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Dragon Emperor in Pokemon World.
The return of Itachi
I am Sasuke. Why should I defect from Konoha.
Please give it a go đ
***
On October 28, 2003, though the New York Knicks' opening game wasn't spectacular, for New York fans, seeing their opponents break down made the ticket worth it!
After the game, Madison Square Garden remained boisterous, with only the San Antonio Spurs players leaving dejectedly.
Tim Duncan returned to the player tunnel early, as the boss sat on the bench for the entire fourth quarter, and the atmosphere group didn't dare make a sound from the fourth quarter onwards.
The new team recruits' mediocre performance also left Gregg Popovich with a grim expression after the game.
He didn't say a word when shaking Mike D'Antoni's hand at the scorer's table.
Noticing Gregg Popovich walking towards the player tunnel with a long face, Kevin Harlan, from the commentary booth, looked at the technical statistics and simply commented:
"When playing against the Knicks, the start is crucial. If they're still trailing by double digits by the third quarter, they'll most likely lose."
"This is related to the core players' playing styles. Clay Lee's control over the game has reached another level."
81:112, the Knicks won by 31 points against the San Antonio Spurs tonight.
Doug Collins was also looking at the technical statistics.
He naturally noticed that Tim Duncan played very well in the latter two quarters and couldn't help but comment:
"Playing 32 minutes, 8 of 13 from the field, 4 of 6 from the free-throw line, 20 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 4 turnovers for a double-double. But such numbers make it very difficult for the San Antonio Spurs to win."
"With a singular strategy and a lack of outside threat, the San Antonio Spurs still have much to learn if they want to contend for a championship."
Kevin Harlan didn't comment further.
Clay Lee only played 30 minutes in this game.
10 of 15 from the field, 2 of 4 from beyond the arc, and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line, scoring a modest 26 points, 5 rebounds, 11 assists, 3 steals, and 1 turnover.
With the San Antonio Spurs performing like this, both knew that this year's Western Conference would still depend on the Dallas Mavericks, Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Lakers, who were willing to spend money.
Ewing was still wearing five rings on his left hand, showing them off to everyone, which made Dikembe Mutombo very envious.
Gorilla pulled his old teammate for a show-off.
This year's large rings were indeed beautiful, sparkling under the lights.
Lee was also greeting friends courtside.
Tina Fey waved, and the two shared a simple hug:
"How does it feel to be a movie screenwriter for the first time? I guarantee it will be a big hit next year!"
Tina Fey immediately tilted her head when she heard this, smiling as she patted Lee's chest:
"I'm a screenwriter, not a director. If the box office isn't good, it's because they messed with the script!"
"Lee, Rachel McAdams, my good sister, we came to watch the opening game after finishing filming. She's your loyal fan."
After a brief introduction, Tina Fey smiled, but subtly pinched Lee's hand, reminding him that this was "home turf."
Rachel McAdams had dressed up specially tonight, wearing black slim-fit jeans paired with a blue shirt, and her tied-up blonde hair had a noticeable red hair tie.
Lee felt it looked familiar, then recalled that this was Melinda's most common attire when she was in school.
Seeming to feel she had attracted attention, Rachel McAdams smiled sweetly, revealing dimples, and obediently said:
"What a wonderful game, Lee. I've always followed you. Although it's a bit presumptuous, could you attend my birthday party next month? Tina Fey and the others will be there."
Tina Fey understood Lee too well and subtly pinched him again, quietly reminding him once more.
"Of course, Tina Fey's friends are my friends. I'll definitely be at the birthday party."
Lee finished speaking, a harmless smile on his face.
Rachel McAdams felt a bit smug.
She had studied this "look" for a long time, including the "no-makeup makeup" on her face, all of which were her achievements.
Having successfully "conquered Lee," Rachel McAdams smiled sweetly again and said in a soft, delicate voice:
"The 16th. I'll pick you up then. It's settled!"
