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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 December 28, 2002, ESPN delightedly announced that the game between the New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets had set a new viewership record.

A rating of 3.86 meant that around 4 million households watched the game, making it the most-watched game since ESPN took over broadcasting this season.

Although some fans still complained that Nessler on the commentary team lacked passion and wasn’t as entertaining as Marv Albert, with such an exaggerated record, most fans didn’t mind these details.

The New York Times on the following day projected Clay Lee’s future scoring record:

“100 points? Perhaps Lee only needs 40 shots!”

Other mainstream newspapers, in addition to reporting the record, mostly exaggerated and predicted a championship:

“Clay Lee, nearing 25, is entering his prime. The New York Knicks will continue to dominate the NBA!”

“God wears the New York Knicks’ No. 1 jersey!”

New York fans only felt regret for not being able to witness the record live.

The NBA, in cooperation with the broadcasters, began hyping the game last night, and also educated fans:

With 31 points in a single quarter, Clay Lee broke the single-quarter 30-point record held by Vernon Maxwell of the Houston Rockets in the 91-92 season and Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls in the 88-89 season.

At the same time, Clay Lee also tied Wilt Chamberlain’s single-quarter 31-point record from the 61-62 season.

Interestingly, Chamberlain’s 31 points in a single quarter were achieved against the New York Knicks, in the same game where he famously scored 100 points.

Clay Lee made 13 three-pointers in a single game, breaking his own regular season record of 9 three-pointers in a single game, set in the 99-00 season.

Currently, both the regular season and playoff single-game three-point records belong to Lee.

Scoring 63 points in three quarters, Lee also became the first player to achieve this feat since Wilt Chamberlain.

With various records under his belt, by the end of 2002, Lee had completely stolen back the spotlight.

No one was discussing the defending champions anymore.

All-Star voting was still ongoing, and if there were no surprises, Lee would most likely still be the top vote-getter!

And for chinese fans across the ocean, Lee had officially arrived on the scene.

When Yao Ming was interviewed after the game, he naturally wouldn’t reveal that his older teammates were mentally broken.

Despite the big loss, he also joined in the hype:

“That’s a superstar. We couldn’t limit his scoring. Only after playing against Clay will you understand how strong he is.”

“Watching replays doesn’t convey that feeling of powerlessness. I even feel like we’re not playing the same kind of basketball game.”

Colin Pine’s translation included some personal preferences, but American sports media were already accustomed to this slightly ordinary boasting, and the New York Media showed their usual expression.

Unlike in previous years, when news only circulated among a limited circle of fans, CCTV’s introductions and Saturday broadcasts were the channels through which the general public learned about players.

Just as Xu Jicheng boasted in the studio after the game:

“I hope fans can calm down. Yao Ming is just a Rookie, and he’s still adapting to the NBA.”

“Clay Lee is a true superstar. He is as great as Michael Jordan!”

“Perhaps this year we will witness him win his 5th championship! In the not-too-distant future, he might win even more championships!”

“In subsequent programs, we will also bring fans more news about Clay Lee and the New York Knicks.”

The bonus period had officially arrived, and young “highlight fans” became ten-year veterans of Lee after watching just one game!

On portal websites, more and more stories about Lee appeared, after all, “winning fans” were the largest group.

At 6:30 PM on the 28th, at the Dallas American Airlines Center, 20,000 fans arrived early.

Although Don Nelson and the Dallas Mavericks had also hyped up Clay Lee before the game, once the game started, the Dallas Mavericks came out swinging.

With a record of 24 wins and 4 losses, topping the Western Conference, the Dallas Mavericks were in excellent form at the start of this season!

In the first half, the Dallas Mavericks’ starting center, Shawn Bradley, only played 8 minutes and did not return to the game.

The 2.29-meter lanky player gave away points as soon as he appeared, and his pick-and-roll Defense was extremely poor.

Despite physical injuries, Don Nelson still preferred to use Raef LaFrentz, a slightly more agile big man.

Avery Johnson, a traditional guard, was also DNPed in the second half.

Left open on offense and overpowered on Defense, the 37-year-old “Little General” couldn’t adapt to the pace of tonight’s game.

Perhaps wanting to hit the New York Knicks hard, Don Nelson used a 7-man rotation in the second half, sticking with his starters!

At the end of the 3rd quarter, the score was 80-82, with the Dallas Mavericks still leading by 2 points, and the cheers in the American Airlines Center grew louder.

During the break, Don Nelson, with his side part, wearing a gray suit and a plaid tie, looked at his players, slapped the clipboard, and encouraged them loudly:

“Just one more quarter, we need to keep responding, trust your shots!”

