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Dragon Emperor in Pokemon World.

The return of Itachi

I am Sasuke. Why should I defect from Konoha.

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***

On April 20, 2002, Coach Isiah Thomas endured another painful moment.

The old unlucky guy, Reggie Miller, contributed several memorable moments tonight.

When Reggie Miller drove to the paint, Clay Lee stole the ball, and Reggie Miller immediately fell after pulling on him.

On a fast break layup, Reggie Miller was blocked by a chasing Ron Artest, and then the two collided and fell into the front-row audience.

When passing the ball to the inside, Reggie Miller directly passed the ball out of bounds under Grant Hill’s Defense.

Finally, he found an open look, but Reggie Miller shot an air ball from the left wing of the three-point line.

With 9 minutes and 2 seconds left in the 4th quarter, the overjoyed New York fans stood up and chanted:

“Defense!”

The defensive cheers were not for the Knicks but for the trailing Pacers.

Chanting and laughing, the joyous atmosphere at the venue finally broke Reggie Miller, who, while Lee was shooting free throws, started arguing with the front-row fans again and was called for a technical foul by the referee.

No one stipulated that home fans couldn’t cheer for the away team’s Defense.

New York fans even chanted “MVP” for “New York’s Son” Marbury.

67:88.

After Lee made all three free throws, Coach Isiah Thomas immediately called a timeout, soothing the emotional Old Miller.

In the early 1990s, a peak Old Miller could explode when emotional, but the almost 37-year-old could no longer trigger a buff when emotional, frequently committing turnovers and missing shots tonight.

The defensive intensity had already started to drop.

After the timeout, the Pacers players had long faces.

Fortunately, Jalen Rose’s pass from the right wing was high quality on this possession.

Jermaine O’Neal, who received the ball in the right low post, turned towards the baseline and made a floater, earning the Pacers 2 points.

69:88. The point difference remained around 20 points, and Lee had already started slacking off at this point.

In contrast, Grant Hill was still playing hard.

He played 67 regular-season games, which was acceptable, and this season he shook off his ankle injury, with his stats returning to normal levels.

The main reason he came out swinging in the playoffs was to regain his reputation.

Grant Hill, who had stumbled into a championship, hoped to prove himself again.

Last year, he was too embarrassed to let his singer wife come to watch the game live, but this year, with his stats improving, Tamia frequently appeared at Madison Square Garden.

Lee, who was already initiating plays from the top of the arc, made a tactical gesture after dribbling past half-court, indicating a wing isolation play for this possession.

Ron Artest at the left baseline quickly slipped along the baseline, while Grant Hill also quickly moved up and cut across, quickly running to the left wing.

The chasing Jalen Rose was briefly delayed by Pau Gasol in the left elbow area, and Grant Hill easily received Lee’s cross pass.

The moment he received the ball, facing the re-chasing Jalen Rose, Grant Hill faked right, drove left, and simultaneously put the ball down with his left hand and immediately broke through with a crossover step.

Jalen Rose quickly slid his feet but couldn’t completely shake off the Defense.

Grant Hill didn’t slow down, keeping his eyes on his opponent, driving straight to the basket.

As he approached the paint, he took a hop step, Grant Hill used his back to push off his opponent, then grabbed the ball with his right hand, extended his long arm, and quickly laid the ball up from the lower-left side of the basket.

From the commentary booth, Bob Costas was very happy.

He rarely did live commentary anymore, and seeing Hill in excellent form, his voice couldn’t help but rise a few octaves:

“Hill puts it in!”

With declining explosiveness, Grant Hill could still complete small forward isolation plays relying on his physique and excellent ball-handling skills.

His partner, Mike Dunleavy, noticed the Knicks’ defensive intensity dropping and then tried to save face for the Pacers:

“In the second half, Coach Isiah Thomas’s adjustments worked. They still have a chance in the remaining games.”

Reggie Miller still hadn’t given up on the game.

At this point, he was still running hard, slipping along the baseline and coming to the right wing to receive the ball.

With reduced defensive pressure, Jamal Tinsley’s pass was good, and Reggie Miller finally received the ball and hit a jump shot.

72:90. After making his second three-pointer of the game, Reggie Miller loudly called for his teammates to retreat on Defense again.

Jamal Tinsley desperately gave physical resistance while leading the Defense and constantly tried to disrupt the ball.

After dribbling behind his back at the top of the arc, Lee switched to his left hand and simply shuffled backward, moving to the logo area, completely creating distance.

