On Saturday, December 15th, Tim Duncan, who was caught in trade rumors, once again became a hot topic among fans.
It wasn't that Duncan made any statements after the game that night, but rather that the San Antonio Spurs' opponent openly mocked him, and a defeated Allen Iverson angrily denounced the 'honest man' after the game!
With a score of 90:98, the San Antonio Spurs won, and after defeating their opponent at home, their record reached 18 wins and 5 losses!
In synchronous games, the Dallas Mavericks easily defeated the Houston Rockets.
The former's record reached 16 wins and 9 losses, while the latter's record declined to 12 wins and 12 losses.
The Western Conference competition is fierce, with the Phoenix Suns and Hornets, both at 15 wins and 9 losses, having already surpassed the Houston Rockets and moved into the top half.
After the Lakers were overturned by the Warriors on Saturday, their record fell to 12 wins and 10 losses.
Kobe Bryant shot 6-for-23, scoring 21 points, and was ridiculed by various critics for two days after leading his team to a loss.
In contrast, the Denver Nuggets' record was still decent at 13 wins and 9 losses, and even after losing this game, they were still ahead of the Lakers.
However, Allen Iverson seemed to have a bit of a breakdown and openly criticized after the game:
"Age is never an excuse for pursuing a championship. I'm not sure what's going on in the league right now?"
"Someone wants to leave the best team in the Western Conference, a situation I find hard to understand! If I had those excellent All-Star teammates, perhaps I would have succeeded in Philadelphia."
With the character "Loyalty" tattooed on his neck, Allen Iverson, dressed in a loose black suit, spoke rhythmically, giving no chance to the reporters below.
He quickly spread his hands and added:
"I will never respect such behavior. This is a betrayal!"
"New York, Los Angeles, perhaps these are good choices for players. They are big cities with larger markets, but players shouldn't do this. You represent the city behind you."
"I will give my all for Denver, but I will always be a 76ers kid. They drafted me, I won the scoring title there, and a part of my soul will forever remain in Philadelphia."
He almost carved the words "loyalty" on his forehead.
Although his strength was not enough, Allen Iverson's statement was indeed very attractive to fans.
The "One Person, One City Award" is timeless!
Of course, this statement wasn't just to show his attitude.
All-Star voting had already begun, and Allen Iverson was still working hard for a starting spot.
He wanted to prove himself again.
When this topic came up, Carmelo Anthony couldn't interject.
Among the 2003 Rookies, although he won the Best Rookie award, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade had already reached the Conference Finals.
Only his team had a mediocre record, stopping at the first round of the playoffs.
Plus, the discussion was about Duncan, who had led his team to four Finals, so Carmelo Anthony could only watch his idol speak.
No sports reporter in San Antonio refuted him.
In fact, many people felt the same way.
Although Duncan could terminate his contract early, fans hoped he would stay.
Many fans even expressed confusion, asking why the team's Western Conference leading record couldn't keep their star player.
Could going to Los Angeles guarantee a championship?
When Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, who were sidelined due to injuries, appeared at the press conference later, an ESPN reporter took the lead in asking:
"Congratulations to the San Antonio Spurs on winning this game. We want to know if you've discussed the trade issue with Tim Duncan? Will there be any changes to the team's roster before the All-Star Weekend?"
Parker, in a dark gray suit, gestured with his fingers.
Upon hearing the question, he instinctively turned to look at his partner beside him, realizing the Argentinian was also looking at him, and for a moment, he was speechless.
"I think the team's record is very good right now, so we rarely discuss this issue!"
"Many times, everyone just focuses on basketball. Bruce is a great example. We play together and just want to put on exciting games for the fans."
Parker, speaking diplomatically, did not directly answer the question, but the reporters knew that the Frenchman clearly knew something.
His complete avoidance of mentioning Duncan was a clear signal.
Manu Ginobili hadn't been in a good mood for the past month either.
Duncan had become increasingly taciturn, which he could understand, but he truly hadn't considered a trade.
If possible, he also didn't want Duncan to leave the team.
The trio could be said to be at their peak, and Manu Ginobili felt they had a chance to win a championship.
"We just want to catch up with the teams ahead of us as soon as possible. Everyone was ready after the new season started. Now the team needs to secure home-court advantage in the playoffs."
Manu Ginobili, with a slight frown, suddenly felt disheartened after saying this.
It was too difficult.
