Ficool

Chapter 436 - Los Angeles Mamba (5965 words)

Check out my new fanfics.

Dragon Emperor in Pokemon World.

The return of Itachi

I am Sasuke. Why should I defect from Konoha.

Please give it a go 😊

***

On Wednesday, November 16, 2005, commentators were still hotly discussing the record set by the Knicks two days prior.

What was supposed to be an ordinary regular season game, a score of 120:62, left onlookers exclaiming in disbelief!

A 58-point difference is not common in regular season history, but considering that the largest point difference in the Finals was also created by the Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, those who enjoy a good laugh were delighted.

In 1991, the Cavaliers once thrashed the Heat, 148:80, setting the largest regular season point difference in NBA history.

The Knicks this time tied the record set by the Milwaukee Bucks in '85 and the Sacramento Kings in '92, ranking 10th in history.

Such an outrageous point difference record naturally couldn't have been achieved without the rotation lineup's strong performance!

During garbage time, even David Lee, who came off the bench, contributed 10 points, so the Utah Jazz truly had no one to blame for their loss.

More than a day had passed, and some shows were still gloating.

Early in the morning, Sports Center educated fans about point difference records, while also warming up for the Knicks vs. Lakers game that evening.

On TNT's show, the trio in the studio were still teasing Deron Williams, and Charles Barkley even said without reservation:

"To this day, I still can't believe they only scored 8 points in the third quarter."

"What is Deron Williams afraid of? His passes have become harmless, and his jump shots are clanking."

Kenny Smith wasn't interested in jumping on this bandwagon, as Deron Williams was just a Rookie player, and it wasn't his turn to take the blame:

"If I remember correctly, Deron Williams only played 23 minutes. Such a point difference indicates a huge gap between the role players of the two teams."

"I'm a bit worried about the Lakers. They've had three consecutive losses after losing to the 76ers."

"In the matchup against Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant shot 7-for-27, scoring only 17 points. Perhaps his shot selection has become an issue."

Charles Barkley, interrupted, was a bit unhappy, but soon stated confidently:

"I actually appreciate Kobe's offensive choices. At least he looks like a leader!"

"Tonight, the Knicks will definitely face a tough battle. This is their fifth road game in the Western Conference, and the Lakers won't miss such an opportunity."

Ernie Johnson didn't like consuming Kobe like his colleagues next door, so he proactively changed the subject and said:

"Since the start of the new season, only the Detroit Pistons and the Knicks remain undefeated. Both teams are currently 7-0."

"I'm more curious about who will lose first. Both of them are currently on a Western Conference road trip."

In the studio, only Barkley seemed to want to continue discussing tonight's game, while Kenny Smith took over, smiling as he said:

"Head Coach Saunders has changed the Detroit Pistons. Now I somewhat understand Kevin Garnett's feelings."

The national broadcast of the Knicks vs. Lakers game will be handled by ESPN.

Two days ago, after the Timberwolves lost, McHale criticized Kevin Garnett's performance and also responded to trade rumors:

"We have no intention of making a trade with the Nets."

Nets fans were somewhat disappointed, but Los Angeles Lakers fans still held out hope, perhaps Kevin Garnett would come to Los Angeles to play!

In the afternoon, the Knicks arrived early at Staples Center to warm up.

Due to their big victory in the previous game, the team's morale was greatly boosted.

Clay Lee, on the other hand, wasn't as excited.

Weak teams weren't worth too much thought.

In the new season, the NBA strictly enforced new rules, and the defensive intensity on the perimeter was adjusted again, severely weakening defenders like Ron Artest.

In 7 games, he received 5 fouls in 4 of them.

Before even entering the garbage time, Ron Artest had to sit on the bench early.

The biggest beneficiary on the team was Tayshaun Prince, who only used his long arms to interfere, with less aggression, making it difficult for referees to catch his "little tail."

Derek Fisher, returning to Los Angeles, was boycotted by local fans.

After warming up, he accepted an interview with the Los Angeles Times, and Old Fish understood the fans very well:

"I don't blame those loyal fans. For a role player like me, joining the defending champions is also an opportunity to learn."

"The Lakers will always be my home team. They drafted me, and I love this city."

"If the team needs me in the future, I will bring my experience back here."

Next year, Derek Fisher will enter his contract year again, and there are indeed no suitable point guards on the market.

The Knicks will most likely still offer him a contract.

If the Lakers offer more at that time, Old Fish wouldn't mind returning to Los Angeles again.

