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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 Saturday, May 13th, 2006, at Gund Arena, 20,000 Cleveland fans were ecstatic.
In this crucial game, their The Chosen One lived up to their expectations!
In the three days leading up to Game 3, the Cavaliers' official team began mobilizing fans, and owner Gilbert even distributed cheering props for free to create a home-court atmosphere.
This series of actions finally paid off, as the Cavaliers, slowing their offensive pace, achieved an astonishing shooting percentage amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the Cleveland fans.
With 1 minute and 11 seconds left in the first quarter, and the shot clock winding down, LeBron James once again received the ball at the top of the arc.
Substitutes Drew Gooden and Marshall once again moved up to set a double screen, and watching James accelerate horizontally with the ball in his left hand, Prince, who had lost his defensive position, could only shout to remind his teammates.
As the rotation began, the New York Knicks' interior consisted of Diaw and Gadzuric.
Facing Diaw, who had switched onto him, James did not force his way to the basket, but instead, taking advantage of his hot hand, accelerated to the left wing, and as he approached the left sideline, he suddenly stepped back and released a fadeaway jumper!
As the ball flew through the air, James confidently retreated on Defense, and amidst the shouts of the fans, the ball ultimately swished through the net.
"Crazy offense! LeBron is trying to win the game the New York Knicks' way! He's been too outstanding in the first quarter!"
At the ESPN commentary table, Mike Breen praised loudly, and Hubie Brown, looking at the statistics, took advantage of the New York Knicks' baseline inbound to comment with interest:
"The Cavaliers' adherence to the 24-second clock is working, and the most crucial thing is that their core player is too efficient!"
"If LeBron can maintain this form, they will secure a victory tonight."
The Gund Arena was filled with excited shouts, and Head Coach Van Gundy on the sidelines knew his players couldn't hear him, so he waved repeatedly, signaling them to continue double-teaming.
The substitute Damon Jones began guarding Lee from the midcourt line, and as the two approached the top of the arc, James on the left wing decisively came over to double-team.
Lee, holding the ball in his left hand, did not rush to pass.
He first executed a sudden stop and a pound dribble, then a back-pivot to his right hand.
Damon Jones slid desperately, and James also quickly adjusted his center of gravity to block again.
Under their interference, Lee was unable to pass the ball to Prince near the left sideline in time.
As Diaw received the ball at the free-throw line, the ball was transferred promptly, and the Cavaliers' Defense also rotated quickly.
Drew Gooden directly closed out on Prince, who received the ball.
Simultaneously, Ronald Murray, guarding the right corner, timely collapsed to the basket, entangling himself beside Gadzuric.
Although there was an open shot in the right corner, Prince, who was driving, couldn't pass the ball in time.
James at the top of the arc was incredibly fast and had already rotated over.
Although he missed the fleeting opportunity, Prince's sudden stop, step-back jumper over Drew Gooden's contest in the left restricted area still earned the New York Knicks 2 points.
25:28, the deficit narrowed again.
"Boo!"
Listening to the boos echoing through the Gund Arena, Prince didn't show much emotion, simply went up to high-five Lee in celebration, then clapped for himself to boost his morale.
D'Antoni, sitting on the bench, didn't jump around like the Champion Coach next door.
He remained composed.
Aside from an early rotation, he made no other adjustments, as the Cavaliers' Defense was also part of his plan.
"Let's go Cavs!"
As the first quarter neared its end, and the home team had a chance to take the lead, the cheering grew louder and louder.
James, who received the ball on the baseline, didn't rush to advance.
He almost pressed the 8-second violation to cross half-court.
Upon reaching the right wing, he immediately called for Marshall to receive the ball in the restricted area.
He tossed the ball to his teammate, and Marshall immediately put the ball down with his left hand, turning his body to post up Diaw.
The situation of overpowering his way into the paint did not occur.
Diaw, holding his ground against the defensive pressure, even had the presence of mind to disrupt his opponent's dribbling rhythm.
Not forcing the offense, Marshall gathered the ball and returned it to James at the top of the arc.
The latter received the ball again, and Drew Gooden immediately came to the top of the arc to set a pick-and-roll.
Prince was directly pushed away.
As James, holding the ball in his left hand, accelerated in a straight line, Ronald Murray and Damon Jones on both wings began to shift towards the left and right corners.