Seeing this Rookie still rushing forward, he quickly completed a between-the-legs crossover, then lowered his center of gravity and accelerated his breakthrough.

The moment he approached the three-point line, Lee again dribbled between his legs and immediately stopped short.

Jamal Tinsley shuffled backward, still wanting to rush forward again, but his feet got tangled, and he suddenly sat down on the floor.

Amidst cheers, Lee smoothly changed direction in front of his body, immediately gathered the ball the moment he switched to his right hand, and from the three-point line, pulled up for a jump shot!

“Swish!”

The three-pointer swished through the net.

After making the shot, Lee just shook his head slightly.

Jamal Tinsley, sitting on the floor, his eyes wide again, would definitely be on ESPN’s SportsCenter.

“OH—!”

“What a terrible defensive choice. It’s been a long time since anyone defended Clay Lee like that.”

Both commentators exclaimed simultaneously.

Mike Dunleavy shook his head repeatedly.

A lot of evidence proved that aggressive, flailing Defense was useless.

Instead, it would allow Lee to easily find opportunities.

72:93. The point difference was again widened, and all the Pacers players were extremely frustrated at this moment.

Throughout the game, they had experienced too many such moments.

Whenever they hoped to narrow the gap, they either committed a turnover themselves or the opponent hit a responding shot.

Jalen Rose was still cold, and out of helplessness, the Pacers started relying on their big men for +2 in the low post again.

The Knicks didn’t double-team, and Pau Gasol was scored on forcefully in some possessions, but in return, he could also provide some responses.

With a quick pass on the perimeter, on the right wing, Lee, moving without the ball, faked receiving the ball.

Grant Hill, making a fake hand-off, suddenly lowered his center of gravity, accelerated his breakthrough while dribbling the ball forward.

Reggie Miller instantly lost half a step.

As he approached the paint, Miller, the big man under the basket, instinctively came up to help defend.

But just as he shuffled his feet, Grant Hill, who had hop-stepped to the basket, turned sideways and passed the ball between the two to the trailing Pau Gasol on the lower left side of the basket.

After receiving the ball, Pau Gasol threw down a one-handed dunk!

“Ah!”

Having received many easy passes tonight, Pau Gasol didn’t care if it was against a weaker opponent.

He roared loudly after completing the dunk.

The Pacers clearly saw him as a soft target, and tonight they focused most of their offense on the low post.

Clay Lee clapped his hands, noticed that Isiah Thomas on the sidelines hadn’t called a timeout, and knew that the opponent was going to fight to the end tonight.

The New York fans in the arena were hyped.

No one liked garbage time, and towards the end, they started cheering for the opponent’s Defense again.

Until the end of the game, the Pacers didn’t make any substitutions.

Both teams’ starting lineups played until the very end.

85:108.

The Knicks ultimately defeated their opponent by 23 points, easily winning Game 1.

The New York fans’ cheers for the opponent’s Defense infuriated the Pacers, who immediately turned and left after the game.

Only Isiah Thomas, with a dark expression, briefly shook hands with Tom Thibodeau (Coach).

Reggie Miller, walking towards the player tunnel, could look up and see New York fans wearing Knicks championship hats and No. 1 jerseys, clapping their hands and cheering happily.

Madison Square Garden, this season, had completely become the most disliked away arena for most players.

The fun-loving fans had incredible energy and could create excitement from all angles.

In a game that was essentially a rout, Grant Hill performed exceptionally well in front of his singer wife, smiling from ear to ear during the post-game interview:

“I’m very happy to be back on the playoff stage. The team quickly got into the game tonight, and everyone performed wonderfully!”

9-of-17 from the field, 6-of-6 from the free-throw line, 24 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 3 turnovers.

Grant Hill’s stats didn’t change much from the regular season.

The NBC reporter could also feel Hill’s high spirits.

With such a large point difference, they naturally wouldn’t talk about the opponent, instead asking gossipy questions:

“Grant, what do you think of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s comments about Clay?”

“I don’t understand that statement. Basketball is about putting the ball in the basket, and when you’re on the court, you play with all your might to win.”

“Lee has achieved four consecutive championships and has been the All-Star vote leader for three consecutive years. That’s enough to prove that most fans like him!”

“Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is great, but basketball in every era has different playing styles. Clay Lee just amplified his strengths. The 180 Club—that’s not an achievement ordinary players can reach.”

