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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 February 10, 2003, All-Star Weekend concluded, and Michael Jordan sealed the victory with a signature fadeaway jumper, claiming his custom trophy!
Though he claimed not to care, Michael Jordan, beaming, held the much larger golden trophy during his post-win interview.
The Washington Wizards' troubles seemed to be cast aside.
For Michael Jordan, a farewell under the spotlight was a very respectable way to go!
However, Michael Jordan wasn't the only hot topic at All-Star Weekend.
ESPN broke the news that after the game, in the Western Conference All-Star locker room, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal had a heated argument, with Shaq nearly coming to blows.
Initially, this was thought to be false news, but Gary Payton, who loved a good spectacle, proactively confirmed its authenticity:
"That's right, Kobe Bryant seemed to want to win the game, but he picked the wrong person. Shaq doesn't give rookies face."
"Missing two of his last three free throws, I don't think that was intentional. That's just Shaq's normal free throw level. And Michael Jordan made his shot, Clay Lee completed the steal. We didn't complain. Losing is losing."
"I believe fans love to see scenes like that. As for Kobe, there's nothing wrong with him. I admire his desire to win!"
This news was far more interesting than Michael Jordan winning the award.
Spectators only regretted not having photos from the scene.
O'Neal angrily punching Kobe—just imagining it was exciting.
Of course, some fans supported Kobe.
The Lakers' poor record this season, with a slow start, was largely due to Shaquille O'Neal choosing to undergo toe surgery only after the regular season began.
With a 20-million-dollar superstar sitting on the bench, and Kobe leading the team to successive losses, some Lakers fans simply expressed sympathy:
"The Boss did his best!"
Commentators believed Kobe's team losses were due to excessive isolation plays, preventing role players from integrating into the team, but this narrative had long been denied by Phil Jackson.
After All-Star Weekend, sports media flocked to New York for the gossip!
Tomorrow was the Lakers' away game against the New York Knicks, and the Lakers had already flown to New York.
Everyone wanted to interview Phil Jackson.
The sports media couldn't interview the two parties involved.
The Lakers didn't want internal conflicts exposed at this time.
Phil Jackson, however, looked calm.
After checking in, he just chuckled during an interview:
"I've said it before, every team has internal conflicts. Kobe and Shaq just want to win too much."
"It's normal for disagreements to arise during games. In fact, they often have differing opinions during practice!"
"Kobe is very similar to Michael Jordan. He likes to be strict with himself and also motivates his teammates."
"But Shaq is different. His body needs more maintenance. I understand his choice. The Lakers will exert force in the latter half of the season, and we will soon return to the upper half of the standings!"
"Currently, we have overcome injuries. Shaq and Kobe are fine!"
The words of the Old Man naturally couldn't convince people.
The sports media didn't believe it was just a simple basketball disagreement between the two.
It's well known that a team can only have one leader.
Just as Allen Iverson and Stackhouse, or Ray Allen and Glenn Robinson, couldn't coexist, Kobe and Shaq also faced this issue.
Fortunately, they won a championship together, so parting ways now wouldn't bea loss!
After All-Star Weekend, Nike also began a new round of advertising campaigns.
The advertising spaces outside Madison Square Garden were once again covered with Clay Lee and new sneaker advertisements.
That evening, at Rockefeller Center, Nike invited a large number of sports media.
Clay Lee, dressed in a black suit, greeted everyone present.
Due to the new technology in the sneakers, the price was not as friendly as the previous generation, and it was also a low-top basketball shoe, which was a display of strength to competitors.
Lee didn't care about the "aerospace materials" in the promotion.
He only knew that the new sneakers were indeed much lighter, had good grip, and that the shock absorption and torsional resistance both met standards—that was enough.
Most of the invited sports media held MVP voting rights.
After arriving at the bar on the 65th floor, everyone understood implicitly: as long as the league had no objections, there was no need to continue to dwell on the matter.
Sports Illustrated sent many photographers and main editors.
Every time Lee's new sneakers were released, Nike would place advertisements in mainstream media.
"Money talks."
As long as the money were in place, whether it was magazines, newspapers, or even emerging internet portals, everyone would buy in.
In the bar, the mellow music never stopped, and some young women attending the party were busy taking photos.
Clay Lee held a glass of champagne and chatted with Matt Parker, but they didn't discuss the MVP topic much further.
"Is Nike interested in becoming a sponsor for Manchester United? In the field of football, you seem to have invested little?"