Seeing that Gadzuric, who had slid into the paint, was about to be squeezed past, Raja Bell and Lee both began to collapse to the basket.
While in motion, James jumped early, paused slightly in the air, then smoothly flung the ball to the right corner.
Damon Jones, who received the ball, didn't hesitate either.
Facing Lee's contest, he forcefully shot and scored!
25:31, Gund Arena completely erupted.
Damon Jones, who made the shot, ran back to half-court and chest-bumped James in celebration.
At Head Coach Van Gundy's call, the Cavaliers again double-teamed early.
As soon as Lee crossed midcourt, he was double-teamed by Damon Jones and Ronald Murray.
As Raja Bell received the ball in the open space on the right wing, Marshall, who couldn't rotate over in time, could only watch the shot.
"Swish!" The three-pointer swished through the net, and the New York Knicks quickly responded.
Facing Prince's sudden on-ball Defense, James didn't force a shot.
His teammate simply passed the ball to Damon Jones, who received it and accelerated along the right sideline.
Drew Gooden, seeing his teammate struggling a bit, quickly moved to the right wing, attempting to set a screen.
As soon as his teammate settled, Damon Jones quickly dribbled behind his back, and the moment he switched to his left hand, before he could make any other move, Lee, who had slid over in time, squeezed between the two.
James, who had just run past half-court, could only watch as Lee, with his right hand, cleanly stripped the ball from his teammate and sprinted across half-court.
Damon Jones didn't even have time to foul, stumbling and falling at midcourt.
James chased for a bit and then gave up.
Amidst the boos of the home fans, Lee raised the ball with his right hand and glided in for a powerful dunk!
30:31, the Cavaliers committed a turnover, and the deficit was again narrowed.
Fortunately, in the last two possessions, Ronald Murray drove hard to the basket from the right wing, drawing a foul from Raja Bell, and made both free throws.
On the New York Knicks' last possession, Diaw, who was left open on the left wing, missed a jump shot, and the Cavaliers ultimately led by 3 points!
"Oh!"
Joyful shouts once again echoed through the Gund Arena.
For the first time in the series, the Cavaliers were leading.
They had a perfect start.
James, who played the entire first quarter, high-fived his teammates repeatedly as he walked to the bench, and the atmosphere group was also very excited.
Assistant Coach Thibodeau even clapped repeatedly, showing encouragement.
"6 of 8 from the field, 1 of 2 from three-point range, 2 of 2 from the free-throw line, 15 points, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover. LeBron's performance in the first quarter was impeccable!"
"The only regret is that they failed to extend the lead. The immense effort put into Defense might affect the rest of the game."
Mike Breen, looking at the statistics, exclaimed in admiration.
With both inside and outside scoring, James, who had just received the "media praise award," completely erupted.
"11 of 15 as a team, the Cavaliers executed their game plan perfectly. They truly are the league's second-best Defense!"
Hubie Brown continued to praise Head Coach Van Gundy's adjustments.
Using the 24-second clock to suppress opponents showed absolute confidence in the team.
As if thinking of something else, the veteran coach sighed:
"The defending champions also demonstrated their dominance. Although Clay Lee's scoring was concentrated in the first half of the quarter, he still controlled the game's rhythm very well."
"With 5 assists in a single quarter, it's clear that Coach DAntoni is also very confident. He started rotating at the 4-minute, 40-second mark."
After the second quarter began, Lee sat on the bench, while LeBron James remained on the court.
Based on his understanding of Head Coach Van Gundy and Thibodeau, James would definitely play 48 minutes tonight.
Fisher, who came off the bench, didn't hold back, scoring easily with a pick-and-roll assist to Gasol for a mid-range jumper in the restricted area on the first possession.
Howard, who had returned to the court, saw the coach's instructions and reluctantly nodded.
On Defense, he still had to actively sweep.
Squatting in the paint for rim protection was simply not allowed.
The Cavaliers' backcourt consisted of Snow and Damon Jones, while Drew Gooden and Howard continued to partner in the paint.
On the first offensive possession, Drew Gooden received the ball near the left elbow after a pick-and-roll, and his mid-range jumper over Diaw's Defense also went in!
The New York Knicks relied on Gasol to carry their offense, scoring several consecutive possessions with face-up moves in the restricted area.
The Cavaliers' Drew Gooden suddenly became incredibly accurate, and James and others took turns setting screens, with the latter continuously scoring from the free-throw line.
