Recaps

In Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Rick Carlisle staggered Boston’s rotations to keep Grant Hill fresh and unleash him against the Lakers’ second unit. Hill dominated the second quarter, forcing Phil Jackson to send the exhausted Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley back into the game early.

• Shaquille O'Neal scored efficiently against Ben Wallace but struggled at the free-throw line as Boston repeatedly fouled him.
• Rick Carlisle replaced Grant Hill with Stephen Jackson early to help Gary Payton pressure Jordan and save Hill’s energy for the Lakers’ bench minutes.
• Hill returned in the second quarter and stole the ball from Lamar Odom before racing downcourt for a powerful dunk.
• Hill continued scoring against the Lakers’ reserves with a fastbreak layup, a baseline finish, and a three-pointer, reaching 12 points in under five minutes.
• Phil Jackson called timeout and told Jordan and Barkley to return despite their exhaustion.

Grant Hill faced Michael Jordan in a direct matchup, first getting stopped before beating him with a crossover and a dunk. Hill broke through the mental barrier Jordan had represented, and Rick Carlisle brought Garnett, Gary Payton, and Ben Wallace into the game afterward.

• Phil Jackson sent the Lakers' starters back in early after Grant Hill's scoring run, while Rick Carlisle kept his starters on the bench to see how Hill fared against Jordan.
• Jordan guarded Hill and stopped his drive, forcing him to pass inside, where Rasheed missed a contested shot.
• Hill recognized that Jordan's defense had lost some of its former strength and speed, then cleared the floor for another one-on-one possession.
• Hill used a wide crossover to get past Jordan and dunked over O'Neal as Jordan stood watching.
• Rick Carlisle brought in Garnett, Gary Payton, and Ben Wallace after Hill's dunk.

Boston wore down the exhausted Lakers with its depth and physical defense, winning Game 2 by sixteen points to take a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals. Garnett finished the game bloodied after saving a ball out of bounds, while Phil Jackson admitted the Lakers could not keep up with Boston.

• O'Neal missed both free throws after Boston used another Hack-a-Shaq foul, and Pierce scored on the ensuing fast break to make it 78-64.
• Jordan hit difficult shots and Barkley battled for a loose ball, but Boston's fresh players kept pressuring the tiring Lakers.
• With five minutes left, Garnett blocked Marion's layup, saved the ball before it went out of bounds, and crashed into the scorer's table.
• Billups turned Garnett's save into a transition three, pushing Boston's lead to 95-80 as Garnett played on with a bleeding forehead.
• Boston beat the Lakers 98-82 to take a 2-0 Finals lead, and Phil Jackson said his team had been worn down by Boston's relentless young players.

On the flight to Los Angeles, Michael Jordan acknowledged that the Lakers’ aging veterans were being worn down and gave Jason Kidd control of the offense for the first three quarters. The Lakers planned to keep the score close before Jordan took over in the final five minutes.

• The Lakers’ veterans struggled with injuries and exhaustion after Boston’s physical play in the first two games.
• Jordan studied the Game 2 statistics and accepted that his stamina had fallen off in the fourth quarter.
• Jordan told Phil Jackson and Kidd that Kidd would run the offense for the first three quarters while Jordan, Charles Barkley, and Patrick Ewing conserved strength.
• Kidd agreed to lead the younger players and keep the score close, leaving Jordan to handle the final minutes.
• Phil Jackson watched Jordan and Kidd reshape the Lakers’ plan, recognizing that he had lost control of the tactical system.

Lin Qi worried that Michael Jordan could rally the Lakers despite Boston’s 2-0 lead, and Beth reminded him that he had overcome seemingly impossible odds himself. Beth sent Lin Qi to Los Angeles to win the championship, promising to await his return.

• Lin Qi told Beth that the upcoming road games against the Lakers worried him because Michael Jordan could produce remarkable comebacks.
• Lin Qi recalled Jordan’s performances in the 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals as proof that the two-game lead was not safe.
• Beth reminded Lin Qi how he had risen from a desperate wager in 1994 to become a team owner and build a three-peat dynasty.
• Beth teased Lin Qi for breaking their rule against discussing basketball at home and told him to return with the championship trophy.
• Lin Qi embraced Beth, promised to return, and prepared to leave for Los Angeles.

