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Dragon Emperor in Pokemon World.
The return of Itachi
I am Sasuke. Why should I defect from Konoha.
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***
On February 1, 2005, the NBA announced the Players of the Month for the previous month:
Clay Lee from the Eastern Conference and Chris Webber from the Western Conference successfully won the awards.
The Knicks achieved a record of 14 wins and 2 losses in January.
Clay Lee averaged 36.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 2.1 steals, 0.5 blocks, and 1.4 turnovers per game.
He played an average of 36.3 minutes per game, with 23.1 field goal attempts per game, shooting 53.3% from the field. He attempted 9.8 three-pointers per game, shooting 46.9% from beyond the arc.
He averaged 7.9 free throws per game, shooting 93.1% from the free throw line.
The Sacramento Kings achieved a record of 9 wins and 4 losses in January.
Chris Webber contributed 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 3.2 turnovers per game.
He attempted 19.7 field goals per game, shooting 46.1% from the field.
He averaged 4.4 free throws per game, shooting 89.5% from the free throw line.
Their playing time was almost identical.
If their names were hidden and only their shooting percentages were considered, perhaps Clay Lee looked more like a power forward than Chris Webber.
Basketball commentators have grown accustomed to Lee's efficient performance.
If one observes his shot distribution this season, there are more shooting spots near the free throw line, with most of the others concentrated in the paint and beyond the three-point line.
Regardless of external evaluations, Lee did not increase his post-up plays, and he rarely shot from mid-range.
This offensive selection greatly inspired many data experts.
After this season, combined with the advanced statistic of Win Shares, which was just introduced last year, Lee might set another outrageous record.
The New York Post did not extensively report on minor awards like Player of the Month.
In the eyes of most New York fans, Lee should monopolize this award.
On the morning of the 1st, most New York fans were more concerned with other matters, and the New York Post also briefly reported the news that fans cared about:
"Ron Artest happily returned to the Tarrytown Training Center."
"It is expected that Artest can stay with Grant Hill and Pau Gasol, which is good for all three."
The Knicks and the Players Union jointly applied to the NBA, and a week later, David Stern lifted the training ban, allowing Artest to quietly rejoin the team.
The operators of the Auburn Hills Palace also settled with Artest's entourage, compensating for the lost necklace and publicly apologizing.
Most sports media did not extensively report this news.
After ESPN received complaints from fans, commentators stopped speaking up for players.
No one would empathize with millionaires.
Realizing this, several mainstream media outlets chose to ignore the matter in their programming, allowing fans to completely forget about it.
The New York Times reported on the Knicks' visit to the White House.
During a public speech, George W. Bush once again praised the championship team:
"Since '98, Clay Lee should be the most familiar NBA star to the White House staff. I am willing to call him the biggest winner of the new century!"
"Thank you, Knicks, for contributing to tsunami relief efforts. At certain times, a championship team has more influence than we do."
"Of course, I also want to thank the Knicks for providing entertainment to our overseas troops. Undoubtedly, many of them love basketball."
"Many young men will be proud of the achievements New York has made in recent years."
"..."
Because the Knicks won championships for many consecutive years, the President's thank-you speech was almost exhausted.
Finally, George W. Bush also wished Ivanka well, expressing happiness for his father's third marriage.
Donald Trump became the focus of public attention at the end of January, as "The Apprentice" Season 3 became very popular after its broadcast.
Although it was surpassed in viewership by "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," the show was still very successful.
Capitalizing on the ongoing popularity, Donald announced he would marry his third wife and was currently busy with wedding rehearsals.
Ivanka Trump felt uncomfortable, which is why she accompanied Lee to Washington.
In addition to reporting normal news and gossip, some Donkey Party members at the New York Times did not forget to mock the Republican Party congressmen who accompanied the Knicks to the White House.
New York State Attorney General Spitzer recently mocked George W. Bush's business policies during a speech on Wall Street.
Since the Knicks were about to embark on a Western road trip, New York fans could not watch games live for over a week, and young people began discussing basketball online again.
Last year, the number of K users exceeded 1 million, and registration is still not open to the public, but Lee was not affected much.
People could learn about his life through this emerging social media platform.
On February 2, in the Knicks' back-to-back game against the Utah Jazz, Carlos Boozer, who was caught in trade rumors, suddenly exploded.
