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The return of Itachi
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***
On April 28, 2004, as the Timberwolves swept the Utah Jazz to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the NBA began to hype up the MVP award.
Commissioner David Stern recently praised Kevin Garnett's performance in an interview:
"Kevin is a generational athlete, his impact on the game is immense, and it's great to see the Timberwolves' performance this season!"
In previous years, due to that contract, the NBA fined the Timberwolves their draft picks.
After the penalty, the team did not collapse but instead grew stronger with each setback.
Kevin Garnett carried the Timberwolves' box office, attracting a large number of fans with his tough playstyle.
The owner was also willing to spend money and strengthen the team, which led to their Western Conference leading record.
Without an MVP, one cannot be considered a superstar.
After winning the first-round series, the Timberwolves also began to prepare for the upcoming awards ceremony, and the fans were ecstatic!
The New York Times and Los Angeles Times sports sections have recently been subtly critical.
The former believes Kevin Garnett stole Clay Lee's honor, while the latter's column mocked the Timberwolves as being all show and no substance.
Sports media in San Antonio also began to sour, arguing that Tim Duncan should have received the honor.
Having reached the Finals twice, Duncan has only received some All-NBA selections so far, with the MVP always being suppressed by Clay Lee.
This season, the team rebuilt, but the Timberwolves formed a "big three."
Lee led the rebuilding Knicks to the Eastern Conference's top spot that year, but the team was in better shape at the time.
Grant Hill's body was not in peak condition, but he still had experience.
Duncan was unlucky.
Parker and Manu Ginobili were Rookies, and the strengthened players were merely salary cap fillers.
Bruce Bowen was experienced, but he was heavily targeted by the referees this season.
The San Antonio Spurs' record was not bad, but Duncan had bad luck, either being suppressed by the Lakers or facing Lee's heavy blows.
On the afternoon of the 28th, the Knicks resumed normal training, as requested by Coach D'Antoni.
In the words of Mike D'Antoni, 72 wins do not allow for failure, and to create a dynasty, this season cannot be a losing one.
At the Tarrytown Training Center, the Knicks continued their tactical training session in the afternoon, but Amar'e Stoudemire was stopped after practicing for a while, as the Rookie still had some knee issues.
On the practice court, Lee led the bench unit against some of the starters.
Ron Artest was responsible for guarding Lee, and Dikembe Mutombo shouted at this moment:
"Damn it! Ron, don't elbow my junk with your arm!"
Ron Artest squeezed through a screen at the top of the arc, chasing him closely.
The two collided, and Lee immediately stopped abruptly, pulling the ball back with a shoulder fake.
Taking advantage of Ron Artest stopping, Lee quickly twisted his body and accelerated again.
In the left restricted area, the moment Lee shook off his defender, Kurt Thomas immediately came over for help Defense, forced to raise his right arm and follow him around the paint.
Pau Gasol, cutting down to the front of the basket, was also drawn by Lee.
With a slight lapse in attention, Lee, who had broken through to the lower right of the basket, flicked his wrist and delivered a hidden pass.
Dikembe Mutombo caught the ball with his right hand, attempting a scoop layup, but was interfered with by Pau Gasol's long arm, who had reacted again:
"Damn it!"
"Oh!"
The ball bounced off the rim, a beautiful Defense by Pau Gasol, and the atmosphere group on the sidelines cheered.
The bench players were all very enthusiastic.
In the scrimmage, Lee mostly focused on passing, and whoever was better at scoring off passes would get more playing time.
Both sides went back and forth, but for a long time, no points were scored.
Only the assistant coaches shouted loudly, reminding everyone not to play aimlessly.
Until Lee initiated another "V-cut" offense, a pick-and-roll at the three-point line, shaking off his defender.
When he drew Grant Hill's help Defense, Raja Bell, in the left corner, received the pass and immediately shot a three-pointer, which went in!
"Yee!"
Raja Bell excitedly waved his fist and shouted.
The Knicks' scrimmages were even more intense than their first-round games.
Ron Artest scratched his head.
He wasn't very good at dealing with guards who were explosive, fast, and strong.
Currently, he was considered a heavy forward, but he struggled against Lee due to the difference in agility.
Mike D'Antoni clapped his hands, pointed at Tayshaun Prince, and loudly reminded:
"Tayshaun, switch with Ron. You guard Lee. Everyone, pay attention to offensive spacing!"
Tayshaun Prince remained silent.