Grant Hill finally shrugged, subtly joking about the Hall of Famer.

Among the Knicks, what was most talked about was how efficient both Lee and Hill were, with both having field goal percentages over 50% in the regular season.

Tonight, Clay Lee played 39 minutes, shooting 13-of-22 from the field, 4-of-9 from beyond the arc, and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line, tallying a double-double of 36 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals, and 3 turnovers.

No matter what the outside world said, he still kept shooting.

After the game, Clay Lee and Pau Gasol attended the press conference, both dressed in light gray suits.

As soon as they sat down, a reporter from the Philadelphia Daily News was the first to ask:

“Clay, this season, you attempted 739 three-pointers, which is an insane number!”

“Will too many three-pointers affect your teammates? Pau Gasol is only averaging 8.6 rebounds per game.”

Since the 76ers failed to make the playoffs, this Philadelphia-based daily, which often reports on sports and entertainment news, came to New York to stir up some trouble.

The Knicks’ press officer looked a bit displeased, but Lee just tilted his head at the staff, indicating he was fine, and then calmly replied:

“739 attempts, but I also made 317 three-pointers.”

“A large number of outside shots do produce long rebounds, but the Knicks achieved 61 wins, the second-best record in the league, which proves that the team’s tactical approach has no problems whatsoever.”

“We only fight for victory. Tactical approaches and team statistics all serve this purpose.”

The number of attempts this year was indeed outrageous, but the New York Media all thought it was fine, and immediately changed the topic to ask:

“Lee, what are your expectations for the upcoming games? Can the Knicks sweep their opponents?”

The Pacers’ beat reporter was unhappy.

Tonight, Old Miller was 5-for-16 from the field, 2-for-6 from three, and 4-for-6 from the free-throw line, finishing with 16 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 turnovers.

Under the Knicks’ rotating Defense, old Miller couldn’t hold up.

Not being able to make shots and not being able to defend was an accurate portrayal of his game tonight.

“The coaching staff and everyone in the team hopes to end the series as soon as possible so we can get more rest.”

“Spider-Man is about to be released, and I plan to go to the premiere!”

Lee also chuckled and brought up an unrelated topic, and soon the questions from the floor became increasingly off-topic, with the New York Media already assuming the Pacers would be swept out of the playoffs.

Finally, a reporter from the New York Times pulled the conversation back, smiling as he asked the young Pau Gasol:

“Pau! For your first career playoff game, are you satisfied with your performance?”

He was 6-for-13 from the field, 4-for-5 from the free-throw line, tallying 16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, and 4 turnovers.

Although he scored in double digits, the content of the game did not fully meet Pau Gasol’s expectations:

“I need to increase my physicality. I believe I can get better.”

“I like the Knicks’ atmosphere, and I’m happy to get a playoff win.”

Pau Gasol answered the questions seriously, and although his vocabulary was limited, everyone present understood him.

The New York Media nodded in satisfaction.

This was indeed the excellent big man everyone had been expecting.

On April 20th, in the other three playoff games, the Celtics and the Orlando Magic battled until the very end.

Ultimately, with a score of 90:86, the Orlando Magic secured a valuable road victory.

Tracy McGrady and Allan Houston were in mediocre form, but Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker also underperformed.

Tracy McGrady scored 22 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 turnovers on 9-for-22 shooting and 4-for-7 from the free-throw line.

Allan Houston also scored 22 points on 9-for-21 shooting and 4-for-5 from the free-throw line.

After winning a road game, Head Coach Rivers confidently stated after the game:

“You know, the playoffs are all about talent, and I believe in Allan and Tracy!”

Allan Houston played 71 games this year, and although he lacked motivation, he was definitely a strong helper for Tracy McGrady.

The Celtics, playing at home, were very aggressive with their three-pointers, and Antoine Walker even showed a slight tendency towards a “more-ball” style of play.

Their loss was more due to missed shots.

In the Western Conference, there were no upsets.

With a score of 86:89, the Utah Jazz’s old duo lost again, and the Sacramento Kings narrowly defended their home court.

Karl Malone still contributed 25 points and 9 rebounds, and Stockton also had 10 points and 12 assists, but the Utah Jazz still had their old problem: poor outside shooting.

For them, the championship window seemed to have closed, and at this point, the Utah Jazz was only left with nostalgia.

What surprised the commentators the most was the game between the Seattle SuperSonics and the San Antonio Spurs.

