ESPN/ABC increased coach interviews during this year's playoffs, which wasn't very friendly to the losing side.
George Karl, Head Coach of the Denver Nuggets, had complained about this.
Phil Jackson had previously enjoyed making sarcastic remarks, and as the Lakers dominated, his humorous comments always sparked post-game discussions.
The Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man naturally liked this segment.
However, when the Finals arrived, accepting interviews during halftime on the road was fine, but after returning to Staples Center, Phil Jackson was awkwardly "scratching his feet" because the Knicks finished their work in three quarters.
For Game 4, a host of sports media flocked to Los Angeles.
Perhaps losing face, Phil Jackson pulled a big stunt in the second half, getting himself ejected from the Staples Center.
As the third quarter was about to end, the Knicks bench celebrated prematurely, and the Lakers fans in the Staples Center watched in silence.
Then, the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man suddenly erupted, clashing with the sideline official.
The referee was a bit bewildered.
The first time, he only gave Phil Jackson a technical foul, but the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man wouldn't back down, appearing furious, chasing after him and spraying him with insults:
"You guys made tonight's game ugly!"
Steve Javie was not a good-tempered referee to begin with.
He had only given Lee two free throws, but then he was chased and cursed at.
He blew his whistle and directly signaled, "You can leave."
Phil Jackson didn't even look at the coaching staff members beside him, walking away quickly with a blank expression.
This situation stunned the Lakers fans in the back rows.
Everything happened too fast.
"Boo!"
The bewildered fans instinctively booed.
On the Lakers bench, several coaches exchanged glances.
Old coach Winter rubbed his forehead in his seat.
He understood his partner.
Phil Jackson just didn't want to lose face:
"Damn it! Who wants to go for the interview?"
With the third quarter about to end, it was time for the home team's coach to give his opinion, but with the current score difference, anything said would only add to the awkwardness and be ridiculed after the game.
Winter, as a veteran, didn't want to hear those boring questions.
A younger Kurt Rambis saw everyone looking at him, sighed, and said helplessly:
"OK! I'll handle Tafoya. Don't let Kobe play again. We need to end this game quickly."
Kurt Rambis looked displeased after saying this.
The team played like garbage tonight.
After Kobe's "confident declaration" in the locker room at halftime, the team's performance became even more disastrous.
The good news was that not many of the over 18,000 fans present left.
The bad news was that half of them had turned against the team, as if going back more than 10 years when Kobe was booed every time he shot.
Those who stayed were there for the show.
The game was about to enter garbage time.
On the Knicks bench, Rajon Rondo, wearing a mask, was still shouting at Kobe, who was dribbling across half-court:
"Give the ball to Lee, man! Stop shooting! Your fans are booing you!"
"You can't do anything!"
Since Kobe's sneaky block," Rajon Rondo's nose was crooked.
The Rookie missed Game 3, and tonight, due to health reasons, his playing time was greatly reduced.
All of this was because of Mamba.
After the game started, he kept chattering away.
If he hadn't been warned by the referee, Rajon Rondo would have wanted to yell in front of the scorer's table.
The slightly quiet Staples center allowed Kobe to clearly hear these trash talks.
JR Smith was not one to be outdone, wishing the camera was mounted on his head, constantly adding drama to himself:
"I'm the best player! I got blown out by Lee! I'm going to cry to Shaq and tell him I was wrong."
JR Smith, holding a towel, imitated Kobe's voice and manner of speaking, shouting loudly, and finally made a "crying" expression by rubbing his eyes towards the fans behind him.
The duo's performance made the Knicks bench especially joyful.
Even the Rookie Thaddeus Young was enjoying the moment, joining in the loud jeering as Kobe continuously dribbled between his legs:
"Boss, let him off! Oh! Shit! He bricked again! Rebound +1!"
On the left wing, Kobe used Duncan's screen to briefly shake off the Defense, stepped back, and shot an air ball.
Then, he broke down and angrily shouted at the Knicks bench:
"Fuck you, Nigger!"
If looks could kill, the bench would probably be empty.
Kobe's furious expression only made everyone happier.