The coaching staff was worried that Ron Artest might get emotional during games and get into foul trouble.
If that happened, Tayshaun Prince would be responsible for guarding the opponent's core player.
Tayshaun Prince didn't complain about this almost utilitarian arrangement, after all, he was only a second-year Rookie.
Of course, Rookies also have their own thoughts.
Excellent Defense can indeed win the trust of the coaching staff.
The Knicks do not lack scorers.
The daily training session involved Clay Lee constantly pushing everyone.
The big men needed to delay, and the forwards had to rotate for help Defense.
Fortunately, everyone was used to such scenes and worked hard to show their best, trying to become the Head Coach's favorite.
At the end of the afternoon training session, Mike D'Antoni and the coaching staff applauded with smiles, then prepared to return to the office to continue reviewing game footage.
Everyone was in good spirits.
Grant Hill suddenly mentioned an invitation he received:
"The United States Men's National Basketball Team has invited me to play in this year's Olympics, and I plan to officially accept the invitation!"
In 1996, Grant Hill won a gold medal with the United States Team.
Lee didn't expect him to accept the invitation again:
"If I'm not mistaken, Larry Brown is currently the Head Coach of this team. I'm not optimistic about his coaching."
Lee's skepticism made Grant Hill shrug.
He came from Duke University and preferred Coach K to be the Head Coach:
"Everyone is worried about safety issues, and many people have declined the invitation. The team needs veterans, after all, I have international competition experience."
Everyone congratulated him.
If Grant Hill accepted the invitation, he would be the captain of this United States Men's National Basketball Team, which was also a very prestigious matter.
Pau Gasol also praised him, saying with a laugh:
"This time we'll have a chance to play against each other at the Olympics. Spain can beat you guys. In the last Olympics, the United States Team almost lost the game."
In 2000, Houston also made the United States Men's National Basketball Team.
After that Olympics, the United States Men's National Basketball Team's dominance began to decline.
Lee had no intention of accepting the invitation.
Neither the Knicks nor Nike wanted him to play too many games.
Ron Artest, however, wanted to participate in the Olympics but hadn't received an invitation and was too proud to volunteer:
"Why hasn't anyone invited me? I'm actually interested in winning an Olympic gold medal too."
"Ron, go participate in a boxing match!"
"Grant is going to be a hero for the United States Team, that's a good thing!"
"Participating in the Olympics means staying in Athens for a month. What's fun to do there?"
The atmosphere group joined in the teasing, and at the same time, showered Grant Hill with flattery.
Holding the ball, Lee heard the word "hero" and knew that his teammates were likely blinded by media praise.
However, regarding such a personal choice, Lee could only express support, after all, the other party was truly devoted:
"A hero?"
On April 29th, there were two games that day.
The Sacramento Kings and the Nets had already reached match point, and the series basically had no suspense.
That evening, back at his Tarrytown home, Lee rarely watched the Nets game.
Scarlett, possessed by a succubus, recently ignored her mother's advice and secretly stayed with Lee again, even disregarding the New York Media gossip.
The girl was becoming bolder and more adventurous.
As the weather warmed, dressed lightly at home, the girl snacked while snuggling in Lee's arms, gossiping:
"I still remember his news, Kidd abused his girlfriend, that incident caused a huge sensation at the time!"
Scarlett tilted her head back and giggled.
She was not yet an adult then and hadn't unlocked strange knowledge:
"I like your rough..."
The girl wrapped her arms around Lee's neck and began to whisper again.
After her soft hands were held, she kissed him repeatedly.
Lee, leaning back on the sofa, didn't mind the girl nestled in his arms, just casually playing with her. When she laughed freely in his ear, he lowered his head and kissed the "succubus":
"Why did you refuse Woody Allen's invitation? Your mother must have put in a lot of effort to get such an opportunity?"
Rolling her eyes, Scarlett reluctantly propped herself up from Lee's embrace.
Her hands didn't stop moving, she touched his chest again, then whispered in a slightly hoarse voice:
"I think they had bad intentions. I don't want to take off my clothes!"
Having just turned adult, she had already taken off her clothes twice for art films.
The girl sensitively perceived the intentions of the perverts.
Lee observed Scarlett, a mix of pure and mature temperament, and couldn't help but slowly unbutton her clothes, revealing her fair skin, and then put a blindfold on her.
Seeing her breathing become more rapid, Lee couldn't help but say with a chuckle:
"Scarlett, no need to please me. I watched you grow up!"
