It didn't matter who had the better talent or the gaudier record or the home-court advantage. As so often happens, it came down to preparation, matchups and peaking at just the right moment. And that's why the Spurs (and Jason Kidd) were flattened by the Knicks (and Mike Bibby) in the NBA Finals. Swept, as a matter of fact, in four games that weren't all that close.

"The layoff killed us," Kidd groaned, "and me."

No, you haven't slipped into some warped parallel universe, and there weren't any block-buster trades while you were sleeping. We just couldn't wait to see whether the Knicks' improbable playoff roll would continue or if the Spurs' size would dominate as expected. So we asked Kidd, the Suns' All-Star point guard, and Bibby, the Grizzlies' rookie and the purest point guard to enter the league since, well, Kidd, to play each other in a video game version of the Finals. The format was best of seven and as close as we could make it to the real deal. Kidd, being the veteran, had his choice of teams and took the Spurs. With that came the home-court advantage, so Games 1 and 2 were at Kidd's palatial four-bedroom Scottsdale house. Then the series moved to Bibby's three-bedroom condo 20 minutes away for Games 3, 4 and 5.

Turned out neither a fifth game nor a return trip to Kidd's place for a sixth and seventh were necessary. There were early indications that might happen. Jason strolled in late for Game 1 after spending the morning at a press conference at America West Arena announcing his selection to the All-NBA first team. Bibby came straight from hooping it up at a nearby gym, showed up at Kidd's house early to warm up with a buddy and asked if we'd like to play Games 3, 4 and 5 on his high-res NBA Live video arcade machine instead of a PlayStation. Don't let that shy Bibby smile fool ya -- before the series was over, he quietly worked every angle he could to tilt the odds in his favor. Pat Riley would've been proud.

Before any Knicks fan orders a case of Dom, be forewarned: EA Sports, producers of NBA Live 99, computer-simulated the matchup of the same teams for us. Playing full 12-minute quarters (Kidd and Bibby played three-minute periods or they'd still be playing), the computer had the Spurs blowing the Knicks away in four.

Neither result surprises Ted Murray, an NBA Live 99 designer and 24-year-old hoops junkie. Murray says the computer is more effective at working the ball into its big men than any human could be. In short, Hal 2000 knows how to use the Twin Towers far better than Kidd (and maybe Gregg Popovich) could ever dream. The lockout fouled stuff up too, affecting Murray & Co. as profoundly as it did the overweight Shawn Kemp. The quick settlement and hurried season prevented Murray from tweaking databases to compensate for the upheaval of trades, free agents and cuts. Thus the video Knicks are based not on any miraculous new chemistry -- or previous lack thereof -- but purely on their overall talent.

"And that, as we know," says Murray, "is very high." How high? Read on.

***

Game 1 Kidd walks into his living room to find Bibby already hunched on the edge of the wraparound black leather couch, locked in on the 60-inch TV screen, tap-tapping away at his controller. The marble-floored room with a 20-foot ceiling is a cavernous video game haven, and Bibby is getting acclimated. "Awwww, he's practicing," Kidd says, parking himself on the gold-and-black coffee table directly in front of the screen and grabbing the second controller.

Bibby has no qualms about going small; with Patrick unavailable, he starts Latrell Sprewell and Marcus Camby with Charlie Ward, Allan Houston and -- with no objection from the docs -- Larry Johnson. The Spurs use their size to jump out to a 19-17 lead behind several short putback jumpers and layups from Tim Duncan. "Larry Johnson is too small to guard him," Kidd opines. "We're going to ride the big fella." Bibby isn't worried. "We're playing bad,'' he says, "but we're still in it."

Mike's confidence is rewarded in the second quarter. After watching Mario Elie's first two threes get blocked, Kidd brings in Jaren Jackson, who promptly picks up four fouls against the quick Knicks. With Sean Elliott guarding Spree, Houston abuses both Elie and Jackson for 23 points, and New York rolls to a 35-25 halftime lead. The Knicks' defense pushes the difference to 15 by the end of the third, as the Spurs set an NBA record by going scoreless on 0-for-11 shooting. The lowlight: Avery Johnson pulling up on the break and clanking a three-pointer. "Avery, we're going to have you drug-tested after the game for that," Kidd mutters. Final score: 49-40, Knicks, behind 29 from Houston, easily overcoming Duncan's 17 and seven boards. Bad news for Jason: This is as good as it gets.

***

Game 2 Kidd tries to match the Knicks' small lineup, benching David Robinson after his two-point, three-rebound, 0-for-5-from-the-floor performance. "He's fatigued," Kidd says. Jason shifts Duncan to center and gives Steve Kerr his first start of the season for knocking down three fourth-quarter treys. Bibby counters with Chris Childs over Ward, just for "something different."

Houston nails a pair of threes over Kerr as the Knicks take a 10-2 lead. Consecutive three-point plays by Spree and Camby on fast breaks midway through the second quarter blow it open, and the Knicks are up 20 at the half. TVs all over the country click off as the bulge swells to 29 in the third quarter. "We wanted to make Allan post up Kerr where we could double him, but he didn't. He just shot over Steve," Kidd says. "It was a gamble and it paid off for them."

