On tuesday, November 27, 2007, after the game concluded, the Cavaliers once again became the focus of sports media.
After the new season began, Jeff Van Gundy did not change the team's tactics: zone Defense, quick rotations and help Defense, emphasizing transition offense, and appropriate low-post development.
These tactics seemed ordinary, and coupled with the team's slow start, LeBron James's and Dwight Howard's fluctuating performance, their record wasn't as dominant as the previous two teams.
However, tonight's game was completely different.
Facing the Four Giants, the Cavaliers' duo showcased their talent, relying on tough Defense to reverse the game in overtime!
102:110. In overtime, LeBron James, relying on his strong physique, tore through the opposing Defense, driving and drawing fouls, scoring 11 points personally to seal the victory.
When the game ended, Quicken Loans Arena became a sea of joy.
No one questioned their 10-5 record anymore.
They had defeated "Old Man Basketball."
Approaching 11 PM, when attending the press conference, LeBron James and Dwight Howard couldn't hide their smiles.
By ending their opponent's winning streak, they successfully showcased their talent.
The sports media in Cleveland was somewhat excited.
The Four Giants had put a lot of pressure on them.
Although this was just a regular season game, it revealed many issues.
If Larry Hughes could be traded, the Cavaliers' strength would be even greater.
Everyone felt that "daylight had broken."
The Cavaliers were ranked third in the preseason odds.
Although some people had questioned this before, most reporters now could only marvel.
These gamblers truly understood the NBA.
After a brief exchange, several ESPN reporters below the stage got the opportunity to ask a question that concerned everyone:
"LeBron, what do you think of the Celtics' rumored 100 tactical sets? We rarely hear you introduce your tactical system."
In fact, ever since Van Gundy took over the team, the Cavaliers have been a scaled-down version of the New York Knicks, continuing the original style from offense to Defense.
After several seasons of refinement, the Cavaliers have become a formidable defensive team in the NBA.
As for why they suffered a crushing defeat against the New York Knicks, it was actually Lee's strength.
Looking at the Cavaliers' record, they can deliver heavy blows against weak teams, and they usually show their dominance against playoff-contending teams.
Except for tanking seasons, LeBron James has an extremely high winning percentage against teams in the lower half of the playoffs.
Dwight Howard mocking Kobe Bryant in the national team was also because they consistently won against the Lakers.
"Basketball is not complicated. When we successfully complete a Defense, we get easy scoring opportunities."
"Tactics must fit the team. The Cavaliers' transition offense is second only to the defending champions in the NBA. I'm not surprised we defeated the Celtics. In fact, the team still has many areas for improvement."
"I want to commend Dwight's performance tonight. He dominated the paint. He made Kevin Garnett foul out. Our big men are better than theirs."
After saying this, LeBron James tried to control his expression, wanting to appear calm and composed, but his upturned lips indicated he was in a great mood.
As long as the veteran was sent away, the Cavaliers could become even stronger.
The landscape of the Eastern Conference already showed signs in November.
The Celtics and the New York Knicks have both only lost one game so far, with the Cavaliers firmly in third place.
The teams behind them have unremarkable records, and it can even be said that they have no chance of winning the championship.
Although the Detroit Pistons squeezed into fourth, no one favored them to win the championship.
Unlike LeBron James, who scored a game-high 38 points, Dwight Howard only had a big double-double of 16 points and 15 rebounds tonight.
But after the win, he became extremely arrogant, taking over the conversation and mocking his opponents:
"I don't care how many tactics they have. I only know that we limited our opponents tonight!"
"They are too old. The NBA belongs to the young. We will catch up with them soon."
No one refuted Dwight Howard's words.
The Cavaliers grabbed 49 rebounds tonight, while their opponents only had 39.
Offensive rebounds were their secret to winning.
Perkins, no matter how much he won, couldn't stop the onslaught of the talented freak.
Dwight Howard, whose form was steadily improving, regained his confidence after being beaten badly at the beginning of the month.
Fox Sports, which always broadcasts Cavaliers games, praised the two after seeing their confident demeanor and then asked again:
"Head Coach Rivers believes that tonight's officiating favored the home team. Was there any controversy regarding Kevin Garnett's 6th foul call?"
