He complained, "In this era, the players entering the league are all good kids, unlike in our ti when there were ones with personality!"
Noah returned to the locker room and proactively admitted his mistakes, indicating "I will definitely play better in the second half."
Thibodeau really wanted to say, "If you can stay on the court for 10 minutes, consider it a success!"
But fearing it would affect the kid’s enthusiasm, he ultimately kept it to himself, though he muttered the thought in his heart, a self-fulfilling prophecy. When the second half resud on the court, Su Wan still hadn’t forgiven Noah, continuing to relentlessly target him.
Noah tried his best to survive on the court for 6 minutes, but in the next round, he suffered from Su Wan’s sudden "ride dunk."
That dunk directly knocked Noah down.
It also reignited the excitent at Madison Square Garden.
Because Noah didn’t jump, he was also called for a "blocking foul",
When Su Wan stepped to the free throw line, the whole stadium chanted "MVP," and after he calmly made the free throw, the score difference widened to over 20 points.
Finally, 106 to 93, in the first ho ga back, Su Wan impressively collected 46 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, leading the team to a 23-point triumph over the Bulls, taking the series to 2-1.
Bill Walton comnted, "The Bulls have likely lost their best chance to defeat the New York Knicks!"
The previous ga saw the Bulls defeating the New York Knicks at ho, proving Thibodeau’s defensive strategy could indeed constrain the Knicks’ playstyle, tonight was supposed to be a further step forward for the Bulls.
Yet due to Noah’s provocation, the team suffered a devastating defeat.
This 23-point loss would undoubtedly impact the Bulls’ morale, potentially affecting their status for the fourth ga of the series two days later.
The next morning, the dia perceived this as the gap between Derek Rose and Su Wan.
Rose actually perford well last night, scoring 31 points with 5 rebounds and 7 assists, which was better than usual. But in front of Su Wan, he still seed inadequate.
ESPN believed, "This season’s Derek Rose definitely reached regular season MVP level, but there are MVPs and then there are MVPs!"
"Karl Malone was a regular season MVP, Michael Jordan was too!"
"Nowitzki was a regular season MVP, so was Su Wan!"
"But their dominance in the ga is completely different!"
"Derek Rose, he just isn’t on Su Wan’s level!"
The New York dia was overwhelmingly spreading this phrase:
"Don’t co challenge New York!"
"Su Wan, don’t co to challenge!"
The first phrase was what Su Wan said the night he scored 83, and by the end of the regular season, the New York Knicks still maintained an unbeaten record at ho.
The latter phrase was added by the New York dia after this ga, as anyone who dared to provoke Su Wan in the match had suffered greatly.
Joakim Noah’s final stats were only 4 points and 3 rebounds.
Although he wasn’t exactly a "stats genius", he hadn’t played such a poor ga for a long ti...
Even if Thibodeau hadn’t seen any suspense left in the last 2 minutes and substituted all the main players, Noah might have "fouled out."
The clouds lood over the entirety of Chicago.
However, the fourth ga of the series saw the Bulls unaffected by the previous ga’s crushing defeat; rather, those reports seed to have motivated the team, especially Derek Rose, who displayed a ferociously aggressive form.
Noah was also very engaged in the ga.
But obviously, he spoke much less on the court than before.
A one-ti "outburst" exchanged for a lifeti of being "introverted."
His usually unkempt "sky-high hair" seed quite subdued at the mont.
This helped him remain highly focused.
With both of them leading, the Bulls managed to stay ahead for most of the ga.
By the end of the third quarter, the score was 78 to 75.
The Bulls were still leading by 3 points.
The montum from the previous ga that Curry and Gallinari had did not continue into this ga.
But that was normal; after all, they were rookies, "inconsistent" during the regular season, and even more so in the playoffs.
Su Wan didn’t put much pressure on them, but pulled Vince Carter aside, "If the young ones aren’t up for it, you, as the veteran, must step up, right?"
"Uncle Carter’s got to show what Uncle Carter’s got!"
"The points that Stephen missed this ga, you’ll make up for them!"
Vince Carter gave Su Wan a cold glance, but from his deanor, Su Wan knew, the old comrade took it seriously.
The fourth quarter then officially began.
From the get-go, Carter caught the ball at a 45-degree angle on the right, and without hesitation fired a three-point shot, hitting the target, tying the score, and setting a positive tone for the Knicks in the fourth quarter.
D’Antoni yelled from the sidelines, "Nice!"
Tyronn Lue and Mike Ma glanced at each other.
One thing had beco very clear in this series: the New York Knicks could only win through offense.
Especially since Derek Rose was that uncommon type of breakthrough artist that even Su Wan couldn’t constrain.
And being the entire Bulls’ "engine," not containing him ant not stopping the Bulls’ offense.
And just like this...
Right after Carter scored, the Bulls imdiately coordinated and launched a counterattack.
Boozer, facing the rookie Gallinari, was completely having a field day.
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