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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 sunday, May 7, 2006, the San Antonio Spurs held a grand MVP award ceremony for their core player, Tim Duncan.
Not only were former team legends invited, but all mainstream sports media were also present.
The SBC Center gathered a large number of fans very early.
The Western Conference Semifinals were about to begin that night, but everyone wanted to catch an early glimpse of the MVP's personal style!
Mark Tatum, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing Partnerships for the NBA, smiled brightly at reporters as the award presenter that morning, stating that the award selection was absolutely fair.
Tatum, who has Vietnamese and Jamaican ancestry, strongly supported the "equal distribution" selection method.
Tim Duncan, with 61 wins and three Finals appearances, was more than worthy of this honor.
"Let's welcome the 2005-06 regular season's Most Valuable Player, the core of the San Antonio Spurs — Tim Duncan!"
Tatum said this with a smile, and the media reporters below cheered.
On the far right of the podium, Head Coach Popovich also showed a relieved smile.
His main player finally won an award!
Winning the MVP can be considered achieving superstar status.
This was very important for Duncan, who didn't have many individual honors.
For his first major trophy in his professional career, Duncan didn't stubbornly wear jeans but changed into a proper gray suit.
He was very excited when he received the trophy.
This season, Duncan largely maintained his competitive form from last year, and even his individual statistics didn't change much.
With numerous scorers having explosive statistical seasons, Duncan's Excel numbers were even inferior to Dirk Nowitzki's.
Fortunately, his team's record was strong enough to secure at least the top spot in the Western Conference.
Perhaps due to losing three consecutive Finals, standing at the podium, Duncan gazed at the trophy in front of him and suddenly said in a low voice:
"Perhaps I'm not the best player in the NBA, but I'm confident I can turn the San Antonio Spurs into the best team in the NBA!"
"This trophy is an affirmation for everyone in the San Antonio Spurs. Thank you, Head Coach Popovich, thank you to my teammates, and even more, thank you to the San Antonio fans."
Duncan humbly expressed his gratitude, which frustrated some New York Media who had come to the scene.
They had hoped to hear more boastful statements.
Parker and Manu Ginobili sat with their teammates, looking at Duncan, who was different from his usual demeanor.
Everyone knew that their leader actually cared deeply about this award.
Kevin Garnett, a player who only made it to the Western Conference Finals, managed to surpass Duncan mainly due to the MVP award.
After winning the award, no one would say Kevin Garnett was better than Duncan.
Head Coach Popovich listened to Duncan's recollections of the past, his eyes revealing a look of relief.
He looked at the two people beside him and firmly believed that the San Antonio Spurs would succeed:
"No one can keep winning forever. We will wait for our chance!"
There were two games on sunday.
That night at 7:30 PM, the Cavaliers and the New York Knicks also welcomed Game 1 of their semifinals.
The Cavaliers, who had flown to Manhattan in advance, hadn't been mocked by the New York Media these past few days.
Everyone had aimed their criticism at the new MVP, claiming that he had stolen their honor.
The column articles, of course, were well-reasoned, as the New York Knicks had 68 wins, and Lee's individual Excel stats crushed Duncan's.
Aesthetic fatigue?
New York fans found it endlessly enjoyable.
"Who likes to lose? Who wants to be a loser? What's wrong with winning too much?"
Dwight Howard once again felt ignored.
He thought he was already a big star, but in reality, no one cared about him at all.
New York fans preferred to discuss the new general manager's gossip.
The semifinal opponent was not worth mentioning.
They might only encounter some difficulties in the Conference Finals.
Coming to the Madison Square Garden for an early warm-up in the afternoon, the recovered Steal King, Larry Hughes, had been in low spirits recently.
Due to the passing of a relative and his injury, he hadn't regained much form since entering the playoffs.
Drew Gooden, who had frequently been in trade rumors this season, had completely solidified his position on the team.
Although he was a substitute, his playing time was not small.
During some stretches, Drew Gooden and Dwight Howard partnered in the paint, ensuring strong rebounding.
Compared to Zydrunas Ilgauskas, their combination had better athleticism and more vitality.
During warm-ups, Dwight Howard frequently completed dunks and quickly became the focus of media attention.
The 20-year-old big boy thoroughly enjoyed such moments:
"Don't forget I almost won the Rebounding King this year. I have the ability to win this award!"
"Look at my strong muscles. I've completed my transformation. We have the best talent in the NBA."
Compared to his slightly thin build last season, the Rookie was noticeably bulkier.
In fact, being able to consistently use technology is also an incredible talent, so Dwight Howard wasn't just talking nonsense.
Watching Dwight Howard, who was showing off his muscles and occasionally shouting exaggeratedly, LeBron James stood with his hands on his hips, seriously answering questions:
"The Defense strategy is to double-team. If you look at defensive efficiency per 100 possessions, we are very close to the San Antonio Spurs. In this regard, no one in the NBA can compare to the Cavaliers."
"You know, in the playoffs, Defense is extremely important, which is why we were able to easily win our first-round series."
"We are confident we can do better. Head Coach Van Gundy has already shown us the path to victory!"
Although the Goodwin Brothers no longer served as LeBron James's agents, they taught the Rookie how to interact with the media and display leadership qualities in public, which most reporters praised.
Although he had some worries in his heart, LeBron James always maintained a confident expression on his face.
The team was stronger than last year, and they wouldn't lose easily again.
An hour before the game, a large group of media reporters circled Lee, who had finished his warm-up.
Ever since the gossip about the general manager candidate spread, everyone felt that the team was planning a big move.
This was not a wild guess.
Before this, the New York Knicks had already sent a wave of championship experience to the NBA, which led to the current young roster.
Considering the ages of Kurt Thomas and Grant Hill, no one would be surprised if a trade occurred.
"Clay, what does Donnie Walsh's arrival mean for the New York Knicks?"
Tonight's game was broadcast by ABC, but the reporters on site were clearly more interested in gossip, eager to get trade information directly from Lee's mouth.
This was one of the few "dark spots."
Lee, of course, knew what they wanted to hear.
He smiled, looked up at the Madison Square Garden, and then answered seriously:
"It means we will win more championships. The Celtics next door have 16 championship banners. Although the New York Knicks are close to surpassing the Los Angeles Lakers, that's far from enough."
Hearing this answer, everyone was naturally dissatisfied.
Soon, an ESPN reporter asked a very targeted question:
"To maintain roster vitality, will the New York Knicks seek trades in the offseason?"
"That's the future general manager's job. Perhaps you'll see him very soon. Currently, I'm only focused on the championship. In the semifinals, I still have a lot of work to do."
The smiling Lee was very tight-lipped.
No matter how people questioned him, his answers were watertight.
The news of the new general manager did affect the locker room atmosphere, but overall, everyone was prepared.
After all, Lee hadn't become close with everyone, nor were they like brothers.
The championship allowed everyone to sign good contracts, and getting a "one-man, one-city" award in New York wasn't simple.
Kurt Thomas, who had just signed a big contract, had been frequently involved in trade rumors in the past two or three days.
Grant Hill, who would be in a contract year next season, was also a topic of discussion among onlookers. The two older players indeed reached the point where they should "contribute" to the team.
"These media are truly boring. What's there to discuss!"
Kurt Thomas, leaning on a crutch and cheering everyone on, joked about himself.
With a contract in hand, he would still make money even if he left New York.
Grant Hill, who had already changed into his training uniform, also showed no emotional fluctuations.
Next season, he would earn a salary of $16.9 million, which was already excellent for a 34-year-old veteran.
If he continued to suffer injuries, he even considered retiring directly.
No one liked surgery, and his professional career had already been fulfilling.
"Win the championship, leave the business to the agent. In fact, the team is never stingy with big contracts, and everyone in the NBA knows that."
Grant Hill's words were approved by everyone.
The Knicks pay the most luxury tax in the NBA, and the amount will continue to rise in the next few years.
To maintain the depth of the center rotation, Glen Rice, a center who is laying flat, still earns $7.15 million this year.
Gadzuric expressed his envy, he also wanted to earn money by laying flat.
"The MVP award ceremony. If Duncan makes it to the Finals again this year, the NBA will definitely take care of him. The series will be even more difficult."