With a score of 89:110, the San Antonio Spurs, who exploded for 38 points in the third quarter, routed their opponents!

Facing Gary Payton, Rookie Tony Parker didn’t flinch, scoring 21 points in his first career playoff game on 9-for-12 shooting, including 3-for-3 from three-point range.

Tim Duncan even recorded a triple-double with 21 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 5 blocks, and 5 turnovers.

Gregg Popovich, who had held firm for many years, also seemed to have a breakthrough, and the San Antonio Spurs displayed their dominance.

On the morning of April 21st, the NBA announced the 2001-02 DPOY:

Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons successfully won the award!

In terms of votes, Ben Wallace dominated Kevin Garnett and Dikembe Mutombo.

Ben Wallace transformed with the Detroit Pistons.

Rebounding Champion, Blocks Champion, DPOY, he completely evolved into “Ben Wallace” this season.

Whether in terms of on-court influence or defensive efficiency statistics, “Ben Wallace” consistently performed, and winning the award was well-deserved.

However, for the general public, the gossip about the 76ers that day was even more appealing.

Having missed the playoffs, someone naturally had to take the blame.

Head Coach Larry Brown, while admitting defeat, didn’t forget to criticize Allen Iverson:

“This year was indeed a failed season, with the impact of injuries, but more so, it was about the lineup’s chemistry.”

“Allen Iverson needs to work harder, needs to fully integrate into the team. He should attend practice on time like everyone else!”

“…”

After these remarks were reported, sports media erupted again.

Several mainstream media outlets in Philadelphia went wild with the gossip, and 76ers fans, hearing the Head Coach’s words, also began to express dissatisfaction with Allen Iverson.

As a renowned old school coach, Larry Brown still commanded great prestige.

The two had previous conflicts, but these words completely tore their relationship apart.

The 76ers’ management also underwent changes, and at this time, no one was there to mediate between the two sides.

To clarify the misunderstanding, they ultimately decided to hold a press conference for Allen Iverson.

Sports media, eager for gossip, flocked to Philadelphia.

Even without the playoffs, Allen Iverson remained a “hot topic.”

Allen Iverson, who attended the press conference, was still dressed in hip-hop attire.

Wearing a white baseball cap and a loose white short-sleeved T-shirt, he sat in his seat, facing the media below, still displaying his rebellious side.

When the press conference first began, everyone calmly listened to Allen Iverson’s platitudes, but soon someone impatiently asked:

“Allen, can you explain why you don’t attend practice on time?”

“Is this why you failed to make the playoffs this season?”

Seemingly recalling some unpleasant memories, Allen Iverson suddenly became emotional and angrily retorted in his unique rap-like cadence:

“You’re talking about practice, not the game?”

“Why are we talking about practice? I give my all in every game. I treat every game as if it’s the last game of my career!”

“Practice? Have you seen me play? Have you watched my games? Why aren’t we talking about the game?”

Soon, a reporter from the audience aggressively interrupted:

“Head Coach Larry Brown believes you should integrate into the team—”

Seemingly throwing caution to the wind, Allen Iverson suddenly became exceptionally furious and loudly demanded:

“Hey, hey! You tell me, how can I make my teammates better through practice?”

“I’m the scoring champion! They should be the ones adapting to playing with me!”

“…”

Ultimately, in this press conference, Allen Iverson said “practice” over 20 times, and his repeated “rapping” completely enraged the media present.

It was on this day that the former Son of Philadelphia, the hero of Philadelphia, became a team cancer, an inefficient stat padder who didn’t practice.

No one cared about the truth anymore.

The media only believed their own judgment.

Even local Philadelphia sports reporters were disappointed.

They hadn’t expected their highly anticipated core player to perform this way.

The buzz around the DPOY and the playoffs was completely overshadowed by Allen Iverson, with everyone discussing the conflict between the famous coach and the scoring champion.

On TNT’s show, after hyping up the night’s four games, the trio also discussed this big scoop.

As a 76ers legend, Charles Barkley feigned disappointment and said with a heavy tone:

“Of course, players can skip practice. We all know that superstars have that privilege.”

“But the premise is, you need to succeed. You can’t disappoint the fans, because people pay money to buy tickets to watch the game, not to witness your failure.”

“I won’t discuss Allen Iverson and Clay Lee anymore. They are not players of the same caliber.”

” I admit, I overestimated Allen Iverson.”

