On Monday, May 5, 2008, the John Condon Media Room at Madison Square Garden was bustling.
Although the room's facilities were a bit old, it didn't dampen the spirits of the reporters present.
Just like the cover of the latest issue of Sports Illustrated this week, many were more concerned about whether Lee could achieve the feat of a third consecutive MVP.
This was not an arbitrary idea from sports media.
Nike had been building momentum since this year, with related advertisements starting to appear after the All-Star Weekend.
"Why not?"
The title of Sports Illustrated's latest cover was these two words, with a very clear intention: to propose continued voting for Clay Lee, the "one person, one city" player, after his opponents "teamed up."
With the familiar KIA sponsor backdrop, reporters below the stage continuously pressed their shutters, occasionally letting out good-natured laughter, and at the end of Lee's speech, they even joined in the cheering:
"."
"I wanted my children to witness this moment, but unfortunately, they are too young!"
"When they grow up, perhaps I will be ready to retire, or maybe I should continue to pursue this award. This should be a wonderful childhood memory."
"Young people will gradually replace Old players, but I don't want to hear 'Dad, you're outdated' in the future!"
"Thank you for your support, my family is my motivation."
Seeing Lee smiling, holding up the small bronze man with his right hand, and pointing to the invited fans with his left, applause immediately erupted.
The term "family" excited many old fans.
It's hard to imagine a strong Black father shedding tears in front of his children.
Over the years, Lee has always donated small sums to some impoverished communities, which indeed helped some people overcome their difficulties.
General Manager Donnie, sitting to the right of the podium, was also applauding.
The Old players had a relatively easy year and was now beaming.
He had never experienced such a scene with the Pacers:
"How many points do we need to win by tonight?"
Coach DAntoni was still clapping.
Hearing the whisper, his smile grew even wider, as if he had already seen the outcome of tonight's game:
"At least 20 points!"
Soon it was time for questions from the media.
The ESPN reporter, who took the microphone, had clearly prepared thoroughly.
After offering congratulations, he asked seriously:
"LeBron James and Kobe Bryant have both stated that they will challenge for MVP next season. How do you view these challenges?"
LeBron might just want to ride the wave, while Kobe had emphasized more than once that he was the best player.
Although the two "challengers" had different attitudes, Lee treated them equally:
"Competition is a good thing. Actually, winning the MVP isn't difficult. 60 wins, first in the division, and putting on your best performance in the regular season is enough."
"If they can defeat me in the playoffs this year, perhaps they will get more votes next season. You see, it's not difficult, is it?"
"Oh!"
Reporters who liked to watch the fun started cheering and booing again.
It certainly sounded simple.
If these two won the championship by defeating the New York Knicks this year, there was no doubt they would secure the MVP next year.
Getting more votes based on impression is almost a default rule, after all, the new MVP also needs to be a topic of discussion.
The Q&A session continued.
In the front row, Melinda, dressed in a dark blue professional suit, watched Lee maliciously egging on his opponents, and couldn't help but gently shake her golden ponytail:
"I actually hope he goes home early."
Similarly dressed, but with her hair tied up, Kim heard the whisper and recalled the seemingly endless energy of their playful antics, quietly nudging the equally mischievous curvy woman beside her.
Standing with the staff, Ivanka held a camera, taking photos and occasionally directing the shooting angle.
This footage was for personal use and for a future family documentary.
Most reporters didn't mention tonight's game.
The Detroit Pistons were strong, but teams led by a core point guard usually underperformed against Clay Lee.
Given the significant disadvantage in matchups, no one expected Head Coach Saunders to solve the problem of raw talent.
Finally, Yahoo Sports mentioned it at the end, and also gossiped about the current locker room situation of the Detroit Pistons:
"Clay, in the first round, Billups's average points per game were only half of yours. Rasheed Wallace claimed they needed a win to solve their locker room issues!"
"The two teams split their regular-season games. How would you evaluate this new Detroit Pistons team?"
Lee, who had put down the trophy, was as patient as ever.
He nodded in agreement when he heard the question and finally responded seriously:
"I understand Billups. Although Reference has developed a new data model, data sometimes cannot reflect his impact on the court."
"Rasheed Wallace's idea is not bad. You know, I have always believed that victory can solve most problems in a basketball game, but he found the wrong target. It's a pity that Billups's championship experience couldn't help him."
"."
At the far right of the podium, the New York Knicks team also cheered loudly.
The Detroit Pistons were one of the few teams that managed to win two games in the regular season.
Rookie Wilson Chandler on the wing was increasingly gaining the Head Coach's trust, basically solidifying his spot in the starting lineup.
Ron Artest had no love for Rasheed Wallace and was even shouting at the top of his lungs:
"Let him attack! I'm going to end his career!"
Rasheed Wallace still had one year left on his contract.
The championship window for this Old players had actually closed.
If he wanted a ring, he would only be able to join a championship team on a mid-level exception or veteran minimum.
Watching the New York Knicks team full of fighting spirit, many reporters began to feel sympathy for the Detroit Pistons.
With only a seven-man rotation in the first round, the Detroit Pistons were surely going to disappoint Detroit fans again this year.
The morning's awards ceremony ended, and the staff still had to prepare for the evening's awards gala.
Lee, in a black formal suit, warmly embraced his friends and family present.
Seeing his friend completely lose his playful demeanor, he hugged him and then thumped his chest:
"Congratulations, Ivan, City Councilman. Perhaps in a few years, I'll be calling you Mr. Mayor."
Ivan, with short blonde hair, quietly tugged at his tie.
He had just been elected to the Bridgeport City Council last year.
Although it was a ceremonial position, he was still somewhat unaccustomed to the role:
"In another city, I might not have any confidence, but Bridgeport is truly different, Bro, thank you for your support!"
After a whispered remark, Ivan smiled again, presenting a confident demeanor in front of the media.
The former mayor was ousted for cocaine abuse and alcoholism, and the one before him was jailed for corruption.
As a young city councilman, in a few years, if he seized the opportunity, he might even advance further.
Of course, this couldn't happen without the support of money, as the election costs in Bridgeport were not cheap either.
When Lee finally moved next to Ivanka, she immediately leaned in for a kiss, then linked arms with him, tilting her head and smiling as she said:
"Darling, it's perfect!"
Lee casually nodded to the staff and reporters, not expecting so many people to be present today.
Finally, he leaned in to Ivanka's ear and reiterated:
"At tonight's party, please help Melinda take care of the people from the Connecticut House of Representatives. Don't mind their party affiliations."
Ivanka blinked knowingly.
She was no longer dressed like a young girl.
Her tied-up wavy blonde hair looked increasingly mature, and after a few years of experience, she could help more with work.
Finally, she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him, showing affection.
Lee didn't mind the gossip, and, embracing the curvaceous Ivanka, slowly walked out of the media room.
In the afternoon, there were still many reporters to deal with.
At 6:40 PM, less than an hour before the game, the Detroit Pistons players gradually appeared in the visitor's locker room.
There was no excitement about reaching the semifinals.
Everyone was silent.
Old players can sometimes be a double-edged sword.
Chris Webber, during his commentary in the first round, gossiped about his inside information, stating immediately after the unexpected loss to the Washington Wizards in Game 4:
"No one cares about Head Coach Saunders's tactics. He lost our trust last year!"
Although these words were true, their public disclosure still affected the locker room atmosphere.
Despite Head Coach Saunders winning games, calls for his dismissal grew louder.
The Detroit Free Press, some columnists even called Flip Saunders a "regular season coach."
His excellent record couldn't be converted into championships, and he faltered in the playoffs, which many fans were tired of.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Detroit Pistons made matchup adjustments, with Rasheed Wallace playing center and undersized forward Jason Maxiell partnering him in the paint.
The interior combination was fine, but Rookie Wilson Chandler getting more shot attempts made some Old players on the team unhappy.
Antonio McDyess had questioned the coaching staff's arrangements, and Theo Ratliff had also made sarcastic remarks.
This was also why Chris Webber leaked the information—there was an inside source on the Detroit Pistons.
Head Coach Saunders couldn't go through with the "catching the mole" situation.
Management lacked trust in him, and if they were eliminated in the semifinals again this year, he would leave the team.
The dull atmosphere was finally broken by the coaching staff.
Head Coach Saunders, with his graying hair, looked around and finally at Billups, reiterating:
"We've been preparing for a long time. Maintain patience during the game. Remember, this is a 48-minute battle!"
"Billups, control the pace of the game. According to the game plan, create more opportunities for Rasheed whenever possible, and maintain offensive spacing on the court."
Rasheed Wallace, nearly 34, had lost his past temper.
He adjusted his headband, nodded, and said no more.
The Old players were not on the same page as him, which made him feel a bit disheartened.
The assistant coach also gave instructions, displaying the drawn whiteboard to everyone.
Hamilton would continue to be the primary scorer, while Wilson Chandler seemed to have lost the coaching staff's trust in this series.
The Rookie naturally wouldn't object to such an arrangement, and the Old players' moods improved considerably.
Theo Ratliff finally stood up and clapped to encourage them:
"Hey! Think about the regular season, we beat them! Focus, everyone stay focused!"
Soon, everyone gathered and shouted.
Billups, walking towards the player tunnel, sighed inwardly as he looked at the familiar Madison Square Garden.
With the team in turmoil, if they rebuilt, he might also be traded.
"At least win once together, we can do it!"
Hamilton seemed to read his teammate's mind, stepping forward to pat his partner's shoulder.
Ben Wallace's departure now seemed like a lose-lose decision.
His only wish now was to win once.
Billups responded.
As they approached the exit, the noisy sounds were already audible.
Thinking about the impending MVP award ceremony, his surge of confidence quickly vanished:
"Will we win?"
With half an hour left until the game, Madison Square Garden was already buzzing.
When the dimly lit Madison Square Garden brightened again, the New York fans, wearing orange cheering T-shirts, began to shout loudly:
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
At center court, David Stern repeatedly said "Thank you" into the microphone.
Once the venue quieted down again, he turned to Lee, who was wearing a white practice uniform:
"An incredible achievement. I don't want to use data to describe Clay Lee's impact on the game. In my opinion, Clay Lee has transformed New York basketball!"
"Every year, sports fans worldwide care about this city. Perhaps you no longer care about 60 wins, but in NBA history, this has never happened."
"12 consecutive years in the Conference Finals, 11 consecutive years in the NBA Finals. Look at the championship banners above the Madison Square Garden. I am very proud of Clay Lee!"
"The 2007-08 NBA Most Valuable Player Award belongs to God-Lee! Congratulations again to Lee, the embodiment of basketball!"
James Dolan, standing nearby, chuckled as he gestured for the staff to hand the trophy to the commissioner.
As Lee received the small bronze man, the cheers became incessant.
The Detroit Pistons players standing in front of the basket felt the fervent atmosphere, and their emotions were affected.
This was completely different from the regular season.
The sound waves had turned into noise.
David Stern, who had presented the trophy, smiled and applauded.
The intense applause and joyful shouts all attested to New York's passionate basketball atmosphere.
This was currently the most successful team in the league.
"I am an honest person, and winning feels great! I love trophies!"
Lee, taking the microphone, said this with a smile, and the cheering from the crowd grew even louder.
Sometimes fans don't like excessive humility, and such genuine statements can strengthen the bond with "family."
"I have thanked many people, but now I must thank Mr. Dolan again. Maintaining this championship roster is not easy, and perhaps sometimes he also gets headaches from the bills."
"Dolan!"
Hearing the New York fans start chanting his name, James Dolan beamed, waving repeatedly to everyone.
His brother team, the Rangers, hadn't returned to the playoffs since 1997, and hockey fans had been complaining about his poor management for the past two years.
Basketball, however, brought him pure joy.
"There's too much to be thankful for. I want to let basketball do the talking. Victories and trophies are the best gifts, and I hope you like them!"
"Age will not be a problem for us. The New York Knicks will continue to challenge records. Let's win big together!"
Watching Lee lift the trophy again, the cheers grew even louder.
Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles also liked to let his game do the talking, which, to those who enjoyed the fun, was a simple response.
The roaring Madison Square Garden made Head Coach Saunders smile bitterly.
The "Devil's Home Court" was truly not an exaggeration.
Feeling the home atmosphere in New York, the coaching staff gradually lost confidence.
Regular season victories could not serve as a placebo.
During the final warm-up, Head Coach Saunders repeatedly stopped players to give instructions, while on the other side, D'Antoni began to "idle."
At the TNT commentary desk, Doug Collins, who was reportedly invited by the Chicago Bulls, couldn't help but mock the opponent while introducing the New York Knicks' starting lineup:
"Ron Artest is back in the starting lineup, which will be a huge test for Wilson Chandler."
"Apparently, the coaching staff noticed the Rookie's impressive performance in the first round, and it's clear Coach DAntoni has absolute confidence in Lee!"
Raja Bell was responsible for guarding Hamilton, and Ron Artest was assigned to the Rookie, not the offensively stronger Prince.
Both commentators could see New York Knicks's strategy.
Kevin Harlan was more focused on Detroit Pistons's interior, unlike Washington Wizards, New York Knicks had absolute height:
"Jason Maxiell will also face a severe test. Detroit Pistons must be careful with rebounds. Once they lose defensive rebounds, it will be difficult for them to execute effective transition offense."
At this point, the director was also showing the core players' statistics from the first round to the fans watching on TV:
33.5 minutes per game, averaging 34.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 3.0 steals, 0.5 blocks, and 1.5 turnovers per game;
Field goal percentage was 65.9%, three-point percentage was 47.5%, and free throw percentage was 97.2%.
Compared to Lee's double-double statistics, Billups's 15.0 points per game seemed extremely poor, with his first-round performance being half of that.
With such a stark comparison, Kevin Harlan found it hard to praise the opponent.
After the usual praise, the game was about to begin.
Noticing Rasheed Wallace and Ron Artest exchanging words, he couldn't help but quip again:
"The Auburn Hills incident happened many years ago, and it seems there's still a lot of bad blood between them."
"Let's go New York Knicks!"
The cheers echoing through the Madison Square Garden forced Ron Artest, who was warming up at center court, to shout at the top of his lungs.
Rasheed Wallace's expression wasn't good either.
Both of them felt annoyed looking at each other.
"Come to New York and carry my bag! I guarantee you playing time."
"Shut your stinking mouth, go see your shrink!"
Perhaps their voices were too loud, the referee preparing to toss the ball had to blow his whistle to interrupt them.
Billups naturally sensed the opponent's heightened game intensity, which made him a little nervous, as he was comprehensively outmatched.
Ron Artest's trash talk distracted Rasheed Wallace.
The big man's reaction was clearly a beat slow, and he was completely suppressed by Chandler, allowing the ball to immediately fly into Lee's hands.
Head Coach Saunders on the sideline was still shouting instructions to his players, but those on the court couldn't hear what the Head Coach was yelling.
The first possession could only be played according to the tactical arrangement, with man-to-man Defense.
Chandler stopped at the right elbow and set a screen, faking a raise, then suddenly cut straight to the basket.
Gasol, however, quickly set up at the top of the arc and immediately initiated a pick-and-roll.
Jason Maxiell's dark face showed a troubled expression.
Billups couldn't get through the screen in time, which forced him to raise his defensive position.
Near the left extended free-throw line, as Lee, holding the ball in his left hand, lowered his shoulder and accelerated, the big man immediately switched to delay, and Billups, who couldn't get through in time, also immediately chased from behind.
He intended to form a double-team, but Lee suddenly stopped, leaned on Billups behind him, feigned a shoulder shake backward, then suddenly twisted his body, switching to his right hand and accelerating along the baseline.
Billups, still trying to chase, helplessly found that Gasol had set a second screen.
After being delayed, he couldn't chase back in time.
Watching Lee already near the free-throw line, Jason Maxiell could only slide again, while loudly reminding his teammates, attempting to complete the double-team.
Before the two could converge, while in motion, Lee's right wrist suddenly flicked, delivering a horizontal bounce pass, precisely finding Gasol, who had split off and moved to the left block.
Leveraging his height advantage, Gasol, after receiving the ball, disregarded the opponent raising their arms to recover on Defense, and confidently took a mid-range jump shot over the Defense!
"Swish!" The two-point shot went in cleanly.
Such an easy score brought a smile to Gasol's face.
Amidst the fans' cheers, everyone retreated quickly on Defense.
Detroit Pistons's offensive possession was also very simple.
Billups passed the ball early.
At the right elbow, as Rasheed Wallace received the ball, Hamilton, moving from left to right along the baseline, accelerated to pop out near the right baseline.
Although Raja Bell was chasing tightly, being half a step behind allowed the opponent to find an opportunity.
A simple hand-off at the elbow, facing Chandler's Defense, Hamilton used the screen and immediately shot.
2:2, Detroit Pistons responded in a timely manner.
The difference between a strong team and a weak team lies in tactical execution and details.
Rasheed Wallace's hand-off screen was several levels higher in quality than Rookie Noah's, and Hamilton was also able to seize fleeting opportunities.
After quickly inbounding the ball, seeing New York Knicks execute the same play again, Lee assisted Gasol in the same manner near the free-throw line.
Doug Collins on the commentary immediately remarked:
"Jason Maxiell has become the target of the opponent's attack! Perfect shooting rhythm, Gasol hits another shot."
Having made the jump shot from almost the same spot, Gasol immediately high-fived Lee as he retreated on Defense.
Wilson Chandler, preparing to cross half-court, kept complaining about Ron Artest's minor fouls:
"Look at his arm! He keeps pulling my jersey."
Ron Artest, who was just about to crash the boards, almost pulled the Rookie's jersey off during the box-out.
The baseline referee didn't call anything, and Head Coach Saunders also pressured the referee.
"Defense!"
Amidst the defensive cheers, Detroit Pistons's offense continued.
With the help of a teammate's screen near the left baseline, Hamilton moved from right to left along the baseline and quickly popped out.
At the left block, Hamilton successfully received the pass, but under Lee's interference, the passing and receiving speed was noticeably slower by a beat.
Ultimately, he took a contested jump shot over Raja Bell's block, which clanked off the rim.
Chandler's strong box-out made it difficult for Rasheed Wallace to gain a favorable position.
Seeing Gasol grab the rebound over his teammate, he could only curse under his breath and turn to retreat on Defense.
"Oh!"
The cheers grew louder during the fast break.
Clay Lee, who received the ball and crossed mid-court, wasn't moving very fast, seemingly still observing the Defense.
Billups, who had recovered in time, waved his hand and loudly warned his teammates.
As he approached the three-point line, Lee suddenly lowered his center of gravity, pushed the ball outward with his right hand, and accelerated.
Billups, in a sliding step, suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, then was almost directly pushed past.
Striding quickly to chase into the paint, Rasheed Wallace watched Lee execute a spinning move while in motion, with his teammate completely out of position.
He immediately leaped high, attempting to block the shot.
Turning to put Billups behind him, Lee cupped the ball with his left hand, disregarding the Defense behind him, and casually tossed the ball off the backboard directly in front of the rim.
Just as it was about to hit his arm, Rasheed Wallace ultimately chose to give up, successfully controlling his body, but as he landed, the ball had already banked in.
"Damn it!"
Clapping his hands together fiercely, Rasheed Wallace could only curse under his breath to vent his frustration.
The speed was too fast, so fast that if he wanted to defend successfully, he could only commit a foul.
2:6, one minute into the game, both sides showed an extremely fast offensive pace, which excited the New York fans.
No one liked watching slow, stagnant half-court offense.
Lee also noticed Rasheed Wallace's defensive choice at this moment.
As he retreated on Defense, he didn't forget to raise an eyebrow at his opponent, which infuriated the old rival.
Detroit Pistons's offensive pace remained extremely fast.
Using the center's screen, Billups briefly shook off Lee, then immediately found Rasheed Wallace, who popped out to the top of the arc, with a bounce pass.
Facing Chandler's symbolic raised hand, Rasheed Wallace confidently hit a jump shot from beyond the three-point line!
"Yes!"
Rasheed Wallace, trying to control his emotions, couldn't help but pump his fist to celebrate with the fans.
Detroit Pistons's Defense had just set up when Chandler stopped at the top of the arc.
Noticing the movement behind him, Billups quickly stuck to him.
After a fake screen, he immediately rolled down.
Rasheed Wallace ignored his matchup and desperately slid to his left-rear, facing Lee, who was driving hard with the ball in his right hand.
"Oh!"
Amidst the fans' cheers, Lee, nearing the paint, took a hop step and crashed into Rasheed Wallace.
The big man's body involuntarily leaned backward, and he had to control his hand movements.
Billups from behind jumped with him. Below and to the right of the rim, Lee cupped the ball with his right hand in the double-team, and before the block could arrive, he tossed the ball off the backboard again!
Rasheed Wallace, losing his balance, helplessly stumbled out of bounds.
He turned to look at the rim, and the ball went in again.
Billups, who had fallen out of bounds, already felt a bad omen.
Lee was starting to attack their interior defensive core.
Noticing his teammate still complaining, he immediately got up and stopped him:
"Calm down, Bro."
Rasheed Wallace, who was incessantly complaining to the referee, had to control his emotions.
However, when he saw Lee pointing at him while inbounding the ball, he cursed again under his breath, and was then warned by a nearby referee.
"Defense!"
The roar grew louder.
On the offensive possession, Wilson Chandler participated in the ball movement, then disappeared again.
Hamilton also couldn't shake off his defender and had to run horizontally from the free-throw line to the right wing.
Rasheed Wallace saw the offense stagnate and proactively came to the left wing to set a screen.
Billups tried to shake off the Defense with a behind-the-back dribble, but encountered a huge delay from Chandler, almost leading to a steal by Lee from behind.
He managed to get the ball out, but the pass was too low, forcing Rasheed Wallace to bend over to receive it.
At the left block, his slightly adjusted jump shot was interfered with by Chandler's long arm on the recovery.
Ron Artest grabbed the rebound, and New York Knicks initiated another fast break.
The game's pace, which had just slowed down, picked up again.
Detroit Pistons players quickly retreated on Defense.
By the time Lee received the ball at the top of the arc, far from the three-point line, the opponent had already completed their defensive matchups.
Realizing Lee was calling for a screen, Billups immediately stuck close to him, trying to use body pressure to defend, but was immediately stopped by a sudden push-dribble.
With a small In and Out dribble with his left hand, Lee, lowering his center of gravity, smoothly changed direction with a crossover, and taking advantage of his opponent's stop, he lowered his shoulder and accelerated, feigning a drive.
Billups quickly slid to his left-rear.
By the time he realized there was no screen, it was too late.
As Lee stopped suddenly and pulled back with a cross-step, the defender in front of him immediately disappeared.
Billups, who had retreated inside the three-point line, didn't have time to rush out.
Clay Lee had already gathered the ball and shot directly from beyond the three-point line.