Both sides traded blows, and the score kept climbing!
Seizing a fast break opportunity, Fisher, after several missed jump shots, unexpectedly hit a three-pointer from the left wing.
In a half-court offense, after resting for several possessions on the court, James used Howard's screen to drive hard to the basket from the right wing, successfully drawing a foul.
Midway through the second quarter, the New York Knicks still hadn't brought in their starting lineup, and the score difference consistently fluctuated around 3 points.
When D'Antoni called a timeout, there were 6 minutes and 31 seconds left in the half.
Lee, Hill, and Artest returned to the court, with Diaw and Gasol still in the paint.
43:47, thanks to Drew Gooden's efficient performance, the Cavaliers still led.
The roaring American Airlines Arena prompted Head Coach Van Gundy on the sidelines to repeatedly make downward hand gestures.
They had to control the game's tempo.
"Defense!"
Waves of defensive cheers crashed down, with most fans hoping the home team would lead at halftime.
Many were already standing, shouting enthusiastically.
The New York Knicks raised their receiving positions.
Without waiting for a double-team, as soon as Lee crossed midcourt, he passed the ball to Hill on the left wing.
Hill received the ball and, facing Ronald Murray's Defense, also quickly lobbed the ball to Gasol, who was posting up in the restricted area.
As Lee accelerated towards the left corner, Hill first set an off-ball screen, then accelerated horizontally towards the top of the arc.
Feigning a pass to the corner, Gasol suddenly twisted upwards, and as he put the ball down with his right hand, he instantly cut into the paint.
Howard quickly slid to his right-rear, but Gasol, who had charged in, suddenly stopped, faked with the ball under the basket, then turned again, and in the instant he fooled the Defense, he scored with a left-handed bank shot.
"Boo!"
Boos once again echoed through the Gund Arena.
This quarter had almost turned into a shootout between Drew Gooden and Gasol.
Both were 4 for 4 so far, which made Hubie Brown at the commentary table exclaim again:
"Although the Cavaliers lost by a large margin in the first two games, their role players have stepped up since returning home!"
"The New York Knicks are the same. In one-on-one matchups, they have a considerable advantage and completely outmatch their opponents in terms of game experience."
While the two were still exclaiming at the commentary table, the Cavaliers started passing the ball continuously again.
Drew Gooden in the left restricted area was once again met with tight Defense from Diaw, and eventually the ball returned to James at the top of the arc.
Howard set an active screen, but broke off too early, allowing Ron Artest to force his way to James's side.
Attempting to power through with the ball in his left hand, James, facing Gasol's help Defense, decisively tossed the ball directly towards the front of the rim while in motion.
Before the ball reached its highest point, Gasol, who was prepared, intercepted it with his fingertips, cutting off the aerial connection.
After gaining possession, he decisively passed the ball to the waiting Lee.
There was no time to regret the mistake.
James loudly called out to his teammates, and the Cavaliers players all scrambled back on Defense.
Pushing the ball to his left hand with a change of direction, Lee accelerated along the sideline, moving incredibly fast.
As he approached the left wing, Snow and James, who was retreating down the middle, both converged on him.
Before they could get close, Lee suddenly tossed the ball towards the front of the rim while in motion.
The ball wasn't fast, arcing high over the Defense.
Ron Artest, unguarded in the middle, easily followed up, jumped, caught the ball with both hands, and slammed it into the basket!
47:47, both teams were back on even terms.
Ron Artest, who had just completed the alley-oop, was jumping and shouting excitedly.
No matter how far behind they were, it wouldn't affect his confidence.
He firmly believed the New York Knicks could come back.
No longer initiating offense from the low post, James received the ball early on the left wing.
Using Drew Gooden's screen, he drove to the basket with the ball in his left hand, accelerating his breakthrough.
Facing Diaw's aggressive hedge Defense, James drove hard to the basket.
Realizing that Ron Artest was also chasing him from behind, he immediately spun like a top in the restricted area and then quickly passed the ball to the left wing.
Lee initially collapsed on Defense, and when he saw the basketball fly into Snow's hands, he didn't rush back but instead watched his opponent put the ball down with his right hand and drive forward.
The decisive offensive choice did not lead to a good result.
Driving to the right restricted area, Snow's floater ultimately missed the basket.
"Oh!"
Amidst sighs of regret, Lee twisted around and secured the long rebound that had bounced off the front rim, then accelerated again to push the ball up the court.
Retreating quickly to half-court, Ronald Murray and James both converged towards the paint, watching Lee dribble behind his back to the middle.
After crossing the three-point line, Lee, with the ball in his right hand, slowed down slightly.
Looking at Ron Artest running to the right corner, he suddenly passed the ball behind his back while in motion.
Although Hill slid in time, Hill, who cut in from the left wing, extended his stride after receiving the ball and took off immediately.
In a flash, he broke through the Defense and arrived at the lower left of the basket.
Hill grabbed the ball with his left hand and easily completed a one-handed tomahawk dunk!
49:47, the moment the New York Knicks took the lead, Gund Arena suddenly fell silent, followed by a chorus of boos.
Having completed two consecutive transition offenses, and realizing the Cavaliers' shooting percentage was dropping, Lee clapped his hands, reminding his teammates to double-team this possession.
After a double screen on the perimeter, James, with the ball in his right hand, again accelerated horizontally.
Gasol hedged and then immediately dropped back, with Ron Artest continuing to chase him.
Although Howard had an opportunity on the roll, James, who had just crossed the three-point line, chose not to pass, and was quickly met with Lee's help Defense.
Seeing Gasol raise his arms, Lee collapsed back to the basket.
Sensing that Ron Artest was also jumping behind him, James quickly passed the ball to Snow in the right corner.
The latter received the ball, hesitated for a moment, and as he shot, Lee, who was closing out, jumped up to block it.
The basketball flew directly into Gasol's hands under the basket.
Then, Diaw received the ball on the lower left side of the basket, and the New York Knicks launched another fast break.
Before crossing mid-court, Diaw directly passed the ball to the frontcourt.
James and Snow, who had retreated in time, both watched Lee approach the left wing to get the ball.
Before the two could close in, Lee flicked his left wrist, and a bounce pass instantly sliced through the Defense, the ball spinning towards the paint.
Hill snatched the ball ahead of Ronald Murray, and with no one guarding the basket, he took off immediately, grabbed the ball with his left hand, and delivered another one-handed tomahawk dunk!
51:47, Head Coach Van Gundy immediately called a timeout, and the Cavaliers' bench suddenly fell silent.
The New York Knicks' atmosphere group was in a frenzy, and Fisher, draped in a towel, repeatedly punched the air in celebration, shouting non-stop:
"That's it! Make them pay, no one can underestimate us!"
Crazy double-teams always create open shots, and Lee's timely passes allowed the role players on the court to perform, which was a direct blow to the opponent.
Lee still had plenty of energy.
Most of the time, he attracted double-teams at the top of the arc.
In the first quarter, the opponent's shooting percentage was too high, and it wasn't until now that they were getting transition offense:
"They should start missing now. Run! We need to lead by double digits at halftime!"
The director timely captured the scene of Lee gesturing on the tactical board and constantly shouting reminders to his teammates, which made Mike Breen in the commentary box unable to resist a playful remark:
"No wonder Coach DAntoni has emphasized more than once that Clay Lee is responsible for adjustments during the game."
Head Coach Van Gundy, however, was a bit flustered at this moment.
James's efficient offense in the first quarter had covered up the problems, but with his shooting percentage dropping, he was at a loss for how to adjust.
After holding the tactical board and talking for a long time, LeBron James listened with a puzzled expression.
Continue the defensive strategy?
Fortunately, Thibodeau knew that the Champion Coach was not good at in-game adjustments, so he promptly substituted Snow out at this time.
Damon Jones re-entered the game.
Th Cavaliers had to maintain offensive spacing.
The timeout quickly ended, and Head Coach Van Gundy continued to instruct his players, and Gund Arena began to get noisy.
The Cavaliers first continuously passed the ball on the perimeter, trying to stretch the New York Knicks' Defense around the paint, but every time James made a pass, Lee and Hill could always recover on Defense in time.
As the shot clock wound down, the home fans also grew anxious, the DJ raised the volume, and everyone began to scream at the top of their lungs:
"Let's go Cavs!"
Amidst the cheers, James again received the ball at the top of the arc.
While calling Howard out for a screen, he held the ball in his left hand and shuffled back a few steps, moving away from the three-point line to extend his acceleration distance.
As his teammate set the screen at the top of the arc, James first performed a small in-and-out dribble, pulling the ball outward while putting all his strength into accelerating.
In a blink of an eye, James burst to the three-point line, chasing Gasol, who was dropping back on Defense, directly to the basket.
Amidst the fans' gasps, on the lower left side of the basket, James, attempting a jump-step layup, sensed Ron Artest trying to block him from behind.
He hung in the air, pulled the ball to his left side, and using the time difference, tossed the ball off the backboard.
Howard and Drew Gooden both desperately tried to get into the paint, but James's bank shot was too strong and didn't find the right spot, the ball bouncing directly to the opposite side.
The two, tangled under the basket, could only watch as Lee leaped high behind them for a tomahawk rebound!
Damon Jones quickly came forward from the right corner to interfere, but before he could make a move, Lee suddenly turned sharply, instantly evading the Defense.
Amidst the gasps of the home fans, Lee scooped up the ball with his left hand, gaining speed as he went, and the Cavaliers players all desperately chased him on Defense.
James didn't blindly rush in.
He loudly called out to his teammates to cover their assignments, while he himself followed Ron Artest towards the right corner.
Drew Gooden didn't pay attention to Diaw running to the left corner.
He watched Lee cut in from the left wing and, along with Howard who had recovered to the paint, provided help Defense.
Ronald Murray, who was stationed on the right wing, realized something was wrong, turned his head, and shouted a warning to his teammates.
However, the three players in the paint only had eyes for Lee, who had cut to the basket and suddenly dribbled behind his back.
The sudden change of direction caused Damon Jones, who was chasing, to lose his position.
In front of the basket, Lee, having switched the ball to his right hand, made a concealed behind-the-back pass amidst the crowd.
By the time Drew Gooden and Howard, who were piled under the basket, reacted, Gasol, trailing behind, received the ball, took a step, and laid it in.
With no interference, the ball swished through the net!
"OH! What a pass!"
The spectacular assist silenced the Gund Arena once more.
Only Mike Breen in the commentary box remained unaffected, continuing his high praise, while Hubie Brown, watching the New York Knicks players high-five in celebration, sighed:
"This is the game experience of a defending champion. They always patiently find opportunities!"
The Cavaliers' offense suddenly went cold.
After a double screen, James's fading three-pointer from the right wing clanked off the rim, and the long rebound was again picked up by Lee in the left restricted area.
Watching Damon Jones retreat with his head down, Head Coach Van Gundy on the sideline was so anxious he was jumping up and down like a clown, only able to watch Lee speed past mid-court.
After the Cavaliers players returned to half-court, they quickly completed their defensive matchups.
On the right wing, Damon Jones watched Lee push the ball and change direction near the three-point line, and quickly slid to his left to follow.
The moment their bodies collided, Lee leaned into the defender, quickly pulled the ball back with his right hand, executed a nimble spin, and as his left hand touched the ball, he easily broke through to near the elbow.
Seeing Lee about to break into the paint, Ronald Murray at the top of the arc quickly collapsed, reaching out to interfere, but watched the ball go through his legs.
While in motion, a one-handed between-the-legs dribble evaded the Defense.
Noticing James had already caught up beside him, Lee, scooping the ball with his right hand, suddenly performed a spin move.
Using the momentum of the spin, the ball subtly flew towards the left corner.
"Oh!"
The acrobatic move made even the home Cavaliers fans gasp in surprise, and Ron Artest, who received the pass, was also momentarily stunned.
Fortunately, James, who had jumped to block, had just landed in the paint at this moment.
Howard, who rushed out to defend, was ultimately half a beat too slow, and could only watch the open jump shot.
"Swish!" The three-pointer swished through the net.
Ron Artest let out a long breath, then excitedly pounded his chest and shouted.
He hadn't wasted the spectacular pass.
56:47, as the lead was about to reach double digits, the boos became incessant.
James's mind was also reeling at this point.
They had clearly limited Lee's offense, yet the game was back to a familiar rhythm.
Watching Head Coach Van Gundy make a downward hand gesture, James, who received the ball on the baseline, frowned deeply.
He began to doubt the strategy of grinding out the 24-second clock.
Facing Ron Artest's on-ball Defense, James, upon reaching the top of the arc, began to shuffle backward again, extending his run-up distance.
Using Drew Gooden's screen, he dribbled behind his back to his right hand.
James lowered his shoulder and accelerated, breaking to the three-point line, and was immediately met with Diaws sliding help Defense.
Forcing his way into the paint, James sensed Gasol under the basket beginning to shift.
After a step-through, he suddenly passed the ball behind his head.
Drew Gooden at the free-throw line was unguarded, but his jump shot after receiving the ball clanked off the rim.
Howard under the basket got the rebound over Gasol and tipped the ball out.
On the left wing outside the three-point line, Damon Jones helplessly watched Lee leap high in front of him.
He had intended to wait until he landed before pressing and delaying on the spot, but suddenly heard the fans' gasps.
With his back to the basket, Lee jumped and raised his left arm high.
He didn't catch the ball, but rather used the momentum to tip the ball forward.
By the time Damon Jones reacted, Lee had already landed, agilely turned, easily shaken off the Defense, crossed mid-court, and successfully chased down the basketball.
In a 1-on-0 fast break, enduring the boos echoing through the Gund Arena, Clay Lee, with the ball in his left hand, rushed into the paint.
In front of the basket, he jumped off both feet, switched hands between his legs in the air, grabbed the ball with his right hand, and slammed it into the basket with a powerful swing of his arm!
58:47, the Cavaliers called another timeout, Gund Arena grew even noisier, and the Cavaliers fans couldn't take it anymore.
Lee, after completing the dunk, walked towards the bench while making a downward hand gesture.
Head Coach Van Gundy on the sideline looked at that familiar smiling face and was so angry he couldn't speak for a moment:
"How dare he humiliate me like this!"
His face flushed red, Head Coach Van Gundy was so enraged his mind went blank.
The timeout was entirely managed by the assistant coaches, and before going back on the court, he filled his players with a belly full of motivational speeches.
Howard, who had been substituted out, was equally depressed.
The coaching staff never arranged any plays for him.
It was always just screens and rebounds.
Thinking that he didn't even get opportunities for easy scores, he cursed under his breath:
"Shit! When will you respect me!"
As Marshall, who had come off the bench, received a pass from James on the right wing, his open three-pointer clanked off the rim again, and the long rebound was once more snatched by Lee.
Even Coach D'Antoni, who had been sitting idly, stood up and applauded.
Accelerating along the right sideline, Lee first used a behind-the-back dribble to evade Damon Jones's close Defense, then accelerated horizontally, performing a quick in-and-out dribble against Marshall, who had come up to screen.
Watching Lee traverse half the court from right to left, the Cavaliers' retreating Defense was in disarray.
Some fans in the front row had already started yelling obscenities, and Gasol, near the top of the arc, stopped his steps.
Clay Lee first changed direction behind his back, then performed a large-scale wrap-around dribble, switching to his left hand and accelerating horizontally again.
Several players were still chasing him from behind, and Ronald Murray on the left wing had intended to step forward and delay him, but the moment he moved his feet, he realized the basketball in Lee's hand had vanished.
"Oh!"
Amidst the fans' exclamations, Lee's bounce pass found Hill, who was cutting into the paint from the left wing.
The latter received the ball, faced Drew Gooden under the basket, took three long strides, and then scored with a reverse layup!
60:47, the rising score brought a burst of cheers from the New York Knicks' bench.
Hill, having scored again, also pumped his fist in celebration.
James, who had run to the right baseline, couldn't hold back either, muttering a few curses in frustration.
It wasn't the first time the Cavaliers' offense had gone cold.
When Damon Jones received the ball on the baseline, he was suddenly met with Lee's lead Defense, and he rushed past half-court with his backside sticking out, barely beating the 8-second violation.
James started from the left restricted area, using two big men as screens, and ran along the baseline to the right near the baseline.
Although his teammate's pass from up-court was a half-beat slow, James, after receiving the ball and facing Ron Artest's Defense, took a probing step with his right foot and then made a difficult pull-up jump shot, still managing to get 2 points for his team.
Finally back to a familiar half-court offense, a somewhat agitated James again double-teamed Lee early, and when Diaw received the ball at the top of the arc, he quickly retreated to Defense.
Marshall had expected Diaw to continue passing, but to his surprise, the opponent turned, put the ball down with his right hand, and suddenly drove forward with a step-through.
The live audience gasped again, the Defense was easily broken, and Drew Gooden under the basket only had time to reach out.
Diaw, charging with three long strides, grabbed the ball with his right hand and slammed it down with a powerful arm swing against the Defense!
"God! The Cavaliers' Defense is collapsing! Diaw has a chance for a three-point play!"
The rim rattled, and the Gund Arena fell silent again.
Mike Breen shouted excitedly, while Hubie Brown, watching the New York Knicks players celebrate by bumping chests, whispered:
"The Cavaliers have no retreat. They must narrow the gap as quickly as possible. If the series becomes 3:0, we all know what that means."
Diaw, who had successfully stolen the ball, stepped to the free-throw line, a triumphant expression on his face.
With the opposing high-flyer off the court, he had seized his opportunity!
63:49, after the free throw was made, the lead continued to widen.
With little time left in the first half, James had already cast the coach's words aside, actively speeding up, attacking the basket after a pick-and-roll, and passing the ball out promptly when double-teamed.
Seemingly having lost confidence in his shot, Marshall, from the right baseline, eventually drove to the basket and drew a foul from Gasol, grudgingly earning free throws.
Hill, left wide open on the right baseline, missed his jump shot.
Before James could launch a counterattack, the long rebound was again snatched by Lee in the left elbow area.
Seeing Damon Jones's wide-eyed, innocent look, James, who had retreated on Defense, was so angry he almost stamped his feet.
With 34.2 seconds left in the first half, the New York Knicks gained another 24 seconds of offense, and the chants of "Defense" in the Gund Arena were no longer synchronized.
On the left wing, far from the three-point line, Lee casually dribbled the ball with his right hand to control the clock, then waved to Gasol, causing Damon Jones in front of him to instantly become nervous.
The Cavaliers were also positioned around the paint at this time, and as Gasol moved up-court, James began to shrink towards the basket, and the defensive formation started to shift to the left half of the court.
Without waiting for his teammates to settle, Lee suddenly dribbled the ball behind his back, and as Damon Jones slid to the right, he immediately performed a crossover between his legs the moment his left hand touched the ball.
Gasol stood firm, and Lee, with his right hand on the ball, tried to drive to the right.
Damon Jones failed to squeeze through in time, and Drew Gooden quickly slid to delay.
Taking advantage of the big man lowering his center of gravity, Lee, moving horizontally, suddenly pushed the ball and changed direction.
The basketball flew through a gap between players, and Drew Gooden could only watch as Lee squeezed past him.
Boos erupted again in the Gund Arena.
Watching Lee drive straight to the basket from the left elbow area, James, who had helped on Defense to the paint, and Marshall, near the free-throw line, immediately moved to meet him.
Before the opponents could make a defensive move, Lee, in motion, casually tossed the ball towards the upper right of the basket.
James, who had stopped his steps, quickly turned his head, and then saw Ron Artest, cutting into the basket from the right baseline, leap high, catch the ball in the air unopposed, and powerfully dunk with both hands!
"Ah!"
Ron Artest, having completed the dunk, pounded his chest and roared again.
The brilliant cooperation significantly quieted the boos in the Gund Arena.
In the final moments, Drew Gooden drew a foul from Diaw and earned free throws, setting the halftime score at 65:51.
The noise in Gund Arena grew louder and louder.
Cavaliers fans awoke from their first-quarter dream.
They had limited Lee's scoring but couldn't limit his passing or the New York Knicks' other players.
Anderson VarejĂŁo, walking with the others towards the player tunnel, was overjoyed.
If the lead reached 20 points, it would be his turn to play again:
"This is a real rout! We're going to the Divisional Finals again!"
David Lee, who hadn't made it onto the active roster, was filled with envy.
He didn't want to be sidelined with Rice.
Barnes felt he also had a chance to play, constantly high-fiving and celebrating with everyone, muttering:
"Lee isn't one of those stat-padders in the league. They have no choice. Let those rookies know what we're capable of!"
Cavaliers fans on both sides of the player tunnel looked at a relaxed Lee, their minds exploding for a moment.
He had only played 18 minutes in the first half, meaning he would be full of energy in the third quarter.
"Boo!"
Boos and curses continued to pour out.
Lee just tilted his head, cupped an ear, and slowly but steadily walked into the player tunnel, shaking his head.
At the ESPN commentary desk, Mike Breen looked at the statistics, a surprised expression on his face, and chuckled as he introduced:
"Perhaps tonight we'll witness Clay Lee's triple-double! Lee and LeBron performed exceptionally well in the first half. With a 14-point difference, the Cavaliers still have a chance in the second half!"
