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***
On May 13, 2005, the NBA announced its All-Defensive Teams for the season:
The First Team consisted of 5 players:
Clay Lee, Larry Hughes, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, and Ben Wallace.
The Second Team consisted of 6 players:
Jason Kidd, Dwyane Wade, Chauncey Billups, Bruce Bowen, Tayshaun Prince, and Andrei Kirilenko.
After the announcement of this award, selected by the league's coaches, Wade became the big winner of the season.
Barring any surprises, this second-year Rookie will also be selected for the All-NBA Team this year, having already surpassed Kobe Bryant among backcourt players.
Last night in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Detroit Pistons secured their home court with a 96-106 victory, bringing the series to 2-2.
Tomorrow night's pivotal Game 5 will return to Miami.
With Shaquille O'Neal's thigh injury recurring, Wade, named to the All-Defensive Team, has become the player who will determine the series' outcome.
Compared to the New York Knicks' game, this clash of titans attracted more attention.
Enjoying the spotlight, Wade confidently declared himself the leader during an ESPN interview this morning:
"We won't rely on Shaq. Everyone will unite, and the Heat will fight for victory."
"…"
Stan Van Gundy did not announce that O'Neal would miss Game 5, but the Heat's injuries still worried fans.
Even if they survive the series against the Detroit Pistons, can they still defeat the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals?
However, more Miami fans were enjoying the current victory.
Wade was only in his second year, O'Neal still had gas in the tank, and Pat Riley's promise seemed truly achievable—the team's future was bright!
O'Neal's injury situation attracted more attention, while the Phoenix Suns secured their home court, yet the intensity of their series didn't match the Heat's.
Steve Nash is also highly likely to be selected for the All-NBA Team this season.
Although Alvin Gentry's imitation of the New York Knicks' tactics drew criticism, he indeed helped Nash improve significantly.
Even though New York fans disliked this 'copycat' team, the Phoenix Suns were successful this season.
At least they made it past the first round of the playoffs.
The weather in Cleveland was pleasant on the 13th.
After a sudden drop in temperature on Thursday, it had now risen back to 26 degrees Celsius, allowing young women to continue showing off their legs.
In the afternoon, many Cavaliers fans gathered outside the Gund Arena.
Despite trailing 0-2 in the series, the Eastern Conference Semifinals still excited the fans, as they were, after all, just a rebuilding Rookie team.
Compared to teams like the Atlanta Hawks, who were notoriously tanking and had seen little improvement after many years of building, the Cavaliers were already winning big.
Many fans even went shirtless, their faces painted with red and yellow greasepaint, holding up "The The Chosen One" signs to support LeBron James.
Everyone supported the kid from Akron.
Playing for his hometown team meant more!
The tight schedule of the semifinals made it difficult for teams to make many adjustments, with only a little over a day between games, which was convenient for fans but caused considerable trouble for the coaching staff.
Compared to the New York Knicks, who used the same tactics repeatedly in every game, the Cavaliers had continuously changed their lineup.
Unfortunately, no matter how they adjusted their Defense or who they assigned to guard Clay Lee, the result was always the same.
During the pre-game warm-up, ESPN praised Van Gundy's adjustments and acknowledged Rookie James's performance.
However, when it came to the outcome, the commentators were overwhelmingly one-sided in their predictions, with Stephen A. Smith even confidently asserting:
"The New York Knicks will sweep the Cavaliers. They have no opponent in the Eastern Conference this season!"
"…"
The game officially tipped off at 7 PM that evening, with 20,000 fans already filling the Gund Arena.
The team's new owner, Gilbert, provided yellow handkerchiefs to the fans in attendance, hoping everyone would better cheer for the home team.
For the Cavaliers, tonight's game was a do-or-die battle.
If the New York Knicks secured a match point, then the day after tomorrow would be a battle for honor.
Team owners also have ways of influencing games.
Mark Cuban of the Dallas Mavericks, for example, gained favorable treatment for his team by sending videotapes and making outspoken remarks.
Cavaliers owner Gilbert also wanted to follow suit and ensure the Cavaliers received special consideration.
If the Dallas Mavericks could overcome a 0-2 deficit to reverse the Houston Rockets, perhaps the Cavaliers could do the same!
These past two days, Gilbert had been constantly complaining about the New York Knicks' screens and defensive moves in interviews.
Before the game, in an interview with ESPN, the new owner continued to add drama:
"The playoffs begin with winning on the road, and Cleveland is ready."
