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Dragon Emperor in Pokemon World.
The return of Itachi
I am Sasuke. Why should I defect from Konoha.
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***
On Thursday, November 24, 2005, Thanksgiving Day, the NBA scheduled two games:
Cavaliers vs. Pacers, and Seattle SuperSonics vs. Lakers.
Since the start of the new season, the Cavaliers had shown excellent form.
Before this, they had a record of 9 wins and 2 losses, ranking third in the Eastern Conference, behind the Detroit Pistons and the Knicks.
This season, the Cavaliers did not need to pay a luxury tax.
Under the rookie bonus, the steals leader, Larry Hughes, was the only player on the team earning over ten million dollars.
With the help of scientific advancements, Dwight Howard's physique had clearly become much stronger, and with referees enforcing the new rules, LeBron James's statistics were even more impressive.
Cleveland fans sang praises for Jeff Van Gundy.
This new season, they were aiming for the championship!
Unlike the unfortunate Heat, the Cavaliers' core players were younger and in excellent physical condition.
Upon arriving in Indianapolis, Van Gundy praised the growth of the rookies in an interview, giving high affirmation to LeBron James's performance:
"No one desires victory more than us!"
"The semifinals are not our end goal. Just look at the strong bodies of LeBron and Dwight Howard, and you'll know how hard they worked in the offseason."
"Now I am absolutely certain that the Cavaliers will achieve success!"
Considering that Cleveland sports had not won a championship for many years, most reporters agreed with the Champion Coach, believing the Cavaliers should be the most eager for victory in the league.
Unlike optimists like Dwight Howard, LeBron James wished he could win the championship on the spot!
The Goodwin Brothers had told him more than once about the nature of this league—winner takes all.
If he could enjoy the rookie bonus, his future would be smooth sailing.
The Timberwolves seemed inclined to trade Kevin Garnett, and the Cavaliers responded actively, proposing a trade centered around Drew Gooden and others.
Although General Manager McHale flatly denied the trade rumors, many believed it was a tactic to drive up his price.
In an interview with ESPN before the game, LeBron James did not deny wanting to play with Kevin Garnett, actively expressing his attitude:
"Kevin Garnett is an MVP, and he is full of energy on the court!"
"No one would refuse such a teammate."
As a rising star highly promoted by the league, LeBron James did not contradict David Stern, and he wore formal attire even when flying to away games.
Unlike LeBron James, who answered questions seriously, when asked about a potential trade, Dwight Howard casually and jokingly said:
"I don't know. Maybe Kevin Garnett won't choose to leave the Timberwolves. I remember he made a commitment."
"…"
The speaker was unintentional, but the listeners were attentive.
A group of sports reporters felt that Dwight Howard was mocking the past-his-prime MVP.
Even if it was true, you shouldn't say it out loud!
In the game at 8 PM that night, LeBron James performed poorly against rookie Danny Granger, making only 1 of 5 shots in the first quarter.
After digging an early hole, the final score was 86:98, and the Cavaliers failed to continue their winning streak.
Stephen Jackson performed excellently in this game, making 6 of 11 shots, 2 of 3 from beyond the arc, and efficiently scoring 14 points.
At the post-game press conference, when asked which team had the best chance to win the championship this season, Stephen Jackson answered without hesitation:
"Of course, it's the Knicks. Their roster depth is outstanding. Although they spent a lot of money, the players deserve it."
"In some games, Clay Lee doesn't need to exert himself too much. He just needs to save his energy for the playoffs."
Before Thanksgiving, Lee missed a game to take care of the girls.
The Knicks narrowly defeated the Bobcats on the road, 112:108.
In that game, except for Derek Fisher, who played over 38 minutes, everyone else played less than 33 minutes.
Even Glen Rice performed bravely, and the Knicks' bench left a deep impression on various teams.
LeBron James played 40 minutes and recorded an all-around stat line of 19 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals, 1 block, and 6 turnovers, shooting 6 of 20 from the field, 0 of 5 from three-point range, and 7 of 11 from the free-throw line.
