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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 March 18, 2003, after a winning streak, the Knicks challenged the San Antonio Spurs on the road that night.
The schedule for the first half of the month didn't cause too much trouble for the team, but this week they faced another 5 games in 7 days, and the upcoming back-to-back games would definitely require extensive rotation.
The San Antonio Spurs currently had a record of 47 wins and 18 losses, three wins behind the Dallas Mavericks, ranking second in the Western Conference.
Gregg Popovich's recent job was to campaign for MVP votes for Tim Duncan.
Regardless of whether it would succeed, as the Head Coach, he had to cheer for his main player!
In the Western Conference, Duncan could still suppress power forwards at the same position, but unfortunately, due to his less explosive performance, he hadn't won a single Player of the Month award yet.
The NBA would not frequently award Player of the Week to Clay Lee, but they were generous with Player of the Month, which indicated the MVP's destination.
In this regard, Duncan had already fallen far behind.
San Antonio Media always wanted Gregg Popovich to be fired, largely because under his coaching, Tim Duncan's honors were pitifully few:
All-NBA Team, All-Defensive Team, Player of the Month, Rookie of the Month, Rookie of the Year, "Offensive and Defensive Player Award," "Future Champion Award."
As a superstar, Duncan didn't even have a trophy with the words "MVP" on it.
San Antonio Media believed that the main reason for this outcome was Gregg Popovich.
This season, the Lakers were struggling, and San Antonio Media saw an opportunity again.
They thought Tim Duncan could lead the team to rise, but they didn't expect the Knicks to achieve an incredible record.
In March, David Robinson suffered an injury, and Steve Smith was in poor form.
Although the San Antonio Spurs' record wasn't affected much, they seemed outmatched when facing the Knicks.
For the second game of the week, the Knicks could rotate extensively tomorrow and concede the back-to-back game, but tonight against the San Antonio Spurs, they had to go all out.
At the SBC Center, after tip-off at 6:30 PM, some San Antonio Spurs fans lost their appetite for eating while watching, as the game was even worse than they had imagined.
For the first three quarters, the San Antonio Spurs could barely keep up with the score, but after the fourth quarter began, their response seemed to falter.
Tim Duncan hadn't rested in the second half.
With 9 minutes and 6 seconds left in the 4th quarter, Clay Lee returned to the court, and Gregg Popovich still didn't make any substitutions.
Duncan made his second free throw, and Gregg Popovich on the sideline breathed a sigh of relief, then loudly called for his players to retreat on Defense.
80:76. Although the difference was not large, the San Antonio Spurs showed signs of decline.
The San Antonio Spurs' starting backcourt was Parker and Steve Smith.
Their performance on Defense was truly subpar, and Duncan, forced to play at the 5th position, often had to provide help Defense for them.
On the wing, Bruce Bowen and Malik Rose also contributed little.
The former made two three-pointers, while the latter scored 8 points from easy baskets and offensive rebounds.
Perhaps not wanting to lose at home, Gregg Popovich's rotation was very conservative as the final quarter began.
"Defense!"
Clay Lee dribbled the ball with his left hand across half-court, and the cheers for Defense once again echoed through the SBC Center.
The San Antonio Spurs did not set up a zone Defense at this point.
Without David Robinson, their height and rim protection ability both decreased.
The effect was poor in the first three quarters, so they switched back to man-to-man Defense.
Duncan followed Pau Gasol from the right elbow to the baseline.
Kurt Thomas also didn't step up for a screen, following him towards the basket, taking Malik Rose towards the left near the baseline.
When Parker noticed that the Knicks' two wing players also began to move towards the two corners, it was already too late to call out to his teammates.
Lee slowly moved to the left wing.
As his teammates settled, he immediately lowered his center of gravity and performed two extremely quick in-and-out dribbles.
Switching back to his left hand and pulling the ball slightly back, Lee suddenly lunged forward and accelerated.
Parker, who had been constantly yelling on Defense, desperately slid backward to his right, trying to establish a defensive position early.
Taking a big dribble, just reaching the three-point line, Lee suddenly stopped short.
As he pushed off with his right foot, he took a large step back, shaking off his defender and returning to the three-point line, then launched a fadeaway jump shot from the left wing!
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in without touching the rim.
"Boo!"