The Lakers exploited strict home-court officiating that limited Boston’s physical defense, then stunned the crowd by unleashing an extreme small-ball lineup. The Lakers’ young players surged ahead while Boston’s defense struggled to respond.

• Dick Bavetta called early fouls on Ben Wallace, Paul Pierce, and Ron Artest, leaving Boston’s defenders tentative.
• Kevin Garnett and Charles Barkley traded baskets as the first quarter became an offensive shootout.
• The Lakers substituted out Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, and Barkley, putting Jason Kidd, Derek Fisher, Quentin Richardson, Shawn Marion, and Lamar Odom on the floor.
• Lamar Odom pulled Ben Wallace away from the paint while Kidd directed the Lakers’ quick offense, leading to easy scores for Marion and Richardson.
• The Lakers went on an 11-4 run, forcing Rick Carlisle to call timeout as Boston’s players left the court exhausted.

The Lakers used a small-ball lineup to trade baskets with Boston before Phil Jackson brought Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, and Charles Barkley back fresh for the fourth quarter. Jordan and O'Neal powered a late surge to win 108-102, cutting Boston's series lead to 2-1.

• Rick Carlisle countered Boston's foul trouble by moving Kevin Garnett to center in a five-out lineup.
• The Lakers and Boston traded baskets through the second and third quarters, with the Lakers leading 88-85 entering the fourth.
• Phil Jackson sent Jordan, O'Neal, and Barkley back into the game, and Jordan scored a turnaround fadeaway before O'Neal dunked over Big Ben.
• With one minute left and the Lakers ahead by six, Barkley grabbed a defensive rebound and Jordan beat Grant Hill with a crossover and a jumper.
• The Lakers won 108-102, bringing the series score to 1-2.

Boston countered the Lakers’ small-ball lineup with Wang Zhizhi’s perimeter shooting and Rasheed Wallace’s dominant post game, then used Rick Carlisle’s layered defense to contain Shaquille O’Neal. The Celtics entered the fourth quarter of Game 4 ahead 76–68 in Los Angeles.

• Rick Carlisle sent Wang Zhizhi in against Lamar Odom at center, and Wang hit an open three after Billups used his screen.
• Rasheed Wallace overpowered Odom for a dunk, then beat Odom and Marion with a fadeaway, forcing Phil Jackson to call timeout and restore Shaquille O’Neal to the lineup.
• Rick Carlisle’s layered defense pressured O’Neal while denying Quentin Richardson and conceding shots to less reliable Lakers shooters.
• Marion missed a wide-open three against Boston’s trap, and the Celtics contained the Lakers through the second and third quarters.
• Boston ended the third quarter leading 76–68 as Lin Qi hoped the team would secure its defensive rebounds and win on the road.

The Lakers erased an eight-point deficit and beat Boston 98-96 after Michael Jordan hit a go-ahead jumper with 1.2 seconds left. The victory tied the NBA Finals series at 2-2.

• Shaquille O'Neal repeatedly passed out of Boston's double-teams to set up Marion and then scored when the defense hesitated.
• Charles Barkley grabbed crucial rebounds and a loose ball, helping the Lakers close the gap and keep possession in the final minutes.
• With the score tied at 96 and 24 seconds remaining, Phil Jackson left the Lakers' final possession to the players without calling a timeout.
• Michael Jordan drove against Grant Hill and Garnett, then made a difficult jumper to put the Lakers ahead 98-96.
• Paul Pierce missed a rushed corner shot over Marion as time expired, and the Lakers won to tie the series 2-2.

After Boston’s Game 4 loss, Lin Qi found Rick Carlisle obsessively reviewing the final possession and helped him accept that the team’s tactics had been sound, but could not account for Michael Jordan’s championship will. The chapter left Carlisle calmer, with the whiteboard erased and his self-blame eased.

• Lin Qi found Carlisle alone in the conference room, repeatedly revising Boston’s defensive plan from the final quarter.
• Carlisle insisted that Jordan’s contested, off-balance shot should not have gone in despite Boston forcing him into the intended position.
• Lin Qi admitted that he had also questioned the possession and described how Jordan’s midrange shot had overridden his data-driven expectations.
• Lin Qi explained that tactics and probability could dominate regular play, but a superstar’s resolve could decide a Finals game in its final seconds.
• Lin Qi erased Carlisle’s tactics and reassured him that the loss was not caused by poor coaching or a lack of defensive effort.

