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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 š
***
On Friday, June 17, 2005, USA Today was the first to report on the Finals.
The San Antonio Spurs were defeated again, and this series received a rating of 10.6 on ABC, a decline compared to last year's series between the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Last year, the Los Angeles Lakers' F4 had a resounding reputation, attracting more attention.
Although they showed no resistance in the series, the corresponding rating was as high as 11.5.
Compared to last year's Finals, this year's viewership also declined.
Especially in Game 5, after the New York Knicks secured match point, some veteran fans knew the series had lost its suspense.
Coupled with Clay Lee constantly being double-teamed, there were no individual performances, and casual fans lost interest.
Of course, these data only reflect some situations in the United States.
With international players appearing on the Finals stage, the NBA is becoming increasingly popular globally.
"Clay Lee has changed modern basketball, and the New York Knicks will be the biggest winner in the new century!"
"."
For his seventh individual championship, USA Today featured a photo of Clay Lee and David Stern at the award ceremony.
In five games, with averages of 40.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 2.2 steals, 1.2 blocks, and 1.8 turnovers, Clay Lee was unsurprisingly named the Finals MVP.
The photo was taken with the Finals MVP trophy, bright smiles appeared on both faces, and with the increase in global market share, the league still won big in the 2004-2005 season.
While the championship was great, Lee personally wasn't as excited.
After all, this was his seventh time lifting the trophy in his career.
At the award ceremony, the role players were more excited.
Raja Bell became the big winner this season.
Although his performance in the Finals was mediocre, he proved with facts that one can make a name for himself in the league solely through three-pointers and Defense.
Tayshaun Prince, a late first-round Rookie, established himself on the championship team with his excellent discipline and outstanding defensive awareness.
Two role players with average talent were also able to showcase themselves in the Finals, which provided a new direction for Rookies aspiring to the NBA:
"Modern basketball requires brains, and talent isn't everything."
Due to the New York Knicks management being embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal, James Dolan did not fly to San Antonio this year.
With the emergence of critical articles, Bloomberg News took the lead in the dispute, and the New York Media joined in the gossip, making it difficult for the curly-haired owner to hold on.
ESPN announced after the Finals that it would introduce a major initiative in the offseason, fully integrating the win share advanced statistic.
Data expert Hollinger also made a promise in his column, stating that he would work with ESPN to compare Lee's Excel with historical GOATs.
TNT, which dislikes measuring games with data, was instead left with nothing to say. 7 is greater than 6, Clay Lee is already the greatest of all time, no matter how you discuss it, the GOAT is right there.
In TNT's morning program, the trio found a new angle to discuss this year's Finals.
The director played footage of the New York Knicks celebrating in the visiting locker room last night.
Raja Bell was crying while holding the trophy, and many role players also cried.
Lee kept spraying champagne, and Coach D'Antoni was completely drenched.
Both of them laughed heartily, showing no particular emotions.
Charles Barkley seemed a bit disheartened.
He hadn't won a single championship in his entire career, while 27-year-old Clay Lee had already won big.
"Clay Lee's success is built upon the sacrifice of role players."
"Actually, I prefer a leader like Tim Duncan. It's a shame the San Antonio Spurs couldn't seize the opportunity this year, but I still have high hopes for them."
Kenny Smith didn't expect his partner to remain stubborn, so he quickly interjected, jokingly:
"Tim Duncan has no championship, perhaps that's why you admire him."
Laughter erupted in the studio.
Charles Barkley was about to retort immediately when Ernie Johnson quickly changed the subject and asked:
"Eliminating opponents 4-1, with a 16-1 record throughout the playoffs, not discussing injury issues, the New York Knicks once again demonstrated their dominance."
"I think fans are more interested in knowing how the San Antonio Spurs lost the game. What are your thoughts on this series?"
Glancing at his sulking partner, Kenny Smith briefly commented:
"Tim Duncan is still an excellent low-post defender, but Pau Gasol's individual offense was not effective in this series."
"In terms of rebounding, the San Antonio Spurs were not losing to their opponents in the first few games, but problems arose when they returned to their home court."
"If you look at the basic statistics of the two teams, the San Antonio Spurs were comprehensively behind. In the only game they won, they only performed better than their opponents from beyond the arc."
"I wasn't surprised by the final loss. In other words, the San Antonio Spurs' strength was inferior to the New York Knicks."
"Tim Duncan, as the core player, failed to change the opponent's Defense, and Clay Lee's performance far surpassed his."
"The tactical adjustments were similar. Both sides tried to attack the opponent's interior. Parker is not Lee, and Manu Ginobili performed well, but neither of them could sustain high efficiency."
"This was a game of double Rolling in player strength and tactics, and the San Antonio Spurs have no excuses."
Like most basketball commentators, Kenny Smith's view was that "the San Antonio Spurs are simply not good enough, purely weak."
These words left Charles Barkley speechless.
It was an undeniable fact.
Although Clay Lee played 42 minutes in Game 5, shooting 12-of-24 from the field, 3-of-6 from three-point range, and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line, he only recorded 35 points, 6 rebounds, 15 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, and 3 turnovers.
Compared to the previous games, his efficiency had already decreased, but the San Antonio Spurs still couldn't seize the opportunity in the battle for honor.
Seeing both of them looking at him, Charles Barkley finally said somewhat reluctantly:
"Kenny makes sense, but I still don't like the New York Knicks' tactics."
"Coach D'Antoni is indeed a genius. He amplified the influence of the core point guard on the game. However, once the team loses Clay Lee, the New York Knicks will become a different team."
"Basketball belongs to 5 people, but look at Lee's usage rate these past few years. This kind of victory is distorted, and it will affect the mindset of young players."
"I don't want to see NBA players playing solely for stats and championships. Basketball should be purer, not like it is now, turning into a personal performance."
"Fans change the channel if they don't see Clay Lee's impressive stats. You know, it wasn't like this in the early 90s. Who cared about stats back then? What was win share?"
"Clay Lee is very successful, but he should be a better role model. He should lead basketball in the right direction."
These words stunned everyone in the studio.
Charles Barkley's skill in talking nonsense had reached its peak.
A look of deep sorrow appeared on Charles Barkley's face, as if Lee had led the children astray.
Kenny Smith was speechless, only able to give a dry chuckle before shaking his head and saying,
"What's wrong with pursuing a championship?"
"Many young players still greatly respect those historical stars, but I think they want to be the next Clay Lee even more."
"Chris Paul, a hot prospect in this year's draft, came from Clay Lee's training camp."
"This young man has said more than once that Clay Lee is his idol. Deron Williams, the Rookie the Lakers are eager to acquire, is also a fan of Lee."
"I've watched their games, and I have to admit, their skills and athleticism are better than past point guards."
"These are all influences brought by Clay Lee, and I think it's positive, because big men are ultimately a minority, and Clay Lee looks more like an ordinary person."
Ernie Johnson interrupted their argument, and the director showed footage of the New York Knicks returning to New York.
The New York fans who came to pick them up were exceptionally enthusiastic, and as Lee walked off the plane with two trophies, the scene erupted.
TNT's frontline reporter seemed to be infected by the emotion, and amidst shouts of "MVP," he spoke excitedly into the camera:
"New York fans are welcoming Clay Lee, just as the New York Times said, the debate over the greatest of all time can be dismissed!"
"We have reason to believe that 27-year-old Clay Lee will continue to create miracles!"
Looking at Lee, surrounded by fans in the footage, Charles Barkley in the studio turned sour again, envious yet sarcastic:
"Maybe Clay Lee should let his teammates hold the trophies!"
After winning seven Finals, most sports media no longer discussed Lee's statistics.
Under the massive number of championships, Excel also seemed insignificant.
After the series ended, sports reporters began to lavish praise, and naturally crowned Clay Lee as the greatest of all time.
News about the New York Knicks management didn't affect too many New York fans.
As the team officially announced the championship parade would be held next Tuesday, many entered a state of self-excitement early.
Thanks to the Yankees' championship drought in recent years, among the four major sports leagues, the New York Knicks stood out, satisfying the demanding New York fans.
Not long ago, the Yankees also announced a new stadium project, but with the New York Knicks winning another championship, the hype was sucked away.
Discussing who to blame for losing a championship is not as good as preparing for the upcoming championship parade this weekend.
Sports fans always love victory.
Lee had been very low-key after winning the championship, but his whereabouts were still uncovered by the New York Media this weekend.
The Hamptons is a resort area in New York State, and every summer, it attracts a large number of wealthy people.
On Saturday the 18th, Lee received an invitation from Leonardo DiCaprio to come to the Hamptons to "play," and to celebrate this year's championship together.
The two were not discovered while enjoying belly dancers at a private party, until they appeared at a pub in Southampton that evening, when their whereabouts were photographed by the media.
The evening party featured hookah and hip-hop elements, and the Olsen Sisters, who had just celebrated their birthday not long ago, appeared with their boyfriends.
Coupled with New York socialites and some minor Hollywood celebrities, the entire party was a chaotic scene.
The exposure of their whereabouts was mainly due to two Brazilian models, Ana Beatriz Barros and Alessandra Ambrosio, who were nearing their "expiration date".
They danced too wildly that night, which led to the photos.
On Monday morning, the 20th, the New York Daily News and several tabloids coincidentally used the same photo.
A shirtless Lee and Leonardo, wearing New York Knicks championship hats, were seen intimately dancing with two Brazilian models who were only wearing pasties.
The Olsen Sisters were also photographed in profile, their faces flushed, and the minor celebrities on the dance floor seemed to be screaming.
Considering this was a moment worth celebrating, the New York onlookers had no reaction.
Instead, Los Angeles fans dug up old dirt on the internet:
"4 AM in Manhattan must be fake!"
"..."
At 6 AM on the 21st, fans wearing white New York Knicks jerseys began to queue in the streets.
This year, at the suggestion of Mayor Bloomberg, the New York Knicks team will board floats at Battery Park and Washington Street.
They will proceed along the Canyon of Heroes on Broadway, then head east on Worth Street, then south to Lafayette, and finally end at Duane Street.
To celebrate Clay Lee's seventh personal championship and the New York Knicks' ninth championship in team history, the governor and City Hall officials will attend the parade.
At the same time, Bloomberg will also present Lee with a special key to the city, to celebrate the birth of the greatest player in history.
With the starting location changed to be closer to the players, enthusiastic fans naturally wanted to secure favorable positions early, and the entire city was already in a frenzy early in the morning.
The health department was prepared.
Every year's championship parade and celebrations bring in over $10 million in revenue for city businesses.
To celebrate such a historic moment, this year the New York Knicks, after the City Hall ceremony, also planned to return to Madison Square Garden to "harvest another wave of leeks."
The championship parade attracted not only New York fans, but also curious onlookers from neighboring New Jersey who enjoy a good spectacle.
It was already 9 AM when Lee, wearing a white championship T-shirt, appeared at Battery Park.
Screams quickly erupted from the crowd. James Dolan, holding the O'Brien Trophy beside Lee, waved to the fans, a smile forced onto his face.
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
After boarding the bus, hearing the shouts from all around, the curly-haired boss felt a little better.
Seeing Lee looking somewhat tired, he spoke up to comfort him:
"Don't worry about Bloomberg and their attitude. Business is business. They failed, and at a time like this, they will only cooperate fully with us."
"Damn the Public Committee! These guys are doing it on purpose, I'll take care of this. Grunfeld is still a member of the New York Knicks."
Lee had been busy reviewing Portuguese this weekend.
Hearing James Dolan's complaints, he realized that Grunfeld had not been able to attend this year's parade.
"I don't believe Grunfeld would get involved in an office romance, and sexual harassment is even less likely."
"He's been helping the team for years, he's always worked hard, everyone knows that."
Seeing Lee frown, James Dolan chuckled, then quietly promised:
"This year I'll be in charge of the draft. Don't worry about the team, I'll shift my focus to the New York Knicks."
"Lee, trust my judgment, I will select players who fit the team's culture!"
"..."
...
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