The assistant coach thought Don Nelson was going to make substitutions, but instead, he finished his pep talk and waved his hand, signaling the starting lineup to continue playing.

Van Exel, sitting on the bench, was a bit frustrated.

He only got 8 minutes of playing time in this game.

Even with Steve Nash’s defensive issues, Don Nelson insisted on using him.

In contrast, the New York Knicks began to rotate. In a back-to-back game, Grant Hill’s playing time would not be too much, and Kurt Thomas, who had expended a lot of energy on Defense, also needed a few minutes of rest.

Coach D’Antoni wasn’t concerned about the 2-point difference, even if Lee’s three-point shooting was very poor tonight.

At this point, he simply instructed:

“Offense, all we need to do is keep putting the ball in the basket. Run! The opponent can’t keep up with our pace anymore!”

Stephen Jackson tied his headband, eager to play.

It was rare to have a game that remained close until the 4th quarter.

After playing too much garbage time, it was time for a change of pace.

Although it was a back-to-back game, Ron Artest’s stamina was not much affected, mainly because his opponent last night, Glenn Robinson, was really poor.

“Defense!”

The New York Knicks inbounded the ball, and defensive shouts immediately echoed through the American Airlines Center.

The Dallas Mavericks fans were exceptionally invested.

When Lee received the ball, Steve Nash didn’t choose to lead the Defense but instead established a defensive position at half-court.

The New York Knicks’ big man, Wright, was already positioned near the right baseline, with Stephen Jackson and Ron Artest on the left and right wings.

Steve Nash saw the New York Knicks’ positioning and then spotted Amar’e Stoudemire accelerating forward behind him, quickly calling for his teammates to delay.

At the top of the arc, Amar’e Stoudemire had just settled, and Dirk Nowitzki, who was following him, was still adjusting his footwork.

The screen came too early, but Lee, dribbling with his right hand, suddenly executed a quick in-and-out dribble.

Before Steve Nash could get close, Lee, with the ball now in his left hand, had lowered his center of gravity extremely low, accelerating with “ground-skimming flight.”

Dirk Nowitzki could only desperately slide backward to the right, but Lee still squeezed past him from the side.

Raja Bell, who was following Stephen Jackson to the left corner, wanted to help on Defense, but Lee’s breakthrough strides were very large.

As he tried to reach out, he could only watch Lee shake off the Defense and lean in for a scoop layup.

“Swish!”

Dirk Nowitzki made an ineffective block, watching the basketball fall into the basket.

“Boo!”

The New York Knicks tied the score, and boos once again filled the American Airlines Center.

Coach Don Nelson on the sideline made a gesture, signaling Raja Bell to take over the Defense.

Steve Nash was a bit embarrassed.

This situation had occurred many times, and he still didn’t have a good solution.

It was the Dallas Mavericks’ turn to offense.

After inbounding the ball, Steve Nash quickly dribbled past half-court.

Under Lee’s lead Defense, he immediately passed the ball to Dirk Nowitzki on the left wing.

Facing Amar’e Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki faked the ball several times.

Sensing the Rookie’s defensive Center of Gravity shift, Dirk Nowitzki immediately put the ball down and accelerated with a step-through move.

Leaning on Amar’e Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki broke through into the paint with large strides.

Because the big man inside, Raef LaFrentz, had three-point shooting ability and was positioned on the right wing, it left the New York Knicks’ interior Defense wide open.

The big man Wright couldn’t recover to defend the basket, watching Dirk Nowitzki, leaning on the Defense, make a 2-point floater from directly in front of the basket!

Amar’e Stoudemire, who made a defensive mistake, awkwardly raised his hand.

This kind of situation, being broken down by a big man with the ball, was really embarrassing.

After a quick baseline inbound, when Lee received the ball, his defender became Raja Bell.

Raja Bell constantly initiated physical contact, trying to delay his progress, but Lee still chased behind him, rushing past half-court.

He stopped abruptly, creating space.

Amar’e Stoudemire again stopped, continuing the pick-and-roll.

Raja Bell strenuously squeezed through the screen, while Dirk Nowitzki maintained defensive distance, ready to retreat to the basket at any time.

Unable to completely shake off the Defense, Lee, dribbling with his left hand and accelerating, quickly performed an in-and-out move while moving.

Faking right and driving left, Clay Lee accelerated again with the ball in his left hand.

As Dirk Nowitzki slid backward to the right, Lee leaned on Raja Bell while moving and quickly spun with a pivot move.

By the time Lee switched to his right hand, Dirk Nowitzki had already retreated to the basket, and Raja Bell was also trying to twist his body to make a defensive play.