Fox Sports revealed that the Lakers intended to trade for Boozer, primarily using Vlade Divac and Caron Butler.
After this news broke, the Lakers did not deny it, and the Jazz also did not react much.
However, after winning against the Knicks that night, Boozer proactively stated in the post-game interview:
"I like playing in Salt Lake City. I've gained more respect here!"
"Although the team's record hasn't met expectations, I won't leave the team. I don't want to let coach Jerry Sloan down."
With a record of 16 wins and 30 losses, the Utah Jazz are highly likely to miss the playoffs this year.
Boozer's decision to stay also made Jazz fans happy, as everyone likes loyal players.
Constantly traveling by plane, Lee was not in good form tonight.
With four games in a week and two consecutive back-to-back road games, he was feeling a bit unmotivated.
When attending the post-game press conference, a Yahoo Sports reporter was not concerned about the Knicks' loss, but instead very gossipy asked:
"Clay, Head Coach George Karl is trying to recruit Ray Allen and Michael Redd. He believes the Denver Nuggets' recent poor record is due to a lack of a shooting guard!"
"Do you think Ray Allen would consider joining the Denver Nuggets and playing for George Karl again?"
Lee had a puzzled expression when he heard this news, but no one in the audience refuted it, indicating that it was true.
The thought, "George Karl lost his mind last night," flashed through his mind, and Lee answered with a rather firm tone:
"There's no such possibility. I know Ray! He's doing well with the Seattle SuperSonics, and they should be in the top half of the standings this season."
"He won't choose to join the Denver Nuggets, and as for playing for George Karl, forgive my bluntness, but that's even more incredible!"
"The facts have proven that the Milwaukee Bucks and George Karl both made a wrong choice back then. I don't think the two will collaborate again."
With a record of 18 wins and 26 losses, the Denver Nuggets fell further behind after losing to the Knicks last night.
Even with a change of Head Coach, their record hasn't improved much.
Among the 2003 Rookies, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James have already pulled ahead of Carmelo Anthony this season.
Such a straightforward answer drew laughter from the audience.
Many also felt that George Karl had lost his mind.
Why would Ray Allen play for him again?
An ESPN reporter quickly asked the question everyone was interested in:
"Lee, will you and Ray Allen collaborate in the future?"
"Of course, I always welcome excellent players to join the Knicks."
Upon hearing Lee's affirmative reply, many reporters, however, hoped that the two would never collaborate, as they preferred to see the Knicks lose.
On February 3, the NBA announced the All-Star Game reserves for Denver:
The 7 reserves for the Eastern Conference All-Star team were:
Dwyane Wade, Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, Paul Pierce, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Pau Gasol, and Ben Wallace.
The 7 reserves for the Western Conference All-Star team were:
Steve Nash, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Ray Allen, Shawn Marion, Rashard Lewis, and Dirk Nowitzki.
Due to Pau Gasol's injury, David Stern ultimately designated Amar'e Stoudemire as his replacement in the All-Star Game.
After the roster was announced, 76ers fans expressed dissatisfaction.
Allen Iverson was not selected?
With 1.39 million fan votes, Allen Iverson ranked third in the Eastern Conference guard voting.
Although the 76ers' record was not good, Allen Iverson should still have been selected for the All-Star Game.
The Celtics are currently only one game ahead of the 76ers, yet Paul Pierce was brought into the All-Star Game.
Philadelphia fans were naturally unhappy about this.
Boston sports media quickly revealed why Paul Pierce was selected:
"This season, the Celtics have defeated the Knicks."
Yahoo Sports also joined the gossip, and Philadelphia fans were somewhat at a loss for words after seeing the news.
In the previous encounter, Allen Iverson was unable to play due to a hip injury, which unexpectedly became the catalyst for him losing his All-Star spot.
After losing his All-Star spot, Allen Iverson broke down in an interview:
"I don't know why this happened. I got the fans' support, but not the coach's recognition?"
"Someone doesn't want me to appear on a bigger stage. I won't change myself. Now I just want to play quietly!"
Allen Iverson, wearing an oversized hoodie, didn't show much emotion on his face.
Years of missing the playoffs, coupled with the "rebellion" of Philadelphia fans, had made him lose his former defiant demeanor.
Andre Iguodala was designated as the new core of the 76ers.
Although his younger brother was very well-behaved in front of him, Allen Iverson knew that his time in Philadelphia might be limited.