The girl leaning over didn't stop her actions.
Instead, she hugged Lee tightly, leaned close to his ear, and whispered:
"I know, I just love this life!"
The two quickly whispered and started to get active, Lee embraced her waist, rested his head on her shoulder, and watched the game on TV.
The slipperiness in his arms didn't affect Lee's viewing experience.
The Heat were already on their last legs.
In the Semifinals, he would once again meet an "old friend," Kidd:
"This is the third season!"
On April 30th, commentators began to heatedly discuss last night's game.
The Dallas Mavericks and the Sacramento Kings played another high-scoring, no-Defense game.
118:119, the Kings narrowly defeated their opponent, eliminating the Mavericks 4:1 in the series.
In the final minute of the game, the Kings fell into a scoring drought, with Mike Bibby, Chris Webber, and Christie all missing shots one after another.
However, the Mavericks still couldn't seize the opportunity.
Although Nowitzki scored continuously, he ultimately missed the game-winning jump shot.
In the last two games, both teams' possessions reached 90+, and ultimately, the Mavericks' free-flowing offense was no match for the Kings' Princeton offense.
Combined with Nash's contract situation, various signs indicate that this Mavericks team is about to break up.
On the TNT show, the trio was also discussing this unusual series.
Nash, as a top point guard in the NBA, would naturally be compared to Lee.
Charles Barkley disliked the Mavericks' tactical style and began to criticize after looking at the statistics:
"The difference between Nash and Lee is Defense!"
"In this series, Mike Bibby, who he guarded, averaged 23.6 points, shot 48.3% from the field, 52.2% from three-point range, and 87.0% from the free-throw line."
"Look at these basic stats. Nash was completely unable to limit his opponent. He allowed Bibby to have an extremely efficient performance!"
Kenny Smith was also somewhat disappointed.
Nash only averaged 13.6 points in this series, failing to play at his regular season level, with a field goal percentage of less than 40%, only 38.6%:
"The Mavericks and the Knicks have similar playing styles. Their possessions and average points per game are very close."
"Chuck is right, Defense is the real difference between the two sides. The Mavericks' Defense ranks 28th, allowing opponents to score an average of 100.8 points per game."
"And the Knicks set a historic record for net rating. They are even more dominant than that 72-win Chicago Bulls team!"
"I always thought Nash was better than Kidd at the point guard position. Now I want to retract that opinion. Jason Kidd is the point guard closest to Clay Lee."
Ernie Johnson saw his two partners agreeing and starting to criticize Nash, so he immediately changed the subject and said:
"I, on the other hand, think the Mavericks' offseason trade ruined the team's chemistry!"
"Kidd meets Lee again. Perhaps this time, the Nets can create a miracle."
The director also started playing footage of Kidd attending the press conference after last night's game:
"This is my third time playing against the Knicks, and the whole team has been looking forward to this day."
"We have learned a lot from our previous encounters, and we will not fail again."
"My promise to the Nets fans is still valid. I will help the team win a championship."
When a TNT reporter asked how to defend Lee, Kidd said with a serious expression:
"No one in this NBA can limit Lee, but I can make it difficult for him to score!"
"I am not Paul Pierce, and the Nets will not let opponents score like the Celtics."
"To play in the NBA, you must have the will to win! I am very fortunate that my teammates have always supported me. This year, the Nets will not fail again!"
The camera returned to the studio, Charles Barkley nodded repeatedly, and then criticized Pierce, who avoided interviews:
"The Celtics are the most spiritless team I have ever seen! They seem to be waiting to lose every game."
"Pierce, as a core player, fouled himself out of the game. If he is traded next season, I wouldn't be surprised."
"I am optimistic about the Nets led by Kidd. They are more mature this season!"
Kenny Smith watched his partner praise Kidd to the sky and couldn't help but interrupt and ask:
"Chuck, in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, are you more optimistic about the Nets?"
Charles Barkley immediately changed his expression, instantly becoming a die-hard fan of the Knicks:
"No, the Knicks will make it to the Conference Finals. Hey! Don't forget they won 72 games! Lee won't be limited by Kidd."
"..."
There were no games on May 1st.
The matchups for the Eastern and Western Conference Semifinals had been determined:
Knicks vs. Nets, Pacers vs. Detroit Pistons.
Timberwolves vs. Sacramento Kings, Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs.
Tomorrow night, the Western Conference Semifinals will kick off first, with the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs meeting again, attracting a large number of fans.