"Go watch the game replay. Against my offense, they can only foul! I'm no longer a Rookie. I'm starting to fulfill my potential, and believe me, this is just the beginning."
Although it seemed a bit awkward, Dwight Howard was indeed working hard to refine his skills, and he showed a proud expression when he said this.
LeBron James, beside him, just smiled as he watched his teammate perform.
He and his agent had a bold idea.
The point forward playstyle was not suitable for him.
LeBron James had decided to become a ball-dominant core like Clay Lee.
As for Dwight Howard, he would transform him into a powerful "lob threat."
Dwight Howard, who was still planning to secretly compete within the team, was unaware of his teammate's intentions.
In a healthy competition, he was confident that he could transform LeBron James into a "Big Magic Johnson."
They exchanged glances and both laughed.
As long as they recruited another All-Star backcourt player, time would be on their side again!
November was drawing to a close.
Before Thanksgiving, the Lakers suffered a crushing 80:120 defeat to the New York Knicks on the road, followed by a 90:110 complete defeat to the Celtics.
The losing streak finally ended with a big home win against the Seattle SuperSonics, but Lakers fans couldn't be happy.
The Cavaliers had also risen, and only they were still treading water.
Originally, there were no movements from various teams at this time, but on thursday, the 29th, the Los Angeles Times was the first to break a piece of news:
"General Manager Kupchak will spare no effort to bring Tim Duncan to Los Angeles!"
What made Lakers fans incredulous was that the team had already confirmed contact with Tim Duncan's agent, and the other party had not objected, seemingly in a wait-and-see period.
Regarding this gossip, basketball commentators also had different reactions.
San Antonio Spurs fans were immediately broken, as Tim Duncan seemed to really intend to opt out of his contract!
In just one day, the Lakers subreddit on Reddit saw a surge in traffic.
No one discussed the record anymore.
Young fans were all looking forward to the arrival of the former MVP.
Does Tim Duncan fit the Lakers?
The answer is naturally yes, because Tim Duncan can fit all teams in the NBA.
That night, on TNT's program, the director, as usual, first presented recent highlights to the fans, and then viewers in front of their televisions found Clay Lee dominating the screen.
He delivered heavy blows against weak teams like the Lakers, and repeatedly sent out wonderful passes against Eastern powerhouses like the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls.
And in Monday's game against the Utah Jazz, Lee, playing at home, set a new season high in assists, dishing out 21 assists in a single game, which was also the only game recently that went into the fourth quarter.
The best play, ranked first, was the two big men of the New York Knicks screening for each other at the top of the arc, and then Lee used Pau Gasol's screen to cut in from the right wing.
Cloud fans who hadn't paid attention to the game almost dropped their jaws when they saw the highlights: Clay Lee tossed the ball directly in front of the rim, and Chandler, cutting through the middle, leaped high, gliding a long distance to slam-dunk the ball with both hands!
The unfortunate Carlos Boozer became the backdrop, getting knocked out of bounds.
Without a doubt, this play had a chance to be selected for the annual Top 100 Plays highlight reel.
Just by watching the highlights, Lee seemed very invested in the game, but commentators could tell that the true GOAT was slacking off in some games, staying near the three-point line for the entire match.
However, people saw this phenomenon but couldn't criticize it.
Just look at the happy faces of the New York Knicks role players.
No one would refuse easy points and stats.
Like ESPN next door, the trio rarely discussed Lee's individual stats this season because it was meaningless.
He scored 50 points against Allen Iverson, and delivered a 40+12 double-double against Kobe Bryant.
Even Charles Barkley could see that Clay Lee preferred to "dominate" star players and wasn't interested in getting entangled with other players.
"Seeing these amazing plays makes me want to get back on the court. The NBA is getting better and better!"
"The New York Knicks aren't leading in November like they used to. This year they've run into trouble. The Celtics have caught up."
"The two teams will have their first showdown of the new season in this year's Christmas War. I'm already looking forward to their performance."
Kenny Smith, smiling, warmed up for the game early.