Upon hearing this topic, Matt Parker glanced at the founder not far away, then shook his head slightly and briefly explained:
"It's a group strategic issue. We can consistently generate revenue through the AJ brand. Compared to the unknown risks inherent in football, most people are currently satisfied."
"Our sales have been increasing year by year, and this is even with Michael Jordan's influence declining."
"However, if it's just a simple sponsorship, there's still room for discussion."
Lee nodded.
For future acquisitions, besides going public to harvest leeks, other marketing efforts also needed to keep up.
Watching several designers in the distance introducing Nike's new technology to interested sports media, Matt Parker took a sip of champagne and began to sigh again:
"Even the best design needs a superstar to promote it. We plan to sign LeBron James. Everyone speaks highly of him. His physical condition is exceptionally good."
Recently, Lee had frequently heard this name from sports media.
The Akron native was indeed hot across America, and Lee didn't pay much attention to this signing, as a rookie wouldn't affect his earnings:
"Reebok and Adidas will likely compete with you, but he will definitely choose Nike in the end."
Matt Parker merely raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly.
He didn't care much about this signing either.
Rookies needed time to grow, while Lee was entering his prime:
"Wish us luck. It's said that Head Coach Van Gundy plans to coach this talented player, perhaps he will also become your opponent in the future!"
Although he didn't know if LeBron James would still embrace "brotherhood basketball" in the future, Clay Lee was full of confidence in the New York Knicks:
"In the Eastern Conference, no one is our opponent. James Dolan won't care about the luxury tax, and the Knicks' ticket prices are still rising. This guy is making a fortune!"
"It's not easy to make a name for yourself in Cleveland. No one likes to play there."
Matt Parker didn't think too much about the future development of the Akron native.
For a sponsor, as long as there was enough exposure to sell products, that was enough.
The two stopped discussing work matters.
Some bold girls quickly seized the opportunity to squeeze over.
New York's nightlife was just beginning.
On the evening of the 11th, at Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks faced the Lakers for the first time this season, and tickets had sold out early.
tuesday happened to be a TNT broadcast, and after the game began, Mike Fratello on the commentary desk exclaimed repeatedly.
The New York Knicks' wing players constantly chased and defended Kobe Bryant, and every player who stepped onto the court played with great effort.
With 7 minutes and 58 seconds left in the half, the New York Knicks still had their bench lineup on the court, while the Lakers had long since brought back their starters.
Phil Jackson seemed determined to win this game.
On an offensive possession, Amar'e Stoudemire drove into the paint and had the ball stripped by Samaki Walker.
Successfully controlling the ball, Samaki Walker quickly flung it towards the frontcourt.
Kobe scooped up the ball and, dribbling with his right hand, sped up.
Entering the paint, Kobe took three big steps, leaped into the air, grabbed the ball with his right hand, and swung his arm for a dunk!
While still in the air, Kobe only heard a gasp of surprise, then saw the basketball covered by a hand.
He had intended to twist his body and continue to exert force, but Kobe, still in the air, helplessly realized he had lost control of the basketball.
"Slap!"
After a monstrous block off the backboard, the basketball bounced off the glass.
The player, Knight, who had chased back, regained possession.
"Oh!"
The exclamations still hadn't stopped.
Tayshaun Prince, who had rushed from half-court to complete the chase-down block, and Kobe both crashed into the stands.
Due to inertia, both plunged into the crowd, and for a moment, the gasps of surprise simply wouldn't stop.
In a 4-on-4 situation in the frontcourt, Knight again completed a pick-and-roll with Amar'e Stoudemire near the left elbow, shaking off the pursuing Derek Fisher, and delivered a bounce pass while on the move.
Amar'e Stoudemire, cutting down, received the ball in the paint, took a step, and then leaped towards the rim.
This time, Shaquille O'Neal under the basket interfered.
Colliding with the big man, Amar'e Stoudemire couldn't complete the dunk and could only toss the ball towards the backboard.
Having just interfered, O'Neal landed and hadn't even had time to jump again when, as if possessed by a spring, Amar'e Stoudemire exploded upwards once more.
He grabbed the rebound, unaffected by the physical contact, and Amar'e Stoudemire, after three jumps, pressed the ball into the hoop with both hands!
"Wow!"
The New York fans in the arena cheered again when they saw this, and Samaki Walker, who had returned to the basket on Defense, looked at his boss helplessly.
