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***
On May 12, 2003, in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, both the Nets and the New York Knicks advanced, meeting in the conference finals for the second consecutive year.
Similar to the Pacers, the Detroit Pistons suffered a crushing defeat in Game 4.
With a score of 82:102, the Nets, back on their home court, didn't waste the opportunity, sweeping their opponents 4:0 and ending the series early!
Chauncey Billups continued his previous performance, shooting 1-of-8 from the field, and tallying 6 points, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and 1 turnover.
Jason Kidd controlled the entire game, shooting 10-of-21 from the field, 1-of-5 from beyond the arc, and 5-of-5 from the free-throw line, scoring 26 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 6 turnovers.
Clearly, most of the guards in the Eastern Conference were no match for Jason Kidd.
After Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups also faltered.
When attending the post-game press conference, after leading his team to the Eastern Conference Finals again, Jason Kidd made a bold statement:
"We've been ready for a long time, just as I promised, I will lead the Nets into the conference finals again."
"Clay Lee and the New York Knicks have always been my biggest opponents. We've been preparing for this moment all season!"
"I know how good I am. I am the best point guard in the league. As for Lee, he is a combo guard and not within the scope of comparison. Our playing styles are very different."
Jason Kidd's boast of being the best point guard in the league was not refuted by sports reporters.
If Clay Lee hadn't been in the Eastern Conference, perhaps he truly would have led that former bottom-feeder team into the Finals.
Jason Kidd was unlucky to encounter Clay Lee, but if he had stayed in the Western Conference, he might not have even touched the floor of the conference finals.
Unless Jason Kidd was willing to lower his value and actively choose to join the Lakers, Spurs, or Timberwolves to play "brotherhood basketball."
Otherwise, with the Phoenix Suns' current roster, making it to the Western Conference Finals would definitely not be an easy task.
Jason Kidd boasted and showed confidence, while in another game that night, the New York Knicks continued their dominant victory, sweeping the Pacers 4:0 with a score of 112:91.
In this series, Reggie Miller, who was not in good physical condition, averaged 29.5 minutes per game.
He averaged 10.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.8 turnovers, with a field goal percentage of 27.7%, a three-point percentage of 16.0%, and a free throw percentage of 91.3%.
Grant Hill and the veteran played together, showing no mercy to the opponent, and with the New York Knicks' perimeter players taking turns guarding him, Old Miller struggled for 4 games.
At the post-game press conference, Clay Lee and Grant Hill only spoke platitudes.
There was no need to discuss this series.
All four games were won by large margins, and the two teams were simply not on the same level.
Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose, who attended the press conference, were not put on the spot by sports reporters.
Losing a game by less than 10 points indicates that both sides still have a chance to compete, but losing so badly in the semifinals, no one would be surprised if the Pacers announced a rebuild during the offseason.
Finally, a TNT reporter asked the question everyone in the audience cared about most:
"Reggie, next season, will fans still see you on the court? Do you have any plans to retire?"
Wearing a dark gray suit, Reggie Miller's face was somewhat grim after the loss.
Upon hearing the question, he immediately replied:
"I don't want to retire. I will continue to chase a championship, and I will not leave the Pacers."
"I will not join an opponent for a ring, and I don't need any player's sympathy."
"If you can beat me, then come on! Just like Hill did in this series."
"I have lost to the New York Knicks many times. Clay Lee has a chance to become the greatest player in history. I have experienced the eras of Michael Jordan and Clay Lee, and I enjoy my career competing against them."
Any player at 38 years old will start to decline physically.
The Pacers' beat reporter looked at their defiant core player and felt a pang of sadness:
"Perhaps we won't win a championship for the next few years."
The Eastern Conference Finals will officially begin on May 18th, giving both teams over a week of rest.
The advantage of the Nets and the New York Knicks playing in the conference finals is obvious: for the next half month, neither team will need to fly.
Playing away games will be like "going home."
And for Clag Lee, he genuinely enjoyed playing playoff games against the Nets.
During the Eastern Conference Finals, until the end of May, he could stay in Manhattan.
Even in early June, through the Finals, with their record advantage, the New York Knicks could continue to wait for their opponents in Manhattan.