Despite being selected for the All-Star, Amar'e Stoudemire was still a bit unhappy.
All 15 players were starters, and he was the only one who was a substitute, having been added as a replacement.
On the evening of the 4th, when the New York Knicks challenged the Phoenix Suns on the road, Amar'e Stoudemire once again showed great enthusiasm for the game.
At halftime, the New York Knicks led by only 1 point, 53-52.
Raja Bell was 1 for 4, and Joe Johnson on the opposing side was 1 for 7, with both going 0 for 3 from beyond the arc.
The game was fast-paced, and both teams had only 5 turnovers at halftime.
Steve Nash was 4 for 10, 1 for 1 from three-point range, with 9 points, 1 rebound, 6 assists, and 1 turnover.
Clay Lee was 6 for 10, 1 for 2 from three-point range, and 5 for 6 from the free-throw line, scoring 18 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.
At the TNT commentary desk, Kevin Harlan was currently discussing the MVP rankings:
"Midway through the season, many critics believe Steve Nash has a chance to win the MVP."
"After joining the Phoenix Suns this season, under his leadership, this team has undergone tremendous changes."
"With a 35-13 record, their gap with the San Antonio Spurs is not large. As long as they maintain their current form, they still have a chance to overtake their opponents after the All-Star Game."
Doug Collins did not blindly favor them but commented cautiously:
"Dale Davis has indeed provided stable rebounding for this team, but this veteran's offensive contribution is limited."
"What I'm more concerned about is Steve Nash's health. In the few games where he suffered injuries, the Phoenix Suns failed to win a single game."
"If he cannot stay healthy, the Phoenix Suns might suddenly fall behind after the All-Star Game. As for the MVP, currently, Tim Duncan is the closest to Clay Lee."
"But I don't favor them. Tim Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal are excellent, but the New York Knicks' record is better, and Clay Lee's stats have reached a career-best."
The Phoenix Suns, heavily reliant on shooting, were 4 for 14 from beyond the arc in the first half, while the New York Knicks were 3 for 10.
Steve Nash desperately wanted to win this game and was exceptionally active on Defense.
Led by him, the Phoenix Suns rarely had issues with transition Defense.
After the start of the third quarter, Steve Nash, receiving the ball on the baseline, again called for his teammates early.
With one big and four small players, Shawn Marion played power forward.
Hearing his teammate's reminder, he quickly came to the top of the arc to set a screen.
Amidst the cheers of the fans, after a simple pick-and-roll, as Shawn Marion popped out, Steve Nash, feigning a drive with the ball in his right hand, immediately passed it behind his back.
Kurt Thomas, guarding inside the three-point line, did not stick to Shawn Marion, watching him awkwardly push the ball and shoot a jump shot with his butt sticking out.
"Bang!"
Continuing his poor shooting touch from the first half, Shawn Marion waved his hand as the ball bounced off the rim and quickly retreated on Defense.
The veteran Dale Davis also had no chance to contend for the offensive rebound.
The ball bounced too far and was picked up by Tayshaun Prince, who had returned to the right elbow area.
"Defense!"
Lee received the ball, and the New York Knicks launched a fast break.
The cheers for Defense in the America West Arena. followed.
On offense, the Phoenix Suns' Joe Johnson and Quentin Richardson usually stood in the corners, but tonight, on Defense, they mostly guarded up high in most possessions.
The New York Knicks did not frequently initiate "V-cut" offense.
During the first half, the two mostly cooperated with Steve Nash to double-team Lee.
Shawn Marion, who had retreated to half court early, worried about being overpowered under the basket.
Seeing Amar'e Stoudemire and Kurt Thomas cross-screen on the baseline, he quickly switched Defense, letting Dale Davis continue to defend.
Clay Lee, at the top of the arc, noticed that there was no mismatch under the basket.
After slowing down, he suddenly sent the ball forward with his left hand.
Maintaining defensive distance, Steve Nash instinctively reached out, but Lee reacted faster.
As the ball just reached Steve Nash, Lee pulled it back diagonally with his right hand.
Without giving Steve Nash a chance to readjust his center of gravity, Lee lowered his shoulder and accelerated, gaining half a step, and forcefully broke through the middle.
Joe Johnson, on the right wing, saw his teammate being driven past again.
