On sunday, November 11, 2007, the NBA announced the Players of the Week for the second week of the new season:
Kevin Garnett from the Eastern Conference and Yao Ming from the Western Conference both received the award.
Driven by the New York Knicks for many years, most teams now choose to start strong to achieve better regular season records.
The Celtics, with their Four Giants, achieved a 5-game winning streak after a big win against the Nets on Saturday, remaining undefeated in the new season.
After changing their Head Coach, Adelman injected the Princeton offense into the Houston Rockets, who currently lead the Western Conference with a 5-1 record.
It's worth mentioning that Tracy McGrady also won the Player of the Week for Week 1, meaning the Houston Rockets' dual core swept the first two awards of the season!
Due to roster depth issues, Kevin Garnett made good on his word, showing his tough-guy nature by playing an average of 40.3 minutes per game this week, fulfilling his promise to the fans.
Coupled with a luxurious double-double of 22.8 points, 14.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 2.8 steals, 1.0 block, and 4.0 turnovers per game, Boston fans, who had been quiet for a long time, were completely ignited!
With a 58.1% field goal percentage and 82.6% free throw percentage, Kevin Garnett not only demonstrated his all-around attributes but also his excellent efficiency, earning the former MVP even more praise.
As for the'super team' behavior, as the Celtics continued to win, only a few sour grapes were still complaining.
After all, for most fans, basketball is about results, and as long as you win, you will always earn respect.
The friction between Allen Iverson and Paul Pierce showed a tendency to intensify as time went on.
Bigmouth Pierce's taunts not only enraged the faded Son of Philadelphia, but also offended some star players whose teams were struggling, and local sports media frequently fanned the flames.
Under these circumstances, as Tracy McGrady embarked on an Eastern Conference road trip, flying to Charlotte to prepare for tonight's game, he suddenly spoke up, defending Allen Iverson in a pre-game interview:
"Some players should respect Allen Iverson. He seems to have forgotten that Allen Iverson once led his team to the Conference Finals!"
"Allen Iverson has also won a scoring title. Think about his own honors. What right does he have to criticize a player like that?"
"If he really has the ability, why haven't we seen him in the playoffs these past few years? Don't confuse team strength with your own. We know who the better player is!"
It must be said, when your record is good and your stats are decent, your words carry weight.
Since being upset by the Utah Jazz in the first round last year, Tracy McGrady had rarely spoken out, and this outburst surprised many sports reporters.
Yao Ming, on the other hand, rarely participated in these discussions.
He quietly declined the Los Angeles Lakers' recruitment, and looking back, this choice wasn't bad.
The Houston Rockets didn't have as many frustrating issues, and the locker room was relatively harmonious.
Chinese sports media usually doesn't report negative news, as if all players are 'brothers.'
At this time, when interviewing Yao Ming, they didn't ask about the recent hot topics, but rather the usual question:
"With more playing time this season, how is playing in the Princeton offense different from before?"
"I'm still adapting to this system. The team's ball movement gives me a feeling like I'm playing in international competitions."
In the locker room, Yao Ming sat in his chair, smiling as he answered questions, while on the other side, his good partner, still groggy, continued to rant:
"This way of building a team destroys the NBA. How much money did Stephon Marbury get? He made many players very passive."
"..."
The sour remarks couldn't affect the Celtics' winning streak.
For players like Paul Pierce and Stephon Marbury, who had been leading bottom-ranked teams for years, the feeling of winning was simply too wonderful!
It was only then that these two, who had almost lost their minds in the first half of their careers, understood why the New York Knicks' locker room atmosphere was always so good.
No one likes to lose.
Even if it's the team's arrangement, if you still want to play well, you'll start complaining to each other after a certain amount of losing.
The Celtics only had three games this week, a relatively light schedule.
On sunday, the coaching staff originally planned to give them a day off, but Kevin Garnett consciously organized a training session.
Even with such intense internal competition, the players participating in the training still had smiles on their faces, and Head Coach Doug Rivers was beaming with joy.
Winning was simply too exhilarating.
After warming up in the morning, they had group training.
Before lunch break, the team arranged for players to be interviewed.
This situation was rare in the past, after all, besides local media, who would interview a losing team?
The Celtics' training facility is in Waltham, a distance from the city center.
In recent years, not many sports reporters visited, but this time, a large group showed up.
"Super team" isn't the problem.
"Super team losing" is the joke.
A group of reporters congratulated Kevin Garnett on winning Player of the Week.