In the first half, Clay Lee was 5 for 7 from the field, 1 for 2 from beyond the arc, and 2 for 2 from the free-throw line, totaling 13 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists, and 2 steals.
The New York Knicks' balanced scoring allowed Lee, who played 18 minutes, to take it easy early.
Playing the entire first half, LeBron James gave his all, going 8 for 13 from the field, 1 for 3 from beyond the arc, and 4 for 4 from the free-throw line, accumulating 21 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers.
Looking at their statistics, Hubie Brown didn't offer much commentary, instead, he again discussed the Cavaliers' game strategy:
"In the second half, they must speed up their offensive rhythm. A double-digit deficit is very dangerous, especially since the New York Knicks usually explode in the third quarter."
"I believe Head Coach Van Gundy will make timely adjustments!"
During halftime, in the Cavaliers' locker room, Champion Coach Van Gundy stood in front of the whiteboard, constantly admonishing his players loudly:
"We must stick to our established game strategy, remain patient. We still have enough time. Don't give the opponent easy fast-break opportunities."
"Be patient, free throws, transition offense, finish near the rim. We need to regain our first-quarter Defense!"
An emotional Van Gundy's face was flushed red, and under his loud reminders, everyone nodded.
James, sitting in his seat, wanted to object, but Thibodeau shook his head and gave him a look from the side.
Watching Van Gundy constantly emphasizing defensive positioning on the whiteboard, James frowned and replenished his water.
This was the first time he had doubted the coaching ability of the Champion Coach.
In the visiting team's locker room, D'Antoni smiled as he handed water to Lee.
The coaching staff didn't even mention any tactical adjustments.
The team had perfectly executed the pre-game plan.
"We all know what to do in the second half. Keep giving the ball to Lee. They will double-team, and what we need to do is hit open shots."
"Don't worry about missing. The opponent can't maintain that exaggerated efficiency. Pay attention to where the long rebounds land."
The Moustache spoke briefly.
Lee, who was rehydrating nearby, pointed to his eyes and said with a smile:
"I can see! Keep running! We're going to overwhelm them with more possessions!"
The double-digit lead allowed everyone to regain their inflated confidence.
Fisher, who had a good performance in the first half, even suggested confidently:
"We can continue to switch on Defense and make the opposing rookies look bad! I'm confident I can limit LeBron!"
Prince secretly curled his lips.
Those words were just for show.
In reality, the New York Knicks, like their opponents, also had a triple defensive line, precisely to limit James's drives.
After the second half began in Gund Arena, Cavaliers fans, having adjusted their mindset, started shouting vigorously again:
"Defense!"
Amidst the shouts of "Defense" echoing throughout the Arena, Ronald Murray again double-teamed Lee early.
As a result, Hill, left wide open on the right wing, suddenly launched a cold arrow, successfully hitting an open three-pointer.
James, dribbling the ball past half-court, involuntarily sped up his offensive rhythm.
After a pick-and-roll with Howard at the top of the arc, he drove aggressively to the basket.
With a front block, a back cover, and a wing collapse, James, twisting and turning in the air, ultimately missed a layup off the rim.
Gadzuric boxed out Howard, who was crashing the offensive glass.
Below and to the right of the basket, Lee again leaped high to snatch the ball from behind his head, successfully securing the defensive rebound.
"Boo!"
The shouts of "Defense" turned into boos.
As the New York Knicks executed a quick double-screen up-court in a semi-transition offense, Lee, moving horizontally with the ball in his left hand, again encountered help Defense.
As the bounce pass found Hill cutting to the basket, the latter collided with James, who was helping on Defense near the paint, and the ball he casually threw up banked in!
"Damn it!"
An enraged James cursed under his breath, ultimately only able to watch Hill make the free throw.
71:51. The third quarter had just begun, and the Cavaliers fans present suddenly lost their enthusiasm.
Continuing the defensive strategy from the first half, under Van Gundy's loud commands, the Cavaliers double-teamed frantically, and the New York Knicks' scoring was spread out, causing the score to steadily increase.
After Finley replaced Hill, the two teams played only three possessions, and the veteran's two three-pointers turned Gund Arena into a library.
The Cavaliers called another timeout.
The game was all but lost.
James, returning to the bench, felt particularly frustrated, silently staring at Van Gundy, who was constantly emphasizing Defense:
"Perhaps our difference lies in the coach?!"
....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)