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 đ
***
On February 25, 2003, the Knicks concluded their six-game Western road trip, rested for a day, returned to Manhattan, and then faced the Houston Rockets.
After the All-Star Game, although the Lakers were swept by the Knicks and Shaquille O'Neal suffered an injury, their overall record began to improve, and they have now caught up to the Houston Rockets.
With a record of 30 wins and 26 losses, Head Coach Tomjanovich leading this rebuilding team to such a record is enough to prove that this Champion Coach is truly capable!
The Knicks sustained injuries during their road trip, but overall, it didn't significantly impact the team's overall strength.
While Stephen Jackson and Tayshaun Prince starting might lead to some minor issues on the offensive end, as long as Clay Lee performs normally and the big men consistently convert easy baskets, the Knicks can still overpower most teams.
The game officially tipped off at 7:30 PM that evening, and Madison Square Garden was filled with many fans.
Tomjanovich's health seemed to have worsened recently, and he didn't passionately direct from the sidelines as usual after the game began.
The Champion Coach sat silently on the bench, watching the Knicks dismantle the Houston Rockets' Defense with pick-and-rolls.
After Mobley missed a three-pointer from the right wing, Lee grabbed the long rebound, and the Houston Rockets players frantically retreated to defend.
"Let's go Knicks!"
Seeing the Houston Rockets complete their defensive matchups in time, the cheers and shouts in the Madison Square Garden rose again.
Pau Gasol didn't rush too fast, trailing behind and settling at the top of the arc after crossing half-court.
Yao Ming, who had just retreated to the paint, could only follow him.
The Houston Rockets had no good way to deal with this high pick-and-roll.
As long as Pau Gasol's screen quality was high enough and Mobley failed to chase back in time, it would most likely result in easy points for Clay Lee.
The Houston Rockets also adopted a different defensive strategy.
At this point, Yao Ming actively stepped out, choosing a big hedge Defense at the first opportunity, attempting to double-team with his teammates.
Pau Gasol noticed the Houston Rockets' defensive strategy and didn't foolishly continue to screen.
Instead, he immediately accelerated on his roll, while also firmly boxing out Eddie Griffin, who had switched onto him.
Facing the big hedge Defense, Lee, with the ball in his left hand, first shuffled horizontally, then accelerated a second time, driving straight into Yao Ming.
Yao Ming instinctively slid backward to the right.
Just as he moved, Lee smoothly delivered a through pass.
Mobley, chasing from behind, could only watch the ball fly to the rolling Pau Gasol in the middle.
The latter received the ball, leaned into the defender, stepped towards the basket, and with the ball in his left hand, Pau Gasol easily completed a floater without much interference!
"Swish!" The two-point shot went in cleanly.
18:28, with 2 minutes and 01 seconds remaining in the first quarter, the difference had once again reached double digits.
The cheers in the Madison Square Garden grew louder.
As the team's leader, Steve Francis naturally had to step up at this moment.
The Knicks' defensive strategy tonight was not complicated: try to force this All-Star guard to solve problems from mid-range.
Receiving the ball on the right wing, Yao Ming immediately stepped up to set a screen.
Stephen Jackson chose to fight over the screen to chase, while Pau Gasol retreated early to defend.
A good screen allowed Steve Francis, with the ball in his right hand, to briefly shake off his defender.
He immediately pulled up for a sudden stop in the restricted area and quickly shot a jump shot before the trailing defender could arrive!
"Clang!" Another mid-range miss.
The rebound was easily secured by Pau Gasol, and the Houston Rockets could only quickly retreat to defend, with Yao Ming continuing to run back and forth.
Seeing the Knicks launch a transition offense, on the ESPN commentary desk, commentator Nessler instinctively asked:
"Why are the Knicks so determined to concede Steve Francis's mid-range jump shot?"
Jeff Van Gundy, sitting next to him, felt speechless hearing this question.
There was a reason why this commentator was complained about by fans.
His professionalism was indeed lacking:
"This season, Steve Francis's mid-range jump shot percentage is less than 30%. His long two-pointers are decent, but his field goal percentage is still less than 40%."
"Under such circumstances, the Knicks' interior players would naturally choose to protect the rim."
"In the first few minutes of the game, Steve Francis failed to find his touch and respond in time, so the Knicks can calmly deal with him."