With a camera filming in their direction, Rachel McAdams deliberately stood on her tiptoes, embodying the image of a lively blonde sweetie.
Finally, Lee hugged his good friend again.
Noticing Tina Fey quietly glaring, he couldn't help but chuckle and whisper:
"I like this blonde girl!"
Lee waved to the fans in the stands again before turning to leave.
Tina Fey saw Rachel McAdams waving beside her and could only kindly remind her:
"Just be friends. Don't even think about developing any other relationship!"
Rachel McAdams smiled and linked arms with her "plastic" friend, responding coyly:
"I know! Lee looks even cooler than in the magazines! Did you notice his eyes? They don't look like he's 25 at all, both mature and youthful."
Tina Fey subtly twitched her lips, too tired to complain.
This girl was reading Forbes magazine, and The New Yorker had recently briefly introduced Lee's Peninsula Manor.
With the endorsement of money, Lee was "stunningly handsome," exuding the "fragrance" of cash.
The Knicks' opening game saw a lopsided distribution of stats, with the game lacking suspense early on.
In the Heat and 76ers' opening game, the "mini Clay Lee" ultimately suffered a regrettable defeat.
74:89, Stan Van Gundy's first game coaching the Heat ended in a loss.
Playing 41 minutes, Dwyane Wade shot 8 of 18, scoring 18 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 turnovers.
As a Rookie player, such a performance already thrilled Heat fans!
After Head Coach Randy Ayers took over the 76ers, he didn't make too many adjustments to the team's tactics.
In summary, it was still about giving the ball to Allen Iverson.
Playing at home, Allen Iverson didn't disappoint the fans' trust!
Playing 45 minutes, 9 of 25 from the field, 3 of 11 from beyond the arc, and 5 of 8 from the free-throw line, scoring a double-double of 26 points, 5 rebounds, 11 assists, 5 steals, and 3 turnovers.
Although Larry Brown was gone, Allen Iverson didn't mind.
After the win, he regained his usual confident state:
"I feel like I'm in great physical condition. I don't care about those comments. As long as I'm on the court, I want to drive to the basket with the ball."
"I don't want to talk about game plans. This is my primal urge. I want to show my true self in front of the fans!"
After making these statements after the game, Allen Iverson expected everyone to praise him, but to his surprise, everyone's reaction was lukewarm.
Over the years, Philadelphia sports media had come to realize that "primitive basketball," "authentic basketball," "inefficient basketball," and "fighting spirit" wouldn't win championships.
Therefore, as Allen Iverson spoke at length about his mental attributes, everyone had only one feeling:
"The 76ers have no bright future."
The Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers game received the most attention.
Before the season started, Mark Cuban made big-money signings, and the Los Angeles Lakers F4 debuted.
The clash between the two teams sparked much discussion among basketball commentators.
The Dallas Mavericks immediately dug themselves into a hole at the start of this game, disappointing many fans.
15:29, by the end of the first quarter, the Los Angeles Lakers had already taken a double-digit lead.
Although the Dallas Mavericks fought back later, the game was completely decided after the Los Angeles Lakers went on another 22:31 run in the third quarter.
93:109, the Los Angeles Lakers F4 got off to a winning start.
In Staples Center, Los Angeles fans were equally excited.
The old guys still had it!
Gary Payton played 36 minutes, shooting 10 of 20 from the field, 1 of 4 from beyond the arc, scoring 21 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, and 1 turnover.
Karl Malone played 29 minutes, shooting 5 of 11 from the field, and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line, getting a near triple-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and 1 turnover!
Both veterans started, and the Los Angeles Lakers as a team dished out 32 assists.
Los Angeles fans who bought tickets to watch the game had only one feeling:
"Smooth! Fluid!"
Shaquille O'Neal shot 8 of 15, getting 16 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 3 turnovers in just 32 minutes of playing time.
After the game, the Shark seemed very satisfied:
"I know what you want to say. Now come and watch our game, watch our teamwork!"
