On Thursday, June 5, 2008, the Donkey Party's "White House Nomination Battle" had just concluded yesterday, and major mainstream media outlets were celebrating.
Obama was in high spirits due to the good news.
Even though he lost the popular vote to his opponent, he still managed to turn the tables.
At a large rally in St. Paul, Minnesota, he was so excited that he repeatedly shouted to 17,000 people:
"Yes We Can!"
Having defeated the former First Lady in the party primaries, Obama, after his victory, not only delivered a triumphant speech but also cheerfully announced his upcoming schedule, while also hyping up the NBA Finals.
"I met Clay Lee in 1998, but I won't support him because he ruined Michael Jordan's perfect career."
"I will always stand with Chicago. Like the local fans, I will support whoever can defeat Clay Lee. Now, I hope Kobe can defeat him!"
"Kobe Bryant plays like Michael Jordan. I've always followed him. If New York tickets were cheaper, I might go to the game to cheer him on."
The reason NBA was mentioned in the interview after the speech was mainly because Obama was heading to Manhattan next to raise funds for his campaign.
As everyone knows, most black players are his supporters.
With the same color, who could refuse a black president who loves to play basketball?
Sports Illustrated also joined the excitement today, incidentally announcing its "Fortunate 50," a ranking of American athletes' incomes from the previous year, which garnered significant public attention.
Woods successfully topped the list with $127,902,706, with endorsement fees reaching $105 million, far ahead of other athletes.
Clay Lee ranked second.
Unlike Woods' detailed income, Sports Illustrated only provided an estimated value of $100 million.
To enhance its credibility, Sports Illustrated explained that besides salary, it could not obtain specific details of Nike's contract and other endorsement situations.
Upper Deck, American Express, McDonald's, and Pepsi might exceed $25 million, 2K Sports' details remain confidential, and streaming advertising revenue is difficult to calculate, leading to only reasonable speculation.
In fact, this estimate is a conservative figure.
Last year, Lee earned $50 million from Nike through his own brand, with a very stable 5% share that increases slightly each year.
Of course, Michael Jordan earned the most in the Nike camp.
Since selling his stock, his income has risen year after year, harvesting approximately $60 million last year.
This data was also revealed by the media.
His divorce case showed the public how rich Michael Jordan is!
Starting from 2002, his royalty income has increased year by year.
According to the current trend, by 2012, Michael Jordan could accumulate $480 million from royalty shares, truly "lying down and earning"!
Ranked third was another golfer, Phil Mickelson, with $62,372,685, leaving subsequent athletes far behind.
After defeating Woods, his career began an "uphill climb."
The fourth spot went to the The Chosen
One, LeBron James, with $40,455,000.
Although he left his long-time agent, his income did not decrease, and everyone is looking forward to the "Cleveland Era."
Floyd Mayweather ranked fifth, but his income was also substantial at $40,250,000.
This boxer often flaunts his wealth, and after the list came out, many fans expressed dissatisfaction.
Tied for sixth place were baseball player Alex Rodriguez and the faded Shaquille O'Neal, both with $35 million on the ranking.
Kobe Bryant, who returned to the Finals this year, ranked 10th with $30 million.
After completely shaking off the "sexual assault" scandal, his commercial value began to rebound.
If Kobe maintains his current momentum for the next few years, surpassing his old partner will be easy.
Among other well-known athletes, Vince Carter ranked 32nd with $18 million, and the 50th spot went to football player Eli Manning with $15.45 million.
After the list was published, many people were envious.
The top earners made too much.
Considering the NBA's minimum salary of $320,000, the latter couldn't even earn a fraction of it.
According to current NBA statistics, most players' careers last less than four years, and many become unemployed before their Rookie contracts expire.
Sports Illustrated did not mention Manchester United's income.
Through the group and knockout stages, the Champions League alone could bring in 23.4 million euros, and UEFA's market profit could add another 20 million.
Sponsorship contracts, TV broadcasting rights, and merchandise also generate income.
Subsequent European Super Cup shares can even be ignored, and the club has made a fortune this year.
World Cup qualifiers are also currently underway, and the Team USA's poor performance has led many soccer fans to gossip about the bonds Clay Lee announced.
Before the new season begins, Manchester United will proceed with the issuance.
In an economic downturn, this is a gift for their families!
Although Lee's playoff statistics declined this year, after his income was disclosed, online fans were ecstatic.
Thinking about his investment and other income, many on Reddit "called out" for him to break $100 million after tax.
Even if one doesn't care about basketball, a hundred million dollars is enough to drive people crazy!
Perhaps it was because the Dallas Mavericks had a poor performance this year, Mark Cuban made a sarcastic remark on his personal blog that afternoon:
"The referees are in place, and the annual basketball game has begun again."
Having reached the Finals again, James Dolan has recently been extensively discussing his "championship experience" at Madison Square Garden, and incidentally mocking Mark Cuban, who has spent huge sums of money in recent years.
After Head Coach Rick Carlisle arrived in Dallas, local sports reporters revealed in detail that in the first round of the playoffs, a certain player on the team held a birthday party and partied all night, despite the team being down 1-3 in the series.
The curly-haired owner had clearly seen the news.
In the program, he not only laughed heartily but also mocked the Dallas Mavericks for lacking "championship pedigree" and "winning culture," and finally delivered a direct blow:
"You can't win a championship with just money!"
Although the Los Angeles media declared that "the best player" was in action, New York remained unresponsive.
No one believed the Lakers could win the championship.
If the "The Big Four" couldn't do it, a "duo" certainly wouldn't!
The Finals officially began at 9 PM that evening.
Three hours before the game, the Lakers boarded the bus.
They needed to arrive at the Madison Square Garden early to complete their second warm-up.
Kobe, who had arrived in New York, wore a long face; this city lacked respect for him!
There was little news about the Lakers in the newspapers.
New York columnists were all predicting a championship, and apart from these articles, most of the other sports sections were about Lee's personal income.
In today's news, besides Obama dominating the headlines, the most explosive story in New York was the "clash" between Axe Capital and Lehman Brothers.
Lehman Brothers' stock price fell nearly 20% this week, continuing last week's short-selling trend.