5:11, the ball swished through the net, and the Madison Square Garden erupted in cheers.
Sensing that the game's rhythm was deviating from the plan, Head Coach Saunders on the sideline had to shout at the top of his lungs.
Billups, attempting to control the offensive pace, called Rasheed Wallace to the free-throw line for a screen.
After several hand-off passes, more than half of the shot clock had expired, and the ball returned to the top of the arc.
Jason Maxiell's screen was bypassed by Lee.
Billups, holding the ball in his left hand, struggled to lean on the defender, and as his teammate cut down to draw Gasol away, he immediately stopped short at the left elbow.
After gathering the ball and turning, facing the Defense, Billups twisted his body and forced up a jump shot.
"Whoa!!"
Amidst the jeers, the shot was severely contested.
Lee's block made the shot clang off the backboard and bounce straight out.
Raja Bell rushed near the paint and secured the ball.
Hamilton could only retreat on Defense again.
Watching Lee receive the ball, Billups could only delay him again.
The pace of the game between the two sides was extremely fast.
Clay Lee took the ball and charged hard, paused slightly at the top of the arc, disregarding Rasheed Wallace, who had just stopped under the basket, then accelerated with a hop step after a crossover.
Stopping and starting quickly, Billups hadn't completely lost his position.
While sliding, he helplessly found Lee gradually squeezing past him from the side.
Carrying the Defense, he instantly burst into the paint.
Rasheed Wallace under the basket instinctively moved his feet and raised his right arm.
Then Lee crashed into him, and directly in front of the rim, he forced a floater while being guarded.
"Screech!"
The referee blew his whistle.
Lee, who had thrown the ball with a twisted body, began pumping his fist in celebration after landing.
As the ball banked in, Rasheed Wallace couldn't hold it in and immediately turned to shout at the baseline referee:
"Damn it!! I didn't do anything! This happened right in front of you!"
Receiving his first personal foul just 2 minutes into the game, Head Coach Saunders on the sideline also had a headache.
He rushed to the referee to explain, but what he heard were the shouts of the New York fans from behind:
"You're going home!"
5:14, Clay Lee also made the free throw, Detroit Pistons did not call a timeout, and the game continued.
Hamilton's long two-pointer from the right sideline helped the team withstand the pressure.
On the next possession, again at the top of the arc, Lee used a crossover to drive hard against Billups again, with the ball in his left hand.
Carrying the Defense, he charged into the paint.
As Lee gathered the ball in motion, he twisted his body, jumped off his left foot, and then released the ball with his left hand.
The referee blew his whistle again.
"Oh!"
Cheers echoed through the Madison Square Garden.
Billups helplessly raised his hands, still trying to explain to the referee, but the referee just made a pulling gesture, then pointed to the free-throw line.
"You can't do this! My player already has two fouls!"
Head Coach Saunders was still pressuring the referee, his face somewhat distorted from roaring.
If his core guard also got two early fouls, the game would be completely over.
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
The roar echoed through the Madison Square Garden.
By the time Lee quickly made the free throw, Detroit Pistons helplessly called a timeout.
The assistant coach pulled Head Coach Saunders back.
There was still a lot of time left in the game.
7:17, Lee suddenly erupted, scoring 13 consecutive points, and New York Knicks gained a double-digit lead.
After the timeout, Detroit Pistons tried to slow down the game's pace, but neither Rasheed Wallace nor Hamilton could respond in time.
Instead, Lee delivered a pass that allowed Chandler to complete a dunk.
By the time Billups finally hit a deep three-pointer to bail out the possession, Detroit Pistons's bench had just cheered when Ron Artest's wild drive led him to the free-throw line again.
The game gradually returned to New York Knicks's familiar rhythm.
Head Coach Saunders stood by with his arms crossed, watching the lead gradually widen.
18:36, at the end of the first quarter, Flip Saunders was in no mood to look at his dejected players.
He had only one thought in his mind:
"It's all over."
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)