This scheduling benefit not only brought a smile to Lee's face, but everyone on the return flight was also beaming with joy.
Playing games while flying is nowhere near as comfortable as playing at home.
Mike D'Antoni recently felt like he was on top of the world.
In his first season coaching the New York Knicks, he had a chance to win a championship.
Compared to his previous coaching stint with the Denver Nuggets, it was definitely a case of choice being greater than effort!
The coaching staff was also having a few drinks on the plane.
The team had two days off, and against the Nets, they still had a significant advantage in terms of roster.
Perhaps he had too much whiskey, assistant coach Crawford rubbed his bald head and suddenly sighed in a low voice:
"Coaching the New York Knicks is definitely a good thing. Jeff is in Cleveland, and he won't be able to enjoy the New York life."
Another assistant coach, Andy Greer, seemed to understand the Bald Young Coach, but he also wasn't optimistic about his success in Cleveland:
"In the draft lottery in a couple of days, the Cavaliers will definitely get the first pick."
"It's said that Cleveland will prepare a grand welcoming ceremony for him, welcoming both him and that talented high schooler."
"The savior of Cleveland sports, even if he can't win a championship, Jeff in New York will never receive such treatment."
The New York Knicks' head trainer, Greg, pouted when he heard their conversation, then said in a low voice:
"Do you think a coach should enjoy the same exposure as a star player? Forget it, in modern basketball, there's only one big shot like Pat Riley."
"Jeff is asking for too much, and the market is also an important factor. What player would want to go to Cleveland to play?"
"Michael, if you achieve the same success in the future, would you choose to leave New York?"
Mike D'Antoni, also having a drink, had already tossed his jacket aside and unbuttoned two more buttons on his shirt.
Hearing the question, he casually replied:
"Leave New York? Has Lee retired? When he retires, I won't coach anymore, and then I should leave here."
"Manhattan is too lively. It's not suitable for an old man like me."
The three of them were speechless.
Lee wouldn't retire for at least 10 years, and by then Mike D'Antoni would indeed be an old man.
They realized that he intended to cling to the big leg and not let go!
On the evening of the 13th, in two Western Conference Semifinals games, the home teams again secured victories.
93:112, the Dallas Mavericks won the pivotal Game 5!
Chris Webber suffered an injury, and Dirk Nowitzki and Finley of the Dallas Mavericks also performed generally.
Fortunately, Steve Nash had a breakout performance, shooting 5-of-12 from the field and 15-of-16 from the free-throw line, scoring a game-high 25 points!
By winning this game, the Dallas Mavericks also had a high probability of advancing to the conference finals.
The game between the Lakers and the Spurs remained tight until the final quarter.
The Lakers dug too deep a hole in the first half, losing by 18 points (38:56), and despite a strong comeback in the second half, they still lost the game.
With 3.6 seconds remaining, Robert Horry missed a three-pointer.
Ultimately, with a score of 94:96, the Spurs once again protected their home court, bringing the series score to 3:2!
Kobe Bryant played the entire game, shooting 15-of-31 from the field, 5-of-11 from beyond the arc, and 1-of-2 from the free-throw line, tallying 36 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 4 turnovers.
Shaquille O'Neal shot 8-of-14 from the field and 4-of-7 from the free-throw line, scoring 20 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks, and 5 turnovers.
After winning this game, Gregg Popovich was overjoyed and once again praised his star player:
"We played a perfect game in the first half. Although we had some defensive issues in the second half, Tim Duncan's assists and David Robinson's jump shots still secured us the victory!"
"In Game 6 on the road, we will give it our all!"
In crucial games, Gregg Popovich naturally relied heavily on Tim Duncan, who played 45 minutes, shot 11-of-22 from the field, and 5-of-8 from the free-throw line, recording a massive double-double of 27 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and 2 turnovers.
Tony Parker also performed exceptionally well, shooting 8-of-16 and contributing 21 points, while Manu Ginobili also had 12 points.
In contrast, the Lakers' perimeter shooting was terrible, shooting 6-of-22.
Besides Kobe Bryant, only Brian Shaw made a three-pointer.
This situation was practically a repeat of the New York Knicks in last year's Finals: the perimeter shots just wouldn't fall, while the opponent had multiple players scoring.
After losing the game under such circumstances, Kobe Bryant did not explain the reason for his frantic shooting, only expressing his view to the sports media:
"I've given my all. Now I just want to focus on the next game!"
"..."
On May 14th, the NBA announced this season's All-Defensive Teams:
The First Team consisted of 5 players:
Clay Lee, Doug Christie, Ron Artest, Tim Duncan, and Ben Wallace.
The Second Team consisted of 5 players:
Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Bruce Bowen, Kevin Garnett, and Shaquille O'Neal.
Doug Christie, who failed to make the First Team last year, seemed to have been compensated.
The coaches likely looked at defensive efficiency when voting.
After the list was announced, some were naturally dissatisfied.
Kevin Garnett, who fell in the first round, expressed his doubts through media reporters:
"I am the best frontcourt defender in the league. I don't know what's wrong with the current selection process? Statistics are completely meaningless!"
"If you only look at statistics, why were Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal selected for the Second Defensive Team?"
"In terms of defensive efficiency, they aren't even in the top 50? Is it just because they luckily won a championship last year?"
"I don't understand this selection. My defensive impact is better than Ron Artest's! I should have been selected for the First Defensive Team!"
Kevin Garnett, speaking to the media, appeared very agitated.
With his first words, he offended several people.
The tough guy who was upset in the first round seemed to have broken down.
After the list was announced in the morning, Yahoo Sports reported Kevin Garnett's complaints.
Then the New York Media also started fanning the flames, and Ron Artest, who made the First Defensive Team, also began to mock his opponent during an interview:
"Go check my stats, go watch my games, and see who I'm guarding every night!"
"You know nothing about me. Go look at the stats of the players I've guarded. Numbers don't lie!"
"I'm not like the thief from the Lakers who only uses fame to get votes, nor am I like that softie from the Timberwolves who only talks big but loses in the first round."
"."
The All-Defense Team roster seemed like a fuse, and the recently bored New York Media seized the opportunity to explode, preparing to make some big waves over the next half month!
In the evening, Lee was resting at his home on 82nd Street in Manhattan, and he also chatted with his agent, Mark Bartelstein, about the Nike contract.
Ever since Kwame Brown flopped with the Washington Wizards, Mark Bartelstein had been feeling a bit troubled.
Even though Michael Jordan had retired and would likely leave the Washington Wizards in the future, this Rookie still intended to leave the team!
Perhaps due to spending too much time arguing with the Washington Wizards' management, Mark Bartelstein hadn't had much success recently, even losing the LeBron James bidding war to the well-known agent, Aaron Goodwin.
Mark Bartelstein, who was drinking black tea in the study, looked a bit haggard, with noticeably less hair and some bloodshot eyes.
Missing out on several promising Rookies from the 2003 draft had indeed caused him a significant loss:
"Nike will definitely agree to your personal brand and offer a lifetime contract."
"Your influence in Asia, particularly China is even greater than they imagine. They won't miss out on this huge market."
"As for sales dividends, the other party will certainly propose harsh conditions. In fact, due to Michael Jordan's interference with Nike's operations, they also plan to reclaim the shares he holds."
"They seem to have already discussed reclaiming the shares in exchange for sales dividends internally."
"The only thing worth discussing right now is the dividend percentage. It will be difficult for us to reach an agreement in a short period, and we also need legal services!"
"After you retire, to prevent them from going back on their word, we must protect our rights when signing the contract."
Lee secretly took a deep breath, and under the large desk, Scarlett, suppressing a laugh, slowly sped up her rhythm.
Controlling his expression, Lee then gossiped and asked:
"I almost forgot that Michael Jordan still holds shares in Nike. Given his personality, he really wants to go further into management and gain more say."
"The dividend percentage is indeed an issue. My age is both an advantage and a disadvantage, as they will undoubtedly emphasize future uncertainties."
This issue involved a lot of money, and both sides would definitely have to argue internally.
Mark Bartelstein offered a suggestion:
"There's another option: we can formally discuss the dividend percentage after the next two years of the contract are completed."
"Nike has a Asian tour this year, or rather, they will have activities every year in the future, and they want to see the effect. This can also ease the current minor conflict."
"This timing is perfect. As long as you win the championship this year, your influence will further increase, and no one will give up a win-win opportunity."
Lee nodded and reached out to twist Scarlett, who was still accelerating, but the girl only intensified her actions.
Mark Bartelstein seemed to recall the recent hot news and sighed softly:
"That high school student from Akron is incredibly popular!"
"It's said that after Cavaliers beat reporter Chris Dennis revealed LeBron James was open to leaving his hometown to join other teams, agent Goodwin's phone was bombarded with calls."
"It's such a cliché drama: joining a hometown team, single-handedly changing Cleveland sports. This is the perfect script!"
"David Stern has likely prepared the stage for this Rookie. It won't be long before the NBA promotes him to challenge you."
Lee hadn't been paying attention to this news, but he was aware that major sports media had started building momentum after the McDonald's All-Star Game:
"Challenge? No one in the Eastern Conference will be a match for the New York Knicks in the future."
"On the contrary, the Detroit Pistons are lucky this year. They will definitely get the Grizzlies' 2003 protected first-round pick, especially since the first overall pick will certainly go to the Cavaliers."
Mark Bartelstein chuckled softly upon hearing this.
The Grizzlies' Jerry West must be extremely depressed.
This pick was practically a gift.
The two then discussed the general arrangements for June, and finally, Mark Bartelstein waved his hand, still somewhat dejectedly, and said:
"I need to get back to Chicago early to see if I can sign any more promising Rookies. This period is my last chance!"
Watching his agent stand up and leave, Lee could only offer his blessings:
"Mark, good luck! Say hello to your family for me!"
When only the two of them were left in the study, Lee quickly took another deep breath.
The girl's breathing also became heavy, and soon both of them let out a soft gasp.
Scarlett had just stood up from under the desk when Krysten Ritter entered the study with two plates of pastries.
The girl's face was slightly flushed, and she swallowed hard, then pretended as if nothing had happened, saying in a somewhat hoarse voice:
"I was just about to get some cookies, Alyce. Would you like something to drink?"
The little assistant, wearing loungewear and a ponytail, had subtly applied light makeup, but at this moment, she showed a puzzled expression:
"Lemonade is fine. I haven't had much appetite lately. I should have known better than to go to Italy with you!"
Scarlett playfully rolled her eyes at Lee, then swayed her hips and walked out of the study.
Krysten Ritter presented a cookie to Lee like a treasure:
"Clay, try my baking. I improved the recipe. It's not as sweet now!"
The little assistant said in a sweet voice, then suddenly wrinkled her nose, showing a suspicious look.
Lee ate the cookie in his hand in one bite:
"It's delicious, Alyce! Where do you want to go tonight?"
Krysten Ritter's attention was diverted by the question, and she quickly leaned in close to him, beginning to act spoiled.
It was rare that they could stay in Manhattan for the rest of the schedule, so the three of them celebrated that evening.
The bedroom lights were dim, and Krysten Ritter, having just experienced an intense match, felt weak.
On the other side, Scarlett secretly slipped off the bed, took out the handheld camera that the other party had prepared, turned it on, held it in her hand, and then let out a low laugh.
Before the little assistant could react, the naked girl embraced Lee from behind, holding the camera, her breathing rapid, and teased in a somewhat hoarse voice:
"Alyce, you're so beautiful tonight! I must capture this wonderful moment!"
Giggles and playful noises filled the bedroom.
Lee turned his head to kiss the girl, pulled her in front of him, took the camera, and went straight in:
"You, you always come up with new tricks!"
On May 15th, the Western Conference Semifinals attracted a large number of fans.
Despite being far behind in the series, Los Angeles fans were inexplicably confident, firmly believing that the OK Combo would crush their opponents once they returned to their home court!
In the first half, both teams' players performed exceptionally well.
Duncan completely erupted, shooting 9-of-11 from the field and scoring 19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 turnovers in the half.
Parker also contributed 13 points, and the Spurs once again had multiple players scoring.
Facing David Robinson's strong Defense, Shaquille O'Neal shot 9-of-14 from the field and 3-of-5 from the free-throw line in the first half, scoring 21 points!
Kobe was also extremely efficient, shooting 6-of-7 from the field, 1-of-1 from beyond the arc, and scoring 13 points.
54:50. Although they were trailing, the OK Combo's strong performance had Los Angeles fans at Staples Center in high spirits, as everyone believed the Lakers would win the game!
In the third quarter, Duncan shot 5-of-11 from the field and 4-of-6 from the free-throw line, giving his full effort and scoring 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 block.
Led by this core player, the Spurs extended their lead with a 24:19 single quarter.
In the fourth quarter, something unacceptable to Lakers fans happened: the highly efficient Kobe started missing shots.
When he passed out of double teams, the Lakers' role players couldn't respond, and O'Neal had difficulty receiving the ball, watching the Spurs continuously run transition offenses.
In the final quarter, Kobe shot 1-of-7, scoring 2 points and committing 1 turnover.
Shaq shot 2-of-4, contributing 5 points and 2 rebounds.
Ultimately, the Spurs launched a scoring run, outscoring them 32:13 in the quarter.
The game ended with a score of 110:82, and the Spurs successfully eliminated the defending champions 4:2 in the series, advancing to the Western Conference Finals once again!
In this crucial game, Tim Duncan exploded for 37 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and 3 turnovers in 42 minutes, shooting 16-of-25 from the field and 5-of-7 from the free-throw line.
Parker shot 9-of-19 from the field, 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, and 7-of-10 from the free-throw line, tallying 27 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 3 turnovers.
In addition, Manu Ginobili, who came off the bench, also contributed 12 points, and all the role players who played scored.
The Spurs committed only 10 turnovers in the entire game, playing a perfect game!
Staples Center was still noisy after the game, as Los Angeles fans were devastated—the dynasty was over!
Watching the Spurs celebrate wildly and Gregg Popovich raise his arms in triumph, Phil Jackson on the sidelines was too angry to speak.
O'Neal and Kobe certainly gave their all, but the Spurs' performance was too heroic, and with their outside shooting struggling, they truly couldn't hold on.
Shaquille O'Neal, who played 38 minutes, shot 13-of-21 from the field and 5-of-10 from the free-throw line, tallying 31 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks, and 1 turnover.
He walked off the court immediately after the game.
Kobe Bryant sat on the bench, covering his face with both hands.
He shot 9-of-19 from the field, 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, and 0-of-2 from the free-throw line, finishing with 20 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 7 turnovers.
His performance in the fourth quarter dashed the Lakers' hopes of a comeback.
Kobe couldn't accept such a result and remained seated on the bench for a long time, unwilling to get up.
After winning this series, Duncan, attending the press conference, also promised San Antonio fans:
"We will win the championship this season. This is a gift for the fans!"
"Before David retires, he will lift the o'brien cup. He has given everything to the Spurs, and we will help him achieve this dream!"
David Robinson, standing nearby, felt his eyes well up.
This season, everyone on the Spurs team was united, and to be able to enjoy such a process as he approached retirement, he was already very content:
"I believe Tim. We are ready!"
On the other side, O'Neal and Kobe, who also attended the press conference, maintained grim expressions throughout, with no communication between the two.
When asked about his shooting struggles in the fourth quarter, Kobe glared at the ESPN reporter, then calmly stated:
"My shooting touch was good in the first half. In the fourth quarter, I just couldn't make shots."
"My shot selection was fine. I always believe I can make the next shot!"
Shaquille O'Neal was clearly displeased with Kobe Bryant's shot selection, and when answering questions, he didn't forget to speak sarcastically:
"I've given my all, and I can still dominate the paint. Perhaps there's an issue with the team's strategy. I'll have a good talk with Phil Jackson in the offseason!"
As they left the court, neither looked at the other, both walking away quickly with long faces.
The New York Media were naturally the happiest about the defending champions' elimination.
From this moment on, they could mock their opponents to their hearts' content!
In the other Western Conference Semifinals game, the Dallas Mavericks failed to seize the opportunity, losing 109-115, and the series would go to a Game 7.
On May 16th, the NBA announced this season's All-NBA Teams:
The five players on the First Team were:
Clay Lee, Tracy McGrady, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O'Neal.
The five players on the Second Team were:
Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Webber, and Ben Wallace.
The five players on the Third Team were:
Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Paul Pierce, Jermaine O'Neal, and Pau Gasol.
Three New York Knicks players made the All-NBA Teams, making them the biggest winners!
The announcement of the All-NBA Teams couldn't steal the spotlight from the Los Angeles Lakers' news.
Basketball commentators were all discussing the defending champions' loss in the Western Conference Semifinals.
On TNT's show, the trio didn't let go of the topic, especially since the Eastern Conference was already quiet.
To boost ratings, they had to rely on the Los Angeles Lakers.
"We shouldn't blame Kobe Bryant. He played exceptionally well in this series! The Los Angeles Lakers' role players had major issues."
Kenny Smith continued to play the role of the good guy, not following the trend of criticizing Kobe Bryant's performance.
On the other side, Charles Barkley, who was looking at the statistics, said unceremoniously:
"So who's responsible for the Los Angeles Lakers' loss, Phil Jackson? Or Shaquille O'Neal?"
"You can't blame role players for a loss. Their salaries aren't that high!"
"Kobe Bryant performed well, averaging 32.3 points, with a 43.4% field goal percentage, 44.1% three-point percentage, and 78.8% free throw percentage."
"His usage rate in this series was very high, averaging 4.5 turnovers per game. If I had to pick the reason for the loss, I'd still say Kobe Bryant took too many shots."
"Averaging 26.5 shots per game, he should pass the ball to Shaq more often. He's not Clay Lee, nor is he Michael Jordan!"
"He should realize that his performance in the playoffs every year is weaker than in the regular season. His efficiency rating drops in the playoffs."
Ernie Johnson interrupted them and said seriously:
"Shaq did play well, but I think his toe injury affected his performance. He could have avoided such a situation."
"Perhaps, as Lee said, Shaq is content. This season's loss should be counted from the regular season. As the team leader, he should be responsible for the loss."
Shaquille O'Neal was not limited in this series, still averaging 25.3 points, with a 55.9% field goal percentage and 63.3% free throw percentage.
"Averaging 17 shots? Why isn't Shaq taking more than 20 shots?"
"When a team has an exceptionally good big man, why not give him the ball more often?"
The director showed the data, and Charles Barkley started fanning the flames again, asking rhetorical questions and then answering them himself, fabricating:
"Kobe Bryant might be unhappy with Shaq's core status, but he must realize that he isn't good enough."
"We praise Michael Jordan and Clay Lee because their playoff performances in their championship seasons were superior to their regular season performances!"
"I've never liked discussing Clag Lee like a data expert, but the fact is, his efficiency in his third Rookie season far surpassed all other players."
"Kobe Bryant can't produce such a performance. He should realize he needs to give the ball to the better-performing teammates on the team."
"I have great respect for Head Coach Phil Jackson, but after this season's loss, he should make changes. He must establish who the team's core is."
Kenny Smith felt that Kobe Bryant's agent would send them a lawyer's letter sooner or later.
Although the data was real, it was still a bit excessive to disparage a player like that:
"Chuck, you shouldn't hold other players to the standards of Clay Lee and Michael Jordan. They are on another level."
"I just hope the Los Angeles Lakers can effectively strengthen their team after this season. The OK Combo still has room for improvement!"
Charles Barkley pouted.
He even wanted to invite Kobe Bryant to confront him live.
He didn't care about complaints.
As long as the show's ratings went up, he would continue to criticize these players.
Glancing at his co-host, Charles Barkley declared confidently again:
"No one can stop the New York Knicks anymore. Clay Lee will win his fifth career championship!"
"In the offseason, we can finally discuss the topic of the greatest of all time!"
"."
The New York Knicks had already resumed training at this time.
At the Tarrytown Training Center, after the morning video session, everyone was congratulating the three players selected for the All-NBA Teams.
Pau Gasol was very satisfied with being selected to the All-NBA Third Team.
This was only his second season in his career.
Grant Hill was not surprised.
Although his average points per game were less than 20, his selection to the All-NBA Third Team was natural given the team's record.
Ron Artest was very envious.
Although he was selected to the All Defensive First Team, he was not satisfied.
"If I could score a few more points, maybe I could also make an All-NBA Team!"
Stephen Jackson, sitting nearby, immediately said upon hearing this:
"Shot attempts are limited. Our pace is first in the league, but the stats are only so much. Scoring a few more points isn't a simple matter."
"Hey! Bro, cheer up! All-Defensive First Team means you'll get a big contract in the offseason!"
Jackson patted Ron Artest.
For role players, the contract is the most important thing.
Incentive clauses are for stars.
He just wanted to earn more money.
Before lunch, Clay Lee was also stopped by the New York Media who were eager for a story.
A New York Times reporter asked with a smile:
"Lee, what are your thoughts on the Los Angeles Lakers' loss?"
Having been putting in extra practice sessions for the past few days, Lee felt physically and mentally refreshed.
Hearing this question, he also joked:
"I like today's news headlines, but I wasn't surprised by the Los Angeles Lakers' loss."
"Their achievements are limited to this. I've said it before, Shaq is content. I'm glad to see him improve his free throws, but unfortunately, he's lost control of the team."
"Leading a team to a championship is not an easy task. He still has much to learn!"
"Perhaps he should learn to compromise instead of competing with teammates in the locker room. Kobe Bryant played very well this season. Shaq should be fortunate to have such a partner."
The New York Times and New York Post collaborated on a sensation today, with their headlines reading:
"Where is Shark?"
"Where is Kobe?"
The column articles naturally lacked substance.
In terms of Excel, Shaquille O'Neal was still excellent, so everyone started criticizing Kobe Bryant.
The Yahoo Sports reporter was surprised that Lee's prediction was completely accurate and asked again:
"Clay, which team in the Western Conference do you think will ultimately reach the Finals?"
"That depends on team health. Unfortunately, the Sacramento Kings were the first to suffer injuries, which is an opportunity for the Dallas Mavericks."
"The same goes for the Conference Finals. Don't forget that the Spurs and Dallas Mavericks both had excellent records this season."
After Lee answered seriously, an ESPN reporter on the other side provocatively asked:
"Clay, with the Los Angeles Lakers' loss, do you think Kobe Bryant should bear more responsibility? His performance in the 4th quarter last night was really terrible."
Lee, who was busy breaking double teams every night, hadn't paid attention to Kobe Bryant's specific stats, but answering such questions had a fixed template:
"The leader must take responsibility for a loss. That's Shaq's problem, just like when I lost the Finals last year, it was because my performance wasn't good enough."
"Kobe Bryant should continue to be himself. Top stars should have that kind of awareness, believing their next shot will definitely go in!"
"Tim Grover and I mentioned this in 'Win'."
"The content in the book is our experience. I understand Kobe Bryant's potential. All he needs to do is believe in his talent!"
On May 17th, in the Game 7 that night, the Dallas Mavericks won 69-112, successfully advancing to the Western Conference Finals!
The Mavericks-Spurs battle was about to erupt, with the Western Conference Finals officially beginning on the evening of the 19th.
On the 18th, the Nets team took a bus to Manhattan in the morning.
Although Jason Kidd had been constantly hyping them up in front of the New Jersey media these past few days, basketball commentators rarely discussed them.
The second team was once again overlooked.
That day happened to be sunday, and the Eastern Conference Finals officially began at 8 PM.
An hour before the game, large crowds of New York Fans were already going wild outside Madison Square Garden.
The pranksters designed a simple missing person poster, with a striking phrase at the top:
"MISSING PERSON"
Below the words were photos of the players, and the pranksters specifically chose some images with pained expressions.
Some New York Fans held posters of a missing Kobe Bryant, while others held posters of Shaquille O'Neal.
Before the game started, a spontaneous DJ brought his own sound system, loudly shouting outside the Madison Square Garden with laughter, and the two groups holding posters cheered wildly:
"Where is Shaq? Where is Kobe?"
"."
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)