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12th man to Cricket legend. It's a cricket book for cricket lovers only.
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Since the rise of the New York Knicks, sports media in neighboring Philadelphia has been souring on them every year around late May.
Years ago, when Stephen A. Smith was still a columnist, he constantly hyped the Son of Philadelphia, and those were days that brought much joy to old fans.
However, ever since this big-mouthed guy defected, and with the team constantly losing, the days of hyping them up are gone forever.
More commentators have started to criticize the defending champions.
During the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs that year, Tim Duncan was injured, and the French and Argentinian players surrendered too early, leading the Philadelphia media to claim the New York Knicks were affecting the competitiveness of the game.
In this year's Eastern Conference Finals, as the Miami Heat suffered a crushing defeat in Game 2, the highly anticipated Dwyane Wade could only draw fouls to score, and the Philadelphia media once again turned sour.
On Saturday, May 27th, the Philadelphia Inquirer came out with something new.
Several columnists simultaneously launched an attack, accusing this year's playoffs:
"The competitiveness of the playoffs is gradually disappearing. Clay Lee's rise has destroyed the basketball treasure left by Michael Jordan!"
They used a completely new angle to explain why the 76ers have been struggling all these yearsāIverson's pure love for basketball couldn't stand up to Lee's pragmatic basketball.
The article could also be translated into a viewpoint that fans would easily understandā"It's not that we're too weak, but that the opponent has too many helpers!"
Most fans have a natural filter.
Seeing Iverson made them emotional, and they all felt bad for their idol.
After reading the newspaper, they all went online to argue:
"Allen Iverson has done his best! He gave everything for the team, why are you still slandering him?!"
In just two days, the topic's popularity surpassed that of the Western Conference Finals.
Wade, a die-hard Iverson fan, suddenly gained more support, and even his poor performance in Game 2 went uncriticized.
As the inheritor of Iverson's No. 3 jersey, Wade was exceptionally poor in Game 2, but he played bravely in garbage time, ultimately shooting 6-of-19 from the field and 11-of-14 from the free-throw line, contributing a team-high 23 points.
His performance of 23 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, and 5 turnovers in 40 minutes was heavily criticized by mainstream media after the game, but in less than two days, before Game 3 began, public opinion reversed!
Boston Celtics fans, who had been waiting for a long time, also started making excuses for Wade, encouraged by several articles in the Boston Globe, accusing the New York Knicks of problematic officiating at home.
A group of fans praised Wade in various ways, with no one mentioning statistics or honors, until Charles Barkley, on a TNT program, gave his opinion with a chuckle:
"Why make excuses? Dwyane Wade is just an ordinary star player. He's not an MVP. Losing is simply due to a lack of ability and being unable to lead the team to victory."
"ā¦"
These words were the same as his previous statement, "Iverson just isn't capable."
A group of die-hard fans who had completely lost their composure disagreed, saying their idol could not be a "scrub"!
Perhaps because Michael Jordan was recently rumored to be buying a stake in the Bobcats, some sports reporters also began to reminisce about past games, while also elevating Michael Jordan.
"The true greatest of all time," "The man who made the NBA take off," "The representative of pure basketball in the 90s," "The savior of the Charlotte Bobcats"...
Flattery, free of charge, reappeared in sports programs.
Although Michael Jordan never responded to these things, everyone still liked to capitalize on him.
A group of muscular players battling in the paint, frequently clanking shots and drawing fouls, was called high-intensity and considered the golden age of the league.
The New York Knicks, with too many three-pointers and dunks, represented a regression in basketball, lacking dominance, and the league had become soft.
A four-peat seemed to be only a matter of time.
Suddenly, a trend of reminiscing about the past began to sweep through major sports media outlets, and old fans also started to "IF."
Related comments could always be seen under some news articles:
"If a prime Michael Jordan came to this era, he could average 40 points, and Clay Lee would be no match for him!"
"If Michael Jordan hadn't retired in 1993, he could have won 8 championships!"
The old guys weren't stupid.
As a secondary GOAT, Michael Jordan's basic and advanced stats were on par with Clay Lee's, with both having their wins and losses.
