On Saturday, May 3, 2008, before the NBA officially announced it, the New York Times had already broken the news that Clay Lee had won the MVP award.
After former MVPs Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki both faltered, Clay Lee's win this time was called by many columnists:
"The return of pure basketball!"
The Regular Season Most Valuable Player award should be chosen from players with excellent team performance and good individual statistics, but in the past two years, the selection method had added "sympathy points."
Fortunately, this year, pure basketball returned, speaking with records and statistics.
Under the current "super team" trend, the "star-making movement" has been declared a failure, and the trophy has returned to the GOAT's hands.
Because of this, Clay Lee's fans have already begun celebrating on social media.
With so many trophies in one season, Lee's win naturally made some people unhappy.
Chris Paul only felt helpless.
If he could lead his team to 60 wins, he might have been able to compete, but fortunately, he led his team to easily eliminate the Denver Nuggets this year, a performance that fans were very satisfied with.
Kobe Bryant was naturally also paying attention to the trophy.
Although he climbed from outside the top 5 to third place, most of the voting media did not buy into it, and the news completely shattered his illusions.
LeBron James, who was pushed to 4th place, congratulated Clay Lee immediately on Monday morning after receiving the news.
When interviewed by Cleveland local media, he did not forget to add to his own narrative:
"It's great to see Clay Lee win again! For a young man like me, this is also an encouragement!"
"If it's the league's first MVP, then I think the selection method should be changed."
"Next season I have a chance to go further. The Cavaliers are in great shape now, and in the future, I will challenge for the trophy."
LeBron James couldn't hide the smile on his face when he said these words.
He was so confident because the Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks had entered a Game 7 battle.
If the The Big Four unexpectedly lose, then the Cavaliers will get a big advantage, as the Atlanta Hawks are not their opponent;
If the Celtics ultimately advance, even with such a large consumption in the first round, the Cavaliers still have a good chance.
Their tough Defense will give the old men a surprise!
During training these past few days, the Cavaliers' atmosphere has been getting better and better.
Even Van Gundy has set aside his prejudices.
As long as they can eliminate the The Big Four, they can still challenge the New York Knicks this year.
Although this was somewhat different from the game plan set by the coaching staff before, the result was still good.
LeBron James even felt that God was helping him.
It was truly outrageous that his opponent had a Game 7 in the first round.
In the four games against the Toronto Raptors, Dwight Howard performed exceptionally well, even his somewhat stiff low-post offense was played convincingly.
Having ended the series early and received widespread praise, Dwight Howard was also a bit inflated.
Seeing LeBron James talking endlessly with reporters, he put his arm around his partner as he passed by and said to everyone with a laugh:
"I also like the MVP trophy! Maybe you should consider voting for me."
"If I win next season, I promise to say each of your names at the award ceremony. That would be so cool, and I'll invite more people to my award ceremony!"
The beaming Dwight Howard seemed to be joking, and everyone laughed, but only LeBron James, who was beside him, realized that his teammate was serious and that his partner was competing with him.
For the Cavaliers' coaching staff, they all had the illusion of being hit by a pie, and even Thibodeau felt it was God's care, which was very similar to what the New York Knicks encountered back then.
On one side were exhausted old men, and on the other were energetic young men.
Van Gundy's anxious mood disappeared with the arrival of the opponent's Game 7, and confidence returned to him.
Facing the local sports reporters, Van Gundy's smile was a bit reserved, but his piercing eyes seemed to convey his attitude:
"The Cavaliers are in great shape. LeBron and Dwight have experienced the playoffs before, and they have rich game experience!"
"We will show our absolute talent in the semifinals. Young people will not fear any challenge."
Seeing the Champion Coach looking confident, most sports reporters nodded slightly in approval, indicating their agreement.
This was indeed a golden opportunity for the Cavaliers.
Eliminating the The Big Four would earn them extremely high prestige.
Noticing that his old partner had regained his usual confidence, Thibodeau was somewhat pleased.
He had received an invitation from the Chicago Bulls and had not yet mentioned it to him.
Having served as an assistant coach for so many years, Thibodeau also wanted to experience the feeling of being a Head Coach again.
He was not sure how his old partner would react after receiving the news, but he ultimately made up his mind:
"I am capable of being a Head Coach."
On sunday, May 4th, the NBA officially announced this season's Most Valuable Player award, and Clay Lee of the New York Knicks won the award without suspense.
After the award was announced, David Stern will present the award to Lee in New York tomorrow.
Although tickets for tomorrow night's game were a bit expensive, they were still sold out.
The Lakers will host the Utah Jazz tonight, officially starting the Western Conference Finals.
The Game 7 between the Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks, happening simultaneously, was clearly more anticipated, with many who enjoyed watching the drama hoping for the The Big Four to stumble.
Facing a talent-filled opponent, Head Coach Rivers was clearly unprepared, and their Defense had issues.
If the Denver Nuggets were defeated by the Hornets' pick-and-roll, then the Celtics encountered unreasonable individual ability, and the coaching staff underestimated their opponent.
Against the backdrop of Boston, New York's many years of dominance also became more valuable.
It wasn't that the opponents weren't strong, but that the New York Knicks were too outrageous, giving no chance to weak teams in the playoffs!
Discussing the The Big Four would lead to talking about Clay Lee.
After almost a week of rest, Kobe unfortunately found that no one was paying attention to him.
Instead, Duncan, who was booed by fans upon returning home, sparked more discussion.
After crushing through the first round, the Lakers fans were ecstatic, and the Finals seemed within reach.
They had finally risen again!
Staples Center was packed, with nearly ten thousand fans already pouring in before 6 PM.
The atmosphere was incredibly lively even before the game began.
With less than 40 minutes until the game started, Kobe, looking relaxed, appeared in the player tunnel and was immediately met by cameras pointed at his face, following him all the way, with some simple questions being asked:
"Kobe, what are your thoughts on this year's MVP selection? It's said your vote rate was very low."
Kobe, dressed in a grey suit, suddenly stopped.
Noticing it was an ESPN reporter, he immediately said with a serious expression:
"I'm not interested in understanding the selection process. If you watched my games, you wouldn't ask such boring questions."
"Maybe in June, you'll see me lift another trophy. I am the best player in the NBA, and I am absolutely certain of that!"
"..."
Seemingly stunned by Kobe's confidence, everyone didn't react for a moment.
When they wanted to ask more questions, Kobe had already turned and left under the protection of the team staff.
"He's saying he's the best player? He's not even the best in the Lakers."
The ESPN reporter complained quietly to his partner, while the few people nearby were not surprised.
Ever since Tim Duncan joined, Kobe Bryant had expressed his confident attitude more than once in front of the media.
"Confidence is important, man! Allen Iverson lost his confidence, and this year he lost to a rookie."
"Players need to believe in themselves. Maybe this can increase their shooting percentage."
The Yahoo Sports reporter casually responded a few words, but some people just couldn't stand such bragging.
As they prepared to go to the media seats, they began to whisper:
"Kobe's shooting percentage can't compare to Lee's at all. He really should check the specific data."
The reporter's complaints did not affect the Lakers' locker room.
Before the game, Phil Jackson, with the help of his assistant coaches, once again explained the defensive assignments for tonight to the players.
After Manu Ginobili suffered an injury in the first round, the Lakers won consecutive games by large margins on the road, without encountering too many challenges.
Perhaps worried that his players would be careless, the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man finally tapped the whiteboard where the tactics were drawn.
After getting everyone's attention, he pushed up his glasses and instructed with a very firm tone:
"Deron Williams is the core of their offense. You should all know how to defend their pick-and-roll."
"Kobe, I want to see your Defense. You need to stop their offense from the start. Tim, pay attention to your defensive position and try to cut off their passing lanes."
Kobe, who had already changed into his training uniform, nodded vigorously, indicating that he accepted the challenge.
Duncan, who was beside him, responded with a sound and then said no more.
His experience in San Antonio made him very sad.
The San Antonio Spurs fans did not welcome him.
Instead, they described him as a "traitor."
For several days, Duncan couldn't shake off his depression, and a sense of guilt would occasionally well up in his heart.
As the Head Coach finished his instructions, Derek Fisher was the first to stand up, leading the applause and gathering everyone into a circle, finally shouting in the middle of the crowd:
"Get into game mode as soon as possible! We must dominate our opponents! Trust your teammates and play for each other!"
"Oh! One, two, three, Tim!"
The motivational speeches and slogans of every team are similar, but this year the Los Angeles Lakers' shouts were exceptionally loud.
After several years away from the Western Conference Finals, the atmosphere group also felt their blood boiling.
As they walked out of the locker room, Turiaf was quietly chatting with Duncan.
PJ Brown, noticing the "big man's" mood, proactively offered comfort:
"Don't mind the fans' extreme behavior. I promise you, in just two more years, everyone will accept this and no one will mention it again."
"The NBA has always been like this. No one pays attention to the teams at the bottom. Everyone focuses on the top. As long as you can make it to the Finals, they will sing your praises."
PJ Brown had the look of an "experienced person" on his face.
Compared to Duncan, the only thing he could boast about was having played for multiple teams.
Although he knew these were all true, Duncan still found it hard to let go.
He patted both of them without speaking, and after a moment, he said with composure:
"Don't worry about me. I've lost the Finals so many times. I know what a championship will bring me."
Everyone stopped, and the noisy sounds of the Staples Center came through the player tunnel.
Kobe pursed his lips and started to warm up again.
When they heard the DJ calling out the home team, everyone immediately turned and rushed forward.
As the names of the home team players were called out one by one, Kobe's appearance quickly made the Los Angeles fans cheer for him.
When Tim Duncan came out, some people even cheer and shouted:
"MVP!"
The overjoyed Los Angeles Lakers fans almost made their cheers break through the Staples Center.
When the lights came on, the cheers were incessant, as if celebrating the team's early entry into the Western Conference Finals.
The game entered a stalemate after it began.
The Utah Jazz made bold substitutions but didn't achieve the expected results.
Instead, Kobe found his rhythm and delivered continuous heavy blows.
41:58, halftime. The Los Angeles Lakers are highly likely to win!
The Los Angeles fans at the venue had no interest in the opponents.
Everyone was cheering for the home team.
Kobe even raised his head and waved to the fans, glancing at the ESPN reporter, as if saying:
"I am the best player!"
At halftime, Kobe Bryant was 6-for-9 from the field, 1-for-3 from three-point range, and 11-for-11 from the free-throw line, with 24 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 turnover.
Kobe's outburst left the Utah Jazz helpless.
This was the first time these two teams had met since 1998.
Head Coach Jerry Sloan was somewhat helpless.
Kobe's performance tonight was better than he expected, which was a difference in star power.
On the ABC commentary desk, Hubie Brown, after reviewing the statistics, began to praise Kobe's Defense:
"At halftime, he's 2-for-9, with only 4 points. Phil Jackson made the most correct decision. Kobe Bryant limited the Utah Jazz's engine, and they have already taken the initiative."
"Tim's Defense is like a textbook, perfect positioning. In the first half, the Utah Jazz found it difficult to execute effective pick-and-rolls. This Los Angeles Lakers team is starting to show its dominance!"
The old coach blew him away, and as his partner, Mike Breen also had to admit that his old opponent was stronger than he had imagined:
"Clearly, Kobe Bryant is declaring war on Clay Lee. If the Los Angeles Lakers could have acquired Tim Duncan earlier, I believe they would have a chance to win 60 games this season."
"This year, the two teams have a chance to meet in the Finals. I hope Kobe can continue his current hot streak."
"..."
In the subsequent game, Kobe Bryant was 1-for-6 in the 4th quarter, and his shooting percentage dropped.
The Utah Jazz also failed to launch an effective counterattack, and the fighting Los Angeles Lakers ultimately secured the victory.
96:108. Staples Center erupted again, and the Los Angeles Lakers fans were celebrating to their heart's content.
Kobe, who played 40 minutes, finished with 40 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, and 3 turnovers on 9-for-18 shooting, 1-for-3 from three-point range, and 21-for-23 from the free-throw line.
At the end of the game, he glared at his opponents and celebrated with a clenched fist.