"Steve Francis should trust his teammates at this point. Perhaps he should pass the ball to Yao Ming more often. They need to close the gap quickly."
As the two were about to continue their discussion at the commentary desk, Clay Lee, with the ball in his right hand, had already surged to the right wing.
The Knicks' two wing players had already rushed across half-court early.
Stephen Jackson immediately ran to the right corner, and Tayshaun Prince followed to the left wing.
Kurt Thomas and Pau Gasol were still in their usual positions.
As Lee slowed down to observe the matchups on the court, both of them stopped in the left and right elbow areas.
Mobley did not choose to play tight Defense, maintaining a good defensive distance while constantly glancing at the movements behind him.
Lee turned his head to look at Tayshaun Prince beyond the three-point line, who was being tightly guarded by James Posey.
Receiving the instruction, he first feigned a drive to the middle, then suddenly cut horizontally in the opposite direction.
Using Kurt Thomas's off-ball screen, Tayshaun Prince shook off his defender and immediately accelerated off-ball, cutting towards the basket.
Mobley on the right wing saw Lee suddenly toss the ball towards the upper left of the rim, instinctively turned his head, and then saw Tayshaun Prince leap high, effortlessly grabbing the ball in mid-air, and powerfully dunking with both hands!
"Boom!" An alley-oop dunk was successful!
"Wow!"
A brilliant tactical cooperation, and for a moment, cheers echoed throughout the Madison Square Garden.
With the lead extended, Steve Francis no longer opted for jump shots.
On the next offensive possession, after a pick-and-roll on the right wing, he immediately drove to the basket with the ball in his right hand.
Pau Gasol raised both hands, and Steve Francis's contested floater ultimately hit the rim and bounced out, but fortunately, the referee immediately blew a whistle.
Unconsciously, the Houston Rockets began to speed up again, with more and more possessions where they attacked immediately after crossing half-court.
Yao Ming remained silent on the court, and Mobley also disliked passing to the big man.
Once the Houston Rockets fell behind, it was highly likely that the two guards would take over the game.
Coach D'Antoni, holding his arms, checked the time from the sidelines, then chuckled and returned to his seat, going idle.
If nothing unexpected happened, the Knicks would maintain a double-digit lead throughout.
Steve Francis made both free throws, helping the Houston Rockets cut into the lead.
Then, everyone quickly retreated to defend, with the players on the court constantly reminding each other to quickly complete their defensive matchups.
With no one leading the Defense, Clay Lee's pace was very fast.
The Knicks still used their old routine: the two big men stood at the elbow areas early, and the two wing players stood at the left and right corners respectively.
The "V-shaped" offense was not complicated, but Yao Ming on the defensive end had a hard time.
Noticing Pau Gasol starting to move up again to set a screen, a somewhat hesitant Yao Ming still chose to hedge early.
Under a high-quality screen, Lee, with the ball in his left hand, simply shuffled horizontally to shake off Mobley's chase.
Facing Yao Ming's hedge Defense, he suddenly lowered his center of gravity and quickly executed a crossover dribble with his left hand.
The moment Lee scooped the ball with his right hand, Mobley, chasing from behind, instinctively swiped at it, but unexpectedly, Lee seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, quickly leading the ball forward with his right hand, just avoiding the steal.
Yao Ming's body couldn't keep up with his mind.
He could only instinctively turn his head and saw Lee squeeze past him, scooping the ball again with his left hand in the paint.
On the right baseline, James Posey moved towards the basket, and Eddie Griffin also followed back to defend the rim.
Although both were very fast, Lee's passing speed was even faster.
As soon as he scooped the ball with his left hand, he smoothly completed a behind the-back pass.
The two defenders who had retreated to the basket were stunned for a moment.
The ball flew directly to the right corner, where Stephen Jackson received it with no one in front of him.
He made a slight adjustment and calmly shot a jump shot!
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly.
"Oh!"
After the gasp, the New York fans' cheers almost burst through the Madison Square Garden.
Clay Lee, with one pick-and-roll, toyed with the entire Houston Rockets' Defense.
From the drive to the pass, it looked incredibly smooth.
Nessler, on the commentary desk, though slow to react, also shouted excitedly when he saw the ball go in:
"Incredible! Clay Lee completed a magical assist! How did he do it?!"