Attracting the attention of two defenders, Lee completed a turn and passed the ball covertly.

Amar’e Stoudemire, who followed through the middle, immediately exploded after catching the ball.

Although Dirk Nowitzki was still in front of him, Amar’e Stoudemire didn’t care at all.

After a jump step, he leaped high, grabbed the ball with his right hand, and, over the Defense, swung his arm for a dunk.

“Boom!” An axe-handle dunk was successful!

“Ah!”

Amar’e Stoudemire, who completed the dunk, roared and barely salvaged a shred of his dignity.

Dallas Mavericks home commentator Bob Ortega also sighed at this moment:

“Too fast, Clay Lee’s speed is too fast! It’s difficult for either Steve Nash or Raja Bell to keep up with his rhythm.”

“We must respond on the offensive end, and Dirk Nowitzki’s Defense is also a bit problematic.”

As a commentator for Dallas Mavericks TV broadcasts since 1988 and a professional basketball analyst, Ortega saw the problem, and Don Nelson certainly understood it too.

The game quickly settled into a rhythm where Clay Lee relentlessly attacked Dirk Nowitzki with pick-and-rolls, and Dirk Nowitzki aggressively attacked the defensive liability, Amar’e Stoudemire.

Dallas Mavericks fans, however, were happy to watch.

Although Dirk Nowitzki had problems with rim protection, he could easily score on offense and assist teammates for easy baskets.

With 7 minutes and 48 seconds left in the game, Dirk Nowitzki tricked Amar’e Stoudemire into his 4th foul and stepped to the free throw line again.

Although his offensive performance was decent, Amar’e Stoudemire, who was substituted, was still a bit frustrated.

The opponent made one of two free throws, and Pau Gasol, who re-entered the game, secured the rebound.

92:93, after an exchange of blows, the Dallas Mavericks still maintained their lead.

“Defense!”

Raja Bell constantly engaged in physical confrontation, trying to disrupt Lee’s advancing speed.

Lee rushed past half-court, dribbled behind his back while moving, then quickly changed direction in front of his body with his right hand.

Raja Bell, who was tightly guarding him, only had time to twist his body, then watched the basketball fly past him.

Seeing Lee scoop the ball with his left hand and accelerate again to shake off the Defense, Dallas Mavericks fans gasped:

“Oh!”

Steve Nash, who had switched to guard Stephen Jackson, quickly converged.

Lee twisted his wrist while moving, and the basketball flew to the left wing.

The unguarded Stephen Jackson caught the ball and made a jump shot!

95:93, watching the New York Knicks players quickly retreat on Defense, Don Nelson on the sidelines gestured for them to continue attacking.

The Dallas Mavericks’ perimeter passing was almost forced into a turnover by the New York Knicks’ defensive pressure.

Dirk Nowitzki quickly came high to set a pick for Steve Nash at the top of the arc.

More than half of the shot clock had expired, and Steve Nash didn’t hesitate.

He dribbled with his left hand to shake off the trailing Lee, then faced Kurt Thomas, looked up at the rim, and suddenly accelerated.

Driving to the basket while absorbing the Defense, Steve Nash circled around the paint with Kurt Thomas.

While moving, he suddenly dished the ball to the cutting Dirk Nowitzki.

The latter cut through the middle, caught the ball, and exploded. Dirk Nowitzki originally wanted to slam the ball into the rim, but Lee, who was behind him, was already prepared, waiting for his opponent in the air.

Before the shot was released, Lee’s powerful block slammed the ball against the backboard.

“Woah!”

Dallas Mavericks fans gasped again.

After the ball rebounded, Pau Gasol, who had converged into the paint, secured possession.

Mike Finley stepped up to delay, then everyone quickly retreated on Defense.

Clay Lee, who received the ball, accelerated his advance, and the New York Knicks players also quickly rushed past the half-court line.

The Dallas Mavericks’ defensive matchups were problematic.

Steve Nash failed to track back to Stephen Jackson’s side in time.

Before Raja Bell could remind his teammate, Lee quickly passed the ball.

Stephen Jackson, upon receiving the ball on the left wing, immediately put the ball down and accelerated his drive with his left hand.

Steve Nash, who had lost a step, could only foul by pulling, sending Stephen Jackson to the free throw line.

Having been targeted for another half-quarter, and with repeated back-and-forths, Dirk Nowitzki couldn’t help but gasp for air.

Making both free throws, Stephen Jackson excitedly pounded his chest.

Lee also clapped his hands, signaling to maintain such defensive intensity.

97:93, the New York Knicks took the lead.