"Come witness the new Los Angeles Lakers. I swear, we will win the Finals!"
Gary Payton was also satisfied with his performance, answering confidently in his somewhat sharp voice during an interview:
"Being older means having more game experience. Don't demand of me what you demand of typical veterans. My body is as good as a young man's."
"Karl Malone is the same. Believe me, this will be a Los Angeles Lakers season!"
Due to a mental injury, Kobe missed the opening game.
Phil Jackson was already showing favoritism.
After the incident, he deeply disliked Kobe.
Lacking his core player, Phil Jackson didn't mention Kobe much in interviews, only offering platitudes:
"Kobe is recovering well after his knee surgery, but he still needs to readjust his mental state."
"Both veterans have excellent game experience, the Dallas Mavericks are a strong opponent, and I'm very happy to see their outstanding performance tonight!"
Shaquille O'Neal had ignored Kobe, but Gary Payton and Karl Malone helped to sort out the locker room atmosphere.
The two veterans genuinely wanted to win, and Karl Malone even took the initiative to comfort Kobe after the game:
"Don't mind what others say, those people just want to see a show. Trust me, as long as you perform well, those fans holding up white boards will soon be cheering for you!"
Despite being the Los Angeles Lakers' home court, there were still some people at Staples Center quietly cursing Kobe.
Dressed in a black suit, Kobe heard Karl Malone's words and felt secretly grateful.
This was one of the few encouragements he had received since the incident:
"I know, I will adjust my physical condition. Don't worry about me, I will definitely help you win the championship!"
Karl Malone put his arm around Kobe's shoulder, acting like a Good Brother, and also waved to Vanessa, who was watching the game courtside:
"Yes, we will win the championship!"
On October 29, there were 11 games in total, with the most anticipated one being the Cavaliers vs. Sacramento Kings game.
It was the debut of the Champion Coach and the The Chosen One.
Regardless of the outcome, everyone wanted to see what kind of stats LeBron James, who had been ostracized, would put up.
Jeff Van Gundy's first game back on the coaching bench was an away game.
After flying to Sacramento, he gave an interview.
The Bald Young Coach still displayed his renowned coaching demeanor.
His crisp black suit, white shirt, and red tie made sports media feel he was reliable.
When asked about what kind of stats LeBron James would put up tonight, Jeff Van Gundy smiled slightly:
"Stats are not important. What's important is that LeBron needs to complete his tasks."
"I don't want to define him as a scorer. He just entered the league, and many of his skills need to be polished."
"I hope to see him lead his teammates on both ends of the court during the game."
Realizing that the Bald Young Coach wanted LeBron James to become a point forward, many sports media outlets exchanged glances.
Jordan turning into Pippen, Jeff Van Gundy directly changed LeBron James's script.
LeBron James, who was ostracized within the team, accepted this role calmly when interviewed:
"I've watched Magic Johnson play, and I've witnessed the success of the New York Knicks. I've never considered myself a scorer!"
"I will try to lead the team on both offense and Defense. Head Coach Van Gundy has taught us a lot about Defense, and I'm still learning."
"This is completely different from high school games. This is truly a challenge!"
Wearing a Cavaliers practice uniform and a headband, LeBron James was very well-behaved during the interview, actively praising the coaching staff and his teammates.
LeBron James indeed accepted Head Coach Van Gundy's request.
Rather than taking difficult shots, it was better to be a ball-handler.
Although he was a high schooler, LeBron James knew his place on the team.
He truly had no interest in competing with role players who were destined to leave the team.
Noticing that several people still weren't looking at him directly, LeBron James didn't complain.
Instead, he kept comforting himself internally:
"You guys will be traded in a few days!"
In this highly anticipated game, LeBron James ultimately delivered a decent stat line:
39 minutes played, 9-of-19 shooting, 2-of-4 free throws, 20 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, 3 turnovers.
In the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers scored only 16 points, were hit by a run from the Sacramento Kings, and ultimately lost the game.