The San Antonio Spurs fans immediately booed, and Parker helplessly looked at his Head Coach on the sideline.
Noticing that the furious Gregg Popovich was starting to yell at him, Parker also wanted to shout back at the old man:
"I tried my best."
At the TNT broadcast booth, Marv Albert began to boast again.
He was becoming more and more uninhibited:
"Bowen can't keep up with Clay Lee, and Parker's physicality is too weak. Clearly, Lee is about to take over the game. He's unstoppable tonight."
Old Dunleavy, as tonight's partner, seeing the San Antonio Spurs give the ball to Duncan again, immediately said helplessly:
"Receiving the ball far from the basket, Duncan needs to expend more energy. His jump shot touch is average tonight. This isn't a good offensive option."
Receiving the ball with his back to the basket at the left block, the moment Duncan got the ball, Parker accelerated and cut to the basket.
Clay Lee continued to chase on Defense, and the two quickly ran towards the right corner.
The San Antonio Spurs' perimeter players rotated in sequence, trying to open up offensive space for Duncan, but the Knicks' Defense was very compact.
Kurt Thomas, near the right baseline, kept an eye on the back, ready to block Duncan's high-post floater at any time.
Seeing Duncan turn to face the basket and attack, Pau Gasol no longer fronted him but maintained a certain distance.
Facing such Defense, Duncan quickly released the ball with his right hand, and as Pau Gasol re-engaged, he suddenly pulled the ball back and turned.
The moment he scooped the ball with his left hand, Duncan leaned on Pau Gasol and arrived at the lower left side of the basket.
He initially wanted to go straight up strong, but Kurt Thomas also came over to block him.
Under their combined Defense, Duncan's left-handed floater near the basket ultimately clanked off the rim.
Malik Rose once again grabbed an offensive rebound under the basket, and as he went up strong with the ball, Lee, who had rotated to the basket for help Defense, delivered a thunderous block!
"Ah!"
The moment he dropped the ball, Malik Rose let out a cry, but the referee made no call.
Lee regained possession and immediately charged forward with the ball.
Parker stepped forward to interfere, but Lee immediately passed the ball.
Grant Hill received the pass, pushed the ball and changed direction, switching to his left hand while constantly accelerating along the left sideline towards half-court.
Bowen could only slide back at this point, but Grant Hill sped up more and more, and the two quickly reached the left wing.
Still showing no signs of slowing down, Grant Hill drove straight to the basket, relying on his defender.
Leaping up forcefully to attempt a block, Bowen's Defense worked.
Hill's layup near the lower left of the basket ultimately clanked off the rim.
After landing, Bowen had already run out of bounds.
He turned his head and saw Lee, following up the middle, soaring into the air.
The basketball had just left the rim, and Lee, still in the air, scooped the ball with his right hand, ignoring Parker in front of him, and with a powerful motion, slammed the ball back into the basket!
"Boom!" A put-back dunk was successful.
Parker, who had jumped up to grab the rebound, almost stumbled into the courtside audience after landing.
Ron Artest, who had run to half-court with Clay Lee, was even more excited than him.
After a chest bump celebration, he yelled at the audience:
"Ah!"
Duncan, retreating to the three-point line, ran back to half-court expressionlessly.
This kind of physical domination had happened many times.
85:76. The Knicks extended their lead again.
Duncan showed signs of going cold, but Gregg Popovich still signaled to get the ball to his main player as quickly as possible.
Changing direction, Duncan came to the right block to receive the ball, and after releasing it with his left hand, he began to post up forcefully.
However, the receiving position was slightly high, on the right wing.
Ron Artest simply abandoned his matchup with Bowen and came over early for a double-team.
After gathering the ball, Duncan immediately passed it to the unguarded Bowen on the right wing.
It wasn't his sweet spot, but after a slight adjustment, Bowen still shot decisively!
"Bang!"
The basketball hit the front rim and was coincidentally picked up by Grant Hill, who had retreated into the paint.
Seamlessly wrapping the ball behind his back, Grant Hill switched to his right hand and broke free from Steve Smith's Defense, then accelerated and charged forward with the ball in his right hand.
Parker saw his teammate out of position and, after starting from the corner, chased fiercely from behind.
Bowen also accelerated back on Defense, and after some hesitation, he followed Ron Artest towards the right wing.
