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Dragon Emperor in Pokemon World.
The return of Itachi
I am Sasuke. Why should I defect from Konoha.
Please give it a go đ
***
On July 31, 2004, several mainstream newspapers in Cleveland were criticizing the trade that had just occurred yesterday.
As a Champion Coach, Jeff Van Gundy also spoke out:
"Trust is mutual. I don't understand why there was a trade reversal. If a player is not satisfied with his role, he can bring it up."
"I don't like exchanging trust for deceit!"
Coach Van Gundy, who was being interviewed, was seething with rage, his expression exceptionally serious.
He hadn't expected to be played for a fool.
Yesterday morning, the Utah Jazz signed free agent Carlos Boozer, and when this trade was confirmed, basketball commentators were surprised.
With a team option in hand, how could the Cavaliers make such a mistake?
Soon, the media revealed the whole story: due to his focus on national team training, Carlos Boozer had reached a verbal agreement with the Cavaliers at the beginning of the month.
After the freeze period, the signing was repeatedly delayed, and Carlos Boozer, who eventually gained free agency, chose a larger contract, being signed by the Utah Jazz for 6 years and $68 million.
As a short inside player who could achieve double-double statistics, even if he wasn't in the team's plans, he could have been traded for decent assets.
As a result, the player was let go for nothing, and Coach Van Gundy and the Cavaliers management both felt they had been tricked, naturally boiling with rage!
However, from a player's perspective, although this behavior was somewhat "treacherous," Carlos Boozer did indeed get a larger contract.
There wouldn't be too many conflicts between workers, but when interviewed, LeBron James still avoided discussing the matter, after all, Carlos Boozer was still his teammate.
As the highest-earning basketball league in the world, the primary goal for most NBA players is to make money.
Although Carlos Boozer broke his word, many players still stood by him.
There are always some frustrating things within a team, but the issues are not complicated.
Players just want more playing time to get better statistics, and then secure larger contracts.
Many conflicts arise from this; as for other issues, they are minor.
Some people felt it was unfair to the Cavaliers, some gloated when they saw Carlos Boozer trick Coach Van Gundy, and some sang praises for the Cavaliers, believing they would still win games in the new season without the traitor.
The 31st was a Friday, and as the July trade period was about to end, Stephon Marbury was finally taken on by the Atlanta Hawks.
The contract offered by the Atlanta Hawks was the same as Steve Nash's.
Although Stephon Marbury hoped to get a maximum contract, that was the market situation.
Point guards who are good at tanking have their limitations.
Stephon Marbury was naturally unhappy about receiving the same treatment as Steve Nash, but this was already the best contract available.
While announcing the signing of Stephon Marbury, the Atlanta Hawks also sent out Allan Henderson, Jason Terry, and a protected 2007 first-round draft pick.
They ultimately acquired Tony Delk and Antoine Walker from the Dallas Mavericks.
Tony Delk is very likely to be waived by the team.
This short guard has been wandering the league, and his future currently looks bleak.
No team is entirely harmonious internally.
Here at the Knicks, Kurt Thomas is entering his contract year, and Amar'e Stoudemire is in the same situation.
Next year, Kurt Thomas will turn 33, and for him, his next contract will likely be the last high-paying contract of his career, so he will naturally play hard in the new season.
Amar'e Stoudemire is the same.
He also wants a maximum contract.
The last year of his rookie contract is a team option, and if he performs well, he can renew his contract with the team early.
With knee issues, Amar'e Stoudemire needs to secure a long-term maximum contract to make it worthwhile.
Both players have demands for the new season, and recently, many media outlets have begun to fabricate conflicts out of thin air.
Theoretically, the Knicks can support three maximum contracts, but this would further restrict the team's salary cap space.
After Pau Gasol received his maximum contract, it would invisibly squeeze Amar'e Stoudemire's contract.
Agents seeking to maximize profits, although aware that the Knicks are willing to spend money and can re-sign above the cap with Bird rights, still need to prepare for both scenarios!
Amar'e Stoudemire, who is still in the bench lineup, currently needs most importantly to get enough playing time to once again showcase his talent.
Good statistics can ensure that a player is not undervalued.
The new season hasn't even started, and agents are already putting out feelers.
Competition has already begun invisibly.
On Saturday, the 31st, in Greenwich, at Peninsula Manor, Lee, wearing only swim trunks, was already sunbathing by the pool.
The past week had been mostly cloudy, and the weekend finally brought clear skies.
The pool is some distance from both the beach and the house, and thanks to the lush forest, the air here is better than in Manhattan.