Ricky Davis, who was playing freely, also didn't hold back, going 8-of-21 and also scoring 20 points.
Charlie Ward ate up some playing time, which allowed LeBron James to successfully complete his debut.
Otherwise, this game would have turned into a battle of difficult shots.
90-109, the Sacramento Kings won by a large margin, and the Cavaliers also secured a victory.
LeBron James's performance did not surprise the commentators.
Although he contributed several good steals and performed a few beautiful dunks, everyone hoped the The Chosen One would put up even more explosive stats.
This game was broadcast by ESPN.
After Kobe's incident, the 2003 Rookie class received more attention.
TNT had just praised Clay Lee last night.
After LeBron James completed his debut, the trio was also a little disappointed:
"He's still adjusting to the league. Many times he thinks the game is too simple, his jump shot still needs polishing, but his transition offense is handled quite well."
"I believe LeBron James will succeed, just as Head Coach Van Gundy said, the team truly needs more outstanding talent."
Kenny Smith always avoided offending players, and he continued to comment on the game in a conventional manner.
Charles Barkley, however, didn't care about such things, and with a wide grin, he gave his conclusion:
"LeBron James won't cause any trouble for Clay Lee in the next few seasons!"
"He has obvious technical flaws, although his physical talent is indeed excellent. Tonight on Defense, Head Coach Van Gundy must have set up a zone Defense, which sometimes caused LeBron James to be out of the team system."
"However, the Cavaliers players' performance wasn't great either. As a Champion Coach, he will definitely emphasize the team's defensive discipline, and the Cavaliers players were indeed unqualified in this regard."
Ernie Johnson heard his partner's confident conclusion, pondered for a moment, and then added:
"Chuck is right, Head Coach Van Gundy indeed has a more long-term plan!"
"I've received some news that the Cavaliers should be making a trade very soon, which might be a good thing for LeBron James."
"Higher tactical status, more shot attempts, LeBron James should be able to fully display his talent!"
Since Lee certainly wouldn't win the MVP this season, players aspiring to this award were all eager to show off and promote themselves!
Kevin Garnett's salary this season was as high as $28 million, equivalent to two Lees, and the Timberwolves' payroll also exceeded $70 million, reaching the third highest in the league.
With two strong helpers, Kevin Garnett was in high spirits, feeling that this season held great promise!
After defeating the Milwaukee Bucks in the opening game, Kevin Garnett directly spoke to the media after the game:
"This is my ninth season in my career, and my body and skills have reached their peak!"
"It's time to get some honors. This year I will go all out, and I believe I am the best interior player in the league right now!"
The best perimeter player was destined not to win the MVP, so this award would naturally go to the best interior player.
Sports media could all understand Kevin Garnett's meaning, but no one refuted him.
Kevin Garnett indeed had the strength to win this award.
In the Timberwolves vs. Milwaukee Bucks game, Kevin Garnett played 41 minutes, shot 11-of-23, and put up a huge double-double of 25 points, 21 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks, and 1 turnover.
Compared to LeBron James, Kevin Garnett not only got the win but also had more impressive stats, drawing away the The Chosen One's popularity.
Sprewell also joined in the fun, acting cool again during an interview:
"Kevin is a good kid, I will pass on my championship experience to him!"
"..."
On October 30, chinese fans also welcomed the Houston Rockets' season debut.
Carmelo Anthony also had high attention, but he performed poorly in the away game against the Houston Rockets.
He shot 5-of-14, 1-of-3 from beyond the arc, and 7-of-10 from the free throw line, finishing with 18 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 8 turnovers.
85-102, the Houston Rockets won by a large margin, getting a good start to the new season.
Due to Tomjanovich's deteriorating health, he would no longer serve as Head Coach this season.
The team was ultimately taken over by San Antonio Spurs assistant Coach Mike Brown.
Mike Brown stood out from a group of candidates not because of his resume, but because he understood the intentions of Houston Rockets owner Alexander.
