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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
***
The Miami Herald discussed the biggest winners in the early part of the 2005 season, citing the Chicago Tribune's Sam Smith's conclusion:
"The main theme of the 04-05 season is offense. Currently, 8 teams average over 100 points per game, and the Heat have become the biggest winners through offseason trades."
This special report resonated deeply, earning unanimous praise from Heat fans.
A 15-game winning streak was the team's best record in recent years!
After reading too many of these mutually flattering articles, it's inevitable for fans to get carried away and raise their expectations for the team.
However, in the highly anticipated game on the evening of the 5th, in the latter half of the fourth quarter, some Heat fans began to leave early again.
Facts proved that the 15-game winning streak did not change the Miami fans' fair-weather nature.
Most of them were still ordinary bandwagon fans.
The director frequently aimed the camera at Shaquille O'Neal on the Heat's bench.
With 3 minutes and 31 seconds left in the game, the Big Shark fouled out and was fuming, glaring at the game.
Originally, Shaquille O'Neal could have avoided the foul, but his mentality became problematic after he committed a technical foul for a bear hug in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, he frequently complained loudly to the referees, ultimately leading to his unfortunate exit.
One can't blame Shaquille O'Neal.
After a conflict on the court, the referee's whistle became particularly strict.
Completely different from the first half, too much intervention led to frequent whistles, further disrupting the game's rhythm.
Head Coach Stan Van Gundy on the sidelines no longer shouted loudly.
Dwyane Wade frequently missed shots when carrying the offense alone, and Christian Laettner, who came off the bench, struggled to provide much energy on both ends of the court.
Most of the Heat fans had already left, and the cheering had disappeared for a quarter.
In this situation, Dwyane Wade's mentality collapsed.
This was their home court!
With an anxious expression on his face, after a simple pass around the perimeter by the Heat, Dwyane Wade, receiving the ball on the left wing, near the sideline, quickly performed a front-of-the-body crossover with his right hand after dribbling.
Before Christian Laettner could settle, Dwyane Wade, switching to his left hand, lowered his shoulder and accelerated, driving hard to the basket from the wing.
Lee easily squeezed past the screen, staying close to his opponent's side to maintain defensive position.
The two tangled, arriving near the lower-left side of the rim, when Dwyane Wade suddenly spun quickly.
Leaning into the Defense while gathering the ball, Dwyane Wade, now directly in front of the restricted area, twisted his body, pulled his right arm back with the ball, and forced the basketball towards the rim.
Clay Lee, who had already made the block, forced Dwyane Wade's move, and the floater ultimately hit the backboard and bounced off the rim.
Lee secured the rebound, while Dwyane Wade on the side was still complaining to the baseline referee.
No boos, no defensive cheers.
The Heat fans preparing to leave turned their heads for a look, then continued to queue up to exit.
At the commentary table, Kevin Harlan found it difficult to comment on such a home atmosphere.
Thinking about the end of the 15-game winning streak, he could understand the fans:
"The turning point of the game appeared in the third quarter. Facing a double-digit deficit, the Heat lost their composure, and Shaquille O'Neal failed to take on the leader's role."
Doug Collins was already used to the Heat's home atmosphere.
Watching Lee run another pick-and-roll, he joked:
"Perhaps this is a good thing for Dwyane Wade. He has been defending Clay Lee the entire game, and I believe he will gain a lot after this game."
With fans leaving, the two commentators also began to summarize the game, but Dwyane Wade, on the defensive end, was not in such a good mood.
Just thinking about the post-game comments from critics made him feel depressed.
After guarding for three quarters, Dwyane Wade no longer stubbornly insisted on tight Defense.
His body told him that getting too close would truly result in being blown by in one step.
Christian Laettner saw Amar'e Stoudemire come up again and could only loudly remind his teammate.
Noticing the movement behind him, Dwyane Wade cursed under his breath:
"Shit!"
The simple and crude pick-and-roll was incredibly effective.
While Dwyane Wade was still hesitating on how to defend, Amar'e Stoudemire had already settled on the three-point line.
On the right wing, Lee, with the ball in his left hand, slightly raised his center of gravity and quickly performed an in-and-out dribble.