Jeff Van Gundy was also secretly amazed.
Lee used to be able to "see" the court, but this season he seemed even more composed.
The Bald Young Coach didn't say anything, just looked at Mike D'Antoni happily celebrating with his hands raised on the sidelines, feeling a pang in his heart:
"Just a puppet of a superstar."
In the final few possessions of the first quarter, Steve Francis went to the free-throw line again.
On the other end, Kurt Thomas converted an easy basket with a jump shot.
24:37, the Knicks continued to maintain a double-digit lead.
Yao Ming rested for less than 2 minutes midway through the first quarter, and during the quarter break, he couldn't help but take two deep breaths while sitting on the bench.
The New York Knicks attempted 24 shots in the first quarter, and this wild and aggressive offense caused the Houston Rockets to lose their game rhythm early on.
As a Rookie, Yao Ming could only follow along, and it wasn't a pleasant experience.
Coach D'Antoni didn't give too many instructions.
Currently, Amar'e Stoudemire in the reserve lineup is in excellent form, and the task for the players on the court is to score.
At the commentary booth, Nessler wasn't talking about the game anymore.
Feeling the joyful atmosphere in the arena, he began to exclaim again:
"Times are truly different. Every time I come to New York, I can feel the fans' love for the game."
"Perhaps in the Western Conference, big men still dominate the game, but it's different here. Fans prefer outside superstars like Clay Lee."
ESPN's broadcasts this season haven't been very successful.
More than half of the schedule has passed, and the highest-rated regular-season game was still the one Lee set.
Fans' viewing preferences have indeed changed.
Young people no longer like watching big men's low-post offense, and slow-paced games are no longer popular.
Some teams are also making changes, trying to speed up and cater to fans' preferences.
However, small-market teams still find it difficult to sell tickets.
The lack of superstars is the most crucial factor, and the NBA cannot solve this problem.
Having spent a year in the commentary booth, Jeff Van Gundy was, of course, aware of this change, but he was a Champion Coach and would not consider catering to fans.
For him, winning the o'brien cup was the only pursuit:
"Fans' preferences will change with victory. Currently, the Knicks are the biggest winners, so everyone likes this kind of game."
"But as long as other teams can also lift the o'brien cup, a new champion can bring a new trend!"
The Bald Young Coach spoke eloquently, and Nessler, beside him, began to gossip again:
"Jeff, are you planning to commentate on this year's McDonald's All-Star Game?"
Looking at his partner, Jeff Van Gundy immediately admitted it, then added with a chuckle:
"LeBron James's talent is incredibly amazing. He has a chance to become the next Clay Lee!"
"..."
In the second quarter, the Houston Rockets failed to organize an effective counterattack, and Lee entered a state of 'slacking off' again.
The continuous road games, plus another back-to-back game tomorrow, also made him feel a bit unmotivated.
Whenever Lee started 'slacking off,' the role players benefited.
Jackson and Tayshaun Prince, who rarely started, played with increasing enthusiasm, and they also put in all their effort on Defense.
Before the end of the first half, in two consecutive transition offenses, Jackson attacked from both sides, hitting trailing three-pointers from both wings.
Watching Jackson clench his fists and roar, the cheers from the New York fans in the arena grew even louder.
47:65, as halftime began, cheerful music echoed through the Madison Square Garden.
In the Knicks locker room, Amar'e Stoudemire was not affected by the schedule.
This Rookie was also getting more and more excited:
"I should be able to get Rookie of the Month, right! February, March, April, sweeping the awards for the second half of the season, the Rookie of the Year award should be mine!"
In the Eastern Conference, Caron Butler has won Rookie of the Month twice so far, and in the Western Conference, Yao Ming has won it once.
Considering the remaining schedule, Amar'e Stoudemire indeed has a chance to win the trophy.
Ron Artest, with a twisted shoulder, was not in a good mood.
When awards were mentioned, he thought of DPOY.
This season, Ben Wallace has a great chance to continue winning the award, and Ron Artest was naturally unconvinced:
"Those voters only look at blocks. Can't they look at other stats?"
Grant Hill, dressed in a gray suit, walked back and forth in the locker room.
Hearing Ron Artest's words, he said thoughtfully:
"Other stats? Defensive efficiency? This stat doesn't seem to be very popular."
