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***
Monday, May 16, 2005.
After the NBA announced its All-NBA Teams yesterday, it once again sparked heated discussions among basketball pundits.
Although this award is based on regular season performance, many fans still expressed that this season's selection was problematic.
ESPN's program didn't discuss the list too much.
They stuck to their usual Excel-based commentary, while TNT's trio expressed doubts, stating that data alone cannot be the sole criterion for judging awards.
After the introduction of Win Shares this season, this advanced stat has not yet become a mainstream selection indicator, but many basketball pundits have already started using it.
Regardless of whether fans approve, advanced analytics will become an irreversible trend in future award selections.
The five players selected for the All-NBA First Team this season were:
Clay Lee, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O'Neal.
The five players selected for the All-NBA Second Team were:
Steve Nash, Ray Allen, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, and Amar'e Stoudemire.
The five players selected for the All-NBA Third Team were:
Allen Iverson, Gilbert Arenas, Tracy McGrady, Shawn Marion, and Ben Wallace.
In the All-NBA Teams, Amar'e Stoudemire didn't have many starts, while Allen Iverson became the only player among all selected who failed to make the playoffs but was still chosen for an All-NBA Team.
After the list was announced, the debate centered on why Allen Iverson, who missed the playoffs, was selected, while Kobe Bryant was not.
Basic stats for Allen Iverson: 30.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 2.4 steals, and 4.6 turnovers per game;
His field goal percentage was 42.4%, three-point percentage was 30.8%, and free throw percentage was 83.5%.
Kobe Bryant's stats: 27.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 4.1 turnovers per game.
His field goal percentage was 43.3%, three-point percentage was 33.9%, and free throw percentage was 81.6%.
There wasn't much difference between the two.
Both led their teams to an early vacation.
Kobe Bryant's Player Efficiency Rating (PER) was 23.3, and Allen Iverson's was 23.2, placing them on the same level.
The reason Kobe Bryant was not selected was that pundits believed Allen Iverson's Win Shares were superior!
In the emerging advanced stat of Win Shares, among players with over 70% attendance, Allen Iverson ranked 27th, while Kobe Bryant ranked 31st.
Coupled with slightly better basic stats, Allen Iverson was ultimately selected for the All-NBA Third Team.
Attendance also brought Allen Iverson a significant boost.
All players in the All-NBA Teams played over 70 games.
Kobe Bryant only played 66 games this season due to injuries, and Pau Gasol, who was also not selected, suffered from the same issue—his attendance rate didn't meet the standard, ultimately leading to his exclusion.
Recently, there hasn't been much news about the Lakers, except for Jeanie Buss calling for her boyfriend's return.
News about Kobe Bryant has been scarce.
Leading his team to an early exit after Shaquille O'Neal left, Kobe Bryant found it hard to accept such a result.
After being left out, loyal fans spoke up for Kobe Bryant, but when ESPN interviewed him, he didn't say much:
"I don't care about these boring awards. I've won championship."
"Whether I'm selected for an All-NBA Team or not, it won't change this outcome. I know my strength. I'm the best scorer in the league!"
Initially wanting to dig for more news, Kobe Bryant didn't give ESPN more opportunities.
After a brief statement, he stopped accepting interviews.
Allen Iverson's selection to the All-NBA Team also led to some players publicly expressing their disagreement.
Chris Webber, who was embroiled in trade rumors during the All-Star Weekend, was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, but this didn't stop him from commenting on the All-NBA Teams:
"I don't know why pundits always pick these people."
"Basketball is not about individual stats. Players who don't make the playoffs shouldn't be selected for an All-NBA Team."
"I was indeed unhappy about the previous trade. Allen Iverson is excellent, but I'm not interested in playing with him. He dribbles too much. That's not the pace of play I like."
At the time, the Sacramento Kings wanted to send Chris Webber to Philadelphia, but the trade ultimately fell through.
Webber, unable to stay silent, brought up old grievances, and for a while, fans who loved a good debate also started discussing whether Allen Iverson should have been selected.
In yesterday's Sunday game, the Knicks decisively won 113-96, easily sweeping the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Although LeBron James once again showed his desire, unfortunately, he failed to become Cleveland's hero.
Despite losing the game, LeBron James earned recognition from basketball pundits, and Cavaliers fans held greater expectations for this responsible leader.
The nickname "Akron Mamba" also became known to more fans.
From a popularity perspective, LeBron James, who lost in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, was also a winner.
In contrast, Dwight Howard's reputation wasn't as good.
After being posterized by Lee, this Rookie top pick was labeled a "softie."
However, most basketball pundits were rational.
They wouldn't demand too much from a first-year Rookie.
From the Cavaliers' current roster, Dwight Howard has the potential to become a super role player.
After a few seasons of development, he will undoubtedly become a powerful helper for LeBron James.
This season's playoff journey ended, and LeBron James, selected for the All-NBA Second Team, has already become a new-generation superstar.
During the post-game press conference last night, LeBron James expressed support for Allen Iverson's selection to the All-NBA Team:
"Averaging 30 points, we all know how difficult that is. Allen Iverson's spirit inspires us!"
"Many people choose the number 3 jersey because of Allen Iverson. Although he couldn't lead his team to the playoffs, it doesn't diminish our admiration for him."
"…"
The debate about the All-NBA Teams continued.
Clay Lee, who returned to New York, didn't become a detective this time.
He attended the funeral of Ewing's sister with his old teammates.
Before Game 4 began, Ewing had already returned to Boston, as Ms. Pauline ultimately succumbed to cancer.
Also attending the funeral was John Starks, who had just been appointed the Knicks' Community Relations Director this year.
As members of a championship team, most players who wished to work for the team could find a decent position within the Knicks organization.
Blessed by the championship, Ewing's reputation was excellent.
At least everyone respected this super center who played for the Knicks for half his life.
Sports media also showed respect, even dedicating some space to report on Ewing's family life.
Starks still maintained his player-era physique.
Unlike the rounded Ewing, the former "madman" had become a kind middle-aged uncle.
After the funeral, the usually low-key Starks also accepted an interview with the New York Times.
When asked if he still followed NBA news, Starks gave a positive reply:
"Although I'm more concerned with the relationship between the team and the community, I also pay close attention to modern basketball."
"I once made 200 three-pointers in a single season. Back then, people thought I was crazy, but Lee's emergence changed the game."
"Perhaps many people haven't changed their mindset regarding current award selections, but advanced analytics are excellent. They can help fans interpret the game from another perspective."
"Truly excellent players, like Lee, should withstand analysis. Introducing advanced analytics for award selection is absolutely the correct choice."
Lee did not accept the interview.
He and Larry Johnson quickly pulled Starks away.
Advanced analytics once again took center stage in the NBA.
Lee was well aware that various integrated data models would follow, supporting a large number of related professionals. Excel represents the future.
tuesday, May 17, with the San Antonio Spurs securing a match point, the situation in the Western Conference Finals had become clear.
The Heat also won the pivotal Game 5.
Shaquille O'Neal played through injury, and Miami sports media highly praised his sportsmanship.
Regarding this series, basketball pundits had mixed reviews, but ultimately, they reached a common conclusion:
"The games between these two teams have a kind of retro beauty!"
Hamilton was still the same, focusing on mid-range shots, and Chauncey Billups didn't take wild three-pointers, calmly controlling the game's tempo.
Dwyane Wade of the Heat also rarely shot from beyond the arc, and Stan Van Gundy often started his offense from the paint.
Slow pace, physical collisions, many turnovers, and continuous free throws.
After watching the Knicks' series, some fans found it difficult to adapt to watching these two teams play.
Unlike the Cavaliers, the Detroit Pistons were a stronger team.
The fact that Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal could suppress their opponents in their first year together naturally received unanimous praise from sports media.
On TNT's program that day, Charles Barkley raved about Dwyane Wade's performance.
Two days prior, Barkley strongly opposed using Win Shares to evaluate players, and he continued to emphasize his point in the studio that morning:
"To evaluate a player's performance, you have to watch his games."
"Tables and numbers simply cannot reflect a player's true level; our eyes don't lie."
This issue had been discussed more than once.
Kenny Smith, seeing his co-host about to launch into his retro theory again, quickly interrupted, saying:
"Numbers are a player's performance on the court. Advanced analytics can better help us understand a player's impact on the game."
"If I were a team scout or a Head Coach, I would definitely embrace advanced analytics."
"Intuition can sometimes deceive you, and you can't watch every single game. As long as the large sample size isn't wrong, I trust this new data."
Kenny Smith's contract was about to expire, and he was currently seeking a coaching job.
TNT had also offered him a lucrative contract, and both sides were still negotiating.
If no team hired him as a Head Coach, Kenny Smith would most likely remain in the studio to continue his commentary.
Charles Barkley was different.