Seeing Lee's body feinting to the right-front, Dwyane Wade quickly shuffled backward.
Christian Laettner, meanwhile, saw Amar'e Stoudemire accelerating to roll, and for a moment, could only drop back and collapse.
Feinting right, driving left, Lee suddenly lowered his shoulder and accelerated.
Dwyane Wade had just gotten tight on Defense, so Lee took advantage, lengthened his stride, leaned into the Defense, and drove hard to the basket.
Dwyane Wade, feeling frustrated, no longer cared about the referee's whistle and attempted to foul near the free-throw line to disrupt the offense.
Leaning forward, Dwyane Wade had just begun to swing his right arm when Lee, leaning into the Defense, subtly extended his elbow with his ball-handling hand, and at the moment he pushed off the defender, suddenly pulled the ball back between his legs.
Dwyane Wade, pushed off balance, flew into the paint due to inertia.
He turned his head to see Lee gathering the ball at the free-throw line and reluctantly gave up on Defense.
Undisturbed, Lee's mid-range jump shot found the mark steadily!
104:90, the difference was still within reach.
Many Heat fans were no longer paying attention to the situation on the court.
They had watched this kind of response for over a quarter and were completely numb.
Actively speeding up the offensive rhythm, Damon Jones passed the ball early again after crossing half-court against Derek Fisher.
Dwyane Wade, attempting to pop out to the left wing, couldn't shake off Clay Lee.
He had just received the ball beyond the three-point line when Lee cleanly stripped it away.
The moment the ball was lost, Dwyane Wade immediately fouled.
After the referee's whistle, he signaled for Lee to shoot free throws.
"This is Dwyane Wade's third turnover of the quarter. The Heat's offensive intentions are too obvious. Eddie Jones could try to take over the ball-handling."
Doug Collins knew the game was largely decided and began to analyze in hindsight where the Heat had lost.
Kevin Harlan noticed more fans starting to stand up and couldn't help but sigh again:
"Building a winning culture isn't an easy task. This is Shaquille O'Neal's first season with the Heat, and I believe they will succeed."
Dwyane Wade had already picked up his fifth personal foul, making this Rookie even more depressed.
They were just a little short of breaking the New York Knicks' winning streak record created this season.
Watching Lee make both free throws, Head Coach Stan Van Gundy called a timeout.
He still wanted to struggle for a bit longer.
After the timeout, some of the front-row seats were already empty.
Seeing Dwyane Wade draw a foul on Lee and make one of two free throws, more fans started to stand up.
Even though the game still had suspense, the fans had already conceded defeat. Dwyane Wade's eye twitched slightly
He didn't like this sight.
At the top of the arc, Derek Fisher began directing traffic again.
Soon, Lee slipped along the baseline from right to left, and Raja Bell from the left corner curled around the top and popped out to the right wing.
Dwyane Wade hadn't given up on the game and didn't want to foul out early.
His Defense was more restrained, but he was delayed by Amar'e Stoudemire near the left baseline.
Near the left corner, close to the sideline, Lee immediately put the ball down with his right hand after receiving it.
Dwyane Wade and Amar'e Stoudemire arrived in front of him almost simultaneously.
Feinting his body to the right-front, Lee executed an extremely quick front-of-the-body crossover, instantly blowing past the trailing Dwyane Wade.
Christian Laettner quickly collapsed towards the basket.
Lee, accelerating along the baseline, was incredibly fast.
Dwyane Wade, trailing behind, jumped early, attempting to fly into the air and wait for Lee to complete the block.
Below the left side of the rim, after gathering the ball, Lee soared into the air.
Sensing the movement beside him, he faked a shot and threw a pass, the basketball flying past Dwyane Wade's side to the back.
Christian Laettner had just turned his head when Amar'e Stoudemire, following up to receive the ball, took a step, grabbed the ball with his right hand, ignored the Defense in front of him, jumped with both feet, and slammed the ball into the basket.
"Ah!"
Amar'e Stoudemire, having completed the dunk, shouted excitedly again.
Christian Laettner stumbled from the collision, stood with his hands on his hips under the basket, and showed a helpless expression on his face.
108:91, there wasn't enough time left for the Heat.
