "Are you guys blowing the whistle while blindfolded?!"
But the referee remained expressionless.
With their outside shooting failing to find its footing, Larry Bird made tactical hand signals from the sidelines, indicating that Rick Smits should post up Rasheed Wallace.
Smits received the ball in the low post, deliberately lowered his center of gravity, and fiercely used his elbow to clear a path, slamming it into Rasheed's chest. Seeing that Rasheed withstood the impact, Smits forcefully turned and hooked the ball, his concealed left hand also grabbing Rasheed's jersey.
"Beep--!"
The baseline referee blew his whistle, calling a defensive foul on Rasheed!
Larry Bird Larry Bird narrowed his eyes, waiting for the familiar " Rasheed Wallace " to self-destruct due to the unfair refereeing.
To everyone's surprise, Rasheed didn't react at all. He simply glanced coldly at the referee, raised his right hand to indicate a foul without saying a word, and turned to stand in the penalty area.
Larry Bird on the sidelines was stunned. When someone who should have lost control suddenly possessed absolute rationality, it was more chilling than any tactic.
At halftime, Miller, who was exhausted and frustrated, failed to score another goal from open play.
The Celtics went into the locker room leading 54-47.
The atmosphere in the Pacers' locker room was tense during halftime.
Larry Bird walked up to Miller, his voice low and menacing. " Boston is trying to provoke you. In the second half, I'll have Smits and Davis set screens for you. No matter how fast Eddie Jones is, he can't outrun two people."
Miller ripped the ice pack off. "I'm going to put that damn basketball in the hoop."
At the start of the third quarter, the Pacers suddenly accelerated their offensive pace!
Smits and Davis set up two walls on either side of the free-throw line, Miller darted around them like a gust of wind. Eddie Jones struggled to squeeze through the first wall, but crashed heavily into Davis's chest.
The area in front of him was empty. Miller jumped and flicked his wrist. Swish!
56-52!
In the next possession, the same tactic was used again. Miller found an opening once more and sank another three-pointer!
56-55!
The difference is only 1 point!
The New Garden fell silent for a moment as fans felt the resilience of the veteran striker. Doc Rivers decisively called a stop.
"They're running a double screen!" Thibodeau exclaimed, holding his clipboard. " Eddie, stop going around! When the second screen goes off, Kevin, switch on defense!" Garnett nodded.
After the timeout, the Pacers repeated their tactic. Miller used two screens to get open again, but just as he was about to jump, a tall figure switched onto him!
Kevin Garnett!
Garnett's devastating wingspan completely blocked Miller's shooting line. Miller was forced to stop and pass to the open Davis, who managed a weak mid-range shot...
Clang!
The defensive success completely set the stage for the Celtics ' comeback.
In the next possession, Pacers forward Jalen Rose drove into the paint after a screen, attempting a floater. But he didn't notice that Rasheed Wallace had already quietly collapsed on the weak side.
Just as Rose jumped, a dull thud rang out! Rasheed slammed the ball hard against the backboard mid-air!
After landing, he passed the ball to Garnett, who was on a fast break, and watched his teammate complete a powerful one-handed dunk in the frontcourt!
When the third quarter ended, the Celtics led 82-70, a 12-point advantage heading into the final quarter.
Lin Qi picked up his water glass and took a sip in the private box. Larry Bird's tactical adjustments were excellent, but unfortunately, the current Boston Celtics have no weaknesses in terms of raw talent, roster depth, and player mentality.
In the fourth quarter, Larry Bird made a desperate attempt.
But the Celtics fielded a frontcourt combination of Ron Artest, Rasheed Wallace, and Ben Wallace.
The Pacers ' bench players struggled even to dribble, and every pass was accompanied by intense physical contact. With five minutes remaining in the game, Garnett scored despite being double-teamed.
98-83!
A difference of 15 points.
Larry Bird Larry Bird stood on the sidelines, watching Reggie Miller still running on the court but unable to turn the tide, and slowly closed his eyes. He quietly turned around and sat back on the bench.
The final whistle blows.
Final score: Celtics 107-92 Pacers.
Boston secured a comfortable opening victory.
Faced with absolute talent and a mature defensive system, the "last dance" of this veteran Indiana team appeared both tragic and helpless.