Kenny Smith, not wanting to receive more complaints, chuckled and changed the subject again:

“Does Lee also miss practice? Let me rephrase: Does he always train hard?”

Charles Barkley pouted, seemingly displeased with his partner’s timid choice:

“At the start of the season, we could tell his physical condition was average.

He probably hadn’t touched a ball during the offseason.

But at the end of the season, he’s the scoring champion of the 180 Club, with 61 wins.

Is training still important? Moreover, I learned that the New York Knicks practice extra shooting every day, and that was initiated by Lee.”

“Allen Iverson disappointed his fans. The 76ers didn’t make the playoffs, only getting 40 wins.

I respect every team, but in the competitive environment of the Eastern Conference, such a record proves that Head Coach Larry Brown’s words are correct.”

Ernie Johnson also didn’t want to get involved in the war of words between the famous coach and the star player, so he followed suit and changed the subject:

“Next, let’s talk about Clay Lee’s scoring composition this season. A 67.2% true shooting percentage, ranking first in the league. Such a performance is truly terrifying!”

Charles Barkley also glanced at the statistics, then grinned and spoke again:

“Yes, Lee’s true shooting percentage ranks first, while Allen Iverson’s true shooting percentage is 48.9%. Did he even make it into the top 100?”

“If I were Allen Iverson, I would honestly play according to the Head Coach’s requirements and actively cooperate with my teammates to complete training.”

Kenny Smith started covering his face with both hands, and Ernie Johnson also smiled wryly and shook his head:

“If you get another complaint, you’ll have to find a job with the New York Knicks!”

The cold hard data completely destroyed Allen Iverson’s reputation.

The media could build him up as a hero, and naturally, they could also trample him underfoot.

On the morning of the 22nd, most sports media outlets were digging deep into Allen Iverson’s negative news.

Eccentric attire, disrespecting league rules, discord with teammates, conflict with the Head Coach, acting like a big shot off the court by ignoring fans, and being an inefficient stat-padder on the court.

In just one day, the image of a ‘cancer’ was deeply ingrained in people’s minds.

Explosive articles emerged endlessly, various short essays appeared convincingly, traditional print media exerted their influence, online media joined the buzz, videos of press conferences also went viral, and onlookers started to fuel the fire.

In the morning, when Lee arrived at the Tarrytown Training Center, he took the newspaper handed to him by equipment manager Old Mike, scanned it, and raised an eyebrow, saying unexpectedly:

“How many people did this guy offend? Even the Philadelphia local media aren’t saying good things.”

Old Mike shook his head, then said meaningfully:

“I don’t know, but seeing these messages, the truth no longer matters. Lee, you also need to pay attention to your image.”

“Don’t forget what John and Pat went through back then. Sports media only chase big news. However, after four consecutive championships, the New York Media should always support you!”

“But other cities are different. Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Chicago, Indiana, San Antonio, Salt Lake City—these places definitely won’t welcome you, unless you choose to join them.”

Lee put an arm around Old Mike, laughing as he walked towards the locker room, and jokingly said to himself:

“I never act like a big shot. New York fans know I love signing autographs and taking photos. On the road, as long as the fans aren’t excessive, I’m especially friendly.”

“But you’re right, I should win more championships. Then everyone will like me even more!”

…

When the morning training session ended, the New York Knicks, besides following the gossip, were also discussing last night’s game.

Ron Artest liked to judge people by their appearance and especially admired tough guys, but at this moment, he complained:

“Dirk Nowitzki is better than I imagined; he actually managed to score 30 points against the Timberwolves’ Defense!”

“This guy looks like a softie, but I didn’t expect him to be so strong.”

In last night’s game, tough guy Kevin Garnett went 6-for-18, tallying a big double-double of 19 points, 21 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, and 3 turnovers.

‘Softie’ Dirk Nowitzki went 10-for-19, tallying a double-double of 30 points, 15 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 blocks, and 3 turnovers.

The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Timberwolves, and Dirk Nowitzki’s performance exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Stephen Jackson glanced at his good brother, then casually said:

“Basketball isn’t boxing. That German’s shooting talent is excellent, but I don’t like his playing style either.”

Their speaking speed was too fast, and they mixed in some local slang, so Pau Gasol didn’t quite understand.

However, he was very envious of Dirk Nowitzki’s three-point shooting ability, which he had experienced firsthand.