Damon Jones, left wide open at the top of the arc, finally hit an open three-pointer.
On the return, Derek Fisher also capitalized on an open shot at the top of the arc.
In the final moments, both sides missed a flurry of shots.
Dwyane Wade stepped to the free-throw line again.
At this point, in the American Airlines Arena, many of the remaining fans were Clay Lee's supporters.
Making one of two free throws, Dwyane Wade saw Derek Fisher not attacking and pulled at his jersey in frustration.
111:95, the final buzzer sounded, and scattered cheers emerged from the American Airlines Arena.
The vast majority of Heat fans had already left.
Only Lee's fans were celebrating happily, shouting his name loudly, trying to attract attention.
In the losing team's tunnel, Shaquille O'Neal did not shake hands but left directly from the bench.
The Heat fans leaving early made him lose face.
He really didn't want to hear Lee's taunts.
Played 36 minutes, 13-of-20 shooting, 4-of-8 free throws, 30 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers.
O'Neal, who scored a double-double, did not receive cheers from the fans.
On both sides of the player tunnel, Heat fans seemed to still be immersed in the disappointment of their winning streak being broken.
Dwyane Wade played 41 minutes, shooting 7-of-19 from the field, 5-of-8 from the free-throw line, for 19 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and 5 turnovers.
Wade, who had a mediocre performance, secretly fumed and reluctantly shook hands with Lee.
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
With no one disturbing them, Lee's fans cheered happily, causing Wade's eyes to twitch slightly as he forced a smile and praised:
"Congratulations on scoring 40+ in 7 consecutive games. Perhaps in a few days, I'll see a new record born."
"You know, Bro! I never care about these small records. I prefer games with strong competition."
Lee initiated a mutual praise session, while also imparting his winning experience to Wade.
Wade, being held back, felt increasingly uncomfortable and could only force a smile.
He finally managed to break free from Lee and quickly walked towards the player tunnel.
Turning his head to look at Lee, who was being interviewed, Wade felt a touch of envy.
Tonight's game was nationally televised, a moment he had long anticipated, but unfortunately, they lost.
Amar'e Stoudemire was particularly efficient tonight, shooting 13-of-17 from the field, 4-of-6 from the free-throw line, for 30 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 3 turnovers.
It's certain that the ESPN Sport Center show on the second day will feature that alley-oop dunk over Shaquille O'Neal in its Top 10 Plays.
The petty Shaquille O'Neal didn't even attend the press conference, which made Amar'e Stoudemire beam with joy.
Although he received a technical foul, he continued to tease Shaquille O'Neal at the press conference:
"If you want my respect, then beat me first. Shaquille O'Neal is old, he can't run anymore, he can only play by experience."
"With Clay here, I just need to throw myself in the air, and opponents can't stop me from scoring!"
Compared to New York, the weather in Miami was much better.
Before flying to New Orleans, the New York Knicks also attended a local charity event.
With a record of 26 wins and 8 losses, the Heat remained firmly in second place in the Eastern Conference.
After ending their opponent's winning streak, the New York Knicks' record reached 28 wins and 4 losses, maintaining their position as the league's top team.
On Thursday, the 6th, TNT not only reported on the charity event but also didn't forget to tease the Heat, who lost last night.
In the studio, Charles Barkley's smile was exceptionally bright.
When talking about last night's game, he loudly mocked,
"These are the earliest fans to give up that I've ever seen. Even in Philadelphia, local fans wouldn't do something like that."
"Shaquille O'Neal hasn't been able to change the team's culture, just as he said, this is Dwyane Wade's team."
"This Rookie can't bear this responsibility. He's not Clay Lee. Winning a championship in his second year, it's hard for him to replicate that experience."
For a Rookie player to win a championship, an indispensable condition is to have reliable veterans on the team.
Magic Johnson and Clay Lee both achieved this feat.
Due to the Heat's excellent performance this season, Dwyane Wade was naturally held in high regard.
However, after the winning streak was broken, the commentators calmed down.
Compared to Clay Lee, Dwyane Wade, although excellent, had technical shortcomings.
Kenny Smith also agreed with this view, but he still had high expectations for the Heat:
"A 15-game winning streak, it's a good thing for the record to be broken. The Heat players can now play without pressure."