"Look at our passionate fans! They will ignite the energy of our young men."
"I don't want to discuss the officiating too much. The league implemented new rules this season, and I believe the referees will maintain consistent officiating standards."
Gilbert, with his small mustache, continued to complain about the referee's calls as usual.
Under the new rules, officiating currently relied entirely on the referee's personal discretion.
If strictly enforced, referees could crack down on hand movements.
If broadly interpreted, some hand-checking defensive actions could be ignored.
At the ESPN commentary booth, 66-year-old Brent Musburger, rarely commentating on a New York Knicks game, excitedly discussed with his partner:
"This season, I've broadcast a few Cavaliers national games, and LeBron James's talent is simply outstanding."
"I believe he can deliver a response in such a crucial game."
"Superstars usually erupt on nights like this. I look forward to the showdown between LeBron and Clay!"
Hubie Brown was also an old-timer, forming an old-man duo, responsible for tactical analysis.
Compared to Michaels, who had witnessed too many New York Knicks games, this partner had clearly watched too many highlights.
Regarding the game's expectations, Hubie Brown slowly said:
"I don't like to overestimate a player. LeBron still has a lot to refine."
"He's not Clay Lee. What I'm looking forward to is whether the Cavaliers will continue their zone Defense."
"Dwight Howard's positioning is a bit problematic. He's clearly still adapting to the NBA. In such a crucial game, perhaps Head Coach Van Gundy will opt for man-to-man Defense to reduce the pressure on this Rookie."
As a former Head Coach of the New York Knicks, Hubie Brown always mindful of his bias when commentating on games.
The two white old men in their sixties analyzed before the game, doing their best to make the viewers at home feel that it was a closely contested match.
After flying to Cleveland, the New York Knicks players didn't boast.
This year's schedule avoided strong teams, and facing Rookies was considered an early warm-up for the Conference Finals.
In the locker room before the game, everyone was still congratulating Tayshaun Prince on his selection to the All-Defensive Team.
In contrast to Ron Artest, Tayshaun Prince, who became a starter, rarely had a bad performance in the regular season, maintaining his perimeter Defense intensity.
Mike D'Antoni and the coaching staff simply gave a brief reminder about rebounding before saying no more.
The Cavaliers averaged 96.5 points per game in the regular season, but their average scoring in the two Eastern Conference Semifinals games so far hadn't reached that mark.
After understanding the opponent's strength, everyone relaxed.
As for the referee's calls, they all had rich experience in playing 5-on-8.
After the visiting players came out, the director kept the camera on Lee, trying to create an atmosphere of a star showdown.
When LeBron James came out, the Gund Arena erupted again.
Clay Lee, wearing the blue away jersey, naturally felt no pressure.
After a brief greeting with his opponents before the game, he warmed up, waiting for the game to begin.
The New York Knicks coaching staff didn't give many instructions either.
Mike D'Antoni and the others sat quietly on the bench.
On the other side, Van Gundy seemed a bit nervous.
Even when the referee called both sides to center court, he continued to talk to his players non-stop.
Once the game started, at the ESPN commentary booth, Musburger continuously praised the Cavaliers' performance.
In the first quarter, James showed good shooting touch.
Although Zydrunas Ilgauskas was a bit slow to start, Newble stepped up in time.
After keeping the score close, James didn't rest in the second quarter, continuously scoring with shots and free throws, completely igniting the atmosphere in the arena.
Before halftime, Barnes, who came off the bench, received a technical foul, which made the Cavaliers fans even happier.
Barnes, standing at the free-throw line, kept complaining, and the referee, without mercy, continued to award free throws to the Cavaliers.
James made his free throws, and Barnes, no longer complaining, followed up by making two free throws.
With the Cavaliers' last possession, Jeff McInnis's three-point jump shot missed, and cheers once again echoed through the Gund Arena.
57-53, at halftime, the Cavaliers were only trailing by 4 points.
"Damn it! He's getting too many free throws!"
Barnes was still muttering to himself as he walked into the locker room.
He had gotten more playing time because Raja Bell had picked up three fouls early.
Role players all want to prove themselves with limited playing time, and Lee didn't care about the referees' calls.
They just wanted to make the game more intense.
"Relax, Bro! We're still ahead, Tayshaun will finish that Rookie in the second half!"
Lee first patted Barnes on the shoulder, then pulled Prince closer.