Grant Hill was still seriously reading the newspaper at this moment, noticing that the New York Times also joined the fun, mocking Allen Iverson and incidentally comparing him with Clay Lee to illustrate what a ‘quality idol’ is.

“It’s terrifying. In just one day, Allen Iverson’s reputation has become like this. Do the media want to ruin him?”

Hearing Grant Hill’s lament, Lee calmly said:

“As long as he wins a championship, everyone will like him again, and not following the rules will become a star’s personality.”

“Hmm, perhaps if he wins a division championship, he’ll have a chance to reverse the perception.”

Knight, the short guy from the atmosphere group, twitched at the corner of his eye.

If he remembered correctly, the New York Knicks and the 76ers were both in the Atlantic Division, and Allen Iverson had never beaten Lee:

‘It seems this big star is completely past his prime!’

The Pacers, still in New York, were in no mood for gossip.

Game 1 had almost infuriated them, and the entire team had been mocked by ESPN for two days.

Through the Sport Center program, even those who didn’t watch the game learned about the New York fans’ audacious move of cheering for the opponent’s Defense.

After tip-off at 8:30 PM that night, the New York fans once again became pranksters, constantly provoking old unlucky Reggie Miller.

In the last game, they were countered after missing shots.

Tonight, the Pacers were determined to use the full 24 seconds, trying to slow down the game and drag the New York Knicks into a half-court battle.

39-48.

At halftime, the Pacers’ game strategy seemed to have had some effect.

The score didn’t exceed 50, something New York fans had witnessed many times this season.

In the first half, Ron Artest went 1-for-8 on offense, scoring a furious 2 points.

Although they weren’t leading by double digits, it didn’t affect the New York fans’ mood.

During halftime, they blindly swayed to the music, and their enthusiasm didn’t wane after the third quarter began.in fact, their shouts grew louder:

“Defense!”

Amidst the defensive cheers, Jamal Tinsley carefully protected the ball.

Facing Lee’s on-ball Defense, he dribbled past half-court with only two seconds left on the eight-second count.

Hearing Reggie Miller loudly call out to his teammates, the opposing Ron Artest knew that the Pacers were very likely to run a curl cut play.

After quickly slipping from right to left along the baseline, Reggie Miller used a screen from big man Miller near the left baseline to quickly pop out to the right block and receive the ball.

Immediately putting the ball down with his right hand, Reggie Miller drove past the chasing Ron Artest with a quick step.

Drawing the attention of Kurt Thomas under the basket, Reggie Miller faked a shot and immediately passed to Jermaine O’Neal near the right baseline.

The latter received the ball and quickly scored with a jump shot!

41-48. After the second half began, the Pacers immediately narrowed the deficit.

There were no boos.

The New York fans, in a state of mysterious confidence, continued to cheer happily, then shouted encouragement for their team’s big win:

“Let’s go Knicks!”

Clay Lee, who received the inbound pass, quickly advanced the ball.

While moving, he wrapped the ball behind his back, switched it to his right hand, and then drove past half-court against Jamal Tinsley’s Defense.

Stopping at the logo, Lee observed the opponent’s positioning, immediately signaled a tactical hand gesture, indicating no more pick-and-rolls.

Throughout the first half, the opponent’s delay and double-teaming were very effective, and Lee had no interest in forcing shots against two defenders.

After seeing the tactical signal, Kurt Thomas quickly moved up to the left elbow.

At this point, the New York Knicks used their most frequently employed ‘V’ formation.

Ron Artest, whose shooting touch was off, obediently stood in the right corner at this moment.

When Grant Hill saw Lee quickly pass the ball to Pau Gasol, who moved up from the right elbow, he also began to prepare for a cut.

After passing the ball, Lee immediately accelerated off-ball, used Kurt Thomas’s screen, circled around, and ran a simple UCLA cut.

Jamal Tinsley was already prepared, taking the other side around the screen to quickly chase him.

With no easy scoring opportunity under the basket, Pau Gasol simply passed the ball to Kurt Thomas, who had moved up.

At this point, Lee accelerated again, ran to the left corner, and set a back screen for Grant Hill.

Reggie Miller also reacted quickly, instructing his teammate to switch Defense and immediately chasing Hill, who was cutting horizontally towards the basket.

It was originally a mismatch offensive opportunity, but Kurt Thomas failed to get the ball into the paint immediately, which forced Hill to run back to the right corner.