JR Smith shook his head, imitating this expression, and everyone covered their faces with towels, chuckling again.
After the second half began, Kobe, who kept shooting, became everyone's source of amusement.
"Boo!"
At this point, it was hard to tell who the boos were for.
Lee had only 18.6 seconds left after crossing half-court.
Time was flying by, and everyone on the Knicks court stopped near the baseline, waiting for time to expire.
Kobe, who was obsessed with three-pointers tonight, was getting more and more physical on Defense, and the referee no longer blew the whistle, watching the two "arm wrestle," constantly shoving.
No Lakers players on the court double-teamed him either.
Ever since the boss indicated he wanted to "1-on-1" and "give me the ball," except for Duncan, everyone else obediently passed the ball, respecting Kobe's request.
After Phil Jackson realized the team was beyond his control, he decided to leave.
The "non-stick pan" style of play by the players on the court ended up hurting Kobe badly.
Without help Defense, Lee played even more easily.
Kobe, drenched in sweat, seemed oblivious to the passing time, staring intently and constantly trying to steal the ball, as if he wanted to hang on Lee.
At this moment, his eyes only saw the basketball.
With 10 seconds left in the third quarter, Lee, near the Logo, first used his right arm to push away his opponent's arm, then quickly twisted his body, raising his center of gravity while dribbling with his left hand.
As Kobe adjusted his defensive position, Lee suddenly lowered his center of gravity, quickly changed direction between his legs, and amid the jeers, the two once again had body contact.
Facing Lee's continuous behind-the-back dribbles and body fakes, Kobe involuntarily began to shuffle backward.
The sweat on his face seemed to indicate his extreme fatigue, and his bared teeth showed his current mood.
When Lee, dribbling with his right hand, suddenly accelerated, Kobe slid backward with all his might to the left.
What seemed like a successful Defense revealed a flaw again with a sudden crossover pull-back.
"Oh!"
The brilliant fake once again drew gasps from Staples Center.
Kobe's face showed an expression of incomprehension as he watched Lee, who had switched the ball to his left hand, accelerate again.
With almost no hesitation, he stopped and started quickly.
Kobe, with no time for annoyance, gritted his teeth and chased again, sliding with continuous full effort, his leg muscles visibly tensed.
The spectators in the front row became even more silent.
The third quarter was about to end, and time did not allow Lee to drive to the basket.
Having already gained more than half a step and reaching the left elbow area, he deliberately slowed down.
Kobe, who had just caught up on Defense, tried to lean his body against Lee, but facing the ball fake, he involuntarily adjusted his defensive position.
In a flash, Lee quickly twisted his body, gathered the ball directly, and as he jumped, he drifted backward to the left, perfectly evading Kobe's block!
Perhaps to the fans in the Staples Center, it looked like a successful Defense, but after the ball flew out, Kobe only hit his right hand.
Before landing, he cursed helplessly:
"Shit!"
"Buzz!"
The ball was still in the air when the buzzing sound began.
As the net slightly swayed, the Knicks added 2 points, and Staples Center once again turned into a library.
Lee, releasing the force, casually smiled and patted the black referee Tom Washington on the left sideline.
The latter looked a bit helpless, not even looking at Kobe beside him, and explained with a forced smile:
"Lee, you have to consider the feelings of the fans here! You won!"
"Sir, we got a lot fewer free throws!"
Watching the referee constantly explaining while following Lee, the ignored Kobe grew increasingly annoyed.
He didn't want this kind of help.
At this moment, he felt everyone on the court was laughing at him.
94:55. There were no boos, only the Knicks' atmosphere group shouting and cheering wildly.
Duncan was the first to return to the bench.
With no Head Coach, he covered his face with both hands, appearing very distressed.
The atmosphere group didn't know how to comfort this low-key MVP.
Lamar Odom got more opportunities tonight, but he had his worst performance of the series, frequently receiving assists from Duncan during the game, which made him feel a bit bad.
He put his arm around his teammate's shoulder and said:
"Sorry, Bro! It's my fault!"
As everyone gradually returned to their seats, old Winter patted the tactical board.