Yes, it did: Houston goes for 47 points and five blocks while Kerr scores all of nine, and the Knicks win, 79-43. "We're not coming back here," Bibby says. "I'm taking care of business tomorrow." Kidd stares at the final score, shakes his head. "I used to play every day," he says. "Come back to Mike after he gets married and see how he does."

***

Game 3 The series shifts to Bibby's place. Kidd, after showing up in belted golf shorts and a polo shirt the first day, gets in a workout and comes more appropriately attired today: shower sandals, Suns practice shorts, workout T-shirt, sports watch. But Bibby, warming up at his NBA Live video arcade game when Kidd arrives, clearly has stolen the home-court advantage.

The game is the center of attention in his living room, and half a dozen kids, including 17-month-old Mike Jr., create nonstop commotion.

Unable to get the PlayStation hooked up to the living room TV, Bibby moves the game to the TV in his bedroom. Kidd and Bibby perch on the foot of the bed, and Kidd's worried about the delay. "We drew up all new plays and now Duncan is going to forget them," he squawks. That fear, and Duncan's seven-point Game 2 effort convince Kidd to bench TD and go with the Admiral. He stays with Kerr as a starter until Houston busts his first three for a 9-2 Knicks lead. "Sub!" Kidd yells, sending in Elie.

No help. The Spurs are crashing the offensive boards but can't make a shot. The Knicks go up 21-8 on a three by Ward. "I need a rebound," says Bibby. Kidd erupts: "A rebound? My guys are playing, 'Let's build a house!'" But the Spurs' bricks give way to a two-minute scoreless streak for the Knicks in the third, and S.A. closes to within six, mostly from the line. Spree hacks Elliott for the second time in three trips down the floor. "What kind of fouls are they calling?" Bibby moans. Kidd says, "I was complaining in the newspapers, so they're calling it close today."

A Spree dunk ends the drought, and by the end of the period the Knicks are ahead by 15.

A clear sign everything is going their way: Spree pulls up on the break for a three and the ball bounces on the rim, off the backboard and twice more on the rim before falling through.

(It was an uncanny replay of Houston's Miami-killer in Game 5's final seconds, but that's ancient history.) LJ shakes Duncan with a between-the-legs dribble and showboats with a two-handed jam. Bad knee? What bad knee? The Spurs shoot 18.7% for the game as the Knicks win, 48-24.

"We're just not playing like the real San Antonio," Kidd says. Bibby's mother ducks her head in the door and says, "You have something to do with that, don't you?" No doubt. Jason's a lot better using all his appendages on court than he is when he's all thumbs in front of the tube.

***

Game 4 Bibby denies feeling cocky, but starts Kurt Thomas and David Wingate along with Ward, Childs and Camby. The Admiral makes two dunks -- one while being fouled -- in the opening seconds, for a 5-2 Spurs lead. "Where's he been the last three games?" Kidd wonders. Bibby abandons his creative lineup, but the regulars don't help. Elie is forcing Houston to put the ball on the floor and rush shots. "Send a message!" Kidd shouts after Elie fouls Houston.

San Antonio maintains the lead late into the second quarter as Houston goes 1-for-6. "Houston is killing me!" Bibby says, feeling the pressure. "One more miss and he's coming out. And he's getting the next shot, too." Houston draws a foul and buries the free throws to give the Knicks their first lead. But Bibby isn't satisfied until Allan nails a three on the next trip. "He's lucky he hit that one," says Bibby.

Houston still sputters, but the Knicks begin to pull away in the second half. Dane, Bibby's 9-year-old nephew, slips into the bedroom, glances at the screen and reports to the other room: "Oh my gosh, Jason is getting killed!" By the fourth quarter, Bibby is taking calls on his cell phone while he plays. There's no dropoff: the Knicks lock up a 78-54 win behind Spree, who finishes with 37 on 14-of-21 shooting. Robinson has 25 for the Spurs, but Duncan registers a DNP-CD. "He was hurt, hamstring and knee," Kidd says hastily. "He came to the coach and said it was bothering him, and I decided to sit him down."

In the joint postseries debriefing, Kidd complains about Bibby's strategy. "He had one shooter in each game and he went to him the whole time," Kidd says. Bibby's reply: "I saw what was working for me and stuck to it." EA's Murray says the game favors highly rated shooters. "When a guy has a good three-point shot, nothing else matters," Murray says.

As the arena is dismantled, Kidd remains seated on the edge of Bibby's bed. "We'll be back next year," he says. "And next time it's definitely going seven games." Bibby, settling in for a victory nap with Mike Jr. on his chest, is diplomatic. "It was an emotional series," he says. "Everybody played hard." It's a signpost for the real Knicks, who'll need every edge they can get to fend off the inside game Hal 2000 used to sweep them with his big RAM advantage.

After the drive home, Kidd walks up his driveway, then turns around, knowing his driver will see the Spurs in person before he does. "Tell Tim and David I tried," he says. "I just hit the wrong damn buttons."

This article appears in the June 28, 1999 issue of ESPN The Magazine.