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***
On December 2, 2002, Mike D'Antoni received his first award after taking over as the Head Coach of the New York Knicks.
In the November Coach of the Year (COY) selection, Mike D'Antoni of the Eastern Conference and Don Nelson of the Western Conference predictably won the awards.
The New York Knicks remained undefeated, while the Dallas Mavericks only lost one game.
Not only were their records far ahead, but they were also unparalleled in their chaotic playing style.
This evaluation, of course, came from some sports commentators.
For other teams, the New York Knicks' offense and Defense were fast-paced, but still somewhat traceable, just difficult to guard.
When facing the Dallas Mavericks, their tactics were more spontaneous, and the players had greater subjective initiative, as Don Nelson gradually unleashed the team's offense.
Regardless of outside evaluations, before the 7:30 PM tip-off that night, Lee received the Player of the Month award, and Mike D'Antoni also lifted the Coach of the Month trophy.
After the new season began, the New York Knicks had not yet encountered any overly strong opponents.
Mike D'Antoni, in a sharp black suit, smiled happily holding the trophy.
The December schedule was also relatively relaxed.
Apart from a Western Conference road trip at the end of the month, the coaching staff was very confident about the first half of the schedule.
Tonight's opponent, the Cavaliers, had completely entered tanking mode, currently holding a record of 2 wins and 16 losses.
Just as New York fans expected, facing a weak team, the New York Knicks once again delivered a powerful performance.
At halftime, the score was 38-68, a 30-point lead, and the game had lost its suspense early on.
Kurt Thomas was in excellent form, shooting 7-of-10 in the first half, easily scoring 14 points.
He only missed two jump shots from near the free throw line, leaving the opposing Rookie, Carlos Boozer, bewildered by his shooting.
Pau Gasol also performed very well.
His matchup, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, shot 1-of-8 from close to the rim, unable to make a single shot.
Thanks to the excellent performance of the big men, Clay Lee once again dished out 10 assists in the first half.
His matchup, Dajuan Wagner, was held to 3-of-13 shooting, scoring a mere 7 points.
After the New York Knicks dropped another 34 points in the third quarter, Madison Square Garden completely erupted!
Ultimately, with a dominant 128-88 victory, the New York Knicks secured their 15th consecutive win.
Last month, the Dallas Mavericks had just achieved a 14-game winning streak, and less than a week later, the New York Knicks broke that record.
At the MSG commentary booth, Marv Albert was equally delighted, continuing to reminisce about history after the game:
"In the 97-98 season, the New York Knicks started with a 19-game winning streak."
"This record is currently the longest winning streak to start an NBA season!"
"New York fans are very familiar with the story of that season. We eliminated the defending champions in the Eastern Conference Finals, defeated the Utah Jazz in the Finals, and ultimately lifted the o'brien cup."
"Perhaps this season we have a chance to break the record again. Currently, the guys are in excellent form!"
Walt Frazier, beside him, also chuckled when he recalled this record:
"Based on the current schedule, we should have a chance to get 20 consecutive wins!"
"Although we will have a back-to-back game this week, the subsequent schedule will be much easier."
"Looking at historical patterns, most teams that achieve long winning streaks go on to lift the championship trophy that season!"
As the two commentators hyped up the team, Mike D'Antoni, who had won the Coach of the Month award, was also being interviewed courtside.
When asked if he could break the record from Van Gundy's coaching era, Mike D'Antoni was very humble, simply smiling slightly at the camera:
"I don't know! That New York Knicks team represented a peak. 19 consecutive wins, that's truly an incredible record!"
"However, I believe Lee is stronger now than he was as a Rookie, and his control over the game has significantly improved."
"If Lee ultimately leads the team to break this record, I wouldn't be surprised. He's truly outstanding!"
With only 4 games left to break the record, the New York media had already started making predictions.
Whether it was due to a favorable schedule or weak opponents, the record was there, and in competitive sports, there are no excuses.
On December 3rd, fans across the ocean also received good news.
In the San Antonio Spurs' away game against the Houston Rockets, Yao Ming delivered a huge double-double with 27 points, 18 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 turnovers, shooting 10-of-18 from the field and 7-of-7 from the free throw line.
His 27 points were also the highest score of the entire game!
Duncan had 25 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, and 1 turnover, shooting 8-of-21 from the field and 9-of-16 from the free throw line.
David Robinson shot 2-of-8, only getting 7 points and 6 rebounds.
In the previous game against the Sacramento Kings, Yao Ming had an off night, shooting 2-of-3 for only 8 points.
This game was a strong bounce-back, showcasing his talent once again.
