On Thursday, November 1, 2007, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Akron Beacon Journal simultaneously issued the same call:
"The Cavaliers need to recruit a third All-Star."
Last night, the Cavaliers played their season opener, but unfortunately, they lost 96-84 at home to the Mavericks, who were on a back-to-back.
Local sports reporters and columnists, who had always shown great leniency towards LeBron James, spoke out after the game, criticizing the The Chosen One's performance.
This situation had never occurred in the past few years, and the main reason for the sudden tension among basketball commentators was that the controversy from the season opener had not yet subsided.
Also yesterday, on the last day of October, all New York print media unanimously reported on Clay Lee's promise, and even the Wall Street Journal followed suit with a series of articles.
New York mainstream media discussed how many championships the New York Knicks would win in the next 8 years, while the Wall Street Journal calculated for fans how much revenue Lee would bring to the team.
The former's articles were very popular, as surpassing the Celtics and becoming a true powerhouse team aligned with the New York fans' self-perception.
The latter was met with much criticism from financial professionals.
Even if Lee earned a lot, it couldn't alleviate unemployment, and this method of shifting blame was too poor.
The looming subprime mortgage crisis had already begun to sweep through Wall Street, and internationally, UBS had not only laid off employees but also adjusted its risk assessment for related fund bonds.
Basketball is good, but workers care more about their jobs!
During economic downturns, the entertainment industry tends to flourish.
Fans with mortgages might not have money to watch games live, but they feel encouraged when they see the news.
Sports represent health and struggle, and the pursuit of championships can even inspire the city.
Mayor Bloomberg recently happily watched the news at a dinner party held at his home and proactively stated:
"If the Knicks start preselling future season tickets, I'll buy 8 years' worth."
The above news were all from New York newspapers these past two days.
If it were a different city, there naturally wouldn't be such a reaction.
Neighboring New Jersey had long given up, and nearby Philadelphia no longer urged fans to trust the process.
Only the Boston media launched a counterattack again.
Early in the morning, articles from The Globe began to promote the team's glorious and brilliant history, and incidentally, called on fans to cheer for the home team, which can be translated into a simple point of view:
"We must fight for the 17th championship!"
From 1959 to 1966, the Celtics achieved 8 consecutive championships, and looking back, there was another championship, and looking forward, from 1968 to 1976, they almost dominated as well.
Although this history was called "ancient basketball" by New York fans, a championship is a championship, and the banners above the TD Garden do not lie.
16 championships used to seem like a lot, but the Knicks quickly narrowed the gap by hanging one banner each year.
Although there was still some way to go, New York fans began to make predictions.
When Clay Lee announced that his career would last 8 years instead of 4, surpassing the old rival next door had already become a foregone conclusion in the minds of New York sports fans.
In contrast, Cleveland's sports reporters were in a bad mood.
They desperately wanted to break the "curse," writing tough but feeling that their strength was inferior to New York's.
If they really played second fiddle for 8 years, and if the The Chosen One became the next Allen Iverson, then everything would be over.
This faded All-Star was a living example.
Not every player can calmly accept failure.
What made Cleveland fans even more disappointed was that since 2003, they had never won a single game against the Knicks, going 0-16 in the regular season and losing every playoff game.
All signs indicate that LeBron James is highly likely to become the next Allen Iverson, and they will replace Philadelphia and become New York's future joke.
Under such circumstances, in the season opener, LeBron James went 4-for-13, scoring a mere 10 points, and both commentators and fans were furious.
They hoped the The Chosen One would fulfill his talent as soon as possible.
No one wanted to become Philadelphia, and no one wanted to be a joke to New York.
When Knicks fans held up signs and mocked Philadelphia fans, they enjoyed the spectacle, but when it came to their own home court, fans didn't want to see such a scene.
The Cleveland Clinic Training Center officially opened this year.
This training facility, named after the medical center, is located in Independence, not far from the city center, and its training facilities are very luxurious.
Unlike the Tarrytown Training Center, which the Knicks built much earlier, this training facility is more modern.
Two full-size indoor basketball courts are standard, but the focus is on sports-related medical equipment.
Sports science has also been flourishing in recent years, and technology is a form of strength.
Dwight Howard deeply understands this, as his growth is inseparable from these advancements.
Despite the unfortunate loss in the season opener, Howard performed well, not only grabbing 13 rebounds but also efficiently contributing 16 points and 3 blocks!
