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12th man to Cricket legend. It's a cricket book for cricket lovers only.
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***
On sunday, December 31, 2006, the NBA immediately wished Clay Lee a happy 29th birthday.
Many players from the '96 draft class were already 30 years old, and in their 11th professional season, the golden generation was entering its final peak.
The Knicks were still on their Western road trip and had no game that day.
After finishing their four games this week, their record stood at 32 wins and 1 loss, far ahead of all other teams.
In the Eastern Conference, with Dwyane Wade also suffering an injury and Shaquille O'Neal failing to return in time, the Heat suffered a crushing 70-95 defeat to the Orlando Magic, bringing their record to 12 wins and 18 losses.
This team, which had reached the Eastern Conference Finals again last season, completely fell behind in the first half of the season.
Not only were Heat fans unable to accept it, but the Miami Herald even had columnists calling for Stan Van Gundy's return, and Pat Riley's reputation plummeted.
With a record of 19 wins and 10 losses, the Cavaliers, relying on their excellent Defense, held onto the second spot in the Eastern Conference, and LeBron James successfully replaced Dwyane Wade as the leader of the '03 draft class!
The 3rd and 4th places were held by the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls, with records of 18 wins and 11 losses, respectively.
Although the former had lost its iron-blooded Defense, Head Coach Saunders always managed to lead the team to good regular-season records, and after overcoming their slow start, the team's performance began to rebound.
The Chicago Bulls, who acquired Ben Wallace, had been contending with the Cavaliers, but unfortunately lost to them in their recent matchup, dropping to fourth place.
Compared to the Eastern Conference teams in the upper half, the Western Conference was even more competitive, with the Dallas Mavericks leading the way with a 23-7 record, thanks to their excellent roster depth.
Closely following were the San Antonio Spurs with 22 wins and 8 losses, and the Utah Jazz with 22 wins and 9 losses.
The GDP trio's record had fluctuated due to Manu Ginobili's injury, but when all three were healthy, the San Antonio Spurs remained highly dominant;
Although the Utah Jazz showed signs of falling behind, Coach Jerry Sloan's perfect start allowed the team to weather the year-end schedule, and fans were naturally very satisfied with their third-place ranking in the Western Conference.
With 20 wins and 8 losses, as the Houston Rockets and the Lakers fell behind, the Phoenix Suns, with Amare Stoudemire's return, also stabilized their ranking.
Although they suffered a crushing defeat to the Knicks on Friday, the Phoenix Suns were still a championship contender this season.
The 26-point difference of 112-86 didn't indicate much.
It was the first time the Phoenix Suns had scored less than 90 points this season.
Alvin Gentry didn't say much after the game, summarizing it lightly with just one sentence:
"We just couldn't make our shots."
On the evening of the 31st, the Knicks, still in Los Angeles, celebrated Lee's birthday at Hyde Lounge on Sunset Boulevard.
Despite the excellent privacy, lurking reporters still spotted Derek Fisher and Kwame Brown.
The two rushed over immediately after the Lakers' game against the 76ers, which displeased Los Angeles sports reporters.
There were indeed issues in the locker room.
Not only were there Lakers players, but Elton Brand, Shaun Livingston, and Corey Maggette from the Clippers were also photographed.
The Clippers had lost by 26 points at Staples Center on Saturday, yet their main players were still attending a party for their opponents.
The venue was booked out that night; aside from the invited girls who served as atmosphere enhancers, most attendees were family and friends.
The atmosphere was lively, and armand de brignac, which had recently become popular in Los Angeles, also made an appearance.
At the uniquely shaped trapezoidal bar at Hyde Lounge, when a 30-liter bottle of armand de brignac was lifted, the surrounding girls screamed loudly.
The enormous bottle, with its gilded coating, glittered in the dim light.
A clearly over-excited blonde girl jumped and danced, raising her wine glass and reveling freely.
The enthusiastic girls quickly ignited the atmosphere, and the sounds of music, laughter, and unrestrained shouts made the sleepless night even more joyous.
JR Smith, who had been holding back, almost burst out on the spot.
He didn't mind being doused with champagne by two big-bottomed black girls.
Instead, he embraced them and excitedly shouted:
"That's it! More! Baby, I love this feeling!"
"..."
With no unfamiliar reporters present, the scene was a wild party.
The shy Steve Novak was flushed red from drinking, and the usually reserved Tayshaun Prince was also entangled by enthusiastic girls.
Jose Barea was unexpectedly popular.
This marginal little guy became the focus of the dance floor for a while, and some girls who didn't know the inside story giggled at his coaxing.
Ron Artest, Raja Bell, Grant Hill, Pau Gasol, Boris Diaw, and Chandler, on the other hand, did not party as wildly as the atmosphere group members.
They merely chatted and raised their glasses in a booth.
For the first week of the New Year, the Knicks had three Western road games, so it wasn't time to relax yet.
Lee was happily chatting with Marvel President David Maisel and others in another booth.
Susan Levin was somewhat worried about her husband, Robert Downey Jr., at this time, but producer Kevin Feige and casting director Sarah Halley Finn were both winking.
"Thank you for your trust, Lee! A few years ago, no one would even pay my insurance bond. I know they all said I was completely finished!"
"But I will succeed! The movie will be a hit, and the stock price will rebound. I swear, I will cherish this role."
Robert Downey Jr., who had drunk a bellyful of wine while smiling politely, raised his glass again.
He was dressed quite formally tonight, even wearing a suit to make a good impression.
However, after downing his drink when giving his final assurance, Robert Downey Jr. slumped onto the booth sofa.
Susan Levin gently supported her husband's back and continued to smile, saying:
"Donnie is just too happy. The movie is about to officially start filming, and he's been preparing for it."
As a guarantor, Sarah Halley Finn smoothed her golden waves, and as she raised her glass to Lee and the other, she smiled and offered reassurance:
"This is definitely a good start! Lee, thank you for your support!"
In March of this year, iron man officially began filming in a Los Angeles studio.
The adapted story background was no longer the East Coast, and although the script was largely complete, no one was optimistic about the movie until now.
When promoting at San Diego Comic-Con last year, they received a cold reception, and Downey's $500,000 salary was the result of multi-party efforts.
If Axe Capital and Merrill Lynch had both rejected it at the board meeting, Marvel's old miser would likely have kicked this druggie' away.
It was already very difficult for the movie to officially start filming.
Lee, at this moment, affectionately put his right arm around David Maisel, threw his cigar aside, grabbed his wine glass with his left hand, and happily accepted the grand promise:
"I've always believed in you guys. Kevin is right, passion is what makes a good movie. Look at David, he always wears this iron man T-shirt."
"We have no reason to fail!"
David Maisel was beaming at this point.
Restarting Marvel had taken him nearly three years, and now it was finally coming to fruition.
Regardless of the outcome, the feeling of a dream coming true was wonderful:
"Jon Favreau is a good guy, Lee. I will be responsible to the board. Just wait one more year, and all those taunts will disappear."
Fearing that Lee would inquire about the plot and script, Jon Favreau, as the director, was hidden by the group.
The investors and the board were still hesitant, and the external negativity made Merrill Lynch constantly want to back out.
Patting his old friend's shoulder, Lee said no more, only continued to raise his glass, and Susan Levin quickly drank on behalf of her husband.
Leslie Bibb, dressed elaborately in a red gown revealing half her chest, couldn't find an opportunity to interject, only serving drinks and flirting.
Unfortunately, the blonde's looks weren't to Lee's taste, and he didn't find a good opportunity until he left with the others.
At midnight, laughter still echoed.
When Lee and David Maisel returned to the bar, Lee greeted the New York Times beat reporter, pointing to the giant armand de brignac and smilingly said:
"Bro, take a picture of us. This big guy is worth 500,000 US dollars, and it's the only bottle from 2006!"
"Leave it to us! We guarantee that everyone will see this luxurious champagne the next day!"
As soon as the photos were taken, the enthusiastic girls quickly surrounded them again.
Everyone wanted to throw themselves into Lee's arms, giggling and trying to get acquainted.
Seeing such a lively scene, Lee was also satisfied.
He casually put his arm around a girl's waist and squeezed it, then raised his glass towards the DJ and shouted, "Oh! Keep the music and the dancing going!"
On January 1, 2007, the NBA announced the December Players of the Month on the first day of the New Year: Clay Lee from the Eastern Conference and Kobe Bryant from the Western Conference successfully won the awards.
The Knicks achieved a 15-1 record in December, leading the entire league.
Clay Lee exploded for 53 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block against Allen Iverson, with two 50+ games in one month, successfully boosting his stats.
He averaged 33.5 minutes per game, with 35.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 9.4 assists, 2.6 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 1.6 turnovers per game.
He averaged 18.7 field goal attempts per game, with a 61.2% field goal percentage.
He averaged 7.9 three-point attempts per game, with a 47.3% three-point percentage.
He averaged 8.6 free throws per game, with a 93.9% free throw percentage.
Except for a decrease in assists, and a slight dip in shooting percentage due to some wild three-point attempts in the last few games of the month, Lee delivered a perfect set of stats.
The Lakers achieved a 9-6 record in December.
Kobe Bryant, playing 40 minutes per game, also delivered a good set of stats:
30.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.5 blocks, and 3.5 turnovers per game, with a 46.5% field goal percentage, 36.3% three-point percentage, and 86.7% free throw percentage.
Despite averaging 22.8 field goal attempts per game, Kobe's efficiency was not as bad as critics claimed.
Considering Lamar Odom's absence due to injury in the latter half of the month, Kobe was truly worthy of the title "second best player"!
There were only two games on the first day of the New Year.
TNT, which had been criticizing Kobe continuously, finally changed its tune and began discussing "Lee's intentional product placement" in line with current events.
In the studio, after summarizing 2006, Charles Barkley began to joke about Lee's birthday party:
"Five hundred thousand for a bottle of champagne! Even if it's big enough, I wouldn't spend that much, unless Clay Lee is paying."
"I don't really like this way of celebrating birthdays. Think about the minimum-wage players in the league. Their after-tax salaries can't even buy this bottle of wine."
Barkley was clearly out of touch.
Whether it was the photos Lee posted on social media or the news from the New York Times, no one among the public questioned the price after seeing them.
They were only envious and jealous.
When the Los Angeles Times interviewed Kwame Brown that morning, the insider didn't consider Kobe's feelings and happily bragged:
"It was so cool! When that huge champagne bottle was brought out, everyone there went crazy! Gold represents victory, and I think I'll bring good luck to the team."
"."
Kenny Smith felt his old partner had been paid for an advertisement.
They rarely discussed private player gatherings like this in the past.
He then took over, bringing up another topic:
"I won't question Lee's wealth. He deserves it. He plays all 82 games every season, and as a former NBA player, I know how difficult that is!"
"Look at Dwyane Wade, who's injured again. Physically, Clay Lee is a superman. e seems to have an iron body."
"The Knicks' winning streak continues, and with a salary of over 19 million, I even think Clay Lee should earn more."
The two got off topic.
Ernie Johnson, sitting in the middle, used the Player of the Month award to proactively say,
"Clay Lee's salary exceeds Kobe Bryant's. From the team's perspective, Kobe's current salary still benefits the Lakers in terms of strengthening the team."
"Recently, we've been seeing news from the Los Angeles Times that Yao Ming seems to be Kupchak's new target. Will this trade really happen?"
During the Christmas War, Kobe publicly lost his temper, and everyone knew that the Lakers would definitely clean out the insider.
Yao Ming, who was injured with a knee injury, became the focus of public attention.
This was not the first time rumors had circulated between the two sides.
There were whispers as early as when Yao Ming had a team option.
"Trade Yao Ming? Unless the Houston Rockets don't want to make the playoffs!"
"They had a good start to the new season. If it weren't for Tracy McGrady's injury, the Houston Rockets wouldn't have fallen out of the top half."
"If this trade happens, I don't have high hopes for Tracy McGrady's leadership ability. He hasn't proven himself in the playoffs yet. His best performance is still in the first round."
Charles Barkley, who was aware of the relevant news, spoke out to deny it, and also took a jab at Tracy McGrady, who had been struggling recently.
Kenny Smith, for once, didn't argue and offered his own perspective from another angle:
"The Lakers' bargaining chips will be difficult to impress the Houston Rockets. Coach Mike Brown will not allow this trade."
"At least this season, it's unlikely to happen. We all know the pressure Coach Mike Brown is facing. They must return to the playoffs and make some breakthrough."
Kobe, in his "unhappy" state, had recently been holed up in the training gym and hadn't given any interviews, but Barkley still didn't want to miss out on the hot topic, so he brought up an old trick:
"Instead of hoping for a trade, Kobe should improve his leadership."
"Listen, Kobe! I admire your training attitude, but this is the NBA, and we're all adults!"
"You must unite your teammates. The ball is in your hands. You must give hope to the role players. No one is born wanting to be a supporting actor."
"LeBron James does this very well. His combination with Dwight Howard is getting better, and the Cavaliers are very united."
LeBron James, the third-best player in the league, currently ranks third in the MVP standings, ahead of Duncan and Kobe, with Clay Lee and Dirk Nowitzki in the top two spots.
His old partner kept talking, and Kenny Smith raised an eyebrow helplessly.
In fact, they all knew that even the most united Lakers team couldn't compare to the Knicks.
Their roster depth was on a different level.
On January 3, 2007, after the Knicks defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, they lost to the Sacramento Kings in a back-to-back game.
Kevin Martin, with a combination of free throws and shots, single-handedly carried the team's offense with a sudden burst of individual performance.
106:111. Mike Bibby, who won the game, embraced his teammates and cheered loudly.
The Sacramento Kings fans in the arena also erupted.
Ray Allen, who had recently suffered a fracture, watched the game from his home in Seattle.
The Seattle SuperSonics' 13-21 record had left him physically and mentally exhausted.
Looking at Lee, who was still smiling after the loss, he felt a bit sad:
"I just want to focus on playing basketball. Why do I always encounter such situations?"
"."
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