If they were to hype up Magic Johnson, they would probably be laughed at.
94:108, the Dallas Mavericks easily defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game 2.
However, apart from local sports media represented by the Dallas Morning News discussing the game, most fans ignored them.
Mark Cuban noticed that no one was discussing his team, so he simply took to his blog to declare loudly:
"Dirk Nowitzki will dominate everything in the NBA Finals!"
The New York Media, upon reading the related articles, nearly burst into laughter.
The New York Post had already made a premature prediction that morning, while also mocking their opponent:
"Who is Dirk Nowitzki?"
The conference finals schedule was very tight, with only a little over a day of rest before Game 3.
The New York Knicks were unaffected, as they had wrapped up the previous game in three quarters.
85:116, the Miami Heat lost by a large margin.
Even if they flew back to Miami overnight, the room for them to adjust was extremely limited.
For Pat Riley, the good news was that the Miami Heat shot 7-for-16 from beyond the arc in Game 2.
The bad news was that most of those 7 three-pointers were concentrated in the second half and came from a single player.
Antoine Walker went on a rampage in garbage time, playing 39 minutes, shooting 8-of-16 from the field and 4-of-7 from three, contributing a team-second-high 20 points!
O'Neal only played 26 minutes. After smashing things in the locker room and challenging Wade to a fight, the big man surrendered early in the second half.
He knew his old opponent too well.
A 15-point deficit was too much to overcome.
Upon returning to Miami, the slick-haired boss pulled everyone into an airborne meeting on the plane.
The next day after landing, they began a closed training session.
After news broke about compensating the New York Knicks for damaged locker room items, the first news the Miami Herald received was that the team was having internal conflicts.
Fortunately, during warm-ups that afternoon, Pat Riley proactively accepted an interview to reassure fans and confidently declared that they had found the secret to winning:
"I don't want to emphasize that playoff wins always start on the road, but for the next two home games, we are very confident!"
"The loss has not affected the players' morale; on the contrary, it has ignited their fighting spirit."
The "Wade Conference" once again confirmed Wade's core position.
O'Neal was no longer the first option on offense, and the Miami Heat would reduce slow-paced possessions initiated from the low post.
Each team's team meeting has a different format, but what remains the same is that veterans and core players have more say.
Ever since his leadership position was reaffirmed on the plane, coupled with Pat Riley's motivational talk, Wade felt a surge of passion, and the frustration of losing was thrown to the back of his mind.
On a stage like the Conference Finals, he was granted "unlimited shooting freedom."
This was a testament to his teammates' trust in him!
There are no championship banners hanging in the American Airlines Arena, and compared to the New York Knicks, the Miami Heat don't have a rich history.
A winning culture hasn't yet formed here.
Miami fans are also not as loyal as those in New York.
At Madison Square Garden, no one leaves early, and even after the game ends, the self-entertaining revelers continue to party outside the arena.
Wade, focused on warming up in the American Airlines Arena that afternoon, was drenched in sweat.
In this do-or-die game, he had his own stage.
A group of sports reporters gathered courtside after the warm-up, looking at the determined Wade, an ESPN reporter quickly asked:
"Wade, it's rumored that after the team meeting, Head Coach Pat Riley granted you unlimited shooting freedom. What adjustments will you make for tonight's game?"
Wade did not deny the news.
Noticing the expectant gazes of the Miami sports reporters, he responded seriously to everyone:
"I'm just going to be myself. Through the previous two games, I've already adapted to their Defense."
"The coaching staff has been showing us game footage these past two days. Erik Spoelstra gave me a lot of advice. I'll try to shoot more, and I'll play smarter."
Erik Spoelstra is the Miami Heat's video analyst.
He knows the New York Knicks very well and watches a ton of game footage every year.
Unfortunately, no matter how much he watched, it was useless in the game.
The opponent's core was a six-tool player who could drive, pass, and shoot, and their zone Defense had no effect whatsoever.
Facing the questions from the sports reporters, Wade spoke eloquently.
Seeing that the young leader had not lost confidence, the Miami sports reporters all felt very relieved.
