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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 the evening of May 6, 2004, after the game started at 8 PM, the New York fans at Madison Square Garden began to boo the Nets’ Defense loudly.

With 5 minutes and 9 seconds left in the first quarter, Jefferson’s foul in the left restricted area sent Lee to the free-throw line.

Just over half a quarter into the game, the Nets had already entered the bonus situation.

Kidd frowned, the game still wasn’t going as he expected.

Lee rotated his shoulders.

His compression shirt was a special Under Armour design, providing some muscle protection.

Although he hadn’t deliberately trained his body these past few years, it had grown stronger with age, so this kind of physical confrontation didn’t affect him much.

“Fouls are just free points. I suggest you focus more on offense. The lead will be in double digits soon.”

Walking to the free-throw line, Lee teased “Coach Kidd” behind him.

Always thinking of changing the game with Defense, that really wasn’t reliable.

“We don’t care about road wins or losses!”

Kenyon Martin stood by the paint, head held high, and replied.

Lee smiled, noticing that his opponents were increasingly fond of talking about things other than wins and losses.

As Lee made both free throws, the chant for Defense echoed through the Madison Square Garden again:

“Defense!”

8:14, the Nets had a good start.

Kenyon Martin wasn’t clanking shot after shot from mid-range like he did in Game 1.

Kidd received the ball on the baseline, and Lee immediately stepped up to interfere.

Protecting the ball with his side, Kidd quickly turned, switched to his left hand, then accelerated in a straight line, pushing past the Defense and crossing mid-court.

Jefferson quickly cut horizontally from the right wing, attempting to receive the ball, but Ron Artest stuck close, not giving the opponent an easy chance to receive the ball.

At the top of the arc, Kidd saw that his teammate hadn’t created an opportunity, so he immediately turned, switched to his right hand, then Kidd quickly slipped along the baseline from left to right, accelerating out to the three-point line.

As Kidd delivered the pass, Grant Hill also completed his close-out.

The receiving Kidd faked with the ball, failing to deceive the defensive Center of Gravity, and immediately put the ball down with his right hand, driving with a step-through.

At this point, there were only the big men Collins and Pau Gasol under the basket.

As Kidd drove close to the paint, he leaned into the Defense and suddenly turned.

Pau Gasol under the basket moved to prepare for help Defense.

Kidd had intended to pass the ball to Collins to the left of the basket, but the moment the ball left his hand, Grant Hill swatted it away.

Controlling the ball, Grant Hill tossed it forward to the frontcourt.

Lee and Kidd started simultaneously, their struggle barely delaying the transition speed.

After crossing mid-court, Lee controlled the ball with his left hand, constantly accelerating against the Defense, driving straight down the middle to the basket.

Lee charged faster and faster.

Kidd, sticking close to his side, could only subtly pull, but he was still overwhelmed and pushed into the paint.

Holding the ball with his left hand, Lee strode towards the basket, actively using his body to push off the Defense.

Kidd was knocked slightly backward, then could only try his best to jump up and block, but he was still a step slow.

In the air, Lee gripped the ball with his left hand, twisting his body for a quick scoop shot.

Kidd struggled to control his balance and block, but ultimately hit his arm.

“Squeak!”

“Bang! Swish!”

The whistle blew, and the ball went in, bouncing high off the backboard and dropping perfectly into the basket.

“Wow!”

Cheers echoed through the Madison Square Garden.

Fans under the basket pumped their fists at Kidd, having clearly seen the subtle movements.

After landing, Lee smiled, gently patted his chest, and seeing Kidd still explaining to the referee, he couldn’t help but tease:

“The lead will be in double digits soon, it’s your turn to shoot!”

“…”

Kidd glanced at the scoreboard and remained silent.

Every turnover was fatal for the Nets.

At the TNT broadcast table, Kevin Harlan, seeing Lee step to the free-throw line again, couldn’t help but exclaim:

“What terrifying transition offense! Lee’s ball-handling is too good. Once a defender loses his position, it’s highly likely they’ll just give up points.”

At the end of April, Rivers successfully secured the Celtics Head Coach position with his excellent tactical acumen.

Good news brings good spirits.