However, even the best performance couldn't attract too much attention from commentators, after all, he was only the second option, and the team's leader was the true core.
Howard, who had completed his early contract extension and signed a big contract, was actually somewhat concerned about external evaluations.
After reading the newspaper this morning, the happy "big boy" felt a bit unhappy.
No one praised his performance.
Since the Knicks would be visiting their home tomorrow night, Van Gundy and the coaching staff intensified training, considering the fans' feelings.
The original intention was to help players regain their game form quickly through high-intensity training, but many players were not enthusiastic.
Larry Hughes, the Good Brother, was not very active, but fortunately, the Rookies were all highly motivated.
After the training session ended at 11 AM, seeing Larry Hughes leave early, Howard didn't react much, but LeBron James began to frown, saying pointedly in the locker room:
"Crisis, team! We need to trust each other. Everyone should practice more this afternoon. The team needs a better record now."
"."
LeBron James reiterated the general direction set by the coaching staff.
He strongly agreed with Van Gundy's view: if they could secure the Eastern Conference's top seed, they would have a high probability of watching the Knicks and Boston battle it out.
As long as the Cavaliers could advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, they might then encounter exhausted opponents, replicating the Knicks' experience from that year.
This was the perfect plan for this season.
Regarding extra practice, different players naturally had different attitudes.
Larry Hughes didn't say anything sarcastic, but he turned and left, indicating that he just wanted to clock out.
Facing such a situation, LeBron James could only call out.
The Good Brother Zydrunas Ilgauskas was the first to respond enthusiastically, and the Rookie drafted this year, Arron Afflalo, also agreed, saying quite excitedly:
"I agree, Coach is right, I also want to contribute to the team."
Arron Afflalo performed well at UCLA, even setting a single-season three-point shooting record, which was why the Cavaliers drafted him.
Good shooting and solid Defense were what the team needed.
As for why the Rookie was so enthusiastic, it was naturally because LeBron James hinted that he could replace the Good Brother as a starter.
The The Chosen One no longer wanted to see missed open shots.
Pavlovic, who was still recovering from injury, spoke pleasantries with his teammates, but inwardly he didn't care.
Last season's Eastern Conference Finals had shattered all his illusions, the gap was simply too big!
Howard also didn't care about extra practice, but seeing everyone united around LeBron James, he immediately chuckled and changed the subject:
"The reports these past few days are too boring, no one is paying attention to us at all. Tomorrow night's game isn't even nationally televised, and our odds are higher than Boston's!"
In the preseason odds, the San Antonio Spurs fell to fifth, and the Cavaliers rose to third.
Commentators expected both LeBron James and Dwight Howard to have breakout seasons, with their hard power already surpassing the aging Duncan trio.
Daniel Gibson, with the support of the leader, had successfully squeezed into the starting lineup.
Hearing this topic, he instinctively flattered him:
"The old guys don't stand a chance, LeBron can crush them!"
His physique had grown even stronger, LeBron James had been slowly gaining muscle, and after the Americas Championship, he didn't relax his demands on himself, but rather actively increased his training intensity.
This was also the reason for his poor performance in the preseason and season opener.
He hadn't fully adapted to the muscle changes yet, his shooting was off, but his finishing at the rim had improved.
After hearing the hype men flatter and start talking about the games of the past two days, LeBron James didn't interject again.
Looking at his increasingly muscular partner, he finally stood up and bumped fists, saying:
"We have to win against them! The fans need confidence."
Howard, who had already changed and was thinking about where to go for lunch, snapped back to attention upon hearing this.
He chuckled, bumped fists, showed his white teeth, and said with a confident smile:
"Yee! That's right, I don't want anyone stealing my spotlight!"
"."
On Thursday evening, TNT's program aired as usual.
Tomorrow, the Celtics would have their season debut, and everyone was very much looking forward to it.
Of course, Clay Lee's big double-double in the opening game has been a topic of discussion recently, and the performances of Prince, Raja Bell, Diaw, and David Lee were better than what critics expected.
It was still a game that ended after three quarters, as Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol, who participated in the Americas Championship, both struggled in the opening game.
The former shot 5-for-15, and the latter shot 4-for-13.
The two big men frequently guarded each other, and both of them missed many shots.
With the Dallas Mavericks' core players struggling, the result was naturally a crushing defeat, 85:116.
The familiar score difference made it difficult for critics to comment.
The director deliberately placed Lee and Marbury together.