The Nets arrived discreetly in Manhattan, and the New York Media paid no attention to them.
Recently, the newspapers have been gossiping about Scarlett's refusal to work with the famous director Woody Allen.
This morning, the New York Times published a photo of Scarlett and Lee shopping and kissing outside Tarrytown.
The news about Lee's "good friend" was more attractive than the Nets.
Kenyon Martin didn't like being ignored.
After checking in that afternoon, he couldn't help but complain to his boss:
"These guys ignored us. I'll make them pay tomorrow night."
Kidd was currently engrossed in the gossip.
Although he also had affairs outside, there was still a difference between cheerleaders and movie stars.
After hearing his subordinate's complaint, Kidd finally looked up and said:
"Being ignored is also a good thing! Listen to my arrangements for tomorrow night's game!"
Richard Jefferson had made great progress this season and was obedient to his boss's words, and the atmosphere group also expressed their support.
Although Lawrence Frank is the Head Coach of the Nets, he is only 33 years old this year, a typical hands-off type.
Whatever Kidd said about how to play the game, the Nets players followed along.
As for the coach, he was only responsible for calling timeouts and giving motivational speeches!
Seeing that the Head Coach didn't have much reaction, Kidd nodded secretly.
This year, no coaching staff would limit him, and he wanted to play the game according to his own wishes:
"I won't keep losing!"
The game that night, to the surprise of the commentators, saw the Lakers' F4 falter.
78:88. After leading by three points after three quarters, the Lakers were hit by a run from the San Antonio Spurs, who took the game directly.
In the fourth quarter, the Lakers' backcourt made continuous turnovers.
By the end of the game, they had 10 turnovers in that quarter alone.
Gary Payton completely fell apart, shooting 1-for-8 for the entire game, finishing with 4 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 turnovers.
Malone shot 3-for-10, tallying a double-double of 10 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 turnovers.
O'Neal's free throws were off, shooting 8-for-14 from the field and 3-for-13 from the free-throw line, finishing with 19 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 blocks, and 4 turnovers.
Only Kobe performed the best, shooting 10-for-26 from the field, 2-for-6 from three-point range, and 9-for-10 from the free-throw line, tallying an all-around stat line of 31 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 4 turnovers.
Although this was just an away game and losing was normal, Phil Jackson still criticized Kobe after the game:
"Some players always want to put themselves above the team. Someone is disrupting the current offensive system!"
Of course, players would not contradict the Head Coach.
Kobe was already used to such remarks and remained confident when interviewed:
"The San Antonio Spurs' perimeter won't bother me. I will continue to shoot. I am confident I can lead the team to win the game!"
No matter what the Head Coach and O'Neal thought, Kobe had one attitude when interviewed:
"I will just shoot!"
Duncan performed exceptionally well. Facing the Lakers' interior, he shot 13-for-18 from the field and 4-for-11 from the free-throw line, tallying 30 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, and 7 turnovers.
Gregg Popovich continued to praise his star player after the game:
"Duncan is the best big man in the NBA. He has consistently maintained MVP-level performance!"
At 7:30 PM on May 2nd, half an hour before the game started, Madison Square Garden was already full.
At the ESPN commentary desk, Michaels seemed a bit unaccustomed to the atmosphere of the arena.
New York fans were still mocking Kevin Garnett, completely disregarding tonight's opponent.
"It seems the fans on site are very unhappy that Clay Lee didn't get the MVP. Otherwise, tonight would have been the moment to witness the awards ceremony."
Hearing his partner's words, Doug Collins immediately quipped:
"If Clay Lee wins another award, some players will most likely feel desperate. Being too good is sometimes a problem. I think Kevin Garnett winning the regular season Most Valuable Player is also a good thing!"
"Next season, more players will challenge for awards, which is also what fans want to see."
Just this morning, the NBA officially announced the winner of this season's MVP:
Kevin Garnett of the Timberwolves won the regular season Most Valuable Player award.
The tough guy, Kevin Garnett, suddenly burst into tears upon hearing the news, his emotions exceptionally agitated.
He still had a speech to give tomorrow morning, and this was absolutely the highlight of his career!
After the home team players entered, the two began gossiping about the news they received, while the fans in the arena continued to express their dissatisfaction.
From the commentators to the audience, everyone overlooked the Nets' feelings until the game began and a conflict erupted in the first possession, which finally drew the fans' attention back.