Dirk Nowitzki originally wanted to continue receiving the ball in the left block, but under Kurt Thomas’s Defense, Steve Nash chose not to force the ball to his teammate.

After quick passing among the three players on the high line, realizing that the New York Knicks’ defensive formation hadn’t changed, Mike Finley proactively called for the ball in the right block.

After receiving the ball, he immediately faced the basket and quickly jab-stepped with his left foot, then put the ball down with his right hand.

Mike Finley drove straight to the basket, enduring Ron Artest’s Defense.

His bank shot, relying on the Defense, bounced off the rim, and Ron Artest smoothly secured the defensive rebound.

The Dallas Mavericks players, realizing the danger, desperately retreated on Defense, but Clay Lee, who received the ball in the paint, charged incredibly fast, catching up to the retreating Dallas Mavericks players in the blink of an eye.

Raja Bell, panting heavily, tried his best to get back on Defense.

Noticing that Lee had caught up to him, and before he could reach out to pull, a sudden push-dribble change of direction made him lose his defensive position again.

Scooping the ball with his left hand, Lee gained half a step, and while leaning into the Defense, he had already surged inside the three-point line.

Accelerating towards the basket, Lee intentionally collided with his opponent while moving.

The moment Raja Bell committed a pulling foul, Lee gathered the ball and, near the paint on the left front of the basket, drifted and tossed the ball off the backboard!

“Screech!”

The referee blew his whistle, the ball banked in, and Raja Bell lost his balance after the pull, stumbling directly off the baseline and falling into the stands.

“OMG! Perhaps we need a timeout, the boys need a rest!”

Home commentator Ortega exclaimed “Oh my God!” then started rubbing his forehead.

This kind of transition offense made him incredibly frustrated.

The New York Knicks players all came forward to high-five Lee in celebration, and the bench mob also cheered.

After Lee made the free throw, Coach Don Nelson immediately called a timeout.

100:93, the roar in the American Airlines Center had largely subsided.

After the timeout, the Dallas Mavericks scored quickly on their offensive possession, with Steve Nash assisting La Frentz, who popped out after a pick-and-roll, for a three-pointer.

Dallas Mavericks fans cheered loudly, and then they saw on the defensive possession, Clay Lee, using Pau Gasol’s high pick-and-roll, quickly executed an in-and-out move outside the three-point line, and another acceleration got him past the greatly delaying La Frentz.

Raja Bell was still trailing on Defense, but in the paint, Lee saw Mike Finley rotating from the left baseline to help defend the basket, and he smoothly dished the ball to the wide-open Ron Artest.

The latter caught the ball, noticed that Mike Finley wasn’t closing out, Ron Artest adjusted slightly, and then calmly rose for a jump shot!

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

103:96, the score difference remained unchanged.

Coach Mike D’Antoni glanced at the time, smiling and continuing to clap his hands in encouragement.

The Dallas Mavericks did not slow down their offensive pace.

After a pick-and-roll, Steve Nash accelerated to the basket, drew a foul, and stepped to the free throw line.

Falling into a half-court offense, the New York Knicks continued with pick-and-rolls.

With the defensive quality dropping, Lee assisted Pau Gasol for a made jump shot from the free throw line.

Don Nelson noticed that the two Dallas Mavericks big men were now afraid to aggressively hedge out on Lee’s pick-and-rolls and loudly shouted reminders.

But the players’ feelings were correct.

With their stamina declining, Lee shook off Raja Bell’s trailing Defense, pulled the Defense horizontally, then accelerated again, breaking through double-teams with ease.

With 2 minutes and 01 seconds left in the game, the Dallas Mavericks again narrowed the deficit to 4 points.

The rare stagnation of the New York Knicks’ offense caused Dallas Mavericks fans to erupt.

Quickly slipping along the baseline, Lee arrived at the left corner.

As he received the pass from Grant Hill, Kurt Thomas moved in front of him.

Without waiting for his teammate to settle, Clay Lee put the ball down with his right hand, lowered his center of gravity while subtly swaying his body to the front-right, then executed an extremely quick in-and-out dribble.

Raja Bell instantly lost his defensive position.

Dirk Nowitzki, having learned his lesson, desperately retreated to the basket.

Dribbling with his left hand, “flying low” along the baseline, to the gasps of Dallas Mavericks fans, Lee caught up to the retreating Dirk Nowitzki, and before his opponent could jump to block, he was already airborne.

Dirk Nowitzki barely managed a blocking attempt.

Lee curled his body in the air, then glided to the lower right of the basket, completely evading the Defense, and smoothly tossed the ball towards the rim with his right hand!

“Swish!” The reverse layup was successful!