Seeing everyone looking at him, he finally announced his decision:
"Maintain your composure! Congratulate the opponent immediately after the game. Returning to the Finals, we have already succeeded! This series has no losers."
"..."
The old man's slightly hoarse voice held no hint of dejection.
After drinking this "chicken soup," the atmosphere group's mood improved considerably.
Only Kobe suddenly looked up, staring with wide eyes, and said in a deep voice:
"Don't take me out! I won't watch my opponent humiliate me from the sidelines!"
There were no players next to Kobe.
Everyone left an empty seat, worried about getting elbowed.
Hearing that the boss still wanted to play, the atmosphere group members exchanged glances for a moment.
Before the fourth quarter began, Michelle Tafoya, dressed in a blue skirt suit, smiled at Kurt Rambis, and under the assistant coach's gaze, quickly asked, "It's rare to see Phil Jackson so agitated. What happened? He seemed very displeased with Kobe's performance."
Kurt Rambis instinctively adjusted his black-framed glasses, having anticipated such a question. He calmly replied, "No, Phil has always encouraged Kobe to take on more responsibility. He performed very well tonight, and the coaching staff is very satisfied. That was just a regular foul. His emotions were a bit high."
"Will Kobe continue to play in the fourth quarter? The Lakers don't seem to have completely given up on the game."
Kurt Rambis's eye twitched slightly as he realized the coaching staff might not be able to persuade Kobe.
At this point, he could only cooperate and explain, "Our task is to narrow the deficit to within 20 points as soon as possible. The game isn't over yet."
Despite not directly answering the question, Michelle Tafoya still smiled and thoughtfully ended the interview.
In her opinion, with such a large deficit, the Lakers should have given up.
At the ABC commentary booth, seeing that the Knicks had already put in their bench lineup while Kobe was still leading the Lakers, Mark Jackson sighed inwardly and then shared another anecdote:
"I really admire Kobe's fighting spirit! You know, Jeff, when I was with the Pacers, I was deeply impressed by Kobe!"
"He would ask Miller and me some basketball questions. Once, Kobe visited me and we talked for an hour right at my doorstep."
"Kobe is a good guy!"
Van Gundy, who had completely regained his confidence, immediately laughed when he heard his partner's words.
Taking advantage of the game about to start, he teased again, "I'm more interested in what Kobe asked you two? You know, I've never seen him in New York."
"He really liked Michael Jordan. He asked us a lot about our experience playing against the Chicago Bulls. At that time, none of us liked the Chicago Bulls, and Miller even cursed Michael Jordan, that bastard."
"What surprised Miller and me was that Kobe actually practiced those skills afterward. His love for basketball far exceeds people's imagination!"
Hearing Mark Jackson's answer, Van Gundy laughed again and then shared his own anecdote:
"You know, Lee could devise tactics for the team right after entering the league. He never doubted his basketball skills. It's as if he was born to control the game."
"Kobe is excellent, but Lee is on another level, which is why the Knicks ultimately defeated the Chicago Bulls and completely dominated the Eastern Conference!"
"I know you don't like him, but from a basketball perspective, Clay Lee is far superior to Kobe. A young Michael Jordan is closer to the current Clay Lee."
"You're right, Kobe Bryant is a good person, he's still chasing Michael Jordan, Clay Lee has already changed modern basketball."
The two had been sharing "anecdotes" for the entire game.
Mike Breen could only tactfully interrupt them and, in passing, once again discuss the "pure strength" of the two teams:
"Perfect offensive rhythm! JR Smith was 2 for 6 in the last game, so it seems highly likely he'll find his game tonight!"
"If the Lakers want to continue to pursue championships, I think they need to upgrade in the offseason."
The Knicks' bench lineup had proven itself in the regular season, with Rajon Rondo and JR Smith forming the backcourt, and Tayshaun Prince, Boris Diaw, and Dan Gadzuric in the frontcourt.
This lineup was Mike D'Antoni's favorite, and although it sacrificed height, it offered excellent spacing.
It was rarely used in its entirety during the playoffs due to caution.
During garbage time for the Lakers, Farmar and Kobe partnered in the backcourt, while the frontcourt consisted of Ariza, Luke Walton, and Ronny Turiaf.
PJ Brown didn't play much in garbage time.
In the playoffs, Phil Jackson also crushed Western Conference teams with more rotations, but after clashing in the Finals, the Knicks clearly had a complete victory over their opponents.
"Oh!"
A gasp echoed through the Staples Center again.
After continuous passing, Kobe drove past JR Smith at the top of the arc, only to be double-teamed by Rajon Rondo in the left elbow area.
Rajon Rondo's "iron block" move painfully struck Kobe's chin!
Kobe fell to the ground in pain, and a conflict erupted on the court again.
Rajon Rondo was protected by his teammates behind him, and regardless of the referee's whistle, he clapped his hands repeatedly, clearly there for revenge:
"Stop stat-padding, clown! You messed with the wrong person!"
"..."
The slow-motion replay showed Rajon Rondo's precise and ruthless strike, hitting Kobe squarely in the face.
Kobe's lip was split, and the sight of his mouth full of blood made the Lakers fans in the Staples Center gasp repeatedly.
Perhaps Rajon Rondo's arrogant demeanor, ignoring pleas and continuously spewing trash talk, was too much for the referee.
After reviewing the replay at the scorer's table, the referee quickly added a penalty, pointing to the player's tunnel.
Mike D'Antoni and Lee both looked puzzled, while the atmosphere squad on the bench clutched their heads and rushed towards the scorer's table:
"You can't change the ruling arbitrarily! The Lakers only got a common foul for the same action..."
Rajon Rondo didn't care about any of this.
Seeing Kobe get up, he took off his mask and then gave the opposing team the middle finger again.
He pulled up his jersey and, accompanied by staff, walked quickly towards the player's tunnel with his head held high:
"He's just a clown! A clown who can only pad stats in garbage time!!"
On both sides of the tunnel, some booed Rajon Rondo loudly, while others agreed and joined in the jeering.
Kobe, back on the bench, stared wide-eyed as he received emergency treatment.
He hadn't expected the Rookie to have the guts to retaliate against him, which showed the opponent had no respect for him.
When the game resumed, JJ Barea entered for the Knicks.
The short player seemed very excited, knowing the entire quarter would belong to him.
Ron Artest was pulled back to the bench by his teammates.
Seeing Kobe still insisting on shooting free throws with tape on his mouth, Ron Artest immediately swung his towel and loudly mocked:
"Save your energy for extra practice after the game, Mr. Best! Don't forget to let the reporters take your picture."
"Boo!"
The Lakers' brick-laying game continued, with boos constantly ringing out.
To everyone's surprise, Barea, who had just come off the bench, showed excellent competitive form.
When Barea hit another three-pointer after a pick-and-roll at the top of the arc to shake off Farmar, Mike Breen also exclaimed in surprise, "JJ is playing too well, he's playing like Lee!"
"..."
As game time elapsed, Barea drove to the right restricted area after a pick-and-roll, backing down Farmar.
When he hit a leaning fadeaway jumper in the paint, Lee led the Knicks' bench in waving towels.
On the next possession, Kobe elbowed the switching Barea on the right wing.
The latter's exaggerated fall led the referee to call an offensive foul, and the Knicks' bench erupted in cheers and jumps.
When Boris Diaw passed back after a pick-and-roll to find Barea on the right wing, the latter shook off the switching Luke Walton and hit another leaning step-back jumper.
Mike D'Antoni even raised both hands to celebrate with them!
"Good job, Bro!!"
While the Lakers called a timeout, Lee came onto the court to high-five and loudly encourage everyone.
On the other side, Duncan remained slumped in his seat, staring blankly at the floor, completely "lost in thought."
Kobe's face was terrifyingly dark.
No one sat beside him, and it was obvious to everyone that the boss was in a terrible mood.
In three minutes, not only had they failed to narrow the deficit, but they had allowed the opponent to extend their lead.
ABC's broadcast cameras constantly panned between the two teams.
Unlike the Lakers, everyone on the Knicks' atmosphere squad high-fived Lee before entering the game, and every one of them had a smile on their face.
Kobe covered his face with a towel, unwilling to get up for a long time.
No one could capture his expression.
The special Mamba was in self-isolation.
Without showing respect to his opponents, Kobe stood up and, like Duncan, walked quickly towards the player's tunnel.
This action stunned Derek Fisher.
When Old Fish squeezed next to Lee to congratulate him, he quietly revealed the situation: "The losing team's player tunnel."
Their old rival had clearly lost his composure.
"It's alright, Bro, I understand how they feel! Remember to help me deliver the gift!"
After a simple hug with Lee and Derek Fisher, Lee patted him again and whispered instructions.
The surrounding sports reporters hadn't noticed anything amiss until they waited for a long time and still saw no sign of Duncan and Kobe.
"They are clowns!"
"A bunch of cowards! Too ashamed to show their faces after losing, we blew out Los Angeles!"
Ron Artest and JR Smith embraced, while their relatives and friends cheered wildly and condemned the opponents' disrespectful behavior.
The noise grew louder, and many reporters realized that Kobe and Duncan had disappeared, and Phil Jackson was also nowhere to be found.
Reporters who couldn't find any fun began to criticize the Lakers.
"Where did they go? The Lakers have no right to refuse interviews!"
"Shit! I'm going to report this to the league, where is Mr. David Stern!"
The scene was chaotic for a moment.
Unable to interview the other protagonists, everyone started to crowd around Lee, causing the ABC reporters to shout loudly.
Tafoya only managed to stand firm with Lee's help.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we still have plenty of time!"
Lee, wearing the New York Knicks' away practice uniform, had to remind them loudly.
On the other side, near the scorer's table, Mike D'Antoni was grinning from ear to ear, pulling Kurt Rambis and showering him with praise:
"This truly was a spectacular Finals. You all performed exceptionally well, reaching the Finals in your first season after a major trade!"
"I have a feeling that perhaps we'll face each other again in the coming years, and I'm very much looking forward to it."
Some of the Lakers' staff and fans, like the general public, began watching the awards ceremony.
Seeing Lee lift the trophy on site was a rare experience.
In the home team's locker room, Kobe sat in his seat, covering his face and trying to control his immense frustration.
He was incredibly disappointed, and at the same time, felt a profound sense of despair.
Under such emotions, Kobe feared seeing Lee's smiling face.
He didn't want to show a weak side in front of reporters, and ultimately chose to cry alone.
Duncan, on the other hand, locked himself in the bathroom.
The team's staff looked at each other, this was the first time they had encountered such a situation.
It wasn't until Phil Jackson knocked on the locker room door that everyone returned to the room.
The staff then blocked the reporters, and after a barrage of shouts, silence returned.
"Go congratulate the opponents! Show your respect for the champions! This is what every player should do!"
"54 points, yes, we created the largest Finals point differential record in history, but who cares about that? It's no different from losing to the opponent by 1 point."
"We have succeeded, we are one of the best teams in the league, and the Lakers' championship window has just opened. You know I'm telling the truth!"
Phil Jackson delivered a "pot of thick chicken soup" with a determined expression.
Kobe's eyes were slightly red, and he nodded heavily.
On the other side, Duncan, who had returned to his seat, remained silent.
Abandoning his former team, entering the Finals for the fifth time in his career, only to suffer another tragic defeat, Duncan's mentality shattered.
This result made him a joke once more.
The words of the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man went in one ear and out the other.
Duncan couldn't hear anything at the moment.
The thought of Lee smiling and extending his hands, displaying his 10th championship, made the surging emotions in his heart uncontrollable.
After an unknown amount of time, Duncan realized everyone was looking at him.
He then managed to force a smile and whispered:
"I'm fine, I just want to stay a little longer."
Derek Fisher carefully observed his teammate and noticed that he seemed to have forgotten to shave, looking somewhat disheveled.
Only then did he realize that Duncan had been unable to cope after losing Game 3.
The Lakers were still quietly waiting for the press conference.
In the center of the Staples Center court, on the newly erected podium, those wearing white championship T-shirts were cheering loudly with Lee as he raised the trophy:
"Ah!!!"
Perhaps the playoff atmosphere this year had a great sense of participation, as everyone's shouts were exceptionally loud at this moment.
Barea even shed tears of excitement. 5-for-5 in a single quarter, scoring 12 points—this was the result of two years of hard work.
The small guard, recalling the intense competitive environment, cried uncontrollably for a while.
Of course, from the perspective of the sports reporters, these were definitely "tears of joy."
The moment they set a record, their names would appear in mainstream newspapers.
Host Stuart Scott noticed David Stern beaming, and immediately understood that the ratings for Game 4 must have exceeded expectations.
This was considered the most successful Finals in recent years.
The trophy was too familiar to the New York Knicks.
Clay Lee casually handed it to his teammates. Pau Gasol smiled and touched it twice before quickly passing the trophy to the Rookie.
Thaddeus Young and Gary Neal screamed exaggeratedly at the sight of the golden trophy.
If they hadn't been pulled back, they would have already bitten it.
"Mike, after Mr. Dolan chose you to take over the team, the New York Knicks have won championships for six consecutive years, moving closer to the Celtics' record. Talk about your feelings at this moment!"
Scott, wearing glasses, pulled Mike D'Antoni to his side.
James Dolan, holding his hat, embraced the championship coach and said with some excitement:
"I thought for a long time before making the right choice back then. You fulfilled your promise, Mike, I'm proud of you!"
Mike D'Antoni recalled that boastful PPT with endless emotion.
Everything he had bragged about had come true.
Even God was helping him:
"I just want to thank the New York Knicks for their trust, thank Lee, and thank our supporting fans. We have the most professional management, the best players on Earth, and the most loyal fans in the world!"
"In this environment, it's hard for me to fail! I love New York!"
Although these words were a bit arrogant, both the league staff and the fans present applauded Mike D'Antoni.
Without a doubt, at this moment, Mike D'Antoni had surpassed Phil Jackson.
The Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man lost his composure because Mike D'Antoni had matched his half-lifetime achievements in just a few short years.
The thank-you interviews continued.
On the other side, encouraged by Phil Jackson, Kobe had changed his clothes.
Perhaps he yearned for that trophy too much, and finally came near the player tunnel.
Every time Sports Illustrated interviewed Lee, they would casually photograph the room full of trophies.
Although Kobe had seen them many times, his heart still ached immensely when he witnessed this moment again in person.
"...Averaging 40.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 10.0 assists, 2.3 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 0.3 turnovers, the 2007-08 NBA Most Valuable Player award belongs to Clay-Lee."
"..."
There was no difference from the annual television broadcast, only this year the background was the Staples Center, and David Stern's voice seemed to carry a smile.
The shouts of the fans on both sides of the tunnel disappeared at this moment.
Kobe stared intently at Lee, who was holding up two golden trophies, until the increasingly loud cheers from the crowd brought him back to reality:
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
"I'm very happy to have fulfilled my promise with the help of my teammates! Crazy JJ and JR! Tayshaun's selfless contribution, Dan's excellent Defense!"
"And of course, the magical Boris, he can play from point guard to center, he is our Mr. Versatile! I believe he will have the chance to become our Mr. Best in the future..."
Lee's words made the atmosphere group laugh heartily, and the fun-loving people on site also burst into laughter.
Boris Diaw was even pushed to the front by everyone, and amidst the jeers, he feigned helplessness.
Kobe's face immediately fell when he heard these words, and then he turned and walked away, but he could still faintly hear a voice:
"...I hope New York fans like this gift! Loyalty will not be betrayed."
Just as Duncan had imagined, during the photo session, Lee sat on the podium, smiling brightly, holding his hands up to his chest in front of the camera: 10 fingers, 10 championships.
The cheers echoing through the Staples Center were unstoppable.
When the New York Knicks returned to the locker room, staff pushed in large quantities of customized armand de brignac champagne.
Lee had already put on his goggles and taken off his shirt, revealing his muscular upper body.
The curly-haired boss was the first to spray champagne, and then the scene descended into chaotic revelry.
Chandler chugged champagne and then jumped and danced.
Pau Gasol also let out strange cries, even pouring it into his shoes.
Having suffered a foot injury, this season had been difficult for him.
The golden armand de brignac seemed to sparkle, and the Los Angeles reporters watching were envious.
To this day, they still couldn't understand why the opponents always managed to make those shots.
When the Lakers held their press conference, Duncan, dressed in a loose-fitting gray formal suit, had reverted to his poker-faced demeanor.
Just like in Game 4 last year, the aging MVP seemed to have collapsed again during the game.
Repeating last year's story, in his fifth Finals appearance, Duncan still failed to make a breakthrough.
The championship seemed within reach yet far away.
No matter how much he struggled, the final result was always a loss.
It was the fifth time in his career he had reached the Finals, setting a new record for the largest point differential.
Dressed in a well-fitting black suit, Kobe sat down and, without waiting for questions, proactively stated:
"I said it, losing is my problem! I failed to shoulder the responsibility of a leader."
"This is our first year working together, and the team still has many shortcomings. I still firmly believe that we can succeed, and the Lakers will soon return to the Finals."
Kobe spoke at a measured pace, his expression serious as he made his statement.
The reporters below had varied expressions.
ESPN was still the first to ask:
"The Lakers broke the record for the largest point differential in the Finals!"
"Where do you think the Lakers lost? In all four games, you were unable to break through Clay Lee's Defense. Is this the fundamental reason for your loss?"
With 7 of 22 field goals, 3 of 9 three-pointers, and 8 of 11 free throws, Kobe 6 contributed a team-high 25 points in G4, but his shooting percentage still didn't reach 40%.
"I will find a solution! It's not difficult for me! As for shooting percentage, I never pay attention to those."
"I only fight for victory. To win, I am willing to give everything. I will handle this."
Kobe answered the question calmly, comforting himself in his heart, firmly believing Magic Johnson's words that his "arch-rival" was not as disciplined as him and would definitely decline earlier.
Reporters who wanted to attack Kobe from a data perspective were somewhat disappointed.
He insisted, "I don't care about data," and no matter how they refuted him, it was useless.
"Tim, do you think the Lakers' roster has surpassed the San Antonio Spurs'?"
Duncan, who had been silent recently, was a beat slow in reacting when he heard the question.
This kind of question felt like "rubbing salt in the wound," and everyone looked at the MVP:
"Kobe is right, we have already found the problem, and the next step is to solve it."
"Whether in the past or now, the teams I've been on have always had excellent rosters, and reaching the Finals is the best proof of that."
Sports reporters seemed to want to pin the blame for the loss on Kobe, but Duncan consistently dodged the question, leaving everyone below helpless.
They didn't like this answer.
The Los Angeles reporters seemed to have lost their composure.
After the polite exchanges, a sharp question suddenly came:
"Kobe, do you think this season's Lakers were successful? After these Finals, do you still insist that you are the Mr. Best?"
At once, everyone looked at the sullen Kobe.
He didn't disappoint them, responding resolutely after a moment of thought:
"Second place is the biggest loser, but the Lakers have risen again. Compared to the past few seasons, we were very successful this year. Everyone on the team trained hard, and the locker room atmosphere became better!"
"I am still the Mr. Best. You can mock my failure, but I will get back up. God knows how hard I work, and I firmly believe that hard work pays off."
"..."
When two golden trophies appeared on the stage, the "mouthpieces" couldn't wait to ask Lee questions.
Soon, applause and cheers erupted in the media room.
Winners always receive preferential treatment.
Lee, bare-chested, smiled and waved his hand, then ran a hand through his wet black hair.
He still smelled of champagne.
As soon as he sat down, he heard a question about Kobe.
"I agree with him. Kobe is a good man, a competent player."
"Everyone has a different definition of success and 'Mr. Best.' A few years ago, someone told me that championships aren't that important, and some even said that after more than 5 championships, the trophies lose their meaning."
"I didn't refute that, because everyone's circumstances are different. In New York, New York fans like trophies, and like them, I enjoy participating in championship parades every year!"