Having honed his skills for a season and understanding his teammates’ weaknesses, Pau Gasol quickened his steps the moment the offense couldn’t be completed.

Reggie Miller was still directing his teammates, but Clay Lee slapped away the opponent’s pulling arm, used Pau Gasol’s down screen, and accelerated to pop out to the left wing.

A simple Flex offense, but the effect was surprisingly good.

Lee briefly shook off his Defense, and Kurt Thomas delivered a simple cross-court pass.

The pass was a bit high, but Lee didn’t mind.

The moment he caught the ball, he twisted his body, drifted slightly to the right, and quickly shot a jump shot from beyond the three-point line!

“Swish!” The three-pointer went in cleanly.

Reggie Miller had just caught up to Lee and his raised hands had no defensive effect against the fadeaway shot.

“You’re getting slower and slower, my advice is not to switch, that might actually have some effect!”

As Lee retreated on Defense, he leaned in and chattered a bit to the old unlucky guy.

No wonder New York fans always liked to tease Reggie Miller, who at this moment had a long face, which was quite amusing.

Reggie Miller, running towards mid-court, ignored Lee, just looking at the front-row fans who were cheering with their hands raised, his expression becoming even uglier.

41:51, the lead reached double digits.

At the broadcast booth, Mike Dunleavy had done his homework thoroughly before the game, so he didn’t criticize Miller’s Defense at this moment, but rather said with a strange tone:

“Brad Miller should have chosen to switch, instead of running with Pau Gasol.”

“Jermaine O’Neal should have chosen to play pressure Defense, instead of watching Kurt Thomas make an easy cross-court pass.”

“I believe Coach Isiah Thomas reminded the players during film sessions, but on the court, they all forgot these details.”

Bob Costas watched as the Pacers failed to find Reggie Miller immediately, and then allowed Jermaine O’Neal to receive the ball in the right low post, and for a moment he felt such an offense lacked any aesthetic appeal.

Pau Gasol, who had switched, was pushed under the basket, but O’Neal’s left-handed close-range floater clanked off the rim.

Kurt Thomas boxed out the big man Miller tightly, pulling and tugging to prevent him from getting a tip-in rebound, and Pau Gasol, on his second jump, finally secured the rebound.

The two big men for the Pacers wanted to continue delaying, but Coach Isiah Thomas on the sideline started yelling angrily, reminding his players to retreat on Defense.

Lee, receiving the pass near the baseline, Bypass Pau Gasol, took the ball forward, and then accelerated at full speed.

Jamal Tinsley, who was chasing, originally wanted to block Lee near the right sideline when he switched to his right hand, but he encountered a tank-like drive and could only slide desperately, ultimately letting Clay Lee break through.

The two of them rushed past half-court, and when they were near the right wing, Jamal Tinsley had already lost half a step.

Lee didn’t force an attack.

As he gained a step, he smoothly slung the ball to Grant Hill, who was trailing in the middle.

The latter received the ball, took a step in the paint against the retreating Jalen Rose, then soared into the air, gripping the ball with his right hand, quickly extending his body for a scoop layup.

From receiving the ball to rushing to the basket, Grant Hill didn’t slow down at all, and the moment he arrived at the lower right of the rim, he flicked his wrist, and the basketball banked into the hoop.

Jalen Rose, still sliding, stopped in the paint in frustration, watching Hill quickly retreat after a slight stumble upon landing, and then angrily slammed the basketball when returning to the baseline to inbound.

“Wow!”

The greater the opponent’s reaction, the louder the cheers from the crowd.

Coach Tom Thibodeau, sitting on the bench, watched Lee forcefully initiate a fast break with his individual speed, and while he felt the game was stable, he had no sense of accomplishment.

Just like the previous possession, after the ‘V’ cut, the Knicks executed a very quick Flex screen.

This was purely improvisation.

As the game progressed, when Lee provocatively executed the same play to continue scoring, all Coach Tom Thibodeau could do was stand up, imitate Jeff Van Gundy, shout a couple of times, and then clap his hands:

“Good job! Good job!”

Tom Thibodeau showed a confident smile, displaying the demeanor of a famous coach, while on the other side, Isiah Thomas felt increasingly pained, almost lashing out at his own players on the spot.

He saw clearly from the sideline that the Knicks had only changed direction and swapped the big man passing from the top of the arc, yet the players on the court showed no reaction.