Facing the same question, LeBron James gave the same answer but then added a sarcastic remark:
"Winning games without a core player, perhaps only the Knicks in the league can do that."
On Thanksgiving night, Axe Capital booked out Daniel, a French restaurant at 60 65th Street on the Upper East Side.
The hurricane caused natural gas prices to rise, and for nearly three months, profits reached new highs, with assets under management exceeding $11 billion.
After Enron's collapse in 2001, Axe Capital attracted many energy traders from them.
"Cooperating" with the strategy formulated by their next-door neighbor, they completely won big this time.
This French restaurant, which opened in Manhattan in '99, is known for its exquisite elegance.
The main dining room, from the table settings to the lighting, is very particular, but at this moment, everyone was drinking and swaying.
A young white man with severe dark circles under his eyes had even tossed his shirt aside, shouting along with everyone, venting his excitement.
A total of 150 people attended tonight, most of whom were old employees.
The 9/11 victims' families were also present.
Everyone was very happy.
This was the company's first victory since being warned by Spitzer.
Around 9 PM, in the restaurant's lounge, Bobby, dressed only in a dark blue shirt and suit pants, his face flushed, looked at several mothers who had brought their children to the dinner and raised his glass, saying loudly:
"We have gone through the most difficult period, crisis, family!"
"Until they graduate from college, I will be responsible for their children's expenses. They will go to Yale, to Harvard, to Princeton!"
"Our lives will get better and better, I should have…"
At this moment, Lee stood up, put his arm around Bobby, whose eyes were slightly red, and raised his glass, reaffirming to the families of the partners:
"Not just college, until they start new families, we will provide support!"
"This is the meaning of family. No one can stop our yearning for a better life."
The mothers all teared up.
They had previously worried that the company would never recover.
In the past two years, many hedge funds in Greenwich had underperformed.
This turnaround was a reassurance for everyone.
While everyone was raising their glasses, Lee pulled the inebriated Bobby over to Old Mike, who was wearing glasses and engrossed in reading "The Law of Victory":
"You shouldn't show your weakness to them. In fact, they are living better than most Americans."
Hearing Lee's whisper, Bobby, who was slumped in his seat, holding his forehead, sobered up a bit.
During the previous "carnival," a pretty girl had messed up his hair into a bird's nest.
Bobby scratched it twice, trying to hide his embarrassment:
"I just remembered what happened back then. You know, sometimes I feel guilty because I wasn't in that building at the time."
Old Mike shook his head when he heard this.
It was also Bobby who shorted airline companies by using the building collapse.
Money makes people "kind."
"Just consider this God's will. Helping the children with their education is indeed a good idea."
Lee had also drunk a lot, but he was in better physical condition, his face unchanged.
He whispered a word of comfort, and soon embraced each family member, chatting about parenting experiences.
When Melinda arrived in the lounge with Scarlett, the young mother, who had just had a child, pouted.
She also wanted to join the fun; it had been a long time since she had had a drink.
Both were wearing red dresses.
As the staff brought over some refreshments, Melinda, her face flushed, whispered:
"There are reporters outside the restaurant."
The Wall Street Journal would certainly not miss such an opportunity.
Lee was prepared for this.
He put his arm around Scarlett, who was dressed up and still pouting, leaned down, and whispered:
"We'll deal with those annoying reporters in a bit."
The sparkling, exquisite diamond necklace around Scarlett's neck was her birthday gift from two days ago.
She looked up, kissed Lee forcefully, and readily agreed:
"Darling, you're so kind!"
"Showing affection" in public was a young girl's favorite thing to do, and for Lee, it was also a good shield.
At 10 PM, the banquet ended. When Lee appeared at the restaurant entrance with Scarlett, they were quickly surrounded by reporters.
Most mainstream media were still focused on gossip:
"How much did the baby weigh, how expensive was the necklace, how much did the birthday party cost, when will she star in her next movie…"
When they returned to their home on 82nd Street, a happy Scarlett was still chattering non-stop.
Kim, who stayed home to take care of the child, wearing pajamas, handed a glass of milk to the tipsy Melinda, and then quietly asked:
"Was the party all right? How's the insurance company doing lately?"