He talked about wanting to coach a team or be a General Manager, but he preferred his current job as a loudmouth.
The two had different views on Win Shares, and Ernie Johnson responded cautiously:
"This data is still being perfected, and we can discuss this issue further in the offseason."
"Perhaps then we can compare Clay Lee's advanced stats with historical players. Fans will love this topic."
"The Knicks have advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals! They have a chance to tie the Celtics' record!"
"Do you think Clay Lee can lead the Knicks to their second three-peat this year?"
From 1959 to 1968, the Celtics won the Eastern Conference championship for 8 consecutive years.
Many fans haven't witnessed the ancient era of basketball, but now the Knicks are showing the dominance of that Celtics team.
When the topic of championships came up, Charles Barkley became a bit silent, only managing to say dryly:
"What's hindering the Knicks is injuries. Pau Gasol's form has declined this year, and his performance in these two playoff rounds has only been passable."
"Amar'e Stoudemire might be able to help the team on offense, but he hasn't faced a real test yet."
"In my opinion, the most incredible thing about Lee is his body. Since entering the NBA, he hasn't suffered any major injuries."
"You know he expends more energy than most players. As he gets older, I think the Knicks will lose their dominance."
If he wins the championship again this season, Clay Lee will surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Seven is greater than six, so it's only a matter of time before he becomes the greatest of all time.
Barkley didn't want to talk about this topic, but Kenny Smith said frankly:
"Considering that the Heat are also suffering from injuries, if the two teams meet in the conference finals, I still favor the Knicks."
"Dwyane Wade is an excellent second-year Rookie, but the gap between him and Clay Lee is too big. It's hard for the Heat to beat the Knicks with just Shaq."
Clay Lee's basic stats completely overshadowed Dwyane Wade.
Charles Barkley couldn't refute this and could only say sullenly:
"Basketball games aren't about looking at stat sheets. If a second-year Clay Lee could beat Michael Jordan, why can't Dwyane Wade beat the Knicks?"
"Back then, Clay Lee had Patrick Ewing by his side, and now Dwyane Wade has Shaquille O'Neal. The young man can create miracles!"
"…"
A second-year LeBron James didn't get Lee's script from back then.
A second-year Dwyane Wade is currently highly anticipated, and commentators hope history will repeat itself.
Miami sports media cheered for Dwyane Wade, and column articles analyzed the situation, all believing this was the Heat's best chance!
On the evening of the 18th, the Detroit Pistons, back at Auburn Hills Palace, refused to give up and tied the series again.
84:91, with excellent Defense, the Detroit Pistons dragged the series into a Game 7.
Dwyane Wade played less than 15 minutes tonight and did not return to the court due to knee discomfort.
Although they lost, Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade were both very confident when they attended the press conference after the game.
As a "fake fan" of Clay Lee, Dwyane Wade has always disliked the Knicks.
Dwyane Wade, who had obviously watched the TNT show, actively stated after the game:
"I don't know why everyone always thinks Clay Lee is invincible. In fact, we beat the Knicks in the regular season."
"Basketball games aren't about numbers; to beat your opponent, you rely on your desire for victory!"
"Shaq has shared his championship experience with me without reservation. I was selected to the All-NBA First Team, and I don't think I'll lose to Clay Lee."
Dwyane Wade was particularly excited when talking about this topic.
Shaquille O'Neal, who was next to him, again ignored the Detroit Pistons, smiled at his younger brother, and boasted in a low voice:
"Look at our roster, we are full of desire for the championship!"
"A second-year Dwyane Wade is better than Kobe Bryant. I won championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, and I will win championships in Miami too."
"I don't care about those boring stats. Maybe Clay Lee is still the best in the NBA, but that doesn't mean he can win."
The sports media below the stage didn't expect the two to predict the conference finals in advance, completely disregarding the upcoming Game 7.
Last year, Dwyane Wade was still a good kid and hadn't let loose.
Like other Rookies, he expressed his admiration for Clay Lee.
After Shaquille O'Neal joined, in less than a season, Dwyane Wade's "fake fan" attribute was completely exposed, and he even began to challenge the Knicks.
This press conference eventually turned into a bragging session:
"Leaving aside the stats and past championships, Clay Lee is just an ordinary player!"
The sports media was delighted with their remarks. Compared to the Detroit Pistons, everyone hoped that the Heat could enter the conference finals.
The San Antonio Spurs advanced quietly, and the Seattle SuperSonics got the match point.
The Western Conference Semifinals were not as exciting as the big mouths of the Heat players.
On Thursday the 19th, Alonzo Mourning, back in Miami, boasted as an elder brother:
"I love the Heat's culture. As I emphasized before, no one in the NBA desires a championship more than us!"
"Everyone has made great efforts for this. Our training volume is beyond the reach of many teams. God favors hard-working children."
The Miami Herald liked Mourning's return.
After the relevant articles appeared in the newspaper, local fans also shouted to fight for the "Kidney Warrior"!
The Detroit media, however, did not follow suit.
General Motors' stock was still plummeting, which had already affected their lives.
Compared to the NBA, Detroit citizens were more concerned about the city's future.
If it went bankrupt, many families would face difficulties, and not many people had savings these days.
The Knicks got a lot of rest time, and the New York Post didn't mind shouting across the air.
In the morning newspaper, a column article in the sports section briefly reviewed Lee's performance in the first two rounds of the playoffs:
"38.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 10.6 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.3 turnovers per game."
"Field goal percentage of 60.5%, three-point percentage of 46.8%, free throw percentage of 95.3%."
"33.9 minutes per game, 22.0 attempts per game, true shooting percentage of 75.1%."
After listing a series of data, it also helped the Knicks predict the championship.
Player data, team data, no matter how you compare them, the final conclusion is only one:
"Win!"
The Knicks' training volume was indeed not very good, nor did they require players' body fat percentage like the Heat.
The training team has always been worried about injuries to Lee, and often reduces the amount of daily training.
That afternoon, the Knicks again ended their training session early.
Mike D'Antoni didn't even arrange regular tactical drills.
As for players voluntarily doing extra training, Mike D'Antoni had no objection.
The coaching staff's main concern was still health, with tactics ranking second.
The players left, but Mike Malone and the assistant coaches still had to continue working.
When they returned to the office, Mike D'Antoni was also watching the edited videotapes.
Before the assistant coaches could speak, he immediately said with a smile:
"Everyone is in good shape. If the Heat advance, I plan to have Lee guard Wade."
"Currently, Shaquille O'Neal cannot handle a large amount of ball possession. Their reliance on Dwyane Wade is more serious than we imagined."
Affected by a thigh injury, Shaquille O'Neal's stats had declined even further compared to the regular season.
Mike Malone and the assistant coaches exchanged glances, then whispered:
"Will this increase Lee's physical load? This season has been very draining for Lee."
The consequence of exaggerated stats was increased usage.
In every series, the coaching staff worried about Lee's health.
Everyone on the Knicks team was very clear that if Lee got injured, the championship would most likely be gone.
In the first round, someone suggested that Lee not guard Vince Carter.
Mike D'Antoni rejected the proposal, and this adjustment felt a bit like a boomerang.
"Ending the series as soon as possible is the right choice. Bell cannot limit Dwyane Wade, and his impact will cause huge trouble for our interior."
"Lee believes he can limit Dwyane Wade, and I respect his opinion."
Mike D'Antoni said this with a relaxed expression, and then they realized that this was the main player's suggestion...
Ewing seemed to have grown accustomed to such scenes, and his face didn't show much surprise.
However, a thought of "I can take his place" surged in Mike Malone's heart.
The Head Coach position was easier than he imagined.
Lee, back home in Tarrytown in the evening, still had to continue replying to emails.
General Motors stock had caused no small trouble for hedge funds, and some investors were worried that related bond portfolios would affect their returns.
At dinner time, when Scarlett and Krysten Ritter returned home, they noticed Lee was still in the study and immediately snuggled up to him.
Scarlett, whose waist had grown a bit, squeezed into Lee's arms, glanced at the laptop, and whispered with blinking eyes:
"Honey, you don't have to work all the time!"
Krysten Ritter quietly pouted.
Two days ago, Lee accompanied Scarlett to the independent film festival in Manhattan to watch films and also attended the awards ceremony.
Afterward, Lee accompanied them to the Manhattan food festival for two days.
Kim was still working, while Scarlett, who was unemployed, stayed by Lee's side all day, only knowing how to act spoiled and say nice things.
Both were wearing oversized white T-shirts.
Lee kissed the girl in his arms, then stood up, put his arms around both of them, and walked towards the dining room, saying:
"Work hard for a few months, and by the end of the year, we'll be able to relax."
Lee's face also showed a hint of longing.
Once a hurricane appeared, dollars would be waving at him:
"It's time to make the Manchester fans feel awe!"
"…"
...
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