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Dragon Emperor in Pokemon World.
The return of Itachi
I am Sasuke. Why should I defect from Konoha.
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***
On the evening of May 11, 2005, at Madison Square Garden, the Cavaliers played a fluid offense in the third quarter.
After Jeff McInnis, who was left open, erupted, they fell into a scoring drought as time passed.
The director repeatedly focused the camera on Jeff Van Gundy on the sidelines.
The Champion Coach indeed stuck to his strategy from the previous game.
Compared to the New York Knicks' bold shooting, the Cavaliers were very cautious with their three-pointers.
With only 5 turnovers after three quarters, the Cavaliers performed very well.
They didn't give away any more points, but they also couldn't stop their opponents from scoring.
After the fourth quarter began, the Cavaliers still showed no signs of collapsing, and they continued to make very few turnovers.
Compared to the Nets in the first round, the Cavaliers had better tactical execution, and their limited transition offense all converted into points.
Everything was as Van Gundy emphasized before the game, but the Cavaliers were always trailing.
76:90, with 5 minutes and 46 seconds left in the game, Van Gundy's timeout had no effect.
For a full three minutes, the Cavaliers didn't score a single point, and they missed the chance to tie the game.
The New York Knicks' shooting gradually faltered tonight, and the game had a bit of a strong start but weak finish feel.
However, it was all thanks to their opponents that the point difference consistently fluctuated around 10 points.
Strictly guarding Clay Lee's three-point shots, and leaving Raja Bell, Tayshaun Prince, Derek Fisher, and Barnes open.
No matter how Mike D'Antoni adjusted, the Cavaliers stuck to their 1-2-2 zone Defense from the beginning of the second quarter.
This tactic, usually only seen in high school leagues, was surprisingly effective, with the open perimeter shooters clanking shots.
Fortunately, the Cavaliers themselves faltered in the last quarter, and taking advantage of those few minutes, the point difference returned to 14 points.
While Pau Gasol was shooting free throws, Van Gundy called LeBron James to his side and gave him loud instructions.
After Zydrunas Ilgauskas went 2-for-8 in the third quarter, his physical stamina declined as the game progressed, and his shooting percentage further dropped.
Although the point difference never really widened, Lee was in a good mood on the court.
He wasn't worried about his opponent erupting, and he even had the leisure to tease Dwight Howard under the basket.
After being posterized, the Rookie had been somewhat silent.
Perhaps he had experienced the "star player treatment," as the smile on his face had completely disappeared.
"You have to learn to respond with your basketball. Actually, the New York fans here are all looking forward to your performance!"
Howard, who had just had a verbal altercation with a New York fan in the front row, twitched his eye at Lee's words.
If he could respond, he would have started showing off a long time ago.
In fact, he was currently just a role player, only grabbing rebounds and scoring easy baskets under the rim.
In some impulsive post-up requests, Dwight Howard would also encounter Lee's help Defense from the top.
Whenever this happened, he could only hastily pass the ball to the outside, fearing another turnover if he wasn't careful.
In this situation, Dwight Howard was naturally mocked repeatedly by the New York fans, and missing free throws made the New York fans even more delighted.
Their interference had an effect!
"You are scared! You can't double-team me!"
Howard frowned, turned his head, and yelled twice in Lee's direction.
The New York fans in the front row didn't hear what the Rookie said, but Kurt Thomas, who was closest, laughed out loud.
Pau Gasol, who was shooting free throws, also couldn't hold it in, and the basketball clanked off the rim.
LeBron James, preparing to launch a fast break, watched Kurt Thomas grab the offensive rebound in front of Dwight Howard, and immediately cursed under his breath in anger.
On the court, LeBron James rarely trash-talked, focusing more on communicating with teammates and directing their positioning.
Dwight Howard's performance was like a bullied "little boy," and his words seemed to forget that he had already become an NBA star, full of childishness.
One sentence made him lose all his swagger.
LeBron James was furious and loudly reminded everyone to re-match.
Lee, who received the ball again at the Logo, was equally amused.
Dwight Howard's tough talk really made him laugh.
Cheers once again echoed through the Madison Square Garden.
Although the New York Knicks failed to play their usual fluid offense as the game progressed, as long as they could suppress their opponents, the New York fans didn't mind raising their voices.
LeBron James was a bit broken at this point.
This kind of back-and-forth game severely tested the players' patience.
Every time they narrowed the gap to within 10 points, LeBron James would be full of hope, but within two possessions, feelings of disappointment would resurface.
It wasn't time to give up yet.
