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***
For the 2005 Christmas War, Pat Riley returned to New York.
On Christmas Eve, after the Heat flew to Manhattan, the slick-haired boss once again became the focus of numerous sports media outlets.
It proved that changing the Head Coach was not a panacea.
Pat Riley, who had been away from the coaching bench for two years, had a mediocre record after taking over the team.
In the past half-month, the Heat had a 4-2 record, bringing their overall record to 15-12, still trailing the Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers.
This somewhat disappointed Heat fans.
Pat Riley seemed no different from Stan Van Gundy, with their star player in poor form, they still lost.
In contrast, D'Antoni was on a roll, continuing to lead the New York Knicks in their pursuit of a fourth consecutive championship!
Since December, the New York Knicks had only lost one game, and The Moustache seemed to have secured another Coach of the Month award.
Before Christmas, the New York Knicks gave New York fans a small gift at home, an 86-113 dominant victory over the Utah Jazz, serving as a warm-up for Sunday's game.
Despite Deron Williams's excessive flattery, in his 21 minutes on the court, he shot 1-for-5, only tallying 2 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 turnover.
The Rookie, who suffered a season sweep, still smiled after the game and took the opportunity to state his identity, once again praising Clay Lee profusely:
"Like I said, Point God! Clay Lee has always been my role model!"
"..."
New York fans paid no attention to the Rookie's remarks.
Their attention had already shifted to the Miami Heat.
Many old fans still recognized Pat Riley.
Under the slick-haired boss's guidance back then, they were only a few three-pointers from Starks away from the championship.
Although Jeff Van Gundy achieved exaggerated success later, old fans still missed Pat Riley, after all, the slick-haired boss fit New York's temperament.
This year's Christmas War would take place at 3 PM on Christmas Day.
Compared to the San Antonio Spurs vs. Phoenix Suns game, onlookers paid more attention to New York.
On Christmas Eve, the New York Knicks, as usual, continued to bring warmth to the community.
Pat Riley, who had returned to the Head Coach position, also took the Miami Heat team to visit fans at a welfare institution.
O'Neal's aura was suppressed.
Ever since Pat Riley took over the team and set a weight loss plan for him, Shaq hadn't said "no."
As the team's young leader, Wade was the same.
He had no complaints when facing Pat Riley's strict demands on the training court.
Perhaps their record still needed improvement, but the discipline in the locker room was much better than before.
At least O'Neal wouldn't get fatter and fatter, which was the most important thing for the Miami Heat.
After delivering warmth to the downtown area, Pat Riley also accepted an interview with the New York Media.
When asked why he chose to coach the Miami Heat again, Pat Riley smiled calmly and said in a joking tone:
"For over two years, I've been following the development of basketball!"
"I want to take back what I once lost, and I believe the Miami Heat will soon usher in the first championship in their history."
Championships also require the right time, place, and people.
Pat Riley believed the New York Knicks wouldn't keep winning, and next year would be the best time to win the championship!
ABC was responsible for broadcasting this year's Christmas War, and with the season of scoring outbursts, the NBA's popularity also rebounded.
While verbally expressing a preference for pure basketball, most fans still preferred impressive statistics, and the current version suited everyone's taste.
Mike D'Antoni has always been called the pioneer of modern basketball, and the New York Knicks' tactics have spread to various teams.
The lack of an excellent core point guard might prevent fluid offense throughout an entire game, but in certain key possessions, everyone was adopting the tactical schemes.
Being labeled a tactical master and a Champion Coach was enough to show how outstanding Coach D'Antoni was.
On Christmas Day, due to the afternoon game, the New York Knicks only had a simple film session in the morning.
At 11:30 AM, while having lunch, everyone could go home early, and then arrive at Madison Square Garden on time in the afternoon for warm-ups.
Facing his former coach, many reporters were curious about how Mike D'Antoni would evaluate this opponent.
Although many basketball commentators confidently declared that Pat Riley would end the New York Knicks' dominance, Mike D'Antoni was very modest when interviewed at noon:
"Indeed, no team can keep winning forever, but the New York Knicks have achieved four consecutive championships, and now we are just chasing past achievements."
"I don't want to talk too much about tactics. This is the NBA, and many times, the players will determine the outcome of the game."
"Right now, I'm more focused on the team's situation. The New York Knicks have the greatest player in history, and only we can defeat ourselves."
"No matter what tactical arrangements the opponent makes, in the end, we will put the ball in Lee's hands."
Many reporters perceived the two men's different coaching philosophies: Pat Riley preferred control, while Mike D'Antoni was a technical, hands-off type.