When answering questions, Derek Fisher's sincerity moved many sports reporters.

After all, he was their "own child."

In contrast, Lee felt a bit unmotivated.

The continuous road trips had taken a toll on him.

An ESPN reporter noticed that Lee was only casually shooting during warm-ups and didn't ask about game expectations during the interview:

"Clay , do you think the combination of Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant can win a championship if he joins the Lakers?"

Lee didn't believe such trade rumors at all.

As they were both in the Western Conference, no one wanted to see the Lakers rise again:

"Basketball is a five-person game. Piling up stars doesn't guarantee good chemistry."

"However, I look forward to their collaboration. Perhaps they will bring more fun to the NBA."

Wearing the Knicks' blue away practice uniform, Lee said this, then smiled at everyone and added:

"No one likes to lead by a huge margin. Competition breeds motivation."

Thinking about how Lee's usage rate had gradually decreased since the start of the season, many reporters realized that the GOAT was slacking off.

"Have the new rules affected the Knicks? Lee, we've noticed that your perimeter Defense has been plagued by fouls in recent games."

With the renewed emphasis on perimeter players and the explosion of scoring data, Lee was well-prepared and answered indifferently:

"Players need to adapt to the rules. Smart people know what to do. We'll figure this out."

"..."

The game started at 7 PM that evening.

Due to the Lakers' continuous losses, Phil Jackson again sarcastically pointed out that Kobe's offensive choices were problematic.

During a pre-game interview, the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man had a relapse of amnesia and began to encourage his core player:

"Just as Kobe said, scorers should remain confident. We believe in him!"

"We are ready for tonight's game. Facing the Knicks, the most important thing is to get off to a good start."

"Kobe will continue to shoot. He will use his offense to destroy his opponents."

Los Angeles media had revealed that Vanessa was pregnant again, expecting her second child, so they hadn't given Kobe a hard time during interviews these past few days.

The mutual flattery seemed to have made Kobe a bit overconfident.

In the locker room before the game, he confidently declared in front of everyone:

"Tonight, all you have to do is give me the ball, Smush Parker. You know what to do."

Smush Parker was a bit displeased when he heard this.

There was only so much ball possession, and he didn't want to just be a bystander, especially since this was a national broadcast:

"I got it, Bro. We're ending this losing streak tonight."

Although Parker, wearing a headband, got a starting position after joining the Lakers, the sports media here didn't show him any respect.

Lakers General Manager Kupchak had been questioned since the offseason, and consequently, Smush Parker and Kwame Brown also became the fans' punching bags.

Sitting in his seat, Kwame Brown secretly pouted.

Phil Jackson demanded team basketball, but Kobe's shot attempts were very "selfish."

Without considering the issue of strength, the confident Kwame Brown felt that he should get more ball possession!

Staples Center was packed tonight.

At the ESPN commentary desk, Mike Breen heard waves of boos and immediately joked:

"It seems many Los Angeles Lakers fans still can't let go of the Finals loss."

"Many people believed the Lakers had a chance to become a dynasty team, but unfortunately, they met Clay Lee."

Hubie Brown, next to him, heard this opinion and laughed, refuting:

"There are no 'ifs' in basketball. Failing for several consecutive years only means the Lakers' strength is inferior to their opponents."

"Phil Jackson should perhaps make changes. The Triangle Offense is not a panacea."

"Some people don't like tedious statistics, but when facing the Knicks, it's often a competition of efficiency."

The two chatted happily at the commentary desk, and the broadcaster also began to show the starting lineups for both teams to the fans watching at home:

Smush Parker and Kobe partnered in the backcourt, while the frontcourt trio consisted of Lamar Odom, Kwame Brown, and Chris Mihm.

To reduce luxury tax, the Lakers ultimately amnestied Brian Grant, which just allowed them to save a large sum of money.

As the game was about to begin, both teams' players came to the center of the court.

Noticing Kwame Brown laughing and bumping fists with Lee, Kobe immediately glared at him.

Amidst cheers, Pau Gasol tipped the ball to mid-court, and Smush Parker quickly pressed up to defend, trying to wear down Lee from the start.

Sitting on the bench, Phil Jackson was expressionless.

If the Knicks hadn't rejected his job application, he wouldn't have boomerang-ed back to coach the Lakers.

"Defense!"

As the defensive cheers just started, Pau Gasol, having run past mid-court, stopped at the top of the arc.