Winning this game brought the Houston Rockets' record to 10 wins and 7 losses, while the San Antonio Spurs' record stood at 11 wins and 8 losses.
Chinese sports media naturally hyped up the performance, incidentally raising the Houston Rockets' perceived strength.
Coupled with relatively limited information, this subtly increased the expectations of chinese fans.
On December 4th, ESPN's NBA Countdown show specifically invited Jeff Van Gundy.
This program primarily served to preview the day's games, and inviting the Bald Young Coach was mostly for traffic.
The current host of the show was Kevin Frazier, and his co-host was Tim Hardaway, who was waived after playing only 10 games.
These two Black brothers' pre-game comments were quite sharp, and after the new season's episodes aired, they quickly drew fan complaints and received numerous negative reviews.
Not long ago, Tim Hardaway took advantage of the Los Angeles Lakers' losing streak to comment on Kobe's performance, riding the wave of popularity:
"People always compare Kobe Bryant to Michael Jordan."
"But in reality, Kobe is just an unqualified imitator. Look at Michael Jordan's performance when he was young. The gap between them is much larger than those fans imagine!"
"Clay Lee is the player on the same level as Michael Jordan. Although he received team support early in his career, leading a Rookie interior to the Finals last season was absolutely remarkable."
"We all know that big men are still the core of most teams. Currently, only Clay Lee has broken that rule."
"Look at Kobe's team leadership record. Without Shaq, perhaps the Los Angeles Lakers wouldn't have made it to the Finals!"
These comments, of course, stirred up a hornet's nest.
The complaint calls and emails after the show exploded.
As the show's viewership trended downwards, ESPN reluctantly began inviting popular guests.
Catching this wave of the New York Knicks' record, it was a perfect opportunity to invite the Bald Young Coach to ride the hype.
On the 4th, there were 11 games in total, with the highest-profile matchup actually being between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz.
The Orlando Magic vs. New York Knicks game saw a significant drop in attention due to Tracy McGrady's injury absence.
In the studio, the discussion gradually shifted to the Los Angeles Lakers' game, and Tim Hardaway suddenly stated:
"Kobe Bryant should recognize his role. He is not suited to lead a team. Shaq is the true leader of the Los Angeles Lakers."
After he said this with a grin, the host, Kevin Frazier, started rubbing his forehead, looking helplessly at his co-host, not taking over the conversation, but instead quickly changing the subject:
"Jeff! Do you think the New York Knicks can continue their winning streak? Allan Houston is back from injury and in excellent form!"
Although Jeff Van Gundy didn't want to see his record broken, he still acted very professionally on the show:
"The Orlando Magic will find it very difficult to cause too much trouble for the New York Knicks right now."
"Their point guard, Darrell Armstrong, has seen a severe decline in his athleticism, and Shawn Kemp, who joined the team, has not met expectations."
"Relying only on Houston and Mike Miller, the New York Knicks, however, have ample defensive resources on the wing."
"This year, they will have big problems defending the pick-and-roll. Kemp and Grant cannot even delay effectively, and Head Coach Rivers will find it very difficult to solve such roster challenges."
The Bald Young Coach, dressed in a black suit with a red tie again today, was well-versed in most teams, and his comments consistently made the two people in the studio nod in agreement.
Tim Hardaway always tried to assert his presence, and at this point, he simply added:
"Only by playing against Clay Lee on the court will you understand how strong he is. This season, I believe his understanding of the game has reached another level."
"What I want to say is that times have changed. This is the era of the young generation."
"Many teams can't even keep up with the New York Knicks' pace of play. This reminds me of the Warriors back in the day. We actually played this way very early on, but ultimately failed."
Seeing his co-host about to reminisce again, Kevin Frazier quickly changed the subject, asking the Bald Young Coach once more:
"Jeff, do you think the New York Knicks can break the 19-game winning streak record?"
Jeff Van Gundy first showed a thoughtful expression, then nodded slightly:
"The schedule for this month only has 13 games. The New York Knicks only have a back-to-back early in the month. Perhaps before Christmas, they will be able to break the record."
No one in the studio disagreed.
Finally, Tim Hardaway stopped commenting on the game and instead asked a gossipy question:
"Tell us about the Cavaliers. Is the news true that you'll be going to Cleveland next season?"
"Fans are very concerned about your choice!"
Seeing both people in the studio looking at him, Jeff Van Gundy immediately felt comfortable.
He was the center of attention again:
"We've only had initial contact. You know, right now I want to spend more time with my family."