Pulling at his tie, Ron Artest didn't understand these advanced stats much, but he was mysteriously confident, firmly believing his numbers were definitely not bad:
"It seems to be that thing. I should be in the top 10 in the NBA! This season I am the best perimeter defender!"
Seeing Ron Artest look at him, Lee first nodded, then told Ron Artest some unfortunate news:
"Ron is indeed the best perimeter defender, but you guessed one thing wrong. In fact, the sports media that vote will refer to many statistics."
"Ben Wallace's defensive efficiency should be first in the NBA, which is why more people choose to vote for him. This is the advantage of interior players. They can fill the stat sheet."
Hearing that Ben Wallace was first, Ron Artest became even more depressed.
For the first time, he developed a craving for advanced statistics.
It is certainly not easy for perimeter players to win the DPOY (Defensive Player of the Year) award.
All Lee can do is help promote him after the game.
In fact, all the Knicks players praise Ron Artest when interviewed, and the coaching staff is the same.
This season, he has indeed shown extremely excellent Defense.
Especially with the home-court whistle's blessing, most perimeter ball-handlers facing Ron Artest's fierce Defense would see their offense diminished.
In the second half, Lee regained some motivation and contributed two beautiful steals on Defense.
Towards the end of the third quarter, the Houston Rockets completely collapsed.
Mike D'Antoni took the opportunity to substitute Lee, and the 'atmosphere group' once again got a lot of playing time tonight.
In both matchups, Yao Ming sat on the bench for the fourth quarter.
When facing other opponents, Mobley and Steve Francis would usually complain, but this time, both remained silent.
Both teams' 'atmosphere groups' had a blast, and when the final buzzer sounded, the score was set at 95:114, with the Knicks easily winning the game.
Yao Ming played 33 minutes, shooting 7 of 13 from the field, 6 of 6 from the free-throw line, and recorded 20 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 4 turnovers.
Back in the locker room, when interviewed by chinese media, Yao Ming still showed a hint of frustration:
"We have a big gap with the championship team. The Knicks' rotation lineup also has excellent talent."
"Most importantly, it's hard for us to keep up with their game rhythm."
Clay Lee only played 28 minutes tonight, shooting 8 of 14 from the field, 3 of 7 from beyond the arc, and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line, recording 24 points, 3 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals, and 1 turnover.
When asked about Clay Lee's performance, Yao Ming also smiled, looking even more helpless:
"Doing as he pleases, that's how I feel. I still have a lot to learn."
For Clay Lee, every time he played against the Houston Rockets, it would add some "superficial loyal fans" from China.
And chinese sports media are looking forward to the Houston Rockets' next game, Yao Ming's last encounter with Michael Jordan, a gimmick that has been promoted for half a month!
After the home game, the Knicks had to take a bus the next day to play against the second team.
The Nets currently have a record of 37 wins and 21 losses, which seems unremarkable but places them third in the Eastern Conference.
Kerry Kittles, nearing 30, entered the peak of his professional career, and his personal statistics also increased.
In earlier years, Kittles would pursue triple-doubles, but as he got older, his rebounding statistics also became more random.
The Nets also played a back-to-back game, giving the Cavaliers a 'warm welcome' last night, allowing their opponent to get their 11th win of the season.
After returning home, the Nets, like the Knicks, were a bit unmotivated.
In the third quarter, during a Knicks offensive possession, watching Lee use a body-fake at the top of the arc to shake off Kittles, then drive straight to the basket through the middle, the Nets' home commentator, Ian Eagle, said in frustration:
"25 years old versus 30 years old. Kittles seems to have forgotten how to defend Lee. His experience in the game didn't help at all."
His partner, Bill Raftery, saw Kenyon Martin jump early to block and also loudly complained:
"Martin seems to have forgotten his defender. I bet that guy definitely forgot what Head Coach Scott told him in the film session."
As soon as they finished speaking, Kurt Thomas, positioned near the left baseline, moved to the basket, received a pass from Clay Lee, and immediately slammed it down with both hands!
The two commentators at the booth exchanged glances, then heard the cheers erupting in the Continental Airlines Arena.
For a moment, they were speechless, and finally, Eagle could only whisper:
"I have a bad feeling that we might face the Knicks again in the playoffs!"