Shaquille O'Neal, who had been in a particularly bad mood recently, watched the New York Knicks players surround Amar'e Stoudemire, yelling loudly, and then cursed in a low voice:
"Shit! How can a fast break dunk miss!"
Coach D'Antoni on the sidelines kept clapping, and also gave a thumbs up to Tayshaun Prince, who was retreating on Defense.
On the commentary stand, watching Amar'e Stoudemire step onto the free throw line again, Mike Fratello praised loudly:
"What excellent physical talent! Amar'e Stoudemire has been playing well recently, and it's clear he has adapted to the league's physical intensity!"
Marv Albert was also delighted to see such a scene.
The game seemed easier than he remembered.
"Kobe Bryant's shooting touch is terrible tonight. It's clear he's still adapting to the New York Knicks' Defense. Perhaps he should move the ball faster!"
Amar'e Stoudemire calmly made the free throw, and Phil Jackson immediately called a timeout.
The Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man's face was no longer smiling.
He was very dissatisfied with his team's performance.
30:35, although the point difference was not large, seeing the defending champions unable to fight back, the New York fans erupted again.
"Good job!"
Clay Lee, draped in a towel, also stood up to encourage several players in the rotation.
Everyone performed very well tonight.
Mike D'Antoni noticed Shaquille O'Neal's lack of aggressiveness in defending the pick-and-roll, so while calling the starting lineup to the court, he didn't forget to briefly remind them:
"A few more passes will get you better shooting opportunities!"
"Lee, keep running the pick-and-roll. The opponent is losing their defensive patience!"
After the timeout, when the Lakers were on offense, Shaquille O'Neal signaled to his teammates, and after Kobe Bryant went to the right wing, no one passed him the ball.
Fox and Derek Fisher first passed the ball to each other on the left wing, and after a baseline cross screen, Shaquille O'Neal also came to the left low post to demand the ball with his back to the basket.
Derek Fisher, interfered with by Lee, delivered a pass of average quality, which forced O'Neal to move up to receive the ball.
O'Neal immediately put the ball down with his right hand upon receiving the pass, disregarding Pau Gasol's top Defense, and drove hard towards the basket after a strong post-up.
When Kurt Thomas came into the paint to help defend, Shaquille O'Neal leaned into the defender and turned towards the baseline, completing a floater the moment he switched to his left hand.
Although Shaquille O'Neal's turn was extremely fast, Pau Gasol was already prepared and jumped up to interfere immediately.
The basketball hit the rim twice and then fell out.
Under the basket, Kurt Thomas boxed out Samaki Walker and secured the defensive rebound, not rushing to throw the ball out.
Lee stepped forward to receive the ball, and the New York fans' cheers echoed through the Madison Square Garden again:
"Let's go Knicks!"
Seeing Kobe Bryant step up to lead the Defense, Lee accelerated past half-court and immediately passed the ball to Grant Hill on the left wing.
At the same time, Pau Gasol came to the left block to demand the ball with his back to the basket.
Grant Hill then tossed the ball to Pau Gasol.
Derek Fisher dared not be careless, pulling and tugging, trying to affect Grant Hill who was cutting off-ball towards the basket.
Due to the height difference between the two, they were repeatedly scored on by such simple cooperation in the first quarter.
Derek Fisher, having learned his lesson, observed behind him while chasing on Defense, ready to cut off Pau Gasol's passing lane at any time.
Grant Hill accelerated towards the right baseline corner.
At this moment, Lee also came to the left wing.
In this local two-on-two situation, Pau Gasol did not force an offensive play, but instead observed Lee's movement on the top.
Fox was standing near the right elbow of the free throw line, watching Lee and also strictly guarding against Pau Gasol passing the ball to the right wing.
Ron Artest had already made a receiving gesture, waiting to receive the pass after settling in.
Kobe Bryant, guarding in front of Clay Lee, had his back to the basket.
Although he was very focused on Defense, when Lee faked a middle cut by feinting to the right and then suddenly counter-ran, Kobe Bryant still failed to stick to him immediately.
The opportunity flashed by.
Kobe Bryant couldn't defend in time, but Pau Gasol successfully delivered the pass.
On the left wing, Lee received the ball.
Pau Gasol came up to set a screen, and Shaquille O'Neal hesitated for a moment before swaying his body and following out to defend.
Sensing the movement behind him, Pau Gasol faked a screen and rolled down, while Lee also put the ball down with his left hand and accelerated to break through.
