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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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***
Every year during March Madness, Rookies emerge.
JJ Redick of Duke University is hailed as a super shooter with NBA range;
Chris Paul of Wake Forest also garnered significant attention.
Having attended Lee's training camp at a young age, Paul is a true fan and has recounted his experience to the public on multiple occasions.
Tim Duncan is also concerned about his alma mater.
Although plantar fasciitis has affected his competitive form, the San Antonio Spurs' record has not been significantly impacted, and they remain firmly in first place in the Western Conference.
Despite his excellent record, Duncan's individual statistics are not particularly impressive.
On the MVP leaderboard, this selfless leader has begun to fall behind.
In February, Vince Carter and Dirk Nowitzki were named Players of the Month.
The Dallas Mavericks are striving for a playoff spot, while the Nets are still worrying about securing a playoff berth.
After entering March, the Knicks welcomed their easiest schedule of the season, with only two games in two consecutive weeks, which greatly alleviated player fatigue.
After four days of rest, the Knicks surprisingly lost to the Seattle SuperSonics.
After the San Antonio Spurs easily defeated the Hornets, the gap between the two teams further narrowed.
With a record of 50 wins and 11 losses, the Knicks still hold the top spot in the league.
With 48 wins and 15 losses, the San Antonio Spurs have not given up and are striving to catch up.
On the evening of the 14th, with a score of 71:110, the Heat decisively defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, bringing their record to 49 wins and 16 losses.
Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade have not suffered any more injuries and have also achieved a winning streak recently.
In the game against the Nets two days ago, the Heat held their opponent to just 65 points, and in the second half, they limited the opponent's field goal percentage to 17.1%.
The Nets, having been hit hard, shot 22-of-74 for the entire game, with a field goal percentage of only 29.7%.
After continuous decisive victories, even Pat Riley boasted:
"The Heat already possess championship potential, and Mourning's return has encouraged us!"
"Shaq's performance has been outstanding. We all know his impact on the court."
"As for Wade, I find it hard to believe he's only a second-year Rookie. Without a doubt, he's the best player from the 2003 draft class."
"We will fulfill our previous promise. Within three years, the Heat will win the championship!"
On the MVP leaderboard, Shaquille O'Neal has once again reached the second position.
Compared to Kobe Bryant, who was recently suspended for punching due to a major defensive breakdown, Shaq seems to have proven himself again.
Although he had to play a back-to-back road game against the Knicks, the victorious Shaquille O'Neal was full of confidence.
In his opinion, the win-loss difference between the two teams was not significant:
"With 17 games left, we still have a chance to claim the top spot in the league."
"I hope the team can prepare in advance. Home-court advantage is very important."
"Regarding injury issues, I feel great now, and Dwyane Wade feels the same. We both yearn for a championship!"
Shaquille O'Neal, attending the press conference, answered questions earnestly.
As the Lakers led by Kobe became increasingly ineffective, becoming a mere dividend, Shaq no longer paid attention to his old teammate.
Head Coach Stan Van Gundy also received widespread praise.
This year, he has surpassed his brother Jeff Van Gundy and is now being discussed among renowned coaches.
The Cavaliers currently have a record of 39 wins and 21 losses.
As long as they don't falter in the remaining games, the playoffs are not an issue.
Head Coach Van Gundy is naturally very satisfied with this achievement.
Compared to other teams, the Cavaliers' roster consistently has a significant advantage in the paint, which allows them to relatively consistently dominate weaker opponents.
Although Dwight Howard doesn't have much self-offensive ability, his physical talent lives up to his first overall pick, and he has now firmly secured a starting position.
In Jeff Van Gundy's system, the Cavaliers employ a 3-2 zone Defense, trapping or driving core players to the paint, forcing opponents to choose corner threes or mid-range shots.
Once the shooting percentage drops, excellent rebounding can unleash LeBron James's physical talent.
Efficient counterattacks based on individual ability are also a reason for the Cavaliers' excellent record.
This system for dominating weaker teams has allowed the Cavaliers to establish themselves in the Eastern Conference.
The only thing currently bothering them is their outside shooting, with three-pointers becoming the Cavaliers' weakness.
As the season progressed and their tactical routines became understood, the Cavaliers' record showed a downward trend.
Fortunately, they secured enough wins early on, and Cleveland fans firmly believe that the future belongs to them.
Most basketball commentators still gave Champion Coach Van Gundy positive reviews.
After all, team building is not an overnight process.
The Cavaliers already have cornerstones, and the future direction is to supplement shooters around one inside and one outside player.
On tuesday, March 15th, the Heat and the Knicks had their third matchup.
If they could win, the two teams would have the same number of wins, which would be the only time an Eastern Conference team has come close to the Knicks in multiple seasons.
TNT had been hyping this highly anticipated game for a long time.
If the Heat could indeed secure the league's best record, Shaquille O'Neal would have a very high chance of lifting his second career MVP trophy.
In the studio, the three commentators were not making premature judgments.
Charles Barkley mostly expressed his disappointment:
"I know Duncan has been dealing with plantar fasciitis, and his availability this season has been an issue, but in more games, his statistics haven't met my expectations."
"If you want to be the best player in the league, you have to put up convincing numbers."
"Perhaps it's Head Coach Popovich's limitations. Duncan's overly selfless play might cost him the MVP."
Kenny Smith didn't make a conclusion in advance, but he also didn't believe the Knicks would suddenly falter and Clay Lee would hand over the trophy:
"I also feel sorry for Tim Duncan that his attendance won't reach 70 games."
"In contrast, Shaquille O'Neal is healthier this year, and he and Dwyane Wade are hitting their stride, with attendance also reaching 70+."
"If he cannot win an MVP in his career, it will definitely affect Duncan's achievements."
Ernie Johnson, hearing his two partners agree on a point, suddenly asked seriously in response:
"If Tim Duncan ultimately lifts the o'brien cup this year and wins the FMVP trophy, would losing the MVP award become acceptable?"
Charles Barkley naturally had something to say about the MVP and answered without hesitation:
"Why not lift both trophies? An 82-game regular season, picking the best player out of 450, is undoubtedly a huge honor."
"If a player consistently fails to win an MVP, it only means one thing: he's not good enough."
"I don't believe Duncan would voluntarily give up this award, unless he thinks he's not as good as Clay Lee."
Kenny Smith also agreed with this view and immediately added:
"The playoffs have an element of chance. No team can win the championship with 100% certainty."
"Since entering the league, Tim Duncan hasn't received many honors."
"He has indeed been selected to All-NBA teams and All-Star teams, but awards like Rebounding Champion, Blocks Champion, and DPOY have eluded him."
"I believe Tim Duncan is still full of desire for honors. Perhaps towards the end of the season, he can lead the San Antonio Spurs to the top of the league. Let's wait and see."
"."
Basketball commentators always impose their wishes on players, and fans also begin to have more expectations.
This week, the San Antonio Spurs will face two weak teams in their three games.
As long as they don't make mistakes, they can still stay close to the top two in terms of record.
When the San Antonio sports media interviewed Duncan that afternoon and asked about the MVP, this selfless leader made no grand pronouncements:
"I understand my body. Compared to individual awards, I want to win a championship more!"
"My teammates are fantastic. Tony and Manu have both been selected to the All-Star team. We should have higher aspirations, and I know we can achieve them."
"As for future matchups, I will follow the team doctor's advice."
Next week, the San Antonio Spurs will play the Knicks on the road.
The sports media has already started to hype it up, suggesting that this matchup is Tim Duncan's last chance.
Many reporters looked at the calm Duncan and were at a loss for words.
People who like the San Antonio Spurs and like Duncan naturally hope their idol can dominate, which would bring them more sense of accomplishment.
But every time it comes to a crucial moment, Duncan acts all Zen-like.
Gregg Popovich indeed has management talent and has established the San Antonio Spurs' team culture.
Although everyone thought the previous "selfish" theory was outrageous, Gregg Popovich seemed serious.
In so many regular season games, Duncan has only scored over 30 points per game 5 times so far.
In contrast, Lee is much more "selfish".
This season, he has only had 4 games with fewer than 30 points so far.
The two's statistics are worlds apart.
If it weren't for the San Antonio Spurs' truly excellent record, Duncan's unremarkable Excel would have long been forgotten by basketball commentators.
Ball possessions are naturally limited.
The San Antonio Spurs' pace is at the league average, and their offensive firepower is not outstanding.
Only their tactical execution is very good.
Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have had more opportunities to perform, which leads Gregg Popovich to promote his theory every time he is interviewed:
"Basketball is a five-player game. I don't like winning with high individual scores."
"I want every player to be involved in the team's tactics. I want to see all five players on the court score in double digits, and the San Antonio Spurs win easily."
"Duncan played too many minutes in previous years, and we relied on him too much, which ultimately led to failure."
"Now the San Antonio Spurs are completely different from the past. We are more mature and understand how to win championships, and all of this is based on Tim. He is a selfless leader!"
"."
With similar records, the All-Star fans became even more active!
Shaq's fans believed that he deserved the award this year for leading a second-year Rookie to such a record.
Those who liked Duncan thought that the top two players were stat-padders who sacrificed the team for personal glory.
Most of Lee's fans believed that the players behind him were just trying to get calls!
In terms of Excel, he had a clear lead this year.
Despite injuries to the main lineup, he still held the league's top spot.
Honor thieves should concede early.
On tuesday evening, at Madison Square Garden, a large number of New York fans held up white boards:
"Kobe helped you steal a ring!"
As the first half was about to end, Shaq, standing at the free-throw line, was clearly affected by the jumping fans and missed both free throws again.
Amar'e Stoudemire had already picked up his third personal foul early and was resting on the bench.
Dikembe Mutombo performed well in his limited time and once again secured the rebound.
With continuous turnovers and missed free throws, the Heat suddenly fell into a scoring drought in the second quarter.
"Wow!"
Hearing the cheers from the home fans, Shaq, retreating on Defense, cursed under his breath and clapped his hands in frustration.
He was being limited by his free throws.
With 16.8 seconds left in the half, Damon Jones started defending Lee early.
At the Logo, on the right wing, Dwyane Wade seized the opportunity to double-team early.
After the game started, the Heat immediately began to double-team the ball-handler.
Clay Lee passed the ball early again.
After Raja Bell received the ball on the right wing, Haslem shifted to help with the Defense.
At the same time, Dwyane Wade also followed back on Defense, cooperating with his teammates to double-team again, while Damon Jones on the perimeter cut off the return pass route.
Head Coach Stan Van Gundy loudly directed from the sideline.
Haslem's awkward defensive position affected Raja Bell's pass.
Kurt Thomas, though a bit slow to react, still accelerated and moved to the vicinity of the free-throw line to actively receive the pass.
Raja Bell, almost trapped by the double-team, quickly passed the ball to his teammate.
As Kurt Thomas received the ball, Haslem quickly returned on Defense to guard him.
Executing an excellent defensive rotation again, Kurt Thomas turned his body, and Lee on the perimeter moved towards the top of the arc, then performed a counter-cut.
Away from the three-point line, Lee received the ball again near the Logo.
As time ticked away, the Heat, who were playing excellent Defense, became more and more energized.
Putting the ball down with his right hand, Lee was not in a hurry to attack.
He was still observing the opponent's movements.
Noticing no one was helping on Defense, he hop-stepped with the ball and quickly changed direction between his legs.
Kurt Thomas seized the opportunity to step up for a high screen.
Damon Jones, seeing the movement behind him, instinctively stepped up to stick to him, trying to squeeze through the screen.
Taking advantage of his opponent's movement, Lee performed a large behind-the-back dribble, shaking off the Defense, and accelerated horizontally with the ball in his right hand.
Facing Haslem, who came up with a big hedge, Lee suddenly performed an In and out dribble while moving, faking left and driving right, pretending to go for an outside strong drive.
Haslem, who made an excellent defensive read, slid to his left in time.
The moment their bodies were about to collide, Lee changed direction between his legs again.
Haslem hadn't reacted yet.
Damon Jones, chasing from behind, saw Clay Lee squeeze past his teammate with the ball in his left hand and couldn't stop in time, colliding into Haslem.
Lee's discreet hand-on-thigh motion as he dribbled forward kept Haslem rooted to the spot.
By the time he drove into the paint, the two behind him had crashed into each other, unable to chase on Defense.
"Wow!"
Amidst the cheers of the fans, Lee, directly in front of the basket, quickly gathered the ball.
He first faked a pass, fooling Shaq under the basket, then scooped the ball with his right hand to the lower left of the rim, and easily scored with a layup!
The ball went in, the light came on, and Madison Square Garden erupted again.
Shaq under the basket had lost his smile.
He didn't like the current score difference.
44:54, the Knicks were playing mediocre, but still led by double digits.
Shaq was 4-for-8 in the first half, 0-for-6 from the free-throw line, only scoring 8 points.
However, he dished out 3 assists against the Knicks' double-teams.
Lee was 7-for-13 in the first half, 2-for-6 from beyond the arc, and 5-for-5 from the free-throw line, tallying 21 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 turnover.
The Heat's strategy was undoubtedly successful, but they committed 7 turnovers in the second quarter, coupled with Shaq's poor free-throw shooting, which led to such a large deficit.
Shaq walked towards the player tunnel in a bad mood.
Commentators wouldn't feel sympathy for him playing back-to-back games.
To win an award, both victory and good stats were essential.
During halftime, Coach D'Antoni happily accepted an interview with TNT.
When asked about Lee facing numerous double-teams tonight, Mike D'Antoni responded with a relaxed expression:
"These are just minor troubles. We were prepared before the game, and the boys performed exceptionally well in the first half."
"We will still get the ball into Lee's hands. Double-teams mean open shots. What we need to do in the second half is to put the ball in the basket. Jump shots are still our first choice!"
After the second half began, the Heat adjusted quickly and no longer committed unnecessary turnovers.
Shaq's free-throw shooting also started to warm up, though he still made only one out of two each time.
Both sides exchanged blows, delivering high-quality response shots, and the score continued to climb.
Dwyane Wade suddenly launched a cold arrow from beyond the three-point line on the left wing, hitting a three-pointer;
On the return, Clay Lee, who was again double-teamed by Eddie Jones, timely found Tayshaun Prince on the right wing beyond the three-point line.
The latter received the ball and calmly hit a wide-open jump shot.
After scoring and assisting, Damon Jones hit a three-pointer from the top of the arc, thanks to Shaq's gravity.
On the Knicks' offense, after Amar'e Stoudemire's handoff, Lee faked a shot on the left wing, took a jab step, and then responded again with a pull-up jump shot.
It wasn't until the end of the third quarter that the shooting percentages for both sides began to decline.
The Heat, who were consistently hitting shots from beyond the three-point line, did not allow the Knicks to generate too many transition offenses.
And after Lee actively sped up the offensive pace, the Heat players, playing back-to-back, started to show some physical issues, and Shaq couldn't run anymore.
24:28 in a single quarter.
Seeing the lead extend to 14 points, Head Coach Stan Van Gundy on the sidelines felt a bit regretful.
If they hadn't only scored 17 points in the second quarter, perhaps both sides would still be in a stalemate.
During the rotation phase of the fourth quarter, the lead was not narrowed.
Shaq sat on the bench, silently frustrated.
"Shaq, we'll win it back on saturday when we return home!"
Dwyane Wade accepted reality and didn't make any grand statements, simply offering Shaq a false promise.
"This is just a regular season game. Even if we lose this game, we're only two wins behind."
Haslem also used the mental victory method, actively comforting Shaq.
Hearing the comfort from his teammates, Shaq glared at the fans holding up whiteboards, then signaled to the coach early, preparing to re-enter the game.
With the defensive intensity dropping, and the Knicks' interior players getting into foul trouble, Shaq once again showcased his dominance.
However, the lead didn't shrink.
After both sides quickly scored +2, the game became faster and faster.
In the middle of the fourth quarter, Shaq committed a turnover first.
Seeing the energetic Amar'e Stoudemire participate in the fast break, the coaching staff on the Heat's bench knew the game was no longer in doubt.
With 56.2 seconds left in the game, Shaq was substituted out.
Amidst the cheers of the New York fans, the remaining time flew by.
Ultimately, the final score was set at 96:110, with the Knicks once again extending their lead in wins.
10-for-16 from the field, 3-for-14 from the free-throw line, 23 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 4 turnovers.
Despite the referees being very lenient with Shaq, the "MVP conversation" ultimately saw Shaq lose.
Shaq, in a bad mood, left for the player tunnel early.
He had to prepare for saturday's fourth battle.
Clay Lee's performance tonight was average: 12-for-24 from the field, 4-for-10 from beyond the arc, 9-for-9 from the free-throw line, tallying 37 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals, and 2 turnovers.
The New York fans at the arena, however, thought Lee was in excellent form.
After the game, many were still cheering loudly, celebrating the victory.
When asked about the MVP again during the interview, Lee no longer held back, simply responding:
"My average scoring is 10 points higher than my opponents. That's a simple math problem."
"10 points is not 1 point. With similar records, I believe I am the best in the league!"
After this game, the New York Media began to mock their opponents again.
In February, Clay Lee averaged 35 points, and his scoring power has not diminished so far, while Shaq averaged 23 points and Tim Duncan averaged 20 points.
"Selfless leaders? Perhaps they are just powerless to perform!"
...
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