Below Lee, wearing a New York Knicks white jersey, were his stats from the first game, while Marbury's spot had a question mark.
31 minutes, 10-for-14 shooting, 3-for-6 from three-point range, 7-for-7 from the free-throw line, 30 points, 3 rebounds, 16 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers.
In the entire game, the New York Knicks attempted 89 shots, and everyone exploded.
Clay Lee's 16 assists even tied the Dallas Mavericks' total assists for the entire game.
Watching the game, one would find it was completely one-sided.
After displaying some statistics, the camera returned to the studio, where Charles Barkley seriously praised Marbury:
"I think it's difficult for Stephen Marbury to put up numbers like Clay Lee, but thankfully, he's not on the Atlanta Hawks now, and he doesn't need to play the role of a scorer."
"He just needs to rediscover the chemistry he had with Kevin Garnett in his Rookie season to help the team."
"No one will deny his ability. When he played with Kevin Garnett, there were many off-ball plays in the team, and he could catch the ball and shoot. Now he needs to find that again."
Seemingly recalling Head Coach Rivers's proclaimed 100 tactical plays, Kenny Smith smiled, seemingly with great anticipation, and eagerly took over the conversation:
"Yes, Chuck is right, Stephen Marbury and Kevin Garnett's pick-and-roll made that Timberwolves team unstoppable!"
"He doesn't need to rely on absolute individual ability to drive the offense like Clay Lee. Don't forget Kevin Garnett is an all-around forward. When the two partner again, they can lighten each other's burden."
"What I'm more interested in is how the Celtics will position Ray Allen. Turning him into a three-point shooter like Raja Bell would clearly be a huge waste."
Head Coach Rivers didn't reveal much related information before the game.
In the preseason, the Four Giants didn't have much time together.
Ernie Johnson heard their opinions and, after a slight contemplation, said:
"The Eastern Conference competition will be particularly fierce this year. For older teams, securing home-court advantage is extremely important."
"History has proven this point. I think the Celtics don't want to experience what the Chicago Bulls went through. I believe Head Coach Rivers will not be stingy with the four players' playing time."
The mention of playing time was mainly because Lee played more than 36 minutes too few times in the past few seasons.
Mike D'Antoni preferred extensive rotation, which was completely different from many teams in the league.
The important test facing the Celtics is injury management.
Once the "old guys" get injured, they won't be able to fight bravely like the New York Knicks.
"I received news that Kevin Garnett has taken on the responsibility of a leader. He organized a mini training camp during the offseason."
Speaking of his inside information, Charles Barkley was a bit smug.
Noticing his two partners, he showed a listening expression and then added:
"Kevin Garnett told me he's ready to play 40 minutes per game. He doesn't think playing time will affect his health."
"The Celtics will be in form from the beginning of the season. Kevin Garnett is not Kobe Bryant, he can better control the locker room."
Speaking of the Los Angeles Lakers' opening game, the two people next to him didn't want to take over the conversation.
95:92, amidst the boos at home, the Houston Rockets defeated their opponent with Shane Battier's three-pointer.
The angry Kobe Bryant once again showed his scoring ability: 13-for-32 shooting, 1-for-3 from beyond the arc, 18-for-27 from the free-throw line, 45 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, 5 turnovers.
The Houston Rockets shot 31 free throws in total.
After winning the game, some fans on Reddit mocked "Ball don't lie" across different subreddits.
After losing, Kobe's face was dark.
Sports reporters were making fun of him.
Fortunately, everyone was looking forward to the Four Giants' debut recently, otherwise the special Black Mamba would have been wantonly mocked again.
Ernie Johnson was already used to his partner's instigating behavior.
Without looking at him, he turned to Kenny Smith on his left and asked:
"Kenny, as a championship member, what qualities do you think are needed to win a championship, besides the roster?"
"I think the most important thing is unity. The locker room is very important. Everyone is an adult, so sometimes it's hard to unite."
Kenny Smith smiled and glanced at his partner on the other side.
When the topic of championship experience came up, Barkley looked furious, but before he could interject, the voice sounded again:
"Perhaps this is why everyone isn't optimistic about the Celtics. Kevin Garnett isn't Clay Lee, he can't convince his teammates with absolute strength."
"Fortunately, they now have a common goal, which can help the locker room."
This topic didn't last for a few minutes before Charles Barkley started his own performance.
Lacking championship experience, he stared wide-eyed, babbled incoherently, and then instigated again:
"In terms of the locker room, Lee is worth learning from for all players. The New York Knicks rarely reveal internal information."