He wanted to move to help defend, but Lee's squeeze-through speed this time was too fast.
His feet had just moved, but it was already too late.
Amidst the exclamations of the Phoenix Suns fans, Lee broke through the middle straight to the basket.
Directly in front of the rim, he held the ball with his right hand and easily scored with a layup!
Shawn Marion and Dale Davis both did not collapse this time.
The New York Knicks' big men had been continuously scoring easy baskets in the first half.
The coach had just adjusted the defensive strategy at halftime, but it seemed to have little effect in the first possession.
55-52, Lee scored easily, and a chorus of boos erupted in the America West Arena.
Steve Nash could only pat his chest, indicating it was his fault.
With his three-point shot off target in the first half, Steve Nash didn't stubbornly choose to pass.
After quickly dribbling past half court, he quickly came to the left wing to initiate a pick-and-roll.
Dribbling behind his back to his right hand, sensing Clay Lee squeezing through the screen, Steve Nash dribbled horizontally with the ball in his right hand, then immediately flicked the ball to Dale Davis.
Accelerating with a back cut, Steve Nash received the hand-off pass and drove hard to the basket from the wing with the ball in his left hand.
Lee continued to chase from behind.
Steve Nash wasn't fast, and while sensing the Defense, he didn't rashly attempt a layup.
After approaching the lower-left side of the basket, he dribbled along the baseline and started circling.
Near the right baseline, Steve Nash, with the ball in his left hand, swayed his shoulders, suddenly stopped abruptly feigning a spin, and then twisted his body again for a second acceleration.
Once again in the paint directly in front of the basket, Steve Nash noticed Lee still chasing him.
He hardened his resolve, leaned into the defender, and suddenly stopped short.
Taking advantage of Lee's slight forward lean, Steve Nash used the rebound force to push off with his feet, floating backward for a fadeaway shot near the basket!
The ball finally bounced twice on the rim before falling into the net.
The difficult basket made the Phoenix Suns fans cheer again.
Quickly getting up from the floor, Steve Nash followed his teammates in a quick retreat on Defense.
After the inbounds pass, Lee accelerated the push, and Amar'e Stoudemire, running to the frontcourt, had already settled at the three-point line.
Noticing the movement behind him, Steve Nash moved early, trying to squeeze through the screen.
Approaching the pick-and-roll position, Lee lowered his center of gravity and swayed his body to the front-left, then quickly dribbled behind his back, switched to his right hand, and accelerated horizontally.
Steve Nash did squeeze through the screen, but Lee pinned him to his side, so he could only instinctively slide step.
Quentin Richardson, on the right wing, saw his teammate about to be out of position again and hurriedly slid over to help defend.
The two tried to close off the Defense near the elbow, but in motion, Lee, with the ball in his right hand, suddenly put the ball between his legs.
As the ball flew out from between his legs, it also flew past their double-team.
Clay Lee forcefully crashed through the middle of the two, completely shaking off the Defense, and regained control of the ball with his right hand in the paint.
Shawn Marion, who had retreated to the basket, now ignored Kurt Thomas beside him, moved early, came to the basket, and jumped to block the shot.
Directly in front of the basket, Lee, jumping with both feet, saw Shawn Marion raising both arms, making a "net block" motion.
In mid-air, after their bodies collided, he twisted again.
Watching Lee suddenly turn 180 degrees, Shawn Marion, who was already descending, decisively pulled with his right hand, trying to disrupt the offense.
Amidst the fans' exclamations, Lee was not much affected.
Before descending, he smoothly tossed the ball off the backboard with his right hand.
"Squeak!"
As the referee blew his whistle, the ball hit the backboard and accurately went into the basket.
The acrobatic shot suddenly silenced the Arena, followed by a roar that almost broke through the America West Arena.
At the commentary desk, Kevin Harlan, although he had seen Lee perform many times, still exclaimed loudly:
"Clay Lee once again demonstrated his unparalleled ball-handling skills! What an exaggerated shot!"
"After the start of the second half, Clay Lee seems to have completely found his game rhythm."
Doug Collins noticed Steve Nash and Quentin Richardson still standing bewildered beyond the three-point line and couldn't help but tease:
"Making the correct defensive choice doesn't mean you can stop Clay Lee from scoring."
Quentin Richardson was traded by the New York Knicks, but New York fans had long forgotten this player who had made some name for himself.