Rivers, at the broadcast table, heard his partner’s exclamation and commented:

“The Nets need to avoid turnovers. The competition between top guards is all about the details!”

“I hope Jason Kidd can take over the ball now. He needs to carry the team’s offense.”

8:17, after Lee made the free throw, the lead again approached double digits.

The Nets also relied on transition offense, but the New York Knicks didn’t shoot many three-pointers to start.

Instead, they attacked the basket more.

After dribbling past mid-court again, Kidd immediately passed the ball.

Kenyon Martin received the ball sideways in the right elbow area, attempting a hand-off pass to Jefferson.

On the right wing, Jefferson’s back cut still failed to shake off Ron Artest.

Kenyon Martin, who was sideways, suddenly twisted quickly and led the ball forward with his right hand.

Striding towards the basket, Kenyon Martin accelerated and charged into the paint with the ball.

Kurt Thomas had lost his defensive position and didn’t hold back.

As the opponent took off, he immediately fouled him, disrupting the offense.

The referee’s whistle blew again.

Kenyon Martin stumbled and glared back, but the New York fans cheered loudly.

Kurt Thomas raised his hand to signal, then stood by the paint, waiting for his opponent to shoot free throws.

Making both free throws, Kenyon Martin pumped his fists repeatedly as he retreated on Defense.

Kidd began loudly calling out to his teammates to complete defensive matchups.

Lee, holding the ball with his left hand at the top of the arc, began to slow down.

Kidd, who had maintained a defensive distance, also stopped.

After a crossover dribble, the moment he switched to his right hand, Lee paused slightly, lowered his center of gravity, and feigned a drive.

Dragging the ball made Kidd instinctively step forward.

Lee changed direction again with a crossover, simultaneously quickening his dribbling rhythm.

After swaying his body to the front-left, he suddenly changed direction in front of his body.

Kidd first slid to the right, then quickly adjusted his defensive Center of Gravity, rapidly moved to the back-left, attempting to delay the Defense.

Lee, accelerating his drive, immediately widened his stride the moment he made body contact with Kidd.

Losing his defensive position, the retreating Kidd loudly reminded his teammates under the basket.

Lee, however, gathered the ball early while in motion.

After two large steps leaning into the Defense in the paint, he jumped off his right foot.

Lee, holding the ball with his right hand, quickly tossed the ball high over Kenyon Martin’s head.

Kidd, beside him, could only instinctively reach out to interfere, but it had little effect.

Kenyon Martin, trying to jump and block, could only watch the ball sail over his fingertips.

Upon landing, he heard cheers.

“Oh!”

The ball bounced high off the backboard and dropped into the basket again.

Watching Lee signal his teammates to retreat on Defense, Kidd felt an indescribable awkwardness.

Under high physical confrontation, a same-hand, same-foot scoop shot.

10:19, Frank couldn’t help but loudly call out to his players, signaling everyone to remain patient.

“Defense!”

Amidst the cheers for Defense, the Nets’ quick ball movement on offense had no effect.

Jefferson again came to the left elbow area to receive the ball.

Taking advantage of Kenyon Martin stepping up to screen, he faked right and drove left.

Putting the ball down with his left hand, Jefferson accelerated into a drive.

Realizing he hadn’t shaken off Ron Artest, he simply leaned into the Defense, took three big steps, and then faked a shot for a pass, suddenly passing backward.

The pass was too strong.

The trailing Kenyon Martin suddenly fumbled, and the ball flew over his head.

Kurt Thomas seized the opportunity to squeeze to his side and poked the ball forward.

Towards the top of the arc, Lee controlled the ball and charged forward.

Kidd could only grit his teeth and chase on Defense again.

Cheers instantly echoed through the Madison Square Garden.

Lee charged fiercely while protecting the ball, glancing at the movements behind him.

Noticing Kidd’s incredible speed, accelerating to chase on Defense behind him, Lee, charging into the paint while leaning into the Defense, smoothly passed the ball between his legs with his left hand while in motion.

Kidd, who had already chased to Lee’s side, could only watch as the trailing Grant Hill received the ball in the paint, jumped off both feet, gripped the ball with his right hand, and slammed it down with one arm!