"What surprised me in last night's game was the pick-and-roll between Clay Lee and Amar'e Stoudemire. They were simply unstoppable."
"Despite a poor outside shooting performance, Clay Lee dominated the game in another way. His finishing at the rim was outstanding."
16-of-26 from the field, 2-of-6 from beyond the arc, 8-of-9 from the free-throw line, for 42 points, 6 rebounds, 12 assists, 2 steals, and 2 turnovers.
Clay Lee scored 40+ double-doubles in three consecutive games, setting another small record.
After the director provided this data, Ernie Johnson added:
"From 25 to 30 years old, it should be a player's ascending period. Clay Lee is clearly still refining his best skills."
Charles Barkley wasn't interested in continuing to praise.
The win-loss difference wasn't significant, and the San Antonio Spurs' current record also reached 26 wins and 7 losses:
"If the New York Knicks can't achieve an overwhelming lead this year, perhaps Tim Duncan will win his first career MVP!"
Kenny Smith had a bewildered expression.
In terms of individual statistics, Lee was far ahead of Duncan:
"Why? The league's best record, excellent statistics. If he loses this award for two consecutive years, then there's definitely something wrong with the selection mechanism!"
Hearing his partner's words, Charles Barkley still spoke with conviction:
"Maybe everyone is tired of Lee's high scoring!"
"..."
In the three games that night, the San Antonio Spurs narrowly defeated the Pacers 98:111, still closely trailing in the win-loss difference.
Tim Duncan played 38 minutes, shooting 10-of-20 from the field, 7-of-11 from the free-throw line, for 27 points, 12 rebounds, 1 steal, 5 blocks, and 2 turnovers.
When asked about the MVP award selection after the game, Tim Duncan uncharacteristically took the initiative to state:
"Compared to individual statistics, I prefer victory. I know how to lead the team during this period."
"We are the Western Conference's best, and my teammates have grown. This year, we will make it to the Finals again."
"As for the MVP, of course I desire it, but I want to lift the o'brien cup and the FMVP trophy even more."
Interior players have a slight disadvantage compared to backcourt players in terms of statistics.
To address this, Head Coach Popovich was also trying to get Tim Duncan to increase his shot attempts.
To win an award, statistics are essential, but compared to Lee's Excel-like numbers, Tim Duncan's were still somewhat lacking.
Regarding this, Head Coach Popovich also put forward his theory:
"In a basketball game, a player scoring over 30 points is a selfish act!"
"I know fans love flashy stats, but Tim is a selfless leader, and he deserves the MVP!"
On January 7th, as Head Coach Popovich's "selfish theory" swept across the league, commentators began to discuss the correctness of this theory.
The Seattle SuperSonics lost to the Washington Wizards in last night's game, bringing their record to 23 wins and 8 losses.
Ray Allen was very satisfied with the team's record this new season, but most sports media didn't pay attention to them.
In last night's game, Ray Allen was possessed by a blacksmith, while Lewis shot 14-of-26 from the field, 5-of-10 from beyond the arc, 2-of-4 from the free-throw line, for 35 points, 11 rebounds, 1 block, and 4 turnovers.
After ending their road trip and flying back to Seattle, Ray Allen transformed into a straightforward Boy during an interview:
"I don't understand why high scoring is criticized after a win!"
"Selfish? If scoring 60 points can help the team win, why not score?"
"Clearly, Head Coach Popovich is trying to help Tim Duncan win the MVP, but don't forget, they are only one win ahead of the Seattle SuperSonics."
"Tim Duncan is excellent, but he's not a scorer. Don't try to cover up his flaws. I prefer a fair competitive environment."
"Everyone always ignores Rashard and me. In reality, we are better than most teams in the league."
"If Clay leads the team to the league's best record this year, I think he should get the MVP. If Tim Duncan is considered, perhaps commentators should also pay attention to my performance!"
The Seattle Post would, of course, speak for the home team, especially since Lewis had just scored a 30+10 double-double, and the opponent was being sarcastic.
The newspaper's column naturally had to retaliate.