During the New York Knicks' warm-up, everyone was laughing and chatting.
The continuous dominance was the best encouragement, and even rookies like Anderson VarejĆ£o and David Lee became arrogant:
"O'Neal is nothing special!"
Hill's reputation hasn't been great recently, primarily because he has completely transformed from a multifaceted scorer into a fast-break specialist.
Even in half-court offense, Hill mostly focused on cutting for easy baskets and driving-and-kicking, with an occasional open three-pointer.
He didn't play this way when he first joined the New York Knicks.
Hill's changes in recent years have become "dirt," and Lee "wasting teammates" has been confirmed, turning a good all-around scorer into a role player.
Perhaps there were too many dunks in this year's series, a Fox Sports reporter couldn't help but ask Hill a bizarre question during an interview:
"Hill, why do you always dunk in this year's playoffs? I mean, why is your tactical role getting lower and lower?"
Hill, who had been smiling, looked bewildered.
He was the New York Knicks' second-leading scorer, averaging 16.0 points with nearly 60% shooting, almost playing at his career-best level.
"My job is to put the ball in the basket, and I think I'm doing pretty well! Dunking is also an efficient way to score, and it has nothing to do with my tactical role."
Yahoo Sports reporters have also been following the nostalgia trend recently, seemingly reminiscing about the "Jordan successor" from the Detroit Pistons back then.
They frowned and asked Hill:
"Why not increase some low-post offense? When you're guarding Williams and Wade, you could post up or attack them one-on-one with the ball!"
The New York Knicks currently only have Gasol with some specific low-post plays.
Everyone else has pretty much become "Moreyball" players.
Hill was utterly confused, but finally spoke truthfully:
"Low-post plays would affect the team's offensive rhythm. I'm not Pau Gasol. He has a huge height advantage under the basket."
"Efficient scoring is our goal. If you look at data analysis, in many games, we choose to shoot within 15 feet."
"This is not a secret, but it is simply more efficient to play this way."
In Game 2, Clay Lee only played 27 minutes, shooting 10-of-15 from the field, 4-of-8 from three, and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line, recording a double-double of 30 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, and 1 turnover.
A group of sports reporters angrily denounced the opponents for being too weak, but these past two days, everyone seemed to have amnesia, and the Miami Heat had once again become a championship contender.
At this moment, Lee witnessed the sports media's skill in changing their tune.
These guys insisted that Wade would bounce back, once again elevating the opponent's level.
"Dwyane Wade has been given unlimited shooting freedom after returning home. Head Coach Pat Riley has unleashed him. Lee, how will the New York Knicks respond?"
The TNT reporter said this with a serious expression, as if Wade's previous struggles were a tactical issue.
Lee was very cooperative, adopting a listening posture, then said seriously:
"We won't make any adjustments. Perhaps we'll increase some rotations to avoid foul trouble."
"ā¦"
The topic abruptly ended.
Even the most thick-skinned reporters couldn't maintain their composure, and many silently complained about the Miami Heat.
Although the sports media forcibly created opponents, Lee wouldn't expose this fact.
He wasn't Michael Jordan.
After all, news reports were a source of happiness in life:
"I believe in big data. Dwayne Wade will definitely bounce back, and we are all prepared for that. Of course, Shaq's free throws will most likely remain the same."
Watching Lee's serious statement, the sports reporters fell silent again.
In the current version, everyone still talked about facts.
Finally, the TNT reporter, with more of a sense of entertainment, asked:
"Clay, how would you evaluate your technical flaws? You know, we rarely see you complete offense in the low post."
Turning the game into a competition of "dunks and three-pointers," and facing accusations of lacking technical skill, Lee bumped fists with his teammates and sighed, saying:
"I am not an omnipotent God. For a point guard with average wingspan and only 6 feet 3 inches, this technique is too difficult."
"Instead of compensating for weaknesses, it's better to leverage my strengths. I've been continuously refining my shooting and ball-handling skills. Consistent shooting from 30 feet is my pursuit."
