Pope of Basketball.

Summary

. Before the game, both teams' players anxiously arrived in the locker room. Michael Jordan warmed up and acknowledged the importance of making adjustments for peak performance, emphasizing the need to win to avoid widening the record gap. He motivated his teammates to cut to the basket for open shots. Acknowledging his declining physical abilities, Jordan recognized the value of teamwork and his unwavering will to win, demonstrated by his legendary performance in the previous season’s Finals. In the Knicks' locker room, You Yin felt the pressure of competing against Jordan. Tension rose between teammates Yang Rui and Fan Gan Di over defensive strategies against Jordan. Yang Rui argued for double-teaming Jordan, pointing out that without Pippen, the Bulls relied heavily on him for scoring. Fan Gan Di initially disagreed but eventually conceded after considering Yang Rui's statistics on the Bulls' scoring distribution. As the game began, commentators noted the Knicks' strengths, particularly with Ewing back in form, while highlighting the Bulls' reliance on Jordan. The game started with Ewing winning the tip-off. The Knicks scored first with a three-pointer from Johnson after effective off-ball screens. The Bulls responded with Jordan, who executed a fadeaway jumper, showcasing his enduring skill and basketball IQ despite his age. .

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