When surrounded, a proud smile involuntarily appeared on his face, and the beard on his chin seemed to perk up as well.
"Kevin, can you replicate the New York Knicks' achievements in recent years and remain undefeated in November?"
Reporters from the Boston Globe used to dismiss New York's records in previous years, but this time, with their home team, everyone was 'truly pleased' and eager to experience the joy of New York fans.
"I'm confident we can remain undefeated in November. You know, compared to other teams, our schedule is relatively easy."
"With each game, the team's strength improves. This feeling is indescribable. Everyone has perfectly integrated into the team!"
Kevin Garnett's expression was serious as he said this, and he finally pounded his chest twice, expressing his excitement.
Stephon Marbury, on the other side, was also very happy.
He didn't get many opportunities on this team, but often, he served as the starting point for tactical plays.
It was as if he had returned to his Rookie season playing for the Timberwolves.
Pick-and-rolls, double screens, off-ball movement, all the tactics were back.
He no longer needed to do everything himself.
Stephon Marbury had recognized himself.
He didn't have that ability.
Being a core guard is tough.
Stephon Marbury, having accepted his new role, didn't complain.
When talking about his position on the team, he couldn't help but praise the Head Coach:
"Head Coach Rivers is a genius. He saved me. He's completely different from the coaches I've worked with in the past. I feel like I'm playing high school basketball again."
Mentioning high school, some New York reporters then remembered that Stephon Marbury had also been incredibly successful leading Lincoln High School, having gained a huge reputation in New York from a very young age.
ESPN reporters can always find different angles to interpret players' words, "High school basketball" — inspirational basketball...
"Stephen, have you fully absorbed all 100 tactical sets from Head Coach Rivers? We've seen fluid offense in the games."
In the past, ESPN reporters had been indifferent to him, but now they were actively asking questions.
Stephon Marbury enjoyed being the center of attention and responded with a bright smile:
"Yes, it's also a challenge for me, but fortunately, I've met the coach's requirements."
"No other team in the NBA trains as hard as we do. I think we can continue to win the upcoming games. I can't find any reason to lose."
Among the many Celtics players, only Ray Allen was the calmest.
Whether with the Milwaukee Bucks or the Seattle SuperSonics, his performance had always been decent.
Having always been a core player, now becoming the second option, Ray Allen didn't feel much joy about it.
However, he was still the straightforward guy, not getting carried away by victory:
"We haven't accomplished anything yet. The new season has just begun, and I prefer to set my goals a bit further out."
"If we don't get first place, I'd rather increase the rotation. Managing injuries is very important. I don't want to encounter problems when the playoffs arrive."
Looking at Ray Allen, who was answering questions seriously and pouring cold water on the team, Pierce was secretly displeased.
This style didn't fit the current locker room culture.
Perkins, on the other hand, was more likable.
"We are family! I don't care about stats, I can screen for Kevin, I'm willing to sacrifice for the team."
"Playing together has made us brothers, this is the Celtics' team culture."
Perkins' playing time was limited. When the team sped up, Kevin Garnett would swing to the 5th position.
However, rarely getting attention, this "iron-blooded blue-collar worker" was also trying hard to show himself.
Eddie House, Glen Davis, and Tony Allen didn't boast much, but Rivers didn't forget them, praising these role players in front of reporters:
"Energy! Our bench brings more energy to the team!"
"Don't underestimate them, stats can't measure the boys' impact."
Hearing the Head Coach's hoarse voice continuously praising them, the atmosphere group also enjoyed it greatly.
Being in the newspaper was always better than being unknown!
At 7:30 PM on sunday night, the New York Knicks welcomed their first nationally televised game of the new season.
Tonight, they faced their old rivals, the Heat.
The constant boasting from the neighborhood also boosted New York's basketball market, with more casual fans participating in related topics, which indirectly led to higher prices for screaming seats tonight.
Tonight's game would be the last home game this week.
Afterwards, the team would embark on a Western Conference road trip, facing two back-to-back games, five games in one week, which put considerable pressure on their schedule.
In the past few years, the Heat had been one of the strongest teams in the Eastern Conference, but with the emergence of injuries, this championship-contending team seemed to have completely fallen behind this season.
0 wins and 5 losses.
After the start of the new season, under the leadership of Pat Riley, the Heat struggled to get a single win.
Miami fans all hoped that Dwyane Wade would recover from his injury and return, but for this nationally televised game, Flash was still in a suit, sitting on the bench, watching his teammates get "beaten up."