"As for post-up moves, leave them to more talented players! I can't play like Michael Jordan. After all, my talent is far inferior to his."
"..."
The TNT reporters were also stunned.
Everyone looked at Lee's undeniable strong muscles and were speechless for a moment.
However, after careful consideration, a sense of agreement rose in their hearts.
Mike D'Antoni didn't care what everyone was talking about.
As Lee and the others returned to the locker room, Mike D'Antoni smiled and greeted the reporters.
Getting closer to a four-peat, he also became more humble:
"The Heat are an excellent team, and we are ready to face the challenges!"
That night at 8 PM, 20,000 Miami fans flooded American Airlines Arena.
Some passionate fans had white paint on their faces and continuously yelled to cheer on the team once the game started.
Wade, who had bounced back, saw his jump shot regain form.
After adjustments, his long two-pointers from the top of the arc consistently found their mark.
The unlimited green light allowed Wade to frequently take over ball-handling duties.
Aside from O'Neal's continued poor free-throw shooting, the Heat showed their best form of the series.
At halftime, both teams were tied.
In the third quarter, James Posey also stepped up. If not for his low free-throw percentage of 9-of-18 in a single quarter, they might have already taken the lead.
"Boo!"
Amidst the boos echoing through American Airlines Arena, Ron Artest nearly broke down, having accumulated 5 fouls in just three quarters.
Aside from an intentional foul for elbowing Wade, he gained no advantage in several defensive switches.
"Rasheed Wallace was right, you get a foul just by breathing on them! Damn the rules!"
Without complaining to the referees further, Ron Artest returned to his seat, draped a towel over himself, and cursed angrily a couple of times.
He had mocked the Detroit Pistons before, and now he was experiencing the pain himself.
82:82, the teams were still tied.
Mike D'Antoni had been pressuring the referees, but Wade, with his combination of drives and shots, was unstoppable.
"Stick to the game plan. No one can beat us in the crucial 4th quarter!"
Sitting in front of everyone, Mike D'Antoni held the tactics board and loudly delivered his motivational speech, then drew up the positions, simply instructing:
"Raise the screen position. They're tired. Lee, kill the game from beyond the arc. Rebounds, remember to watch for long rebounds!"
Unlike the furious Ron Artest, despite the opponent playing in an 8-on-5 situation, Lee still had confidence in winning the game.
The reason was simple: his stamina was better.
"Be patient, receive the ball at the top of the arc, and if there's an opportunity, cut along the baseline. Their defensive quality is still declining."
Lee first nodded, then stood up and gave a few instructions to Prince and Raja Bell, who were coming off the bench.
Gasol and Diaw, who had entered the rotation early, were already prepared.
The noise in American Airlines Arena was not too loud.
The players briefly communicated on the sidelines and quickly finalized their game strategy.
At the ESPN commentary desk, Mike Breen was still loudly praising Wade's performance in the crucial game:
"36 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers. Dwyane Wade's performance is outstanding! Perhaps they can protect their home court tonight!"
Wade, who only rested for one minute in three quarters, shot 10-of-20 from the field and 16-of-19 from the free-throw line.
With unlimited green light, he continuously took shots and withstood the pressure with his excellent individual performance.
O'Neal only contributed a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds in three quarters, shooting 5-of-9 from the field and 2-of-11 from the free-throw line.
If his free throws had been more accurate, the score would have been completely different.
With 41 free throws attempted in three quarters, the Heat's explosive foul drawing left Hubie Brown somewhat silent.
What he found even more absurd was that the New York Knicks still easily held their ground:
"This is the strength of the defending champions. I have to say, Clay Lee has done a great job of involving his teammates, delivering 11 assists in three quarters. An incredible combo guard!"
"Let's go Heat!"
The Heat started with the ball.
The excellent James Posey replaced Haslem, and the other four were starters.
Pat Riley had now deployed his strongest tactical lineup.
The 24-year-old Wade didn't feel tired at all.
His declining stamina was masked by his excitement.
With the score tied for the first time in the series, victory seemed to be beckoning him.
As Jason Williams dribbled past half-court, Raja Bell came up to interfere.