Steve Smith didn't switch on Defense in time.
Hill, having crossed mid-court, smoothly passed the ball to Lee, who was trailing behind.
Parker, in frustration, continued to chase the ball, quickly catching up to Lee's side.
As he received the ball, Lee released it with his right hand.
When his opponent was Sticking defense to his side, Lee continued to accelerate, forcing Parker to constantly slide backward to his left.
Suddenly stopping short while in motion, Lee, with a lowered center of gravity, pulled the ball back between his legs. Under the inertia, Parker still tried to lunge on Defense, but his feet split apart, and he remained rooted to the spot.
"Boo!"
Amidst the boos from San Antonio Spurs fans, Lee gathered the ball, completely shaking off his defender, and quickly jumped for a three-pointer from beyond the arc!
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly!
On the New York Knicks bench, the atmosphere group cheered, raising their right hands with Clay Lee, and celebrating happily with three fingers extended.
88:76, the lead reached double digits, and Gregg Popovich immediately called a timeout.
This time, he didn't blame Parker, but Gregg Popovich was also in a bad mood, his face long, and he directly waved to Manu Ginobili on the bench.
Coach D'Antoni knew that the San Antonio Spurs didn't have many reliable rotations, so he just said a few words during the timeout and handed the tactical board to his assistant coach.
From the commentary table, Marv Albert saw this scene and started to flatter wildly:
"Coach D'Antoni's tactical arrangements tonight completely suppressed the opponent. The San Antonio Spurs' offense was very stagnant. They relied too much on Tim Duncan."
Old Dunleavy, standing by, was speechless.
If they didn't rely on Duncan, no one else could carry the offense.
After the timeout, the San Antonio Spurs no longer stubbornly focused on Duncan, and instead started playing pick-and-rolls on offense.
At the top of the arc, Parker used Duncan's screen, quickly changed direction in front of his body to his left hand, and just managed to shake off Clay Lee, who was defending from the baseline.
Facing the sudden opportunity, Parker ultimately gathered the ball at the top of the arc and quickly jumped for a shot from beyond the three-point line!
"Damn it!"
Parker cursed under his breath as the basketball hit the back rim, bounced off the top of the backboard, and finally fell out of bounds.
Such a shooting performance disheartened the San Antonio Spurs fans present, and for a moment, their defensive cheers died down.
Duncan patted Parker's head, then motioned for his teammates to retreat on Defense.
If they couldn't make shots, how could they catch up?
They could only play Defense.
Although Duncan didn't say much on the court, he kept clapping at this moment.
After returning to the half-court, he directed his teammates to match up in time.
The New York Knicks players had also already run to the half-court, with two big men positioned at the baseline, and Ron Artest and Grant Hill stopped on the left and right wings.
Amidst the noise, Clay Lee slowly dribbled past half-court, not rushing to attack, but waiting for the double-team.
Manu Ginobili, who had just entered the game, was a bit hesitant, as Grant Hill had already started moving towards the right corner.
Parker, however, followed the coach's instructions and quickly rushed to defend in front of Lee.
The opponent didn't double-team, and Pau Gasol also tried to speed up, quickly arriving at the top of the arc.
Gregg Popovich, on the sidelines, slapped his thigh, still instructing Manu Ginobili to double-team.
Lee seized this opportunity to quickly dribble behind his back and move horizontally.
The moment he switched to his right hand, facing Duncan's big hedge, Lee naturally wrapped the ball between his legs.
As the basketball flew between his legs, it also passed through a gap between players.
Subconsciously, Duncan tried to swipe the ball with his right hand, but Lee reacted even faster.
As he squeezed through the gap, he pushed the ball forward with his left hand, and it suddenly darted ahead.
In a blink of an eye, Parker lost his defensive position, and Duncan also failed to steal the ball.
The San Antonio Spurs fans present gasped again, as Clay Lee, who had retrieved the ball with his right hand, had already charged into the paint.
Facing Malik Rose, who came over to help defend, Lee jumped with both feet in the paint, rising into the air against the Defense.
Amidst the fans' gasps, he grabbed the ball with his right hand and slammed it down over his defender!
"Boom!" The driving dunk was successful!
Malik Rose under the basket seemed to be startled, not making any defensive moves, just watching Clay Lee pound his chest and show off after landing.
90:76, the SBC Center also fell silent.