After a successful tip-off, the Knicks' first offensive play was extremely simple: a pick-and-roll at the left elbow of the free-throw line, with Lee, holding the ball in his left hand, accelerating for a drive.
Before Kenyon Martin could complete his deep drop coverage, Lee quickly delivered a bounce pass.
Kurt Thomas rolled down to receive the ball, intending to go straight for a powerful dunk, but was knocked to the ground by Kenyon Martin, who was chasing him from behind.
Before the referee could react, Kurt Thomas immediately stood up from the floor and rushed towards Kenyon Martin, and the two began shoving each other.
"Whoever wants to dunk, I'll make him lie on the floor!"
After being pulled away by his teammates, Kenyon Martin was still shouting loudly.
Lee chuckled and teasingly reminded him from the side:
"You still have 4 fouls to give. Don't talk as if you never foul!"
"Boo!"
The New York fans also booed.
Everyone was surprised by the Nets' intensity from the start.
Kidd saw that Kurt Thomas had calmed down and immediately clapped his hands, signaling his teammates to focus on Defense.
With an early foul, the Knicks re-inbounded the ball from the baseline.
Clay Lee received the pass on the left wing and immediately put the ball down with his left hand.
"Let's go Knicks!"
The cheers once again echoed through the Madison Square Garden.
Tonight's opponent seemed to be putting up a tough fight, and the New York fans were re-energized.
Ron Artest quickly slipped along the baseline, with only Pau Gasol remaining at the left block.
Seeing Lee protect the ball with his body, Pau Gasol immediately stepped up for a screen.
On the left wing, as Pau Gasol just set his screen, Lee, with the ball in his left hand, suddenly exerted force, slapped away Kidd's arm, and quickly executed a hop dribble.
Kidd reacted quickly, immediately re-applying tight Defense.
As Lee performed a between-the-legs crossover, Kidd immediately lowered his center of gravity and, leaning on Pau Gasol, tried to force his way through.
The moment he switched to his right hand, Lee suddenly pivoted on his left foot, executed a wide spin, evaded the Defense, and immediately accelerated his drive with the ball in his left hand.
Facing the help Defense from the big man Jason Collins, Lee accelerated a second time, lengthening his stride while subtly pushing off the opponent's thigh with his right hand.
Using the momentum, Lee quickly led the ball forward, instantly squeezing past the big man.
Kidd, who was chasing, almost collided with his teammate.
He hadn't expected Collins to suddenly stop.
The two had no time to provide help Defense again.
Lee, after two large strides, took off with his left foot, cupping the ball with his left hand for a quick scoop layup!
"Bang swish!" A high bank shot went in.
Watching Lee lean forward and release the shot instantly, Kidd helplessly stopped, just a little short of completing the double-team.
"Wow!"
Cheers echoed through the Madison Square Garden.
Lee's tough layup was a response.
He was determined to score in the paint.
As Kidd received the ball on the baseline, Lee immediately stepped up to interfere.
Lee aggressively swiped at the ball. Kidd immediately pushed him away with his ball-protecting hand.
The two tangled as they crossed half-court, and the referee made no call.
The officiating tonight was very lenient.
Kidd passed the ball after crossing half-court, bringing Lee to the right wing.
The big man Collins, who received the ball at the right elbow of the free-throw line, turned his body and, as he moved up, handed the ball off to Kittles, who was cutting from the right baseline.
The moment he completed the pass, Collins subtly shifted a small step, perfectly delaying Grant Hill, who was chasing.
While turning his body, the big man also slightly stuck out his behind.
Collins instantly improved the screen quality, and Grant Hill couldn't squeeze through in time.
Pau Gasol also hadn't expected Kittles to shoot with such decisiveness.
After receiving the ball, he barely adjusted, immediately pulling up for a jump shot near the top of the arc!
"Bonk!"
The basketball hit the back rim.
The moment the long rebound popped out, Lee and Kidd started almost simultaneously.
With the advantage of a full body length, Lee arrived near the left block just in time to secure the long rebound.
Kenyon Martin loudly called for his teammates to retreat on Defense.
Since the start of the game tonight, this big man had been full of energy.
Under Kidd's delay, Lee's pace was also not fast.
Using the same tactic, the Knicks still had their two big men set up at the elbow, and Lee changed direction, bringing the ball to the right wing with his right hand.
Before he could initiate the pick-and-roll, Kenyon Martin proactively stepped up, combining with Kidd to double-team Lee.