Seeing Grant Hill pump his fist in celebration, Kevin Harlan could only exclaim:

“Too fast! This is the New York Knicks’ specialty: transition offense.”

“The Nets shouldn’t be turning the ball over. The lead is back to 11 points.”

After Kidd dribbled past mid-court, he immediately initiated a pick-and-roll with Kenyon Martin in the right elbow area.

After accelerating into a drive, Kidd smoothly passed the ball backward.

Kenyon Martin moved to a spot one step inside the three-point line.

Receiving the ball near the right wing, with no one interfering, Kenyon Martin made a long two-point jump shot.

4-of-6, Kenyon Martin had already scored 8 points, half of the team’s total score.

In the final moments of the first quarter, both teams started to miss shots and get to the free-throw line.

Pau Gasol attacked from the left low post.

Collins was caught off guard and, out of helplessness, committed another foul, sending him to the free-throw line.

On the other end, Jefferson drove hard to the basket, also drawing a foul from Ron Artest.

Both sides went back and forth, but the game wasn’t flowing smoothly.

Free throws naturally couldn’t compare to field goals in terms of excitement.

After the start, Kidd had only taken one shot.

This time, he received the ball on the baseline, dribbled past mid-court, and came to the left wing.

Noticing that Lee was still sagging inside the three-point line, he immediately called for a teammate to screen.

Without waiting for Kenyon Martin to come near the three-point line, Kidd suddenly gathered the ball, launching a surprise attack, and shot directly!

“Bang!”

Although he fooled Lee’s Defense, the ball hit the rim and bounced out.

With little time left in the first quarter, Grant Hill grabbed the long rebound and charged forward.

Kidd didn’t foul again.

Although he retreated quickly on Defense, Grant Hill still leaned into the Defense and scored with a layup off the backboard.

16:28, with Kidd’s ultra-long three-pointer missing, the Nets players walked towards the bench with long faces.

Most fans were dissatisfied with the game’s content, too many fouls, and a slow pace.

During the break, many fans started to express their displeasure again.

The noisy scene indicated that the fans were enraged.

At the commentary table, Kevin Harlan, however, enjoyed such a scene and asked his partner with a smile:

“Will the Nets’ fouls affect the New York Knicks?”

Rivers glanced at the technical statistics and commented seriously:

“For a superstar like Clay Lee, who has no technical shortcomings, free throws are simply free points.”

“He still made it into the 180 Club this season. The Nets’ Defense is very good, but their offense cannot respond in time.”

“Kidd must take on more offensive tasks. He cannot expect his teammates to make those response shots.”

Both played the entire first quarter.

Jason Kidd was 0 for 3, scoring zero points, and dishing out 4 assists.

Clay Lee was 4 for 6, 0 for 1 from beyond the arc, and 5 for 5 from the free-throw line, tallying 13 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, and 1 steal.

On one side, points were scored by teammates, while on the other, he organized the offense and scored nearly half of the points himself.

Rivers’ subtext was that Kidd should score more points, and then the game would still be competitive.

On the Nets’ bench, Frank felt a sense of déjà vu.

He thought the role players performed well, but Kidd was struggling, which put him in a difficult position.

“Slow down the pace of the game! Stay patient, don’t be affected by the score difference. The game has just begun.”

Sitting in front of his players, Frank loudly reminded everyone, determined to win the game through Defense.

At this point, he could only continue to offer encouragement.

Kidd naturally understood his problem.

If he had also scored 6 points, perhaps the score difference would have been within 10 points.

Thinking of this, Kidd threw his towel on the seat and stood up directly.

He wanted to make a staggered appearance and take control of the little guy on the other side!

After the second quarter began, Mike D’Antoni, who was in idle mode, frowned slightly when he saw the Nets’ lineup.

The backcourt consisted of Jason Kidd and Lucious Harris, while the three frontcourt players were Rodney Rogers, Kenyon Martin, and Aaron Williams.

The Nets were indeed determined to fight.

On their first possession, Kidd drove hard to the basket after a pick-and-roll in the right elbow area, drawing a foul from Dikembe Mutombo.

The New York Knicks made extensive substitutions in the second quarter.

Knight and Raja Bell formed the backcourt, while the three frontcourt players were Tayshaun Prince, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Dikembe Mutombo.

