At 6 p.m. on May 2, the Nets led by Kidd and the Pacers led by Jermaine O'Neal started.

The Nets led by 8 points 27-19 in the first quarter, and the Pacers returned a 27-19 in the second quarter, tying the score.

The Pacers started in the third quarter, 28-17 in a single quarter, leading 11 points in the third quarter. The Nets, which was seventh in the Eastern Conference, were about to complete the top score... As a result, Van Horn's rampage in the last quarter was also related to Kidd's exquisite pass. Van Horn made 4 of 4 three-pointers in a single quarter, and only made three-pointers, but scored 12 points in a single quarter.

Kidd took advantage of Van Horn's restraint to sort out the offense. He made a three-pointer in a single quarter and scored 8 assists in a single quarter. He led the team to score 30 points in a single quarter. In the last quarter, he returned the Pacers a 30-19 wave. As Ron Mersell, who wandered to the Pacers, missed the breakout, the score was frozen at 93-93 in a regular time, and he scored into overtime!

Overtime was a bit wild. In 5 minutes, the two teams scored 16-16.

Kenyon Martin and Wen Baker of the Nets each scored 6 points, plus Corey Kittles and Van Horn each made a mid-range shot.

The Pacers, who performed well in regular time, showed their strength in overtime, scored 2 three-pointers and two mid-range shots, scored 10 points, and Jamal Tinsley scored 6 points, tied the score at 109, dragging the game into the second overtime!

But judging from the first overtime, the Pacers' inside could no longer hold on.

In the second overtime game, all the Pacers could not hold on. In the entire 5 minutes of the second overtime game, only Jonathan Bend, who came on as a substitute, scored 2 points, and no other points were scored.

Aaron Williams and Kenyon Martin of the Nets scored 9 points, plus Kidd's layup, the Nets scored 11-2 in the second overtime game.

In the end, after 2 hours and 51 minutes of game, the Nets defeated the Pacers with 120 difficulties through double overtime and crossed the first round.

Time Warner Cable Sports commentator Bill Walton said regretfully after the game: "It's a pity that Ratliff was injured, otherwise Miller's wonderful performance in the first overtime would definitely become a classic."

Indeed, Reggie Miller, who will turn 37, fought against the impact of several young stars on his own in the first overtime game, which was shocking.

But the most shocking thing about this game was Kidd.

8 of 18 shots in the game, including 2 of 6 three-pointers, plus 6 of 8 free throws, Kidd did a good job in scoring tonight, scoring 24 points, 12 rebounds, 4 steals, 1 block, and only 4 mistakes. The most important thing is to get 20 assists!

24 points, 12 rebounds, 20 assists, 4 steals, 1 block!

Kidd, who was at his peak at the age of 29, performed an absolutely shocking performance in the battle of life and death!

In the series against the Pacers, the Nets' difficult shortcomings of dealing with superstars were fully exposed.

Whether it is Jermaine O'Neal who averages 29 points, 16 rebounds and 4 blocks per game, or Reggie Miller, who is the first overtime in the five games, as long as someone from the Pacers plays a superstar performance, the Nets are unable to deal with it.

This greatly exposed the two major shortcomings of the Nets' lack of strong offensive ability and lack of single defense ability.

This also shows that most of the Nets players are mediocre players who leave Kidd.

The Nets are quite distinctive, but they can't make good use of any organizational core. For example, Marbury led the team last season and was sixth-last in the regular season league.

But Kidd led such a team to second place in the Eastern Conference and reached the second round.

Such performance is definitely a performance that can be played for a long time.

Kidd became the fifth player in NBA history to get 20 assists in a single game in the playoffs. The first four players are Magic, Stockton, Tim Hardaway, and Doug Rivers.

Kidd's 20 assists this time is the 14th time in NBA playoff history. In the first 13 times, Tim Hardaway and Doug Rivers each, Magicians 7 times and Stockton 4 times.

But... Kidd's performance was a sensation that night. On the next day, on the morning of May 3, it was still the focus of people's hot discussion.

But as noon approaches, the heat begins to drop…

At 12 noon, the NBA officially announced the last two individual awards of the regular season this season.

Ben Wallace won 101 of the 125 votes for the Best Defensive Player vote, Garnett won 20 votes, Kobe won 3 votes, Duncan won 1 vote, and the other three players who received the votes added up to less than a quarter of Ben Wallace's votes!

Ben Wallace, who scored 8.6 in history this season, won the first best defensive player of his career like a crushing victory!

The defensive efficiency of 8.6 is not enough to be seen in the entire NBA history, because there are two monsters, Chamberlain and Russell. Before Chamberlain was 30 years old, his defensive efficiency was basically above 10. Russell's average defensive efficiency in his career reached 11, and his peak year was 16.

The defensive effect depends on whether the opponent's offense is strong. If each opponent is Jordan, then the defensive efficiency will definitely be very bad.

If you don’t talk about ancient basketball, just look at what happened after 1976, Ben Wallace ranked third in the defensive efficiency this season in more than 20 years.

Only David Robinson had an 8.9 defensive efficiency in the 1991-92 season, and Olajuwon's 8.7 defensive efficiency in the 1989-80 season was higher than Ben Wallace's defensive efficiency this season!

The third highest defensive efficiency of modern basketball that Mutombo maintained was broken by Ben Wallace!

In fact, after the All-Star Weekend, public opinion generally believed that Ben Wallace's best defensive player was stable, after all, it was more than 1 point higher than Garnett and Duncan's defensive efficiency.