From 8 minutes and 32 seconds into the first quarter, the Heat fell into a scoring drought.
The slick-haired boss almost lost his voice during the timeout, but it ultimately had no effect.
As time continued to tick away, the Heat's score remained at 8 points.
When Smush Parker, coming off the bench, missed a three-pointer from the left wing, laughter once again echoed through the Madison Square Garden.
Ricky Davis, who had been substituted, stared wide-eyed.
With 4 minutes and 20 seconds left in the first quarter, they hadn't scored for a full 4 minutes.
A "tragedy" was highly likely tonight.
Anfernee Hardaway, who joined the team during the offseason, retreated on Defense while loudly calling out to his teammates to get into position.
The aging veteran now just wanted to lose with some dignity.
Shaquille O'Neal jogged back to half-court, his expression grim.
The open shots passed out weren't falling, and Shaq even had trouble receiving the ball in some possessions.
He missed his little brother.
"Let's go Knicks!"
The New York Knicks rotated early.
Pau Gasol was wiping sweat on the bench.
The recent games were easier than expected, but he was still a bit slow to start.
David Lee, wearing a training uniform, not only handed over towels but also didn't forget to flatter and comfort his teammates who had been underperforming in recent games:
"Don't worry, Pau! After Thanksgiving, you'll definitely find your form again. Honestly, I can't imagine what it feels like to play so many games."
Pau Gasol nodded, a smile returning to his face, and he covered his mouth as he quietly replied:
"It's hard to describe. The coach told me my body is fine, so it might be a psychological issue."
The cheers grew louder.
Jason Williams, who had retreated to the top of the arc, glanced at the movement behind him and immediately felt something was wrong.
The opponent had already opened up their offensive space.
The opponent had just stopped.
Lee, with the ball in his left hand, began to slow down.
Facing the tight Defense, he suddenly increased the force of his dribble, leaned into the defender, and quickly spun around.
The basketball instantly disappeared from in front of him.
Jason Williams was still trying to adjust his center of gravity when Lee had already lowered his shoulder and accelerated, easily shaking off the Defense amidst the fans' cheers.
Shaq, below the left side of the rim, seemed glued to the floor, unable to move his feet.
Lee had already cradled the ball with his right hand, leaned in, and scooped it up for a layup!
"Bang! Swish!"
It hit the backboard high and went precisely into the hoop.
"Oh!"
Amidst the cheers, Haslem, standing near the baseline on the right side, was also a bit numb.
The Defense broke with a single poke, and if they double-teamed, it would lead to a corner three-pointer for Dior.
Several Heat players instinctively looked at their Head Coach.
Facing everyone's gaze, Pat Riley showed no expression, silently making a tactical gesture, signaling to continue giving the ball to Shaq.
8:22. Such a score difference made the Heat players' mentality explode.
Jason Williams involuntarily started to speed up.
"Defense!"
Amidst shouts of encouragement for Defense, Chandler retreated quickly, not giving Shaq a comfortable chance to post up in the low block.
The two rushed to the basket and began to tussle.
According to the predetermined tactic, Anfernee Hardaway was supposed to receive the ball on the left wing after a screen, but Williams didn't expect to gain more than half a step by crossing over at the top of the arc.
As his teammate ran the play, Jason Williams seemingly shook off Clay Lee.
After accelerating further, he approached the free-throw line and then noticed the Defense closing in again.
Haslem's positioning was too close to the basket.
Realizing he might face a double-team, Jason Williams hesitated for a moment, then suddenly jumped up and made a no-look pass behind his head.
He flicked the ball out with his right hand, the motion fluid and graceful.
Williams had just landed when the basketball was intercepted in mid-air by Lee beside him.
As if he had given the ball to the opponent, laughter erupted in the Madison Square Garden again.
Hardaway, who hadn't received the ball on the other side, could only chase hard on Defense, but he was too slow.
He stopped dejectedly before even reaching the three-point line.
Almost taking off from the free-throw line, Lee glided a long distance on the fast break.
After stretching his body in the air, he grabbed the ball with his right hand and threw it down for a powerful dunk!
"Boom!"
The rim rattled, and the Madison Square Garden was filled with shouts.
This was the rhythm of a crazy rout.
"Damn it!"
Seeing Lee retreat on Defense with a relaxed expression, Anfernee Hardaway, with his goatee, felt a surge of frustration.
After a low curse, he helplessly ran to the baseline to inbound the ball again.
"I've always believed Dwyane Wade is the most effective player at defending Clay Lee!"
"Wade's absence affects more than just Defense. On offense, currently only Shaquille O'Neal can change the New York Knicks' defensive strategy. At this point, someone must step up and solve the problem."
On the ABC commentary desk, Mark Jackson began to emphasize Dwyane Wade's influence again.
Compared to Shaq, he always insisted that Dwyane Wade was the true core of the team.
After a pick-and-roll, he passed the ball after breaking through.
Watching Shaq roll down and receive the ball, squeezing into the lower left side of the basket, his movements were a bit contorted as he faked and laid it in.
Mike Breen could only lament:
"Injuries seem to have taken away Shaquille O'Neal's explosiveness. A few years younger, Shaq would have surely finished this offense with a dunk."
Finally breaking the scoring drought, Shaq angrily yelled at the baseline referee, believing he deserved a free throw.
Perhaps he was too emotional.
When defending the pick-and-roll again, Shaq finally managed to hedge out.
On the left wing, facing Lee with the ball in his left hand, he desperately slid his feet.
Chandler seized this opportunity.
As Lee attracted two defenders, he took long strides and quickly rolled down.
Just as he expected, Lee, leaning in and accelerating, leaned into Shaq, gaining more than half a step.
He swung his left arm in front of him, delivering a bounce pass that ripped through the Defense.
Receiving the ball in the paint, Chandler faced the double-teaming Haslem, took a step, and then swung his left arm, slamming the ball fiercely towards the rim!
The ball went in and the whistle blew.
Haslem's pull-and-tussle had no effect.
After completing the dunk, Chandler raised both arms, excitedly shouting as he flexed his muscles:
"Ah!"
The bench was also in an uproar.
Even Ron Artest and JR Smith, dressed in suits, celebrated wildly.
The atmosphere group was already eager to get on the court.
O'Neal, whose mentality had exploded, made a gesture with a dark expression, then quickly walked towards the bench.
Pat Riley could only beckon to veteran Mourning.
Ricky Davis watched Shaq chugging "oral solution" and dared not speak for a moment.
Once his boss's emotions stabilized, he finally spoke up to comfort him:
"We'll win it back when our lineup is complete."
Shaq didn't even look at him, his face expressionless as he watched his teammates on the court continue to miss shots.
Finally, he responded in a low voice:
"It's over. My era is over. I can't get back to my old form."
Hearing his boss whisper this, Ricky Davis was full of questions.
He couldn't recall there ever being an "era of Shaq."
In the final few minutes of the first quarter, Haslem was caught on a pick-and-roll by Diaw, who found opportunities for three ump shots from the left and right elbow areas after splitting.
He then had another drive to the basket, getting to the free-throw line.
The Heat's Defense completely collapsed.
Watching Clay Lee grab the rebound and casually toss it, Prince was unguarded under the basket in the frontcourt and dunked with both hands.
Pat Riley plopped back down into his seat.
The bench was silent, and the New York fans behind them were still loudly taunting.
Many fans seemed to have forgotten the iron-blooded Knicks and had lost respect for the slick-haired coach.
Mourning's free throws saved some face for the Heat.
At 12:40, when the first quarter ended, the staff at the scorer's table in front were also shaking their heads.
Dwyane Wade, dressed in a formal suit, couldn't help but cover his face on the bench.
Although they had lost 5 straight, they hadn't lost this badly before.
Rajon Rondo, ready to play, didn't look at the score difference.
The Rookie's expression was serious.
Since the start of the new season, his dedication to studying tactics had earned him more opportunities:
"Play low-post offense. The other side has already given up on Defense. We can continue to extend our lead."
"..."
Before coming on, Rajon Rondo held back the eager Rookie Thaddeus Young, signaling everyone to pass the ball to Pau Gasol and slow down the pace.
Once the game started, Smush Parker, who had returned to the point guard position for the opposing team, also couldn't hold on.
The Rookie "arrogantly" shouted in front of him, repeatedly disrupting the offensive rhythm.
Despite this being a nationally televised game, Mike Breen watched the Knicks continue their strong performance during the rotation phase and finally couldn't help but make a bold prediction:
"If the defending champions maintain this form, no one in the NBA is their opponent!"
On Monday, November 12th, several sports media outlets unanimously reported on last night's game.
It was simply too brutal.
After the game, Shaquille O'Neal preferred to pay a $25,000 fine rather than attend the press conference.
70:128. Another 58-point blowout loss.
On ESPN's morning show, they no longer hyped the "Four Giants" but instead praised Clay Lee again:
"Clay Lee makes the teammates around him better, and that's why he's becoming the most popular teammate in the NBA."
Before the new season began, ESPN conducted an anonymous survey, and almost all NBA players participated.
Ultimately, Clay Lee was honored as "Best Teammate."
In fact, most talented young players don't like to work with Clay Lee, but role players in the NBA yearn to play in New York.
There's a survey for the most popular, and naturally, there's one for the least popular teammate.
Ultimately, Kobe Bryant "won" the boring award for "Least Popular Teammate."
Being unsociable, having a strange temper, and riding coattails were all labels attached to Kobe.
It's no wonder Kobe always had a grim face.
Most players in the NBA had little respect for him.
They wanted to see him fail.
The Knicks flew to Los Angeles that afternoon.
Tomorrow night, they will face the Clippers at Staples Center.
Los Angeles sports reporters weren't getting any big news.
The Lakers' 3-2 start was unremarkable, and Kobe Bryant wasn't making a fuss about seeking a trade.
The home team's goal this season seemed to be selling tickets again.
Since the Knicks rarely gave interviews, sports reporters only found an opportunity when they arrived at the Staples Center for practice the next afternoon.
The Lakers had already flown to San Antonio for an away game, so when the Staples Center was being set up tonight, the staff had already covered the championship banners above the Staples Center.
Charles Barkley had been urging Kobe to text Lee, but as a "mortal enemy," Kobe naturally wouldn't accept the advice.
The Los Angeles reporter now played this role, calmly and confidently asking about the topic he cared about, amidst the teasing glances of the surrounding reporters:
"Lee, I want to hear about your experience managing a locker room. Yes, under Kobe's leadership, the Lakers' locker room is terrible. The whole NBA knows our situation."
The relatively dense schedule also wore down some of Lee's basketball enthusiasm.
Seeing the other party's serious demeanor, he simply teased his old rival to amuse himself:
"Do you see the banners above the Staples Center? 12 of them, and only one was won with Kobe's help."
"Although there are only 11 banners above Madison Square Garden, I helped the team win 9 of them."
"So, my locker room experience isn't suitable for Kobe. For now, if the Lakers just win more games, everything will be fine."
"..."
The Clippers' beat reporter chuckled when he heard these words.
Although his home team was always ignored, he didn't mind seeing his city rival suffer:
"I'd like to correct Lee's statement. It was Shaq who helped the Lakers win the championship."
Suddenly, the atmosphere became incredibly joyful.
Everyone was eager to see Kobe's reaction, hoping he would clash with Shaq again.
The two teams' traffic value was greater than the content of the game.
That night, the Knicks were once again full of vigor, with Prince particularly shining, going 9-of-14 from the field, 2-of-5 from three-point range, and 4-of-6 from the free-throw line, scoring a season-high 24 points.
118:84. Zach Randolph was a lone warrior, leading his team to a 4-game losing streak.
Meanwhile, with the Houston Rockets losing, the San Antonio Spurs easily defeated the Lakers.
Head Coach Gregg Popovich led his team to a 6-1 record, quietly leading the Western Conference.
90:105. Although Duncan went 2-of-13 for the entire game, scoring a mere 5 points, the San Antonio Spurs had already ended the game's suspense by halftime.
Tony Parker went 11-of-16, efficiently scoring 26 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers.
The Frenchman once again dominated the Lakers' perimeter.
When attending the press conference after the game, Kobe, despite his dark expression, was still met with a difficult question.
An ESPN reporter asked a very aggressive question:
"Kobe, you only scored 38 points in the first half, and your offense was very poor. Why didn't you guard Parker on Defense?"
"..."
Seemingly too lazy to answer such a boring question, Kobe Bryant, who scored 18 points on 9-of-19 shooting and 0-of-5 from three-point range for the entire game, casually responded:
"We have our own tactical arrangements."
Despite the San Antonio Spurs winning, the San Antonio sports reporters didn't show much joy.
Tim Duncan remained unresponsive regarding his contract extension.
After the game that night, Duncan, preparing to drive home, quietly greeted the team staff.
When he found his Toyota in the parking lot, his phone chimed.
"Maybe we can achieve greatness."
Looking at the text message, Duncan, sitting in the driver's seat, felt conflicted.
Every year started the same, and four Finals appearances had almost worn out all his patience.
But as soon as he thought of the phrase "win big" that he had shouted to the fans, Duncan ultimately did not reply to Kobe, letting out his frustration by hitting the steering wheel:
"Pop!"
....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)