The two Eastern Conference teams had still only lost one game so far.
With December already past the halfway mark, the end of the Christmas War meant that more than a third of the season schedule was over.
To catch up, they not only needed to push hard in the latter half but also had to pray for their opponents to falter.
The Argentinian's remarks dampened the spirits of the San Antonio reporters.
Year after year, just as the San Antonio Spurs could always fill their salary cap, they remained unchanged.
Parker and Manu Ginobili also didn't respond to Allen Iverson.
For them, often it was just laziness to change environments, after all, the NBA wasn't the only thing, it was just a job here.
Ultimately, the press conference ended hastily.
When Gregg Popovich was interviewed in the tunnel, the old man looked very haggard.
Being first in the Western Conference couldn't make him happy.
His star player was truly leaving.
Reporters from the San Antonio Express-News were actually very dissatisfied with the old man in front of them.
Some fans believed that it was precisely because of Gregg Popovich's poor coaching that the team missed out on a championship.
In fact, for the past half-month, there was another theory: tim6Duncan was preparing to go to Los Angeles because of the recruitment of Champion Coach Phil Jackson.
If the San Antonio Spurs had changed coaches earlier, they might have already won a championship!
"I know what you want to ask. The news in the newspapers is not true."
"The team is currently first in the Western Conference. We have shown excellent game form since the start of the new season. Tim is very happy with the San Antonio Spurs. He loves the fans here. This is his city."
Gregg Popovich was speaking nonsense with his eyes open.
Tonight, Duncan shot 4-for-11, scoring only 8 points, clearly affected.
Many reporters also noticed that the star player went to the parking lot alone again today.
Although the San Antonio Spurs were still winning, internal problems had already surfaced, and Duncan's departure seemed to be counting down.
"Greg, everyone supports you, but now fans and we alike, we don't see any hope for a championship!"
"Before the trade deadline, does the team have any plans for reinforcement? Has the team developed new tactics? We can't be like before, being humiliated after reaching the Finals again."
Hearing his old friend's words, Gregg Popovich instinctively opened his mouth, intending to offer some encouraging words, but for a moment, he couldn't speak.
They had lost four times, and the shameful record in the Finals was created by the San Antonio Spurs.
The continuous crushing defeats in the Finals kept lowering Tim Duncan's historical standing.
Even players on vacation mocked him.
Gregg Popovich was aware of this situation, but he was powerless to change it.
"..."
Without saying anything more, his old friend patted Gregg Popovich on the shoulder.
Everyone understood why Duncan would choose to leave.
He needed a change, after all, there wasn't much time left for the 32-year-old veteran to win a championship.
Regardless of how the outside world reported it, Duncan gave no direct response.
After the win, he greeted the team staff and quietly went to the parking lot alone to sit in his Toyota.
The car's interior lights came on, and traces of being flipped through could be seen on the newspaper placed on the passenger seat.
"Chicago's Victory" was the headline of yesterday's sports section.
The New York Knicks' road loss had attracted everyone's attention.
A large portion of the newspaper's content praised the Chicago Bulls' core guard, Kirk Hinrich.
After Lee missed the game due to family matters, Rajon Rondo was completely suppressed by the opponent on both ends of the court.
Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich's three-pointers made the United Center erupt.
Even San Antonio's critics called this game the "Chicago Bulls' best victory of 2007."
As an old opponent, Duncan clearly realized that the New York Knicks were not that impregnable.
When he faced the Phoenix Suns, his winning percentage was extremely high, and the tactical systems of the two teams were almost identical.
After so many years of analysis, the corresponding tactical routines had been dissected many times, and Mike D'Antoni would find it difficult to come up with another system.
But basketball games sometimes defy logic.
When an opponent unleashes their strongest tactics, no one in the league can respond.
Duncan looked down at the newspaper again, noticed he still had text messages on his phone, but didn't respond.
After flipping through it again, he started the car, once again resolving:
"No matter where I go, I'll be the core!"
On sunday, the 16th, Lee was still busy with family matters at Peninsula Manor that evening.
With Christmas approaching, everyone was going to celebrate the holiday together this time.
The quiet and spacious outdoor environment allowed the usually shy girls to relax.
Although he had accumulated years of knowledge, Lee always managed to unlock more variations.
Tonight's protagonist was Krysten Ritter.
After becoming a mother, the black-haired girl's figure had become much fuller, completely losing her youthful appearance.