After repeated promotion, the anticipation for this game had reached its peak, and ticket prices for Madison Square Garden on that day soared again.
Ernie Johnson, sitting in the middle of the broadcast booth, noticed his partner on the other side was silent, and immediately turned his head, asking with a smile:
"Chuck, you don't seem very concerned about the performance of these two teams?"
The somewhat subdued Charles Barkley shook his head, then, with a heavy expression, faced the camera and stated his latest conclusion:
"I've been thinking about a question: Why did Tim Duncan, who made it to the Finals four times, keep failing? You know the Lakers also won once."
"A few years ago, I questioned Duncan's individual ability, but after careful consideration, I think loyalty harmed him!"
"The San Antonio Spurs didn't try their best to strengthen their roster every year. They let Duncan's efforts down, and that's the reason for his failure."
Recalling Charles Barkley's own career history, Kenny Smith always felt that these words were a way of "whitewashing," especially since "Chuck did it too" back then.
"But you can't deny that, from an individual stats perspective, Duncan didn't reach Shaquille O'Neal's level. His failure can also be attributed to insufficient individual ability."
"Against pick-and-rolls, Tim Duncan had almost no solutions. He was constantly targeted on Defense and couldn't respond in time on offense."
"I don't like the current trend. Many players want to recruit All-Star teammates, which was unimaginable in the past. Players rarely left their own city!"
Kenny Smith immediately retorted, which made Barkley a bit awkward.
If he could have won a championship with his "home team," he wouldn't have wanted to "wander."
"Players shouldn't let loyalty become a restraint. I understand Duncan. If he chooses to leave, I hope to see him win a championship."
After a dry addition, Ernie Johnson also noticed Barkley's embarrassment and couldn't help but tease:
"I'm thinking about something: if you leave your city and still don't win a championship in the end, will you feel regret?"
"..."
Charles Barkley fell silent.
Winning an MVP without a championship means becoming "the next him."
On Friday, November 30th, the last day of November, the New York Knicks once again faced a back-to-back game.
After sending off their "brother team," the Warriors, last night, they welcomed a game against the Milwaukee Bucks tonight.
With a 7-7 record, the Milwaukee Bucks had performed well this season, which also garnered them attention from fans across the ocean.
Michael Redd was previously a "minor transparent," and Mo Williams didn't have much fame among fans.
Yi Jianlian's arrival made both of them well-known to Chinese fans, and many fans suddenly became fans of Redd.
The Houston Rockets struggled to win against the New York Knicks, and Yao Ming's biggest losses after entering the NBA occurred in New York.
After several years of observation, Chinese sports media no longer asked superficial questions before games.
Any reporter stationed in the U.S. knew that in the eyes of the New York Knicks, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Houston Rockets were both bottom-tier teams.
Facing a bottom-tier team, Lee was unlikely to have any outstanding performance.
After all, the Milwaukee Bucks didn't even have an All-Star player, so tonight was the stage for the role players.
ESPN was very supportive, giving the Milwaukee Bucks the New York Knicks' third national broadcast this month.
Many fans were still curious about chinese Rookie Yi Jianlian.
At 7:30 PM, the game officially began.
The enthusiastic New York fans, influenced by the festive atmosphere, didn't hold back their cheers and were particularly invested from the start.
Lee, who had participated in the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony in New York on Wednesday, seemed to lack offensive desire and, like the previous game against the Warriors, always stayed at the three-point line.
In contrast, Raja Bell was particularly active, diligently defending Redd, and not sparing his energy on offense either, constantly running off screens to stretch the Defense.
Chinese fans in front of their televisions across the ocean quickly realized something was wrong: Redd was shooting terribly.
After hitting a three-pointer at the start, the rim seemed to have a lid on it, constantly rejecting his shots.
This kept the Milwaukee Bucks' score stuck at 5 points, forcing Head Coach Larry Krystkowiak to call an early timeout.
"I must praise Raja Bell's recent form. You can tell he has fully recovered from his calf injury. Every shot has plenty of power, and he's performing with great confidence!"
Hubie Brown, commentating on a New York Knicks game for the first time this season, offered praise.