At the point guard position, Knight was indeed at a disadvantage against Kidd.

After more than two minutes of play, Mike D’Antoni simply called a timeout.

22:30, the score difference narrowed.

Seeing the Nets players high-fiving repeatedly, the New York fans in the Madison Square Garden once again booed loudly.

Lee stood up and patted the dejected Knight.

He also had to enter the game early.

“Amare, pay attention to the timing of your cuts. The opponent will double-team Lee. All you need to do is catch the ball and put it into the basket!”

“Patience, the opponent won’t keep making mistakes. When an opportunity arises, shoot immediately. We have a height advantage, and I want to see more offensive rebounds!”

Mike D’Antoni pointed at the tactical board, loudly reminding the rotation players.

In his opinion, as long as Lee was on the court, activating the potential of this lineup could still blow out the opponent.

In the first possession after the timeout, the New York fans in the Madison Square Garden became energetic again, shouting loudly:

“Let’s go Knicks!”

Lee, who received the ball on the baseline, quickly dribbled across half-court.

When he reached the left wing, Raja Bell slipped along the baseline from the left corner, and Amar’e Stoudemire quickly moved up to set a screen.

Kidd noticed the movement behind him and, while keeping an eye on Lee, who was holding the ball in his right hand, loudly reminded his teammates.

Before his teammates could get set, Lee quickly dribbled between his legs, and the moment he switched to his left hand, he immediately lowered his shoulder and accelerated.

Without any extra fakes, Lee leaned into Kidd and accelerated, instantly gaining half a step.

Kenyon Martin sensed that something was wrong and quickly moved up to help defend with his boss.

Under their double-team, Lee, holding the ball in his left hand, drove to the basket and started circling.

Dikembe Mutombo in the right elbow area stood still, while Amar’e Stoudemire accelerated his cut.

Aaron Williams shouted a warning, but it was too late.

Lee, who had reached the bottom right of the basket, flicked his wrist, and Amar’e Stoudemire in the paint received the ball and immediately exploded upwards.

Uncontested, with the ball in his right hand, Amar’e Stoudemire exerted all his strength for a tomahawk dunk!

“Boom!” The rim rattled, and the beautiful dunk instantly reignited the atmosphere in the Madison Square Garden.

Kenyon Martin looked at Amar’e Stoudemire, who was roaring loudly, and couldn’t help but curse under his breath.

22:32, the score difference returned to double digits.

In the second quarter, Kidd scored 4 consecutive points, seemingly regaining his shooting touch.

This time, on the Nets’ offense, he again completed a pick-and-roll with Kenyon Martin in the right elbow area.

Kidd, holding the ball in his right hand, accelerated and drove towards the baseline.

Instead of passing, near the right baseline, Kidd stopped abruptly, quickly stepped back, and, facing Lee’s Defense, took a stylish fadeaway jumper.

“Bang!”

The rebound was grabbed by Dikembe Mutombo, and Lee immediately stepped forward to receive the ball, then accelerated the push after getting it.

Kidd’s offensive pace was too fast, causing the Nets players to constantly run back and forth.

Fortunately, their defensive intensity was still there.

When Lee reached the right wing, the opponent had already completed their defensive matchups.

It was still the same tactic.

Raja Bell and Tayshaun Prince had already run to the left and right corners.

Dikembe Mutombo this time stayed still near the left baseline, while Amar’e Stoudemire again moved up to set a screen.

On the right wing, at the three-point line, as Lee, holding the ball in his right hand, moved horizontally, Amar’e Stoudemire immediately accelerated his cut.

Kenyon Martin immediately stepped up to delay, and Kidd followed the cut to cut off the passing lane.

Facing the switching big man, Lee suddenly stopped and then dribbled with a hop step.

Noticing the opponent’s right foot was forward, he raised his right arm, confidently giving up space.

Clay Lee suddenly lowered his center of gravity, feigning an accelerated drive.

Intending to slide back, Kenyon Martin suddenly felt a chill between his legs.

Lee flicked his wrist, and the basketball went directly through the opponent’s legs.

“Wow!”

The flashy crossover immediately made the fans cheer.

Lee quickened his steps, giving the opponent no time to react.