The CEOs of both sides, Bobby Axelrod and Dick Fuld, each presented their arguments, tearing into each other on television.
Even the Financial Times in the UK joined the fray with continuous coverage.
This matter received far more attention in New York than the visiting Lakers.
When ABC was hyping up the Finals, they also interviewed New York fans.
When the reporter asked the increasingly popular catchphrase, the commentators chuckled:
"What about Kobe?"
"Loser."
Thinking of the young fan wearing a New York Knicks jersey seriously commenting in front of the camera, Kobe, sitting on the bus, felt his anger surge, and his face instantly darkened even more.
The slowly moving bus was somewhat quiet.
Manhattan had turned blue these past few days.
The New York Knicks' championship T-shirts for this year had been changed to blue and were on sale early, with almost everyone interested in basketball owning one.
People wearing New York Knicks jerseys were visible everywhere.
Perhaps these people weren't basketball fans, but that didn't stop them from participating in the annual Finals party.
Phil Jackson, sitting at the very front, had been communicating with the coaching staff.
It wasn't until this afternoon that they officially finalized the starting lineup, with Lamar Odom starting at power forward.
The Lakers' current assistant coaching staff is very luxurious: Maurice Winter returned to help Duncan sort out the Triangle Offense, and legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar joined midway to provide motivational speeches to the team.
Kurt Rambis, a favorite player among Lakers fans, also returned to the coaching staff this year.
Local sports reporters said he injected tough Defense into the team!
Phil Jackson, who likes to "act mysterious," has been paying close attention to the players' psychological states recently.
Noticing Kobe's silent demeanor, he felt somewhat helpless and could only quietly remind a few people:
"Kobe needs help. Let him relax. He must find his game rhythm as soon as possible tonight."
The aged Winter, with a face full of wrinkles, was an old partner of Phil Jackson.
They had achieved success together with the Chicago Bulls.
Seeing the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man's serious expression, Winter immediately suggested in a low voice:
"You have to keep him calm. This isn't Los Angeles. New York fans will provoke him madly."
According to the pre-game plan, Kobe's shot attempts tonight should be controlled at around 22, but everyone knew that once emotions fluctuated, plans would go awry.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who had been leaning back in his seat, was very satisfied with Duncan's condition.
Since Duncan joined the team, they had maintained communication.
Perhaps due to his full confidence in the game, he suddenly suggested:
"As long as we can play good Defense, we have a chance to get an away win. Tim has been in excellent form recently."
Kurt Rambis, who had been silent, subconsciously shrugged.
The Buss Family was very displeased with Kobe's "betrayal."
In this Finals, Kobe became an perimeter defensive role player:
"Just as we planned, let Defense drive the offense. I believe in Kobe."
After a brief exchange, they fell silent again.
Only some Rookie players remained excitedly chatting on the bus.
This was their first time experiencing the Finals in their careers, and everyone was very happy.
"I think the Los Angeles Times is right! Maybe Lee is starting to decline. His average points per game in the playoffs are a bit lower than in the regular season."
"The Celtics' Defense can make a difference, and we will perform better."
Ariza turned his head and interacted with the hype squad behind him, unable to suppress the smile on his face.
"The Wanderer" making it to the Finals and starting as a forward was an achievement he never thought he could accomplish.
P.J. Brown didn't want to talk.
The Finals were good, but a championship was better.
Unfortunately, the New York Knicks had rejected him, which left him with some resentment.
Hearing the others discuss, he finally couldn't help but interject:
"Don't look at the newspaper news. Their reports are a pile of crap. Nike is rumored to have already prepared Lee's championship color scheme in advance!"
"..."
Turiaf was speechless, and Farmar and Sasha Vujacic exchanged glances.
Hearing the opposing team open champagne bottles prematurely made them feel a bit insecure.
In front, Lamar Odom and Duncan sat together, neither of them participating in the discussion.
One was wearing headphones, bobbing his head to the music, while the other leaned back in his chair, staring intently at the seat in front of him.
When the bus arrived at its destination, Duncan looked at the familiar scene and fully came to his senses.
He wasn't a Finals Rookie, but he suddenly felt a little nervous at this moment.
Kobe, who had already gotten off the bus, was wearing a black suit and constantly high-fiving his teammates.
Although the Boss had a long face, everyone still responded enthusiastically.
When he saw Duncan, he managed to force a smile:
"We will win!"
Lamar Odom, humming a tune, didn't look at what was happening behind him.
Duncan, after fist-bumping his new partner, also calmed down, repeating with a calm expression:
"Yes, we will win."
An hour and a half before the game, in the ABC studio, host Stuart Scott and three others burst into laughter when discussing Lee's Eastern Conference Finals statistics.
After joining ESPN, Grant Hill occasionally appeared on Sports Center.
This time, serving as a backend analyst, his championship experience provided a different perspective:
"Actually, we rarely pay attention to Lee's stats internally, because scoring is too easy for him. There's no easier task than that!"
"Two three-pointers made per quarter, one fast break, and two free throws. Do the math, that's 40 points."
"That's not difficult, I think you'll agree!"
When discussing statistics, Grant Hill analyzed it seriously, which made Jon Barry and Michael Wilbon on the other side chuckle, repeatedly saying "I believe."
On the contrary, host Stuart Scott pushed up his glasses, pretending to be serious, and rebutted with a solemn expression:
"Clay Lee's regular season average never reached 40 points. The Los Angeles Times believes he's already declining. This year, his average in the Eastern Conference Finals is only 29.3 points."
The director also displayed Lee's stats from the four games against the Celtics:
Averaging 29.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 3.0 steals, 1.0 block, 1.5 turnovers.
Field goal percentage of 55.0%, three-point percentage of 46.5%, and free throw percentage of 93.3%.
Compared to previous years, Clay Lee's stats in the Eastern Conference Finals had slipped a little, and his true shooting percentage also dropped to 70.7%.
"We need to pay attention to playing time. He only played 27 minutes in G4, and averaged 34.5 minutes in this series."
"Many times, playing time is actually a key factor limiting Lee's stats, and of course, the opponent! The Celtics were too tired after two seven-game series."
Grant Hill explained with a smile, while Jon Barry praised Kobe's stats in the Western Conference Finals:
"I think Kobe's performance in the playoffs this year won't lose to Lee. If we only look at the Conference Finals, he can indeed be called the best player in the league right now!"