FeadShip, as a long-established manufacturer of custom yachts, ultimately won the favor of the girls.
Krysten Ritter looked at yachts several times at exhibitions, but ultimately rejected some emerging brands, and Scarlett was also given a dose of persuasive talk by the New York dealer.
Both felt that traditional yachts were quite good.
Perhaps considering Lee's personal preferences, the sales representative recommended by the New York dealer was also a blonde Caucasian girl.
Taking advantage of the good weather, this girl named Edna has been frequently visiting recently, hoping to finalize the deal as soon as possible.
FeadShip yachts all have similar exteriors.
Customization primarily involves changes in interior design and layout, which are matters of personal preference.
Lee was too lazy to consider the detailed issues.
In his opinion, yachts in recent years lacked a sense of technology, so as long as they were safe and could support long voyages and transatlantic cruising, that was enough.
On the other side of the pool, under a sun umbrella, Scarlett, wearing a red swimsuit, continued to ask questions while holding a picture book.
Krysten Ritter swam over and also chimed in with questions from time to time.
Melinda had already reviewed the contract.
This Sunday, she and Kim were both in Manhattan.
Everyone had discussed this yacht long ago.
Only the young girls would still find it somewhat novel.
Lee, with his eyes closed, enjoying the sun, was quickly woken up by Scarlett.
She leaned forward, holding the picture book in her hand, and excitedly asked:
"Should we opt for an elevator? There are 7 cabins, and although it can only accommodate 13 people, an elevator seems to provide better service."
Lee put his arm around the excited girl, not even looking at the picture book, and casually said:
"We all stay in one room. Better services are reserved for the cabins."
The tall Edna, wearing a somewhat conservative white swimsuit, pretended not to hear Lee's words.
Seeing Scarlett actively offer a kiss, her face immediately flushed, and she inwardly exclaimed, thinking it was outrageous:
"An orgy! Definitely an orgy!"
Ever since arriving at Peninsula Manor, Edna had been a bit reserved.
The security personnel near the gate were all armed, and after being warned by the bald old man, she knew that some New York Media reports were true:
"Don't talk nonsense when you go out!"
Recalling Old Mike's warning, Edna ignored the scenes she had witnessed these past few days, trying her best to remain rational and composed.
"If you think an elevator is good, then add it. It's within the budget anyway, and there's still over a year until delivery. Just communicate if you think of anything else."
Lee let Scarlett snuggle into his arms and casually agreed to the optional request.
A 169-foot, seven-inch (over 51-meter) yacht isn't large.
Lee planned to upgrade to a bigger boat when the family grew in the future, and this yacht, with a budget of 30 million, would be sold then.
Krysten Ritter quietly walked over to Edna, saw her flushed face and a hint of envy, and suddenly whispered an invitation:
"Want to join tonight's activities? Maybe you'll even like this kind of life."
Edna was startled.
Her looks couldn't compare to theirs, and she knew what the invitation implied.
Although she was tempted, she still shook her head and refused:
"Thank you, Alyce! I prefer a peaceful life."
Krysten Ritter, with her black curly hair tied in a ponytail, nodded indifferently.
Her blue bikini had very little fabric, further highlighting her slender waist and long white legs.
The assistant didn't mind adding some spice.
She had long adapted to this lifestyle.
After being rejected, she put her arm around him, swaying her hips as she walked towards Lee, and whispered:
"Clay is always very generous. Don't worry about the order. If this ship is good enough, maybe we'll have a chance to cooperate in the future."
Edna's thoughts were racing.
With the blessing of money, Lee was infinitely charming.
She had long noticed the list of the Forbes 400.
Thinking about her looks and then glancing at her own figure, she could only sigh inwardly, "Perhaps this is God's will."
On Monday, August 2nd, Lee had been resting for two weeks.
Every day, besides swimming, sunbathing, and fishing, the remaining time was spent diligently practicing basketball.
Scarlett, who had been playing in New York for two months, was summoned back to Los Angeles by her mother, leaving only Krysten Ritter to accompany Lee on his excursions.
In the afternoon, Katheryn Winnick came over to relax.
She didn't visit Peninsula Manor often, but she spent more time taking care of Happy the husky.
Every time she returned, Happy seemed to awaken his bloodline, always letting out a few "woofs."
In summer, he sheds fur and acts silly.
Lee casually threw the tennis ball in his hand towards the woods, and Happy, no longer pretending to be a wolf, happily chased after the ball and ran off.
Wearing a black camisole and white shorts, Katheryn watched Happy run off.
She called him a couple of times, but he didn't come back, and she immediately said helplessly:
"It's eerily quiet here in winter. You should consider getting more pets."
There was a long distance from the main gate to the main house.
Both sides of the road were lined with trees and grass, which was a lush green this season.
Katheryn surveyed the scenery, which was completely different from winter, and could only glare playfully after Lee grabbed her right hand.
"Happy is enough. He loves it here. This is his playground in winter. Next time, I'll come with you."
Last winter, Lee asked Katheryn to help look after the house.
Most of the time, it was just her and the assistant.
Staying for half a month was fine, but after about a month, everyone couldn't stand it anymore.
Lee hadn't lived here for too long.
Listening to Katheryn complain about the eerily quiet environment, he only then realized some issues.
After strolling a large circle with Lee, Katheryn saw the beautifully maintained lawn in front of the house and happily said:
"Indeed, this place is more suitable for a summer vacation!"
In the evening, they played on the beach for a while and enjoyed the sunset together.
The beautiful sea view greatly improved Katheryn's mood.
Filming too many bad movies would make anyone feel bad.
After dinner, Katheryn opened another bottle of champagne.
Lee listened to the two people in the living room complaining about Hollywood's resource issues and couldn't help but shake his head.
There are too many pretty girls and too few good scripts.
For ordinary actresses, acting skills, an agency, and the courage to commit are all indispensable.
Scarlett was a child star and didn't act in too many bad movies when she was young.
Katheryn played minor roles in cheesy CEO movies like "The Bodyguard" and had guest appearances in a few popular TV series.
Her resources were far too limited.
However, a pretty girl still has a chance if she's brave enough to commit.
Katheryn is the same age as Lee, and after all these years, she's still the same, clearly unable to let go.
After finishing emails in the study, Lee returned to the living room on the first floor, where the two were already slightly tipsy.
Over the past two years, the variety show "American Idol" swept across the United States.
The Finals ended in May, and even now, Fox's programs still feature related reports.
NBC will continue to broadcast this year's Olympics events and has recently started running previews.
Michael Phelps, the swimming prodigy, has garnered a lot of attention recently by proclaiming his goal of winning 8 gold medals.
The news on TV didn't attract Lee.
Instead, a tipsy Katheryn, with a teasing smile, threw herself into his arms and chuckled:
"If you can beat me tonight, you can join us. I like Alyce, and I want to sleep with her tonight!"
With rosy cheeks, Katheryn spoke drunkenly, occasionally pinching Lee's muscles with her hand.
Looking at the girl who had thrown herself into his arms and was looking up, Lee's mouth twitched slightly.
This one was a third-degree black belt, second-degree in karate, and exceptionally skilled at "Excited Thug Punch."
Seizing the opportunity, Lee scooped up Katheryn, and the moment he hoisted her onto his shoulder, she burst into laughter.
Soon, the two were "wrestling" in the bathroom.
Tonight, it was two against one, and Lee decided to strike hard.
Sports media couldn't find Lee, who was diligently training at home, but Kobe recently became the subject of heated discussion among onlookers again.
After the alleged sexual assault, Kobe's legal team continuously tried to find opportunities to counter.
However, after such a long time of turmoil, legal experts who enjoy watching the drama unfold stated that:
Regardless of how many games the victimized white girl played on the same day, as long as she clearly stated in court that she had rejected Kobe's actions, then a conviction was possible.
In this situation, Kobe's best option was to meet the woman's conditions, so that she would no longer accuse him, thereby reaching a settlement.
However, the two sides haven't reached an agreement yet.
With the help of well-meaning people, the sexual assault case has recently started to heat up again.
Clearly, Kobe is in trouble again.
The United States Men's National Basketball Team's warm-up performance was good, and they crushed their opponents with fast-break offense.
On August 9th, Lee appeared on an NBC program.
The Athens Olympics was about to begin, and this time, it was to provide pre-game analysis for the United States Men's National Basketball Team.
After remaining at NBC, Bob Costas's popularity declined significantly, and he no longer reported much NBA news, which clearly had a considerable impact on him.
Although NBC no longer had the NBA, its overall development didn't decline.
They were still the number one television station.
In the studio, both wore black formal suits.
The director showed recent footage of the United States Men's National Basketball Team's warm-up game.
With quick counter-attacks, Puerto Rico had no power to retaliate.
Bob Costas didn't try to steal the show.
They had known each other for many years, and he understood Clay Lee's personality, so he proactively guided the conversation:
"After the World Championship loss, the United States Men's National Basketball Team has its strongest lineup. The guys performed excellently in the warm-up games. Lee, do you think the United States Team can win the championship this year?"
This question was a common topic, but Lee didn't predict that the "Dream Team would show dominance" like most commentators.
Instead, he seriously stated,
"Currently, we must clearly recognize one fact: basketball is constantly improving!"
"In my opinion, this team has obvious flaws. Different rules will produce different games. Once they encounter foul trouble too early, this team, which has a very low margin for error, could lose."
"There's no luck in winning a championship. Head Coach Larry Brown should consider giving rookie players playing time, expanding the rotation, maintaining Defensive intensity, and controlling the number of fouls. This will be the key to winning."
Bob Costas was a bit surprised.
He didn't expect Lee to cautiously favor this team:
"Clay, do you really think this highly talented team will ultimately lose the gold medal?"
Lee didn't outright deny it, but instead offered his opinion again:
"No, they certainly have the ability to win the championship, but there's an important prerequisite: when they encounter a Zone Defense, they must respond from the outside."
"No Defensive three-second rule means the opponent's big men can stay under the basket, and a smaller court means less distance for help defenders to run."
"When the above two situations occur, the power of Zone Defense will be greatly increased."
"Scoring inside will become somewhat difficult. Once the opponent chooses to appropriately give up outside shooting, then who can take on the task of breaking the stalemate?"
Controversy creates discussion.
Bob Costas thought for a moment and then smiled, offering an answer:
"Allen Iverson? He snatched the scoring title from your hands. With his individual ability, perhaps he can easily respond."
Hearing this answer, Lee didn't hold back.
Instead, he shook his head and replied,
"With inconsistent shooting form and limited physique, Allen may not be able to play the game that fans expect."
"I understand Grant and Duncan. The former is better at one-on-one on the wing and in transition offense. Although the latter has a strong dominance in the paint, he might get into foul trouble in the Olympics."
"I think in crucial moments, the ball should be given to Marbury. He's physically strong, and as long as he finds his shooting rhythm, he can help the team solve its problems."
On the morning of the 10th, after NBC's program aired last night, Lee's commentary sparked a heated discussion among basketball critics.
After a detailed analysis, Lee gave his answer:
"This United States Men's National Basketball Team is average and will struggle to show dominance!"
Lee wasn't speaking carelessly.
Based on the data, the current team's shooting level was indeed subpar.
Most basketball critics were still very confident, believing that if shots didn't fall, they could rely on Defense and transition offense to still crush opponents!
During TNT's program, Lee, making a rare appearance, naturally joined the discussion.
Among the trio, only Charles Barkley supported Lee's view, which aligned with his "star quality theory."
In the studio, Kenny Smith was still praising the United States Men's National Basketball Team:
"Clay Lee overlooked one point: Head Coach Larry Brown has extensive coaching experience, and he will solve the zone Defense problem!"
"Excellent players gather together. They know how to win."
Hearing his partner start to boast again, Charles Barkley immediately retorted:
"Solve this problem? Head Coach Larry Brown's coaching ability is excellent, but if the players can't make shots, the coaching staff can't do anything."
"This is an issue of individual player ability. We can't expect everyone to suddenly find their shooting touch after a timeout."
In the studio, both men wore serious expressions.
Ernie Johnson, sitting in the middle, also didn't want to say anything discouraging at this time, especially since the United States Team had already arrived in Athens:
"Clay Lee has a point. I believe Head Coach Larry Brown and the coaching staff are well-prepared."
"There are also four young men on the bench who can enter the team's rotation to increase roster depth."
"On the 15th, they will face Puerto Rico, their opponent from the warm-up game. Everyone can use this opportunity to adjust their game status."
Charles Barkley still shook his head.
With his big mouth, he knew how to get attention, so he simply switched to a doomsaying mode on the program:
"If we can't respond from beyond the arc, maybe we'll lose to our opponents!"
The Athens Olympics opening ceremony was held on the 13th, broadcast live by NBC, with Lee continuing his commentary work.
On the 15th, the United States Men's National Basketball Team played its first group stage game of the Olympics.
Facing Puerto Rico, the Dream Team suddenly faltered, serving up a terrible performance to United States Team fans watching on television!
Larry Brown was true to his word, focusing heavily on Duncan in the first game.
Of course, this might have been Assistant Coach Gregg Popovich's idea.
In any case, Duncan played 36 minutes.
Although he played the most minutes, Duncan's performance was very poor: 4-of-11 from the field, 0-of-1 from three-point range, 7-of-9 from the free-throw line, for 15 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals, 2 blocks, and 7 turnovers.
If you covered the name, you might think these were Kenyon Martin's stats.
Of course, there was an even worse performer on the team: Allen Iverson.
He played 31 minutes, shooting 5-of-14 from the field, 1-of-10 from three-point range, and 4-of-6 from the free-throw line, for 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 3 turnovers.
Allen Iverson displayed his scoring champion style!
Hill also played 31 minutes, shooting 7-of-15 from the field, 0-of-3 from three-point range, and 2-of-4 from the free-throw line, scoring a team-high 16 points.
82:94. Ultimately, Puerto Rico upset the United States Team in the first group stage game.
After the loss, United States Team fans and basketball critics couldn't hold back:
"How could they lose that!?"
It was truly unimaginable that the United States Team would be dominated by Carlos Arroyo and Eddie Casiano!
The former shot 9-of-16, scoring a game-high 24 points, and also dished out 7 assists with only 2 turnovers.
The latter came off the bench and played only 14 minutes, shooting 6-of-7, 4-of-4 from three-point range, scoring 18 points, and was also a key contributor to the team's win.
The Dream Team shot 3-of-21 from beyond the arc for the entire game.
The game seemed to be unfolding as Lee predicted, with no one on the United States Team responding from the outside.
After a day of rest, on the 17th, the United States Men's National Basketball Team faced host Spain.
The trajectory of this game was also similar to Lee's prediction.
Duncan seemed to have adapted to international play, but when facing the host, he ran into foul trouble.
Ultimately, Duncan only played 27 minutes, shooting 6-of-7 for 14 points, before picking up 5 fouls.
Hill played 33 minutes.
Although he shot 4-of-7 for only 14 points, he was still one of the team's better performers.
Head Coach Larry Brown reduced Allen Iverson's playing time.
In 30 minutes, he shot 4-of-14 from the field, including 3-of-7 from three-point range, scoring a team-high 17 points.
80:71. After a tough victory over their opponent, the Dream Team salvaged some face.
In the subsequent group stage, after defeating Australia, fans thought the United States Men's National Basketball Team had found its rhythm.
However, in the group stage game on the 21st, the Dream Team once again served up a terrible performance.
84:94. Another upset occurred as Lithuania defeated the United States Team.
Although they later defeated Angola, the United States Team ultimately finished the group stage with a 3-2 record.
In the quarterfinals, Spain was instantly depressed upon seeing the United States Team as their opponent.
On the 26th, during the Athens Olympics men's basketball quarterfinals, with 6 minutes and 2 seconds left in the game, after completing another dunk in transition, Hill landed and suddenly clutched his knee in pain.
In the NBC studio, Bob Costas, seeing Hill injured, instinctively looked at Lee beside him.
An injury occurring after landing without contact, Lee naturally knew this was definitely not a good sign.
However, the game was still ongoing, so he could only offer a blessing:
"God will bless Grant!"
On the morning of the 27th, the United States Team announced Grant Hill's injury status:
"Left knee ACL tear."
Upon receiving the news, the New York Media immediately blamed Larry Brown:
"In such a fast-paced game, playing almost 33 minutes every game, no one knows why Larry Brown made such a rotation!"
The Los Angeles Times began to speak sarcastically, with several columns analyzing why Hill was injured:
"The Knicks' tactical style puts more strain on players' bodies!"
"Every player who leaves the Knicks experiences a decline in their physical condition without exception."
"Allan Houston and Larry Johnson both suffered major injuries at this age."
"Coach D'Antoni, who achieved the best historical record, is overdrawing the team. Perhaps Clay Lee's physical condition will also have problems in the future."
This well-reasoned analysis resonated with many fans who believed in the process.
No one can withstand physical exhaustion.
Duncan, under Gregg Popovich's usage, also suffered injuries.
Lee has played so many games.
There's no reason he would remain healthy indefinitely!
With little time for rest, on the evening of the 27th, the United States Men's National Basketball Team suffered an upset loss to Argentina in the semifinals.
79:89. Having lost this game, the Dream Team could only contend for the bronze medal.
On the NBC program, Bob Costas sighed regretfully.
After summarizing the game, they also asked about the questions fans were concerned about.
Lee was very confident about his physical condition, but at this moment of loss, he simply replied:
"Self-discipline is the greatest asset for a player!"
"I have always demanded strictness from myself. I believe I can play until I'm 40."
...
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)