With 6 minutes and 12 seconds left in the 3rd quarter, Jalen Rose drove hard to the basket in the middle against Ron Artest, and was easily blocked by the long arms of the help defender Pau Gasol, and Madison Square Garden erupted again!

Grant Hill controlled the ball, wrapped it behind his back to his left hand, and then accelerated down the left sideline.

Lee had already rushed past half-court, noticed Grant Hill cutting in from the left wing, immediately began to slow down, and as he received the pass on the right wing, Jamal Tinsley also caught up to his side.

He faked a shot, shifting the defender’s Center of Gravity, then quickly swept the ball, as Lee released the ball with his right hand, he pushed off with his feet, completing a smooth step-back, drifting slightly to the right, and quickly shot over the block!

“Swish!” The three-pointer went in cleanly.

Unable to keep up with the offensive rhythm, Jamal Tinsley was completely bewildered.

For a Rookie player, this kind of offensive choice was too outrageous.

“God! This is Clay Lee’s third three-pointer this quarter!”

Bob Costas could only sigh along.

After seeing too many unreasonable shots, he felt nothing but ordinary.

50:65, the lead gradually widened, yet the Pacers still hadn’t called a timeout.

Mike Dunleavy was about to comment when Rookie Jamal Tinsley, receiving the ball near the three-point line, suddenly had it swatted away by Lee.

Looking at Jamal Tinsley, who stumbled from the collision, Mike Dunleavy instinctively exclaimed:

“OH! Lee has made a steal! He’s going to kill the game in the 3rd quarter!”

Completely unguarded, after stealing the ball, Lee rushed into the paint, took off with both feet, leaped high into the air, swung the ball around once, then grabbed it with his right hand and slammed it fiercely into the hoop!

“Boom!” A windmill dunk was successful!

“Ah!!”

Standing under the basket, Lee roared at the camera.

He didn’t feel embarrassed about stealing from a Rookie, but rather felt increasingly refreshed.

Completely unable to hold it in, Isiah Thomas watched Jamal Tinsley straighten up, still foolishly standing at the three-point line, first called a timeout, and then went on a furious tirade:

“F***! Are your brains full of sh*t! Why are you receiving the ball so far out?!”

“The score is behind, and you’re just casually inbounding the ball! Who taught you to play like this?!”

His signature smile gone from his face, Isiah Thomas glared, angrily berating O’Neal for inbounding and Jamal Tinsley for receiving the ball.

After a tirade, he berated the two so much that they couldn’t even lift their heads, and their eyes were red when they returned to the bench.

The New York fans in the front row behind the Pacers laughed heartily.

Popcorn and beer were selling well tonight.

Winning or losing seemed unimportant, everyone just wanted to see the opponents suffer.

After the timeout, the Pacers’ offense was still the same, and their Defense still couldn’t stop anything.

Seeing Lee cut along the baseline, then pop out to the right wing, receive a hand-off from Pau Gasol, and even a wild shot went in, the Pacers’ bench was silent.

Coach Isiah Thomas was no longer in the mood to lash out.

He turned his head, returned to the bench expressionlessly, and entered ‘spectator mode’.

At the end of the 3rd quarter, the score was fixed at 59:77.

Unlike Game 1, the Knicks also made many turnovers in the 4th quarter.

However, the Pacers didn’t seize the opportunity, and after holding on for most of the quarter, as Reggie Miller was substituted out, the outcome was no longer in doubt.

Clay Lee, who was substituted out, was in a good mood and also comforted Ron Artest, who was shooting terribly:

“Ron, your later offensive choices were smart, but I think you should continue to practice your shooting.”

“After the game, shoot a few more times to find your touch. There’s no reason to not make a single three-pointer in a game!”

2-for-12, 6 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 3 turnovers.

Ron Artest felt his scalp tingle at the mention of more shooting practice, but finally, seeing Lee’s serious gaze, he gave a dry laugh:

“I’ll make those open jump shots next game.”

“…”

Without a timeout, game time flew by, and Madison Square Garden erupted in another huge cheer as the game officially ended.

80:99, the Knicks once again decisively defeated the Pacers, successfully reaching match point!

After two consecutive crushing defeats and being relentlessly mocked by the opposing fans, everyone on the Pacers quickly left the court.

Coach Tom Thibodeau on the sideline watched Lee, draped in a towel, stand up and high-five the fans, and he fully understood the feelings of the Bald Young Coach:

“So basketball is actually this simple…”

…..

By the way, don’t forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me 🙂

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep