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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 sunday, February 20, 2005, Magic Johnson, who had appeared in the Celebrity Game last night, chatted about the Los Angeles Lakers' gossip during the morning activities.
Not many stars came to watch the individual challenge events.
Almost all were Eastern Conference All-Star players.
However, Shaq was not present, and Kobe also hadn't shown up these past two days.
It seemed neither of them intended to meet, as neither came to the venue, which greatly disappointed the sports media.
When the All-Star players began taking their official photos this morning, Kobe and Shaq had no interaction whatsoever.
They didn't even greet each other when they met face-to-face.
It's not common in the NBA for two players who won championships together to become enemies.
When Ben Wallace joined the Detroit Pistons, he would still cordially greet his old New York Knicks teammates.
Even if there were some unpleasantries between the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks, it didn't affect the relationships between the players.
Julius Erving and James Worthy were also present.
Both had appeared at the Pepsi Center last night and even guest-hosted as announcers.
After the official photos were taken, most players exchanged pleasantries and left.
The main game was tonight, so there were no more eccentric outfits today.
David Stern first warned the Rookies playing in the Rookie Challenge to make the game more exciting, and then requested that all players wear formal attire before the main game.
After a stern warning, no one dared to dress uniquely.
They all honestly put on their oversized formal wear to deal with the occasion.
Magic Johnson smiled brightly as he talked about the Los Angeles Lakers' gossip:
"Winning championships together doesn't mean they are good friends."
"Shaq and Kobe are both professional players. It's enough if they can provide exciting games for the fans."
"That's my view: if you can't be friends, becoming opponents isn't bad either!"
ESPN has good sources.
It seems Jeanie Buss recently intends to bring her boyfriend, Phil Jackson, back to the Los Angeles Lakers.
After Head Coach Tomjanovich was fired, an assistant coach is currently serving as interim coach.
"Magic, can you talk about the Los Angeles Lakers' Head Coach candidates? Will Phil Jackson return to the Los Angeles Lakers?"
"We all know he published a book criticizing the Los Angeles Lakers last year. If Phil returns, will he have even more serious conflicts with Kobe?"
"You know, Phil called Kobe 'uncoachable,' and their relationship seems very bad."
The ESPN reporter clearly wanted some entertainment.
Magic Johnson didn't want to delve too much into the topic and again emphasized with a smile:
"Kobe is an excellent professional player. I don't think a book will affect his relationship with Phil."
"They won championships together, and Phil is one of the most successful coaches in the NBA. If he chooses to return to Los Angeles, I believe Kobe, like the fans, will welcome him with open arms."
No one in the sports media believed this.
Phil Jackson had already openly attacked Kobe, and Kobe certainly wouldn't tolerate it.
At least this season, it would be difficult for Phil Jackson to return.
During the fan event in the afternoon, Kobe looked listless.
His grandfather had passed away, and he needed to go to Philadelphia for the funeral after the game.
Besides family matters, the fans in Denver also didn't welcome him.
Fans would occasionally yell insults at him and make gestures of disdain.
The Pepsi Center is only 45 minutes away from the hotel in Eagle, Colorado.
Although a settlement was reached in early February, fans believed that Kobe, the "trespasser," had used money to settle the legal issues.
After enduring the fan event, Kobe's mood improved somewhat, but when asked about Phil Jackson's return during an interview, his expression was still a bit grim:
"Frank is doing quite well. Currently, we are focused on the playoffs."
"As for the Head Coach candidate, I respect the team's choice."
At this moment, Kobe felt that there was "no good person" in the Los Angeles Lakers.
Of course, he would not agree to the return of the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man!
Before the All-Star Game began, in the locker room, the sports media finally interviewed Shaq.
Still completely ignoring Kobe, Shaq pulled out his giant shoe-shaped phone, extended the antenna, interrupted the reporter's interview, and said with feigned seriousness:
"I have to take a call first. Kevin seems to be provoking me!"
Shaq grunted twice and handed the shoe to Dwyane Wade, who was not good at acting.
Dwyane Wade said a few stiff sentences, then quickly returned the shoe to his boss.
Holding the shoe, Shaq nodded in an exaggerated manner, then called out to Lee, who was signing autographs:
"Clay! Tim Duncan said he would defeat you and win the MVP this year!"
After signing LeBron James's shoe, Lee patted the Rookie, then solemnly took the giant shoe from Shaq's hand:
"Alright, I know! I agree with that view!"
"Kobe told me to tell you that without him, you would never win a championship."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Shaq took the shoe and feigned a loud scolding:
"Kobe is just a pathetic worm. He can only play by my side!"
"I have the MVP and FMVP. He will never reach my height. Even if he prays to God, Shaq will not pity him."
After yelling with the shoe held high, Shaq, in a good mood, laughed heartily, put his arm around his younger brother Dwyane Wade, and loudly said:
"I'm not interested in winning the trophy, but I also don't want to see Kobe win!"
Upon hearing this, Lee knew that Shaq was going to slack off.
Considering there were more than 20 regular season games left, the Heat clearly wanted to fight for their record:
"As long as we can win, play more counterattacks, everyone knows how to perform."
Hearing Lee's words, everyone knew that the goal was to attack the rim as much as possible.
Most of the players selected for the All-Star Game this year would make the playoffs.
Everyone had to hold back in this exhibition game, as the remaining regular season games would determine the final standings.
LeBron James collected everyone's autographs.
Noticing that Lee and Shaq weren't very interested in the trophy, he secretly rejoiced.
When Mike D'Antoni appeared in the locker room, he chuckled and gave a few words of encouragement, not trying to assert his presence, and didn't even mention winning or losing.
This year, the Western Conference All-Star team wore white jerseys, while the Eastern Conference All-Star team wore blue jerseys.
During the entrance ceremony, players would wear their team's practice uniforms.
Every player received cheers from the live audience when they entered, with Kobe being the only exception.
Kobe, wearing a purple practice uniform, had a serious expression and made no gestures, yet over 18,000 fans began to boo loudly.
Yao Ming was still a bit nervous.
After entering, he merely waved to the fans.
First-time All-Stars were very excited.
Gilbert Arenas even took off his practice uniform and swung it wildly in his hand, a bright smile on his face, thoroughly enjoying the moment.
Shaq also received considerable cheers when he entered, which made Kobe frown deeply and feel extremely annoyed.
Lee, the last to enter, received the loudest cheers.
With no home team players, the vast majority of fans chose to support the biggest winner.
When players from both sides came to center court, they greeted each other.
Shaq and Kobe both treated each other as if they were invisible, with no interaction throughout.
As Shaq successfully tipped the ball, Vince Carter controlled the possession and tossed the ball to Lee, and the Pepsi Center erupted in cheers once again.
For the Western Conference All-Star team, Kobe and Tracy McGrady were paired, with Kobe forced to play at the point guard position.
In the first offensive possession, Shaq stopped, looking at Kobe who was guarding him, positioned himself near the left wing, and waved to Lee.
With a wide behind-the-back dribble, Lee skillfully squeezed past Shaq's side.
Kobe tried to pursue defensively but stumbled from a slight bump during Shaq's screen.
When Yao Ming came over to help defend, Lee paused slightly, then rotated his hips to accelerate, adjusting his stride and lowering his shoulder to increase speed.
Lee, who lunged forward and accelerated, didn't wait to complete the crossover.
Noticing Shaq driving to the basket, he flicked his left wrist, and the basketball flew horizontally.
The ball arrived just as Shaq did.
Catching the ball in front of him, directly under the basket, Shaq powerfully slammed it in with both hands!
Kobe, who was chasing behind, was unhappy again.
The fans' cheers sounded harsh to him.
It was clear that the petty Shaq's move just now was intentional.
At the TNT commentary desk, Marv Albert couldn't help but chuckle and tease when he saw their little antics:
"It seems Shaq still hasn't mended his tense relationship with Kobe, but many fans should enjoy this kind of play."
Doug Collins noticed that Kobe seemed to want to go one-on-one to regain face and added:
"Kobe also wants to prove himself. I like his offensive choice."
After a series of between-the-legs dribbles, Kobe, with his graceful posture, was met with boos from the home crowd.
Switching the ball back to his right hand, Kobe lowered his shoulder and accelerated.
His obvious offensive intention allowed Lee to easily anticipate it.
Before he even reached the elbow, Kobe began to slow down after body contact.
Duncan actively came to the right elbow to receive the ball.
Kobe, who had initially intended to post up, now passed the ball to his teammate.
After passing the ball, Kobe accelerated and moved horizontally, coming forward to receive a hand-off pass from Duncan.
After a fake screen, Duncan moved towards the free-throw line, drawing away Shaq's Defense and allowing Lee to easily squeeze through.
Shaq, under the basket, watched Kobe attempt to drive again with the ball in his left hand.
He simply abandoned his matchup with Yao Ming and proactively switched directions to guard under the basket.
Observing the defensive movement, Kobe drove hard with the ball in his left hand, then suddenly stopped short at the left block.
His fake move failed to deceive Lee.
He didn't choose to pass.
Kobe ultimately twisted his body and, facing Lee's block, forced a jump shot that clanked off the rim!
LeBron James collapsed to the basket early, secured the defensive rebound, and immediately passed the ball back to Clay Lee.
The Eastern Conference All-Star team all accelerated towards half-court.
Driving quickly, Lee noticed the opposing team's fast retreat Defense and simply slowed down.
Shaq, trailing behind, quickly overtook Lee and arrived at the left elbow, hands open, calling for the ball.
After dribbling past half-court, Lee directly tossed the ball to Shaq.
While Kobe was still turning his head to observe the movement behind him, Lee suddenly accelerated, breaking free from Kobe's tight Defense on the left wing and driving straight to the basket.
Shaq, turning his body, smoothly delivered a bounce pass.
Near the block, Lee received the ball, immediately took a step, and launched himself into the air near the paint.
Duncan, who was helping on Defense under the basket, also moved early, raising his hands high to attempt a block.
Lee, holding the ball with his right hand in the air, gathered it, glided to the lower right side of the rim after evading the block, and before landing, tossed the ball off the backboard with one hand.
"Bang! Swish!" The cutting layup went in smoothly.
The beautiful basket ignited the atmosphere in the arena.
Lee and Shaq high-fived in celebration.
Both understood each other's abilities, and their simple cooperation was incredibly fluid.
Kobe, receiving the ball on the baseline, observed the Defense.
Duncan felt like Kobe was looking at him and actively came to the free-throw line, attempting to receive a pass.
Lee glanced back. While he was still observing the Defense, Kobe, who had dribbled past half-court, did not choose to pass but suddenly stopped short at the top of the arc.
After gathering the ball, he pulled up for a long-range three-pointer.
Yao Ming also felt like Kobe was looking at him.
At this moment, he was still battling Shaq for position in the left low post.
The long rebound bounced out, and LeBron James picked it up in the right block, then immediately passed the ball to the frontcourt.
Lee had started early.
After sprinting past half-court, he noticed Kobe still chasing hard behind him.
Dribbling with his right hand, he didn't slow down, arriving at the top of the arc and casually tossing the ball towards the upper left of the rim.
LeBron James, who had been adjusting his steps, jumped, and the ball landed perfectly in his hands.
At his apex, he briefly suspended the ball with his left hand, then swung his arm and slammed it down!
"Boom!" The alley-oop dunk was successful.
"Wow!"
The consecutive dunks caused everyone on the bench to cheer.
Tracy McGrady, returning to half-court, actively called for the ball.
When Kobe, no longer organizing the offense, came to the left wing, Tracy McGrady did not choose to pass the ball back but instead actively called for Yao Ming to set a screen.
LeBron James couldn't get through the screen and also noticed Shaq sagging back on Defense.
Tracy McGrady, after dribbling one step horizontally, immediately gathered the ball, stopped short, and missed a three-point jump shot.
As Shaq secured the rebound under the basket and Lee received the ball, Gregg Popovich, sitting on the bench, couldn't sit still and loudly reminded his players not to play too casually.
Their retreat Defense was very fast, but this time Kevin Garnett habitually collapsed.
Lee saw an opportunity and, before crossing half-court, passed the ball to Carter.
Receiving the ball on the right wing, Carter didn't make too many adjustments.
Uncontested, his transition three-pointer went in smoothly!
9:0. The Western Conference All-Star team, obsessed with shooting, fell behind at the start.
After Kevin Garnett missed a long two-pointer, Yao Ming grabbed the offensive rebound under the basket and put it back in, helping his team break their scoring drought.
On the next possession, Shaq made a fake screen and cut to the right wing, receiving a high lob from Lee.
Although he couldn't complete the dunk, he ultimately tipped the ball into the basket over Duncan.
All five players on the court had scored.
Driven by Lee's perfectly timed passes, the Eastern Conference All-Star offense was simple and efficient.
The Western Conference All-Star team, under Tracy McGrady's control, also ran simple pick-and-rolls.
Duncan and Kevin Garnett found their shooting touch, helping their team score.
As the game time passed, every time Kobe touched the ball, a burst of boos erupted in the Pepsi Center, which made Kobe's mood increasingly worse.
Kobe, receiving the ball on the left wing, felt anger surge within him after hearing the boos.
Without much dribbling, he took a jab step with his right foot, suddenly put the ball down with his left hand, and again lowered his shoulder to accelerate.
While in motion, disregarding Lee's Defense, Kobe barely squeezed past and leaped high.
Before reaching his apex, Shaq, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately emphatically blocked his shot!
Kobe couldn't maintain his balance upon landing and sat down on the floor.
Seeing Lee control the ball and immediately toss it out, he cursed under his breath in frustration.
Carter received the ball in the frontcourt, near the right wing, and immediately tossed the ball towards the rim.
LeBron James, cutting rapidly to the basket, received the ball directly in front and, after gliding through the air, slammed the ball into the rim with both hands!
"What a wonderful play! It seems the Eastern Conference All-Star team has more chemistry than we imagined!"
Marv Albert praised loudly, while Doug Collins again teased:
"I think the Eastern Conference teams have been watching New York Knicks game footage the most!"
"The players on the court should all be very familiar with Clay Lee's playing habits and the New York Knicks' corresponding tactics."
"Perhaps that's why they can always execute such fluid plays."
19:12. Halfway through the first quarter, Gregg Popovich proactively called a timeout, and both sides prepared for substitutions.
For the Western Conference, Steve Nash, Ray Allen, Marion, Lewis, and Dirk Nowitzki entered the game.
For the Eastern Conference, Gilbert Arenas, Dwyane Wade, Antawn Jamison, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas also came in.
Both teams opted for a five-in, five-out substitution.
In the latter half of the quarter, it was the Western Conference All-Star team's turn to execute fluid offense.
Shaq, sitting on the bench, wasn't paying attention to the situation on the court but instead turned his head and whispered:
"I'm sure the three San Antonio Spurs players won't get much playing time."
Neither Parker nor Manu Ginobili had played.
Lee heard Shaq's words and responded indifferently:
"Even getting home-court advantage won't change the final result. 60 wins is never an easy feat."
Players making their first All-Star appearance naturally played hard, but Steve Nash had no desire to score, and Gilbert Arenas kept clanking shots.
Dwyane Wade and Marion, however, performed well, their fast breaks being especially efficient.
At the end of the first quarter, 34:27, the Eastern Conference All-Star team led by only 7 points.
After playing half a quarter, Kobe was 1-for-4, scoring a whopping 2 points.
Coupled with the occasional boos from the fans, he sat on the bench with a long face.
After Manu Ginobili played for a few minutes, Gregg Popovich put Kobe back in.
As both teams' starting lineups gradually returned, led by Kobe, the Eastern Conference All-Star team went on a 23-3 run.
In a semi-transition offense, Lee assisted Carter, who was cutting along the baseline, for an alley-oop dunk from the top of the arc.
The Slam Dunk King, after landing, grinned at his opponents:
"Hey! You guys are practically sleepwalking!"
Although the Eastern Conference All-Star team relaxed afterward, and Kobe finally hit a three-pointer, allowing the Western Conference All-Star team to chip away at the lead, the difference remained significant.
At 69-53, there was a 16-point deficit at halftime, and the fans in the arena once again booed Kobe for his missed shots.
Duncan only played 9 minutes in the first half.
Gregg Popovich strictly controlled the playing time of the San Antonio Spurs trio, determined to let his players take it easy.
Lee played 12 minutes, slightly more than Duncan.
Mike D'Antoni distributed the playing time evenly, which was welcomed by the players making their first All-Star appearance.
The home fans initially expected the Western Conference All-Star team to rally in the second half, but unfortunately, with frequent rotations, the players who came on were generally inefficient.
Tracy McGrady and Ray Allen were particularly cold from the field, and coupled with constant turnovers, the Eastern Conference All-Star team maintained firm control of the game through fast breaks.
Entering the 4th quarter, Kobe no longer struggled, sitting expressionlessly on the bench.
He truly wanted to make an impact, but limited playing time meant he never found his shooting touch.
As time ran out, the Western Conference All-Star team showed no signs of a comeback.
In the commentary booth, Doug Collins said with some helplessness:
"Lewis and Ray Allen are not in form. Perhaps Gregg Popovich should make adjustments."
Dirk Nowitzki, who was on the court, had no intention of playing Defense.
Given their current state, the game was highly likely to be lost decisively.
Marv Albert also found it difficult to comment on such a scene and could only follow up with platitudes:
"Reduce some outside shooting. Dwyane Wade and Clay Lee are too fast on the fast break."
Until the end of the game, the Western Conference All-Star team failed to generate any momentum, losing in an uninspired fashion.
At 129-112 at the end of the game, selecting the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player became a big problem.
Clay Lee only played 26 minutes, shooting 7 of 12 from the field, 1 of 2 from beyond the arc, and finished with 15 points, 3 rebounds, 12 assists, 2 steals, and 2 turnovers.
The players came to the center of the court, and Lee, smiling, hugged everyone he met.
Steve Nash and Tony Parker played 18 minutes and 14 minutes respectively, both tallying 2 points and 6 assists.
Kobe played the most minutes for the Western Conference All-Star team, 29 minutes, shooting 5 of 13 from the field, 2 of 6 from three-point range, and finished with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 3 turnovers.
Everyone was in good spirits, and Shaquille O'Neal was even happier.
Although he shot 6 of 11 for only 12 points, seeing Kobe's long face made him feel especially good.
After a brief chat, the staff pushed the crystal trophy and David Stern to the center of the court.
LeBron James was a bit excited.
Tonight he played 31 minutes, shooting 6 of 12 from the field, 1 of 3 from three-point range, and 2 of 2 from the free throw line, finishing with 15 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 turnovers.
Tying Lee for the highest score on the Eastern Conference All-Star team, LeBron James felt the trophy was beckoning him.
When David Stern took the microphone, the Pepsi Center erupted in cheers again.
"Thank you, the city of Denver, for your support of the NBA, allowing us and fans worldwide to enjoy a wonderful All-Star Weekend!"
"15 points."
LeBron James, standing at the very front and eagerly watching the trophy, perked up when he heard that word.
But upon hearing "3 rebounds, 12 assists," he felt incredibly disappointed.
"The winner of the 2005 Denver All-Star Most Valuable Player award is Clay-Lee!"
Lee, draped in a towel and standing behind Ray Allen, was surprised to hear his name.
He thought this award would be given to a Rookie player as encouragement.
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
Amidst the cheers of the fans, Lee came forward and received the crystal trophy from David Stern.
"Congratulations, Lee! The NBA likes your performance during the All-Star Game. Young players need good role models!"
"..."
Lee forced a smile, secretly complaining in his heart that there was always a sense of powerlessness, like "it's all thanks to my peers."
Seeing Lee hoist the trophy again, Ben Wallace turned into a sycophant, signaling the other Eastern Conference All-Stars to clap along.
Kevin Garnett, who only played 16 minutes, felt a bit displeased seeing this scene, but he genuinely didn't want to expend too much energy in the All-Star Game.
The Timberwolves still needed to work hard for the playoffs.
Kobe suddenly remembered that a few years ago, when he won an award, no one cheered for him, and a bitter feeling welled up in his heart again.
Walking towards the player tunnel early, Kobe was soon met with a barrage of boos from fans on both sides.
Hearing some of the words, his face grew even uglier, and he cursed under his breath:
"This crappy Denver All-Star Game!"
On Monday, February 21st, the players continued to rest.
The New York Post, in addition to praising Lee's performance during All-Star Weekend, also reported Ray Allen's blunt assessment:
"The Western Conference had a chance to win the game, but Kobe's pursuit of stats ultimately cost us the win."
"His shot selection was terrible, and he seemed to be engrossed in the public debate with Shaquille O'Neal."
"Actually, we all know that without Shaquille O'Neal, the Lakers couldn't win a championship."
"26 wins and 24 losses, look at the Lakers' record. Perhaps they won't make the playoffs this year."
Ray Allen shot 6 of 15 from the field, 5 of 10 from three-point range, and scored a game-high 17 points.
If the Western Conference All-Star team had won, the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player should have been his.
After the game, Ray Allen didn't hold back, directly targeting Kobe Bryant in his interview, and also angrily criticized Tracy McGrady's equally inefficient 4 of 13 shooting performance.
Kobe did not respond.
Besides family matters, the trade rumors also annoyed him.
The Lakers reportedly intended to send Lamar Odom to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Peja.
Caron Butler, Devin George, and Vlade Divac were also put on the trading block, with Kupchak planning to trade the trio for Carlos Boozer.
After this news broke that morning, Los Angeles Lakers fans were ecstatic, all hoping that the trades could reverse the team's current slump.
Lee flew back to Manhattan in the afternoon and went directly to the Tarrytown Training Center.
After the All-Star Weekend, in addition to the trophy, two talents were completely digested.
[Jason Kidd's Extraordinary Passing Vision] and [Jason Kidd's Extraordinary Passing IQ] had disappeared.
MSG President Steve Mills sat in the back with Lee, examining the trophy in his hand, then chuckled and joked:
"Star of Stars! New York fans must love seeing you win."
"Clay, thank you for standing with the team!"
The New York Knicks' boycott of the Jets had indeed angered some New York fans, but Lee didn't care about that:
"It's the right choice. We all know the influence of the NFL!"
"..."
.....
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