For the second time this century, the New York Knicks entered the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Knicks beat the Boston Celtics in Game 6 Friday to win the series 4-2. New York won the first two games of the series and won Game 4 for a decisive victory.
The last time the Knicks were in the finals since the 1999-2000 season, they had three chances to reach the stage again - 2013, 2023 and 2024. Each time they are much shorter, including a seven-game series with the Indiana Pacers last season.
Recall the world last time in the finals - May 23, 2000.
Thibodeau, Brunson on the familiar bench
They missed four playoffs in seven straight games since the Knicks hired Tom Thibodeau as head coach in 2020.
Thibodeau has previous experience in New York - he was an assistant coach for the franchise from 1996 to 2003, including the Knicks' final.
Which team did Thibodeau coach? Rick Brunson, father of Knicks star Jalen Brunson. Elder Brunson has made his appearance in two games against Indiana and is currently the Knicks’ assistant coach, a position he has held since the 2022-23 season. New York signed Jaylen in the offseason.
Carlos Santana dominates the chart
His first Billboard Hot 100 hit single "Smooth," Carlos Santana was deleted in just a few months. "Maria Maria" stayed in the first place for another week as the Knicks had four wins from the 2000 NBA final.
The track lasted 10 weeks and ranked 1 and 26 on the charts. The song features Hip-Hop Duo The Product G&B and won the best pop performance of the duo or vocals at the 42nd Grammy Awards.
Other songs in the top ten include Faith Hill's "Breath", "My Name" is Destiny's Child in No. 7, "Bye Bye Bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye by *nsync", No. 9, Aaliyah at No. 10.
The epic running "Gladiator"
The epic historical film Gladiator was released on May 5, 2000 and became the second highest film worldwide, with a price of $460,583,960. 12 Oscar nominations were nominated at the 73rd Academy Awards Ceremony.
"Gladiator" won an Oscar for Best Effects, Best Actor, Best Costume Design, Best Sound and Best Visual Effects.
The Lakers approached a miraculous comeback
Although the Knicks fell in six games with the Pacers, the Western Conference Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers was a seven-game classic.
The Trail Blazers had previously beaten three games in three games, forcing a decisive seventh game at the then-Staples Center.
Portland maintained a 15-point lead with just 10 minutes left, but the Lakers rushed to win, capping the iconic alley boat from Kobe Bryant to Shaquille O'Neal. It gave Los Angeles a six-point lead with 41 seconds left and never gave up.