Derek Fisher proactively changed the subject, and soon Barnes on the side joked:
"When you were with the Lakers, did the referees take care of you too?"
"You know, some games, I didn't even know how we won."
Hearing Old Fish's self-deprecating remark, everyone laughed.
To create a showdown between Los Angeles and New York, a star whistle was indeed very reasonable.
Perhaps the New York fans were a bit angry about losing the MVP.
During the entrance ceremony, the New York Knicks' DJ screamed:
"Let's welcome the owner of 7 championships, the true MVP among active players, the most dominant player in NBA history!"
"Number 1 from UConn, Point God — Clay Lee!"
The screaming that echoed through the Madison Square Garden made Dwight Howard on the Cavaliers' bench envious, while LeBron James looked up at the championship banners above the arena, his heart burning.
Clay Lee, by his own strength, led the Knicks to become one of the most dominant teams in NBA history.
History is made, and every time he saw rows of championship banners, LeBron James imagined himself winning the championship in Cleveland.
Van Gundy watched Lee jump around and warm up, memories swirling in his mind.
Thinking of Mike D'Antoni about to tie his record, his heart suddenly ached:
"Maybe I should end them myself!"
The bald, chubby man with a determined look was still adding drama to himself, while The Moustache was already sitting comfortably on the bench, ready to go idle.
The coaching staff had completed their task.
After nearly a week, all the game footage had been analyzed, and now it was up to the players' performance.
At the ABC commentary table, Mike Breen and Hubie Brown were still partnering for tonight's game.
The two had already been confirmed to commentate on this year's Finals:
"From the Cavaliers' starting lineup, Head Coach Van Gundy seems to trust veterans more."
"Erik Snow and Larry Hughes are partnering in the backcourt, and the frontcourt trio are LeBron James, Dwight Howard, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas."
Hearing his partner introduce the lineup again, Hubie Brown subtly previewed the game:
"This lineup might be able to limit most teams in the NBA on the Defense end, but it may not be effective against the Knicks."
"Clay Lee has shown absolute dominance in the playoffs, averaging 37.8 points in the first round, with a field goal percentage of 66.4% and a three-point percentage of 56.4%!"
"In the four games of the first round, he also contributed 11 assists and 2.5 steals per game. I don't know how to defend such a player."
"Perhaps the Champion Coach, who is more familiar with Clay Lee, will give us an answer tonight!"
Ron Artest was not affected by the gossip.
He was a New Yorker, not old, and his contract was not overvalued, so he was destined to be in the team's plans for the next few years.
After reaching the semifinals, LeBron James appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated again, which made Ron Artest incredibly jealous.
A Rookie with no achievements had higher popularity than him, it was unreasonable!
Just after tossing chalk powder in front of the scorer's table, LeBron James punched himself twice, still wanting to show off, but he turned around and was bumped head-on by Ron Artest.
"Hey, Bro!"
LeBron James smiled, intending to greet him friendly, but Ron Artest no longer had the smiling face from the All-Star Game.
He stared at the other person with a serious expression and said:
"The whole game, I'll be watching you, Rookie!"
As the game was about to begin, Pau Gasol and the others smiled and greeted the opposing team.
Tonight, Gadzuric was starting again, and the Knicks also put two big men on the court.
Lee was currently hugging and greeting Van Gundy and Thibodeau.
These two were doing well in Cleveland.
Atleast the management currently respected them very much:
"Four consecutive championships, Coach! I won't hold back. This is my standard."
Van Gundy wanted to say, "It's mine too," but ultimately didn't have the nerve to open his mouth.
A faint smile appeared on his chubby face:
"Tom watched a season's worth of game footage. We are fully prepared!"
The director aimed the camera at the two.
As Lee walked towards the center circle, Madison Square Garden became even noisier.
When Dwight Howard leaped high, overpowering Gadzuric to win the tip-off, the Rookie's face showed a triumphant smile, and the Madison Square Garden erupted in cheers for Defense:
"Defense!"
On the first offensive possession, Dwight Howard ran early to the lower right of the basket, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas came near the free-throw line.
As Snow dribbled the ball past half-court, the Cavaliers set up in a 1-3-1 formation.
In previous years, many teams still started their offense from the low post, but now more teams start with a high pick-and-roll or UCLA cut.
The two wings on the high side crossed and swapped positions.
LeBron James quickly ran towards the left wing, and on the other side, Larry Hughes was also moving.
The Knicks immediately switched Defenses.
Grant Hill didn't move much.
As LeBron James approached the wing, he easily matched up.
At the same time, Snow also turned his back, trying to change direction and complete a pass.
Under Lee's tight Defense, Snow's pass was a beat slow.
LeBron James, who received the ball, saw the Defense concentrating on him, so he simply signaled Zydrunas Ilgauskas to post up in the low block.
Moving diagonally to the left restricted area, LeBron James delivered a lob pass.
While Zydrunas Ilgauskas was receiving the ball, he immediately cut off-ball towards the baseline.
Snow followed to the left wing to receive the pass.
Facing Pau Gasol's tight marking, he put the ball down with his left hand, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas continuously backed down.
Before he could get close to the paint, Lee from the high line suddenly sped up and helped Defense inside, disrupting the opponent's offensive rhythm.
When Zydrunas Ilgauskas timely passed the ball back to the completely open Snow, the latter did not choose an open three-pointer, but instead put the ball down with his right hand, attempting to cut in from the high line.
He hadn't even dribbled two steps when Snow directly collided with Lee, who was sliding quickly into his embrace.
Blocked, he quickly dribbled the ball behind his back.
Slowing down after the collision, before Snow could switch hands and lower his shoulder to accelerate, Lee suddenly stepped forward and forcefully stripped the ball, knocking it away, then forcefully squeezed past the opponent.
When Snow reacted, Lee, who had controlled the ball, led it forward with his right hand.
Amidst the cheers of the fans, he completely broke through the Defense, and in the blink of an eye, chased the ball and crossed the half-court line.
1-on-0 in the frontcourt, with no one defending, Clay Lee jumped high in the paint, soared into the air, rotated 360 degrees, stretched his body, and firmly slammed the ball into the basket with his right hand!
"Oh!"
Seeing Lee put his right hand to his ear under the basket, the New York fans, who stood up and waved their orange handkerchiefs, screamed.
Ever since Allen Iverson was brutally beaten by ClayLee in the previous round, Snow had been a little worried about himself.
He showed a bitter face and raised his hand to signal that it was his fault, and the momentum of the game was not looking good.
LeBron James quickly clapped his hands, signaling his teammates to stay calm, and soon the Cavaliers ran the same play again.
Unlike the first possession, this time LeBron James chose to move from the high line towards the baseline, then quickly slipped along the baseline from right to left, while Larry Hughes cut horizontally on the high line to the opposite side.
When Zydrunas Ilgauskas received the ball in the left elbow area, LeBron James also began to pop out, protecting the ball with his body, moving down the line, completing a handoff, and immediately cutting down without setting a screen.
LeBron James, who successfully received the ball, first saw Pau Gasol retreating with his right arm raised in Defense, and then felt a strong force coming from his side as Ron Artest quickly squeezed through the screen to chase Defense.
Without forcing an attack, he leaned into the Defense.
While in motion, LeBron James delivered a bounce pass through the gap.
In the near-baseline position on the left, Zydrunas Ilgauskas made an open jump shot!
"Fluid cooperation. It seems the Cavaliers have continued their good form from the first round!"
From the commentary booth, Hubie Brown also praised loudly, stating that thanks to LeBron James's breakthrough threat in the first round, the Cavaliers' role players performed well.
He felt a bit smug inside, but kept a poker face.
With the Head Coach's support, LeBron James had diligently practiced his ball-handling skills over the past few years, so he wasn't worried about double teams.
"Let's go Knicks!"
Amidst the shouts echoing through the Madison Square Garden, Snow started his Defense from the baseline.
Head Coach Van Gundy, after coaching the Cavaliers, continued his usual 'greasy-haired boss' basketball philosophy: guards must apply full-court pressure.
However, the two players had too great a difference in physique.
Clay Lee, fully equipped, looked slender.
After turning his back and switching to his left hand, he accelerated in a straight line, easily rushing through the center while fending off the Defense.
Snow, desperately sliding his feet, had no way to stop him and didn't even dare to make any unnecessary defensive moves, fearing he would be crushed and pushed aside.
With a similar positioning, the New York Knicks also had Gadzuric staying under the basket for easy scores, while the quicker-moving Dwight Howard followed Pau Gasol to the free-throw line.
When Lee moved to the left wing, Pau Gasol moved up to set a screen.
Simultaneously, LeBron James, guarding the right corner, began to shrink his Defense.
The Cavaliers tried to double-team on the perimeter, with the others responsible for protecting the paint.
Before the Defense could fully settle, Lee, near the three-point line, suddenly passed the ball with great force as Pau Gasol cut down.
Dwight Howard, who had stepped up to double-team, turned his head and could only watch the basketball fly towards the right corner.
Although LeBron James scrambled to defend, Ron Artest, receiving the ball in open space, still hit a jump shot from beyond the three-point line.
"Clay Lee saw it again! The Cavaliers paid the price for their Defense. Perhaps this is Head Coach Van Gundy's choice!"
Mike Breen praised loudly.
In fact, Lee always delivered such passes, but he never tired of watching them.
When Snow received the ball at the baseline, all the New York Knicks players quickly retreated and had already completed their defensive positioning.
Lee was too lazy to lead the Defense against this old opponent who wasn't good at shooting, only stepping up to interfere when he approached the three-point line.
It was almost the same tactic again.
This time, Larry Hughes moved from right to left, slipping past the baseline to accelerate and pop out, while LeBron James ran to the right wing to create space for his teammate.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas saw that his teammate seemed to have shaken off the Defense, so he simply sent a short pass early.
Near the left elbow, Larry Hughes, upon receiving the ball, stopped abruptly and faked. Grant Hill, who was chasing him, didn't jump but almost ran past him.
Shaking off the Defense, Larry Hughes paused for a moment, adjusted slightly, and then decisively jumped and shot!
The basketball had just left his hand when Grant Hill, beside him, extended his left arm, reacting faster, and jumped up to swat the ball away, causing the 'Steal King' to fall directly.
Dwight Howard was still complaining to the referee about his fallen teammate.
Grant Hill, after completing the block, chased the ball and surged forward.
As he crossed the half-court line, he noticed LeBron James rapidly closing in behind him, so he continued to accelerate with the ball in his right hand.
By the time he crossed the three-point line and Grant Hill was near the paint, LeBron James had already caught up.
Amidst the fans' gasps, the two jumped almost simultaneously.
LeBron James, trying desperately to block, watched the basketball bounce high off the backboard and rebound backward.
After landing, LeBron James turned his body and could only watch Clay Lee, who was following up, catch the ball in mid-air, swing it horizontally in a circle, and then, with the ball in his right hand, forcefully slam it into the hoop with a side swing of his arm!
2:7. The New York Knicks quickly scored at the start, capitalizing on their opponent's turnover.
The cheers echoing through the Madison Square Garden made Head Coach Van Gundy's expression change slightly.
Fortunately, in the next possession, after LeBron James's long two-point jump shot from the left wing missed, Dwight Howard put the ball back in.
Dwight Howard, who had just scored, grinned widely and happily.
Before he could show off any further, Lee suddenly accelerated, almost chasing his opponent's backside across half-court.
As he accelerated along the right sideline, approaching the right wing, Snow shuffled his feet continuously, completely unaware that he had already stepped on the three-point line.
As Lee, holding the ball in his right hand, suddenly stopped abruptly and dribbled behind his back, Snow himself charged directly into the three-point line.
The Cavaliers players had just stopped their feet.
On the right wing, Lee naturally brought the ball together, ignoring Snow who was again scrambling to defend, and quickly jumped and shot from beyond the three-point line!
"Swish!" The three-pointer went through the net.
4:10. Head Coach Van Gundy on the sidelines started yelling, seemingly very displeased with the Defense in this possession.
The offensive possession still proceeded as usual.
This time, Zydrunas Ilgauskas made a brilliant pass from the left block, a no-look, behind-the-head throw, assisting LeBron James in a sneak attack under the basket.
Ron Artest also raised his hand to signal, but the New York Knicks did not slow down their offensive pace.
Clay Lee continued to accelerate the push.
As the Cavaliers double-teamed early and Larry Hughes rushed up, Lee quickly passed the ball.
Grant Hill, on the right wing, received the ball and faced Dwight Howard's help-Defense, then drove with the ball in his right hand.
While moving, he passed to Pau Gasol, who was following up in the middle.
The latter arrived directly in front of the basket and encountered Zydrunas Ilgauskas's help-Defense.
Pau Gasol then passed the ball to the unguarded Gadzuric under the basket on the left.
After receiving the ball, he initially wanted to explode vertically, but Dwight Howard, who had been pushed into the paint, cut the ball away, disrupting the play.
The basketball was quickly thrown to the frontcourt.
LeBron James was incredibly fast, snatching the ball ahead of Ron Artest, using his speed to shake off the Defense, and then taking three big steps for a gliding dunk.
Ron Artest had already experienced LeBron James's fast-break ability during the All-Star Game.
Watching LeBron James rush back to half-court, he could only curse under his breath:
"Shit! That guy runs fast!"
8:10. Scoring off turnovers is also one of the Cavaliers' most effective methods.
The New York fans present were unaffected.
The more the opponent resisted, the more excited they became.
The fast-paced offense and Defense was the rhythm everyone liked, and the cheers grew even louder for a while.
In a half-court set offense, Lee, with the ball in his left hand, came to the left wing and suddenly lunged forward, accelerating.
Snow timely slid backward and to the right, and at the same time, LeBron James also moved up to help-defend.
The basketball flew directly to Ron Artest in the left corner.
The latter faked a shot, tricking LeBron James into recovering, and then passed the ball back to the perimeter.
Back beyond the three-point line, Lee received the ball.
Snow quickly slid forward, simultaneously raising his right arm.
Noticing the opponent's feet were parallel, Lee suddenly dropped the ball with his left hand, dribbled it hard, and quickly stepped back.
Watching Lee shoot with a slight fadeaway from beyond the three-point line, Snow froze in place, unable to make any defensive move.
The basketball swished through the net.
In the commentary booth, Mike Breen cheered happily along with the New York fans present:
"OH! What a shot!"
The Cavaliers also didn't slow down their offensive rhythm.
When LeBron James received the ball on the left wing, after several jab steps, he dropped the ball with his right hand and drove forcefully to the basket against the Defense.
Directly in front of the basket, LeBron James's jump step in motion failed to move Ron Artest.
Stumbling, he took an extra step and tossed the ball towards the hoop.
Gadzuric jumped too early.
After landing, he didn't have time to box out and Zydrunas Ilgauskas tipped the ball in from behind him.
Ignoring Ron Artest who was shouting 'travel' at the referee, LeBron James, who successfully assisted the putback, immediately high-fived his teammate in celebration.
If it's not called, it's a good play!
10:13. The Cavaliers, who made it to the semifinals, were much stronger than the weak 76ers.
"Let's go Knicks!"
Both sides responded continuously, and the fast-paced offense and Defense completely ignited the atmosphere.
Grant Hill, running across half-court, noticed Lee passing the ball early and immediately moved from the wing to the top of the arc.
Pau Gasol, receiving the ball with his back to the basket near the free-throw line, turned his body and, seeing the cross screen on the left wing, immediately turned the ball towards the left sideline.
Lee, who received the ball again, faced Larry Hughes, who had switched onto him.
He quickly swept the ball from right to left, then dropped the ball with his left hand and drove forward.
Instinctively sliding backward and to the right, his feet had just moved when he saw Lee pull back with a crossover step.
Larry Hughes quickly adjusted his center of gravity while trying to interfere with his hands.
As the opponent reached out, Lee, with the ball in his right hand, suddenly made a wide turn.
Just as the basketball was about to fly out of bounds, he scooped the ball with his left hand and continued to drive forward.
Lee, who suddenly accelerated, shook off the Defense in the blink of an eye.
Amidst the fans' gasps, he jumped off both feet from the left low block, pulling the ball back with his left hand in mid-air.
Dwight Howard, who was actively recovering on Defense, also jumped very high, extending his right arm, trying to block.
However, after the collision in mid-air, his chest tightened, and then his body involuntarily began to lean backward.