The game was likely over.
The San Antonio Spurs, in a scoring drought, kept clanking shots, occasionally getting some points from Duncan's free throws and strong drives to the basket.
Such a performance made the New York Knicks' Defense increasingly aggressive.
Parker's pick-and-roll on the left wing was squeezed through by Lee, who didn't pass the ball in time, but instead pulled back with a left-handed crossover.
Lee had been closely guarding him.
As he squeezed in front, he naturally swiped the ball with his left hand, completing the steal, and immediately poked the ball forward.
Seeing Parker lose the ball, Gregg Popovich on the sidelines turned away in frustration.
Just as the old man had anticipated, Clay Lee crashed through the Defense, retrieved the ball with his right hand, and with a 1-on-0 fast break, he delivered another one-handed tomahawk dunk!
Seemingly frustrated, Parker broke through and passed the ball on the next possession, but the right corner was empty, and he threw the ball directly to the audience.
After two consecutive turnovers, the San Antonio Spurs' bench atmosphere group also stared blankly.
Gregg Popovich couldn't hold back, calling a timeout and furiously berating Parker as he came off the court.
In the final minutes, both teams still didn't substitute their starting lineups.
The New York Knicks scored both inside and out, and some San Antonio Spurs fans sitting in the very back even left early.
At the end of the game, another wave of boos erupted in the SBC Center.
Many people seemed unable to accept such a result.
110:90, scoring 32 points in a single quarter, the New York Knicks overwhelmingly defeated their opponent!
Playing 45 minutes, the San Antonio Spurs remained the same, continuing to rely heavily on Duncan:
9 of 19 from the field, 9 of 15 from the free-throw line, 27 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers.
Duncan's double-double statistics couldn't lead his team to victory.
Parker was so dejected after being scolded by Gregg Popovich. In 40 minutes, he shot 6 of 17 from the field, 0 of 3 from three-point range, and 3 of 6 from the free-throw line, finishing with 15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 6 turnovers.
After the game, Ewing was still joking with David Robinson.
The Gorilla's physique had become even rounder, while David Robinson still had a muscular build.
But with the championship under his belt, Ewing displayed the demeanor of a Hall of Famer, while David Robinson wore a bitter smile.
At this time, Clay Lee was being interviewed.
His efficient performance in the 4th quarter once again led to impressive statistics:
14 of 23 from the field, 5 of 9 from three-point range, 8 of 8 from the free-throw line, 41 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover.
Craig Sager had grown accustomed to Lee's explosive performances.
This time, they were discussing the MVP topic:
"The New York Knicks have won both matchups this season. Does this mean Tim Duncan will miss out on the MVP?"
The MVP rankings were mostly dominated by big men from the Western Conference:
Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett.
In the Eastern Conference, Clay Lee ranked 1st, and Kidd ranked 5th.
Currently, the New York Knicks' record was excellent, but Lee remained very humble:
"This is just a regular season game. The San Antonio Spurs are ranked second in the Western Conference, and this season they've also added excellent talent to their perimeter."
"Tim Duncan is still a strong contender for MVP. I enjoy competing against such excellent players."
Craig Sager, who had entered a state of mutual praise, shook his head upon hearing this answer.
Like many of his colleagues, he believed no one could compete with Lee this season.
Every time they lost, the San Antonio media would hold a meeting for Gregg Popovich.
Losing by 20 points meant Gregg Popovich would have a tough week, but when interviewed, he still offered plenty of comforting words:
"We just couldn't make our shots. This kind of thing always happens in the regular season!"
"David will get healthy, and Steve will find his form. The team is still on the rise, and the San Antonio Spurs will return to the Finals this season!"
The New York Knicks still had back-to-back games to play, and at this time, ESPN had already begun to hype up the upcoming McDonald's All-American Game.
March had NBA games and NCAA games, but this year, LeBron James's popularity had soared.
The McDonald's All-American Game at the end of March would also be held at Gonzaga University.
Jeff Van Gundy had also been very busy recently.
As a Champion Coach, he was facing new challenges, and Cleveland fans had already begun to welcome him, a treatment that made the Bald Young Coach feel a bit giddy.
On Thursday, March 20th, the New York Knicks lost a back-to-back game to the Hornets last night, marking their second loss in March.
The TNT program, however, didn't discuss the team's record.
They invited the Bald Young Coach, and the trio also started to ride the wave of popularity.
In the studio, the increasingly round Jeff Van Gundy adopted the demeanor of a famous coach, dressed in a black suit and red tie, looking very reliable.
Kenny Smith continued their previous topic, smiling as he asked the Bald Young Coach:
"Jeff, Syracuse University has shown excellent strength, and Carmelo Anthony seems to have more mature skills than LeBron James."
"What are your thoughts on the two of them?"
March Madness certainly affects draft stock, and Carmelo Anthony had also attracted a lot of attention recently.
"It's difficult to compare the two. If we're talking about NBA standards, they will both need some time to adjust after entering the league."
"We all know that talent is crucial to establish oneself in the league. I believe they will make a name for themselves within three seasons."
An NCAA championship would bring a significant boost to a Rookie, and Jeff Van Gundy's comments were mostly diplomatic.
As a high school student who made the cover of Sports Illustrated, Charles Barkley was also curious about LeBron James:
"The Chosen One? Do you think he'll be the next Clay Lee?"
"I haven't paid much attention to high schoolers lately, but everyone seems to have a very high opinion of him!"
The Sports Illustrated issue released in February caused quite a stir, but Jeff Van Gundy shook his head after hearing the question:
"No, LeBron James will find it very difficult to surpass Clay Lee's achievements."
"Basketball belongs to 5 people, and Lee's rise, like Magic Johnson, had excellent teammates early in his career."
"For LeBron James, he should learn more from Michael Jordan."
"He will encounter difficulties early in his professional career, but this is also his opportunity. Perhaps he cannot keep winning like Lee, but he has a chance to save Cleveland sports."
All three could tell that Jeff Van Gundy intended to be a "savior," and no one could comment on this.
Ernie Johnson could only change the subject and said:
"The Knicks have 5 games to play this week. The good news is that in their upcoming back-to-back games, they will face the Chicago Bulls."
"72 wins? Lee has a chance to lead the team to break this record!"
When this topic was brought up, Jeff Van Gundy remained silent.
Kenny Smith quickly made a prediction:
"From late March to early April, the Knicks won't face too many strong opponents."
"Of course, don't forget Clay Lee and Michael Jordan's final matchup. TNT will also have special coverage."
"..."
On March 21st, Chauncey Billups gave the Knicks a warm welcome.
The core guard shot 2-of-12 from the field, 1-of-7 from three-point range, and scored 10 points primarily from free throws.
New York fans were overjoyed.
After enduring tonight's game, the next day's Chicago Bulls would be a boost to their record.
88:104. After the game ended, Madison Square Garden erupted once again!
Ben Wallace recorded 7 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and 1 turnover tonight.
Ron Artest, on the other hand, had a feast, shooting 7-of-13 from the field, 3-of-6 from three-point range, and 4-of-6 from the free-throw line, finishing with 21 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 2 turnovers.
When interviewed after the game, Ron Artest smiled happily and continued to loudly proclaim:
"I am the best perimeter defender this season! I am confident I can limit any opponent!"
"Rebounds? That's not my job. I don't like to steal my teammates' stats. Kurt and Pau will protect the rim!"
Ron Artest was clearly being sarcastic about Ben Wallace's rebound-grabbing.
However, "Big Ben," who returned to the locker room for an interview, didn't care about any of that:
"I just focus all my attention on the defensive end. Rebounding is my job."
"I don't care about stats. As long as I'm on the court, I'll fight for every rebound. That's how I play. On offense, I completely trust my teammates!"
Advanced statistics weren't fully developed back then, and Ben Wallace, having been influenced by the Knicks, naturally knew his own strengths.
He would never give up on rebounds.
"Big Ben" intended to continue accumulating honors.
Currently, his defensive efficiency rating was far ahead, and even if Ron Artest was green with envy, it wouldn't change the outcome.
On the plane flying to Chicago the next day, Ron Artest was so infuriated by Ben Wallace's "thick skin" that he kept pacing wildly.
Clay Lee and Stephen Jackson were playing Texas Hold'em.
Noticing Ron Artest's "scratching his head and ears" expression, everyone started to tease him:
"Ron, give up this season! The opponent's stats are too good!"
"Rebounds, blocks, and steals are all among the top few for interior players. The DPOY is most likely still his."
No sooner had Stephen Jackson finished speaking than Grant Hill on the other side added:
"Winning the award two years in a row, your chance will come next season!"
The DPOY also experiences aesthetic fatigue.
Although Ron Artest knew this, he always felt that winning the award this way made him "inferior."
"This guy is definitely stat-padding. The Detroit Pistons gave him all the rebounds!"
Listening to Ron Artest's sour remarks, Lee encouraged him again:
"Go for the steals title. I don't mind the competition, but you have to control your fouls. Don't always get your third foul in the first half."
The reason why the Knicks achieved such an excellent record this season was largely due to Lee and Artest's steals.
Teams that relied on swingmen would likely struggle against the Knicks.
New York fans had witnessed many times Ron Artest's oppressive Defense, where the opposing player hastily passed the ball back, and Lee easily completed a steal.
In some games, the two would also anticipate the ball's trajectory and complete steals even when facing opponents' give-and-go plays.
The New York Media had been cheering for Ron Artest this season, but "Big Ben's" stats were so perfect that the DPOY was highly likely to be his.
Thinking of the steals title, Ron Artest felt a bit depressed again, as his competitor was right on his team.
After defeating the Chicago Bulls, the Knicks concluded their 7-day, 5-game schedule.
For the remaining 4 games this month, they only had two opponents: the Toronto Raptors and the Nets.
On Monday, the 24th, the Toronto Raptors challenged the Knicks on the road.
Affected by Carter's injury, the Toronto Raptors had only achieved a record of 21 wins and 47 losses so far.
Considering the remaining schedule, the Toronto Raptors were highly likely to be going home to fish.
Injuries indeed affected Carter.
That night, the "Half man" turned into a jump-shooting pretty boy, showing no aggressiveness throughout the entire game.
In one game, the Toronto Raptors only got 14 free throws, most of which were concentrated on Antonio Davis and Alvin Williams.
After a 15:28 run in the third quarter, the atmosphere groups of both teams took over the game.
Ultimately, 86:102. The Knicks were in average form but still easily defeated their opponents.
After the loss, Head Coach Wilkens proactively congratulated Mike D'Antoni:
"This is truly a perfect season. Your performance has been outstanding!"
"On both offense and Defense, the Knicks are the better team."
Hearing the Champion Coach's flattery, Mike D'Antoni was secretly overjoyed, but outwardly he put on a humble facade:
"Just lucky! The Knicks are a championship team. I just did some minor work!"
Wilkens was speechless.
Minor work? You're about to tie the best historical record!
On the 26th, challenging the Nets on the road, Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson both exploded.
97:104. The Knicks suffered their third loss in March.
After a day of rest, back at Madison Square Garden, 100:124, the Knicks routed the Nets again.
On the 30th, in their last game of the month, the Knicks defeated the Toronto Raptors on the road, bringing their record to 66 wins and 8 losses.
The hype around NCAA and the "Chosen One" was once again overshadowed.
The Knicks had a chance to break the historical best record!
In early April, the cover of Sports Illustrated once again featured Clay Lee.
The entire cover was very simple: Clay Lee, fully equipped in his Knicks home jersey, held the ball with both hands at his chest.
The corresponding title was:
"GOAT?!"
Such a title had been used for Lee many times, but fans never tired of it.
They enjoyed the atmosphere of heated debates that started right after buying the magazine.
On April 2nd, the Knicks embarked on another road trip to the Western Conference.
The Denver Nuggets had completely entered tanking mode.
Their first road opponent had no desire to fight, and Clay Lee also checked out after three quarters.
In the subsequent back-to-back game against the old Utah Jazz, Lee once again delivered a powerful blow!
110:90. After winning this game, on ESPN's commentary desk, Nessler was still shouting after the game ended:
"No one can stop the Knicks from breaking the record!"
In the back-to-back challenge against the Clippers, even with extensive rotations, the Knicks gave the opponent no chance, still winning by 20 points!
On April 8th, at Madison Square Garden, Walt Frazier smiled and interviewed Clay Lee before the game.
This former star had been making frequent bold predictions lately and was incredibly hyped:
"There are still 5 games left, Lee. Do you feel any pressure now? We are getting closer and closer to the record!"
Tonight's opponent for the Knicks was the Atlanta Hawks.
Their current record was 31 wins and 45 losses, and they were already confirmed to be going fishing.
Lee, wearing his practice uniform, no longer held back after hearing the question, but rather said confidently:
"There will naturally be pressure, but our schedule is good! In two days, we will host the 76ers at home."
"In the upcoming back-to-back games, we will face the Cavaliers. I have more faith in the team's strength. We will have a perfect record this week!"
Walt Frazier nodded continuously, his smile growing brighter.
He believed Lee's words.
Every time Eddy Curry came to New York, he was in a bad mood.
If he hadn't been traded in the draft, Pau Gasol's position would have been his!
Glenn Robinson's form further declined after coming to the Atlanta Hawks.
He failed to prove Ray Allen wrong, and incidentally, further confirmed his former teammate's words were correct.
After repeatedly being beaten down over these past few seasons, Jason Terry no longer made bold statements before games.
The Atlanta Hawks continued to lose quietly.
90:108. The New York Knicks continued their winning streak, and the New York Media had already begun celebrating the team's record-breaking performance!
As the weather warmed, more and more people in Manhattan were seen wearing New York Knicks T-shirts.
The entire city began to buzz in April.
Although James Dolan had not made a statement, the team's management had already prepared commemorative merchandise for breaking the record.
On April 10th, the 76ers, who had arrived in New York, all stayed in their hotel rooms, as New York Knicks elements became increasingly prevalent in Manhattan.
The 76ers' record was still decent, currently standing at 43 wins and 34 losses.
Although Larry Brown was planning to leave, he still wanted to make one last push this season!
On the evening of the 11th, even before the game started, the shouts of "overrated" grew louder and louder.
The 76ers were playing a back-to-back game.
Allen Iverson warmed up with headphones on, trying to block out the noise, but unfortunately, it had limited effect, and the fans' shouts made him irritable.
Head Coach Larry Brown continued to field his "Death Five Small" lineup:
Eric Snow and Allen Iverson partnered in the backcourt, while the three frontcourt players were Greg Buckner, Kenny Thomas, and Tyrone Hill.
As the New York fans expected, the New York Knicks blew out their opponents by halftime.
Kurt Thomas and Pau Gasol repeatedly scored in the paint, and the 76ers' perimeter offense was also tightly defended by the New York Knicks' wings.
42:63. At halftime, the DJ started shouting, and the excited fans twisted along, everyone began to celebrate the victory in advance.
There was no comeback, and the 76ers lost the game as usual.
86:113. The New York Knicks were getting closer and closer to the record!
Playing 42 minutes, Allen Iverson gave his all, shooting 8-of-21 from the field, 1-of-5 from three-point range, and 3-of-5 from the free-throw line, scoring a team-high 20 points and dishing out 11 assists.
Although he had 6 turnovers, Head Coach Larry Brown kept praising his disciple after the game:
"I saw Allen's desire for victory. This is just a regular season game, and we will focus on our upcoming opponents."
Allen Iverson did not accept interviews and left early after the game.
For this short guard, New York was his nightmare.
On the evening of the 12th, to secure their number one draft pick, the Cavaliers had already started to tank early.
109:87. Losing this game, the Cavaliers' record fell to 15 wins and 65 losses.
The Chosen One was destined to be theirs!
Cleveland fans also stood up and applauded after the game.
After winning, the New York Knicks' record reached 72 wins and 8 losses, successfully tying the Chicago Bulls' best historical record set in the 1996 season!
Ricky Davis showed a demeanor like a leader, and after the game, he initiative and Clay Lee embraced and greeted each other:
"That's incredible, Clay, I'm glad to see you guys achieve such a feat!"
"Next time you come to Cleveland, remember to text me. Although it's not as good as New York, I guarantee my brothers will be satisfied!"
Lee looked at this "leader" with cornrows, his expression slightly strange.
If his memory served him right, this person would soon be saying goodbye to Cleveland:
"No problem, Bro! I look forward to our matchup next season!"
"..."
On April 14th, the New York Knicks played an away game against the Washington Wizards.
The original hype for this game was "Clay Lee and Michael Jordan's last encounter."
But as the New York Knicks' record reached 72 wins and 8 losses, and their opponent was Michael Jordan, the excitement exploded for a while.
Before the game, Charles Oakley didn't care about Michael Jordan's mood.
He grinned widely during an interview and offered his blessings:
"73 wins, oh! This is really great, I love this New York Knicks team."
"Records are meant to be broken, and Michael Jordan must also like to see such a scene!"
The old guy has been gloating lately.
For Oakley, his current happiness is built upon Michael Jordan's pain.
The game that night was broadcast nationwide on ABC.
Breaking the record set by Michael Jordan under everyone's gaze was indeed very interesting!
After winning the All-Star Game MVP, Michael Jordan was originally in a great mood.
But as the season progressed, the Washington Wizards continuously lost games, and the New York Knicks kept winning, Michael Jordan started to scold the team's scapegoats with a grim face again.
With 37 wins and 43 losses, the Washington Wizards were already confirmed to be out of the playoffs, but Kwame Brown's life was still not easy.
The old guy always criticized him.
Before the game started, in the away team's locker room, Clay Lee was surrounded by sports reporters.
Everyone knew that the New York Knicks would definitely defeat the Washington Wizards.
It was hard to lose such an easy game.
As for the old man having a burst of power? Absolutely impossible!
An ESPN reporter struggled to hand the microphone to Lee, ignoring the angry looks around him, and quickly asked loudly:
"Clay, what are your thoughts on breaking the record in front of Michael Jordan?"
Reporters around quickly gathered their recording equipment next to Lee, everyone wanted to join in on the gossip.
Breaking the record on national television, Lee was very satisfied with this script.
He knew Michael Jordan was in a bad mood, so he didn't say too much at this time:
"Records are meant to be broken. I hope Michael likes this gift, seeing a new record born before he officially retires!"
"..."
After the game started that night, most of the Washington Wizards players were not in the mood to fight, only Michael Jordan kept demanding the ball, exerting himself on both ends of the court, trying to win the game.
Stackhouse was completely unaggressive in the game, not continuously attacking the rim as usual, but instead continuously shooting jump shots that clanked off the rim.
At halftime, 58:36.
Michael Jordan, walking towards the player tunnel, pursed his lips, his face extremely grim.
Even though the New York Knicks brought on their rotation players early in the 3rd quarter, an excited Amar'e Stoudemire didn't know what it meant to hold back, getting opportunities and slamming down dunks.
Ultimately, the Washington Wizards lost very ungracefully in this nationally televised game.
112:80. The New York Knicks crushed the Washington Wizards, securing their 73rd win!
After winning Rookie of the Month in March, and continuing to rack up points in easy games in April, Amar'e Stoudemire was happier than anyone after the game, yelling and hugging his teammates.
The Washington Wizards fans didn't care about the outcome of the game either, and at this point, everyone also stood up and applauded.
Doug Collins witnessed Lee's rise, having commentated many New York Knicks games for NBC.
He truly didn't expect to witness such a scene one day.
After the game, watching Jordan sit silently on the bench, he felt a bit uneasy:
"A new era has truly arrived..."
Mike D'Antoni hugged everyone he saw.
The moustache Coach experienced what it felt like to be "blessed by God" at this moment, breaking the historical best record in his first season coaching the team!
Mike D'Antoni, holding Lee tightly, said excitedly again and again:
"Thank you! Lee!"
Lee patted the "future famous coach" and, seeing his teammates hugging each other, said meaningfully:
"The New York Knicks are very young, and our era has just begun!"
On the other side, Ewing and Oakley were also embracing and whispering, while the Washington Wizards players all congratulated Clay Lee.
Finally, Michael Jordan, wearing a training uniform, also came forward to hug and greet him.
The surrounding sports media all swarmed around.
This was also a historic moment, cameras flashed wildly, and microphones were all pushed towards the two of them.
They were surrounded by several layers of people, but the two in the crowd had long been accustomed to such scenes:
"73 wins! I did it. Witnessing such a record before you retire, I hope you like this special gift!"
Hearing Lee's words,Jordan raised his eyebrows helplessly, then smiled freely, and bumped fists again:
"Yes, you did it! Remember not to lose the Finals! Otherwise, you'll be the biggest joke!"
"Ha!"
Lee laughed heartily, which reminded him of some interesting memories:
"No one can take my championship this year! Remember to watch the news, the New York Knicks will also create the best playoff record in history!"
"..."
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)