Chapter 87: Fallen from Grace

Time was running out, and the Bulls' only hope for a comeback was to gamble on three-pointers.

The odds of winning were like Argentina's last corner kick chance, relying on whether Maradona could head the ball into the net under the defense of Nesta and Materazzi.

Coach Jackson didn't substitute Kerr, and for the final push, he also sent Longley to set screens for Kerr, helping him get free for a shot.

The Knicks didn't make any substitutions either. Jackson remained the center, focusing on defending the Bulls' three-pointers, allowing two-pointers freely.

The game continued, and the Knicks broke the Bulls' screen tactics with quick switches. Kerr passed the ball, and Pippen faced Houston in the middle, pulling up for a three-pointer, but missed again. Mills grabbed the rebound.

Jordan quickly fouled, sending Mills to the free-throw line.

Leading by five points, Mills felt no pressure and made both free throws in a relaxed state. 89 to 82.

Coach Jackson didn't call a timeout. For the Bulls, a seven-point gap was insurmountable.

Jordan received the ball in the backcourt, brought it to the frontcourt, and quickly shot a three-pointer. The arc was low, and the ball bounced far, picked up by Starks. The Bulls players gave up fouling, and Starks held the ball, letting the time run out.

As the final whistle blew, the Knicks rushed onto the court to celebrate as if they had already won the championship.

Ewing watched the live broadcast at home, unable to hold back his tears. The Knicks had finally overcome Jordan, but he couldn't experience it on the court.

Larry Johnson was the Knicks' biggest contributor, shooting 8 of 14, 1 of 3 from three-point range, and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line, scoring 21 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.

Another key player was Ben Wallace, who played 35 minutes, shooting 2 of 4, 8 of 13 from the free-throw line, scoring 12 points, 15 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks for a double-double.

Five Knicks players scored in double figures: Atkins with 11 points, Houston with 12 points, and Starks with 15 points.

On the Bulls' side, only two players scored in double figures.

Jordan shot 13 of 29, 1 of 2 from three-point range, and 6 of 8 from the free-throw line, scoring 33 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks, with a shooting percentage of 44.8%. Throughout the series, his shooting percentage was only 44.1%, with impressive stats but low efficiency.

Pippen shot 7 of 19, 1 of 7 from three-point range, and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line, scoring 21 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block, with a dismal shooting percentage of 36.8% and 14.3% from three-point range.

Pippen wanted a high-paying long-term contract in the summer, but any team that gave it to him would be making a mistake. Without a championship and exiting like a scapegoat for the Bulls, it would likely affect his next contract.

The home fans were dejected, with many die-hard fans leaving the arena in despair. Several Bulls players shed tears, knowing the team was about to disband, regretting they couldn't have a perfect farewell.

Yang Rui stood on the sidelines, looking at Jordan. After successfully changing history, he felt a sense of emptiness.

In his previous life, no one in the NBA could match Jordan in personal honors. Now, Jordan had two fewer MVPs and one less championship ring, falling from the pedestal.

At the press conference, Coach Jackson said, "The Knicks are the best team this season. They have outstanding stars and incredible bench depth. Even without Ewing, I still believe the Knicks will win the championship."

When asked by reporters if he would retire, Jordan's eyes reddened. "I haven't decided yet. I'll give everyone an answer before the new season starts."

Van Gundy, when asked about Ewing's absence, confidently stated, "Without Patrick, the team's strength is indeed weaker, but I still have confidence in winning the championship, and the players are ready."

A winning Jordan is a god, but a losing Jordan will soon be replaced by newcomers.

The NBA of this era wasn't as hyped as in later years. Only the Chicago media played the sympathy card, praising Jordan and the Bulls, while other media outlets mostly praised the Knicks for eliminating the Bulls without their MVP.

The Jazz also defeated the Lakers, a team led by multiple stars, with just one All-Star. The league's finals promotion focused on "teamwork." With the most popular Jordan eliminated, they needed new ways to attract fans and ensure viewership.

The Knicks got three days of rest, with the finals starting in New York on May 31, following a 2-3-2 format.

The team took a day off to recover, with training resuming for the next two days. Yang Rui returned to New York, hoping to sleep in, but received a call early in the morning.

"Hello."

"Hello, this is Jerry Krause, the Bulls' manager. I have some good news for you."

"What?" Yang Rui, still groggy, let his imagination run wild.

Was this a prank, or had he traveled through time again? Why would the Bulls' manager call with good news?

The Knicks eliminating the Bulls was good news for the Knicks, but bad news for the Bulls. Could this guy be a Knicks mole planted in the Bulls for years, now asking to meet on the rooftop to say, "I didn't have a choice before, but now I want to be a good person"?

How could that be? Yang Rui gradually woke up.

Krause stated his purpose: "Our Bulls management is very interested in you and wants to know if you'd be willing to be the head coach for the Bulls next season."

"For how long?" Yang Rui asked.

"Just one year," Krause replied.

The Bulls' management was far less sincere than the Raptors. The proposed term showed they wanted Yang Rui as a transitional head coach, using the hype to attract attention. If the results were poor next season, they would simply fire him.

Yang Rui asked, "Can I make suggestions on recruitment and drafting?"

"We need a year to evaluate your work capabilities. The management will discuss and decide on recruitment together," Krause said with a smile. He felt disdainful, thinking, "You're just a young guy, and you want a say in management?"

In Krause's view, this was a done deal. The Bulls were the hottest team of the '90s, and he was used to getting his way.

Even Jordan's recruitment suggestions were often blocked by Krause, leading to Jordan asking the owner to let him join the management and get rid of Krause. Although Jordan's scouting and recruitment skills weren't great, he thought Krause was an idiot.

Now, Yang Rui felt the same way. Krause's condescending tone was annoying. "Got it, I refuse."

Krause was stunned. "Refuse? Aren't you going to consider it? Do you want to continue as an assistant coach with the Knicks?"

"Please tell me, what benefit is there for me to coach a bottom-tier team next season with no authority? If there's no benefit, what's there to consider?" Yang Rui retorted.

Krause was speechless. He thought Yang Rui was young and easy to manipulate, but the other party spoke more bluntly than veteran coaches.

With Jordan and Pippen gone, who else would be at the bottom if not the Bulls? Yang Rui wasn't foolish enough to take the fall for the Bulls' management. He had no time to waste in Chicago.

Krause snorted, "Young man, don't be too arrogant. I don't think you have the capital to choose your team."

"Oh, if there's nothing else, I'll hang up. Goodbye." Yang Rui hung up the phone.

He didn't care about Krause. As long as he didn't work for the Bulls, the manager couldn't control him.

He also had some disdain for the Bulls. The owner, Reinsdorf, was a nouveau riche who rose because of Jordan, hypocritical and reeking of money. Such a team would never win a championship again.