Melinda, curled up on the sofa on the first floor, put the milk aside, smiled, and squeezed into Kim's arms, muttering:
"The hurricane was our opportunity. In short, it far exceeded expectations."
Kim slapped away the wandering little hand on her body, her face flushed.
Seeing Scarlett also coming over, she quickly got up:
"I'm going back to the third floor first!"
Amidst soft laughter, Lee gently kissed the obedient young girl.
Melinda also reached out and held the fair and soft hand, humming softly with a red face, and slurred:
"I only drink fresh ones! Hmm…"
On Friday, the 25th, TNT revealed that Rashard Lewis planned to opt out of his contract in the future, emphasizing that it was a financial decision.
96:108, the Seattle SuperSonics lost to the Lakers last night.
Ray Allen's performance was decent: 19 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 turnovers, shooting 6 of 15 from the field, 3 of 7 from three-point range, and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line.
After losing to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals last season, some commentators mocked Ray Allen's individual ability:
"Bruce Bowen ended Ray Allen, destroying the Seattle SuperSonics' scorer."
"And in the Finals, the Spurs became Clay Lee's prey, and Bowen's Defense seemed like air."
"This is the gap in star power. Ray Allen shouldn't complain about the officiating anymore. The fact is, he isn't capable enough to carry the team."
After McMillan left the Seattle SuperSonics, such sentiments became more common, and no one was optimistic about the team anymore.
After news broke that his partner wanted to leave, Ray Allen, who was interviewed that morning, calmly stated:
"Business is business. I respect Rashard's personal choice. Players should pursue big contracts."
"I'm sure my future is with the Seattle SuperSonics. We made it to the Conference Finals last year, and injuries prevented the team from going further."
"The new season has just begun, and a few games don't say too much."
After the loss, the Seattle SuperSonics' record fell to 5 wins and 7 losses, falling behind early in the season, which was definitely not a good sign.
When Yahoo Sports asked if he would team up with Lee in the future, Ray Allen did not give a definite answer, only reiterating to the fans:
"I've been focused on training during the offseason these past few years. I want to lead the Seattle SuperSonics to a championship."
"Lee is excellent, but I don't like taking shortcuts. I'd rather meet him in the Finals."
"However, the future is uncertain, as I said, business is business. I can only focus on the current game."
The new Head Coach, Bob Weiss, didn't have a strong presence.
Perhaps he knew he was there to take the blame, only emphasizing last night's loss in his interview:
"Our players lack the desire to win. Kobe has taken a lot of shots in consecutive games, which is why the Lakers can win."
"In last night's game, perhaps Kobe was the player who most desired victory. I'm disappointed about that, but we'll adjust."
In the loss to the Chicago Bulls, Kobe took 34 shots.
The Seattle SuperSonics surrendered in just over three quarters, and Kobe still took 26 shots.
After the win, no one criticized Kobe for taking too many shots; commentators began to praise his desire for victory.
On Saturday, November 26th, after two overtimes last night, the Washington Wizards defeated the Detroit Pistons, whose record fell to 9 wins and 2 losses.
The Detroit Pistons lost to the Dallas Mavericks due to a lack of energy on the road, and their home loss to the Washington Wizards was simply due to poor shooting.
In the first overtime, Rasheed Wallace suddenly faltered, and in the second overtime, Chauncey Billups also went cold.
120:114. In regulation time, the Detroit Pistons took 86 shots.
Head Coach Saunders had completely transformed this team.
American commentators were concerned about whether the Knicks could seize the opportunity to widen the gap in wins, while on the other side of the ocean, Chinese fans were more concerned about the Houston Rockets' injuries.
91:81. After an unexpected loss to the Grizzlies, the Houston Rockets' record fell to 3 wins and 10 losses, and an 8-game losing streak led to a lot of criticism for Yao Ming.
Earlier in the month, during a practice, Tracy McGrady collided with Yao Ming, resulting in a back injury that kept him out of most games.
Under these circumstances, with consecutive losses, Yao Ming, as the core player, naturally had to take the blame.