LeBron James no longer defended calmly as before, actively sticking to Lee's side.
At the Logo, Lee, with the ball in his right hand, first leaned into the Defense, feigning a lateral step.
Kurt Thomas intentionally moved to the screen position, coming outside the three-point line, making it look like he was going to set a high pick-and-roll.
It was still a 1-3-1 alignment, with Pau Gasol staying at the lower right of the basket, both wings spread out.
As Kurt Thomas settled, Lee pounded the ball and then suddenly executed a back pivot.
Dwight Howard realized he had said the wrong thing and was now especially annoyed, noisily chasing after Lee, but he still remembered the coach's words, staying on the three-point line, not giving Lee a chance to shoot.
Kurt Thomas's screen was fake.
Seeing LeBron James chasing him, he immediately rolled, twisted his body, and finally stopped at the top of the arc.
LeBron James misjudged, not expecting to easily catch up.
Seeing that Dwight Howard was already in the correct defensive position, he simply adjusted his footwork and continued to defend behind Clay Lee.
While moving, Lee saw Howard moving laterally and suddenly made a large push-dribble change of direction.
The basketball seemed to lose control and flew towards the free-throw line.
Although Dwight Howard made the correct defensive read, he found himself unable to reach the ball.
LeBron James also didn't expect Lee to suddenly pull off a fancy move, and could only follow his body's natural reaction to continue chasing.
With a second burst of speed, Lee got in front of Dwight Howard, regained control of the ball, forcefully pounded the ball at the free-throw line, and then smoothly executed a large wrap-around dribble.
While his body swayed to the front right, Lee first used one hand to dribble the ball around Dwight Howard, and at the same time, took three large strides, driving directly to the basket.
Watching the basketball disappear in front of him, Dwight Howard quickly slid to the back right, trying to disrupt Lee's layup.
Briefly gathering the ball while moving, Lee used his right hand to push the ball into the paint.
Sensing LeBron James chasing up from behind and already jumping for a block, he performed a mid-air double-clutch.
Amidst the New York fans' exclamations, Lee briefly held the ball with his left hand in the air, evaded the block, and cleverly tossed the ball off the backboard!
As the referee blew the whistle, Kevin Harlan on the commentary desk also shouted:
"Clay Lee! Get inside!"
"OH—! And a foul! Clay—Lee!"
The basketball hit the backboard and went in, and Madison Square Garden erupted again.
The flashy breakthrough excited the New York fans.
Dwight Howard and LeBron James, having landed, looked at each other again.
Both felt that the other had interfered with their block, and while sulking, they heard Lee's teasing voice:
"18 points! Looks like the game is over!"
Clay Lee, standing at the free-throw line, still had a teasing smile on his face.
Dwight Howard's words made his mood even better.
"Happy basketball" from the regular season didn't work in the playoffs.
LeBron James suddenly felt that Dwight Howard didn't seem to be a good fit for him.
Pau Gasol, with his long flowing hair and beard on the other side, seemed to be a more suitable big man for him.
After Lee made the free throw, he no longer led the Defense.
The current point difference was enough to last until the end of the game.
On the commentary desk, Doug Collins seemed to still be savoring Lee's beautiful offense from the previous possession:
"In my opinion, Clay Lee is the best ball-handler in NBA history."
"His ball-handling ability sometimes surpasses our imagination. How did Lee do it? It's incredible. He toyed with his opponents under the Defense of two big men."
76:94, watching the widened point difference again, Kevin Harlan also began to talk about topics outside the game:
"Excellent ball-handling skills, besides talent, Clay Lee has also put in tremendous effort."
"I disagree with Reggie Miller. Clay Lee has never relaxed his demands on himself. Without a doubt, he loves this sport very much."
The Cavaliers' offensive pace, however, was getting faster and faster.
Eric Snow, who had just come off the bench, was left open on the right wing.
When the opponent received the pass from LeBron, Lee didn't show much reaction.
Eric Snow, like an iron tree blossoming, finally helped the Cavaliers break their scoring drought.
Eric Snow was also an old opponent of Lee.
When he was with the 76ers, when Allen Iverson's Defense faltered, he would help his boss lead the Defense.
Now that the Cavaliers had a two-guard lineup, Eric Snow was once again responsible for defending Lee.
Constantly bothering him with his hands, the large point difference forced Eric Snow to take risks on Defense, trying to force a turnover.
Under the opponent's lead Defense, near the top of the arc, Lee suddenly slowed down, stopped abruptly, pounded the ball in place, and then quickly pulled it back between his legs.
Eric Snow, suddenly stopping, was shaken backward and then immediately stuck to him again.
Just switching to his left hand, Clay Lee didn't expect his opponent to be so stubborn.
After a crossover, he dodged the steal, and while leading the ball forward, he again dipped his shoulder and accelerated.
Eric Snow first felt a dull thud in his chest, his body leaned backward, and watching Lee drive forward, he gritted his teeth and desperately slid to the back left, trying to continue delaying.
Leaning into the Defense, Lee drove through.
The Cavaliers players had just completed their defensive assignments, and when they turned their heads, they saw their teammate completely out of position.
In the painted area directly in front of the basket, Lee gathered the ball early, cradled it with his right hand, leaned into Snow, and smoothly tossed the ball towards the rim!
Eric Snow failed to make any defensive move, and although Dwight Howard under the basket jumped very high, he couldn't touch the ball, and both watched as the basketball went through the net for a swish.
79:96, the score was back to a seesaw battle.
Jeff McInnis, who exploded in the third quarter, failed to maintain his shooting touch from before, and after missing a three-pointer, the New York Knicks seized another opportunity for a fast break.
In the transition offense, Raja Bell's three-pointer from the left corner also clanked off the rim, which made the Cavaliers players breathe a sigh of relief.
Both sides went back and forth, but the score remained unchanged until LeBron James drove hard to the basket, drew a foul, and after making one of two free throws, finally brought the Cavaliers' score to 80 points.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas was already exhausted at this point, and on Defense, the big man's delay speed was getting slower and slower.
After completing a closeout, seeing Pau Gasol move to the left wing again, Zydrunas Ilgauskas dragged his heavy steps and followed out to defend again.
Lee, who received the pass again, didn't wait for his teammates to get set.
After a body fake to the right, he suddenly put the ball down with his left hand.
While faking out Snow, Lee lowered his center of gravity, increased his stride, and with the ball in his left hand, squeezed past Zydrunas Ilgauskas in the blink of an eye.
The big man only symbolically turned around, unable to even bend over and pull, watching as Lee charged to the lower-left side of the basket, soared into the air, hung there, and then grabbed the ball with his right hand, swinging his arm for a monstrous dunk!
"Boom!" The breakthrough dunk was successful.
Despite playing nearly 39 minutes, Lee's stamina seemed unaffected.
He kept dunking in the second half, which made the Cavaliers players feel despair.
Van Gundy called another timeout.
There were only 1 minute and 43 seconds left in the game, and time was running out.
Walking towards the bench, Lee high-fived his teammates in celebration.
Although his shooting was a bit off tonight, winning the game still made everyone happy.
80:98, after the timeout, the Cavaliers made another substitution, and after a missed three-pointer, the game was no longer in doubt.
In the final few possessions, LeBron James finally hit his first three-pointer of the game from the right wing.
Drew Gooden and Amar'e Stoudemire, who re-entered the game, also scored continuously in the paint.
As the final buzzer sounded, the score was set at 87:104, and the series score also came to 2:0.
Playing 45 minutes, LeBron James barely rested, shooting 11 of 23 from the field, 1 of 4 from three-point range, and 7 of 10 from the free-throw line, for 30 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers.
LeBron James, who delivered a double-double but lost, felt a bit down.
In his opinion, they had a chance to get a road win tonight.
The Cavaliers only committed 8 turnovers throughout the game.
The result was bad, but Van Gundy was still satisfied with the process.
After a simple handshake with Mike D'Antoni, Van Gundy listened to the happy shouts of the New York fans and couldn't help but let out a long breath.
As he walked into the players' tunnel, noticing that everyone was a bit silent, Van Gundy proactively said to Thibodeau next to him:
"In the NBA, you always encounter nights like this. We did very well limiting the opponent's three-pointers. When we get back home, all we need to do is put the ball in the basket."
The Cavaliers' problem was their inability to make shots.
They also lacked the dominance in the low post that the Heat possessed.
Van Gundy firmly believed his tactical strategy was sound, but Thibodeau was not so optimistic.
However, everyone needed encouragement at this moment, so he could only pretend to be relaxed and say:
"Yes, we have succeeded. When we return home, I believe the young men will respond!"
"."
After the game, Madison Square Garden was still noisy.
Craig Sager noticed Lee was in a good mood and didn't talk about statistics, but instead asked with a smile:
"I noticed that the New York Knicks' three-point shooting seemed to have some issues tonight."
"Clay, does this mean the Cavaliers' strategy has started to work?"
Playing 40 minutes, Clay Lee shot 15 of 25 from the field, 2 of 4 from three-point range, and 8 of 9 from the free-throw line, for 40 points, 6 rebounds, 13 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers.
He didn't take many three-pointers tonight, but the team's three-point attempts didn't decrease.
7 of 22, the New York Knicks' three-point percentage still exceeded 30%.
"Zone Defense indeed gave us more shooting opportunities, but we didn't efficiently convert them into points."
"Obviously, the opponent's defensive strategy worked well tonight, but I'm not worried about the team's shooting."
"This is the New York Knicks' style of play. All we need to do is believe in ourselves."
Lee knew that opponents would adopt the same tactics in subsequent games, so naturally, he had to speak confidently at this moment.
Van Gundy started it, and it's highly probable that his elder brother will also choose the same defensive strategy later on.
If the Detroit Pistons advanced, then the opponent would also play zone Defense.
Larry Brown played that way last season, and he's the "culprit."
Lee, who answered the question confidently, affirmed the opponent's defensive strategy.
Craig Sager didn't expect Lee to be so candid, even proactively stating that it would indeed cause trouble for the team.
It wasn't until the interview ended, and Craig Sager saw Lee waving to the New York fans and walking towards the players' tunnel, that the discussions among the TNT staff brought him back to his senses.
Recalling that most of Lee's scoring areas tonight were concentrated near the basket in the painted area, Craig Sager interrupted their discussion:
"Let's go. Maybe Lee is showing off to future opponents. The defending Champion Coach is not a jump-shooting team."
On Thursday morning, the 12th, the New York Knicks departed for Cleveland.
The semifinal schedule was very tight; Game 3 would officially begin tomorrow night.
The Cavaliers, who flew back to Cleveland overnight, had limited time to adjust.
Throughout the season, they relied on Defense, but in this series, Defense seemed to have lost its effectiveness.
On the TNT program, the three hosts didn't discuss last night's game too much.
Instead, LeBron James's remarks at the press conference caught their attention.
At the post-game press conference, LeBron James, when asked by a reporter if he would increase his mid-range post-ups, confidently answered:
"Those old tactics can no longer keep up with the pace of modern basketball."
"I won't change myself. I prefer to play to my strengths. I've always tried to reduce mid-range jump shots, and that won't change."
"Maybe I'm not strong enough. I need to finish more at the rim or finish attacks from beyond the three-point line."
"Basketball is evolving, and we should look forward!"
The director helped the trio review the interview clip.
Charles Barkley was clearly enraged and began to rant without reservation:
"LeBron James's terrible jump shot is the reason the Cavaliers lost!"
"If he could respond from mid-range, maybe the Cavaliers would have already secured a road victory."
"He should humbly accept advice instead of talking nonsense like a winner."
Kenny Smith didn't expect his partner to be so emotional.
He could understand LeBron James's remarks and continued to play the role of the good guy, saying:
"Apparently, LeBron is imitating Clay, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Basketball is about putting the ball in the basket, and learning from the greatest player in history is the right decision."
Perhaps not wanting to see the game turn into a three-point and fast-break battle, Charles Barkley interrupted his partner:
"He's not Lee. LeBron James is a forward. He shouldn't imitate a smaller player."
"Players should have the ability to think independently, not just blindly imitate successful people."
"On that point, I admire Kobe Bryant more. He always sticks to his own basketball philosophy."
Kenny Smith didn't expect his partner, who usually loved to question Kobe, to change his tune.
At this point, he also interrupted the other party and joked with a smile:
"If I'm not mistaken, Kobe Bryant has always imitated Michael Jordan."
"."
Ernie Johnson looked at Barkley, who had fallen silent, and immediately laughed:
"Kenny is right, Clay Lee changed modern basketball, perhaps LeBron James made the right choice."
An unhappy Charles Barkley soon began to preach his tough guy theory in the studio:
"Big men should score in the paint," "Three-point shooters are softies," "If I were in this era, I could also average 35 points per game."
The studio was quickly filled with a joyful atmosphere, and Kenny Smith's single sentence broke his partner again:
"Three-pointers helped Clay Lee win 6 Championships!"
"."
Kobe, still in Los Angeles, met with the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man not long ago.
Neither forgave the other, and naturally, they parted unhappily.
Watching the TNT program at home, Kobe simmered with frustration, thinking that a Rookie like LeBron James had also entered the playoffs, and could only curse under his breath:
"Copycats won't succeed!"
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)