Delayed for a moment, Kobe Bryant lost the optimal defensive position.
As Shaquille O'Neal dropped back to defend, Clay Lee easily broke through to the left block.
Kobe Bryant continued to chase on Defense, Shaquille O'Neal continued to retreat on Defense, Pau Gasol had already squeezed into the paint, and Clay Lee, holding the ball with his left hand, was still accelerating.
With four players moving in sync, near the left baseline, Lee suddenly exerted lateral force, bumping into Kobe Bryant while stepping back, completely shaking off the Defense, and at a close range to the basket, he drifted towards the baseline for a jump shot!
"Swish!" The two-point shot went straight through the net.
30:37. The tactic was not complicated, but it heavily tested the defensive chemistry between the two.
Shaq was certainly not satisfied with Kobe's Defense.
He believed he had protected the rim, and when he was about to inbound the ball, he yelled at his younger teammate, "Guard your man!"
Kobe thought O'Neal should have double-teamed earlier, and that Samaki Walker would rotate to cover the paint, so he immediately retorted, "Shit, you need to help out on Defense!"
The two bickered, and the other Lakers players seemed accustomed to such scenes.
After Shaquille O'Neal signaled, Kobe Bryant still didn't receive the ball.
Changing direction, this time Shaquille O'Neal scored 2 points with a turnaround floater from the right low post.
Shaq shook his head, feigning arrogance, showing disdain for Pau Gasol's Defense.
The New York Knicks also ran the same play, just in a different direction.
This time, Pau Gasol didn't roll down early.
After completing the pass, he solidly stood at the three-point line.
Clay Lee, with the ball in his right hand, used the screen to shake off Kobe Bryant's chase.
Facing the indecisive Shaquille O'Neal on Defense, he quickly executed an in-and-out dribble with his right hand while moving.
As his body feinted to the left-front, Lee suddenly lowered his center of gravity, and with the ball in his right hand, he directly accelerated, squeezing past O'Neal at high speed.
O'Neal was faked out and stood rooted to the spot.
Before he could even attempt a grab, cheers erupted in his ears.
After getting past the Defense, Lee took two quick steps, jumped off his right foot, and grabbed the ball with his right hand for a scoop layup!
Samaki Walker, who had already rotated to help defend in the paint, watched the basketball soar high, and ultimately could only stand under the basket, watching the ball hit the backboard high and drop into the hoop.
"Wow!"
Clay Lee's stylish score made many New York fans stand up and applaud, and cheers echoed throughout the Madison Square Garden.
Shaq certainly wouldn't admit that it was his defensive problem.
He immediately turned and glared at his younger teammate, then ran back to half-court in a huff.
Kobe also had a long face.
He naturally sensed that his teammates weren't passing him the ball, so this time he simply demanded the ball on the baseline and dribbled it over half-court himself.
Coming to the right wing, Shaq wasn't going to set a screen, standing still near the left baseline.
Only Samaki Walker immediately came to the three-point line to screen for Kobe Bryant.
With the screen set too high, Ron Artest chose to go under the screen to defend.
Kobe Bryant didn't choose to shoot from beyond the three-point line, but instead put the ball down with his right hand, attempting to accelerate and drive.
After the screen, Samaki Walker moved laterally, coming near the free throw line to try and create space.
Ron Artest, however, blocked Kobe Bryant's driving lane.
The two collided, and Kobe Bryant was forced to slow down.
Kobe Bryant suddenly stopped short while moving, but found that Kurt Thomas had also converged on him.
Facing the still-forming double team, Kobe Bryant didn't choose to pull up for a jump shot, but instead lowered his center of gravity and continued to drive with his head down.
Even with sudden stops and starts, he couldn't shake off Ron Artest.
Ultimately, Kobe was surrounded by two defenders, trapped near the right baseline.
Hands were everywhere around him.
Kobe couldn't see the basket, nor could he see his teammates.
In such a situation, he actually faked a move, then, while draped by the Defense, forced a fadeaway floater!
"Bang!"
Kobe shot anyway under the double team, and the basketball naturally bounced off the rim.
Pau Gasol successfully secured the defensive rebound, and soon Clay Lee received the ball at the baseline and immediately charged forward.
While moving, he quickly dribbled the ball behind his back, switching to his right hand.
At the same time, Lee watched Derek Fisher accelerate along the right sideline, and in a blink of an eye, he had crossed half-court.
Derek Fisher, gritting his teeth on Defense, noticed that Lee showed no signs of slowing down.
