After the game, the media buzzed, claiming the league wanted this round to go to a Game 7. They didn't want the defending champions to be eliminated so easily...
What the truth was, it no longer mattered to the Kings. They could only focus on playing their best in the final Game 7, hoping to overcome the referees' interference in the last match.
In the final Game 7, the referees' calls were generally fair. Both sides had a comparable number of fouls and free throws.
The game once again went down to the wire. The Lakers, thanks to two free throws from Kobe and one from O'Neal, took a 100:98 lead by 2 points.
Then, the Kings had the final possession. Bibby drove hard to the basket, drawing a foul from Kobe.
Bibby made both free throws, tying the game for the Kings.
But with only 8.2 seconds left on the clock, the Lakers had another chance for a game-winner!
This time, the Zen Master gave the opportunity to O'Neal, who missed his hook shot.
Kobe grabbed the offensive rebound and went for a put-back, which also missed.
Horry crashed the boards again, grabbing his second offensive rebound, and attempted a second put-back, which also missed!
The Kings had escaped danger three times. The Sacramento fans in the arena believed luck was on their side and that they could turn the tide in overtime, defeat the Lakers, and advance... But it wasn't to be!
The Kings shot poorly in overtime, while the Lakers attacked the basket, drew fouls, and played steadily, eventually winning 12:6 in overtime. With a total score of 116:112, they won Game 7, eliminated the Kings, and set up a Western Conference Finals matchup with the Spurs!
The Eastern Conference Semifinals lacked the epic drama of the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Nets defeated the Hornets 4:1!
The Hornets fought hard, but they couldn't overcome the Nets' all-around offensive attack orchestrated by Kidd.
The Celtics defeated the Pistons 4:1!
The Celtics' dual stars, Pierce and Antoine Walker, were too much for Stackhouse.
Pierce was hailed as the league's most classical small forward. He didn't rely on brute strength but rather on finding angles, making intelligent cuts, using screens, positioning, and any available space to complete his shots!
Celtics head coach O'Brien commented on Pierce: "He doesn't do things that excite the crowd, but if you carefully read his offensive game, you'll find it increasingly interesting..."
Celtics assistant coach Lester Conner also said: "Pierce scores very quickly, very quietly, very under the radar! You might watch the game and think he's playing averagely, but then you glance at the stat sheet and are surprised to see he already has 30 points!"
As the Celtics' undisputed leader, Pierce trained diligently, setting a great example for the team's atmosphere. He possessed an old-school stubbornness and pride. He relished defeating opponents at the Boston Garden, defending his territory, and then acknowledging the fans with a fist pump...
This season was Pierce's breakout year. In the regular season, Pierce averaged 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists, making his first All-Star appearance.
In the first round of the playoffs, he engaged in a scoring battle with Iverson, erupting for 46 points in Game 5, leaving Iverson speechless.
In the semifinals, the Celtics were drawn into a defensive struggle against the Pistons, where Pierce showcased his abilities as a top-tier defensive small forward, successfully stifling Stackhouse's offense and leading the Celtics to victory.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics faced the Nets, the season's Eastern Conference champions.
In Game 1, the Celtics attempted an offensive strategy. Pierce and Antoine Walker both scored 27 points, while no Nets player scored more than 20. However, seven Nets players scored in double figures! The Celtics lost.
In Game 2, the Celtics switched to a defensive strategy, slowing down the pace of the game. The Celtics surprisingly won one of the Nets' home games, securing the victory.
In Game 3, the Celtics continued with this approach and won another game, taking a 2:1 lead in the series.
In Game 4, the Celtics maintained their strategy, but their weaknesses began to show: a lack of offensive firepower! Or rather, a lack of depth in the overall roster. The team's scoring relied heavily on Pierce and Antoine Walker. In this game, the Nets and Celtics battled to the final moments, with the Nets leading 94:92 by 2 points.
The Celtics had the final possession. Pierce drove to the basket, drawing a foul from Van Horn with 1.1 seconds remaining.
Pierce, who had already scored 31 points and made 10 of 13 free throws, inexplicably missed both crucial free throws, failing to help his team tie the game...
Frankly speaking, Pierce was getting tired!
In the following two games, Pierce and Antoine Walker's performances declined. Ultimately, the Nets won three consecutive games, staging a comeback victory with a 4:2 series win.
Pierce's first playoff journey thus came to an end.
At the post-game press conference, Pierce showed no excessive sadness or regret. "We're still young, and our journey has just begun..."
While the East had concluded its series and crowned its champion, the West had also completed its championship battle.
Although the Lakers advanced to the Finals, they were severely weakened by the peak Kings' relentless assault in the semifinals.
Facing a Spurs team that had swept the Mavericks 4:0 to advance, the Los Angeles fans were disheartened and pessimistic.
Even the most optimistic O'Neal, at the pre-game press conference, responded with a serious expression: "The Spurs are strong, and this will be a tough series, but we are prepared! The Kings were also strong, weren't they?"
Kobe declined to comment on the Spurs, only telling the media: "We are ready, and we will do whatever it takes to win this series... This will be a great series..."
Compared to the Lakers' somber pronouncements, the Spurs appeared more calm and composed.
"The Lakers are a great team. They have the league's best center in Shaq, the best shooting guard in Kobe, and the most killer potential in power forward Robert... They are the defending champions, they are experienced, and they know how to play in tough conditions... In conclusion, the Western Conference Finals will be arduous, and we are fully mentally prepared..."
Duncan faced the media and said only one sentence: "I am ready!"