After flying back-to-back to Chicago, Dikembe Mutombo, who had joined the Houston Rockets, proactively spoke up for his teammates:
"Yao is the most hardworking player on the team and the one who desires victory the most."
"Losing isn't one person's responsibility. We didn't do well enough in the details of the game, and Coach Mike Brown will help everyone solve these problems."
A reporter from the Chicago Tribune, looking to stir up trouble, watched Dikembe Mutombo in a red practice uniform and deliberately asked:
"Deke, tell me about Yao's leadership. How is he different from Lee? What's the difference between the Houston Rockets and the Knicks?"
Dikembe Mutombo shrugged.
To such an obvious trap question, he would only give diplomatic answers:
"The two are not in the same position, so there's no comparison."
"You know, as a point guard, Lee can control the game, while Yao is a center, primarily providing screens and Defense."
"Both are excellent leaders. Yao's desire to win is underestimated, and no one on the Houston Rockets blames him."
"…"
That day, the 76ers flew to New York again.
Their first game after Thanksgiving was against their "arch-rivals."
Allen Iverson was in a bad mood, sporting a long face during the afternoon practice.
With a record of 6 wins and 7 losses, the 76ers were doing well, and thanks to the new rules, Allen Iverson's efficiency was also recovering.
However, most sports media weren't interested in them.
Perhaps Allen Iverson would face his 38th loss tonight.
Fans had become numb to seeing such games.
In contrast, Pau Gasol received more attention, delivering near triple-double stats in two consecutive games, which served to refute critics' expectations of him.
As the Knicks finished their warm-up, Pau Gasol began a mutual praise session with reporters:
"More games have actually helped me find a better rhythm!"
"My stats are thanks to my teammates. Lee shared more opportunities to dominate the ball with me, and I'm glad I didn't let that trust down."
In the last game, Hill's free throws helped the team win in the crucial final moments.
When talking about his good form, he naturally had to praise himself:
"Injuries kept me out for the entire season. Being able to regain my physical condition in time is inseparable from the help of Lee and the coaching staff."
"You know, if Lee wanted to score, he could also take 25+ shots in a game like Kobe, but he didn't do that."
"He craves victory but doesn't play for stats. The Knicks have a selfless leader!"
Hill was seriously hyping himself up, and everyone in the atmosphere group felt it made sense.
There were only so many shot attempts, and everyone hoped Lee could be even more selfless to boost their stats.
Lee, who was stretching on the other side of the court, rubbed his nose, feeling as if someone was praising him.
"Lee, one more win, and that'll be your 38th win against Allen Iverson. It's unbelievable that he's been losing all this time."
David Lee, who was picking up the ball, showered him with flattery.
Lee was already immune to such predictions, casually shooting the ball and saying indifferently:
"Actually, Marbury and the others haven't won many times either, but that guy went to the Western Conference for a few years, otherwise he'd definitely empathize with Allen Iverson."
Hearing that there was more than one victim, David Lee chuckled dryly and continued to be the ball boy.
The game officially began at 7:30 PM that evening.
Facing his "arch-rival," Allen Iverson went all out, and every player on the 76ers fought bravely.
After Ron Artest picked up two fouls in the first quarter and left the game early, the game devolved into a back-and-forth struggle.
At halftime, the 76ers led 58:55, a 3-point advantage.
Allen Iverson played 21 minutes, shooting 6-of-16 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line, efficiently tallying 17 points, 2 rebounds, and 7 assists.
During halftime, at the MSG broadcast booth, Walt Frazier also praised Allen Iverson's performance:
"Chris Webber is starting to integrate into the team, and Allen Iverson has become more efficient this year. You can tell he has an immense desire for victory, showing excellent performance on both ends of the court."
Mike Breen felt that such a scene seemed familiar and, without joining the hype, commented subtly:
"Ron Artest will get more playing time in the third quarter, and our Defense intensity will increase accordingly. We hope the 76ers can hold on."
"Defense!"
As the third quarter began, cheers for Defense erupted.