Upon reaching the right wing, he even accelerated towards the basket, bumping into him.
Fox, sensing that his teammate was about to be out of position, accelerated back on Defense and quickly retreated to the basket.
As he cut in from the right wing, nearing the paint, Lee made a concealed behind-the-back pass while moving.
Grant Hill, following up with a cut through the middle, was unguarded and jumped with both feet, grabbing the ball with his left hand and throwing down a one-handed tomahawk dunk over Fox under the basket!
"Wow!"
The beautiful fast break ignited the atmosphere once again.
Derek Fisher watched Lee and Grant Hill high-five in celebration, standing under the basket, feeling increasingly frustrated.
In the following games, Kobe "faced the difficulties head-on," creating difficulties even when there were none, and the difficulty of his shots gradually increased!
Shaquille O'Neal was almost infuriated by his younger brother, continuously making gestures for several possessions, indicating he wouldn't pass the ball to Kobe.
On the defensive end, the big man was too lazy to delay and go out, completely giving up on treatment, which caused Coach Phil Jackson on the sidelines to constantly shout reminders.
With 1 minute and 58 seconds left in the first half, O'Neal, who had just missed a free throw, was desperately retreating on Defense.
Pau Gasol observed that the Lakers had already completed their defensive positioning, so he simply stopped in the right elbow area.
Although Kobe constantly engaged in physical confrontation, Clay Lee's speed was still very fast, and he had already arrived at the top of the arc as soon as his opponent completed positioning.
Kurt Thomas did not stand in the left elbow area as usual, but instead ran directly from the baseline to receive the ball outside the three-point line.
After Lee delivered the pass, Horry, who had just entered the game, did not stick to Kurt Thomas, but stayed inside the three-point line, constantly paying attention to the movements behind him.
Lee, who completed the pass and accelerated into the middle, immediately attracted the Lakers' defensive attention.
Instead of driving straight to the basket, Lee suddenly stopped at the free-throw line and then gave Pau Gasol a back screen.
By the time O'Neal noticed Lee's movement behind him, it was too late to chase Pau Gasol, who was moving horizontally and accelerating towards the basket.
Kobe reacted quickly, raising both hands immediately, moving into the passing lane, and providing help Defense.
Clay Lee seized the opportunity to quickly pop out, and Shaquille O'Neal was still near the free-throw line, watching Kurt Thomas at the top of the arc easily deliver a cross pass.
Completely unguarded, Lee received the ball, adjusted slightly, and then shot!
"Swish!" The three-pointer swished through the net!
Amidst the smooth cooperation, cheers echoed throughout the Madison Square Garden.
At the commentary table, Mike Fratello praised continuously, unable to stop for a moment:
"Beautiful cooperation! Just one screen gave Clay Lee an open shot opportunity, the Lakers' Defense is collapsing!"
"Coach D'Antoni was too well prepared for this game. The Knicks completely suppressed their opponents tonight!"
Marv Albert saw Kobe receive the ball on the baseline, break through on the left wing, and drive straight into the basket.
Before he could respond to his partner, he instinctively shouted:
"I like this offensive choice! Pau, what a great block!"
After blocking Kobe at the basket, Pau Gasol landed and repeatedly punched the air, roaring in place:
"Ah!"
Ron Artest twisted his body to control the ball and immediately tossed it to the frontcourt.
Although Derek Fisher was prepared, he showed a pained expression when he saw Clay Lee scoop up the ball with his left hand and accelerate with a fierce charge.
As Lee approached the three-point line, he completed a push-dribble change of direction, and as he scooped the ball with his right hand and accelerated again, Derek Fisher, who was adjusting his center of gravity, tried to pull him, but was completely knocked away when he reached the paint.
Almost losing his balance from the collision, Derek Fisher couldn't make a defensive reaction, watching Lee cradle the ball with his right hand, take three big steps, and then unleash a powerful dunk!
"OH—! Too big! Too fast! Too strong!"
"The game has entered the Knicks' showtime!"
Marv Albert got so hyped that he seemed to forget this was a TNT broadcast, and his commentary suddenly became biased.
Fortunately, Mike Fratello reacted quickly and quickly added:
"The Lakers must solve their offensive problems at halftime. They've taken this game too lightly."
"When your offense is predictable, you naturally get into trouble!"
Derek Fisher also stopped passing the ball to Kobe.
O'Neal wanted to organize the offense, but after Horry missed two open jump shots and they suffered two more counterattacks.
