Check out my new fanfics.
Dragon Emperor in Pokemon World.
The return of Itachi
I am Sasuke. Why should I defect from Konoha.
Please give it a go 😊
***
On the evening of May 15, 2006, at Gund Arena, the Eastern Conference Semifinals were nearing their end, and the atmosphere in the arena grew quieter.
LeBron James, with a fractured rib, sat on the bench in a brown suit, his hands covering his mouth, leaning on his knees, seemingly unable to believe what was happening before his eyes.
The Cavaliers' offensive core was out due to injury, and Game 4 had lost its suspense early on.
The fans who came to the arena were prepared, but at this moment, their eyes were also wide with disbelief.
The New York Knicks had entered their rotation early, their 'atmosphere group' getting better and better, while the Cavaliers' offense was constipated, periodically falling into scoring droughts.
Cleveland fans hoped Dwight would showcase his number one overall pick talent, but unfortunately, they witnessed an 'ugly' game!
Aside from a few alley-oops under the basket and dunks after cross-screens to get deeper positions, Dwight's back-to-the-basket post-ups left a deep impression on everyone.
With 3 minutes and 20 seconds left in the game, Van Gundy called a timeout.
The Champion Coach's face was dark.
He had been humiliated again!
"Boo!"
Boos once again filled the Gund Arena.
Dwight, back on the bench, felt so wronged he wanted to cry.
Why was everyone targeting him?!
Taking the towel handed to him by a teammate, Dwight immediately covered his face, seemingly not wanting others to see his emotions.
The second-year Rookie simply held the towel and bowed his head in silence.
The pep talk Van Gundy wanted to give was stuck in his throat.
He truly couldn't comfort his players.
His own heart was also filled with raging anger.
"Lift your heads. Face defeat like a man!"
"Losing by 100 points is no different than losing by 1 point! All you need to do is remember tonight's game, then double down on honing your skills and physique!"
"One day, we will win it back."
Sitting in front of everyone, Van Gundy held his tactical board and loudly delivered his pep talk.
Dwight still didn't look up.
After all, he was just a 20-year-old kid and truly couldn't accept such a game.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas sighed and patted his teammate beside him.
The veteran thought the coach's words made sense.
Losing was losing, it was no big deal.
Snow, too, couldn't accept such a result.
Although he had left the 76ers, he still couldn't escape the fate of a beating.
It was as if someone was cursing them.
Ever since Iverson won the scoring title, the 76ers had been in a slump, and the players from that era also started having bad luck.
With his hands covering his face, Snow almost burst into tears on the spot.
He was on the verge of a breakdown.
He had lost so much over the years.
On the New York Knicks bench, no one empathized with their opponents.
Everyone was beaming with joy.
The playoffs had progressed smoothly, with all games won by large margins, reaching the Conference Finals again.
The championship was within reach!
"Let's push a little harder, we have a chance to break the record we set before!"
Fisher still hadn't relaxed.
Old Fish's face showed a serious expression, constantly high-fiving and encouraging, not caring if they were crushing a weaker team.
On the other hand, veteran Finley felt some sympathy for the opponents, a conflicted look on his dark face.
However, he didn't have a chance to play, so he could only subtly remind them:
"Watch out for opponent fouls. We've already won, so health is more important now."
Raja Bell and Diaw didn't care about any of that.
The game was almost over, and it was indeed time to relax.
Barnes and Anderson Varejão were clearly still playing with gusto, responding one after another:
"Give me the ball, I want to score more points!"
"I can continue to set screens, and after grabbing rebounds, we can run a few more fast breaks."
Hearing their words, everyone on the bench chuckled.
Compared to a plain win, they preferred to see the team break records.
The reserve lineups for both teams took the court again.
Lee and the others sat quietly in their seats, waiting for the game to end.
The Semifinals were even easier than everyone expected.
As game time elapsed, the score difference continued to widen, and the noise grew louder.
At the TNT commentary table, Kevin Harlan was already discussing the next round's games:
"It's hard to imagine who can break the reigning champion's dominance!"
"Without a doubt, the current New York Knicks are a historical-level strong team. Their excellent roster depth even surpasses the Boston Celtics of yesteryear."
"If the New York Knicks face the Miami Heat in the next round, perhaps Coach Pat Riley will also have a headache; they still can't limit Clay Lee."
Sensing the somber atmosphere in the arena, Doug Collins took over the topic and offered his opinion:
"As Kevin said, this New York Knicks team is too strong. Someone always steps up in every game!"