Raftery had completely given up on treatment.
Hearing his partner's words, he instead self-mocked:
"Isn't that a good thing? The team doesn't have to fly around. We can get to Manhattan in less than 40 minutes by bus."
"Maybe Kittles can give us a surprise this year. For me, the Eastern Conference Finals would already be a huge success!"
"..."
From the commentary booth, the two began to tease the home team.
When the Nets attacked, Kidd was also a bit frustrated.
The opponent was packed tightly, and no matter how he stretched the Defense from beyond the three-point line, the Knicks just circled the paint.
Although Kenyon Martin was as fierce as a tiger on fast breaks, when it came to half-court offense, his individual post-up game was truly urgent.
Relying on big men to attract double teams in the low post for scores or assists was unreliable, so for several possessions, Kidd drove straight into the paint, trying to draw fouls.
The effect was not ideal, so Kidd, coming to the top of the arc, simply and roughly started playing hand-off passes.
At the right elbow of the free-throw line, Kenyon Martin received the ball and immediately turned his body.
Kidd accelerated again, received the ball, and smoothly released it with his right hand, accelerating for a breakthrough.
Kurt Thomas immediately stepped up to delay, and Clay Lee continued to pursue the Defense.
A frustrated Kidd, slowing down, found that Lee had perfectly cut off his passing lane.
This type of bounce pass after a hand-off was something the Nets often tried with success, but against the Knicks, it repeatedly fizzled out.
Kurt Thomas and Lee did not stick tightly but gave Kidd some room to shoot.
When he reached the right baseline, Kidd immediately pulled up for a fadeaway mid-range jumper and scored!
67:54, with 3 minutes and 50 seconds left in the third quarter, the Nets still couldn't climb out of the hole.
Both teams had a rough first half, but the Nets' slow start cost them.
In frequent half-court offenses, Kenyon Martin consistently struggled to find good opportunities.
In the first half, he was 2 for 7, with two fast-break dunks, and all other attempts near the basket missed.
Kittles never found his shooting touch, forcing Kidd and Richard Jefferson to shoulder more of the offense.
Constantly shouting instructions to his teammates, Kidd wanted to close the gap, which naturally relied on Defense.
He hoped for more transition offense opportunities.
Similarly, after crossing half-court, Lee passed the ball to Pau Gasol and then accelerated off-ball towards the left corner.
Tayshaun Prince noticed Pau Gasol receiving the ball near the three-point line at the top of the arc.
Seeing Lee come over to screen, he first faked a baseline cut, then accelerated for a reverse cut towards the top.
Richard Jefferson, his direct opponent, only followed his body's instinct to stick to him.
As soon as the two reached the left block, Kidd loudly reminded his teammate:
"Watch the basket!"
Suddenly cutting in diagonally, Tayshaun Prince leaned into Richard Jefferson and accelerated towards the paint directly in front of the basket.
Since his back was to the top of the arc, Pau Gasol delivered a direct pass, and Richard Jefferson had no reaction to it.
After receiving the ball, Tayshaun Prince, now below the basket on the right, first faked a shot, faking out the defender's center of gravity, then muscled his way past Richard Jefferson for a strong layup off the glass!
After completing the score, Tayshaun Prince gestured to the referee for a foul, but the baseline referee did not respond.
The score difference was still a bit large.
Tonight, the two Rookies were also competing.
In the first half, Richard Jefferson scored several times on cuts, and in the second half, Tayshaun Prince returned the favor.
Kidd, receiving the ball on the baseline, looked grim.
The Knicks' plays had an extremely high success rate, which indicated many problems with their Defense.
With little time left in the third quarter, Kidd was also getting anxious.
In this possession, at the top of the arc, he used Jason Collins' screen, quickly changed direction with a crossover, and drove straight to the basket with the ball in his right hand.
Clay Lee chose to defend on the low side.
Although he didn't expect Kidd to be so decisive, Kurt Thomas had already shifted early, returning to the basket to interfere.
Facing such a Defense, Kidd didn't choose to pass.
Instead, he jumped with both feet, briefly pushed off the defender, and did an in-air scoop layup, evading the block.
The moment Kidd released the ball, he felt it was definitely going in.