Clay Lee received the ball on the baseline, facing Allen Iverson's on-ball Defense, dribbled twice behind his back while moving, and quickly crossed half-court.
Allen Iverson's excellent performance in the first half made him even more aggressive, taking on the Defensive responsibility proactively.
Since Kurt Thomas twisted his ankle in the second quarter when he stepped on Chris Webber's foot, Mike D'Antoni moved Boris Diaw to the power forward position in the second half.
The continuous experiments over several games had some effect.
Seeing Lee move to the right wing, Boris Diaw immediately started from the right baseline, attempting an on-ball cross-screen.
Chris Webber, relying on his rich experience, judged it to be a fake screen and didn't follow haphazardly, staying on the low block with his eyes on Lee's movements.
Moving horizontally directly to the top of the arc, Boris Diaw created space.
Lee, moving horizontally, slowed his pace, leaned into the trailing Allen Iverson, and then accelerated a second time.
Noticing Lee leaning in and accelerating, Chris Webber, near the elbow, immediately slid over to help defend, attempting to cooperate with his teammate to block him.
Before the two could reach the restricted area to complete the double-team, Lee, who had gained half a step, suddenly executed a spin move.
Even a correct Defensive read had no effect.
In the blink of an eye, Lee had passed between the two, entered the paint, and scooped the ball with his left hand for a layup!
"Swish!" Dalembert under the basket watched the ball go in.
The 76ers quickly inbounded the ball, and Allen Iverson took it and charged.
Upon reaching the top of the arc, Dalembert immediately stepped up to screen.
As Lee squeezed past, Allen Iverson, with the ball in his right hand, had already begun to accelerate, driving straight to the basket against the switching Pau Gasol.
No one reached out to interfere, and Allen Iverson's step-through layup provided a timely response.
Having scored, Allen Iverson excitedly tugged at his jersey and loudly urged his teammates to retreat on Defense.
When Lee brought the ball across half-court and quickly passed it to Pau Gasol at the left elbow, Ron Artest also started from the left baseline.
Facing the on-ball cross-screen, Andre Iguodala initially wanted to switch immediately, but Allen Iverson chose to continue chasing.
Their miscommunication allowed Lee to easily receive the ball near the left sideline.
When Allen Iverson closed in again, he made a horizontal jab step.
Pau Gasol, seeing the desired matchup, immediately drove hard to the basket.
Andre Iguodala, who followed Ron Artest out to the top of the arc, hesitated slightly.
When Lee put the ball down with his right hand and moved horizontally towards the perimeter, Andre Iguodala decisively stepped up to help defend and interfere.
Lee, who had been observing the Defense, suddenly lowered his center of gravity and spun around, while Allen Iverson, still sliding, quickly adjusted his balance.
Andre Iguodala hesitated again, choosing to stop his feet and cut off the passing lane.
Amidst the fans' jeers, Lee's left hand had just touched the ball when he immediately pulled back with a crossover step, leaving a sliding Allen Iverson rooted to the spot.
Instinctively raising his right arm, Iverson's Defense was completely ineffective as Lee gathered the ball and shot over him face-to-face.
"Bang! Knocks down the three-pointer!"
Mike Breen shouted loudly.
Like the fans, he preferred to see Iverson and Lee go head-to-head.
From the crossover to the shot, the speed was extremely fast.
While Lee high-fived Spike Lee on the sideline to celebrate before retreating on Defense, Iverson was still stunned.
After Head Coach Maurice Cheeks' loud reminder from the sideline, Iverson finally received the ball, quickly dribbled past half-court, and passed it to Chris Webber on the left wing.
Iverson's back-cut to receive the ball was seen through by Lee, so he chose to cut from the wing towards the basket.
On the other side, Kyle Korver moved from the baseline corner to the top of the key.
A cross-screen gave Korver an opportunity.
He received the pass from Webber at the top of the arc, but his decisive jump shot from beyond the three-point line clanked off the rim.
Diop was quick-witted, grabbing the long rebound ahead of Webber beside him, then dribbled the ball himself to initiate a fast break.
Iverson, who had just run to the basket, chased hard behind Lee.
