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12th man to Cricket legend. It's a cricket book for cricket lovers only.
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***
On Monday, July 16, 2007, the Summer League concluded, and the Knicks once again welcomed a championship this year!
Thanks to the excellent performances of Barea, Novak, and Gary Neal, Head Coach Mike Malone achieved back-to-back Summer League championships.
New York fans were naturally overjoyed, and they even had more energy for online debates on Reddit these past few days.
Ever since the 'Four Giants' were formed, fans from both sides have been frequently expressing their opinions on the internet.
Celtics fans had been holding it in for nearly ten years, and now that the playoffs were within reach, they naturally wanted to boast.
However, the two cities are too close, and with the added animosity from the Red Sox and Yankees, New York sports fans feel uncomfortable whenever the other side is happy.
Coupled with sports reporters constantly fanning the flames, and newspapers from both sides mocking each other from afar, young fans naturally followed suit and went all out!
However, both sides also shared a consensus: whether New York fans or Boston fans, everyone believed the championship would be decided between these two teams, while other teams were completely ignored.
During the Finals, the Lakers attracted a lot of attention with Kobe's public trade request, but after such a long time, neither side made a move, and fans also lost interest.
"What about Kobe Bryant?"
This question, originally asked by a Yahoo Sports reporter, became a joke among New York and Boston fans.
Who would care about someone who clung to others and didn't even have an MVP?
At the same time, the United States Mens National Basketball Team, still preparing for the Americas Championship in Las Vegas at the University of Nevada, also generated a lot of gossip.
LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, who hosted the ESPYs, had a conflict, as they held different views on team leadership.
Many media outlets gossiped that Coach Krzyzewski had lost control of the team.
After one training session, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant exchanged harsh words and almost came to blows.
The reports naturally exaggerated everything, but in reality, it was just a disagreement over tactical play.
LeBron James insisted on fast breaks, while Kobe Bryant preferred half-court offense.
Their playing styles were different, so they naturally didn't get along.
The Thomas & Mack Center will host a nationwide broadcast in a few days.
After Monday afternoon's practice, Kobe once again left alone, much to the displeasure of Chandler and others.
The Head Coach couldn't control the passive-aggressive behavior among the players.
Dwight Howard watched Kobe's retreating figure and chuckled, shouting:
"Don't be like that, Kobe, play a few games with us! If you agree, we'll train with you at 4 AM!"
"Stop yelling, Dwight, that's a superstar with a trade veto, completely different from small fries like us. Also, I don't want to get up early!"
Chandler, who was sitting courtside bending over to untie his shoelaces, chuckled after saying this.
His former Chicago Bulls teammate, Kirk Hinrich, shrugged beside him, took off his glasses, and spoke up for Kobe:
"Tyson, say less. At least we can't do that kind of training."
Deron Williams, also participating in the training camp, had become quite arrogant.
Since reaching the Western Conference Finals, he had been dubbed the 'future top point guard' by commentators.
Considering Lee was 30 years old this year, and four years had passed, Deron Williams also felt he was about to enter his prime.
He naturally had little respect for a 'fishing' team like the Lakers, which had no potential:
"It's 2007! Training also needs scientific planning. Haven't you read Lee's new book? I recommend all guards buy one."
"What?"
Redick, who had been invisible in the training camp, looked bewildered and asked confusedly.
He had been targeted by Kobe and enjoyed seeing him in trouble, but he truly didn't know about the new book Deron mentioned.
"'Winning Formula'!"
"I received it immediately. The content is indeed a huge help for core guards, a book that explains how to control a game from a small player's perspective."
"It covers training, team building, and mental preparation. It was just released on Saturday. Lee didn't promote it much, but every high school basketball player in New York should have a copy."
Chris Paul, who also received a complimentary copy of the book, inadvertently showed off his special treatment.
A small-time player like Redick couldn't access the circles of the big shots.
Michael Redd, the little transparent in the training camp, nodded in agreement.
He had also quietly bought a copy and spoke with emotion when discussing its contents:
"Clay Lee is right, professional players do need to take good care of their bodies. That kind of potential-draining training method is outdated."
Shane Battier, Tayshaun Prince, and Mike Miller huddled together.
They didn't participate in this topic.
Although Kobe didn't hang out with them, they all deeply admired his dedication to training.
Chauncey Billups shook his head helplessly.
Although the Detroit Pistons were in decline, as a championship point guard, he harbored some reservations about Kobe's 'superstar' behavior.
However, since he was already there, Billups didn't want to be constantly asked boring gossip by reporters.
He stood with his hands on his hips and proactively suggested:
"Understand Kobe. He just wants to prove himself too much."
Marion, still bothered by injuries, remained silent.
The Phoenix Suns constantly using him as trade bait was truly unpleasant.
On the other hand, Amare Stoudemire, who was greeting the 'Knicks faction' nearby, was particularly active.
As soon as Billups finished speaking, Amare Stoudemire said sarcastically:
"If he wants my respect, he needs to beat me more often. I get opportunities playing alongside Lee, so why should he act like the core and expect me to cooperate with him?"
"Just because he scored 81 points? The Toronto Raptors were terrible!"
Chris Bosh, who was just observing, was suddenly caught in the crossfire.
Hearing this, he immediately shouted, "Hey! Hey!" and loudly expressed his displeasure:
"I was just a Rookie then! I can lead a team to the playoffs too! Don't always drag me into it."
Jason Kidd was annoyed by the young players' chattering.
The main reason for the conflict was Kobe's lack of fondness for players who came from the Knicks.
This old-school approach wasn't a big problem, but Kobe himself had too few notable honors.
When it came to championships, many people present had rings.
Shouting loudly to mock the 'core', Amare Stoudemire had received more praise since Duncan's reputation plummeted.
He didn't consider Kobe's feelings at all.
"J! When we pick teams, I hope you'll be on my team. We all know you're the captain!"
LeBron James once again proactively showed goodwill to Jason Kidd.
Both were good at transition offense, and he believed the other would definitely support him.
"Listen to the Head Coach! Bro! We need to be on the same page, don't let those reporters publish any more boring news. Remember to communicate with everyone."
Jason Kidd stood up and high-fived LeBron James.
He didn't object to them teaming up, as they were both in the Eastern Conference and knew each other well.
More importantly, he wasn't very good at half-court offense either.
The young guards were all discussing Lee's new book, those with rings inadvertently started bragging, and friends were busy recruiting teammates.
Carmelo Anthony, who was out of sync with the atmosphere, sighed in frustration:
"Damn selections! How did it turn out like thisâŚ"
As for Kevin Durant, the Rookie among Rookies, he was already bewildered.
This terrible locker room atmosphere gave him an early glimpse into the other side of NBA players' pursuit of fame and fortune.
On Thursday, July 19, on TNT's evening show, the trio also started 'product placement,' and Clay Lee's new book appeared in the studio.
Many NBA players and coaches like to write books to make money, and some even use books to feud.
The most famous example is Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar mocking each other through their autobiographies.
In recent years, Phil Jackson's new book, which criticized 'Kobe Bryant is uncoachable,' was also well-known.
Clay Lee releasing a book only every few years was considered quite conscientious.
However, most of the content was dictated by him, and the compilation and distribution were handled through the Ziff Brothers' channels, making it another win-win collaboration.
In the studio, Kenny Smith, holding the book, praised its content highly, giving it an extremely high evaluation:
"I believe this is Lee's summary of his 11 seasons. Young people entering the NBA should all read the content of this book."
"Even if the league's overall strength declines, his nine championships are not a fluke. Lee even analyzed his own weaknesses. It is this clear self-awareness that allowed him to achieve such accomplishments."
Lee never denied his unremarkable raw static talent.
The book praised the Knicks' two successive general managers and two owners.
At the same time, it bluntly stated the importance of 'managing up,' and 'a team united from top to bottom can win championships' is one of the core ideas in the book.
Although he was paid, Charles Barkley also carefully read the content of the book.
Hearing his partner's praise, he didn't brag excessively, but instead chuckled and teased the recent hot news:
"I like Clay Lee's book, but I'm not him. I can't completely control a team like he can."
"Maybe Kobe Bryant should read Lee's book. The Lakers' locker room atmosphere is too bad. The team hasn't made any statement about this public trade yet."
"After leaving Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant became an ordinary All-Star who could only score but couldn't win. Perhaps he should sit down and have an open and honest talk with Jerry Buss."
Kobe's team, which had conflicts in the Lakers' locker room and was unpopular with the national team, and kept insisting that the Chicago Bulls were the only option, had been ignored by Jerry Buss until now.
Similarly, Paul Pierce, a loyal player on a powerhouse team, had been rewarded.
Now Kobe became a laughingstock, and no one cared about what he said.
Ernie Johnson's first reaction after reading the book was the stark difference in attitude towards basketball between Clay Lee and Black players.
Therefore, he added praise from another angle:
"In recent years, we've seen many news reports questioning Lee's love for basketball and his professionalism. Now, it seems Clay Lee was right."
"There's nothing wrong with treating basketball as a job. Compared to those star players who make money and then squander it, Clay Lee is a role model young people should learn from."
"I sincerely recommend that underage children read this book. It can help you better develop a professional player's mindset."
Over the years, the stars who preached love and dreams have fallen one by one, fading into obscurity, and only Lee, who once claimed that basketball was just an ordinary job, won in the end.
The faded Allen Iverson became the best counterexample.
Abandoned by his home team and questioned by Denver Nuggets fans, the only thing he could boast about now was his "confidence."
With his body stiff and only his mouth left, the veteran Allen Iverson's life was getting harder and harder.
The three of them praised the book effusively, describing it as wonderful.
After the boasting session ended, they began to discuss the recently much-anticipated "Four Giants."
The director also showed footage of Kevin Garnett's press conference:
"As 30-year-old veterans, we know what we desire!"
"Everyone came to Boston with only one goal: a championship. We know how to win, and Head Coach Rivers has built the most suitable system for us."
"Everyone can shoot, and at crucial moments, everyone has the ability to close out games. We don't need flashy offense. We can still win by scoring 100 points every game."
"To hell with those prejudices! No one can stop us from pursuing victory."
Unlike the other three's statements, Kevin Garnett had reviewed the tactical system.
This Celtics team continued its tradition, and he was confident he would lead the team to suffocating Defense.
At the end of the interview, Kevin Garnett even confidently thumped his chest in front of the media, clearly having secured his core position.
When the camera returned to the studio, Charles Barkley was grinning again, not mocking Kevin Garnett, but rather because Marbury had "whitewashed" himself too quickly, making everyone forget his past team-leading performance:
"I understand Boston fans, but they're celebrating too early. I've never doubted the energy Kevin Garnett brings on the court, but they lack a winning culture."
"Think about the difference between Marbury and Jason Kidd. The Nets only transformed after Jason Kidd joined."
"This method of team building means it will be difficult for them to create excellent roster depth. I've received news that the New York Knicks have reached an agreement with Boris Diaw and JR Smith."
"Although I believe the final contracts will be overpriced, there's no doubt that as long as this championship core remains, the Celtics' chances are very slim."
Charles Barkley had been closely following the news from New York.
With team options, the Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, and Dallas Mavericks all joined in raising prices, but the players' agents remained silent, clearly indicating that the New York Knicks had matched.
Not only did Barkley not favor the Celtics, but in the odds, the Dallas Mavericks also led them.
No matter how much the Boston media boasted, it couldn't hide the disparity in roster depth.
Not hearing his co-host disparage the "star quality" of the Four Giants, Kenny Smith breathed a sigh of relief.
Thinking of Marbury's entire family being out, he could only subtly remind the fans:
"Four All-Stars playing together, everyone has ball-handling ability. The roster looks great on paper, but a game isn't a video game."
"No matter what the final outcome, the new season is worth looking forward to."
"..."
Kobe, who was in Las Vegas preparing for the open, also watched tonight's show.
The trio didn't favor the Celtics, but he was envious.
An All-Star is at least better than a slacker.
Regrettably, Ray Allen and he didn't have a good relationship, and he looked down on Marbury.
He wanted to team up with Kevin Garnett, but he was worried about being overshadowed by an MVP.
Kobe Bryant regretted not replying to Kevin Garnett's text message.
Teams vying for a championship were all making a desperate push, but the Lakers were still leaving him hanging.
Annoyed, Kobe finally went to sleep with an angry mood.
On Saturday, July 21st, there was no major news from the free agency market.
Those who had been clamoring to poach from the New York Knicks at the beginning of the month had fallen silent.
Unless there was a huge premium contract, it would be impossible to break up New York's current roster.
That evening, over 15,000 fans poured into the Thomas & Mack Center as the State Farm-sponsored All-Star warm-up game officially began.
The players recruited by Coach Krzyzewski were divided into blue and white teams.
Kobe Bryant became the leader of the blue team, while Jason Kidd led the white team.
Due to a lack of big men in the training camp, Tyson Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire were assigned to Kobe's team, while on the other side, Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh anchored Jason Kidd's team's interior.
Before the game started, when a reporter interviewed a serious-looking Kobe, he didn't say much, his eyes burning, as he intently looked at the court and said:
"I don't consider this a practice game. To me, it's a battle, and I will give it my all. I don't care how you judge it."
The blue team's starting backcourt was Kirk Hinrich and Deron Williams, with Carmelo Anthony and Chandler forming the frontcourt.
The bench included Marion, Amar'e Stoudemire, JJ Redick, and Kevin Durant.
Alvin Gentry was forced to play three guards, while the opposing lineup was more balanced, clearly indicating that Coach Krzyzewski had determined his tactical approach.
The game was very exciting.
The white team constantly launched transition offenses through excellent Defense, with LeBron James and Jason Kidd sprinting across the court.
It was only during the transition periods that Kobe's strong three-point shots and Kevin Durant's continuous scoring brought the deficit back to 10 points.
At the crucial moment of the fourth quarter, Miller's shooting went awry, frequently leading to half-court offense.
After the deficit was narrowed, it wasn't Jason Kidd or LeBron James who stepped up for the white team.
Thanks to Chauncey Billups' sudden three-pointers from beyond the arc, Tayshaun Prince's mid-range pull-up jumpers, and Chris Bosh's strong drives to the basket for free throws, the white team barely managed to defeat their opponents.
102:107. At the Thomas & Mack Center, the fans who bought tickets to watch the game applauded.
Kobe Bryant, who made 10 of 22 shots and scored a game-high 26 points, pursed his lips after the game, watching Tayshaun Prince and Chauncey Billups celebrate discreetly, feeling even more dejected.
LeBron James was also a bit embarrassed.
He couldn't take over the team at the crucial moment.
Instead, the low-key Chauncey Billups showed his big-heart attribute.
The outcome of an internal warm-up game wasn't important, but Kobe was too serious.
As he stormed towards the locker room, media reporters captured a scene of his teammates secretly laughing.
Chandler, who lost the game, wasn't unhappy.
Instead, he pulled the low-key Rookie Kevin Durant and boasted in front of the media:
"Kevin played well, scoring 22 points. Maybe we'll meet in the Finals in the future. This guy's talent is amazing!"
Kevin Durant just smiled shyly.
He indeed hoped to go to the Olympics, and he subtly expressed his thoughts along this topic:
"Lee's guidance last year helped me a lot, and I'm confident I can perform better!"
"..."
On Saturday, the 21st, after the release of his new book, Lee enjoyed some leisure time.
He set off from Peninsula Manor and hosted Manchester United CEO David Gill and his entourage on the yacht "Happy."
The 52-meter yacht was designed for family use, and although it had seven cabins, only the master bedroom on the top deck was the main focus.
Feadship, as an established custom yacht manufacturer, had undeniable strength, and with the meticulous inspection by the girls, the first collaboration between both parties was very pleasant.
Departing from the private pier, the yacht left the island of Peninsula Manor and sailed into the deep sea.
By the open-air swimming pool at the stern, Lee, enjoying the sea breeze, praised the club's championship this year:
"Things are much better than I imagined, David. Tell Sir Alex Ferguson not to be so nervous. It's just letting Darren coach the warm-up games, it's no big deal."
Manchester United had already started their Asia tour this Tuesday.
Ferguson flew with the team, and all the first-team players were there, showing full sincerity.
In early August, there would be a warm-up match against Inter Milan at Old Trafford, and then the next two matches against Rangers would be coached by the old man's son, Darren.
Although the later matches weren't important, and the opponents were fourth-tier league teams, the act of a son following in his father's footsteps could easily draw criticism.
David Gill could only smile apologetically at Lee, who was dressed in beachwear.
The CEO, wearing shorts and a light gray T-shirt, explained:
"There are too many requests for warm-up matches, you know, Lee, sometimes you have to manage these relationships well."
"AIG's jersey sponsorship helped a lot. Our financial report this year will satisfy the fans."
"You really should have come to the JJB Stadium to watch the team being crowned champions. Manchester United fans are the best in England."
After the league ended and they won the championship, Lee didn't go to the celebration.
British newspapers were never kind with their words, and rather than listening to talk about debt, it was better to quietly watch from afar.
"I know, so I plan to repay my friend's debt and then issue bonds in the UK. Don't worry, JPMorgan Chase won't be in a hurry to get us to repay the rest."
"If the bond issuance goes smoothly, they'll likely lend us another large sum of money."
"AIG's 58 million jersey sponsorship is just the beginning. Debt can help the team develop better, and by around 2011, we can re-list in New York."
"In short, it's a win-win. If we can win the Champions League this year, I can give Sir Alex Ferguson a good horse then!"
Lee raised an eyebrow at David Gill, teasing the old man about his hobby, and incidentally told him the goal for this year.
The Champions League would not only bring revenue but also attract more attention.
Upon hearing about the bond issuance, David Gill could only smile bitterly.
The team's debt had brought them a massive jersey sponsorship, but this operating method always made him uneasy.
Good food, fine wine, and slender girls in swimsuits soon filled the yacht with joyful laughter again.
Lee watched as a blonde girl giggled and pulled off her top, then raised his glass to everyone again, saying meaningfully:
"Don't worry, guys, the club isn't my big toy. When my sons grow up, if they're interested in sports, a non-executive director position would be a good role."
"So, we have a long-term plan. Now, enjoy the championship. You've earned it!"
"..."
....
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