After continuous back-and-forth runs, Fox reluctantly sent Grant Hill to the free-throw line, while also picking up his 3rd personal foul.
Before halftime, the Lakers salvaged some dignity with Shaquille O'Neal's strong attacks in the paint, but the tide of the game had already turned.
50:66, in the second quarter, the Knicks exploded for 36 points, successfully extending their lead.
Kobe, walking towards the player tunnel, had a dark expression.
He was 4-for-13 in the first half, and 2-for-8 in the second quarter, single-handedly causing the team's collapse.
Shaquille O'Neal seemed to be enraged by his younger brother.
Ignoring his teammates' attempts to stop him, he entered the player tunnel and began to curse loudly:
"You're playing like crap! If you don't want to win, don't play. I can win this game without you!"
Shaquille O'Neal had a normal performance, scoring 18 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field and 4-for-6 from the free-throw line in the first half.
Unfortunately, he failed to record a single assist.
All the Lakers players surrounded O'Neal, and the atmosphere group was worried that the furious Shaq might throw a punch.
If a team boxing match happened on national television, it would be a joke for an entire season.
Head Coach Phil Jackson felt a headache coming on.
This season, the Knicks had many tactical plays, and the players were more mature than last season.
He had envisioned that the OK Combo, still in their prime, would dominate, but the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man never expected that their conflict would completely erupt.
With the Knicks leading by a large margin, the two commentators on the commentary table started chatting about All-Star Game gossip again.
Marv Albert and Mike Fratello also happened to be the commentators for the All-Star Game, and they once again educated the fans on the reasons for the OK Combo's quarrel.
The live director also felt that the Knicks had won, and the camera began to focus on the blonde girl in Clay Lee's exclusive seat.
Katheryn Winnick was dressed in jeans and a hoodie tonight.
Facing the camera, she just waved and smiled.
This 18th-tier actress from Canada really didn't have much exposure in the United States now.
After the second half began, the Lakers still couldn't adjust.
Shaquille O'Neal was loud in his complaints, but on the defensive end, he was gone after a simple handoff.
Phil Jackson on the sidelines watched Clay Lee receive a handoff from Pau Gasol on the right wing, raise the ball, and shoot.
He simply walked directly to the bench.
"Swish!" The three-pointer swished through the net.
Jackson no longer called for a timeout.
He returned to his seat, crossed his arms, and remained silent, seemingly lost in thought.
On the other side, on the Knicks' bench, Mike D'Antoni was grinning again, his eyes squinted.
Besides clapping and cheering, he would occasionally raise both hands with the audience to celebrate happily.
Clay Lee naturally sensed the Lakers' frustration.
This time, taking advantage of Shaquille O'Neal's free throw, he smiled and teased:
"You guys have declined so much? A dynasty team? Did you drink too much champagne last year?"
O'Neal stopped gesturing for a shot.
He first turned his head and glared at Kobe, then pursed his lips at Lee and said in a low voice:
"It's just the regular season. Even if we're ranked eighth, we can still make it to the Finals. In the Western Conference, no one is our opponent!"
"No matter what you say, I can dominate the game!"
After saying this, Shaquille O'Neal missed both free throws, cursed under his breath in frustration, and started running back and forth again.
Kobe didn't get many opportunities in the 3rd quarter.
It was clear that during halftime, the Lakers had explicitly instructed to give the ball to their leader.
The Lakers never managed to go on a run.
Shaquille O'Neal was indeed still +2, but the defensive problems remained unresolved.
26:28 in the single quarter, after three quarters, the point difference was still slightly widened.
In the final quarter, the Knicks made their rotations as planned, and the Lakers didn't push their starters to the limit.
Coach Phil Jackson seemed to have given up.
The entire bench was silent.
Both teams' starting lineups played for only a little over 4 minutes in the 4th quarter, after which the atmosphere group completely took over the game.
Ultimately, 100:117, the Knicks won by a large margin at home against the Lakers!
After the game, Kobe, draped in a towel, didn't greet anyone and was the first to walk towards the player tunnel.
The New York fans on both sides were overjoyed at such a scene, and everyone joined in the uproar, shouting:
"Shaq's gonna trade you!"
The news fabricated by the New York Post was very popular among local fans.
The fans at the Madison Square Garden didn't care about the truthfulness of the news.
Everyone just wanted to see some fun!
When a conflict arises with the leader, according to the custom of NBA teams, the younger brother is naturally traded.
