Chapter 55: Farewell to 1996 (Part I)

In Lee You's view, the Player of the Week award was nothing extraordinary; this accolade was usually handed to young players generating hype and putting up numbers.

However, Lee You had forgotten one thing: in 1996, the Player of the Week was awarded to only one player per week, and the honor had not yet been cheapened by over-distribution. The moment he won it, plenty of people were left green with envy.

In the final game before Christmas, the Knicks maintained their "iron-blooded" defense, holding the Hawks to just 19 points in the first quarter.

42:51, at the end of the first half, the Knicks had already built a 9-point lead.

The Hawks' twin towers, Christian Laettner and Dikembe Mutombo, had a particularly frustrating first half.

After missing his first three shots of the game, Patrick Ewing stopped stubbornly trying to pound it out in the low post. Frequent high pick-and-rolls forced the Hawks' twin towers to frequently help out on defense.

Chris Childs had played relatively restrained at the start, but once Lee You checked into the game, he let fly whenever an opportunity presented itself.

At first, Mutombo didn't mind, continuing to anchor himself in the paint. But after Lee You drained three consecutive three-pointers, the Defensive Player of the Year was forced to reluctantly abandon his most familiar defensive territory.

The New York fans in attendance felt their tickets were well worth the price. Lee You did not disappoint their expectations, breaking out fancy plays from time to time.

Tonight, Madison Square Garden was also filled with a rich Christmas atmosphere. The celebrity spectators in the front rows might not have cared about such things, but ordinary fans who bought tickets in the upper decks were already rocking along with the music.

"If we win this game, our record will improve to 20 wins and 6 losses, just ahead of the Heat, placing us third in the Eastern Conference."

"Although it can't compare to the Bulls' record, I still want to praise head coach Van Gundy. Since taking over the team, he has delivered a most satisfactory report card."

At the MSG broadcast table, commentator John Andariese took advantage of the halftime break to review the Knicks' early-season record. This professional analyst also began speaking favorably of Van Gundy.

"Based on their performance before Christmas, the Knicks are indeed giving us pleasant surprises. We have maintained our historically excellent defense while simultaneously playing fluid offense."

"Lee's addition has played a crucial role, giving the team more offensive options. He will turn 19 at the end of the month, and I imagine many fans are already starting to look forward to the team's future!"

Broadcaster Marv Albert didn't hold back either, continuing the praise.

Both commentators were consciously avoiding the subject of a championship when reviewing the game; the dominance currently displayed by the Bulls was simply too overwhelming!

As veteran commentators for the home team, they certainly didn't want to build castles in the air for the fans...

With Christmas approaching, rookie Walter McCarty returned to New York and finally enjoyed a couple of good days. Oakley stopped making him run errands, and the atmosphere in the locker room grew warm and harmonious.

"Next time we play away in Atlanta, I'll take you to a great place, Lee. You've got to enjoy life when you make money; you're already 19!"

"Dikembe wouldn't lie to me. Word is, the owner of that club down there is even a fan of ours!"

Patrick Ewing, who hadn't recently suffered criticism from the New York media, returned to the locker room and began introducing a wonderful establishment he had just heard about from a good friend.

Before Lee You could speak, Larry Johnson nearby chimed in with intense interest:

"Pat, how's the privacy? You know I don't want to end up in the newspaper the next day!"

Hearing the inquiry, Ewing immediately invoked his friend as a guarantee:

"Dikembe is an honest man. A lot of socialites have been to the Gold Club. They just changed their business model not long ago, but waiting a few more months to check it out is fine too!"

The degenerates all chuckled knowingly. Ordinary nightlife was hardly enough to stimulate them anymore; with a rare club boasting diverse attractions and rave reviews, everyone was feeling an itch.

Noticing that Allan Houston remained silent, Lee You immediately teased him:

"Still planning to get married this year? Single life is actually pretty great!"

Allan Houston had been in a poor mood lately, largely due to being booed by fans upon returning to Detroit.

Coupled with the soaring popularity of his former rookie teammate, Grant Hill, while he himself struggled in New York, Houston had been nursing serious envy these past few days:

"I just want to stabilize my playing time, Lee. Sometimes I envy your shooting talent—you can always adjust your state so quickly."

Houston's playing time had been heavily eaten into by John Starks. Regarding this, Lee You could only pat the other man's shoulder in consolation.

The Knicks' rotation was beginning to stabilize. The amount of playing time depended on a player's form on any given night; unlike "Grandmama," the competition in the backcourt was far more fierce.

Even though Van Gundy often seemed checked out, for most games he still made interior offense the core, leaving Lee You and the other perimeter players to engage in fierce internal competition...

As Christmas drew near, by the time the second half rolled around, the Hawks had lost much of their desire to chase the deficit. Under low-pressure circumstances, Jeff Van Gundy tried to give as many players as possible a chance to make an appearance.

This young, sharp-dressed coach certainly knew that many players' family members were in attendance tonight, and letting them play was a way of showing courtesy to his players.

Both sides frequently missed shots in the second half, but at that point, no one cared. Everyone just wanted the game to end as quickly as possible so they could head home safely to celebrate the holidays.

In the end, 86:98, the Knicks won the final game before Christmas at home, serving as a Christmas gift to the New York fans.

After the match, Mutombo and Ewing, the two college alumni, were still chatting quietly and laughing with one another.

Many players were greeting their families in attendance. Seeing this, Lee You sighed; he also felt a bit nostalgic for the days in Albuquerque.

Upon returning to the locker room, Jeff Van Gundy and the coaching staff applauded the players. Team staff members were also present, and everyone wore joyful expressions:

"20 wins and 6 losses—I am proud of this record!"

"It doesn't matter that we aren't playing in a Christmas Day game; we will prove ourselves anew, and we will make it back to the Finals!"

"Now, go enjoy your holiday in peace. Give my regards to your families, and Merry Christmas!"

After saying this, Jeff Van Gundy smiled and hugged every single player in greeting. The staff members cheered along—everyone loves a holiday!

"Great job, Lee! The Player of the Week award shows the league's recognition of you. Of course, remember to take care of your body. Rookies always encounter some difficulties; communicate with the coaching staff in a timely manner, we're all family here!"

Hearing Van Gundy's earnest admonition, Lee You immediately gave the young coach a tight hug, recognizing that he truly was a good man:

"Don't worry about me, Coach! I'm ready. Merry Christmas!"

Every rookie encounters adversity: fatigue, injuries, scouting reports revealing their tendencies, mismatched team tactics, and so on.

Lee You wasn't made of steel either; he had bruises of all colors on his legs. Amidst the grueling schedule, these cumulative impact injuries would inevitably affect his playing condition.

Ewing's knees were wrapped in thick bandages every time he took the floor, Allan Houston's fingers were swollen, "Grandmama's" back would occasionally throb with dull pain, and Oakley carried contusions left by physical collisions.

Barring structural damage, everyone had to keep playing. There were no load-management rest days; fans who bought tickets to watch the game didn't pay to see players sitting on the bench in suits.

Everyone wore smiles, knowing they could finally enjoy their Christmas holiday starting tonight. Old Mike, the equipment manager, looked at the bustling locker room and whispered with a smile to a staff member beside him:

"I have a feeling we're going to succeed!"