Kurt Thomas, who received Lee's pass at the elbow, was interfered with by the help Defense from the big man Collins.
Before he could even pass the ball, Kenyon Martin also chased back.
After passing the ball across to Pau Gasol, the Knicks lost their best offensive opportunity.
Grant Hill, in the left corner, accelerated his cut at this moment, coming to the wing position and immediately receiving Pau Gasol's pass.
Feinting to the right, Grant Hill put the ball down with his left hand and immediately drove with a crossover step.
Although Kittles successfully anticipated it, he was still overwhelmed and driven past.
Leaning into the defender, Grant Hill quickly brought the ball behind his back with his left hand while on the move, dribbling two large steps to arrive directly in front of the rim.
After a large hop step, Grant Hill went up against the recovering block attempt by Kenyon Martin.
Grant Hill instinctively dodged, avoiding the Defense, but his bank shot hit the rim and bounced out.
Jumping a second time, he grabbed the rebound.
Kenyon Martin, venting his frustration, let out a roar, which caused the boos from the crowd to grow louder and louder.
On the Knicks' bench, Ewing, wearing his practice uniform, was shouting loudly, reminding everyone to intensify their physical play.
The Nets ran the same play again.
On the right wing, after a handoff, Kittles didn't shake off the Defense.
Grant Hill squeezed through the screen, still driving hard to the basket.
Pau Gasol quickly collapsed to the basket. Kittles leaped into the air directly in front of the rim, colliding with the defender in mid-air.
The moment the referee blew his whistle, Grant Hill from behind delivered a volleyball-like block, swatting the ball away.
Seeing the referee signal a shooting foul on Pau Gasol, the New York fans in the arena became unhappy:
"Boo!"
Kittles, who had fallen to the floor, clenched his fist.
He was pulled up by the Nets' players, and Kenyon Martin even excitedly went over to pat his head in encouragement.
Kittles calmly made both free throws, helping the Nets tie the score.
The game's tone was set from the start. Kidd continuously called for his teammates to pre-rotate and double-team Clay Lee, and Kenyon Martin seemed to be on a high, constantly providing help Defense and rotations in the paint.
After a few possessions, neither team scored.
The big man Collins and Kurt Thomas each picked up one foul.
The Nets attacked again.
Kidd still passed the ball after crossing half-court, bringing Lee to the right wing.
The 'surface brothers' knew Lee had good help Defense awareness, so they operated on both sides from the start tonight, resolutely avoiding the corners, not giving Lee a chance to collapse back into the paint.
Richard Jefferson, cutting from the right baseline, popped out diagonally, and upon reaching the left elbow, immediately completed a handoff with Kenyon Martin.
Still beyond the three-point line, Richard Jefferson received the ball and made a triple-threat move.
Kenyon Martin stepped up for a fake screen and immediately rolled, heading straight for the left near-baseline position.
Feinting left and driving right, Ron Artest couldn't keep up with Richard Jefferson's steps in time, falling half a step behind.
At this point, he could only chase desperately while swiping at the ball.
Shooting with his right hand and accelerating his drive, Richard Jefferson entered the paint in the blink of an eye.
Noticing that Kurt Thomas had already helped defend under the basket, he immediately jumped and flung the ball.
Kenyon Martin, receiving the ball uncontested near the left baseline, shot another air ball.
"Oh!"
The cheers in the Madison Square Garden made Kidd's eye twitch slightly.
They were clearly good opportunities.
Kurt Thomas smoothly secured the defensive rebound, hugged the ball, and wasn't in a hurry to attack.
He only passed the ball when Lee came up to receive it.
"Let's go Knicks!"
Having not scored for over three minutes since the start of the game, the New York fans in the arena couldn't help but raise their voices, and the cheers once again echoed through the Madison Square Garden.
Upon receiving the ball in the backcourt, Lee gave Kurt Thomas a look, then quickly signaled a play with his hands.
Pau Gasol quickly moved to the left near-baseline position, no longer coming high.
Ron Artest and Grant Hill remained on the left and right wings, respectively.
Kidd, leading the Defense, glanced at the movement behind him after crossing half-court and quickly shouted a warning to Kenyon Martin.
Kurt Thomas had already set up early after crossing half-court, still some distance from the three-point line.
Lee, with the ball in his right hand, accelerated across half-court, suddenly stopped short near the screen, and quickly dribbled behind his back.
The moment he switched to his left hand, Lee performed a small In-and-out, and the body fake instantly froze Kidd.