"Averaging 31.8 points, 53.3% field goal percentage, 33.3% three-point percentage, and 90.9% free throw percentage, Kobe's performance against the Phoenix Suns was impeccable."
Unlike Lee's double-doubles filling up the stat sheet, when the director displayed Kobe's stats, the first impression was that of an old-school, efficient scorer, with a large proportion of mid-range shots and many possessions ending with post-ups.
The three debated statistics, each holding their own view.
Jon Barry insisted that Kobe's pure skill was already close to Lee's.
Michael Wilbon didn't refute but instead joked about recent player interviews:
"Hill, I'd like to know more about how you guys evaluated your opponents in the locker room after the Lakers won the championship back then. Ron Artest's recent interview surprised us!"
Unlike the Lakers' "recalling past bitterness and sweetness" and family-oriented interview style, the New York Knicks' pre-game packaging mostly consisted of envisioning the future and teasing opponents.
After some prompting, Ron Artest mocked Kobe's remarks, back when "the best player" hadn't officially made his move yet:
"New York fans are right, the Lakers are thieves, they stole the Knicks' championship, and Kobe is a clown, he only knows how to brag!"
"His 81 points were scored against a bottom-ranked team, and in his career so far, his field goal percentage has never exceeded 50% in any year!"
"He only imitates Michael Jordan, but his stats don't resemble Jordan's at all."
"I don't like him. Kobe gives many fans the wrong impression. In fact, he has never been close to Lee, he isn't even the best player on the Lakers, he shouldn't be discussed alongside the GOAT."
After the interview was released yesterday, the onlookers were overjoyed.
A few years ago, Ray Allen openly mocked Kobe, saying he would "become selfish and focus on stats" after Shaq left.
Now, Ron Artest brought it up again.
As a former teammate, Grant Hill naturally wouldn't say that Ron Artest had been mocking opponents all these years.
Upon hearing the question, he immediately offered a diplomatic response:
"I know Ron. Sometimes this is his defensive strategy, you know, he'll be responsible for guarding the opponent's number one scorer..."
"According to the information I've received, Coach DAntoni seems to have changed the defensive matchups. We might very well see a direct confrontation between Kobe and Lee!"
Michael Wilbon chuckled, cutting off the diplomatic talk. The others saw Grant Hill shrug helplessly and chuckled again. Jon Barry even added fuel to the fire:
"Facing Lee's Defense, perhaps Kobe will average 40 points. I think he's ready, he's been looking forward to this moment for too long!"
"..."
At 8:30 PM, Madison Square Garden was already packed.
The New York fans in attendance had all changed into their prepared blue cheering T-shirts, twisting and shouting to the music.
The home team's entrance ceremony ignited the old arena.
The director kept tracking Lee, and when the others noticed his direction of movement, they immediately became excited, and the camera even showed a slight shake.
In front of the scorer's table, Mike Breen and Mark Jackson also saw Lee walking towards the three of them.
Both teased Jeff Van Gundy, who looked a bit unnatural.
Neat and stylish black short hair, eyes filled with a smile, aside from the obvious stubble on his face, Lee seemed unchanged:
"Welcome back, Coach! New York will always welcome you, and I'm truly happy to see you back on your feet!"
Jeff Van Gundy, who had just stood up, was hugged by Lee.
ESPN's pursuit of him was "too aggressive".
They offered too much, and he also wanted to prove himself again, so he finally accepted the invitation.
The "true fragrance" made the former Champion Coach a little embarrassed, but hearing Lee's encouragement, he felt a bit touched.
Jeff Van Gundy forced a smile:
"Returning to the Finals, I'm proud of you!"
"..."
Seeing Lee embrace Jeff Van Gundy, the New York fans behind, eager to "be on TV," also started shouting loudly, leaning forward and yelling "Jeff."
The atmosphere was very joyful, and most of the players still warming up on both sides had smiles on their faces.
For the New York Knicks' hype squad, the Finals meant exposure and income.
The Lakers had more "Rookies," and the enthusiastic atmosphere and increased media made them both nervous and excited.
When Lee took off his jacket and began his final warm-up "fully equipped," the cheers grew even louder.
In the most prominent front-row seat was Shaquille O'Neal.
Shaq wore a white printed T-shirt, making him particularly eye-catching.
Many fans around were interacting with Shaq.
When the camera focused on him, the Shaq twisted his mouth, clenched his right fist, and thumped his chest, actively displaying the design on his chest.
Without complex phrases, the T-shirt featured Shaq in a Lakers jersey with the MVP and FMVP trophies.
Perhaps the atmosphere of the arena infected Shaq, and regardless of whether the broadcasters could pick up his voice, he seized the opportunity while Kobe was warming up with shots near the three-point line, immediately yelling at the top of his lungs:
"Go win a real championship! I know you can't do it!"
The onlookers were even more delighted to hear Shaq's shouts and all joined in the loud jeering.
Kobe, who was shooting, tried to ignore the taunts, but his emotions were still affected, and his face grew darker.
Phil Jackson on the sidelines kept reminding his players to calm down.
The current environment was too unfriendly, and he began to worry if the game would proceed as expected.
Kobe, returning to the Finals, seemed a bit nervous, clanking shot after shot during warm-ups.
In just a few years, the Finals atmosphere at Madison Square Garden had completely changed from before.
Kobe found it difficult to feel the New York fans' love for basketball.
The screaming fans in the back seemed to be there just for fun, holding up whiteboards and jumping around even before the game started, trying to get his attention:
"Mr. Best?!"
Highlighted with colorful markers, this nickname began to circulate among fans ever since Lee referred to Kobe as "Mr. Best" in an ABC interview.
As the game approached, the roar grew louder and louder.
Everyone in the arena stood up, and the joyful atmosphere made Kobe, who had returned to the bench and taken off his training uniform, increasingly furious:
"Fuck!"
The Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man heard Kobe's low curse and pulled him back again, repeatedly giving instructions.
As the Lakers approached the center court, Duncan saw the familiar opponent on the other side and reminded his partner before the jump ball:
"Calm down."
"Let's go Knicks!"