After failing the New York Knicks Head Coach interview last season and being thoroughly defeated in the Finals, Mike Brown finally realized the limitations of the Larry Brown system.
Therefore, in this interview, Mike Brown transformed into the owner's "sycophant," clarified the team's core players, and understood the owner's intentions, ultimately successfully securing the Head Coach position.
Yao Ming only played 20 minutes in this game, shooting 6-of-8 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line, finishing with 19 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks, and 3 turnovers.
After the game, chinese sports media surrounded Yao Ming again, all eager to hear his evaluation of the new Head Coach, as Coach Mike Brown truly had no impressive resume compared to a Champion Coach.
In the locker room, Yao Ming smiled and quickly answered the questions seriously:
"Every coach has different tactical philosophies. Coach Mike Brown is very good. Tonight, we had 21 assists, while our opponent only had 10."
"We suppressed our opponent on both offense and Defense. I believe we can make the playoffs this season!"
Yao Ming was very happy about Mike Brown's arrival because the Head Coach designed many tactics for him.
Of course, the coaching staff also made some requests, suggesting that he should build up his physique.
Seeing that Yao Ming liked the new Head Coach, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
The next day, domestic sports media concocted another article:
"Winning the Head Coach's trust, Yao Ming only needed one game!"
"The Houston Rockets set sail again, Yao Ming believes the team has a chance to make the Finals this season!"
"The underestimated tactical master â Mike Brown!"
"..."
On October 31, the first 50-point game of the new season was born!
Ray Allen suffered an injury, and commentators believed the Seattle SuperSonics would lose early.
But in the back-to-back game against the Clippers, Rashad Lewis erupted again.
He played 37 minutes, shot 18-of-25 from the field, 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, and 10-of-13 from the free-throw line, scoring 50 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 blocks.
124:105, the Seattle SuperSonics defeated the Clippers again, and Old Dunleavy, who had just taken over the team, suffered his second consecutive loss.
Lewis's inside and outside performance truly stunned some commentators, but in a post-game interview, this second-round pick from the New York Knicks was very calm:
"This is just an ordinary regular season game, and the opponent's strength is limited!"
"I won't be complacent just because I scored more points. My experience with the New York Knicks made me understand that basketball is a five-person game."
"If Lee wanted to score, he might average 40, but he didn't choose to do so. Being around him, I learned how to be a leader!"
When Lewis was interviewed, he already had a "I'm the boss" demeanor, which made Ray Allen a bit frustrated, as this teammate also had a ring.
His 50-point performance made many sports media forget about Ray Allen's existence.
In the locker room, seeing his teammate surrounded, Ray Allen bit into a lemon again:
"You said you'd all assist me?"
Aside from Darko MiliÄiÄ, the 2003 Rookies have been appearing these past few days.
Although they haven't had outstanding performances, the high-draft-pick Rookies haven't shown any signs of being "busts."
More stars also made the commentators happy, as it meant more topics.
Kevin Garnett, who was boasting two days ago, was hit with a boomerang in less than two days.
Sprewell shot 4-of-18, scoring 9 points, fully displaying the true colors of a Champion guard. Sam Cassell shot 2-of-10, scoring 8 points, also showing excellent form.
61:84, the Nets soundly defeated their opponent, holding the Timberwolves to only 9 points in the 4th quarter.
After the loss, Kevin Garnett, who scored a team-high 23 points, left the player tunnel early.
Jason Kidd, who had just signed a big contract, uncharacteristically spoke sarcastically after the game:
"MVP isn't about who has the loudest voice. Basketball games speak with the ball!"
"The Eastern Conference Finals are not our endpoint. I hope the team can make changes. I know my teammates' potential!"
18-of-7, 21 points, 11 rebounds, 14 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, 5 turnovers.
In the game against the Toronto Raptors, Jason Kidd shot 4-of-18, performing poorly, but bounced back strongly at home with a triple-double!
Jason Kidd spoke to the media, naturally because he had some unpleasantness with Head Coach Byron Scott.
He hoped the coaching staff could further delegate power, as he wanted to completely control the team!
Smelling gossip, sports media the next day embellished and concocted an article introducing the conflict between Jason Kidd and the coaching staff.
On Saturday, November 1, after a few days of rest, the New York Knicks finally hosted the Orlando Magic again at home.
After the new season began, the Orlando Magic had two consecutive losses.
Tracy McGrady and Houston both had some physical issues.
The former's back injury had become a chronic problem, and the latter's knee injury was more serious than the team doctor predicted.
In that night's game, the Orlando Magic still dug themselves a hole early on.
Head Coach Rivers's shouting couldn't change the situation on the court.
17:32, at the end of the first quarter, the New York Knicks again took a double-digit lead.
Team newcomer Tyronn Lue entered a state of confusion after the game began.
He did frequently pass the ball to the main scorers as requested by the Head Coach, but everyone kept missing shots, and there was nothing he could do.
Tracy McGrady shot 2-of-6 for 5 points, and Houston shot 1-of-5 for 2 points.
Adding to that, team newcomer Juwan Howard also shot 1-of-5 for 2 points.
During the break between quarters, Head Coach Rivers could only offer a lot of encouragement.
When the rotation came on, GiraÄek seemed infected by his teammates' missed shots and also failed to complete the tasks assigned by the Head Coach.
No free throws, just missed shots.
As the Orlando Magic scored only 17 points again in the 2nd quarter, the game lost its suspense.
34:58, at halftime, Madison Square Garden once again became a sea of joy.
The Orlando Magic's offense still showed no improvement in the 3rd quarter.
In the end, Lee checked out after three quarters, leaving early.
Dikembe Mutombo, preparing to come on, stretched his body and lamented:
"We played generally, but we didn't expect our opponent to be even worse tonight."
"It turns out games can be so easy!"
Seemingly recalling his "Four protect one" days with the 76ers, Dikembe Mutombo felt uneasy.
He understood that the difference was actually in their basketball philosophies.
Lee fist-bumped the players preparing to come on, and also explained the New York Knicks' situation to Dikembe Mutombo:
"Next week's schedule is also very easy. In fact, many times, it's hard for us to lose!"
"..."
Ultimately, this game turned into a practical drill for the New York Knicks.
83:112, the Orlando Magic suffered their third consecutive loss.
After only one day of rest, on Monday evening, the 3rd, the Orlando Magic continued their losing streak at home.
108:68, Tracy McGrady shot 5-of-20 for 19 points, leading the New York Knicks to another win!
In the first week of November games, the New York Knicks had two more matchups against the Milwaukee Bucks.
After easily defeating their opponent, Clay Lee led the team to a 5-game winning streak.
On the evening of the 8th, 88:111, after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks at home, MSG also interviewed Clay Lee.
Lee's playing time in all 5 games did not exceed 32 minutes.
He completely slacked off, but fortunately, his assist numbers kept climbing, indicating that he was still very engaged in the game.
"Lee, can you talk about the team's changes this season? In these past few games, I've noticed that Pau Gasol often initiates offense from the low post."
Walt Frazier, smiling after the win, asked the question that commentators were curious about.
Lee answered very naturally without much thought:
"Pau is an athletic big man. We all know his static talent. When he's attacking from the low post, he can not only score but also assist his teammates."
"Letting every player do what he's good at, that's the basketball philosophy the New York Knicks follow!"
The game ended, and the New York fans in attendance did not leave early.
Feeling the lively atmosphere in the Madison Square Garden, Dikembe Mutombo, walking towards the player tunnel, bumped Ewing:
"You told me the New York Knicks could win a championship. I was a bit skeptical before, but now I truly believe it!"
The Gorilla looked at his Good Brother, instinctively raised his left hand, and then said proudly:
"In the league, no one is our opponent!"
"..."
.....
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