Close to midnight, the birthday girl, caught in a pincer attack, finally collapsed.
Every year's birthday night was an unforgettable one.
Like the succubus who never took precautions, Krysten Ritter didn't mind having another child, but Lee took pity on her, and in the end, it was the mischievously smiling Melinda who bore the brunt of it all.
The fire in the fireplace and the dim lighting cast an ambiguous glow over the room.
When Lee left the big bed and embraced Kim again, who had returned with a wine glass, she shyly pinched him.
Lee couldn't get enough of her meticulously maintained fair skin.
He took the red wine she offered and praised softly:
"You've worked hard! If we can just stall for a bit longer, we won't have to worry about that prosecutor anymore!"
Her skin began to flush.
Kim, after taking a sip of wine, instinctively twisted her body.
When she was led to the bedside and saw the scene before her, her breathing suddenly became rapid:
"Preventing investors from withdrawing funds will lead to more and more attacks. Let Bobby and the others figure something out. At least they need to unify their statements."
Melinda chuckled lazily, no longer toying with the young woman beside her.
She straightened her ample chest, intertwined herself with the two, and looked at Kim with her big eyes, feigning innocence as she said:
"The agreements are all in our hands. I don't mind continuing to work in court, dear. She's trying to distract you."
She blew a breath into Kim's ear, watching her face redden further.
Melinda then bumped into her, leaning behind Lee and chuckling.
Overtime quickly began again.
Lee, who had been busy arranging Christmas these past few days, decided to work extra hard tonight.
The little one had already started calling "Daddy," and now the family needed a few daughters.
"I have to work tomorrow, God! Aren't you tired!"
"..."
On Monday, the 17th, after the Cavaliers arrived in New York, the New York Times and the Daily News were still gossiping about Scarlett's second child.
It was thought that the young woman would further her acting career after winning an award, but instead, news about her family emerged.
Lee was about to turn 30. He now had 6 sons, and would welcome his 7th child next year.
One born each year, they were almost enough to form a soccer team.
The Succubus not only posted photos on Facebook but also shared her feelings about becoming a mother again on the newly emerging Twitter.
Not long ago, Scarlett even invited her 'plastic' sisters to her home on 82nd Street.
Even Rachel generously attended. The dramatic scene that the gossip-hungry public anticipated didn't occur.
In short, the gathering ended successfully.
Regardless of how the media reported, most of the women who had interacted with Lee never had conflicts.
In fact, they remained good friends.
Jennifer Connelly's eldest son, Kai, was even photographed with Lee.
Although the Hollywood star was already married, the two still maintained contact.
Rumor has it that Axe Capital had been managing assets for some Hollywood stars in earlier years, and it now appears this information is undoubtedly true.
Jeff Van Gundy, back in New York, was not in the mood for such gossip.
The team's performance was fluctuating, and locker room conflicts had erupted, with Larry Hughes publicly expressing his dissatisfaction after the game!
Back then, Van Gundy advocated for trading the steal king and even gave him a decent contract.
As LeBron James's influence grew, the underperforming Larry Hughes became a bargaining chip in their indirect conversations.
What saddened Van Gundy was that the team seemed to side with James.
Although he had just signed a contract, he couldn't control this trade, and the steal king was destined to be cleaned out.
At 11:50 AM, the Cavaliers completed a simple warm-up.
In the empty Madison Square Garden, a large number of reporters gathered courtside.
Sports media from Boston also followed, as a direct confrontation was scheduled for the end of the month.
The two sides were now competing from afar, and they didn't mind fanning the flames and provoking the arrogant New Yorkers:
"Jeff, we've received information that LeBron James doesn't support your choice. This young leader seems to be questioning the original trade."
The dark circles under Van Gundy's eyes indicated that his situation was indeed not good.
Hearing the Boston reporter's question, he instinctively adopted the demeanor of a Champion Coach, frowning and responding simply:
"Larry is just experiencing a dip in form. We trust him very much. He is our core perimeter Defense."
"I'm not sure where these rumors are coming from. The Cavaliers are very united, and we are catching up to the two teams ahead of us. Other issues are never on our minds."
"..."
Tom Thibodeau watched his "besieged" partner from the other side, sighing inwardly.
Only then did he realize it was a miracle that the Knicks' locker room hadn't had problems back then.
Rookies and veteran players always have conflicts.