During the afternoon warm-up, Gary Payton once again enjoyed being the center of attention.
Out of favor for many years, he had always missed the Christmas War.
As the players entered, seeing the camera following him, Payton secretly rejoiced.
His expression was poker-faced, but his occasional adjustments to his position, ensuring he was perfectly in frame, betrayed Payton's mood.
Pat Riley seemed to have a similar feeling.
Unlike sitting in the front row as a General Manager watching the game, leading a team to victory gave him a greater sense of accomplishment.
Wearing a black woolen overcoat, with a formal suit underneath, and his slicked-back hair, Pat Riley returned to this familiar Madison Square Garden.
Facing the camera, the slick-haired boss revealed a confident smile.
Under his management, O'Neal's condition was getting better and better:
"Merry Christmas! It's great to be back at Madison Square Garden."
The suave Pat Riley greeted them, and the media and staff responded with smiles.
This boss had a convincing aura!
The Miami Heat players all looked serious as they entered.
Wade had a fleeting sensation of "the horse is gone," realizing for the first time that being coached by a famous coach wasn't always a good thing.
O'Neal, who had gained a lot of excess weight during his recovery, didn't want to lose weight, but he wouldn't contradict the Champion Coach in front of the media.
"My body is ready, I'm a natural big-game player!"
O'Neal, rambling to the camera, tried to show his presence, but some reporters' questions made the fat man curse under his breath.
"Shaq, can you get back to 320 pounds before the All-Star Game?"
"..."
No one would have brought up this question before.
Now, everyone could freely tease him, and this was the change Pat Riley brought.
Lee, as usual, wore a well-fitted dark blue formal suit, and the weather in Manhattan made him add a jacket.
Up to this point in his career, Lee had only missed one Christmas War in his Rookie season.
He no longer felt excited about such games.
Taking advantage of Gasol's presence, Lee actively campaigned for his teammate in front of the camera:
"Pau's performance this new season is even better than Shaq's. Don't let them snatch our All-Star starting spot!"
If one only looked at the statistics, Gasol indeed performed better than last season, but in reality, he was coasting and adjusting his condition in many games.
Since the start of the new season, the number of games where he attempted more than 15 shots was few and far between, and his face-up offense outnumbered his post-ups.
The continuous games over the past few years allowed Gasol to handle the ball more calmly, seamlessly transitioning between international play and the NBA.
Spain's perimeter teammates were a budget version of Lee.
With no physical issues, Gasol also hoped to secure a starting position, and taking advantage of the national broadcast, he spoke up:
"I hope everyone enjoys tonight's game! Victory is our gift to the fans."
Half an hour before the game started, the lively atmosphere at Madison Square Garden brought a nostalgic look to Pat Riley's face.
He loved being in the spotlight.
O'Neal, who had been resting for a month and a half, was very active during warm-ups, and Jason Williams also overcame his injury, appearing in the starting lineup again tonight.
Fisher didn't forget to greet his old teammate.
Fisher didn't even look at Payton, just joked with O'Neal:
"Luckily you didn't go to Los Angeles for this year's Christmas War, Kobe has been in such excellent form lately!"
When his former little brother was mentioned, O'Neal showed a disdainful expression, coarsely mocking:
"He's still the same, always disrupting the team's tactical system. Who wants to watch his one-man show?"
Old Fish went along with the criticism of Kobe.
Next time he goes to Los Angeles, Fisher plans to pull Kobe along to laugh at Shaq.
Looking at O'Neal, who was smiling from the flattery, Old Fish felt a bit smug.
Next offseason, these were his potential future teams!
The New York Knicks maintained the same starting lineup as their first encounter this season, and so did the Miami Heat.
The Kidney Fighter returned to the bench, and O'Neal started at center.
At the ABC commentary booth, Hubie Brown was talking about how that New York Knicks team eliminated Pat Riley's Miami Heat back then:
"We all know Coach Riley likes to put pressure on players, but unfortunately, no one could match Clay Lee back then."
"Hardaway was at a physical disadvantage. That was a problem the Miami Heat couldn't solve back then."
"This team is completely different now. Wade is younger, and in his third season, he has become more mature and better adapted to confrontation."
"I believe Coach Pat Riley will continue his previous game strategy, with Wade leading the Defense to wear down Lee. They will go all out from the start!"
The New York Knicks' three main tactics are usually to seize the opening, dominate the third quarter, and then, in the final stretch, give the ball to Lee.
Most teams in the NBA collapse in the third quarter.
Extensive rotations ensure ample physical strength, and even if the referees make calls, they can still play tough Defense.
Mike Breen, as the New York Knicks' home commentator, had witnessed too many overwhelming games:
"I hope the Miami Heat can perform at their best tonight. Victory would be the best Christmas gift they could give Coach Pat Riley!"
The game tipped off precisely at 3 PM, with nearly 20,000 fans immersing themselves in the game early, constantly cheering loudly for the home team.
Unlike Mike D'Antoni, who sat idly on the bench, Pat Riley stood passionately directing from the sideline from the start of the game.
Every time they retreated on Defense, he loudly called out the players' names.
Seeing O'Neal lagging behind, the oily-haired boss would even call a timeout to scold him, and the live director always focused the camera on Pat Riley.
Under the Champion Coach's supervision, although O'Neal's offensive performance was poor, he was exceptionally active on Defense, always delaying on pick-and-rolls.
In Pat Riley's shouts, Dwayne Wade's name was constantly mentioned, and he urged the Rookie to pressure Clay Lee from the start.
The Head Coach's shouts made Wade defend with his head down, constantly fighting to squeeze through screens to lighten O'Neal's defensive burden.
The New York Knicks' targeting was very strong.
Everyone knew O'Neal too well.
Despite facing double teams, every offense started with a pick-and-roll between the one and five positions.
With 3 minutes and 26 seconds left in the first quarter, Lee, who was guarding Wade, picked up his second personal foul, sending his opponent to the free-throw line again.
D'Antoni didn't mind these things.
He cheerfully waved at Fisher and embraced Lee as he came off the court.
Kurt Thomas also picked up fouls too early and was substituted out even sooner than Lee.
This situation was not unexpected.
The New York fans in the arena began to boo, clearly dissatisfied with the referee's calls.
Despite an early rotation, the New York Knicks didn't fall behind, but Ron Artest couldn't keep up with Wade's speed, allowing the opponent to score continuously.
Payton also quickly replaced Jason Williams, who had been highly efficient in the first quarter.
On the last possession of the first quarter, Payton used Mourning's screen to shake off the trailing Fisher, and Wade assisted his teammate for a jump shot in the right elbow area.
Tilting his head back, Payton showed a disdainful expression, glanced at Old Fish, and quickly high-fived his teammates in celebration.
31:28. Having successfully withstood the New York Knicks' first quarter, Pat Riley was in high spirits.
During the break before the quarter, he loudly called out to everyone:
"They're nothing to be afraid of! Go pressure them, fight for the ball, and maintain your hunger for victory!"
To conserve energy, Pat Riley chose to let Payton and Antoine Walker hold out for half a quarter.
The plan to limit the New York Knicks' scoring through Defense was unsuccessful.
Prince and veteran Finley easily carried the team's offense.
Fisher and Diaw, playing freely, also avoided unforced errors, and Gadzuric even hustled for an offensive rebound, making the most of his opportunity under the basket.
The score was quickly tied, and the Miami Heat brought Antoine Walker back into the starting lineup early.
The score alternated, and after Lee returned in the latter half of the second quarter, he continuously delivered assists, while O'Neal, attempting low-post offense, seemed to struggle.
Watching O'Neal's turnaround floater from the left low post towards the baseline clank off the rim again, Hubie Brown could only sigh:
"Injuries have indeed affected O'Neal's form!"
The atmosphere was lively, and Mike Breen, watching the two teams constantly running back and forth, instinctively commented:
"This is the New York Knicks' preferred game rhythm. It seems Ron Artest won't be troubled by fouls tonight."
Amidst the cheers of the New York fans, the halftime score settled at 55:55, with the Miami Heat unable to pull away.
Pat Riley was quite satisfied with the first half.
He walked towards the player tunnel with a smile, thinking that if they could just get through the third quarter, the star-driven game would be a 50/50 toss-up.
As O'Neal, who had played 20 minutes, sat down in the locker room, the oily-haired boss clapped his hands and demanded:
"Excellent! Continue to execute our tactical strategy, delay them, and give them physical confrontation!"
"The referees won't call those. All you need to do is persist!"
O'Neal was 5-for-11 in the first half, with only two field goals in the second quarter, contributing just 10 points in total.
Shaq, still rehydrating, remained silent, but the tough guy Mourning beside him immediately ignited upon hearing the Head Coach's words, excitedly clapping and encouraging:
"Think about the preparation we put in for this game, let's win this for the coach!"
Led by Haslem, a member of the locker room atmosphere, everyone except O'Neal was instantly fired up!
Pat Riley sensed O'Neal's mood and, instead of criticizing him publicly, made a mental note:
"He's still too fat. He must get down to 320 pounds."
During halftime, the Christmas atmosphere at Madison Square Garden remained unaffected.
The cheerleaders' performance and sponsor activities allowed fans to fully enjoy this Christmas War.
As for losing?
No one considered that.
After a belly full of motivational talk, as the third quarter began, Jason Williams, who had dribbled past half-court, loudly called out to his teammates to get into position.
"Defense!"
Amidst the defensive cheers, Wade tried to move to the left wing to receive the ball, but Lee constantly squeezed beside him.
To be safe, Jason Williams decisively passed the ball to Haslem in the right elbow area, while simultaneously running to the right baseline to screen for James Posey.
Faking a move towards the top and pretending to back-cut for a pass, James Posey suddenly accelerated and slipped along the baseline, and Haslem immediately delivered the pass.
The bounce pass was of average quality.
Near the right baseline, James Posey had just bent down to receive the ball when Ron Artest behind him snatched it away.
He wanted to steal it back on the spot, but Ron Artest had already secured possession, seizing the opportunity to drive with the ball.
Under the basket, O'Neal reluctantly ran back and forth again.
Amidst the shouts of the oily-haired boss, Shaq could only desperately accelerate.
Raja Bell sprinted along the left sideline to the left wing, and at the same time, Kurt Thomas, accelerating in a straight line, rushed into the paint.
When Lee arrived at the right wing, only Gasol and O'Neal were still trailing behind.
Receiving the ball far from the three-point line, Ron Artest quickly released the ball from the top of the arc.
Stepping on the three-point line, Wade, who had established his defensive position early, quickly became alert.
Noticing Lee dropping the ball with his left hand, and Gasol approaching the left wing after crossing half-court, Wade loudly warned O'Neal, who quickly moved inside the three-point line.
As Gasol settled on the left wing, Lee lowered his center of gravity and slid to the left.
Wade, maintaining defensive distance, immediately lunged, attempting to squeeze through the screen.
O'Neal, tucked inside the three-point line, was still observing the Defense.
Just as physical contact was about to occur, Lee, with a low center of gravity, suddenly executed a large behind-the-back dribble.
The basketball immediately flew towards the right sideline.
Just as O'Neal thought it was a turnover, Lee, having shaken off his defender, successfully chased down the ball.
Wade hadn't had time to adjust his balance, and O'Neal, tucked inside the three-point line, was still standing there.
Clay Lee, having regained possession, smoothly gathered the ball, stopped abruptly, and drifted into a shot.
"Swish!" The three-pointer swished through the net.
The acrobatic jump shot instantly ignited the arena's atmosphere.
Wade's ears were once again filled with the excited cheers of the fans.
He snapped back to reality and quickly looked towards Pat Riley on the sideline.
The oily-haired boss cracked a smile, clapped his hands in encouragement, and signaled that it was good Defense!
"I think the basketball gods have answered my prayers. I will kill the game with three-pointers!"
"?"
Hearing Lee whisper beside him, Wade felt bewildered.
Thinking of the previous possession, he immediately retorted:
"Luck won't always be on your side!"
The two exchanged quiet words, and the referee made no gesture.
Jason Williams at the top of the arc signaled Wade to cut baseline to receive the ball, but Wade, eager to respond quickly, insisted on getting the ball.
Receiving the pass on the left wing, far from the three-point line, Lee decisively shuffled backward.
Noticing O'Neal coming up for a screen, he again gave up Wade's left hand.
With his teammate set, Wade, holding the ball in his right hand, quickly executed a crossover.
O'Neal's solid screen allowed Wade to accelerate smoothly.
Encountering Gasol's sliding help Defense, Wade, now with the ball in his left hand, increased his stride, briefly slowed down, and then forced his way through with sheer speed.
Seeing no one defending under the basket, Wade gathered the ball while in motion, took three big steps, grabbed the ball with his left hand, and attempted a powerful dunk.
Lee, who had gone under the screen, successfully anticipated the opponent's offense.
As Wade soared into the air, he suddenly realized Lee had exploded from the middle.
Below the right side of the rim, Wade pulled the ball back, attempting to gather power for a poster dunk.
When Lee's right hand pressed on the ball, he realized something was wrong.
Contesting in the air, Wade had just exerted force when Lee pressed him down from above.
"OH! Blocked by Clay Lee!"
As Mike Breen excitedly shouted from the commentary booth, Wade lost his balance and fell with a thud to the floor.
Lee, who had completed the cap, controlled the ball after landing, then dribbled it and charged again.
O'Neal, who was on the perimeter, tried to pull him back but was directly faked out by a change of direction.
Watching Shaq being shaken off, Jason Williams took large strides and chased him head-on.
The New York Knicks' three-line fast break quickly created space.
By the time Lee reached the right wing, Jason Williams had just caught up to his side.
Approaching the three-point line, he suddenly stopped short.
Lee dribbled the ball behind his back, and while his opponent stopped, he changed direction between his legs again.
In transition offense, Jason Williams could only defend by instinct.
He had just slid to the left, but the basketball disappeared in front of him.
An extremely quick cross-step pull-back instantly created a body-length of space for Lee.
Before the Miami Heat could complete their retreat, Lee gathered the ball directly from beyond the three-point line, ignoring the closing out Jason Williams, and quickly shot a jump shot from the right wing!
"Bang!"
"Clay Lee! Another three!"
Mike Breen, who had regained his home commentator's state, shouted loudly again.
Seeing Lee raise his right arm, hold up three fingers, and pace back on Defense, he instinctively boasted:
"This is the real MVP! That move was amazing. No one in the NBA plays like Clay Lee."
O'Neal, who was running back again, patted Wade, who had just returned to half-court.
A sense of déjà vu appeared in Pat Riley's mind, and he quickly made a downward gesture.
With consecutive three-pointers, the New York Knicks' bench erupted along with the fans, and the defensive cheers grew louder and louder.
Wade slipped along the baseline from right to left, trying to receive the ball near the left sideline, but failed to shake off Lee immediately.
Jason Williams passed the ball to Haslem in the left elbow area, then immediately ran towards the baseline corner, attempting to set an off-ball screen.
Raja Bell cooperated perfectly, following Wade to the perimeter without Lee needing to signal him.
Although they switched Defenses in time, Wade still received a hand-off pass.
After putting the ball down with his right hand, he immediately drove straight to the basket through the middle.
Kurt Thomas slid into the paint area early.
In front of the basket, Wade tossed the ball into the air, and due to interference, he intentionally raised the release height.
O'Neal, lurking at the lower right of the basket, attempted an alley-oop, but Gasol anticipated it early.
Under the interference of his long arm, Shaq's jump height was insufficient.
Unable to catch the basketball in the air, it slipped out of his hands and hit the backboard.
When O'Neal landed and tried to regain possession, Gasol had already tossed the ball out.
Accelerating past the half-court line, Lee only had Jason Williams, who was relentlessly pursuing him, by his side.
Getting in front of his opponent to control the ball, Lee began to slow down on the right wing before even approaching the three-point line.
Jason Williams was still catching his breath.
Seeing Lee dribble behind his back, he instinctively stuck close to him.
It seemed he heard his coach calling for a foul.
In Jason Williams' moment of hesitation, Lee quickly performed an in-and-out dribble with his left hand.
He probed to the left, and the moment he faked out his opponent's center of gravity, he immediately took a step back and gathered the ball.
Jason Williams rushed to defend again, but Lee had already shot his jump shot.
"Squeak!"
The referee's whistle blew, and the basketball swished through the net.
The cheers almost broke through the Madison Square Garden.
All the New York Knicks players ran over to lift Clay Lee up.
Sitting on the floor, Jason Williams looked helpless.
It wasn't until his teammates pulled him up that he cursed softly:
"Shit! How did that even go in?"
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
The New York fans in the Madison Square Garden cheered happily.
Lee, standing at the free-throw line, calmly sent the ball into the basket.
65:55. The third quarter had just begun, and Pat Riley expressionlessly called a timeout.
For the big boss with slicked-back hair, such a scene was not unfamiliar, and some bad memories began to echo in his mind.
On the New York Knicks' bench, the atmosphere crew members came forward to high-five and celebrate with Lee.
Diaw, witnessing a magical three-pointer for the first time live, was still shouting:
"Incredible! If Lee plays like this every game, maybe we can win 82 games!"
Old Fish was still thinking about his stats.
He didn't want his playing time to be cut, so he immediately declared confidently:
"With a double-digit lead, we can also share the pressure for Lee."
Everyone was talking over each other, seemingly forgetting the game wasn't over yet.
Mike D'Antoni casually offered a few words of encouragement, then leaned back in his seat, resuming his tactical contemplation:
"This is a Champion Coach killer!"
After the timeout, the Miami Heat made an adjustment.
Antoine Walker replaced James Posey, clearly to strengthen their offense.
In their first offensive possession, O'Neal aggressively attacked from the left low post.
Kurt Thomas actively helped on Defense, committing a foul and sending him to the free-throw line.
O'Neal's second free throw bounced off the rim.
Cheers erupted again as Gasol passed the ball to the frontcourt.
Antoine Walker, who had just come in as a substitute, actively retreated on Defense, cooperating with Wade to attempt a double-team beyond the three-point line.
Lee jumped into the air after crossing the half-court line and deftly tipped the ball.
Before the two could complete their trap, the basketball had already flown to the unguarded Ron Artest on the other side.
Driving straight to the basket from the left wing, Ron Artest received the pass near the paint area.
He took three large strides, grabbed the ball with his right hand, and slammed it down with a one-handed dunk!
67:56, the lead was still widening.
When Wade was forced to switch to his right hand to attempt a middle drive, Raja Bell had already arrived near the elbow area to help Lee on Defense.
Jason Williams was unguarded when he received Wade's pass on the right wing, and his open three-pointer missed.
O'Neal, attempting to grab the rebound, was double-teamed.
In his anxious state, he elbowed someone and was called for an offensive foul by the referee.
Pat Riley on the sideline realized he had lost control of the game, and his loud shouts were in vain.
The New York Knicks patiently passed the ball, eventually using a baseline cross-screen to get Gasol the ball with his back to the basket in the left block.
After Lee completed the pass, Ron Artest from the left corner came to the perimeter to attempt an off-ball screen.
Antoine Walker and Wade both instinctively chose to squeeze in next to Lee.
After the fake screen, Ron Artest quickly drove straight to the basket.
When he received Gasol's pass, he took a step forward in front of the basket.
Ron Artest ignored Haslem, who was helping on Defense under the basket, grabbed the ball with his right hand, and slammed it down with a powerful dunk!
"Ah!"
The basket rattled loudly.
Ron Artest, having completed another dunk, yelled while pulling at his jersey.
Involuntarily speeding up their offensive rhythm, using the same tactical cooperation, Wade, who was met with help Defense, passed the ball to Jason Williams on the right wing, who missed another shot.
Lee grabbed the long rebound.
Facing Wade's aggressive on-ball Defense, after two agile spin moves, he dribbled the ball past half-court, beating the 8-second count.
"Let's go New York Knicks!"
The massive cheers drowned out Pat Riley's shouts.
Wade stared intently at Lee's movements, occasionally reaching out to interfere.
Not realizing he was too close, when Lee's protected hand slapped away his opponent's arm and changed direction between his legs to his right hand, Wade quickly slid backward to the left.
Accelerating in a straight line, Lee, with the ball in his right hand, seemed to fly low to the ground.
While moving, he again slapped away Wade's grab, completely shaking off the Defense, and in a blink of an eye, he surged into the paint area.
At the top of the arc, Wade stumbled and lost his defensive position.
Below the left side of the basket, O'Neal, watching Lee soar into the air, simply stopped moving.
Haslem, however, was very brave, helping on Defense from the other side to the basket.
Before he could fully jump, he was pushed out of bounds by Lee in the air.
Crashing through the Defense, Lee briefly hung in the air, grabbed the ball with his right hand, pulled his arm back, and slammed the ball into the basket with force!
"Ah!"
The ball went in, and the player flew.
Haslem, after landing, fell headfirst into the camera below the basket.
Fans in the front row began to scream wildly, and the entire Madison Square Garden completely erupted.
Clay Lee stood under the basket, expressionlessly raising his right hand and wagging his index finger.
Soon, all the New York Knicks players swarmed over, embracing each other and celebrating joyously.
The baseline referee symbolically issued a technical foul, and the Miami Heat received one free throw.
71:57. Dwayne Wade helped his team narrow the score with a free throw.
Haslem seemed to be startled by that poster dunk, and his open mid-range jump shot also went awry.
Gasol seized the opportunity, popping out after a pick-and-roll, and continued to score from mid-range!
Jason Williams completely lost the excellent shooting touch he had in the first half, missing another open three-pointer, and finally scored points for his team from free throws.
Frequently initiating transition offenses, Lee acted as the orchestrator, and the New York Knicks had multiple players scoring.
It wasn't until the end of the third quarter that O'Neal made another field goal.
Subsequently, Payton, who came in as a substitute, scored on a fast break after a wild shot by Lee.
In the last possession of the third quarter, before crossing half-court, Lee's super-long-range fadeaway shot sent the basketball soaring in a huge arc.
All the Miami Heat players turned their heads to look at the basket.
As the basketball swished through the net, several of them walked dejectedly towards the bench.
"Oh!"
Fans in the front row stood up, trying to high-five and celebrate with Lee.
In the commentary booth, Mike Breen couldn't stop praising:
"The greatest player in history has once again displayed his dominance!"
"I can't describe Clay Lee's performance; he makes basketball seem so simple. This beautiful offense is the best gift for the New York fans!"
17:36 in a single quarter.
After three quarters, the score was 72:91, and the fourth quarter was back to the familiar garbage time.
Hubie Brown was also startled by Lee's sudden outburst of three-pointers.
Such a scene has been rare in recent years:
"The Miami Heat had a perfect start, but ultimately lost in the third quarter."
They need to make those response shots.
After this game, Coach Riley needs to prioritize fixing the offense.
7-of-10 from the field, 6-of-9 from three-point range, 3-of-3 from the free-throw line, 23 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block.
Clay Lee's third-quarter scoring mostly came from three-pointers.
After the fourth quarter began, the Heat had not given up.
Dwayne Wade was 0-of-2 from the field and 1-of-1 from the free-throw line in the third quarter, scoring a mere 1 point.
He didn't rest in the final quarter, attempting to save face.
The New York Knicks' perimeter players had overcome their foul trouble, and everyone began rotating on Defense, constantly collapsing to help.
Lee, focusing his energy on Defense, started sticking to Wade, not giving him easy opportunities to receive the ball.
Aside from hitting one difficult mid-range jump shot, Wade's shooting got progressively worse, and by the late fourth quarter, even his free throws were off target.
Payton, who was largely left open, became the Heat's primary scorer.
O'Neal occasionally contributed a dunk, but the point differential never seemed to shrink.
With 1 minute and 56 seconds remaining in the game, Pat Riley called a timeout, subbed out his starters, and conceded defeat.
In the final quarter, Dwayne Wade was 1-of-8 from the field and 2-of-6 from the free-throw line, contributing 4 points, 4 assists, and 1 turnover.
O'Neal, sitting on the bench, was in no mood to comfort his younger teammate.
Tonight's game had been extremely exhausting for him.
Looking at Pat Riley, who stood expressionless beside him, O'Neal felt he really needed to lose weight.
Time quickly ran out, and the final score was set at 99:121.
The New York Knicks continued their Christmas War winning streak.
The cheers became piercing.
For New York fans, they could enjoy the holiday evening, while Wade was filled with unvented frustration.
Wade, silent, exchanged embraces with the smiling New York Knicks players.
Seeing Lee's relaxed expression, he couldn't maintain his composure for a moment, simply shook hands, and turned to leave.
"Talk to your little brother. Tell him not to worry about the outcome of a regular season game."
Just after fist-bumping Lee, O'Neal nodded slightly upon hearing that sentence, but when he heard the next one, the big man was utterly infuriated:
"After all, he'll keep losing in the playoffs. If his mood is off, remember to see a psychologist."
Lee searched around but couldn't find Payton.
He had wanted to show his respect to the veteran, but his opponent didn't give him the chance.
Stewart waited by the sideline for a while before approaching Lee.
The shouts of "MVP" continued incessantly in the Madison Square Garden.
This Black reporter had met Lee in the NBA Finals several times in recent years, so they were old acquaintances:
"Lee, congratulations on winning this year's Christmas War! With Head Coach Pat Riley's return, what changes do you think there were in the Heat tonight?"
The game was too fast, and Lee hadn't experienced many details.
After a brief thought, he could only smile and offer diplomatic words:
"The opponent's discipline has significantly improved. That's the effect of a famous coach!"
"To show my respect for the Champion Coach, I gave my all in tonight's game. I believe Coach Riley will like this Christmas gift."
Stewart was at a loss for words for a moment and could only smile and adjust his glasses.
Before he could ask another question, Raja Bell and Diaw, with Ron Artest, appeared in front of the camera, embracing Lee.
Bell shouted into the camera:
"This is the real MVP! Remember to vote for us!"
On December 26th, after the Christmas War, some basketball commentators began to gloat, taking the opportunity to mock Pat Riley's loss:
"The former Champion Coach's dominance is gone. Perhaps he shouldn't have taken over the team!"
Several mainstream New York Media outlets didn't kick him while he was down.
Everyone was busy hyping up the Christmas War record set by Lee:
"The player with the most Christmas War wins in NBA history â Clay-Lee!"
Played 36 minutes, 14-of-23 from the field, 8-of-14 from three-point range, 10-of-11 from the free-throw line, 46 points, 7 rebounds, 13 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers.
Played 9 Christmas War games for the New York Knicks, with a 9-0 record.
Clay Lee, with a slight effort, once again set a historical record.
Wade was 5-of-17 from the field and 9-of-15 from the free-throw line, scoring 19 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 3 turnovers.
In another game, 96:112, the San Antonio Spurs decisively defeated the Phoenix Suns.
Tim Duncan's statistics were unremarkable but still received universal praise.
The New York Knicks had already departed for Oakland.
There were 3 remaining games in 2005.
On the first day after Christmas, many players exploded in their games to gain more votes.
The Lakers vs. Washington Wizards game drew much attention, with everyone expecting both scorers to reach new heights!
Gilbert Arenas displayed his strength, playing 45 minutes, 11-of-23 from the field, 2-of-7 from three-point range, 10-of-11 from the free-throw line, and scoring a game-high 34 points!
91:94, at the last moment, Calvin Booth stole the ball from Kobe Bryant, and the Lakers ultimately lost their chance to tie the score.
12 wins and 14 losses, the Washington Wizards hadn't completely fallen behind.
The victorious Gilbert Arenas, to attract more attention, spoke out after the game:
"I don't know why you always praise Kobe Bryant. Are there any outstanding backcourt players in the Western Conference?"
"Many Eastern Conference teams are underestimated. We play the New York Knicks 4 times a season."
"If you like Kobe, you can also pay attention to the Washington Wizards. I'm better than Kobe, and I can also score 62 points."
Tonight, Kobe was 10-of-27 from the field.
Although he scored 31 points, his field goal percentage was less than 40%.
The 62-point performance made many players jealous.
Gilbert Arenas wasn't the first to question Kobe Bryant.
Everyone wanted to pick on the soft target.
Kobe, still worried about his record, had no time to bother with Gilbert Arenas.
With 15 wins and 13 losses, the Lakers' record was somewhat precarious.
Phil Jackson's magic was gone, and this Champion Coach had also been under much scrutiny recently.
Before the Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks game on the 27th, Pat Riley very calmly discussed the Christmas War loss:
"I agree with Coach DAntoni's view. Often, it's the players who dictate the game."
"Fortunately, the Heat also have a superstar like Clay Lee. I believe in Dwayne Wade, which is why we chose him."
"I believe he will bring a championship to Miami."
The losing Wade had been withdrawn these past two days.
Fortunately, Pat Riley's encouraging words hit the mark, allowing the young leader to overcome his "inner demons."
98:109, Wade, having drunk the strong inspirational words, went all out, leading the Heat to victory.
Completely different from his Christmas War performance, Wade efficiently scored 35 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 4 turnovers, shooting 10-of-14 from the field and 15-of-19 from the free-throw line!
Completely out of the slump after the game, Wade regained his confidence, making bold statements again during an interview:
"I learned a lot from the loss. As Coach Riley said, we will win the championship!"
The New York Knicks also showed no mercy, easily defeating the Orlando Magic on the road.
After defeating the Milwaukee Bucks on the road on the 29th, the New York Knicks were to return home to face the San Antonio Spurs for their final game of 2005.
23 wins and 7 losses, the San Antonio Spurs still held the top spot in the Western Conference.
The 31st happened to be Clay Lee's birthday.
After arriving in Manhattan early, Popovich sent his blessings and then continued to cheer for his star player:
"Our record leads the Western Conference. For so many years, Tim Duncan has been leading the team."
"."
The same old praises didn't really interest the media reporters, but Lee was in a "period of aesthetic fatigue," and this award really should be Duncan's turn.
In previous years, Duncan, when interviewed, generally didn't discuss awards, but throughout his career to date, he had never received truly significant honors.
The Clay Lee Recognition Award, All-NBA Teams, All-Defense Teams, Player of the Month...
For a player who had reached the NBA Finals three times, these awards were truly meager, not even a fraction of Clay Lee's.
On the afternoon of the 30th, after checking into the hotel, Tim Duncan proactively spoke out in front of the New York Media:
"Perhaps I'm not the best player in the NBA, but I will make the San Antonio Spurs the best team in the NBA."
"Failure won't defeat me. In the new season, I will lead the team to secure home-court advantage."
To win awards, one must show presence in front of the media.
The poker-faced Duncan also began to compromise, which surprised many sports reporters:
"A leader yearning for honor?"
"What happened to earlier selfless shouts?"
....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)