"The only weakness currently is that Gasol's rebounding in the starting lineup has had some issues. Kurt Thomas's absence is difficult to make up for."
"However, when D'Antoni uses a twin-tower lineup, it's enough to get through most games. This is the impact Lee brings. The Cavaliers have to play Defense seriously from half-court."
Noticing Reggie Miller's unconvinced expression beside him, Doug Collins paused, then smiled and said:
"I've always emphasized one point: Clay Lee changed modern basketball. No one played like him in the past. I think Miller understands this deeply."
Also known for his three-point shooting, it was unfortunate that Reggie Miller's peak season could only match Rookie Lee.
"This is why many people don't like the New York Knicks. They can wave money around to build the best roster in the league."
"The Cavaliers, however, can only increase their talent through the draft!"
"I want to congratulate the New York Knicks on reaching the Conference Finals again, but I believe many fans, like me, cannot empathize with Clay Lee. He lacks a pure love for basketball."
"Perhaps his eyes only see victory..."
Kevin Harlan interrupted Old Miller's rant.
What he said was unreasonable.
At least he knew New York fans were already overjoyed.
They certainly didn't like those days of losing:
"It seems we have witnessed history again tonight. It's regrettable that the Cavaliers can only end their season's journey in this manner."
Old Miller was a bit annoyed.
He just didn't like Lee.
(A/N: Trashy Miller lol.)
He always believed that the New York Knicks' appearance ruined the Indiana Pacers' championship.
The boos in the Gund Arena grew louder.
In the last two possessions, Damon Jones was still bricking shots.
As the final buzzer sounded, Van Gundy was completely stunned, standing motionless on the sidelines, seemingly unable to believe he would see such a score.
70:129. The five Cavaliers players on the court slumped to the floor, hands covering their heads.
Soon, the excited shouts of the New York Knicks players reached their ears.
On the commentary table, Old Miller remained silent, but Kevin Harlan's mood was unaffected.
He chuckled and began to deliver the prepared lines:
"Congratulations to the New York Knicks for once again reaching the Conference Finals. At the same time, we have witnessed the largest point differential in NBA playoff history."
"Not long ago, the New York Knicks just defeated the 76ers by 58 points. In less than half a month, they have once again set a new record!"
"Under Clay Lee's leadership, the New York Knicks have once again demonstrated the reigning champion's dominance!"
The boos from the Gund Arena were the best reward.
The Cavaliers fans present, looking at the smiling, clapping Lee, instantly started spewing profanities.
After this year's Semifinals, Cleveland would also join the 'Anti-Lee Alliance.'
Unlike the already numb Philadelphia, their emotions were even more intense.
TNT reporter Greg Craig Sager, dressed in a red-and-white checkered suit tonight, immediately approached Lee, asking with a smile:
"Lee, congratulations on reaching the Conference Finals for 10 consecutive seasons. This is truly an incredible record!"
"This year's playoffs have seen the New York Knicks win by large margins throughout. Tell us how you feel now."
The exceptionally noisy Gund Arena brought a nostalgic look to Lee's face.
Since his old rivals had lost so much, such scenes had become increasingly rare:
"I like Cleveland. Listen to the shouts of these passionate fans. They bring back some old memories for me."
"I'm very fortunate to lead the New York Knicks to the Conference Finals again. Our work is not yet complete. Everyone can have a good rest for the next week."
Craig Sager could only give a dry laugh.
He didn't quite understand Lee's emotions.
More and more fans in the arena were breaking down.
Perhaps after the game, the die-hard fans would even surround the team bus.
The interview continued, but Van Gundy still stood dazed on the sidelines.
He had been humiliated again.
History would forever remember him.
Looking at the Champion Coach's suddenly darkened face, the already balding Thibodeau felt somewhat fortunate.
Being a Head Coach was indeed difficult.
His mind racing, he continued to move forward, actively reminding him:
"Jeff, don't forget to say hello to Mike!"
Van Gundy snapped back to reality, looked down to straighten his somewhat wrinkled black suit, and tried to calm his emotions.
He walked to the scorer's table, and seeing D'Antoni's smiling face, he almost couldn't hold it together and broke down on the spot.
"It's a shame, our rotation players are in such excellent form! The young men are just trying their best."
Hearing this, Van Gundy almost turned and walked away, cursing inwardly, "Why is a puppet so smug?"
He forced a smile on his face:
"No one cares about those boring records. Losing this way can help young players grow better."
"Congratulations, you were the better team in this series!"
The two exchanged brief pleasantries.
Watching D'Antoni proudly leave, Van Gundy grew increasingly annoyed.
The other's 'red scarf' was also an imitation of him.
After a deep breath, the Champion Coach walked towards the player tunnel and soon saw Dwight crying uncontrollably in front of the locker room.
This Rookie's core dream was utterly shattered tonight.
Wiping away tears with a twisted mouth, such a painful defeat made Dwight completely break down.
Thinking about how critics would mock him for a while, his tears wouldn't stop.
LeBron James, somewhat hunched, endured the pain in his body, constantly comforting his teammate.
What made him feel fortunate was that when he shook hands with Lee, his teammate didn't cry out loud on the spot.
"It's okay, Dwight. The coach is right, we just lost the Semifinals. Think about our age!"
Hearing James's comfort, Dwight felt even more bitter.
He only felt his future was bleak, and he might lose even more in the future.
James pulled his teammates back to the locker room.
Looking at the quiet group, he sighed inwardly, and at the same time, felt a bit fortunate.
He had clearly seen everyone's abilities.
Snow, Ronald Murray, and Damon Jones were no longer his brothers.
Marshall was half a brother.
His big brother Zydrunas Ilgauskas was still his capable assistant.
Drew Gooden also played well off the bench.
Considering that steals leader Hughes had lost his brother, James felt that he should regain his form next season.
Looking at Van Gundy, who had returned to the locker room and started delivering another heavy dose of pep talk, James, sitting in his seat, frowned slightly, an uncontrollable thought surfacing in his mind:
"The Champion Coach definitely has a problem!"
On tuesday, May 16th, the New York Times didn't forget to continue mocking their opponents.
A photo combining crying Iverson, Webber with hands on hips sighing, Dwight covering his face and crying, James curled up on the floor, and Lee's smiling face was featured, with the corresponding column article titled:
"Shaq and Wade, you're next!"
All four of these core players had been crushed by the New York Knicks.
The largest point differential in playoff history was the best proof!
Mainstream sports media like ESPN were not so direct, instead questioning the coaching abilities of Van Gundy and Popovich.
The former was swept very cleanly 4-0, while the latter was currently trailing 1-3, also on the verge of elimination.
In Game 4 last night, after an overtime period, the San Antonio Spurs regrettably lost 118:123.
Jason Terry and Devin Harris both played excellently throughout the game, helping the Dallas Mavericks reach match point.
The Champion Coach and the largest point differential in playoff history truly astonished everyone, and what made some commentators feel even more outrageous was how crude Dwight's offense was!
He shot 4-of-13 from the field, 3-of-7 from the free-throw line, for 11 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, and 5 turnovers.
Receiving focused attention, Dwight failed to display the level of a core player.
Fortunately, he is only a second-year Rookie and still has a promising future.
Otherwise, after this game, his value would have been halved.
Popovich also faced questioning, as doubts about him have never ceased over the years.
Duncan now has plenty of help around him, yet he was defeated by a Rookie Coach.
As the new MVP, Tim Duncan gave his all, playing 47 minutes, shooting 12-of-23 from the field, 7-of-8 from the free-throw line, for 31 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks, and 3 turnovers.
Parker contributed a game-high 33 points, and Manu Ginobili also had 26 points.
The trio performed consistently, but they still lost the game.
"Lack of help" cannot be an excuse for failure.
With Duncan on the verge of elimination, Kevin Garnett suddenly became the biggest beneficiary.
Both are MVPs, but with the help of Sprewell and Sam Cassell, Garnett at least reached the Conference Finals.
In comparison, Duncan pales in comparison!
On TNT's afternoon show, the three were also discussing the new MVP who was about to be eliminated.
When talking about the expectations for the Eastern Conference Finals, Ernie Johnson suddenly sighed:
"The media in Philadelphia revealed that Tawana is accompanying Allen Iverson to seek help from a psychologist."
"After continuous years of losing, Iverson seems to have developed a severe psychological illness, most likely depression."
The director timely showed the audience a clip of Iverson's family appearing at a medical institution.
The former Son of Philadelphia had completely lost his spirited demeanor.
Charles Barkley did not kick him while he was down.
Instead, he frowned and brought up an old point:
"I said it a long time ago, Lee should not humiliate opponents. They don't need to win by so many points!"
"Philadelphia fans might vent their anger on Iverson's family, and Cleveland fans are the same. Nobody likes to lose by a large margin."
Hearing this, Kenny Smith frowned slightly and reminded him in a low voice:
"In fact, in the few games where they won by a large margin, Lee's playing time was not much. This is the NBA. Superstars get more attention and also bear more pressure."
"Clay Lee is a very good role model. He hasn't squandered his wealth and has rarely appeared on TV shows these years."
"He just hones his body and skills day after day. Obviously, Clay Lee is stronger. If it were a regular guard, LeBron James would have knocked them into the stands."
Ernie Johnson did not want his co-host to make more outrageous remarks, so he seized the opportunity and decisively changed the subject, talking about tonight's game:
"Clay Lee set a new record. Of course, I think fans are already used to it. In fact, he has set too many small records over the years."
"This year, the New York Knicks' opponent in the Eastern Conference Finals will likely be the Heat. The Detroit Pistons have shown signs of decline, and the impact of the new rules is starting to take effect."
The director quickly showed Rasheed Wallace being interviewed.
During the interview with reporters, the 'Angry God' loudly complained again:
"This is an unfair series. I don't want to discuss the free-throw issue, but the Heat have too much of a lead in that aspect."
"I even feel that blowing a breath on Wade would result in a foul! If we step back, we give him huge shooting space!"
"The referees don't allow us to contend with him, and that's why we're behind."
Trailing 1-3 in the series, back on their home court, the Detroit Pistons players all pressured the referees.
They had had enough of the previous calls, and they had to win the do-or-die game.
The three people in the studio did not comment much.
In fact, the Detroit Pistons simply could not stop Wade's drives, and the "one-man show" scenario had also appeared in Lee's games.
After a brief interview, Charles Barkley did not speak favorably of the Detroit Pistons.
Instead, he somewhat gloated and teased:
"I'm somewhat looking forward to what kind of stats Wade will put up against the New York Knicks' Defense. If Clay Lee defends him, this will be the biggest challenge he has faced in recent years!"
The director showed Lee's individual statistics after two rounds of playoffs:
Averaging 35.0 minutes per game, he averaged 36.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 11.1 assists, 2.5 steals, 1.3 blocks, and 1.6 turnovers.
Averaging 18.0 field goal attempts per game, with a 67.2% field goal percentage.
Averaging 7.6 three-point attempts per game, with a 52.6% three-point percentage.
Averaging 8.1 free throws per game, with a 95.5% free throw percentage.
After 8 games, Clay Lee's true shooting percentage reached 83.8%, which is out of this world.
No matter how many times he saw it, Kenny Smith would praise it, with an expression of admiration on his face, and naturally boast:
"Nobody can come close to Clay Lee. This is the greatest in history! Only 8 more wins for a 4-peat!"
"Perhaps time is his only enemy. Clay Lee will also get old, but he will continue to dominate the league until his physical condition declines."
"..."
At 5:30 PM, on ESPN's Pardon the Interruption, the discussion was about the mistakes Head Coach Van Gundy made in this series.
Michael Wilbon did not hold back, showing no respect for the Champion Coach, and directly pointed the finger at Van Gundy:
"The Cavaliers' roster clearly has a big problem. They lack outside shooters. I don't understand why Damon Jones, a three-point shooter, suddenly declined after coming to Cleveland."
"He was like a child scared by Clay Lee. He didn't even dare to make change-of-direction moves in the game."
"We cannot blame LeBron James. In fact, if he leaves Cleveland and plays in a big city, he would gain more."
"Look at the contract Clay Lee signed. I can't even estimate how many dollars he earns a year. This is indeed what he deserves, but New York also made him."
"I respect Head Coach Van Gundy, but don't forget, he can decide who the team signs! Excessive trust led to the current result. The Cavaliers should hire a more competent general manager!"
The bald black man spoke very quickly, but Tony Kornheiser, who was next to him, was already used to it.
With limited program time, he immediately seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire:
"Are you suggesting taking away Head Coach Van Gundy's power?"
"He achieved four consecutive championships in New York. In modern basketball, he is the first coach to achieve this feat. We should not question such a successful person."
Wilbon did not immediately deny it.
He just shrugged his shoulders to the camera and said suggestively:
"Phil Jackson met Michael Jordan, and they achieved success. But now he coaches Kobe Bryant, and he keeps failing."
"The young Van Gundy met Clay Lee, and they ended the Chicago Bulls dynasty, but since coming to Cleveland, he hasn't won against the New York Knicks."
"Perhaps Coach DAntoni is right. The players on the court decide the game. Why can't we question?"
ESPN's program has a wider audience, not only discussing recent popular sports news but also gossiping about social news.
When the director showed Van Gundy's image of exploding in anger, some casual fans were stunned.
Being swept again this year, Van Gundy's reputation plummeted, and half of the Champion Coach's prestige was lost.
Perhaps the Cavaliers will even reclaim some of his power during the offseason.
Van Gundy, still at his home in Cleveland, also watched this program and was almost infuriated, while also feeling some worry:
"Will the Cavaliers still trust me?"
However, thinking of LeBron James, who always spoke well of him, Van Gundy breathed a sigh of relief.
This trusted confidant would not listen to slander!
In the Eastern Conference Semifinals that night, the Detroit Pistons' pressure on the referees had an effect, but unfortunately, they were simply too weak.
94:76, the Heat won overwhelmingly, with a 4:1 series lead, sweeping their opponents in a gentlemanly fashion and advancing to the Conference Finals.
Hamilton, who was allowed to shoot freely, made 12 of 28 shots and scored a game-high 33 points, but the Heat on the other side were simply too efficient.
The Detroit Pistons were powerless to stop them.
O'Neal made 12 of 14 shots, 4 of 9 free throws, and put up a huge double-double of 28 points, 16 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 blocks, and 5 turnovers.
Jason Williams made 10 of 12 shots, 1 of 2 from beyond the arc, contributing 21 points, 1 rebound, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 1 turnover.
Wade made 6 of 15 shots, with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and 3 turnovers.
His efficiency wasn't high, but he connected the offense very well.
At the Auburn Hills Palace, Detroit Pistons fans were extremely disappointed.
Recent news about Ben Wallace wanting to leave to pursue a big contract was increasing, and perhaps they wouldn't get to see a championship.
Flip Saunders looked at Pat Riley, who was full of vigor in front of the scorer's table, feeling depressed.
Being defeated by an underdog was not a glorious thing.
"Good luck to you. I hope to see the Heat end the New York Knicks!"
Noticing the insincere expression of the other party, the slick-haired boss smiled slightly.
The current situation perfectly matched his plan:
"We will do it. No one can keep winning forever."
The two teams for the Eastern Conference Finals have been decided.
The New York Knicks will once again face their old rivals, the Heat, marking another showdown between Lee and O'Neal.
O'Neal and Wade naturally made grand statements at the post-game press conference, seemingly calling out to Lee from afar.
Unfortunately, they were unaware that Lee has rarely paid attention to his opponents' games in recent years.
Taking advantage of the team's holiday, Lee quietly returned to Peninsula Manor.
Besides visiting the two little ones, he also had to reward Scarlett, who had been taking care of the house recently.
Around 11 PM, during halftime, the young woman, completely soft, was receiving service from the two of them.
Fragrant liquid was applied to her body.
Krysten Ritter, kneeling beside them, mischievously attended to the huge, fair skin, and Lee also occasionally went forward to knead it.
Scarlett, with a flushed face, involuntarily hummed a few times, seemingly inviting the second half of the contest.
Her golden hair was damp with sweat.
She straightened up, seemingly wanting to adjust her position.
The young woman initiative snuggled into Lee's arms, suddenly remembered a small matter, and looking up, whispered in a slightly hoarse voice:
"Honey, I lent LiLo 200,000. She seems to be in trouble lately."
The little attendant looked at the succubus-like woman starting to act spoiled again and added impatiently:
"Lindsay Lohan used to look down on Rachel, but in recent years, she's fallen into drug addiction and has had plenty of orgies. That bitch isn't worth pitying. Don't expect to get the money back for years to come."
When filming Mean Girls, Lindsay Lohan was still a good girl and didn't get involved with Lee, while Rachel seemed like a green tea.
As time passed, the facts were just the opposite: Rachel became the honest one, while this one played even wilder.
Most of Scarlett's salary was invested.
Lee didn't care about her pocket money at all.
He helped her adjust her posture and smiled at the two of them, saying:
"Don't worry about these small things. We still need to continue our extra training; this is a rare holiday!"
"Haha!"
With his old rivals facing misfortune and his former Coach under heavy scrutiny, a delighted Lee quickly immersed himself in the double-team.
Greenwich at 4 AM was the best proof of his hard work!
....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)