“Woah!”

It was a beautiful shot, and for a moment, even the boos disappeared.

Mark Cuban, sitting in the courtside seats, even started applauding and cheering.

With stamina declining, Dirk Nowitzki and Mike Finley missed consecutive three-pointers in two straight possessions.

The New York Knicks seized the opportunity, with Pau Gasol scoring two consecutive baskets from a low post-up on the right side!

As Dirk Nowitzki made one of two free throws, Grant Hill drew a foul on Steve Nash in transition and stepped to the free throw line again, and the game lost all suspense.

Ultimately, 113:107, the New York Knicks narrowly defeated their opponent, securing their 27th consecutive victory!

The American Airlines Center was still noisy after the game ended.

Dirk Nowitzki, who played 42 minutes, was still gasping for air.

In contrast, although Clay Lee played 40 minutes, he was only sweating at this point, showing no signs of having played a back-to-back game.

As both teams’ players were still shaking hands, home commentator Ortega said in a muffled voice:

“Perhaps Coach Don Nelson’s rotation was too conservative. The boys completely lost their Defense in the 4th quarter.”

“With his monstrous stamina, I believe that even without those crazy three-pointers, Clay Lee could still dominate the NBA.”

Despite a poor performance in the first three quarters, Clay Lee still managed to rack up a double-double with 37 points, 4 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, shooting 13-of-24 from the field, 2-of-7 from three-point range, and 9-of-10 from the free-throw line.

After losing the game, Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash showed little disappointment at the post-game press conference, instead joking about themselves:

“This morning I thought I misread the news. Clay scored 63 points in three quarters, which is truly incredible!”

“We spent the day discussing how to limit his three-pointers, and I think the team did a great job on that, but he still taught us a lesson in the fourth quarter.”

After Dirk Nowitzki finished speaking, Steve Nash chimed in with a joke:

“Luckily, Clay Lee is in the Eastern Conference. I’m jealous of this guy. I believe many people have forgotten that I’m also a 1996 Rookie.”

“This is an MVP. Clay is currently the best player, and I look forward to facing him on a bigger stage.”

Dirk Nowitzki had a normal performance with 30 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers, shooting 11-of-24 from the field, 1-of-4 from three-point range, and 7-of-9 from the free-throw line.

Steve Nash had a decent performance with 19 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 turnovers, shooting 6-of-14 from the field, 2-of-5 from three-point range, and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line.

Winning the back-to-back game, Lee was in a great mood.

At the press conference, besides the usual mutual praise, he mainly praised Ron Artest’s Defense:

“Basketball isn’t just about offense. Defense is also very important. Ron’s stats might not attract much attention, but he always manages to limit his direct opponent.”

Since the New York Knicks left Houston early last night, chinese sports reporters didn’t get much material, so Yang Yi squeezed into the post-game press conference after chasing them to Dallas.

With the team staff’s permission, Yang Yi stood up, looking a bit reserved, and then asked in Mandarin:

“63 points. Can you talk more about last night’s game? For many chinese fans, such a scoring performance is unimaginable.”

After Yao Ming entered the NBA, Yang Yi followed his coverage for the first month.

After witnessing more All-Stars, he understood why his American counterparts always raved about Clay Lee’s statistics.

“For me, scoring is the simplest thing in basketball!”

“The 60+ points were also achieved with the support of my teammates, and statistics are just a byproduct of victory.”

“This is my gift to my fans who always support me, and I hope everyone will enjoy the New York Knicks’ games.”

Lee briefly answered the question, and Yang Yi nodded repeatedly below the stage, sighing in his heart:

“Compared to Steve Francis, this is a true All-Star!”

On December 29th, ESPN data expert Hollinger raved about Clay Lee’s December performance in his column:

“If you only look at basic stats, perhaps a few other players could match Clay Lee’s performance.”

“But in terms of advanced metrics, Clay Lee is almost in a league of his own. So far this month, his true shooting percentage is as high as 76.9%.”

“I cannot describe how excellent Lee is. I am just reminding all sports media with voting rights that we are witnessing a legendary season belonging to Lee!”

ESPN’s recent programs have been heavily trending, repeatedly analyzing Clay Lee’s scoring composition.

Sport Center even edited a highlight reel for Lee, which got Excel fans fired up.

The internal gossip of the Lakers was like an old woman’s foot-binding cloth

No fans wanted to see relevant news anymore.

Although the Dallas Mavericks and the Sacramento Kings had excellent records, their All-Star quality was just a little bit lacking.

After two months of commotion, the sports media ultimately chose to continue riding the New York Knicks’ traffic.