"So, to meet the New York fans' expectations, I will keep winning until my teammates and I can no longer win."
Seeing Lee raise an eyebrow at the TNT and Los Angeles reporters when he said this, many people smiled.
The "championship overflow theory" came from these two sides, and these people were simply consumed by jealousy.
"Lee, I think many New York fans are looking forward to you breaking the Finals scoring record. We all think it's not difficult for you. In the future, will you consider increasing your shot attempts to achieve that goal?"
The ESPN reporter was still focused on statistics.
This year, Clay Lee averaged 19.3 shot attempts, with a field goal percentage of 71.4%, a three-point percentage of 55.3%, and a free throw percentage of 96.9%.
He only missed one free throw in four games, and his shot attempts weren't high.
Although his efficiency was very high, this wasn't the data the media expected.
"Although I'm 30 years old, I still feel very young. Maybe I'll have many more Finals in the future, so I haven't considered this yet."
"This is also a math problem. When my shot attempts exceed 25, it means the bench's shot attempts are compressed. The number of possessions in a game is limited, and around 88 possessions is the most suitable pace for the Knicks."
"When I need to score more to win games, I won't refuse to shoot. For now, praise my teammates. They are even better than what the statistics reflect!"
"..."
After the two teams' press conferences, Phil Jackson accepted interviews from familiar reporters in the player tunnel, while Kobe and Duncan moved to the visiting team's locker room for their final goodbyes.
When the two appeared, the Knicks players were somewhat surprised.
Lee seemed very generous, warmly embracing his old opponents as a greeting.
Kobe kept a straight face, offering a dry congratulations.
Duncan also said little, simply bumping fists and wishing them well:
"Congratulations, Lee! You're one step closer to a great record!"
"You know, man, I respect your achievements. How was the champagne last year? I'm really sorry that Gregg Popovich chose to retire."
Lee, now changed into a black suit, spoke these words with great sincerity, as if he had lost a respectable opponent. Duncan's eye twitched.
He was about to lose his composure.
"I still can't get through to him. If you have a chance, remember to say hello to him for me!"
Soon, a slightly tipsy Mike D'Antoni and a few others also pulled the two aside to chat.
Only Rajon Rondo was still glaring, occasionally whispering to the Rookie next to him while staring at Kobe, a mocking expression on his face.
Kobe, feeling uncomfortable all over, soon bid farewell and left.
Lee finally pulled Duncan aside, patted his old opponent, and sincerely wished him well again:
"I've prepared a special champion champagne for you. All the Lakers have some, but you two are special. I hope you like this gift even more, and I hope it brings you good luck!"
"God bless you!"
Duncan's usually poker-faced expression finally wavered.
Lee's sincere smile at that moment made him want to punch him.
He had been mocked again.
Kobe, who had returned to the locker room first, quickly noticed the armand de brignac with purple and gold colors in everyone's hands.
Under everyone's gaze, Kobe quickly opened the exquisite gift box on his seat.
The two bottles of purple and gold champagne looked great, but the card beside them made Kobe's anger surge.
It was a championship photo of him and Shaq, and on the back was Lee's handwriting:
"You are my eternal opponents — A tribute to Mr. Best!"
"Fuck! ***"
To everyone's surprise, Kobe continuously cursed, tearing the card to shreds.
He had almost forgotten about Shaq, but Lee's reminder made him remember that the Finals turmoil wasn't over yet.
Around 1 AM, the Hyde Lounge nightclub on Sunset Boulevard welcomed its "championship moment."
James Dolan had reserved the entire night's celebration early, and girls showing off their beautiful figures were cheering for Shaquille O'Neal.
To the rhythmic music, Shaquille O'Neal rapped excitedly.
He had come here and gotten drunk right after the game.
With the arrival of the Knicks, he became even more ecstatic:
"You know how I be, Kobe couldn't do without me!"
"..."
"I'm a stallion, Kobe kicked me out!"
"I wouldn't do that, I'm Shaquille O'Neal, no woman would refuse me!"
"..."
....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)