The big men of both teams lagged behind, and eventually, the 76ers, who retreated in time, completed their defensive matchups.
Stopping at the top of the arc, Diop seized the moment when Lee made a horizontal counter-run and flung the ball to the left wing.
The moment Lee received the ball, Iverson had already rushed over, constantly moving his hands, trying to create effective interference.
Taking advantage of his opponent just settling into their defensive position, Lee put the ball down with his left hand, drove past him, lowered his shoulder, and accelerated, driving straight to the basket from the wing.
As he approached the paint, he suddenly stepped forward to his right, changed direction while dribbling, bumped off the close-guarding Iverson, and then tossed a right-handed floater directly in front of the basket!
He jumped to block but ended up hitting Lee's right forearm.
Iverson heard the referee's whistle while still in the air, and after landing, the cheers echoing through the Arena filled his ears.
"The 76ers must change their defensive matchup immediately. Lee is intentionally targeting Iverson."
Walt Frazier couldn't help but offer advice sympathetically to the opponent, while Mike Breen on the side shouted excitedly:
"Star showdown! The moment everyone has been waiting for has finally arrived!"
60:63. With Lee's free throw also going in, the Knicks took the lead.
Iverson remained silent, still calm, and actively called for a double screen on the offensive possession.
With Lee tightly guarding his right hand, Iverson dribbled with his left hand and moved horizontally.
Finally, facing the switched-on Diop, Iverson lowered his shoulder and accelerated.
Anticipating his opponent's offensive choice, Diop quickly slid his feet, and eventually, Iverson suddenly stopped sharply near the left elbow, shooting over the block and clanking it off the rim.
After grabbing the rebound, Pau Gasol immediately passed the ball to Lee.
He continuously accelerated along the left sideline, only slowing down as he approached the three-point line when facing the switched-on Andre Iguodala.
Diop, who had also quickly run past half-court, immediately came up to screen.
Without waiting for his teammate to get set, Lee, holding the ball in his right hand, performed a small in-and-out dribble.
When his body feinted to the right, he tricked his opponent's center of gravity.
Iguodala instinctively reached to steal the ball, but the basketball still disappeared in front of him.
He created separation with a behind-the-back crossover, switched the ball to his left hand, dribbled forward one step, and then Lee suddenly gathered the ball and shot a pull-up jumper from beyond the three-point line!
Watching Lee casually toss the ball towards the rim with a one-legged jump, a twisted Iguodala's mouth hung open, staring blankly as Lee released the shot.
"OMG!"
"Unbelievable, how did he do that!?"
Both commentators shouted simultaneously, and the New York fans in the front row also shrieked as they watched the basketball swish through the net.
Noticing Iguodala looking at him with an alien-like expression, Lee spread his hands and chuckled, teasing about the play:
"After hitting a three-pointer, I like to reward myself!"
"..."
Iguodala was speechless.
On the court, several Knicks players retreated on Defense with their hands on their heads.
On the bench, Derek Fisher led the hype squad, flinging towels into the air.
Perhaps intimidated by that outrageous three-pointer, the 76ers clanked shot after shot for the next few minutes, occasionally even committing a low-level turnover.
Dalembert, who received the ball in the low post, was directly stolen by Ron Artest's help Defense;
Webber, who took the ball at the right elbow to organize the offense, tried to complete a high-low pass but inexplicably threw the ball out of bounds.
Iverson's drive and dish was stolen by Pau Gasol under the basket.
Although Head Coach Maurice Cheeks' timeout reduced turnovers, the 76ers fell into a scoring drought, watching the Knicks score easily.
It wasn't until Korver's three-pointer from the right wing just before the end of the 3rd quarter that the team reached double-digit scoring.
After three quarters, the score was 69:87.
The familiar script filled Madison Square Garden with a joyful atmosphere.
Playing the entire third quarter, Clay Lee exerted himself slightly, shooting 6-of-8 from the field, 3-of-5 from three-point range, and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line, contributing 18 points in the single quarter.
Looking at Lee, who had already put on his training uniform, the soon-to-be-entering Derek Fisher beamed, showing a resolute expression.