Before he landed, he saw the ball fly into the air and get pinned against the backboard for a huge block!
Lee, chasing from behind, completed the block.
Upon landing, he twisted his body and smoothly gained control of the ball.
On the other side, Kidd, stumbling and nearly falling, cursed under his breath.
By the time he wanted to pursue the Defense, it was already too late.
"Wow!"
The renewed cheers in the Continental Airlines Arena made the Nets even more frustrated.
Just as they retreated to mid-court, Jason Collins was overtaken by Clay Lee from the side.
Kenyon Martin, frantically chasing from behind with all his might, could only watch Lee stride towards the basket and shot down a powerful one-handed dunk with his left hand!
Head Coach Scott on the sidelines shook his head.
He could naturally see that his players had tried their best, as no one wanted to lose two games in a row.
After completing the dunk, Lee looked at the Nets players and shook his head.
He could understand their feelings.
Such a home game was indeed disheartening.
The game continued until the last few possessions of the third quarter, and the Nets still couldn't string together consecutive offensive plays.
After three quarters, the score was 78:63.
Back on the bench, Kidd angrily threw his towel again.
In the commentary booth, home commentator Eagle was now chatting about gossip:
"It seems Clay Lee will definitely win MVP this year. Individual stats, team recordâno one can compare to him."
"Everyone will vote for him. I even think he could get a unanimous vote."
Raftery glanced at his partner and didn't mention the game much further, continuing the topic:
"Unanimous? That's impossible. There are a few cities that will absolutely not vote for Clay Lee."
"I'll bet you that reporters in Philadelphia won't vote for Clay Lee. He practically destroyed Allen Iverson, and the 76ers haven't won a single game against him since!"
"Think about it, does anyone even pay attention to them now? Everyone knows that even if Allen Iverson leads the team to the Eastern Conference Finals, Clay Lee will still easily eliminate them."
"I wouldn't vote for such an opponent, no matter how excellent he is."
Eagle let out a low chuckle, then began to self-deprecate:
"So, the Nets are quite lucky. At least we've won against Lee."
"Damn it! Stop this topic. Don't forget we were also swept out of the Eastern Conference Finals last year!"
"..."
Kidd sat on the bench, staring intently as the rotation lineup entered the game.
He had performed well tonight, going 7 for 14 for 18 points.
Although he had 3 turnovers, Kidd felt he had given his best.
Richard Jefferson, seeing his leader like this, couldn't help but softly console him:
"It's okay, this is just a regular season game. We just flew back to New Jersey, and everyone's not in their best form. We'll definitely make it to the Finals this season."
The second-year Rookie's comfort was of little use.
Kidd could feel that Lee was still improving, and his control over the game was growing stronger.
Considering the age difference between them, Kidd, silent, grew even more frustrated.
The future seemed bleak.
In the fourth quarter, the starting lineups of both teams played for over 5 minutes, and the score difference never narrowed.
It was then that Kidd completely gave up hope.
104:90. After the game, another cheer erupted in the Continental Airlines Arena.
Head Coach Scott couldn't hold back anymore, crossing his arms and muttering:
"Shit! This damn home court!"
On February 28th, the Knicks played their last game of February.
The Orlando Magic also made a trade after the All-Star Weekend, sending away Tracy McGrady's good friend Mike Miller and acquiring Drew Gooden from the Grizzlies.
This trade naturally infuriated Tracy McGrady, but Head Coach Rivers' motivational talk was potent enough.
After some appeasement, there were no issues in the locker room.
When asked why this trade happened, Head Coach Rivers confidently stated:
"To contend for the o'brien cup, the team needs excellent big men!"
"Drew Gooden is very talented, and he can make up for the deficiencies in our lineup."
With a record of 29 wins and 29 losses, the Orlando Magic's performance was neither good nor bad, but a playoff spot should not be too much of an issue.
Head Coach Rivers' words also received approval from some basketball commentators.
Last season, the Knicks lost due to their interior Defense, and to contend for a championship, they indeed couldn't have obvious weaknesses.
The Orlando Magic challenged the Knicks on the road, with Houston and Tracy McGrady both present, but the game itself was hard to describe.
Playing 40 minutes, Houston was 6 for 21 for 18 points, and Tracy McGrady was 10 for 25 for 28 points.
Although both were a bit off, they were still the Orlando Magic's best-performing players.
Such a performance couldn't be entirely blamed on the two.
The strategy of alternating isolations was simply unreliable.
102:113.
Under Clay Lee's powerful attack, the Knicks ultimately endured a difficult schedule with a winning streak.
Clay Lee's playing time reached 40 minutes, with 13 of 23 field goals, 4 of 10 three-pointers, 7 of 8 free throws, for 37 points, 5 rebounds, 13 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, and 3 turnovers.
After delivering this stat line, Lee was a bit tired.
The lingering effects of the recent continuous road games hadn't completely dissipated.
After greeting his old teammates, Lee noticed that Rookie Amar'e Stoudemire was still full of energy, constantly waving to fans.
As he walked towards the player tunnel, Lee congratulated him in advance:
"Keep up the good work, get the Rookie of the Month for the next two months, and the Rookie of the Year award this season will be yours!"
Amar'e Stoudemire was full of confidence.
As he was about to enter the locker room, he still whispered, "Lee, play a few more rotation minutes. Uh, Knight is good, but I like playing by your side!"
The Rookie wasn't foolish.
As long as Kurt Thomas and Pau Gasol had a good touch, they could score in double digits every game just by getting easy baskets and free throws.
Such easy scoring would make anyone envious.
Clay glanced at Amar'e Stoudemire, chuckled, and walked into the locker room:
"Buddy, Knight is right behind you!"
The two behind them exchanged awkward glances.
Finally, Amar'e Stoudemire gave a dry laugh and continued to play dumb.
On Saturday, March 1st, the Knicks had a day off.
There were still 16 games to play this month, but the schedule was relatively easy, and there were no more consecutive road games in the Western Conference.
The New York Media recently found another hot topic: the news that Red Football Limited's acquisition of Manchester United was rejected once again caught the attention of the public.
Clay Lee did not respond to this.
The cooperating Sidley Austin LLP law firm directly issued a statement:
"Red Football Limited will not infringe upon the rights and interests of Manchester United. This is merely normal commercial behavior!"
"âŠ"
The Wall Street Journal also joined in the gossip.
This time, several hedge funds were backing it, and no one believed that there would be normal commercial behavior afterward.
It was a rare weekend, and Melinda also returned from England.
The two rolled around in bed at home, lazy until noon before getting up for breakfast.
As the weather warmed, Happy the husky's eyes were no longer clear.
This silly dog hadn't seen its mistress for over a month, and since yesterday, it had been running around everywhere, venting its happy emotions.
Melinda, draped in an oversized nightgown, laughed while petting the dog's head, and looked at Lee, who was slacking off in bed:
"Shares acquired from the secondary market cannot completely control this club. There are also two private major shareholders, and they don't seem to lack money."
Seeing the big-chested girl's nightgown mostly fallen off as she returned to bed, Lee pulled her into his arms, burying his head in front of her again.
The two laughed and played for a while before he, panting, whispered:
"Opportunities are for those who are prepared. Perhaps these two have fallen out with Ferguson."
"But we need to lobby both sides!"
Melinda, now completely bare, tried to push Lee away and reminded him again:
"We also have competitors, hmm! Blue Football Capital, formed by the Glazer Family who bought an NFL team, they are also acquiring shares in the secondary market."
Seeing the serious look in the big-chested girl's eyes, Lee hugged her again, feeling the abundant sensation in his hands, and said with a laugh:
"Then it's every man for himself. My cash should be more than theirs!"
On sunday, March 2nd, the Knicks flew to Minnesota to challenge the Timberwolves on the road.
Currently, the Knicks' record is 53 wins and 5 losses, having already secured a playoff spot.
Therefore, most commentators are discussing record-breaking matters.
In the morning, the NBA just announced the Players of the Month for February:
Clay Lee from the Eastern Conference and Kevin Garnett from the Western Conference successfully won the awards.
Throughout February, the Knicks achieved an 11-2 record.
Not only did Clay Lee win Player of the Month, but Amar'e Stoudemire and Mike D'Antoni also received awards.
Compared to the previous two Player of the Month awards, Lee's stats also declined in February:
Averaged 36.7 minutes per game, scoring 33.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 11.1 assists, 2.8 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 2.9 turnovers.
Averaged 21.1 field goal attempts per game, with a 51.0% field goal percentage. Averaged 9.6 three-point attempts per game, with a 42.5% three-point percentage.
Averaged 8.2 free throws per game, with a 90.6% free throw percentage.
In contrast, the Timberwolves performed even better in February, achieving a 12-1 record.
Kevin Garnett averaged 40.0 minutes per game, scoring 27.7 points, 13.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.5 blocks, and 2.8 turnovers.
Averaged 19.8 field goal attempts per game, with a 56.6% field goal percentage.
Averaged 7.2 free throws per game, with a 69.9% free throw percentage.
Thanks to Kevin Garnett's outstanding performance, the Timberwolves' record also began to rebound, currently standing at 39 wins and 21 losses.
This sunday's matchup between the Players of the Month was considered the biggest draw of the day's games.
In TNT's pre-game show, the trio first seriously analyzed the strengths of the two teams, then changed the subject and began to gossip about the topic of a unanimous MVP.
Charles Barkley gloated.
Clay Lee was highly likely to win the award, but thinking that such an outstanding performance this season still wouldn't earn him a unanimous MVP, his smile became even brighter:
"Honestly, while the New York Media has given Clay Lee a huge boost, it has also made him offend quite a few people."
"From what I know, many players don't like Clay Lee. You know, I always receive text messages from player agents, and the information is absolutely true!"
Kenny Smith gave his partner a strange look.
He certainly knew that his partner often received text messages, but they were definitely all complaints about them.
"We should put aside our prejudices. If Lee leads the team to tie or break the historical best record, what reason do we have not to vote for him?"
Seeing his partner start to play the nice guy again, Charles Barkley scoffed:
"The 72-win Chicago Bulls didn't get Michael Jordan a unanimous MVP. You expect everyone to like Clag Lee? That's impossible."
Ernie Johnson, sitting in the middle of the studio, heard the two arguing and began to express his own opinion:
"For Lee, a unanimous MVP isn't important. If he can win a championship this season, it will be his fifth career championship."
"Whether people recognize him or not, Clay Lee will enter the discussion of the greatest players in history."
Once the topic turned to the greatest in history, Charles Barkley felt a pang of bitterness:
"The greatest in history at 25! I have a premonition that Clay Lee will continue to dominate the Eastern Conference, and perhaps he will make the Finals every season."
"If I were playing in the Eastern Conference, I would also feel despair. They haven't even paid luxury tax yet!"
When salary was mentioned, all three fell silentâunsolvable dominance.
On the afternoon of the 2nd, the Knicks arrived at the Target Center early for warm-ups.
Ever since Kevin Garnett's "fighting retreat" last time, the Garnett, who had lost face, no longer called everyone brothers.
Tonight, Grant Hill and Ron Artest would return from injury.
Their injuries were not serious, but back-to-back games would still limit their playing time.
Clay Lee had been in a good mood these past two days.
Besides winning Player of the Month, his talent panel also changed:
[Grant Hill's Extraordinary Explosiveness] had disappeared, this talent was completely assimilated.
More and more big delays this season had caused Lee some trouble, but also brought him gains.
The Knicks were casually chatting in the Target Center.
The Rookie Amar'e Stoudemire couldn't stop smiling.
This was the first award he had received since entering the league.
Mike D'Antoni was also beaming.
He was bragging and joking with his assistant coach nearby.
Ewing looked on enviously.
Being a Head Coach was too easy.
Among everyone, only Ron Artest was not too happy.
If he could win DPOY in his contract year, his next contract would definitely bring him more money!
After Clag Lee and Pau Gasol discussed tonight's Defense strategy, he noticed the distracted Ron Artest.
Tossing the basketball in his hand to Ron Artest, Lee stepped forward and patted Ron Artest's shoulder:
"Ron, don't worry about the contract. Awards do affect contracts, but the Knicks don't care about the luxury tax."
"Let your agent negotiate boldly, and you'll definitely get a good contract in the end."
Ron Artest nodded, but he was still reluctant to give up the DPOY award.
This was his capital for showing off.
He glanced around, showing a hint of longing, and whispered:
"Lee, you have a good relationship with ESPN. Can you help me get some customized stats?"
"I want to surpass Ben Wallace's defensive stats!"
"âŠ"
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)