"I've always suggested Kobe call Lee and ask him about this. The Los Angeles Lakers' locker room is too bad. They've never been able to unite."
"."
Friday, November 2nd.
The Four Giants are officially making their debut tonight, and the onlookers are already impatient.
The preseason simply couldn't satisfy everyone's curiosity.
The Los Angeles Lakers, who flew to Phoenix, didn't attract any attention.
In the era of giants, Kobe suddenly became outdated.
No one cared about his gossip, and Los Angeles didn't have the strength to contend for the championship.
It was also an away game. At 7:30 PM that evening, the Quicken Loans Arena was packed to capacity, and many sports media outlets also came to the city.
Although it wasn't a national broadcast, the Cavaliers fans were exceptionally invested once the game began.
They urgently needed a victory to boost their confidence.
"Defense!"
The neat and powerful shouts for Defense could not put Fred McLeod, who was at the commentary table, in a better mood.
He had just become the Cavaliers' TV commentator last year.
After experiencing the "beating" in the Eastern Conference Finals, Fred McLeod found it difficult to comment on the New York Knicks' games with a normal mindset.
The starting lineup remained unchanged.
Just like last season, Larry Hughes took on the heavy responsibility of defensive matchups, tasked with guarding the core player.
It was rare to see the opponent's offensive time exceed 12 seconds.
Austin Carr, a former Cavaliers player and tonight's guest commentator, wore headphones, and an excited expression appeared on his dark face as he loudly praised:
"I like Gibson's performance. He makes up for his physical shortcomings with his positive attitude!"
Struggling to get through the screen, facing the New York Knicks' sudden triple pick-and-roll, Raja Bell at the free-throw line didn't screen for Chandler.
His quick pop-out was exposed, and Gibson immediately chased him to the top of the arc.
Chandler, who completed the on-ball screen, rushed towards the basket, moving horizontally.
Clay Lee, near the right wing, noticed Dwight Howard's defensive position and didn't risk a pass.
The opponent's explosive speed would likely disrupt the offense.
Seeing the Defense work, the shouts grew louder.
LeBron James, crouching in the right corner, hesitated, wanting to raise his defensive position, but was immediately faked out by Prince's cut, causing him to retract his feet.
Timely stepping up, Larry Hughes stuck close while extending his left arm to interfere from below.
Seeing Lee dribble behind his back, he subtly pulled with his right hand to prevent himself from being blown by in one step.
Taking a slight step back, Lee, with the ball now in his left hand, ignored the opponent's arm.
While being pulled, he instantly completed a cross-over, then suddenly leaned forward and accelerated.
Completing the footwork change on the spot, Larry Hughes didn't observe the details.
Clay Lee had already burst past him.
Instinctively, he frantically slid backward to the left.
The seemingly unlost Defense made the Cavaliers fans at the arena cheer loudly.
They had once again disrupted the opponent's tactical play.
However, as Lee stepped on the three-point line and completed a cross-step pull-back, Larry Hughes stumbled inside the three-point line, and the shouts turned into low murmurs.
Without any defensive interference, Lee easily gathered the ball outside the three-point line, then quickly jumped and shot!
"OH—! The bottom!"
The three-pointer swished through the net.
Fred McLeod, at the commentary table, groaned in frustration.
No matter how many times he witnessed this, it still felt unbelievable.
Austin Carr, who was shouting "No" beside him, was still making excuses for the home team's players, while also praising this "excellent" Defense:
"Larry did a great job limiting Clay Lee's drive. Look at his footwork, flexible and light. We can accept such difficult scores."
At 19:12, with 7 minutes and 1 second left in the first quarter, Head Coach Van Gundy did not call a timeout but instead waved his hand, instructing the players to attack freely.
Gibson, who brought the ball past half-court, quickly passed it.
The moment LeBron James received the ball at the top of the arc, Dwight Howard stepped up to set a screen immediately.
Amidst the cheers of the home fans, utilizing his teammate's high-quality screen, LeBron James moved horizontally with the ball in his left hand to shake off the Defense, then suddenly increased his stride, driving straight to the basket against the retreating Chandler.
Prince cut off the opponent's passing lane from behind, and the prepared Chandler slid over in time, but LeBron James was incredibly fast.
He gathered the ball while moving, shouldering off the Defense below the left side of the hoop.
Facing the long-armed interference, LeBron James ultimately drifted his body, tossing the ball off the backboard with his left hand, and the ball accurately swished through the net.
"Oh!"
Cheers erupted again.
Completely different from the previous game, LeBron James was in much better form tonight, and facing his national team teammates, he found suitable scoring methods.
LeBron James clapped his hands repeatedly as he retreated on Defense.
His strong physique amplified his driving threat.
Although he didn't particularly like the Head Coach's rigid tactics, Van Gundy made no mistakes in guiding his physical development.
Just as the Cavaliers players stopped, Lee had already rushed past half-court with the ball.
Pau Gasol instinctively raised his screen position, forcing Larry Hughes to chase frantically behind him.
The switching Dwight Howard also defended with experience, providing timely help Defense, but he was nearly instantly broken through by Clay Lee's sudden change of direction while moving.
Taking advantage of the big man bending down and sliding, Lee, with the ball in his right hand, suddenly accelerated a second time.
Seeing that his teammate was about to be broken through, Gibson from the right wing quickly came over to help defend.
For a moment, near the three-point line at the top of the arc, three Cavaliers defenders gathered around Lee.
Amidst the fans' exclamations, the ball suddenly flashed out from among them.
Raja Bell, on the right wing, quietly cut in, easily shaking off the Defense.
After successfully catching the ball, he drove straight to the basket.
Before Zydrunas Ilgauskas could help defend, he swung his right arm and slammed down a one-handed dunk!
"Too fast! The opponent's cooperation is very well-coordinated, and every player knows what they should be doing."
Fred McLeod didn't praise the offense, but couldn't help but make a couple of sarcastic remarks.
Purely from an entertainment perspective, the Knicks were much better than the home team.
The Cavaliers' offense was also fast.
Gibson passed the ball early and waited for an opportunity at the free throw line.
As Dwight Howard completed the screen at the top, LeBron James moved horizontally to the right wing, and the smaller player immediately screened, allowing his teammate to attack the basket.
With the exact same tactic, as LeBron James tossed the ball high, the ball flew towards the hoop, and the cutting Dwight Howard confidently jumped.
He thought he could easily grab the ball with his quick bounce, but when he got into the air, he found that the switching Clay Lee touched the ball almost simultaneously with him.
"Oh!"
Amidst the cheers of the fans, Dwight Howard, who was trying to grab the ball with both hands, couldn't control the possession.
Clay Lee directly disrupted the ball from the front, swatting it away.
Prince timely collapsed and immediately picked up the ball.
"Shit!"
LeBron James, who had just delivered a brilliant pass, cursed under his breath as he retreated on Defense.
It was a perfect opportunity, but the big man was blocked by a guard?
Losing his balance and nearly falling out of bounds, Howard couldn't help but complain to the referee, believing that Lee had made a subtle movement with his arm, interfering with his jump.
However, the referee did not react, and the Knicks had already launched a counterattack.
Prince quickly passed the ball, and Lee seized the opportunity that the opponent couldn't match up in time, darting past half-court along the left sideline in the blink of an eye.
LeBron James noticed that his younger brother Gibson was running around with Pau Gasol, and his Good Brother Larry Hughes was guarding Prince.
In the chaos, he could only step up immediately to delay.
The left wing could not get close to the three-point line.
As LeBron James slowed down to try and match up, Lee suddenly dribbled behind his back, instantly lowering his center of gravity.
Switching to his right hand, feigning acceleration, and taking advantage of the opponent's slide, Lee again made a large behind-the-back dribble, then suddenly stopped and started.
For a moment, James couldn't keep up with the rhythm, helplessly losing more than half a step.
Seeing Lee stop and gather the ball on the wing, forcibly turning his body, James directly jumped to contest, then flew out of bounds.
The Knicks bench erupted in cheers.
The moment he shook off his opponent, Clay Lee calmly jumped and shot.
Dwight Howard, who had just returned to the top of the arc, helplessly watched the ball fly towards the hoop, swishing through the net again.
He waved his hand in frustration, and then the Cavaliers called a timeout.
At 22:14, the point difference seemed to be widening again.
Head Coach Van Gundy, frowning, did not blame LeBron James for his reckless defensive choice.
In fact, most players get nervous when facing Lee near the three-point line, which directly affects their Defense.
"Patience! We are in good form! Let's play to our strengths."
Noticing the Head Coach's gaze on him, LeBron James, back in his seat, nodded in acknowledgment.