O'Neal was standing at the free-throw line, and Wade was battling Lee under the right side of the basket.
Antoine Walker and James Posey were already positioned in the left and right corners.
As Wade accelerated through the middle to pop out and receive the ball, Jason Williams immediately moved to the right wing after passing.
Receiving the ball at the top of the arc, facing Lee's Defense, O'Neal, without Wade needing to call for it, proactively came to the three-point line to set a screen.
In tonight's game, only a few possessions involved low-post offense.
O'Neal, focused on catching lobs, frequently set screens, and his stamina was now starting to decline.
Without rushing to release the ball, and observing that there was still no double-team, Wade then released the ball with his right hand, then quickly dribbled behind his back to change direction, accelerating horizontally to try and shake off the Defense.
The solid screen prevented Lee from squeezing through immediately, but Gasol cooperated seamlessly, retreating in time to cut off the opponent's passing lane, not giving O'Neal a chance for a dunk on the roll.
When Wade reached the vicinity of the left elbow, he suddenly stopped confidently, then faked a shot.
Lee, who was trailing on Defense, didn't rashly reach in.
Wade paused for a moment, then leaned and jumped for a shot!
"Swish!" Another mid-range shot went in.
"Ah!"
After making the shot, Wade roared loudly.
The excited Heat fans also began to celebrate wildly.
Watching her husband's excellent performance, Siohvaughn, near the front row, repeatedly punched the air.
Lee, receiving the ball on the baseline, saw Wade glaring at him, and a smile appeared on his face.
This game was indeed more interesting than before.
"Defense!"
Heart-wrenching defensive cheers once again echoed through American Airlines Arena.
Miami fans, standing up, tried to use the sound wave to help their team.
Wade led the Defense with full effort, sliding his feet while also remembering to reach in and interfere.
Tonight, the referees were wearing white jerseys!
The New York Knicks players also stood outside the three-point line.
Diaw was on the right wing, while Raja Bell and Prince stood in the left and right corners.
Noticing the movement behind him, Wade continuously reminded O'Neal, who was trailing him, to move, while also preparing to squeeze through the screen himself.
As Gasol came to stand outside the three-point line, Lee, holding the ball in his right hand, immediately executed a large behind-the-back dribble.
O'Neal, with wide eyes, immediately shuffled his feet to help on Defense.
Accelerating horizontally with the ball in his left hand, Lee, with a low center of gravity, almost ran into O'Neal's arms.
As Wade squeezed through the screen and chased fiercely from behind, the three quickly surged past the left wing.
The undefended Gasol then charged towards the basket.
O'Neal, who had completed his help-Defense assignment, quickly shuffled towards the paint.
Wade tried to get in front, but before he could approach the left block, Lee suddenly dribbled between his legs while in motion, and as the ball switched to his right hand, he simultaneously stepped back.
Unable to adjust his center of gravity, Wade stared wide-eyed and helplessly jumped to contest the shot as Lee instantly returned to the three-point line.
Near the left sideline, Lee, leaning back, ignored the Defense, raised the arc, and quickly jumped for a shot!
Without even looking at Wade landing in front of him, Lee made a gun gesture with his right hand while twisting his body to run back on Defense.
As the basketball swished through the net, American Airlines Arena suddenly fell silent, with only the New York Knicks bench cheering loudly.
85:84, the New York Knicks had taken the lead again.
Pat Riley on the sidelines shouted repeatedly, constantly clapping and signaling to Wade that it was a good Defense.
The fans present also booed, but many felt anxious.
The cheering resumed, echoing through American Airlines Arena.
With the same tactic, Wade again came to the top of the arc to receive the ball.
Perhaps a bit impatient, Wade didn't observe the Defense any further.
Releasing the ball with his left hand, he accelerated horizontally, but this time O'Neal's screen was directly squeezed through by Lee.
Jason Williams in the left corner quickly accelerated and cut along the baseline.
Everyone on the Heat cleared one side, making the left half-court Wade's sweet spot.
Near the block, Wade suddenly stopped short, leaned on the Defense while faking with his shoulder.
