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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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***
Ever since the San Antonio Spurs moved to the SBC Center, San Antonio fans had been eagerly anticipating a championship.
The local community had a close relationship with the San Antonio Spurs, and many players were deeply loved by the fans.
Malik Rose was affectionately known as
"The Rock at La Cantera" by everyone.
Many liked this small inside player, but for the sake of a championship, the team ultimately traded him away.
Many players disliked Bruce Bowen, but for many San Antonio Spurs fans, he was a kind and good person who integrated into the community.
San Antonio Spurs season tickets sold out early every season, and even when the team was in a rebuilding phase, the management never worried about attendance.
With three All-Stars and the Coach of the Year, although Tim Duncan's attendance was affected by injuries this season, there was no doubt that the San Antonio Spurs were a championship-caliber team.
On the evening of June 16, the San Antonio Spurs fans' fantasies were completely shattered.
The game's progression was despair-inducing.
When the team was down by single digits at halftime, fans would still comfort themselves.
But as time passed, the score difference gradually widened, and a sense of déjà vu caused many fans to break down on the spot.
Especially in the third quarter, after Tim Duncan's frantic shooting, going 5-for-13 from the field and 3-for-6 from the free-throw line for 13 points in a single quarter, a feeling of despair appeared in the SBC Center.
It was rare to see Duncan play like that, but after witnessing this scene, some fans became even more silent.
The single quarter score was 28:20, and after three quarters, it was 78:66, with the score difference still within reach.
The New York Knicks did not have an overwhelming offense.
In the final quarter, both sides were still battling, but unfortunately, every time the score difference narrowed to 8 points, Clay Lee's response would silence the SBC Center for a while.
At the ABC commentary table, Hubie Brown thought the game was very entertaining.
The 8-point lead meant neither team could relax.
The only regret was that the San Antonio Spurs were never able to make a run.
With 2 minutes and 20 seconds left in the game, the San Antonio Spurs had gone almost 2 minutes without scoring again.
98:88. As Duncan's floater directly in front of the rim clanked out, Hubie Brown couldn't help but sigh:
"The San Antonio Spurs have given their all, but this is basketball. Superstars can often decide the outcome based on their individual ability."
"Clay Lee didn't score much tonight, but he already has 15 assists. This should be the New York Knicks player's best road performance."
"Defense!"
The live DJ was still cheering for the home team, and many fans started booing loudly again as Clay Lee received the ball in the backcourt.
Facing Bruce Bowen's "biting" Defense, Clay Lee still dribbled leisurely.
Opponent rushed to steal, simple side-body protection of the ball, underhand cut, decisive acceleration, nearing mid-court, a quick behind-the-back dribble, switching to his right hand, Lee charged past half-court, butt out protecting the ball.
From the commentary booth, Michaels watched Lee pass the ball early again and immediately commented:
"Time is running out. The San Antonio Spurs must get a few stops to close the gap."
At this point, the San Antonio Spurs had a lineup of one big and four smalls.
Tim Duncan followed Pau Gasol to the right wing, constantly interfering as Pau Gasol received the ball.
Turning his body, Pau Gasol securely protected the ball, making no unnecessary moves, waiting for Lee to receive it again.
Although Bruce Bowen knew Lee would receive the ball, he found it difficult to stop him.
Moving horizontally to the right wing, feigning a cut after a sudden stop, Lee, restarting, instantly shook off the defender beside him, receiving a hand-off pass on the left wing.
The New York Knicks had run the same play too many times.
Pau Gasol set a solid screen and was still squeezed past by the desperately chasing Bruce Bowen.
However, as the game entered its final stages, the help defender Duncan failed to bend down in time, and Lee, releasing the ball with his right hand, changed direction with a one-handed push.
Feeling the defensive pressure beside him, Lee subtly swatted away the arm beside him with his left hand, lowering his dribble height while moving, and actively accelerating his dribble rate when controlling the ball again with his right hand.
