Check out my new fanfics.

Dragon Emperor in Pokemon World.

The return of Itachi

I am Sasuke. Why should I defect from Konoha.

Please give it a go 😊

***

On sunday, May 22, 2005, as the Heat flew to Manhattan, TNT interviewed Head Coach Larry Brown, who had been fined.

The Detroit Pistons, facing a burst of explosive power in Game 7, ultimately lost the game 95-102.

Although the series was over, Detroit Pistons fans were still complaining that their team had been subjected to biased officiating.

Larry Brown, even after paying the fine, didn’t stop complaining, taking every opportunity to speak sarcastically.

This year was an odd-numbered year, so TNT was responsible for broadcasting the Eastern Conference Finals, while ESPN and ABC broadcast the Western Conference games.

Never one to shy away from a spectacle, TNT found Larry Brown again before the Eastern Conference Finals began, hoping the renowned coach could generate more buzz for the Conference Finals.

Due to health reasons, Larry Brown intended to step down as Head Coach, but Joe Dumars, as the Detroit Pistons General Manager, strongly urged him to stay.

After the series ended, both sides were still discussing whether he would coach next season.

When TNT interviewed the famous coach, Larry Brown also talked about this matter:

“Undoubtedly, this season has been a success for the Detroit Pistons! I am proud of the boys.”

“If my health permits, I will continue to coach. I want to stay in Detroit.”

“We have a lot of work to do in the offseason. The team needs to add suitable wing players, and the bench also needs reinforcement.”

“I don’t want to talk about Game 7 anymore. Even if the Heat could defeat us, they won’t win the Finals. Basketball doesn’t lie!”

The main reason Larry Brown believed the referees ruined the game was Dwyane Wade’s performance.

In the crucial game, Dwyane Wade played 44 minutes, shooting 9-of-16 from the field, 0-of-2 from beyond the arc, and 13-of-19 from the free-throw line, accumulating 31 points, 7 rebounds, 12 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, and 5 turnovers.

Dwyane Wade, filling the stat sheet, repeatedly tore apart the Detroit Pistons’ perimeter Defense, completely dominating the game.

The Detroit Pistons’ forward, Williams, fouled out at the very beginning of the fourth quarter.

Ultimately, the Heat advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals thanks to the outstanding performances of Dwyane Wade and Eddie Jones.

Shaquille O’Neal was no longer the protagonist.

Dwyane Wade, selected for the All-NBA First Team, seemed to be on fire, becoming the most dazzling Rookie of the 2003 draft class!

Larry Brown, whose team lost, didn’t want to be fined again, so after a sarcastic remark, he stopped talking about the game.

Joe Dumars, taking the opportunity, assured Detroit fans that they would continue to strengthen the team in the offseason and that the Detroit Pistons would win the championship.

Regarding this game, critics didn’t have much to say.

Although Dwyane Wade entered an “untouchable” state at certain moments, overall, it was considered the Heat’s home-court advantage.

After all, they achieved 59 wins in the regular season, so it was only natural for them to receive favorable treatment from the referees.

Furthermore, most fans wanted to see Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal on the Conference Finals stage, so individual calls were overlooked.

The Detroit Pistons lacked buzz, and the Heat’s advancement was also a welcome sight for TNT as the broadcaster.

That night, the Western Conference Finals officially began, with the San Antonio Spurs and Seattle SuperSonics successively eliminating the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns 4-2.

Leading his team to the Conference Finals, Ray Allen also received far more attention than ever before.

However, the game’s progression was completely different from what Ray Allen had anticipated.

Before the first half was even over, Ray Allen went to the bench and did not return.

Bruce Bowen, as Ray Allen’s good friend, still took good care of him.

After being well-behaved for a season, he specifically prepared a big gift for Ray Allen.

The referees thought Bruce Bowen had reformed due to the new rules, but little did they know that he had become even smarter, only exerting himself in crucial games.

A quick foot extension helped the San Antonio Spurs easily win the game!

With a score of 81-103, the San Antonio Spurs successfully protected their home court, securing a strong start to the Western Conference Finals.

At the end of the game, Bruce Bowen even went to visit his good friend, and seeing the innocent look in his eyes, Ray Allen chose to forgive him.

When attending the press conference, when asked about Bruce Bowen’s defensive moves, Ray Allen appeared nonchalant and actively defended him, saying:

“Perhaps it was just an accident. After the league implemented the new rules, Bruce has standardized his defensive actions.”

“I’m not surprised to lose an away game. We will find our rhythm as soon as possible. The series has just begun.”

Gregg Popovich and Duncan naturally wouldn’t bring up the topic.