Michael Jordan played Game 5 on a badly swollen knee as Boston’s young players used punishing defense to try to stop him. Jordan’s taunts rattled them into reckless play, and Lin Qi chose to let the game continue as he sensed something was about to happen.

• Before Game 5, the Lakers’ doctor drained bloody black fluid from Jordan’s swollen knee and warned him not to make sudden stops.
• Boston’s Gary Payton, Ron Artest, and Stephen Jackson repeatedly fouled and harassed Jordan during the first half.
• After Stephen Jackson knocked Jordan to the floor, Jordan stood up, made both free throws, and taunted Boston’s players about being afraid.
• Pierce forced an isolation against Marion and lost the ball to Jordan, while Artest was called for charging on his next possession.
• Rick Carlisle tried to call a timeout, but Lin Qi stopped him and waited as Boston’s players continued forcing poor shots.

The Celtics rallied in the second half of Game 5, but the Lakers held on for a 101-98 victory and took a 3-2 series lead. Jordan stayed on the court after a punishing foul, and the series headed back to Boston for Game 6.

• Pierce calmed down and hit a midrange jumper, helping Boston regain its composure in the third quarter.
• Garnett and Grant Hill made key plays as Boston kept the score close.
• With the game tied at 91, Artest fouled Jordan hard, leaving him in pain on the court.
• Jordan refused help, stood up, and made both free throws after the flagrant foul.
• O'Neal grabbed an offensive rebound and Kidd hit a corner three as the Lakers won 101-98 and took a 3-2 series lead.

The Boston Celtics overwhelmed the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, with Grant Hill attacking without hesitation despite his ankle injury and exploiting the space created for Boston’s stars. Boston took a 62-48 lead into halftime while Michael Jordan struggled with painful ribs and Gary Payton’s physical defense.

• Gary Payton stole the ball from Michael Jordan, aggravated his rib pain, and taunted him as Boston took possession.
• Grant Hill drove past Shawn Marion, drew a foul on Shaquille O’Neal, and scored a reverse layup before shouting at Marion.
• Hill’s aggressive drives forced the Lakers to collapse, giving Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett room to score.
• Jordan shot 3-for-11 for eight points in the first half, while O’Neal scored 17 points for the Lakers.
• Paul Pierce made a difficult midrange shot at the buzzer, giving Boston a 62-48 halftime lead.

The Boston Celtics overwhelmed the injured Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6, winning 108-89 to tie the series at 3-3. With the decisive Game 7 two days away, Lin Qi watched both teams leave the court knowing there was no retreat.

• Phil Jackson told the Lakers to feed Shaq and fight harder on defense, and O'Neal led an early third-quarter push that cut Boston's lead to eight.
• Kevin Garnett powered past Charles Barkley for a basket and a free throw, then told him that his era was over.
• Boston intensified its defense, and Jordan's injured ribs disrupted his shot before Big Ben's outlet pass led to Grant Hill's dunk and a fifteen-point lead.
• Pierce, Garnett, and Boston's defense widened the lead to nineteen by the end of the third quarter, and Pierce's fourth-quarter three stretched it to twenty-two.
• Phil Jackson sent in the Lakers' reserves, and Lin Qi and Rick Carlisle responded by removing Boston's starters as the Celtics won 108-89.
• The Celtics tied the series 3-3, and Lin Qi looked ahead to the deciding Game 7.

The Lakers and Boston fought through a bruising, low-scoring Game seven, with Charles Barkley and Kevin Garnett trading hard-earned baskets before Michael Jordan hit a painful buzzer-beater. The Lakers went into halftime ahead 41-39, while Jordan’s rib injury left him struggling to breathe in the tunnel.

• Big Ben won the opening possession for Boston, but both teams missed heavily as the score stayed tied at 4-4 through the first four minutes.
• Charles Barkley forced a rebound between Big Ben and Garnett, scored through contact, and made the free throw.
• Kevin Garnett answered by overpowering Barkley in the post and dunking against Shaquille O'Neal’s help defense.
• Grant Hill was knocked down on a drive, while Gary Payton relentlessly guarded the injured Jordan as Jordan focused on creating space for his teammates.
• With forty seconds left in the half, Jordan shook Payton with a fake and hit a fadeaway at the shot-clock buzzer to put the Lakers ahead 41-39.
• Jordan entered the tunnel after halftime began and leaned against the wall, gasping as his rib gear soaked through with sweat.