As Ron Artest moved to the left corner, Lee used the screen, lowered his shoulder, and accelerated.

Smush Parker and Chris Mihm, who struggled to squeeze through the screen, cooperated quite tacitly.

One contested on his side, while the other slid for a big hedge.

Seizing the opportunity, Pau Gasol faked a screen and cut straight to the basket, and in motion, Lee tossed the ball towards the hoop.

Before Kwame Brown could help defend from the bottom right of the hoop, Pau Gasol, who jumped into the air directly in front of the hoop, extended his right arm and lightly tipped the ball, and it smoothly went into the net.

"Boo!"

Amidst boos, Lee clapped his hands, then turned and ran back to mid-court.

Just like last season, the Lakers' Defense hadn't changed much.

Since Ron Artest always got into foul trouble, Devin George, retreating on Defense, made a switch signal, indicating he would guard Kobe.

Reluctantly switching, as Ron Artest moved to the right wing, he immediately took out his frustration on Lamar Odom:

"Surrender early, without the referees, you can't do anything!"

"?"

Lamar Odom, who originally looked half-asleep, looked at Ron Artest in confusion, then retorted:

"What the fuck!?"

According to the usual offensive routine, the big man would post up in the low block, Kobe and the point guard would cross-screen, and after receiving the ball, they would pass it to the inside.

Even without Shaquille O'Neal, after the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man returned, Kobe became the one demanding the ball in the low post.

The obvious passing intention made Lee suddenly stick to Smush Parker, who had to turn sideways to protect the ball.

At the same time, Devin George was also tangled with Kobe.

Kobe, who had gained muscle, was in excellent physical condition after off-season training.

After pulling, he forcefully pinned the weight-losing Devin George behind him.

Just as he got into a good position, Kobe reached out for the ball, but Smush Parker, protecting the ball sideways, spun his back towards the top of the arc and passed the ball horizontally to the supporting Lamar Odom.

The ball movement didn't have much effect.

After receiving the ball, Lamar Odom was interfered with by Ron Artest, and eventually, Kwame Brown received the ball in the right low post.

While Kurt Thomas was defending with an elbow, Kwame Brown suddenly turned towards the baseline.

After putting the ball down with his right hand, he aggressively drove towards the basket.

The layup, leaning on the defender, ultimately bounced off the rim, and Kurt Thomas smoothly grabbed the rebound.

Kwame Brown frustratingly punched the air.

He was so close to finishing!

The retreating Kobe was still loudly directing, and Lee, who received the ball, began to gradually accelerate.

Phil Jackson on the sidelines also stood up and motioned for Smush Parker to continue hedging.

As he crossed the half-court line, Lee glanced at the defensive positioning.

Noticing that both sides were already set, Pau Gasol also stopped near the left baseline.

Taking advantage of Kurt Thomas, who was trailing, stopping at the top of the arc, Lee performed a wide behind-the-back dribble.

Smush Parker, who had been sticking to his side, saw the basketball disappear from Lee's left hand and felt no more contact on his side.

He quickly adjusted his center of gravity and slid to the left-rear.

The behind-the-back dribble was very wide.

When Lee's right hand touched the ball again, he had completely shaken off the defender, accelerated a second time, and drove strongly to the basket.

Perhaps because of the national broadcast, Smush Parker's Defense was indeed active.

He chased back to the paint again, and before he could reach out to interfere, Lee suddenly stopped and pulled back with a between-the-legs dribble.

Inside the paint, Lee smoothly gathered the ball.

Kurt Thomas, after setting the screen, cut down, taking his defender, Kwame Brown, with him.

Smush Parker watched Lee, holding the ball, make a passing fake.

He instinctively turned his head to look behind him, and Chris Mihm also followed to help defend the basket.

At this moment, the basketball flew into Pau Gasol's hands.

By the time Smush Parker realized something was wrong, Lee, having completed the pass, had already turned and run back to the three-point line.

As Pau Gasol threw the ball out, at the extended line, Lee easily received the ball and calmly shot an uncontested jump shot!

"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly.

The fast break, from the behind-the-back dribble to the stop-and-go fake, then to the back-cut and shot, was incredibly smooth.

The fluid coordination even silenced the Staples Center.

At the commentary table, Mike Breen felt great watching it and seized the opportunity to praise him enthusiastically:

"A wonderful play! Clay Lee toyed with their Defense; he's simply an artist on the court!"

Hubie Brown still maintained a neutral stance.