But it is still surprising that such a crushing force is still very impressive.

Since the NBA established the Best Defensive Player Award, the highest vote-winning number was in the 100 season in the 102-93 season. Olajuwon won 74 of 100 votes. Second, Alonzo Mooning won 84 of 119 votes in the 119 votes in the 198-99 season. Third, in the 198-88 season, Jordan won 69 of 100 votes.

Ben Wallace is the first best defensive player to win over 80% of the votes.

At this time, Ben Wallace's salary of more than US$5 million next season...

According to unreliable gossip media reports, last summer, the Bulls wanted to quote Wallace's annual salary of about 8 million yuan, but they felt that it was too much of a loss. Last season's performance was up to $5.5 million to $6.5 million.

Last season, Ben Wallace made great progress compared to the 99-00 season... Who would have thought that Ben Wallace could make a leap forward in this season compared to last season?

This September this year, Wallace was only 28 years old.

Even if Ben Wallace really doesn't make any progress next season, he will continue to maintain his performance this season...

However, Ben Wallace won the best defensive player with a vote of more than 80%.

Some teammates steal the limelight...

MVP voting is not much the same as the best defensive player voting.

After years of modification, the MVP voting is from the initial player voting, to the later media voting, and to the later, each reporter needs to submit three MVP names in his mind...

Up to now, every media with voting rights must choose the first to fifth, first 10 points, second 7 points, third 5 points, fourth 3 points, fifth 1 point.

No matter which voting method is, since the NBA established the MVP in the 55-56 season, no player has been able to be elected as an MVP with unanimous or full-first votes.

Previously, the MVP with the highest vote rate was Jordan, who led the team to win the first 70-win NBA history in the 95-96 season, with a 98.6% first choice.

Now, this has been broken...

At 12:11 noon on May 3, 2002, at the NBA official press conference, David Stern smiled and announced loudly like a chrysanthemum: "In the 2001-2002 season, the winner of the NBA regular season Most Valuable Player Award is... 125 of the 125 first votes, and Aix, who scored a total of 1,250 points, Zhang Hao!"

...

...

Just... it's very unexpected.

Zhang Hao knew that he would most likely get the second MVP.

When Jordan won the MVP for the first time, he averaged 35 points per game. The Bulls only won 50 wins that season, and their record was at most the passing line of the MVP.

They won 60 this season, and he scored 39 points per game, basically locked in the MVP.

But 125 first votes were elected unanimously...

The day before yesterday, he also saw some news clips of interviews before voting, and felt that the reporters were just imitating his words and creating topics.

Who knew what those people said was true! They all gave him the first vote!

"Jason, you said, the media hype about how amazing McGrady's performance was, how shocking Kidd's ability to lead the team is, how excellent Duncan's personal performance is, how good Garnett carried the team into the playoffs alone, how strong Webber's ability to lead the team... In the end, they all voted for me?"

"Shh... Aix, whisper, look over there..."

Zhang Hao looked in the voice and Jordan happened to pass by, his face was black and blue.

"Yes, I'm surpassing Mr. Jordan again."

Zhang Hao came out of the lounge, and his teammates were all congratulating.

Ben Wallace was not in the training ground, and Zhang Hao came to the gym... Sure enough, Ben Wallace was practicing boxing passionately, looking very excited.

Seeing Zhang Hao coming, Ben Wallace stopped training and rushed forward excitedly and said, "Boss, last year you asked me to compete for the best defensive player, I still think it's impossible...but I did it!"

"But you executed the player options."

Ben Wallace was stunned with an excited expression, moved the hat, took a deep breath, and stretched out his right hand: "For the dynasty."

Zhang Hao couldn't help but smile bitterly and shook his head, stretched out his right hand and crossed Ben Wallace: "For the dynasty!"

...

On May 4, the second round of the Bulls and Cavaliers, Kings and Mavericks began.

The Bulls defeated the Cavaliers 99-91.

Kobe scored 26 points, Malone scored 20 points, Brad Miller scored 15 points, Desmond Mason scored 14 points, McGrady scored 7 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists, so angry that Kobe almost kicked McGrady.

Just 3 points away, McGrady only made 8 shots in the whole game. The far pitching feels inaccurate, so he stopped shooting!

The Kings slaughtered the Mavericks 108-91.

Jason Williams scored 15 points and 5 assists, Nowitzki scored 23 points and 7 rebounds, Finley scored 21 points and 5 assists...

On the Kings, Peja scored 26 points, Webber scored 20 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists, Wang Zhizhi scored 18 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block, Bibi scored 11 points and 10 assists, Doug Christie scored 6 points, 6 assists and 4 steals.

The Mavericks are indeed not as good as last season's playoffs, and the Mavericks played much better in the playoffs last season than this season.

Zhu Wan Howard looked bad, but it was just a salary issue. This was a real All-Star front line. If it were Reve Lafrenz and Van Exel, it could not make up for the vacancies brought about by Zhu Wan Howard's departure.

On May 5, the game day for the second round of the Supersonics to host the Lakers at home is here.

At 5 pm, the series between the Nets and the Sixers in the Eastern Conference started.

This is fate...

Iverson scored 31 points and 10 assists, Duncan scored 31 points and 19 rebounds, and the 76ers snatched the home advantage 104-87, leading 1-0 away!

The Nets made 28 of 78 shots in the game, scored 35 free throws and scored 25 of them, but they could not narrow the huge gap in strength brought by Iverson and Duncan.
To be continued...