Boston and the Lakers traded late-game blows in Game 7, with Barkley appearing to hit a buzzer-beating three for Los Angeles. The referee ruled it a two because Barkley’s foot was on the line, tying the game 83-83 and sending it to overtime.

• Big Ben blocked Kidd’s floater, and Pierce converted a fast-break and-one to put Boston ahead 81-78.
• Garnett scored a turnaround fadeaway to give Boston an 83-78 lead with just over a minute remaining.
• Jordan hit a contested three to cut the Lakers’ deficit to 83-81 with 48 seconds left.
• Pierce missed a jumper, and O'Neal secured the rebound before Kidd brought the ball upcourt.
• Kidd passed out of Boston’s collapsing defense to Barkley, whose buzzer-beater initially appeared to win the game for the Lakers.
• The referee ruled Barkley’s shot a two because his foot was on the three-point line, tying the score 83-83 and forcing overtime.

Boston defeated the Lakers 89-86 in overtime of Game 7 of the NBA Finals, winning the championship after Grant Hill took control in the closing minutes. Michael Jordan’s final shot missed, leaving him alone as Boston celebrated.

• With the score tied at 85, Grant Hill drove past Shawn Marion and scored over Shaquille O’Neal to put Boston ahead.
• After Ben Wallace fouled out, O’Neal made one free throw, and Hill answered with a pull-up jumper to give Boston an 89-86 lead.
• Jordan drove against Gary Payton and missed a potential tying shot, and Kevin Garnett secured the rebound as time expired.
• Boston celebrated its championship as Paul Pierce sobbed, Garnett roared, and Hill stood with his teammates.
• Lin Qi watched Jordan stand alone amid the celebration and reflected that an era had ended.

Grant Hill won the 2002 NBA Finals MVP after the Boston Celtics defeated their opponents in Game 7, and he thanked his wife, Tamia, Lin Qi, and his teammates for helping him return from injury. The celebration took a tense turn when Stephen Jackson revealed on live television that Lin Qi had advised the players to buy stocks, prompting David Stern to order the footage archived and stare coldly at Lin Qi.

• David Stern named Grant Hill the 2002 NBA Finals MVP, and Hill accepted the trophy while limping from his injured ankle.
• Hill described his long recovery and thanked Tamia, Lin Qi, Rick Carlisle, and his Celtics teammates.
• Hill raised the trophy and roared that the Boston Celtics were champions as the arena erupted in celebration.
• Stephen Jackson told a live reporter that Lin Qi had advised the players to buy stocks and that his account had doubled.
• Brian Scalabrine tried to silence Jackson, but David Stern heard the broadcast and ordered Adam Silver to archive the interview footage.
• Stern turned and stared coldly at Lin Qi.

NBA Commissioner David Stern confronted Lin Qi over accusations that he gave Celtics players improper financial benefits and warned that the owners could force him to sell the team. Stern offered to suppress the charges in exchange for punishment and breaking up the Celtics’ dynasty, but Lin Qi asked for time to find another solution.

• Stern showed Lin Qi Stephen Jackson’s interview praising the owner’s stock advice and explained that the Knicks’ James Dolan had submitted accusations to the league’s disciplinary committee.
• Stern warned Lin Qi that the league’s owners might force him to sell the Celtics, then demanded that he trade Grant Hill and other key players to restore competitive balance.
• Stern offered to suppress the accusations in exchange for a one-year ban from team affairs, five years without the Celtics’ first-round picks, and a ten-million-dollar fine.
• Lin Qi watched the Celtics lead Panathinaikos 98–71 and asked whether Stern could suppress the accusations without breaking up his team.
• Stern refused and said he would announce the investigation’s findings and penalties on July 1, while Lin Qi asked for more time.

Lin Qi reviewed Boston's 66-win season, its championship roster, and the team's fourth consecutive title. He turned to the 2002 draft order, preparing to act before the penalties were announced on July 1.

• Lin Qi read the report on Boston's 66-16 regular season and the contributions of its players.
• The report recorded Boston's playoff sweeps through the Eastern Conference and its 4-3 NBA Finals victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
• The season awards named Grant Hill Finals MVP, Ben Wallace Defensive Player of the Year, Rick Carlisle Coach of the Year, and Doc Rivers Executive of the Year.
• Lin Qi closed the report and noted Boston had won four consecutive championships.
• Lin Qi looked over the 2002 draft order and prepared to finish his tasks before the penalties were announced on July 1.