"If I were to coach a team again, the Cavaliers would indeed be my choice. Cleveland sports haven't won a championship in many years, and I like bringing hope to the fans!"
"..."
On the evening of the 4th, at Madison Square Garden, before the game, the round Ewing and the overweight Kemp greeted each other with laughter.
Kemp's salary this season was $1.03 million, and it was difficult for him to score in double digits in a game, so his strength and salary were matched.
Allan Houston was still popular with New York fans.
His attendance last season was affected by a knee injury, and he still couldn't escape the predicament this year.
During the pre-game warm-up, Lee chatted and joked with his old teammate.
Houston was also a bit helpless about his knee:
"It should be related to playing too many games in the past few years, Lee. Perhaps choosing to refuse the national team was the correct decision."
In recent years, Lee only started training in September at the latest during the off-season, and he has now entered a state of 'health-preserving' basketball.
Seeing the thick bandages on Houston's knee, Lee could only bless him:
"You should consider coming to New York for treatment. Remember to say hello to your trainer. Playing with an injury should be out of the question!"
Houston glanced at Head Coach Rivers, who was constantly giving pep talks on the sidelines, and shrugged.
He still wanted to share some of the team's pressure.
New York fans liked watching star players, but Kemp still disappointed everyone tonight.
Compared to his form during his time with the Portland Trail Blazers, the just 33-year-old Kemp was as underwhelming as ever.
At the beginning of the game, Kemp could still keep up with the offensive rhythm, but after a few big delays and missed layups, the Knicks sped up, and the washed-up star looked like he was about to collapse.
With 7 minutes and 42 seconds left in the first quarter, the Orlando Magic attacked.
Armstrong was consistently led by Lee in Defense and couldn't speed up in time.
Kemp stumbled across half-court and stood near the baseline on the right side to screen for Mike Miller, who was popping out along the baseline.
He merely stood there symbolically, and the screen timing was completely off, allowing the trailing Ron Artest to remain tightly behind Miller.
With the ball protected on his side, at the top of the arc outside the three-point line, Armstrong saw his teammate pop out and immediately sent a cross-court pass.
The passing intention was very obvious.
Although Mike Miller successfully twisted his body to receive the ball, before he could make his next move, Ron Artest, who had followed him, immediately forcefully stripped the ball away.
After completing the steal, Ron Artest dribbled two big steps and immediately passed the ball to the frontcourt.
Armstrong couldn't keep up with Lee in time and was cleanly shaken off by two body lengths.
Although he quickly retreated to defend, Armstrong could only watch as Lee scooped up the ball, quickly passed the three-point line, soared into the air in the paint, and slammed it down with one arm for a powerful dunk!
7:13, the difference was tending to widen.
Head Coach Rivers on the sidelines did not call a timeout but kept shouting:
"Slow down! Darrell, control the pace of the game!"
The Orlando Magic attacked again.
Houston, who had been scoring continuously, also missed his fadeaway jump shot from the left block on this possession.
The offense took nearly 20 seconds.
Only the young Pat Garrity was trying to grab the rebound under the basket, but he was firmly boxed out by Kurt Thomas, and then watched Pau Gasol grab the rebound and forcefully pass the ball again.
Mike Miller saw his teammate being shaken off by Lee, and for a moment could only charge forward, trying to retreat to defend the basket.
Lee, who had shaken off Armstrong, naturally noticed the movement behind him when he scooped the ball at the three-point line.
He intentionally slowed down, causing Miller to increase his pace.
In the paint, Miller did catch up to Lee and also jumped high, then saw the basketball flying backward in the air.
As both landed, Lee didn't even look at his opponent.
He spread his arms and quickly retreated to defend.
The trailing Ron Artest scooped the ball in the air and powerfully slammed it into the hoop with both hands!
"Wow!"
Cheers echoed throughout the Madison Square Garden.
At this moment, Kemp had just moved to the three-point line, having been in the New York Knicks' half-court for two consecutive possessions.
"Ah!"
Mike Miller looked at Ron Artest, who was pounding his chest and shouting under the basket, feeling helpless.
He had already tried his best.
Tracy McGrady, in a formal suit, sat on the bench with a solemn expression, and at this moment, he also noticed the expression on his friend's face.
Not long ago, he and Kobe had engaged in mutual commercial praise, but after coming to New York, Tracy McGrady became silent.
Several offensive possessions either had Houston isolating in the low post or Miller popping out for a catch-and-shoot.
After realizing that the opponent was only using these two tactics, Houston, after receiving the ball in the left block, was double-teamed by Pau Gasol when he tried to drive hard to the lower-left side of the basket.