Completing a between-the-legs crossover instantly, Lee switched to his right hand, immediately dropped his shoulder, and accelerated, staying close to his teammate's body, completely shaking off Kidd's entanglement.
Kenyon Martin, who had been warned, was faked out by Lee and didn't know which direction to slide.
Seeing Kidd out of position, he quickly slid to the left, attempting to screen, but it was already too late.
As Kenyon Martin just started to move forward, Lee smoothly completed a push-dribble crossover, changing his center of gravity while easily driving past the opponent's side.
Kenyon Martin didn't rashly reach out to grab him again, simply watching Clay Lee rush into the paint.
The big man, Collins, instinctively helped on Defense to the basket, jumping up to block.
Directly in front of the rim, Lee jumped with both feet, soaring high, ignoring the block in front of him, crashing through the Defense in mid-air, looking down from above, gripping the ball with his right hand, and slamming it down with a powerful arm swing!
"Squeak!"
"Boom!"
As the referee's whistle blew, the rim resounded, and Lee successfully broke through for a dunk.
After landing, he stumbled, and the big man, Collins, stared wide-eyed, watching Lee roar repeatedly at the camera.
Fans in the front row sitting behind the basket stood up, cheering happily, and at the commentary table, Michaels also shouted repeatedly:
"OMG! How did he do it!"
The arena's big screen was still replaying Lee's basket, and seeing his head already above the rim, many fans burst into another round of exclamations.
"Incredible talent, Clay Lee has changed so much since entering the NBA!"
"Look at his body now, as strong as a forward, Clay Lee must have put in tremendous effort for this!"
"There's no luck in a superstar's success. It's filled with countless sweat behind the scenes."
Doug Collins suddenly entered 'fanboy' mode, and while Lee was shooting free throws, he also shared a short story about how Michael Jordan also trained hard when he coached him back in the day.
Kidd made a gesture to the bench, and Frank, receiving the signal, immediately called Rodney Rogers to enter the game, replacing the big man Collins, who had two fouls.
The Nets' lineup at this point became one big and four small players, with 7 minutes and 31 seconds left in the 1st quarter, Kenyon Martin moved to the 5 position.
After making the free throw, Lee stayed at the free-throw line, continuing to lead the Defense, and also reminded Kidd:
"Your small lineup will lose the game very soon."
"You're not God, how would you know the outcome!"
Kidd, who had just received the ball at the baseline, immediately frowned and retorted, as this was the countermeasure he had thought of.
The two whispered in the backcourt, and as Lee retreated to the half-court line, he noticed Rogers, who had just entered the game, attempting to set a screen, and immediately waved to Kurt Thomas behind him, signaling for a defensive collapse.
Just as Lee expected, Rogers went up for a fake screen, then immediately split off, quickly moving to the left wing, and Kidd found his teammate with a stylish behind-the-back pass.
Noticing that Kurt Thomas only symbolically raised his hand to interfere, on the left wing, Rogers adjusted slightly and quickly shot a jump shot!
"Bang!"
The long rebound bounced out, and near the free-throw line, Lee again secured the rebound ahead of Kidd.
The Knicks' offense also became simple.
After Lee brought the ball across half-court, Gasol instinctively demanded the ball with his back to the basket in the left low post.
Kenyon Martin was denying him from behind, but Lee's pass was incredibly fast, the ball flying perfectly over Gasol's head.
The latter received the ball, smoothly brought it down with his right hand, made two strong post-up moves, and as he approached the paint, he quickly turned towards the baseline, and the coalescing Gasol paused slightly, faking a shot with the ball raised.
Kenyon Martin almost lost control and lunged to defend, but he managed to control his center of gravity, while Gasol used this time difference to easily score with a right-handed floater!
In the following few possessions, Kidd finally realized that Gasol's low-post offense was also quite effective, and Kenyon Martin was struggling on Defense.
On the offensive end, Rogers, who had entered the game, did not utilize his advantage as a forward who can drive and shoot.
His open three-pointer missed, and his step-back two-pointer after a drive also missed.
Kenyon Martin did hit a mid-range jump shot from the left baseline, but a +2 couldn't alleviate the team's scoring drought.
Ron Artest stole the ball from Richard Jefferson and converted it into a fast break, and after that, to prevent the Knicks from getting on a run, Kidd also committed a foul on Lee.
Frank on the sideline, seeing the Knicks' steady increase in points, became a bit anxious and turned to look at the bench, but ultimately didn't substitute Aaron Williams.
