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Dragon Emperor in Pokemon World.
The return of Itachi
I am Sasuke. Why should I defect from Konoha.
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***
On the evening of May 8, 2004, at the Continental Airlines Arena, the New York Knicks and the Nets witnessed a basketball game transform into a "fighting competition."
A strong team never gives up easily!
Unlike the struggling Celtics, the Nets had reached the conference finals for two consecutive seasons, and both teams had completely different mindsets.
Even a cornered rabbit will bite.
The Nets completely broke down in the third quarter when the score difference reached 15 points, and Kenyon Martin initiated a different style of play.
Late in the third quarter, he first aggressively pulled Ron Artest as he drove to the basket on Defense, then swung his elbow at Kurt Thomas on offense.
Kenyon Martin's dirty play quickly received a response.
After taking a flying knee from Clay Lee on Defense, a furious Kenyon Martin was then met with a crushing block from Kurt Thomas on offense.
In the final few minutes, Kidd, who had been misfiring continuously, also lost his composure, intentionally colliding with Lee during a New York Knicks fast break, causing both to fall at mid-court.
Although the referee blew the whistle, as Lee missed a three-pointer from the left wing, Kidd, who grabbed the long rebound, initiated a fast break but was knocked out of bounds by a back-tracking Lee, and the situation spiraled out of control.
Before Richard Jefferson could even reach the baseline, he was shoved aside by a back-tracking Ron Artest, and the two quickly exchanged words and began pushing each other.
A furious Kenyon Martin rushed to the baseline intending to help Kidd up, but instead, he was blindsided by Kurt Thomas from behind and nearly tripped to the floor.
Pulled up by the Nets fans in the front row, Kidd saw players from both sides crowding and pulling each other under the basket, and quickly rushed forward to restrain Kenyon Martin.
Although they were trailing by a large margin, the game wasn't over.
Kiddl, whose shooting touch was terrible that night, knew very well that if both main offensive players were gone, the series could be declared over prematurely.
The New York fans at the arena also started yelling obscenities, completely forgetting the reminders about using polite language while watching the game.
"Who do you think you are?! MF! Without New York, you're nothing!"
"Bitch! Shut your stinking mouth! How do you think you got your All-Star spot?!"
Kenyon Martin and Ron Artest were the most agitated.
Richard Jefferson held his teammate tightly as the two suddenly started arguing, almost coming to blows.
The beastly power forward, with his excellent physique, didn't care about taking a few hits while leading the charge in that half-quarter.
He was still yelling loudly after being pulled back to the bench.
The game was likely lost, and Kenyon Martin completely let loose.
Regardless of the outcome, he just wanted to vent his frustration.
The referees had pulled Lee aside early.
As long as the star players weren't ejected, their mission was accomplished.
As for other situations, they would likely boost viewership.
Ron Artest, held by Grant Hill, had calmed down by then.
He simply disliked the referee's officiating standards that night.
Richard Jefferson, his direct opponent, kept scoring over him, and Ron Artest was looking for an opportunity to vent his frustration.
Most players on both sides had four fouls, and the third quarter was stop-and-go, making for an unsightly game, but the atmosphere in the arena grew increasingly heated.
86:70, the score difference was still within reach, but the Nets' performance left fans feeling hopeless.
The commotion did not affect the moods of the two commentators.
Rivers even praised loudly:
"Reaching the conference finals for two consecutive seasons, Kidd has forged a new team culture for the Nets."
"I like their performance tonight. Winning or losing isn't important. What's important is that the team must show a desire to win."
"As the team leader, Kidd's statistics were poor tonight, but he demonstrated his sportsmanship!"
Kevin Harlan, however, didn't see any spirit from the Nets.
He just thought their opponents were losing their composure:
"It proves that the New York Knicks are not afraid of such challenges. Pau Gasol and Kurt Thomas's Defense limited the Nets' penetration."
"As for Clay Lee, he is stronger than we imagined. Getting 4 fouls is not a calm approach."
"To turn the game around, the key is for Jason Kidd to step up. The Nets need to make those open jump shots and also need to appropriately speed up the pace of the game."
The two analyzed intensely from the commentary booth, but unfortunately, Kidd, who planned to avoid Lee in the fourth quarter, encountered him again.
The Nets were truly fighting hard and didn't need to rotate their lineup.
Their starting five remained on the court.
If the score difference couldn't be narrowed after more than half a quarter, then resting later wouldn't be too late.
After receiving his fourth personal foul and during the quarter break, Kidd also calmed down.
"Let's go New York Knicks!"
However, as the New York fans' cheers echoed through the Continental Airlines Arena, Kidd, standing at the Logo, couldn't help but twitch slightly at the corner of his eye.
While the opponent made no substitutions, the New York Knicks systematically made their changes.
Aside from the smaller Knight, who was susceptible to the opponent's strong attacks, other rotation players didn't have this problem.
After Lee brought the ball across half-court with his right hand, he noticed Kidd consistently maintaining a defensive distance and immediately realized that his opponent still intended to switch defenders.
The big man Collins, seeing Dikembe Mutombo shifting his feet to prepare for a screen, could only grit his teeth and follow him out.
At the top of the arc, Kidd tried hard to squeeze past Lee after he pushed the ball for a change of direction, but Dikembe Mutombo's screen quality was very high, preventing him from chasing back in time.
Although the big man Collins came up for a hard show, his impact was limited, and Lee simply squeezed past him with his speed.
Collins, not wanting to foul, could only watch as Lee drove straight to the basket, instinctively shouting to Kenyon Martin in the paint to be ready for help Defense.
Hearing his teammate's shout, Kenyon Martin hesitated.
After several matchups, he understood Amar'e Stoudemire, who was beside him, even better.
As soon as he shifted his feet slightly, Kenyon Martin could predict that Lee would surely lob the ball to the upper left of the basket.
Hesitation leads to being out of position. By the time Kenyon Martin moved to directly in front of the basket, Lee, who had already exploded with three long strides, casually tossed the ball into the air.
Amar'e Stoudemire, who had been waiting for a long time, moved horizontally near the left baseline, leaped high, and after catching the ball with both hands in the air, he slammed it into the basket, giving the opponent no chance for a second help Defense!
"Boom!" An alley-oop dunk was successful!
"Ah!"
A loudly roaring Amar'e Stoudemire looked extremely excited, shouting loudly at Kenyon Martin in front of him.
88:70, a nearly 20-point difference, once again ignited the New York fans in the arena.
Frank on the sidelines watched Lee and simply high-five in celebration, momentarily losing his composure.
The first line of Defense was always easily broken, and Kenyon Martin's positioning for help Defense was consistently problematic.
This situation was almost unresolvable.
Frank, with his arms crossed, suddenly realized he could only pray that the New York Knicks' screens on the perimeter were of poor quality, allowing Kidd to complete his chase-down Defense.
Receiving the ball at the baseline and bringing it across half-court, Kidd still quickly passed the ball.
In the right elbow area, Kenyon Martin received the ball with his body, giving a handoff to Richard Jefferson, who was starting from the right baseline.
In his anxious state, immediately after completing the pass, Kenyon Martin accelerated and drove to the basket, failing to provide any screening effect.
Richard Jefferson, who had put the ball down with his left hand, hadn't even had time to accelerate and drive when an unhindered Tayshaun Prince stuck to him from the side.
Even though the opponent was half a step ahead, Tayshaun Prince used his long arms to effortlessly steal the ball from behind Richard Jefferson with his left hand.
The moment the ball was fumbled, Richard Jefferson hadn't even managed to regain control of the possession when Tayshaun Prince, who had snatched the ball away, was already charging.
In a 1-on-0 fast break, Richard Jefferson helplessly stopped and slapped his thigh in frustration as he watched the increasingly fast Tayshaun Prince gradually pull away.
With the ball in his right hand, Tayshaun Prince, after three long strides, glided for a powerful dunk!
90:70, the score difference reached 20 points, and the Continental Airlines Arena completely erupted.
The New York fans on site cheered and shouted:
"You'll never beat the New York Knicks!"
Soon, some polite language appeared before this sentence, and the yelling grew louder and louder, with Nets fans also starting to retaliate.
Before the inbounds pass from the baseline, a conflict broke out in the back rows of the stands, and fans from both sides engaged in another round of boxing, prompting security personnel to rush in.
The game continued, and the Nets fans in the Continental Airlines Arena were still cheering for their home team, but Kidd once again disappointed them, still passing the ball as soon as he crossed half-court.
This was almost a microcosm of the entire game.
Kidd would only stand with Lee on the left and right wings, watching his teammates complete the offense.
Lee followed Kidd to the right wing and, noticing Collins completing a hand-off pass to Kidd at the left elbow, immediately shouted to Amar'e Stoudemire in the paint.
After receiving the ball, Kidd put the ball down with his right hand and drove forward decisively, penetrating directly to the basket from the middle tonight.
Amar'e Stoudemire, alerted, positioned himself in front of Kenyon Martin, cutting off the opponent's passing lane while leaping high to interfere.
Kidd did not choose to pass the ball but completed a mid-air hand switch, changing to his left hand, colliding in the air, and, while losing his balance, reluctantly threw the ball towards the rim.
Kenyon Martin managed to tip the offensive rebound, but as Dikembe Mutombo retreated to the basket, he tipped the ball up again, and Amar'e Stoudemire, after landing, jumped a second time, securing the defensive rebound.
Even with limited opportunities, he failed to finish, and by the time Kidd, who had fallen to the floor, got up, the Knicks had already launched a counterattack.
Lee received the ball, accelerated past the mid-court line, and then immediately passed it to Raja Bell, who was running to the right corner.
Although Kidd behind him chased hard, Raja Bell, who received the ball, made no adjustments and just tossed it up!
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly!
On the Knicks' bench, everyone cheered, and Matt Barnes even swung the towel in his hand into the air.
Watching the score differential widen again, the Nets fans fell silent, and in the noisy Arena, only New York fans were celebrating wildly.
Kidd began to try and speed up the offensive tempo, this time after a pick-and-roll with Kenyon Martin at the right elbow, he immediately drove with the ball in his right hand.
The screen quality was poor, allowing Lee to skillfully squeeze through and easily chase Kidd to his side.
While in motion, Kidd noticed Lee chasing him again, suddenly performed a spin move, and discreetly dished the ball to Kenyon Martin cutting down the middle.
The latter, perhaps due to declining stamina, couldn't attack the rim directly after receiving the ball, but took a dribble before using the momentum to jump!
Just a beat too slow, as Kenyon Martin grabbed the ball with his right hand wanting to dunk, he was rejected by a big block from Dikembe Mutombo, who had rotated to the basket.
The two wrestled in the air, eventually both falling to the ground, Kenyon Martin, losing his balance, tumbled to the lower right of the rim, while Dikembe Mutombo stumbled and sat down on the baseline.
"Oh!"
The beautiful block made the fans exclaim again, Lee boxed out Kidd, and as the basketball hit the rim and flew into the air, he leaped high with it.
He grabbed the rebound, and after landing, Lee, with his back to Kidd, casually threw the ball behind him with his right hand.
A no-look pass, the basketball flew directly over the mid-court line, Tayshaun Prince snatched possession in front of Richard Jefferson, then accelerated past half-court.
Although Amar'e Stoudemire had been out of position defensively, he was now like a tiger on the fast break, following behind with long strides, driving straight to the basket.
Tayshaun Prince spotted his teammate's movement behind him, leaned into the defender, and then threw the ball off the backboard.
Richard Jefferson sensed something was wrong, and before he could turn his head, a powerful force came from behind him!
Amar'e Stoudemire leaped high, and once in the air, grabbed the ball with one hand, colliding with Richard Jefferson while forcefully slamming the ball into the rim!
"Boom!" A transition dunk!
"Ah!"
Richard Jefferson, who almost fell flat, stumbled and crashed into the basketball hoop, and as he turned his head, he saw Amar'e Stoudemire shouting at him, and immediately rushed forward, wanting an explanation.
Tayshaun Prince reacted quickly, hugging Richard Jefferson from behind, and with the sideline referee intervening, a conflict was averted.
Frank on the sideline was pacing anxiously, loudly reminding his players to stay calm, that they had to catch up quickly.
Richard Jefferson, whose mentality had exploded, turned around and committed a turnover on the offensive possession, his drive-and-kick stolen directly by Tayshaun Prince.
At the lower left of the basket, Tayshaun Prince, after completing the steal, casually passed the ball to the frontcourt.
Kidd's pulling didn't prevent Lee from receiving the ball, and both teams' players quickly rushed past half-court, this time the Nets completed their defensive assignments in time.
On the left wing, Lee, with the ball in his left hand, also slowed down.
Amar'e Stoudemire had just moved to the high post when Lee suddenly dribbled between his legs, then immediately changed direction in front of his body.
To guard against the drive, Kidd always maintained a certain defensive distance, which allowed Lee to make his fakes with extreme fluidity.
The sudden acceleration of the dribble forced Kidd to instinctively slide backward to his right.
Only gaining half a step, Lee, still full of energy, drove through the Defense like a tank, charging towards the basket.
As soon as he neared the paint, he jumped off both feet, Lee taking a hop step while bumping Kidd, who was tightly guarding him.
Kidd didn't even manage a block attempt, his body tilted slightly backward from the impact, watching Lee easily scoop the ball with his left hand for a layup!
"Bang! Swish!" The basketball hit the backboard and went in.
97:70, Frank's face turned pale, and he reluctantly called a timeout.
"You guys have to try harder!"
Lee chuckled and patted Kidd, who was glaring at him.
Such a game was indeed very interesting.
"Shit!"
Watching Lee's back, Kidd cursed under his breath again, returned to the bench, took the towel, and threw it on the floor, looking utterly dejected.
Losing G3 meant the series was all but over.
Coming back from a 0:3 deficit could only happen in a dream.
Kenyon Martin also stopped shouting, lowering his head and saying nothing.
For Lee, breaking through the perimeter Defense was never an issue.
To effectively limit him, the second line of Defense was extremely important.
Although the coaching staff repeatedly emphasized it, Kenyon Martin lacked game experience and seemingly lacked talent, often appearing in the wrong defensive positions for most defensive possessions.
This meant that once Kidd was beaten off the dribble, the Nets' interior was often wide open, and apart from egregious fouls, no one could find a more suitable defensive method.
Richard Jefferson and Kidd also remained silent.
With a nearly 30-point deficit, the game had almost lost its suspense, especially since the Nets' offense was struggling, making it difficult to even score 24 points in a quarter.
On the Knicks' bench, Mike D'Antoni, who had been on autopilot, knew the game was secure and handed the clipboard to his assistant coach again.
With a smile on his face, Mike D'Antoni offered a few words of encouragement before leaning back, they were going to the Conference Finals again!
After the timeout, the Nets still didn't give up, Kidd tried hard to speed up the offensive rhythm, but with a lot of physical exertion and declining stamina, the result was more and more missed shots.
In some strong interior offensive possessions, the Knicks also stopped defending, and both sides entered a state of trading blows, the Nets fans could only watch the game time tick away.
With 2 minutes and 21 seconds left in the game, as Lee received a hand-off pass from Pau Gasol on the right wing and hit another long-range three-pointer, the cheers in the Continental Airlines Arena became unstoppable!
The Nets called another timeout, Kidd returned to his seat with his head down and covered his face with both hands, seemingly unable to believe he was about to be swept again.
In the commentary booth, Kevin Harlan felt that tonight's game was very entertaining, glanced at the statistics, and sighed again:
"When Clay Lee is hot and can hit those difficult three-pointers, the Nets have no answer!"
"I believe fans will be very satisfied with tonight's game. This should be what everyone expected!"
Rivers seemed touched again, noticing the Nets' atmosphere crew entering, and said thoughtfully:
"To contend with a superstar, you must assemble a Luxurious lineup!"
"The Nets still have a lot of work to do. They need to find a scorer for Kidd, let players do what they're good at. That's the right way to build a team."
Kevin Harlan burst into laughter upon hearing his partner's words, then began to tease:
"You think the Nets should find an All-Star partner for Kidd?"
"He's only 31, still in the prime of his career. That's not a good idea!"
Rivers knew his partner was referring to prime All-Star players not proactively forming super teams, but he had a different idea:
"The Knicks have 4 All-Star players, and this year their perimeter has two First-Team All-Defense players."
"To contend with a team like that, you must have enough star players."
The two held different views, and as the timeout ended, they did not continue to delve into the topic.
In the final two minutes, the Nets' bench players didn't show much energy, the referees stopped blowing whistles, and the game time quickly ran out.
114:92. When the final buzzer sounded, the Continental Airlines Arena once again became the New York Knicks' home court.
"Wow!"
The New York fans, thrilled to see their team clinch a match point and witness such an exciting game, cheered loudly and celebrated joyfully.
The Nets players had already left through the player tunnel.
Lee, wearing his training uniform, waved to the fans before approaching Craig Sager.
As a TNT sideline reporter, Craig Sager had been concerned about viewership ratings recently.
Seeing Lee's hair damp, he immediately joked,
"If we could see you perform like this every game, no one would have to worry about viewership ratings!"
"43 points, a new playoff scoring high this season. Lee, congratulations on reaching match point. How would you evaluate your opponent tonight?"
Playing 40 minutes, Clay Lee shot 15 of 24 from the field, 7 of 12 from beyond the arc, and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line, tallying 43 points, 6 rebounds, 12 assists, 1 steal, and 1 turnover.
With a double-double, Lee was in good spirits and answered the question earnestly:
"The Nets are a strong opponent! I'm very happy to experience a game like this in the semifinals."
"Winning or losing isn't important. This is our third time meeting in the playoffs. I like this tough opponent, and if possible, I still hope to play against the Nets next season!"
Craig Sager thought Kidd definitely wouldn't want to face Lee again.
Thinking about the upcoming Conference Finals, he couldn't help but ask again,
"Lee, what are your expectations for the upcoming Conference Finals?"
Lee smiled.
He knew the New York Knicks would most likely face another strong Defense team:
"Just stay healthy. We're going to win the championship this year!"
On sunday, May 9th, sports media, while reviewing last night's game, also discussed Rivers' point raised during the game:
"How to counter a super team?"
The conclusion given by the pundits on ESPN's program was:
"Find another superstar and then build a suitable roster around the superstar."
Stephen A. Smith was the only pundit on the show who disagreed with this view:
"Ladies and gentlemen, we need to realize one thing: in the history of the NBA, no one plays like Clay Lee."
"Clay Lee can hit shots from 26 feet, and he can also use his excellent ball-handling skills to get to his sweet spot and score."
"Most importantly, Lee is physically strong. He is no longer the slightly thin young man he was when he first entered the league. He is fearless in contact, and his field goal percentage at the rim exceeds 70%."
"Even in 10 years, there won't be another superstar who plays like Clay Lee!"
In the studio, Tim Legler, who had just joined the show during the playoffs, wanted to speak.
Smith glanced at him, smiled, and said slowly,
"Don't question my conclusion, Legler. You are an excellent three-point shooter, but Lee is different. He primarily shoots off the dribble."
"You should know the difference. No one can play like Lee!"
Tim Legler, who had won the Three-Point Contest, indeed had an excellent shooting career, and he understood the difference between catch-and-shoot and off-the-dribble shooting:
"Of course, I do! But basketball is a five-player game, and the Nets only had issues with their response shots."
"Kidd shot 3 of 14, scoring only 12 points. Although he dished out 12 assists, such a performance from a core player meant they couldn't win."
"I still believe the Nets need to change their core player if they want to advance further!"
The host, Stuart Scott, hearing the topic shift, quickly interjected,
"We are discussing how the Nets can defeat the New York Knicks in this series."
Smith chuckled again.
Legler, who had just joined the show, was no match for him.
He leaned back in his chair and raised his voice,
"No one can defeat the New York Knicks this season. Clay Lee is unstoppable, and Coach D'Antoni has unleashed the team's potential."
"We will witness the New York Knicks dominate the league again!"
"..."
In the game that took place simultaneously last night, the Timberwolves won a game with a score of 89:94, bringing the series to 1:1.
In this game, all three of their star players performed well, but the post-game discussion was not extensive.
In the first quarter, the Sacramento Kings only scored 12 points, with Chris Webber going 1 for 7, scoring a meager 2 points, which set the tone for the game.
Kevin Garnett performed excellently, shooting 8 of 16, tallying 28 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 6 blocks, and 4 turnovers.
Although he scored the highest points in the game, no one discussed the MVP's performance the next day.
Before flying to the road game, Kevin Garnett also accepted an interview.
Regarding the pundits' discussion about whether to form a super team to counter the New York Knicks, the tough player expressed disdain:
"True superstars don't need to team up with others to win championships!"
"Only softies choose shortcuts. I will never leave the Timberwolves for a championship."
Kevin Garnett's words offended many people, and several Los Angeles Lakers players felt he was mocking them!
That same evening, there was also Game 3 between the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Lakers.
When asked the same question during a pre-game interview, Shaquille O'Neal did not immediately dismiss the idea.
After all, he was the one who recruited two aging veterans during the offseason, and Shaquille O'Neal hoped to defeat opponents with more star players.
During warm-ups in the afternoon, Shaquille O'Neal was exceptionally focused because they could not afford to lose this game tonight.
When interviewed by the Los Angeles Times, he simply replied,
"I don't know the definition of a super team. The Los Angeles Lakers also used to have many All-Star players, but I don't think we were a super team."
When asked if the Los Angeles Lakers would recruit more young All-Star players in the future, Shaquille O'Neal merely vaguely stated,
"I just want to win championships, and if I can collaborate with star players, that's a good thing!"
"I won't refuse to share the ball because I know I'm no longer young."
"I want to seize my last chance to win more championships, and for that, I am willing to make sacrifices."
After several years of tough losses, Shaquille O'Neal was one of the players who understood Lee's strength the best.
Compared to Kevin Garnett, who displayed his tough attitude, the Big Guy seemed intent on taking a shortcut!
The Los Angeles Times reporter felt a bit displeased by Shaquille O'Neal's answer.
Fortunately, the Los Angeles Lakers also had a tough player.
Kobe, with his head held high during the interview, scoffed at the idea of a super team:
"I'm not interested in sharing the ball because I am the best shooting guard in the league!"
"I don't need to form a super team. I can lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a championship!"
In that night's game, Kobe delivered on his words, once again dominating the San Antonio Spurs' perimeter:
He shot 7 of 13 from the field, 4 of 7 from beyond the arc, and 4 of 8 from the free-throw line, efficiently scoring 22 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 5 turnovers.
Shaquille O'Neal was even more dominant, shooting 11 of 13 from the field and 6 of 11 from the free-throw line, tallying 28 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 8 blocks, and 2 turnovers, showcasing his dominance in the paint.
With Payton and Karl Malone also pulling their weight, the F4 all performed, and the Los Angeles Lakers won a game.
81:105. With Duncan going 4 of 14 and scoring a mere 10 points, the San Antonio Spurs suffered a crushing defeat.
On May 10th, after more than a day of rest, the Nets and the New York Knicks welcomed Game 4.
In that night's battle for honor, Kidd still couldn't find his shooting touch.
Coupled with the decreased Defense intensity, by the end of the first quarter, the Continental Airlines Arena had once again become the New York Knicks' home court.
34:21. The double-digit deficit seemed to foreshadow a sweep for the Nets.
During the break, Kidd remained silent.
He hadn't accepted interviews and no longer communicated with the coaching staff, completely withdrawn.
The cheers in the Continental Airlines Arena made Kidd uncomfortable.
Thinking about the topics discussed by the pundits over the past two days, he felt somewhat wavering:
"A super team? It doesn't seem so bad after all."
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)