Taveria saw Kobe in such a state for the first time.
Unlike the young man who made it to the Finals back then, Kobe was now calmer, and his expression subtly revealed a kind of desire.
"Congratulations, Kobe, this was a perfect victory. Let's talk about the Los Angeles Lakers' game strategy. You completely limited their pick-and-roll in the first half."
Looking at the unfamiliar yet familiar female reporter, Kobe finally smiled, which reminded him of the Finals years ago:
"I just completed the task my coach gave me. I said a long time ago that I never play for stats."
"I wake up early every day to train, constantly honing my Defense skills, and now I'm showing them off. It's that simple!"
Winning brought smiles, and the Los Angeles Lakers players passing by in the background all smiled and waved to the camera.
Even the usually serious Duncan managed a small smile, patting his new partner's shoulder in approval.
The long-awaited victory made Kobe very talkative.
Watching Taveria, who kept nodding and responding to him, the special Mamba reiterated seriously when discussing the MVP:
"Although Lee received more votes, I am still the best player in the NBA!"
"I won't congratulate him. That's not what I want to say. I just want to let my basketball do the talking."
On Monday, May 5th, Kobe "declared war" last night, and the Celtics won big against their opponents.
Spectators began to anticipate tonight's game.
Shaq and Lee would most likely respond.
Thinking of this, the fun-seekers wished the game would fast-forward to the real grudge match.
This weekend, Lee often trained until late at night, which made him feel uncomfortable waking up early.
He still had a speech in the morning, and noticing that it was already past 6 o'clock, he had no choice but to prop himself up from the embrace of the three women.
Every weekend was a carnival.
Although the townhouse here in Manhattan was a bit cramped, sometimes it offered a different kind of charm.
Ivanka unconsciously hugged Lee again, and there were still some marks on her round, fair breasts, indicating the intensity of the "sparring" over the past two days.
Melinda, who was squeezed underneath, had disheveled blonde hair.
She murmured a few times and then buried herself in the chest of another blonde.
The scent of pleasure still lingered in the bedroom, and Lee had no choice but to pat the three women, reminding them in a low voice:
"We need to get ready in a bit. Aren't we supposed to record this award ceremony?"
Kim, who woke up first, pushed Melinda away from her arms.
Noticing that everyone was naked, her face flushed slightly.
No matter how many times she tried, she would always feel embarrassed during the day.
"I don't want breakfast! God, what time did we finish last night?"
Kim quickly covered her body with her pajamas, holding her forehead.
As if hearing the complaint, Melinda hugged her again, laughing softly:
"Didn't you always..."
Watching the two of them teasing each other, Lee, now fully awake, shook his head.
He rubbed Ivanka, who was in his arms, and seeing that she only hummed without speaking, he simply picked her up directly.
Ivanka, now awake, quickly laughed.
Noticing they were heading towards the bathroom, she couldn't help but let out a low cry:
"Darling, put me down... Mmm!"
At 8 o'clock, after an extra training session, Ivanka, with a hearty appetite, was still having breakfast at the table.
Melinda, who had already picked out clothes for Lee, was still comparing them back and forth:
"I remember in 1996, we also helped you pick out your formal wear!"
"The styles of clothes sent this season are great. No wonder people who don't know might suspect drugs. Your body has become stronger and stronger these past few years."
Helping Lee button his shirt, Melinda, who had changed into a skirt suit, lightly tapped his chest with her finger a few times, her eyes full of laughter, as if implying his "poor physical condition" in the past.
Lee stretched his neck, ignored the provocation, put his arm around the big-breasted girl's waist, and teased the other two:
"Remember to make me look cool! I don't want to disappoint the kids. Kim, don't worry about the reporters. We've already said hello."
Kim, who had also changed into a dark blue skirt suit, subtly rolled her eyes.
Lee sometimes had a mischievous streak, and she noticed that this year he seemed to have a different motivation:
"I thought you'd be worried about the Goldman Sachs situation..."
Lee subtly winked, but Ivanka didn't notice.
Instead, she happily suggested:
"We could consider making a family documentary, recording our growth..."
....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)