Under the double-team, he still found Kemp, who had squeezed to the lower-right side of the basket.
The latter received the ball, subconsciously adjusted it, and then tried to exert force, but found that Pau Gasol had already turned around, raising his hands high.
As Kemp hesitated, Kurt Thomas also rushed over.
The paint immediately became crowded with players.
In desperation, Kemp forced a layup.
Under interference, the basketball hit the rim and bounced out.
Then several people under the basket scrambled for the ball.
Although Garrity tipped the rebound first, Pau Gasol's second jump, with his long arms, grabbed the rebound.
This time, Armstrong was well-prepared.
When Pau Gasol passed the ball, he desperately retreated to defend, trying to establish a defensive position in advance.
However, Clay Lee was faster than he imagined.
With no one delaying him, after scooping the ball, he sprinted faster and faster.
Armstrong, who had retreated to the three-point line, hadn't had time to make any defensive moves when Lee, holding the ball in his right hand and constantly accelerating, quickly pushed the ball for a change of direction.
Scooping the ball with his left hand, Lee continued to accelerate, incidentally bumping Armstrong aside.
The latter was bumped and stumbled, almost falling.
The retreating Orlando Magic players could only watch as Lee, with the ball in his left hand, took three big steps, charged up, and slammed it down with a windmilling dunk!
"Boom!"
The basket rattled loudly, a successful transition dunk!
7:17, a double-digit lead. Madison Square Garden erupted again.
Head Coach Rivers opened his mouth, then turned and called a timeout.
The 34-year-old Armstrong was completely surrounded by Lee.
The older, 5'11" guard was helpless against Lee.
After the timeout, the game returned to a defensive fast-break rhythm.
Except for Houston and Garrity occasionally making some response shots, most of the time, the New York Knicks were in transition offense.
With 2 minutes and 2 seconds left in the first quarter, Kemp received a pass from Armstrong and rolled down the middle after a pick-and-roll.
Pau Gasol interfered under the basket, and as a result, Kemp couldn't explode for an alley-oop dunk.
The two collided, and the basketball again hit the rim and bounced out.
Lee retreated to the basket, grabbed the rebound, and then, with a behind-the-back move, dodged Armstrong beside him.
Scooping the ball with his left hand, Lee accelerated and completely shook off his defender.
He dribbled only two steps, then immediately passed the ball to the frontcourt.
Grant Hill received the ball inside the three-point line, leaned on the retreating Houston, came to the basket, and scored with a step-through layup!
On the New York Knicks' bench, the hype squad was wildly waving towels.
Ewing also grinned.
For several consecutive possessions, Kemp had stayed in the half-court.
Perhaps he had completely given up, even during a rare half-court offense, Kemp abandoned the big delay on Defense.
Lee easily shook off Armstrong using Pau Gasol's screen.
The opponent's big man didn't close out in time.
On the left wing, after adjusting his steps, he immediately pulled up for a jump shot!
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly.
Head Coach Rivers, who had returned to his seat, looked at another veteran, Horace Grant, but ultimately did not call a timeout, watching the first quarter tick down.
16:34, the New York fans in the arena started swaying to the music.
Everyone knew that the 16-game winning streak was already secured.
Clay Lee played the entire first quarter without breaking a sweat.
On the court, the ball was faster than the man, and passing was much easier than forcing shots against Defense.
At the commentary table, Marv Albert also saw Lee's state and glanced at the statistics:
5 for 5 from the field, 2 for 2 from three-point range, 12 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists.
"Clay Lee completely dominated the game tonight. 16 consecutive wins. Perhaps before Christmas, we'll see good news about breaking the record!"
Walt Frazier knew before the game that Lee would definitely come out strong.
The 18-point lead in the first quarter also put him in a great mood:
"It seems we have a great chance to win the championship again this season. Most teams in the league don't have this kind of game form."
Under the winning streak, even the relatively cautious veteran was starting to get ahead of himself.
After the second quarter began, the New York Knicks made extensive rotations, while the Orlando Magic continued to rely on Houston and Miller.
However, both of them had poor shooting touch and didn't perform well against the hype squad.
Instead, the New York Knicks' guard Knight made two more beautiful assists, allowing Amar'e Stoudemire to have a great time dunking.
With 4 minutes and 16 seconds left in the first half, Lee returned to the court, having 'slacked off' for a few minutes, which was a courtesy to his old teammate.
33:58, a huge point difference.
The second half of the game would soon enter garbage time.
As the game neared its end, Head Coach Rivers watched Coach D'Antoni circling the sidelines with a smile, and a thought suddenly popped into his mind:
"From now on, I also want to coach superstars!"
Ultimately, 85:110, the New York Knicks decisively defeated their opponent, extending their winning streak.
After the second half began, Tracy McGrady was "sleepy-eyed."
By the end of the game, he had recovered his spirits and actively comforted his teammates.
After the new season began, no one mentioned the "Big Three" anymore.
Kemp would most likely retire directly after this contract.
When asked about the winning streak during the post-game interview, Lee, who had already changed into his training clothes, joked a couple of times:
"In recent years, the Houston Rockets, who started with a 15-game winning streak, won the championship."
"The New York Knicks, who started with a 19-game winning streak, also won the championship!"
"I like to lead opponents early in the season. We have many Rookies on the team, but this year we are ready. It's time for the o'brien cup to return to New York!"
After the game at Madison Square Garden this season, the post-game interview turned into a public broadcast.
In the Madison Square Garden, New York fans cheered again when they heard Lee boasting.
Victories and records always attract more fans!
In the first week of November, the New York Knicks had their last two back-to-back away games remaining.
The continuous winning streak, coupled with Clay Lee's efficient performance, gave sports media a headache.
As long as the MVP is discussed, Clay Lee's performance cannot be avoided.
After winning the Most Valuable Player award for two consecutive years, the league and sports media actually did not want to award the trophy to the same person again.
In the early part of the season, the New York Knicks performed strongly, while the defending champions Los Angeles Lakers faltered, leading to the current situation:
"I gave you a chance, but you were useless!"
On Thursday, December 5th, Jeff Van Gundy was not invited to the TNT show, but the trio went all out, fiercely criticizing the defending champions.
85:93, last night the Los Angeles Lakers challenged the Utah Jazz on the road and lost to the old-man basketball again.
Charles Barkley had confidently guaranteed before the game that the slow-starting Los Angeles Lakers had found their form, but he was once again proven wrong:
"They put up great numbers against weak teams, but immediately falter against tough opponents."
"If the Los Angeles Lakers stop in the Western Conference this year, I won't be surprised. They are simply too bad!"
Not long ago, when they faced the 2-15 Grizzlies, the Los Angeles Lakers indeed showed their dominance.
Shaquille O'Neal's free throws were accurate, and Kobe Bryant was even more efficient, shooting 11 of 16, scoring an efficient 24 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks, and 3 turnovers for a triple-double.
However, in the game against the Utah Jazz, the "OK" duo both struggled, with neither of them shooting over 40%.
Instead, 39-year-old Karl Malone performed exceptionally well, shooting 11 of 19, getting 29 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 turnovers for a big double-double.
Kenny Smith, perhaps having watched too many New York Knicks games, noticed that the Utah Jazz only took 62 shots and asked in disbelief:
"If I remember correctly, Clay Lee scored 45 points in the game against the Utah Jazz."
"The Los Angeles Lakers took 22 more shots than their opponents, but still lost. With such a performance, they cannot win the MVP."
Ernie Johnson couldn't help but join the discussion:
"Has Head Coach Phil Jackson lost control of the team?"
"Perhaps only this explanation makes sense, considering they just won the championship last year."
Charles Barkley was also looking at the technical statistics, and seemed to get angrier the more he looked, subconsciously taking over the conversation:
"If the league doesn't take care of them, I believe the New York Knicks can win an away game. The Los Angeles Lakers are overrated."
"Their role players' game form is also declining, and I also have reason to believe that these players are starting to be satisfied."
Ernie Johnson didn't want to receive fan complaints, so he changed the topic again:
"If other teams' records don't catch up to the New York Knicks in the rest of the schedule, will Clay Lee win the MVP again?"
In the studio, neither of them spoke. It was hard to say.
Finally, Kenny Smith said tactfully:
"If no team ultimately achieves 60 wins, and Lee leads the New York Knicks to another 60+ wins, what reason do we have not to vote for him?"
"As for the scoring title, what might limit him is his playing time. As long as he maintains last season's scoring efficiency, this award is also a foregone conclusion."
On the evening of the 6th, at the Fleet Center, after the game officially tipped off at 8 PM, Celtics fans got to enjoy the physical battle between Ron Artest and Pierce.
Their roles were different.
Ron Artest could defend with all his might, not caring about offense at all.
He would shoot when open, and when the play reached him, cutting to the basket was enough.
In contrast, Pierce had to carry the team's offense, couldn't relax on Defense, and occasionally had to switch to guard Lee.
This season, the Celtics seemed to have made the same mistake as the Orlando Magic.
Vin Baker, acquired in the offseason trade, suffered an early injury.
Earning a salary of $12 million, he averaged 8 points per game after the season started, which was also the reason for the Celtics' continuous heavy losses at the beginning of the season.
Tony Delk gradually gained the Head Coach's trust this season and has now secured the starting point guard position for the Celtics.
Pierce still played at shooting guard, and the frontcourt trio of Eric Williams, Antoine Walker, and Tony Battie had been in good form recently, but they also went cold tonight.
With 2 minutes and 35 seconds left in the first half, the score was 48:39.
For over a minute, the Celtics didn't score a single point.
Watching Pierce clank shots, the home fans grew anxious.
Lee made both free throws, and the Celtics fell into a half-court offense again.
Tony Delk watched Pierce quickly slip along the baseline from left to right, then back down for the ball in the right block.
He hesitated for a moment but finally chose to pass.
Ron Artest immediately put up an elbow in pursuit.
Pierce, having learned his lesson, no longer charged into the basket but quickly turned and faced the basket to attack.
Facing suffocating Defense, Pierce protected the ball on his left side, his right foot constantly probing, but Ron Artest remained unmoved, still sticking close, while also keeping his hands active.
Although it was an away game, the referees were very lenient towards the New York Knicks tonight, allowing Pierce to probe for a few seconds, but he remained stuck in place.
Noticing that his teammates hadn't created a good opportunity either, Pierce quickly dropped the ball with his left hand, dribbled hard, immediately stepped back, and quickly jumped to shoot over the Defense!
As if prepared, Ron Artest's Defense was excellent this time.
With an excellent read, he jumped to block and grazed the bottom of the basketball.
Ultimately, the basketball didn't fly towards the rim but dropped directly into Pau Gasol's arms under the basket.
"Oh!"
The fans in the Arena also gasped.
In their opinion, Pierce's step-back was already very large.
"Go beg the referee for some free throws!"
Ron Artest, having completed his Defense, didn't charge forward as usual but stood next to Pierce, loudly taunting him.
The two stopped in place and started trash-talking, exchanging insults.
Delk saw Lee receive the ball and charge, so he quickly retreated on Defense while signaling his teammates to double-team.
However, Lee, with the ball in his left hand, charged too quickly.
By the time the other Celtics players had found their defensive matchups, the two were already on the left wing.
Near the three-point line, Lee slightly slowed down while moving.
Taking advantage of the opponent adjusting their defensive position, he suddenly dribbled between his legs, and as he switched to his right hand, he immediately wrapped the ball behind his back.
Delk realized something was wrong.
After Clay Lee scooped the ball with his left hand, he pushed off with his feet and naturally took a large step back.
On the left wing, still a step away from the three-point line, Lee gathered the ball, drifted slightly, and quickly jumped to shoot.
Delk, who had been faked out by a meter, could only symbolically jump to block him from his side.
"Swish!" The transition three-pointer went in again.
"Boo!"
It was the same step-back jump shot, but Lee's range was extremely exaggerated.
Besides the boos at the Fleet Center, some fans also started cheering.
Pierce, who had just retreated to half-court, was mentally shattered.
This back-and-forth situation had occurred many times.
When he wanted the ball on the left wing again during the offensive possession, Pierce found that Delk no longer passed to him but gave the ball to Antoine Walker in the right block.
Knowing the team needed to score, Antoine Walker didn't follow with a jump shot but immediately put the ball down with his right hand after facing the basket, drove to the basket, and drew a foul from Kurt Thomas.
Antoine Walker kept shaking his hand.
Kurt Thomas's foul was quite forceful, and he was met with a barrage of boos from the home fans.
On the New York Knicks' bench, seeing Antoine Walker miss both free throws, Ewing stood up and clapped, cheering him on.
Having made consecutive three-pointers, Clay Lee quickly passed the ball to Grant Hill, who also knew what kind of play to run.
Delk saw Grant Hill slowly dribble past half-court and noticed Lee quickly running towards the free-throw line, so he quickly shouted a reminder to his teammates.
Pau Gasol saw Lee tilt his head and immediately moved quickly from the left side of the basket to the top of the arc and settled there.
Although Pierce quickly squeezed through the screen, Grant Hill, with the ball in his right hand, accelerated even faster.
Pau Gasol also accelerated down, and the big man Tony Battie, who was tracking him, was confused again.
Lee just lightly brushed a back screen at the free-throw line, feigning to delay the opponent's big man, then accelerated outwards.
Delk, who had called for a defensive switch, initially wanted to cut off Grant Hill's passing lane and actively retreated to the paint.
But when he saw the big man stop near the free-throw line, he immediately felt something was wrong.
When Grant Hill jumped and passed the ball, Pierce failed to intercept it, and the big man Battie, with his back to the basket, had no reaction.
It wasn't until Lee received the ball at the top of the arc and quickly jumped to shoot without adjustment that Tony Battie symbolically lunged upward to contest.
Amidst the boos from the Celtics fans, the basketball swished through the net again.
54:39. After Lee scored 8 consecutive points, the lead was completely extended.
On the sidelines, Head Coach Jim O'Brien started to frown again.
Pierce going completely cold was not part of his game plan.
In the final few possessions of the first half, both teams started shooting free throws.
Pierce, who had completely lost his touch, went 1 for 2 from the line, almost breaking down on the spot.
58:42, looking at the 16-point deficit, the Celtics fans at the Fleet Center lost their enthusiasm again.
The Celtics' home commentators, Mike Gorman and veteran Tom Heinsohn, were old partners.
Heinsohn initially complained about the referees' officiating, but Pierce's clanking shots left the old veteran speechless:
"Coach D'Antoni's tactics are truly outstanding! How many points did Clay Lee score this quarter for us?"
"If you can't perform much on offense, then simply put all your energy into Defense."
"This is the worst half I've ever witnessed! Tactics and players were completely suppressed!"
In the second quarter, Clay Lee played 7 minutes and 43 seconds, shooting 5-for-7 from the field, 4-for-5 from beyond the arc, and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, scoring 18 points in a single quarter.
Mike Gorman saw his old partner getting angry and could only continue to offer encouragement:
"Paul will regain his touch in the second half, and we still have a chance, but Tom is right, the team must first focus on Defense."
Pierce went 0-for-4 in the second quarter, scoring 1 point from free throws, and finished the half 2-for-9 with a total of 5 points.
The two still had expectations for the second half, but as the New York Knicks kept making response shots, the home crowd's one-point rain didn't have much effect.
The only situation that allowed Pierce to save some face was Ron Artest's premature fifth personal foul.
However, although Tayshaun Prince, who came off the bench, couldn't contain his opponent, he also didn't allow Pierce to explode.
With 1 minute and 12 seconds left in the game, Coach Jim O'Brien proactively called a timeout and put in the bench players.
Ultimately, 109:91, the New York Knicks continued their winning streak!
Throughout the game, Pierce shot 6-for-17 from the field, 5-for-7 from the free-throw line, and recorded 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 turnovers.
His field goal percentage was less than 40%, and naturally, he was mocked by Ron Artest again after the game.
With 17 consecutive wins, Mike D'Antoni entered a state of hugging everyone he met.
Achieving such a feat in his first season coaching the team, he was clearly the next Super Coach!
As Clay Lee walked towards the player tunnel, many Asian fans on both sides were shouting his name.
There were many international students here, and Boston was considered a relatively friendly away game.
Ewing, following behind him, seemed to recall the scene of their 19-game winning streak back then.
Regardless of still being on the road, after entering the player tunnel, he loudly shouted in front of the bench players:
"Break the record, win the championship! We are unstoppable this year!"
"..."
On December 7th, the New York Knicks also welcomed their last game of the week.
Playing a back-to-back away game against the Washington Wizards, no one believed this game would cause too much trouble for the New York Knicks.
The Washington Wizards' trades during the offseason were not successful, and since the start of the new season, their current record is 8 wins and 11 losses.
Stackhouse and Larry Hughes are decent scorers, and Laettner and Brendan Haywood are considered excellent big men.
Theoretically, these four players plus Michael Jordan should be very strong, but in many games, their offense was chaotic, and they didn't play to the fans' expectations.
Last season, commentators would still discuss whether Michael Jordan could lead the team into the playoffs, but after the new season began, the Washington Wizards' popularity sharply declined.
Everyone realized that Michael Jordan was truly old.
In many games, his field goal percentage was less than 40%, and the Washington Wizards were almost becoming the slowest-paced team in the league.
The game officially started at 8 PM that night.
Before the game, the MCI Center was packed.
Although their performance was poor, the old fans' nostalgia was priceless:
"Even if Michael Jordan misses shots, I'll still be happy!"
No one likes to be a backdrop.
When the New York Knicks' 19-game winning streak is mentioned, people naturally think of the Chicago Bulls who fell in the Eastern Conference Finals in '98.
Charles Oakley didn't care about Michael Jordan's mood, recently teasing him every now and then.
Under such circumstances, when Clay Lee came to the MCI Center for warm-ups, he saw Michael Jordan with a long face.
Kwame Brown, the scapegoat, stayed far away from these old guys.
He didn't like playing next to Michael Jordan at all!
After the home team players came out, both sides quickly conducted their final warm-ups.
At this time, Michael Jordan was still in a bad mood, while Oakley went over to the New York Knicks' bench and chatted happily with Ewing.
During the final warm-up, Lee was still casually throwing shots, continuously making three-pointers from the Logo, which drew gasps from the fans.
Perhaps in a bad mood, Michael Jordan, dribbling the ball, came over and said with a frown:
"You're taking too many shots from beyond the arc!"
"We have an 18-game winning streak!"
Lee responded casually.
After a while, Michael Jordan realized that Lee was predicting victory for tonight's game.
"Damn it! You think you're definitely going to win tonight?"
Lee noticed Michael Jordan's mood getting worse and proactively threw the ball to him:
"Of course, I like playing against older players!"
"..."
Seeing the old man not speaking, Lee smiled, then snatched the ball back, and playfully teased again:
"Are you completely retiring after this season? I told you you shouldn't have come back."
Michael Jordan, who had already hinted to the media, tacitly accepted this statement, but at this moment, he was still being stubborn:
"Look at our attendance! I think I've changed the team!"
"..."
The Washington Wizards' attendance did indeed improve, but Lee felt that as soon as he left, everything would return to how it was.
As for the matters between the Washington Wizards management and Michael Jordan, that's another story.
The pre-game promotional gimmick was "Michael Jordan and Clay Lee's Last Matchup."
However, ABC didn't broadcast it because the Washington Wizards would play the New York Knicks three more times this season, and the last encounter would be nationally televised.
Doug Collins, that sycophant, benched Kwame Brown again that night, leaving the former number one pick to watch Pau Gasol feast.
Even with Michael Jordan in a bad mood, he couldn't explode and turn the game around.
His aggressive offense only made Ron Artest even more excited.
Also a back-to-back game, last night the Washington Wizards played the Orlando Magic on the road, with Michael Jordan scoring 16 points on 7-for-21 shooting.
Tonight, back at home, Michael Jordan finally scored 20 points on 8-for-22 shooting.
88:105, two back-to-back teams met, and ultimately, the New York Knicks had the last laugh.
Just as Clay Lee said before the game, 18 consecutive wins, without suspense, and Michael Jordan could only leave dejectedly.
On December 10th, after two days of rest, the New York Knicks returned home with soaring momentum!
89:107, a big win over the Seattle SuperSonics, tying the opening winning streak record!
Gary Payton, who became the backdrop, also had a long face and left directly after the game.
Facing the 34-year-old "the Glove," Clay Lee once again delivered a powerful punch!
In 39 minutes, he shot 14-for-22 from the field, 5-for-11 from beyond the arc, and 8-for-9 from the free-throw line, tallying a huge double-double of 41 points, 5 rebounds, 14 assists, 2 steals, and 3 turnovers.
To the New York fans' regret, they couldn't witness the record-breaking moment at home.
After another two days of rest, the New York Knicks flew to Miami to challenge the Heat on the road.
This season, the Heat completely rebuilt, and Mourning's body couldn't hold up anymore.
Since the start of the season, they only had a record of 5 wins and 16 losses.
Although Pat Riley stuck to his starters, the disparity in strength between the two teams was too great.
After increasing Lee's playing time, the New York Knicks won the game without suspense.
108:87, after the game, the New York Knicks bench was in an uproar.
The Heat fans at the American Airlines Arena had left early, clearly in no mood to watch the New York Knicks celebrate.
Coach D'Antoni was beaming, hugging everyone after the game.
Finally, he came to the scorer's table, looking at the slicked-back hair in front of him, Coach D'Antoni said with a smile:
"What a wonderful game!"
Pat Riley looked at the Rookie coach in front of him, then at Clay Lee who was being interviewed not far away, outwardly complimenting him, but inwardly cursing:
"Damn game!"
Mike D'Antoni noticed that the famous coach seemed unhappy, and after shaking hands with him, he led his coaching staff towards the player tunnel.
20 consecutive wins, breaking the New York Knicks' 19-game opening winning streak record set in the 97-98 season.
Mike D'Antoni never expected to achieve such a feat, and he became a bit inflated for a moment.
Returning to the locker room early, the New York Knicks staff were all smiling, congratulating the coaching staff.
After some pleasantries, Mike D'Antoni happily sat in front of the whiteboard, waiting for the players to return to the locker room, his body unconsciously leaning back as if in a tactical pose, becoming increasingly smug:
"I can also become a Champion Coach!"
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)