He needed to attack the basket, assist Dwight Howard with boards, secure tough offensive rebounds, and suppress the opponent's transition offense.
Drew Gooden, on the bench, thought the coach would make a substitution, but he didn't get the desired instructions until the timeout ended.
In the first possession after the timeout, Gibson passed the ball early again.
Clay Lee came to the left wing, watching LeBron James complete a screen on the other side.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas immediately rolled after the screen.
The Good Brother failed to delay Prince, who squeezed through in time, making it a bit uncomfortable for LeBron James, who was holding the ball in his left hand.
Amidst cheers, LeBron James exhaled, lowered his head, and charged, carrying the Defense into the paint.
After a jump stop, he bumped Prince away, then tossed a one-handed shot with his left hand!
He couldn't finish with his weak hand.
The ball hit the rim and bounced out.
Dwight Howard's hustle played a role, but Chandler, who secured the rebound, couldn't easily pass the ball out.
"Defense!"
As the game settled into a half-court offense, Cavaliers fans saw the Knicks slow down and cheered enthusiastically.
Head Coach Mike D'Antoni, unfazed by the atmosphere, also waved, signaling his players.
Without a screen, the two big men, alerted, immediately ran to the baseline the moment the opponent matched up.
The wing players calmly stopped outside the three-point line, near the sideline.
LeBron James followed and stopped, turning his head to look at the top of the arc, unable to find his Good Brother, who had been shaken out of position by Lee's cross-dribble and early change of direction.
Not sprinting at full speed, as Lee switched to his right hand, dropped his shoulder, and accelerated, Larry Hughes chased him again, adjusting his stride while moving, slowing down, then accelerating again.
With the change in rhythm, Lee easily created half a step of separation.
Before the Cavaliers' help Defense could arrive, he stopped short at the free throw line, actively bumped off the defender, took a step back to the right elbow, and released a fadeaway jump shot!
"Swish!" The two-pointer smoothly went in.
At 24:14, Quicken Loans Arena was filled with boos.
Clay Lee shook his head as he retreated on Defense.
Anyone could see that Larry Hughes's Defense was completely ineffective.
On the offensive possession, Dwight Howard carried Pau Gasol in the left low post, jump-stepped to directly in front of the basket, and scored with a contorted move.
Coming back, an excited Dwight Howard also disrupted a connection between Chandler and Lee, directly poking the ball out of bounds.
"Yee!!"
Nodding repeatedly and pounding his chest, Dwight Howard shouted and looked at everyone, pointing to his eyes, indicating that a three-man screen was ineffective against him.
The opponent's targeted Defense tonight was very good.
Clearly, the coaching staff put in a lot of effort, disrupting the team's tactics several times.
However, Head Coach Mike D'Antoni still didn't react much, maintaining his usual smile.
Chandler set a screen at the top of the arc, and Lee moved to the right wing, receiving an inbound pass from Pau Gasol from the baseline outside the three-point line.
With more than half of the shot clock gone, LeBron James actively switched on Defense, attempting to limit the offensive initiation with his body.
Protecting the ball on his right side, Lee took a quick, diagonal jab step with his left foot.
James, raising his right arm, slightly turned his body and adjusted his center of gravity, allowing Lee to drive.
However, the moment he shifted his weight, the offensive player in front of him suddenly jumped, and he could only instinctively try to strip the ball.
The ball, raised to his side, just avoided the opponent's attempt to strip it.
Lee leaned back slightly, and facing the Defense, shot again!
"Clay Lee!"
"NO! He's gone video game!"
The clean shot made Fred McLeod in the commentary box shout out again.
When the opponent couldn't run a play, they resorted to star isolation, not even running a second play.
It was simple and crude, but extremely effective.
LeBron James, wearing a white headband, didn't bother to look back.
The low murmurs in his ear indicated that the ball had gone in again.
"LeBron needs to respond promptly. An 11-point deficit is too dangerous. We need to keep the deficit within 10 points."
No sooner had Austin Carr finished speaking than the Knicks suddenly changed their defensive strategy.
Pau Gasol strongly delayed, and LeBron James quickly found his cutting teammate.
Near the right block, attracting two defenders, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, wide open after receiving LeBron James's bounce pass, decisively shot.
Pau Gasol didn't provide effective interference, but the opponent still missed the shot.
The ball hit the rim and bounced out, and again, Chandler grabbed the rebound ahead of Dwight Howard.