Prince, who was selected for the All-Defense Team, was indeed very happy, but thinking about the officiating tonight, he honestly said:
"If he keeps making those jump shots, it's hard for me to limit LeBron's scoring."
Lee chuckled, looking at Prince's honest expression.
Amar'e Stoudemire, who also had three fouls, wasn't in such a good mood and cursed the referees as soon as he returned to his seat:
"They're kissing Gilbert's ass! Why are they helping that Rookie!"
As an assistant coach, Ewing often instilled in big men the philosophy of dunking more and fouling aggressively.
Pau Gasol usually had his own plans.
Once he noticed the referee making a move, he would simply give up on Defense in some possessions, rarely encountering foul trouble.
Stoudemire was different.
This Rookie, who loved to dunk, strictly followed the veteran's arrangements and also liked to argue with the referees.
He had three fouls in just 9 minutes tonight, and Stoudemire, already an All-Star player, felt disrespected, so angry that he crushed his water bottle.
Dikembe Mutombo, who usually only played garbage time, also joined in the complaining at this point, yelling about wanting to "blast" the white referee's "ass" with his "black bird."
Talking about these off-color jokes, the locker room quickly erupted in laughter.
Although the halftime lead was small, seeing Lee's unconcerned look, everyone knew that tonight's game was probably secure.
Derek Fisher waited for a long time and found that the assistant coaches had made no arrangements, so he instinctively looked for Mike D'Antoni.
Thinking that ESPN still had a halftime interview, Old Fish smacked his lips, squeezed next to Lee, and quietly asked:
"Lee, aren't you going to say something? We're only up by 4 points."
Lee, who was currently complaining about American Idol gossip with everyone, was a little surprised.
Realizing this was Old Fish's first time experiencing the playoffs with the New York Knicks, Lee raised his water bottle and called out to Kurt Thomas:
"Kurt, tell Derek how the team should adjust when facing difficulties."
Kurt Thomas gave a 'you should know this' look and simply explained to Derek Fisher:
"It's simple, give the ball to Lee! In a close game, that's what we do."
"..."
Derek Fisher was speechless, and thinking of the Finals the Lakers lost in those years, he suddenly felt his question was a bit silly.
Derek Fisher, who had wanted to show off with Lee and deliver a moving speech, could only force a dry laugh in the end:
"This is indeed the most effective way to adjust."
Van Gundy had developed a habit with the New York Knicks: the more crucial the game, the simpler the tactics.
Tonight, he no longer emphasized defensive formations.
Van Gundy chose to directly delegate, only responsible for calling timeouts, giving pep talks, and boosting morale.
Facts proved that the "strongest tactic" was still effective.
In the first half, LeBron James was 8-of-15 from the field, 1-of-3 from beyond the arc, and 8-of-10 from the free-throw line, scoring 25 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Newble was 6-of-9 from the field in the first half, 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, and 2-of-3 from the free-throw line, contributing 16 points.
The excellent performance of the two made the halftime score difference negligible.
During halftime, on the ESPN commentary desk, Musburger praised again:
"As expected of a Champion Coach, Head Coach Van Gundy made a bold change tonight, unleashing the team's offense."
"LeBron also lived up to the fans' expectations, delivering a perfect performance in the first half."
Zone Defense turned into man-to-man Defense, no longer emphasizing positioning, trusting the players' defensive instincts.
The Cavaliers played simply and aggressively tonight.
They took 43 shots in the first half, a significant change in pace from before.
Hubie Brown, however, did not prematurely celebrate with the Cavaliers, adding in a measured tone:
"I prefer the two teams' control over turnovers. 3 turnovers in the first half is not simple."
"However, the test for the Cavaliers has just begun. They must continue their performance on the offensive end!"
After the third quarter began, when LeBron James received the ball on the baseline, cheers once again echoed through the Gund Arena.
At this point, LeBron James was brimming with confidence.
A 4-point difference was only two possessions away.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas had a poor performance in the first half, mostly due to fatigue.
Seeing LeBron James come to the top of the arc, near the left baseline, Zydrunas Ilgauskas immediately came up for a pick-and-roll.
Jeff McInnis, who was playing point guard in this game, was now stopped on the left wing to open up offensive space.
LeBron James noticed Clay Lee's position, pushed the ball for a change of direction, switched to his right hand, used the screen, and drove to the right.
Raja Bell still went under to block the driving lane, and Pau Gasol also immediately dropped back into the paint.
LeBron James, with the ball in his right hand, lowered his shoulder and accelerated.
As soon as he broke through near the elbow, Tayshaun Prince was already moving towards the basket.
With the defensive position changed, LeBron James gathered the ball early while moving, leaned into the defender to continue driving, and after attracting a double-team, immediately passed the ball to the left corner.
Newble had made two three-pointers from the same spot in the first half.
This time, after catching the ball, he didn't hesitate at all, taking a decisive jump shot that clanked off the rim.
Watching the basketball bounce off the rim, LeBron James still wanted to crash the boards, but Raja Bell was already prepared, boxing him out early.
Dwight Howard under the basket was also boxed out by Kurt Thomas, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, seeing Pau Gasol secure the rebound, retreated early on Defense.
Clay Lee, who received the ball, didn't push the pace too fast, dribbling across half-court amidst the fans' boos.
Observing that the opponent was still playing man-to-man Defense, he slowed down on the right wing.
"Defense!"
Amidst the defensive cheers, Pau Gasol moved up the court, attempting to initiate a pick-and-roll.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas naturally followed him out, also loudly reminding Jeff McInnis to watch out for the screen.
Maintaining a defensive distance, Jeff McInnis eyed the movement behind him.
Taking this opportunity, Lee suddenly increased his dribbling speed after a between-the-legs dribble.
His body faked to the left-front, then abruptly changed direction in front of his body.
Pau Gasol hadn't reached the screening position yet, and a distracted Jeff McInnis stood frozen, watching Lee powerfully drive past him.
Dwight Howard, to the left of the basket, watched as Lee took three powerful steps and then leaped into the air.
He didn't attempt a foolish block, instead symbolically raising his arms as he went up.
Completely uncontested, Clay Lee pulled his right arm back with the ball, and slammed it down with a windmill dunk from the lower right side of the basket!
"Boom!" A powerful dunk for two points.
The clean and decisive score drew strong boos from the Cavaliers fans present.
Clay Lee, having completed the dunk, didn't expect Dwight Howard to back down.
He even put on a face that seemed to say, "I didn't react in time," and "It's all the perimeter Defense's fault."
"Softie!"
Ignoring Lee's words, Dwight Howard, who had been a non-factor in the first half, hurriedly rushed across half-court after inbounding the ball.
Jeff McInnis still passed the ball early.
LeBron James approached the left wing, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas again came up for a pick-and-roll.
It was still a localized 2-on-2.
With the ball in his right hand, LeBron James used the screen to move horizontally.
Taking advantage of his teammate being left open, he got close to the free-throw line, immediately twisted his body, and passed the ball to Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
The latter rolled down after the pick-and-roll, got close to the left block, and immediately shot after catching the ball!
The basketball clanked off the rim again.
LeBron James had now squeezed into the paint, and taking advantage of Dwight Howard tipping the rebound, he snatched the offensive rebound over Raja Bell's head.
Directly in front of the basket, LeBron James, after grabbing the rebound, immediately exploded upwards.
Before he could release the ball, the retreating Pau Gasol used his long arm to swat the ball with his left hand, quickly completing the block.
Accurately anticipating where the ball would land, Lee immediately secured possession, then took the ball and dashed.
Jeff McInnis, not wanting to pick up an early foul, could only desperately retreat on Defense, trying to keep up with Lee's speed.
Dribbling with his left hand and constantly accelerating, Lee reached the left wing and crossed the three-point line.
Noticing LeBron still chasing hard behind him, Lee made a big push-dribble change of direction while moving, switching back to his right hand.
Cavaliers fans cheered as they saw LeBron James approaching the three-point line.
Jeff McInnis still didn't give up on Defense, trying to slide his feet to block the driving lane.
The two collided again.
Clay Lee didn't give his opponent a chance to grab him, dribbled the ball hard after the change of direction, then used his left foot as an axis for a spin move.
From the left block, he instantly moved to the lower left of the basket, completely shaking off the Defense.
Gathering the ball, he grabbed it with his left hand, leaned in, and tossed the ball off the backboard!
The retreating LeBron James had been adjusting his stride, jumped high under the basket, but the basketball still sailed over his fingertips.
LeBron James, who had jumped into the air, was frustrated by the high backboard shot that nearly touched the top of the backboard, and after landing, he could only watch the basketball drop into the hoop.
61:53, seeing the score difference reach double digits, LeBron James once again employed the same tactic.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas, after setting a screen near the left elbow, received a return pass from LeBron James, and his open shot went in steadily.
Head Coach Van Gundy on the sidelines breathed a sigh of relief, then loudly reminded his players to retreat on Defense.
As the score difference narrowed, the anxious Cavaliers fans regained their spirits, and their cheers for Defense grew louder.
Due to the New York Knicks' three-point shooting heating up in the first half, the Cavaliers mostly played man-to-man Defense in most possessions.
With no special instructions from the Head Coach, everyone continued with their previous defensive strategy.
After the 131 formation was set, Raja Bell and Tayshaun Prince began to slowly move towards the baseline.
Kurt Thomas, who was stopped at the free-throw line, came to the top of the arc to set a screen.
Clay Lee, holding the ball in his left hand, first pushed the ball to change direction, shaking off Jeff McInnis, while the faster Dwight Howard immediately came up with a big hedge Defense.
The opponent was still moving, but Lee made a large-scale behind-the-back dribble, simultaneously lowering his center of gravity and directly passing between Kurt Thomas and Dwight Howard.
"Oh!"
Amidst the fans' exclamations, the basketball flew into the paint, and the moment Lee gained control of the ball, he burst forward with three big strides, switching the ball to his right hand with a behind-the-back dribble.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas was still moving, directly in front of the basket, Clay Lee grabbed the ball with his right hand and tossed it towards the hoop!
"Swish!" The two-point shot went in steadily.
63:55, Lee scored consecutively, and the Gund Arena suddenly fell silent.
At the commentary table, Michaels, clearly enjoying the excitement, saw LeBron James receive the ball early and loudly declared again:
"The duel between the two has begun, LeBron is taking over the game!"
Jeff McInnis and Newble simultaneously moved to the baseline, one on the left and one on the right, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas once again came to the top of the arc to set a screen.
LeBron James, holding the ball in his left hand, moved horizontally with the help of the screen, and after shaking off the Defense, he did not rush to drive, but suddenly stopped short at the three-point line.
Facing the drop Defense of Raja Bell and Pau Gasol, LeBron James immediately gathered the ball, adjusted slightly, and decisively shot a jump shot from near the left wing.
Clay Lee moved early, grabbed the rebound in the paint, and without rushing to attack, slowly dribbled the ball past half-court.
"Defense!"
LeBron James, retreating on Defense, was a bit anxious.
The current score difference was very dangerous, so he called for his teammates to switch Defense early, intending to defend this possession.
Raja Bell, running towards the left baseline, saw Lee come to the left wing and immediately accelerated, slipping along the baseline.
At the same time, Kurt Thomas stopped at the free-throw line to create space, while Tayshaun Prince slowly moved towards the top of the arc.
The New York Knicks' formation instantly became a wing isolation, leaving Lee with enough space.
Near the three-point line, Lee, holding the ball in his left hand, first dribbled between his legs, and when he switched to his right hand, he immediately stopped short.
LeBron James decisively stuck to him, intentionally giving up the left hand, trying to drive Clay Lee inside.
Dribbling behind his back at the three-point line, Lee lowered his center of gravity, held the ball in his left hand, and accelerated with a shoulder drop.
LeBron James, who was already prepared, immediately slid backward to the right, and in the restricted area, Clay Lee, while in motion, changed direction again with a crossover.
The slow shake allowed LeBron James to easily stop his feet, and he instinctively reached out to interfere.
After a sudden stop, he swayed his body to the front right, and while the opponent was trying to steal the ball, Lee suddenly accelerated, quickly dribbled behind his back, and then drove straight to the basket.
With two sudden stops and starts, Lee gained half a step, giving LeBron no time to adjust.
He stole a step while in motion, jumped off his left foot, and quickly scooped the ball with his backhand for a layup!
The basketball just cleared LeBron James' fingertips and flew towards the backboard, and amidst a chorus of exclamations from the fans, it finally banked in.
65:55, the score difference reached double digits for the first time in this game.
Although the 3rd quarter had just begun, Head Coach Van Gundy decisively called a timeout.
Having scored 8 consecutive points, Clay Lee looked relaxed, smiling as he high-fived his teammates and celebrated on his way to the bench.
The noise in the Gund Arena quieted down a bit more, and LeBron James walked quickly towards the sideline with his head down.
At the ESPN commentary table, Michaels looked somewhat disappointed, while Hubie Brown, beside him, chuckled and praised:
"What an artistic offense, Clay Lee always scores easily in one-on-one Defense!"
"Clearly, after the second half began, Lee is going to take over the game."
In the crucial possession after the timeout, the Cavaliers designed a curl-cut play for LeBron James.
LeBron James slipped along the baseline to shake off the Defense, moved horizontally in the left restricted area, received the pass inside the paint, leaned against Raja Bell, and missed a floater with a jump shot.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas timely grabbed the offensive rebound and, with Pau Gasol's secondary interference, tipped the ball into the hoop.
65:57, the score difference narrowed, and Head Coach Van Gundy on the sidelines clapped his hands repeatedly.
Clay Lee, who received the inbound pass, accelerated his drive, and as soon as he crossed mid-court, he passed the ball to Pau Gasol in the left elbow area.
The Cavaliers initially wanted to double-team, but Jeff McInnis saw Lee pass the ball and run towards the left wing, so he could only continue to stick to him.
Pau Gasol, receiving the ball sideways, faked a hand-off, and while Lee faked a move towards the top of the key and then accelerated in a counter-run, he directly delivered a cross-court pass.
Near the left sideline, Lee, who was counter-running, immediately put the ball down with his left hand after receiving it, swatted away the opponent's arm with his guarding hand, and flew low to the ground, driving straight to the basket.
Jeff McInnis, failing to grab him, lost his balance and fell to the floor with a thud, completely losing his defensive position.
Lee, holding the ball in his left hand, charged faster and faster, ignoring Dwight Howard under the basket, and near the lower left of the hoop, he jumped off both feet, his head level with the rim.
Colliding with Dwight Howard in mid-air, after a brief suspension, Lee pulled his right arm back, evaded the block, and while the opponent was leaning back, he slammed the ball into the hoop!
At the commentary table, Michaels, seeing Dwight Howard get posterized again, also shouted:
"Too big, Too fast, Too strong!"
"Clay-Lee! Unbelievable!"
"Screech!"
As the referee blew the whistle, Dwight Howard, who landed, also failed to stand steadily and stumbled to the floor under the basket.
Two players fell in one possession, and the Cavaliers fans in the arena couldn't help but let out a low gasp.
Clay Lee looked calm, shaking his left index finger at the camera, while Kurt Thomas beside him was the most excited, rushing over to celebrate wildly at the first opportunity.
On the New York Knicks' bench, everyone also celebrated wildly, and seeing Dwight Howard's aggrieved expression, Amar'e Stoudemire even pointed at the Rookie and laughed heartily.
Seeing Lee make the free throw as well, Hubie Brown praised again:
"Once the game enters the response-shot phase, all the New York Knicks need to do is get the ball into Clay Lee's hands."
"Coach D'Antoni clearly made the right decision!"
Coach D'Antoni, who was posing on the sidelines, had a relaxed smile on his face.
He indeed hadn't made many adjustments, because he knew Lee would actively exert himself in a stalemate.
After deploying his strongest tactic, Mike D'Antoni felt his "red scarf" became even brighter, and he continued to stroll on the sidelines to increase his presence.
Watching LeBron James drive strong to the basket through the middle using a screen, only to be interfered with by Kurt Thomas and miss, Derek Fisher on the bench also found it unbelievable.
In top form in the first half, but sluggish in the second half, with LeBron James and Dwight Howard's aura completely suppressed, Derek Fisher suddenly recalled Phil Jackson's audacious move back then:
"No need to turn sage, victory is that simple..."
The Cavaliers suddenly fell into a scoring drought, and the double-team Defense allowed the New York Knicks to score from multiple points.
The referee didn't add any drama, and the Cavaliers' score remained at 57 until 6 minutes and 34 seconds left in the 3rd quarter.
The more they missed, the more they shot.
With LeBron James's assists, the New York Knicks charged faster and faster, with counterattacks coming one after another.
Head Coach Van Gundy's second timeout also had no effect, and LeBron James was still missing shots.
In the first possession after the timeout, from the left wing, LeBron James, left open after a screen, missed another shot.
Watching Lee grab the offensive rebound, LeBron cursed under his breath and quickly retreated on Defense.
Accelerating along the left sideline, Lee didn't stop after crossing mid-court.
Near the left wing, Lee, charging head down, suddenly stopped short at the three-point line, pulled the ball back between his legs, and instantly shook off the Defense.
Jeff McInnis lost his defensive position and, noticing Lee gathering the ball for a pump fake, directly lunged at him.
While in the air, realizing he had been faked, Jeff McInnis tried to twist his body but was still grazed by Lee.
Using the timing difference, Lee, hanging onto the defender, finally took a jump shot from beyond the three-point line in transition!
"Screech! Swish!"
LeBron James, who had retreated to half-court, heard the referee's whistle, turned his head, and saw the basketball swish through the net, completely losing his composure.
He ripped off his white headband and angrily threw it on the floor.
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
Although the sound was not loud, during Clay Lee's free throw, a portion of the fans still cheered along.
LeBron James couldn't help but speed up the offensive pace.
He no longer held the ball, using screens to shake off his defender, and took a jump shot from the left block after receiving the pass, which clanked off the rim.
Pau Gasol grabbed the rebound and threw a long pass to Lee.
Before Lee could cross half-court, the ball spun and flew to the other end.
Tayshaun Prince shook off Newble behind him, cut to the basket from the left wing, received Lee's half-court bounce pass, and scored with a fast-break dunk.
From the right block, LeBron James received a pass from Jeff McInnis again.
Instead of shooting, he drove hard to the basket and attempted a floater near the rim, but was disrupted by the switching Tayshaun Prince.
Kurt Thomas secured the rebound.
With the Cavaliers still retreating on Defense, Lee, who received the ball on the semi-transition offense, rushed to the top of the arc, stopped suddenly, and then accelerated again.
He drove into the paint, immediately drawing the Cavaliers' Defense, and Lee jumped to pass the ball to Raja Bell in the left corner.
The latter received the ball and easily scored with an uncontested jump shot!
Cavaliers fans were stunned. LeBron James kept missing shots, and it was only through Zydrunas Ilgauskas' put-back under the basket that he finally broke the scoring drought.
No turnovers, no assists.
LeBron James seemed to only have the rim in his eyes, helping the New York Knicks continuously extend their lead.
The Gund Arena gradually fell silent, and the fans stopped cheering.
It wasn't until the end of the third quarter that Derek Fisher, who came on, orchestrated plays from the top of the arc.
Clay Lee missed a three-pointer from the left wing, and Drew Gooden's rebound assist led to LeBron James scoring 2 points on a fast break.
A dazed LeBron James had just retreated to half-court when a simple double screen on the high pick-and-roll allowed Lee to easily receive the ball on the left wing for the New York Knicks.
Jeff McInnis had lost his defensive position early, and from the left elbow, Dwight Howard also didn't switch on Defense.
Everyone on the Cavaliers watched as Clay Lee scored another 3 points with an open jump shot!
LeBron James' strong drive to the basket from the left wing resulted in a turnover.
After Kurt Thomas secured possession, Lee assisted Amar'e Stoudemire, who had sprinted to the opposing half, for a dunk!
"Ah!"
The fans in the front row watched Amar'e Stoudemire pound his chest and roar, momentarily forgetting to boo.
Gilbert, sitting in the front row, looked grim, seemingly unable to accept such a result.
In the final moments, LeBron James' drive resulted in a 2+1 play, barely salvaging some pride.
After receiving the ball on the baseline, Lee casually tossed the ball to half-court.
Everyone on the Cavaliers hung their heads, silently walking back to the bench.
The score was 36-15 in the quarter, and after three quarters, it was 93-68.
The game had lost all suspense.
Returning to his seat, LeBron James stared at Head Coach Van Gundy's tactic board, his mind a blank.
This was not the game he had expected.
He was 2-for-12 in the quarter, 0-for-2 from three-point range, and 1-for-1 from the free-throw line, for 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 turnover.
Seeing LeBron James' statistics, Musberger found it difficult to comment, only vaguely saying:
"LeBron has taken on his leadership responsibilities. We can all see that he has given his all."
Hubie Brown also couldn't say too much, after all, this was the Cavaliers' home court:
"This is Clay Lee. When he wants to score, no one can stop him!"
"I like his performance in the third quarter. Led by Clay Lee, the New York Knicks capitalized on almost every transition offense opportunity."
Clay Lee suddenly exploded with 9-for-11 shooting in the quarter, 2-for-3 from three-point range, and 3-for-3 from the free-throw line, for 23 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists, ending the game.
After the fourth quarter began, the Cavaliers, trailing by a large margin, didn't even put in their bench players.
LeBron James was still trying to score, attempting to regain his shooting touch.
Inspired by the The Chosen One, the Cavaliers fans in attendance also regained their energy, continuing to cheer for their home team.
Clay Lee also played for over 4 minutes, adding some stats, and then lost interest in continuing to play a practice game with the opponent.
Amar'e Stoudemire seized the opportunity to vent his frustration, hitting consecutive mid-range jump shots and continuously scoring from low-post back-to-the-basket plays.
Dwight Howard, who had been invisible for most of the game, also had field goals.
As LeBron James hit a three-pointer in the final moments, Derek Fisher stopped attacking, and the game clock expired.
The final buzzer sounded, and the Gund Arena erupted in another round of boos.
123-90, the New York Knicks decisively defeated their opponent, successfully securing a match point.
Trailing 0-3 in the series, the Cavaliers would face their battle for honor the night after tomorrow.
Walking quickly towards the player tunnel, LeBron James, who played 46 minutes, was in low spirits.
Heaven in the first half, hell in the second, he had let down the Cleveland fans.
He shot 12-for-35, 2-for-7 from three-point range, and 11-for-14 from the free-throw line, for 37 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 turnover.
In the crucial Game 3, LeBron James, who gave his all, ultimately delivered an inefficient stat line.
Cavaliers fans on both sides of the player tunnel, seeing LeBron James' dejected look, still applauded the The Chosen One, with many loudly offering encouragement.
For Cavaliers fans, tonight they saw LeBron James' desire for victory.
Although he missed a lot of shots, everyone liked a leader like that!
Lee, walking towards the player tunnel on the other side, didn't receive too many boos.
This wasn't Philadelphia, nor was it Indianapolis, nor Los Angeles.
The Cavaliers fans, experiencing the New York Knicks' thrashing in the playoffs for the first time, were still very friendly.
Many even shouted Lee's name, trying to get an autograph.
With the series no longer in suspense, Lee gave his shoes to a child who was shouting the loudest.
Amidst the child's screams, he waved goodbye and walked towards the player tunnel.
Head Coach Van Gundy, who was in a bad mood after the game, praised his team while also commending Lee's performance:
"I know Lee. In crucial games, he always responds. That's why he can surpass Michael Jordan!"
"In the playoffs, the most important thing is to respond. Unfortunately, tonight we only played one good half."
"We are all very satisfied with LeBron's performance. This is his second year in his professional career, and I hope he can maintain this desire!"
Clay Lee played 39 minutes, shooting 18-for-28, 5-for-10 from three-point range, and 6-for-7 from the free-throw line, for 47 points, 6 rebounds, 12 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers.
When an ESPN reporter compared Clay Lee's and LeBron James' stats, Head Coach Van Gundy frowned and interrupted, saying:
"In such a crucial game, stats don't mean much. I hope LeBron continues to shoot in the game the day after tomorrow."
"Perhaps he won't be as successful as Lee, but we will definitely bring a championship to Cleveland in the end!"
"..."
On the morning of May 14th, LeBron James, who was in a bad mood last night and unable to attend the press conference, accepted an interview with ABC.
After the training session, the Cavaliers players' morale was visibly low.
When talking about his performance last night, LeBron James didn't show much emotion, trying to project a "confident" demeanor:
"In crucial games, I know I need to step up and lead the team."
"As the team's leader, I must respond. As for stats, that's not within my consideration."
"I don't regret those shots. I watched the Nets and New York Knicks' first-round series, and Carter was right, I learned a lot from him."
Stuart Scott had interviewed Carter in the first round.
Hearing LeBron James' words, he adjusted his glasses and subconsciously said:
"Black Mamba? Perhaps after this series, fans will call you the Black Mamba of Akron."
Hearing this nickname, LeBron James also laughed, then self-deprecatingly added:
"That's the nickname Clay Lee gave Vince Carter. It's really cool, but I prefer everyone to call me King James!"
"I've said it before, I want to be as successful as Clay Lee, to be the most dominant player. Perhaps I'm not a lethal killer, but I can do more."
Lee, who was still at a Cleveland hotel that night, almost burst out laughing when he saw the ABC report.
Many of the New York Knicks were watching the Heat vs. Detroit Pistons game with him.
When Lee read out the ABC news from his laptop, everyone's reaction was strange.
Amar'e Stoudemire even said somewhat enviously:
"The media always likes to take care of that Rookie! Akron Mamba, that's a cool nickname!"
"..."
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)