Although Larry Hughes verbally agreed to assist the The Chosen One, after last year's Eastern Conference Finals, conflicts arose between the two.
The steal king believed James was inefficient and couldn't carry the offense, while the The Chosen One complained that the veteran was too inconsistent and couldn't even make open three-pointers.
The two disliked each other, and coupled with Van Gundy's great admiration for Larry Hughes, the conflict eventually escalated to tactics, as someone always had to take the blame for losses.
Realizing that the Knicks' experience back then could not be replicated, Thibodeau became somewhat disheartened.
Years of struggle seemed meaningless.
If he had stayed in New York, perhaps he would have already won big.
Dwight Howard warmed up with a grin, not noticing the assistant coach's expression.
Instead, LeBron James saw Thibodeau's low spirits, seized the opportunity, and went over with the ball to comfort him:
"I have great respect for Coach. He brought me to the Conference Finals, which is an achievement many players can never reach in their lifetime!"
"But sometimes we have to look forward. You know, I want to train hard, and the locker room must have a unified voice. This is just a basketball issue."
"Everyone trusts you. We know that the team's Defense system was built by you. For that, we have nothing but respect!"
The once-naive big boy would only nod, but now he was trying to take control of the team in front of him.
Thibodeau seemed to see a second Clay Lee.
That's how the Knicks cleaned out their veterans back then.
"Train hard, and don't argue with Larry. I don't want to be a laughingstock here!"
Thibodeau patted LeBron James's shoulder.
The latter smiled and saluted, then called his teammates together, and after a shout, ended the training.
At 7:30 PM, in the familiar Madison Square Garden, the New York fans seemed even more enthusiastic, but Van Gundy courtside was almost fuming.
The point forward LeBron James took great care of his veteran teammates.
Facing a Knicks team without Lee, the Cavaliers didn't execute their tactical system.
Instead, they frequently resorted to individual isolation plays.
Rajon Rondo, who entered the starting lineup, played desperate Defense on the court, treating the regular season like the Finals.
He simply relied on his momentum to suppress Gibson on the opposing side.
Although the offense lacked fluidity, they frequently found reasonable opportunities. Relying on Pau Gasol's offense and Raja Bell's Defense, the Cavaliers still trailed after the first quarter.
At 11:30 PM, the score difference wasn't large, but during the break, Van Gundy was almost jumping with rage.
This was completely different from the game plan he had set before the game:
"We must speed up our offensive pace, attack the rim aggressively, and not wait for the opponent to establish their defensive positions!"
"..."
This should have been LeBron James's job, but he seemed to have lost his offensive desire tonight, frequently passing from the top of the arc against the returning Ron Artest.
Larry Hughes pursed his lips, glaring angrily at the floor.
He knew the young player was doing it on purpose, expressing his dissatisfaction with him being in the starting lineup.
When the coach got angry, LeBron James immediately nodded.
In the subsequent game, Larry Hughes again didn't get the ball.
Dwight Howard, relying on his stronger body, blew the horn for a comeback in the paint.
Ultimately, the game remained deadlocked until the 4th quarter, with the score difference fluctuating within 6 points.
In the final moments, Coach DAntoni simply had Gadzuric commit fouls, and Dwight Howard's free throws also fell flat.
Despite LeBron James's excellent performance, the Knicks still had the last laugh, thanks to Pau Gasol and Chandler's steady free throws in the final moments.
93:99. When the game ended, Madison Square Garden erupted in cheers.
Rajon Rondo was so excited that he repeatedly punched the air, dishing out 12 assists in a single game, his best performance of the season.
The excellent rotation lineup helped the Knicks, and Mike D'Antoni breathed a sigh of relief.
If they lost without their star player, his Champion Coach status would surely plummet.
Adjusting the red scarf on his chest, Mike D'Antoni smiled brightly as he approached the scorer's table.
After shaking hands with Van Gundy, he couldn't help but exclaim:
"Thankfully, Lee will be back next game. I prefer to leave the game to the players, Jeff, only you in the league can understand this feeling!"
Recalling his 'AFK' career, Van Gundy was initially annoyed, but then a feeling of nostalgia involuntarily welled up within him.
LeBron James hadn't been able to carry his dream.
"You guys played better tonight!"
He said dryly, forcing a smile, then immediately turned and left.
Noticing Larry Hughes looking at him near the player tunnel, he felt a pang of guilt.
"There's not much time left for the veterans."
....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)