The next game, the New York Knicks continued their road trip and would challenge the San Antonio Spurs after a day of rest.

With a record of 19-11, the San Antonio Spurs, who started slowly, gradually found their game rhythm.

Coach D’Antoni’s first season coaching the New York Knicks saw a 27-game winning streak, which caused a chain reaction of subtle jealousy among coaches.

The San Antonio Spurs were still in preparation, and Gregg Popovich felt a bit annoyed every time he saw news about the New York Knicks.

He worked so hard, yet San Antonio’s sports media always questioned him.

Once the record fluctuated, the next day would be a criticism session:

“Tim Duncan needs a championship Coach!”

If he hadn’t held on tight to his star player, Gregg Popovich felt he might have been swept out long ago.

As a member of the Larry Brown faction, Gregg Popovich preferred to control his players, but since Lee’s rise, the status of a superstar has once again climbed.

In the past, Michael Jordan would tell the media, “I’ll only play for Phil Jackson,” but Clay Lee never said such a thing.

The New York Knicks also proved with facts that even a Rookie Coach, as long as he comes to New York, can achieve success!

On the morning of the 30th, after the training session, Gregg Popovich again accepted an interview from the local San Antonio sports media.

When asked if he could bring a championship to David Robinson this season, Gregg Popovich again expressed his confidence:

“With Steve back from injury, we are getting better and better!”

“David Robinson has been in San Antonio his entire career. He has given everything to the San Antonio Spurs.”

“This season, we are united more closely than ever, and everyone wants to win a championship for David Robinson!”

Although Gregg Popovich appeared quite confident, the San Antonio sports media did not buy it, and someone soon asked:

“How will we limit Clay Lee in tonight’s game? He’s been on fire this month!”

Last season, the San Antonio Spurs swept the New York Knicks, but Pau Gasol had toughened up quite a bit after a season of training, and the shooting of their wing players had also improved slightly.

Gregg Popovich also felt it would be difficult to continue dominating games relying on twin towers, but seeing the doubtful looks from everyone, he ultimately boasted confidently:

“With Tim Duncan, opponents can’t just charge the basket. We plan to test the opponent’s shooting first!”

“…”

After he explained a bunch of game strategies, the San Antonio sports media nodded in agreement, feeling that Gregg Popovich made sense.

This season, the San Antonio Spurs also moved into a new arena, bidding farewell to the Alamodome.

Although the SBC Center accommodates fewer spectators, the viewing experience has greatly improved.

Eighteen thousand San Antonio Spurs fans entered the SBC Center early.

In the new Arena, they can eat dinner while watching the game, which received unanimous praise from the fans!

Gregg Popovich talked a big game before the match, but once the game started, the San Antonio Spurs struggled to score.

To protect the basket, the New York Knicks once again set up a zone Defense around the paint tonight.

San Antonio Spurs fans quickly witnessed the impact of their team’s constipated three-point shooting.

Most of the first quarter had passed, and on a San Antonio Spurs offensive possession, the New York Knicks retreated quickly.

Tony Parker saw that the New York Knicks’ three perimeter defenders had all collapsed inside the three-point line, so he quickly signaled to Steve Smith and Bruce Bowen to run to the left and right corners to create space.

The New York Knicks’ defenders moved with them, but the two wing players only shifted to the restricted area.

Ron Artest glanced at Bruce Bowen in the right corner, then focused more of his attention on Tim Duncan, who was about to set a screen.

On the screen near the top of the arc, Lee chose to go under and chase.

Tony Parker, with the ball in his left hand, faced Kurt Thomas’s drop Defense and didn’t choose a pull-up long two, but quickly passed the ball to Tim Duncan at the free-throw line.

Clay Lee reacted quickly, shuffling his feet immediately to defend Tim Duncan from behind.

Then the New York Knicks’ Defense rotated quickly, and Ron Artest, who was closest, immediately rushed to defend.

With two hands disrupting him, Tim Duncan quickly passed the ball to Bruce Bowen, who was shuffling in the right corner.

The latter received the ball, Ron Artest quickly rotated back on Defense, and at the same time, the New York Knicks’ Defense rotated again, re-matching up.

The opportunity flashed by, and Bruce Bowen didn’t choose to shoot directly, but instead passed the ball back to Tony Parker, who was receiving at the top of the arc.

Every time they received the ball in the low post, they were double-teamed.

Every time an open three-pointer came, they hesitated.

The San Antonio Spurs played slower and slower.

As the shot clock was about to expire again, when they ran another pick-and-roll, Lee accelerated and squeezed through the screen.

Under his disruption, Tony Parker’s long two-point jump shot from the left wing clanked off the rim.