The shouts gradually became uniform.
Chandler also smiled when he saw Duncan, and Pau Gasol even actively greeted his old opponent.
Even Ron Artest, like the two of them, had a clear smile on his face:
"Look at this Rookie, he's actually in the Finals! How many points are you planning to score?"
Ron Artest, near half-court, twisted his neck while loudly mocking Ariza on the opposite side.
Derek Fisher was still the same; Old Fish voluntarily helped the "Rookie" out of a tough spot:
"His only job is Defense, and I guarantee he'll surprise you!"
Ron Artest stopped looking at the nervous Ariza.
Hearing Old Fish's words, he burst into laughter, shaking his head with a wide grin.
In his opinion, this was the easiest matchup he'd had in years.
The New York Knicks' starting lineup was exactly the same as last year.
For the Lakers, Lamar Odom was in the starting lineup.
At the commentary table, Van Gundy once again commented on the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man's lineup change:
"I think this is the right choice. The Lakers must go all out from the start of the game. Once the New York Knicks find their rhythm, the game will enter a different pace!"
"The most important thing in the Finals is to respond. On this point, the current duo can better shoulder this responsibility."
When the camera switched to Kobe and Lee, their emotions were completely opposite.
One glared fiercely at his opponent, while the other casually stretched, a smile on his face seemingly reminding his teammates.
"We can pay attention to the specific matchups. I believe the Lakers can handle their opponents' pick-and-rolls right now!"
"They also have Radmanovic, Turiaf, Sasha Vujacic, and Farmar on their bench, who also performed well in the previous Conference Finals."
Mark Jackson was still hyping up the Lakers' roster depth, which also gave cloud fans in front of their TVs great anticipation.
The Lakers' paper strength was very strong!
Tonight's Head Referee was Dick Bavetta, who was embroiled in a betting scandal.
The 68-year-old referee was not affected by the reports.
At exactly 9 PM, he expressionlessly tossed the ball into the air.
When Chandler tipped the ball to half-court, Madison Square Garden instantly erupted.
Seeing Kobe charge in front of Lee, the shouts grew even louder.
Raja Bell, who was quickly charging past half-court and almost using his side to defend, didn't expect Old Fish to be guarding his side.
Feeling even better, he also teased his former teammate:
"This is a terrible matchup! Do you believe the Los Angeles Times report? Lee will blow out that Mamba."
"…"
Old Fish was in no mood to respond.
He understood the New York Knicks' tactics very well.
Seeing Mike D'Antoni smilingly hanging up, he knew that tonight would most likely be a big night for Lee.
Noticing Pau Gasol stopped near the arc, Derek Fisher covertly pulled the Defense while loudly reminding Lamar Odom:
"Move!"
Tim Duncan, who was stopped near the bottom right of the basket, also put more attention on the top.
When Ron Artest slid from left to right across the baseline, he realized his old opponent seemed to be clearing one side and also loudly reminded his team.
With the help of two teammates, Lamar Odom, who was defending close to the left wing, lowered his center of gravity in advance, assuming a stance ready to delay at any moment.
"Let's go Knicks!"
Amidst the cheers, Kobe tried to use physical contact to disrupt Lee's dribbling rhythm, occasionally reaching in and faking a steal after contact.
However, this maneuver seemed to have little effect.
Lee, dribbling with his left hand, wasn't moving fast.
When Pau Gasol started to move up from the left elbow, he suddenly accelerated his dribbling speed, exploded the ball, and quickly spun, switching to his right hand just as his teammate set his feet.
Kobe, who had been constantly interfered with by Lee's ball-protecting hand, couldn't squeeze through the screen in time.
Amidst the cheers, as Lamar Odom delayed towards the arc, Lee sent a bounce pass while still in motion, before the Defense could fully set up.
Kobe, trailing, couldn't interfere in time. Just as the double-team formed, the ball sliced through the Defense.
Pau Gasol, rolling off the screen, received the ball in the left block, unguarded, and his mid-range jump shot swished in cleanly.
"Defense!"
Such an easy score also raised the volume of the crowd.
The New York fans in their seats chanted "Defense" in rhythm.
Phil Jackson on the sideline frowned.
The first possession, and the Defense had failed.
On the Lakers' bench, seeing the matchups on the court, several assistant coaches also frowned.
Lee was guarding Kobe.
Kobe quickly ran across half-court and came to the left block.
After his teammates got into position, he suddenly accelerated and slid across the baseline.
Lamar Odom also moved up, stopping at the left wing.
When Derek Fisher passed the ball to Ariza beyond the three-point line, facing Ron Artest's tight Defense and aggressive stealing, Ariza cautiously passed the ball back to his teammate.
After releasing the ball, Ariza tried to set a screen for Kobe, stopping near the left block.
But their cooperation wasn't smooth.
Kobe, popping out, was faster, which also allowed Lee to easily squeeze through.
Lamar Odom's symbolic screen on the three-point line also failed to free Kobe from the Defense.
Lee's timely trailing Defense successfully changed the Lakers' offensive option.
As Ariza ran to the left corner and Lamar Odom squeezed towards the basket, Tim Duncan received the ball with his back to the basket at the right elbow, moved up, and smoothly completed a hand-off.
Old Fish didn't even look at Kobe, who was calling for the ball on the other side beyond the three-point line.
After receiving the ball, he immediately put it down with his left hand and, using the brief screen, drove strongly to the basket.
Although the high-quality screen made Raja Bell a step late, Derek Fisher's speed wasn't fast either.
Pau Gasol adjusted his defensive position at the bottom left of the basket.
Old Fish was interfered with, and Raja Bell also successfully trailed.
Chandler instinctively chose to move towards the basket, and the opponent quickly seized this opportunity.
Watching Old Fish find the popping Tim Duncan with a bounce pass before being surrounded, boos also erupted in the Madison Square Garden.
After receiving the ball, Tim Duncan immediately put it down with his right hand, made no fakes, pulled Chandler to adjust his center of gravity, and decisively drove strongly to the basket with the ball.
Taking a big stride from the right block, forcing his way through with his body, Tim Duncan, who broke through to the bottom right of the basket, was very determined.
Facing the double-team of two big men, he twisted his body and tossed the ball off the backboard with his right hand.
