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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 the morning of June 14, 2005, CCTV's studio across the ocean was also broadcasting this year's Finals.
Thanks to Yao Ming's increasing influence, more and more fans began to pay attention to the NBA.
Tracy McGrady's contribution was also indispensable.
On December 10 last year, the "35 seconds, 13 points award" was released, and the former "second-best player" in the league garnered a large number of Chinese fans.
Tracy McGrady also performed well in the playoffs.
Although he struggled in the decisive Game 7 of the first round, fans didn't mindâdata is not as important as style!
NBA fans exploded this year, and the attention to this year's Finals also increased.
Clay Lee's 50+ performance in G2 astonished many new fans, and upon learning that this was his fifth time, more fans watched "ancient" highlights.
The trend of this morning's Finals broadcast was somewhat unexpected.
The Knicks gave up Lee's ball-handling advantage, increased their rotation, and gave more minutes to role players.
During halftime, invited guest A was still praising the San Antonio Spurs' Defense, believing that the zone Defense successfully limited Lee.
However, the situation changed dramatically at the end of the third quarter, as Lee broke the deadlock with three consecutive three-pointers.
In the last two minutes, Manu Ginobili was blocked repeatedly, and the San Antonio Spurs didn't even score a single point.
81:72, the score difference was still within reach, but in the studio, A stopped talking about Defense and changed direction, starting to lavishly praise Lee's performance.
In a single quarter, he shot 4-of-6 from the field, 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line, scoring 15 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks.
Clay Lee almost scored half of his team's points.
After three quarters, Clay Lee's stats reached 32 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, and 1 turnover.
Considering that the San Antonio Spurs had a seven-man rotation tonight and still had to fight in the fourth quarter, B in the studio also realized that they had a high probability of witnessing a Finals triple-double.
"Competitive sports can indeed be cruel sometimes. The Knicks are constantly wearing down Tim Duncan."
"For half a quarter, he's constantly crashing the boards, and once his stamina drops, they'll keep speeding up."
"I can't even remember how many times Tim Duncan has been in a deep drop coverage so far in this game. Not only that, but whenever the San Antonio Spurs switch, there will be a 3-on-2 under the basket."
"He's only rested for 3 minutes in three quarters. If Tim Duncan can't hold on in the final quarter, I think the fans will understand."
A's words were heartfelt.
He recalled Yao Ming's efforts in the NBA and respected Tim Duncan, who was playing through injury.
B, however, didn't have as many emotions.
Clay Lee's presence wasn't strong in the third quarter.
He took two bailout passes, and his consecutive three-pointers and free throws in the latter half of the quarter didn't feel very impactful while watching the game, but upon checking the box score, he had 15 points in a single quarter.
"I noticed that in the latter half of the third quarter, the Knicks repeatedly used the same tactic in their half-court offense."
"Is this the key to their lead? How should the San Antonio Spurs adjust?"
Even a layman could see that Clay Lee was trying to isolate Tim Duncan on every possession in the final stage, and B's curious question was quickly answered:
"Before the pick-and-roll, they added a zipper cut screen. Many teams use it, but the problem is how the guard handles the ball after receiving it when facing a switched Tim Duncan."
A seemed to think of the men's basketball guards and suddenly sighed, saying:
"In the past, if someone told me that a point guard could easily score on an All-Star power forward, I would have found it hard to believe."
"But Clay Lee has indeed done it. He can easily score one-on-one against any Defense."
"The most terrifying thing is that he can solve the problem from beyond the three-point line, which completely changed the San Antonio Spurs' Defense."
"The more their stamina declines, the easier it is for the Knicks to play. They also performed very well on the defensive end in this game. Kurt Thomas's positioning choice is even better than Amar'e Stoudemire's."
"They solved the problem of backcourt rebounds and rarely missed assignments on Defense. This is the defending champion, a perfect combination of individual ability and teamwork."
The fans in front of their televisions were stunned.
If they only watched highlights, NBA players all seemed pretty similar.
After all, highlights don't reflect much data, and after watching too many exciting plays, most fans are too lazy to think about the game.
After hearing this praise, many Houston Rockets fans also had some questions:
"With more championships, is Clay Lee stronger than Tracy McGrady?"
"..."
In the eyes of most Chinese Houston Rockets fans, Tracy McGrady and Clay Lee were stars of the same caliber.
American sports media, however, was unaware of this information.
For professional critics who had entered the Excel era, the two teams were fiercely competitive in the Finals, displaying extremely high tactical literacy.
....
The SBC Center was somewhat quiet.
The fourth quarter was about to begin, and only Hubie Brown at the ABC commentary table was loudly praising:
"This game is a clash between two tactical masters, with both sides targeting each other's weaknesses."
"The San Antonio Spurs are constantly learning from their failures, and the Knicks are leveraging their advantages, using more abundant stamina to constantly wear down their opponents."
"This is a triple test of patience, awareness, and physicality. Without a doubt, the Knicks have gained the upper hand."
Listening to the old coach's intense praise, Michaels was somewhat bewildered:
"Is the game really that high-level?"
On the Knicks' bench, Lee was drawing on the whiteboard, while constantly instructing Amar'e Stoudemire, who was about to enter the game:
"Don't roll too early. The referee will call you for an illegal screen. Get set in time and be patient."
Pau Gasol, affected by injury, had to rest after playing the third quarter.
Kurt Thomas was also on the bench.
He needed to control his foul count and couldn't leave the game early again.
Amar'e Stoudemire, who had been benched for a quarter, could only nod at this point.
Fortunately, the tactics were not complicated, only testing his timing for handoff screens.
Mike D'Antoni clapped his hands with a smile on the side.
The assistant coaches only provided water to the players, and everyone entrusted the on-court adjustments to Lee.
To close the gap as soon as possible, Gregg Popovich did not substitute Tim Duncan, but replaced Parker with Brent Barry.
Horry was also on the court.
The San Antonio Spurs, fighting with all their might, were again playing a one-big, four-small lineup, with one inside and four outside, maintaining offensive space.
Derek Fisher breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the opponent's adjustment.
He really didn't want to guard Parker:
"Lee, I've got Brent Barry! I promise I won't let him score easily!"
The noise started to reappear in the SBC Center.
Lee looked at Fisher, who had regained his vitality, and simply gave him a thumbs-up.
"Defense!"
The Knicks attacked first.
The San Antonio Spurs no longer led the Defense, and Derek Fisher calmly dribbled past half-court.
Bruce Bowen followed Lee to the left wing, then began another round of chase Defense.
Clay Lee accelerated towards the baseline, then quickly slipped from left to right, making a cross screen with Raja Bell directly under the basket.
Manu Ginobili did not choose to switch.
Bruce Bowen was still chasing hard behind him.
On the left side near the baseline, Lee popped out diagonally.
Bruce Bowen, who had been chasing hard, caught up to Lee in the paint.
At the top of the arc, Amar'e Stoudemire had already received the pass.
After passing the ball, Derek Fisher ran to the right corner.
On the left wing, Tayshaun Prince's off-ball screen did not create an opportunity, then he moved towards the elbow.
Bruce Bowen and Horry, who were constantly stretching the Defense, looked at each other.
As Lee tried to use the screen to get to the top, Horry switched Defense immediately.
After consecutive screens, as Tayshaun Prince popped out and Amar'e Stoudemire rolled down, the San Antonio Spurs were almost forming a double team.
Some San Antonio Spurs fans cheered.
It looked like a successful Defense.
Lee, dribbling with his left hand and moving horizontally, suddenly performed an In and Out dribble while moving towards the Fighting Tim Duncan.
He faked to his right-front, forcing Tim Duncan to instinctively slide back.
Observing his opponent's movement, Lee suddenly increased the force of his dribble the moment he completed the fake.
Using the rebound force of the basketball, Clay Lee powerfully pounded the ball with one hand, then quickly stepped back.
Instantly, he moved outside the left wing.
Lee ignored the two defenders chasing him and jumped, shooting a fadeaway jumper to his left-rear, over the Defense!
Tim Duncan and Horry, who jumped to block simultaneously, widened their eyes, watching the basketball pass over their fingertips.
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in without touching the rim.
84:72, the SBC Center fell silent again.
Some front-row fans who had stood up were wide-eyed:
"That went in too?"
Clay Lee, who fell to the floor to absorb the impact, indicated a foul to the referee.
Perhaps considering the large score difference, the sideline referee hesitated for a moment before signaling to continue the game.
Mike D'Antoni on the sidelines was very unhappy.
While the Knicks were retreating on Defense, he was still loudly complaining and pressuring the referees.
Manu Ginobili was playing point guard, and seemed to be agitated by the previous possession, making this offensive possession particularly impatient.
Horry faked a screen at the top of the arc and immediately popped out.
Lee chased Manu Ginobili without any obstruction, getting right next to him.
He stopped, started, and accelerated in a simple, brutal straight line, rushing into the paint, trying to lean on the defending Manu Ginobili, whose left-handed floater was interfered with by Lee.
Amar'e Stoudemire had intended to help on Defense, but when he twisted his body to grab the rebound, his positioning was off, and he could only watch Tim Duncan fight for the offensive rebound.
After grabbing the rebound, he immediately passed the ball to Brent Barry, who had moved to the right wing.
The latter faked a shot upon receiving the ball, deceiving Derek Fisher who had rushed to defend, then put the ball down with his right hand, dribbled one step horizontally to completely evade the Defense, and calmly shot a brick.
As soon as the rebound bounced out, Lee in the paint grabbed the rebound in front of Manu Ginobili.
"Boo!"
Derek Fisher dribbled the ball slowly past half-court after receiving it, drawing loud boos from San Antonio Spurs fans.
Soon, it was the same tactic again, with Lee changing direction and weaving through half-court using a screen.
Bruce Bowen had been chasing for most of the game and was starting to wear down.
On the left elbow, Tayshaun Prince's screen didn't do much, allowing Bruce Bowen to squeeze through in time and chase him to the right wing.
Lee had just received a handoff pass from Amar'e Stoudemire, and Tim Duncan slid to delay, attempting to complete a double-team with his teammate.
With one on his left and one on his right, facing the two-man trap, Lee dribbled one step horizontally, then suddenly stopped short, and then pivoted on his left foot, turning with the momentum.
Bruce Bowen, who had just caught up to his side, instantly lost his defensive position, watching Lee scoop the ball with his left hand and move towards the top of the arc.
Duncan had realized the defensive error and tried to recover in time, but Lee, having shaken off his defender, tossed the ball towards the basket with the momentum.
The San Antonio Spurs' Defense was completely torn apart, and Amar'e Stoudemire, who had cut down, took one step and leaped high, grabbing the ball with both hands and slamming it down!
"Boom!" The alley-oop dunk was successful.
On the New York Knicks' bench, everyone ignored the San Antonio Spurs fans' taunts, waving their towels and celebrating happily.
In the subsequent play, Tim Duncan continuously grabbed offensive rebounds, but Brent Barry's strong drive against Old Fish failed, and Tim Duncan missed a free throw, causing Gregg Popovich on the sideline to look despairing.
Mike D'Antoni was also somewhat displeased.
Without Kurt Thomas helping to box out, Amar'e Stoudemire made continuous mistakes.
With 8 minutes and 56 seconds left in the 4th quarter, Mike D'Antoni proactively called another timeout.
In less than half a quarter, Tim Duncan had already grabbed three offensive rebounds, and although they didn't convert into points, Michaels still expressed his respect:
"It's a shame Tim Duncan's body hasn't recovered to its best state. In this game, he has given his all."
Hubie Brown felt a twinge of regret, thinking of the New York Knicks being on the verge of match point, and commented simply:
"This is the Finals. Injuries are part of the game."
"The New York Knicks are the better team. Clay Lee has activated everyone. This is a team victory."
After the timeout, Parker returned, and the New York Knicks attacked, with Derek Fisher assisting on a rebound.
Watching Lee pick up the offensive rebound, the San Antonio Spurs players on the court immediately broke down, and Parker was whistled for another foul.
The inbound pass was made, and Lee was double-teamed at the top of the arc, with Derek Fisher catching the ball on the right wing and shooting again.
As the basketball arced high and dropped precisely into the basket, many San Antonio Spurs fans began to shout curses, and some young fans even started crying.
Derek Fisher paid no mind to his opponents' emotions, shouting and pounding his chest repeatedly after making the three-pointer.
If you had just turned on the TV and seen his performance, you might have thought Old Fish had made the game-winning shot.
Horry's three-pointer also failed to change the game's momentum.
His magic was gone tonight, and he was often left wide open.
Tim Duncan would be double-teamed as soon as he received the ball in the low post, giving the San Antonio Spurs' perimeter players more opportunities, but repeated misses allowed the New York Knicks to easily run transition offense.
After Manu Ginobili made a tough three-pointer, the San Antonio Spurs' transition Defense slowed down, allowing Lee to seize the opportunity and fire from the left wing.
His deep three-pointer bounced off the rim, and as Bruce Bowen landed, he watched Lee squeeze past him and then pick up a long rebound in the left block, leading to another foul.
"Boo!"
Amidst the boos, there were also some cheers.
Clay Lee achieved a triple-double, and Michaels, prompted by the director, immediately congratulated him:
"His second career triple-double in the Finals! Clay Lee delivered a spectacular performance for us tonight!"
After the inbound pass, Parker immediately double-teamed Lee at the top of the arc.
On the left wing, when Raja Bell received the ball, Tim Duncan was already unable to defend out, and he watched the open three-pointer go up!
As the basketball swished through the net, the SBC Center grew quieter, with only the New York Knicks' bench still cheering loudly.
It was an in-and-out play, Horry's wide-open three-pointer from the left wing bricked, and the long rebound was again picked up by Clay Lee.
All the New York Knicks players ran to half-court, accelerating along the sideline to open up offensive space.
Tim Duncan, who had just been boxing out under the basket, felt his legs heavy, watching Amar'e Stoudemire charge faster and faster, and could only grit his teeth and retreat on Defense.
Lee, who had attracted a lot of defenders, crossed the mid-court line and flicked his right wrist, sending a precise long pass.
Amar'e Stoudemire, who had just crossed the three-point line, received the ball and took three big steps to rise up, slamming it down with one hand for another 2 points without any Defense.
Gregg Popovich's timeout had no effect either.
The San Antonio Spurs' three-pointers continued to brick, Tim Duncan made one of two free throws, and Manu Ginobili also missed his free throws.
After enduring most of the quarter, with Pau Gasol and Kurt Thomas back, the New York Knicks returned to their shooting and rebounding form.
Seizing the opportunity, Lee drove hard to the basket, attacking Duncan, and continued to assist on rebounds.
The San Antonio Spurs, with their seven-man rotation, failed to score a single point in the final two-plus minutes of the 4th quarter.
As time ticked away, Gregg Popovich on the sideline stopped shouting, standing rigidly in place, watching Pau Gasol tip the ball in over Tim Duncan.
Manu Ginobili's last-ditch three-point attempt from the right wing was directly blocked by Lee, and after the inbound pass, Parker's long-range three-pointer missed, ending the game.
The single quarter score was 32:19, with the final score settling at 113:91, bringing the series score to 3:1.
Derek Fisher rushed to Lee's side immediately, and seeing the camera lens, he repeatedly punched the air and roared:
"Yeah!!"
Old Fish, wearing the away blue jersey, tried his best to act like Lee's capable assistant.
Amidst the boos, Lee merely smiled, continuously high-fiving his teammates in celebration.
Stuart Scott immediately squeezed next to Lee.
The black reporter's face showed excitement as he loudly asked:
"Clay, congratulations on winning this crucial game. Are the New York Knicks planning to accept the award on the road?"
"The SBC Center is my lucky place. I like to receive awards here."
"I'm sorry I couldn't fulfill the New York fans' wish. The series won't be returning to Madison Square Garden."
Lee said this confidently, then wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Scott liked this answer and continued to ask:
"Let's talk about tonight's triple-double! This is truly an incredible performance."
"The opponent was double-teaming all game, which was an opportunity for us. All I had to do was trust my teammates."
"I'm glad everyone responded tonight; this is a team victory!"
Lee answered nonchalantly, but the sports reporters surrounding him showed expressions of admiration.
In the eyes of many reporters, Lee should be the player who has faced the most double-teams in Finals history, and the San Antonio Spurs used Tim Duncan like crazy.
Playing 45 minutes, 8 of 16 from the field, 6 of 12 from the free-throw line, 22 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover.
Tim Duncan, who delivered a double-double, had already walked back to the locker room and was slumped in his seat.
Looking at his teammates, who were all hanging their heads, Tim Duncan felt like this scene was familiar.
Making it to the Finals for the third time in his career, the 29-year-old Tim Duncan, though he considered himself still young, was not arrogant enough to claim a championship like Clay Lee.
Ending the season this way, Tim Duncan felt a burning frustration.
Looking at Parker, who had already started crying, he pulled himself together and said in a deep voice:
"The series isn't over yet. We still have a chance. Whoever wants to give up now can say it out loud!"
"âŠ"
Parker, wiping away his tears, tried to control his emotions.
Playing 40 minutes, he had given his all.
Gregg Popovich, back in the locker room, could only offer bland motivational words.
Trailing 1:3 in the series, the coaching staff knew the series was essentially over.
On tuesday morning, June 14th, after Finals Game 4, basketball commentators once again began discussing the GOAT topic.
His seventh career championship was within reach, making even triple-double statistics seem unremarkable.
No one believed the San Antonio Spurs could come back from a 1:3 deficit.
A superstar like Lee wouldn't give his opponents any chances.
In Game 4, Clay Lee played 43 minutes, almost the entire game.
Considering Game 5 was on the 16th, no one naturally criticized Mike D'Antoni for relying heavily on his star player.
13 of 23 from the field, 5 of 9 from three-point range, 10 of 10 from the free-throw line, 41 points, 12 rebounds, 13 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks, 2 turnovers.
This first-ever 40+ triple-double in NBA Finals history sent most sports media into a frenzy.
On TNT, there was no excessive praise for Clay Lee's Excel like on other channels.
The trio focused more on discussing how the San Antonio Spurs lost the game.
Charles Barkley seemed to not quite understand Gregg Popovich's tactical arrangements, and once again, with the benefit of hindsight, commented:
"Why do they insist on double-teaming Clay Lee? Why do they insist on Tim Duncan being involved in pick-and-roll Defense?"
"Tim Duncan needs help. You can't have a superstar focusing on Defense."
Kenny Smith interrupted his partner, and the director followed by playing a few offensive possessions.
In one possession, Clay Lee shook off his defender, received a hand-off pass from Pau Gasol at the top of the arc, and easily made a long-range three-pointer.
In another possession from the first half, Tim Duncan didn't hedge much, Bruce Bowen was overpowered on the wing, Clay Lee stopped short at the free-throw line, bumped off his defender, and then took a step into the paint for a right-handed floater.
Seeing the dismissive expression on Barkley's face, Kenny Smith said seriously:
"The San Antonio Spurs have no choice. If they allow isolation plays, Clay Lee will tear apart any Defense one-on-one."
"If Duncan doesn't hedge, Lee's three-pointer might make the game lose all suspense by halftime."
"Times have changed. Look at these two teams; they spend half their time using small-ball lineups, and the San Antonio Spurs even attempted 26 three-pointers."
"Just as you said, Duncan needs help, but Bruce Bowen can't maintain high-intensity Defense for the entire game."
"I respect Ray Allen very much, but that defensive method doesn't work against Clay Lee. Their combined ball-handling abilities are completely different."
Ernie Johnson saw that Barkley still wanted to argue, and immediately changed the subject, saying:
"This year's Finals is even more exciting than last year. I agree with Kenny. Clay Lee has changed modern basketball."
"The San Antonio Spurs can go toe-to-toe with the Dallas Mavericks, and they can defeat the Seattle SuperSonics with Defense."
"But the New York Knicks are different from other teams in the league. They have a more complete system and a deeper rotation."
"Down 1-3, perhaps what we should be discussing is how the San Antonio Spurs should adjust."
Charles Barkley still wanted to criticize Gregg Popovich's player usage.
Hearing his partner's reminder, he pouted and muttered:
"Adjust? If Clay Lee loses the Finals this year, I might mock him for the rest of his life."
"Leading 3-1, the San Antonio Spurs have no chance. If nothing unexpected happens, in the next game, Clay Lee will exert himself again in the second half."
Kenny Smith chuckled along, enjoying the drama.
He actually hoped Lee would be reverseed, as such entertainment would never go out of style for the next decade:
"For the New York Knicks, the good news is that they are about to win the ninth championship in their franchise history."
"The bad news is that under the new collective bargaining agreement, their salary cap is already maxed out, and Amar'e Stoudemire is still seeking a starting spot. It will be difficult for them to keep this All-Star."
Ernie Johnson was also aware of this, but he still had high hopes for this team:
"Coach D'Antoni is about to achieve a three-peat after taking over the team."
"The New York Knicks still have a chance to defend their title next season, and considering Clay Lee is one year younger than Tim Duncan, their rivalry might last their entire careers."
"..."
The New York Media had already flown to San Antonio, and David Stern and league staff were also there with the trophy, rehearsing the award ceremony.
San Antonio Spurs fans would once again witness the birth of a champion at the SBC Center.
Although the New York Knicks management had been embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal these past few days, it hadn't affected the team for now.
On thursday, June 16th, the Finals Game 5 was scheduled for that evening.
During the afternoon warm-up, a large number of sports reporters surrounded Mike D'Antoni.
A three-peat! Mike D'Antoni was about to be promoted to a historical Head Coach!
The Yahoo Sports reporter's questions were very professional.
When asked about the tactical adjustments in the previous game, Mike D'Antoni said proudly:
"The San Antonio Spurs like to switch, so our adjustment was to have our wing players punish their guards."
"Rebounding is key. In the last game, we grabbed more rebounds, and Lee personally contributed 5 offensive rebounds."
"Excellent rebounding gave us more possessions, combined with Lee's control over turnovers, that's our secret to winning."
Lee was still practicing three-pointers nearby.
Hill, warming up, seemed to recall the video sessions from the past few days and said thoughtfully:
"More and more teams are starting to imitate us, and the gap is constantly narrowing."
"The new rules seem to have ushered the league into a period of rapid development. I wonder what tactics will look like in the future?"
In this year's Finals, both teams were aggressive from beyond the arc.
Both teams had moments of cold shooting, and also games where they suddenly erupted to secure victory.
Lee hadn't expected Gregg Popovich to follow suit with the three-pointers, but for the future, he had a simple expectation:
"If the fans like it, then the league will continue to emphasize outside shooting."
"If screening fouls were relaxed, the game would become simpler. At least I could save some energy and wouldn't have people chasing me around."
Hill showed a puzzled expression, and after a moment of thought, understood what was said:
"David Stern would never relax such rules, unless the league wants to see the birth of a second Celtics."
"..."
The hype crew started celebrating the victory of tonight's game in advance.
Anderson VarejĂŁo, as a bench player, had even made an appearance in the Finals, which made him very satisfied.
Barnes and Raja Bell had been quietly discussing their next contracts these past few days.
This season, one made $700,000 and the other $1.3 million.
Their new contracts would definitely be for more.
After two years of waiting, the time for reaping rewards had finally arrived.
Dikembe Mutombo's mid-level contract had also expired.
Considering his age, the veteran knew that the New York Knicks would no longer be generous with a big contract.
Noticing Ewing's troubled expression, Dikembe Mutombo leaned over and whispered comfortingly:
"The Golden Club thing is over. No one accused you this time, so there's no need to worry."
"I'm going to see how things go. Maybe I'll retire directly next season."
The Gorilla looked at his old friend, who still maintained a good physique, and quietly suggested:
"Playing for another two years is no problem. Charles didn't get playing time at the end, but he still managed to sign a good contract."
"Have some confidence in yourself. No one has more experience than you."
Dikembe Mutombo shook his head.
He no longer wanted to sit on the bench.
Playing 20 minutes per game was his goal.
He wanted to contribute his remaining energy.
At 8 PM that evening, the SBC Center lacked the enthusiastic atmosphere of the previous two days.
After the game began, the two teams exchanged baskets, with the score fluctuating.
Lee also didn't speed up, playing a half-court offense along with the San Antonio Spurs.
Kurt Thomas, who had been struggling in the previous two road games, made mid-range jump shots after pick-and-rolls, causing Lee's assist numbers to rise rapidly.
Although Pau Gasol hadn't returned to his best form, besides coming to the top to facilitate, as long as he established low-post position, Lee would pass him the ball immediately.
Both sides made few turnovers, and the game tempo was slow.
Additionally, after missing three-pointers, both teams coincidentally reduced their attempts, and for a time, the game turned into a "clash of mediocre teams."
At halftime, the score was 50-46, with the New York Knicks leading by only 4 points.
When the second half began, it was Tim Duncan who first lost patience.
Perhaps unwilling to lose this way, Tim Duncan began to constantly demand the ball, attempting to change the game through individual offense.
He fiercely fought for offensive rebounds, caught the ball for mid-range shots after pick-and-rolls, and aggressively attacked the basket from the low post.
As time passed, Tim Duncan started missing shots, and the cheers in the SBC Center gradually disappeared.
With 1 minute and 23 seconds left in the 3rd quarter, Tim Duncan received the ball in the left low post.
As Lee quickly helped on Defense, the ball flew back to Manu Ginobili on the left wing.
The latter received the ball, saw Lee slide back on Defense, faked a shot, put the ball down with his right hand, and drove forward.
Manu Ginobili had only taken two big dribbles when he was caught by Clay Lee.
In the paint, after body contact, the ball was poked away.
Poking the ball with his left hand, his body darted forward, and he regained control of the ball with his right hand, Lee instantly shook off his defender.
Noticing that no one was chasing him from behind, Lee started to slow down after crossing the three-point line, and finally made a simple layup.
"Boo!"
72-61. The double-digit lead prompted Gregg Popovich to call another timeout.
Tim Duncan watched Lee laughing and chest-bumping with the New York Knicks' hype crew, and at that moment, he felt particularly distressed.
Returning to the bench, a panting Tim Duncan looked at everyone beside him, heads bowed in silence, and a wave of emotions surged within him.
Before going back on the court, Tim Duncan secretly wiped the corner of his eye, constantly encouraging himself:
"There's still time in the game..."
...
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)