The rebound bounced out, and Pau Gasol successfully boxed out David Robinson under the basket, securing the defensive rebound immediately.

“Defense!”

The defensive cheers rang out again, and the San Antonio Spurs fans watched with growing anxiety.

It was almost the same defensive strategy, but when Lee ran a pick-and-roll at the top of the arc, David Robinson quickly showed a hard hedge, cooperating with Tony Parker to complete the Defense.

Through the gap, Lee flicked his left wrist, and with his body turned sideways, he delivered a bounce pass.

Pau Gasol, at the free-throw line, without any extra movements, immediately shot!

“Swish!” The mid-range shot went in steadily.

19:10, with 4 minutes and 21 seconds remaining in the first quarter, the New York Knicks extended their lead.

Coach D’Antoni couldn’t stop smiling, and Gregg Popovich, having no choice but to call a timeout, cursed inwardly once more.

After the timeout, the San Antonio Spurs still didn’t frantically launch three-pointers.

Instead, they patiently moved the ball around in some possessions, finding opportunities for Tim Duncan to finish at the rim.

However, many subsequent possessions ended in missed shots, and they only managed to prevent the deficit from widening further by relying on free throws.

The San Antonio Spurs’ transition Defense was very quick, making the game extremely dull.

Clay Lee didn’t just throw up wild shots either; with his team in the lead, he also engaged in prolonged defensive exchanges with the opponent.

29:20. At the end of the first quarter, Gregg Popovich’s face was grim.

Steve Smith, still recovering, had zero points.

The San Antonio Spurs were extremely cautious, once again focusing their Defense on Tim Duncan.

The New York Knicks also didn’t make extensive rotations, so Amar’e Stoudemire was destined not to get much playing time tonight.

Throughout the entire first half, San Antonio Spurs fans were dozing off.

Gregg Popovich kept shouting from the sidelines, while Mike D’Antoni, on the other side, stood with his arms crossed, occasionally smiling and applauding.

57:44. After the first half ended at SBC Center, San Antonio Spurs fans fell silent:

“This game is truly ugly!”

The New York Knicks’ wing Defense was incredibly intense throughout the half, and the Rookie Tayshaun Prince also performed his task very well.

Bruce Bowen, lacking ball-handling skills, found it difficult to contribute much on offense, and Steve Smith, whose physical condition was poor, went 1-for-5 for 4 points.

Perhaps due to a lack of trust in the Rookie, Manu Ginobili only played 2 minutes.

After missing a pull-up three-pointer and a driving layup, he was substituted out.

In the second half, the San Antonio Spurs were forced to increase their three-point attempts, and soon long rebounds were converted into New York Knicks’ fast breaks.

With 3 minutes and 47 seconds left in the 3rd quarter, Steve Smith missed an open jump shot from the left wing.

The long rebound was picked up by Clay Lee near the free-throw line.

Tony Parker quickly rushed forward to delay him, but Lee swiftly wrapped the ball behind his back, switched it to his left hand, and immediately, while guarding the Defense, accelerated like a bulldozer, charging forward.

Losing his position, the trailing Tony Parker was incredibly fast.

He rushed to the three-point line and then continued to chase Lee alongside him.

The moment the two entered the paint, Lee deliberately slowed down.

As he took off for three big steps, he directly bumped aside the defender beside him, then cradled the ball with his left hand, soared into the air, and, extending his body, slammed down a powerful dunk!

“Boom!” A transition dunk was successful!

With one body contact, Tony Parker was gone.

Just like in their last encounter, he deliberately fell to the ground, trying to draw an offensive foul on Lee.

“Boo!”

San Antonio Spurs fans booed fiercely again.

The game was ugly, and they were losing—tonight’s tickets were a complete waste!

Gregg Popovich no longer complained as he used to.

Ever since Derek Fisher frequently fell to the ground in the Finals, referees had paid little attention to such falls.

Instead, Tony Parker was somewhat agitated.

Lee had indeed made contact:

“I didn’t flop! He used his shoulder to push me away! It was clearly an offensive foul!”

He complained loudly to the baseline referee, but not getting the desired result, Tony Parker continued to question, and soon received a technical foul.

Lee shook his head at the San Antonio Spurs players and slowly sauntered to the free-throw line, where he also made a technical free throw.

78:64. In the 3rd quarter, both teams actually played to a draw, but the San Antonio Spurs’ mentality became increasingly agitated, and victory gradually tilted towards the New York Knicks.

Ewing noticed David Robinson’s serious expression throughout the game and couldn’t help but secretly chuckle on the bench.