The crooked shot going in made even the Lakers' hype squad cheer and celebrate.
This was a powerful response shot!
"Boo!!"
Phil Jackson's thumbs-up made the New York fans in the arena boo.
At the commentary table, Van Gundy looked at the constantly sliding Kobe, a puzzled expression on his face, and commented tactfully:
"Kobe Bryant seems to have lost some explosiveness, which makes him appear less agile when facing Clay Lee."
"The Lakers chose to double-team at the start, but this really tests their defensive chemistry. In my opinion, Lee has completely adapted to this situation!"
With seemingly the same tactics, Lee passed the ball early.
Pau Gasol received the ball, and Ron Artest from the left corner came up to set a screen.
Lee, on the left wing, accelerated and rolled down with the help of his teammate.
Kobe, chasing relentlessly, didn't have time to observe the Defense, and the immense noise made it difficult for him to hear his teammates' warnings.
When Lee accelerated and slid from left to right across the baseline, the ball movement up top was also happening quickly.
Pau Gasol smoothly passed the ball to Raja Bell on the right wing.
Near the right baseline, Chandler's screen briefly delayed Kobe.
Lee seized the opportunity, decelerating as he popped out to the right block, preparing to firmly box out the trailing Kobe behind him.
The two were still entangled, but Raja Bell up top sent a seemingly risky lob pass.
Lee jumped to catch the ball, and as his feet landed, his shoulder suddenly feinted to the right.
Unable to predict the offensive choice, Kobe, defending tightly, instinctively moved.
Realizing he had been faked, Lee suddenly turned towards the baseline, without any pause, leaned back, and pulled up to shoot!
Derek Fisher, preparing to help defend, hadn't even had time to slide.
Kobe was stunned by the fake, and seeing the two turn their heads, Mike Breen's voice on the commentary table was light:
"OH! Clay Lee nails it! What a shot!"
The ball swished through the net.
Lee's clean score made the New York Knicks' bench erupt in cheers.
JR Smith even squeezed to the sideline, yelling loudly at Kobe as he ran across half-court:
"You can't do it!"
For a moment, the hype squad also started chanting "You can't do it," infuriating Kobe, who stopped early at the right block.
Lamar Odom, who was about to execute a high-low post play, quickly heard his boss's instruction:
"Go get the ball!"
Raja Bell had a height advantage, and his aggressive Defense made Derek Fisher uncomfortable.
The New York Knicks were still the same as before, never stingy with their energy.
After passing the ball to Lamar Odom on the left wing, Kobe tried to get to a deeper position, but Lee's tight Defense kept pushing him out.
Pau Gasol constantly interfered with his long arms.
Lamar Odom eventually chose a bounce pass.
Lee, who was prepared, followed up to steal.
The low-quality pass almost forced Kobe to adjust.
Receiving the ball far from the paint, turning to face the basket, Kobe ultimately chose to put the ball down with his left hand, backing down repeatedly, driving hard.
He didn't attract any help Defense, but instead, Lee disrupted his offensive rhythm.
Muscles collided, and after continuous contact, Kobe nearly lost control of the ball.
Unable to get as close to the basket as he wanted, he seized the opportunity and decisively turned towards the baseline.
When Kobe tried to lean back significantly to complete the shot, Lee also jumped simultaneously.
The two briefly hung in the air, and then the fans cheered:
"Oh!"
Kobe, who almost fell to the floor, watched the ball hit the rim and bounce into Chandler's hands.
He cursed under his breath and chased back on Defense again, a "ferocious" look on his face.
Seeing Kobe like this, the fans in the front row were even happier.
After receiving the ball, Lee used a behind-the-back dribble to evade a steal.
As he advanced near the left sideline, the jeers grew louder.
Stop-and-go, Lee changed his dribbling rhythm, suddenly accelerated and drove, charging across half-court, then decelerating again near the left wing.
Due to inertia, Kobe could only watch his opponent easily complete a behind-the-back dribble.
Lamar Odom's loud warning made Kobe aware of the movement behind him.
Pau Gasol seemed to be setting up a screen.
Seeing Lee lower his center of gravity and feint to the front right, Kobe quickly slid to the left.
The anticipated screen didn't appear, but the basketball instantly vanished from in front of him.
The extremely fast in-and-out dribble allowed Lee to once again shake off Kobe's Defense.
Pau Gasol's fake screen and roll forced Lamar Odom to fail to delay.
There was no time to close out.
On the left wing, beyond the three-point line, Lee changed direction, gathered the ball, and executed a pull-up jumper in one fluid motion.
Kobe was stunned again, and then a huge cheer erupted in his ears.
"A deadly change of direction! Clay Lee's speed is too fast! Kobe Bryant looks like he's having trouble keeping up with this pace!"
In just two possessions, Mark Jackson had become a turncoat, now praising Lee's scoring and subtly implying Kobe was falling behind.
2:7. The New York Knicks entered the game early in the first quarter, which made Phil Jackson feel uneasy, and he quickly shouted for the ball to be given to the interior.
The Lakers once again executed their most effective tactical play.
Kobe, popping out, received the ball on the left wing.
Derek Fisher ran to the left corner after passing the ball.
The baseline cross-screen allowed Duncan to squeeze into the left low post, but Chandler's top-side Defense and pulling prevented him from receiving the ball immediately.
Soon, Kobe, who had moved up, was entangled by Lee.
Facing relentless, tight Defense, Kobe, preparing to pass from beyond the arc, swept the ball continuously.
Noticing that Lee still hadn't changed his defensive strategy, he finally put the ball down with his right hand, attempting to force a breakthrough.
"Kobe Bryant seems to have lost his explosive power from before!"
Watching Lee slide continuously, constantly applying physical contact, and forcing Kobe to stop at the free-throw line, Van Gundy subconsciously exclaimed softly.
Then Mike Breen quickly added:
"A terrible offensive choice! Kobe Bryant doesn't seem to have an absolute physical advantage."
After gathering the ball, Kobe faked continuously at the free-throw line but did not choose to pass.
Instead, he twisted his body and forced a jump shot over Lee's Defense, hitting the rim.
His shooting motion was completely distorted, making Tim Duncan and Lamar Odom shake their heads.
Both were boxed out behind him, helplessly watching Lee turn and return to the paint to grab the rebound.
In a flash, offense turned to Defense.
Watching Lee push the ball and change direction to shake off Kobe, Ariza directly pulled him, committing a foul to stop the fast break.
The Rookie's mind was a blur.
For Ariza, this was completely different from what he had imagined.
Kobe was visibly slower, but Lee was even faster than in the video!
The cheers echoing through Madison Square Garden made the retreating Duncan raise his voice.
He noticed that Lee wasn't rushing to attack and wouldn't use the pick-and-roll against his matchup, making him a bit anxious.
It seemed to be the same play again.
Ariza in the left corner was already confused.
Ron Artest stood still, then suddenly accelerated and slipped along the baseline, quickly chasing him down.
The movement along the baseline attracted the Lakers' defensive attention.
Lamar Odom was momentarily distracted, and Pau Gasol at the free-throw line twisted and cut to the basket!
Kobe, on the left wing, stayed far from the three-point line, controlling his defensive distance, which allowed Lee to calmly lob the ball.
The big man had enormous strides.
The chasing Lamar Odom helplessly stopped in the paint.
The ball flew to the upper right of the rim.
Pau Gasol extended his right arm, and with a flick of his right hand, the ball went off the backboard and into the basket.
The aerial connection made Pau Gasol smile and give a thumbs-up.
Watching the New York Knicks players retreat, Kobe, with a dark expression, once again directed his teammates.
Ariza passed the ball with his teammates beyond the three-point line.
Lamar Odom's hand-off also failed to create a good opportunity.
From left to right, in and out, the shot clock quickly ran down past halfway.
Duncan ultimately took the hot potato in the left block.
Facing Chandler's Defense, he put the ball down with his left hand and attacked the basket again.
However, this time Pau Gasol immediately doubled him when he saw the opportunity.
In the lower-left corner of the basket, Duncan was surrounded by two big men.
With the shot clock winding down, he still found the best opportunity.
As Lamar Odom moved to the right near the baseline, Duncan's pass arrived.
He caught the ball, shot, and as the shot clock expired with a buzzing sound, the ball bounced high and flew behind the backboard.
Baseline ball.
Laughter began to spread through Madison Square Garden.
The Lakers tried to slow down their offensive pace, but only managed 2 points in nearly 3 minutes.
"Let's go Knicks!"
The roar grew louder and louder.
Seeing Lee stop at the Logo, Kobe rolled up his shorts, noticed the movement behind him, and tried to control his body, preparing to squeeze through the screen immediately.
It seemed like the same play, but this time Pau Gasol set the screen higher.
Before his teammate could set his feet, Lee, holding the ball in his left hand, suddenly lowered his center of gravity and pushed the ball for a change of direction.
When Kobe reacted, he slid diligently.
Although Pau Gasol's delay was brief, Lee's speed was too fast.
The moment he touched the ball with his right hand, he led the ball forward and then pushed it for another change of direction.
"Oh!"
Amidst the cheers, the delaying Lamar Odom could only symbolically extend his hand.
Kobe, chasing hard, stumbled and nearly collided with his teammate.
As the ball passed through the crowd and Lee completely broke free from the Defense and accelerated at full speed, he crossed the three-point line in a blink of an eye, driving hard to the basket down the middle!
Duncan, who was helping on Defense in the lower-left corner of the basket, didn't have time to jump.
Clay Lee was already airborne in the paint.
Tim Duncan felt a dull ache in his chest, then his vision went black, followed by a "boom."
Gripping the ball with his right hand and pulling his arm back, Lee shot the ball fiercely into the basket over the Defense.
Madison Square Garden completely erupted, and fans in the back rows stood up, cheering excitedly:
"Ah!!!"
Watching Duncan sprawled on the floor, Chandler hugged Lee, who was still posing, and shouted at the top of his lungs.
The New York Knicks players rushed to the baseline, high-fiving in celebration.
Phil Jackson immediately called a timeout.
The game seemed to be getting out of control.
Kobe hadn't shown the expected Defense.
Watching Kobe walk to the bench with pursed lips, Shaq's smile grew brighter.
He imitated the New York Knicks' hype squad, shouting loudly with them:
"You can't do it!"
2:11. Such a start made it difficult for the three commentators at the broadcast table to comment.
Van Gundy saw the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man's tense, furrowed brow, and his mood brightened.
He understood his old rival:
"If the Lakers can't respond quickly, then they'll follow the opponent's rhythm."
"Believe me, once Lee gets the entire team's offense going, the game might lose its suspense very early. Against the defending champions, no team can come back from a double-digit deficit!"
Mark Jackson found that his partner was no longer conflicted and simply laughed along:
"How do you think the Lakers will adjust? Derek Fisher also can't contain Clay Lee. I wouldn't expect Ariza to take over the defensive assignment!"
"The Lakers will put in Radmanovic! They need to create better offensive space for Tim Duncan beyond the three-point line."
Answering immediately with confidence after hearing the question, Van Gundy appeared very self-assured.
The feeling of understanding the game was back!
As the timeout ended, Mike Breen also showed an expression of admiration upon seeing the invisible Ariza substituted out:
"Is this the consensus of Champion Coaches!"
Van Gundy didn't speak.
At this moment, he only felt his "red scarf" on his chest become even brighter.
He had transformed back into that "omnipotent" famous coach.
Lakers' offensive possession.
This time, the play wasn't for Kobe.
Duncan, with anger, attacked the basket from the left low post, drawing a shooting foul on Chandler.
"Boo!"
Amidst the boos echoing through Madison Square Garden, Duncan made one of two free throws.
The rebound was secured by Pau Gasol.
Lee, receiving the ball, found Raja Bell, who had sprinted to the left wing, before crossing half-court.
Derek Fisher was a bit anxious and ended up getting caught.
With the referee's whistle, Raja Bell tossed the ball towards the basket, drawing a three-point shooting foul, which made Phil Jackson shake his head repeatedly from the sideline.
3:13. Raja Bell made two of three free throws, but the deficit still reached double digits, and the atmosphere in Madison Square Garden grew even hotter.
A composed Duncan received the ball in the right elbow, successfully finding Radmanovic, who popped out.
Radmanovic caught the ball on the left wing and made a contested three-pointer over Ron Artest's Defense!
The Lakers' bench finally cheered, but just 10 seconds later, Pau Gasol, in the right elbow, assisted Ron Artest, who slipped along the baseline, for a strong layup in the lower-right corner of the basket.
Unconsciously speeding up the offensive pace, Duncan, who received the ball in the left elbow, originally intended to assist a teammate on a UCLA cut.
Derek Fisher was about to break free from his defender, but the pass was tipped by Chandler.
Watching the ball change direction, Duncan dove towards the sideline, but after falling, he slid out of bounds and was called for a backcourt violation.
Waving his hand in annoyance, Duncan had just completed his defensive matchup.
At the top of the arc, Lee's wide body-fake crossover once again shook off Kobe, and he flew low to the ground, driving straight to the basket!
Helping on Defense with full effort, Duncan jumped to block, and Kobe, chasing from behind, also tried to interfere, but Lee released the ball early, just over their fingertips.
Chandler, lurking in the lower-left corner of the basket, caught the ball in mid-air and slammed it down with both hands!
"Whoa!!"
The joyful shouts of New York fans brought back bad memories for Duncan.
He began to demand the ball on offense, trying to respond promptly.
In the left block, he received the ball with his back to the basket, then faced up and took a jab step.
Duncan made a pull-up jump shot over Chandler.
On the next possession, Ron Artest quickly cut from right to left along the baseline in the left block.
Lee's perfectly timed pass allowed his teammate to take three big steps and drive straight to the basket.
Radmanovic decisively pulled him, but Ron Artest, twisting his body, still managed to toss the ball into the hoop.
"Where's Mr. Best?!"
Ron Artest kept shouting at Kobe, and this action further ignited the atmosphere in Madison Square Garden.
Lee had already retreated to half-court, tilting his head and shrugging at the front-row fans near the free-throw line:
"Too easy! How many points do you want to see Mr. Best score?"
"..."
Cheers and jeers rose and fell, and the atmosphere grew even more joyous.
On the Lakers' offensive possession, an irritated Kobe continuously dribbled between his legs on the left wing, then took a contested long two-point jump shot over Lee's Defense, hitting the rim.
The moment Chandler secured the rebound, Phil Jackson on the sideline kept shouting for everyone to retreat on Defense.
Chandler, trailing, settled into position on the right wing after crossing half-court.
Kobe failed to squeeze through the screen in time, and Duncan, who had just followed out on Defense, saw Lee, with the ball in his right hand, lead the ball forward.
Seeing the ball fly towards him, Duncan instinctively lowered his center of gravity and extended his left arm, but he was still a step too slow.
While in motion, Lee pulled the ball widely in front of him with his left hand, executed a one-handed body-fake crossover, and then squeezed past Duncan, driving hard to the basket from the wing.
"God, Clay Lee broke through Tim Duncan's Defense! How did he do that!"
Mike Breen found it awkward to watch, and after only sighing, Lee had already gathered the ball in the paint.
Before Lamar Odom could rotate over to help, he jumped off his right foot, cradled the ball with his right hand, and tossed a high-arching floater!
Seeing the ball go off the backboard and into the basket, Mark Jackson and Van Gundy also began to praise loudly:
"An artist on the court, perfect rhythm!"
"This reminds me of last year's Finals. Tim Duncan still seems to have some unresolved issues. Clay Lee is playing too well tonight!"
On offense, Kobe was consistently unable to shake off Lee's pursuit.
After driving down the middle, his shot was altered by contact in the paint, and his fading floater near the lower-right corner of the basket once again missed.
After landing, Lee collected the rebound and immediately turned to make a long pass.
Amidst gasps, Ron Artest received the ball in the opposing paint, carried Radmanovic, and scored with a layup!
The ever-widening point differential prompted the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man to call another timeout.
However, in the following minutes, Kobe continuously led the New York Knicks in counterattacks, and the game gradually devolved into fouls and free throws.
When Tayshaun Prince was substituted in, the New York Knicks' defensive intensity did not wane.
Radmanovic couldn't maintain his previous shooting touch, so Phil Jackson brought Sasha Vujacic back on.
When Kobe missed a pull-up jump shot after a jab step near the left sideline, Lamar Odom's rebounding foul further displeased New York fans:
"Boo!!"
"The best player shouldn't have 0 points!"
Pau Gasol inbounded the ball.
As Lee walked to the opposing half, taking advantage of the subsiding boos, he teased the dark-faced Kobe.
Perhaps unable to bear the loss of face, Kobe responded with a grim expression and a deep voice:
"I never pay attention to stats! We all know who puts more effort into basketball! I am the best!"
The broadcast camera quickly focused on the two.
Lee looked as if he hadn't even broken a sweat, smiling and exchanging words with his opponent.
In contrast, a sweating Kobe seemed to have lost his composure, his eyes wide as he continuously spoke.
Helping the Lakers stabilize the situation were Sasha Vujacic's three-pointer and Derek Fisher's free throws.
Towards the end of the first quarter, the New York Knicks' shooting percentage dropped, and Mike D'Antoni made his rotations as planned.
Kobe finally scored a field goal, a tough jump shot over Lee's block from the left elbow.
But on the defensive end, chasing Lee and fighting through screens led to another foul.
Phil Jackson noticed the time was running out and simply subbed Kobe out:
"Patience! Remember my words! Be patient, and stay calm on both offense and Defense!"
The Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man loudly exhorted Kobe from behind, but the infuriated core player couldn't hear him. 1-for-8 from the field, 0-for-1 from three, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover.
Just thinking about his stats, Kobe wished he could immediately return to the court.
He had to prove himself!
Seeing their sweating, fuming leader, everyone on the Lakers' bench fell silent.
He was completely outplayed.
At the scorer's table, Rajon Rondo, preparing to enter the game, smiled and high-fived Lee.
Having watched most of the quarter, he now had a clearer understanding of Kobe's ability:
"Boss! This is a teaching game! Maybe I can teach him how to play too!"
"Let's end the game by halftime! I'm not interested in spending two hours on an opponent like this. His form is terrible."
Lee patted Rajon Rondo, giving his final instructions.
The three-hour game at the Madison Square Garden had greatly diminished his passion for basketball.
Fouling tactics were practical, but no one liked that kind of game rhythm.
When Tim Duncan made one of two free throws again, bringing the score to 19:37, Madison Square Garden erupted in cheers.
The New York Knicks' atmosphere team was ready, the game's outcome was decided!
Before the start of the second quarter, the visiting Head Coach had to be interviewed.
Phil Jackson had completely lost his smile, and hearing Michelle Tafoya's question made him even more uncomfortable:
"Clay Lee is 6-for-6 in the first quarter. How will the Lakers adjust for the rest of the game?"
The Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man currently didn't want to change the defensive matchup.
To spare Kobe's feelings, he simply avoided the topic and changed the subject:
"We just want to close the gap as soon as possible, so in the upcoming game, everyone will focus more on offense!"
"I believe the Lakers still have a chance. Of course, losing one road game won't affect us too much. Don't forget the Lakers also have championship pedigree."
6-for-6 from the field, 1-for-1 from three, 4-for-4 from the free throw line, 17 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists.
The Lakers barely edged out Lee in the first quarter.
After the second quarter began, for the Lakers, the good news was they still had very few turnovers.
The bad news was Kobe returned early and activated his scoring mode.
With 7 minutes and 46 seconds left in the first half, Kobe suddenly found his touch, responding to Lee in three consecutive offensive possessions.
Driven by the two, the game entered its climax!
However, Kobe's touch cooled off too quickly.
In the time that followed, too much physical contact made him lose his way again, and his frantic shooting led the New York Knicks to a series of counterattacks.
As the first half was about to end, Kobe finally scored another tough jump shot, twisting his body in the right restricted area.
But on the Lakers' bench, no one cheered anymore.
The game was completely over.
41:67. Walking towards the player tunnel, Kobe felt everyone was laughing at him.
Before entering the locker room, he ripped his jersey.
"Damn game!"
Kobe yelled furiously.
When he returned to his seat, he gritted his teeth, looking even darker.
No one spoke in the locker room for a while.
Everyone could see that their leader had given his all!
5-for-18 from the field, 0-for-2 from three, 2-for-2 from the free throw line.
Kobe's form improved in the second quarter, contributing 12 points in the half.
Many people looked at Tim Duncan.
This silent leader took 6 shots in the first quarter and only got three opportunities in the second.
He was 5-for-9 from the field, 4-for-6 from the free throw line, with 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, and 1 turnover in the half.
"Focus on tonight's game. We will find the problems and then solve them!"
Tim Duncan said calmly.
The locker room also found its voice, with the atmosphere team responding enthusiastically.
The invisible Ariza was particularly disappointed.
The Head Coach seemed to have lost trust in him.
What made Ariza even more incomprehensible was how Lee always seemed to easily get past Kobe.
In one-on-one situations, their leader was suppressed on both offense and Defense, which was completely different from what he felt in the regular season.
A calmer Kobe began to discuss tactical issues.
Everyone listened attentively.
Ariza nodded silently, subconsciously looking at Sasha Vujacic beside him.
After exchanging glances, they seemed to have the same thought:
"Can these problems really be solved?"
Even though the game had entered garbage time, the referees were still trying to add drama.
The Lakers' tough fouls made the game ugly and incidentally extended its duration.
Around 11 PM, the final buzzer sounded. 84:128.
The New York Knicks decisively defeated their opponent, easily winning Game 1.
Watching his old teammate turn and walk away, Shaq, sitting in the front row, almost doubled over with laughter.
This was his happiest moment since losing their direct confrontation:
"You can't do it!"
Yelling loudly in Kobe's direction, Shaq wished he could chase after him and interview him.
8-for-25 from the field, a shooting percentage of less than 40%.
Such a performance was a huge difference from the Western Conference Finals.
The music and cheers wouldn't stop.
At the scorer's table, Phil Jackson maintained his composure, smiling as he shook hands with Mike D'Antoni.
The two posed for the cameras for a while.
Mike D'Antoni's smile grew brighter, and he playfully teased his counterpart:
"Your best player seems to be in trouble! Actually, I don't like Lee focusing on Defense. It wastes his offensive ability."
"..."
Thinking of Kobe's inefficient 22 points, the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man wished he could immediately replay the game.
This was not his game plan.
A personal show had ruined a victory:
"Never underestimate a championship team. See you Sunday!"
Phil Jackson responded with a smile.
With more than two days of rest, he firmly believed his team still had hope of securing a road victory.
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
Seeing Lee being interviewed courtside, many fans who hadn't had enough started yelling loudly again.
Michelle Tafoya was an old acquaintance and wouldn't set traps; most questions could be answered with platitudes.
Perhaps the lively arena atmosphere affected this veteran reporter, or more likely, she was preparing to leave ESPN and feeling a bit uninhibited.
Michelle Tafoya asked with a smile:
"Lee, do you think Kobe Bryant is the best player in the NBA? His performance tonight seemed a bit poor."
"Everyone thinks they are the best player. I admire Kobe's confidence. This confidence has allowed him to achieve what he has today!"
Lee, wearing a white New York Knicks training uniform, first answered the previous question seriously.
Then a smile appeared on his face, and he raised an eyebrow at the reporter, adding:
"I don't like judging based on one game, so I won't evaluate his performance now!"
"Perhaps Kobe wants to prove he's the best player in the Finals. For me, I enjoy the process of sending Mr. Best home. That's the task the New York fans have given me!"
"..."
Boris Diaw and others gathered in front of the camera, yelling excitedly.
JR Smith, who played hard in garbage time, was in high spirits and seized the opportunity to happily shout into the camera:
"Where did Mr. Best go?!"
The joyous atmosphere of Madison Square Garden couldn't affect the Lakers' family group.
Vanessa, waiting to leave, held her eldest daughter, and a pang of sadness went through her as she thought of Kobe possibly having psychological issues.
"Will Dad get the trophy? A golden trophy!"
Vanessa noticed her daughter looking at her.
Seeing that expectant look, she couldn't bear to say much at once.
She just lowered her head, stroked her daughter's hair, and forced a smile to comfort her:
"Everything will be alright..."
....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)