His partner, Mike Breen, was still the same, turning into a "Lee-flatterer" whenever he returned to New York:
"Clay Lee always makes his teammates better. Compared to stats, he only pursues victory."
"The New York Knicks' young men all have smiles on their faces. They are enjoying the pure joy of basketball, and this is the team culture Lee has established in New York!"
"..."
Making slacking off sound so eloquent, the old coach almost rolled his eyes but couldn't refute it, given the New York Knicks' record.
During the timeout, the director focused the camera on the New York Knicks' bench.
Lee was writing and drawing on the tactics board, occasionally exchanging ideas with his teammates, looking very engaged.
Pau Gasol and Chandler nodded repeatedly, and the surrounding hype squad cheered loudly, all looking highly motivated.
In such a situation, no one could accuse Lee of slacking off.
He even took over some of the coach's work, which is surely a sign of his love for basketball.
Perhaps because their outside shooting was so cold, the Milwaukee Bucks' offensive possession after the timeout involved a low-post isolation play for Andrew Bogut.
"Defense!"
Amidst the defensive cheers, Mo Williams' lob pass from the left wing was too strong.
With Lee's interference, Bogut, who received the ball behind him, almost turned it over directly.
Chandler seized the opportunity to push him out, which caused Bogut's right-handed shot attempt to be too high when he tried to post up.
Clay Lee's help Defense interfered, and under pressure, he gathered the ball too early.
Once again, the tactics fell apart, and many New York fans in the Madison Square Garden started to loudly jeer.
Mo Williams received a pass from his teammate, and helplessly, he moved away from the three-point line, quickly passing the ball to Redd, who was waiting at the arc.
Yi Jianlian still wanted to set a screen at this time, but Redd waved him off, stopping the Rookie.
Pau Gasol's positioning on Defense against the screen made him uncomfortable, as his long arms always seemed to interfere with his shot.
The Milwaukee Bucks' tactics ultimately devolved into Redd's individual isolation play at the arc.
Desmond Mason still wanted the ball, but the team's leader confidently dribbled between his legs multiple times.
When he switched to his left hand, slightly raising his center of gravity, Redd suddenly lowered his center of gravity, faking a drive.
Taking advantage of Raja Bell sliding backward to his right, he decisively pulled up for a sudden stop, stepped back, and shot a brick.
"Oh!"
Amidst the cheers, the long rebound was picked up by Tayshaun Prince.
It was clearly an open shot, but it was another brick.
The retreating Redd could only repeatedly yell and vent his frustration, slapping his thigh in annoyance.
On the fast break, Tayshaun Prince passed the ball early, finding Lee, who was near the right wing, immediately.
Mo Williams stopped his steps on the three-point line, and then he saw Lee suddenly jump up and shoot.
He was a full two steps away from him, and Mo Williams didn't even raise his hands.
He just instinctively turned his head, helplessly watching the basketball swish through the net.
5:19. There were still 7 minutes and 46 seconds left in the first quarter, but the score difference was widening, which made many CCTV Sports reporters a bit embarrassed.
They were losing too badly.
As the game progressed, Lee dished out passes from the arc, occasionally throwing wild shots on fast breaks.
The game became increasingly lively, but the Milwaukee Bucks grew more and more frustrated.
It wasn't until 4 minutes and 22 seconds were left in the first quarter that Mo Williams finally made a long two-point bank shot under Lee's interference, helping his team break their scoring drought.
Yi Jianlian remained invisible.
During the quarter break, the Milwaukee Bucks' bench was silent.
It seemed better not to play this nationally televised game.
11:39. 2-for-8 shooting, 1-for-5 from beyond the arc.
Redd, who had furiously scored 5 points, almost threw his towel on the spot.
He couldn't understand why every opponent was so spirited.
For Chinese fans, watching such a game on Saturday morning was naturally disheartening.
Fans who persevered to the end couldn't help but feel some resentment.
It was truly "ugly"!
CCTV Sports' midday news didn't emphasize Yi Jianlian's performance as usual, only briefly reporting the score during the program.
78:128. In his first career game against the New York Knicks, Yi Jianlian suffered a crushing 50-point defeat.
