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[Yaaaaaaađ„ 300 chapters done â with many more to đ«Ž. Please give a review and thanks for reading!]
On April 15, 2003, after last night's ABC national broadcast, the New York Knicks gained a large number of 'winning fans'.
Even those who don't follow the NBA, as long as they saw the news, would murmur:
"Michael Jordan's record has been broken?"
The 1996 Chicago Bulls left a deep impression on many people.
Michael Jordan lost upon his return, and then in his second season, he led the team to the best record in history.
That Chicago Bulls team, excellent in both offense and Defense, gained a lot of attention, and many commentators even confidently declared that year:
"In the next ten years, no one will break the Chicago Bulls' historical best record!"
Interestingly, in Michael Jordan's final season, he became a backdrop, personally witnessing Clay Lee lead the New York Knicks to break the record set by the Chicago Bulls.
Although Michael Jordan attended the post-game press conference and congratulated the New York Knicks with a smile, fans who watched the game knew that the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man (Phil Jackson) was in a bad mood and almost broke down:
"I am very happy to witness the birth of a new record. This season, the New York Knicks are the better team!"
"..."
These words from Michael Jordan also made some old fans feel sad.
In competitive sports, everyone only remembers the first place.
From this day forward, the 72-win Chicago Bulls might gradually be forgotten by younger fans.
On April 15, the New York Knicks returned to Manhattan.
Tonight, they will also play their last regular season game of the season.
After breaking the record, the coaching staff naturally made extensive rotations for the back-to-back game.
For safety, this game was almost given up.
No one wanted to see players get injured in the last game.
Their opponent for the last game of the season was the Pacers, who were still fighting for ranking.
In the morning, the front pages of several mainstream New York newspapers all featured the same news:
"Best Record in History!"
Various articles praising the team repeatedly talked about the same thing.
To cater to the preferences of New York fans, most articles prematurely predicted a championship.
As for losing in the playoffs, that had long been forgotten by everyone.
The game officially kicked off at 7:30 PM.
Before the game, a large crowd of fans had already gathered outside Madison Square Garden.
Due to the geographical location, the excessive number of fans almost caused traffic congestion.
The entire city entered a state of revelry in April, and fortunately, the New York Knicks did not disappoint, breaking the record ahead of schedule.
Upon arriving in Manhattan, the Pacers players also stayed indoors.
Reggie Miller did not want to hear the insults from New York fans.
Despite their best efforts to avoid it, a large number of fans were once again chanting "F*** Miller" before the game.
Ever since he broke the New York Knicks' early-season winning streak, he had thoroughly angered the vengeful New York fans.
An hour before the game, the Madison Square Garden was already half-full.
The outcome no longer mattered.
Fans who bought tickets simply wanted to enjoy the atmosphere.
The Pacers currently had a record of 45 wins and 35 losses, a result that Coach Isiah Thomas was quite satisfied with.
However, everything is subject to comparison.
Mike D'Antoni was also a Rookie coach, yet he ultimately led the New York Knicks to a 73-win record.
Naturally, Isiah Thomas felt a pang of envy, but he generously offered his congratulations during an interview:
"I am very happy to witness such a record. The New York Knicks' performance this season has been outstanding!"
"The greatest player in history? Yes, Clay Lee is the greatest in history. He has already surpassed Michael Jordan."
Unlike others, when this topic was brought up, Isiah Thomas immediately kicked Michael Jordan while he was down, almost shouting to the sports media, "Michael Jordan is past his prime!"
Having set a new record, Mike D'Antoni was happy, but with the playoffs still ahead, he also felt a slight pressure.
73 wins is great, but if they lose the o'brien cup, the New York Knicks would likely become the biggest laughingstock.
Mike D'Antoni was naturally a bit worried, but he didn't show this emotion during interviews.
Facing reporters, he still confidently stated with a smile:
"We have already started preparing for the upcoming playoffs. Currently, the team has no injuries, which is indeed a perfect season for us!"
"Best playoff record? That's a good challenge, and I believe my players are ready."
"Lee will fulfill his promise. He will lead the team to keep winning!"
Although the coaching staff had clearly stated that the starting lineup would have very limited playing time tonight, most sports reporters still surrounded Lee before the game.
Everyone felt a sense of being 'unable to praise enough' this season, but with the regular season almost over, everyone's attention shifted to the upcoming playoffs.
An ESPN reporter, naturally not forgetting the championship team, suddenly asked Lee amidst the praise:
"Lee, if you encounter the Lakers again, do you think the New York Knicks can get their revenge?"
Although such a prediction was a bit exaggerated, many sports reporters felt that the Lakers reaching the Finals was a given.
Even with a poor regular season record, everyone had a mysterious confidence in the Lakers.
"The Lakers seem to have fallen to the lower half of the bracket. They should be thinking about the playoffs."
"I don't think they can make it to the Finals. Their regular season record speaks for itself. It proves they are no longer in championship contention."
"As for the promise Shaq made to the fans, I will help him fulfill it!"
The New York reporters laughed along, but many didn't expect Lee to be so certain that the Lakers wouldn't make it to the Finals.
Looking at Lee, who was leaning back in his seat, some media members also realized that the Timberwolves' record this season was even better than the Lakers'.
The Los Angeles Times reporter was naturally displeased, but unfortunately, everything Clay Lee said was true.
Dominance isn't about predictions and bragging.
If you have the strength, it will naturally show in the regular season, and the Lakers simply fell short.
The Yahoo Sports reporter seemed very interested in this topic and once again leaned forward, fanning the flames with a question:
"Lee, in the Western Conference, which team do you think will make it to the Finals?"
"We all know that the playoffs are a stage for star players. Although the Lakers performed poorly in the regular season, perhaps they can rebound strongly in the playoffs."
Noticing everyone looking at him, Lee first adjusted his arm guard, then confidently gave his answer:
"Of course, the team that is first in the Western Conference. This season, the Dallas Mavericks and the Spurs have also performed excellently, and they both have a chance to make it to the Finals."
Lee noticed that a San Antonio sports reporter was also there, and he winked at him, adding:
"No matter who the opponent is, the New York Knicks will be the winning side in the end!"
Before the game, Spike Lee, seeing his old friend, loudly greeted Reggie Miller, but naturally received no response.
Miller had already entered a state of silent stoicism.
At nearly 38 years old, Reggie Miller's physical condition had declined this season, leading to a corresponding drop in his average points per game.
Jalen Rose, on the other hand, was still relatively stable, but he was no longer the team's core.
Jermaine O'Neal had more opportunities this season and gradually took over the Pacers' offense.
As the game began, the atmosphere in the Madison Square Garden grew even more boisterous.
Every time Reggie Miller missed a shot, it would trigger a huge cheer.
With 3 minutes and 56 seconds left in the first quarter, the New York Knicks began their rotations.
The Pacers thought their chance had come, but they didn't gain much of an advantage even against the bench lineup.
In the second quarter, Matt Barnes, from the end of the bench, also got an opportunity.
At the MSG commentary table, Marv Albert and Walt Frazier discussed gossip while commentating on the game:
"The eighth seed in the Eastern Conference is still undecided, but there's a good chance it will be the Orlando Magic."
"Allen Iverson had some attendance issues this season. He only played 65 games this year. In contrast, Clay Lee has played 80+ games for several consecutive seasons, which is truly incredible!"
Clay Lee was the New York Knicks' most consistent player in terms of attendance.
This season, Pau Gasol played 81 games, Kurt Thomas 80, Ron Artest 74, and Grant Hill 72.
Marv Albert's lament also resonated with Walt Frazier:
"Playing more games than other players every year, Lee's physical talent is underestimated, perhaps this is God's favor!"
Not many star players can play all 82 games.
Physical durability is especially important in the NBA.
Among the New York Knicks' bench players, the short guard Knight didn't play much in each game, but he still suffered an injury this season, playing 68 games.
Injuries can happen in practice, and they are even more likely to happen in games.
Therefore, Lee's consistent high-level performance for multiple seasons, with his statistics climbing year by year, was considered even more outrageous than 73 wins by many.
At halftime, the score was 56:55.
The Pacers players walking towards the player tunnel all had long faces.
Their opponent had rotated extensively, and they almost couldn't beat the bench lineup.
The thought of it was upsetting.
Fortunately, in the second half, the New York Knicks' Defense gradually relaxed, and both sides entered a phase of mutual scoring, with the Pacers slowly extending their lead in the fourth quarter.
With 4 minutes and 26 seconds left in the game, the Pacers' starting lineup was still on the court.
101:96, a 5-point lead was not enough to secure the victory.
At this point, the New York Knicks' lineup consisted of Knight and Trenton Hassell in the backcourt, and Matt Barnes, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Gadzuric in the frontcourt.
The two teams battled until the end of the game, with the Pacers narrowly winning.
109:102. Although they lost, the cheers from the crowd grew louder and louder.
Clay Lee stood up from the bench and high-fived the fans, and the cheers quickly turned into a unified chant:
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
Seeing such a scene, Reggie Miller only felt that the championship was still a long way off.
His long-cherished desire seemed to remain unfulfilled.
Without blessings or greetings, the victorious Reggie Miller walked towards the player tunnel early, looking very dejected.
Perhaps Reggie Miller will not receive many honors until the end of his career.
The New York Knicks players wouldn't consider their opponent's feelings.
Grant Hill, who was being interviewed, was particularly happy and proactively made a bold statement:
"After last year's loss, we've become stronger. Lee was right, it's time to create the best playoff record in history!"
Grant Hill's stats declined this season, mainly due to reduced playing time.
However, despite the statistical decline, his physical condition was better than last season:
He averaged 16.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.5 turnovers, with a field goal percentage of 50.3%, a three-point percentage of 34.7%, and a free throw percentage of 82.1%.
His three-point production, with 1.3 attempts per game, was negligible, but most teams wouldn't completely leave him open in the right corner.
During his healthy season, his playing time also reached a career low of 30.9 minutes, with an average of 12.6 attempts per game, meaning his body wasn't overly taxed, which was also a reason for Grant Hill's confidence.
While the "good guy" was influenced to start boasting, Pau Gasol was much more modest, even when meeting Spanish sports reporters, his answers remained very conservative.
When asked if they could win the championship this season, Pau Gasol shyly nodded:
"Our performance this season has been incredible, 73 wins, everyone is full of desire for the championship, we will definitely lift the o'brien cup!"
Gasol's stats this season were very consistent, averaging 17.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.9 blocks, and 2.1 turnovers;
He averaged 35.6 minutes per game, 12.4 attempts per game, with a field goal percentage of 51.4% and a free throw percentage of 76.8%.
Layups and mid-range jump shots were Gasol's main offensive methods.
Thanks to the Eastern Conference's interior level, he still hadn't gained weight this season.
Most sports media surrounded Clay Lee, Grant Hill, and Pau Gasol, the three main scorers for the New York Knicks.
Among the starters, Kurt Thomas contributed 10.1 points, and Ron Artest also averaged 12.0 points.
With five starters scoring in double figures, this was also the New York Knicks' guarantee for achieving 73 wins.
After the game, Madison Square Garden was still noisy.
Ron Artest, influenced by the atmosphere, started campaigning for himself again during an interview:
"I am the best Defensive Player in the regular season, and in the playoffs, I will become my opponents' nightmare!"
"No one can stop us from winning the championship!"
Emphasizing his Defense multiple times, Ron Artest hoped to win the DPOY (Defensive Player of the Year) by virtue of the 73 wins.
He clearly couldn't compete with Ben Wallace in terms of advanced stats, so he only hoped that the team's record could bring some added benefit.
Although Stephen Jackson's stats weren't eye-catching, he knew that as long as they won the championship, his contract would be secure.
The New York Knicks' salary cap space was a colorful pie, and no one would voluntarily break up a championship roster!
Tayshaun Prince hugged his family who were present.
This Rookie's stats were meager, but he had secured a spot in the main rotation.
Jackson noticed Tayshaun Prince smiling happily and stepped forward to tease him:
"Winning a championship in your first year in the NBA, you've already surpassed most NBA players."
"Perhaps this is God's favor!"
Upon mentioning the championship, Tayshaun Prince also showed a hint of longing.
Compared to riding coattails at the end of a career, winning an award as a Rookie was definitely a dream start!
On April 16th, there were 13 games that day, and some teams still had to fight for playoff spots.
The New York Knicks' regular season record was set at 73 wins and 9 losses.
Several New York newspapers had already started celebrating the upcoming minor awards for Clay Lee.
The Orlando Magic and the Milwaukee Bucks would compete for the final playoff spot, and this game attracted the attention of many basketball commentators.
The Seattle SuperSonics had already been eliminated from playoff contention, and Ray Allen started his trash talk before the game:
"As I said, George Karl and the Milwaukee Bucks cannot succeed, they made a foolish choice!"
The jinx came true again.
That night, 99:93, the Orlando Magic narrowly defeated the Milwaukee Bucks on the road, successfully advancing to the playoffs.
After the game, George Karl was furious.
Gary Payton was not a panacea, and the Milwaukee Bucks' record this season was set at 40 wins and 42 losses.
Both the Milwaukee Bucks and the Seattle SuperSonics were eliminated, and George Karl and Ray Allen began a new round of feuding.
After all the games that day concluded, the regular season standings for the Eastern Conference and Western Conference were officially released:
The eight teams that entered the playoffs in the Eastern Conference were:
The 73-win New York Knicks, the 49-win Detroit Pistons, the 47-win Nets, the 46-win Pacers.
The 46-win Hornets, the 44-win 76ers, the 43-win Celtics, and the 42-win Orlando Magic.
The eight teams that entered the playoffs in the Western Conference were:
The 60-win Spurs, the 59-win Sacramento Kings, the 60-win Dallas Mavericks, the 51-win Timberwolves.
The 49-win Lakers, the 49-win Portland Trail Blazers, the 46-win Utah Jazz, and the 44-win Phoenix Suns.
The Lakers failed to reach 50 wins this season, which many commentators didn't expect.
The losing streak at the beginning of the season had a major impact, and Shaquille O'Neal was destined to take the blame.
To the disappointment of chinese fans, the Houston Rockets ultimately achieved a record of 43 wins and missed the playoffs.
In mid-March, Tomjanovich's health deteriorated, which also affected the team's performance.
However, for some "bandwagon fans," everyone can continue to follow the New York Knicks' games.
After achieving 73 wins, "ten-year loyal fans" came uninvited.
The New York Knicks got four days of rest, and on the evening of the 20th, they would host the Orlando Magic.
This season, the NBA also implemented a format reform.
The first round of the playoffs would no longer be best-of-five, but best-of-seven, like the subsequent rounds.
This change undoubtedly increased the possibility of an upset!
On the morning of the 17th, after a day off, the New York Knicks resumed normal training.
While 73 wins were good, they also brought pressure to everyone.
If they lost the championship, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Coach D'Antoni didn't want to become a joke, so he and the coaching staff had already prepared the Orlando Magic's game footage.
However, after watching for a few days, he found that the opponent's tactics hadn't changed throughout the season:
"Give the ball to Tracy McGrady, give the ball to Houston!"
After trading for Drew Gooden, the Orlando Magic did indeed make up for some of their interior disadvantages, but Houston's knee injury made the former champion guard's condition unpredictable.
During the afternoon's tactical training session, everyone clearly felt that Lee's tendency to dunk had surged, but no one paid much attention, thinking that the boss was in a good mood and wanted to show off some fancy moves.
It wasn't until the end of the afternoon training session that Lee, wearing a long-sleeved training jersey, shook his head secretly.
His "Flying Man dream" was temporarily shattered.
At the end of the regular season, the New York Knicks once again won the Atlantic Division championship, and the team received a championship banner.
Clay Lee also gained a new talent:
[Vince Carter's extraordinary jumping ability]
After digesting Grant Hill's excellent jumping talent, Clay Lee's jumping ability value reached 92.
The newly acquired talent was purple, and if fully digested, the value should exceed 95.
However, what made Lee feel helpless was that talents all had physical adaptability, plus his height and wingspan, he was destined not to be able to dunk as gracefully as Vince Carter.
Fortunately, the New York Knicks are in the Eastern Conference, and the bonus period is very long.
As long as they can win the Division Championship every season, with the accumulation of talents, the "Flying Man dream" can still be salvaged.
The announcement of the DPOY (Defensive Player of the Year) award usually takes place on the first day of the playoffs.
Ron Artest still hadn't given up on this award, and after the training session, he was still shouting:
"73 wins should bring me some bonus. I have a feeling that the final winner will be me."
"It would be great to just make the All-Defensive First Team. As for the award, don't hold out too much hope!"
Lee's words shattered Ron Artest's fantasy.
The latter seemed not to believe it and was still moved by his own thoughts:
"Maybe the voters won't look at the data, I still have a chance, everyone can see my defensive influence!"
"..."
Soon, everyone joined in with loud jeers.
Winning an award was impossible.
Ben Wallace's defensive efficiency rating was 90.0, far ahead of all other players this season.
NBA Head Coaches would vote based on impression, and sports reporters naturally wouldn't pay attention to every game.
Everyone relied heavily on Excel.
Ron Artest was destined to be out of luck this season.
On April 18, the NBA announced this season's statistical leaders:
Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons was once again crowned Rebounding King with an average of 15.4 rebounds per game.
Clay Lee of the New York Knicks successfully became the Assists King with an average of 10.7 assists per game.
Theo Ratliff of the Atlanta Hawks was named Blocks King with an average of 3.2 blocks per game.
Clay Lee of the New York Knicks was once again named Steals King with an average of 2.8 steals per game.
Clay Lee was once again crowned Scoring King with an average of 32.8 points per game, without any suspense!
Clay Lee successfully won three minor awards.
Critics were not surprised, but when ESPN released the PER values, many people were once again dumbfounded.
Clay Lee was far ahead in the efficiency rating rankings, with his PER reaching an even more outrageous 38.2.
Tracy McGrady was ranked 2nd on the efficiency list with a PER of 30.3.
Shaquille O'Neal was ranked 3rd with a PER of 29.5.
Clay Lee broke his own efficiency record, and ESPN's data expert Hollinger once again praised Lee wildly in his column article:
"Data cannot fully reflect Lee's performance! Clay Lee is the true GOAT!"
"No player in history can compare to him!"
"..."
In the 2002-2003 season, Clay Lee once again entered the 180 Club, starting all 82 games, averaging 35.9 minutes per game.
He averaged 32.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 10.7 assists, 2.8 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 2.8 turnovers per game.
He averaged 20.3 field goal attempts per game, with a field goal percentage of 52.6%, and averaged 8.9 three-point attempts per game, with a three-point percentage of 42.8%.
He averaged 8.3 free throws per game, with a free throw percentage of 92.8%.
315 three-pointers in a single season, almost breaking last season's record.
730 three-point attempts in a single season, which also included some super-long three-pointers.
Data truly cannot fully represent Clay Lee's performance.
Hollinger's view was agreed upon by many critics, who urgently needed more detailed advanced statistics, which, translated into terms fans could understand, meant:
"We don't know how to praise him anymore."
These minor awards are just embellishments for the current Lee.
Many NBA scouts are currently looking for the next "combo guard."
Dwyane Wade, who is about to participate in the draft, has been modeled after Clay Lee.
TNT and ESPN have recently been warming up for the upcoming playoffs.
Compared to the professional gushing from ESPN's data experts and former coaches, TNT took a different approach by comparing him to historical players.
The trio brought out Larry Bird, who won three consecutive MVPs in modern basketball, to compare with Clay Lee.
Charles Barkley had a lot to say on this topic and was particularly active in the studio:
"Larry Bird, who won MVP in the 1984-1985 season, is very close to Clay Lee!"
"Efficient shooting, excellent passing vision, and unparalleled game influence!"
Kenny Smith interrupted his partner, and the director quickly displayed Larry Bird's statistics:
"He's very close, but Larry Bird's highest career efficiency rating was 27.8."
"Numbers don't lie. Lee is a more outstanding player. He's on another level. There really hasn't been a player in history who plays like him."
"I'm sure Michael Jordan couldn't have the same impact as Clay Lee. It's truly terrifying!"
Noticing his partner's look of admiration, Charles Barkley secretly pouted, then retorted again:
"It's a different era. We can't compare broadly. In the past, no one played like Lee because we didn't emphasize three-pointers. Big men and forwards were the key to dominating games."
"Clay Lee is excellent, but I think Larry Bird could also perform similarly if he came to this era."
"Don't forget he's taller and a better rebounder!"
Ernie Johnson no longer gave them a chance to argue and brought the topic back on track:
"Our colleagues believe Clay Lee is the greatest player in history. He's only 25 years old and has at least 10 more years in his career."
"I agree with that view. When the Knicks build a suitable roster around him, Lee will be unstoppable."
The explosive Excel data left Charles Barkley speechless.
Three consecutive years of achieving the highest efficiency rating in history, no one could ask for more.
However, Charles Barkley still didn't agree with this view and continued to pester:
"I only agree halfway. The current NBA is too soft. There isn't an outside player like Michael Jordan to compete with Clay Lee."
"That's why he can put up these outrageous numbers! Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, and Vince Carter, these three Eastern Conference All-Star backcourt players, are all overrated."
"They simply can't compare to Clay Lee. As for Kobe Bryant in the Western Conference, he's just a Michael Jordan imitator."
"This era created Clay Lee. You have to admit that the league's strength has declined significantly compared to the early 90s."
This kind of view would certainly offend people.
Compared to Lee, the Excel data of those four All-Star backcourt players looked like stat-padding.
Tracy McGrady was indeed efficient this year, but he still couldn't compare to Clay Lee.
Kenny Smith didn't want to receive another complaint and started to speak diplomatically:
"The league currently places more emphasis on Defense. You know that zone Defense is now allowed, which restricts the performance of scorers."
As soon as he finished speaking, the director displayed the New York Knicks' statistics for this season:
They averaged 87.9 field goal attempts per game, scored 110.0 points per game, with a field goal percentage of 47.8% and a three-point percentage of 37.8%.
The Dallas Mavericks, ranked 2nd, averaged 103.0 points per game, the Warriors, ranked 3rd, averaged 102.4 points per game, the Sacramento Kings, ranked 4th, averaged 101.7 points per game and the Lakers, ranked 5th, averaged 100.4 points per game.
Five teams scored over 100 points, making it hard to say how high the defensive intensity was.
Charles Barkley completely let loose, and after seeing these statistics, he firmly stated:
"It's not that teams emphasize Defense. It's that the quality of the stars has declined. Yes, it's the players' lack of strength!"
"True scorers are never limited by rules. Many people have proven this. Stop making excuses. Besides Clay Lee, there are no superstars right now!"
When a player is ridiculously strong, critics naturally question the era.
Fortunately, Lee entered the NBA in 1996 and competed against the Chicago Bulls in their late career, so there aren't many critics who favor the past over the present.
TNT's program had considerable influence, and Charles Barkley's views were supported by many New York fans, for whom other stars were merely insignificant.
Before the playoffs began, Lee received three small trophies.
The New York Knicks also didn't miss the opportunity to capitalize.
The team store on the first floor stocked four playoff cheer T-shirts.
Crew neck T-shirts, with "We believe" in flowing script on the chest, and a smaller New York Knicks logo on the left chest.
Blue, orange, white, and black T-shirts appeared in the team store.
Ewing also began to cooperate with the promotion.
Purchasing a T-shirt also offered a chance to take a photo with him.
On April 19, the playoffs officially began that evening.
In the morning, the NBA also announced this season's DPOY (Defensive Player of the Year):
Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons won this award again!
With a 42.61% approval rating, most voting sports media still preferred to look at Excel.
Ron Artest's fantasy was completely shattered.
At the Tarrytown Training Center that morning, after receiving the three trophies, the New York Knicks held a press conference for Lee.
In the media room, sports reporters crowded together.
NBA Entertainment President Adam Silver smiled as he placed the three trophies on the table and warmly embraced Clay Lee.
Cameras clicked incessantly around them.
Lee, dressed in a black suit, quickly posed behind the three trophies for photos.
On the other side, James Dolan and Coach D'Antoni also clapped.
General Manager Grunfeld, too fat to have a neck, began to instruct staff to distribute small gifts to the attending reporters.
The New York Knicks made a fortune this season.
In April, due to the record, even the prices of tickets in the far back rows increased slightly.
Despite the high ticket prices, it didn't affect the enthusiastic New York fans.
For many financial professionals, they had already bought season tickets early.
Tourists visiting New York who want to watch a game don't mind spending a few extra dollars.
Advertising and ticket revenue caused the New York Knicks' market value to rise, and the team's only current concern is that no one likes to trade with them.
After the photo session, the curly-haired owner and Coach D'Antoni sat down on either side of Clay Lee, and facing the numerous media below, James Dolan naturally boasted:
"I've fulfilled my promise. The New York Knicks' Showtime era has arrived!"
"Coming to New York means you can enjoy the best basketball games in the world."
"This place has the best basketball atmosphere in the world, the best basketball team in the world, and the best player in basketball history!"
"Our Lee will lead the New York Knicks to keep winning, and I promise again that I will keep our championship roster!"
The playoffs hadn't even started, and James Dolan was already taking the championship for granted, but most sports media were powerless to object.
73 wins, it was incredible!
The New York Knicks own most of the bird rights to these players, so as long as the owner is willing to spend money, this lineup can play for at least another 5 years.
In 5 years, Clay Lee will be 30 years old, still in the prime of his career, and realizing this, a Yahoo Sports reporter took the initiative to ask:
"Will the New York Knicks continue to pursue All-Star players?"
The curly-haired owner first smiled and glanced at Lee, then seriously replied:
"Of course! As long as there are suitable star players for the team, we definitely won't give up recruiting. As long as we can win the championship, luxury tax will not be an obstacle for the team."
The TNT reporter didn't want to hear any more boasting and quickly asked Lee:
"Lee, can you talk about your efficiency rating? I don't know if you watched our show, do you agree with Charles Barkley's view?"
The team's press officer had already spoken to Lee, and Barkley, who had been besieged by player agents these past two days, was also a hot topic:
"Whether it's 35 or 38, it's just a number."
"73 wins is the most important thing. It's the victory that makes the data more meaningful, so everyone doesn't need to discuss these things too much. I hope everyone remembers that the New York Knicks are the best team in history."
"As for Charles Barkley's view, his demands are too high. Basketball is progressing, and in this era, Defense is indeed constantly strengthening."
"In a game, a core player may encounter a variety of defensive methods, which is also a greater test for the player!"
"Every era has its superstars. Different rules produce different players. There is no distinction between strong and weak. In other words, MVP is MVP, and Charles Barkley will agree with that."
The ESPN reporter didn't forget Coach D'Antoni, who made a splash in his first season coaching the New York Knicks.
This Rookie Head Coach is clearly a future coaching legend:
"The New York Knicks delivered a 110-point performance in the regular season, Coach D'Antoni, can you talk about how the team achieved such an offense?"
Having been praised a bit too much these past few days, Coach D'Antoni answered without hesitation when he heard this question:
"The coaching staff makes the game plan before the game, and then all we have to do is turn the game over to the players."
"Having a leader like Lee on a team means anything is possible!"
"Getting the ball into Lee's hands, that's the core secret to our efficient performance!"
"..."
Mike D'Antoni started a continuous stream of boasts:
"Lee can solve all problems," "Lee is a basketball genius," "I only do a little work," "Lee is the GOAT of this era"
"..."
His wild boasting left the sports media below dumbfounded.
Jeff Van Gundy wasn't even this good at boasting.
Although Lee had a thick skin, his Head Coach's shameless boasting made his face slightly red.
After a round of boasting, Coach D'Antoni felt satisfied.
A New York Times reporter, realizing his colleagues were stunned, quickly changed the subject and asked:
"Lee, can you explain the slogan on our cheer T-shirt?"
Clay Lee quickly adjusted his emotions, put on a serious expression, and then said:
"We hope our New York fans can believe in us. The New York Knicks will fulfill last season's promise, and we will win back the o'brien cup."
"The best historical record is our gift to everyone, and we will continue to win!"
"..."
The press conference was a complete success, and the New York people were pleased with their boasting.
73 wins allowed everyone to avoid criticism.
The Lakers, who were still preparing for the playoffs, had a particularly rough couple of days.
Phil Jackson felt like he had lost all face.
Failing to reach 50 wins, Los Angeles fans were particularly disappointed, and even the sports media began to mock the Old Man sarcastically.
Everyone believed that the Lakers' poor record was mainly due to the locker room being out of control, and this blame fell on Phil Jackson.
This season, Kobe averaged 30.0 points, with a field goal percentage of 45.1% and a three-point percentage of 38.3%.
Averaging 4.0 attempts from beyond the arc, Kobe made huge progress this season!
However, on the Lakers, Kobe's shot attempts exceeded Shaquille O'Neal's, a situation that exacerbated the conflict between the two.
These past few days, sports media has been reporting on Clay Lee daily, and basketball critics have been repeatedly discussing his absurd PER.
Everyone seems to have forgotten about the Lakers. 49 wins, their record is simply not convincing.
Tomorrow night, the Lakers will challenge the Timberwolves on the road.
Before boarding the plane, Kobe also accepted an interview:
"The regular season cannot explain our strength. This year, we just had a slow start. In fact, I feel like I've reached the prime of my career!"
"I can respond from beyond the arc. I can even shoot from anywhere on the court."
"The playoffs are my stage. I will prove myself again. I am confident I can lead the Lakers to defend their title!"
When evaluating himself, Kobe appeared very confident, completely unconcerned about taking O'Neal's shot attempts.
As the team's leader, he believed this was appropriate.
Shaquille O'Neal had made many boasts, but few had been realized.
The big man still didn't give Kobe a good look publicly, even continuing to be sarcastic:
"If it weren't for the consecutive losses at the beginning of the season, perhaps we would have entered the upper half. At this point, we could have been waiting for our opponents at Staples Center."
"Who is the leader? I think everyone has the answer. I won't emphasize these things because I am still the best big man in the NBA, and I will continue to dominate the paint in the playoffs!"
With a satchel on his back and sunglasses on, Shaquille O'Neal sarcastically uttered these words in a deep voice and walked towards the bus without looking back.
He hoped to remind Kobe with these words that he was the leader of the team and that it was time to pass him the ball in the playoffs!
Phil Jackson's greatest pride used to be leading the Chicago Bulls to three consecutive championships and achieving the best historical record of 72 wins!
This season, Rookie Head Coach Mike D'Antoni led the New York Knicks to break that record, and Phil Jackson couldn't hold back.
He had previously avoided discussing this matter, but this time, when pressed, he flatly stated:
"73 wins doesn't mean anything. The 72-win Chicago Bulls became great because we won the championship that year."
"The playoffs are a new beginning. It's more appropriate to discuss this topic after the season ends!"
On April 20th, the Orlando Magic team also flew to Manhattan.
In the 5 playoff games that ended last night, all the top-seeded teams won, except for the Spurs, who unexpectedly lost to the Phoenix Suns.
The 8th seed beating the 1st seed seemed like a good omen.
Tracy McGrady, interviewed at the hotel, expressed his confidence:
"73 wins? The New York Knicks are very strong. They created the best historical record."
"But I consider myself a big-game player, and I like opponents like that!"
"I don't think opponents can limit me. Our goal is to get a road victory, and for me, that's not a difficult task!"
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