On Saturday, the New York Times also joined in mocking their old rival:
"If Tim Duncan could perform like Clay Lee in the Finals, perhaps the San Antonio Spurs would have already won two championships."
"..."
Head Coach Popovich had truly stirred up a hornet's nest this time, with many local media outlets joining in with sarcastic remarks.
For some small-market teams, if their star player can average 30 points per game, regardless of their record, ticket sales are likely not a concern.
As a commercial league, the NBA is a basketball reality show, and the vast majority of ordinary fans come to appreciate the individual performances of superstar players.
Regardless of external evaluations, Head Coach Popovich continued to emphasize his theory, incidentally calling Tim Duncan a "selfless leader."
On Saturday, January 8th, before the games that evening, Mike D'Antoni also discussed the hot topic of the past few days during an interview:
"Superstars lead teams in different ways. As a coach, we need to create suitable tactics based on the players' characteristics."
"Duncan might fit the San Antonio Spurs' system, but Lee himself represents a system!"
"With the New York Knicks, the coaching staff's job is to ensure the other players are in form. We never worry about Lee. We all know that as long as he has the ball, it means victory."
"Sometimes victory is that simple. Why should I interfere too much with victory? I prefer to sit back and quietly enjoy Lee's performance!"
At the end, Mike D'Antoni even chuckled, then counter-questioned the media reporters surrounding him:
"Do you like watching Lee play? I think the answer is definitely yes."
The Yahoo Sports reporter was unable to refute, and even more unable to comment on such "I'm just AFK" remarks.
Everyone exchanged glances, and finally, a few people from Fox Sports whispered:
"If I were to watch a game, I would indeed choose the New York Knicks."
"."
The Hornets currently have a record of 2 wins and 29 losses.
As long as David Stern gives the nod, they will most likely get the first pick in this year's draft.
Losing badly is their true portrayal.
Baron Davis returned from injury, but the feedback he received was that management was preparing to trade him.
Tanking also has its benefits.
JR Smith is gradually emerging in this environment.
This explosive scoring guard is currently much loved by local fans.
After the game began, neither side played Defense, and they quickly started trading blows.
However, the bearded Davis had a hard time.
He went 1-for-7 in the first quarter, seemingly not fully recovered from his injury.
At halftime, the score was 57:47, a double-digit difference.
3-for-12, with 6 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 turnovers, Baron Davis continued his recent poor performance.
The Hornets fans at the American Airlines Arena didn't care.
The team's current state was "losing is winning," and those who bought tickets were there to witness Lee's record.
After the second half began, the Defense intensity further dropped, and Lee also started to go easy, allowing Davis to gradually find his touch.
The two frequently delivered spectacular assists, while also not forgetting their individual scoring.
Watching the score continuously rise, cheers erupted one after another in the New Orleans Arena.
Davis drove down the middle and tossed the ball to the upper right of the rim.
PJ Brown soared high and dunked the ball with both hands.
Clay Lee initiated a pick-and-roll on the left wing, then suddenly changed direction in front of his body, shaking off Davis's Defense, attracting PJ Brown's help Defense, and then made a between-the-legs pass while moving, finding Amar'e Stoudemire cutting to the basket.
The latter immediately took off after receiving the ball, jumping with both feet before reaching the paint, grabbing the ball with his right hand, and completing an emphatic tomahawk dunk!
After dribbling past half-court, Baron Davis suddenly launched a cold arrow from the top of the arc, hitting a long-range three-point jump shot.
Lee, who received the ball at the baseline, quickly performed an in-and-out dribble with his left hand after bringing the ball past half-court.
After a body feint to the left, he immediately changed direction between his legs, slipping past Davis, and then suddenly stopped again at the three-point line.
Davis, who was still sliding, was faked out by Lee's sudden between-the-legs pull-back, taking a big step away, and then symbolically rushed to defend, finally watching Lee shoot a jump shot from beyond the three-point line!
"Swish!" The three-pointer swished through the net!
Both sides went back and forth, playing a very lively game with dunks, three-pointers, and flashy drives, making the cheers unstoppable for a while.
A single quarter score of 31:27, and after three quarters, it was 88:74, the game was still on.
Although Head Coach Scott suspected Lee was manipulating the score to pad his stats, the players were in excellent form, so they naturally gave their all.