Kobe's face darkened even more as he heard this.
He quickened his pace and soon walked into the locker room, disappearing from view.
34 minutes played, 12-for-20 shooting, 4-for-8 from three-point range, 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, 34 points, 5 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers.
Clay Lee easily achieved a double-double.
During his post-game interview, the cheers in the Madison Square Garden continued unabated:
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
Craig Sager looked at the loudly cheering and jumping New York fans and smiled along:
"Lee, 45 wins and 4 losses, incredible! I even think you have a chance to break the Chicago Bulls' historical best record!"
Hearing the other party's emotion, Lee didn't boast.
The Knicks then faced a series of consecutive road games in the Western Conference, with a rather unfavorable schedule:
"Breaking records is certainly a good thing, but our goal is still the championship!"
"This season, we're bringing the o'brien cup back to New York."
"Currently, we have a huge lead, so the team's primary goal is to stay healthy, and the bench will get more opportunities!"
"..."
On February 12th, the headline news in the New York Times sports section began to mock their opponents again:
"The thief will soon return the o'brien cup to New York!"
"The New York Knicks are not interested in Kobe Bryant!"
"New York will not welcome Michael Jordan's imitators."
"Playoff Shaquille O'Neal will continue to be swept!"
Most columns don't analyze tactics at all.
Fans don't like professional analysis, they just want to express their emotions.
On the morning of the 12th, Lee was eating breakfast in Katheryn's apartment and shook his head in boredom as he read the news in the newspaper.
From 1996 to 2003, he witnessed the changes in these sports columns firsthand.
In the past, there was rigorous tactical analysis, but now, most articles have become short essays catering to fans' preferences.
Just as TNT's programs started to develop in the direction of entertainment, as the influence of print media gradually decreased, columnists also had to compromise for traffic.
After taking a shower, Katheryn, wearing a loose white T-shirt, rubbed her messy blonde hair and sat down at the dining table, still looking half-asleep:
"Are you leaving New York tomorrow? I just realized you take so many flights every year."
The Knicks had six road games in the Western Conference to play, and Lee wouldn't be back in Manhattan until the end of the month.
The blonde girl had been having a tough time with auditions recently, not even getting a small role, so she'd been in a bad mood these past few days.
Lee took a sip of milk and beckoned with his finger.
Katheryn quickly sat on his lap.
Looking at her somewhat dejected eyes, he whispered:
"You don't need to put yourself through this, and you don't need to compromise with anyone. I'll play basketball to support you!"
Katheryn immediately laughed when she heard this, kissed Lee hard, and then giggled as she hugged his neck:
"A young man's promises can't be trusted!"
Both of their birthdays were in December, with Katheryn being a few days older.
Clay Lee noticed her squirming in his arms again and immediately kissed her fiercely:
"I always keep my word!"
The two soon had another in-depth exchange on the chair.
Lee's balanced left and right-hand dribbling skills quickly allowed him to find an opportunity to drive straight in!
On February 14th, Valentine's Day, the Knicks challenged the Phoenix Suns on the road.
In this game, Amar'e Stoudemire exploded again.
With Lee and Knight feeding him, he shot 9 of 13 from the field, scoring a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds!
118:98, the Knicks successfully secured a victory in their first road game.
Many times, talent can indeed allow one to do whatever they want.
All of Amar'e Stoudemire's scores came from within the paint directly in front of the basket.
Marbury enjoyed a core player's treatment, being guarded by the Knicks' perimeter defenders in rotation throughout the game.
He shot 10 of 27 from the field and scored 28 points, which was not bad, but Marbury was a bit emotional after the game.
He complained in an interview:
"I even faced double-teams. Our pre-game preparation was really too bad!"
Marbury's experience was a microcosm of what core players on other teams would face later.
In the next few road games in the Western Conference, the Knicks consciously began to implement double-team Defense.
After successively defeating the Seattle SuperSonics and the Warriors, the Knicks welcomed their second match against the Lakers.
On the evening of the 20th, at Staples Center, Shaquille O'Neal sat on the bench in a formal suit.
Watching Kobe constantly being double-teamed, and the Lakers making turnovers in two consecutive possessions, Shaquille O'Neal twitched his lips, as if suppressing a smile.
With Shaq out due to injury, Kobe was completely unleashed without any restraints.
Two defenders, shoot!
Three defenders, throw!