After scooping the ball with his left hand at the free-throw line, he immediately gathered it.

Lee ignored the side closeout and quickly jumped up for a shot!

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

Kenyon Martin’s face flushed red, and he glared at Lee, but the feedback he received was a mocking smile:

“Shit!”

An emotional Kenyon Martin was hugged by Kidd.

Being nutmegged meant being humiliated.

22:34, Frank on the sidelines was also loudly reminding his players to stay calm.

“Defense!”

The New York fans in the Madison Square Garden got excited again.

The opponent’s anxious appearance was exactly what they expected.

Kidd no longer forced an attack.

He went to the left wing and immediately passed the ball to Rogers, who was posting up for the ball in the left block.

The latter received the ball and turned, facing the basket to attack.

Tayshaun Prince maintained a defensive distance.

Seeing the opponent put the ball down with his right hand and accelerate his drive, he immediately slid back to the left.

Driving hard against the Defense, Rogers penetrated to the paint directly in front of the basket.

He threw up a right-handed floater over the block, but it clanked off the rim.

Under the basket, Kenyon Martin and Amar’e Stoudemire were tangled up, and the rebound was once again secured by Dikembe Mutombo.

Amidst cheers, Lee, who received the ball, accelerated his push.

When he crossed half-court and reached the top of the arc, Amar’e Stoudemire, who had rushed across half-court early, immediately set his feet.

With a high pick-and-roll, Lee, holding the ball in his right hand, executed a wide behind-the-back dribble.

Facing Kenyon Martin, who came up to help defend, he accelerated his drive with the ball in his left hand.

Amar’e Stoudemire quickly cut down at this moment.

Kidd did not switch anymore but instead stuck to Lee relentlessly.

Near the three-point line on the left wing, Lee suddenly stopped, and his left hand naturally pulled the ball back.

His head and shoulders also twisted backward, performing a deceptive fake.

Kenyon Martin and Kidd both instinctively stopped.

Taking advantage of the fact that the opponent could not complete the double-team, Lee immediately twisted forward, then pushed the ball with his left hand to change direction.

By the time they reacted, Lee, holding the ball in his right hand, had already squeezed past Kenyon Martin’s side and instantly reached the free-throw line.

Kidd still wanted to continue chasing, but Lee drove directly to the basket.

In the paint directly in front of the basket, he jumped high after taking off with both feet.

Amar’e Stoudemire screened Aaron Williams under the basket, leaving the opponent only able to watch as Lee grabbed the ball with his left hand and slammed it down with a powerful arm swing!

“Boom!” A successful breakthrough dunk!

“Wow!”

From the breakthrough to the dunk, exclamations constantly filled the Madison Square Garden.

In the final moments, many fans even excitedly stood up and cheered along.

“God! Unbelievable, Clay Lee actually broke through the Nets’ double-team so easily!”

“His speed is too fast! Kidd simply cannot contain Lee!”

Kevin Harlan also exclaimed loudly, while Rivers showed an envious gaze, looking at Mike D’Antoni, who was celebrating wildly with his hands raised on the sidelines, and a thought suddenly flashed through his mind:

“A championship team needs to let the players play freely!”

At the three-point line, Kidd and Kenyon Martin exchanged glances, neither speaking.

They didn’t know what to say.

The basketball seemed to be a part of Lee’s body.

His sudden fakes deceived them all.

Lee first high-fived his teammates to celebrate.

Noticing the opponent’s low spirits, he took the initiative to comfort them:

“Don’t worry, guys! You still have time!”

“…”

Even a Buddha can get angry.

Hearing these words, Kidd couldn’t help but glare at Lee.

Fortunately, Lucious Harris stepped up this possession, catching the ball on the right wing, faking a shot, and then smoothly pulling up for a long two-pointer with his right hand!

Raja Bell raised his hand, indicating it was his fault.

The opponent’s screen was too aggressive, preventing him from recovering in time.

It was the same tactic again, amidst the cheers of the New York fans, on the left wing, Amar’e Stoudemire executed a fake screen and quickly rolled down.

Seeing his teammates already double-teaming, Kidd also switched in time, cutting off the passing lane.

