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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 December 31, 2005, the San Antonio Spurs, who had been in Manhattan for over a day, joined the crowd in a major gossip.
Anucha Browne Sanders, the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Operations for the New York Knicks, revealed that her work environment was full of discrimination and injustice.
Anucha Browne Sanders, a former WNBA player, is one of the highest-ranking African American women in professional sports, and her sudden defection surprised many.
Before the Grunfeld case concluded in the Manhattan local court, the black female Vice President's remarks were likely another fatal blow.
James Dolan, who had recently been discharged from the hospital, was almost re-hospitalized by the morning news.
At noon, he actively invited media reporters:
"No one discriminated against her! Grunfeld did not harass women, and if she had suffered injustice, she would have been fired by now!"
"."
The reason the previous case had not yet concluded was primarily because Anucha Browne Sanders' staff had listed Madison Square Garden and the curly-haired boss as co-defendants.
The New York Knicks hosting decadent parties, Ewing and cheerleaders having extramarital affairs—some media outlets brought up old scores, attempting to use past events to influence the case's direction.
The Dolan Family did indeed mess up the West Side Stadium project, and the Olympic Games were also lost.
Currently, they are facing retaliation.
Politicians who lose face are generally not broad-minded, and the Dolan Family will certainly have to pay to avoid disaster in this case.
Last year, they spent over ten million dollars lobbying to disrupt the West Side Stadium.
This harassment case will cost them at least several million more.
Every day after 11:30 AM, there is a period of time at the Tarrytown Training Center dedicated to media reporters.
It was a rare occurrence for Lee's birthday to fall on a game day, so the management and reporters gathered in the cafeteria at noon for a birthday celebration.
The chef had already prepared the birthday cake, and Grant Hill and James Dolan, who had recently been discharged from the hospital, also came over after their interviews.
The training center is renovated annually, and the exclusive players' cafeteria is not large, featuring an open kitchen concept.
Seeing the cake being brought out, off-key birthday songs began to echo in the cafeteria:
"Happy birthday."
Lee, wearing a black compression shirt, closed his eyes and made a wish in front of the cake.
After blowing out the candles, he immediately chuckled and quipped:
"Thank you very much! Bro! I wonder if God will grant my wish to win another championship this year!"
Amidst the cheers, Fisher naturally showered him with praise, stating with conviction:
"God favors those who work hard! We will lift the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy next year!"
"That's right! We will win the championship."
Although Gasol was confident about winning the championship, he couldn't flatter as naturally as Old Fish, so he could only chuckle and agree.
Anderson Varejão, part of the atmosphere squad, also showed a thoughtful expression while cheering:
"Learned it! Learned!"
Due to intense internal competition, Matt Barnes sometimes couldn't even make it onto the team's active roster.
In recent years, besides getting more tattoos, Barnes had also learned a lot of workplace experience from Old Fisher.
Seizing the opportunity, he loudly declared:
"God will not refuse a selfless leader. We will still be champions next year!"
Grant Hill suddenly realized that at some point, the New York Knicks' team atmosphere had changed like this: instead of discussing basketball skills, their ability to boast had significantly improved:
"Happy birthday! Congratulations in advance, Lee! You will definitely be the All-Star vote leader again this year."
As soon as Grant Hill offered his wishes, Glen Rice and Gadzuric, the two lesser-known players, also showered him with praise:
"Another new record!"
"At 28 years old, if he plays for another 10 years, all NBA records will belong to Lee!"
Seizing the opportunity, a grinning Ron Artest began to belittle tonight's opponent and mock Tim Duncan:
"Lee is the true MVP. Without those sympathy points, Duncan wouldn't have won that award at all!"
When Kurt Thomas and Raja Bell also started boasting, Michael Finley and Diaw, who had just joined the team, both felt out of place because they couldn't boast like the others.
After the veteran Finley offered a simple blessing, he noticed that Prince wasn't overtly boasting, and just as he comforted himself that there were still normal players, a voice came to his ear:
"Lee should win DPOY this season! His Defense has inspired us!"
Thinking of those games where Lee clocked out after three quarters and slacked off, and hearing Prince say this with a straight face, the veteran Finley almost couldn't hold back, trying hard to control the surprised expression on his face:
"Is this how all championship teams are?"
On the evening of the 31st at 7:30 PM, Madison Square Garden became lively again.
Tonight was New Year's Eve, and after watching this game, people could go to Times Square to join the festivities.
The New York Knicks also held Lee's birthday event, offering discounts on merchandise and free snacks to attending fans.
Tim Duncan previously didn't care about media evaluations, nor was he interested in explaining his "MVP story" to reporters.
However, after three losses in the NBA Finals, the 29-year-old Duncan finally compromised.
Starting this new season, he began to accept interviews, increased his statistics in nationally televised games, and did not forget to display a confident attitude after games.
These changes were visible to the naked eye and were indeed a fresh development for sports reporters.
Among the San Antonio Spurs players, Manu Ginobili had won an Olympic Games gold medal, Popovich had won Coach of the Year (COY), and Parker had married the big star Eva.
Duncan's honors over the years were pitifully few.
While being on the All-NBA Team was good, it paled in comparison to an MVP.
On Lee's birthday night, most of the fans present were not focused on the outcome of the game.
Everyone was enjoying the atmosphere, and in a few more hours, they would welcome 2006.
Nick Van Exel's arrival did not change the San Antonio Spurs' roster structure.
The aging All-Star, whose big contract had ended, simply rested upon arriving in San Antonio.
Injuries had taken away the small guard's athleticism, and considering his salary of $1.14 million, this trade could only be considered barely not a loss.
As in previous games, Parker and Manu Ginobili partnered in the backcourt, with Bruce Bowen, Tim Duncan, and Nesterović in the frontcourt.
After finishing his rookie season, Parker shone brightly under the new rules.
His finishing at the rim and long two-point shooting percentage both saw significant improvements, and the Frenchman's growth was instrumental in the San Antonio Spurs securing the top spot in the Western Conference.
After the game began, Parker failed to capitalize on his advantages.
Facing Lee's occasional overplay Defense, his jump shot seemed hesitant.
Tim Duncan was frequently double-teamed, and from beyond the arc, the San Antonio Spurs players also failed to seize opportunities.
In the first quarter, the New York Knicks' performance was average, but the San Antonio Spurs seemed even worse.
During the rotation, Robert Horry and Brent Barry also failed to respond from beyond the arc, and a 4-of-16 performance from three-point range in the first half left the San Antonio Spurs trailing by double digits.
43:55, at halftime, Tim Duncan's expression was somewhat grim as he walked towards the player tunnel.
At the MSG commentary desk, Mike Breen took the opportunity to discuss the MVP topic again.
Tim Duncan had the most support, but as a New York fan, he disagreed:
"The San Antonio Spurs are excellent; in them, we can see rigorous tactical coordination."
"Tim Duncan's individual ability is unquestionable, but unfortunately, there is a significant gap between him and Clay Lee."
"The 2001-02 season was arguably Tim Duncan's career peak, with a Win Shares of 17.8, but Clay Lee's was 22.3 in that same season."
"Team record, basic individual statistics, and advanced individual statistics – he doesn't have an advantage in any of them. This is why many fans question Tim Duncan."
Walt Frazier was not familiar with the calculation formulas for advanced statistics.
On the currently released rankings, the top few names were all historical superstars.
Thinking of this year's selection rules, the New York Knicks legend could only subtly comment:
"Clay Lee and Tim Duncan are similar in age, and considering that their career peaks overlap, this year's selection can also be seen as a form of compensation."
"I respect Tim Duncan, but the fact is, looking only at records and statistics, no one can compare to Clay Lee."
"Besides Lee, if I had to choose an MVP, I would vote for Tim Duncan. Reaching the NBA Finals three times, his strength is commendable."
Excluding the Utah Jazz, in Clay Lee's career, his opponents in the NBA Finals have been either the Los Angeles Lakers or the San Antonio Spurs.
Shaquille O'Neal is considered a life winner, with MVP and FMVP awards, while Tim Duncan has definitely lost big, having nothing.
After the new season began, the San Antonio Spurs had an excellent record.
Although Tim Duncan's individual statistics were not that impressive, basketball critics still wanted to give him a compensatory MVP.
As the two commentators chatted, the fans in the arena danced happily to the music.
In the visitor's locker room, however, Tim Duncan was not in such a good mood.
Popovich naturally knew his star player didn't want to lose like this.
Even if they had to lose, it should be with dignity:
"Tony, what are you thinking? I don't see your aggressiveness. 2 points, you seem to be sleepwalking on the court!"
1-of-4 in the first half, 0-of-2 from the free throw line, the hesitant Parker often went cold when facing Lee, currently contributing only 2 points.
Although no longer a rookie, Popovich still criticized Parker from time to time, and occasionally targeted Manu Ginobili as well.
Tim Duncan also looked at his teammate, and though he didn't speak, his eyes held encouragement.
Parker leaned on his knees with both hands, looked at everyone, then lowered his head and whispered:
"I will adjust my state."
Popovich harbored doubts about the Frenchman's fighting spirit, pondered for a moment, and finally looked at Horry:
"Robert, you'll start the second half. Don't hesitate, forget the score. We're not pursuing victory or defeat."
Pushing Duncan to the 5 position, with one inside and four outside, this was the San Antonio Spurs' best offensive spacing lineup, and it also allowed Duncan to utilize his one-on-one ability.
Horry nodded.
Although he had lost quite a bit, he still wanted to contribute to helping Duncan win the award:
"I know what to do. We have the ability to win the game."
Unlike the atmosphere in the San Antonio Spurs' locker room, everyone on the New York Knicks encouraged Lee to take more shots.
However, tonight's game wasn't nationally televised, and he still had extra training on his birthday night, so Lee truly didn't want to exert himself.
Although Coach D'Antoni often seemed disengaged, the coaching staff did not relax their demands on themselves, having formulated game plans early on.
Considering the possible substitutions the opponent might make, Mike D'Antoni briefly spoke in the locker room before the start of the second half:
"Boris, be ready to enter the game early. You know what to do. Pay attention to our rebounds."
As a guard becoming an inside player, his role on the New York Knicks reverted to his youth team days.
Diaw had no choice and showed a joyful expression, earnestly assuring:
"Leave the rebounds to me!"
Kurt Thomas's right ankle had been bothering him all season.
Under the torment of an old injury, his lateral movement speed had significantly decreased.
Fortunately, he had already signed a large contract, and Kurt Thomas didn't mind his playing time being reduced.
Before going on court, he even patted Diaw's shoulder and encouraged him:
"With Lee here, scoring is very easy. Keep it up, man, maybe you can win an award by the end of the regular season too!"
Diaw felt he should learn from the veterans how to subtly flatter Lee.
This kind of flattery, integrated into everyday life, was also a skill:
"Most Improved Player award? The trophy is indeed very beautiful!"
"..."
After being discharged from the hospital, James Dolan came to watch the game live for the first time, sitting in the front row below the basket.
Although the lawsuit was still ongoing, the curly-haired owner was in a good mood.
As the third quarter was about to begin, James Dolan, who was being interviewed by his own radio station, also heavily praised the star player:
"A true MVP should be like Clay Lee. If there's aesthetic fatigue, why not let the fans vote for the award?"
"I think there should be a vote, just like the All-Star Game, to let the fans make the choice."
"The answer is obvious, everyone loves Lee. Tonight he celebrates his 28th birthday, and he still has a very long career ahead of him."
"I don't want to see Lee lose his honor. He deserves it!"
The curly-haired owner earnestly offered suggestions.
The MSG reporter was speechless, and a fan vote would just turn into a fan war.
Tim Duncan could forget about winning an award.
"Defense!"
Amidst shouts of "Defense," the third quarter began.
Parker, who received the ball on the baseline, did not rush to dribble past half-court but instead signaled a tactical play early.
Coach DAntoni, with his arms crossed, observed the San Antonio Spurs' lineup from the sideline, then confidently paced with a smile, confirming that their opponent indeed relied on the same three moves.
Manu Ginobili was on the left wing, and Horry, who started the second half, stood directly on the right wing.
With Bruce Bowen squatting in the right corner, the San Antonio Spurs had only Duncan inside.
In the first possession, it was clearly a star isolation play.
Lee only went to meet Parker when he approached the three-point line.
Manu Ginobili faked a screen and then moved towards the top of the arc.
Taking this opportunity, Parker switched to his left hand and moved to the left wing, then directly lobbed the ball to Duncan in the left low post.
Facing Gasol's Defense, Duncan, who received the ball with his back to the basket, observed the perimeter Defense.
With no double-team, he immediately put the ball down with his right hand and continuously backed down.
The opponent tried to drive into the paint.
Gasol provided physical contact while raising his left arm.
When Duncan approached the paint area on the lower left side of the basket, he suddenly faked a shoulder move towards the baseline, deceiving Gasol's center of gravity, and immediately stepped up towards the perimeter.
Although Gasol reacted and raised his arm in time, Duncan leaned slightly back, and his right-handed one-handed floater still found the net steadily.
45:55, the San Antonio Spurs narrowed the deficit.
Duncan raised his right arm and pumped his fist in celebration.
The noisy Madison Square Garden couldn't drown out Duncan's shouts to remind his teammates.
No matter how the opponent changed, after Lee dribbled past half-court, the New York Knicks still set up in a 1-3-1 formation, with Gasol at the free-throw line and the two wings moving to the corners after observing the Defense.
"Let's go Knicks!"
Wave after wave of cheers made Duncan, who had moved to the perimeter with Gasol, frown.
Parker noticed the movement behind him and immediately prepared to squeeze through the screen.
Stopping on the three-point line, Lee, holding the ball in his left hand, used the screen to move laterally.
Sensing Parker squeezing through, Gasol immediately accelerated and cut down.
His teammate wasn't out of position, but Duncan still raised his help Defense position, keeping himself in front of Lee, sliding to block the passing lane.
Leaning into the Defense, dropping his shoulder, and accelerating, the moment he broke through to the left restricted area, Lee suddenly stopped short, then made a small change of direction.
He almost squeezed through a gap near the paint.
As Lee gathered the ball and hopped sideways, Parker was completely out of position.
Directly in front of the basket, Lee, having shaken off his defender, faked a shot with the ball.
Duncan moved his feet, cut off the passing lane, and simultaneously raised his right arm.
His almost perfect defensive choice was ruined by his teammate.
Chasing back to his side, Parker jumped to block, but once he was in the air, it was too late to dodge.
As his opponent landed, Lee leaned slightly back, shooting over the Defense with a high-arcing jump shot.
"Whistle!"
The referee blew his whistle, and the basketball soared over Duncan's fingertips, landing precisely in the basket.
The renewed cheers in the Madison Square Garden made Parker a bit embarrassed.
He raised his hand to signal to his boss, and seeing Lee smiling at him, he couldn't help but curse under his breath:
"Damn it! It's like this again!"
Facing excellent interior defenders, Lee also liked to shoot some mid-range shots.
Duncan did his best, but Defense is never a one-person job.
He could only watch Lee step to the free-throw line.
45:58, Lee made the free throw, immediately responding.
The San Antonio Spurs ran the same play, and Duncan, who received the ball in the right low post, was quickly met by help Defense from Raja Bell in the right corner.
Before the double-team could form, Duncan, with the ball raised, twisted his body and flung the ball towards the perimeter.
After Bruce Bowen, who had accelerated and run to the left corner, caught the ball, Ron Artest immediately rushed to defend him.
Stopping in front of his opponent, Ron Artest did not jump.
Bruce Bowen, bothered by the Defense, missed his jump shot.
"Perfect defensive rotation, the boys are familiar with all of the San Antonio Spurs' offensive schemes!"
"Coach DAntoni is indeed a tactical master. Our Defense is even better this season."
From the commentary booth, Mike Breen saw Lee grab the long rebound and continued to boast, while Walt Frazier felt that the San Antonio Spurs' adjustment was very timely:
"Once the opponent can make three-pointers, an 11-point deficit could disappear within minutes."
In a semi-transition offense, as Lee crossed mid-court, Duncan had already quickly returned near the paint.
The retreating San Antonio Spurs also conveniently switched defensive assignments.
Bruce Bowen was already chasing Lee's side early, and Parker switched to guard Raja Bell.
The big man had already rushed inside the three-point line.
Lee slowed down at the top of the arc.
As Kurt Thomas came up for a fake screen, Bruce Bowen immediately lowered his center of gravity and squeezed through the Defense.
At the same time, Horry, facing Lee with the ball in his right hand, also slid over for a big hedge, attempting to cooperate with his teammate to complete a double-team.
Feeling the defensive pressure beside him and seeing Horry raise his left arm, Lee, moving laterally, suddenly stopped short, leaning into the defender beside him.
Bruce Bowen collided with Lee, but before he could reach out to steal the ball, the basketball passed between the two of them.
Facing the small change of direction with a lowered center of gravity, Horry couldn't bend down in time, and Lee took the opportunity to squeeze between the two.
"Oh!"
Amidst the fans' exclamations, the moment Lee touched the ball with his left hand, he seamlessly completed a pocket pass.
Duncan, who came up for help Defense, extended his arm but failed to steal the ball.
By a hair's breadth, the basketball flew into Gasol's hands in the lower right corner of the basket.
Gasol caught the ball, exploded vertically, and powerfully dunked the ball with both hands over Duncan!
"Wonderful pass! Clay Lee once again toyed with the San Antonio Spurs' Defense!"
From the commentary booth, Walt Frazier immediately praised loudly.
The cheers in the Madison Square Garden were non-stop.
Flashy offense always ignites the atmosphere.
Gasol, who got the easy score, high-fived Lee in celebration, and when he looked at Duncan, a hint of sympathy appeared on his face.
After tonight's game, it was unknown how much sympathy Duncan would have left.
Basketball commentators who enjoyed the spectacle would be mocking Duncan's loss for the next week.
Facing the widening deficit, the San Antonio Spurs no longer opted for three-pointers.
Duncan set a screen for Parker near the right baseline.
Slipping from left to right along the baseline, Parker briefly shook off Lee.
In the right restricted area, he received a pass from Manu Ginobili at the top of the arc and quickly scored with a jump shot.
Popovich continued to clap his hands and encourage from the sideline.
Lee, receiving the ball at the baseline, accelerated again, quickly rushing past half-court.
Kurt Thomas adjusted his screen position.
Before reaching the three-point line, he briefly screened and then immediately cut down, stopping near the left elbow area.
Horry hedged early.
As Lee, holding the ball in his left hand, approached the three-point line, he immediately made a behind-the-back pass.
Kurt Thomas, unguarded, made a mid-range jump shot.
47:62, the deficit still showed no signs of shrinking.
The scores for both teams began to rise continuously, with Duncan attacking the basket forcefully, Bruce Bowen hitting mid-range jump shots, and Manu Ginobili making consecutive free throws.
The San Antonio Spurs' Defense had some minor issues.
Excessive delays allowed Lee to easily find open teammates, and Gasol and Kurt Thomas continuously scored easy buckets.
Midway through the third quarter, Horry made a contested three-pointer from the right wing, prompting Coach DAntoni to immediately call a timeout.
Seeing the New York Knicks substitute in Diaw, Popovich signaled to crash the offensive glass, but after a few possessions, it was Lee and Diaw who grabbed the offensive rebounds.
Ron Artest's three-point shot from the left wing missed, and the long rebound bounced out.
Diaw again secured possession ahead of Horry.
Parker, who had just accelerated, didn't receive a pass from his teammate and instead completely lost track of Lee, watching Diaw deliver a short pass.
Receiving the ball on the right wing, Lee didn't adjust.
He caught the ball and immediately shot it!
Horry helplessly turned his head to look at the rim as the basketball swished through the net again.
Popovich's face grew long, and he immediately called a timeout, rushing onto the court to berate Parker.
After the timeout, the game continued. From the commentary booth, Mike Breen could see that the outcome was decided.
He glanced at the statistics and continued to praise:
"In three quarters, Clay Lee has already dished out 16 assists. The young man is in incredible form tonight!"
Veteran Michael Finley, who had just entered the game, received a pass from Lee on the right wing.
Bruce Bowen, who had rotated to the right elbow area, contested the shot, but the basketball still swished through the net.
"Clay Lee has completely taken control of the game. Tim Duncan is powerless to change our Defense!"
Walt Frazier prematurely declared the game over, and the New York fans in attendance also began celebrating the victory.
In the San Antonio Spurs' final possession of the third quarter, Parker's open three-pointer from the top of the arc missed, bringing the score to 70:87.
When Duncan needed his teammates' support the most, Parker failed to step up.
The Frenchman shot 1-for-3 in the quarter, scoring a mere 2 points, and made multiple errors on the defensive end.
Back on the bench, Parker hung his head, breathing heavily, enduring Popovich's furious tirade.
He really wanted to say, "I tried my best."
To the surprise of many fans, the San Antonio Spurs did not give up in the fourth quarter.
Tim Duncan led the charge, attempting to turn the tide.
But Fisher's three-pointer quickly responded, and in a rare fast break opportunity, Parker's layup was interfered with by Prince and missed.
Horry failed to maintain his shooting touch from the third quarter, missing open three-pointers.
With 7 minutes and 26 seconds remaining in the game, Clay Lee returned to the court, and after a few possessions, his assist count began to rise again.
Diaw popped out after a pick-and-roll, received a pass from Lee on the right wing, faked a shot, and then drove hard to the basket, pushing past Horry who was sliding back on Defense.
He stopped abruptly to the lower right of the rim, faked several times, and then made a layup over the Defense.
Horry looked at Diaw's relaxed expression and could only angrily slam the ball in frustration.
Brent Barry, who replaced Bruce Bowen, also failed to respond, missing an open three-pointer from the left corner.
Duncan retreated diligently on Defense, and Parker also ran back to his own half early.
Lee, who secured the long rebound, chased after the opponents, initiating a transition offense.
Finley and Prince also sprinted quickly.
With no one guarding the top of the arc, Lee, dribbling with his left hand, drove to the free-throw line, suddenly went behind his back with the ball, and looked to Prince on his right.
Parker and Duncan were both fooled simultaneously.
When the basketball flew into Finley's hands on the left, cheers erupted again in the Madison Square Garden.
Not wasting the spectacular pass, Finley, upon receiving the ball, took three large steps, leaped into the air, grabbed the ball with his right hand in mid-air, and dunked it over Duncan!
"Ah!"
The veteran completed the dunk, pounding his chest and roaring under the basket.
Lee, who had made the no-look pass, also smiled and went over for a chest bump celebration.
Duncan stood expressionless under the basket, then walked directly to the bench.
Popovich sensed that his star player's mood was off and immediately called a timeout.
"On his birthday night, Clay Lee once again delivered a perfect performance for us!"
"31 points, 6 rebounds, 20 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers—this is Lee's night!"
Mike Breen was completely hyped.
With multiple beautiful passes delivered throughout the game, Lee would likely dominate most of tomorrow's Top 10 Plays.
10-for-17 from the field, 3-for-6 from beyond the arc, and 8-for-8 from the free-throw line, Clay Lee, playing 35 minutes, exerted slight effort and efficiently secured a large double-double.
Seeing the San Antonio Spurs put in their 'atmosphere squad', Walt Frazier recalled a previous commentator's evaluation of Duncan and couldn't help but jokingly remark:
"In my opinion, Clay Lee is the selfless leader. Many people forget how he activated the team with his assists in his rookie season."
"."
The two commentators continued to lavish praise from the booth.
Tim Duncan, whose Defense had been thoroughly broken, covered his head with a towel.
He didn't want to win awards based on sympathy points, but tonight's game felt like a nightmare.
The New York Knicks continued their relentless attack, and both teams trading baskets made time fly by.
The final buzzer sounded, with the score settling at 99:118, as the New York Knicks decisively defeated their opponent, concluding their final game of 2005.
9-for-19 from the field, 9-for-9 from the free-throw line, 27 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block—in a direct confrontation, Tim Duncan ultimately delivered a double-double.
In the losing team's player tunnel, after a quick greeting, Duncan quickly left the Madison Square Garden.
Popovich, standing by the scorer's table, forced a smile and offered to shake hands with D'Antoni.
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
The shouts echoing through the Madison Square Garden interrupted Popovich's thoughts.
He suddenly lost the mood for small talk.
What he needed to do now was return to the locker room as soon as possible to comfort his star player.
James Dolan and the fans in the front row stood up together, applauding.
In the center of the court, Lee took the microphone, smiled, and loudly declared:
"Welcoming my 28th birthday with a victory! Your support is the best birthday gift!"
"Oh!"
The roaring Madison Square Garden made Popovich instinctively quicken his pace.
Before returning to the locker room, a thought suddenly popped into his mind:
"Perhaps winning the award isn't a good thing for Tim."
New York fans happily celebrated New Year's Eve in Times Square.
On January 1, 2006, the NBA also announced the December Players of the Month:
Clay Lee from the Eastern Conference and Dirk Nowitzki from the Western Conference successfully received the awards.
In December, the New York Knicks achieved a 14-1 record, bringing their overall record to 26-2, continuing to lead the entire league.
Clay Lee averaged 34.1 minutes per game, putting up 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 11.4 assists, 2.3 steals, and 2.0 turnovers per game.
He averaged 17.5 field goal attempts per game, with a 56.0% field goal percentage.
He averaged 7.7 three-point attempts per game, with a 43.6% three-point percentage.
He averaged 7.4 free throws per game, with a 93.9% free throw percentage.
Compared to last month, his statistics fluctuated slightly.
On the scoring list, Lee still trailed Iverson and Kobe.
The Dallas Mavericks achieved a 12-4 record in December.
Dirk Nowitzki averaged 27.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.0 blocks, and 1.8 turnovers per game.
His field goal percentage was 47.2%, three-point percentage was 30.0%, and free throw percentage was 91.2%.
Although Dirk Nowitzki won Player of the Month, Duncan still outranked the German in the MVP standings.
Commentators seemed determined to make amends.
On the 2nd, the New York Knicks easily defeated the Sacramento Kings at home, 95:111.
With a 12-18 record, Head Coach Adelman was not far from being fired.
According to the current trend, the Sacramento Kings had a high probability of tanking for the first overall pick.
After checking out in the third quarter, Lee was in a good mood during the post-game press conference.
The recent MVP discussions had brought him much joy.
There wasn't much to talk about regarding the game itself, so an ESPN reporter took the opportunity to discuss the season's hot players:
"Charles Barkley believes Kobe Bryant lacks help, Clay. If you and Kobe Bryant swapped teams, could you lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a championship?"
This 'if' scenario left Lee bewildered.
Two days prior, Kobe was suspended for an elbow, and the Los Angeles Lakers lost, leading commentators to criticize his teammates.
"I've won 7 NBA Finals, and I think you should know what that means."
"Only the best team wins championships, and there's no doubt that the New York Knicks have the best players in the league."
"I am indeed very fortunate because I have enough help. As for what kind of results swapping teams would achieve, perhaps only God knows!"
"To show respect to my teammates, I will continue to lead the team in pursuit of the championship this year."
Lee's words, ironically, made some reporters begin to sympathize with Kobe's situation.
62 points proved Kobe was an excellent scorer.
Duncan and Kobe had recently gained more sympathy points, which Lee couldn't empathize with:
"Only championships are real. As for the rest, who will remember?"
(A/N: Lol 😂 😂 😂)
...
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)