He plunged into the paint, which was full of people, but Kobe remained fearless, completing layups again and again with his excellent flexibility!
Excel had long been thrown to the back of Kobe's mind.
He didn't care about the stats at all.
His eyes were only on the basket, and after receiving the ball, he only wanted to tear apart the Knicks' Defense!
Phil Jackson's words also went in one ear and out the other.
Kobe, immersed in the game, seemed to enter a "white-hot space," where everything unrelated to basketball completely disappeared.
It wasn't until 3 minutes and 26 seconds left in the game when Kobe was substituted out and returned to his seat, hearing the faint boos from the Staples Center, that he fully sobered up.
106:86, the Knicks had already put in their bench lineup, and the game had no suspense.
He played 41 minutes, shot 12 of 31 from the field, 3 of 8 from beyond the arc, and 8 of 10 from the free-throw line, finishing with 35 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 4 turnovers.
Kobe, draped in a towel, was a bit dazed when he saw his stat line:
"Was it all an illusion? I didn't enter the 'white-hot space'?"
When the game ended, Kobe was still sitting on the bench, seemingly unable to accept the result.
This time, it was O'Neal who walked towards the player tunnel early, shaking his head as he went.
Although he didn't play, the fans naturally knew who the boss was!
Mike D'Antoni came to the scorer's table and shook hands with Phil Jackson.
The two certainly had no animosity, but the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man's heart surged with anger as he looked at Mike D'Antoni's smiling face.
"It's a shame the Lakers encountered injuries. I hope we can meet on a higher stage this year!"
Hearing this compliment, Phil Jackson only said a couple of polite words before turning and leaving.
The Lakers fans on both sides of the player tunnel were in low spirits.
Phil Jackson glanced around and cursed under his breath as he quickened his pace:
"Damn rookie!"
The Champion Coach was swept by a rookie Head Coach.
After the game, the Los Angeles Times also expressed its dissatisfaction, criticizing both the head coach and Kobe:
"Tactics were suppressed, and core players performed inefficiently. Perhaps we really should make changes!"
On the 21st, the spectators finally received news: a major trade attracted everyone's attention:
The Milwaukee Bucks traded Ray Allen, Ronald Murray, Kevin Ollie, and a 2003 first-round draft pick to the Seattle SuperSonics.
In exchange for Gary Payton and Desmond Mason.
When the trade actually happened, the spectators were dumbfounded.
A player in his prime was traded for an old man at the end of his career.
Had the Milwaukee Bucks lost their minds?
That evening, the Knicks played a back-to-back game, continuing their road trip to challenge the Portland Trail Blazers.
Although they lost the game due to poor shooting, sports media after the game didn't focus on the outcome but instead actively asked Clay Lee for his opinion on the trade.
The ESPN reporter was the most direct, asking the question everyone wanted to know right away:
"Clay, after Ray Allen's contract expires, will you recruit your good friend?"
Seeing everyone pressing their recording devices in front of him, Lee, leaning back in his locker room chair, answered seriously:
"I respect Ray's personal choice. The Seattle SuperSonics also have good talent. Rashad is an underrated guy, and I know his strength."
"If Ray wants to play in New York, I'll naturally welcome him with open arms, but I know he'd probably prefer to defeat me!"
"He will succeed with the Seattle SuperSonics, and the Milwaukee Bucks will soon fall out of playoff contention."
"I look forward to playing against my good friend on a higher stage, but for now, we still have to continue our road trip, and I want to focus on the upcoming games!"
On the 23rd, the Knicks played their last Western Conference road game of the month.
Chris Webber had recently returned from injury, and the Sacramento Kings had just decisively defeated the Celtics the day before, so they were in good form.
In the first half, the Knicks suffered injuries.
Grant Hill twisted his ankle while battling for a rebound and was forced to leave the game.
Ron Artest seemed to have strained his shoulder in a scramble with Christie and also left the game injured in the third quarter.
Ultimately, 92:86, the Knicks won the brick-laying battle with even tougher Defense.
With injuries to the starting lineup, Mike D'Antoni also complained a couple of times in his post-game interview:
"I don't like tonight's officiating. Christie and Ron's injuries could have been avoided!"
The two sides indeed played with some fire. When the TNT reporter asked about their record, Mike D'Antoni humbly said:
"The best record in history? That's not something a rookie Head Coach like me should be thinking about."
"Our goal this season is only the championship. I believe in Clay Lee. He will lead the team to lift the o'brien cup again!"
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By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)