Before stepping onto the court, he called out loudly to everyone:
"Don't be careless, we must go all out and help Lee win this matchup!"
Diop raised an eyebrow helplessly.
Leading by 18 points, the game was about to enter garbage time.
Considering the opponent's shooting, it would be hard to lose.
The 76ers were still trying, but the game entered Diop's showtime.
Facing a declining Chris Webber, Diop faked a hand-off at the left elbow, then suddenly twisted his body quickly, putting the ball down with his left hand and striding directly to the basket.
Before his opponent could react, Diop was already airborne, powerfully dunking with both hands, easily scoring 2 points.
Derek Fisher wanted to see what Iverson could do, but he was blown by at the top of the arc, watching his opponent score an easy layup.
Then it was Diop again, after a fake screen, receiving a pass from Derek Fisher on the right wing.
Without giving Webber time to react, he caught the ball and immediately shot it!
As the three-pointer swished through the net, Madison Square Garden erupted again.
Iverson drove and shot, while Diop continuously orchestrated the offense.
Several hand-offs from the elbow position gradually caused the 76ers' Defense to collapse.
By the time Raja Bell and the substitute Finley made their three-pointers, Head Coach Maurice Cheeks called a timeout and conceded the game.
Both teams went back and forth, and amidst the joyful shouts of the New York fans, the final score was 98:120.
On both sides of the player tunnel, New York fans holding '38-0' whiteboards continuously shouted Iverson's name, and the pranksters also loudly heckled:
"The 76ers are going to trade you!"
13-of-31 from the field, 1-of-4 from three-point range, 8-of-8 from the free-throw line, 35 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers.
Iverson delivered a decent stat line, but hearing the shouts, he still lost his composure and angrily cursed back at the fans.
Lee, who was being interviewed on the sideline, didn't notice the situation on the other side.
He occasionally waved to the fans, and the cheers wouldn't stop.
"Lee, after winning this game, our record is 11 wins and 1 loss."
"The team is in great shape. Do we have a chance to complete another four-peat?"
New York local sports programs would exaggerate on their own.
Facing the MSG interview, Lee usually spoke his mind:
"The purpose of the regular season is to adjust our physical condition, and our goal is to secure home-court advantage."
"As for winning or losing games, that comes after health. For a greater goal, sometimes you have to make choices."
"I like opponents like the 76ers. They can ignite my teammates' fighting spirit."
28 minutes played, 11-of-18 from the field, 4-of-6 from three-point range, 7-of-7 from the free-throw line, 34 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals;
Delivering an unremarkable double-double, Clay Lee indeed left more opportunities for his teammates.
On Monday, November 28th, when the Knicks arrived in Miami, the Heat officially confirmed Shaquille O'Neal would continue to miss tonight's game.
Fans were still expecting a clash of titans, but the Shaq, who had been nursing an injury for over half a month, was out of commission.
As the month's spotlight game, although he couldn't play, Shaquille O'Neal didn't forget to stir things up.
In a pre-game interview with ESPN, he spoke sarcastically:
"I know what you all want to say, but the fact is Kobe will never win a championship without me."
"I didn't suppress him. I always treated him like a little brother. He was the one challenging my position on the team."
"Last night against the Nets, he shot 36 times again, and the Lakers lost again. Maybe he can win the scoring title this year, but who cares about such a small award?"
Shaquille O'Neal, sitting on the sideline with a brace on his foot, leaned back in his chair and spoke these words with a disdainful expression.
New York reporters were not interested in such gossip.
Seeing Shaquille O'Neal wanted to continue the previous topic, they couldn't help but interrupt:
"Shaq, the Heat's record doesn't seem ideal, 7 wins and 6 losses."
The decline in performance was naturally due to injuries, but Shaquille O'Neal didn't want to take the blame.
He naturally showed off in front of everyone:
"Lee is right, the regular season is for adjusting our physical condition."
"Many people yearn for victory, but they struggle to win even one. I don't care about losing, because I know the playoffs are my stage!"
"..."
...
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)