Facing the New York Knicks, Quentin Richardson wanted to prove himself, but his shooting was off tonight.
After Alvin Gentry made halftime adjustments, he decided not to fire from beyond the arc.
After a simple high-five celebration with his teammates, Lee stepped to the free throw line and calmly made the bonus shot.
58:54. Seeing the lead expand, Steve Nash, who received the ball on the baseline, still chose to attack himself.
On the left wing, Dale Davis's solid screen finally allowed Steve Nash to shake off Lee's pursuit.
Amar'e Stoudemire chose to switch immediately, while Lee followed the opponent to the basket, cutting off Steve Nash's passing lane in the process.
With a small-on-big opportunity, Steve Nash, dribbling with his left hand, continuously dribbled between his legs to shift his center of gravity, then suddenly changed direction in front of his body the moment the ball returned to his left hand.
Amar'e Stoudemire had just shuffled backward when Steve Nash, faking a drive, immediately pulled up, gathered the ball, and shot a fadeaway jumper to the right, which clanked off the rim.
Dale Davis attempted to use his height advantage to crash the offensive glass, but Lee was prepared, pulling and leaning into the opponent's embrace.
Unable to jump fully, Dale Davis watched as Lee leaped high in front of him, grabbing the rebound with one hand, then took off with the ball immediately after landing.
Before he could commit a tactical foul, Lee, dribbling with his left hand, sped up, already past the three-point line.
At the same time, Amar'e Stoudemire also took long strides, sprinting desperately towards the frontcourt.
Steve Nash, retreating on Defense, was momentarily in a one-on-two situation.
While he was still hesitating, Lee, who had crossed half-court, directly lobbed the ball to the upper right of the basket.
The ball and player arrived simultaneously.
Completely unguarded, Amar'e Stoudemire rushed to the basket, grabbed the ball with both hands, and, while drifting, slammed the ball into the hoop!
Due to inertia, Amar'e Stoudemire, after completing the dunk, landed somewhat unsteadily.
After straightening up, he immediately let out an excited shout:
"Ah!"
Alvin Gentry, on the sideline, saw his players had just retreated to half-court.
For a moment, he could only fold his arms, while reminding Steve Nash to continue attacking.
In the first half, the Phoenix Suns took too many corner three-pointers, allowing the struggling New York Knicks to stay in the game with fast breaks.
Steve Nash strictly followed his Head Coach's tactical arrangements, continuing his individual isolations while reminding teammates to cut to the basket.
In the subsequent play, Amar'e Stoudemire showcased his excellent athleticism, blocking the older Dale Davis twice.
Shawn Marion, who cut to the basket, also faced interference.
The Phoenix Suns, abandoning outside shooting, became extremely predictable in their offense.
Failing to efficiently finish at the basket, they instead allowed the New York Knicks to run transition offenses again.
Quentin Richardson's long two-pointer from the left corner clanked off the rim.
Seeing Lee secure the long rebound, the Phoenix Suns players instinctively retreated quickly on Defense.
Shawn Marion didn't forget to call for his teammates to match up defensively.
When they retreated to half-court, several of them sagged into the three-point line.
At the top of the arc, Lee, dribbling with his left hand, pushed the ball for a change of direction, accelerated a second time, and drove hard through the middle with the ball in his right hand.
Seeing Steve Nash get caught by half a step, the Phoenix Suns' Defense all collapsed into the paint.
Near the free throw line, Lee then passed the ball to Raja Bell on the right wing, closer to the sideline.
Receiving the ball unguarded, Raja Bell calmly adjusted and sank the transition three-pointer!
69:60. Seeing the lead about to reach double digits, Alvin Gentry immediately called a timeout.
With 6 minutes and 17 seconds left in the 3rd quarter, the America West Arena grew much quieter.
Some fans holding whiteboards to cheer on Steve Nash also seemed to lose their enthusiasm.
Since '96, they hadn't beaten the New York Knicks, and it seemed that tradition would continue tonight.
Steve Nash also failed to become the team's hero.
Even his "ceremonial" free throws became inconsistent.
Late in the 3rd quarter, the New York Knicks' missed three-pointers allowed the Phoenix Suns to execute two beautiful fast breaks.
But as Clay Lee and Amar'e Stoudemire began to step to the free throw line, the lead gradually widened.
35:23 in the quarter, and after three quarters, the score was 88:75.