In the final quarter, Baron Davis completely found his rhythm, scoring both inside and out, leading the team in a comeback!
Amar'e Stoudemire remained in excellent form, continuously responding in coordination with Lee.
The score difference remained tight until the end of the game.
Ultimately, the Hornets lost again, 118:105, continuing their dive for the first overall pick.
Baron Davis finished the game with 10-of-25 shooting, 3-of-8 from beyond the arc, and 3-of-5 from the free-throw line, tallying 26 points, 8 rebounds, 14 assists, 1 steal, and 4 turnovers.
Clay Lee played 39 minutes, shooting 14-of-24, 7-of-13 from three-point range, and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line, accumulating 41 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, and 2 turnovers.
After the game, the two embraced in greeting, the bearded man beaming with joy, showing no signs of frustration:
"This is the best game I've played since returning from injury! Clay, congratulations on tying the record set by Michael Jordan!"
"Thanks, Bro! That was indeed a great game, and I think the Hornets will regret trading you."
Lee gave him a "you're really strong" look and patted his shoulder, everything was unsaid.
For the two of them, this was a win-win!
Head Coach Scott, who was courtside, noticed Mike D'Antoni, who had been AFK the entire game, only now standing up, and couldn't help but inwardly grumble:
"Coaching the New York Knicks is truly an easy job."
The bearded Davis gained confidence, Lee achieved a record, Hornets fans were happy watching, and New York fans were bragging wildly.
Some were happy, some were sad.
Kobe, who was still recovering from injury, was unhappy again.
After last night's game, when Baron Davis attended the press conference, he proactively praised Lee:
"I haven't played against Michael Jordan in his prime, but in my opinion, Clay Lee has already surpassed him!"
"He's only 6 feet 4 inches, about my size, and in this league of giants, Clay Lee is so special."
"Actually, I was hoping to see Clay Lee break Michael Jordan's record tonight!"
The bearded man didn't mention him at all, which made Kobe, who was at home recovering from injury and keeping an eye on the record, especially displeased, as he was the one who had tied the record first.
The Lakers, without Kobe, were still winning recently.
Due to flying to Indianapolis on Monday, the Lakers only had a film session on sunday.
ESPN didn't forget Kobe and cornered him outside the practice facility again.
Hearing the question about the record, Kobe responded impatiently:
"I only focus on winning. I'm no longer interested in chasing those eye-catching stats!"
"."
On sunday, January 9th, the New York Knicks played a back-to-back game.
At Madison Square Garden, Amar'e Stoudemire held up his Player of the Week trophy.
Averaging 27.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steal, 1.0 block, and 2.3 turnovers.
His field goal percentage was 58.5%, and his free throw percentage was 79.5%.
The New York fans at the Madison square garden applauded this Rookie.
It proved that talent indeed allows one to do whatever they please.
Whenever the New York Knicks played, Amar'e Stoudemire's dunks were sure to appear in the day's highlights.
The Portland Trail Blazers, with a record of 12 wins and 19 losses, had started to fall behind, but their game performance that night was exceptionally good.
It was another offensive battle that fans enjoyed, 105:117.
While the New York Knicks continued their winning streak, Lee quietly broke the record.
At the end of the game, fans who witnessed the new record were still cheering loudly for Clay Lee.
New York sports media were beaming, and "selfish basketball" became an even hotter topic of discussion.
Lee, who played 39 minutes, didn't have much sweat on his head.
Qs his game experience grew, he had mastered the art of controlling the score.
Coupled with some experiences of playing 5-on-8, Lee felt his control over the game was much better than in previous years.
Waving to the fans, Lee had just reached the sideline when a New York Times reporter eagerly asked:
"Lee, congratulations on breaking Michael Jordan's record, 10 consecutive games with 40+ points. I think no one will achieve such a feat again in the next 50 years."
"Will you continue this performance in the upcoming games?"
Seeing everyone's expectant gazes, Lee chuckled, self-deprecatingly saying:
"That depends on the opponent. Of course, if 'selfish' play can lead to wins, I think I'll stick with it!"
"You know me. Scoring is the easiest thing for me."
"."
...
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)