On Saturday, December 1st, the NBA announced the Players of the Month for the first month of the new season:
Clay Lee from the Eastern Conference and Carlos Boozer from the Western Conference successfully won the awards.
The New York Knicks maintained their excellent form, reducing the number of interviews they accepted and transforming the agitation brought by their inflated contracts into game motivation.
With a 15-1 record, their dominance was undeniable.
The Utah Jazz achieved an 11-5 record in the first month.
Aside from their somewhat disheveled performance in New York, they also showed considerable strength against Western Conference powerhouses.
Averaging 31.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 11.5 assists, 2.8 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 1.6 turnovers, Clay Lee delivered an unremarkable double-double in 34.3 minutes per game.
His field goal percentage was 58.1%, three-point percentage was 46.5%, and free throw percentage was 93.7%.
Just looking at the shooting percentages, Lee was similar to Carlos Boozer, a big man.
The award didn't attract much attention.
Instead, a piece of news set the entire NBA abuzz: the Lakers were expected to complete a trade during the All-Star Weekend!
This news wasn't leaked by Los Angeles sports reporters.
A San Antonio Express-News columnist posted relevant content on Twitter, which was eventually discovered by San Antonio Spurs fans.
On Sunday, the 2nd, the New York Knicks played their last home game for a while.
More than an hour before the game started, Lee took photos with the trophy in advance.
After the reporters at the press conference offered their congratulations, they eagerly began to gossip:
"We have received confirmed news that Kobe Bryant will team up with Tim Duncan. The San Antonio Spurs ultimately failed to re-sign their MVP."
"Lee, if this trade really happens, how would you evaluate Duncan's choice? He left his city!"
Abandoning the "one person, one city" award also requires immense courage.
Lee felt an inexplicable emotion when he heard this news.
This feeling of a "character collapse" was quite interesting to him:
"No one stipulates that a player must end his career in one city. Many times, it's a beautiful wish!"
"I understand Tim's choice. We are all no longer young. Striving for a championship is commendable."
The reporters below started whispering among themselves when they heard such a response, clearly not liking the answer, as "loyalty" is also a kind of honor:
"Lee, why isn't it that Tim Duncan betrayed his city? He failed to fulfill his promise."
The ESPN reporter spoke bluntly.
They have always advocated "one person, one city."
Lee seemed to have thought of something, a smile on his face, and he spoke again in a relaxed tone:
"Loyalty is difficult for some players. You know, to achieve such an accomplishment actually requires absolute strength."
"Tim Duncan will be a free agent next offseason. He can even disregard the San Antonio Spurs."
"What I want to say is, don't let loyalty harm you. I told this to Kevin, and now he has made the right choice. So, I support Duncan. I understand his strength. He is underestimated."
These words were like stirring up a hornet's nest.
The matter of "loyalty" made many people uncomfortable.
A Yahoo Sports reporter asked again in an inexplicable tone:
"Lee, will you leave New York?"
Lee didn't wait for the other party to finish speaking, looking at them with a "fool's" gaze, then interrupted with a teasing tone:
"Don't put me on the same standard as them. I've won nine championships."
"Super teams might have a chance to defeat me, but relying solely on individual ability, they have no chance. As for my next 8 years, I will undoubtedly still be in New York."
"I am loyal to my New York fans. Loyalty for us is a mutual achievement, and I will be proud of it!"
"..."
Many people were left speechless by his two-pronged answer.
The Phoenix reporter who had followed the team to New York secretly curled his lips, clearly understanding that Clay Lee was mocking these "superstar team-ups," but no one could say anything.
When the New York reporters took over, the atmosphere became even more cheerful.
Super teams seemed to be a new source of amusement.
When the press conference ended, a TNT reporter complained:
"This kind of All-Star player team-up will ruin the NBA! Some future games will become completely uninteresting."
Some people had different opinions.
If they didn't team up, there would be no interest at all right now.
Those who enjoyed watching the drama quickly found a reason for "team-ups":
"Tim Duncan is almost 32 years old. We should understand the choice of a veteran."
"..."
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)