Facing the deep hedge from Kenyon Martin, Lee, holding the ball in his left hand, simply and brutally accelerated with a shoulder drop.

Constantly sliding backward to the right, Kenyon Martin braced himself, offering resistance, trying to knock Lee to the ground.

Leaning into the Defense, Lee drove to the left restricted area, then smoothly pulled back with a crossover step, stopping abruptly but not stopping the ball with his right hand.

Instead, he continued to shuffle horizontally.

Although Kenyon Martin quickly adjusted his center of gravity and tried to stick to him again, he saw Lee flick his right wrist and instinctively thought it was a bounce pass, immediately stopping his feet.

The basketball bounced off the floor and then spun back into Lee’s hand.

“Oh!”

The fans in the Madison Square Garden cheered again.

Leveraging the rebound of the basketball, Lee gathered the ball in the left elbow area and elegantly faded away for a jump shot!

Kenyon Martin, who again lunged to defend, couldn’t control his balance and directly knocked Clay Lee to the ground.

“Screech!”

The whistle blew, and the shot went in.

The mid-range shot was perfectly made, and Lee slid a distance on the floor, finally lying down and celebrating with a fist pump.

Kenyon Martin, pulled up by his teammates, had completely lost his temper.

He seemed to be questioning his life, with a puzzled expression, as if contemplating how Lee performed those moves.

“Unbelievable! Clay Lee once again demonstrated his masterful ball-handling skills!”

“Tonight, several of Lee’s isolation plays could make it into the top 5 plays.”

In a game filled with fouls and “savage basketball,” Lee still managed to unleash dazzling offense, and Kevin Harlan was almost speechless with excitement.

When Lee stepped to the free-throw line, the delighted New York fans cheered loudly:

“MVP! MVP! MVP!”

Rivers seemed to be infected by the atmosphere and, recalling Lee’s several beautiful crossovers tonight, couldn’t help but exclaim:

“Behind every brilliant shot lies tedious fundamental training.”

“I don’t know why some people would slander Lee’s attitude towards basketball. No one in the league can play like him, and without a doubt, Clay Lee has put tremendous effort into basketball!”

24:39, Lee made the free throw, and the lead widened again.

Taking advantage of the free throw, Frank brought back the starting lineup and reminded Kidd to speed up the game tempo appropriately.

With a double-digit lead, Kidd no longer controlled the tempo like in G1.

With more off-ball screens, Richard Jefferson continuously helped the Nets score.

Tayshaun Prince didn’t complain to the referee.

On the next possession, taking advantage of the opponent’s early double-team on Lee, he was left open on the right wing and responded with an open three-pointer after catching the ball.

After the big men failed to help on Defense, the Nets changed their defensive strategy again, relying more on perimeter traps to force Lee to pass the ball early.

Both sides went back and forth, and the game finally turned into what the New York fans had been hoping for.

Nets offense, after continuous passing, Kidd was left open on the left wing and made a three-pointer.

On Defense, Kidd double-teamed Lee, who was driving to the left restricted area, and Raja Bell, who was left open, also made an open three-pointer from the left corner.

Kidd drove strongly to the basket, but his floater was interfered with by Lee, and Kenyon Martin scored on a put-back.

On the next possession, Amar’e Stoudemire’s strong attack under the basket missed, but Dikembe Mutombo tipped the ball in.

Both teams scored continuously, but the Nets’ bench gradually fell silent.

The lead did not shrink, but instead widened slightly.

Towards the end of the 2nd quarter, with the New York Knicks’ starting lineup returning, their scoring momentum remained strong.

Conversely, the Nets, after free throws, began to miss shots.

Collins missed his second free throw, Pau Gasol grabbed the rebound, Grant Hill came forward to receive, and everyone quickly rushed across half-court.

Lee arrived early at the right corner, saw Grant Hill settle on the left wing, first faked a move towards the top, then immediately accelerated along the baseline.

Under the basket, Lee used Pau Gasol’s screen to briefly shake off Kidd, then accelerated towards the middle and popped out.

Kurt Thomas at the free-throw line smoothly set an off-ball screen, allowing Lee to completely break free from his defender on the side.

At the top of the arc, Lee twisted to receive the ball, didn’t even look at the basket, and quickly pulled up for a jump shot!