They were relieved that Ray Allen had forgiven Bruce Bowen.

Afterward, feeling that the Finals were already beckoning, a delighted Gregg Popovich laughed as he explained in response to malicious questions:

“We never intentionally hurt players. Bruce is just trying to play Defense, and he’s a good person. He’s deeply involved in our community.”

“Now, all we need to do is protect our home court, and everyone is fully focused on the game.”

On Monday morning, the 23rd, Lee was at his home on 82nd Street in the Upper East Side, reading the newspaper with a sense of helplessness.

He had even sent a text message to Ray Allen before the game, but he still got injured.

Lee naturally wouldn’t interfere too much with the relationship between his friend and Bruce Bowen.

Everyone is an adult, and speaking ill behind someone’s back is quite tasteless.

Although Bruce Bowen had injured many players, Ray Allen had not been “victimized” before, and the two had even trained together.

The local San Antonio community really liked Bruce Bowen.

Ray Allen believed that life was more important than basketball, and the warm-hearted Bruce Bowen must be a kind person.

After reading the news in the newspaper, Lee finally sent another text message to Lewis.

Players in their contract year play very hard, and if they truly suffer a major injury, it would definitely be a huge loss.

At 8 PM that night, Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 was set to officially begin.

Under the hype of sports media, Dwyane Wade, who had arrived in New York, felt a bit overconfident.

Although Shaquille O’Neal’s words were incredibly tough, after flying to the familiar away arena, he suddenly became somewhat silent.

Losing in the Finals for several consecutive years had caused Shaquille O’Neal considerable damage.

His tough attitude was all for the fans.

No one likes a softy, and Allen Iverson is a typical example.

This aging All-Star guard never played when he came to New York for preseason games, and after years of losing in the regular season, he became even more silent from losing too much.

Fans still liked Allen Iverson’s unruly demeanor.

A “The Answer” who had lost his edge was completely past his prime.

Without fan adoration, commercial aspects would also be affected.

Shaquille O’Neal was a smart man.

He wouldn’t repeat past mistakes, nor would he foolishly provoke Clay Lee in an away game.

Dwyane Wade thought he had completely taken control of the team.

With Shaquille O’Neal silent, he could just display his leadership qualities.

During the early warm-up that afternoon, Shaq made an excuse and casually brushed off TNT’s interview.

Dwyane Wade, making his first appearance in the Conference Finals, was incredibly excited, a confident expression on his youthful face.

Dwyane Wade, wearing his away red and black practice uniform, was surrounded by sports reporters.

This was his first time receiving protagonist treatment.

Sports media also liked Rookies.

Since Shaquille O’Neal wasn’t cooperating, everyone wanted to dig deeper into Dwyane Wade’s news.

The Yahoo Sports reporter saw Dwyane Wade’s bright smile, seized the opportunity, and asked a leading question:

“Wade, tonight you will be matched up against Lee. Your first playoff matchup is in the Conference Finals. Does this make you feel pressured?”

After eliminating the Detroit Pistons in Game 7, Dwyane Wade became increasingly confident.

He immediately replied when he heard the question:

“No pressure at all. I am a big-game player. I love performing at Madison Square Garden!”

“Clay Lee is excellent, also being selected for the All-NBA First Team, but I don’t think I’m inferior to anyone.”

“I will prove myself in this series. I love a challenge!”

His confident reply drew more flattery from the crowd.

The increasingly confident Dwyane Wade spoke more and more boldly, his slightly youthful face showing excitement and self-assurance.

Alonzo Mourning was equally happy.

Reaching the Conference Finals again proved he had made the right choice.

Towards the end of his career, seeing Ewing and Dikembe Mutombo successively win rings, Alonzo Mourning also wanted to experience the taste of a championship.

Shaquille O’Neal quietly warmed up, occasionally earnestly instructing teammates.

Noticing the Kidney Fighter’s mood, he stopped grandstanding and continued to adjust his shooting touch at the free-throw line.

Stan Van Gundy felt relieved when he saw that his players weren’t showing too much tension.

At the end of the warm-up, Stan Van Gundy, in an interview, candidly stated:

“We will continue with the same lineup as in the Semifinals. Currently, our goal is to get one away win!”

“…”

At 7:30 PM, Madison Square Garden was already packed.

The New York fans in attendance were particularly excited, as they were about to tie the record set by the Celtics.

What made everyone even happier was that tonight’s opponent was again their old rival, Shaquille O’Neal.

Although some ironic fans felt it was a shame not to witness him being proven wrong, there were also many playful individuals holding up “Thief” whiteboards.

After the players from both sides entered the court, Madison Square Garden erupted.

Shaquille O’Neal, with his extensive experience playing away, ignored the fans’ taunts.

Shaq knew very well that if he responded even slightly, these fans who loved a spectacle would explode with 200% enthusiasm.

At the TNT commentary desk, Kevin Harlan was discussing Dwyane Wade’s technical characteristics with Doug Collins:

“In Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 7, Dwyane Wade showcased his abilities as a combo guard.”

“If he can control his turnovers, perhaps Dwyane Wade can become the next Clay Lee. Facing zone Defense, he can also score with his speed.”

Dwyane Wade’s performance in the previous round left a very deep impression on Kevin Harlan.

If regular season statistics could be inflated, then Dwyane Wade’s ability to score efficiently even in Game 7 of the playoffs was enough to prove his skill.

Hearing his partner’s high praise, Doug Collins took over, smiling as he introduced:

“This season, over forty percent of Dwyane Wade’s shots were concentrated at the rim, with a finishing percentage of 58.7%.”

“This statistic has already surpassed Allen Iverson. Compared to Clay Lee, there’s still a big gap, but for a second-year Rookie, it’s already excellent.”

“Tonight, Dwyane Wade will face a huge test. I’m really looking forward to his performance when he’s matched up against Lee.”

This season, Lee’s finishing at the rim remained as consistent as ever, with a field goal percentage of 73.2%.

This statistic placed Clay Lee fourth in the league.

he top three were Brendan Haywood, Shaquille O’Neal, and Dalembert.

Among the top 10 players in the league, most were backcourt players.

Frontcourt players found it difficult to finish efficiently against zone Defense.

LeBron James received so much praise partly because his rim-finishing percentage this season was as high as 72.5%, ranking sixth in the league.

Dwyane Wade’s various statistics in the playoffs improved slightly compared to the regular season, which is also why he earned recognition from critics.

Although Clay Lee couldn’t achieve such extreme finishing, his current level is already considered a top-tier backcourt player in the league.

As the game was about to begin, the two commentators on the broadcast booth familiarized the audience with Dwyane Wade’s performance in the playoffs, and the referee called both teams to the center of the court.

Clay Lee, wearing the home white No. 1 jersey, was still fully geared up.

Noticing Dwyane Wade showing off by doing pull-ups under the basket, he smiled and greeted Shaquille O’Neal on the opposite side:

“Shaq, this black and red jersey doesn’t suit you at all. It’s great to see you in the Conference Finals!”

Shaquille O’Neal wasn’t as optimistic as Dwyane Wade.

After a fist bump with Lee, he jokingly said:

“The jersey doesn’t matter. I like leading different teams to championships, and that’s something you can’t do!”

Before the jump ball, the two teased each other.

Shaquille O’Neal couldn’t win the NBA’s highest honor, the “One Man, One City Award,” and Clay Lee also had no chance to win the “Nomadic Champion” award.

“Let’s go Knicks!”

Amidst the cheers, Shaquille O’Neal and Pau Gasol at center court both stared intently at the basketball in the referee’s hand.

They had matched up many times and understood each other, knowing that tonight’s game would be difficult.

The referee tossed the basketball, and Pau Gasol ultimately tipped the ball with his long arm.

As soon as Lee received the ball in the backcourt, the enthusiastic Dwyane Wade rushed up, defending him early.

Damon Jones guarded Raja Bell, and the past All-Star Eddie Jones was responsible for guarding Tayshaun Prince.

Head Coach Stan Van Gundy did not choose a zone Defense but confidently opted for man-to-man coverage.

Dwyane Wade stuck close to Clay Lee, trusting his explosiveness and speed, determined to squeeze through screens.

Just as the Heat expected, the Knicks again set up in a “V-shape” formation, with Pau Gasol actively moving up to the left elbow area.

Standing at the extended line, Pau Gasol’s solid screen allowed Lee, who was holding the ball with his left hand, to temporarily shake off his defender.

Shaquille O’Neal naturally retreated towards the basket, and Dwyane Wade squeezed through quickly.

As soon as Lee lowered his shoulder and accelerated, feeling the contact beside him, he decisively stopped short and dribbled the ball behind his back.

On the left wing, Lee stopped at the three-point line, and Raja Bell immediately slipped along the baseline from left to right.

Spotting Shaquille O’Neal’s defensive position, Pau Gasol set a second screen.

The closely guarding Dwyane Wade actively turned sideways, giving up his position, attempting to force Clay Lee into a double-team.

As the opponent shifted their feet, before the screen could even happen, Lee suddenly changed direction between his legs, feigning an accelerated drive.

He took a big step forward, and while Wade was sliding again, Lee, holding the ball with his left hand, quickly exploded the ball, and at the moment of his sudden stop, he pushed off his foot and stepped back.

Wade, whose Center of Gravity was fooled, could only jump up to contest, but the two were not on the same rhythm.

By the time Lee shot, his opponent was already descending.

Without much interference, the basketball arced beautifully and accurately swished into the net!

Hearing the cheers erupting in the Madison Square Garden, Dwyane Wade felt a bit dejected.

He had to appropriately protect Shaquille O’Neal, as the coaching staff was worried about Shaq getting into foul trouble too early and had emphasized restricting Clay Lee’s drives.

“Defense!”

Seeing Clay Lee easily make the shot, and Dwyane Wade retreating on Defense, the defensive cheers quickly rose in waves.

Damon Jones, who received the ball on the baseline, did not advance quickly.

When he dribbled past half-court, the Heat were in a 1-3-1 alignment.

Haslem stopped at the free-throw line, and Shaquille O’Neal tried to post up under the basket.

Pau Gasol was well-prepared, constantly bothering him to prevent him from easily receiving the ball.

Damon Jones did not force a pass and quickly signaled his teammates to move and run a play.

Moving from the right wing to the corner, Dwyane Wade suddenly accelerated, slipping along the baseline from right to left.

O’Neal tried to set an off-ball screen near the right baseline, but he didn’t expect Lee to accelerate from the top of the key, darting straight to the left corner.

Eddie Jones on the left wing had just cut across to the other side.

In the left corner, Lee and Wade arrived at their respective positions almost simultaneously.

Unable to deliver the pass immediately, Damon Jones called for Dwyane Wade to move to the top of the key.

To avoid a turnover, Haslem first moved to a position near the left wing to receive the ball, attempting to hand it off to Dwyane Wade.

However, the offensive intention was too obvious.

With Lee’s tight Defense, Dwyane Wade, although he squeezed next to his teammate, still couldn’t get the ball.

The poor screen quality made Dwyane Wade’s back cut useless again, and Lee once again forcefully squeezed through.

As their bodies collided, the anxious Dwyane Wade tried to grab him but was slapped away by Clay Lee.

The offense suddenly stalled.

Dwyane Wade restarted, returning to the top of the key, and Haslem managed to deliver a pass.

The moment Wade put the ball down with his right hand, Lee, who had squeezed through the screen, again initiated body contact, and before he could dribble to the free-throw line, he had already started to slow down.

Seeing Lee about to get in front of him, Dwyane Wade, stepping on the free-throw line, quickly spun around.

Switching to his left hand, he tried to lower his shoulder and accelerate, but before Dwyane Wade could really get going, Lee, who had slid over in time, caught up to his side.

Leaning into the Defense, Dwyane Wade, after slowing down, drove hard to the basket.

Inside the paint, he completed a jump step while leaning into Lee, feeling the defensive pressure on his side suddenly decrease.

He quickly leaned forward, grabbed the ball with his left hand, and extended his body for a scoop layup.

As soon as the basketball left his hand, Dwyane Wade, still in the air, saw Lee’s outstretched right arm swat the ball away.

Losing his balance, he fell out of bounds.

Before Dwyane Wade could even get up, Clay Lee, who had completed the block, had already secured possession, holding the ball with his right hand and accelerating with a fierce drive.

“Wow!”

While Dwyane Wade’s entire drive was slow and involved many fakes, the live New York fans didn’t perceive these details.

They only saw the two pulling and back-cutting, and then Lee completing the block.

New York fans felt Lee completed this defensive play with such ease, and the cheers grew louder and louder.

Haslem quickly retreated on Defense.

Since he also had to cover for Shaquille O’Neal’s foul count, he didn’t choose to commit a tactical foul to delay Lee at this moment.

Clay Lee, temporarily undefended, charged faster and faster along the right sideline towards the other end.

Shaquille O’Neal scrambled back on Defense.

Just as he retreated to the basket and got his footing, Shaquille O’Neal instinctively turned his head to look beyond the three-point line.

There was no time to call out to his teammates.

O’Neal watched Lee stop short, then accelerate a second time, shaking off Damon Jones, and instinctively moved towards the lower right side of the basket.

In a blink of an eye, Lee had broken through to the right restricted area, and while in motion, he casually tossed the ball towards the basket.

Shaquille O’Neal instinctively jumped to block, only realizing it was a pass when he saw the basketball flying to the other side.

To the lower left of the basket, the undefended Pau Gasol jumped to receive the ball, then slammed it into the hoop with both hands!

0:5.

The alley-oop in transition instantly ignited the Madison Square Garden atmosphere.

Dwyane Wade, who had run back to half-court, had just switched to guard Raja Bell.

Embarrassed right at the start, he couldn’t help but slap his thigh in frustration.

When the Heat were on offense, Dwyane Wade still tried to receive the ball on the left wing, which was his sweet spot.

He believed that with any right-handed crossover, he could use his excellent explosiveness to shake off the Defense.

Slipping along the baseline from right to left, Dwyane Wade was subtly pulled and entangled by Clay Lee.

Near the left sideline outside the three-point line, Dwyane Wade’s back cut was again read by Lee, and Haslem failed to deliver the pass in time.

Left with no choice, he again moved to the top of the key for a hand-off.

Dwyane Wade faked right, drove left, and the moment he received the ball, he put it down with his left hand, attempting a crossover step drive.

Wade, who had intended to accelerate, frustratingly found that Lee, who had just chased him around the baseline, suddenly turned deftly using a teammate, instantly blocking his driving lane again.

Lee’s excellent defensive agility allowed him to continue providing contact while sliding.

Dwyane Wade, unable to get going, could only lean into the Defense and drive hard with his head down.

Near the left baseline, Dwyane Wade suddenly stopped short while in motion, then pivoted on his left foot, quickly pulling the ball back, feigning a spin.

While Lee adjusted his balance, Dwyane Wade twisted his body again, and facing the contest, he forced up a fadeaway jumper!

The basketball hit the rim and bounced out.

Pau Gasol was still battling Shaquille O’Neal on the lower right side of the basket, and ultimately, Kurt Thomas secured the defensive rebound ahead of Haslem.

Coming forward to receive the pass immediately, Lee got the ball near the baseline.

Noticing that the Heat players had retreated in time, he intentionally slowed down his advance.

The cheers and laughter from the front-row fans extinguished Dwyane Wade’s excitement.

Having been almost overly praised these past two days, Dwyane Wade now recalled his miserable matchup experiences from his Rookie season.

Watching Clay Lee come to the right wing, Dwyane Wade quickly focused, sensing Kurt Thomas moving behind him, and again actively stuck close to him.

Lee, holding the ball with his left hand, suddenly lowered his Center of Gravity, and before the screen could happen, he leaned in and accelerated, pressing against the closely guarding Wade.

As he approached the free-throw line in motion, Lee actively widened his stride, while quickly performing an in-and-out dribble with his left hand.

Inside the paint, he feinted to the right.

Lee showed no signs of slowing down, and Haslem, who was preparing to help defend, was faked out and frozen in place.

Amidst the cheers of the New York fans, Lee, flying low to the ground, shook off Dwyane Wade beside him, and in three big strides, charged straight to the basket.

To the lower left of the basket, Shaquille O’Neal still tried to block, but Clay Lee was too fast.

Before he could jump, his left hand had already tossed the ball off the backboard.

“Squeak!”

Symbolically extending his arm, Shaquille O’Neal only realized he had been fouled after hearing the whistle.

As the basketball banked in, Shaq angrily turned his head to complain to the referee on the baseline:

“Hey! Look closely! My hands were up!”

Clay Lee walked cheerfully towards the free-throw line, high-fiving his teammates in celebration.

Seeing Dwyane Wade standing with his hands on his hips outside the three-point line, his smile gone, Kevin Harlan briefly commented on these few possessions:

“Poor offensive choices. Wade is encountering tight Defense from Lee. Perhaps he shouldn’t be forcing his offense.”

“I like Wade’s courage. Young players should rise to the challenge, but the Heat should get the ball to Shaq quickly right now.”

Doug Collins was clearly enjoying the show.

He preferred to see star matchups.

As Lee made the free throw, Head Coach Stan Van Gundy on the sideline was a bit anxious, shouting loudly at Dwyane Wade:

“Wade, calm down!”

Dwyane Wade saw Head Coach Van Gundy make a tactical gesture, signaling to get the ball inside, and felt frustrated.

However, the game had just begun, and he was still actively moving on offense.

Shaquille O’Neal received the ball on the lower right side of the basket, with no help Defense, and scored 2 points for the team with a low-post isolation play.

While the ball was being inbounded from the baseline, Clay Lee noticed Dwyane Wade still choosing to defend him, and immediately teased the arrogant Rookie:

“Guess how many points you’ll score tonight?”

“…”

Dwyane Wade said nothing, but seeing Lee’s continuous mocking smile, he cursed inwardly:

“Damn Defense!”

…..

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

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep