The first season of The New Millennium is done and dusted, and now all 16 teams enter the playoffs in hopes of capturing the ultimate prize. Can the Lakers go back to back? Will the 76ers avenge their real life loss? It's time to find out.
First Round
There was only one true upset in the West, as the veteran Jazz team took out the Warriors in 4 games(Henry's Note- first round series were best-of-5 at this time), with Danny Manning dropping 21 points in the deciding game. The East was complete anarchy, as the top seeded Heat went down to the Knicks, and Michael Redd and Ray Allen led the Bucks to an upset over the 76ers.
Second Round
Both of those surprise teams came right on winning, as the Knicks easily dispatched of the Celtics while the Bucks narrowly survived against the Magic in 7 games, needing a few huge performances from Glenn Robinson. The Lakers took a 3-1 lead against the Timberwolves, then couldn't stop Kevin Garnett, who single handedly evened the series. But in Game 7, Shaq and Kobe combined for almost 50 in a blowout win. The Jazz would join LA, getting just enough offense from Karl Malone to get through Portland.
Conference Finals
For the second year in a row, the Los Angeles Lakers are heading to the NBA Finals. They demolished the exhausted Jazz, as Kobe took over in the decisive Game 5 with 37 points. Allan Houston took his spot in Knicks lore with his performance against the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, leading the team in scoring in almost every single game. For the second time in three years, the Knicks went for the eight seed all the way to the Finals. Can they do what couldn't in 1999 and win it all?
NBA Finals
Game 1 in Los Angeles went to the Lakers, as Shaq logged 32 points and 13 rebounds en route to an easy 20 point win. The Knicks though, would steal Game 2, as Houston put up 32 and Mark Jackson provided 10 assists to win the game by just 3 points.
Back in the Garden, the Knicks cruised to an easy 19 point win in Game 3, but the Lakers locked down on defense, holding New York to just 37 percent shooting in a Game 4 drubbing.
Game 5 was a shoot-out, and Kobe came to play, dropping 38 points to outshine the incredible 30 points from Glen Rice and put the Lakers one win away from another ring.
In Game 6, the Knicks shut Shaq and Kobe down, holding the pair to under 35 points. But New York could only watch on in horror as Derek Fisher took the reins for the Lakers, draining three after three. In the end, it was a 21 point win for LA, who lifted the trophy yet again, champions of the world.
NBA Finals MVP: Shaquille O'Neal(26.5 ppg, 13.3 rpg, 3 blkpg)
For the second time in a row, and just like in real life, the Los Angeles Lakers are 2000-2001 NBA Champions. The New Millenium has proven that history repeats itself, even in a video game, but we're just getting started. Up next is the offseason, as big names test the market and new stars enter the league.
First Round
There was only one true upset in the West, as the veteran Jazz team took out the Warriors in 4 games(Henry's Note- first round series were best-of-5 at this time), with Danny Manning dropping 21 points in the deciding game. The East was complete anarchy, as the top seeded Heat went down to the Knicks, and Michael Redd and Ray Allen led the Bucks to an upset over the 76ers.
Second Round
Both of those surprise teams came right on winning, as the Knicks easily dispatched of the Celtics while the Bucks narrowly survived against the Magic in 7 games, needing a few huge performances from Glenn Robinson. The Lakers took a 3-1 lead against the Timberwolves, then couldn't stop Kevin Garnett, who single handedly evened the series. But in Game 7, Shaq and Kobe combined for almost 50 in a blowout win. The Jazz would join LA, getting just enough offense from Karl Malone to get through Portland.
Conference Finals
For the second year in a row, the Los Angeles Lakers are heading to the NBA Finals. They demolished the exhausted Jazz, as Kobe took over in the decisive Game 5 with 37 points. Allan Houston took his spot in Knicks lore with his performance against the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, leading the team in scoring in almost every single game. For the second time in three years, the Knicks went for the eight seed all the way to the Finals. Can they do what couldn't in 1999 and win it all?
NBA Finals
Game 1 in Los Angeles went to the Lakers, as Shaq logged 32 points and 13 rebounds en route to an easy 20 point win. The Knicks though, would steal Game 2, as Houston put up 32 and Mark Jackson provided 10 assists to win the game by just 3 points.
Back in the Garden, the Knicks cruised to an easy 19 point win in Game 3, but the Lakers locked down on defense, holding New York to just 37 percent shooting in a Game 4 drubbing.
Game 5 was a shoot-out, and Kobe came to play, dropping 38 points to outshine the incredible 30 points from Glen Rice and put the Lakers one win away from another ring.
In Game 6, the Knicks shut Shaq and Kobe down, holding the pair to under 35 points. But New York could only watch on in horror as Derek Fisher took the reins for the Lakers, draining three after three. In the end, it was a 21 point win for LA, who lifted the trophy yet again, champions of the world.
NBA Finals MVP: Shaquille O'Neal(26.5 ppg, 13.3 rpg, 3 blkpg)
For the second time in a row, and just like in real life, the Los Angeles Lakers are 2000-2001 NBA Champions. The New Millenium has proven that history repeats itself, even in a video game, but we're just getting started. Up next is the offseason, as big names test the market and new stars enter the league.
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