The veteran coach saw the Lakers' problem:

"They lack continuity on Defense. Considering Smush Parker just joined the Lakers, they still need some time to adapt to each other."

The Knicks quickly retreated on Defense.

Lee noticed Kobe still trying to post up for the ball near the left block and immediately loudly called for everyone to collapse their Defense.

On the left wing, Smush Parker made a pass.

Kobe, receiving the ball, leaned on the defender and turned towards the baseline.

Devin George slid over in time, and Kurt Thomas, having been alerted, also moved to the bottom left of the hoop.

Kobe, facing a double-team, eventually threaded the ball through the defenders to Kwame Brown on the other side.

Amidst the fans' exclamations, Kwame Brown, who received the ball and attempted a dunk, was emphatically blocked from behind by Ron Artest, who had rushed into the paint.

"Oh!"

Kobe, squeezed under the basket, fought to get the offensive rebound, trying to force a layup while hanging onto Devin George.

He contorted in the air and tossed the ball, but it was again blocked against the backboard by Lee, who had rushed into the paint.

"Shit!"

Kobe, who almost lost his balance, cursed under his breath, twisting his body.

But the rebound after the deflection was secured by Pau Gasol.

Seeing Lee receive the ball again, boos came in waves.

The fans tried to use their voices to interfere with this fast break.

Lamar Odom on the other side retreated in time, and Smush Parker was also back at mid-court early.

Dribbling with his left hand, Lee crossed the mid-court line, but then began to slow down.

Still some distance from the three-point line, Lee stopped with a behind-the-back dribble.

Smush Parker breathed a sigh of relief, then saw the basketball pass in front of him.

It was too late to instinctively reach out.

The bounce pass instantly cut through the Defense.

Devin George, who had crossed the three-point line, received the ball ahead of Kobe.

After taking three big steps, Devin George, without slowing down, leaned on Kobe, who was chasing him, and made a left-handed layup in the air!

0:7. Falling behind at the start, the Lakers fans in the arena couldn't hold back.

At a crucial moment, Chris Mihm received the ball in the left elbow area.

In the left corner, Kobe, who had accelerated, took a hand-off pass and accelerated horizontally, trying to shake off the Defense.

He put the ball down with his right hand and dribbled two big steps.

Near the free-throw line, Kobe suddenly stopped, ignoring Devin George's closeout, and shot a fadeaway jump shot drifting to the right!

The basketball went in cleanly.

Kobe, having made the shot, punched the air forcefully, then loudly encouraged his teammates to play Defense.

In the following minutes, Kobe went all out!

He drove strongly to the basket from the right wing but missed the layup.

Kobe assisted Chris Mihm for a put-back layup under the basket.

Lamar Odom failed to help defend, and Ron Artest received a pass from Lee in the left corner and made a three-pointer.

Kobe, quickly inbounding the ball, dribbled past half-court, and responded with a long two-pointer from the left wing after a pick-and-roll.

After crossing half-court, he initiated a pick-and-roll from the left wing.

Lee faced Chris Mihm's big hedge and moved horizontally.

His behind-the-back bounce pass with his left hand fooled Smush Parker, and Pau Gasol, cutting down, scored another two points.

The point differential couldn't be narrowed.

Kobe received the ball in the right elbow area, and after a triple threat, he put the ball down with his right hand, drove with a crossover, and drew a foul on Devin George.

The Lakers fans in the arena cheered, but Kobe only made one of two free throws.

Watching Devin George sprint towards mid-court, boos erupted again.

The pace of the game suddenly quickened, and Kobe didn't have time to loudly call out to his teammates.

He could only grit his teeth and chase hard.

Before the defender could reach his side, Devin George, near the right wing, made a direct pass.

Clay Lee, who received the pass near the paint, casually passed the ball towards the backboard.

Ron Artest, cutting down the middle, jumped and caught the ball, dunking it forcefully with both hands!

"OH—! What a play!"

Mike Breen loudly praised, but Hubie Brown felt a bit sympathetic to the trailing team and tactfully commented:

"The Lakers should play simpler. This is the Knicks' favorite offensive rhythm."

"Ah!"

Standing under the basket, Ron Artest roared loudly, tugging at his jersey and pounding his chest, looking disdainfully at the dark-faced Kobe.

Turning and quickly running to mid-court, Kobe was in no mood to deal with 'minor characters.'

Just as he crossed the mid-court line, Kobe heard a gasp of surprise.

Lamar Odom inbounded the ball, and Smush Parker received it in the paint directly in front of the hoop.

As he just turned his body, he saw Lee rushing towards him.

His brain froze.

Before Smush Parker could react, the basketball in his hands was swatted away.

Lamar Odom, who had just entered the court, was also stunned.

Facing Lee, who jumped with both feet, he instinctively jumped to block.

"My god!"

"Clay—Lee! And a foul!"

Amidst Mike Breen's excited shouts, Lamar Odom, who was in the air, was knocked away by Lee, glided to the bottom right of the basket, and with a casual flick of his right hand, the basketball hit the backboard and went into the hoop.

The referee blew his whistle, and Phil Jackson on the sidelines covered his forehead, not calling a timeout, and sat back on the bench, shaking his head.

Clay Lee, walking towards the free-throw line, saw Smush Parker staring blankly at him, patted him on the back, and joked with a smile:

"Buddy, someone wants to eat you!"

Smush Parker then noticed Kobe Bryant staring fiercely at him.

Obviously, such a low-level mistake had infuriated the boss.

"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

When he received the ball from the referee, the shouts in the Staples Center grew louder and louder.

Clay Lee made the extra free throw, and the cheers were unstoppable for a while.

7:17, the game was lively, and the score difference reached double digits.

In the latter half of the first quarter, the Lakers occasionally managed to execute some plays.

Lamar Odom's off-ball cuts and Smush Parker's curl cuts for jump shots from the elbow area helped the team score.

Hill's three-pointer missed, and Lee grabbed the long rebound.

The opposing Defense had a loophole, and Kurt Thomas scored with a layup under the basket.

With a difficult fadeaway jump shot over Ron Artest's Defense from near the right baseline, Kobe once again took over the game.

Every shot by the Lakers was extremely difficult, as Kobe continuously showcased the results of his training.

The Knicks also started to miss shots, but capitalizing on their opponent's turnovers, Lee easily scored.

In transition, Pau Gasol continued to get easy baskets.

Both sides played faster and faster, with no timeouts, and the game proceeded smoothly.

On the Lakers' last possession, with 4.6 seconds left, Kobe's long two-point jump shot from the right wing missed, and the boos at Staples Center grew louder and louder.

37:25, a 12-point difference, made the Lakers' bench even quieter.

Playing the entire first quarter, Kobe Bryant was 4-of-11 from the field and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line, scoring 11 points and 3 rebounds.

The Lakers took a total of 21 shots, and Kobe accounted for half of the shot attempts, which made Kwame Brown, who had returned to the bench early, somewhat dissatisfied.

Phil Jackson glanced at the expressionless Kobe and said nothing.

Letting him shoot freely was the strategy for tonight.

The Staples Center atmosphere was not good, and on the commentary desk, Hubie Brown was still praising the Knicks' teamwork:

"It's hard to imagine this is their fifth road game."

"This is a difference in basketball philosophy. Clay Lee's time with the ball has decreased, yet he has delivered 7 assists."

Playing the entire first quarter, Clay Lee filled the stat sheet with 4-of-5 shooting, 1-of-2 from beyond the arc, 3-of-3 from the free-throw line, 12 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.

Seeing the Lakers struggling, Mike Breen was already overjoyed and followed up with a boast:

"The Lakers as a team only managed 4 assists in the first quarter!"

"Their offense always stagnates. It seems Head Coach Phil Jackson still has a lot of work to do."

On the Knicks' bench, Ron Artest successfully avoided fouls in the first quarter and was playing with enthusiasm, actively shouting:

"I'm not tired, Coach, let me play a bit more. Tonight, I'm going to finish that clown!"

Hill, who had helped take two fouls, shook his head helplessly.

Tayshaun Prince and Raja Bell also needed playing time, and veteran Finley still needed to integrate into the team.

Diao and Barnes were practically just warming the bench, their playing time simply wasn't enough:

"Ron, quietly watch the game. Perhaps the Lakers will launch a counterattack. You know, there are still three quarters left."

Hearing Hill's words, Ron Artest then returned to his seat and put on his training uniform, not forgetting to mock his opponent for being too weak.

The assistant coach was instructing the players about to enter the game, while Lee, with a towel over his head, sat idly, interacting with the fans behind him.

The children near the front row kept shouting names, and when Lee turned his head and raised an eyebrow, they screamed with excitement.

Little Beard had made many preparations before the game, as his opponent was a Champion Coach.

The game going so smoothly was beyond his expectations.

Little Beard walked back and forth on the sidelines, occasionally clapping and cheering.

Devin George, Brian Cook, and Kwame Brown formed the frontcourt, with Sasha Vujacic and Kobe partnering in the backcourt.

This Lakers lineup scored continuously for 2 minutes, but Derek Fisher also responded, with Old Fish and Raja Bell both hitting three-pointers.

The score for both sides increased rapidly, and soon, Kobe stepped up again, changing the rhythm of the game.

Long two-pointers continuously missed, and seizing the opportunity, Tayshaun Prince scored on a fast break.

As the starting lineup returned, Kwame Brown and Chris Mihm successively made turnovers, and Michael Finley, who came off the Knicks' bench, also scored on a fast break.

After Kobe missed two more mid-range shots, the score difference quickly reached 20 points, and for a moment, the boos at Staples Center even stopped.

When there were 4 minutes and 30 seconds left in the first half, Lee finally returned to the court, at which point the game had essentially lost its suspense.

His teammates, who had found their rhythm in a blowout, struck again with heavy blows, and Lee's assist count began to rise again.

67:45, under the huge score difference, the Lakers players walking towards the player tunnel were met with a chorus of boos.

Going 0-for-7 in the second quarter, Kobe scored zero points, and his 4-for-18 performance in the first half disappointed many fans.

In the nationally televised game, both teams' starting lineups played the entire third quarter.

The halftime break allowed Kobe Bryant to regain his touch, going 5-for-8 from the field, 0-for-2 from three-point range, and 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, contributing 16 points in the quarter.

After three quarters, 97:74, the game officially entered garbage time.

Although the Knicks had put in their rotation lineup, Kobe did not give up, continuing to shoot in the final quarter, attempting to help the Lakers narrow the score.

Encouraged by Kobe, cheers reappeared at Staples Center.

Winning or losing no longer mattered at this moment!

At the end of the game, 123:96, the Knicks decisively defeated their opponent, extending their undefeated record.

Lee, who had eaten popcorn on the bench for a quarter, stood up and bumped fists with veteran Finley:

"Well done, Bro! Too bad we couldn't get another 58 points."

Michael Finley had rediscovered the feeling of wildly shooting like he did with the Dallas Mavericks back in the day, and he struck again with heavy blows in the final quarter:

"This is the easiest consecutive road trip I've ever experienced! God, we scored 120 points in two consecutive games!"

Finley's dark face showed an expression of disbelief, then he grinned widely, bumping fists with everyone one by one.

In the losing team's player tunnel, Kobe's face was dark.

He did not accept interviews and walked directly back to the locker room.

In 42 minutes of play, Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 38 points, along with 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers, shooting 14-of-36 from the field and 10-of-12 from the free-throw line.

In 28 minutes of play, Clay Lee contributed a big double-double with 31 points, 4 rebounds, 15 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, shooting 11-of-15 from the field, 2-of-4 from three-point range, and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line.

When Lee and Ron Artest appeared at the post-game press conference, New York reporters immediately started making noise.

Victory was not important.

Many people wanted to see some fun.

An ESPN reporter quickly asked:

"Lee, the Knicks have scored 120 points in two consecutive games. Congratulations on remaining undefeated!"

"Can you talk about tonight's game? We noticed that Kobe's shot attempts were double yours. Is this the reason the Lakers lost?"

For such a boring question, Lee once again awarded the "Clay Lee Recognition Award," sincerely saying to everyone:

"Kobe was key to the Lakers only losing by 27 points. Without him, perhaps everyone would have witnessed another record tonight."

"A shooting guard is not a point guard; his job is to help the team score."

"I admire Kobe's never-give-up spirit. He played 42 minutes, giving back to the fans in the Staples Center and watching on television, making the game more exciting."

"Think of Carter in last year's playoffs; Kobe is just like him, both possessing a killer instinct. They are as deadly as the Black Mamba!"

Ron Artest, standing next to him, always felt there was something wrong with these words but couldn't pinpoint what it was.

He subconsciously scratched his head and also started saying good things:

"Lee is right!"

On Friday, November 18th, the Knicks played against the Denver Nuggets on the road.

Perhaps the two previous games had exhausted their good fortune, as everyone became 'iron smiths' that night.

92:106, Clay Lee once again checked out after three quarters.

As of now, all teams have experienced a loss since the start of the new season.

...

By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)

More Chapters