"Boo!"
Amidst the boos echoing through the Quicken Loans Arena, Clay Lee once again dribbled past half-court, then was immediately double-teamed.
LeBron James and his Good Brother trapped him early, giving Prince on the right wing an opportunity.
Facing Zydrunas Ilgauskas's rotating help Defense, Prince's bounce pass cut through the Defense.
Below the right side of the rim, Pau Gasol received the ball and, facing Dwight Howard's close-out, made another short pass.
This time, the Cavaliers couldn't rotate again.
Dwight Howard, trying to twist his body to continue defending, reluctantly committed a foul, sending Chandler to the free-throw line.
With continuous passing, the ball moved faster than the players.
LeBron James, who had just rushed back on Defense, couldn't help but feel frustrated.
No matter how many times he watched replays, the opponent's "unsolvable" offense didn't seem to help much.
As Chandler made both free throws, the lead widened again, and as time elapsed, the Quicken Loans Arena gradually quieted down.
LeBron James attempted a mid-range jump shot and made it.
On the return play, a somewhat frustrated Larry Hughes committed a foul.
Then, from an inbounds play, Lee assisted Pau Gasol for a jump shot from the free-throw line.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas failed to get back on Defense in time, but Head Coach Van Gundy on the sidelines still didn't make a substitution.
This time, the big man betrayed the trust, failing to convert a two-point single-player play under the basket.
"Oh!"
Amidst the cheers, Clay Lee finally clanked a drifting jump shot from the free-throw line, but the offensive rebound was snatched by Chandler, forcing Dwight Howard to commit his second personal foul.
After being substituted by Drew Gooden, Dwight Howard returned to his seat, feeling secretly pleased yet deeply depressed.
He was absolutely certain that he was the team's defensive cornerstone because the game was once again broken down by the opponent's pick-and-roll.
For two consecutive possessions, LeBron James and Lee both went to the free-throw line, and soon Zydrunas Ilgauskas also left the game with two fouls.
When Donyell Marshall entered the game in the final two minutes of the first quarter, he couldn't withstand the New York Knicks' big men's aggressive rebounding.
As the Cavaliers fell into a disadvantage in rebounds, their few transition offenses completely disappeared.
"Boo!"
By the end of the first quarter, boos once again filled the Quicken Loans Arena.
With the score at 38:23, Cavaliers fans were all too familiar with this scene.
It was highly probable they would lose again tonight.
"In my opinion, the two teams have almost the same tactical system. The difference is that we find it very difficult to limit Clay Lee's offense."
"Larry Hughes did his best, but he's not suitable for defending Clay Lee. To achieve better results, perhaps we need to make roster adjustments before the All-Star Weekend!"
Austin Carr, at the commentary desk, didn't hold back.
He subtly expressed his view, personally supporting the trade of the former steals leader.
Playing the entire first quarter, Clay Lee delivered 19 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 block, shooting 6-for-8 from the field, 3-for-4 from three-point range, and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
This stat line indirectly determined Larry Hughes's future with the Cavaliers.
Fred McLeod wasn't as direct as the Cavaliers veteran.
He praised Larry Hughes's Defense and then stopped discussing the matter:
"LeBron James is in great form tonight, which is a good thing for the Cavaliers. At least we don't have to worry about his physical condition anymore."
LeBron James, who scored 11 points on 4-for-7 shooting and 3-for-4 from the free-throw line, was in a bad mood at this moment.
He could feel the emotions of the fans, and seeing Head Coach Van Gundy's trust in his Good Brother made him somewhat annoyed.
The team had not traded the opponent as he requested, and management had ignored his opinion.
LeBron James raised his water bottle, masking his emotions, and began to comfort himself:
"Losing might be a good thing."
On Saturday, November 3rd, basketball commentators were eagerly discussing the performance of the "Four Giants" last night.
The Celtics defeated the Washington Wizards 108:79, showcasing their dominance.
Ending the game after three quarters with a 29-point difference, many fans found it familiar.
It was simply a replica of the New York Knicks!
In another game that also concluded last night, the New York Knicks won 114:91, a 23-point victory.
The Cavaliers resisted until the fourth quarter, leading Boston sports reporters to conclude:
"The New York Knicks' dominance is declining."
Without Grant Hill, and with Ron Artest still recovering, the team had fewer ball-handlers, and their tactics became monotonous.
After reading the morning newspaper, Celtics fans were overjoyed.