The oncoming Duncan could only watch as his opponent squeezed past his right side.
Two extremely quick dribbles brought Lee to the right elbow area.
Bruce Bowen behind him and Duncan beside him still wanted to continue chasing, but Lee quickly jump-stepped as soon as he approached the paint, gathering the ball and simultaneously grabbing it with his right hand for a quick floater!
Horry, who had rotated back from the left baseline to under the basket, didn't even have time to raise his arms.
The basketball had already flown into the hoop.
100:88, the difference was back to 12 points.
Since the start of the second half, Lee's scoring had become increasingly effortless, without strong drives or contested shots over defenders, just taking opportunities for a floater.
Occasionally, he would even shoot and grab his own rebound.
The San Antonio Spurs players were anxious but powerless.
"Boo!"
The San Antonio Spurs fans in the SBC Center also couldn't hold back.
No matter how they looked at it, there wasn't enough time.
Amidst a chorus of boos, the San Antonio Spurs sped up their offense.
Duncan, receiving the ball in the left low post, released it with his right hand, leaned into the defender, and drove along the baseline.
Pau Gasol simply raised his arms, while Kurt Thomas immediately rotated back to the basket.
As Duncan slung the ball to the right corner, Horry caught and shot it.
"Clank!"
Amidst sighs, the referee whistled Pau Gasol for a blocking foul under the basket, giving Duncan two more free throws.
Pau Gasol, leaning on his knees near the paint, was a bit helpless.
In a two-on-one battle, they had the advantage, but this balanced whistle still led to him getting his fifth foul.
With the game nearing its end, Kurt Thomas, who also had five fouls, didn't care about such a call.
He was even prepared to foul out:
"He won't make it, kid. Go home early!"
Kurt Thomas, on the verge of winning the championship, yelled loudly from the side, and under the distraction, Duncan's first free throw clanked off the rim.
"Shut up!"
Horry, beside him, was somewhat angered and started exchanging words.
Kurt Thomas chuckled and shook his head, continuing to yell until the referee gave a verbal warning.
When Duncan missed his second free throw again, Gregg Popovich on the sideline suddenly closed his eyes, as if he didn't want to see such a scene.
Pau Gasol secured the rebound, and as Lee received the ball and slowly moved, the boos grew louder.
Manu Ginobili watched Clay Lee dribble past half-court, initially wanting to double-team early, but then feared Tayshaun Prince beside him might hit another three-pointer.
Parker, squatting in the left corner, was already numb, seemingly forgetting the game time.
After wandering around the top of the arc for a while, Lee, protecting the ball with his body sideways, didn't get a double-team.
As Pau Gasol moved up again, Lee twisted his body and tossed the ball to his teammate, then immediately accelerated to the left wing.
Perhaps with the victory sealed, Pau Gasol, turning his body sideways, made a very bold pass this time.
It looked like a hand-off, but it was actually a short horizontal pass.
The lead pass allowed Lee to cut in forcefully without slowing down.
Duncan immediately slid backward to the right on the left wing.
At the same time, Parker followed up to help defend, and with Bruce Bowen chasing hard from behind, Lee suddenly spun like a top in the triple-team.
Duncan didn't have time to adjust his center of gravity, and Bruce Bowen also failed to block in time.
Between the two, Lee instantly squeezed into the paint.
Forcing a twist of his body, Duncan, a beat slow in reaction, still tried to block, but upon reaching the paint, Lee, gathering the ball, made a concealed pass.
After delivering the brilliant pass, Lee dashed out of bounds.
The cutting Pau Gasol received the ball in the middle, intending a one-handed dunk, but was fouled by Tim Duncan's pull.
"Screech!"
The referee blew the whistle.
Pau Gasol was a bit regretful but smiled, high-fiving Lee in celebration.
In the SBC ball, San Antonio Spurs fans watched Duncan walk towards the bench, and applause gradually erupted.
Gregg Popovich managed a strained smile, intending to go comfort his star player, but Duncan quickly returned to his seat, covering his face with his hands, not saying a word.
Playing 44 minutes, he fouled out with six fouls, shooting 11-for-26 from the field, 6-for-11 from the free-throw line, for 28 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, and 3 turnovers.
Once again delivering a double-double, Tim Duncan's third Finals appearance of his career ended here.
Mohammed, who came on, wanted to comfort his boss but didn't know what to say.
First witnessing Allen Iverson's downfall, then Duncan's helplessness, as a role player, Mohammed was undoubtedly lucky.
Only the Knicks' bench was loudly cheering in the SBC Center, the jumping and cheering atmosphere squad couldn't wait any longer.
They were about to welcome a championship.
The game continued, Duncan stared at the floor, his head down, memories beginning to flood his mind.
The familiar noise brought him back to when he first entered the NBA.
Many teams in the NBA tanked for him, and critics unanimously favored him.
After joining the San Antonio Spurs, with the help of his big brother David Robinson, the two got along well, and the team atmosphere was always good.
"Let us win big!"
Suddenly recalling his shout to the fans after joining the team, and then thinking of his big brother's somber exit in 2003, Duncan's eyes reddened instantly, almost shedding tears.
If this were an anime, Duncan's remember could fill two episodes, but Lee on the court was oblivious, continuously initiating pick-and-rolls.
Fortunately, Pau Gasol and Kurt Thomas's free throws were both one of two, barely saving face for the San Antonio Spurs.
Manu Ginobili and Parker's three-pointers missed, and Horry also failed to provide support from beyond the arc.
The San Antonio Spurs failed to score a single point in the last few possessions, and as Lee handed the ball to the referee, the final buzzer sounded.
106:88, boos erupted in the SBC Center.
Gregg Popovich on the sideline seemed not to have reacted yet, watching Clay Lee raise his hands in the crowd.
His open right palm and two raised fingers indicated seven championships, and the smile on Lee's face made Gregg Popovich particularly uncomfortable.
He stood frozen, muttering to himself:
"It's over?"
Sports reporters surrounding Clay Lee continuously pressed their shutters, recording the historical moment.
The true GOAT was born.
The Knicks naturally couldn't understand the feelings of their opponents.
Everyone embraced, cheering heartily and enjoying the joy of victory.
In the crucial game, Tony Parker's performance was subpar, shooting 4 for 13, 1 for 4 from three-point range, and 3 for 5 from the free-throw line, finishing with 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 turnovers.
He had wanted to return to the locker room early, but seeing his opponents cheering and celebrating wildly, Parker couldn't suppress the frustration in his heart and sat back down on the bench.
On the other side, Duncan also didn't get up.
Like Parker, he had a towel over his head, but the difference was that Eva quickly found her young boyfriend and pulled him into her arms.
Wearing a loose white San Antonio Spurs T-shirt and with her hair tied in a ponytail, Eva continuously whispered comfortingly:
"It's okay, you're my hero tonight."
The two hadn't yet formalized their relationship.
Parker, shedding tears, tightly hugged the big star, and listening to the whispers in his ear, he suddenly didn't feel so sad anymore.
Manu Ginobili, however, wasn't so sentimental.
He had given his all in the series and was truly the team's backbone!
Arriving early beside Lee, Manu Ginobili congratulated him calmly:
"Clay, congratulations, you are the better team!"
Lee smiled and fist-bumped him, while also offering his "compliment award":
"An impressive game, I finally know why the United States Team lost to you in the Olympics."
"Dude, you played exceptionally well! Don't mind outside criticism."
The "Moreyball" style of play made Manu Ginobili's stats very impressive, but critics were merciless.
It was predictable that the title of "imitator" would surely be pinned on him.
After the mutual flattery, Manu Ginobili's mood improved a few more points, and he quickly hugged Pau Gasol in greeting.
Compared to Duncan, having won an Olympics championship and established himself in the team, Manu Ginobili felt this season was already a success.
The SBC Center was filled with sports media.
Derek Fisher's face was beaming, and he pulled Horry aside to brag:
"I knew early on that following Lee would lead to a championship. In the offseason, I made the right choice."
"Maybe you should have come to New York to see it back then. The Lakers are no good, and neither are the San Antonio Spurs!"
"You're right, in the NBA, choice is greater than effort."
Horry clearly wasn't in as good a mood as Old Fish.
Seeing the other person's smug expression, fire began to ignite in his heart:
"You call that a choice?"
It wasn't until everyone from the San Antonio Spurs' atmosphere squad had greeted Lee that Duncan squeezed through.
Sports reporters followed, crowding in front of the two.
The noisy SBC Center forced Duncan to raise his voice:
"Congratulations, Clay Lee! The past 10 years have been your era."
From 1996 to 2005, the Knicks won 7 Finals championships.
Tim Duncan's words were indisputable, he wasn't a loud-mouthed critic, he acknowledged Clay Lee's achievements.
The reporters surrounding them naturally heard this, and some San Antonio sports media were unhappy.
The San Antonio Spurs had contributed 3 trophies to Clay Lee.
Seeing Duncan's serious expression, Lee was in a great mood and immediately presented the "Future is Bright Award":
"Perhaps this is God's favor!"
"Tim, take care of your body. If you encounter injuries, I will still make the same choice."
"Your career has just begun. Perhaps the next ten years will be yours!"
The sports media surrounding them found these words comforting, but Duncan couldn't force a smile, because he was born in 1976, a year older than Lee.
After greeting the Knicks, Duncan squeezed out of the crowd.
Losing the championship again didn't feel good.
Even the rookie Amar'e Stoudemire showed him no respect, and Duncan knew his reputation would surely decline again.
Before returning to the player tunnel, Stuart Scott struggled to squeeze in front of Duncan.
The black reporter quickly extended his microphone and asked loudly:
"Tim, will this Finals loss be a heavy blow to you? How do you think the San Antonio Spurs should strengthen themselves?"
Hearing this question, Duncan's mood worsened.
He hadn't shaved during the Finals, which made him look somewhat disheveled.
Suppressing his impatience, Duncan lowered his head and simply said into the microphone:
"This is basketball. If you lose, you win it back. I still have time."
"The San Antonio Spurs are a championship-caliber team. As long as we remain patient, we will eventually win a championship."
On the other side, Lee, who was also preparing to return to the player tunnel, was stopped by Michelle Tafoya.
Watching Scarlett and Krysten Ritter step forward to kiss him, the ABC female reporter's eyes widened.
The little follower with her hair tied up was dressed in athletic wear, wearing Lee's white No. 1 jersey over a blue Knicks T-shirt.
Krysten Ritter kissed Lee with a grin, then used her height advantage to embrace Scarlett.
There were too many sports media around.
Lee also held the somewhat capricious girl, who was pregnant, and under their protection, Scarlett still smiled and waved energetically at the camera.
After a moment of stunned, Tafoya composed herself.
Although she wanted to gossip, she still asked the question methodically:
"Lee, this is your 7th Finals championship of your career. After surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, what are your expectations for the future?"
The boos in the SBC Center didn't affect Lee's good mood.
Hearing the question, he immediately joked in response:
"Future? I don't know, I love basketball, but my life has entered the next stage."
"I plan to spend more time with my family and create a football team."
Tafoya paused, seemingly not quite understanding Lee's words, but the little follower's face turned slightly red.
Waving casually to the fans on both sides, Lee gave them a quick instruction, then prepared to return to the locker room.
Listening to the cheers from inside the player tunnel, Lee smiled again, and with a thought, he quickly received feedback:
[Manu Ginobili's extraordinary physical coordination]
...
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