On the Phoenix Suns' bench, seeing Steve Nash's silent expression, Joe Johnson also let out a frustrated sigh.
3-for-6 shooting, scoring 6 points.
Joe Johnson felt he had played well, believing the team losing its offensive rhythm was the reason for the deficit:
"We still have enough time, Steve. This isn't the pace we like. We need to hit shots from the outside!"
Hearing his teammate, Steve Nash nodded.
He planned to observe for a few more minutes.
After the 4th quarter began, Steve Nash, still on the bench, saw that Lee hadn't rested and had re-entered the game, leaving him speechless.
On the first offensive possession, the New York Knicks attacked.
With a double screen at the top, Lee cut horizontally from right to left.
Although Derek Fisher, directing traffic, was half a beat slow with his pass, Lee, upon receiving the ball, still forced up a jump shot!
"Swish!" The three-pointer went straight through the net.
Leandro Barbosa, who came off the bench and was chasing on Defense, subconsciously looked towards the sideline, but Alvin Gentry gave no instructions.
Jim Jackson, who came off the bench, committed a turnover.
Clay Lee, completing the steal, sprinted past half-court along the left sideline.
As Barbosa just started to guard him closely, Lee, dribbling with his left hand, dipped his shoulder and accelerated, pushing the ball forward, and used his off-hand to swat away the opponent's arm, successfully gaining half a step.
Realizing he had made the wrong choice, Barbosa no longer made any unnecessary moves, only sliding backward to his right as fast as he could.
On the left wing, at the three-point line, Lee suddenly stopped while in motion, pulled the ball back between his legs, shook off the Defense, reset his feet, gathered the ball, and faked a shot.
Barbosa, fooled, lunged forward, flying into the air and trying to twist his body, but it was too late.
The moment he drew the foul, Lee put force into his body, and after the referee blew the whistle, he shot a jump shot!
"Bang!"
The arc was slightly flat, and the ball hit the back rim before falling into the basket.
"Boo!"
"Man, quick reaction, good Defense!"
Lee, walking to the free-throw line, patted Barbosa.
This Rookie had received good words from Michael Jordan through William Wesley.
The two had a brief encounter at Michael Jordan's party, but at the time, Barbosa had just arrived in the United States and was in need of help, appearing completely like a "follower" with his agent.
Barbosa didn't retort like some arrogant Rookies, but instead showed a hint of a fawning smile.
95:75. As Lee made the bonus free throw, Steve Nash, still observing from the bench, was stunned.
Three possessions had passed, and the lead had grown to 20 points.
Alvin Gentry realized he had made the wrong substitution, but it was too late.
Although Steve Nash entered the game early afterward, the lead never shrunk.
The Phoenix Suns, forced to start shooting, were again met with efficient fast breaks from the New York Knicks.
Ultimately, amidst the disappointed sighs of the Phoenix Suns fans, the game quickly ended.
116:99. The New York Knicks once again completed a season sweep, extending their undefeated record against the Phoenix Suns.
Playing 40 minutes, shooting 13-for-23 from the field, 4-for-9 from three-point range, and 10-for-12 from the free-throw line, he recorded 40 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, and 1 turnover.
Filling the stat sheet and delivering a double-double, Clay Lee embraced a somewhat dejected Steve Nash after the game, simply encouraging him:
"This is your first season with the Phoenix Suns. Maintain this form, and you will definitely win the MVP!"
On the MVP rankings, Steve Nash had reached the second position, but after losing two consecutive games, he knew very well how commentators would evaluate him:
"Wish me luck! I hope we can meet in the Finals this year."
Steve Nash left dejectedly.
He urgently hoped that management would further strengthen the current roster.
After this nationally televised game, sports media automatically eliminated Steve Nash from MVP contention.
On Saturday, February 5th, Amar'e Stoudemire, who had played efficiently in the previous game, had a poor performance.
Despite Chris Webber being injured, the Sacramento Kings still won the game.
Even though they lost, Mike D'Antoni was happy.
There were no injuries, which met the coaching staff's expectations.
On Monday, the 7th, after the New York Knicks narrowly defeated the Clippers on the road, their Western road trip concluded.
After the game, Mike D'Antoni confidently stated in an interview:
"Even though the team has suffered injuries, we can still achieve 60+ wins this year!"
"..."
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)