These columnists were right: 100 tactics are greater than "give the ball to Clay Lee."
In the second game of the new season, Clay Lee played 36 minutes, ultimately exploding for a double-double of 43 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, and 1 turnover, which ended Larry Hughes's Cavaliers career.
Cleveland fans only offered their blessings for the Cavaliers' "selling" behavior, and everyone began to look forward to the arrival of a third All-Star.
The Americas Championship left Pau Gasol in a particularly slump, but at the end of practice that afternoon, Lee proactively helped his old teammate lighten his load, joking in response to questions from the New York Media:
"Pau Gasol is not a robot. He played too many games!"
"This is an opportunity for Tyson and me. Scoring champion, rebounding champion? We can share the pressure with our teammates."
Although the New York Times had grown tired of hyping stats in recent years, seeing Lee's "fighting spirit" when discussing these minor honors still made them feel great:
"Lee, Kevin Garnett had 22 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks, and 3 turnovers in last night's game. Does this mean the opponent is on the right track?"
Shooting 9-for-16, an efficient huge double-double, Kevin Garnett seemed perfectly suited to the new system, fully displaying his MVP demeanor on both ends of the court.
"A strong opponent is a good thing. It can provide fans with even more exciting games!"
"With high ticket prices, everyone who comes to watch the game live should enjoy the pure pleasure of basketball. They are a good opponent, and like you, I'm starting to look forward to the upcoming games."
Lee's tone was relaxed, and the New York sports reporters also felt inexplicably at ease.
What Boston was hyping had a solid basis, and they would be "convinced" after seeing it.
Other New York Knicks players did not accept interviews.
The frustrating events during the offseason made General Manager Donnie determine to discipline everyone.
The volatile emotions brought by inflated contracts had to be dealt with promptly.
No matter how much the rival team was hyped, Lee always led his team to easily crush weak opponents.
On Sunday, the Timberwolves visited Madison Square Garden and only scored 72 points in the entire game.
After a day of rest on tuesday, the Orlando Magic, who had become a jump-shooting team, also went cold at the Madison Square Garden.
The New York Knicks once again crushed their opponent 115:81.
In contrast, the Celtics, next door, didn't live up to the hype from Boston sports reporters, narrowly winning by 3 points against the Toronto Raptors on the road, which made Wednesday's game highly anticipated.
The two teams wouldn't face each other until the end of the month, but their respective media outlets began to feud from afar, comparing point differentials, and even the fans joined in the furious online battles.
Under such circumstances, the Denver Nuggets became the benchmark for comparing strengths.
That evening, the unfortunate Allen Iverson faced a heavy blow from his opponent.
The Celtics defeated their opponent 120:90, once again demonstrating their dominance.
At the North Shore Garden Arena, the Boston fans watching the game live were exceptionally excited.
A 30-point blowout hadn't happened in years.
They had finally come out on top!
The fervent home atmosphere, however, was not a good thing for the visiting players.
A defeated Allen Iverson wore a long face.
He had been humiliated again.
Perhaps he was so frustrated by the loss that when he attended the post-game press conference, Allen Iverson stopped with the pleasantries and once again displayed his rebellious side, mocking tonight's opponent:
"A bunch of losers gathered on one team. They abandoned their honor. I would never do that."
"I will respect Clay Lee, but I will never respect these guys. Basketball doesn't lie!"
Carmelo Anthony, who also lost, was in a bad mood.
He frequently encountered help Defense tonight, shooting 3-for-13 and scoring only 11 points, completely losing face.
Hearing his idol speak up at this moment, he also joined in, with a sullen face:
"Basketball shouldn't be like this. I won't abandon my city."
"."
Although both seemed to lean towards New York, unfortunately, in the back-to-back game the next day, the Denver Nuggets were beaten again.
With Allen Iverson's consistent 8-for-25 performance, the New York Knicks narrowly defeated their rival next door 119:82, based on point differential.
On Friday, the 9th, the Celtics were still playing at home.
Facing a weak team like the Atlanta Hawks, Paul Pierce was particularly confident.
Before the game, Paul Pierce proactively accepted an interview.
He didn't talk about tonight's game.
Instead, he laughed at the Denver Nuggets, who had lost so much:
"Even if the Celtics' record wasn't good before, at least I've beaten Clay Lee in the Eastern Conference."
"Who cares about their respect? We will soon welcome our 17th championship banner. Perhaps they should think about how to win a championship for Denver."
"."
....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)