Kidd, who had chased him down, could only stop, and then the cheers of the fans once again reached his ears.

37:54, after half a quarter of back-and-forth, the lead grew wider and wider.

As Richard Jefferson’s last-second desperation shot from the right wing was blocked by Ron Artest, the New York Knicks’ bench erupted in cheers, already celebrating the victory.

Madison Square Garden was filled with jubilation.

Kidd, walking towards the player tunnel, was expressionless, and Frank could only pat his thigh in comfort.

Playing the entire first half, Jason Kidd was 2-of-8 from the field, 1-of-4 from three, and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line, tallying 8 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and 1 turnover.

Clay Lee was 9-of-13 from the field, 1-of-3 from three, and 8-of-8 from the free-throw line, accumulating 27 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal.

The gap between the two was clearly visible.

At the commentary table, Rivers was no longer polite, directly declaring the New York Knicks as winners:

“If Jason Kidd continues to perform like this, then the Nets are doomed.”

“When the team’s offense falters, the core player must take responsibility.”

Even with multiple possessions of double-teaming, Lee still exploded on his opponents, and Kevin Harlan also realized the gap between the core players of the two teams, prompting his partner to speak favorably:

“The Nets’ free-throw shooting was off, 5-of-10. The difference lies in the details, and I believe they still have a chance.”

After the third quarter began, as Richard Jefferson took over the offensive possessions, Ron Artest once again displayed his DPOY caliber.

Not only did he force his opponent to miss shots repeatedly, but he even stole the ball from his opponent face-to-face twice!

Watching Ron Artest, after stealing the ball on the right wing, dash faster and faster, culminating in an uncontested one-handed dunk in the frontcourt, Frank couldn’t help but hold his forehead.

“Ah!”

Within a few minutes, Ron Artest became the most dazzling player on the court, constantly shouting and tugging at his jersey after completing the dunk.

It seemed their mentality had collapsed.

Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin also committed turnovers, and for a while, Clay Lee and Grant Hill also performed counter-attack dunks, with the cheers never stopping.

A 12:2 run, and the lead was heading towards 30 points.

As time passed, the Nets’ sporadic offense still couldn’t narrow the gap.

With 2 minutes and 18 seconds left in the 3rd quarter, Frank proactively called a timeout.

He needed to prepare for the game two days later.

Lee, substituted out, felt a bit regretful.

By the third quarter, he had just started to find some rhythm with his outside shooting, and his three-point shooting tonight was average.

11-of-17 from the field, 2-of-5 from three, 8-of-8 from the free-throw line, 32 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover.

Although he recorded a double-double, Lee could only give himself a 9 out of 10 for his performance.

Ewing handed Lee a towel and then started complaining.

Gorilla had prepared a lot before the games these past few days, constantly hyping up Pau Gasol, but the game was won much easier than he had imagined.

“Their Defense was good, at least much better than the Celtics. Activating our physical state early is definitely a good thing.”

Lee haphazardly wiped the sweat from his head.

Putting aside the win or loss, the Nets were very physical, and Kidd’s Defense was still excellent.

Rarely seeing Lee sweat, the coaching staff found some sense of accomplishment.

Their game plan was still effective.

At the end of the third quarter, the score was 55:82, and the last quarter entered garbage time.

On the bench, Kidd silently watched the atmosphere squad rack up points.

Both sides had almost no Defense, and the lead was too large for any miracle to occur.

Kenyon Martin had controlled his fouls well tonight, but the joyous atmosphere in the Madison Square Garden made him very uncomfortable.

Looking at the silent Kiddles, he couldn’t help but complain in a low voice:

“We played too soft! We should have shown them!”

“Back home, I will never allow us to lose like this again!”

“Martin, Game 3 is on Saturday!”

Kiddles simply replied, and Kenyon Martin’s mouth twitched.

He realized that the fun-loving New York fans would be out in full force again.

Three years!

Thinking of how every time they played the New York Knicks, their home court turned into an away court, Kidd couldn’t help but furiously throw down his towel.

No one in the atmosphere squad dared to speak.

Richard Jefferson also thought of the home situation two days later and couldn’t help but curse under his breath:

“Damn New York!”

…..

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

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep