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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 sunday, November 6, 2005, the NBA announced the Players of the Week for the first week of the new season:

Clay Lee from the Eastern Conference and Kobe Bryant from the Western Conference successfully won the awards.

The New York Knicks had a 2-0 record, and the Lakers had a 1-1 record.

Although the record was average, Kobe Bryant was on fire personally.

In two games, Kobe Bryant averaged 36.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.0 block, and 4.5 turnovers.

He averaged 27.0 shots per game, with a field goal percentage of 48.1%.

His hard training during the offseason paid off.

Clay Lee performed moderately in the opening game, but in the second game, he was 14 of 17 from the field, 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line.

With 39 points, 5 rebounds, 11 assists, 3 steals, and 1 turnover, Clay Lee once again won a crystal trophy.

Gilbert Arenas, who was “ambushed,” awkwardly shot 5 of 18 and remained silent after the game, flying back to Washington with his team overnight.

The New York Media did not report much on this minor award.

Most critics were counting down for Clay Lee.

After two games in the new season, his career total points reached 19,973.

Tonight, Clay Lee has a chance to become the youngest 20,000-point scorer in NBA history!

ESPN naturally gave this record high praise.

At 7 AM, the Sports Centre program popularized Lee’s current minor records:

Some customized records like 15+10, 20+15, 30+10, etc., can be ignored.

The youngest to reach 10,000 points was also set by Lee.

He has accumulated too many regular season records.

This time, ESPN simply took an early loan, confidently commenting on the program:

“At 27 years and 311 days old, in the next 10 years, no one will break the record set by Clay Lee!”

“After his career ends, Clay Lee will undoubtedly surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the all-time leading scorer.”

Without considering a decline in physical condition, at his current efficiency, Lee even has a chance to challenge 40,000 points.

This caused a strong reaction, superman-like statistics!

Not every player likes to see Lee set new records.

The “Three Loser Brothers” who participated in the Houston charity game during the offseason were unhappy.

Kevin Garnett refused to attend the team dinner on Friday and was criticized by his new Head Coach Casey.

Perhaps to divert attention, Garnett, who was preparing for a home game against the Clippers, made some sour remarks during an interview:

“The NBA always likes to compile these boring statistics. People who love basketball don’t care about these cold numbers.”

“…”

The 76ers’ three consecutive losses since the start of the season left Philadelphia fans numb, especially the game lost to the Bobcats, where Clay Lee’s former backup, Knight, performed better than Iverson.

Iverson’s normal performance of 9 of 24 from the field and 10 of 17 from the free-throw line made fans despair.

Fortunately, the Philadelphia Daily News valued mental attributes more, having already prepared a draft for their news, and immediately joined in “criticizing” Lee:

“Since Lee entered the league, players’ desire for statistics has increased daily. We are losing the true spirit of basketball.”

The Chicago Tribune also spoke out, still holding onto the “black shop” narrative:

“Perhaps Clay Lee is the greatest in NBA history, but every player who leaves the New York Knicks has suffered injuries.”

“His success is built on the health of his teammates. New York has become a symbol of utilitarian basketball.”

Such column articles were recognized by some fans.

Some coincidences simply cannot be explained.

The Phoenix Suns have confirmed that Amare Stoudemire is likely out for the season.

The Warriors, who have already flown to Manhattan, are about to become the backdrop tonight.

In this situation, Baron Davis chose to continue resting.

Baron Davis has not had an easy time since leaving the Charlotte Hornets.

Injuries have taken away some of his explosiveness.

During the team’s early warm-up that afternoon, Warriors’ Rookie Head Coach Mike Montgomery did not hold back his praise during an interview:

“27 years old, 20,000 points. In the past, we couldn’t even imagine such an achievement.”

“Considering Clay Lee has already won 7 championships, I even think he will surpass Bill Russell to become the player with the most championships in NBA history.”

Baron Davis had long become a Lee fan, mocking the dissenters in front of reporters:

“It’s precisely because we are all basketball players that we understand how difficult it is to score 20,000 points at 27 years old!”

“These statistics are certainly meaningful. God tells us we should not envy excellent people. In my heart, Clay Lee is the true GOAT.”

Listening to his big brother brag, Michael Pietrus, who was guarding Lee tonight, didn’t want to speak.

Being a backdrop on a record night was not a good feeling.

That night, there was also a game between the Lakers and the Denver Nuggets.

Kobe, who won Player of the Week, was in a bad mood, and his explosive stats were ignored.

ESPN had a very low opinion of Kobe, and in recent years, they have continued to exploit his personal life.

On the record-breaking night, sports reporters did not forget to interview Kobe and Phil Jackson.

The Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man offered dry congratulations, while Kobe, diligently warming up at the Toyota Center, once again made a bold statement:

“Clay Lee has indeed achieved an incredible record, but I will become the youngest 30,000-point player in history.”

“Only now have I fully realized my talent. In the next few years, I will continue to explode.”

At 7 PM on the 6th, after the game officially began, the roar at Madison Square Garden grew louder and louder.

The New York fans present were all counting down for Lee, witnessing 20,000 points, which made everyone exceptionally excited.

In contrast, the Warriors on the court had lost all fighting spirit.

Only “Dunk King” Jason Richardson was still trying.

However, the big man Troy Murphy was in terrible form, missing easy layups, clanking mid-range shots, and even having hand-offs stolen.

The rotation suddenly hit a high point.

When Lee returned at the end of the second quarter, the score difference had already reached 16 points.

At halftime, 44:60, the Warriors seemed to be heading for a rout.

After the second half began, Lee frequently received the ball, and his statistics continuously climbed.

With 3 minutes and 21 seconds left in the third quarter, as Mike Dunleavy’s three-pointer from the right wing clanked off the rim, Lee grabbed the rebound near the left elbow, and many fans began to stand up and watch the game.

About to reach 20,000 points, no one was guarding Lee in transition.

Head Coach Montgomery on the sidelines couldn’t stand it anymore and yelled at his players:

“Guard him!”

Jason Richardson, the closest player, helplessly chased to Lee’s side, and as he approached the right wing, he tried to establish a defensive position early.

After squeezing in front, Richardson had just stopped at the three-point line when Lee, holding the ball in his left hand, dribbled between his legs.

While slightly decelerating, at the moment his right hand touched the ball, he quickly performed an In-and-Out, lowering his center of gravity and swaying his body to the front right.

Richardson, who had stabilized his stance, instinctively slid to the left.

As Lee suddenly dribbled the ball behind his back, the “Dunk King,” misjudging, completely lost his defensive position.

After dribbling behind his back, he naturally took a step back.

With no one in front of him, Lee easily gathered the ball and shot a jump shot from the right wing.

While the basketball was still in the air, Lee had already turned his body towards the audience, raising both hands to signal everyone to cheer to their heart’s content.

Soon, screams echoed throughout the arena.

The basketball swished through the net. Head Coach Montgomery proactively called a timeout, and Madison Square Garden erupted once again.

At the commentary table, Mike Breen was equally excited, instinctively raising his voice and shouting:

“A brilliant crossover, a signature three-pointer! At 27 years and 311 days old, congratulations to Clay Lee, becoming the youngest 20,000-point scorer in NBA history.”

Walt Frazier also felt emotional.

The last time such an outrageous record was achieved was in the 1992-93 season:

“Following Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan, Clay Lee has also achieved this record before turning 30.”

“Clay Lee also experienced a lockout season. Otherwise, we would have witnessed greatness last season!”

Nearly 20,000 fans stood up and applauded.

If it weren’t for concerns about decorum, the shouts of “Give the ball to Lee” would have grown louder and louder.

On the New York Knicks’ bench, everyone was high-fiving Lee in celebration.

Hill even shouted several times:

“Incredible, 20,000 points in 9 seasons!”

Everyone had discussed this topic long ago, and Ron Artest even puffed out his chest and loudly declared:

“I told you long ago, those old guys are outdated!”

“There are always people comparing us to older teams. What kind of environment did the Boston Celtics play in back then?”

“Lee has surpassed history. We are the strongest team in history.”

On the visiting team’s bench, the bearded Davis patted his teammate’s shoulder, feeling a bit fortunate that Richardson had taken the role of the background:

“Jason, this isn’t a bad thing. Tonight you’ll be on SportsCenter!”

“For the next half month or so, fans will see you everywhere. Maybe you’ll gain even more attention.”

Watching the bearded man sincerely utter those words, Richardson’s face stretched long.

Despite trying to maintain his composure, he couldn’t help but curse before entering the game:

“To hell with records!”

The record, silent for many years, was broken.

For a long time to come, Lee’s 20,000 points would be a hot topic.

The Warriors surrendered in the third quarter.

Clay Lee played 31 minutes, with his stats set at 35 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals.

D’Antoni was also in a great mood and suddenly pulled a stunt in the fourth quarter, having forward Diaw play as power forward.

The Warriors narrowed the gap a bit, but in the end, at 90:110, the New York Knicks still won the game.

Despite not being a nationally televised game, sports reporters still flocked to the venue.

During the press conference, everyone in the audience was particularly lively.

The ESPN reporter, once again speculating, knowing they wouldn’t miss such a hot topic early in the season, proactively asked:

“Congratulations on setting a new record! Lee, do you think you can surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer?”

20,000 points was certainly not the main point.

Media reporters preferred reasonable predictions.

Lee, sitting above, did not give a definitive answer:

“I’m very happy to have reached 20,000 points, which means I’ve been very healthy in the early part of my career.”

“As for the future, I can’t say for sure. I just want to keep winning. Accumulating stats isn’t my primary goal.”

Everyone whispered below the stage.

The Yahoo Sports reporter was more concerned about another matter and followed up with a question:

“Lee, what we’re more curious about is how old you’ll be when you retire?”

Thinking about the future, Lee smiled and replied meaningfully:

“Entering the NBA in ’96, I like the opponents I competed against. If my body allows, I hope to be the last player from the ’96 draft class to retire.”

“The future, of course, belongs to the young people. What I need to do is become the best player of this era.”

The Philadelphia reporter clearly thought of Iverson.

Considering that Lee had not suffered any major injuries in his career so far, he immediately felt that outlasting him was out of the question.

On November 8th, while sports media were still buzzing about the new record, the New York Knicks players had already boarded a plane for a continuous six-game road trip in the Western Conference.

Eddy Curry had missed all of the Portland Trail Blazers’ games since the start of the new season due to heart problems.

Anfernee Hardaway, suffering from a sore calf, played one game and then returned to the injury list.

After starting the new season with three consecutive losses, the Portland Trail Blazers had clearly become the scapegoats.

The team atmosphere was at an all-time low, and many players had already shifted their focus off the court.

McMillan’s arrival did indeed energize some players.

On the evening of the 9th, Zach Randolph performed exceptionally, contributing a double-double of 26 points and 12 rebounds.

But the Portland Trail Blazers still lost, 109:91, with the bench exploding and Lee once again checking out after three quarters.

After the game, McMillan did not blame the players at the press conference, but instead took the blame himself:

“We’re not playing the same basketball as our opponents. It’s not just a difference in personnel. The discipline is far worse.”

“The coaching staff’s work has undoubtedly failed. The New York Knicks have reduced their pick-and-rolls this season, and their big men are starting to control the ball more.”

“This is modern basketball, involving more players in offense and emphasizing space more.”

As a black coach, McMillan’s motivational skills were quite good, and these words would largely earn the players’ gratitude.

D’Antoni did not hide the team’s tactical changes.

Facing reporters’ questions, he even proactively explained:

“We have three ball-handlers on the perimeter. The most reasonable tactic is to expand the offensive space.”

“The NBA court is larger, and utilizing the width of the court allows for better offense.”

“UCLA, Princeton—we don’t have a fixed system. If opponents don’t hedge hard on pick-and-rolls or double-team Lee, individual isolation is more efficient.”

“Our data analysts provided a report that inefficient long two-pointers hurt the team.”

“Of course, I won’t deliberately change players’ habits, just like Boris, the elbow is his sweet spot.”

“Trusting the players’ instincts is the core tactical philosophy of the New York Knicks!”

Big men coming up to the high post to facilitate the ball was not common in the current era, but many teams were starting to try to incorporate Princeton’s tactical ideas.

The Washington Wizards wanted to learn from the New York Knicks, especially since their core guard Gilbert Arenas was an excellent offensive player.

The 76ers, in a last-ditch effort, brought in Chris Webber, also hoping to unleash their core guard Iverson.

As for the San Antonio Spurs, who appeared in the NBA Finals last season, many of their possessions were almost exact replicas of the New York Knicks’ plays.

If Manu Ginobili had more stamina, perhaps they could have won a few more games.

On sunday, the 13th, after easily defeating the Warriors in their second matchup, the New York Knicks flew to Sacramento to challenge the Sacramento Kings that night.

Earlier that morning, the NBA announced the Players of the Week for Week 2:

Gilbert Arenas of the Eastern Conference and Marcus Camby of the Western Conference received the award.

After being “persecuted” by Lee, Gilbert Arenas exploded again, leading the Washington Wizards to a 2-1 record.

Averaging 31 points per game on 54.4% shooting from the field and 42.9% from three-point range, Gilbert Arenas’s hard work in the offseason paid off.

The awarded Camby was a bit awkward.

The Denver Nuggets were 1-2, bringing their season record to 2-4 after the start of the new season.

Averaging 16.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.3 steals, 3.0 blocks, and 1.0 turnover, Camby’s defensive stats were impressive, but there was a hint of stat-padding.

With continuous road trips and a back-to-back game tomorrow, the New York Knicks simply canceled their regular practice session.

The baggage boy, David Lee, and the one-armed hero, Anderson Varejão, went together to buy snacks for everyone.

Back at the hotel, Diaw, who was helping out, secretly swallowed saliva as he looked at the giant bag of Cheetos.

Ever since discovering that Lee was not the “hard-working” player the media portrayed, Diaw had gradually adapted to the team.

This morning he had devoured a lot of French toast.

If he hadn’t yet earned the coaching staff’s trust, Diaw would most likely have already let himself go.

Recently, the show “Prison Break” had become popular.

Everyone played cards and complained, while Lee crunched on spicy Cheetos, occasionally offering a few pointers.

When they talked about going to jail, Ron Artest started to gloat.

His reputation wasn’t great after the punch, and he was happy to see popular players in trouble:

“Iverson and his entourage attacked customers and staff at a Washington bar.”

“Concussion, ruptured eardrum, and damaged right eye, ha! Maybe he’ll have to pay a huge sum of money. Now those media won’t have to keep praising him.”

Barnes also saw the news in the newspaper.

Although he had just signed a decent contract, thinking about the money the other party had to pay out, which exceeded his salary, he instantly felt sour:

“If I were management, I would have traded him this year instead of trading for Chris Webber.”

Fisher loved gossip.

Thinking about returning to Los Angeles in a few days, he also shared his news:

“Not every superstar is like Lee. Iverson can handle this with just some lawyer fees.”

“Kobe paid even more back then, Vanessa’s diamond ring…”

He only spoke halfway when Kurt Thomas threw the money in his hand onto the table and interrupted with a curious expression:

“I just want to know if Shaq actually did it!?”

“You know, star players can always get extra services with a little money. Shaq often sleeps during the day.”

Hearing the desired answer, everyone started to cheer.

Shaq did indeed do it!

Lee looked at the laughing Fisher, momentarily speechless at this big mouth, which reminded him of future player podcasts—no wonder they had so many listeners.

Prince did not participate in the gambling, occasionally chatting with Diaw about his experience playing power forward.

During his youth team days, Diaw also played inside, but with the Hawks, he primarily served as a shooting guard or small forward.

Diaw, who was complaining about Marbury’s ball-hogging, soon heard Lee’s suggestion:

“Since you’re playing power forward, why not try the center position?”

“Bro, your physical talent is better than I imagined. Grabbing rebounds and pushing the ball, organizing offense past half-court, perhaps that’s your advantage.”

Diaw, who hadn’t yet become a fatty, had excellent jumping ability.

He lacked explosiveness in the backcourt and couldn’t be a primary scoring option on the wing.

But when playing inside, facing stronger opponents, his relatively refined ball-handling skills became his advantage, and his excellent physical conditioning allowed him to crash the boards for rebounds.

Hill looked at the Frenchman, who was only slightly taller than Lee, and for a moment didn’t know what to say.

After a moment of contemplation, he chimed in:

“That’s a bit crazy, the height drop is too significant.”

Lee shrugged and continued eating his Cheetos.

The more people who could handle the ball, the better, as playing off-ball made it easier for him to score in a relaxed manner.

In that night’s game against the Sacramento Kings, Diaw wasn’t quite ready, but Head Coach D’Antoni put him at the center position during the rotation.

The experimental effect was a bit disappointing, with the New York Knicks losing the second quarter 24:30, a 6-point deficit.

Facing the Sacramento Kings’ frontcourt combination of Rasheed Wallace, Brad Miller, and Bonzi Wells, there were some issues with rebounding.

Fortunately, in the second half, Bonzi Wells quickly led the New York Knicks to a surge.

Michael Finley, who came on early, was suddenly lights out from beyond the arc, contributing 13 points in the quarter through shots and free throws.

85:71, the Sacramento Kings, who only scored 16 points in the third quarter, handed over the victory.

Boos erupted in the ARCO Arena.

After the final quarter began, Head Coach Rick Adelman could only cross his arms and watch the New York Knicks’ rotation continue to explode.

The lead continued to widen after Hill came on, and Lee did not return to the game.

The final score was 113:94.

With a record of 2 wins and 5 losses, the losing Sacramento Kings continued to fall behind.

Many fans held up white boards, still protesting the trade from early October.

The Sacramento Kings, who had already become a bottom-feeder team, did not attract much attention with their loss.

After defeating their opponent, the New York Knicks improved to 6 wins and 0 losses, becoming one of only two undefeated teams in the NBA, along with the Detroit Pistons.

On Monday, the 14th, after flying overnight to Salt Lake City, the New York Knicks faced their first back-to-back game of the new season.

Considering the players’ physical condition, the coaching staff planned extensive rotations.

Due to injuries to Kirilenko and Boozer, the big man Greg Ostertag, who had returned to the Utah Jazz, continued to form a twin-tower lineup with Mehmet Okur.

Peralta and Andre Owens partnered in the backcourt, and Matt Harpring continued to play small forward.

Not making it into the starting lineup, Rookie Deron Williams felt some regret.

In a pre-game interview, he even called out to Lee:

“Clay, you’ve misjudged. Among the Rookies, I’m better than Chris Paul!”

“I’ve been preparing for tonight’s game for a long time. I will show my talent.”

In front of the media, whenever Rookie players were asked about, Lee would give out the “Clay Lee Recognition Award,” praising Chris Paul, who came out of his own training camp.

Compared to Paul, who had already established himself with the Charlotte Hornets, Deron was still adapting to the team.

Coach Jerry Sloan seemed to want to polish the Rookie player and had not yet confirmed his starting position.

At the Delta Center, with Lee’s arrival, attendance also surged.

At 7 PM that night, boos erupted as soon as the game began.

Ever since the New York Knicks ended the ‘old man basketball’ and shattered the Utah Double Killers’ championship dreams, this city no longer welcomed Clay Lee.

With 8 minutes and 8 seconds left in the first quarter, Deron Williams replaced Milt Palacio, who had committed two fouls.

Seeing their own Rookie enter the game, from the broadcast booth, Dave Fredman, a white old man who had served the Utah Jazz for half his life, praised loudly:

“I see Stockton’s shadow in Williams. Unlike a Rookie, he’s very mature!”

“His strong body allows him to easily break through to the basket, and his pick-and-roll with Mehmet Okur will be key to winning tonight.”

Ron Boone, who had played for the Utah Jazz, joined the broadcast team in ’88.

Like his old partner beside him, seeing Deron’s pick-and-roll at the top of the arc, he also praised:

“We made the right trade in the draft. With just a little polish on his shooting, Williams can become an excellent point guard.”

At the top of the arc, Lee directly squeezed past Mehmet Okur’s screen.

Feeling the pressure beside him, Deron passed the ball early, giving it to his teammate who popped out.

After passing the ball, Deron immediately back-cut, faking and then driving straight to the basket from Mehmet Okur’s right side.

A simple UCLA cut didn’t create an opportunity, so he accelerated and ran towards the right corner.

As Mehmet Okur passed the ball to Harpring on the left wing, Ron Artest, who was guarding him, immediately reached in to interfere.

Driving forcefully against the Defense, Harpring, after getting to the basket, chose to jump and pass the ball back to Deron on the right sideline.

The risky pass was almost stolen by Lee.

After receiving the ball, Deron, controlling his body, intended to move up the court with a left-handed dribble, but seeing the Defense in front of him, he suddenly changed direction on the spot.

Making a wrong offensive choice in an extremely small space, Lee bent down to poke the ball, knocking it away with his left hand, and then immediately gained control of the possession.

“Boo!”

A chorus of boos erupted again in the Delta Center.

Deron, frustrated, constantly reached in to interfere, trying to delay the advance.

Lee dribbled past half-court, staying under the 8-second limit.

The New York Knicks resumed their regular tactics, and soon Gasol initiated a high pick-and-roll.

At the top of the arc, away from the three-point line, Lee, protecting the ball with his side, took advantage of his teammate standing firm, suddenly faked a pull-back with his left hand, and then quickly twisted his body.

He lunged and accelerated forward with a big step.

As Deron squeezed through the screen, Lee leaned into the defender and executed a spin move.

Gasps arose in the Delta Center.

As the basketball flew to Gasol’s right, Lee touched the ball again, and Deron was solidly screened.

Greg Ostertag was defending on the three-point line.

As a 2.18-meter big man, his lateral movement speed had greatly decreased with age.

Lee led the ball forward with his right hand.

As the opposing big man just bent down, Lee pulled the ball in front of his body with his left arm.

Greg Ostertag saw the basketball disappear and froze in place.

“Oh!”

The flashy crossover move was extremely effective.

Clay Lee broke through the big man’s Defense on the perimeter in the blink of an eye.

Inside the paint, facing Mehmet Okur who came over to help, Lee faked a move to the left-front while moving, then took a big cross-step in the opposite direction with his right foot.

In an extremely short time, Mehmet Okur’s mind froze.

He stood rooted under the basket, unable to make a defensive move, watching Lee lay the ball in with his right hand!

He performed a stepping layup with the same hand and foot.

Seeing the two old men in the broadcast booth look at each other, Dave Fredman finally managed a reluctant compliment:

“In NBA history, in terms of entertainment, Clay Lee should be one of the best players.”

“.”

In the following few minutes, Deron, who came off the bench, seemed overly cautious, only passing safe balls, and the Utah Jazz suddenly fell into a scoring drought.

Seeing Ron Artest steal the ball from Harpring and go coast-to-coast for a layup, Coach Jerry Sloan frowned and called a timeout.

16:7, in just over 2 minutes, the New York Knicks suddenly pulled away.

After the timeout, the boos in the Delta Center grew louder and louder.

The home team’s poor performance seemed to have completely enraged the fans.

In the first quarter, the Utah Jazz only managed 15 points, but the nightmare had just begun.

After scoring 35 points in the first half, the Utah Jazz completely went cold in the third quarter, clanking shots off the rim.

Watching the New York Knicks’ wave after wave of transition offense and the constantly rising score, the Delta Center gradually quieted down.

85:43, scoring only 8 points in a single quarter, Deron, back on the bench, stared blankly:

“Why is this happening?”

…

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

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep