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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 March 23, 2004, the NBA MVP candidates for this season had another direct confrontation.
As a superstar, Tim Duncan remained silent, but Gregg Popovich worked on his behalf.
For over half a month, whenever there was an opportunity, Gregg Popovich vigorously promoted Duncan, presenting an image to the media that if Duncan didn't get the MVP, there would be a conspiracy.
On the Timberwolves' side, Flip Saunders, after being elected Western Conference All-Star Head Coach, also continuously spoke up for Kevin Garnett!
Coupled with Kevin Garnett's relatively flamboyant personality, he would praise himself whenever he won, which left a deep impression on sports media, as MVP also needs to consider storytelling.
That night's game was also the last time the Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs played each other this season.
Before this, the San Antonio Spurs had won twice and were leading in record.
If Duncan led his team to victory again tonight, he would have a very high chance of winning the MVP award.
Tim Duncan had just returned from injury, and although it was an away game, Duncan did not shy away from the battle!
However, when interviewed before the game, Duncan was not as boisterous as Kevin Garnett but answered questions about the MVP very calmly:
"I only know that the San Antonio Spurs need to win. We are currently two games behind, and if we win this game, we can close the gap!"
"We need to get home-court advantage in the playoffs, so I will do my best in tonight's game."
"I do desire the MVP, but I want to lead the team to a championship even more!"
Sprewell has been in good form recently.
Although he slacked off in a few games, the Timberwolves really couldn't do without the Championship Guard's offense.
When interviewed, Sprewell also sang praises for Kevin Garnett, actively supporting his teammate:
"I brought my championship experience to this team. Kevin is a smart young man, and now he knows how to win a championship!"
"I will do my best to help the team. Without a doubt, we will win tonight's game, and Kevin will get the MVP."
TNT reporters all nodded in agreement.
The roles of Sam Cassell and Sprewell were visible to the naked eye, which also confirmed a saying in the industry:
"Produced by the New York Knicks, it must be a masterpiece!"
Kevin Garnett didn't like Sprewell acting like a Champion, but to win, he still had to constantly encourage the championship guard, fearing that if he wasn't careful, the other party might drag them down and cause a major collapse.
Fortunately, Sprewell performed excellently in the game that night, going all out in the first quarter, scoring 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting!
At 22:35, when the first quarter ended, the Timberwolves were already leading by double digits.
At Target Center, Minnesota fans were already boiling.
The Champion Coach had blown up the San Antonio Spurs' perimeter!
Bruce Bowen was nothing special!
The good times didn't last.
In the second quarter, the Timberwolves suddenly faltered, and Kevin Garnett kept missing shots.
In one quarter, the lead was erased.
47:47, at halftime, Kevin Garnett's expression was a bit grim.
Fortunately, Kevin Garnett rebounded in time in the second half.
Although Sam Cassell's shooting touch was off, he also gave his all tonight, diligently protecting rebounds on every possession and doing an excellent job of organizing the offense.
On the defensive end, Sam Cassell also limited Parker.
Even though Turkoglu performed well, as Parker shot 1-for-7 in the third quarter, the Timberwolves re-established their lead with a 15:21 quarter.
In the final quarter, both sides engaged in a defensive battle.
Duncan failed to capitalize on some free throw opportunities, and ultimately, the Timberwolves narrowly won the game.
81:86, after the game ended, Timberwolves fans stood up and applauded, cheering loudly for Kevin Garnett!
After winning the game, Kevin Garnett also thumped his chest twice, roared twice, and then waved his arms, signaling the crowd to get even more hyped.
Facing the MVP that was almost in his grasp, Kevin Garnett was especially excited.
This was the highest honor in the regular season!
The joyful atmosphere at Target Center stimulated Duncan.
Although he congratulated his opponents gracefully after the game, Duncan still quickened his pace as he walked towards the player tunnel.
Back then, many teams in the league desperately tanked to get Duncan, but after joining the San Antonio Spurs, Duncan's development did not meet the expectations of some basketball critics.
Two Finals appearances, but no championship.
No matter how much he was praised, it was useless, because championships don't lie.
Sam Cassell's shooting touch was off, 2-for-11, but he put up 14 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers.
His triple-double statistics showed his dominance in the backcourt.
Sprewell shot 10-for-22, scoring 20 points, the second-highest on the team.
Kevin Garnett shot 10-for-20, putting up 27 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks, and 3 turnovers.
With the big three performing together, after defeating the San Antonio Spurs, the two teams' head-to-head record became 2:2.
At the same time, the Timberwolves also achieved a 49-22 record, leading the San Antonio Spurs by three games!
After winning the game and almost securing the MVP, Kevin Garnett still had a bright smile when he returned to the locker room.
However, as soon as he sat down, his expression stiffened when he overheard an interview nearby.
"I fulfilled my promise. I shared my experience with my teammates without reservation!"
"Lee told me a long time ago that players should do what they are good at. Kevin is doing well. He's starting to lead the team like Lee."
"When we can all perform our tasks excellently, the Timberwolves will be unstoppable!"
Sprewell again put on the air of a Championship guard, talking eloquently during his locker room interview.
Recalling the "experience" the other party imparted, Kevin Garnett's eye twitched slightly, and he kept reminding himself:
"We are teammates. The team needs him!"
As the New York Knicks had recently returned to playing home games, Lee had been resting at his Manhattan home these past few days.
This MVP battle did not catch his attention.
Most of his evenings were spent watching dramas and chatting with the girls.
After returning from Los Angeles, Scarlett dyed her hair red, despite her mother's advice.
Since coming of age, this young woman had developed considerable conflicts with her mother under the influence of a lavish lifestyle.
On Tuesday evening, Melinda rarely had time to fool around with them, and she looked at the red-haired Scarlett with interest.
Lee and Melinda had witnessed the young woman's growth.
In other words, they had "grown up together."
Although she wasn't old enough to drink, Scarlett, having had too much red wine, was a bit tipsy.
She leaned against Melinda's embrace, talking about her troubles:
"Ever since I turned 18, my mother has wanted me to make a political statement. I don't know why this is happening. We had a big fight not long ago."
"She wants me to express support for Rick in front of the media, but I don't even know that guy. What they do has nothing to do with me!"
Melinda showed a mischievous smile.
The young woman was only wearing a camisole, dressed lightly, her soft parts firm and somewhat alluring.
Wrapping her arm around her waist, Melinda slowly rubbed the other's smooth skin with one hand, while lowering her head to kiss the young woman, then put on the air of a caring older sister:
"Of course, you can have your own political views, but you also need to understand what we need."
"We need better tax policies, which can save a lot of taxes. We also need more effective tax avoidance methods. We can support whoever is beneficial to us."
When Clay Lee and Krysten Ritter returned to the 3rd floor with the baked pastries, Melinda was lecturing the young woman while playing with her soft parts.
Seeing such a scene, Lee put down the chocolate chip cookies in his hand, coughed twice, and reminded them:
"Scarlett is still a child. There's no need for her to understand these things. Also, she's not old enough to drink!"
Looking at those fair, much larger breasts, the little assistant secretly pinched Lee.
The "child" was bigger than her.
Melinda didn't mind.
She lowered her head and kissed the young woman again, noticing her rapid breathing.
She simply held Scarlett in her arms and said:
"You didn't give the other party a chance to meet last week, plus you've been close to the Mayor, so the other party changed their approach to try and contact you again."
Lee was completely uninterested in such messy affairs.
In contrast, New York Attorney General Spitzer was the real trouble.
The other party was eyeing Axe Capital, wanting to fleece them.
The Donkey Party showed no reaction to this.
Instead, they hoped he would send money to express his stance.
Lee felt a bit speechless thinking about this:
"As long as they can guarantee that the Wall Street sheriff won't trouble Axe Capital again, I'll support them immediately."
"I'll send a large sum of money to Mr. Rick's campaign office, but obviously, that's impossible!"
"Unless Spitzer wants to give up his future gubernatorial campaign, he will continue to crack down on Wall Street. New Yorkers like to see Spitzer issue huge fines to Wall Street."
Melinda immediately laughed.
She had learned about the other party through the Attorney General's wife's past deeds at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
Giving up the gubernatorial campaign was indeed impossible.
The other party had bigger ambitions.
The governorship was merely a stepping stone.
Spitzer would naturally aim for the White House after accumulating enough prestige.
"Earn a little less money then! The stocks we've bought in recent years have also yielded good returns. Work with peace of mind, enjoy life. Isn't Bobby planning to have a child? This is a good time to rest."
After saying this, the understanding Melinda had already stripped the young woman naked.
Scarlett, who had drunk half a bottle of red wine by herself, was still giggling and squirming, completely unconcerned about her exposed fair skin.
The little assistant blinked her big eyes.
She could sense Lee's mood and quietly handed over the handheld DV, then leaned in to kiss him softly, saying:
"Clay, don't think about these things. Be happy!"
Scarlett, with a flushed face on the sofa, said with a slightly hoarse voice, laughing:
"Come here quickly, Clay! I specifically changed my hair color. Don't you like it?"
The giggling girl was quickly attacked by her little follower, and Lee, no longer talking about useless things, then went straight in with a DV, recording this beautiful moment.
To prepare for the playoffs, Lee has recently been constantly studying how to break double teams!
In the latter half of March, the New York Knicks made extensive rotations, and after losing to the Milwaukee Bucks and the Detroit Pistons, they achieved a record of 6 wins and 2 losses in two weeks of games.
Rasheed Wallace did not appear in the game against the New York Knicks.
This aging All-Star big man was still recovering from injury.
Although they lost two games, their record was still far ahead, and even if they lost a few more games in April, the Pacers behind them would be unable to catch up.
On the 29th, at Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 91:109, ending their March games.
As the playoffs approached, James Dolan also began to increase his attendance at courtside.
After the game, MSG interviewed the curly-haired owner, and when asked about contract renewals in the offseason, James Dolan made his bold statement:
"Even if Clay Lee alone takes 50% of the team's salary, the New York Knicks will still build a championship-contending lineup around him."
"I don't care how much money it costs, I, like the New York fans, just want to see the New York Knicks win the championship!"
"In a few years, our championship banners will fill the top of the Madison Square Garden. This is all thanks to the changes brought by Lee. The best player in the NBA should naturally enjoy the best treatment!"
Lee's individual salary accounted for more than one-third of the team's total, plus Pau Gasol's max contract, in a few years the New York Knicks would become the highest-paid team in the NBA.
It is predictable that for the next decade, as long as Lee is still in New York, the New York Knicks will pay a large luxury tax, and Lee's salary will become higher and higher.
However, this is not too big of a problem for the New York Knicks.
Considering Lee's age, worrying about salary is not as good as considering health issues in advance.
Eddy Curry did not get a starting position after being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers.
At the draft combine that year, Eddy Curry made a bold statement, believing he was the The Chosen One, capable of leading his team to a championship and reaching the pinnacle of his life!
The reality was too cruel.
Pau Gasol, who joined the New York Knicks, had already become an All-Star center and was about to get a max contract;
Meanwhile, Eddy Curry currently didn't even have a starting spot, and his stats were mediocre.
Hearing some fans still shouting Pau Gasol's name, Eddy Curry felt increasingly sour.
The fans here seemed to have completely forgotten him, and no one cared about his performance:
"This treatment should belong to me! I should have joined the New York Knicks!"
After winning this game, the New York Knicks' record reached 67 wins and 8 losses.
Breaking last season's record was somewhat difficult, as April had two back-to-back games.
Although Coach D'Antoni only received one Coach of the Month (COM) award this season, this did not affect his prestige!
After taking over the team, he has achieved excellent records for two consecutive seasons, and Mike D'Antoni has become a sought-after Champion Coach.
After the game that night, Coach D'Antoni, attending the press conference, smiled and summarized the team's performance in March:
"I am very satisfied with the team's condition. You know, we also encountered difficulties this month, and several players suffered injuries."
"But in the end, we united and kept winning!"
"Entering April, the team will fully prepare for the playoffs. We will not underestimate any opponent!"
According to the current trend, the New York Knicks are very likely to face either the Celtics or the Orlando Magic in the first round.
The former, due to not tanking in time, was stuck in a mediocre position, while the latter sprinted with all their might, with Tracy McGrady and Houston playing through injuries, striving to get the team into the playoffs.
For New York sports media, neither of these teams could cause trouble for the New York Knicks.
Most sports reporters were actually more interested in Lee's Excel.
An ESPN reporter quickly asked a related question:
"Will the team increase Lee's playing time? Although he still leads the scoring list, Tracy McGrady behind him has already narrowed the gap."
This year's scoring champion data has declined, mainly because Lee didn't take many shots.
But what frustrated the commentators was that whenever Tracy McGrady got close to Clay Lee, there would always be a few games where he suddenly performed poorly.
The two differed too much in scoring consistency.
Although Tracy McGrady tried his best, he was still not as consistent in scoring as Clay Lee.
Kobe did want to pursue the scoring title, but the Lakers barely had enough shots to go around, and his stats also declined this season.
Allen Iverson was the most miserable, plagued by injuries.
Although he could score continuously in games and put up some excellent performances, most games were extremely poor.
Based on big data, unless Allen Iverson swallowed his pride and completely went all out to score, the scoring title was destined not to go to this small guard!
Coach D'Antoni did not make a promise to the sports reporters but smiled faintly and slowly said:
"Lee is a genius! In fact, he doesn't care about these awards!"
"Lee will also control his playing time himself. The coaching staff's only requirement for him is to stay healthy!"
On April 1st, Coach Calhoun led the Huskies to the Final Four.
In the semifinals on the 3rd, they would face the formidable Duke University.
Clay Lee and Grant Hill both cheered for their alma maters.
As the NCAA Finals approached, commentators also turned their attention to potential Rookies.
The New York Knicks had already secured the top spot in the NBA, and they could fully rest in the remaining games.
Meanwhile, teams in the Western Conference were still competing, as no one wanted to fall behind at the last minute.
With Karl Malone's return, the Lakers' recent form has been getting better and better.
On the evening of the 1st, in a home game against the Houston Rockets, the Lakers once again demonstrated their dominance.
85:93. Although they didn't win by much, the Lakers completely shut down Yao Ming with targeted Defense.
Playing 33 minutes, he shot 3-of-15, with 6 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 turnover.
Yao Ming's performance was poor.
After the game, Coach Mike Brown said in a deep voice during an interview:
"The dense schedule is a test for Yao Ming. Don't forget he's only a second-year Rookie. He needs to make himself stronger!"
"One game doesn't explain too many problems. Currently, we are fully focused on the playoff contention."
Shaquille O'Neal also didn't get much advantage in this game, shooting 7-of-17, 4-of-10 from the free-throw line, and getting 18 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, and 4 turnovers.
The Lakers were able to win mainly because they won on rebounds, 35:58.
In this game, the Lakers grabbed 18 offensive rebounds!
Karl Malone even got an all-around stat line of 20 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, and 6 turnovers.
The Lakers' aggressive play style earned them 42 free throws in this game.
Although the Houston Rockets expressed dissatisfaction, that's just how it is playing at Staples Center.
Shooting 8-of-19, 1-of-2 from beyond the arc, and 9-of-12 from the free-throw line, Kobe scored a game-high 26 points.
With a record of 52 wins and 23 losses, after winning this game, the Lakers secured their leading position in the division.
In response, Kobe, who played 45 minutes, also smiled during an interview:
"I feel the team's chemistry is getting better and better. After Karl Malone's return, he has brought us tremendous help!"
"His body is still very strong, easily grabbing 10 rebounds every game and hitting jump shots after pick-and-rolls."
"I think young players must show respect to veterans!"
Karl Malone's form was picking up, but Gary Payton was gradually declining.
Overall, however, the Lakers' F4 was hitting its stride.
On the evening of the 2nd, the New York Knicks played an away game against the Nets, with Jason Kidd out due to injury.
Since late March, Jason Kidd had been injured, and the Nets' record was overtaken by the Detroit Pistons.
With a record of 42 wins and 32 losses, the Nets are likely to rank fourth based on their current record.
This was definitely not a good thing for the team.
After the first round, they would meet the New York Knicks in the semifinals, and Jason Kidd's promise to fans of a conference final this year was now questionable.
In the game, neither side played full-strength Defense, resulting in an offensive shootout.
This was a good thing for the New York fans who chose to watch the game live, as the cheers never stopped throughout the game.
Jason Kidd, sitting on the bench, had a grim expression.
This situation always occurred when they faced the New York Knicks at home.
Even though he was used to it, hearing the cheers still made him feel particularly annoyed.
114:98. When the game ended, cheers once again echoed through the Continental Airlines Arena
Jason Kidd, dressed in a gray suit, forced a smile and actively hugged Lee after the game to greet him:
"It seems we'll meet in the semifinals. Don't think you'll easily beat the Nets this time!"
Lee, who had checked out after three quarters, was wearing a training suit at this time.
He felt Jason Kidd's words sounded familiar, but seeing the other party's enthusiasm, he finally said some pleasantries:
"Meeting early is also a good thing, that way you'll have more time to take care of your body."
"..."
Jason Kidd barely maintained his smile, patted Lee hard, and instinctively twitched his lips after feeling the firm muscles.
As he walked towards the player tunnel, Jason Kidd turned his head to watch Lee interact with the New York fans on site, and for a moment, he couldn't hold back, muttering angrily:
"Damn home court!"
On the evening of the 3rd, the New York Knicks flew to Philadelphia for a back-to-back away game against the 76ers.
In this game, Coach D'Antoni opted for extensive rotations, and atmosphere players like Matt Barnes, Rasual Butler, Maciej Lampe, and Dan Gadzuric all received significant playing time.
Due to Allen Iverson and Glenn Robinson of the 76ers still being injured, the attendance for tonight's game was affected.
Just as the Philadelphia fans expected, under Lee's orchestration, the atmosphere players erupted again.
Rasual Butler sank 4 three-pointers, and Matt Barnes's tough Defense limited Salmons to 1-of-6 shooting for the entire game.
Gadzuric grabbed 14 rebounds, 5 of which were offensive boards.
At 110-72, after the game ended, some Philadelphia fans, completely losing it, threw drinks onto the court.
Boos and curses were directed not only at the New York Knicks players, but Allen Iverson, dressed in a loose-fitting suit and chains, was also heavily booed by Philadelphia fans as he walked towards the player tunnel.
Security personnel in the arena had no choice but to escort some agitated fans out.
From 1996 to 2004, the 76ers had never beaten the New York Knicks, and some fans who refused to leave even chanted for Allen Iverson to be traded.
Coach Chris Ford had nothing to say about the game.
The New York Knicks had used the very end of their bench, clearly going easy, yet the 76ers still lost by a large margin.
Theoretically, the 76ers still had a chance to make the playoffs, but some fans wished their home team would give up.
They really didn't want to see their team get thrashed by the New York Knicks again.
Coach Chris Ford self-deprecatingly remarked in a post-game interview:
"When the opponent put out the very end of their bench, we still lost by 38 points!"
"I only feel shame, but don't criticize the players. I will take responsibility for the loss. That's my job coming to this team!"
Taking over midway through the season, Chris Ford naturally knew he was just a scapegoat, and he had no interest in continuing to coach the 76ers.
The New York Knicks' experience in recent years has proven one thing: as long as you have a strong enough core, everyone can be a great coach!
On April 5th, there was only one game that day, and the NCAA Finals captured the attention of most fans.
The University of Connecticut had come back from behind in the semifinals against Duke University to successfully advance to the Finals, where their opponent was Georgia Tech.
The Finals were held at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, a stadium capable of holding 65,000 spectators, which was very familiar to Clay Lee, as he had lifted the o'brien cup there.
Coach Calhoun was planning to retire, so for these Finals, former University of Connecticut NBA stars all came to support their old coach.
Before the game started, the live director repeatedly focused the camera on Clay Lee, Ray Allen, Hamilton, and Caron Butler.
Lee, dressed in a white T-shirt, jeans, and canvas shoes, occasionally smiled and waved at the camera, and MVP chants and boos echoed repeatedly in the Alamo Dome.
Clay Lee was the most hated star by San Antonio fans, and the local fans watching the game expressed their anger through boos.
The University of Connecticut's roster this year was very strong.
Emeka Okafor, a dominant big man in college, goes without saying.
Among the perimeter players, Ben Gordon was also very capable.
The rotation wasn't as crucial in the Finals, but there was also Charlie Villanueva.
After reversing Duke University, Coach Calhoun was full of confidence, maintaining his great coach demeanor in front of his disciples.
The Seattle SuperSonics' current record was 35 wins and 42 losses.
Even if they won all their remaining games, they would most likely miss the playoffs.
Ray Allen was once again fishing, and his mood hadn't been great recently.
After returning from injury, he had performed exceptionally well, with his three-point shooting percentage approaching 40%.
In his heart, the Seattle SuperSonics had a lot of talent, but seemed to lack a Champion Coach.
Before the game started, Ray Allen couldn't help but ask Hamilton in a low voice:
"Richard, how does it feel to play under Larry Brown?"
Hamilton was an honest man. Although the Detroit Pistons' internal atmosphere was good, Larry Brown's excessive emphasis on details still made him instinctively complain a bit:
"I don't feel too good. He's stricter than Coach Calhoun and often doesn't know how to adapt."
"I must admit, Head Coach Larry Brown is excellent at controlling game details, and I've learned a lot."
Caron Butler seemed to recall the Heat's days under Pat Riley's guidance, turning his head and whispering:
"Those famous coaches are very controlling. Honestly, I feel pretty good playing under McMillan. The Heat have been squeezing us dry!"
After greeting his familiar friends, Lee plopped down next to Ray Allen.
Hearing them discuss the coaches' influence, he suddenly felt confused and couldn't help but interrupt, saying:
"Coaches? They can't influence the privileges of a superstar! It seems we're definitely winning the championship today."
Ray Allen did enjoy some privileges, but these conveniences didn't bring him victory.
Hamilton and Butler also agreed with Lee's point of view.
They wanted to be privilege players, but unfortunately, their strength didn't allow it.
Seeing his good brother's troubled expression, Lee knew he was unhappy about fishing.
Leaning back tactically to greet the fans behind him, Lee leaned back in his chair and whispered:
"Ray! You definitely know how to achieve success. It's not difficult!"
Seeing Lee raise an eyebrow, Ray Allen twitched his lips.
There was indeed a shortcut to success; he could play "brotherhood basketball."
However, the Seattle SuperSonics were very sincere and had already offered a big contract.
Although Ray Allen had gone through a tough beating, he still wanted to continue being the boss:
"I'm still young, time is on my side, and the Western Conference won't always maintain the same pattern."
The atmosphere was noisy, Hamilton and Butler didn't hear their whispers.
Once the game started, everyone's attention was focused on the court.
Jarrett Jack of Georgia Tech bricked shot after shot, and the contagion spread, causing his teammates to also miss their shots.
On the contrary, Will Bynum, who came off the bench, performed well, but the University of Connecticut was clearly stronger!
At 26-41, after the first half ended, Lee stood up, clapped, and cheered along.
In the second half, the opponent launched a counterattack, but the University of Connecticut ultimately held onto their lead.
At 73-82, when the game ended, Coach Calhoun and the players embraced, celebrating joyfully!
The University of Connecticut won their third championship in team history in 2004!
As the award ceremony began, Ray Allen looked at the familiar scene and couldn't help but exclaim in his heart:
"Championships are great!"
The regular season was nearing its end, and the New York Knicks rotated their players systematically in the remaining 5 games.
After hitting the Pacers hard, they gave the Chicago Bulls a warm welcome in a back-to-back game.
On April 12th, continuing their road trip, the New York Knicks lost to the Hornets again.
Their opponent was still fighting for playoff seeding, and David, the bearded player, smiled like a child after the win.
On the evening of the 14th, Jeff Van Gundy returned to Madison Square Garden once again.
The Cavaliers had lost terribly this season, with a record of 21 wins and 60 losses, firmly holding the last place in the NBA!
Even though LeBron James's stats were getting better and better, the Rookie of the Year award was most likely out of reach.
Among the 2003 Rookies, although Dwyane Wade had some attendance issues, he performed very well after a strong second half, and the Heat had already secured a playoff spot!
In the Western Conference, Carmelo Anthony also secured a playoff spot.
This Rookie's stats were not inferior to LeBron James's, it's just that his reputation wasn't very good, and he wasn't favored by the NBA.
Neither team played hard Defense in this game, engaging in an offensive shootout, which was considered a gift to New York fans.
After the 4th quarter began, LeBron James, sitting on the bench, occasionally looked up at the championship banner hanging above the Madison Square Garden, revealing an envious expression.
Nike planned to offer Clay Lee a lifetime contract, and this also stimulated the The Chosen One.
LeBron James hoped to achieve success like Clay Lee, not only in basketball but also to expand his influence.
Jeff Van Gundy was still directing from the sidelines.
Assistant Coach Thibodeau seemed to have seen through LeBron James's thoughts and comforted him in a low voice:
"Rookie of the Year is just a small award. You're still young. This season, you've already broken some of Clay Lee's records. No one will question your ability!"
Tanking didn't hinder LeBron James from chasing stats.
In the second half of the season, he filled the stat sheet almost every game.
Breaking Lee's statistical records led to Cleveland sports media praising him profusely.
LeBron James was quite proud of this, but on the surface, he calmly smiled and replied:
"I know. I'll continue to work on my body during the offseason. I need to increase my physicality. I can't wait for next season!"
Thibodeau nodded secretly.
He liked LeBron James's enthusiasm, and he did a good job as a point forward.
He felt that the Cavaliers would eventually achieve success.
On the New York Knicks bench, Lee was quietly joking with everyone.
The University of Connecticut's championship win earned him a small sum of money.
After Duke University was eliminated in the semifinals, Grant Hill, like an ordinary fan, had been cursing this year's players as softies every day recently.
Leaning back in his seat, waiting for the game to end, Lee suddenly felt a slight numbness in his body, and then calmly called out his talent panel:
[Allen Iverson's Extraordinary Speed] had disappeared.
After observing his attributes, Lee also noticed the corresponding change:
Speed: 96
Some detailed attributes no longer had specific values.
Lee knew this was because his body had not yet completed its transformation.
Thinking that his hard training over the past few years had finally paid off, Lee couldn't help but do a tactical lean back, just like Coach D'Antoni:
"72 wins and 10 losses, body attributes increased, experiencing the feeling of failure? But his strength doesn't allow it!"
"..."
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)