Using the force of the rebound from his shoulder, Lee briefly hung in the air.
As his opponent fell, he swung the ball over the Defense and slammed it into the hoop!
"Boom! Squeak!" As the rim exploded, the referee's whistle blew.
"OMG!"
"Clay Lee dunked on Dwight Howard again! Unbelievable! And one!"
Mike Breen excitedly shouted from the commentary box, noting that Lee looked down at the Rookie who had fallen to the baseline after landing, and the fans in the front row also stood up and screamed.
He almost slammed onto the floor.
Dwight Howard fell so quickly that his ears were filled with noisy sounds.
He only fully came to his senses and realized he had been posterized.
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
Clay Lee stepped onto the free-throw line, and the shouts came in waves.
On this award day, New York fans cheered with particular enthusiasm.
"Rookie, it seems you haven't learned your lesson!"
After making the free throw, Lee paced over and looked at the unconvinced Dwight Howard, teasing him again.
The latter seemed to recall the phrase "When the train is at full speed" and immediately retorted:
"Damn it! That was an offensive foul! No one can dunk on me!"
10:16, the lead was back to 6 points.
On the Cavaliers' possession, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, backing down in the left low post, leaned on Pau Gasol and turned towards the baseline.
He was double-teamed under the basket and smoothly passed the ball to Dwight Howard on the other side.
The pass was a bit low, forcing Dwight Howard to bend down to catch the ball.
Before he could even raise it, Ron Artest, who had quietly returned to the paint, cleanly stripped it away.
The noisy Madison square garden rendered LeBron James's shouts useless.
When Ron Artest passed the ball to the frontcourt, LeBron James immediately took off, gritting his teeth and chasing hard.
Clay Lee, who successfully received the ball after crossing half-court, was incredibly fast.
LeBron James, who had started early and was chasing with long strides, still caught up to his side.
Approaching the free-throw line, the body contact did not affect Lee.
Instead, he used the momentum to wrap the ball behind his back.
Amidst the fans' cheers, LeBron James, who was chasing at full speed, overran the baseline due to inertia.
Lee, who had switched the ball to his left hand with a behind-the-back move, took three big steps and easily threw down a one-handed slam dunk!
10:18, Head Coach Van Gundy frowned and called a timeout.
LeBron James, taking deep breaths, walked to the bench with his head held high.
The Nets' transition offense wasn't this fierce.
He was a bit unaccustomed to the intensity of the semifinal game.
On the other side, the Knicks' atmosphere group had already rushed onto the court, high-fiving Lee in celebration.
Ron Artest seemed somewhat dissatisfied with his performance in these few minutes, complaining in a low voice upon returning to his seat:
"The intensity of the first-round games was too low! I knew playing against a 39-win team would affect me."
Unable to keep up with LeBron James's speed, Ron Artest blamed the 76ers.
"Continue to collapse the Defense, let them shoot a few, and try to get a few more fast breaks!"
The game rhythm was too fast, and the Madison Square Garden was too noisy.
Lee, back on the bench, had to shout these words to unify their Defense strategy.
"Dan, for anyone turning towards the baseline, you go double-team him!"
Before going on court, Grant Hill also pulled Gadzuric aside and whispered loudly.
The Moustache, back in his seat, looked at the automatically adjusting team with a smug smile, then leaned back and continued to delegate.
In the first possession after the timeout, LeBron James again used the screens from two big men under the basket to move laterally and receive the ball near the left corner.
Although he found an open look immediately, the overly obvious tactical intention allowed Lee to timely interfere with Eric Snow's pass.
When LeBron James received the ball, Ron Artest, having adjusted his Defense after the timeout, played even harder, practically hanging on him.
Seeing four big men piled up in the paint, LeBron James, protecting the ball with his side, quickly waved his hand.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas timely ran to the free-throw line, watching his teammate bang and post up.
After continuous powerful drives, LeBron James, holding the ball in his right hand, tried to squeeze near the paint, but Ron Artest refused to give an inch.
He ultimately had to turn towards the baseline to complete a fadeaway jumper.
He put too much force into it.
The basketball barely touched the side of the rim and almost directly fell into Gadzuric's arms.
The moment he gained control of the ball, he immediately threw it to the frontcourt.
Grant Hill was incredibly fast, receiving the ball near mid-court, then directly lobbing it towards the upper right of the basket.
Eric Snow noticed Lee accelerating, chasing breathlessly, but the distance between them grew wider.
The ball and player arrived simultaneously.
Clay Lee took three big steps, caught the ball in mid-air, glided to the lower right of the basket, and effortlessly tipped the ball off the backboard with his right hand!
"Bang! Swish!" The aerial connection was successful.
10:20, the furious fast break and the double-digit lead instantly ignited Madison Square Garden.
The roar of the crowd drowned out Head Coach Van Gundy's loud shouts from the sideline.
Coach D'Antoni, however, was unaffected, smiling slightly and standing up to give Lee a thumbs-up.
The excitable Ron Artest punched himself twice, seemingly fully activating his body, and began to desperately chase LeBron James on Defense.
Coupled with Lee constantly pressuring Eric Snow's passes at the right times, the core player couldn't easily receive the ball for a while, and the Cavaliers again started their offense from Zydrunas Ilgauskas's low post.
He didn't turn towards the basket again.
In the left block, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, facing the basket, noticed the shot clock was running out and shot a contested fadeaway, clanking it off the rim.
Dwight Howard and Gadzuric wrestled under the basket, both falling to the ground.
The rebound was picked up by Ron Artest, who had timely returned to the paint.
LeBron James, working hard on transition Defense, could only watch the basketball fly across half-court as Clay Lee received it and rushed to the right wing.
"Ah!"
As Lee stopped abruptly, pulled the ball back between his legs, and shook off the recovering Eric Snow, he took a pull-up three-pointer in transition, and the front-row fans cheered in celebration.
"Bang!"
"That's good! Clay Lee from downtown!"
The basketball swished through the net.
In the commentary box, Mike Breen shouted along.
Hubie Brown, beside him, couldn't get a word in for a moment and could only listen to his partner's wild praise:
"This is the Knicks' favorite game rhythm! Clay Lee taught the opposing Rookie a lesson: don't compete with the defending champions in offense!"
The boiling Madison Square Garden clearly affected the Cavaliers' mood.
The double-digit lead turned their offense into isolated star plays.
LeBron James failed to shake off the Defense despite using screens twice in a row.
Ultimately, he took a step-back jumper from beyond the three-point line on the left wing, missing another shot.
The long rebound was picked up by Lee near the right elbow.
Then, he immediately drove with the ball.
Eric Snow was already dazed at this point, and the painful memories of the 76ers surged back.
Dribbling with his right hand, Lee, who was accelerating, noticed LeBron James chasing hard behind him.
As he approached the three-point line, he suddenly pushed the ball and changed direction.
Eric Snow, only focused on chasing back, barely managed to twist his body but couldn't make a defensive move before Lee easily squeezed past him.
Actively initiating contact while moving, Lee pushed past the defender and immediately gathered the ball as he approached the paint.
Using the force of Eric Snow being knocked away, Lee drifted to the left-rear, jumped off his left foot, and effortlessly tossed the ball off the backboard with his left hand!
"Oh!"
The 15-point lead kept the cheers going.
Although Head Coach Van Gundy called a timeout, the Cavaliers continued to miss shots when they returned to the court.
With 3 minutes and 12 seconds left in the first quarter, LeBron James broke the scoring drought with a transition offense while Clay Lee rewarded himself with a three-pointer.
Donyell Marshall and Drew Gooden, who came off the bench, helped the team score 4 points in the final few possessions, but their unforced errors also allowed Lee to easily get to the free-throw line.
As Larry Hughes's last-second half-court shot missed, Madison Square Garden erupted in cheers.
16:38, the Cavaliers were overwhelmed by a wave of offense.
Playing the entire first quarter, Clay Lee shot 9-of-11 from the field, 4-of-6 from three-point range, and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line, accumulating 25 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal, setting the stage for the Knicks' victory.
Dwight Howard, who was substituted out early, felt the roaring atmosphere and then looked at LeBron James and his other quiet teammates around him, feeling dejected for a moment:
"Why am I always the one losing?"
...
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)