He didn’t want to see his opponent win the championship.

For the Gorilla, his happiness was sometimes built upon the Admiral’s pain.

Free throws, missed shots, two-point layups, and occasional long two-pointers—the San Antonio Spurs maintained this game rhythm.

After entering the 4th quarter, scattered boos even appeared in the SBC Center.

This dull game dragged on until the very last moment.

Finally, 109:95, the New York Knicks successfully secured their 28th consecutive win!

Clay Lee once again played 40 minutes, shooting 11-for-23 from the field, 3-for-7 from beyond the arc, and 8-for-10 from the free-throw line, tallying 33 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers.

Tim Duncan, also playing 40 minutes, shot 12-for-23, scoring 31 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and 4 turnovers.

After the loss, Tim Duncan was naturally in a bad mood.

He had made so many passes, yet the San Antonio Spurs shot 2-for-11 from beyond the arc.

With such a performance, Tim Duncan simply nodded and walked directly to the player’s tunnel after the game.

Having secured their 28th consecutive win, Clay Lee, after the game, tried to find reasons for the San Antonio Spurs’ loss:

“We prepared for this game for a long time. Tonight, the opponent just couldn’t make their shots!”

“I believe they will find a way to solve their problems. I look forward to our next encounter.”

With 28 consecutive wins, Mike D’Antoni will undoubtedly receive the Coach of the Month (COM) award for December again!

This Rookie Head Coach has now become the focus of the NBA.

When interviewed by the New York Media who followed the team, Mike D’Antoni was beaming again:

“All we have to do is get the ball into Lee’s hands! That’s the secret to our 28 consecutive wins!”

“…”

On December 31st, the New York Knicks returned to Manhattan, and Lee also celebrated his birthday.

Perhaps the recent 63-point game against the San Antonio Spurs had stimulated New York fans, as a large number of fans sent gifts for his birthday this year.

Sponsors and the New York Media also joined in the publicity, leaving Lee, who had just returned to Manhattan, no time to rest.

He held a birthday party at home instead.

On January 1st, 2003, New York fans were still immersed in the joy of New Year’s Eve from the night before.

That evening, Madison Square Garden was once again packed.

On the first day of the new year, everyone came to witness Lee receive his Player of the Month award.

In the morning, the NBA also announced the Player of the Month for December:

Clay Lee from the Eastern Conference and Chris Webber from the Western Conference successfully won the awards.

The New York Knicks achieved a 13-0 record in December, while the Sacramento Kings had a 10-4 record.

What drove basketball commentators wild was Clay Lee’s performance in December:

He averaged 35.5 minutes per game, scoring 35.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 10.6 assists, 2.6 steals, 0.5 blocks, and 2.6 turnovers per game.

He averaged 19.3 field goal attempts per game, with a 59.6% field goal percentage, and averaged 9.2 three-point attempts per game, with a 47.5% three-point percentage.

He averaged 8.2 free throws per game, with a 93.0% free-throw percentage.

Compared to Chris Webber’s 24.4 points per game, 44.6% field goal percentage, and 67.3% free throw percentage, Clay Lee’s stats were more like an interior player in Excel.

In the morning, ESPN programs naturally raved about Lee’s incredible performance, and TNT’s trio didn’t sing a different tune either.

Since the New York Knicks’ opponent that night was the Toronto Raptors, and Vince Carter was still injured, the trio didn’t discuss the game before it started.

Instead, they continued with the current hot topic:

“Winning MVP for three consecutive years? I think the answer is definitely yes. Team record, individual stats, Lee’s performance is impeccable.”

In the studio, Kenny Smith, sitting in his chair, looked completely “convinced.”

Although Lee’s incredible stats were mainly boosted by that 63-point game against the Houston Rockets, Charles Barkley didn’t question it this time.

Instead, he commented seriously:

“If they win tonight’s game, the New York Knicks will achieve 29 consecutive wins.”

“They even have a chance to break the longest winning streak record in history.”

“I will vote for Lee. He should win MVP. Compared to Larry Bird, who won MVP for three consecutive years, Clay Lee is even better.”

“This season, the New York Knicks will become unstoppable. Those still fantasizing about the Lakers establishing a dynasty can take a break!”

It was rare for the two to agree, and Ernie Johnson, sitting in the middle, looked at them both and smiled as he concluded:

“November Player of the Month, December Player of the Month… Oh, and Lee also won the Player of the Week for the last week of December!”

“Regardless of the New York Knicks’ future schedule, Clay Lee is currently performing at an MVP level.”

“Perhaps this season, we will witness the second player to win MVP for three consecutive years!”

“…”

…..

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

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep