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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 June 9, 2004, at Staples Center, as the Lakers fans watched their home team struggle, their unified cheers gradually faded.
Coach Phil Jackson's repeated timeouts did not change the situation on the court, and with the home whistle's advantage, the game became even more "ugly."
Whenever the Lakers found themselves in trouble, they would always give the ball to their most stable scorer.
Shaquille O'Neal still had field goals in the first half of the quarter, but as the New York Knicks started fouling, the scene that made fans break down repeatedly occurred.
The Fat Shark couldn't make his free throws anymore.
Missing free throws led to many chain reactions, and the most common scene Lakers fans witnessed was Clay Lee's continuous fast breaks from the backcourt.
The Lakers could only foul in response, but as the team entered the bonus too early, some possessions saw Lee dribble the ball coast-to-coast into the basket.
The Lakers tried bringing in veteran Bryon Russell and also hoped for Kareem Rush, but both of them clanked their shots in their limited playing time.
The "ugly" game disheartened the Lakers players.
After making field goals early on, Kobe again frequently led the New York Knicks in fast breaks.
With 1 minute and 22 seconds left in the 3rd quarter, as Payton's open three-pointer from the left wing clanked off, and the ball flew over the top of the backboard out of bounds, Staples Center erupted:
"Boo!"
Derek Fisher entered the game, and Payton, walking towards the bench, hung his head, clearly dispirited.
He was not a spot-up shooter after all, but after missing two open three-pointers, he was very disappointed with his own performance.
Phil Jackson looked serious, patted the veteran's shoulder, and then turned to watch the situation on the court.
"Defense!"
As Lee, dribbling with his right hand, approached the mid-court line, the defensive cheers rose again.
Like the Lakers, the New York Knicks also began making personnel adjustments in the latter half of the third quarter to avoid foul trouble for their starters, as they still had to play the fourth quarter tonight.
Derek Fisher, who had just entered the game, was a bit nervous.
The coaching staff hadn't given him any instructions.
Noticing movement behind him, he simply loudly called for Medvedenko to double-team with him.
At the top of the arc, Amar'e Stoudemire stood still on the three-point line.
Medvedenko, behind him, saw Lee dribble between his legs, and his body swayed to the left front.
He quickly slid to the right.
Derek Fisher was just about to squeeze through the screen when Lee suddenly lowered his center of gravity and executed a wide behind-the-back dribble.
Stuck in an awkward position, Derek Fisher could only call for a switch, but Medvedenko, sliding back, tried to step forward to delay, only to find that Lee had already completed a step-back as he scooped up the ball with his right hand.
In the blink of an eye, Medvedenko hadn't even had time to jump to block, and Lee, drifting slightly to the right-rear, had already shot a jump shot from the right wing!
Lakers fans behind the basket saw the ball's trajectory was true, some subconsciously threw up their hands, while others opened their mouths wide, showing expressions of frustration.
"Swish!" The three-pointer swished through the net.
"Oh!"
Only the New York fans in the back rows, wearing away jerseys, were celebrating wildly, hugging each other, jumping and cheering, completely disregarding the feelings of the surrounding Lakers fans.
Lee smiled at Phil Jackson on the sideline.
With his opponent missing free throws, his accurate shooting was enough to play 5-on-8.
85:62, the lead had extended to 20+, and the Lakers were running out of time.
Although the Lakers had entered the rotation phase, they hadn't initiated their usual Triangle Offense in several possessions.
A frustrated Kobe took over the ball before Derek Fisher could even dribble past mid-court.
He went to the right wing, and facing Tayshaun Prince's Defense, he accelerated and drove with the ball in his right hand.
On the three-point line, Kobe quickly dribbled behind his back, then immediately gathered the ball, ignoring Shaquille O'Neal who had just completed a cross-screen inside.
After a pump fake, Kobe twisted his body forcefully and quickly shot a jump shot from beyond the three-point line!
Tayshaun Prince, with his right arm extended straight, didn't do much, and Kobe's contested shot clanked off the rim again.
The ball, hitting the back of the rim, flew into the paint, and the long rebound was again collected by Lee.
Quickly leading the ball forward, Lee sprinted down the right sideline, accelerating past half-court.
Shaquille O'Neal, forced to run back, had no time to yell at his teammates.
He loudly directed everyone behind him to chase back on Defense.
The Lakers fans in the arena gasped.
Clay Lee ran faster and faster, and after reaching the right wing, he drove straight to the basket, pushing against Derek Fisher.
Kobe, also retreating quickly, had only the ball-handler in his eyes at this moment.
Chasing back into the paint, before he could jump to block, he saw Lee, while in motion, suddenly lob the ball with his right hand towards the upper left of the basket.
Kobe, realizing something was wrong, had just turned his head when Tayshaun Prince, quietly trailing behind him, immediately jumped, caught the ball with both hands in the air, and quickly slammed it into the basket!
"Boom!" An alley-oop dunk!
Hanging on the rim for a moment, Tayshaun Prince high-fived Lee in celebration after landing, a smile on his face.
Such a basket was simply too easy.
"Kobe shouldn't just look at the basket. Speeding up the offense doesn't mean individual heroics. He should continue to trust his teammates!"
At the commentary table, Rivers offered a brief comment, but Michaels looked at the box score, noticing that all of the Lakers' role players had zero points.
At this point, he could only tactfully say:
"Perhaps Kobe Bryant should choose to attack the basket. The Lakers still have time."
When Derek Fisher dribbled past half-court again, Shaquille O'Neal fiercely posted up on the left low block, and Dikembe Mutombo, who had just come off the bench, was called for a holding foul by the referee.
Although he got free throws, the atmosphere in the arena wasn't great.
Currently, Shaquille O'Neal was 2-for-6, and he hadn't made both free throws in any possession.
Despite no New York Knicks players interfering, as the second free throw bounced off the rim again, boos erupted in the Staples Center.
Dikembe Mutombo, who secured the rebound, wasn't in a hurry.
He simply hugged the ball, waiting for Lee to come up and receive it.
With a large lead, the New York Knicks weren't running in the last few seconds either.
The mindsets of the two teams' players were different.
The Lakers players were already on edge.
Kobe double-teamed Lee near the Logo early.
Raja Bell easily received the ball on the right wing.
Medvedenko had just stepped up to help defend.
As Amar'e Stoudemire received the ball, moving to the right block area, O'Neal also quickly shifted.
Kobe, on the perimeter, had just recovered on Defense when the ball flew to Dikembe Mutombo near the free-throw line.
As Lee swayed his body to the right then accelerated with a back cut, approaching the left wing, he received the pass again.
Tayshaun Prince quickly slipped along the baseline from the left corner, drawing Devin George's Defense away.
At that moment, Dikembe Mutombo came to the three-point line to set a screen.
Seeing that Derek Fisher couldn't squeeze through, Shaquille O'Neal, moving up from under the basket, also got anxious.
Clay Lee, dribbling with his left hand, accelerated to drive, and the Fat Shark actually lunged forward, sliding quickly, defending with all his might.
As Dikembe Mutombo rolled down, Derek Fisher quickly followed into the paint to cut off the passing lane, and O'Neal relentlessly chased Lee.
The scene of the 300-plus-pound big man defending with all his might ignited the atmosphere in the arena.
Lakers fans cheered loudly, but Lee didn't accelerate at full speed.
Instead, he leaned against Shaquille O'Neal's stomach, quickly slipped along the baseline to the basket.
Shaquille O'Neal, who had been extending his arms, still hadn't lost his position at this point.
When he reached the basket, he even loudly called for teammates to help defend.
On the right near the baseline, before Devin George could shift to double-team, Lee, dribbling with his left hand, suddenly stopped short, performed a quick pound dribble, and swiftly twisted his body.
In a very small space, the moment his right hand touched the ball, he immediately led it forward.
The sudden stop left Shaquille O'Neal frozen in place, while Clay Lee quickly squeezed past him.
Regaining control of the ball under the basket, Lee, having faked out the Defense, instantly arrived at the lower left of the basket, and with his right hand, he scooped the ball up for a successful reverse layup!
On the New York Knicks bench, everyone burst into laughter.
Clearly, Lee had deliberately toyed with O'Neal, breaking his opponent's illusion the moment he thought his Defense was successful.
"Damn it! F*ck!"
Shaquille O'Neal was so angry that he directly slammed the ball against the backboard.
The referee came over to warn him, and only then did he huffily run to half-court.
For the Lakers' last possession of the 3rd quarter, everyone cleared out for Kobe.
Running down the clock, Kobe, dribbling with his right hand, again wore a fierce expression.
With six seconds left, after a between-the-legs dribble, he quickly executed a front-of-body crossover.
Kobe, dribbling with his right hand, accelerated to drive.
He had just dribbled past the three-point line when Raja Bell, from the right wing, unceremoniously lunged to defend.
Kobe Bryant did not choose to pass.
Under the double-team, he suddenly leaned into the defender and quickly spun, pump-faked at the free-throw line, drawing Tayshaun Prince's Defense, and then was met with a strong strip by Raja Bell.
"Whistle!"
The referee blew his whistle.
Devin George on the right wing was a bit unhappy.
He had been raising his hand for a long time, but the ball just wouldn't come his way.
Kobe, expressionless, didn't look at his teammates.
He stepped to the free-throw line again and calmly made both free throws.
As Lee's half-court three-pointer clanked off, the score after three quarters was 89:64.
The Lakers fans in the arena realized they were about to be swept.
In the 3rd quarter, Kobe shot 2 for 6 from the field, and 2 for 2 from the free-throw line, scoring 6 points.
Shaquille O'Neal shot 4 for 6 from the field, and 2 for 8 from the free-throw line, scoring 10 points.
The OK Combo accounted for all the points in this quarter.
After returning to the bench, the Lakers players had no communication, only Phil Jackson sitting in front of them, constantly giving motivational speeches.
With Clay Lee's individual score once again surpassing the opponent's entire team's score, Michaels on the commentary stand could only comment tactfully:
"The Lakers still have a chance, but they must defend several possessions, which will also be a big test of their physical strength."
Clay Lee scored 22 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in the quarter, shooting 7 for 10 from the field, 3 for 5 from beyond the arc, and 5 for 5 from the free-throw line.
Rivers stared blankly at the statistics, and subconsciously said when he heard his partner's words:
"There's no chance. Clay Lee is in excellent form tonight. He'll soon reach 50 points."
Realizing he had said the wrong thing, Rivers reacted quickly and immediately added:
"But the Lakers can continue to try to double-team Clay Lee and let other players beat them. Perhaps this will create a miracle!"
"..."
The two chatted awkwardly on the commentary stand.
When the 4th quarter began, they noticed that Lee of the New York Knicks was not resting.
They exchanged glances, both feeling that the game would end soon.
The energetic Lee led the substitute lineup, giving the Lakers no chance to stagger their playing time.
By ending the game early, Lee could still rest for a few minutes, plus Game 4 was two days later, so physical fitness was not an issue.
Lakers fans also did not give up on the game, but O'Neal, who returned to the court early, no longer desperately demanded the ball, having already lost his fighting spirit.
On the bench, Karl Malone sat expressionless, his dream of a championship once again shattered.
Only the noise of the fans remained in Staples Center.
Most Lakers fans simply could not accept such a result.
It was clearly a good opportunity, so why couldn't they make the shot?
"Boo!"
Payton, left wide open on the left wing, missed a three-pointer.
On the ensuing possession, the New York Knicks executed a simple drive and kick.
Lee drew the Defense and quickly moved the ball.
Raja Bell caught the pass in the left corner and hit an open three-pointer, and boos once again echoed through the Staples Center.
Shaquille O'Neal had just received the ball with his back to the basket in the right block.
The moment he faced the basket, Lee, coming over to double-team, cleanly stripped the ball away and, after gaining possession, quickly dribbled along the baseline.
Payton's reminder had no effect.
The distracted O'Neal's focus had sharply declined.
The Lakers had no choice but to foul.
Devin George pulled and then raised his hand to signal, as he too was struggling to keep up.
The New York Knicks suddenly ran a low-post offense.
In the right block, Amar'e Stoudemire received the ball with his back to the basket and smoothly turned to face the hoop with a pump fake.
After putting the ball down with his right hand, he executed a crossover step and drove, shouldering Medvedenko, then hop-stepped to the lower right side of the basket.
Amar'e Stoudemire pump-faked and got his defender to jump, then used the timing difference to grab the ball with his right hand and powerfully dunk it!
"Boom!" A successful drive and dunk.
Such an easy basket indicated that the Lakers had no Defense left.
After the dunk, Amar'e Stoudemire yelled excitedly, completely disregarding the emotions of the Lakers players around him.
Kobe, who had completely abandoned passing, started taking forced shots from beyond the arc again to catch up.
Kobe's continuous assists allowed Lee to collect long rebounds.
After two successful transition offenses, Lee once again took the ball and charged, arriving in the paint, faking right and driving left, quickly using a Euro step to elude Payton and score a layup!
Payton, who had become a statue, didn't even foul.
After Phil Jackson called a timeout, the veteran returned to the bench and covered his face with both hands.
Several assisted rebounds brought Clay Lee's score to 50.
In Staples Center, a large number of fans had already defected, starting to cheer loudly, celebrating the New York Knicks getting to match point.
Shaquille O'Neal and Payton did not return to the court.
Soon, Coach D'Antoni also called a timeout, and Lee also went to the bench to rest.
With only a little over 3 minutes played in the 4th quarter, the Lakers surrendered again.
Only Kobe remained on the court, continuing to lead the New York Knicks in a counterattack.
"This is truly a game that exceeded everyone's expectations. The New York Knicks showed us modern basketball. They are no longer limited to low-post offense, but more screens and faster counterattacks!"
"I think this is worth contemplating for professionals: Do big men still represent the future? How should we build a championship team in the future?"
As Kobe continued to miss shots, Rivers no longer commented on every possession, but instead talked about off-court matters.
Although Michaels used to comment on NFL, he also knew Lee's uniqueness, and after hearing these words, he subconsciously exclaimed:
"A genius player can change an era, and Clay Lee has done just that!"
"At 26 years old, the future belongs to Clay Lee. Although he will sign the league's highest salary in the offseason, I believe the New York Knicks will not be stingy with the luxury tax!"
James Dolan indeed doesn't care about spending money.
The revenue from the championships in recent years alone means that even paying luxury tax for a few more years would still be a huge profit.
The curly-haired owner sitting under the basket was currently hugging General Manager Grunfeld, grinning widely, pumping his fist in celebration after every basket.
The live director would occasionally show the two of them, and during timeouts, the camera would focus on Magic Johnson and Lakers owner Jerry Buss.
The expressions of the two sides were starkly different: the former was beaming, his mouth almost reaching the back of his head, while the latter had a long face, and the two would occasionally whisper a few words, without a trace of a smile on their faces.
The Lakers had been paying luxury tax for years.
Fortunately, winning a championship was considered an explanation, but with Shaquille O'Neal demanding a big contract, Jerry Buss would also face a choice:
"Should he keep the aging, fat shark?"
With 3 minutes and 21 seconds remaining in the game, Kobe was also substituted out.
He played 42 minutes, shot 9 for 25 from the field, 1 for 7 from beyond the arc, and 11 for 13 from the free-throw line, scoring 30 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 4 turnovers.
After returning home, he rebounded, scoring the team's highest points.
Kobe, sitting in his seat, still looked unconvinced, as this was far from the home court he had imagined.
Shaquille O'Neal shot 8 for 14 from the field, and 3 for 12 from the free-throw line, scoring 19 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and 3 turnovers.
The fat shark's free throws were terrible in the most crucial game, and he was now in a state of self-pity.
One stared at the game with his head held high and an expressionless face, while the other, draped in a towel, hung his head, extremely dejected.
The OK Combo, who combined for 49 points, also seemed to be on the verge of breaking up.
During the last timeout, Phil Jackson again threw the whiteboard to his assistant coach.
The Champion Coach also stopped pretending.
He was utterly disappointed with tonight's game.
Just thinking about Coach D'Antoni's beaming smile made the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man irritated.
He had been continuously humiliated in recent years, losing all his prestige.
Finally, amidst a chorus of boos, the game clock ran out. 116:88, the New York Knicks decisively defeated their opponent, bringing the series score to 3:0.
Clay Lee, who had already changed into his training uniform, stood up and clapped.
The New York fans sitting behind continued to celebrate wildly.
The players who came off the court high-fived Lee and the others in celebration.
As they walked towards the players' tunnel, the New York Knicks players were filled with laughter and joy.
In two more days, they would lift the O'brien cup!
He played 37 minutes, shot 18 for 26 from the field, 6 for 10 from beyond the arc, and 8 for 8 from the free-throw line, scoring 50 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, and no turnovers.
Clay Lee's 50-point performance completely broke the Lakers fans at the Staples Center.
On both sides of the players' tunnel, many people were shouting insults.
The Lakers players did not receive any special treatment from the fans.
Shaquille O'Neal, draped in a towel, was also heavily booed by the fans.
Kobe Bryant, who scored the team's highest points, finally accepted an interview with sideline reporter Stewart.
Perhaps considering that the Lakers were about to be swept, the reporter very tactfully asked:
"Kobe, it's regrettable that you couldn't protect your home court tonight. I think what fans are more concerned about now is the Lakers' roster for next season."
"Will you maintain the current roster and make another run for the championship?"
Perhaps the boos from the fans after the game stimulated Kobe.
When he heard this question, he immediately replied with some irritation:
"I don't know. I've given my all. I've dedicated all my time to basketball."
"And some people are completely satisfied after winning one championship. I hope my teammates can be full of desire. I won't consider future issues. The series isn't over yet!"
"..."
When Lee, dressed in a light gray suit, appeared in the media room, many sports reporters in the audience cheered loudly.
In the Conference Finals, he single-handedly dominated the Detroit Pistons in the 3rd quarter.
In the Finals, Lee did the same, single-handedly crushing the Lakers in one quarter.
Most sports reporters enjoy discussing the Lakers' somewhat lackluster Defense.
An ESPN reporter, eager for outrageous stats, was the first to raise his hand and ask:
"Lee, congratulations on setting a new Finals 50-point record. What are your expectations for the upcoming games?"
With four 50-point games in the NBA Finals during his career, Lee has broken his own record, becoming the player with the most 50-point games in Finals history.
This record is truly outrageous.
Throughout the long history of the NBA, including Clay Lee, only six players have scored 50 points in the Finals.
Lee was already somewhat numb to such records, but with his sixth personal championship imminent, his mood was naturally exceptionally good:
"I don't mind lifting the o'brien cup at Staples Center. The atmosphere in the Staples Center tonight was quite good. Thank you to the New York fans who came all the way from New York to support me."
"I promise everyone that we will lift the O'brien cup on Saturday!"
New York sports reporters were overjoyed, looking forward to bragging endlessly during the offseason.
Flattery poured in, and after a round of mutual praise, the Lakers' staff felt uncomfortable.
When Shaquille O'Neal arrived, Los Angeles sports reporters still expected the big man to make bold declarations and refuse to surrender, but they didn't expect him to be on the verge of giving up:
"I don't know what to do to win. I'm trying to play Defense, and I'm grabbing four offensive rebounds every game."
"I can't do any more on both ends of the court."
The Los Angeles Times reporter, not wanting to hear these complaints, asked angrily:
"Why are you losing by such large margins every game? The fourth quarter always turns into garbage time. I don't think Lakers fans will accept such a defeat!"
Although he sensed the angry mood of the reporters below, Shaquille O'Neal still wasn't in the mood for bold statements:
"I don't know. I think we got a lot of good opportunities from the perimeter, but unfortunately, those opportunities didn't turn into points."
"I'm still the best big man on the court, but perhaps I can't defeat the opponent by myself."
Soon, all sorts of cutting remarks were thrown at Shaquille O'Neal.
He threw caution to the wind, showing no fighting spirit, essentially stating to everyone: "I can't win, I've tried my best!"
"The strongest team in historyâthe New York Knicks!"
"22 points in a single quarter, the God of Basketball descends upon Los Angeles!"
"The best in history, Clay-Lee changed the game of basketball!"
"GOAT!"
On June 10th, The New York Times and several mainstream newspapers began to heavily praise Lee, with column titles more exaggerated than the last.
In the 1993 NBA Finals Game 4, in the fourth quarter, Michael Jordan scored 22 points, helping the Chicago Bulls secure the victory.
In the 2004 NBA Finals Game 3, in the third quarter, Clay Lee also scored 22 points, helping the New York Knicks clinch the match point.
History is a cycle, always repeating similar stories, but New York fans never tire of it.
Extreme individual ability always attracts a large number of fair-weather fans.
Many Eastern Conference teams were feeling sour, and their local sports media followed suit.
The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post, however, furiously criticized the Lakers, reaching a consensus:
"Three ugly games."
New York sports media loved to use a photo of Lee after a dunk, capturing some dejected Lakers fans, which made newspaper buyers feel good.
The Los Angeles Times, on the other hand, published photos of the Lakers players walking dejectedly towards the player tunnel.
There was no tactical analysis, only emotional venting.
There was no discussion of why the Lakers lost, only furious criticism of O'Neal's lack of fighting spirit and Kobe's mindless stat-padding.
At the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles, Lee was enjoying his breakfast while reading The Los Angeles Times.
In recent years, emotional articles in newspapers have become more common, and the NBA has also shown a trend towards "fan culture."
Compared to the past, when columnists would provide substantial content and analyze tactics, in recent years, under the impact of the internet, print media have also become "fast-food" and started constantly catering to New York fans' emotions.
Finding no substantial content, Lee flipped through the newspaper and threw it aside.
At the dining table, Scarlett, wearing jeans, a white T-shirt, and a New York Knicks blue jacket, was reading the newspaper and chuckling softly.
The redhead's neutral attire looked a bit casual, but it still attracted a lot of attention.
On the other side, Hill's singer wife, Tamia, was also giggling while looking at the newspaper.
Back then, the Los Angeles media mocked Hill's three-pointers.
Now, the tables have turned, and it's New York Media's turn to deliver heavy blows.
In the crucial game, the Lakers shot 4 for 20 from beyond the arc, practically bending their own rim.
"The articles in the newspapers are getting more and more boring. They're all inciting New York fans' emotions."
"The Olympics are still a few months away. Are these media outlets out of news to report that they're already discussing it?"
Hill had also thrown the newspaper aside long ago.
He didn't like to brag prematurely.
Tamia, looking at her husband, said a bit boastfully, "What's the big deal? The championship is ours anyway. I think the newspaper is great!"
Men and women usually have different focuses.
Hill didn't argue, just ate his bread and whispered:
"Sometimes, championships also require luck. We are very strong, but our luck has also been good these past two years."
Lee knew Hill was referring to Karl Malone's injury.
If the veteran had stayed healthy, and with a favorable whistle at home, it would indeed have been a tough battle.
"Clay! What's a big contract? So many people are talking about it."
Scarlett had been in Los Angeles with her mother recently.
During the NBA Finals, many sports media outlets began discussing the impact of Lee's upcoming contract on the New York Knicks.
"At most, it's a starting salary of 35% of the salary cap. After taxes, it's not that much!"
Hearing the answer, the girl, who wasn't very good at math, couldn't figure out how much money that was and couldn't help but quietly pinch Lee.
A player's salary taking up 35% of a team's cap is a huge burden for most teams.
However, the New York Knicks are different.
Even if the salary cap is maxed out, they can still strengthen the roster by re-signing veteran players and using the Mid-Level Exception.
Pau Gasol's Spanish girlfriend, Silvia, also came along during the NBA Finals.
Silvia secretly calculated the amount, and large sums of money appeared in her eyes.
Pau Gasol knew what his girlfriend was worried about and turned to whisper, "Don't worry, this won't affect my contract. The team promised me a long time ago!"
Ron Artest was still taking care of his many relatives.
During the NBA Finals, to show off, he chartered flights and hotels again, inviting a group of relatives and friends to watch the game.
At another table, the family and friends were boasting wildly:
"Ron is already a big star! Kobe Bryant of the Lakers can't break through his Defense at all."
"This is the DPOY! Kobe is overrated. If he were in the Eastern Conference, he would receive the same treatment as Allen Iverson."
"Ron is the real man. That guy keeps saying he doesn't care about stats, but then he plays in garbage time!"
Puffed up by the praise, Ron Artest no longer felt the sting of spending money, only the satisfaction of it.
However, when he heard that everyone wanted to spend more, his mouth twitched slightly:
"My salary seems a bit low..."
The New York Knicks had their regular film session in the morning and physical activity in the afternoon.
NBA staff began preparing for the awards ceremony the day after tomorrow.
The remaining games are all at the Lakers' home court.
Even if they lose Game 4, everyone believes the New York Knicks can secure the victory in Game 5.
Preparing the awards ceremony earlier would make things easier, but this action further angered Lakers fans.
After accompanying the girl shopping in the evening, Scarlett, back at the hotel, quietly complained about her recent schedule:
"I don't like those boring political rallies at all. My mother always wants me to support the Donkey Party's Kerry in front of the media."
In the dimly lit room, the girl, having taken off her jacket, nestled in Lee's arms, gossiping about the rallies she attended, where many Hollywood stars showed up to support.
After sharing her recent boring life, Scarlett felt relieved.
Noticing that Lee was still staring at the news on the ABC channel on TV, she rolled her eyes and then leaned in to whisper.
"What's the trouble?"
Distracted, Lee no longer paid attention to the election news, reaching out to grasp the softness.
The girl, her face slightly flushed, whispered, and the two burst into laughter.
Soon, Lee went straight in, not relaxing.
Tonight, he planned to continue his extra training, striving to show his best form in Game 4!
On June 12th, after two days of fermentation, basketball commentators finally placed the blame for the Lakers' defeat squarely on Kobe.
In the morning, TNT's program was still warming up for tonight's game.
In the studio, Charles Barkley suddenly started blasting Kobe Bryant.
"I don't understand Kobe's offensive choices. He seems to want to prove something in the game."
"But this is the Finals, Kobe seems to have forgotten that!"
"The New York Knicks can give the ball to Lee, so why do the Lakers always let Kobe complete the offense?"
Kenny Smith glanced at his partner, then shrugged his shoulders and said helplessly:
"Perhaps Shaq can't easily receive the ball in his preferred offensive areas, and I even feel he lacks fighting spirit."
"The Lakers losing is clearly not one person's fault. Head Coach Phil Jackson also has responsibility. Perhaps he should use Derek Fisher more often."
There were too many people to blame, and Ernie Johnson didn't want to discuss this topic right now.
"Do you think the New York Knicks can end the series tonight?"
"If they continue to win by a large margin, the New York Knicks might set another new record."
Charles Barkley also stopped his tirade. Thinking about the Lakers' state, he immediately gave a definitive answer.
"There's no suspense. Perhaps the Lakers will get some free throws, but that won't change the outcome of the game."
"It's unbelievable that as a perimeter player, Lee's shooting percentage in the Finals is actually over 60%."
"The Lakers' Defense is simply like dog shit!"
...
ESPN made the same prediction, but in their program, they focused more on hyping up Lee's statistics in conjunction with ABC.
The impressive Excel spreadsheets had become the biggest highlight of this year's Finals.
As the broadcaster, ABC had been continuously educating fans over the past two days about how outrageous Lee's statistics were.
The purpose of this was to attract casual fans to pay attention to a game that no longer had any suspense.
During warm-ups in the afternoon, the New York Knicks players showed no signs of nervousness.
Three consecutive large-margin victories had given everyone immense confidence.
To counter the Lakers' double-team Defense, Lee had been specifically doing extra training these past two days.
During an interview, Lee confidently stated again, promising the fans:
"No matter how our opponents adjust, we will lift the O'Brien Trophy tonight!"
"It's a shame the Lakers have suffered injuries. Next season, I'm really looking forward to meeting them again on the Finals stage."
The reporter from the Los Angeles Times's eyes twitched slightly.
This was blatant mockery.
Everyone loves to bully weaker opponents.
The ESPN reporter also felt there was no suspense in tonight's game, so he simply started asking some questions in advance.
"Lee, we all know that for several consecutive years, you've faced the Lakers in the Finals. How would you evaluate the current team?"
As he was about to win the championship, Lee didn't want to mock the old man anymore, so he naturally said some pleasant words.
"In the NBA, besides winning and losing, there are many things that deserve our respect."
"Karl Malone is about to turn 41. He has dedicated everything to basketball. Payton is the same. I can see his strong desire for a championship."
"These two veterans have inspired me, which is also why I've been able to perform so well in the Finals."
"I still remember when I first entered the NBA, every time the New York Knicks faced the Seattle SuperSonics, they would lose."
"Payton taught me how important Defense is. I've always wanted to be an excellent defender like him, and in the future, I hope to win a DPOY trophy."
"I really like this Lakers team, so I will still give my all in tonight's game and show them respect with a high-scoring performance!"
...
Hearing Lee talk at length about sportsmanship, a strange emotion welled up in the hearts of the surrounding sports media.
The NBA doesn't really care about "commendable spirit".
To achieve honor, you need statistics and victories.
Everyone felt that Lee was openly mocking them, but they couldn't pinpoint what was wrong with his words.
Finally, the New York Media couldn't hold back and chuckled, immediately making several Los Angeles Times reporters turn and leave in anger.
Seeing that Lee still wanted to continue talking about "sportsmanship," everyone quickly interrupted him.
They were all common folk and preferred to boast with tangible Excel spreadsheets and honors.
That evening, at Staples Center, the number of New York fans had increased even more.
Fans who came to watch the game on Saturday jumped and cheered, holding up oversized star cards of Clay Lee.
The game hadn't even started, but the New York fans in the back were already hyped up, celebrating the victory in advance.
The celebrities in the front rows weren't too affected.
After all, it was a national broadcast.
After both teams' players were introduced, Kobe Bryant, who had been continuously criticized over the past two days, still looked full of fighting spirit.
In contrast, Shaquille O'Neal and several veterans were noticeably distracted, even a bit perfunctory during warm-ups.
Head Coach Phil Jackson also didn't keep talking to his players incessantly like in the previous few games.
Before the game started, he sat calmly on the bench.
When the live director showed him on camera, the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man was expressionless, without much emotional fluctuation.
After the game started at 7 PM, the New York Knicks changed their previous tactics and began to play the familiar offense of the Lakers.
Pau Gasol started to finish more plays, and the New York Knicks once again showed their vitality, frequently crashing the offensive glass for rebounds.
Both teams bricked shots repeatedly at the start.
The game only gradually got on track after Shaquille O'Neal bulldozed his way for a dunk under the basket, and Pau Gasol responded with a jump shot in the paint.
On an offensive possession, Lee quickly dribbled past half-court.
Grant Hill, in the right corner, immediately accelerated to receive the ball on the right wing.
As Lee ran towards the right corner, Hill passed the ball to Pau Gasol, who was posting up.
Head Coach Phil Jackson on the sideline grew furious, couldn't help but stand up, and turned to look at Coach D'Antoni pacing on the sideline.
In the first few possessions after the tip-off, the New York Knicks used the opening moves of the Triangle Offense.
The Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man believed this was his opponent humiliating him!
Pau Gasol, receiving the ball in the right low post, faced Shaquille O'Neal's post-up Defense, using his left hand to put the ball down and backing him down repeatedly.
Although he couldn't push his opponent, after twisting forward, he suddenly made a quick spin towards the baseline.
Pau Gasol faked Shaquille O'Neal's Center of Gravity, and the moment he switched to his right hand, he immediately completed a floater!
"Bang! Swish!" The two-point shot banked in.
Although such plays were infrequent in the series, Pau Gasol was no longer the skinny rookie he once was.
His shooting percentage had consistently remained at 50% in this series.
On the New York Knicks bench, Ewing stood up and clapped repeatedly, loudly encouraging Pau Gasol's recent offense.
Without the pressure of winning or losing, the players played with more confidence.
Kobe Bryant, criticized by pundits, chose not to pass the ball but instead trusted his shooting touch.
Maintaining the same offensive pattern as the first three games, Kobe Bryant held the ball, and the Lakers players waited to grab rebounds.
The players on the court no longer expected Kobe Bryant to pass, and Shaquille O'Neal was too lazy to complain after a missed shot.
With a visible drop in defensive intensity, the New York Knicks, under Lee's direction, constantly ran dazzling plays.
The game became exciting, with both teams continuously scoring, no missed shots, and no frequent fouls.
However, at Staples Center, Lakers fans were not buying it, constantly booing.
The first quarter flew by, 30:26. The offensive battle thrilled the New York fans present.
During the rotation, the New York Knicks made another large-scale substitution. Kobe Bryant didn't rest and continued to lead the team.
A familiar scene quickly reappeared: in scoring mode, Kobe Bryant suddenly went cold, leading the New York Knicks to a 6-0 run.
"Boo!"
Watching Clay Lee grab a long rebound, dash from the backcourt, run into Derek Fisher, and lay it in under the basket, the boos in the Staples Center grew louder and louder.
Head Coach Phil Jackson called another timeout, looking at Kobe Bryant walking off the court without saying a word.
Writing and drawing on the whiteboard, after the timeout ended, Head Coach Phil Jackson, back in his seat, crossed his arms, his expression becoming calmer and calmer, a thought constantly surfacing in his mind:
"Perhaps taking over the Lakers was the wrong choice!"
...
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)