Mike D'Antoni stood with his arms crossed, happily watching the situation on the court.
On the Knicks' offense, after Gasol received the ball in the left block with his back to the basket, Lee, on the high post, first feigned a cut along the baseline, then suddenly moved horizontally and cut back.
The moment Kidd was shaken off, Gasol threw a horizontal pass, and the ball flew precisely into the hands of Lee, who was cutting through the middle.
Kidd, who was stuck behind him, could only watch as Lee leaned against him and scored a layup directly in front of the rim!
4:15, the difference reached double digits, and Madison Square Garden erupted again.
"Wow!"
Amidst the cheers of the New York fans, Kidd helplessly signaled for a timeout.
This deficit was very dangerous.
Gasol, who had scored 6 consecutive points, celebrated with Lee as he walked towards the bench, then repeatedly pumped his fists, looking exceptionally excited.
During the timeout, Kidd pulled his teammates together for constant communication, with Frank adding his input from behind.
Seeing this situation, Doug Collins on the commentary table could only tactfully comment:
"Bringing in Rogers wasn't a very good choice."
"When facing the Heat's interior, the opponent might not be able to punish their small lineup, but the Knicks are different. Gasol has played exceptionally well this season."
"Kurt Thomas's rebounding is also guaranteed, Kidd should take over the offense now."
Although Michaels' main profession was NFL, he had also commentated on many games this season, and Kidd's offense seemed unreliable:
"We've seen another way the Knicks play. Even against tough Defense, they can respond."
After the timeout, Kidd did not take over the offense.
Instead, Kittles made consecutive difficult three-pointers.
The game tempo suddenly accelerated, and on the Knicks' side, Grant Hill also responded with several drives to the basket.
After scoring 8 consecutive points, Kittles' fading three-pointer from the right wing missed again.
As Gasol secured the rebound and powerfully threw the ball, the Knicks launched another fast break.
Kidd didn't want to commit a foul, so he could only subtly pull, but Lee rushed faster and faster, approaching the right wing, and didn't slow down after controlling the ball.
Kidd applied pressure from the side, and Lee, driving straight to the basket, executed a quick spin move in the restricted area.
Shaking off Kidd's Defense, noticing Kenyon Martin jumping high under the basket to recover, Lee drifted to the back left, increased the arc, and completed a floater with his left hand!
Seeing the ball just clear Kenyon Martin's fingertips and fall into the basket, the arena once again erupted in cheers:
"Wow!"
Kenyon Martin turned to look at the rim after landing, then slammed the ball fiercely, looking at Kidd with a helpless expression.
The two exchanged glances, and Kidd cursed under his breath:
"Shit! That went in too?"
12:25, as the first quarter was about to end, Kidd and Lee both accelerated the pace of the game, both missing a shot, and then Kenyon Martin was knocked to the ground by Kurt Thomas.
Kidd immediately pulled Kenyon Martin away.
Being down by double digits, it was their turn to remain calm.
Calming himself, Kenyon Martin angrily made both free throws.
As the Nets relaxed slightly, Lee, who received the ball at the baseline, suddenly accelerated, shaking off Kidd, approaching mid-court, and at the last second, hit a pull-up jumper at the buzzer!
Watching the ball fly towards the half-court basket, the Nets players instinctively opened their mouths wide, and the New York fans present, realizing the "trajectory" was true, immediately cheered in unison:
"Wow!"
Lee stood at the center circle, turning early and raising both hands in pre-celebration.
The light came on, the ball went in, and Kidd punched in frustration, feeling increasingly absurd.
14:28, a double-digit lead, which again made Coach D'Antoni on the sideline smile from ear to ear.
He had witnessed a perfect quarter!
Kidd and Lee played the entire first quarter, guarding each other throughout.
Kidd was 0-for-1, with 0 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 turnover.
Lee was 4-for-5, 1-for-2 from three-point range, 3-for-3 from the free-throw line, with 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal.
At Madison Square Garden, fans holding "True MVP" whiteboards jumped and cheered, constantly shouting Lee's name.
The double-digit lead put the fans into a state of self-indulgence.
Doug Collins, feeling the atmosphere from the commentary table, glanced at the statistics and couldn't help but gush:
"The Nets showed excellent Defense, but Kidd should refine his shooting more."
"Among active players, no one comes close to Clay Lee. I believe he is the greatest point guard in history!"
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)