Check out my new fanfics.
Dragon Emperor in Pokemon World.
The return of Itachi
I am Sasuke. Why should I defect from Konoha.
Please give it a go đ
***
On the evening of June 8, 2003, San Antonio Spurs fans witnessed Tim Duncan's explosive offensive desire.
Perhaps it was Coach Popovich's instructions at halftime that worked, or perhaps the expectant gaze of his elder brother, David Robinson, gave Duncan a Buff.
The San Antonio Spurs, fired up, managed to withstand the New York Knicks' offense by relying on fewer possessions and higher success rates.
Due to difficulties in receiving the ball, San Antonio Spurs' offensive rhythm became slower and slower, and they only attempted 14 shots in this quarter.
At SBC Center, San Antonio fans were delighted by their Defense.
The New York Knicks, with more possessions, did not manage to score more points.
With 4.2 seconds left in the 3rd quarter, Tim Duncan once again stepped to the free-throw line.
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
Although Duncan's first free throw hit the rim and bounced out, the San Antonio Spurs fans present were unaffected and continued to loudly cheer for their core player.
After aiming for a while, Duncan made his second free throw, making one of two.
Coach Popovich on the sideline was still loudly reminding his players to retreat on Defense.
Receiving the ball on the baseline, Lee immediately accelerated. Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Bruce Bowen of the San Antonio Spurs simultaneously moved to surround him.
Near the mid-court line, just as the three were about to form a encirclement, Lee casually tossed the ball towards the basket.
San Antonio Spurs fans gasped again as the basketball hit the back of the rim and bounced high, narrowly missing a swish.
In both halves, three-pointers were just short of going in.
Seeing the basketball fly out of the rim, Lee shook his head regretfully, feeling good about the shot.
79:78, the 3rd quarter ended in a tie again.
"Wow!"
Although they were still down by 1 point, the San Antonio Spurs fans present were very happy.
After returning home, they had indeed kept the score close.
Fouls and free throws made the game rhythm fragmented.
At the ABC commentary desk, the three naturally did not discuss the whistles, but instead talked about Lee's status:
"Clay Lee isn't rushing to attack tonight, which isn't a good thing for the San Antonio Spurs."
"After efficient scoring in the 2nd quarter, Clay Lee seems to still be waiting for an opportunity. The San Antonio Spurs' tactics in this quarter were successful, and fewer possessions slowed down the New York Knicks."
Tolbert simply commented while looking at the statistics, while Bill Walton smiled, seemingly very satisfied with Duncan's performance:
"This is the rhythm the San Antonio Spurs like. They used more double teams and faster defensive rotations to limit their opponents."
"Tim Duncan, back at home, completely displayed his dominance in the paint!"
"Perhaps the New York Knicks should change their defensive strategy. The statistics cannot reflect Duncan's impact."
After three quarters, Duncan had already tallied a double-double with 31 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and 3 turnovers on 11-of-21 shooting and 9-of-12 from the free-throw line.
For the New York Knicks, Lee's stats seemed ordinary in comparison: 29 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover on 10-of-18 shooting, 4-of-9 from beyond the arc, and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line.
Nessler heard the comments from his two partners and curiously asked:
"Will the New York Knicks continue to run some low-post offense? Pau Gasol and the others didn't perform as expected in the third quarter."
The two beside him exchanged glances, and finally, Bill Walton said with some uncertainty:
"The New York Knicks have too many scoring options. Although Pau Gasol's low-post performance was average, he also wore down Duncan."
"They rarely shoot three-pointers, mostly taking their offense to the paint. I think this is a tactical adjustment, but Tim Duncan did his job excellently!"
At SBC ball, San Antonio fans holding up whiteboards to cheer for David Robinson were even more excited, all convinced that they could win this game.
Amidst the noise, on the New York Knicks' bench, Pau Gasol was wiping his face with a towel, looking dejected.
This season, the New York Knicks had also added some low-post tactics for their big men, and in specific games, Pau Gasol would always get more opportunities.
When facing well-known interior players in the league, it naturally allowed him to showcase himself.
It was fine when facing Kevin Garnett, but during the regular season, he didn't get much advantage against Duncan.
Sometimes he could respond offensively, but defensively he couldn't hold his ground.
In a single quarter, he scored 5 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 turnover on 2-of-5 shooting and 1-of-2 from the free-throw line.
The stats seemed decent, but several low-post attempts didn't go in.
Coach D'Antoni didn't care about Pau Gasol's performance.
After being reminded by the coaching staff, he knew the New York Knicks might encounter whistle problems during the Finals, so he rotated more in the first three quarters.
"The opponent doesn't dare to let Tim Duncan rest. We need to keep attacking him. He'll be tired soon!"
"Grant! Drive to the basket. Ron, pay attention to off-ball cuts. We still need to score close to the rim. We have a physical advantage!"
"Lee, attack when you find an opportunity. 22 attempts in a single quarter are far from enough. Don't worry about their transition offense. We are the more energetic team. Go show our talent!"
After saying this, Mike D'Antoni, sitting in front of everyone, clapped his hands repeatedly.
Clay Lee stood up and loudly delivered some motivational words:
"Let's go! This is our game!"
Houston had told Lee that Head Coach Rivers liked to shout this phrase, and its motivational effect was excellent.
Jackson, who was preparing to come off the bench, was hyped up and suddenly became "self-ignited."
To avoid foul trouble, the New York Knicks at this point had Lee leading four substitutes for the first three minutes.
Compared to the energetic New York Knicks players, on the San Antonio Spurs bench, Duncan was still panting heavily.
Being tossed back and forth from inside to out, compared to the 1999 Finals, Duncan bore more responsibilities on both ends of the court.
Fortunately, Tony Parker, like an iron tree blossoming, made two jump shots and two free throws in the 3rd quarter, which alleviated the San Antonio Spurs' offense.
He rested for 1 minute in the first half and 2 minutes in the middle of the 3rd quarter.
Gregg Popovich did not intend to substitute his main player.
He first instructed everyone, and before the game started, he patted Duncan and encouraged him:
"Tim, just a little longer!"
Duncan had heard this many times.
He just nodded without speaking, indicating that he understood.
David Robinson was going to play the latter part, and in the early part of the 4th quarter, Malik Rose and Duncan still partnered in the paint.
Tony Parker was sitting on the bench cheering everyone on at this time.
Speedy Claxton once again came on and partnered with Manu Ginobili in the backcourt.
Gregg Popovich was not confident in this lineup, but Tony Parker had played too many minutes, so he could only rest for 2 minutes to catch his breath.
When Lee received the ball on the baseline, the San Antonio Spurs fans in the arena began to chant in unison:
"Defense!"
Instead of a regular matchup, Bruce Bowen proactively took the lead in guarding Lee.
As the San Antonio Spurs' best perimeter defender, he had to help the team get through these few minutes.
Ignoring the opponent's attempt to steal the ball, Lee, with the ball in his left hand, accelerated across half-court and noticed the San Antonio Spurs' defensive matchups.
Quickly signaling a play, Lee didn't run an on-ball screen again.
Tayshaun Prince cut diagonally from the right baseline, quickly arriving at the left restricted area.
Although Claxton was desperately guarding him from behind, the height difference between the two was too great.
Tayshaun Prince completely ignored the defensive actions behind him, raising his hand and backing in to demand the ball.
On the left wing, Lee smoothly delivered a lob pass. Soon, all the New York Knicks players spread out, watching Tayshaun Prince back down the smaller guard one-on-one.
Amar'e Stoudemire stood at the free-throw line, the big man Wright stopped near the right baseline, and Jackson stood on the right wing.
Duncan had already experienced many such possessions in these Finals.
At this point, he could only defend two players or hope Tayshaun Prince would miss his shot.
The forward, facing the guard's tight Defense, put the ball down with his right hand and continuously backed him down.
Although Tayshaun Prince was slender, he had height and long arms.
Near the paint, he leaned into his opponent and quickly turned towards the baseline.
Duncan and Malik Rose both collapsed towards the basket.
Tayshaun Prince, having completed his turn, did not force a layup but instead smoothly passed the ball back to Amar'e Stoudemire, who was cutting through the middle.
The latter received the ball, took a step, and drove towards the basket, then drew a reach-in foul from Malik Rose.
"Boo!"
Such a game was certainly not pretty to watch.
The San Antonio Spurs fans booed, and the three commentators didn't say much, all watching Amar'e Stoudemire shoot free throws.
"Why don't you attack yourself? Solve the problem one-on-one like a man!"
Bruce Bowen stood beside Clay Lee and loudly shouted, clearly not wanting to see this kind of matchup anymore.
"No wonder you guys can't win a championship. Is it because a bunch of idiots are playing on the court?"
Lee, leaning on his knee, turned his head and retorted a couple of sentences, then stopped looking at the idiot yelling about one-on-one beside him.
Bruce Bowen grumbled a lot, but found that Lee only showed him the back of his head and completely ignored him.
81:78, Amar'e Stoudemire made both free throws and bounced back to half-court.
Cheers and shouts of encouragement quickly filled the SBC Center again:
"Go San Antonio Spurs go!"
Claxton was being led by Lee's Defense and found it difficult to break free.
Tayshaun Prince and Jackson also tightly guarded Bruce Bowen and Manu Ginobili from receiving the ball.
Under the combined Defense of three players, Claxton, who had dribbled past half-court, failed to pass the ball in time.
The players on the perimeter couldn't receive the pass, and then Duncan actively came to the right wing for a pick-and-roll.
Lee continued to Bypass the screen Defense.
The opponent did not choose a three-point shot but instead passed the ball to Duncan.
Receiving the ball at the high post on the right wing, standing on the three-point line, Duncan moved horizontally after putting the ball down with his left hand, quickly completing a handoff with Manu Ginobili.
Jackson squeezed through the screen, continuing to pursue from behind, and Manu Ginobili, who was half a step ahead, couldn't shake off the Defense in time.
Leaning on Jackson, Manu Ginobili took three big steps, grabbed the ball with his right hand, and attempted a scoop layup.
Under the interference, the ball hit the rim and bounced out.
Amar'e Stoudemire grabbed the rebound on the left baseline, and Lee quickly moved from the right corner to receive the ball.
The San Antonio Spurs still did not change their Defense strategy.
After Lee signaled a play, he changed direction, and Tayshaun Prince received the ball in the low post on the right.
"Defense!"
Amidst the shouts for Defense, the New York Knicks also ran the same play.
The latter, upon receiving the ball, continued to isolate against the smaller guard.
Putting the ball down with his left hand and backing down twice, Tayshaun Prince leaned on his opponent and turned towards the baseline again.
This time, Duncan's help Defense was very quick.
With his teammate's combined interference, Tayshaun Prince's scoop layup hit the rim and bounced out.
Malik Rose desperately boxed out Amar'e Stoudemire behind him, and the two pushed and shoved each other to the front of the basket.
However, the big man Wright, on the lower left side of the basket, was unguarded.
Duncan wanted to jump a second time to grab the rebound, but Wright tipped the ball first, then grabbed the rebound and immediately jumped to put the ball back up.
Under interference, the ball still bounced around and finally dropped into the basket, drawing another round of boos from the San Antonio Spurs fans.
83:78. Gregg Popovich watched from the sidelines, secretly anxious.
He hadn't expected Clay Lee to truly give the Rookie a chance instead of getting caught n a double-team.
After missing a shot while isolating against a 1.8-meter guard, Tayshaun Prince awkwardly raised his hand to signal, but Lee patted the Rookie's back in encouragement.
Claxton was already confused.
When he was about to receive the ball, he looked at the Head Coach, wondering why the opponent wasn't in the corner as promised.
The San Antonio Spurs attacked again. Manu Ginobili completed a handoff far from the three-point line.
When he reached the left wing, Duncan had already arrived early in the restricted area, receiving the ball far from the basket.
After a jab step, Duncan put the ball down with his left hand, leaned on Wright, and drove straight to the basket.
The double-team from Amar'e Stoudemire on the lower left side of the basket immediately caused him to dish the ball to Malik Rose on the right baseline.
The latter received the ball and made a mid-range jump shot!
83:80. Seeing the deficit shrink, Gregg Popovich breathed a sigh of relief and loudly reminded his players on the sideline to stay focused.
In the next few possessions, the New York Knicks scored repeatedly in the paint, while Malik Rose also scored 4 consecutive points for the San Antonio Spurs.
Despite continuously responding with scores, Gregg Popovich still called a timeout first.
Tim Duncan needed a rest.
The game wasn't exciting.
From the commentary booth, Nessler could only offer platitudes at this point:
"Both teams' bench units have performed excellently. It looks like this game will go down to the wire!"
Tolbert naturally noticed Tim Duncan's condition and immediately offered a different perspective:
"Clay Lee's energy expenditure is very low. This is definitely bad news for the San Antonio Spurs. They can't exhaust him on offense."
After the timeout, both starting lineups returned.
The San Antonio Spurs attacked, and Tony Parker immediately passed the ball after crossing half-court.
In the left elbow area at the free-throw line, after David Robinson passed the ball, Pau Gasol followed the ball and rushed to defend in front of Tim Duncan.
Tim Duncan, in the low post on the left, couldn't complete a turn towards the baseline.
When double-teamed, he could only pull the Defense back and then pass the ball to David Robinson at the free-throw line.
The latter received the ball, again unguarded.
Noticing Pau Gasol twisting back into position, David Robinson quickly shot a mid-range jumper, but it clanked off the rim...
Pau Gasol secured the rebound and immediately passed the ball to Clay Lee.
Soon, the New York Knicks launched another fast break.
Bruce Bowen no longer guarded Lee.
The San Antonio Spurs couldn't accept Tony Parker guarding Ron Artest or Grant Hill.
Tony Parker slid his feet constantly, applying body contact, but still couldn't slow Lee down.
Approaching the left wing, Lee noticed that the San Antonio Spurs players hadn't fully retreated to the basket yet.
As he neared the three-point line, he slowed down and dribbled between his legs.
He suddenly stopped, and under inertia, Tony Parker lost half a step.
After switching to his right hand, Lee faked a drive.
Tony Parker hurriedly slid backward to his left, then stepped forward again to stick to him.
Their bodies collided, and Tony Parker involuntarily moved back a step.
Lee, however, used the momentum to complete a behind-the-back dribble, simultaneously taking a quick step back, returning to the three-point line.
Without giving Tony Parker a chance to react, he quickly shot a slightly fading jumper from the left wing!
"Swish!" The three-pointer swished through the net.
90:84. The SBC Center erupted in another round of boos.
The San Antonio Spurs players, who had just retreated to half-court, could only inbound the ball from the baseline.
After scoring, the New York Knicks players ran back to half-court, and Lee continued to stick to Tony Parker.
Tim Duncan quickly ran towards half-court and began to actively post up in the left low post.
Kurt Thomas occasionally fronted him, not allowing Tim Duncan to receive the ball easily.
After a struggle between the two, Tony Parker couldn't complete the pass immediately, and Tim Duncan was squeezed to the left restricted area.
Tony Parker threw a high lob pass and quickly accelerated with Lee, cutting inside and running towards the right corner.
Hearing the fans gasp, Tony Parker turned his head and realized that Lee had suddenly double-teamed Tim Duncan with Kurt Thomas.
With the two converging, Lee swiped the ball and his hand, cutting the ball away, and the referee immediately blew his whistle.
It was almost a turnover.
Tim Duncan quickly shouted to remind his teammates to be careful with their passes.
Inbounding the ball from the sideline, at the top of the arc, Tony Parker received the ball far from the basket, and Tim Duncan immediately came up for a pick-and-roll.
Tony Parker, holding the ball in his right hand, couldn't shake off Lee's pursuit.
The screen was directly squeezed through.
Sensing Lee's hand interfering from his side, Tony Parker quickly dribbled behind his back.
After switching to his left hand, Tony Parker used Tim Duncan's screen again, attempting to shake off Clay Lee's pursuit, but Kurt Thomas switched Defense in time.
After a round of maneuvering at the top of the arc, facing the big man's Defense, Tony Parker didn't try any fancy moves.
He suddenly lowered his center of gravity, instantly burst out half a step, and drove straight to the basket with the ball in his left hand.
Kurt Thomas could only slide backward to his right, constantly interfering, while Lee began to adjust his footwork from behind.
"Pass!"
Tim Duncan, who had rolled down to the paint, loudly reminded Tony Parker, but the "Parisian Torpedo" lost its brakes.
Nearing the lower left side of the basket, he grabbed the ball with his left hand and quickly attempted a scoop layup!
Lee, who was already prepared, had already leaped into the air, waiting for Tony Parker to shoot.
Before the ball even reached its highest point, he slammed it against the backboard with his right hand!
"Oh!"
Seeing Lee complete the block and regain possession, the San Antonio Spurs fans on site gasped.
Tony Parker, who had lost his balance, fell to the baseline.
Seeing Lee charge with the ball, Tim Duncan immediately stepped forward and committed a hugging foul.
Tolbert noticed Tim Duncan hugging Tony Parker and immediately commented:
"What a spectacular block! This reminds me of the game between the New York Knicks and the 76ers."
"Tony Parker is facing the same dilemma as Allen Iverson. Their jump shots are problematic, but there are layers of Defense when they try to drive inside."
Bill Walton, however, noticed Kurt Thomas's Defense and praised him at this point:
"Although Tim Duncan scored a lot of points over Thomas, every post-up took a lot of effort, and this defensive switch was also very timely."
After arriving on the road, Kurt Thomas had been playing somewhat frustrated.
Seeing Lee successfully block the shot, he repeatedly pumped his fist in celebration in front of Tim Duncan.
The San Antonio Spurs fans, sensing something was wrong, began to shout loudly again:
"Defense!"
Gregg Popovich yelled repeatedly from the sidelines.
At the Head Coach's reminder, the San Antonio Spurs again chose to double-team early, forcing Lee to pass the ball.
Grant Hill, on the right wing, received the pass but did not throw the ball to the wide-open Ron Artest in the right corner.
Holding the ball in his left hand, he came to the top of the arc.
Facing Tony Parker's Defense, Grant Hill signaled a play.
Lee, at this point, ran with Bruce Bowen towards the left corner, simultaneously shouting for an up-screen.
In the left near-baseline position, Pau Gasol came up to screen.
At the same time, Ron Artest quickly slipped along the baseline from the right corner to set an off-ball screen for Clay Lee.
From left to right, Lee first used Ron Artest's screen near the left baseline to cut around to the front of the basket, attempting to shake off the Defense.
Using an "S-shaped" cut, he then used Kurt Thomas's screen near the right baseline, running from the baseline to the right corner.
At the top, Grant Hill's pick-and-roll didn't initiate.
Instead, he came to the right wing and delivered a pass.
Shaking off Bruce Bowen's Defense, Lee successfully received the ball in the right corner, then immediately faked a shot.
Bruce Bowen, who had rushed back to defend, struggled to control his balance, slid in front of Lee, raised his left arm, and turned his body to interfere.
To Bruce Bowen's surprise, Lee immediately put the ball down with his left hand, choosing to drive along the top.
Seeing this offensive choice, Bruce Bowen was secretly pleased.
While desperately sliding backward to his left, he constantly applied body contact, trying to force Lee towards Tim Duncan.
Lee, accelerating with the ball in his left hand, took large strides.
Leaning on the Defense, he instantly rushed to a position near the paint.
Kurt Thomas was still trying to pull Duncan under the basket, but his body was completely blocked behind him, so he could only watch Duncan leap high under the basket.
Approaching the paint, Lee rushed out half a step, jumped with both feet, and grabbed the ball with his left hand, seemingly intending to complete a poster dunk!
Bruce Bowen, who was beside him, had long felt that something was wrong.
After abandoning his defensive position, he reluctantly jumped into the air, but he was more than half a step behind, and his jumping height was too low.
In the air, Lee faced Duncan's block, suddenly pulled his arm down, successfully dodged the Defense, and at the same time exerted force in the air, gliding to the lower left of the basket.
Before landing, he twisted his body and flicked his wrist, smoothly tossing the ball towards the backboard!
"Oh!"
The long-distance gliding scoop shot made San Antonio Spurs fans gasp.
Duncan, who had jumped into the air and pressed his arm down, also widened his eyes.
After his right hand hit Lee's shoulder, he heard the referee's whistle.
Bruce Bowen, who had landed early, subconsciously extended his right foot, but in a flash, Lee twisted and glided to the other side.
It was Duncan, who had jumped straight up and down, who screamed in pain after landing:
"Ah!"
Kurt Thomas under the basket, seeing the ball spinning into the hoop, was about to celebrate with a fist pump, but then saw Duncan fall, and spread his hands to the referee with a bewildered look:
"Sir! I swear, I didn't do anything!"
Bruce Bowen also showed a pained expression.
He had been stepped on quite hard, but seeing Duncan lying on the ground, his mind suddenly went blank.
"OMG!"
Fans in the front row gasped in unison, many subconsciously covering their faces.
A near 90-degree ankle sprain, some fans saw it clearly.
Lee was a bit unsteady after landing.
It wasn't easy to evade Duncan's block.
Hearing the fans' gasps, he turned his head again and saw two people on the ground, and his expression became strange for a moment.
The San Antonio Spurs players all gathered around their leader.
David Robinson was particularly agitated, seemingly wanting an explanation from Kurt Thomas:
"Shit! What did you do!"
Ron Artest, however, stepped forward and pushed David Robinson away.
In fact, he also didn't know what happened:
"Motherfucker! Stay away from Thomas! Don't try any tricks!"
On the New York Knicks side, Kurt Thomas was primarily defending Duncan, serving as the team's most important interior barrier.
Ron Artest thought his elder brother had taught Duncan a lesson with his Specialties'dirty tricks'.
At this moment, he and David Robinson were already pushing and shoving each other.
Fans in the back row were confused and cursed repeatedly.
Gregg Popovich on the sidelines was also extremely agitated, calling the team doctor onto the court, his face red with anger, pointing at Kurt Thomas and shouting:
"Murderer!"
"He hurt Tim, he ruined this game!"
Clay Lee and Grant Hill stepped forward to separate the two sides.
Kurt Thomas was still loudly protesting:
"I swear, I didn't do anything!"
On the defensive end, he indeed had some minor movements: pushing the waist, pushing the knees, hooking legs, subtly reaching out to pinch people, pulling shorts, etc.
But Kurt Thomas was focused on positioning and looking at the rim this time.
Hearing the San Antonio Spurs players' accusations, he also became a bit annoyed.
After separating everyone, Lee pointed to the referee and then loudly reminded them:
"Hey! There's video replay! Nobody wants to see a player get hurt!"
Soon, both teams' players returned to their benches.
Grant Hill saw Kurt Thomas's dejected expression and knew that this matter had nothing to do with his teammate:
"Even in the Finals, you didn't forget those dirty tricks, and ended up hurting your own guy?"
Hearing Grant Hill's words, Ron Artest scratched his head, then looked up at the big screen.
Near the basket, there was a clear replay, and soon the San Antonio Spurs fans gasped.
Gregg Popovich, who had just been yelling angrily, was stunned.
He had indeed secretly reminded Bruce Bowen that at a critical moment, he could deliver "a kick," but it turned out that kick took out his own key player?
Gregg Popovich stood on the sidelines staring blankly at the replay, then quickly looked at the team doctor.
Tim Duncan still looked pained at this moment.
The 4th quarter had been played for half a period, which had greatly consumed his stamina, and his ankle wrap had also started to loosen.
This sprain was life-threatening.
"Greg, Tim shouldn't be able to return to the court. We have to be responsible for his health!"
Hearing the team doctor's words, the Head Coach hadn't spoken yet, but Tim Duncan took a breath and said:
"Let me rest for two minutes, I promise I can still return to the court!"
The San Antonio Spurs players were also somewhat bewildered after watching the replay, and their gazes towards Bruce Bowen changed:
"He even hurts his own people!?"
Gregg Popovich realized he had to hold on at this moment and quickly called Malik Rose, shouting:
"We still have a chance! Play good Defense, David, hold on for a few more minutes, Tony, go score, we must make our shots!"
At SBC Center, after seeing the replay, San Antonio Spurs fans fell silent.
The three referees also had strange expressions and could only announce that the game would continue.
"Boo!"
Lee stepped to the free-throw line, and the boos were significantly quieter.
San Antonio Spurs fans knew the championship might be gone.
93:84, the free throw was made, and the lead reached its largest of the game at 9 points.
"Go Spurs go!"
Parker received the ball on the baseline, and San Antonio Spurs fans screamed themselves hoarse.
Lee was unaffected by the unexpected situation and continued to guard Parker.
The two tangled as they crossed half-court.
David Robinson immediately came to the top of the arc for a pick-and-roll.
Quickly pushing the ball and changing direction, Parker scooped the ball with his left hand, ready to accelerate, but Lee, who was defending on the high side, blocked him with a nimble turn.
At the left elbow, Parker couldn't shake off the Defense and quickly executed another pick-and-roll with David Robinson.
Pau Gasol immediately provided a deep hedge, while Lee, trailing, pursued from behind, cutting off the passing lane.
Driving into Pau Gasol's embrace, Parker couldn't accelerate past him but was double-teamed.
Helplessly, he could only throw the ball to Manu Ginobili beyond the three-point line.
Receiving the ball far from the three-point line, Ron Artest immediately stepped up to interfere.
After a quick push and change of direction, and scooping the ball with his left hand, Manu Ginobili still couldn't shake off the Defense.
The two made body contact, and Manu Ginobili stopped on the left wing.
At this moment, David Robinson was battling Pau Gasol, who was recovering on Defense, for position.
Under the half-front Defense, Manu Ginobili couldn't make a pass.
Seeing most of the shot clock expire, Parker, as the team's second leading scorer, actively came out to the three-point line to receive the ball.
Facing Lee's tight Defense, Parker, with the ball in his right hand, drove with a shoulder drop.
Clay Lee quickly slid backward to the left while engaging in body contact.
Forced to slow down at the free-throw line, Parker quickly executed a behind-the-back dribble and then a sudden stop, creating half a step of separation, then faked a shot!
Lee didn't fall for the fake but maintained his balance and closed in again.
Realizing something was wrong, Parker quickly raised the ball, preparing for a contested shot, but just as the ball reached his head, Lee suddenly lunged forward and poked the ball away.
"Oh!"
San Antonio Spurs fans gasped again.
The moment he lost the ball, Parker immediately twisted, his face somewhat distorted, wanting to regain possession.
Lee pushed off his feet, getting in front of Parker, and scooped the ball again with his right hand.
In their collision, Parker, struggling for the ball, lost his balance and eventually fell at mid-court, angrily slapping the floor.
"Boo!"
Boos echoed through the SBC Center.
Clay Lee, who had scooped the ball with his right hand, accelerated and charged forward.
He entered the paint, took three long strides, then grabbed the ball with his right hand and glided for a powerful dunk!
95:84, the lead extended to 11 points.
Seeing Lee remain under the basket, ready to continue guarding, Duncan on the bench felt exceptionally frustrated, angrily throwing a drink, which made the atmosphere group members not dare to utter a sound.
Parker, who returned to the baseline to receive the ball, could clearly feel Lee intensifying his Defense.
Dribbling with his left hand and accelerating, Parker couldn't shake off the entanglement.
After a sudden stop, he dribbled behind his back to his right hand, quickly turned, and scooped the ball with his left hand again.
Parker still couldn't shake off Lee after crossing half-court.
The noise in the Madison Square Garden grew louder, and San Antonio Spurs fans also began to get anxious.
Without initiating another pick-and-roll, David Robinson posted up on the left block, demanding the ball with his back to the basket.
Pau Gasol continued to defend him from behind.
Parker's lob pass was of average quality, with the receiving position too high.
As soon as David Robinson put the ball down with his right hand, Lee immediately slid sideways to cut the ball, while Pau Gasol also extended his long arm to interfere.
Under the double-team, David Robinson quickly gathered the ball, raised it above his head, and then quickly passed it back to Parker on the left wing.
The latter immediately put the ball down with his right hand and drove hard from the left wing.
Seeing Parker drive to the basket, Pau Gasol immediately collapsed, and Kurt Thomas also moved towards the basket.
Noticing Lee still trailing him, Parker, who had driven into the paint, took a step and quickly jumped, smoothly completing a floater with his right hand!
"Bang!"
The shot under the triple-team was a bit rushed.
The basketball hit the rim and bounced out, and Pau Gasol easily secured the rebound.
Gregg Popovich on the sidelines was still yelling at the top of his lungs, clearly dissatisfied with Parker's offensive choice, but at this moment, the San Antonio Spurs players were already bewildered.
Lee, who received the ball, quickly dribbled across half-court.
Noticing that the defender in front of him had changed back to Bruce Bowen, he didn't seek a mismatch but moved to the left wing.
The New York Knicks players spread out one by one at this time, with only Kurt Thomas lurking near the right baseline, waiting for an easy score.
Near the free-throw line, David Robinson was still hesitating whether he should double-team, while Lee on the left wing had already started his move.
Bruce Bowen kept a defensive distance, raising his right arm to attempt an interference, while Lee, holding the ball in his left hand, began to lower his center of gravity, approaching the three-point line, and suddenly dribbled the ball between his legs.
Just as Bruce Bowen shuffled his feet to the left and back, Lee, who had switched the ball to his right hand, instantly adjusted his steps and changed direction with another crossover dribble.
The two crossover dribbles were almost without a pause.
Bruce Bowen, whose defensive lead foot had been attacked, hadn't even reacted when Clay Lee, scooping the ball with his left hand, lowered his shoulder and accelerated, batting away Bruce Bowen's arm with his free hand, driving straight to the basket!
Malik Rose hadn't expected Bruce Bowen to be beaten in one step.
As he was still shuffling towards the basket, he saw Lee jump off both feet outside the paint, soaring into the air!
Lee's head was level with the rim, his body slightly bent, his right arm pulling back with the ball, and from above, he swung his arm down for a thunderous dunk!
"Boom!" An axe-handle dunk was successful!
The rim rattled loudly, and Malik Rose, rooted to the spot under the basket, stared blankly at Lee, who, after landing, celebrated by pounding his chest expressionlessly.
"Boo!" The SBC Center erupted in boos, and many San Antonio Spurs fans looked towards the bench, hoping for a miracle.
Kurt Thomas joyfully embraced Clay Lee, roaring, while on the New York Knicks bench, everyone stood up, cheering and shouting in celebration.
"OMG!"
"The San Antonio Spurs' best perimeter Defense was easily broken by Clay Lee! The game has completely entered the New York Knicks' rhythm!"
Nessler was also stunned.
Western Conference backcourts had never shown such a performance against Bruce Bowen.
Bill Walton noticed Tim Duncan covering his face on the San Antonio Spurs bench and could only sigh along with him:
"Tim Duncan is the offensive and defensive core of this team. Without his help Defense, the San Antonio Spurs are simply powerless to deal with the New York Knicks' penetration."
97:84, the lead extended to 13 points, and some San Antonio Spurs fans had already fallen silent.
San Antonio Spurs on offense, David Robinson finally drew a foul for free throws.
He made both, helping his team narrow the gap.
Turning around, Lee initiated a pick-and-roll at the top of the arc as soon as he crossed half-court.
Pau Gasol set a high-quality screen, forcing David Robinson to step up for a hard hedge.
Lee, with the ball in his left hand, faced the 'Admiral' shuffling sideways, quickly executed an In-and-Out move, then 'overtook on the outside lane,' lowering his center of gravity and forcefully squeezing past David Robinson.
David Robinson, desperately sliding backward and to the right, quickly realized he had completely lost his defensive position and quickly pulled Lee's jersey.
Pulling his jersey didn't affect Lee.
Approaching the basket, he grabbed the ball with his left hand, leaned forward, and stretched out for a scoop shot!
"Squeak!"
"Bang! Swish!"
The referee blew the whistle, and the basketball soared over David Robinson's block, hitting the backboard high before accurately falling through the net.
"Boo!"
Clay Lee simply pumped his fist after landing, which provoked another round of boos from the San Antonio Spurs fans.
Soon, the shouts overshadowed the boos, as some fans clearly couldn't bear to watch anymore.
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
As Lee stepped to the free-throw line, a small number of New York Knicks fans in the arena began to shout at the top of their lungs.
A small group of New York fans were waving blue handkerchiefs, standing up and twisting around, entering a state of self-indulgent celebration.
100:86, Lee calmly made the free throw, and the lead continued to widen.
The San Antonio Spurs players on the court were now mentally shattered.
Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili became increasingly reckless with the ball, constantly trying to find opportunities from the outside.
After continuous passing on the perimeter, Manu Ginobili on the left wing couldn't break through Ron Artest's Defense and passed the ball back to Tony Parker at the top of the arc.
With overly obvious passing intentions, Tony Parker was about to reach for the ball when Lee accelerated to steal it, poking it away.
"Boo!" The boos erupting in the arena didn't affect Lee's speed.
After scooping the ball with his right hand, he charged faster and faster.
Ignoring Tony Parker chasing from behind, Lee took three big steps, then swung the ball around for a powerful 360-degree dunk!
102:86, Gregg Popovich immediately called a timeout, standing on the sidelines without a word.
Witnessing what the San Antonio Spurs looked like without Tim Duncan, Tolbert on the commentary desk shook his head and sighed:
"Bruce Bowen changed the situation on the court."
"Unfortunately, the San Antonio Spurs have no chance. The New York Knicks will get the match point!"
Bill Walton thought about how Tim Duncan got injured and for a moment didn't know what to say.
Clearly, Bruce Bowen had a purpose:
"Basketball should be purer. This season, the 73-win New York Knicks are undoubtedly the best team in the league."
After the timeout, the New York Knicks players looked relaxed.
On the other side, the San Antonio Spurs players who re-entered the game had dull eyes, seemingly still unable to recover from the previous blow.
With a 16-point lead, Clay Lee began to continuously dish out assists!
Pau Gasol made a layup under the basket, Kurt Thomas hit a mid-range jump shot, Grant Hill drove baseline for a reverse layup to continue scoring, and Ron Artest, left open, also made a three-pointer.
As time elapsed, the San Antonio Spurs continued to score from free throws. After entering the bonus, Lee also stepped to the free-throw line.
The SBC Center was already silent.
In the final few possessions, the New York Knicks casually missed shots, slowly running down the clock, and the San Antonio Spurs failed to mount a comeback, completely collapsing.
As Manu Ginobili missed a three-pointer from the right wing, the final buzzer sounded.
115:94, the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs by a large margin, bringing the series score to 3:0.
On the New York Knicks bench, everyone was beaming with joy.
Mike D'Antoni went to the scorer's table to shake hands with Gregg Popovich.
Mike D'Antoni kept a straight face and said nothing.
After shaking hands, he turned and left.
Replays showed Bruce Bowen's intention, and such a trick naturally got hints from the coaching staff.
Gregg Popovich seemed still unable to recover from the blow of Tim Duncan's injury.
He was completely numb.
Tim Duncan was helped up by his teammates, slowly moving step by step towards the players' tunnel, while Bruce Bowen sat alone on the bench, hands clutching his head, seemingly unable to accept such a result.
No one from the San Antonio Spurs accepted interviews.
Stewart understood their feelings, pushed up his glasses, and approached Lee with a smile.
Lee was waving to the New York Knicks fans who had come to the Madison Square Garden.
Only the New York fans were celebrating in self-indulgence throughout the entire SBC Center.
Stewart noticed the sweat on Lee's head and knew that tonight's game was still somewhat difficult:
"Lee, congratulations on getting the match point! This is a victory that could decide the championship!"
"Talk about your 12th 40+ game! You've once again broken the Finals scoring record!"
Playing 43 minutes, 16 of 24 from the field, 5 of 10 from three-point range, 9 of 10 from the free-throw line, for 46 points, 5 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, and 2 turnovers.
After delivering a 40+ double-double, Lee just smiled politely:
"Compared to the record, I prefer tonight's victory. The San Antonio Spurs were very strong, and it's a shame to see them suffer injuries."
Stewart nodded, then suddenly asked a loaded question:
"Lee, through video replays, we noticed some details. How would you evaluate Bruce Bowen's actions?"
Hearing this controversial question, Lee didn't beat around the bush but spoke earnestly:
"This should be Bruce Bowen's instinctive action. He certainly didn't want to hurt Tim Duncan, but he couldn't control his body's instincts."
"Unfortunately, this instinct hurt the San Antonio Spurs. I don't like his Defense!"
"It's not that his defensive ability is outstanding, but rather his defensive actions make players wary."
"True stars, of course, won't fuss over these things with him. Perhaps the league should introduce some rules. The cost of such undercutting fouls is too low, and there are always some idiots who want to take shortcuts."
Stewart was secretly delighted, knowing such a response would surely stir up post-game drama!
After the usual pleasantries, Lee walked towards the players' tunnel.
Ewing was waiting nearby and followed, patting him on the shoulder.
After the two entered the locker room, Gorilla spoke fiercely:
"This kind of trash should be taught a lesson. The previous one wasn't enough!"
Lee high-fived his teammates one by one in celebration.
Hearing everyone discussing the matter, he returned to his seat, shrugged, and said:
"The coaching staff condoned it. If they chose to have a boxing match, I would look up to them even more!"
Ron Artest, shirtless, was goofing around with Jackson nearby.
Hearing Lee's words, he immediately assumed a boxing stance, threw a couple of punches, and excitedly said:
"In the last game, I can send him home!"
"Oh, oh!"
....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)