After celebrating the Celtics’ fourth straight championship, Lin Qi told the team the NBA had demanded that Boston be weakened, forcing him to trade or release some of its players. The chapter ended with the players and staff raising their glasses to the dynasty they had built.

• The Celtics celebrated their fourth consecutive championship at a private dinner hosted by Lin Qi.
• Lin Qi announced that the dinner was also a farewell and explained that David Stern had given him an ultimatum after pressure from other owners.
• Stephen Jackson worried his comments about stocks had caused the league’s action, but Lin Qi said they were only a pretext for the owners’ concerns about Boston’s dominance.
• Lin Qi revealed that the league could ban him from team affairs for a year, take Boston’s first-round picks for five years, and impose a record fine.
• Lin Qi told the team that Boston had to be weakened and promised to find departing players teams where they could get big contracts and starting roles.
• Garnett, Pierce, the other players, and the coaching staff raised their glasses to the Boston Dynasty.

Gary Payton asked Lin Qi to trade him back to Seattle, hoping to win a championship for his former city. Lin agreed to send Stephen Jackson with him, but warned Payton that Seattle’s new owner might not welcome him.

• Gary Payton told Lin Qi he wanted to leave Boston and return to Seattle to pursue the championship he had never won there.
• Lin Qi promised not to obstruct Payton’s trade and said Boston would retire his number 20 jersey, but refused to include Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace, or Ben Wallace.
• Payton asked Lin Qi to trade Stephen Jackson, and Lin agreed that the troubled young defender could go to Seattle.
• Payton revealed that he had invested twenty million dollars in the stocks Lin had recommended and had doubled his money.
• Lin Qi warned Payton that Seattle’s new owner might not be willing to welcome him back.

Gary Payton learned that the SuperSonics’ new ownership saw him as an expiring contract, so Lin Qi proposed helping him build enough wealth to buy the team after retirement. Payton embraced the plan to secure a major contract in Seattle and someday return as the team’s owner.

• Gary Payton told Lin Qi that Howard Schultz viewed him as a short-term ticket-selling opportunity, not a franchise icon.
• Lin Qi suggested that Payton invest his money with Lin Qi Capital and aim to buy the SuperSonics after retirement.
• Lin Qi said Boston could include Stephen Jackson and help assemble a playoff-caliber roster to strengthen Payton’s pitch to Schultz.
• Lin Qi advised Payton to seek a four-year contract with a provision allowing Seattle to trade him if results and ticket sales disappointed.
• Payton resolved to pursue the contract and promised Lin Qi free coffee across Seattle if he eventually bought the team.

Lin Qi offered Rick Sund a trade that would send Gary Payton, Stephen Jackson, and Boston’s ninth pick to Seattle in exchange for Vin Baker and four unprotected first-round picks. He expected Seattle to accept, both to strengthen the team immediately and to set up a future opportunity to buy it cheaply.

• Rick Sund told Lin Qi that Seattle wanted to re-sign Gary Payton but lacked cap space and needed players who could help the team win.
• Lin Qi proposed taking Vin Baker’s contract and sending Seattle Gary Payton, Stephen Jackson, and the ninth pick to draft Amar'e Stoudamire.
• Lin Qi demanded Seattle’s unprotected first-round picks in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009, arguing that the deal would bring immediate revenue and playoff hopes.
• Rick Sund ended the call without answering, and Lin Qi gave him until five that afternoon to respond.
• Lin Qi anticipated Seattle would accept and hoped its weakened future would let Payton buy the team cheaply years later.

Lin Qi traded Grant Hill to the Phoenix Suns for Anfernee Hardaway and four unprotected first-round picks, while securing Jerry Colangelo’s political support. The deal weakened Boston in the short term but gave Lin Qi future assets and a powerful ally.

• Lin Qi called Jerry Colangelo and offered to trade Grant Hill to the Suns.
• Lin Qi agreed to take Anfernee Hardaway’s contract to help Phoenix match salaries.
• Lin Qi asked Colangelo to defend Boston at Board of Governors meetings and demanded Phoenix’s unprotected first-round picks in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009.
• Colangelo accepted the trade after several minutes of negotiation.
• Lin Qi locked the trade memorandum in his safe, knowing he planned to acquire the Suns in the future.