Before he could twist his body to pull the ball, Lee poked the ball away with his left hand.
"Oh!"
Amidst gasps, Wade quickly chased the ball, regaining control.
On the left sideline, facing the basket, Wade, while faking his body to the front right, quickly executed a between-the-legs crossover.
Switching to his left hand, he tried to drive along the baseline, but Lee again slid his feet agilely.
Near the left baseline, Wade, slowing down, couldn't squeeze past.
After a quick stop, he turned his back, and the moment his right hand touched the ball, Wade turned his body and continuously backed down.
Under the watchful eyes of the baseline referee, Lee gradually pushed his opponent away from the basket.
Wade, sensing something was wrong, realized the shot clock was running out.
He backed down forcefully again, then immediately turned towards the baseline, gathering the ball while faking a shot.
He wanted to push off the Defense, but Lee stuck to him.
Instead of jumping, he blocked the shooting space.
The Heat players also seemed stunned.
No one came to take the shot.
Finally, Wade, after continuous fakes, shot a leaning jumper, which, under interference, directly hit the side of the backboard and bounced out of bounds.
"Excellent Defense, Lee froze Wade on that possession. His dribbling time was too long!"
Mike Breen was amused, and Hubie Brown, looking at Lee receiving the ball on the baseline, added:
"It seems Clay Lee is taking over the Defense again in the final quarter. Dwayne Wade has to play smarter. They're only down by 1 point."
"Boo!"
A wave of boos erupted again in American Airlines Arena.
Some bad memories began to surface in the fans' minds.
Such scenes always felt familiar.
With continuous behind-the-back dribbles, Lee, holding the ball in his right hand, suddenly accelerated, pushing past Wade and rushing over half-court.
He stopped short at the Logo, creating space.
As Gasol again raised the screen position, O'Neal also shuffled his feet to follow.
Despite realizing it was another screen, Wade was still unsure which way to defend.
When Lee changed direction between his legs, switching to his left hand and then dribbling behind his back, Wade immediately accelerated and slid to the left.
Just as his feet moved, the basketball in front of him suddenly disappeared.
With an extremely quick in-and-out dribble to shake off the Defense, and using Gasol's screen, Lee accelerated horizontally with the ball in his left hand.
Amidst the gasps of the live audience, O'Neal, who had come over to help on Defense, was blown by Lee's push-dribble change of direction.
The big man didn't even have time to grab him.
Lee slipped through the gap.
Wade, who had misjudged the Defense, still wanted to chase back, and James Posey also followed back to the basket to try and block, but Lee, completely free of the Defense, cut through the middle and picked up speed.
In the paint directly in front of the basket, Lee, after three long strides, leaped into the air.
James Posey, running back on Defense, flew horizontally through the air, attempting to directly pull him down.
American Airlines Arena once again erupted in gasps.
Lee, holding the ball with his left arm raised high, paused slightly in the air as his opponent collided with him.
Under the pull, the dunk turned into a scoop layup.
James Posey, gritting his teeth and exerting force in the air, tried to pull his shoulder to disrupt the shot, but Clay Lee twisted his body with the momentum, toughly resisting the pull, and after a brief suspension, threw the ball off the backboard.
"Squeak!"
The referee immediately blew his whistle.
The ball bounced off the backboard and into the basket.
James Posey, a bit unsteady after landing, looked up at Lee, completely stunned:
"That went in?!"
The New York Knicks players all came forward to high-five and celebrate.
O'Neal, panting heavily, fell silent again.
This seemed to be a familiar scene for him.
Looking at Lee walking to the free-throw line, Wade wanted to say some trash talk but couldn't.
He knew how difficult that kind of shot was, a contested layup.
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
There were also New York Knicks fans in attendance.
Seemingly feeling they were about to witness a spectacular performance, a small group of fans managed to yell with the intensity of a home crowd.
Lee, dribbling the ball, noticed that his opponent had lost their arrogant demeanor, and a smile appeared on his face again.
Regardless of whether the other side could hear him clearly, he loudly said:
"Come on, guys, entertain me!"
"?"
....
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